Chapter 37

Gu Shuge was caught between advancing and retreating, and her dilemma showed in the hand stroking the space between Shen Juan’s brows.

Shen Juan felt the stiffness and hesitation at Gu Shuge’s fingertips. A faint light fell in her eyes. She looked at the place where Gu Shuge was, searching for her eyes, wanting to meet her gaze.

But she failed. Although she could sense Gu Shuge’s existence and her physical movements, she was not yet able to clearly sense every expression and every look in her eyes.

So Shen Juan stopped searching in vain. Just as Gu Shuge hesitated and was about to withdraw her hand, Shen Juan spoke.

“With me, you can do anything.”

Four years ago, in autumn, Gu Shuge entered university. Other young students were still curiously exploring the campus and experiencing university life, but her familiarity with the campus allowed her to skip all those freshman steps.

This was the university Shen Juan had graduated from. Gu Shuge herself could no longer remember how many times she had been here. When she filled out her college entrance exam preferences after the exam, she had chosen this place without the slightest hesitation.

This made Shen Juan feel very at ease.

The elementary school and middle school Xiao Ge had attended since childhood had both been schools Shen Juan had once studied at. Now, in university, she was still following Shen Juan’s footsteps, as though silently expressing that although there was a seven-year gap between them, Xiao Ge was following closely behind her, working hard to close that distance.

But at that time, Gu Group was not especially peaceful. Inside the group, factions stood divided, and interpersonal relationships were complicated. Gu Yi’an’s identity as the heir did not count for much at all. The two of them had spent tremendous effort before they barely managed to grasp control of the situation, but beneath them, many people were still unconvinced.

Neither Shen Juan nor Gu Yi’an had ever told Gu Shuge about these things.

Gu Shuge had a simple nature and had never had many twists and turns in her mind since childhood. She was not suited to getting involved in these matters. They both wanted her to do what she wanted and live the life she wished to live.

But Gu Shuge seemed able to see only Shen Juan, and did not want her own life at all.

After school started, whenever she had free time, she still ran to Gu Group to look for Shen Juan.

The weather that day was especially good. The sky was clear for miles, and the autumn air was crisp. Gu Shuge had no classes in the afternoon. As soon as her morning classes ended, she immediately packed up her books and came to find Shen Juan.

When she arrived, Shen Juan was busy. Several people stood in her office, all executives over forty in suits and leather shoes, holding a small meeting.

The moment Gu Shuge entered, everyone’s gazes fell on her. She had always come and gone freely here. She had not expected to interrupt their meeting and stood awkwardly at the door.

The executives reacted quickly and all stood to greet her, saying, “Miss Gu is here.”

Strangely enough, Gu Shuge held a large number of shares under her name and had also properly taken on the position of a director, yet the people in the group, regardless of rank, never called her Director Gu when they saw her. They merely called her Miss Gu, either politely or respectfully.

Hearing someone speak, Gu Shuge seemed to find a step to descend. She hurriedly gave an “Mm,” and her gaze passed through the layers of people to find Shen Juan. Shen Juan had been looking at her the whole time. Seeing Gu Shuge’s eyes search for her, she said gently, “Go wait for me inside.”

“Inside” meant the lounge. Gu Shuge often stayed there and was very familiar with it, so she nodded and said, “Okay.”

Only after Shen Juan watched her go in did she continue the meeting that had just been interrupted.

After the meeting ended and all the executives left, Shen Juan went into the lounge to find her. Gu Shuge looked at her eagerly and asked pitifully, “Sister, did I disturb you?” Before Shen Juan could answer, she sighed worriedly and said, “Next time I come, I’ll tell you in advance. Don’t restrict me from coming to find you.”

Two days earlier, Shen Juan had told her to spend some time getting to know her new classmates. Gu Shuge was very worried that because she had disturbed [stolen content]their meeting today, Shen Juan would stop letting her come.

“You want to come see me that much?” Shen Juan sat beside her, her smile exceptionally gentle.

Gu Shuge nodded repeatedly without hesitation. “I want to be with you.”

She had clung to Shen Juan since childhood. Gu Yi’an had once said strangely, “Why is Xiao Ge like a little tail? Wherever you go, she follows. I’m her biological brother, and even I don’t get this treatment.”

