Now, even if she wanted to back out, she didn’t know where to start.
“Alright.”
“Then I won’t meddle further. I don’t really know what’s going on in your military camp. I was just speaking casually—don’t take it to heart.”
“Alright.” Shen Suyu said awkwardly. After a few more words, she left, feeling inexplicably uncomfortable. It seemed that in the future, she would need to keep her distance from Gu Yanshen; otherwise, what could be explained once easily might become difficult to explain repeatedly.
“I’ve mostly completed the tasks you assigned. Tomorrow, go meet with the supplier with me and see if it meets your expectations.”
“That person is my friend. Our relationship is pretty good, so if any issues arise, just mention them. He shouldn’t have any objections,” Gu Yanshen said. He didn’t know what had happened in the cafeteria, and as soon as he returned that evening, he headed straight for Shen Suyu’s room. These past few days hadn’t been wasted; he’d gained some progress.
“So quickly everything has been arranged? Officer Gu, your capabilities are truly impressive. If I had gone, I wouldn’t know how long it would have taken,” Shen Suyu said, surprised.
“You have so many friends even on this small island?” She had been planning to distance herself from him earlier that morning, but upon hearing the news, her face lit up with excitement. All previous thoughts were pushed aside—what mattered now was making the business work. Distance or not was a minor issue.
“This business wasn’t found on the island; it’s outside. A very good friend of mine handles this type of business.”
“I contacted him through a letter and didn’t know if it would suit your needs. If not, I’d have to find someone else,” Gu Yanshen admitted, a bit embarrassed. Shen Suyu’s praise was so straightforward that he had never heard anything like it before. It felt strange—after all, they were from different worlds; such words would never come from his own mouth.
“What does it matter whether it’s suitable or not? I just need to provide the craftsmanship myself. As long as the fabric is good, everything can be arranged. Your friend should be reliable, right?”
“You’re really perceptive,” Shen Suyu said gently, not outright agreeing. Gu Yanshen’s words were just polite excuses; she would have been foolish to take them at face value.
“Don’t worry. My friends are all reliable and won’t cut corners, but you should still check yourself—I don’t know what your standards are.”
“I’m not very familiar with this industry, but I can help you with anything that comes up later.”
“Good.” After arranging the time, Shen Suyu didn’t linger any longer. Once the serious matters were settled, she remembered the less serious ones and even glanced around to make sure no one was watching, afraid of misinterpreted rumors.
“Has there been a problem? I haven’t been at the camp these past few days. If someone gives you trouble, tell me immediately. I’ll help you solve it.”
“You brought me here, and I can’t let you suffer in this place,” Gu Yanshen said, noticing her unusual behavior and asking carefully. He was also thinking quickly; since everyone here had good relations with him, it was unlikely that anyone would deliberately cause trouble.
“It’s not about you. It’s my own matters. Officer Gu, don’t worry. It’s already late, and you’ve been busy outside these past days. Better to rest early. If any issues arise, I’ll reach out to you—I won’t handle them alone,” Shen Suyu said politely, carefully creating distance. She wished to keep Gu Yanshen eight zhang away, even raising her voice more than usual. Gu Yanshen was left speechless, looking at the darkened sky, filled with question marks.
“I…” He wanted to ask a few questions, but Shen Suyu slammed the door shut, rejecting him. Luckily, his reflexes were fast enough to avoid being hit.
“I know Officer Gu has many things to say, so I won’t waste your time. You should do what you need to do without worrying about me. We’ll meet again tomorrow,” Shen Suyu’s hurried voice came through. Gu Yanshen was at a loss, but he didn’t press further. He could ask about the situation later.
“Good.”
“You need to hurry tomorrow. My friend can’t easily enter our location, so it might take an extra day. Prepare whatever you need in advance.”
“I’ve already arranged a hotel outside, so don’t worry,” Gu Yanshen said. He meant no harm, but Shen Suyu, hiding in her room, was shocked. How could he be so careless with his words?
“I know you want me to stay in the hotel, Officer Gu, but it’s too extravagant. I’ll see if I can find another place.”
“Officer Gu, please don’t say more. Go rest early. We’ll discuss any issues tomorrow,” she said through gritted teeth. Gu Yanshen understood her meaning and, though curious, followed her instructions. He was stubborn—if Shen Suyu wanted something done, he would do his best.
“Good.” He returned to his room. Their voices had been so loud that nearby rooms heard everything. The gossipy soldiers were already buzzing, praising Gu Yanshen.
“The boss is amazing! How did he get Miss Shen to agree so quickly? They’re even going to a hotel—shouldn’t that be inappropriate?”
“Should we tell the boss? We should make sure the girl is officially engaged first,” Liu Guang said awkwardly. He was shy and had never interacted with girls much, so he didn’t understand Gu Yanshen’s actions.
“Are you crazy? Didn’t you hear what the boss said? He’s taking Miss Shen for business tomorrow.”
“It’s not a secret rendezvous. What’s wrong with it? You don’t need to nag. Don’t you know who the boss is!” Wang Guang said, exasperated. How could someone be so thoughtless and not fear the boss’s anger, or risk punishment? Hadn’t they run laps on the training ground today?
“I advise you to behave and not repeat these words. Even if you want to speak, don’t drag us into it. Otherwise, don’t blame me—I have a bad temper, and if I get punished, you’ll regret it,” Wang Guang threatened harshly. Liu Guang dared not say another word; he had only been speaking casually, with no intention of action.