41 Short Separation

CP fans are very interested in the activities of Gu Tingshen and Ye Zhenzhen. Unfortunately, Gu Tingshen's Weibo is like an emotionless corporate account, posting only official announcements and not a single piece of personal information.

Haters often seize on this point to say that Gu Tingshen has no feelings for Ye Zhenzhen at all and is only doing business for the benefit of the group.

Of course, fans of the couple scoff at this claim. Anyone who's watched the show knows that Gu Tingshen is absolutely head over heels in love! His body language and micro-expressions betray him!

However, there were still some shortcomings. When they saw Gu Tingshen change his profile picture, they immediately started discussing it excitedly, as if they had been injected with adrenaline.

It's hard to tell since it's not in bloom; it looks a bit like a peach tree?

Is this referring to Zhenzhen? Zhenzhen's nickname is Little Peach Blossom.

Yang Xuefei, who was lurking in the super topic, took a look and felt that the tree and the background of the photo looked familiar, as if she had seen it somewhere before.

After browsing Ye Zhenzhen's Weibo for a while, I finally found a photo from five or six years ago. It was taken by Ye Zhenzhen standing under a tree. The courtyard behind her was similar, but the angle was different, and the tree wasn't as tall back then as it is now.

She immediately remembered that the tree was planted by Ye Zhenzhen's family when she was born; it was a peach tree.

Because of the line in the Book of Songs: "The peach tree is young and tender, its leaves are lush and green."

So, is President Gu's sudden change of his profile picture a subtle way of showing his love?

Hmm, this is kind of sweet...

She herself was deeply engrossed in the project, yet she remained silent in the posts on the super topic.

Ye Zhenzhen had a bad reputation due to her poor acting skills, while Gu Tingshen was a rich and handsome man who was excellent in every way. These long-time fans were generally worried that Gu Tingshen's halo was too strong and would make Ye Zhenzhen a mere supporting character.

So we can just ship them privately; we'll never actively encourage CP fans.

She didn't actively spread the news, but netizens kept digging deep and uncovering the truth, which sparked a frenzy among fans of the couple.

[Who would have thought that President Gu, who seems so serious, is actually a seemingly cold but actually warm-hearted and secretly passionate person!]

[The best angle to this photo isn't just the lush foliage, but also the courtyard in the background, which perfectly frames the peach tree. Take a closer look!]

[Holy crap, a shipper has appeared upstairs!!! This subtle possessiveness is exactly what our CEO Gu would do!!]

[The courtyard is deep, filled with lush greenery; inside lies my beloved Zhenzhen. How captivating!!]

[Ahhhh, this is so sweet, so sweet!!]

[Oh my god, this is such a realistic 'CEO falls in love with me' story!! The Peach Blossom Couple is real!!!]

Ye Zhenzhen now frequently browses the Peach Blossom Couple's CP super topic, because several of the wives' cookings smell so delicious that she can't help but come and take a look.

The person involved felt both shocked and thrilled when reading their own fanfiction. Well-written stories had accurate character portrayals, making the reader feel incredibly immersed; others had wildly imaginative plots, and although they were out of character, the captivating storylines made it impossible for her to stop reading.

The CP-themed edits on C-site are becoming more and more exquisite. Many clips are cut together, paired with background music, and slowed down, making her blush and feel her heart race when she watches them.

As she scrolled through the comments, she came across everyone's discussions, and the moment she saw Gu Tingshen's profile picture, she recognized the peach tree.

It was raining the day they returned. The leaves, washed by the water, were even more vibrant green, and pink peaches could be seen among the layers of branches and leaves.

She stared blankly at her phone, where a comment from a netizen had just appeared.

[In the deep courtyard, there lies my Zhenzhen]

The phone rang at that moment. When Ye Zhenzhen saw who was calling, her hand trembled and she almost dropped the phone off the bed.

She hurriedly retrieved the phone, pressed the call button, and only when the cold phone was pressed against her face did she realize that her face was burning hot.

"Hello?"

"Are you asleep?" The man's magnetic voice came through the receiver, low and slightly hoarse.

"Not yet," Ye Zhenzhen leaned back against the soft pillows, shrinking her neck slightly. "Are you done with your work?"

"No," Gu Tingshen looked down at his watch; the time showed 9:30 PM. Ye Zhenzhen's voice was still clear-headed. "Is your back still cold?"

"Much better, you..."

She wanted to ask why you suddenly changed your Weibo profile picture, but after biting her lip, she only asked, "Aren't you tired after being so busy for so long?"

“A little,” Gu Tingshen pinched the bridge of his nose, not bothering to find out what she was trying to say, and leaned back in his office chair with a faint smile on his lips, “So I’m calling you to take a break.”

Ye Zhenzhen was amused by him, "You're the boss, no one can stop you from slacking off, just go back and rest, and go check their work tomorrow."

...

The knocking on the door interrupted their conversation.

Hearing the commotion on his end, Ye Zhenzhen said goodbye and hung up the phone.

