Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
His pillow? Gu Nianzhi was astonished until she looked down to see she was really holding a pillow… She quickly turned around to throw it onto Huo Shaoheng’s bed and nearly ran away. Huo Shaoheng smiled at her back but didn’t call after her. Instead, he went to the closet to take a black T-shirt and pants to change into, then opened the door to the suite and turned on the light in the living room. He went back to his study to start working.
Gu Nianzhi couldn’t sleep her bedroom no matter what–she tossed and turned in her blankets and flipped over from time to time to see the light spilling through the door. It was coming from Huo Shaoheng’s room. Gu Nianzhi reach out and imagined the light falling into her hands. She gave it a squeeze and it was like holding Huo Shaoheng’s hand.
…
Huo Shaoheng turned on his computer to reply to several emails then looked at the progress with Zhang Feng’s case. Although it was Lunar New Year and most people weren’t working, the progress was already quite good. However he still thought it was tooslow because he wanted to conclude the case as soon as possible. When he completed all his work, an hour had already passed. Huo Shaoheng drank a cup of water and got up to see Gu Nianzhi. As soon as he entered her room, he saw her quickly flip over and turn her back to him. Huo Shaoheng knew she wasn’t asleep yet and sat at her bedside to fix her blankets. He asked in his deep voice, “…Why haven’t you slept yet?”
Gu Nianzhi’s face was burning red. She was just having wayward thoughts and didn’t think the male idol she just had her way with her imagination would sit by her bed. The shock was too great and assumed her normal way of professing love yet actually fearing Huo Shaoheng by shrinking back into her blankets.
“Why’s your face so red? Are you sick?” Huo Shaoheng used his hand to check her forehead’s temperature and was so gentle it felt like a dragonfly dipping into water before swiftly flying away.
In that moment, Gu Nianzhi hated herself for not getting used to sleeping with the light off so Huo Shaoheng wouldn’t see her flushing cheeks in the darkness.
She turned around and watched Huo Shaoheng with her huge doe eyes shimmering. She huffed gently, “…I’m not sick, I’m about to sleep right away.”
Huo Shaoheng gazed at her intently and touched her face like he wanted to speak yet couldn’t find the words. He finally turned the lights off for her, “Sleep, I’ll keep the light on until you fall asleep.”
After Huo Shaoheng left, Gu Nianzhi hid in the blankets and thought to herself how she was such a pervert, it was hopeless… Huo Shao just wanted to kiss your lips but you lust after his body. However his back was really sexy.. She wanted to wrap her legs around it… No, she couldn’t think anymore, she must sleep… Gu Nianzhi pull the blankets over her head and finally forced herself to fall asleep.
…
She slept fitfully that night and woke up 6am the next morning, unable to sleep again. She could only get up and wash her face, then went for a morning run. The air was frigid enough to cut into the bone on the winter morning, but had a hint of refreshingness to it. Taking a deep breath, the icy air cleared her mind. She finally woke up form the naughty dreams last night. Gu Nianzhi ran quickly, looping around the tracks in the vase five or six times before slowing down.
Huo Shaoheng just finished his morning workout and passed by the tracks when he saw Gu Nianzhi’s tall figure. She had her hair up in a high ponytail that revealed her luminous forehead. Because she had just been running, she was still panting and her exquisite little nose was trembling slightly and appeared especially alluring. Huo Shaoheng didn’t disturb her and only watched her quietly from the tree on the side of the road before turning back to his official residence. When it was time for breakfast, he didn’t wait for Gu Nianzhi and ate quickly alone before going back to work in the office. After Gu Nianzhi finished her run, Song Jinning was the only one in there havingbreakfast.
“Good morning, Auntie Song.” Gu Nianzhi sat across from Song Jinning and looked around, “Where’s Huo Shao, Brother Xiong and Brother Ze? They ate already?”
“They ate long ago and said today is the first official day back to work.” Song Jinning spread butter on her toast, “I need to work too, I’m reporting to the Institute today.” Song Jinning was now the Director of the Institute of High Energy Physics but she hadn’t been working for 16 years now and didn’t know if she would get accustomed.
Gu Nianzhi had her milk and oatmeal as she gave it some thought and said to Song Jinning, “If there’s anything you’re not accustomed to, don’t suffer in silence. You can talk to me or tell Huo Shao directy. I’d tell him anyway.”
