Chapter 79: Comfort
Gu Xu barely stayed in the hospital for a full day.
Despite the doctor's repeated insistence that he needed rest and observation, Gu Shi was determined to leave. The next afternoon, he insisted on being discharged and returning immediately to City A. Chu Yan tried to persuade him to stay a day longer, at least until the acute swelling in his knee subsided, but Gu Shi was unwavering.
Chu Yan looked at him, his expression forced but his eyes concealing deep uneasiness and anxiety, and understood. Gu Xu was feeling insecure.
Without the Gu family's support, Ruichuang Technology became his only remaining foundation, truly his own. Gu Hongyuan's revenge hung like the sword of Damocles over his head, ready to fall at any moment. He had to return to his own battlefield immediately and ensure Ruichuang's survival in this storm. For him, time was lifeline; every minute and every second was crucial. Perhaps subconsciously, he felt that he no longer deserved to rest in bed and recuperate.
Although Chu Yan understood, he couldn't help but sigh as he watched Gu Xu's pale face, yet he still tried to walk away. He personally drove Gu Xu to the airport, contacted Gu Xu's secretary in City A to ensure he was picked up on time, and carefully explained the precautions.
"Send me a message when you arrive." In front of the boarding gate, Chu Yan looked at Gu Xu and said in an unquestionable tone, "Eat on time, take medicine on time, don't exert force on your knees, and work within your ability." He knew it was impossible to completely stop Gu Xu from working.
Gu Xu nodded and looked at Chu Yan with complicated eyes, as if he wanted to say something, but in the end he just whispered, "I know." Then he turned around and walked towards the security checkpoint with some difficulty with the flow of people.
Chu Yan did not go back to City A with Gu Xu.
He watched Gu Xu disappear at the end of the corridor and turned to leave the airport. Here, there was a little dog waiting for him, one that needed comforting and was even more likely to "make trouble." If he followed Gu Xu back to City A now, Gu Ye would probably be completely defeated, and the situation would be even more troublesome.
[Huh?] The system questioned in its consciousness, [Host, didn't Gu Ye already settle things yesterday?] Didn't it think the two of them had reached some kind of strange balance last night?
Chu Yan got into the car, rubbed his brow, and replied in his mind: "That's just that Gu Ye, after weighing the pros and cons, is temporarily unwilling to break up with me for Gu Yu." He knew these people's personalities too well. "Gu Yu, Chu Yu, which of them is the kind of person who would happily share with others? Gu Ye is certainly not one of them."
He paused and added, his tone tinged with relief: "He's simply learned from me that impatience can't get you where you want to go. Some things require patience and timing. Making a scene and arguing are the lowest form of tactics. They don't do anything but push me away."
The system was silent for a long moment before muttering, "So these three appear calm on the surface, but they're actually secretly plotting how to kill the other two and take all the spoils for themselves?"
"Of course." Chu Yan answered without hesitation, even taking it for granted. "There's no such thing as a win-win situation. It's just a winner-takes-all situation."
This is human nature, and this is the truest logic of people with their personality.
Chu Yan did not return to the apartment, but asked the driver to drive directly to the headquarters building of Gu Group.
Chu Yan walked into the grand first-floor lobby and headed straight for the front desk. A young lady, meticulously made up and dressed in a professional suit, sat at the front desk. Upon seeing Chu Yan approach, she immediately flashed a standard professional smile and spoke politely and attentively, "Hello, sir. How may I help you?" Her attitude was excellent, without the condescending or condescending attitude often seen in novels. It was perfectly normal; they were all working to earn a living, and who wanted to offend someone for no reason and cause them trouble?
Chu Yan also responded with a gentle smile and shook his head: "No appointment. I'm looking for Gu Ye."
"May I ask your name? I'll help you contact Manager Gu's office." The receptionist still kept smiling.
"My last name is Chu."
The lady at the front desk nodded and picked up the intercom to make a call.
Chu Yan waved his hand, indicating that it was not necessary, then took out his cell phone and dialed Gu Ye's number.
The call was answered almost instantly.
"Chu Yan?" Gu Ye's voice came through the receiver, with a subtle hint of surprise and caution. He seemed to have not expected Chu Yan to call him at this time. "You... didn't you go back with him?" He was referring to Gu Xu.
"Well, I haven't gone back yet." Chu Yan's voice came through the microphone with a lazy smile, "I'm downstairs at Gu's now, Brother Ye, come down and pick me up?"
The last word "ya" has a slightly rising tone, with a hint of sarcasm.
There was silence on the other end of the line for two seconds, and then Gu Ye's obviously excited voice came: "Wait, I'll be down right away!"
Less than three minutes later, hurried footsteps were heard from the direction of the elevator. Gu Ye practically ran out, even a little sweat on his forehead. He immediately saw Chu Yan standing next to the front desk, his eyes lit up instantly, and he quickly walked over to him.
