Back Then, I Adored You

Gu Yusheng was flipping through some documents and appeared to have no intention of starting a conversation. Xiaowang was not comfortable with being the first to inquire about Qin Zhi’ai’s request to meet, and Qin Zhi’ai also found it awkward to interrupt Gu Yusheng while he was reading, so the room fell into a dead silence.

After a few minutes, Gu Yusheng put his documents aside and, as he reached forward to take his cup of tea, he looked up at Qin Zhi’ai and asked, “What’s the matter?”

After asking, he looked down and casually took a sip of tea.

Upon hearing his question, Qin Zhi’ai opened her bag and took out the permanent employment contract that Xiaowang had given to her two days ago. Placing it gently on the table, she answered regretfully, “Master Gu, I’m really sorry, but I will have to decline the offer of conversion to permanent employment.”

Gu Yusheng’s hands quivered slightly, and tea spilled onto the back of his hands, causing a redness and mild stinging sensation.

His expression, however, remained surprisingly calm. As he placed his cup down, it was impossible to detect any of the emotional turmoil he was experiencing.

“Hui Shi is great, and I love the company. My school, however, has selected me to do a year-long foreign exchange in the U.S. this March.” Qin Zhi’ai paused briefly before continuing, “Master Gu, I’m sure you are aware that this would be a much better choice for me. I don’t want to miss this opportunity.”

As an honor student assigned overseas by the university, wouldn’t she likely work in a teaching role at her university upon returning?

For a woman, a teaching career in the university is a stable one that offers a decent income and a good annual bonus. She will have a promising future if she manages to become a professor in the future, and this would definitely be better than working as a permanent secretary at Hui Shi.

Xiaowang had wanted to persuade her to stay but, upon hearing her sound reasoning, he kept quiet.

Secretary Qin is indeed a good employee, but they shouldn’t force her to stay on and ruin her good prospects merely because of this contract.

Xiaowang turned his head and glanced at Gu Yusheng, who was staring emotionlessly at the contract on the table.

He finally looked up at Qin Zhi’ai again and, after 10 minutes, opened his mouth but said to Xiaowang, “Please excuse us for a moment, Xiaowang.”

“What?” After a moment of confusion, Xiaowang quickly stood up and left the room with his phone.

After the door had latched, Qin Zhi’ai and Gu Yusheng were left alone in the room.

Sitting motionless on the sofa with his head turned, Gu Yusheng fixated on a withered branch on an old tree outside the window.

Qin Zhi’ai didn’t know what he wanted to talk to her about after chasing away Xiaowang, so all she could do was to sit and wait quietly.

The silence ensued for a long time, and Qin Zhi’ai could feel her body stiffening. That was when Gu Yusheng abruptly broke the silence. “Do you remember the girl I mentioned to you on the night we returned from Hainan?”

“Yes,” Qin Zhi’ai replied.

Silence filled the air once more but, this time, after a few moments, Gu Yusheng asked, “Do you know that girl?”

Not expecting such an abrupt question from him, Qin Zhi’ai stared blankly and gave no reply.

He turned his head slowly until his eyes met hers. With a serious look, as if he had pondered over his words deeply, he asked, “Or, are you actually her?”