hotel
Heavy rain poured down on Xuncheng, shrouding the entire city in a hazy mist.
A pearlescent titanium gray G63 sped through the rain, zipping along the city's main road. The screeching of cars gliding across the wet pavement mingled with the honking of horns, all bowing to the endless sound of the rain.
Thunder roared past, lightning tore through the sky, and the Milky Way poured down upon the earth as if to devour everything.
The raindrops pounded against the car window with a dull thud. Gu Nan took out her earphones, put them on, and closed her eyes for a short rest.
Soon, the car came to a smooth stop in front of the Platinum Restaurant. Staff members were already waiting with umbrellas. As soon as they saw the car stop, they rushed forward without caring about their wet trousers, quickly opened the car door, tilted the umbrellas, and escorted the guests into the lobby.
Ji Yuanyu went upstairs to meet the mysterious big shot, while Gu Nan, uninterested, strolled around the central hall on the first floor while waiting for her clothes.
The dazzling array of food failed to whet her appetite. She picked up a cookie, but before she could bring it to her mouth, a strong, expensive perfume scent suddenly filled her nostrils.
You don't need to turn around to know who it is.
The perfume masked the cookies' natural sweetness. She glanced at the cookies in her hand, had nowhere to put them but toss them into her mouth, grabbed a wet wipe from the marble counter, slowly unwrapped the package, carefully wiped her fingers, and turned to give the newcomer a condescending look.
Sudi wore a professional, icy blue evening gown, her long, wavy hair adding to her elegant demeanor. Even heavy makeup couldn't mask her natural beauty. Her back was straight, her perfectly angled shoulders creating a striking silhouette. A knowing smile played on her lips as she looked Gu Nan up and down, her tone sarcastic: "President Gu is here too."
"Ji Yuanyu is upstairs, on the 28th floor." Gu Nan turned to leave.
Sudi's eyes darted around. Wearing 7-centimeter high heels, she swayed her hips as she slowly walked over, blocking Gu Nan's path. She raised her chin and whispered in Gu Nan's ear, "Want to know who's here today?"
Gu Nan tilted her head, threw the wet wipe into the trash can, and said in a relaxed tone, "I don't want to."
Sudi was taken aback by her words, then glared at her and snorted coldly: "Beicheng, the young master of the Lu family."
The powerful and influential families of Beicheng are all gathered here, with the Lu family at the head.
The young master of the Lu family is a figure feared not only in Xuncheng, but also in the northern part of the city.
Gu Nan gave a hesitant "Oh," and walked around Su Di to leave.
Putting everything else aside, the person she admires most in the entire New Times is Sudi. Sudi graduated from a prestigious university and then studied abroad for three years. The great beauty in everyone's eyes has never relied on her looks to win, but has relied entirely on her own abilities to reach her current position in the New Times.
She could understand why Sudi considered her a mortal enemy.
Sudi worked incredibly hard to get the "ticket" to the vice president position, and she became one of the vice president candidates simply because of her personal relationship with Ji Yuanyu.
Anyone would be upset in this situation.
After much deliberation, she still took her anger out on Ji Yuanyu. She had no interest in the vice president position, and the trouble that Ji Yuanyu's good intentions had brought her was far from over.
"Forget about the vice president position," Sudi called out from behind her.
Gu Nan stopped in her tracks, turned around, and asked, "Which eye of yours saw that I was interested in the vice president?"
"If you weren't interested, why did you come? Don't think I don't know that Ji Yuanyu invited you to tonight's dinner party to pave the way for you."
"Tch." Gu Nan glanced at the confidence on Su Di's face, shook his head without saying anything, and his step was stopped again.
"Young Master Lu is here to back me up today, so you'd better not cause any trouble, or you'll regret it if you anger him."
Gu Nan ran her tongue across her lower gums, silently repeating to herself, "Once is enough, twice is not enough."
She had already tolerated three of Sudi's sentences.
Enduring it any longer is not good for your breasts.
"If Young Master Lu listens to you, will you become a mother without pain?"
