Mother Yang said, "It was Cheng Xu who called me, not the gentleman."
Gu Mian didn't say anything more. Her mobility was limited right now, and it was indeed much better to have Mother Yang around.
"Madam, are you hungry? I can go make you some late-night snack."
"I'm not hungry, help me get washed up."
"Yes."
Gu Mian was washed up and lay down in bed, but her mind was a mess.
She was very happy that Gu Xingzhi could come back safe and sound.
What made her uncomfortable was Li Tingshen.
Their relationship seemed to be getting stiffer.
Was living a peaceful life really that difficult?
Gu Mian took a deep breath, tried to drive away these messy thoughts, closed her eyes, and fell asleep.
...
Early the next morning.
Gu Mian hadn't gotten up yet when the doorbell rang.
Mother Yang went to open the door and saw a strange man standing outside, "Hello, may I ask who you are..."
"Gu Xingzhi, a friend of Gu Mian."
"Mr. Gu, good morning, our madam has not gotten up yet."
"It's okay. I will wait for her to have breakfast together."
Mother Yang was hesitating whether to let him in when Gu Mian's voice came from behind, "Xingzhi."
"Mianmian."
"Come on in."
Mother Yang had no choice but to open the door and let him through.
"I brought you your favorite soup dumplings."
"Thank you."
The two of them went to have a meal together, chatting while they ate.
"You should hurry up and get your ID card reissued."
"Alright," Gu Xingzhi laughed, "when did you become so naggy."
"And give me your phone."
Gu Xingzhi unlocked his phone and handed it to her.
Gu Mian operated on her own phone for a bit, then picked up his phone to do something, "I've transferred some money to you on WeChat. Use it first, and let me know if it's not enough."
"Mianmian, I have money."
"You've just escaped from Northern Myanmar, how could you have any money? Don't stand on ceremony with me."
Gu Xingzhi could only nod, "Okay, I'll do as you say."
"That's more like it," Gu Mian said, "I've taken a couple of days off. Once you've finished your business, come back here for lunch; I still have lots to tell you."
"Alright."
...
Taking advantage of running out to buy groceries, Mother Yang secretly called Li Tingshen.
"Sir, a Mr. Gu came to see madam early in the morning. They seem to be on very good terms, not only having breakfast together but madam also invited him for lunch."
The man on the other end of the phone replied coldly, "So what?"
Mother Yang: "..."
What does "so what" mean?
Mother Yang suddenly didn't know what to say, "I will report to you promptly if there is anything special."
The next second, the call was hung up.
Mother Yang was suddenly a bit stunned.
Did she say something wrong?
This job is getting harder and harder!
While Yang Mama prepared lunch, Gu Xingzhi came back.
Gu Mian asked, "Xingzhi, do you have any plans for what to do next? What job are you thinking of finding?"
Gu Xingzhi smiled, "The competition in the Capital is fierce, and with a five-year gap, how could I possibly compete with others?"
Gu Mian felt a pang of heartache.
Gu Xingzhi had always been a genius, with a future that should have been incredibly bright, yet that accident cost him the precious golden five years of his life.
"Xingzhi, it's not too late for anything." Gu Mian reined in her emotions and said, "You're so smart, I believe that no matter when you start from scratch, your life can still be wonderful."
"You should find a job first. With your strong learning ability, you will definitely blend into society quickly."
"Mianmian, I will sort these things out myself, you don't need to worry."
"Okay, I work at the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hall, you can come and find me anytime."
"I know."
Gu Mian originally wanted to know more about what he had been through these years, but she was afraid she might stir up bad memories for him and had to hold back.
...
After resting at home for two days, Gu Mian returned to work once her foot injury had fully healed.
Yan Mu called, "Miss Gu, you've always wanted to meet the big boss of the skyscraper, haven't you? He is hosting a banquet this Sunday, and I have reserved two invites for you. You can come with Su Mei."
Su Mei was Mrs. Ji's name.
Gu Mian readily agreed, "Thank you, Lawyer Yan, I will be there on time."
Although she was still in a cold war with Li Tingshen, she wanted to go to the banquet to see if there was anything she could do for him.
"By the way, Lawyer Yan, Sister Su Mei said she wants to treat us to dinner on Friday night. Has she contacted you?"
"She has, and I will be there on time."
"See you Friday then."
"See you Friday."
Just after hanging up, Mr. Lu Lang knocked and came in, smiling, "I heard from Yang Mama that you've been getting close to a young and handsome guy recently?"
"Master, why are you so gossipy too?" Gu Mian chuckled, "That's an old friend I've been separated from for many years. We've just reunited recently, so we've met a few times."
"Does President Li have no objection?" Mr. Lu Lang asked, "I heard that ever since he accompanied you back to your hometown, the two of you have been at odds?"
Gu Mian did not deny it, "Because I know he is deceiving me. Master, do you know why he never allowed us to diagnose and treat him after his injury? Because he wasn't injured in the kidney at all, and there was no loss of virility."
"Really?" Mr. Lu Lang was shocked, "That's good news."
"But it's deception." Gu Mian's lips pressed together slightly.
"He probably does that wanting to keep you by his side."
"I know, but later on, he had many opportunities to tell me the truth, but he didn't. He kept making me feel guilty and sad." Gu Mian lowered her gaze, "What's more important is, he is my husband, yet he does not treat my relatives as his own, which is something I cannot accept."
"Ever since I married him, I have always treated his family as my own, yet I can't get the same treatment in return from him."
Mr. Lu Lang said, "I have known President Li for a fair amount of time; though we haven't interacted much, I somewhat understand his character."
"Maybe because he was born a child of privilege, his empathy is quite weak, so when you mention this situation, I'm not at all surprised."
Gu Mian's nose felt sour, "Tingshen and I have been married for over three years, but it seems like we have never really understood each other."
"Now that we are slowly getting to understand each other, we're finding out that while marriage is easy, living together is difficult. After gaining an in-depth understanding, we realize that adjustment is the hardest part of a marriage."
"But this is the necessary path of marriage, perhaps you were meant to marry first, love later."
"But even if it is love after marriage, all the love is coming from me." Gu Mian tugged at her lips, giving a bitter smile, "Can a marriage really last with love being given from just one side?"
"Mianmian, since your master has never been married, I can't teach you how to manage a marriage. But, I do know that sustaining a relationship, be it a romance or a marriage, is very hard," Mr. Lu Lang patted her shoulder, "harder than your apprenticeship."
...
In a blink of an eye, it was Friday.
After work, Gu Mian picked up the flowers she had pre-ordered from the florist and took a taxi to Su Mei's place.
Yan Mu had already arrived, but what Gu Mian didn't expect was... Li Tingshen was also there...