Chapter 5 Hello, Cooperation Consultant.
Shang Shu couldn't remember how long she and Gu Sui had been hugging, nor how she got back to Yijing Bay. She only remembered having a very long dream that night, in which she returned to the autumn night when she first met Gu Sui.
"Sister Shang, let's have a few more drinks."
"Exactly! Leaving so early, are you not giving us any face?"
Neon lights hung from the ceiling, spinning endlessly, and rainbow-like beams of light spilled onto the dance floor. Thrilling electronic music pounded into the chests as a group of wealthy heiresses from the Chinese community gathered together, sometimes drinking heavily and sometimes dancing wildly.
"No way, you guys have fun, put it on my tab tonight!" Shang Shu, with heavy, alluring makeup, swayed and waved as she walked out of the nightclub.
Ever since she was sent to Edmonton early, ostensibly to get used to the study abroad environment, she started this life of revelry day and night before the start of the semester. Anyway, with the cheap bodyguards sent by her father protecting her, he at least barely cared about whether his daughter lived or died.
Edmonton's nightlife is vibrant and exciting, with bars of all sizes wafting melodious Scottish music, and couples standing passionately kissing on the slightly damp and chilly cobblestone streets after the rain.
Shang Shu walked in a daze, completely unaware of the woman bending over in front of her. As expected, both of them fell to the ground.
"I...I'm sorry." Shang Shu slurred a sentence in Chinese without thinking, not caring whether the other person understood her or not.
Gu Sui was pale and half-supported on the ground, with large beads of sweat on her forehead. She clutched her stomach tightly with her other hand, clearly unable to stand up.
Seeing that the woman on the ground wasn't moving much, Shang Shu immediately sobered up considerably. She quickly struggled to her feet and went to the woman's side, asking in English, "Are you alright?"
Shang Shu was filled with regret. Although she weighed just over 100 pounds, she was still 1.7 meters tall. If she had been drunk, she probably would have really been seriously injured in the collision.
Gu Sui shook his head and said weakly, "It's nothing, I'll be fine after a while."
Shang Shu speaks fluent English, but hearing that the other person also speaks Chinese, she felt much relieved. However, seeing how serious the other person's condition was, she still frowned and said, "The ground is so cold. If you have menstrual cramps, you shouldn't sit here. My car is just ahead. Go and rest in my car."
Gu Sui was speechless upon hearing this. She forced a smile that looked more like a grimace: "I don't have menstrual cramps, I have gastroenteritis."
After saying that, he sniffed lightly and continued, "Are you sure you have a car?"
Seeing her actions, Shang Shu immediately understood everything. She was probably reeking of alcohol, and the other person must think she was talking nonsense. So she quickly waved her hand, but then realized that wasn't right and nodded instead.
"Yes, yes, don't worry, it wasn't me driving..."
After she finished speaking, she gestured to the bodyguards behind her, and the two of them stepped forward to help Gu Sui up and into the car.
Just as she got into the car, Shang Shu felt a weight on her shoulder. She turned her head and saw that the woman's body was slowly slumping over and she had fainted.
"Hey, wake up!" She gently shook the woman's shoulder, and when there was no response, she instructed the bodyguard, "Quick, to the nearest hospital."
The bodyguard acknowledged and stepped on the gas, driving towards the hospital.
Even in the emergency room, long waits are the norm. Fortunately, Gu Sui's condition looked quite serious, which is why he was able to enter the examination room immediately.
"Please tell me the patient's name and date of birth."
Do you have an NHS health card number?
The receptionist, speaking with a heavy British accent, asked a series of questions.
"Well... I'm not quite sure either." Shang Shu scratched her head, looking embarrassed.
"Then please go to the waiting area and wait for a while." The receptionist paused, wrote down 'unidentified patient' on a piece of paper, and said to Shang Shu.
Shang Shu had heard about the speed of medical consultations here, or perhaps because Gu Sui's identity information was difficult to confirm, it was almost an hour later, when she was already feeling drowsy, that the nurse came out to call her.
Shang Shu followed the nurse inside, and after passing many bed curtains, she arrived at Gu Sui's bedside.
The woman on the bed had her eyes closed, and even though she was unconscious, her brows were still furrowed. Shang Shu sat on the only swivel stool beside her and carefully examined the woman's face.
She had a delicate oval face, and even though her complexion was pale and haggard, it couldn't hide her extraordinary beauty. Her long, black hair was casually scattered on the pillow. Her eyebrows were high, her eyelashes were long and black, and her nose was full and straight. Her beauty was in no way inferior to Shang Shu, who was one-quarter mixed-race.
Shang Shu stared at her, and couldn't help but swallow. She rarely commented on other people's appearances, but now she couldn't help but sigh in her heart: What a perfect face.
After a while, Gu Sui slowly woke up. She looked around at her surroundings and then looked down at the IV drip in her hand. She didn't seem very surprised. However, when she saw that Shang Shu hadn't left, a hint of surprise flashed in her eyes.
"You're awake?"
Gu Sui hummed in agreement, then spoke in a calm voice, "I haven't had a chance to thank you yet. Thank you for bringing me to the hospital."
"Of course, after all, I was the one who bumped into you..." Shang Shu smiled awkwardly.
Gu Sui smiled slightly, then realized that they didn't even know each other's names: "My name is Gu Sui, and I'm a second-year PhD student in the Philosophy Department at the University of Edinburgh. What about you? Are you also here to study?"
