Chapter 298: We Are Together

Director Tang didn't stay long; she had received a call from a child who left the welfare institute, the child was also in A City, the workplace was nearby, so she stopped by to see her.

When Director Tang reached the roadside and saw the child who had left the welfare institute riding a little electric donkey toward her, holding a bag of bread, the child said happily yet awkwardly, "Director, this is bread from the shop where I work; I hope you like it, but I'm too busy—sorry I couldn't find time to treat you to a proper meal."

"It's fine; I'm here on business, and after I'm done I have to go back—there are many matters at the institute waiting for me," Director Tang said, hugging the child in front of her.

The girl instantly reddened her eyes: "I'm sorry, Director, I'm still like this, no use."

Director Tang wiped away her tears and asked, "Do you have a place to rent?"

The girl nodded.

"Are you going hungry yourself?"

The girl shook her head.

"Are you letting yourself get cold?"

The girl still shook her head.

"Then that's impressive," Director Tang said, hugging her again. "Being able to support yourself is already remarkable; most people in this world are ordinary."

The girl felt aggrieved: "But I worked so hard just to become an ordinary person."

Director Tang patted her back: "Then from now on, be a simple and happy ordinary person."

After a couple of sentences, Director Tang watched the girl be called away by a phone from the shop; the electric scooter wobbled at first, then gradually steadied.

Director Tang's eyes reddened as she watched the child's silhouette disappear around the corner, still holding the bread the child had hurriedly brought, and turned back toward the Medical Hall.

Gu Sen and the others hadn't left yet.

Director Tang glanced at Gu Sen a couple more times, and Gu Sen politely nodded to her.

"Chief Ke, who is this?" Director Tang couldn't help her curiosity.

Ke Zhongyu introduced, "One of my elders, surname Gu."

"Gu?" Director Tang searched her memory, then realized, "Secretary Gu?"

She remembered.

Over twenty years ago, the Deputy Party Secretary of K City, she had met him briefly when she and her mother went to the government to handle welfare institute paperwork.

The reason it stuck was that her mother had a very good impression of Secretary Gu, even saying it was a pity that he was about to be transferred away; though moving to the province would be a good thing, he hadn't left yet, and the resignation news leaked first.

If she hadn't met him this time, she wouldn't have thought of him.

Having met him, her subconscious naturally felt a hint of familiarity.

Gu Sen had already investigated Tang Ying and never expected her to address his former title; he hurriedly explained that he was long no longer Secretary Gu, and she could just call him "Old Gu."

Tang Ying, seeing his attire and demeanor, knew he wasn't an ordinary person; polite words shouldn't be taken literally, so she addressed him as "Mr. Gu."

This Mr. Gu is an elder of Chief Ke.

Surname Gu.

Gu?

Tang Ying thought of Gu Yinxue and asked, "Mr. Gu, do you have a daughter named Gu Yinxue? She's a photographer."

Gu Sen, surprised, asked, "You've met my daughter?"

Beside them, Ke Zhongyu spoke up, "Gu Yinxue went to G Province in December, just to film a documentary at the welfare institute where Jiang Lai grew up."

The words hung in the air.

Gu Sen's eyes changed instantly.

Gu Hui, standing nearby, looked over, and the gaze they exchanged carried a hint of solemnity.

Ke Zhongyu sensed it keenly.

Director Tang replied, "Yes, but Mr. Gu's daughter stopped halfway, saying there was an urgent family matter and she went home, so the filming never finished."

In December, the Gu family had no urgent matters at all.

Gu Sen tightened his lowered fingers and said, "There was indeed a bit of an urgent matter; my daughter didn't cause you any trouble, did she?"

Director Tang shook her head: "No, on the contrary she helped us a lot—she taught the children there to read, and even served meals to them in the cafeteria."

Gu Sen sighed with relief: "As long as we didn't trouble you, that's good. You're the director of the welfare institute? How should I address you?"

He reached out.

Director Tang extended her hand and shook it: "My surname is Tang."

She didn't mention her mother; Mr. Gu couldn't possibly remember everyone, especially since G Province was over twenty years ago, and bringing it up would only make things awkward.

Gu Sen addressed her as Director Tang and added his contact information.

Everything fell neatly into Ke Zhongyu's eyes.

Ke Zhongyu seemed thoughtful.

Chi Grandma had already secured the medicine; Gu Hui took it, glanced at Gu Sen, who lingered no longer and turned to leave.

After getting into the car.

Gu Sen's expression grew serious, and he said to Gu Hui, "Investigate Yin Xue's itinerary for November and December carefully; also ask the Fu Family for any information—nothing related can be missed."

Gu Hui nodded.

Gu Sen pulled out his phone, exhaled a puff of stale breath, and dialed his daughter's number: "Yin Xue, what are you doing right now?"

Gu Yinxue replied, "My brother arranged with Li Dan and others to go snowboarding at an outdoor ski slope, and I'm joining them."

Gu Sen asked, "When will the Fu Family's filming work be finished?"

The Gu and Fu families are in contact; Gu Yinxue dared not lie about this matter and said truthfully, "It's already finished."

"Alright," Gu Sen said with a smile, "I'll buy you a ticket for tomorrow. After you finish snowboarding today, you can go home tomorrow to spend time with your mother; we won't be around this New Year's Day, so she'll be alone."

Gu Yinxue sensed her father was deliberately keeping her away, felt nervous, and, not wanting to refuse him, politely asked, "Dad, aren't you coming back tomorrow?"

Gu Sen replied, "Dad might need two more days; he'll leave after Uncle Ke and Aunt Nian come back for a meal."

Gu Yinxue said, "Dad, I want to wait and go back with you."

Gu Sen: "Go back first to keep Mom company."

The matter is settled like that.

After hanging up, Gu Yinxue lowered her lashes, sensing that something big was wrong.

Lin Shutong, in her ski outfit, walked over and asked, "What's wrong? You look gloomy."

Gu Yinxue turned off her phone screen, looked toward her brother's direction—her brother had already picked up Li Dan.

"Because you have my brother with you, but I don't have Ke Zhongyu."

Lin Shutong sat down to comfort her: "Don't worry, you excel in everything, your family background is good, Jiang Lai is even divorced—how could anyone compare to you? Didn't you say your mom would help you? Did the Nian and Gu families have an old agreement? What are you afraid of?"

Gu Yinxue's face showed unease.

Behind her.

Li Dan held a snowboard in one hand and asked Gu Zhiyan, "Just the two of you? You're so leisurely."

Gu Zhiyan looked at the two ahead and said, "Yin Xue is here too."

Mentioning Gu Yinxue, Li Dan realized she hadn't sent him a message all this time.

He noticed there was another woman beside Gu Yinxue.

Only a back view, also in ski gear, he didn't recognize her and innocently thought, "Is that Yin Xue's friend?"

Just as he finished speaking, Gu Yinxue and Lin Shutong turned around.

Li Dan's steps halted, his brows instantly furrowed; he grabbed Gu Zhiyan, who was walking ahead, and whispered, "Why did you also invite Lin Shutong?"

Gu Zhiyan: "We're together."

Li Dan: "???"

Li Dan: "!!!"

"No, when did this happen?"

Gu Zhiyan: "The day before yesterday, at New Year's."

Li Dan wore a face like he'd eaten shit: "She just broke up with Shen Xun, and now she's with you?"

Gu Zhiyan: "She didn't intend to be with me; I suggested we try, and she reluctantly agreed."

Li Dan: "…"

"Don't you know, Gu Zhiyan, that the whole A City circle has heard! Lin Shutong is a gold‑digger! And!"