Tomorrow and tomorrow again, how many tomorrows were there?
The "tomorrow" that Mr. Gu talks about was never the real tomorrow.
After getting home, Ji Ruan fell asleep immediately. When he woke up, it was already evening and the sky was covered with light clouds. Only Aunt Zhao was busy in the kitchen of the villa.
She was stewing a pot of pork rib soup. Ji Ruan could smell the rich aroma even without lifting the lid.
Xiao An was dozing by the basement stairs. Seeing Ji Ruan, he immediately perked up, shaking his fluffy tail and wanting to pounce. But he stopped just a second before colliding with Ji Ruan and only rubbed his head affectionately against Ji Ruan's leg.
He didn't look like a Maine Coon cat but more like a silly big dog.
"Why are you suddenly so well-behaved today?" Ji Ruan was surprised, smiling with squinted eyes as he reached out to pet the cat.
Behind them, the floor-to-ceiling windows were filled with the sunset and the green trees outside, framing a picture-like scene. The Maine Coon's light-colored, smooth fur was dusted with golden light, and the boy's fair fingers also became part of the scene.
Aunt Zhao was setting the table when she saw this scene and, without thinking, wiped her hands and secretly took a photo.
"Mr. Gu gave him a good lesson before he left. Now he's extremely obedient," she said with a smile.
"Really?" Ji Ruan walked to the counter to help Aunt Zhao with the bowls. "How did he train him? Mr. Gu is impressive."
"Oh, you wouldn't believe it. Mr. Gu is really skilled at training cats. I couldn't understand what he did, but in just a few moves, Xiao An was obedient."
Aunt Zhao spoke quickly and cheerfully, always animated.She was a middle-aged woman who did everything with a smile.
Ji Ruan wasn't particularly interested in what Gu Xiuyi had done, but whenever he was with Aunt Zhao, it felt like the air was infected with her happiness, becoming full of energy. Ji Ruan enjoyed being around this kind of elder.
Whenever Ji Ruan showed interest in Aunt Zhao's words, she would become even more animated and talkative.
Like now, with a faint smile on Ji Ruan's face, he praised Mr. Gu again, "Mr. Gu is amazing." Aunt Zhao laughed brightly as if she took pride in it, saying:
"That's right. Mr. Gu saw you getting bruised all over by that silly cat and decided to teach it a lesson. He wouldn't have done it before."
Ji Ruan carried a plate of food and walked with Aunt Zhao to the dining room.
"But Xiao An has always liked to pounce on people. When he was small, it was okay, but now that he's so big, he really needs to be disciplined. Otherwise, people might think I'm walking a dog when I take him out."
Ji Ruan was amused by Aunt Zhao's words. He pulled out a chair and sat down, handing chopsticks to Aunt Zhao.
When Gu Xiuyi wasn't home, they always ate together.
"Huh," Ji Ruan suddenly remembered something after a long pause. "Has Mr. Gu left?"
"Yes, he's gone back to work. Oh! Look at me," Aunt Zhao said, slapping her forehead, "I got so caught up talking to you that I forgot to tell you. Mr. Gu asked me to let you know that he's going on a business trip tomorrow. When you two can get your marriage certificate depends on when he gets back."
"I see..." Ji Ruan nodded.
So, Mr. Gu's "tomorrow" meant whenever he had time.
______________________
After two days, Ji Ruan returned to a routine of eating and sleeping, sleeping and eating. When he had nothing else to do, he would play with Xiao An or accompany Aunt Zhao to buy groceries, and even brought back a pot of spider plants to care for.
There wasn't much else going on, but at least he looked healthier.
On the third day of Gu Xiuyi's business trip, Ji Ruan received a WeChat message while eating breakfast. It was from someone named Han Xiaolin.
Ji Ruan held his phone in confusion for a second, and then a spark flashed through his mind, bringing up the image of a single-eyelid, sharp-chinned face with big white teeth.
Then, all his memories of this person were activated.
He should be Ji Ruan's only friend in this world. In the original storyline, when he and Gu Xiuyi were going through a dramatic "chase and escape" phase, it was this friend who supported him and helped him survive.
