A Secret (GL) - Chapter 37

Gu Shuge was caught in a dilemma, her hesitation manifesting in the hand that was still gently stroking Shen Juan’s brow.

Shen Juan felt the stillness and uncertainty in those fingertips. A faint light seemed to settle in her eyes as she looked toward the spot where Gu Shuge stood, searching for her eyes, wanting to meet her gaze.

But she failed. Although she could sense Gu Shuge’s presence and her physical movements, she wasn’t yet able to clearly feel an expression or a specific look.

So, Shen Juan stopped searching in vain. At the exact moment Gu Shuge hesitated to withdraw her hand, she spoke.

“With me, you can do anything you want.”

In the autumn four years ago, Gu Shuge entered university. While other students were curiously exploring the campus and experiencing college life for the first time, her familiarity with the grounds allowed her to skip those freshman steps entirely.

This was the same university Shen Juan had graduated from. Gu Shuge had visited countless times; when filling out her applications after the college entrance exam, she had chosen this place without a single moment of hesitation.

This had brought Shen Juan great peace of mind.

The elementary and middle schools Xiaoge attended since childhood were all places Shen Juan had been. Even in university, Shuge continued to follow in her footsteps, as if silently declaring that although there was a seven-year gap between them, she was working hard to close it by following her lead.

But at that time, the Gu Group was in turmoil. Factions were rife within the group, and interpersonal relationships were complex; Gu Yian’s status as the young heir was hardly effective. He and Shen Juan had exerted every ounce of effort just to stabilize the situation, but many subordinates remained defiant.

By silent agreement, neither she nor Gu Yian ever spoke of these things to Gu Shuge.

Gu Shuge’s nature was simple; she had never been one for scheming since she was a child. She wasn’t suited for involvement in such matters. They both wanted her to do what she wanted and live the life she chose.

However, it seemed Gu Shuge only had eyes for Shen Juan, caring little for a life of her own.

After the semester started, she still ran to the Gu Group to find Shen Juan whenever she had free time.

The weather that day was exceptionally good—clear skies and the crisp air of autumn. Gu Shuge had no afternoon classes; as soon as her morning lectures finished, she packed her books and immediately went to find Shen Juan.

When she arrived, Shen Juan was busy. Several executives over the age of forty, all in formal suits, were standing in the office holding a small meeting.

The moment Gu Shuge entered, everyone’s eyes fell on her. She was used to coming and going as she pleased, but realizing she had interrupted their meeting, she stood at the door, feeling a bit flustered.

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

It was a strange thing; Gu Shuge held a large number of shares and nominally held a director’s position, yet people in the group, regardless of rank, never addressed her as “Director Gu.” They always called her “Miss Gu,” out of either politeness or respect.

Hearing someone speak, Gu Shuge felt she had found a way out of her embarrassment. She gave a quick “Mhm” and searched through the crowd for Shen Juan. Shen Juan had been watching her the whole time; seeing her gaze find her, she said softly, “Go wait for me inside.”

“Inside” was the lounge where Gu Shuge often stayed. Familiar with it, she nodded and said, “Okay.”

Shen Juan watched her go in before resuming the meeting.

Once the meeting concluded and the executives had left, Shen Juan went to the lounge to find her. Gu Shuge looked at her expectantly and asked piteously, “Sister, did I disturb you?” Without waiting for an answer, she gave a worried sigh and said, “I’ll tell you before I come next time. Just… don’t forbid me from coming to see you.”

Only two days prior, Shen Juan had suggested she spend more time getting to know her new classmates. Shuge was terrified that because she interrupted the meeting today, she wouldn’t be allowed to come back.

“Do you really want to see me that much?” Shen Juan sat beside her, her smile exceptionally tender.

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

She had been clingy since she was a child. Gu Yian used to say wonderingly, “Xiaoge is like a little shadow. Wherever you go, she follows. I’m her biological brother, yet I don’t get that treatment.”

Shen Juan hummed in thought for a moment. Thinking she was going to refuse, Gu Shuge grabbed her sleeve anxiously and said, “Let me come. I won’t be loud.”

She truly wasn’t loud; she would wait patiently to the side. When Shen Juan was free, she would talk to her; when she was busy, Shuge would quietly find her own entertainment and wait.

Seeing her so anxious, Shen Juan naturally agreed: “Then you come.”

Gu Shuge was still very green back then, but she was bold, not bothering to hide her adoration because she had never feared rejection. Seeing Shen Juan agree, she rested her face in her hand and said, “We both go home every day and see each other then, so it’s not that I have to come here to see you… I just want to spend more time with you.”

Even if she hadn’t said it, Shen Juan knew her heart. Was her own permission for Shuge to come not also born of a desire to spend more time with her? She didn’t speak, but gave her a soft, smiling glance as she leafed through the book Shuge had set aside.

Her heart fluttering from that look, Gu Shuge leaned over and rested her chin on Shen Juan’s shoulder. “Let’s have dinner together tonight.”

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

Gu Shuge wouldn’t say: “Just dinner.” But her expression clearly said she had something on her mind. Shen Juan saw through her but didn’t press; Xiaoge could never keep a secret in front of her for long. She’d surely spill it herself soon.

Surprisingly, Gu Shuge held out longer than usual. Every inch of her face screamed, “I have a big secret but I’m not telling,” yet her mouth looked like it was itching to say it. Finally, she said, “I have a surprise for you.”

So it’s a surprise.

