Gu Xun shrugged disapprovingly, "I'm just being a friend..."
Shi Heng picked up his suit jacket and glanced at him before leaving. "The rich man who wanted to pursue Lina last year is still lying in the orthopedic department of the hospital."
Looking at Shi Heng's departing back, Gu Xun took out his cell phone and silently canceled the 99 roses he had just ordered from the flower shop.
…
The other side.
Lina drove her red Porsche and brought Gu Youran to the prosperous capital.
She affectionately took Gu Youran's arm and walked to the shop on the first floor.
A golden sign that reads "Lina Rosenberg" hangs on the black marble exterior.
Several shop assistants in uniform were adjusting the mannequin's pose in front of the window.
Gu Youran noticed the delicate rose carving on the door handle. "This design is very unique. It looks like a real flower that can breathe."
Lina smiled proudly and gently turned the doorknob. "This was specially hand-carved by a Suzhou intangible cultural heritage inheritor. The twenty-four doorknobs correspond to the twenty-four solar terms, and each pattern is unique."
As you push the door open, the store is filled with the elegant scent of agarwood.
Three eye-catching gowns are displayed in the display area on the left.
A moon-white silk embroidered cheongsam with a blooming rose pattern made of diamonds at the waist;
A high-end dress made of imported organza, with a faint ink-wash landscape on the skirt, which presents different scenery as you walk;
There is also a modified version of Hanfu, the cloud shoulder is made of traditional cloisonné filigree craftsmanship and inlaid with a phoenix with wings spread out as if about to fly.
“These are our treasures.”
Lina carefully stroked the hem of her cheongsam. "For this cheongsam alone, we hired an embroiderer from Suzhou to work continuously for 300 hours. Every stitch was done by hand."
An hour later, the tour ended.
Gu Youran sincerely admired, "I didn't expect you to have studied traditional Chinese crafts so thoroughly."
She pointed to a sachet embroidered with a ruyi pattern in the display cabinet and said, "Even these small accessories are so exquisite."
Lina's eyes flashed with satisfaction, "I became fascinated with Eastern aesthetics when I was designing at Y Guoxue. These are not just clothes, they are wearable works of art."
Before I knew it, it was noon.
Lina glanced at her watch. "It's already half past twelve. I'll treat you to dinner. There are some great new restaurants on the top floor of the mall."
Gu Youran quickly waved her hand. "I've seen so many beautiful designs today, I should treat you. Just consider it a thank you for showing me around such a great shop."
The two of them chatted and laughed as they took the elevator upstairs.
"I suddenly want to eat hot pot."
Lina pointed to a hot pot restaurant on the corner and said, "I heard the mushroom soup base here is amazing."
"Okay, let's eat hot pot."
Gu Youran's eyes lit up. For the past two days, she could only eat porridge and side dishes under Shi Heng's supervision, and the food in her mouth had long been tasteless.
She swallowed quietly, "It just so happens that I'm craving this, too."
After we sat down, the waiter brought us a carved copper hot pot.
Lina skillfully ordered a few signature dishes, "I want a matsutake platter, a marbling beef platter, and a seafood platter..."
She flipped through the menu and added a few more seasonal vegetables.
While waiting for the pot to boil, Lina pretended to be casual and asked, "Come to think of it, you and Renault have known each other for a long time, right?"
Gu Youran was stunned when she heard this. "We were neighbors when we were young, and then..."
Her eyes flickered, "We separated because of something."
When he looked up, his smile had returned to its calm state. "We just got back in touch recently. Do you know Renault too?"
"Yeah, I've met him a few times."
Lina stirred the soup in the pot with a colander, but her eyes were always fixed on Gu Youran's face.
"You just woke up in the hospital two days ago, and he came to see you."
"What?" Gu Youran put down his chopsticks in surprise, "But I didn't see him at all."
"He only stood at the door of the ward for a few minutes before leaving."
Lina noticed Gu Youran's expression froze for a moment and added, "You had just woken up at that time, so I was probably afraid of disturbing you."
A hint of embarrassment flashed across Gu Youran's face, but she quickly regained her composure.
"We were playmates when we were little, so he might be more concerned about my situation."
She picked up a piece of fat beef and dipped it in the pot, then asked casually, "You seem particularly concerned about Renault's situation?"
Lina's fingers holding the chopsticks suddenly tightened, and she immediately scooped a bowl of mushroom soup to cover up her gaffe.
"I'm just... a little curious about him."
She changed the subject abruptly, "This matsutake is cooked just right, try it."
Their eyes met briefly, then looked away.
Gu Youran stirred the dipping sauce in the bowl thoughtfully.
Lina didn't mention Renault again.
An hour later, Lina's red Porsche stopped in front of the Shi Group Building.
Gu Youran unbuckled her seatbelt and smiled, "Thank you for your hospitality today. The designs in the clothing store are truly stunning."
"You must come to help me cut the ribbon on the opening day." Lina rolled down the car window and emphasized again, "Don't forget you promised to perform rock songs."
Gu Youran made an OK gesture and turned to walk towards the building.
Watching her back disappear behind the revolving door, Lina immediately picked up her phone.
She quickly edited a message and sent it to Renault.
“Done!”
She leaned back in her seat, her tense shoulders finally relaxing.
The scene two days ago still bothered her.
She dressed up carefully and went to deliver the invitation in person, but Renault refused without even looking up, saying that he was "too busy recently."
But now it's different.
Lina looked through the rearview mirror and watched Gu Youran's figure completely disappear in the building, a determined smile appearing on the corner of her mouth.
She knew Renault too well.
As long as Gu Youran attends, the man who is always in a hurry will definitely show up at her opening ceremony on time.
…
at the same time.
A villa in Beijing.
Renault had just finished the video conference when his phone suddenly lit up. It was a message from Lina:
[Reno, Gu Youran will come to cut the ribbon and perform rock music on the opening day of the clothing store.]
Renault stared at the phone screen, his brows slightly relaxed.
Ever since he learned that Gu Youran had woken up, he had been waiting for her call for the past three days, but he never got it.
At this time, Lei Shuangcheng came over and asked, "Boss, what are you looking at so seriously?"
He glanced at the content on his phone and asked, "Huh? Miss Lina's clothing store is opening? Didn't you say you wouldn't go a few days ago?"
Renault put away his phone and said, "Go prepare a gift. I want the best Suzhou embroidery screen."
Lei Shuangcheng couldn't help but laugh.
A few days ago, Lina came in person to deliver the invitation, but the boss refused without even raising his head.
Now that I heard that Gu Youran was going, I immediately changed my mind.
He muttered quietly, "They say women are fickle. The eldest sister changed too quickly in front of Dr. Gu."
"Also," Renault walked to the study door and stopped, "ask for the exact time of the ribbon-cutting."
His eyes rarely showed a hint of expectation, "I will be there on time."
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