Chapter 172: Chapter 172: Senior, I Promise You
"Huh? Is there something else I can help you with, senior?"
"Yes, let’s talk about it when we meet. Where do you work? I’ll come pick you up."
"No need, just tell me where to meet, and I’ll go there myself."
Qin Junnan didn’t insist, "At Yuehua, call me when you arrive."
"Okay, senior, I’m getting ready to leave work now, let’s talk when we meet."
"Alright, be careful on your way. Bye-bye."
"Bye-bye."
Gu Yan hung up the phone, sat in the practice room for a while, lost in thought, when Wang Qi came to knock on her cubicle door.
She snapped back, quickly put away her phone, and opened the door.
"It’s time to clock out, young lady."
Gu Yan smiled slightly, "Got it."
Wang Qi looked at her side profile with confusion, "Gu Yan, you seem like you’re not in a good mood, and you haven’t seemed very interested these past few days."
"Really?" Gu Yan opened her eyes wide, looking innocent.
Wang Qi slightly sighed, "If you don’t want to talk about it, forget it, just take care of yourself."
"Of course, that’s a must." Gu Yan smiled.
After clocking out, Gu Yan left the company and walked directly to Yuehua Restaurant.
She looked at her phone, struggling with whether to call Tang Yuxiu or not.
But given their current situation, whether she told him or not wouldn’t matter anyway; he wouldn’t care.
She simply put away her phone and didn’t call.
Passing by a cake shop, Gu Yan walked a few steps past it and then returned, looking at the various beautiful cakes inside through the window, and suddenly had an idea.
She went in and picked a simple yet elegant cake, asking the store not to put too much cream on it.
"When will you pick it up, Miss?"
Gu Yan thought for a moment, "Tomorrow afternoon."
The company is giving all employees a half-day off tomorrow to prepare for the banquet.
"Okay, please leave a contact number and pay a deposit."
Gu Yan wrote down her phone number and paid the deposit before leaving.
When she arrived at Yuehua’s entrance, Gu Yan called Qin Junnan, and shortly after, he appeared at the door.
"Gu Yan." He walked over quickly, a gentle smile on his face.
"Senior." Gu Yan smiled slightly and said, "Sorry to keep you waiting."
"No waiting, let’s go in."
Gu Yan followed by Qin Junnan’s side as they went inside to a seat by the window.
Qin Junnan, like a gentleman, pulled out the chair for her and said, "I thought you might not like the atmosphere of a private room, so I booked a table here, do you like it?"
Gu Yan nodded with a smile, "Very much."
If Qin Junnan had booked a private room, she’d probably have felt very uneasy.
Seeing she liked it, Qin Junnan was pleased, but his expression remained gentle. He handed her the menu, "Ladies first, feel free to order whatever you like."
Gu Yan took it and smiled embarrassingly, "Thank you, senior."
Gu Yan didn’t have much of an appetite, so she just ordered a few dishes randomly and let Qin Junnan add the rest.
After ordering, they chatted a bit before Gu Yan proactively asked him, "Senior, you mentioned on the phone that there’s something you need my help with, what is it?"
Qin Junnan paused slightly, pondered, and shyly said, "Well, I need to attend a banquet as a representative of my family tomorrow but can’t find a companion. So, I wanted to ask you to be my date."
Gu Yan was slightly taken aback, "Banquet, date?"
Qin Junnan nodded, "Yes."
"What kind of banquet?"
"The promotion banquet for the Tang Group’s General Manager," he replied.
It turned out to be Tang Yuxiu’s banquet. Gu Yan frowned slightly. If it was Tang Yuxiu’s banquet, how could she agree? If the two of them met, she didn’t know what Tang Yuxiu might think of her, and it might even bring trouble to Qin Junnan.
Watching her expression, Qin Junnan cautiously asked, "What’s wrong, is it inconvenient?"
Gu Yan shook her head, "Not really, it’s just, am I suitable?"
Qin Junnan smiled slightly, "Why wouldn’t you be suitable? Besides, since I just returned to the country, I’ve been very busy, and only recently got a comprehensive understanding of the domestic situation, so I haven’t had a chance to meet many high-society ladies. Among the girls I know, you’re the most familiar. Apart from you, I really can’t think of anyone else."
Gu Yan didn’t know what to say.
Qin Junnan continued persuading her, "You know, our Qin Family is also a well-known family in Jiang City. If I attend a banquet without a date, imagine how many people would laugh at me, it would greatly impact the company’s image management too."
Gu Yan was shocked, "Is it that serious?"
Qin Junnan looked troubled, "Of course, that’s why I have no choice but to ask for your help, Gu Yan, would you really leave me in the lurch?"
Gu Yan frowned slightly, looking for a bit troubled. On one side was her old senior’s request, on the other was Tang Yuxiu’s possibly uncontrollable anger, she really didn’t know what to do?
Qin Junnan was observing Gu Yan the whole time, noticing her indecision.
He simply sighed, and with a dejected look, said, "If it’s difficult for you, don’t force yourself. I still have the night to think of a solution. If nothing works, I can pretend it’s business-related and politely decline, though it might strain the relationship between the Tang and Qin families, but that’s something that can’t be helped either."
Gu Yan felt even more troubled.