There were many things she would call a “surprise”: seeing clothes in a mall that would suit Shen Juan, taking a beautiful photo while out, or discovering a delicious restaurant. All of these were surprises worthy of her being mysterious.

Having figured it out, Shen Juan replied unhurriedly, “Not today. I have a business dinner.”

Gu Shuge was crestfallen. She gave a soft sigh and lowered her head, muttering, “Then you go. We’ll make it next time.”

Perhaps because both Shen Juan and Gu Yian were always busy, Gu Shuge was very used to plans being canceled or going days without a word from Shen Juan. She was used to waiting and had gradually become content with it. Despite her disappointment, she didn’t force the issue.

But seeing her dejected look, the slight downturn of her lips, and the round, pink tips of her ears peeking through her hair, Shen Juan felt a sudden pang of heartache. Should I spend more time with her? Once this busy period passed and the Group stabilized, she determined she would take an annual leave and go on a trip with Xiaoge.

Thinking of a trip, Shen Juan’s thoughts wandered further. She had heard that traveling together can make a couple’s feelings grow stronger.

Shen Juan’s heart felt a bit warm. She thought: Before that happens, let’s finalize our relationship. Xiaoge was shy and would never dare to say it, so she would take the initiative.

“When are you free? Tell me in advance, okay?” Gu Shuge rallied her spirits and shook Shen Juan’s index finger 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 refuse? Her eyes brightened instantly, and she nodded: “Okay, tomorrow night!”

They soon settled on a restaurant.

By evening, Gu Shuge went home first, while Shen Juan went to her dinner engagement. After her obligations were finished, she personally visited the restaurant they had agreed on for the next day. Since she was going to confess, there had to be decorations. Although it was a decision made only that afternoon, the moment she saw the restaurant manager, a complete plan formed in her mind—as if she had planned it countless times in her heart already. She wanted to give Xiaoge an unforgettable memory on such an important day.

Because time was tight and there was no time for a written plan, Shen Juan spent over an hour describing it verbally to the manager.

The manager knew immediately this was a proposal or confession and didn’t dare be anything less than diligent. He took careful notes and guaranteed repeatedly that the dinner would go perfectly.

When she returned home, it was already after midnight. She happened to run into Gu Yian coming home.

Gu Yian was sighing and groaning: “Those old fogeys… they’re going to be the death of me. They nagged all night, saying you aren’t a Gu and don’t belong here. What era is this? How many family businesses use only family members? They’re just looking for reasons to make things hard for us. They look down on people and don’t even put effort into their excuses.”

He had clearly been given a hard time. Angry, he gulped some tea, loosened his tie, and continued to complain: “If only this country allowed same-sex marriage, you would have been a Gu long ago, and they wouldn’t have a leg to stand on!”

Shen Juan’s eyes held a smile as she reminded him, “Even if it were allowed, it wouldn’t work. Xiaoge isn’t of legal marriage age yet.”

Gu Yian had forgotten that part. After all, the biggest difficulty between Shen Juan and Gu Shuge in the eyes of outsiders was their gender; with that hurdle in front of them, who remembered that Gu Shuge was only eighteen?

“True.” Gu Yian leaned back on the sofa, looking up at the standing Shen Juan. After a while, he said, “Otherwise, let’s get married. That would shut them up. We’ll explain the situation to Xiaoge; she’s sensible, she’ll understand.”

The current situation was far from good. Gu Yian at least had shares and the status of heir to fall back on; Shen Juan truly had a thin foundation and faced a difficult path. A marriage would indeed have benefits. Furthermore, Shen Juan guessed that Gu Yian’s proposal was likely a plan to divide his assets and give her half when they eventually “divorced” after the company stabilized.

That way, outsiders would no longer see her as just a foster daughter working for the family. Once she held property, she would be an owner, just like him.

Shen Juan, however, was not one to fear the words of others. She shook her head and refused firmly: “No.”

“Worried Xiaoge will be unhappy?” Gu Yian asked.

Shen Juan was silent for a while before saying, “We aren’t officially together yet. If I became someone else’s legal partner, even if Xiaoge could understand, she certainly wouldn’t feel good about it.” Status was something that seemed weightless, especially in modern times—as if it were merely a psychological effect. But Shen Juan didn’t want to wrong Gu Shuge.

Only in front of Gu Yian, the brother she had grown up with, would she analyze her heart so deeply.

“Xiaoge is sensible, but that isn’t a reason for me to ignore her feelings. We’ve been together so many years; unless it’s a dead end, I don’t want there to be a flaw in our relationship.” Shen Juan spoke slowly, but her meaning was clear.

Gu Yian, being a man, lacked such delicate sensibilities and couldn’t fully understand. He simply thought it was the most effective solution and urged, “Think it over. I still feel there’s no downside.”

It was almost 2:00 AM, and there was work tomorrow. After speaking, Gu Yian stood up and tapped his back. “Exhausted. Those old guys are squeezing me dry. I have to go on a business trip for a month starting next week.”

He had visibly thinned recently. Shen Juan walked upstairs beside him and asked, “Didn’t your assistant book a full physical for you last month? Where’s the report? Let Dr. Mu have a look.”

“No time to go. We’ll see next time.” Gu Yian didn’t care much. He was young—what could be wrong? He was just tired. Once he finished this stretch, he’d rest for a while and be fine.

Seeing that Shen Juan was about to urge him again, Gu Yian quickly bid her goodnight and retreated into his room.