During Gu Nian's second semester of seventh grade, the Fu Family really did move.
Unexpectedly, they moved right near the Gu Family's residence, and from then on, the Fu Family became neighbors with the Gu Family.
Gu Nian was a bit surprised by this, and then secretly designated herself "Little Fortune Teller."
Well, a prediction come true belonged to no one else but her. Gu Nian didn't hold back from showing off in front of Fu Jingshen, but he mostly responded with his signature cold indifference.
...
From then on, Gu Nian wasn't only flirting with Fu Jingshen at school, but also on the way to school, on the way home from school, and she even made frequent visits to the Fu Family's house...
She lured Fu Jingshen to the Gu Family's house under the pretext of Gu Cheng's name.
Gu Nian was constantly trying to elevate their pure hand-holding relationship to the next level.
One day:
When she was on her way home, Gu Nian had just learned a new flirting technique and decided to use it on Fu Jingshen.
"Brother Jingshen... look at my hand gesture..."
Fu Jingshen looked at the young girl in her school uniform, her hair in twin ponytails, seriously making gestures at him—a fist, then paper—his thin lips pursed.
"Hmm?"
"Uh... Can't you tell? You're my 'fist-paper'..."
"Hehe, you're my everything, isn't it romantic? Young master here has many more moves... so give in to me quickly."
Fu Jingshen: "..."
A slight smile formed on Fu Jingshen's usually tight lips, triggered by Gu Nian's playful and endearing words.
"Childish."
After speaking, Fu Jingshen walked straight into the Fu Family's home. Watching his cold demeanor, Gu Nian puckered her lips at Fu Jingshen's retreating back and muttered quietly.
"Hmph, so cold, whatever. Sooner or later I'll win you over, and you'll become K City's number one loyal boyfriend, hahaha..."
Feeling good about herself, Gu Nian hummed a little tune and walked toward her own home.
After walking into the Fu Family's home with feigned composure, Fu Jingshen quickly went up to his bedroom on the second floor, watching the young girl hop and skip joyfully back to the Gu Family home as if she were a child.
His dark eyes were clear but had a depth not found in his peers...
The intense emotions that blazed like fireworks grew ever more fierce within the deep recesses of the young man's dark pupils.
The indifferent curve of the youth's lips slowly lifted into a dazzling smile, extremely radiant.
...
On the balcony:
The memories came to an abrupt halt. Gu Nian stood where Fu Jingshen had just been standing, for over an hour, until she felt the chill on her body and then returned to her bedroom.
Three years ago, she had decided on an annulment in a second and left resolutely.
In reality, she had spent a full three years mired in memories.
Gu Nian's lips held a faint, bittersweet smile. If there were a next life, she truly wished to be a tree in the desert, subject only to the passage of time, void of any memories.
...
After Fu Jingshen left, Gu Nian couldn't sleep, tossing and turning for a long time before finally falling asleep with the scent the man left behind.
In the early morning, Gu Nian was awakened by a phone call from her secretary.
"Miss Gu, there's serious trouble. President Zhao Wenbo of the Zhao Family suddenly called and said he won't supply us with essence oil anymore."
A third of the Gu Family's income came from perfume, and one of the key ingredients for perfume was Essence Oil.
The Zhao Family was in charge of supplying herbal essence oil, while the Gu Family was responsible for refining it into perfume.
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Due to financial problems, the Gu Family is now in a situation where they are stockpiling their goods, which basically means they are using goods to offset money.
If there's an issue with the goods, it undoubtedly means that a significant amount of money will be lost again.
The secretary continued to add, "He breached the contract within three days of our signing the agreement, so according to the terms signed on the original contract... he can walk away scot-free."
The call from the secretary almost entirely chased away Gu Nian's sleepiness.
She had noticed the loophole in the agreement when she signed it three days ago; it's just that the Gu Family and the Zhao Family had always signed their agreements this way over the past decade, so it had to be left unresolved.
The Zhao Family Group often deals with herbs that can be affected by flowering seasons, climate, and other factors, so they need three days to make a final decision.
"Miss Gu, do you need to inform President Gu?"
"Not for now, Dad's mind is all on the hospital. I'll go directly to the Zhao Family later. Wait for me outside their door."
"Alright."
After hanging up the phone, Gu Nian quickly washed up and made her way to the Zhao Family Group, where secretary Zhang Lin had already arrived first.
"Miss Gu, I have arranged a meeting with President Zhao for you. They said that President Zhao's schedule is completely full this morning, but President Zhao and his daughter have a lunch today and have invited you to join them," Zhang Lin reported.
"Mhm."
Gu Nian nodded and with her lips slightly pursed, she said, "Help me check for high-quality essence oil suppliers who have been active in the circle recently; we're going to visit with this information right away."
Zhao Wenbo's sudden change of heart was definitely not a coincidence; Gu Nian needed to be fully prepared for both possibilities.
She did not plan to be led by the nose by the Zhao Family ever after...
In comparison to the Gu Family, the Zhao Family is not worth mentioning; they can only be taken as raw material suppliers.
A lean camel is bigger than a horse.
If Zhao Wenbo intends to cut off cooperation with the Gu Family from now on... Since he is the one who started this, Gu Nian doesn't mind making the most of the situation and eliminating the Zhao Family from the Gu Family's partners list.
...
Noon:
Zhao Wenbo had set the luncheon at the second-floor private room of Dragon Totem.
When Gu Nian arrived, she not only found Zhao Wenbo and a young woman already seated but also... Fu Jingshen.
Gu Nian's expression changed slightly.
Fu Jingshen, why was he here?
Fu Jingshen sat in the main seat, with his assistant by his side, while Zhao Wenbo and the young woman took their seats as guests.
Gu Nian narrowed her Feng Mou eyes, wondering what kind of medicine Zhao Wenbo was selling in his gourd.
Gu Nian was suspicious of Zhao Wenbo because, according to Jingshen's temperament, he would definitely not invite her to have a meal together, especially since they had parted on bad terms the night before.
Gu Nian pressed her lips together, her gaze falling on the young woman by Zhao Wenbo's side. Her beautiful eyes flickered with recognition.
This woman... seemed so familiar.
After reflecting for a moment, Gu Nian's face changed slightly.
Zhao Meng!
Her middle school classmate and back then, an obsessed fan of Fu Jingshen.
She couldn't stand Zhao Meng always bragging about Jingshen in front of her, disrupting the peace. It was to silence her that Gu Nian had rashly claimed she would make Jingshen her loyal dog boyfriend.
Gu Nian pursed her lips, never expecting... Zhao Meng turned out to be Zhao Wenbo's daughter.
That was it; the feud was now thoroughly established.
Now Gu Nian understood why Zhao Wenbo suddenly wanted to terminate the cooperation with the Gu Family.
It was all because of... Zhao Meng.
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