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Gu Yeliang listened intently and gripped Sang Ya's hand, his face full of pain. "Of course not. Being with you is a blessing I hardly dared hope for."

"I'm sorry, Ya Ya. I've put you through so much."

"If I came from a family like Xie Zhiyu's..." His eyes dimmed. "I'm the one who's reaching above his station. I never should have pursued you..."

"You're so wonderful. I can't bear to see you suffer in the Gu Family." Gu Yeliang pulled Sang Ya into his arms. "I promise we'll make our relationship public once I finish this project, all right?"

A pang went through Sang Ya's heart as she breathed in the faint scent of his cologne. "All right. I'll persuade Grandpa to call off the engagement."

"Silly girl, that's my burden to bear." Gu Yeliang kissed her forehead gently, as though she were precious to him. "Thank you for believing in me, Ya Ya."

Sang Ya asked, "A Ye, are you confident you can win?"

She had recently started an internship at the family company. The Sang Family's business rarely overlapped with the Gu Family's, and Gu Yeliang's biggest competitor this time was the Xie Family's company.

Sang Ya believed in her boyfriend's abilities, but she had heard that Xie Zhiyu was in charge of the project for the Xie Family.

She was afraid of her fiancé, but she had to admit he was an outstanding heir to a wealthy family: rational, calm, decisive, and ruthless... He was so perfect he seemed like a robot.

Could Gu Yeliang win against him?

Gu Yeliang's eyes darkened slightly, and he gave a bitter smile. "I'll do everything I can."

"Believe in me, Ya Ya."

Gu Yeliang hadn't asked for help, but his words only made Sang Ya anxious. "Is there anything I can do?"

Her family might not be as powerful as the Xie Family, but they were no pushovers. "I'll ask my second uncle to help."

"Or you could work with Zhiyu." Sang Ya had wanted to tell him the truth for a long time.

Gu Yeliang looked at her and shook his head gently. "The Xie Family won't share the profits, and they have no reason to give up any of their interests for the Gu Family."

"You should be careful around your second uncle." He meant it as a warning, but Sang Ya had been so sheltered that her naivety bordered on foolishness.

"Are you worried my second uncle will object if he finds out about us?" Sang Ya patted his shoulder. "Don't worry. He's always good to me. He gives me anything I ask for."

Gu Yeliang swallowed the warning on the tip of his tongue. "Your second uncle is swamped with another project right now. Don't bother him."

"I'll find a way to handle this."

Sang Ya had regretted saying it almost as soon as the words left her mouth, but fortunately, Gu Yeliang hadn't taken her offer seriously.

"What can you do?" Sang Ya blurted out. "We can't keep our relationship secret forever, can we?"

"It's not that I don't believe in you, but you're up against Xie Zhiyu. He's..."

"My grandfather has already started discussing the engagement banquet with the Xie Family. For all I know, we'll get married as soon as I graduate next year." The thought of spending her life with Xie Zhiyu, with her entire future laid out before her, terrified Sang Ya.

An idea occurred to Gu Yeliang, and he ventured, "If I could get hold of Xie Zhiyu's bid proposal, I..."

He stopped himself. "No. The risk is too great."

Sang Ya thought it over seriously, then hesitated for a few seconds. "I can get the proposal."

But... was that really the right thing to do?

Gu Yeliang immediately refused. "No. I can't let you take that risk. Besides, you and Xie Zhiyu are engaged. He's so accomplished, and being with me has already put you through enough. How could I let you be condemned because of me..."

"If this opportunity doesn't work out, I'll find another way. Worst comes to worst, I'll swallow my pride and ask Gu Yi for help."

Instead, Gu Yeliang's words made up Sang Ya's mind. She gritted her teeth. "I'll get the proposal. Don't go begging Gu Yi. Who knows how he'll torment you?"

"Zhiyu has plenty of resources. Losing this project won't make much difference to him..." Sang Ya managed to convince herself. "But it's important to us. I'll make it up to him."

Gu Yeliang was silent for a moment, then sighed. "Ya Ya, thank you. I swear I'll treat you well for the rest of my life."

Sang Ya's conscience was troubling her, but Gu Yeliang's words made her feel a little better. "Mm. I'm doing it for our future."

"For our future." Gu Yeliang's eyes were dark and unfathomable, like a deep pool.

... At the Xie Residence, Shen Baili looked through the newly unlocked chapters while chatting with the system. "Where did you learn that phrase?"

"You systems really keep up with the times."

The system said happily, "I've been learning about this world's culture and language lately. The female lead called herself a master of time management~"

The system complained, "She's terrible at managing her time. Everyone around her has to clean up her messes..."

Shen Baili skimmed the chapter and wholeheartedly agreed with the system's complaint.

For instance, Sang Ya was supposed to rehearse for her graduation performance. She made everyone arrange their schedules around hers, then stood them all up to go on a date with Gu Yeliang...

And at her company internship, Sang Ya cheerfully slacked off every day, occasionally chatting with her coworkers about office gossip. She didn't even notice when her second uncle pushed her to the sidelines...

Was this reverse time management? Managing to make a mess of everything?

Shen Baili finished reading the newly unlocked chapters. They described how Sang Ya and Gu Yeliang had met and fallen in love.

As an illegitimate son, Gu Yeliang had been unpopular at school and bullied by his older half-brother, Gu Yi. Seeing how he was treated broke Sang Ya's heart. She helped tend his wounds, and during those dark school days, she was the only person who truly saw him.

After they grew close, Sang Ya often confided her troubles to him, including her grandfather's domineering nature and the childhood engagement she wanted no part of.

As they came to know each other better, they fell in love. Sang Ya suggested breaking off her engagement, but Gu Yeliang stopped her. They kept their relationship secret for years. During that time, Sang Ya repeatedly asked to make it public, but Gu Yeliang always refused, saying the time wasn't right.

That relationship finally reached a turning point. After graduating, Gu Yeliang joined a technology subsidiary of Gu Corporation. With his strong abilities and impressive background, he became the company's executive president.