Chapter 60 An Unexpected Encounter Lin Yuwei suddenly turned around and saw Gu Qing...
The moment the contract is signed and sealed, it also signifies the start of intense work.
Huanyu's project was massive in scale, intricate in detail, and demanding. As the main contact person, Zhou Xubai immediately threw himself into it, starting a busy mode of working day and night. Although he and Lin Yuwei worked under the same roof, the time they spent together decreased dramatically. Often, he would be out when she arrived at the company, and he would still be in meetings or working at his desk at Huanyu when she left work.
Strangely, despite this sudden increase in physical distance, Lin Yuwei didn't feel much of the longing or reluctance that lovers should have. On the contrary, a vague, inexplicable sense of relief welled up deep within her. It was as if a taut string, constantly under some invisible pressure, had finally been temporarily relaxed. Zhou Xubai's focused dedication had inadvertently created a breathing space for her. She attributed this inexplicable relief to work pressure, and thus buried herself even deeper in other projects at the studio, trying to fill any gaps that might lead to random thoughts with substantial administrative work.
That afternoon, an unexpected event shattered the relative tranquility of the studio. A design project in the neighboring city of Qingqing urgently needed on-site assistance and adjustments due to unforeseen circumstances, and time was of the essence. Unfortunately, almost all the employees capable of handling fieldwork independently had been taken by Zhou Xubai to support the Huanyu project team, leaving only a few designers such as Xiaoyu and Chen Lu in the office who needed to stay at their posts to complete the design tasks.
"Sister Weiwei, are you going out?" Chen Lu asked curiously as she watched Lin Yuwei quickly stuff her laptop and basic toiletries into her backpack.
"Hmm," Lin Yuwei zipped up her backpack, trying to lighten the mood with her tone, "There's something urgent at Qingqing's place, I have to go there right away." She picked up her coat, smiled at them, "Take good care of the house, okay? If all goes well, I'll be back the day after tomorrow with some of Qingqing's famous pastries."
Xiaoyu peeked out from behind the computer and said with a grin, "Thank you, 'Mom'! Be careful on the road!"
Lin Yuwei smiled helplessly at the teasing, waved, and hurriedly left the office.
The weather in Qingqing City was not cooperating. Several days of continuous rain shrouded the entire city in a damp, gray haze. The client's urgent request for adjustments stemmed from this persistent rain. The planned outdoor construction could not proceed due to the weather, so a solution had to be developed immediately to transfer some elements indoors and ensure the desired effect. Upon arrival, Lin Yuwei went straight to the construction site, coordinating personnel, inspecting the site, and adjusting the design plan. She worked tirelessly for two days amidst the mud and noise before the arrangements were roughly finalized.
By the time everything was finished, it was already dusk on the third day. The drizzle had temporarily stopped, but the air was still damp and chilly. Dragging her leaden, exhausted body and pulling her small suitcase, she stood at the project entrance trying to hail a taxi back to the hotel. She just wanted to get a good night's sleep and return to Mingchuan the next day; after all, it was the weekend, and she didn't have to work.
However, it was rush hour, and the city streets had turned into giant parking lots. The queues displayed on ride-hailing apps were despairing, with estimated wait times that seemed endless. She waited in the cold wind for nearly half an hour, her legs aching and numb, her ankles aching from her high heels. Looking at the endless stream of cars, a deep sense of powerlessness and loneliness welled up within her.
Just as she was frowning in despair, almost giving up and preparing to return to the project office to think of a solution, a steady footstep approached from behind, stopping at a suitable distance. A familiar voice rang out, carrying a perfectly timed hint of surprise, breaking the surrounding noise:
"President Lin? What a coincidence."
Lin Yuwei suddenly turned around and saw Gu Qingyan standing a few steps away. He was wearing a well-tailored dark cashmere coat, with a tall and straight figure. He was holding a mobile phone in his hand, as if he had just finished a call or was waiting for something. His face showed a hint of surprise at the chance encounter. His gaze slid from her slightly pale and tired face to the small suitcase next to her.
"President Gu?" Lin Yuwei's surprise was genuine. "What are you doing here?" Qingqing City is not a commercial center, so the probability of meeting him here is extremely small.
"I came here to handle some business matters." He said succinctly, without elaborating, and then naturally glanced at the luggage at her feet and the congested street in front of her. "Looks like... it's not going smoothly to get a taxi?"
“It’s not just not going well,” Lin Yuwei said with a helpless smile, her exhaustion barely concealed. “I’ve been waiting for almost forty minutes, and there’s absolutely no hope in sight.”
“I drove, and I parked it in the parking lot next door.” Gu Qing’s tone was calm and natural, as if he were just making a very ordinary suggestion. “If you don’t mind, I can take you to your destination. At this time, public transportation is probably just as crowded.”
Lin Yuwei almost reflexively declined, "No need, it's too much trouble for you. I'll wait and see, or I'll try calling a private car." She subconsciously wanted to avoid this opportunity to be alone.
Gu Qingyan didn't insist, but simply nodded in agreement, her tone remaining calm: "Okay. Then... I'll wait with you for a while. It's really not safe for someone to wait for a bus alone at this time and place."
