"I trust you. But if you overheard any of it, then please trust me too. I meant every word."
With a gentle expression, Gu Qingnian stepped forward and lightly took Ma Xiaotao's hand, then led her onward.
Ma Xiaotao felt as though lightning had struck her. Her face instantly flushed scarlet, and she followed stiffly behind him, Gu Qingnian's words echoing endlessly through her mind.
She had indeed overheard some of it. At first, she had followed Yan Shaozhe's instructions and waited outside, but the thought of Gu Qingnian and Yan Shaozhe alone together had filled her with an inexplicable unease.
She feared Gu Qingnian might say something wrong and anger Yan Shaozhe, or that Yan Shaozhe might discover something and make things difficult for him. Her intense curiosity clashed with Yan Shaozhe's instructions, and in the end, curiosity and worry overcame everything else.
Yan Shaozhe's office occupied a special spot on Sea God Island, where people generally would not come to disturb him. Thus, its original construction had followed a somewhat simple, fresh style, using the same materials as the other offices.
However, to prevent a certain talented fellow surnamed Qian from tearing down the door and interrupting him, the office door had undergone special modifications. Not only was it thick and sturdy, it even had Soul Tool devices installed on it. It was ridiculously solid, and its soundproofing was excellent.
Ma Xiaotao knew this, but initially, she had not intended to eavesdrop. With doubts weighing on her mind, she had merely given the door a casual tug on her way out, leaving it not quite shut. Neither Yan Shaozhe nor Ma Xiaotao had noticed this. Gu Qingnian had, but had said nothing.
Ma Xiaotao had failed to notice because she was full of questions, while Yan Shaozhe had