As soon as he finished speaking, Su Di's first reaction was not to rush to refute, but to look around nervously. After looking around, he breathed a sigh of relief and scolded, "Don't talk nonsense. Young Master Lu is not someone you can offend."
"So cowardly, who wouldn't dare offend them?"
"you!"
Sudi glared angrily, then after a moment, raised her chin and said, "I've contacted hypnotist J. As long as I can alleviate Young Master Lu's insomnia, he can arrange for me to become a vice president, or even go to Beicheng."
Gu Nan didn't hear a word of the second half of the sentence. She was unusually stunned for a moment, her features furrowed, she rubbed her ears, and raised her voice two octaves: "Who?"
“You country bumpkin,” Sudi muttered, “J, it’s normal that you don’t know him. He’s the best hypnotist in the country… no, in the world.”
The lobby was bustling with people. Before long, two groups of employees from the New Times entered. Everyone knew that Gu Nan and Su Di were mortal enemies. Seeing them talking to each other from afar, they were afraid of getting into trouble and no one dared to come over to greet them. They all lowered their heads and pretended not to see them, and quickly went upstairs.
Amidst the noise, Gu Nan strolled to the Roman column, leaned against the mural, propped herself up on one leg, glanced at Su Di, and expressionlessly took out her phone from her bag, switched systems, and opened the chat window with the Buddha's Hand icon.
[Was the woman who contacted you this morning surnamed Su?]
Yes, you know him?
Seeing the instant reply, Gu Nan was delighted.
[I'll show you how to scam someone big.]
After sending the message, she pulled her coat tighter and looked up with a half-smile.
Sudi tensed up: "What are you doing?"
"I'll go find this J. Maybe I can be a painless mother to that guy surnamed Lu."
Sudi scoffed, raising his head high: "You think you can take me on?"
She was certain J was mysterious enough before daring to tell Gu Nan. Having heard Gu Nan talk nonsense so often, she always remained completely skeptical of his words.
Who is J? A woman who rose to power through Ji Yuanyu could not possibly find any trace of J.
Gu Nan fiddled with her phone, shrugged nonchalantly, pointed to the standing mirror opposite her with her index finger, and raised an eyebrow: "Maybe I'll get lucky and see it right in front of me."
...
"Neuropathy."
The clattering sound of high heels on the marble floor faded into the distance.
Gu Nan slowly turned her head until Su Di's figure completely disappeared from sight, then a nonchalant smile appeared on her lips.
After a long while, she parted her red lips slightly, her voice rising at the end, her face innocent.
"I already gave you a hint."
The last group of New Times employees came in, and the clothes were delivered just in time. She greeted them briefly, took the clothes and went to the 29th floor. She then put her mask and sunglasses into a locked cabinet, checked the time, and went downstairs.
The Platinum Restaurant has high ceilings, with floors 26 to 30 reserved for VIP guests, so guests other than staff are rarely seen in the stairwells.
The stairs were quiet, each step echoing clearly. Gu Nan strode down the stairs, a hair tie between her teeth, her left hand holding her hair, her right hand gathering stray hairs, and then she looked at her phone screen to fix her hairstyle.
The back of her head is full and rounded, and her hair is styled in a neat bun.
She put her phone away with satisfaction, then looked up and saw a man standing alone against the wall at the top of the stairs.
One step forward was brightly lit, while the man stood a step back at the boundary between darkness and light, his facial features blurred by the night.
He leaned against the corner of the wall, his bespoke suit tailored to his impeccable proportions. The crisp trousers accentuated his long legs and slender waist, while the finely crafted dark gray shirt perfectly framed his muscular chest and broad shoulders, smoothing out any wrinkles.
Although his expression was unclear, one could clearly sense the somber aura emanating from him.
"Bang!"
Something heavy had fallen outside the stairwell, and the motion-activated lights suddenly turned on, exposing the prying eyes to the light.
The man raised his eyelashes, his dark eyes fixed on her, his expression cold and displeased at being disturbed.
