Chapter 91: Forcing

Meng Shutang came in with a colleague, the two of them laughing and talking about something, her features refined, a gentle smile playing at the corners of her lips.

That was four years later—the most relaxed and at ease Gu Yunci had ever seen her look, apart from when she was with Lu Shenyang.

The elevator slowly closed, the two of them still talking.

Even when that colleague greeted him, Meng Shutang seemed not to see him at all.

His hands hanging at his sides curled slightly tighter, the blood that had just rushed to his head now freezing into ice.

A laugh, extremely cold and extremely hoarse, rolled from the man's throat; he didn't wait until the twenty-eighth floor, but got off the employee elevator at an intermediate floor.

As soon as he came out, employees whispered among themselves, "Why would President Gu take the employee elevator with us for no reason?"

No one knew.

At noon, a meeting was held regarding the Palace Museum donation matter, and Meng Shutang also attended.

But she sat in the corner, her presence extremely low.

The man only lifted his eyes to glance at her when the meeting ended.

For the next two days, the two of them didn't see each other.

Even when there was work, it was Ruan An who came upstairs.

Qin Zheng, seeing the man's mood stable, again brought up the matter of the tea garden mountain area, "President Gu, are you going alone or should I arrange for someone else?"

The man pondered, "Have Teacher Meng go with me."

Qin Zheng trembled, "I don't think Miss Meng would agree to that..."

He was just giving a well-intentioned reminder, lest the man, having held a high position for so long, lose his self-awareness.

In fact, Meng Shutang's attitude these past few days had been very clear—she had already let go, and Gu Yunci shouldn't cling to the past either.

"President Gu, how about... Manager Zhou? You two haven't gotten together in a long time either, as fellow disciples."

The man carefully tended to the begonia flowers, "When can Manager Zhou and I not get together?"

Qin Zheng choked, then accepted this extremely difficult mission, "Alright, I'll go talk to Teacher Meng in a bit."

The man set down the watering can, "No need, I'll go myself."

He grabbed the suit jacket beside him and took the executive elevator to the second basement level.

"Teacher Meng, I have something to tell you." He walked over and spoke with effortless calm, a completely different person from the cold face he'd worn in the elevator that morning.

Meng Shutang lifted her eyes slightly, surprised that he had come over again, yet her tone remained indifferent, "I'm all ears."

"A while ago I met with a partner, and I heard him say that the tea garden mountain area museum has an ancient blue-green bead, its glaze color being the lost 'Tea Mountain Green.'

It's just a pity that the bead body has a chip, requiring a master's meticulous restoration, so I thought of you."

As soon as Meng Shutang heard about the ancient blue-green bead, her curiosity was piqued; she stopped the work in her hands, "It's just a pity I'm busy with things here!"

Gu Yunci said, "No rush, the donation matter can't be settled in a day or two anyway."

Meng Shutang thought about it and agreed.

After all, to see 'Tea Mountain Green' or to restore it—for someone who restores cultural artifacts—might be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

"Sure, when are we going?"

"Tomorrow morning!"

Meng Shutang nodded, "Okay."

When Gu Yunci left, he heard her instructing Ruan An, "I'm going out for a bit, probably need two or three days. Finish the remaining work, and then take a vacation!"

Ruan An was very happy and hugged her, "Thank you, sis."

Meng Shutang smiled and tapped her nose, "Alright."

As Gu Yunci turned the corner, he looked at Ruan An, his eyes full of envy.

After work, Gu Yunci saw her leaving happily from the twenty-eighth floor, not knowing whether she would still be this happy tomorrow when she found out he was the one going with her.

That evening, Li Xiuyun noticed that Lu Shenyang hadn't come by in several days.

Taking advantage of the time spent cooking, she chatted with Meng Shutang.

"Tangtang, have you and Shenyang... made it official?"

Meng Shutang smiled faintly, "Grandma, why are you bringing up this topic again?"

"In earlier years, I thought he didn't confess to you because you had just gotten divorced and still had a child—he was giving you time to ease into it.

But now Xin Xin is already this big, and he still hasn't opened his mouth, so I feel like in his heart... he probably has someone."

"Tangtang, you can't keep being alone like this. You're good-looking and you have a skill; on the marriage market, you'd be in high demand too."

Saying that, she pulled out a few photos from her pocket, "These are recommended by your Auntie Wang. Grandma thinks they look quite suitable. See when you're not busy and meet them."

Meng Shutang didn't even look, "Grandma, stop worrying about me. Look at that famous author who wrote such sweet love stories online—she got divorced too.

So, women are still happier focusing on their careers."

Grandma was stunned, and by the time she reacted, Meng Shutang had already carried the dishes out.

Thinking about how she left early and returned late every day busy earning money, Grandma didn't urge her to marry again—after all, everything takes a process.

She picked up her chopsticks and followed her out, "Where are you working lately? I went to Wanxing Ge yesterday and didn't see you."

Meng Shutang said, "Gu Clan Building, a project Brother Shenyang introduced."

Li Xiuyun's brow twitched slightly, and she said nothing.

After dinner, once everything was cleaned up, Meng Shutang went to sleep.

In her dream, she dreamed of going to the tea garden mountain area and seeing the ancient blue-green bead; that night, she slept very well.

But the next morning, when she arrived in front of the Gu Clan Building with her luggage, the moment she saw Gu Yunci, she froze.

In the past, the man was always suited up, his presence imposing, like a cold, hard flower on a high peak.

Today he had changed into a light-colored casual outfit, his whole person shedding a bit of the sharp, oppressive air of the business world, gaining a touch of youthful freshness.

His figure was still tall and upright, his temperament clean and refined; even though it was the most ordinary of outfits, it couldn't hide his deep-seated nobility, so handsome it made one's heartbeat lose its rhythm at a single glance.

A scene from fourteen years ago surfaced in Meng Shutang's mind.

She pushed open the great doors of the western city's Cangpinge and immediately spotted Gu Yunci, head bowed as he examined an artifact.

Just like today, his hair was unstyled, stray strands hanging over his forehead, yet so effortlessly refined and noble that one couldn't look away.

Meng Shutang said nothing and turned to leave.

Gu Yunci walked over and blocked her path. "Teacher Meng, I'm the person appointed by the Chayuan Mountain District Museum — I'll be accompanying you to the base for the entire trip."

Saying that, she handed her the formal restoration invitation letter.

Meng Shutang glanced at it, caught in a dilemma.

On one hand was the blue-green ancient bead that she might never see again in her lifetime if she missed it; on the other was the prospect of spending several days with Gu Yunci.

She bit her lip hard and steeled herself to leave.

Gu Yunci blocked her again. "This is official business. Teacher Meng, do you really plan to earn a reputation for neglecting your duties just because you don't want to be with me?"