Song Ling, as the most capable assistant, forever fulfilled his duties diligently.
Fang Lan and her son were indeed thrown out the door.
In front of countless workers trimming the lawn in the courtyard.
Fang Lan’s high heels stepped on the cobblestones of the path, and she stumbled, clutching her ankle and crying out in pain.
Song Ling stood respectfully at the door watching them. The car called for them arrived, and Fang Lan still wanted to say something but was interrupted by Song Ling.
“—Madam, you’d better go back first.”
Fang Lan was both angry and annoyed: “Gu Xiuyi doesn’t show filial piety to me, and you dare to speak to me like this?!”
Her voice was loud, drawing the attention of the workers on the lawn, who began whispering among themselves.
Fang Qiming found it embarrassing and leaned close to her, whispering: “Mom, there are too many people here with loose tongues. Whatever it is, let’s talk about it when we get back…”
Only then did Fang Lan come to her senses, realizing she was no longer inside the house.
The cold winter wind blew against her face, stiffening her skin. From the corner of her eye, she glanced around and noticed many mocking yet quietly restrained gazes.
After all, a person lives for their face just as a tree lives for its bark. Under broad daylight and the eyes of the crowd, Fang Lan couldn’t bring herself to continue making a scene. After pausing for a few seconds, she propped herself up on Fang Qiming’s hand and stood up unsteadily.
“I will definitely bring my son back.” She gritted her teeth, her bloodshot eyes glaring at Song Ling.
Song Ling nodded with a smile and extended his hand to guide the way: “Yes, Madam, please return.”
The wind today was indeed quite cold. When Fang Lan tilted her head up, it blew into her eyes, forcing her to squint. She stared at the massive gray villa for a long while, as if unwilling to let go.
In the end, she said nothing and, with Fang Qiming’s support, got into the car.
·
Gu Xiuyi took three steps at a time to carry Ji Ruan back to the room: “Aunt Zhao, call a doctor over!” His voice couldn’t hide his urgency.
Aunt Zhao was also frightened silly, trembling as she ran downstairs to grab her phone and make the call.
Gu Xiuyi rarely lost his composure. He had long since learned to control his emotions and expressions, never allowing anyone the chance to detect the slightest hint of anything amiss.
But now, the most he could do was ensure his actions didn’t seem frantic.
Ji Ruan had fainted…
Ji Ruan had fainted in his arms!
Gu Xiuyi’s mind went blank, then raced to consider all sorts of possibilities, yet he found no clues.
Ji Ruan didn’t have a fever or any serious illness, so how could he suddenly faint? Yet Ji Ruan’s various health checkup indicators showed that his body wasn’t exactly in good shape—full of minor ailments. Who could say which part might malfunction and cause him to suffer like this?
This unknown fear made Gu Xiuyi’s scalp tingle even more. He stood by the bed holding Ji Ruan but didn’t dare let go.
“It’s okay…”
His chest was patted, and Gu Xiuyi looked down in a panic, meeting Ji Ruan’s clear eyes.
These eyes were clear and bright, carrying Ji Ruan’s usual sly and adorable charm, not at all like those of someone who had just fainted.
“…?”
Gu Xiuyi’s arms stiffened, unable to move.
“I’m fine, put me down,” Ji Ruan said again.
His voice was pleasant too, aside from being a little hoarse from recent coughing.
Gu Xiuyi’s throat felt clogged. He opened his mouth but couldn’t speak, standing there with difficulty.
Ji Ruan’s brows showed a faint trace of worry. He sighed, struggled, and jumped down. Though Gu Xiuyi’s arms were stiff, he instinctively wrapped them around Ji Ruan’s waist to steady him.
Ji Ruan pushed him away gently, leaning on his shoulder, then pulled the external device from Gu Xiuyi’s pocket and put it on. He slowly sat on the bed.
Leaning against the headboard, his face was pale. After all the commotion, he still felt a bit unwell.
Gu Xiuyi’s fingers tightened slightly. He squatted in front of Ji Ruan and gently lifted his face: “What happened?”
Ji Ruan smiled with his pale lips: “What else? I was pretending.”
“Pretending…?” Gu Xiuyi’s throat moved, a sense of vertigo from the sudden ups and downs washing over him.
Ji Ruan was truly exhausted. As the surrounding noise subsided, sleepiness hit him while leaning against the soft mattress. He badly wanted to fall into a deep sleep.
Gu Xiuyi’s hand, holding his jaw, trembled faintly, but Ji Ruan was so overwhelmingly tired that his senses dulled, leaving him no energy to notice these subtle reactions.
