This was the first time that Yang Meng had been to Haiyin High-Tech Company.
He had long heard that Gu Hai's company was full of beautiful women, and as expected, it was a well-deserved reputation! Even the four security guards standing at the entrance looked like renowned models. Their dignified appearance, coupled with the heroic spirit that seemed to faintly burst from their perfect features, was visually attractive at every glance.
Yang Meng tidied his police uniform and walked over in high spirits.
"Sir, please show your ID." A slender arm stretched out to block him.
Slightly taken aback, Yang Meng glanced at the beautiful woman only to see her serious expression and faintly curved red lips that carried a bit of cautiousness. That conscientious and wordless smile was charming to the nth degree, to say the least. Yang Meng had already put his hand in his pocket, but then, he was suddenly not that excited to hand his ID over. A wicked idea lit up in his mind— he wanted to tease this gorgeous woman just to see her angry expression after he deliberately made things difficult for her.
Therefore, he carried all his weight on one leg and arrogantly stuck the other one out. He then tilted his head upward to a forty-five degree angle and revealed a roguish smile.
"What if I don't have an ID?"
The woman bluntly said, "I'm sorry, you cannot enter."
"What if I insist on entering?" Yang Meng's provocative eyes shot towards her again.
A second later, the beautiful guard employed a shoulder throw judo move that threw Yang Meng to an empty space two meters away. He was only able to get up a good minute later.
Afterwards, he dispiritedly walked back to the entrance and obediently showed his ID.
When Yang Meng finally entered the lobby and discovered that the receptionists were even more beautiful, his shattered heart was immediately put back together. Learning from his previous lesson, he simply tidied his collar and urbanely walked over this time.
"Excuse me, may I ask who you are looking for?"
The receptionist's voice was so sweet and seductive that Yang Meng couldn't help but to shiver and lose his words. After a short while, he collected himself and replied, "Gu Hai."
"You're looking for our Chairman! Then you need a note from the Chairman, without it, you're not permitted to go any further into the company."
"I was his classmate in high school, and his lover's childhood friend. Just call and say that Yang Meng is here, and he will definitely receive me. Give him a call if you don't believe me."
The receptionist wore a troubled expression. "Sir, I'm sorry. We're not allowed to randomly call the Chairman during working hours. If you have any urgent matters, please call the Chairman's private number and ask him to call us back so that we can allow your entry."
If I had Gu Hai's number, what would I come here for?…Yang Meng scratched his ears, this is so annoying.
Just when he was becoming anxious, a bright idea suddenly weaved into his brain. He took out his phone and opened the photo gallery, browsing through it until he found a photo with Bai Luo Yin. Then he hesitantly passed it over to the receptionist, hoping that it would work out.
"Here, this is a photo of me and Bai Luo Yin. I have plenty of photos with him from since we were kids to now. He and I are childhood friends."
Unexpectedly, the receptionist actually took the cellphone and passed it to the receptionist beside her. After confirming that it was indeed not a photoshopped image, their attitudes changed dramatically.
"Sir, we're truly sorry for not understanding the situation just now. If you are unsatisfied with any of our actions, please do forgive us."
Having said that, all five receptionists stood up and slightly bowed at Yang Meng.
Yang Meng was completely taken aback, isn't this too outrageous?
After Yang Meng received his phone back, he quickly backuped the photo with extra precaution. When he normally waved the photo in front of his colleagues, he could avoid being bullied; now that he merely flashed the photo here, he swiftly received a VIP level treatment. He thought that if he looked at the photo before he went to sleep, perhaps it could supplement his masculinity… this was truly a valuable photo!
"Sir, please follow me."
On the way, Yang Meng brushed past many beautiful women— he had honestly never felt this amazing in his entire life.
The receptionist's sweet voice sounded in Yang Meng's ear. "Sir, if you don't have an appointment next time you come by, you can just show some sort of proof of your relationship with Colonel Bai. Such as a group photo, Weibo interactions, his signed signature… but, of course, it would be even more convenient for you and us if you can call us beforehand."
