Sensing a hint of emotion in Shen Mianyin's tone, Lin Jinshan explained, "Mianyin, I didn't mean to interfere."
"But your initial contact with Gu Huaizhi was also because of company business," Lin Jinshan said. "If there's anything I can do, I hope you can tell me without any hesitation."
Shen Mianyin smiled and said, "I will, but I really don't have anything right now."
Lin Jinshan nodded and finally said nothing more.
Shen Mianyin had originally asked Lin Jinshan to stop at the nearest subway station, but Lin Jinshan didn't agree.
He ultimately stopped at the entrance of her residential complex.
Shen Mianyin walked back to her apartment on her own.
On the way, she received a call from Lin Wanran.
"What's going on? Is that thing about Gu Huai Zhi true or false?" Lin Wanran asked.
"I don't know, but since he's clarified it with the reporters, it should be nothing," Shen Mianyin replied as they walked home.
"That's not what I mean," Lin Wanran said anxiously. "The part at the end, where he said he has someone he likes, that person couldn't be..."
Shen Mianyin paused and said, "I don't know, I can't guess."
"Logically, you and he are in the same social circle, and you haven't heard anything about it," Shen Mianyin retorted.
"Alright, you're trying to play dumb," Lin Wanran said angrily. "If even his family doesn't know, where am I supposed to find out?"
Shen Mianyin laughed. "Yeah, well, I don't know either."
"Hmph," Lin Wanran narrowed her eyes and sneered. "Don't let me find out you're hiding something from me."
Having finally convinced Lin Wanran, Shen Mianyin returned home and didn't feel like cooking.
She simply ordered takeout and turned on a variety show to try and change her mood.
When the doorbell rang, it was already very late.
Shen Mianyin glanced at the time. It was 21:45.
"Who could it be this late?" Shen Mianyin was afraid it was Gu Luo'an, so she cautiously checked the surveillance video first.
Unexpectedly, it was Gu Huaizhi standing outside.
Shen Mianyin's heart skipped a beat, and in her nervousness, she couldn't open the door immediately.
Her hand was on the doorknob, and she took two deep breaths before opening the door.
"There stood Gu Huaizhi at the door, wearing a coat as if he hadn't returned home yet. His body was still covered in the evening frost from outside."
Shen Mianyin noticed that there were still some unmelted snowflakes on the shoulders of Gu Huaizhi's black coat.
"It's snowing outside?" Shen Mianyin asked in surprise.
She hadn't noticed.
"Yeah," Gu Huaizhi nodded. "Did I disturb your sleep?"
"No, I wasn't going to sleep yet," Shen Mianyin said nervously, her palms sweaty as she gripped the doorknob. "You... just came back?"
"Didn't you say you wouldn't be back for a couple of days?" Shen Mianyin asked again.
Gu Huaizhi smiled slightly and said, "I didn't expect the media to make up such absurd rumors. Although I've clarified it, I'm still worried that some people won't believe it."
Someone?
Who is Gu Huaizhi referring to when he says "someone"?
"That's why I finished my work as quickly as possible today and flew back immediately," Gu Huaizhi said. "And I can't help but suspect that the richest man in Hong Kong played a role in this matter."
Was there an implication of forcing something?
"So leaving and not giving anyone a chance is the best course of action," Gu Huaizhi exhaled. "After I got off the plane last night, it was already after 2 a.m. I didn't want to wake you, so I didn't tell you."
"I see," Shen Mianyin thought. Then why didn't he send a message during the day?
As if Gu Huaizhi could read her mind, before she could ask, he said, "This time I came back in a hurry, I just took care of the important work in Hong Kong, and there are still some trivial loose ends to tie up. I was busy with that at the company during the day."
"After work, I was called back to the old house by the old lady again," Gu Huaizhi said, unable to help but feel helpless as he mentioned this. "She also saw the trending searches. She already asked me about the marriage alliance with the Hong Kong tycoon's daughter yesterday. How could she not know anything about it?"
"I explained to her that it was fake," Gu Huaizhi patiently explained. "But then another trending search came out today, and after finding out I was back, she called me home for a strict interrogation."
Shen Mianyin was amused by his words. "So what did the interrogation reveal?"
"It only revealed that I do have someone I like, but it has nothing to do with Hong Kong," Gu Huaizhi said with a smile.
Shen Mianyin's face felt a little hot, but seeing Gu Huaizhi standing at the door, she remembered that she hadn't invited him in yet, which was really not good.
Just as she was about to speak, Gu Huaizhi said, "It's getting late. You should rest early."
Shen Mianyin was stunned for a moment. Gu Huaizhi had already turned and left, showing no intention of staying any longer.
This made Shen Mianyin very doubtful whether the person he said he liked was actually her.
Yet, he had specifically flown back early and come over late at night to explain things.
But now he was leaving so decisively.
On Friday, Shen Mianyin took a day off because her mother was having surgery.
Shen Chenggang had already taken their mother to the hospital to complete the admission procedures.
However, her mother, in order to save on hospital fees, only checked in when it was absolutely necessary.
On this Friday, Shen Mianyin arrived at the hospital early in the morning.
But not long after, she heard arguing outside the ward.
"Didn't they say Dean Gu would perform the surgery for Qingqing?" Mrs. Su's voice sounded from outside. "Why has it been changed to Director Chen at the last minute?"
"We clearly had an appointment with Dean Gu," Mr. Su also said.
"Dean Gu has a more important surgery to perform," the nurse said apologetically. "Our Director Chen is also a very skilled doctor. Patients have to wait in line to have Director Chen operate."
"I didn't mean to say Director Chen isn't good," Mrs. Su said, also worried about offending Director Chen, in case they needed his services in the future. "I'm saying we clearly had an appointment with Dean Gu initially. Why did they change it on us?"
Director Chen is skilled, but could he possibly compare to Dean Gu?
Dean Gu is a world-class doctor.
Mrs. Su then turned to Gu Luo'an and asked, "Luo'an? Didn't you already arrange it with your uncle?"
Dean Gu was, in fact, Gu Luo'an's uncle.
"Yes, Qingqing's kidney transplant is such an important surgery. We certainly trust Dean Gu more," Mr. Su said in a low voice. "It's precisely because we were worried something might go wrong that we asked you to request Dean Gu to perform this surgery for Qingqing."
"I did arrange it beforehand, and my uncle also said that if there weren't any other more important surgeries that day, he would perform it for Qingqing," Gu Luo'an said. "But now, there must be a more important surgery."
"Impossible!" Mrs. Su said loudly. "What surgery could be more important than a major surgery like a kidney transplant?"
"Luo'an, go ask," Mrs. Su said again. "Who is Dean Gu operating on today that took Qingqing's spot!"
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