Gu Qingyue still refused. “No need, someone’s picking me up.”For a fleeting moment, Zhou Xuyang’s expression faltered, but he didn’t show it. Unwilling to give up, he said, “Then let’s go next time.”
“Maybe next time.” Gu Qingyue still didn’t agree, her tone calm and distant. “I’ll go ahead.”
Zhou Xuyang watched her walk away. The warm sunlight fell on the girl, making her black, glossy hair glint with a faint golden hue in the daylight.
Gu Qingyue shone even brighter than the sun.He was a year ahead of her, majoring in Integrated Circuit Design and Integrated Systems. At the start of the semester, he had been responsible for welcoming freshmen, and he had fallen for Gu Qingyue at first sight.
Later, when Gu Qingyue joined Jiang Yan’s lab, they ended up in the same research group. He had thought his chance had come.
But Gu Qingyue was low-key and reserved. When interacting with others, she always carried an aloofness that kept people at a distance, as if no one could enter her heart.
Her life was monotonous: classroom, cafeteria, dormitory, lab, library,she rarely went out and only ever with her two roommates, speaking little.
Most of the conversations he tried to spark centered on experiments. Yet she could shut them down in just a few sentences.
Many had confessed to her, and she had rejected them all. He dared not act rashly if he were rejected, even the current status quo might be impossible to maintain.
“Senior Zhou, what a coincidence!” A coquettish voice pulled him sharply back to reality.
He frowned and saw Chen Qian, dressed flamboyantly, with meticulously applied makeup. She wore a skirt that left her legs fully exposed a classic case of style over substance.
Beside her, Gu Jiaxin had also dressed up, letting strands of hair fall to conceal flaws on her face. The two of them walked together like they were competing in a beauty contest.
Chen Qian flashed a smile she believed was sweet and spoke in a high-pitched tone, “Senior Zhou, have you eaten lunch? If not, can we go together?”
The scent of her perfume was overwhelming. Zhou Xuyang subtly stepped back, expressionless. “No, I have things to do.”He turned and walked away, ignoring the two of them.
“Senior Zhou! Senior Zhou!” No matter how Chen Qian shouted, Zhou Xuyang didn’t look back.
Chen Qian stomped her foot in anger, her face twisted. “Why can’t I compare that gold-digging Gu Qingyue?!”She had come to the lab just to run into Zhou Xuyang. The lab didn’t allow unrelated people inside. To see him, she had braved the cold outside for half an hour.
And yet, before she could say even a few words, he left.Gu Jiaxin played the concerned friend act, pretending to console. “Qianqian, Senior Zhou didn’t know, right?”
Chen Qian clenched her fists. “Once I find something on Gu Qingyue, I’ll expose her in front of the whole school!”
A scheming smile flashed across Gu Jiaxin’s face.Near the school gate, Gu Qingyue spotted Shang Ye’s Porsche SUV from afar.For some reason, she suddenly wanted to see Shang Yuze, yet worried about disturbing his work.
At that moment, her phone rang.She pulled it out, and her lips lifted unconsciously. When she answered, the man’s deep yet gentle voice came through.
“Finished with work?”“Yes.” Gu Qingyue spoke. “Shang Yuze…”Her words faltered mid-sentence.Would he find her clingy if she bothered him too much?“Hmm? What is it?” Shang Yuze asked patiently.
Hearing his warm, spring-like voice, Gu Qingyue gathered courage. “Where are you? Can I come see you?”
Shang Yuze smiled. The little girl seemed increasingly reliant on him. “At the company. I’ll have Shang Ye bring you over. What do you want to eat? I’ll have someone get it beforehand.”
“Anything is fine.” Gu Qingyue’s smile brightened.Shang Yuze reminded her, “Be careful on the way.”Half an hour later, at Shang Group.
Employees had just finished lunch. As they waited for the elevator, they saw a girl step out of Shang Ye’s car. Everyone ignored the elevator and craned their necks, curious.
Shang Ye was Shang Yuze’s right-hand man; his actions often represented Shang Yuze’s intentions.
The girl was strikingly beautiful, her narrow fox-like eyes enchanting, a classic femme fatale.Whispers spread among the staff.“Who is she? How did she come with Shang Ye?”
“Is she a new intern?”“No intern has this kind of status to have Shang Ye personally pick her up. Plus, he’s walking half a step behind her. Her position is clearly special.”
“Could she be related to Shang Zong?”
“Pretty sure.”They were so busy gossiping, they didn’t even notice reaching the elevator.
Shang Ye scolded expressionlessly, “What are you all talking about? Got nothing better to do? This is Shang Zong’s wife, our lady boss.”Immediately, everyone’s gaze fell on Gu Qingyue. Silence blanketed the area.
After ten seconds of quiet, everyone spoke in unison, as if rehearsed.Good day, Madam.”Gu Qingyue twitched at the social embarrassment but managed a fairly natural smile. “Hello.”
Why was it so awkward?At that moment, the CEO’s private elevator opened.The man stepped out, dressed in a perfectly tailored suit, his tall, upright figure radiating noble coldness, full of restrained allure.Seeing him, the crowd quickly greeted, “Shang Zong.”
Shang Yuze nodded lightly, his focus entirely on Gu Qingyue. He naturally took the handbag from her hands.
“Why didn’t you call me when you arrived?”The staff were dumbfounded.No one expected the famously aloof Shang Zong to be so considerate.
Feeling the gazes around her, Gu Qingyue instinctively stiffened. “I didn’t want to disturb your work.”
Shang Yuze wrapped an arm around her shoulder, and they entered the elevator together. “We’ll record your fingerprint and face inside. Next time, you can come up directly.”
Their conversation carried clearly to everyone present. Even without group chats from higher-ups, the news of Shang Zong being married spread through the company like wildfire.
Shang Yuze personally opened the CEO’s office door. Gu Qingyue stepped inside, removing her heavy coat to reveal a white sweater underneath.The fitted sweater accentuated her figure, her slender waist delicate to the touch.“Our relationship is now known throughout the company.”