Chapter 105 Countdown
On Wednesday, there were only two hours left before the special shareholders' meeting that would decide the fate of Gu's company.
In Gu Ye's office, Chu Yan sat on the sofa, his fingertips swiping across the tablet screen, which displayed the final version of the authorization documents that Gu Ye's team had just sent him. His gaze slowly moved across the long list, finally stopping on two names: Gu Yu and Chu Yu.
His fingertips tapped the name unconsciously, his eyes deep and his specific emotions could not be seen.
[Was this also part of your calculations?] The system couldn't help but speak within its sea of consciousness, its tone filled with disbelief. [You hurt those two deeply. One was clearly exploited by you, and the other was nearly broken by you. And yet, they actually voted for Gu Ye at the last minute?]
Chu Yan's lips curled slightly as he responded mentally, his tone carrying a subtle complexity: "It's not a precise calculation. I just vaguely guessed it." This certainty of "guessing" might itself be a cold calculation. He stroked his chin, feeling the relief of mission completion; he was indeed in a good mood.
He picked up a pen and signed several documents he had already prepared. Words like "authorization" and "custodian" were faintly visible in the titles. He casually placed the signed documents on a corner of the coffee table.
At this moment, the office door was pushed open, and Gu Ye walked in with the fresh breath of morning. His brows were filled with the sharpness and determination of someone about to step onto the battlefield.
Seeing Chu Yan smiling at him on the sofa, Gu Ye's aura softened instantly, and the corners of his mouth unconsciously raised: "So happy? It seems like everything is under control?"
Chu Yan raised his eyebrows and said jokingly, "Your great revenge is about to be avenged, and your long-cherished wish has come true. Aren't you happy?"
Gu Ye hummed twice, and moved closer like a large dog. He naturally placed his furry head on Chu Yan's shoulder and rubbed it: "Of course I'm happy. But not just because of this." Revenge is certainly refreshing, but what he is looking forward to now is another more important thing.
Chu Yan felt the weight of his shoulders and the soft touch of his hair. He raised his hand and touched Gu Ye's short hair, which had now been dyed back to black and looked more stable. He smiled and followed up on his words, "You've been laying the groundwork for so long, so now can you tell me what exactly you want me to promise you?"
At this mention, Gu Ye's body stiffened almost imperceptibly. He coughed softly, raised his head from Chu Yan's shoulder, his eyes wandering, and suddenly felt a little embarrassed and awkward: "You...you don't look at me like that...let me get my emotions together first..." Lately, Gu Ye had become more and more familiar with Chu Yan, acting coquettishly and cutely with ease. It had been a long time since he had shown such an almost innocent and shy look.
Chu Yan laughed, and found Gu Ye like this particularly interesting: "Okay, then you take your time to think about it, I won't stare at you. It's just right that I go downstairs to discuss something with Chen Shu." Chen Shu is his capable secretary. When it is inconvenient for him to show up in person, he is in charge of all affairs of Jinshi Investment.
"Okay, go soon and come back!" Gu Ye nodded, the faint blush on his face had not completely faded.
One and a half hours before the special shareholders meeting.
In the small conference room downstairs, Chu Yan was meeting with Chen Shu. He clearly explained the upcoming arrangements, possible scenarios, and contingency plans to his most trusted subordinate.
Chen Shu was as efficient and competent as ever, quickly writing down the key points. However, when Chu Yan finished his instructions and prepared to leave, Chen Shu showed a rare look of wanting to speak but not wanting to.
Chu Yan noticed it keenly, stopped and looked back at him: "Just ask whatever you want to ask, why are you hesitating so much?" He rarely saw his secretary, who was always decisive, so hesitant.
Chen Shu opened his mouth, as if about to say something, but ultimately shook his head, suppressing all his emotions. He gave a professional smile, "Nothing, Mr. Chu. I've taken note of it. Don't worry." He picked up the documents, nodded slightly, and left the meeting room. As a subordinate, there were some things he couldn't ask.
One hour before the special shareholders' meeting.
Chu Yan stood alone by the window, watching the traffic and crowds gathering downstairs. He took out his phone and dialed Chu Yu's video call.
Inside the hospital ward, Chu Yu was completely unprepared to receive a video call from Chu Yan at this critical moment. He froze for a moment, then frantically searched for his phone, quickly adjusting his hospital gown and hair. He answered the call with a serious expression, his tone tinged with nervousness and concern. "Yan? Did something unexpected happen? What do you need me to do?" His first reaction was that Chu Yan had run into a difficult problem and was calling for help.
Chu Yan, on the other side of the screen, seemed to be in a quiet room with a simple background. He shook his head, staring intently at Chu Yu for a moment through the screen, and then said something without thinking, "Brother Yu, you're too thin."
"Ah?" Chu Yu was completely stunned and didn't react to this sudden change of topic.
He subconsciously looked down at his body which had become much thinner due to illness and exhaustion, and replied hesitantly and uncertainly: "Then...then I should eat more next time?" There was even a subtle hint of flattery in his tone.
"Yeah." Chu Yan nodded. "I hope that next time I see you, Brother Yu, you'll be back to your original state." Original state? Chu Yu thought quickly in his mind. He'd probably have to gain 20 pounds to recover. He took note and even started thinking about contacting the best nutritionist and fitness trainer as soon as he was discharged from the hospital.
