Chapter 190: Chapter 190: The Unease Behind
"Xiang Lan, I feel like you’ve never really forgotten Doctor Xiang. Maybe it’s not because he gave up and compromised back then, but because he has always been in your heart."
Hearing this, Xue Xianglan was taken aback, nodded slightly after a moment, "Maybe."
She was always carefree and easygoing by nature. In her life, it was only Xiang Linghao that she couldn’t let go or pick up.
She couldn’t tolerate any flaws, yet the past incident was like the most noticeable ink spot on the white paper. She couldn’t ignore it. The moment she saw it, she couldn’t make peace with it, wanting desperately to erase it, but had no way, wishing to tear the entire paper apart.
However, she couldn’t bear to tear that paper apart.
To her, that paper was the complete memory of being with Xiang Linghao, every little detail like a clear mirror, as if it happened yesterday, deeply imprinted, unable to be discarded, never really gone.
Gu Yan didn’t miss the fleeting sadness in her eyes, sighed slightly, "Since you can’t let it go, take the chance to have a good face-to-face talk at least once. No matter what happens in the future, there will be no regrets and unresolved issues."
Xue Xianglan remained silent, unsure whether she wanted to do so.
The knot is there, meant to be untied eventually, but how can a seven-year avoidance be easily concluded?
All these years, she had gotten used to running away, to dodging, unwilling to see him, just missing him in memories, with a bit of irreconcilable resentment.
The atmosphere was a bit oppressive. Gu Yan wasn’t used to such an atmosphere with Xue Xianglan, so she changed the topic.
"Alright, don’t think about these things anymore. There’s plenty of time ahead. After all, seven years have passed. Waiting a bit longer won’t matter, as long as he’s there, there’s nothing that can’t be resolved."
She flashed a smile, "It’s rare for me to have a day off, today you’re only allowed to spend time with me, no thinking about anything else."
Xue Xianglan turned back to look at her, smiled easily, "Okay, today you’re in charge, whatever you say goes."
"Hurry up and eat, let’s go shopping after we finish."
"Did you get paid? Want to buy something?"
"Who says shopping always has to be about buying something? Can’t I just look around?"
"You win."
Joking casually with Xue Xianglan, it didn’t matter if she truly put the matter out of her mind, anyway, she had returned to her usual self, which made Gu Yan feel much better.
Gu Yan and Xue Xianglan shopped until past five in the afternoon before calling it quits. Shopping for things is in a woman’s nature. Even though Gu Yan said she wouldn’t buy anything, she ended up purchasing some food and a simple accessory.
Xue Xianglan, on the other hand, had her hands full with large bags, filled with clothes, shoes, jewelry, and even bought some for Gu Yan.
Gu Yan didn’t want them, but she insisted, leaving her no choice but to accept.
After parting ways with Xue Xianglan, Gu Yan took the bus home alone.
At this time, there was no sign of nightfall, and there were lots of people around.
But since there was still time before the rush hour, the bus stop she was at didn’t have many people.
In a hidden corner, a camera poked out, took a few photos silently, then quickly retracted, drawing no attention.
Gu Yan felt a sudden discomfort behind her, turned around to look, found nothing, and turned back, a little puzzled.
The bus arrived, she got on, and that uneasy feeling dissipated, and she soon forgot about it.
Maybe she’d been shopping too long, was tired, and was imagining things.
Back at the villa, Tang Yuxiu hadn’t returned yet, and Gu Yan was quite pleased with the liberty.
Nowadays, the relationship between the two couldn’t be worse; every meeting was bound to be confrontational. She wasn’t in the mood to face him, so it was better.
She made dinner for herself, ate, then went upstairs to shower, and lay on the bed playing with her phone.
With only this one day off, she had to go back to work tomorrow. Gu Yan looked out the window, saw the sparse stars in the sky, but wasn’t in the mood to enjoy them, so she closed the curtains. It wasn’t even nine o’clock, and she planned to sleep.
She did not want to wait for Tang Yuxiu any longer.
Yesterday, after waiting so long, wasn’t it all in vain?
In the end, he was just spending the night with another woman.
The more Gu Yan thought about it, the more irritated she became. She simply buried herself in the blanket, wrapped tightly for a while until she couldn’t breathe and then peeked out.
A car engine sounded from downstairs, Gu Yan was slightly startled, was he back?
Back so early?
She didn’t know why, but the irritation in her heart gradually subsided.
After Tang Yuxiu returned, he didn’t see Gu Yan in the living room, so he went upstairs.
Opening the bedroom door, standing at the entrance, seeing Gu Yan’s small figure curled up on the bed, he finally felt relieved.
She’s already back, and that’s good.
He didn’t go in, just gently closed the door and went to the study.
On the bed, Gu Yan opened her eyes, staring calmly at the corner of the floor-to-ceiling window.
Knowing Tang Yuxiu was back, a psychological effect kicked in, and the fatigue from shopping all day soon overwhelmed her, and she drifted off to sleep.
Tang Yuxiu worked in the study until midnight before planning to go back to the room.
Upon returning, Gu Yan was already fast asleep. He moved gently, showered, carefully lifted the blanket, too cautious to disturb her, and lay on one side, restraining himself from touching or holding her.