He didn't leave, nor did he say anything more. He simply stood with her on the street, watching the neon lights flicker while the traffic remained stagnant. A subtle silence fell, not awkward, but not quite natural either. A cold wind blew after the rain, and Lin Yuwei subconsciously pulled her coat tighter.
Another ten minutes passed, and the queue numbers on the ride-hailing app slowly began to move. Her ankles were so sore that it was difficult for her to stand, and her complexion was even worse due to the cold and fatigue.
Gu Qingyan's gaze fell on her again, this time with more obvious concern. He softened his voice, his tone no longer tentative, but more like a rational suggestion based on the current situation: "Judging from the situation, it's unlikely we'll be able to get a car anytime soon. And you look really tired, your complexion isn't good. It's just a small favor, don't feel burdened. Or, you could tell me the name of your hotel, and if it's really not on your way, we can think of another way?"
His words were sincere and his analysis reasonable, completely shattering Lin Yuwei's last bit of resolve. Extreme exhaustion and the cold reality made it impossible for her to continue.
Finally, she let out a soft sigh and gave in: "Well... okay, thank you. I'm staying at the XX Hotel."
Upon hearing the hotel's name, a genuine look of surprise crossed Gu Qingyan's face. He raised an eyebrow and said, "What a coincidence, I booked the same one."
On the short walk to the parking lot, Gu Qingyan reached out and took the not-too-heavy rolling suitcase containing a lot of design drawings from her hand with a very natural and effortless motion, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
The road back to the hotel resembled a frozen river of lights, the traffic motionless, the red taillights stretching as far as the eye could see, casting a scorching halo in the damp night air. The car's heater whirred softly, amplifying a certain silent awkwardness.
Gu Qingyan glanced at the almost stationary road ahead, then turned her head and looked at Lin Yuwei's slightly tired profile. Her gentle voice broke the silence: "Judging from the situation, we won't be able to move for a while. Are you hungry? There's a pretty good local restaurant nearby with a great reputation. Do you want to go get something to eat? It's better than being hungry in the car."
Lin Yuwei's stomach was already empty. The two days of running around and the traffic jam had exhausted her. More importantly, she really needed to escape this small, enclosed space that seemed to offer no escape, even if only temporarily. She nodded almost without hesitation: "Okay, I'll do as you say."
Gu Qingyan skillfully activated the turn signal, turned the steering wheel, and drove the car onto a quiet side street. In just a few minutes, she found a parking space in front of a restaurant that looked quite tasteful. The restaurant's facade was unassuming, but the interior was a hidden gem, with warm yellow lighting, wooden tables and chairs, and a quiet and comfortable atmosphere.
The food was authentic local cuisine, and indeed delicious. The two seemed to tacitly avoid any topics that might cause awkwardness, only chatting about trivial work anecdotes and industry trends, and the atmosphere unexpectedly relaxed. The previous tension and subtle awkwardness gradually dissipated amidst the aroma of the food and the lighthearted conversation.
After dinner, Gu Qingyan naturally took out her phone to check the traffic conditions. However, the navigation map on the screen showed that the main road back to the hotel was still a hopeless, glaring dark red, with traffic completely stopped and the estimated travel time was as long as an absurd joke.
Gu Qingyan looked at the screen, shook her head with a helpless chuckle, and turned to Lin Yuwei, saying, "It seems that although the rain has lessened, the aftereffects are quite significant. Traffic won't be back to normal for a while. There's a shopping mall nearby that looks quite large. Shall we go in for a walk and digest our food?"
Looking out at the still congested street scene, Lin Yuwei really didn't want to go back to that tiring waiting, so she nodded: "Okay."
Gu Qingyan went back to the car and got a large black umbrella. She opened it, and the two walked side by side into the fine rain and mist, crossed the road, and entered the brightly lit shopping mall across the street.
As soon as she entered the mall, a wave of heat mixed with the aroma of heating, food, and the noise of the crowd hit her, creating a stark contrast with the quiet and deserted streets outside. The mall was bustling with people, making it seem exceptionally lively. Lin Yuwei was somewhat surprised and blurted out, "I didn't expect that there would be so many people in the mall when it looks so quiet here."
Gu Qingyan closed her umbrella, smiled upon hearing this, and explained naturally, "Behind this shopping mall is a large, well-established residential area with a high density. The residents in the vicinity basically concentrate their daily shopping, dining, and entertainment here. Don't be fooled by the quiet streets outside; this area is the 'city center' of this region."
"You know so much," Lin Yuwei remarked casually.
Gu Qingyan remained calm, gesturing for her to avoid the oncoming crowd, and replied in a casual tone, "I've been here on business a few times before. My clients live nearby, so when they come over to discuss business or have meals, I get to know the area better."
His explanation was reasonable and watertight, so Lin Yuwei stopped thinking about it and wandered aimlessly through the mall with the flow of people, enjoying the comfort brought by the heating and temporarily putting the troubles of traffic jams behind her.
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Author's Note: Xiao Gu: There aren't that many unexpected encounters; it was all part of my careful planning. [Fireworks]
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