He lowered his eyelids and pulled Gu Xiuyi’s hand down. His voice was low from exhaustion: “What else? If I didn’t faint, when would they ever stop?”
Gu Xiuyi paused, his voice laced with strain: “Sorry, I won’t let them come here again in the future.”
Ji Ruan curved his lips: “That’d be best.”
Gu Xiuyi closely observed Ji Ruan’s condition, his gaze deep.
Ji Ruan’s complexion was genuinely poor, his breathing shallow, his cheeks and lips devoid of color, looking overly quiet and soundless.
Gu Xiuyi still couldn’t quickly recover from the shock of Ji Ruan fainting. He carefully touched his hand: “Are you really not feeling unwell?”
Ji Ruan’s eyelids lifted slightly. He looked at him for a moment and finally didn’t hide it: “Of course I am. They made so much noise my ears are ringing…”
He paused, a hint of grievance welling up in his eyes, his voice hoarse: “It’s really uncomfortable, Gu Xiuyi…”
Gu Xiuyi knew very well that this grievance was 99% an act of coquetry, the kind of childish whining.
Rather than genuinely pointing at Fang Lan and her son, it seemed more like he was complaining about why Gu Xiuyi hadn’t come back sooner.
Ji Ruan's bitterness made his heart ache sharply. He wrapped his arms around Ji Ruan’s shoulders: “I’m sorry… Shall we wait for the doctor to check on you?”
Ji Ruan closed his eyes, his voice so soft it was like a whisper: “I just want to sleep.”
In this state, Gu Xiuyi couldn’t possibly let him sleep easily. He patted his back to coax him: “Be good, just let the doctor take a look…”
·
The old Gu family residence.
Fang Lan sat on the sofa, letting the family doctor apply medicine to her ankle. She had fallen when Song Ling drove her out, and now her ankle was swollen to a great height.
She cried out in pain loudly while also grinding her teeth in anger.
Yet her good-for-nothing son only knew how to play with his phone, showing no concern for his old mother.
“What the hell?”
Fang Qiming shot up from his seat, staring at his phone with a face full of shock.
“What now?” Fang Lan said irritably.
“Xiaoli says he’s not coming back,” Fang Qiming raised his voice in disbelief: “This kid says himself he’s not coming back—so what was the point of us making this trip today?!”
“What’s he saying?” Fang Lan didn’t believe it at all, leaning back on the sofa.
She knew the son she bore best. Xiaoli was the most sensible child and surely understood that staying abroad long-term was tantamount to exile—harmful with no benefits. There was no way he wouldn’t want to return.
“It’s true!” Fang Qiming slammed a fist into the sofa. “Look at what he said yourself!—He says that guy surnamed Bai has come to Country M too, and he’s going to make contact with him! Is he out of his mind?! What does that Bai guy have to do with us? He should care more about his own shares!”
Fang Qiming’s barrage left Fang Lan stunned for a moment. Her thin brows furrowed as she vaguely sensed something: “Which Bai?”
Fang Qiming let out a scoff: “Mom, have you gone dumb too? Which Bai could it be?”
Fang Lan’s eyes suddenly widened: “The young master of the Bai family? Bai Yue? The Bai Yue who knew Gu Xiuyi since childhood?!”
“Who else would it be?”
“Ah!” Fang Lan shrieked, her anger from the Gu household instantly turning into excitement: “Truly my good son, Xiaoli!”
“W-What does that mean?” Fang Qiming didn’t get it and wanted to ask more, but Fang Lan had already dialed Gu Xiuli’s phone.
“Hello, Xiaoli? … Ah, yes, yes, it’s Mom… You said the young master of the Bai family came to Country M too—is that true? … Wasn’t he in Country D before? … Ah, you don’t know either…
“… Alright, doesn’t matter. Have you made contact yet? … Ah, not yet… No problem, no problem, having his contact info would work too… Ah, you don’t have his contact info yet either… That’s fine too, you’re in the same place now, and you knew each other as kids, so there’s always a way.
“Listen to Mom, you must get close to Bai Yue, slowly build a connection… You understand everything, right… Haha, truly my good son…”
Fang Qiming listened to the entire call and was still completely lost: “Wait, what are you guys even talking about? What’s up with Bai Yue?”
Fang Lan hung up the phone and glared at her son in exasperation, as if hating iron for not becoming steel: “You! If your brain were half as sharp as your brother’s, I wouldn’t have been so bullied by Gu Xiuyi and that little vixen!”