Gu Tingshen sat up straight, a relaxed smile on his face.

"Here's the new plan, please take a look." Li Qingyun handed over the folder, lowered his head, and remained indifferent, seemingly used to President Gu's behavior.

The manager of the branch office on Hong Kong Island next door was a woman in her thirties with long chestnut hair styled in big waves and impeccable makeup, exuding an extraordinary aura.

She followed Li Qingyun over and saw the smile on Gu Tingshen's lips. She was surprised for a moment, but quickly adjusted her expression, remained quiet, and stood aside to wait.

She's a veteran of the group, having worked with Gu Tingshen at headquarters, and this is the first time she's seen him with such an expression. His smile is like an iceberg melting; it seems he truly loves his wife!

Those ladies and young women in Hong Kong who admire Mr. Gu are going to be disappointed~

Ye Zhenzhen hung up the phone and, seeing the call duration, was surprised to realize that she and Gu Tingshen had been talking on the phone for nearly twenty minutes.

Looking back, it seems like they didn't say much, just chatted casually. Gu Tingshen's voice was soft and magnetic, and when it rang in her ear, it was like a whisper when he was holding her in his arms.

She shook her head on the pillow, blushing as she shook off the sudden thought.

After a while, I still couldn't fall asleep, so I found the reddish-brown panda in the cabinet, hugged it tightly, and rubbed against it.

My favorite pillow always felt a little cold, and I tossed and turned in bed for ages before finally falling asleep...

Ye Zhenzhen felt much better after taking the medicine and didn't want to overthink things at home, so she simply devoted all her energy to her work, spending every day in the design department, turning her inspiration from her trip to northern Xinjiang into reality.

The design department has now recruited many young people, and under the boss's leadership and (money) incentives, their creativity is overflowing like the Yellow River, unstoppable.

This time, in addition to the Northern Frontier series, featuring crystal-clear fruits made of various colored gemstones, they also launched a Journey to the West series. They invited the original Journey to the West character designers to provide guidance and redesigned styles that incorporate Journey to the West elements while being suitable for modern people.

The girls at Fengming are experiencing a bittersweet feeling. Before, slow production meant they couldn't buy the products even with their money. Now, production capacity has finally increased, but new products are being released too quickly, and their wallets are about to be empty.

As soon as the official Weibo account posted the teaser for the new Northern Xinjiang series, a large number of fans flooded the comments section.

[These new products are all so beautiful!! So delicious!! I never knew there was watermelon-colored tourmaline!!]

[Purple grapes, green grapes, apricots, and pomegranate seeds—they look so real, and they're even made of natural crystal gemstones?!]

I absolutely love that red agate peach! With its delicate jade-green leaves, it would be so beautiful to wear it as an earring!!!

The apricots made with beeswax have an amazing texture! I love apricots, so don't try to take them from me!!

[Oh no! Fengming is going to rob me again! These fruit-themed sets include rings, earrings, and necklaces—isn't that forcing me to buy them all?!]

Have you seen the Sayram Lake series that just popped up? Ahhh, the blue is so beautiful, and it even has a gradient effect!

[There are two more versions, an enamel version and a jadeite version. The blue jadeite version is too expensive, but I can afford the enamel version!!!]

...

When the Journey to the West series was released, netizens who were just watching the spectacle were completely dumbfounded.

No wonder we haven't heard from Ye Zhenzhen since the show ended, and nobody could get a picture of her. Turns out she's been in seclusion doing something big!!

Why didn't she think of becoming an actress in the first place? If she had gone into design earlier, she probably could have become a big shot in the industry!

[My childhood memories have really touched me!! I'm a huge Sun Wukong fan, I want to buy the Golden Hoop Bracelet!!]

[My wife saw Fengming and thought the old gold jewelry was ugly, so she wanted to replace it all. To be honest, I also want to wear the Golden Cudgel around my neck.]

On the day of release, the first batch of stock was sold out as soon as the new product link was posted on the official website.

[What the heck?! How come there are so many rich women?! A hairpin worth tens of thousands of yuan, gone in the blink of an eye?!]

[My watermelon earrings! How can summer be without watermelon earrings?! My child has been wanting them for so long, hurry up and get them in stock!!!]

My golden cudgel!! It's gone!!

My rake pendant is gone too!!

Some students even cried in the comments section of the official Weibo account.

[Student desperately seeking the same silver jewelry!! Gold is too expensive, I can't afford it, sob sob...]

[Same request!! My child is practically crying with envy! I love that enamel snow-capped mountain and pine forest scene so much, just looking at it makes the summer heat disappear!!]

I desire grapes, watermelons, and pomegranates; I also desire persimmons, peaches, and apricots. But I cannot have both! I'm devastated!

【Boss Zhen! Philanthropist Zhen!! I, your student, want a silver-plated gold-plated golden cudgel and a golden cudgel bracelet!!】

After the person in charge of online operations relayed the netizens' requests, Ye Zhenzhen carefully considered the feedback and tried making several silver jewelry pieces. The designs were slightly different from the gold jewelry. Once they were launched, the sales reached an astonishing level.

