Xiao Chen acted quickly. “Boss, we’ve found out. It seems Xie Zhiqiu is stirring up trouble.”
“Him? It looks like the pressure we applied last time wasn’t enough. This time, hit him hard. Don’t hold back.”
“Yes, boss.”
“Send a plane to pick me up. I need to return to Jiangcheng immediately.”
After hanging up the phone, Zhou Guchuan grew increasingly irritable. No one would be in a good mood waking up in the morning to find the person they liked gone.
On Yin Lan’s side, she landed in Jiangcheng just as dawn was breaking. Without even having time for breakfast, she began dealing with the mess Xie Zhiqiu had created.
The cooperative project was a contract she had signed with him before her rebirth. Now that the project was in trouble, Xie Zhiqiu had washed his hands of it. The person in charge had nearly blown up her phone with calls, all waiting for her to return and take charge.
Yin Lan couldn’t help but despise her past self. What kind of judgment had she possessed to fall for someone like Xie Zhiqiu, who was useless at everything but excelled at causing trouble?
All the project managers had pulled an all-nighter, waiting in the office for Yin Lan to return and discuss solutions.
The meeting lasted from morning until afternoon, with lunch being a simple working meal in the conference room.
Outside the window, the sky gradually darkened. At seven in the evening, Yin Lan made the final decision in the conference room.
“Okay, that’s all for today. Everyone has worked hard these past two days. Go home and rest well tonight. Moving forward, follow the new plan we finalized today. There shouldn’t be any major issues. Report to me if anything comes up.”
Everyone: “Yes.”
“Meeting adjourned.”
Yin Lan, in her high heels, stretched her stiff neck and left the company, exhausted. The butler had already sent a driver to pick her up.
Her fatigue was indescribable—physically and mentally drained, she didn’t want to say another word.
Just then, Xie Zhiqiu appeared out of nowhere, stopping her hand as she was about to open the car door.
“Yin Lan, we need to talk.”
“Step aside.” She couldn’t be bothered to humor him now.
Xie Zhiqiu persisted, even going so far as to grab Yin Lan’s arm.
“Yin Lan, do you know what I’ve been through these past two weeks? That Zhou Guchuan—there’s something wrong with him!”
Yin Lan forcefully shook off his hand, wiping the spot he had touched with a hint of disgust.
“What you’ve been through is none of my business. I’ve been busy all day dealing with the mess your family caused. How are you going to compensate for these losses?”
“Zhou Guchuan should be the one to pay! The Xie family’s financial problems affected the project. Zhou Guchuan is far from as simple as he seems on the surface! Yin Lan, wake up!”
“I’m perfectly awake. It’s you who needs to wake up. This is the Yin family’s company. Stop coming to see me every other day—it’s damaging my reputation. If others see, they might think there’s something between us, and I don’t want my boyfriend to misunderstand.”
“Boyfriend? Do you even know who Zhou Guchuan is? He’s far more hidden than you think!”
As he spoke, Xie Zhiqiu threw the evidence in front of Yin Lan. “Take a good look at all the things he’s done!”
Yin Lan glanced at the materials, her expression unchanged.
“I know exactly who he is, better than you do.”
After Xie Zhiqiu left, she spent the entire ride back to the Yin family studying these “pieces of evidence” in the back seat.
With every line of financial transactions she reviewed, Yin Lan felt her understanding of Zhou Guchuan being challenged. Did he really have such capabilities?
Did he have that much money?
“Miss, we’ve arrived.”
The driver’s words snapped Yin Lan back to reality. She casually stuffed the documents into her bag and walked into the house carrying her briefcase.
But the atmosphere inside wasn’t quite what she had expected—it was filled with laughter and cheerful chatter.
Why was Dad laughing so happily? Was there some good news?
“Zhou Guchuan, using your method, I caught so many fish this afternoon. I’ve already told the chef to prepare a special dinner for us tonight.”
