At noon in late autumn, sunlight that offered little warmth fell over the streets, where pedestrians hurried along.
Inside H's Luxury Restaurant, Gu Weichen and Yan Lang sat facing each other.
Yan Lang was the first to offer a gesture of goodwill.
"President Gu, you're young, accomplished, and knowledgeable. I greatly admire how well you manage such a huge company as the Gu Group."
Gu Weichen gave him no opening.
"You flatter me, President Yan. I'm only an ordinary person. Someone can even walk into my room whenever they please."
Yan Lang also got straight to the point.
"President Gu, you know my younger sister is playful by nature and rather immature. I failed to teach her properly. If she's caused you any trouble, just say the word. I only hope you won't pursue this matter any further."
Gu Weichen looked at Yan Lang and stopped beating around the bush, speaking with a thoroughly displeased expression.
"Even fooling around has its limits. If this had actually succeeded, have you thought about the consequences?"
But the worst part was that Yan Nana had actually treated him like a fool. That was what angered Gu Weichen most.
Yan Nana, whom Yan Lang had confined at home: I've really been wronged! I really didn't! I really just wanted to sleep with you!
Yan Lang fell silent for a moment. It seemed this time he would have to pay dearly.
"President Gu, what compensation do you want? As long as it's within my power, feel free to ask."
Gu Weichen also went straight to the point.
"I hear you're working on a project. I hope your company will give us serious consideration. And as for the profit share, I also hope it can-"
Before he could finish, he heard his assistant knock on the door.
After Gu Weichen let his assistant in, the assistant bowed to Gu Weichen and Yan Lang and said apologetically,
"President Gu, President Yan, I'm very sorry to interrupt you now, but there's something I need to tell President Gu."
Yan Lang was understanding and did not take issue with it.
Gu Weichen knew his assistant would not usually be so impolite. Something fairly important must have happened.
"What is it?"
The assistant answered with a bow, "President Gu, the young master's kindergarten teacher called and said he has a fever. He's already been taken to the hospital."
"All right. Take me to the hospital after lunch. Postpone this afternoon's meeting."
The assistant acknowledged the instruction and withdrew.
Watching all this, Yan Lang smiled as well.
"I wouldn't have guessed that someone as young as you already had a little son, President Gu."
Gu Weichen explained with a smile,
"He's not my son. He's my nephew."
Yan Lang pondered this. In that case, Gu Weichen's older sister could go to the hospital. Since Gu Weichen needed to go too, perhaps something had happened.
But he did not seem to have known that Gu Weichen even had an older sister.
Out of politeness, however, he did not ask too much.
And for some reason, Yan Lang kept feeling a fondness for this little boy he had never met.
Yan Lang felt that he must be a very lively, adorable boy, just like her.
Gu Weichen: He isn't, he's not, don't talk nonsense. He's clearly more of a domineering CEO than I am...
"It's clear that you care a great deal about this little nephew of yours, President Gu."
"Somewhat." After all, he's my only nephew in this world...
Because of a little boy who had never appeared at their table, the atmosphere between the two eased.
Their conversation also went much more smoothly.
The discussion ended in less than half an hour, with the two settling on a final plan.
Yan Lang rose and held out his hand to Gu Weichen.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, President Gu. My younger sister was in the wrong this time. I'll be sure to discipline her when I get back."
Gu Weichen also stood and shook hands with Yan Lang.
"You're too kind, President Yan. Since you've provided the appropriate compensation, we'll leave the matter here for now. Still, let me remind you, President Yan: even with relatives close to you, you should be on your guard when necessary. Some aren't worth everything you give them."
Yan Lang froze for a moment, then withdrew his hand, turned, and left the restaurant.
When he reached the entrance, he paused and said to Gu Weichen,
"Thank you for the reminder, President Gu. You should hurry and see your nephew too."
Watching Yan Lang's movements, Gu Weichen knew he was a smart man. There was no need to spell things out too clearly; Yan Lang could understand on his own.
Yan Lang returned to his car and remained silent.
The driver did not dare ask much either. Only after quite a while did he hear Yan Lang murmur, "So even an outsider can see it?" The main thing was that the driver had not heard him clearly.
The driver hurriedly asked, "President Yan, what did you say?"
With an inscrutable air, as though unwilling to reveal his past, Yan Lang said, "Nothing. Don't mind me."
The driver: And then what? Where are you going, then? Tell me! It's already afternoon! It's time for the shift change! If you don't say anything, how am I supposed to know whether you want to go home, to the office, to a party, golfing, or to... (n locations omitted here)
I don't understand the feuds in your wealthy families, or the riddles you domineering CEOs exchange. Right now, I just want to get you home quickly so I can go home and give my sweet-smelling wife a proper hug.
But I don't dare say that to President Yan. Boo-hoo, this is so hard...
My darling wife, I really haven't been fooling around out there. I really am working overtime! You're the only one I love! You have to believe me! You can't make me kneel on a keyboard\a durian\a washboard again. Boo-hoo...
Yan Lang, who had closed his eyes in sorrow, did not know that everyone around him was paired up. But if he had known, he could only have been even sadder (┯_┯).
By the time Gu Weichen reached the hospital, Little Maojie's fever had almost subsided, and Little Xinxin had stayed by his bedside the whole time.
Gu Maojie said helplessly, "Don't blame yourself so much. This didn't have much to do with you. I really just didn't keep my blanket on properly while I slept last night."
Gu Weichen's face was full of question marks. When had Gu Maojie learned to kick off his blanket? Why did he not know about it? He remembered Little Maojie always behaving himself in his sleep...
Two trails of tears ran down Little Xinxin's cheeks. "Boo-hoo, really?"
Gu Maojie looked completely earnest. "Really!"
Little Xinxin shook her head so hard that the two buns on top left afterimages. "Boo-hoo, I don't believe you!"
Gu Maojie...
Then why did you insist on asking that last question?
Gu Weichen approached the hospital bed. Seeing his uncle, Gu Maojie asked in delighted surprise.
"Uncle, what are you doing here?"
Gu Weichen walked to Little Maojie's bedside and sat down.
"Your teacher said you were sick, so I came to see you. What happened?"
Before Gu Maojie could speak, Little Xinxin hurriedly chimed in.
"Uncle Gu, it was because of me. It was windy and cold today, and I accidentally got my jacket wet while drinking water. Classmate Gu lent me his jacket, and then he caught a cold."
Shen Qianxin lowered her little round head, with its two little buns on top, feeling terribly guilty.
Gu Maojie was very stubborn. "I told you, I didn't keep my blanket on properly. It had nothing to do with you."
Gu Weichen: I'll just quietly watch you put on your act (눈_눈)
"Mm... that's right. Maojie has never been a very quiet sleeper."
I never thought that a wise and mighty uncle like me would one day have to lie for my nephew's little girlfriend...
But I have to say, Gu Maojie really has a way with girls. He's snagged Shen Xuanrun's little sister.
He could already imagine the young man's annoyed little expression.
Wait!
Gu Maojie is my nephew, and Shen Qianxin is his younger sister...
These family generations...
Am I really getting old (○ _ ○)
Little Xinxin blinked her big eyes and asked Gu Weichen,
"Really? Uncle Gu?"
"Yes."
"Uncle Gu, you lied! Your eyes just darted to the left. You don't know how to lie at all, Uncle Gu. Even Classmate Gu Maojie sounded more convincing than you!"
Gu Weichen...
Gu Maojie... All my painstaking efforts! Wasted.