Chapter 69: The Butter Cookies Hidden a Treasure.
Upon seeing the person outside, Liang Yizhi's first reaction was to turn off the video doorbell and exchange a glance with Gu Yinyan.
Gu Yinyan licked his lips and asked, "Why is He Man here?"
"……I don't know either."
It wasn't unusual for He Man to come to her house on short notice; she often did this before. If she was attending an event nearby and it was getting late, she would come to her house for the night.
They were all familiar with each other, so it wouldn't be considered a disturbance for them to come directly to their door.
The doorbell rang again urgently, like a countdown in a movie before a game ends.
Liang Yizhi hurriedly pushed Gu Yinyan into her room: "There's no time, you stay inside first."
Are you sure I'm hiding here?
"Just for a little while. I'll take her out later, and you can leave when you have a chance."
Gu Yinyan twitched the corner of his mouth, saying nothing more, but inwardly mocking her for her quick wit when she started plotting something.
Liang Yizhi readjusted her breathing rhythm, answered the doorbell, and let the person up.
She turned on the light, and glancing down, she saw Gu Yinyan's pair of leather shoes still waiting at the door. She quickly picked them up, opened the door, and tossed them inside.
The leather shoes landed with a dull thud, drowned out by He Man's knocking on the door.
Liang Yizhi calmly opened the door, as if nothing had happened.
"Manman".
"I'm exhausted! I just finished dinner with a client from a brand nearby, and I didn't want to take a car home, so I came here to mooch off you." He Man leaned against the wall as she changed her shoes in the entryway.
She squeezed off her ankle boots and asked, "You're home? Why weren't the lights on? I thought you weren't here."
Liang Yizhi made up a random excuse: "I was just... sleeping."
He Man seemed to sense something, and gave her a look that swept over her from head to toe.
Liang Yizhi followed her gaze and looked down at herself. She was wearing a coat over a sweater, the top button of which was undone at some point, and the collar was askew, revealing a large expanse of her shoulders and neck.
"Aren't you cold?" He Man pointed to her collar.
Liang Yizhi immediately wrapped herself in her coat.
He Man thought for a moment and said, "You must have fallen asleep as soon as you came in."
With someone helping to explain herself, Liang Yizhi naturally accepted, chuckling, "Yes... I was a little tired, so I fell asleep as soon as I lay down."
He Man hooked her arm around hers: "Let me tell you, I found out a lot of information from the brand today. Do you know that actor whose TV series is currently a hit? They want to hire him as the spokesperson for their new product..."
He Man pulled her towards her room, but Liang Yizhi quickly stopped and said:
"Manman, I suddenly remembered, I forgot to buy toothpaste. Will you come with me to buy some toothpaste?"
"Is it really worth going out for such a small thing?" He Man waved her hand. "I'm too tired, and you're tired too. I'll just order you some takeout and that will solve the problem."
But I—
She still wanted to salvage the situation, but He Man had already turned on her phone: "What brand of toothpaste do you usually use?"
Liang Yizhi was on the verge of tears. Just when she was in despair, something even more hopeless happened.
She saw the doorknob of He Man's room move up and down behind her.
Then he opened the door.
When He Man turned around, she was startled to see Gu Yinyan's large figure standing in the doorway.
She stammered incoherently, "You, you, you, what are you doing in—the room?"
Liang Yizhi was also stunned, not understanding why Gu Yinyan had opened the door at this moment. If she had just held on a little longer, she might have been able to cover it up, and he would have inadvertently given himself away.
Gu Yinyan's voice was calm and composed: "I just took Liang Yizhi home and came back with her."
His nonchalant attitude left He Man somewhat bewildered.
Gu Yinyan glanced at Liang Yizhi and said, "When we got back, we found that the power was out, so we didn't turn on the lights just now. I called someone from the room to fix it."
He Man raised one eyebrow, looking puzzled: "But...didn't you say you were sleeping?"
She looked at Liang Yizhi.
The two sides gave conflicting testimonies, and Liang Yizhi couldn't answer. Gu Yinyan stepped in to smooth things over again:
"What can she do without electricity? Of course she'll just lie on the sofa and fall asleep."
Liang Yizhi secretly felt lucky.
That's a good reason; it's quite convincing.
"Oh, I see—" He Man drawled, seemingly convinced. Liang Yizhi looked at her, nodding rapidly.
"Are you kidding me? Do you think I'm stupid?"
He Man's expression changed, and she exposed him without reservation: "Gu Yinyan, can't you at least write a draft before you lie? Who would believe such a ridiculous excuse?"