“What’s that got to do with me?” Fang Qiming, suddenly taking the blame, laughed in frustration.
Fang Lan sighed but still explained: “Tell me, what’s the relationship between that Bai Yue and Gu Xiuyi?”
“What relationship could there be? They knew each other as kids, that’s all.”
“Isn’t that all?” Fang Lan widened her eyes, her excitement nearly bursting out from her eyeliner: “Is this just knowing each other? This is childhood sweethearts!”
She pinched the teacup with an orchid gesture: “That monster’s temper was so terrifying as a child—how many friends could he have had? Bai Yue was the only one! The only one, got it? He and Ji Ruan have only been married for how long? How can that compare to a bond from childhood?”
“Oh…” Fang Qiming seemed to catch on: “So you want Bai Yue to come back and fight that little vixen for the man?”
He found it absurd as he spoke, scoffing: “Can he even compete? Bai Yue’s been gone for how many years? I don’t even remember what he looks like. Have you ever heard Gu Xiuyi mention his name all these years?”
“—And from what I’ve seen, Gu Xiuyi cares a lot about Ji Ruan. That sickly little thing is always weak and wobbly—doesn’t seem like he’s got the energy to fight either.”
Fang Lan let out a soft hum from her nose: “It doesn’t even need to turn into a fight. As long as his heart wavers just a little, that’s enough.”
Fang Qiming was puzzled: “What do you mean?”
Fang Lan sat up straight, her blood-red nails lightly scratching her temple: “The appearance of the Bai family’s young master—whether it makes Gu Xiuyi’s heart flutter or makes him like Ji Ruan even more—it’s all good for us.”
“The Gu Corporation isn’t an impenetrable fortress. For so many years, it’s only because Gu Xiuyi held it like an iron wall that you all never got a chance. But what if he gets distracted even a little from now on?”
Fang Lan raised her eyebrow lightly and patted Fang Qiming’s shoulder: “Would you and your brother still be afraid you couldn’t find a gap to exploit?”
That pat on the shoulder seemed to carry some magic. Fang Qiming’s eyes lit up, suddenly enlightened: “So that’s how it is…”
“Mom, you’re amazing!”
·
In the end, Ji Ruan couldn’t wait for the doctor to arrive and fell into a deep sleep in Gu Xiuyi’s arms. When the doctor came for a simple check, it barely disturbed him.
After confirming Ji Ruan was fine, the heart that Gu Xiuyi had been holding up for half the day finally settled back down. He left the room, gently closed the door, and went to the study to call Song Ling.
“Pick a time and send Fang Lan to accompany Gu Xiuli.”
There was a pause on the other end. Song Ling seemed hesitant: “She just contacted me too. She said she’s not going abroad, doesn’t want Gu Xiuli to come back for the New Year, and even… apologized.”
“Apologized?” Gu Xiuyi frowned. “So suddenly?”
“Yeah, I found it strange too.” Song Ling couldn’t figure it out: “She was throwing a tantrum and rolling around this morning just to get her son back. How did she suddenly come around after leaving?”
Gu Xiuyi didn’t speak. His fingers tapped on the desk as snow began drifting outside the window again.
“Have someone check on Gu Xiuli’s studies,” Gu Xiuyi said, turning his chair to admire the snow scenery, his tone casual: “See if he’s been attending classes properly lately or if he’s up to something else.”
Song Ling was silent for a moment: “Alright, I understand.”
·
Entering the last week before finals, Ji Ruan began a relentless cycle of studying and reviewing day and night.
The content of the Chinese department exams wasn’t difficult for him, but it required an extraordinary amount of memorization. Ji Ruan’s cold hadn’t fully cleared up, and his head ached after reading for too long. Clearly, studying hadn’t felt this exhausting back in the day.
In just a few short days, Ji Ruan was tormented to the point of mental fatigue and physical exhaustion.
When Gu Xiuyi occasionally came back to have dinner with him, he could see Ji Ruan’s vacant eyes. He looked like a tender sprout that had just broken through the soil in spring only to be wilted by a blow—both amusing and pitiful.
At the dinner table, he neither spoke nor gave him that sweet smile. After taking a bite of food, he’d occasionally mutter something under his breath. Gu Xiuyi listened closely and realized he seemed to be reciting the artistic features of Journey to the West.
He recited quite fluently, without any stumbles, though his voice was too soft and his speed too fast. If you didn’t pay attention, it sounded like he was chanting sutras.