"Chu Yan, why are you here?" Gu Ye tried hard to appear calm, but his slightly shining eyes and rapid breathing still revealed his excitement.
Chu Yan found his expression both amusing and distressing, and frankly admitted, "I came to see you. To comfort you." He deliberately moved closer, lowering his voice so only the two of them could hear, "I was afraid that if I went back like this, some duplicitous person would go into hiding and freak out."
Gu Ye's face flushed red in an instant. Like a cat whose tail was stepped on, he immediately stiffened his neck and retorted, his voice rising an octave: "I... I wouldn't do that, I wouldn't!"
"Yeah, that's right, you won't, you won't." Chu Yan nodded obediently, his tone as if he was coaxing a stubborn child, but the smile in his eyes deepened.
Gu Ye felt even more embarrassed by his perfunctory coaxing. In order to hide his embarrassment, he quickly said to the receptionist, "This is my friend," and then almost pulled Chu Yan's arm and walked quickly towards the elevator dedicated to the upper floors.
There was no conversation along the way, and the elevator was filled with a subtle, sweet and awkward atmosphere.
It was not until he walked into Gu Ye's office, closed the door and blocked out the outside view that Gu Ye felt a little relieved.
"Are you here to see me?" Gu Ye asked this silly question again, as if wanting to confirm it again.
"What else?" Chu Yan asked back with amusement, and walked to the sofa in the reception area. He threw himself into the soft leather sofa without any hesitation, and sighed comfortably, "Are you still busy with work?"
Gu Ye nodded, walked to the back of his desk, and pointed to a thick stack of documents on the table with a distressed expression: "Vice President Sun gave me a bunch of information today, all about the business and financial status of several subsidiaries under the group. I should familiarize myself with it as soon as possible. I will also give a report next week..." He rubbed his hair, "There are so many things to read, it's overwhelming."
Chu Yan nodded generously, lying lazily on the sofa. "Then you see, I'll stay here with you. I promise not to disturb Manager Gu's work."
Gu Ye's eyes lit up instantly. He looked at the daunting pile of information, then at the glowing humanoid on the sofa. He hesitated for a few seconds, then, as if making up his mind, he silently raised his right hand with a serious expression, as if he were asking a question in class:
"Report to Teacher Chu."
Chu Yan was amused by this sudden address and raised his chin cooperatively: "Speak."
Gu Ye's ears turned red, and his voice became a little softer: "Please help, the information is so difficult to obtain."
Seeing his awkward look of wanting to ask for help but feeling a little embarrassed, Chu Yan finally couldn't help but laugh out loud. He stood up from the sofa, walked to the desk, and naturally half-wrapped Gu Ye from behind, one hand resting on the table, and with the other hand, he took the top document.
"What's so difficult about it? Let me see."
So, Chu Yan really stayed in Gu Ye's office for the whole afternoon. The two of them put their heads together, gathered around the desk, one talking while the other listened, one asking questions while the other answered.
Sunlight streamed in through the floor-to-ceiling windows, enveloping the two in a warm glow. The occasional whisper and the rustle of a pen across paper formed a scene of quiet concentration. Faintly, one could discern a reminiscence of Chu Yan explaining a problem to Gu Ye in high school. Back then, it was a desk with textbooks; now, it was a desk with business documents.
Time passes quietly.
When Chu Yan finished his last point and stretched his stiff neck, he realized that it was getting dark outside and the lights were coming on.
He turned his head and looked at Gu Ye who was still writing furiously on his notes. The young man's focused profile looked particularly serious under the light, with a spirit of growth.
Chu Yan reached out and patted his shoulder gently.
Gu Ye raised his head, his eyes still filled with confusion as he was immersed in thought. He looked at Chu Yan and asked with his eyes, "What's wrong?"
Chu Yan looked at him, suddenly narrowed his eyes, and softened his voice with a hint of laziness and coquettishness:
"Brother Ye, I'm hungry."
Gu Ye's breathing suddenly hitched, and his heart skipped a beat. Chu Yan rarely spoke to him in this tone, and the "Brother Ye" he was calling made his scalp tingle and his ears instantly redden.
He stood up suddenly as if he had been scalded, his hands and feet a little unsteady, and he stammered, "You... don't shout! Hungry... hungry, right? Let's go eat now, right away!"
After saying that, he didn't even dare to look at Chu Yan. He hurriedly gathered the scattered documents on the table, stuffed them into the drawer and locked it. Then he pushed open the office door and walked out, as if something was chasing him.
Chu Yan looked at his almost fleeing back and finally couldn't help laughing softly.
Even though I've grown so much, started learning how to navigate the business world, started to understand how to hide my emotions and calculate...
Gu Ye's essence is still that innocent puppy who blushes when teased and gets his fur standing on end when provoked.
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