Chapter 31
Gu Yubai didn't say anything more.
Although the somewhat confusing question has not yet been answered, he is very clear about what his current purpose is.
He only acts on a single, certain objective, and he never makes a mistake.
Sure enough, upon hearing this, Yu Xia seemed to have a huge burden lifted off her shoulders, her brows relaxed, and she instantly let down her guard.
It turns out he wasn't talking about her, but about his friend.
I realized I had been thinking too much nonsense.
I'm never watching short dramas again!
Yu Xia laughed: "Okay. Thank you for telling me all this today." Not wanting him to be too embarrassed, Yu Xia scratched her head a little awkwardly and made up an excuse for herself, "Actually, I didn't intentionally avoid you. I just happened to lower my head at that time. Also, yesterday during dinner, I had a moment of madness and did something. I hope you don't mind."
Hearing this, Gu Yubai almost laughed.
Thinking back to the moment their eyes met, Yu Xia recoiled like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, immediately pulling her head back and burying it in the bowl like a quail. To call such behavior accidental would be tantamount to treating someone like a fool.
However, he certainly didn't expose her.
After all, his real purpose in calling Yu Xia out was to get the young streamer to stop avoiding him. To that end, he even went so far as to tell a lie to ease the streamer's awkwardness, so naturally he would take the opportunity to back down: "Yeah, I know."
I know you're deliberately avoiding me, I know you're making excuses, I know you don't want to face me.
The thing she had been worried about was explained clearly, relieving Yu Xia's anxiety and worry.
As the smog that had been hanging over her head dissipated and the sky cleared, Yu Xia finally realized that she had made such a fuss over such a trivial matter yesterday, and that she had reacted so strongly at the dinner table. It was really...
Thinking of this, and wanting to make amends in some way, she smiled sheepishly: "I hope you won't feel too much annoyed by my neurotic behavior..."
Before he could finish speaking, Gu Yubai uttered two firm words: "No."
ah?
Yu Xia, who was interrupted, was stunned for a moment.
Before they could react, they heard Gu Yubai's next sentence.
"I don't mind, and I won't think about it again."
These two "no" statements were clear and forceful, addressing all the possibilities that Yu Xia had in mind and eliminating any unfounded worries she might have had.
Yu Xia didn't expect him to say that.
Was I being too obvious, or does he have mind-reading abilities? How could he know her thoughts so well?
At this point, Yu Xia truly didn't know what to say.
Fortunately, Gu Yubai also ended the conversation.
"It's time to go to work, go home."
Yu Xia was more than happy to agree and immediately said, "Okay."
—
As soon as Yu Xia got back, Yuan Yi pulled her aside and asked what happened, whether Gu Yubai had made things difficult for her, and so on.
Yu Xia felt a little strange when she heard the word "difficult".
Although Gu Yubai appears cold and aloof, he is actually quite honest and upright, and is respected by his employees. You would never associate him with the word "difficult."
“No,” Yu Xia said fairly.
It's not just that they don't have any special qualities; you could even call it thoughtful and considerate.
"Then why did he ask you to go out?" Yuan Yi asked, puzzled.
She recalled the expression on Gu Yubai's face when he called out to Yu Xia; it was chillingly cold, enough to send shivers down one's spine. She would have believed him if he had said he would drag Yu Xia out and teach her a lesson.
"Well..." Yu Xia didn't really want to talk about what happened at the dinner table yesterday, so she just made up an excuse about being an employee to get over it, "They just asked me how I was feeling at the studio, how the department was doing, whether my efficiency was high enough, and told me not to hold them back."
At first, Yuan Yi was a little skeptical after hearing the beginning, wondering when Gu Yubai had become so humane and caring about how his employees were feeling. But when she heard the last sentence, "Don't hold us back," she understood. It was exactly the kind of thing Gu Yubai would say; it wasn't surprising at all.
"It's okay, he's just like that. Don't put too much pressure on yourself. If you don't understand something, just ask us," Yuan Yi comforted her.
"Um."
After a long day of work, Yu Xia ate in the cafeteria and didn't forget to buy a pineapple cake from the dessert shop after leaving the studio.
Yu Xia knew this dessert shop; its pineapple cakes were very famous.
When she received the job offer and started working, she originally wanted to buy some ice jelly for the auntie, as she remembered that the auntie seemed to really like it. But she happened to run into Gu Yubai that day and was suddenly called to lunch, so she didn't have time to buy it. She definitely couldn't miss it today.
After making her selection and paying, Yu Xia thanked the shop assistant and left the dessert shop carrying the packaging box.
She was looking down at her phone, checking when the bus would arrive, and didn't notice the two figures walking out of the company building.
The location of Yu Bai Studio is excellent, in the city center, with very convenient transportation; the bus stop is right across the street.
My phone shows that the bus will arrive in two minutes.
Two minutes, not a second to spare, Yu Xia squeezed her way onto the bus with the crowd.
She sat in the back seat holding the dessert box, supporting the bottom of the box with both hands, and looking out the window.
She always felt a little bored when she was on the bus.
I don't know how long we drove, but familiar buildings slowly came into view, and the loudspeaker announced, "We've arrived at Yunjie Lane."
The driver slammed on the brakes, quite violently. Yu Xia lurched forward, inwardly cursing. Why was it always like this on the bus? These drivers seemed to have a grudge against brakes, as if they couldn't be comfortable unless they slammed on them and made everyone feel jolted by the inertia.
Once the car had come to a complete stop, Yu Xia got up and got out from the back.
Stepping onto the cement road, past the small shops she passes every day, and the familiar buildings she can remember with her eyes closed, Yu Xia walked into the alley where she had been living for more than half a year.