Shen Juan pondered for a moment, and Gu Shuge thought she was not going to agree. Anxiously, she grabbed the corner of Shen Juan’s clothes and said, “Let me come. I won’t bother you.”

She truly would not bother her. She would wait quietly to the side by herself. When Shen Juan had time, she would talk to her. When Shen Juan was busy, Gu Shuge would quietly find something to entertain herself and wait until Shen Juan was free.

Since she was already so anxious, of course Shen Juan agreed. “Then come.”

At that time, Gu Shuge was still very young and inexperienced, yet she was also very bold. She did not deliberately hide her admiration, because she had never worried she would be rejected. Seeing Shen Juan agree, she propped her cheek up with one hand and said, “We go home every day, and we can still see each other after we get home. I don’t necessarily have to come here to find you. But I just want to spend a little more time with you.”

Even if she did not say this thought aloud, Shen Juan knew it. And when Shen Juan agreed to let her come, was it not also because she wanted to spend a little more time with her?

Shen Juan did not speak. She only looked at her gently with a soft smile, then casually flipped through the book Gu Shuge had just been reading and put aside.

That one look made Gu Shuge’s heart itch. She leaned over, rested her chin on Shen Juan’s shoulder, and said, “Let’s have dinner together tonight.”

Shen Juan closed the book and asked, “Is something going on?”

Gu Shuge refused to say. “Just dinner.” But her expression clearly looked like something was going on. Shen Juan saw through her but did not ask. Xiao stolen contentGe had always been unable to hide what was on her mind in front of her. Before long, she would definitely say it herself.

But this time, Gu Shuge was unexpectedly enduring. Every inch of her eyes and brows was filled with the words, “I have a huge secret, but I won’t say it.” Yet her mouth looked as though she could barely hold it in. After a long while, she finally said, “I have a surprise for you.”

So it was a surprise.

There were many things she could call a surprise: seeing clothes suitable for Shen Juan at the mall, taking a beautiful photo while out having fun, discovering that a certain restaurant was delicious—things like that were all surprises, and all were worth her mysteriously coming to tell Shen Juan.

Only after Shen Juan understood did she answer unhurriedly, “Today won’t work. I have a dinner engagement tonight.”

Gu Shuge was so disappointed. She sighed softly, lowered her head, and mumbled, “Then you go. We’ll make plans next time.”

Perhaps because Shen Juan and Gu Yi’an were both very busy, Gu Shuge was already used to dates being suddenly canceled, or going many days without saying a word to Shen Juan. She had become used to waiting, and gradually, she had also learned to be at peace with it.

Although she was disappointed this time, she still did not force it.

But when Shen Juan saw her disappointed expression, the slightly curved-down corners of her mouth, and the round, pink tips of her ears peeking through her hair, her heart suddenly ached. Should she make more time to accompany her? Once this busy period passed and Gu Group became a little more stable, she definitely had to take annual leave and travel with Xiao Ge.

Thinking of traveling, Shen Juan’s thoughts went a little further. She had heard that when couples traveled together, their feelings would warm.

Shen Juan’s heart felt a little hot. She thought that before that, they should settle their relationship. Xiao Ge was shy and definitely would not dare say it, so Shen Juan would take the initiative.

“When are you free? Tell me in advance, all right?” Gu Shuge regained her spirits and grabbed Shen Juan’s index finger, shaking it once. “I really have a very, very important surprise for you. You’ll definitely like it.”

Shen Juan thought, What a coincidence. So do I.

“Tomorrow night?”

How could Gu Shuge not agree? Her eyes instantly lit up, and she nodded. “Okay, tomorrow night!”

Then, very quickly, they even settled on the restaurant.

At dusk, Gu Shuge went home first, while Shen Juan went to her dinner engagement.

After finishing her social engagement, Shen Juan personally went to the restaurant they had chosen for tomorrow. Since she was going to confess, how could there be no arrangement? Although she had only decided that afternoon, the moment she met the restaurant manager, a complete plan appeared in her mind, as though she had already planned it countless times before. On such an important day, she wanted to leave Xiao Ge with an unforgettable memory.

