Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
He looked down at the phone in his hand for a long while before Secretary He softly reminded from the side, “Chief Su, it’s late. Let’s return to the hotel. Chief Zhang will be coming over for tea with you, so it’s good to be there where he can find you.”
Secretary He’s voice brought Su Chen’s thoughts back to reality. When he thought about how he was dazed earlier, he could not help but knock his own head in annoyance with himself. Since when had he actually been this frustrated over a woman?
As he worked hard to block the frustration in his head, Su Chen inhaled deeply, and then returned to normal. He kept his phone away in his pocket before turning around to look to Secretary He. “What time is it now?”
Secretary He took a look at his wrist and responded, “Chief Su, it’s 8.30 p.m. Chief Zhang asked to meet at 9 p.m., so it should be about time to return to the hotel.”
Upon hearing that, Su Chen nodded and walked ahead as he said, “Try to arrange for everything in the last three days. By Friday night we have to finish all the tasks and return to City Z.”
Secretary He obviously knew that Su Chen said that because he wanted to go back earlier to help with the wedding preparation. It was no wonder that Chief Su had not been at ease since those who are about to get married mostly found it hard to stay calm.
“Chief Su, do you want to bring back some gifts for Sis-in-law? They usually like it when their husbands bring them back something when they’re away for work. If you get a gift for her, I’m sure she’ll be happy that you were still thinking of her while being away at work!”
Secretary He usually had some interaction with the secretaries of other leaders, so he was quite smooth and slick in dealing with such things.
When Su Chen heard his comment, he turned around and squinted at Sectetary He with a serious expression. “You’re only quick with the nonsensical ideas. Do I look like the kind of man who needs to curry favor with his own wife? Your sis-in-law isn’t that kind of little woman!”
Secretary He just smiled and cleared his throat. Naturally, he dared not expose Su Chen, so he only silently followed behind him as he walked ahead.
He took a few steps before Su Chen suddenly slowed down and turned to ask, “Can you go find out to see if there are any jewelry stores around? I remember that there’s a Hua Tian Premium Outlet ahead, isn’t there?”
Secretary He answered affirmatively, “Yes, Chief Su, that place has a dazzling line-up of products. Every one of them is exquisite. Last night, I walked around and bought my wife a pair of earrings…”
The things the outlet sold were too expensive. Given his meager pay as an office-bearer, that was already half a month’s salary, but if it made his wife happy, it was worth it!
Su Chen pondered and paused, then said, “Let’s go take a look tomorrow.” He continued walking ahead.
…
The blistering hot summer quietly ended with the morning sun sizzling on the sidewalk. Men and women were rushing past in clothing that kept them cool and refreshed. When the unending flow of cars crossed paths at the traffic light, there would always be a long queue, especially after work hours.
At the gateway towards a certain beautiful manor in the suburbs of City Z, Gu Lingsha was sitting in the driver’s seat, and watching the congestion ahead frustratedly. A few minutes had passed, but the jam barely moved at all. Glancing at the time on her wrist from time to time, she felt like the more she looked, the more frustrated she was.
She tried hard to calm down. After a while, the traffic finally moved, so she started her car. She drove through the wide Fatong Avenue and along the cement byway before reaching a quiet and elegant little manor.
She had just gotten down from the car when the butler that had been waiting at the door came up to her. He respectfully bowed to her and smiled to greet, “Miss Lingsha, you’re back!”
Gu Lingsha smiled and nodded. “It’s been a while. Uncle Fang, you look like you’ve become younger.”
“Miss Lingsha, you must be joking. Quickly come in. The sun’s blistering outside.” The butler beamed and let her in.
She nodded politely and walked in with the butler following suit as he continued, “Miss Lingsha, you and the boss haven’t been back in a while. Last time, when I heard that you’d be returning to City Z to work, I thought you’d stay here, but you didn’t, so we were all disappointed for a while.”
This manor was left behind by Gu Qiwu’s mother, who was Gu Lingsha’s grandmother. The Gu family’s Elder Madam had passed away for many years now. The reason Gu Lingsha had stayed in City Z to study years ago, growing up with Qi Lei and Qi Feng, was because Gu Qiwu thought she would miss her granddaughter, so he let Gu Lingsha stay by her side.
“Don’t worry, Uncle Fang. I’ll come back more often. All these years, I’ve been missing Grandmother too. Unexpectedly, when she passed away, I was…” When Gu Lingsha said this, she suddenly stopped and looked up at this manor as a faint light flickered in her eyes. There was also a hint of sadness between her brows.
“Miss Lingsha, don’t be sad. The Elder Madam left peacefully. She already knew that you are fine, so there was nothing she couldn’t let go of. She only hoped for you to live well. That’s all.”
Butler Fang had been at this manor for over 20 years now and was the most trustworthy butler of Elder Madam Gu before she passed on.
Gu Lingsha took a deep breath, her azure eyes glimmering with sparkles. She looked up at the scenery before her, and after a while, she blinked before speaking with a slight raspy voice, “After I returned, I should’ve come back to take a look, but I didn’t dare come back. I was afraid to see Grandmother not being around anymore. Looking at this empty house, I feel like crying…Who would’ve thought that in just the blink of an eye, everything would remain but the people would’ve changed?”
At this moment, Butler Fang hid his turbulent feelings and regret as he said to Gu Lingsha, “Who says so? Sigh, okay, Miss Lingsha, don’t be sad now. Elder Madam’s already passed on for many years. Just come back more often from now on. There are still memories that she’s left behind. Boss is by the flower wall in the backyard. Go quickly. He’s been waiting for you for quite a while now.”
Gu Lingsha silently looked away and lowered her gaze with a slightly bleak expression. She responded, “Okay, I’ll go up now. Oh yes, there are some little gifts here that I prepared for everyone. Give it out to them and tell them that I’ve missed everyone all these years.”
