Chapter 205: Chapter 205: I Believe Him
Xue Xianglan felt a bit bothered by Xiang Linghao’s hesitant and overly cautious behavior.
She liked people who acted decisively, who had the courage and speed to execute whatever they set out to do.
But ever since their last chance encounter, breaking the unwritten rule of seven years without meeting, there had been no movement from him.
What on earth was he doing!
As Xue Xianglan applied medicine to Gu Yan, she seemed somewhat distracted, which Gu Yan noticed but didn’t mention.
"Be gentle, though most of the swelling has gone down, it’s still painful."
Xue Xianglan rolled her eyes at her, "This is already gentle enough, if I go any lighter, I might as well not apply the medicine at all."
"That’s not okay." Gu Yan smiled, "I’m really afraid of pain, so I couldn’t help but say something."
Xue Xianglan indeed lightened her touch a bit, letting out a helpless sigh. At this moment, she also couldn’t say that it was Gu Yan’s own fault for hurting this much.
An unexpected disaster.
She very much wanted to find the person who kidnapped her and give them a good thrashing.
Once the medicine was applied to Gu Yan’s face, Xue Xianglan was about to put the cap back on, only for Gu Yan to stop her, "Hold on, there’s more."
Perplexed, Xue Xianglan tilted her head and gave her a once-over. Besides her face, there was no visible injury on the exposed skin, "Where else?"
"On my waist, but I can do it myself."
When Gu Yan lifted her shirt to reveal a ring of red marks on her waist, Xue Xianglan’s gaze turned dark and angry.
"How did this happen?" Her voice was slightly heavy, suppressing a surge of anger.
Gu Yan took a cotton swab and dipped it in the medicine, speaking nonchalantly, "Just from the friction with my pants, nothing serious."
Hearing this, Xue Xianglan understood the situation, those people even tried to pull off her pants!
She had thought it was just a matter of kidnapping for ransom, hitting her to make her behave, never imagining they were such beasts with the intent to molest her!
Xue Xianglan slammed the sofa hard, gritting her teeth, "I’d better not catch those people, or I’ll make sure they regret it for life!"
Daring to lay a hand on her good friend, they must be tired of living!
Xue Xianglan was furious.
"Don’t be so angry, I’m fine now anyway. If they get caught, then you can be angry, because then you’ll have someone to vent it on."
Xue Xianglan wanted to poke her forehead with a finger, "You’re so carefree!"
But in a way, it’s better like this; she didn’t want to see a gloomy Gu Yan.
Gu Yan smiled, "What’s the use of not being carefree? After all, nothing really happened in the end. If I kept dwelling on it, it’d only be myself who suffers."
Xue Xianglan sighed, "It’s lucky you’re this kind of person."
If it were someone else, they might have become extreme in their thinking, and it wouldn’t be so easy to forget and move on.
It’s Gu Yan’s first time encountering something like this, and having an attitude like this is really commendable.
Perhaps it’s her childhood of not having things go smoothly that caused this. Even when faced with big issues, she can quickly adjust herself.
Gu Yan packed up the medicine bottles, and the two of them lazily nestled in the sofa, watching a brainless TV show out of boredom.
"By the way, what’s going on with you and Young Master Tang? When did you move in here and start living with him?" Xue Xianglan tilted her head, scrutinizing her with a probing gaze.
A drop of cold sweat slipped down Gu Yan’s forehead, looking somewhat embarrassed.
The last thing she wanted was for Xue Xianglan to discover the situation between her and Tang Yuxiu, but now the moment had finally come.
"Well, you introduced me to a job, didn’t you? The boss is him, so we just got familiar..." Gu Yan said, half-jokingly, blending truth with falsehood.
Xue Xianglan squinted her eyes, "So it looks like I’m the one who brought you two together."
"Yes, you’re the matchmaker!"
However, Xue Xianglan waved her hand dismissively, "Spare me that. Things aren’t that simple; are you going to tell the truth or not?"
"The truth is just like that, I’m not lying to you. That’s how we got familiar, something did happen later, and we had some disagreements, but it’s all resolved now, and we’re doing well."
After clearing things up, it was indeed not bad, but Gu Yan knew very well that it wouldn’t be easy for them to be together. The first problem to solve was Nie Rong.
After all, she was the heiress his family had chosen for him, and it was announced at the promotion banquet.
Ah! Just thinking about it feels like such a headache.
"Is it really fine? Don’t forget, he’s still engaged to someone else. Do you really think you two will have an outcome?"
Gu Yan said, "It was just an announcement, not a real engagement. In the end, I’m not the third party wedging between him and another woman. Honestly, Tang Yuxiu and I were the first. Nie Rong is the one who came in between, and Tang Yuxiu promised he wouldn’t get engaged to Nie Rong. I trust him."
The last sentence, "I trust him," Gu Yan said very seriously, her gaze firm.