A true friend who was with him through thick and thin.
One message after another popped up on his phone screen.
[Hey bro!! Come on!! Check out my acceptance letter!!]
[Front view.jpg]
[Back view.jpg]
[Unboxing video.mp4]
[I can't believe I actually got an acceptance letter from Peking University. We're schoolmates again!!]
[Come out and play! I need to show off the letter in person. Hurry!! Same old place!!]
Ji Ruan laughed at this string of messages, feeling an inexplicable sense of familiarity, as if the other person really was an old friend, and not just a cold NPC from the book.
Seeing "same old place" in the messages, he immediately thought of a small noodle shop outside the gate of No. 14 Middle School.
This school and noodle shop didn't exist in his original world, but they appeared clearly in his mind as if they were real memories.
Ji Ruan put down his phone and looked at Aunt Zhao, who was picking vegetables, unable to hide his smile: "Aunt Zhao, I'd like to go out later."
Aunt Zhao, seeing Ji Ruan's happy eyes, coaxed him like a child: "Oh? Where are you going?"
Ji Ruan took a bite of his bun: "A classmate asked me out."
The last time Aunt Zhao was asked out by a classmate must have been thirty or forty years ago. Hearing the word "classmate" at her age felt like watching TV, and she felt a soft spot in her heart for Ji Ruan. She smiled and said:
"Let Uncle Zhang take you. It's too hot outside."
Uncle Zhang had been a veteran driver at Gu Xiuyi's company and was close to retirement. Recently, his family had welcomed a new grandchild, so Gu Xiuyi assigned him to Ji Ruan. This way, he didn't have to attend meetings everywhere and could enjoy a more relaxed job, mostly spending time at home with his grandchild.
As soon as Ji Ruan got into the car, he saw Uncle Zhang's radiant face, feeling the joy and happiness of his family growing.
Ji Ruan had spent his entire life in the prime of his youth, seeing nothing but the gray walls and gray beds of the hospital. But within just a few days of arriving here, he had seen many colorful little worlds.
Leaning against the car window, Ji Ruan's heart felt a slight warmth, as if a new vitality was surging within him.
No. 14 High School was a key national institution, an established prestigious school with a small campus situated in a bustling urban area. The small noodle shop across the street had also been there for decades.
When Ji Ruan went inside, the person who said he'd wait for him, Han Xiaolin, hadn’t arrived yet. He sent a message saying he ran into some idiot from the science class who wanted to challenge him to a fight and was currently in an intense battle at the internet cafe next door, asking for a ten-minute delay.
Ji Ruan was amused by these lively words, found a small table, and ordered a bowl of ice jelly for himself.
By the time Han Xiaolin arrived, Ji Ruan had only eaten half of his ice jelly. The boy in front of him looked the same as he remembered—skinny arms, skinny legs, and not very tall, but full of energy.
“Hey, you’re already eating.” Han Xiaolin plopped down across from Ji Ruan, glanced at him twice, suddenly made a surprised sound, and reached out to tug Ji Ruan’s hair. “Have you been taking care of your hair lately?”
Ji Ruan leaned back a little. “Taking care of what? I'm not a girl.”
“But your hair quality has improved! It used to be dry and yellow, now it’s got some strength!” Han Xiaolin exclaimed in surprise, scrutinizing Ji Ruan more closely, exclaiming “wow” several times. “No, seriously, even your complexion looks better. What good things are you hiding?”
“Something did happen.” Ji Ruan propped his chin with his hand and stirred his ice jelly with a spoon.
Unlike Han Xiaolin’s loud and boisterous manner, Ji Ruan did everything slowly, even his speech. His slightly hoarse voice had a lingering tone, as if the air around him was cooler than elsewhere.
“I’m not sure if it’s a good thing or not.”
“What do you mean?” Han Xiaolin, who wasn’t quick on the uptake, didn’t understand Ji Ruan’s ambiguous words.