"Auntie!" Sure enough, as soon as I entered, the first thing I saw was Auntie's stall in front of her shop.
Yu Xia walked to the stall with practiced ease.
"Oh my!" The aunt was startled, but when she saw it was Yu Xia, she looked pleasantly surprised: "Xia, it's you! You're off work so soon? What would you like to order today? The usual?"
Aunt Yu Xia gave Aunt Yu a bright smile and said, "Yes, it's time to get off work. Yes, the usual."
“I know,” the auntie smiled as she added ingredients to the bowl. “I remember everyone’s taste in this alley. You don’t want sesame seeds, Old Wang doesn’t want crushed peanuts, Old Li only wants taro balls, and Old Zhang wants everything except hawthorn and mango.”
"You have a great memory," Yu Xia said with a smile.
"I remember you guys very clearly, you're the only ones who are special." The aunt packed up the ice jelly.
"Xia, have you eaten yet? If not, stay and eat with us. My daughter will make it soon." The aunt handed over the ice jelly and warmly invited her over.
“I’ve already eaten, Auntie,” Yu Xia said, then picked up the dessert box in her hand and placed it on the auntie’s stall. “Auntie, I bought this from my company. I thought it was pretty good. Here, you can try it and share it with your daughter.”
"Oh dear! What are you buying for me, child? Honestly." The aunt picked up the dessert box, looking worried. "This must be very expensive. You silly child, you should keep the money for yourself. Why are you buying it for me?"
"It's not expensive," Yu Xia smiled. "It's right downstairs from our office. I thought you'd like it, so I bought it. It didn't cost much. Besides, I got the offer, so consider this a celebration for me. If it weren't for your lucky bowl of ice jelly, I might not have gotten it." Yu Xia said.
Auntie loved hearing this. On one hand, the word "celebration" made her happy—she was happy that Yu Xia had received the offer, which was a good thing. On the other hand, she was happy that Yu Xia had mentioned "lucky ice jelly."
Of course! Everyone who ate her ice jelly got that "lucky ice jelly" too. Her daughter ate it and got one, and Yu Xia ate it and got one too—it's a lucky ice jelly!
The auntie's face showed a proud expression.
At her shop, whoever eats the ice jelly gets a "nest of jelly".
Hearing that it didn't cost much, she felt relieved and stopped refusing. She happily accepted the dessert, saying, "Okay, if you need any more ice jelly next time, come to Auntie's again. Auntie promises to make you another bowl of lucky ice jelly, so you'll get ice jelly until your hands are sore."
"Okay, I'll definitely come to see you again next time I need to," Yu Xia said with a smile. "Then I'll head back now, Auntie."
Yu Xia waved goodbye to her.
The auntie responded with an "Eh".
"Hey, have you seen enough?" Fu Ze said to the person in the driver's seat, his fist pressed against his temple, somewhat speechless.
He almost rolled his eyes. He didn't know what had gotten into Gu Yubai. After leaving the building, he was supposed to go to his car, but Gu Yubai just stood there in front of the building, motionless, staring at something. His head turned around, and after a while, his eyes were fixed on the opposite side of the road.
Just as Fu Ze was wondering what Gu Yubai was looking at, Gu Yubai suddenly got up and walked straight to the parking spot. Without saying a word, he opened the car door, inserted the key, and started the car.
Before Fu Ze could react, caught off guard, he could only hurriedly climb into the passenger seat.
Once inside, he couldn't help but ask Gu Yubai what he had been looking at and why he had driven off without saying a word.
Gu Yubai remained silent, his eyes fixed straight ahead, as if afraid of losing valuables if he wasn't paying attention. He was exceptionally focused and serious, not even sparing Fu Ze a glance, acting as if Fu Ze didn't exist, concentrating solely on his own affairs.
Fu Ze found it very strange.
But then he thought, oh well, Gu Yubai is a bit neurotic anyway, so he didn't pay much attention. He'd just drive him home.
But he soon realized that this was not the way to his house at all.
"No, where are you going?" Fu Ze was very confused.
Gu Yubai remained silent, his eyes still fixed on the road ahead, before stopping the car.
Fu Ze was speechless, completely baffled as to what this guy was trying to do.
They can't just suddenly have a meltdown and try to drag him to a deserted place to kill him and cover their tracks.
But soon, he found out the answer.
Because the next second, he saw Yu Xia get off the bus less than ten meters away from them.
Fu Ze: "..."
Then, their car followed Yu Xia at a distance, driving slowly until Yu Xia entered the alley.
Gu Yubai parked his car in a rather inconspicuous corner at the entrance of the alley, from where he could see the alley itself. Because of the trees blocking the view, it didn't attract much attention.
Gu Yubai sat in the driver's seat, watching intently.
So, under the scorching 37-degree Celsius heat, Fu Ze passively followed Gu Yubai in the car and watched the entire interaction between Yu Xia and the auntie selling ice jelly.
Fu Ze was yawning as he watched. He really didn't understand what was so interesting about such an ordinary scene that happened everywhere, or why Gu Yubai wasted so much time under the scorching sun.
But Gu Yubai was looking at it very seriously, his gaze focused, as if he were looking at a contract that required precise calculations, not something that could be seen everywhere in daily life. The more he looked, the more absorbed he became.
It's unclear how much time passed, but when Yu Xia finally entered the residential building, Fu Ze's patience had reached its limit. He yawned and asked, "Hey, have you seen enough?" Gu Yubai seemed to be suddenly awakened, pulled out of his immersed world, and returned to reality.
Then he saw Gu Yubai turn his head and look at him with those sharp, cold eyes, as precise as an instrument, as if he were solving some age-old mystery, and ask, "What's the difference between liking and appreciating?"
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