Unexpectedly, He Man was completely unfazed by their trick. Liang Yizhi knew she had been exposed, but she remained silent, secretly hoping that Gu Yinyan could come up with a new reason to cover it up.
To everyone's surprise, he had no intention of arguing and simply nodded:
"It seems you're a bit smarter than I thought."
-
In the living room.
Liang Yizhi and Gu Yinyan sat side by side on the sofa. Liang Yizhi's back was very straight, as if there was a rope hanging from the beam behind her head, and her hands were placed obediently on her thighs.
Gu Yinyan leaned back on the sofa, and seeing her nervous expression, he put his hand on hers and squeezed it.
He Man paced back and forth in front of them with her arms crossed, her face grim. Turning around, she saw that the two people on the sofa had their hands clasped together.
Unable to bear watching, she adopted the imposing manner of a headmaster catching children in a relationship and shouted:
"What are you doing? Let go of my hand!"
Liang Yizhi pushed him away as if by reflex.
He Man pointed at the two of them, her index finger bent backwards with force: "You two, put your hands up! Don't even think about touching me."
Gu Yinyan glanced at the people beside him, and Liang Yizhi actually obediently raised her hands.
Are you going to act in a police or gangster movie?
When it was his turn, He Man snapped again, "Hurry up!"
Gu Yinyan lost his patience. He raised his hand, but instead of lifting it, he pushed it down over Liang Yizhi's hand, his long arm blocking her way.
"What exactly are you trying to say?"
He Man was even more furious. Looking at Liang Yizhi nestled beside him, she felt as if her precious little cabbage, which she had raised, had been stolen. And it had even been taken right under her nose by someone from the neighboring vegetable stall. Her eyes were filled with resentment and disappointment.
She glared at her two friends, who didn't seem to be making fun of her. So she asked again:
"You two...are you really together? In the way I understand it, together?"
Gu Yinyan: "Really."
"They really talked?"
"right."
He Man was stabbed in the heart again.
"I knew you two were always sticking together. I thought I was overthinking it, but I was wrong!" she accused Gu Yinyan. "You dog, you always try to get between me and Yizhi, always wanting to be the one in the couple. So you've had your eye on her all along!"
Gu Yinyan, of course, wouldn't back down verbally: "Why wasn't it you who stood between the two of us?"
He Man rolled her eyes: "You think Yizhi is like you, prioritizing romance over friendship?"
After her banter subsided, she became serious: "So, what are you two thinking? Did you both think you couldn't find someone else, so you just got together?"
Liang Yizhi spoke up: "It's not that hasty, anyway... it can't be explained in just a few words."
He Man's gaze towards the two of them became strange.
After confronting He Man, Liang Yizhi escorted Gu Yinyan downstairs.
She complained, "You were hiding perfectly well in your room, why did you suddenly come out?"
Gu Yinyan said, "Have you ever thought that we didn't need to hide our relationship from her in the first place?"
Liang Yizhi was taken aback.
Indeed, she was with Gu Yinyan, not some complete stranger. What did she need to hide from He Man?
Making up a random excuse would have seemed more natural. But both of them were too guilty at the time to consider that.
Gu Yinyan realized what was happening and, seeing that she couldn't persuade He Man, opened the door.
Gu Yinyan: "I just didn't expect her to be so quick-witted today."
Liang Yizhi sighed, "Now that He Man knows, what about Jiang Huai..."
"Don't worry about it, I'll talk to him." Gu Yinyan looked at her, and that one glance seemed to reach straight into her heart.
"Have faith in your friends," he said.
Liang Yizhi had already decided that she would tell He Man and the others about this as soon as possible. She wanted to find a more formal opportunity to say it, but the opportunity came earlier than expected, and coincidentally, she even caught them at their door.
Seeing He Man's expression, which didn't reflect the excited and heartfelt blessings Liang Yizhi had expected, Liang Yizhi felt uneasy.
At night, the two girls lay flat on the bed.
A dim yellow lamp was on by the bedside, casting a warm glow on the ceiling.
He Man was unusually taciturn and didn't gossip with her, probably because her mind was already preoccupied with another piece of gossip.
He Man placed her hands on her abdomen, her gaze fixed on the sky, blinking repeatedly.
Liang Yizhi turned her head to look at her.
He Man said quietly, "Yi Zhi, do you know? I have a feeling that I've been cheated on."
This description is abstract, but Liang Yizhi understands it; she feels she can empathize with He Man's feelings.
After all, some components of friendship and love are actually quite similar.