"What a coincidence! My name is Shang Shu, and I'll be a freshman at Ivy League University soon, majoring in jewelry design." Shang Shu's earlier drowsiness had dissipated, and her eyes sparkled slightly.
Gu Sui nodded slowly in agreement: "Ai Da's jewelry designs are indeed very good." Then he continued, "Judging from your accent, you seem to be from Macau?"
"Um, you... Ah! You, you, you wouldn't happen to be the philosophy PhD from the Gu family in the south of the city that they were talking about, would you?" Shang Shu looked like she suddenly realized something, but then she lowered her voice to avoid disturbing the neighbors.
Not many of the wealthy families in Auckland choose to stay in Edinburgh. Those who know how to enjoy life have all gone to bask in the California sun. Few are willing to stay in this small town that is often rainy. Therefore, the few who do stay have only heard of each other to some extent, let alone a philosophy PhD like Gu Sui, who is one in a hundred.
Seeing her like this, Gu Sui couldn't help but laugh: "Am I that famous?"
Shang Shu nodded emphatically.
The two chatted casually for a while. Seeing that Gu Sui's face was gradually regaining some color, Shang Shu said, "Your gastroenteritis looks quite scary. It's better to carry your medicine with you at all times."
"Well, I just ran out of medicine today, and I was thinking of going out to buy some, but I didn't expect to run into trouble on the way," Gu Sui said gently.
"Then you should eat on time regularly, eat less spicy and stimulating food, and avoid alcohol..."
Seeing Shang Shu speaking with a serious expression, even though she was seven years younger than him, she acted like a little parent. Gu Sui couldn't help but smile.
"why are you laughing?"
"It's nothing, it's just the first time I've heard a drunkard advise someone not to drink."
Shang Shu's drunkenness had long since dissipated, and she could now smell the strong odor of alcohol on herself. She pouted somewhat guiltily and muttered, "I...I was just concerned about you, you really don't appreciate my kindness..."
Gu Sui found her even more adorable, so he said softly to her, "Okay, I appreciate your concern, and I will definitely pay attention in the future."
"That's more like it..." Shang Shu curled her lips proudly.
Their story began in this autumn, amidst falling leaves, in this ancient city that is never short of romance, accompanied by the melodious bagpipes, warm and cozy like a thick coat that goes past the knees, like freshly baked toast from a small shop at the end of the street, like the orange-red sunset over Carlton Hill.
*
Shang Shu was woken up by Song Lanye's phone call. Still half asleep, she grabbed the phone and put it to her ear, not wanting to leave that beautiful dream at all.
"President Shang, Guangjing Group sent an email saying they want to come and sign a cooperation agreement with us this morning." Song Lan's report was mechanical, but tinged with a hint of doubt.
They moved so quickly.
Shang Shu then remembered that Song Lan seemed unaware of this matter. She got out of bed and tried to force herself to turn on her phone: "Yes, it was arranged by Chairman Gu of Guangjing yesterday. Please reply first, I will be there in an hour."
After hanging up the phone, Shang Shu saw a string of unread messages from Lin Lang on the screen.
[Lin Lang: I'm all changed, where are you~~~]
[Lin Lang: Where is everyone? ???]
[Lin Lang: Have you been kidnapped? [crying]]
[Lin Lang: Miss Shang, you're so inconsiderate! You left without even saying goodbye!]
Shang Shu seemed to sense Lin Lang's shout through the screen, and she quickly replied:
I'll tell you later.
Then, as he tossed his phone aside, the image of being held by Gu Sui last night suddenly flashed into his mind.
Ugh, Gu Sui is so shameless, he took advantage of her!
As Shang Shu thought this, her heart pounded. Maybe he really just wanted to help her take off her shawl? And he only said "long time no see"...
Her gaze swept over the medicine bottle on the bedside table, and she slapped her cheeks hard: "Shang Shu, how can you be so spineless?"
An hour later, Shang Shu arrived at the company on time, and Song Lan had been waiting outside the secretary's room for a long time with a stack of printed documents.
"Mr. Shang, this is the information from Guangjing Media, which mainly includes its financial and credit status over the years, as well as its strategy and business direction. Please take a look."
"Thank you for your hard work." Shang Shu took the documents and walked towards the president's office.
Song Lan watched the president's back and felt that he seemed more energetic than usual, but she couldn't quite put her finger on what was different.
Shang Shu glanced at the time; there was still some time before the person in charge of the optical mirror arrived. She buried herself in the documents, carefully examining and analyzing them, until Song Lanye's knocking on the door rang out again.
"Mr. Shang, the person in charge of the optical mirror has arrived and is in the conference room."
"Okay." Shang Shu sorted through the documents and got up to go to the conference room.
Shang Shu pushed open the door and was about to say hello when she froze on the spot when she saw who it was.
In the bright and spacious conference room, Gu Sui, dressed in a light blue V-neck shirt, crisp wide-leg trousers, and a black leather belt adorned with an exquisite metal buckle, stood elegantly and aloofly before her.
How could it be her?
What is she doing here?
"Hello, President Shang, I am Luo Wei, the president of Guangjing Media. I've heard so much about you." The woman in front of Gu Sui spoke first, extending her hand to Shang Shu.
Shang Shu forced a smile and shook hands with Luo Wei, then looked at Gu Sui with a complicated expression: "President Luo, it's a pleasure to meet you. May I ask who this gentleman is?"
Luo Wei opened her mouth, but Gu Sui stepped in front of her first. Gu Sui also extended a hand, slightly curving his lips, his voice as cold as ever: "Hello, cooperation consultant, Gu Sui."
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