Today’s visit wasn’t an official inspection. Mainly, Zhou Chiye wanted to learn about the few factories in Nanfeng County that were performing well, to see if there were any projects worth introducing to Cuizhuxiang. So, County Head Yu didn’t come — he only sent Secretary Liu to accompany him, along with several colleagues from the Economic Development Office, treating the trip as a routine research visit.
Zhou Chiye moved quietly, staying at the back of the group. But there was no helping it: he was tall, broad-shouldered, and strikingly handsome. Even if he tried to blend in, all eyes naturally drifted toward him. While everyone else wore plain white shirts, his looked like something straight off a fashion runway.
Factory Director Yang, a shrewd and experienced man, stepped forward warmly to greet him. “This is Secretary Zhou from Cuizhuxiang.”
Zhou Chiye softened his sharp, commanding aura and shook Director Yang’s hand politely.
Lin Sui glanced sideways at Gu Shaonan, only to see a flicker of surprise cross his face — he must have been remembering events from their past life.
And indeed, Gu Shaonan was thinking back. In his previous life, Secretary Zhou had worked in Cuizhuxiang for some time, before steadily rising through the ranks. A few years later, when he became the Director of Personnel in Nan City, Lin Sui herself had even dealt with him over a piece of land.
A dull ache twisted in Gu Shaonan’s chest. He looked again at Lin Sui, but her expression remained calm, giving nothing away. Meanwhile, Zhou Chiye continued greeting everyone else in the group.
When his gaze finally settled on her, Lin Sui’s heart skipped a beat, flushing with unease — terrified he would mention her as someone’s niece or former classmate, which would only be embarrassing.
But as it turned out, she had overestimated her own importance. Zhou Chiye didn’t regard a young girl like her at all; he said nothing at all.
Director Yang treated Lin Sui almost like one of his own staff members and had no objection to her tagging along to observe and learn.
Lin Sui’s real goal, however, was to watch Gu Shaonan, so she stayed close behind him.
Compared to how he had been at this same point in their past life, Gu Shaonan was far more confident now. When explaining the factory’s machinery and production processes, he spoke with ease and authority, as if he knew every detail by heart.
Lin Sui’s heart tightened. She was now certain — he had also been reborn.
Yet several times, when the leaders were gathered discussing matters that didn’t require his input, he could easily have stepped forward to introduce himself and strike up a conversation with her. But he never did. When their eyes occasionally met, he only gave her the polite, distant smile one might give a stranger. Lin Sui felt like screaming — she wanted nothing more than to rip off that false mask he was wearing.
Still, she decided to give him one more chance. After all, how could he know she too had returned to the past?
So she played her part, acting like a diligent, curious young learner. She even pulled out a notebook and pretended to take notes. Whenever Gu Shaonan spoke, she stared intently at him; whenever he lifted his head, she quickly bent over and scribbled something down.
She was so focused on glaring at him that she didn’t notice Zhou Chiye glancing her way from time to time. Every time she caught him looking, she would duck her head to write, only to look back at Gu Shaonan again the moment Zhou Chiye turned away. Even Zhou Chiye found the whole scene exhausting to watch.
Eventually, Zhou Chiye’s gaze rested on Gu Shaonan instead, a faint, knowing smile touching his lips. Meanwhile, Luo Feifei kept chattering nonstop into Lin Sui’s ear — though not about the equipment or assembly lines, but about the two handsome men leading the tour.
After the visit ended, as they walked down the corridor back to the main office, Luo Feifei grabbed Lin Sui’s arm, bubbling with excitement. “I can’t believe I never knew there were such good-looking men in our county! And each has his own charm — one is as bright and refined as a rising dawn, while the other has sharp, defined features and a wilder edge!”
Lin Sui tapped her notebook lightly against her friend’s forehead. “We’re here to learn, remember? Stay serious!”
Luo Feifei grinned mischievously. “Hey, don’t play innocent! I saw you staring at Section Chief Gu the whole time. Turns out you prefer the ‘bright dawn’ type!”
She spoke without noticing that Gu Shaonan and Zhou Chiye, still deep in discussion about technical details, were walking right behind them — and both came to an abrupt halt at her words.