She was conflicted, turned her head to look out the window, suddenly saw something, and was slightly stunned.
Outside, a man and a woman got out of a black Bugatti.
Two people she knew all too well.
Tang Yuxiu and Nie Rong.
They were out having dinner together again.
A pang of bitterness swept through Gu Yan’s heart. Recently, they’ve been meeting quite frequently, haven’t they? Didn’t Tang Yuxiu say they were just simple work partners?
Why do they keep going out to dinner again and again, and always at night?
She thought of the last time Tang Yuxiu and Nie Rong went out together and came back so late, not knowing what they had done.
Gu Yan pressed her lips tightly.
Qin Junnan noticed her unusual demeanor and asked with concern, "What’s wrong?"
Gu Yan quickly turned her head back, still looking a bit unnatural. She suddenly looked at Qin Junnan and said earnestly, "Senior, I’ve decided, I’ll accompany you to the banquet tomorrow."
Hearing this, Qin Junnan didn’t react for a moment, stared at her for two seconds, and then spoke with delight, "Really?"
"Really, senior, you treated me to dinner, and I haven’t reciprocated. Last time, you helped me in the supermarket, and I didn’t have a chance to thank you. This time, let it be my repayment to you." Gu Yan said.
Qin Junnan’s smile deepened, "Alright, thank you, Gu Yan."
Gu Yan smiled slightly, and as the dishes came one by one, she lowered her head and started eating.
She couldn’t deny it; it was the appearance of Tang Yuxiu and Nie Rong together that provoked her to agree.
Tang Yuxiu and Nie Rong being together, they wouldn’t have any extra mind to care whether she goes to the banquet with Qin Junnan.
She admitted, she was jealous, but what could she do? Isn’t that how one-sided love is?
Tang Yuxiu and Nie Rong entered the restaurant and walked inside. Suddenly, Nie Rong said, "Huh, Yu Xiu, isn’t that Young Master Qin? Should we go over and say hello?"
Tang Yuxiu gave a faint glance in that direction, didn’t see Qin Junnan’s face, but immediately recognized the woman opposite him.
Gu Yan! She’s having dinner with Qin Junnan?!
Tang Yuxiu’s indifferent expression suddenly turned cold, while Nie Rong had already walked over.
"Young Master Qin, what a coincidence."
Hearing the voice, Gu Yan nearly choked on her food; why was it this voice again!
Regardless of who she dined with, Nie Rong could always appear!
Did she have a feud with her in a past life, haunting her relentlessly in this one?
Qin Junnan looked up and politely stood up, "Miss Nie, hello."
The two slightly shook hands, Nie Rong glanced to the side, as if she just noticed Gu Yan, and spoke in surprise, "Miss Gu? You’re here too?"
To be honest, Gu Yan internally refused to talk to her or anything, but there was no choice; no matter how unwilling, she had to smile politely and greet her.
She stood up and greeted Nie Rong, glancing past her to see Tang Yuxiu’s figure.
Her heart was deeply troubled, yet she still put on an indifferent facade.
"Yu Xiu, I didn’t expect Young Master Qin and Miss Gu to be together," Nie Rong turned back to say to Tang Yuxiu.
Tang Yuxiu walked over expressionlessly, without even giving Gu Yan a look, glanced at Qin Junnan.
Qin Junnan also looked at him. This should be their second meeting, again at Yuehua.
Last time, he had just returned to the country and wasn’t familiar with the domestic situation, naturally not knowing Tang Yuxiu. Later, after looking through his information, as a man, he greatly admired Tang Yuxiu.
He smiled slightly and extended his hand, "President Tang, I’ve heard so much about you."
Tang Yuxiu glanced at his hand and said coldly, "Sorry, I’m not used to close contact with people."
Hearing Tang Yuxiu’s words, Qin Junnan was not embarrassed, "I have heard of this before; it should be me apologizing for forgetting momentarily."
Anyone who has heard of Tang Yuxiu knows that he has a severe cleanliness obsession.
"I won’t disturb Young Master Qin’s meal." Tang Yuxiu nodded slightly, left the table first, and sat down at a window seat on the other side.
Nie Rong politely said goodbye to the two and followed after Tang Yuxiu.
After she left, Gu Yan immediately sat down, with an indescribable feeling in her heart.
Tang Yuxiu just now ignored her completely, like he didn’t even see her as a person.
Qin Junnan sat down and looked at her apologetically, "It didn’t affect you, did it?"
"No." Gu Yan shook her head.
She snorted inwardly, see how considerate and gentlemanly the senior is, something Tang Yuxiu could never have in this lifetime!
Over there, Nie Rong and Tang Yuxiu placed their orders separately.
Nie Rong spoke seemingly unintentionally, "I didn’t expect Miss Gu to have dealings with Young Master Qin as well."
Tang Yuxiu crossed his legs, placed his hands on his legs, looked out the window, and hearing Nie Rong’s words, his eyes deepened but he didn’t reply.
"Yu Xiu, did something happen between you and Miss Gu?" Nie Rong looked cautiously at his profile and asked.
Upon hearing this, Tang Yuxiu turned his head back and replied coldly, "What could possibly happen between her and me."
"I’ve seen you and Miss Gu together a few times, I thought you..." She stopped her words, not continuing, but carefully observed Tang Yuxiu’s expression.