What? Dad caught fish? And it was Zhou Guchuan who taught him?
The Yin family had a large pond. Every year, Yin Wenzhuo would have the butler stock it with fish, and he loved sitting by the lake to fish in his free time. Even though the lake was full of fish, he could never seem to catch any.
It was as if all the fish were avoiding his hook.
Just then, the butler happened to pass by. Yin Lan stopped him and asked, “Butler, how many fish did Dad catch today?”
“A whole bucket.”
That many!!! No wonder he was laughing so loudly.
Besides, she had already witnessed Zhou Guchuan’s fishing skills on the island. With just a simple net, he could haul in a full catch.
“Oh, Lanlan is back.”
Yin Wenzhuo, sharp-eyed, spotted Yin Lan at the door first. “You young people chat. I’ll go check on the fish in the kitchen. Steamed, braised, spicy and sour—we’ll have a bit of each flavor. Tonight, we’re having a full fish feast.”
Yin Lan handed her briefcase to the butler and asked Zhou Guchuan, “When did you get here? I had no idea.”
“I woke up this morning and found you gone, so I flew back too. I arrived in the afternoon.”
Yin Lan remembered her sudden departure without saying goodbye and quickly apologized.
“I’m sorry, there was an urgent matter at the company. We can go back to that island another time. I really liked it there too.”
“You liked it?” A faint glimmer flashed in Zhou Guchuan’s eyes. That villa had been built specifically for her back then.
“Yeah, the island’s scenery is beautiful, and there’s no one else around. Next time, use the card I gave you to book it. Going to that island once probably isn’t cheap.”
“Okay.”
“By the way, there’s something I want to ask you.”
Yin Lan disliked suspicion. If there was something on her mind, she preferred to ask directly.
“What is it?” Zhou Guchuan patiently waited for her to speak.
“After work, Xie Zhiqiu came to the company entrance to confront me. He said the project issues were caused by you pulling strings behind the scenes.”
Yin Lan carefully recalled that in her previous life, Xie Zhiqiu’s company hadn’t faced any attacks around this time. But judging by his disheveled appearance today, it seemed he had suffered quite a blow.
On the surface, Zhou Guchuan showed no signs of guilt, but inwardly, he felt a flicker of annoyance. Was Xie Zhiqiu even a man? How could he run to a woman to complain? That was something Zhou Guchuan hadn’t anticipated.
Innocent, the man spread his hands toward Yin Lan. “How could I possibly have that much power, Lanlan? Going on this trip with you used up all the money I’ve saved over the past few years.”
Who couldn’t play the sympathy card? He was even worse off than Xie Zhiqiu.
So much so that he could only beg to be taken care of.
Hearing this, Yin Lan’s heart instantly softened.
How could she have been so foolish? She had actually believed Xie Zhiqiu’s slander and wronged Zhou Guchuan. Maybe Xie Zhiqiu had even falsified those reports himself?
“I’m sorry, I…”
“Lanlan, I’m upset. You actually questioned me because of someone else.”
“Ah? Then… what should I do? Should I transfer some money to make it up to you?”
Yin Lan racked her brains but could only think of this way to compensate him. She truly didn’t know how to comfort people.
“I already have the black card.”
Oh, right. He wasn’t short on money now. Giving him the black card too early had only closed off her own options.
“Then what would make you happy?”
Zhou Guchuan smiled meaningfully, having waited for her to say exactly that. His Lanlan was truly easy to read.
“It’s simple. After dinner, we’ll discuss the engagement date with your father.”
“So soon?”
The light in the man’s eyes dimmed instantly. “You’re unwilling? Or perhaps you still can’t forget Xie—”
“We’ll do it! We’ll discuss it tonight.”
Yin Lan was utterly disgusted at the thought of hearing that fool’s name.
Hearing this, Zhou Guchuan’s furrowed brows relaxed, and he lowered his gaze with a soft chuckle. The long-dormant waters of his heart surged with waves because of her words.