Lin Sui wanted to cover her friend’s mouth right then and there, or even smack her. But a sudden thought struck her: Maybe this works in my favor. If Gu Shaonan misunderstood and thought she was falling for him at first sight just like she had in their past life, it would give him the perfect opening to approach her again.
The next second, however, Gu Shaonan looked away, looking distinctly uncomfortable. Lin Sui’s smile froze instantly, and her fingers clenched until her knuckles turned white.
Is he still going to pretend? Does he really intend to act as if we’ve never met?
A flash of anger burned in her eyes, but just then she heard Secretary Zhou say to Director Yang, “Your factory certainly has a lively atmosphere among the staff.”
Lin Sui quickly smoothed her expression. It was nearly noon anyway, and she assumed Director Yang would surely invite the leaders out for lunch.
She tugged Luo Feifei along to say their goodbyes.
Unexpectedly, Gu Shaonan also spoke up: “I have a prior appointment, so I’ll be heading out as well.”
Lin Sui’s tense shoulders relaxed a little. Perhaps he plans to invite me to eat, to take the chance to talk properly, she thought. The impression I made when we first met, plus Feifei’s words just now — that should give him the opening he needs, right?
A flicker of hope rekindled in her heart.
As she and Luo Feifei walked toward the factory gate, she deliberately slowed her pace.
When Gu Shaonan caught up to them, Lin Sui stared at his youthful, handsome face — exactly as she remembered it from their previous life — and her pulse raced faster and faster. What will he say to me? she wondered. If he explains why he never showed up that night, maybe I can forgive him.
She smoothed her hair and put on what she hoped was her most charming smile.
Gu Shaonan glanced over at her. Lin Sui opened her mouth to speak, but before a single word could leave her lips, he only nodded briefly and walked straight past her toward the gate.
Then she saw her.
At the sight of that familiar figure, Lin Sui’s heart dropped to the bottom of her stomach, and she felt as if a bucket of ice-cold water had been poured over her entire body, leaving her freezing from head to toe. It was Chen Qinghe. She had only seen her a few times in her past life, but she would recognize that face anywhere.
Chen Qinghe was wearing a white dress and waved happily at Gu Shaonan, her face glowing with joy.
Gu Shaonan walked straight toward her. Though Lin Sui couldn’t see his expression, the way his steps quickened betrayed his excitement.
Lin Sui felt as though she had fallen into an ice cave, frozen stiff where she stood.
At that moment, Chen Qinghe’s gaze fell directly on Lin Sui and Luo Feifei.
Noticing two young women — both attractive — staring at her boyfriend, Chen Qinghe pouted slightly, then reached out and firmly took Gu Shaonan’s hand, as if claiming what was hers.
Gu Shaonan was taken aback by how bold she was. But remembering Lin Sui was still watching from behind, and recalling the admiring look she had given him earlier, as well as Luo Feifei’s comments, he worried Lin Sui might still harbor that same instant infatuation she had felt in their past life. So he squeezed Chen Qinghe’s hand back, making it clear he was already taken. That way, if he had to interact with Lin Sui in the future, it would only ever be as ordinary colleagues or acquaintances.
Yet for some reason, the thought made him feel uneasy, and he didn’t dare look back to see Lin Sui’s reaction. He just kept walking forward, hand in hand with Chen Qinghe.
Chen Qinghe instinctively disliked the sight of the fashionable, well-dressed woman behind them. She smiled and raised her voice enough to be heard, saying, “Shaonan, come register our room at the hotel first. Then after work, I’ll have you drive me home. My mother wants to discuss our wedding plans.”
She spoke loudly on purpose, confident the “other woman” would hear every word. Sure enough, she saw Lin Sui’s eyes widen in shock. Hmph, she thought, so you were interested in him.
Though Gu Shaonan’s family was poor, his looks always drew attention. Even when he was studying at technical college, many girls had tried to pursue him. But Chen Qinghe kept her jealousy hidden, not wanting Gu Shaonan to think she was petty or unreasonable. She simply tightened her grip on his hand and pulled him along.
Gu Shaonan’s whole body tensed up. He felt as if needles were pricking his back, and a tangled, heavy feeling settled in his chest. He forced himself not to turn around.
Behind them, Lin Sui dug her fingernails deep into her palms until they almost broke the skin.
Every single word — hotel, mother, wedding — stabbed into her heart like a sharp blade.