Song Jinning nodded with a smile, “I’ll tell you for sure. Nianzhi, I’ll definitely ask for you help if I need it.”
“I look forward to it.” Gu Nianzhi nodded quickly, “It’s be my pleasure to help you if you need it.”
The two women chatted happily and went to their respective rooms to shower and change after breakfast. They both had to go out that morning.
…
Zhang Baochen also went out early in the day and arrived to the Military Police building and waited outside for a while. He was there even earlier than Gu Nianzhi because he had to tell Zhang Feng a few things in advance.
Zhang Feng saw him and quickly asked, “Is there good news? Are you here to take me home?”
Zhang Baochen pursed his lips and coughed quietly as he leaned forward to whisper, “Mom, what are you planning to do with your assets? How about you sign an authorization and give me power of attorney?”
Zhang Feng instantly grew alert, “My assets? Why are you asking that? What authorization?”
Zhang Baochen numbled for a bit because he knew he couldn’t say it was for auctioning the assets off to repay her debt. If he told Zhang Feng, there’s no way she’d agree. In a panic, he blurted out, “Didn’t you say it’s all for me? Why can’t you give it to me early?”
Zhang Feng was a little sad when she heard this and stared at Zhang Baochen with a shake of her head, “You keep going in circles, but it’s just all for my money? Why are you in such a rush, I’m not even dead yet? Right, I did this for you but that doesn’t mean I need to give it to you rigjt away.”
Zhang Baochen was stunned speechless by her and stammered for a long time before replying, “But I don’t have money right now…”
“No money… Ask the Chief then.” Zhang Feng glared at him, “Why are you so dumb? You should take this chance to move back in with the Chief instead of thinking about my money all day. Can’t you grow up a little?”
Zhang Baochen also got upset, “So is taking advantage of the Chief mean I’m grown up? Mom, what are you actually thinking? I’m trying to help you!”
“If you want to help me, then go beg the Chief! I’m telling you, that’s the only option!” Zhang Feng stood up when she finished speaking, “I’m going back, leave now.” She was feeling upset that the son she had spoiled would only care about her money. She was still stuck in jail and he was already thinking about taking all of her fortune.
…
Zhang Baochen left in disappointment and hung his head. He stood listlessly in the plaza in front of the building and watched the empty street in a daze. He didn’t know if he should continue waiting anymore. With his mother’s current condition, what was the use of bringing the authorization from Gu Nianzhi? He didn’t’ think Zhang Feng would sign it. After hesitating for awhile, he decided to leave and was about to hail a taxi when he saw Gu Nianzhi get out of a BMW and walk towards him. Zhang Baochen stopped in his tracks and nodded at her, “Miss Gu, you’re here.”
Gu Nianzhi studied Zhang Baochen, he was a man in his forties, tall and slim. He didn’t really resemble Grandfather Huo but his face shape was identical to Zhang Feng’s. His eyes however, were similar to Grandfather Huo’s. Grandfather Huo had three sons and Gu Nianzhi had only met Huo Guanchen and Zhang Baochen. Their eyes resembled Grandfather Huo’s while Huo Shaoheng’s eyes were unlike his father or grandfather. However they didn’t look like his mother’s either, so he must resemble his grandmother’s…
Gu Nianzhi took out the authorization to pass to Zhang Baochen, “Did you wait a long time? This is the authorization, give it to your mom to sign and I’ll wait for you outside.”
Zhang Baochen didn’t take it and shook his head with a wry smile, “I just went in, my mom won’t sign it.”
Gu Nianzhi, “…” She looked at the form she had spent several hours creating last night and refused to accept it. After some thought, Gu Nianzhi asked him how he worded it to Zhang Feng.
Zhang Baochen repeated everything he said to her. Gu Nianzhi frowned and thought about it some more before giving him an idea. She smiled slyly and said to Zhang Baochen, “Go inside again and say that she has too many assets under her name. The court can circumvent her permission and forcibly auction off the assets under her name. If she wants to preserve all her assets, it’s best she transfers everything to your name. You’re her primary beneficiary anyway, so if she doesn’t give it to you now, she won’t be able to give you a penny in the future.”