Tang Yuxiu is someone who keeps his word. As long as he wants to do something, no one can stop him. He doesn’t bother with saying he can’t or lying to coax her. Actually, he’s quite credible. At the very least, what he says has never been false.
Xue Xianglan heard this and let out a slight hum, "You’re quite on his side, believing a man so much. Be careful you don’t get hurt."
Gu Yan shrugged, "If he’s not trustworthy, then I can say, there really aren’t many trustworthy people in the world, Xiang Lan. I have a clear view of his character. If in the end he can’t keep his promises to me, I wouldn’t hesitate to leave him immediately."
She had a rough life since childhood, endured a lot, and deeply longed for a safe and happy home, hoping for a lover who liked each other, living a joyful and happy life together.
But if that person is entangled by many things and can’t give her the life she wants, she won’t insist.
She always believed that what is hers cannot be taken away by others, and what isn’t hers, she can’t get no matter how hard she tries.
So she wouldn’t waste effort on such matters. Once she sees clearly, she would withdraw, even if it means she would feel very sad.
"You can say so firmly now about leaving, but when the time comes, it might not be that easy." Xue Xianglan sighed softly and said.
Gu Yan pressed her lips together, "Maybe, but at least I will always hold on to my principles. When things reach a certain stage, I know what choice to make."
Perhaps having experienced the warmth and coldness of others, she sees through some things more than others. When things are settled and can’t be changed, what else can be done but accept it?
But now, she believes that Tang Yuxiu will work hard and fight for their future.
Xue Xianglan shook her head theatrically and sighed, "People in love, huh."
Actually, from Tang Yuxiu’s attitude the night before last, Xue Xianglan was relatively reassured about leaving Gu Yan to him.
That man not only has the capability but also the sophistication. Based on her years of understanding him, if it’s something he really doesn’t want to do, no one has ever been able to force or threaten him to do it.
If, as he said, he won’t get engaged to someone else and will stay with Gu Yan, that would be a good outcome.
It’s just that the Tang Family is too big, and the waters run too deep. Gu Yan doesn’t know if she can fare well in it.
But thinking again, she felt relieved.
Tang Yuxiu himself isn’t someone who can be controlled easily, not even by his biological father. Even if they end up together and don’t get the Tang Family’s approval, Tang Yuxiu is capable enough to overcome all obstacles. Anyway, they wouldn’t be living in the old house, so relatively speaking, Gu Yan would remain safe and comfortable.
"By the way, are you working at the Tang Family?"
"Yes." Gu Yan nodded.
Xue Xianglan felt reassured, thinking this was even better. Working together, Gu Yan would be under Tang Yuxiu’s watchful eyes, and if the Tang Family wanted to trouble her, they would have to consider Tang Yuxiu.
Thinking this way, Xue Xianglan’s worries subsided a lot.
"Speaking of which, I really admire you, how did you manage to win over Young Master Tang, who’s known to be difficult? He’s seriously obsessive about cleanliness."
Speaking of Young Master Tang’s cleanliness obsession, Gu Yan was deeply touched and nodded repeatedly, "Absolutely right! I’ve never met anyone with such a severe cleanliness obsession in my life."
You can love cleanliness, but don’t overdo it, okay!
The level of cleanliness obsession Young Master Tang has is, frankly, wasteful and completely excessively extravagant, practically enraging everyone!
"You seem quite disdainful of him, so how did you endure it? I’m really curious."
Gu Yan grimaced, truly full of disdain, "I also want to know how I endured it. Sometimes I just want to skin him and throw him out to feed the dogs! How can there be someone so insufferable!"
Xue Xianglan could see that even though Gu Yan acted very disdainful, there was an unnoticed hint of a smile in her eyes.
She is still very tolerant of Tang Yuxiu.
Love is nothing more than mutual tolerance, understanding, and consideration between two people.
If back then, she could have understood Xiang Linghao a bit more... would their situation today be different?
Xue Xianglan slightly lowered her eyes to veil all emotions, then looked up again, beaming at Gu Yan, "Men, you have to train them well. Don’t ever give him a chance to bully you."
Speaking of bullying, they honestly don’t know who bullies whom. Either way, they always manage to outwit each other to the point of speechlessness, feeling vexed but unable to express it.
Now, they are living in this cycle repeatedly, making life rather interesting, and both find this mode of interaction quite good; they never really get angry, nor does it become boring.
"Any bullying I receive will definitely be paid back!" Gu Yan’s eyes shone brightly, and Xue Xianglan could tell that whenever Gu Yan mentioned Tang Yuxiu, she was happy.
Xue Xianglan sighed, "I didn’t expect you to suddenly become someone else’s, and now I have a sense of loneliness?"
Gu Yan heard this, cozily leaned against Xue Xianglan, wrapped her arm around her, and said, "My dear, you have to believe that in my heart, you will always be my best, best friend!"
"You cheeky girl, look at how ingratiating you look, I’ve got some doubts about your words."
"You can’t doubt me, look at my so sincerely gaze!"