Their eyes met, and Gu Nan froze, her expression tense, her steps halting as her heartbeat quickened.
The man had outstanding features, clearly possessing the appearance of a refined and noble young master. However, his eyes were full of weariness, yet beneath this weariness lay a sharpness that was almost imperceptible, like a lion lying in wait. His dark eyes were deep, softening the sharpness of his brows and eyes.
With years of experience as a hypnotherapist, Gu Nan could tell at a glance that the man suffered from insomnia for many years.
The kindness she had long forgotten suddenly resurfaced, and she paused as she passed the man, hesitating whether to speak.
She looked up and saw the man turn his body slightly, deliberately creating distance between them, as if she... was some kind of filthy thing?
?
The man's gaze was aloof and arrogant, lingering on her face for a brief half-second before moving away without any lingering affection.
She gleaned a single, unambiguous word from the man's eyes—"Get lost."
"Oh."
Gu Nan rolled her eyes. She and Shanliang had long since severed ties, and it seemed that Shanliang had no intention of returning to her.
"What's up?"
The man's voice was deep and mellow, with a hint of gloom and sinister intent. His dark pupils swept across the room with a gaze that was full of the oppressive power of a superior.
He is even more outstanding than Ji Yuanyu.
Gu Nan calmly withdrew her gaze, turned her hand, and strode away.
Incidentally, I silently condemn the ungrateful heartbeat.
Footsteps echoed back and forth outside the stairwell, overlapping for a moment, before a man in a casual jacket entered the stairwell.
"Feeling unwell again? 8 o'clock? Go ahead and get busy, I'll keep an eye on the dinner. As for Sudi, he's just a vice president of the New Times, there's no need for you to personally intervene."
"The other party had something come up at the last minute, so we rescheduled it for after 11 o'clock."
"11 o'clock? This J has some nerve, daring to stand you up again, Young Master Lu."
After a long silence, a low, impatient voice echoed from the empty stairwell.
"You keep an eye on it."
——
At the door of the private room, Gu Nan typed the last word.
I saw someone who looks a bit like my fiancé.
She pushed open the door to the private room, glanced at the dining table, and saw that the two chairs at the head of the table were empty, with Su Di and Ji Yuanyu sitting on either side of them.
One had a bright smile, the other had a cold gaze.
Gu Nan was taken aback, raised an eyebrow slightly, sat down next to Ji Yuanyu, and asked in a low voice, "What's this?"
Before Ji Yuanyu could answer, the door to the private room opened again. The first thing that caught the eye was the man's long legs. The casual jacket he wore gave him a slightly breezy look. He had a fake smile on his lips and said politely, "Sorry to keep you waiting."
Ji Yuanyu stood up. "Young Master Qiu."
Qiu Jingxun casually waved his hand, indicating that everyone should sit down. "Young Master Lu has to leave first. Tonight, President Ji and I will drink until we drop."
Everyone kept their eyes down, pretending to casually observe Gu Nan's expression.
Gu Nan usually receives all sorts of strange and unusual stares, and carefree, she opens her chat window with her friends.
He remained silent as he looked at the new message.
Wake up, where did you get a fiancé?
She typed: "The one from five years ago."
There was a long period of quiet over there as well.
If it were him, you'd be shattered to pieces by now.
Holding her phone, Gu Nan's thoughts drifted away. Last week, she passed by a boxing gym on her way to Beicheng and, as if possessed, went inside. Her record of 1700 points with a single punch remains unbroken.
She chuckled lightly, thinking to herself, "Just a brute."
The conversation at the dinner table suddenly stopped, and all eyes turned to her.
She realized too late and accidentally lost control of her sarcastic tone.
Qiu Jingxun stared at her intently, then raised his wine glass slightly: "And who is this?"
Ji Yuanyu calmly deflected the question: "President Gu Nan, the newly appointed Vice President of New Times."
Gu Nan: ?