With Ji Ruan’s messy hair and lingering dark circles under his eyes, he somehow resembled a little swindler who hadn’t mastered any real skills yet went out to bluff and deceive, only to fail at scamming money and end up pitifully huddled in a street corner gnawing on a steamed bun.
Gu Xiuyi was amused by his own bizarre imagination. He covered his lips to hide a smile, picked up a piece of pork rib for Ji Ruan, and tapped his forehead: “Alright, stop reciting for now. Eat your food.”
Ji Ruan’s reaction was a bit slow, as if reciting had become a mechanical motion. It took a few seconds for him to stop, responding with a sluggish “Oh.” Then he listlessly ate the pork rib in his bowl.
Feeling a pang of sympathy, that evening Gu Xiuyi took over Aunt Zhao’s task and personally brought Ji Ruan a glass of milk.
He knocked on the door and waited a moment. Ji Ruan, perhaps thinking it was Aunt Zhao, obediently said, “Please come in,” speaking clearly.
Gu Xiuyi pushed the door open and saw the little one sprawled over the desk, a stack of books and materials piled in front of him, covered with underlines, notes, and red highlights.
Ji Ruan was pressing his ballpoint pen down rhythmically, resting his head on his arm with his eyes closed to relax.
Gu Xiuyi gently placed the milk on the table, watched Ji Ruan for a moment, and, on some inexplicable impulse, reached out to rub his cheek.
Ji Ruan was highly sensitive to touch and visibly flinched. Then he opened his eyes, and upon seeing who it was, he immediately sat up straight, propping himself against the desk.
Even in his fluffy coral fleece pajamas, his shoulders and back still looked painfully thin.
“Why is it you?” Ji Ruan asked in surprise. Wasn’t President Gu supposed to be in a meeting tonight?
Gu Xiuyi pulled up a chair and sat down, smiling: “I came to check on our college student’s study situation.”
Ji Ruan sighed and slumped back down: “What situation could there be? Just like this.”
Gu Xiuyi looked at the dark circles under his eyes and asked softly, “Tired?”
“Of course,” Ji Ruan said, clutching the pen as if venting his frustration: “I don’t want to take exams at all…”
The small desk lamp was set to eye-protection mode, casting a soft glow on Ji Ruan’s face, highlighting his long, curled lashes, each one distinct.
Gu Xiuyi suddenly found it quite entertaining.
Before their marriage, Ji Ruan’s profile described him as a top-tier academic overachiever, the king of grinding, someone who’d study through the night even while sick, with his head tied to the beam and an awl pricking his thigh.
Now, it seemed the packaging didn’t quite match the product.
This little salted fish he’d brought home was indeed a top student, but he clearly didn’t love the grind. Every little glance seemed to say he was tired, worn out, and didn’t want to study anymore.
Yet Gu Xiuyi had to admit, the way Ji Ruan sprawled over the desk, gnawing through each word and grid, was undeniably adorable.
He couldn’t resist gently pinching Ji Ruan’s cheek—pink, soft, so well-behaved, so very well-behaved.
“Didn’t you used to love school so much? Why are you like this now?” Gu Xiuyi rested his elbow on the table, his knuckles casually propping up his chin.
“Is that a contradiction?” Ji Ruan blinked. “I like school because I want to experience university life, make friends, attend classes, and hang out together—but that doesn’t mean I want to take exams.”
He scooted closer to Gu Xiuyi, placing a notebook under his cheek, tilting his face up to look at him: “Is it wrong to not want exams?”
They were very close. Ji Ruan’s hair lightly brushed against Gu Xiuyi’s arm, as if he’d slipped into his embrace. Gu Xiuyi could clearly see the beautiful line beneath his eyes.
Gu Xiuyi’s lips curved into a faint smile, his gaze soft: “Is it?”
Ji Ruan let out a soft hum: “If it is, then I’m only guilty of a mistake every student in the world would make.”
His tone was overly matter-of-fact, his eyes frank and direct, staring straight at Gu Xiuyi: “Besides, memorizing those books gives me a headache.”
His eyes were moist and glistening, incredibly deceptive.
Gu Xiuyi chuckled silently, choosing not to argue with him.
He’d known early on that, whether it was about reason or not, he could never out-talk Ji Ruan.
“Alright.” Gu Xiuyi stood up, walked to Ji Ruan’s bedside, and sat down. Meeting Ji Ruan’s gaze as it followed him, he patted the mattress and said softly:
“Come here, I’ll rub it for you.”
The author has something to say:
President Gu: What makes them think I can’t manage the company just because I’m in a relationship?
Ruan Ruan: It’s the upper limit of their intelligence.