*****
Gu Nanze leaned back with his eyes closed, nursing a slight headache. He drank a bit of wine at the dinner earlier, and though he was only slightly tipsy, he decided to play it safe and hire a designated driver. As the trip progressed, he could not help but call the events of the night to mind.
Dinner was light and pleasant. While they waited for their meals, they caught up with each other, joked and laughed together.
Although conversation slowed after the meals were served, the ambience was calm and warm. At different times during the meals, his eyes inadvertently kept straying to her.
Thick, dark lashes fanned her face and hid her eyes everytime she looked down to cut the steak. He would quickly take his eyes away whenever she raised her head. Dinner was sweet torture for him, but he was happy to have time along with her, even though it was shared.
"You know, you should just tell her about your feelings, instead of behaving like a stalker." Su Qianhua said to him some time after Pei Yueran excused herself to go to the restroom.
Su Qianhua was a typical petite lady with an oval face and almond eyes. Although she was the same age as Pei Yueran, she looked like she was in her twenties with her short hair, beautiful facial features and tomboyish aura. She worked as a Police officer at the City Police Station. Although her words were usually blunt, she was a nice person, except when she was being merciless.
When Gu Nanze looked away instead of answering her, she mocked him. "On a second thought, don't bother. What she needs is a man bold enough to sweep her off her feet, not some spineless idiot."
"What are you guys talking about? who's the idiot?" Pei Yueran asked. She came back from the restroom in time to hear the end of her sentence.
"Whoever admits to it", Su Qianhua said freely, while Gu Nanze looked away guiltily. He wasn't a coward, but he didn't know why he couldn't muster the courage to tell her how he felt.
Somehow, he had an inkling that whatever her answer was, it could affect their relationship negatively and he didn't want that. He also knew that she hadn't gotten over Han Lei, so he felt the odds were not in his favour.
Pei Yueran let the matter drop, and they spent sometime afterwards relaxing over a bottle of wine.
Su Qianhua and Gu Nanze took turns asking about the details of her promotion and subsequent move. Su Qianhua offered to come help her pack, since the weekend was in a few days. Pei Yueran gratefully agreed.
They parted ways soon after, with Su Qianhua holding on to Pei Yueran and making her promise again and again to call often. They called their designated drivers and were soon on their way home.
Gu Nanze sighed. Now that she was leaving soon, he would no longer be able to see her often, talk less of developing their relationship.
He would wait though. In one year, the change of environment might have helped her heal and made her more amenable to his subsequent proposal, he concluded.
*****
"Grandma!"
"My Xiao Chen, come come", Zhang Heying gushed as Li Yuchen ran towards her. She loved this grandson of hers that looked so much like her son. Although she hadn't spent much time with him except the few times she went abroad to visit, she liked him a little more each time she saw him. He was just so adorable!
"Grandma, you look beautiful", Li Yuchen straightway started bootlicking.
"Thank you", Zhang Heying smiled like a flower. She took Li Yuchen by the arm and led him to the dining room, asking him how he was adapting to school here and if he had made new friends. She mercilessly left her dear husband to face their son alone and ignored both of them.
"Ch-Chuanmo you're here. Y-you didn't tell me you will be coming."
"Good evening Father. I decided to come this evening since you have a full day tomorrow." Li Chuanmo said, deadpan. Nothing in his expression showed that he knew his father was avoiding him, causing him to have to catch him at his own game.
Li Qianye chuckled guiltily and invited him to the dining room. "Let's talk after we eat dinner, okay?"
"Okay, Father."
Dinner was a simple affair consisting of four dishes and one soup, but it was sumptuous and mostly quiet, except when Zhang Heying was giving food to Li Yuchen, who always replied with a sweet "thank you Grandma". Everyone was satisfied. Zhang Heying took Li Yuchen to the living room to continue their discussion, while Li Qianye went with Li Chuanmo to the study.
"How's the company? How are you adjusting to your new position?"
"As you know, I'm yet to resume officially, so I'm spending most of the time getting up to speed on the company's affairs."
"That's good. I'm very sure you will lead the company well. You know if I didn't trust you, I wouldn't have appointed you as my successor so easily. You've proven yourself capable in the past however, and I can rest assured handing over my legacy to you", Li Qianye said seriously. He was a sweet old man at home, but a no-nonsense business tycoon.
"Thank you for your trust Father. But then, why did you decide I needed a "special assistant"? I'm already studying more about the company myself, and I would also be taking special lessons from you. So, what would the special assistant do?"
"Th-that was the d-decision of the Board of Directors and the Shareholders." Li Qianye started stuttering again.
"But you were the one that brought up this particular suggestion before it was passed at the meeting", Li Chuanmo debunked his argument expressionlessly.
Li Qianye suddenly had an epiphany. "Chuanmo, you know I know your capabilities and you have proven yourself abroad. But you don't have the experience in running a large group like the Li Conglomerate, with over 500,000 employees. Naturally, the Board of Directors and shareholders are a little sceptical and they want a foolproof arrangement, that's all. Your mother and I also discussed it and concluded that it would be good for you to have an insider show you the ropes."
"I see", Li Chuanmo said, looking thoughtful.
Li Qianye secretly heaved a sigh of relief. He was finally off the hook.
"But I heard you specially chose the new special assistant. Pei Yueran right? Why her specifically?"
Li Qianye choked.