"Okay." Chu Yu replied in a low voice, his voice choking. His eyes couldn't help but turn slightly red, and he quickly lowered his head to hide it.
It had been a long time since Chu Yan spoke to him in such a restraining and intimate tone. This sudden concern made him feel as if they had returned to the past.
He felt that something was off about Chu Yan today, but he couldn't quite put his finger on what it was, so he could only chalk it up to the nervousness before the battle. The two chatted about some family matters, and Chu Yu awkwardly tried to comfort Chu Yan, saying that the plan would definitely succeed. Chu Yan smiled on the other end of the video, his tone firm, "Of course it will succeed."
Half an hour before the special shareholders' meeting.
Chu Yan's finger slid across the address book, finally stopping at the name "Shan". He made a video call.
The ringtone echoed throughout the Ruichuang Technology office. Gu Xu stared at the name flashing on the vibrating screen of his phone on his desk, his fingers trembling slightly as he experienced a conflict between his conscience and his will.
Answer? Or not?
What would Chu Yan say if he called at this time? Gu Xu found that he didn't have the courage to face it.
Finally, just a second before the call was about to automatically hang up, he reached out and pressed the reject button as if he was burned.
Wait a little longer… He took a deep breath and told himself that he would call back after everything with Chu Yan was settled and the shareholders' meeting had a result. Now, he needed some time to prepare himself mentally for everything.
He pursed his lips, as if afraid of regretting it, and hurriedly locked his phone in the bottom drawer of his desk, as if that would block out all distractions. However, the constant buzzing sound seemed to still echo in his mind.
Fifteen minutes before the special shareholders' meeting.
Gu Ye changed into a perfectly tailored, high-end formal suit that made him look tall and straight, and his aura was fully revealed. He picked up his phone, took a deep breath, and dialed Chu Yan's number.
The call was answered almost instantly.
Gu Ye's tone was deliberately raised, with a playful tone that was a unique mixture of nervousness and excitement that only teenagers have, as if he wanted to dispel the last bit of uneasiness in this way: "Chu Yan! Right now! Right now! I want to exercise the ultimate privilege of being on call at any time! You have only one minute to show up in front of me!"
Chu Yan on the other end of the phone had a clear smile and indulgence in his eyes. His voice came through the receiver, steady and gentle: "As you wish."
When Chu Yan opened the office door and appeared in front of Gu Ye, Gu Ye was standing in the middle of the room, taking a deep breath, as if he was doing the final psychological preparation. Seeing Chu Yan, his eyes lit up, and he quickly walked up to him and stopped.
"I...I'm going to say it!" Gu Ye announced, his expression more serious than ever, but his ears were very red.
Chu Yan smiled gently, looking at him with an inclusive gaze, as if he was looking at the most precious treasure in the world: "Well, I'm listening."
Gu Ye took a deep breath, as if reciting a script he had rehearsed countless times, but his voice trembled slightly with nervousness: "Chu Yan, it's been more than three years since we met. A lot has happened in these three years. I am very grateful to you, really. Thank you for not giving up on me, thank you for pulling me out of the quagmire, forcing me to learn, forcing me to grow, and forcing me to move forward. If it weren't for you, I might still be living in a corner of an Internet cafe, muddled and confused, and I couldn't even imagine that I would be where I am today..."
He spoke fluently for a while, but suddenly got stuck, and all the carefully prepared flowery words were completely forgotten. He frowned in frustration and subconsciously raised his eyes to look at Chu Yan, just in time to catch the mischievous smile on his face that clearly showed that he was enjoying the show.
A feeling of shame and anger suddenly rushed to my head.
Gu Ye suddenly became furious and stretched out his hand, grabbing Chu Yan's wrist tightly, as if he was afraid that he would run away. He closed his eyes, made up his mind, and shouted loudly without caring about anything, his voice resounding throughout the office:
"I don't care! Chu Yan! I want to date you! The kind that's open and aboveboard!"
After shouting this, he seemed to have used up all his courage. His heart was pounding, almost jumping out of his throat, but his eyes were tightly closed, not daring to open them to see Chu Yan's reaction.
The expected surprise, hesitation, or rejection did not come.
He only heard a very gentle response, even with a hint of laughter:
Just these two light words made Gu Ye open his eyes suddenly and become completely dumbfounded.
He suspected he was hallucinating and stammered to confirm, "You...you agreed? No, what I meant is, I won't be a mistress! If Gu Xu wants to be one, let him be, I won't..."
Before he could finish his words, Chu Yan had already taken out his phone. He quickly tapped the screen a few times and then showed it to him. It was a chat screen sent to Gu Xu, with only one concise sentence on it: [Let's break up.]
"!!!" Gu Ye felt an unreal sense of happiness that instantly overwhelmed him like a tsunami, making him dizzy and his whole body felt light, as if he could fly in the next second.
When he first made that request, he really just wanted to fight for a clearer position. He never expected Chu Yan to give up Gu Xu so easily for him. This far exceeded his wildest expectations.
Chu Yan looked at Gu Ye, who was stunned and seemed to be stunned by the huge surprise. He shook his head helplessly and reached out to straighten his tie, which was not messy at all. His voice was gentle but with unquestionable strength:
"Let's go, stop being in a daze. The special shareholders' meeting is about to begin."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