After working tirelessly day and night, the design department completed the launch of the new summer products, putting pressure on the production and sales teams.

They finally had a chance to catch their breath, going online to watch the excitement and having a good time. The praise and sell-out of their new designs greatly soothed their fatigue from continuous overtime and late nights, not to mention the generous bonus from their boss. This job was truly tiring but enjoyable!

Song Chengcheng carried a cup of traditional Chinese medicine into Ye Zhenzhen's office.

Ye Zhenzhen was pinching the mosquito bites on her arm. Her hands had finally healed, but today she had been bitten twice more on her arm, which were red, swollen, and itchy, making her very upset.

"Ugh, so bitter..." Ye Zhenzhen took a sip and wrinkled her face. She held her breath and drank it all, then picked up the teacup next to her and took a sip of plain water.

Every day, Uncle Li would have the bodyguard who delivered her medicine bring it to the company as well. From then on, Song Chengcheng had an extra job: to watch her drink the medicine three times a day.

"You've been working too hard lately. There's no end to the work; you need to rest." Song Chengcheng made sure she finished her drink, noticing her tired face. The desk was piled high with documents, and sitting in her office chair made her appear even thinner and smaller, a sight that tugged at the heartstrings.

"I'm not as tired as you. I only do a little talking. Once this busy period is over, we'll all give everyone a break and get some rest." Ye Zhenzhen rubbed her eyes and gestured to Song Chengcheng with her lips. "Sister, sit down. Let's talk for a bit, and you can rest for a while too."

“Fengming’s sales have increased a lot recently, and I’d like to donate a portion of the profits to charity as a way to pray for my mother.” She waited for Song Chengcheng to sit down before speaking with a touch of melancholy. “But I don’t trust outside charities. Old Gu said we could set one up ourselves. I don’t know the specifics of how it works, so I’d like to hear your opinion.”

Song Chengcheng also looked sad.

Mr. Su has always been passionate about charity, not only donating money to charitable organizations but also building schools and providing scholarships for impoverished students.

Her father died early, and her mother suffered from many illnesses. She was able to finish university thanks to Mr. Su's kindness, and after graduation, she went straight to work at Fengming, also with a heart full of gratitude. After Mr. Su passed away, she would visit his grave every year.

After starting her career, she not only donated a portion of her income to charities every year, but also frequently volunteered, gaining a deep understanding of this field.

"That's good. In recent years, many charitable organizations have been exposed for scandals, and charitable resources have been abused and wasted. If we establish our own foundation, we can control the direction of charity, improve the transparency of fund use, and also shape our corporate image."

"How much did you invest in the past year?" Ye Zhenzhen nodded repeatedly as she listened.

“In the past, Fengming would donate about 15% of its annual profits to charity.”

"Peach Blossom's profits will also be donated in this proportion. In addition, I will donate 15% of my personal income to the foundation every year. If there are any volunteer activities, let me know and I will participate."

Song Chengcheng felt a warmth in her heart, and her usually serious face softened with a gentle smile. She agreed and got up to get busy.

With one thing on her mind, Ye Zhenzhen felt much lighter.

She is not a person with high material needs, and she is unwilling to touch the original owner's wealth. Fengming's sales have recently surged, Taoyao is no longer losing money, and the advertising revenue of C-site, which she invested in before, has also increased significantly after its popularity improved.

There's no point in keeping these extra revenues with her; it's better to use them to help more people, which would also be a way to do good deeds for the original owner and Ye's mother.

Thinking of C-site, she opened her phone to check the recent view count of Tao Yao and Feng Ming's short videos.

Ever since the promotional video for Fengming's filigree craftsmanship went viral, the newly recruited young people in the publicity department have had their "Ren and Du meridians" unlocked.

Not only did they collaborate with photographer Zhang Qingfeng's team to create a series of short films showcasing traditional craftsmanship and innovative designs for Fengming, but they also filmed behind-the-scenes footage of the artists in Taoyao's daily training and classes, which unexpectedly became very popular.

The official accounts of Fengming and Taoyao are approaching one million followers, and several newcomers to Taoyao have also gained a lot of followers by riding on this wave of traffic.

Some of them were even unexpectedly spotted by directors and went on to play small roles, gaining a bit of fame.

Of course, Zhan Yan and Zhou Jin are the most popular.

These two are now the undisputed number one male and female members of Taoyao.

Both of them have excellent natural talent, solid basic skills, and are willing to work hard; all they lacked was an opportunity. Now that they have proven their acting skills in "I Am an Actor," they have naturally soared to new heights.

Ye Zhenzhen was very proud of her judgment. She had already chosen a script tailored for the two of them, and they were just waiting for the production team to be ready so that the filming of "The Actors" could begin.

Upon entering Station C, just as I was about to visit Taoyao's official account, my attention was drawn to the trending topic #TaoyaoLiveClass#.

[Author's Note]

Happy New Year everyone!