Gu Wan’er shot Yu Xiaoduo a fierce glare.
“I meant my phone,” she said.
“They transferred you out from under me.” Gu Wan’er slumped weakly into her office chair, pressing her fingers against her temples. She felt like she was about to throw up.
Yu Xiaoduo just shrugged, looking unbothered. “I just got the notice from HR. They’re moving me to the security department. Guess they’re hoping I’ll either rot there or quit on my own.”
“All that talk about how I’d be the one calling the shots at the branch—it was all bullshit. I can’t even keep you.” Gu Wan’er slammed her hand on the desk in frustration, then immediately felt a wave of nausea surge through her chest. She covered her mouth and dashed to the adjoining room.
Soon, the sound of retching echoed from inside. Yu Xiaoduo sighed, walked over to the water dispenser, and poured a cup of warm water.
He stepped into the room. Gu Wan’er was leaning over the bathroom sink, her hands gripping the counter as she gasped for air. Her petite shoulders looked like they were carrying the weight of the world.
“Here, have some water.”
“No need.”
“You’ve lost a lot of fluid from throwing up. Take care of yourself—how else are you going to fight back?”
Gu Wan’er paused, then took the cup and sipped a little. Yu Xiaoduo reached out and felt her forehead. It was a bit warm.
“You’re running a fever.”
Gu Wan’er furrowed her delicate brows. Probably from the air conditioning in the car on the way over.
“You should go to the hospital.”
“No.”
“Then do you have any medicine here?” Yu Xiaoduo shook his head helplessly. Last time, she’d only agreed to go to the hospital when the pain got so bad she couldn’t stand it.
Gu Wan’er nodded and pointed to the drawer under the bedside table. Yu Xiaoduo walked over and rummaged through it—the medicine cabinet was surprisingly well-stocked.
“Just take the day off and rest.”
“No way. I’ve got a meeting, and right after that, I have to meet Ye Shishi. I’ll just take some meds and power through.”
But Yu Xiaoduo knew how stubborn she could be. Without a word, he scooped her up and laid her down on the bed. “Rest as much as you can, even if it’s just a little.”
“Can’t you be gentler?!” Gu Wan’er punched his arm weakly. “I’m already a mess, and you’re tossing me around like this.”
Yu Xiaoduo didn’t argue. He brought the water over. “Take your medicine first, then rest a bit before the meeting.”
This time, Gu Wan’er actually listened. She obediently swallowed the pills. Yu Xiaoduo sat on the edge of the bed watching her. She looked so much softer like this—fragile, almost delicate.
“My mom found out about us,” Gu Wan’er said quietly.
“So she’s planning to break us up, right?”
“Mm.”
She paused, then shot him a sharp look. “Now’s not the time for jokes!”
“It’s just a transfer to security, not some remote province. Look at you, all worked up. A leader needs to keep a clear head at all times.”
“I know, but sometimes I let my emotions get the better of me.”
Yu Xiaoduo smiled. “If you could stay as calm as you do when you’re playing chess, you wouldn’t be like this.”
“That’s different!” Gu Wan’er rolled her eyes.
“I’m curious though—why are your parents so against you being with me? Look at Ye Shishi, the contrast is just ridiculous.”
“What if I told you that my mom actually treated my sister and me poorly? Would you believe it?” Gu Wan’er said softly, a trace of sorrow flickering in her beautiful eyes.
Yu Xiaoduo had sensed something like that before. “Every mother loves her children—you’re overthinking it.”
“In this conglomerate, the mindset of favoring sons over daughters runs deep. My mom’s first child was me, but she wanted a boy. The second was Yun’er. But by the third pregnancy, she had a miscarriage. The doctor said it was because she was under too much stress.”
“After that, she seemed to blame my sister and me for it. She even said once, ‘Why aren’t you a boy?’ Yun’er was so scared she hid in the corner crying. If Dad hadn’t come home, she would’ve taken her anger out on us.”
Yu Xiaoduo was stunned. He’d never imagined they’d gone through something so harsh—rejected by their own mother.
“At least your dad treated you well, right?”
Gu Wan’er let out a bitter laugh. “Dad had a mistress. He had a son with her. When Mom found out, she took it out on us.”
“That’s why… when I see how close you are with your family, I’m jealous. I’ve never had that kind of warmth.”
Watching her like this—so lonely and vulnerable—Yu Xiaoduo didn’t know what to say. So he just opened his arms.
“What are you doing?”
“Giving you a warm hug!”
“You just want to cop a feel, don’t you?”
“Busted. But hey, you didn’t have to call me out on it.”
Gu Wan’er grabbed a throw pillow and hurled it at him. “I’m pouring my heart out here, and you’re still messing around!”
“Ms. Gu, what if I said I actually understand how you feel? Would you believe me?”
“No.”
“Every family has its own struggles. But Ms. Gu, I believe you’ll succeed. I once watched a movie where the heroine was a lot like you—she had a benefactor, and in the end, she took control and rose to the top.”
Gu Wan’er couldn’t help but laugh. “So… is my benefactor you?”
“Is there anyone else?”
That much, she could believe. Yu Xiaoduo might have a roving eye, but he was reliable and trustworthy when it came down to it.
“By the way, you mentioned your dad has a mistress—what’s the situation there now?”
“Why are you so nosy?”
“This isn’t gossip! You asked me to help you, so I need to understand the full picture. And don’t underestimate an illegitimate child—that’s still your dad’s blood. When it comes to inheritance, he’ll have a claim too.” Yu Xiaoduo put on his “I know what I’m talking about” face.
Gu Wan’er bit her red lips. She didn’t want to air this kind of dirty laundry, but since Yu Xiaoduo was going to be by her side, he needed to know.
“She lives with my parents.”
“WHAAAT?!” Yu Xiaoduo was floored. So your dad’s that kind of guy, huh? Badass! Bringing his mistress right into the family home—I’ve got to hand it to my future father-in-law. I’ve gotta learn a thing or two from him. How do you keep two women under one roof without World War III breaking out?
Gu Wan’er knew he’d react exactly like this. “When I was ten, my dad brought her home. Along with an eight-year-old boy.”
“Your dad’s seriously next-level!”
“Are you admiring him? You want to do the same thing, don’t you?”
“Of course not! I’m incredibly faithful.”
“Yeah, right. You faithful?” Gu Wan’er wasn’t buying it. She’d seen how smooth he was with Sister Bai—those sweet-talking lines weren’t something just anyone could come up with.
“Enough about me—let’s talk about your dad. Why didn’t you and your mom team up to resist? Make a scene?”
Gu Wan’er said flatly, “What’s a woman supposed to do with no power? That’s why, from that day on, I knew I had to fight—so I wouldn’t end up like my mom.”
“Ohhh, so you’re planning to have a son, huh?”
Gu Wan’er: “…”
She looked around, searching for something else to throw.
Yu Xiaoduo took pity on her and handed the pillow back. Gu Wan’er grabbed it and started whacking him with it.
“Alright, alright, that’s enough—you’ve hit me like a dozen times already!”
“Men are all garbage.”
“Hey, you know exactly what I’ve got—and whether it’s garbage or not.”
Gu Wan’er’s brain nearly short-circuited. This guy—how is he so infuriating? I really want to tape his mouth shut.