Ji Ruan pondered for a moment. Gu Xiuyi had repeatedly said that their marriage was completely public, and Ji Ruan faintly sensed that Gu Xiuyi even wanted to announce it grandly. So, telling Han Xiaolin shouldn’t be a problem.
He looked at Han Xiaolin and said, “I’m getting married.”
“…”
Han Xiaolin sat frozen, petrified for a few seconds, then began to scratch his face and head in a frantic manner before propping himself on the table with a complicated expression. “Wh-what’s going on? When did you start dating? How are you getting married?!”
“Are you sure about this, Ji Ruan? Don’t get scammed!”
“—Wait, who is this person?!”
The old TV in the shop was on, and Ji Ruan saw a familiar figure on it. He casually pointed with his spoon. “Him.”
Han Xiaolin turned around abruptly.
Local news was being broadcast, and the emotionless voice of the female anchor echoed in the shop—
“Yesterday, Mr. Gu Xiuyi, the current chairman of the Gu Group, attended the Lingzhou new product launch. He has expanded a new commercial territory at a lightning-fast speed. He stated…”
There was no air conditioning in the shop, so the owner had a large fan blowing strongly.
Han Xiaolin turned back with a pale face. “Ji Ruan, are you crazy?!”
Gu Group Headquarters.
Gu Xiuyi returned to his office. Finding the sunlight streaming in through the floor-to-ceiling windows too harsh, he pressed a button on the remote to close the automatic curtains slowly. The expansive view of the river and ancient buildings outside had never been a sight he enjoyed.
He poured himself a glass of water and sat back on the sofa, looking slightly fatigued.
Having finished his work, Gu Xiuyi finally had a moment to relax and some time to think about his upcoming marriage.
But when it came to Ji Ruan, he started to feel uncertain.
Originally, he should have registered their marriage three days ago and then used the press conference to announce the news to the public.
But he changed his plans that day.
It was the first time Gu Xiuyi had altered his plans because of someone else.
He recalled Ji Ruan’s face, so small and delicate. The child looked too pitiful; anyone seeing such a face would feel compassion.
However, this kind of emotion was not a good thing for Gu Xiuyi. If he kept relaxing his demands and changing plans for Ji Ruan because of a bit of compassion, the subsequent troubles were obvious.
After calming down, reason told Gu Xiuyi that he needed to reconsider whether he really wanted to marry Ji Ruan.
He even thought about having Song Ling find another candidate.
But as soon as this idea surfaced, he dismissed it.
His team of secretaries were very professional. They had meticulously selected Ji Ruan, whose personality and education were top-notch. Even the fact that Ji Ruan was an orphan without any relatives was a masterstroke. There wouldn't be anyone more suitable than him.
Or, to take a more superficial view, after seeing Ji Ruan’s face, any other person seemed utterly uninteresting.
In the dim and gloomy office, the glass of water rotated slowly in Gu Xiuyi’s slender hands.
During his business trip, Aunt Zhao had sent him many photos of Ji Ruan. Despite the poor angles and lack of composition, Ji Ruan looked beautiful in all of them.
Aunt Zhao also mentioned that Ji Ruan was caring for a plant on the small balcony of his room. Gu Xiuyi had seen the photos and noted that the plant was thriving, a vibrant green.
The plant was thriving, and even Xiao An liked him...
Gu Xiuyi tapped the glass quickly with his index finger, as if making a decision, and called Song Ling in.
In truth, what was a little compassion? It was fleeting, nothing more.
Perhaps it was just because he had never encountered a child like Ji Ruan. With time, he would get used to it; it was not a big deal. There was no need to worry unnecessarily.
When Song Ling arrived at the office, the curtains were open again, filling the room with bright light. Gu Xiuyi was reading a document at his desk. Without looking up, he said, "Go get Ji Ruan and bring his documents."
Song Ling said, "Aunt Zhao just sent me a message saying he went out."
Gu Xiuyi looked up, "Where did he go?"
"…I didn't ask."
Gu Xiuyi stroked the pen in his hand, "Have Lao Zhang pick him up, and you bring his documents."
Song Ling asked, "Are you taking him to register the marriage? But there's a meeting later."