Possessiveness and exclusivity can exist in friendships too. When your two best friends suddenly get together, and you are completely unaware of it, it's inevitable that a sense of distance will arise in your heart.
Liang Yizhi turned over and lay on her side, one hand supporting her: "I understand."
"Yizhi, do you really like him?"
He Man emphasized: "It's liking as a man. It's not liking as a friend."
"Yes," Liang Yizhi answered affirmatively. "I had already thought this through before we got together."
"But... matters of the heart are complicated. Do you remember what you once told me?"
He Man looked bewildered, not knowing which sentence Liang Yizhi was referring to.
“A long time ago, at the entrance of Hook, you told me that relationships are all about a catalyst. When the catalyst comes, things change.”
She could still recall that scene, her clear, melodious voice mingling with the bleak wind.
At the time, these words were directed at her and He Xintu. He Man was just being sarcastic, and Liang Yizhi didn't take them to heart.
Unexpectedly, one day in the future, this statement actually came true.
"Although I can't say for sure when things started to change between us, I'm pretty sure that right now I see him as someone of the opposite sex."
He Man pursed her lips, and finally let out a long sigh through her nose. She also turned to face her:
"Actually, if it's Gu Yinyan, he's much better than the others. At least he's reliable and his character is trustworthy. As his friend, I agree with that."
Hearing this, Liang Yizhi felt much relieved. She asked, "Are you still angry?"
"Why would I be angry?! I don't like you. Of course, I don't like him either." He Man pulled the blanket up, covering herself completely. "I'm just processing it. From now on, when the four of us get together, we'll all be surrounded by the stench of your romance."
Liang Yizhi retorted, "How could that be? In front of our own people, it's the same as before."
He Man raised her eyebrows: "Then I'll ask you something, and you'd better answer honestly."
"you say."
What were you doing before I went upstairs?
Liang Yizhi had just taken a shower; her clean face was flushed from the warmth of the thick quilt, making her skin appear even thinner.
"...Would you believe me if I said we didn't do anything?"
"Nonsense! You're all disheveled, who would believe it if word got out!" He Man threw the blanket off again, turned her back to her, and said, "No gossip to hear! I'm going to sleep!"
"No!" Liang Yizhi sat up halfway and snuggled closer to He Man. "You haven't told me about that little actor yet. Hurry up, I want to hear it."
"You really want to hear it?"
"I really, really, really want to hear it."
He Man pursed her lips and forgave her: "Alright then."
...
After being honest with her friends, Liang Yizhi felt much better. She couldn't escape their usual teasing, but she actually enjoyed it.
With her lover and friends surrounding her, she had no complaints.
The orchestra had nothing to do that day. Liang Yizhi thought for a moment and decided to go to Gu Yinyan's company to have lunch with him.
Of course, we can't just order takeout like we used to. Although Gu Yinyan's meals are specially made according to the chef's recipes, if she makes them herself, at least it will show some care.
She got up early, took out the ingredients she had prepared the day before to cook, and also washed and cut some fruit. Considering that he might be tired in the afternoon before work, she also baked some fragrant butter cookies, packed them all up, and took them with her.
When Liang Yizhi arrived downstairs, her secretary, Xiao Tang, greeted her and led her upstairs.
She handed her a portion of the prepared cookies. Xiao Tang was flattered and accepted them, saying, "Miss Liang, you're too kind! You have such skillful hands; these cookies are so delicate."
"No, it's just a small token of my appreciation," Liang Yizhi said with a smile. "I'll wait for Gu Yinyan inside. Please don't tell him I'm here yet."
Xiao Tang understood immediately and gave her an OK sign.
Liang Yizhi walked around the huge office and looked out the window at the view that was rare to see from the high-rise building.
Hearing approaching footsteps, she hid behind the door, preparing to give Gu Yinyan a surprise.
The sound grew closer, and the footsteps seemed to mingle with conversation. Could there be guests?
The heavy door opened, and as soon as Gu Yinyan entered, he smelled that familiar fragrance. Turning his head, the face before him, adorned with a sweet smile, was none other than Liang Yizhi.
He paused, then spoke to the person outside the door.
"Excuse me, I just remembered something I haven't taken care of yet. Please wait for me in the reception room, I'll be right there."
The person outside, whose status was probably equal to Gu Yinyan's, said to him with a smile, "Mr. Gu, you're not letting me in even though I'm at the door? What, are you hiding something inside?"
Gu Yinyan glanced at the person behind the door, his movements extremely inconspicuous. A faint smile played on his lips as he calmly said:
"Yes. I've hidden a...treasure."
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