Because time was tight, there was no time to prepare a printed proposal. Shen Juan verbally described the plan to the restaurant manager for over an hour.

The manager understood immediately that this was for a confession. How would he dare not do his utmost? He carefully noted everything down and repeatedly guaranteed that tomorrow’s dinner would proceed smoothly.

By the time she returned home, it was already past midnight, and she happened to run into Gu Yi’an, who had also just come back.

Gu Yi’an sighed repeatedly and said, “Those old bastards are going to force me to death. They nagged all night, saying you aren’t a member of the Gu family and that your position isn’t legitimate. What era is this already? How many family businesses only use their own family members? They’re just finding excuses to make things difficult for us, and they even look down on people. They can’t even be bothered to put effort into finding excuses.”

He had probably been made things especially difficult for him, because he angrily gulped down a mouthful of tea, loosened his tie, and continued complaining, “If our country allowed same-sex marriage, you would already be a member of the Gu family. How could they still have room to talk!”

A smile appeared at the corners of Shen Juan’s eyes as she listened. She reminded him, “Even if it were allowed, it still wouldn’t work. Xiao Ge hasn’t reached the legal marriage age yet.”

Gu Yi’an had forgotten about that. After all, to outsiders, the greatest difficulty between Shen Juan and Gu Shuge was their gender. With that problem in [unauthorized copy]front of them, who would still remember that Gu Shuge was only eighteen?

“That’s true.” Gu Yi’an leaned against the sofa and looked up at Shen Juan, who was standing. After thinking for a while, he said, “Why don’t we get married, then? They won’t have anything to say after that. We’ll explain the situation clearly to Xiao Ge. She’s so sensible; she’ll definitely understand.”

The current situation truly could not be considered good. Gu Yi’an still had shares to rely on and the identity of heir, while Shen Juan’s foundation was truly thin and every step was difficult. Getting married would indeed have benefits. And Shen Juan guessed that Gu Yi’an proposing marriage probably had another plan: once the group stabilized, when they divorced, they would divide the marital property, and he would give her half of the assets under his name.

That way, outsiders would no longer see her as the Gu family’s adopted daughter, someone merely working for the Gu family. Once she received assets, she would be just like him—a true owner.

Shen Juan was not particularly afraid of what others said. She shook her head and refused firmly. “No.”

“Worried Xiao Ge will be unhappy?” Gu Yi’an asked.

Shen Juan was silent for a while before saying, “We haven’t even officially gotten together yet. If I become someone else’s legal spouse, even if Xiao Ge can understand, she will definitely feel terrible.” The thing called status seemed light and insubstantial, especially in modern times, as though it was only a psychological effect. But Shen Juan still did not want to wrong Gu Shuge.

Only in front of Gu Yi’an, the older brother who had grown up with her since childhood, would she analyze her own thoughts like this.

“Xiao Ge is very sensible, but that isn’t a reason for me not to consider her feelings. We’ve had so many years between us. Unless we’ve truly reached a dead end, I don’t want there to be a flaw in our feelings.” Shen Juan spoke very slowly, but her meaning came through.

Gu Yi’an, a grown man, did not have such delicate thoughts and could not understand. He only felt that this was the simplest and most effective way to solve the problem, so he advised, “Think about it again. I still feel there’s no real loss.”

It was already almost two in the morning, and they still had to go to work tomorrow. After Gu Yi’an finished saying this, he also stood, raising a hand to knock at his shoulders and back. “I’m exhausted. Those old guys kept squeezing me out too. Next week, I have to go on a business trip for a month.”

He had clearly lost weight recently. Shen Juan followed beside him and went upstairs with him, asking, “Didn’t your assistant make an appointment for a full physical examination last month? Where’s the report? Let Dr. Mu take a look.”

“I didn’t have time to go. Next time.” Gu Yi’an did not care much. He was [bailiantales.com]still young. What illness could he possibly have? He was just tired. Once this busy period passed and he rested for a while, he would be fine.

Seeing that Shen Juan seemed about to persuade him, Gu Yi’an hurriedly said good night to her and hid inside his room.

Author’s Note: Gu Yi’an’s example tells us not to stay up late, to cherish our bodies, and also how important physical examinations are.