Gu Xiuyi's gaze flickered, as if he had forgotten about this matter. He lowered his head and thought for a moment before insisting, "Bring him over here and wait for a bit."
Song Ling, hearing this, no longer argued and nodded, "Okay, I'll handle it right away."
"—Song Ling."
Just as he walked a few steps out, he was called back. Song Ling turned around, "What is it?"
Gu Xiuyi's expression was calm, "Do you have Ji Ruan's WeChat?"
"Huh?" The topic changed too quickly, and Song Ling didn't react for a moment. After a brief pause, he responded, "Yes... of course I do."
Gu Xiuyi nodded and buried himself in the documents again, "Send it to me."
·
Buzz, buzz—
Ji Ruan's phone popped up with a friend request.
Across from him, Han Xiaolin was still stuck in the loop of "Is Ji Ruan crazy or am I?"
Ji Ruan let out an "Ah," and slowly said, "He added me on WeChat."
Han Xiaolin: "Hmph, who? Your Mr. Gu?"
Ji Ruan nodded.
Han Xiaolin rolled his eyes dramatically, "You only added each other on WeChat after getting married? Have you two been communicating telepathically? Ji Ruan, are you okay?"
Ji Ruan's voice remained light as he accepted the friend request, "I told you, we have a contractual marriage."
So Gu Xiuyi's profile picture is of Xiao An, much younger than now. Was it when they first brought him home? Looks like a chibi version of a little tiger.
Han Xiaolin: "..."
Han Xiaolin was anxious, "What novels have you been reading lately? Just because you got into college doesn’t mean you can act recklessly! Shouldn't we go back and study our textbooks and get more of that socialist influence?"
Ji Ruan looked up and revealed a round smile, "Why don't you believe me?"
[Gu Xiuyi: Where are you?]
Ji Ruan lowered his head and typed.
[Out with my classmate, near No. 14 High School.]
It took a few minutes for the other side to reply.
[Gu Xiuyi: Lao Zhang is nearby and will come pick you up soon. We are going to get the marriage certificate.]
Ji Ruan's hand trembled. Seeing the words "marriage certificate," he suddenly had a strong feeling—this time, he was really getting married.
He rubbed his fingers and typed: [Aren't you on a business trip?]
[Gu Xiuyi: Just got back.]
"Ji Ruan..." Han Xiaolin looked worried. "It's not about whether I believe you or not, it's about whether I need to take you to see a doctor. Come to your senses!"
Ji Ruan remained quiet, wearing a beautiful smile, but didn't argue with Han Xiaolin anymore.
He raised his hand to call the owner over and ordered a large bowl of beef noodles with extra meat and cilantro.
Han Xiaolin was shocked. "You're eating this much?"
"I ordered it for you. Don't you love the beef noodles here?" Ji Ruan said with a smile.
Han Xiaolin was suddenly overwhelmed. "Huh? You, you really are treating me? Why?"
You see, Ji Ruan was known to be stingy. He would usually only treat Han Xiaolin to a small portion, never with extra meat!
After paying the bill, Ji Ruan rested his chin on his hand, looking innocent and cheerful. "I'm going to get my marriage certificate soon. Take your time eating; I have to go."
Han Xiaolin's small eyes widened to the extreme, reflecting the image of a madman.
The next second, he watched in disbelief as the madman got up, left the small restaurant, and got into a top-of-the-line luxury car parked on the street.
It was like swapping muddy shoes for ones trimmed with gold and walking up to the clouds.
Han Xiaolin finally believed it...
He shot up, feeling disoriented in the strong wind from the restaurant's powerful fan.
·
Han Xiaolin, eighteen years old, a poor high school graduate, gained a friend who was about to become a wealthy socialite on the first day of receiving his college acceptance letter!
This wealthy socialite friend, named Ji Ruan, even treated him to a large bowl of beef noodles with extra meat and cilantro!
At this moment, in Han Xiaolin's eyes, the exhaust from the Mercedes driving away was golden!
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The author has something to say: Ruan Ruan: What do you mean by a wealthy socialite treating you to beef noodles? I spent my own money, okay!