The next day, as usual, Gu Yan got up half an hour earlier than Tang Yuxiu, made breakfast, and without waiting for Tang Yuxiu, left the house alone.
Whenever Tang Yuxiu got up, he would always find a simple breakfast on the table, but no sign of Gu Yan.
And every time, as he approached the bus stop in his car, he could see her standing there waiting for the bus.
She got on the car, and only after that did he drive behind the bus she was on. It wasn’t until he confirmed Gu Yan had entered the company that he drove to the parking lot.
When did he, Tang Yuxiu, start doing such sneaky things?
Lowering his standards!
Entertainment Department, Music Group.
Gu Yan arrived earlier than the others. There weren’t many people in the entertainment department, and no one from the music group had arrived yet.
She sat alone at her desk, took out a score, and practiced silently in her mind.
Lin Fei was the first to arrive after her. Lin Fei had always disliked her for some inexplicable reason, and upon seeing her, did not react but simply went about her own business.
Gu Yan wouldn’t be the one to offer warmth to a cold shoulder. She glanced at her and then lowered her head to continue reading her score.
The atmosphere in the office was extremely quiet, with only the sounds of shallow breathing and the rustling of turning pages.
Luckily, Wang Qi arrived soon after. She greeted Gu Yan and attempted to greet Lin Fei, but since Lin Fei didn’t even raise her head, she decided not to bother.
Wang Qi put down her bag and eagerly moved closer to Gu Yan.
"Gu Yan, at the party the night before last, did I see you there?"
Gu Yan was taken aback, "Huh?"
"Really, I saw a beauty from afar who looked a lot like you, wearing a pink evening gown."
Gu Yan blinked, "I went with a friend."
"So it was you. You seemed different from usual; your aura was even better."
"It’s all thanks to the clothes."
"But you’re naturally beautiful, right? That guy beside you, he seemed like the Qin Family’s eldest son who recently returned from abroad?"
"Yes, he’s my senior. Since he just returned to the country, he’s not familiar with it and doesn’t know many people. He couldn’t find a female partner, so he asked me to help out and stand in for him."
"Hmm?" Wang Qi listened, finding it rather intriguing, "Couldn’t find a female partner?"
The eldest son of the Qin Family wouldn’t be short of a female partner, right? Even if he had just returned a minute ago, as long as he held the status of the Qin Family’s eldest son, there would be a heap of women rushing towards him, impossible to brush off, let alone that he’s been back for two months now.
The intention of the Qin Family’s eldest son was obvious.
Wang Qi patted her on the shoulder, "Girl, if you meet someone suitable, you should just marry him. Don’t let someone else snap him up."
The external evaluations of Qin Junnan were still quite good; there were no negative news, and he’s a returned overseas scholar with boundless prospects.
Such a man, with family background, looks, and talent, attracts countless women. If he truly took a liking to Gu Yan, she sincerely hoped Gu Yan could seize the opportunity. Life would definitely be good in the future.
Qin Junnan didn’t seem like someone who would engage in domestic violence; he’s gentle and jade-like, a good home to settle into.
Gu Yan listened to Wang Qi’s words and was perplexed. How did the topic jump to this so quickly?
It felt utterly unrelated.
"I’m still young now, not thinking about this issue."
Wang Qi, frustrated with her response, lightly tapped her head, "Girl, it’s precisely when you’re young that you need to put in the effort to find an outstanding man to marry. Otherwise, when you’re no longer young, you’ll end up as a leftover woman! Do you understand what a leftover woman is, an unsellable product that can’t be marketed?"
Gu Yan, "...Is it really that exaggerated?"
"Young people just don’t know how to plan ahead!"
"You talk as if you’re so old."
Wang Qi, "..."
"Girl, you’re missing the point."
"I’m not missing the point, my focus has just never been there!"
"You have such limited ambition." Wang Qi glared at her in frustration.
"Anyway, I’m not thinking about that now. I’m focusing on practicing piano, and I’ll worry about it after passing the assessment," Gu Yan said.
Her current identity was Tang Yuxiu’s mistress; what qualifications did she have to think about relationships? Moreover, her heart was completely invested in that man, and she was trying to find a way to withdraw, without extra thoughts for other matters.
"Your goal is too small," Wang Qi said helplessly.
"Step by step, grounded. Don’t always think about leaping to the top in one go."
"Well said, practice well!"
Gu Yan nodded, picked up her music score, and stood up, "Then I will go to the practice room to work hard. Call me when it’s lunchtime."
She smiled at Wang Qi, and without waiting for her to say anything, she bypassed her to head towards the practice room.
Wang Qi sighed helplessly. She didn’t know if this girl was not very bright; even with a promising young talent like Qin Junnan right beside her, she remained unmoved and untouched.
It was perhaps for this reason that she felt Gu Yan was someone worth getting close to.
In the practice room, Gu Yan focused on practicing the piano.
Since the banquet was over, Wang Qi and others didn’t need to visit the practice room frequently, and instead had to prepare the follow-up work.
Before the banquet, a piece by Wang Qi was selected to be showcased, and it needed to be promoted alongside the other works by selected musicians from the music group.
The entire entertainment department relaxed for a while.