Qiu Jingxun chuckled: "Strange, Young Master Lu heard that the Vice President of the New Times was Miss Su Di Su, so he came here specifically to attend the celebration banquet. Why has the person been changed?" He continued to laugh, but his voice carried a subtle threat: "Playing tricks on Young Master Lu... everyone knows the consequences."
Ji Yuanyu's dark gaze swept over Su Di. He didn't speak, and no one dared to respond to Qiu Jingxun's words. For a moment, they all put down their chopsticks, their eyes unsure of where to look.
An undercurrent of tension and a growing silence filled the private room, creating a subtle atmosphere.
The aroma of the food was not enough to mask the tense atmosphere.
Only Gu Nan seemed oblivious, pouring herself half a drink as if no one else was around, then tilting her chin up and downing it in one gulp. Her jade-colored jawline was just as striking as the milky-white porcelain cup.
Qiu Jingxun narrowed his eyes slightly, a dark current flashing in them. He lightly wiped his lower lip with the tip of his tongue, his gaze sweeping over her face.
"President Gu?"
Gu Nan gave a lazy "hmm," her eyes flashing as an idea came to her. She spoke slowly and deliberately, "The New Times seems to have nothing to do with Young Master Lu?"
“Miss Su is Mr. Lu’s junior sister, so it’s natural that Mr. Lu takes her seriously.”
Gu Nan propped one hand against her lips, concealing the upturned corner of her mouth. She blocked Ji Yuanyu's comforting hand with her arm, feigning disappointment. Her eyebrows were lowered, and her eyes welled up with tears, which clung to half of her thick eyelashes.
"I've worked tirelessly for the New Times, and haven't had a full night's sleep in years. After all this time, I was about to achieve great success... Ha, there's never been any fairness in this world."
The beautiful woman's face was half-covered, and she looked as if she was about to cry.
Everyone present held back their words. How could someone who only came to the company three times a month to clock in and then left have the nerve to say they had a hard time? These words probably summarized Sudi's experience since joining the company.
Qiu Jingxun frowned, puzzled. It seemed that this was different from the information he had inquired about.
Sudi couldn't help but interrupt her: "Have you no shame?"
Gu Nan's gaze slowly slid to Su Di, without uttering a word.
Her eyes, slightly red-rimmed, shimmered with tears, a sight that evoked pity.
Qiu Jingxun took a large gulp of water, moistening his parched lips, and raised his voice: "What kind of fairness does Miss Gu want?"
“Relying on personal ability is naturally useless.” Gu Nan slowly shifted her gaze back to meet Qiu Jingxun’s eyes.
Sudi's face flushed with anger: "Have you ever had any ability?"
Qiu Jingxun: "Tell me about it."
Gu Nan found it amusing and looked at Su Di again, "Whoever invites that J you mentioned first will get the vice president position, how about it?"
After saying this, Ji Yuanyu finally suppressed the dull pain in his heart, his gaze firm, and said coldly, "The New Times does not need outsiders to interfere in personnel matters."
Gu Nan pursed her lips, glanced at Ji Yuanyu speechlessly, and felt a pang of heartache.
Fortunately, Chiu Ching-hsun was very helpful.
"Since Miss Gu has brought it up, let's do as Miss Gu says."
Gu Nan nodded and glanced at Su Di, who held her chin high, determined to win.
Gu Nan suppressed the twitching at the corners of her mouth with a glass of water and silently took out her phone to switch systems.
The Buddha's Hand icon on the bottom of the screen raises two questions, prompting me to type lazily.
[I'm giving you a chance to ask for an exorbitant amount.]
Buddha's Hand head image: [?]
[The one surnamed Su, you can name your price anywhere, no need to notify me.]
Buddha's Hand Head Image: [? ?]
Based on her annual salary, her bottom line should be in the seven figures. If you raise it to eight figures and she agrees, then you should accept.
Buddha's Hand Head Image: [???]
Gu Nan turned off her phone and stopped replying to messages. She rested her chin on her hand and gazed meaningfully at Su Di. When their eyes met, a warm, sunny, and harmless smile appeared on her lips.
Sudi: ?
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