Yang Meng laughed naively, "Since he's usually quite busy, I feel sorry calling to bother him."
In reality, Yang Meng hid this visit from Bai Luo Yin on purpose.
"Sir, please wait in this room for a moment."
Yang Meng waited patiently in there until another beautiful young receptionist walked in.
"Sir, what would you like to drink?"
Yang Meng stared at her absentmindedly for a moment, as if his soul had just gone to heaven. He eventually replied, "Thank you, but there's no need." Just looking at you quenches my thirst!
"Have a bit of honeysuckle tea! It can help detoxify your internal heat, and it's a very suitable drink for summer."
As she said that, she passed him a cup of the tea with her slender lily-white hands and sweet alluring smile.
Yang Meng's heart was throbbing uncontrollably while his feelings twisted with jealousy and complications as he sat here. The treatment that Gu Hai enjoys here is the same as that of your majesty the emperor ah! How can Bai Luo Yin be at ease? If I was the Chairman here, I would definitely have a bunch of children running everywhere in less than three years.[1]
Just as he was thinking that, Gu Hai walked in.
"Why are you here?"
Yang Meng stood up. The situation and location caused him to speak with a bit of reservation.
"I have something to discuss with you."
Gu Hai casually waved his hand at the beautiful woman. "Alright, you can leave first."
Then he turned back to face Yang Meng. "What is it?"
That's right… what did I come here for? Yang Meng was so enthralled by those perfectly beautiful women that it took what seemed like a whole day for him to remember his purpose. He took out the USB and passed it over to Gu Hai. "These are some of the files that I got from the traffic police unit. I think that you need to take a look at them yourself."
Gu Hai did not ask what the content was and simply took it.
After walking out of the waiting room, Yang Meng was reluctant to leave just like that. He strolled through each floor and looked at all the beautiful women to his heart's content before he hesitantly walked toward the elevator— of course, he would have loved to stay longer.
The elevator door opened, and Yan Ya Jing just happened to be walking out and bumped into Yang Meng. She couldn't help but to be surprised when she looked at him.
Although he looked familiar, she couldn't remember where she might have seen him before.
Nevertheless, Yang Meng recognized Yan Ya Jing first.
"Aren't you that… that, uh… oh, Gu Hai's fiancée?" Yang Meng asked casually.
Yan Ya Jing's complexion turned a bit unsightly, "The two of us… aren't together since long ago."
Yang Meng asked loudly, "Then, why are you still staying here? Why didn't you leave, huh?"
"You…"
Yang Meng angered Yan Ya Jing to the extent that she became speechless. Then, just as she turned her head to the side, she was met with the smug smile of someone who was rejoicing in her misfortune.
"What are you laughing at?" Yan Ya Jing asked angrily.
The corners of Tong Zhe's mouth pulled back, "Which of your eyes saw me laughing?"
Yang Meng turned around and saw a heroic and simply handsome face that made him gasp immediately with amazement as chills ran down his spine. He tried to sound out Tong Zhe, "Do you also work in this company?"
Tong Zhe nodded.
"Say, miss, how did you manage to accomplish this?" Yang Meng looked up at Tong Zhe hopefully.[2]
Hearing that, Tong Zhe's face immediately burst into a shade of blue and white, since anger and horror struck him simultaneously. Then, he saw Yan Ya Jing laughing out loud, disregarding her image.
Gu Hai returned to his office and watched the recordings file from the USB. After watching it, he sat still for a long time while the image of what happened after the car accident played out repeatedly in his head. Bai Luo Yin using his bare hands to pry open the steel plates; hugging him tightly on the ground as he cried hysterically; carrying him on his back as he ran madly along the road… the recordings were meticulously edited by Yang Meng, who made sure to practically add everything that the traffic camera caught in this file. The last scene was of Bai Luo Yin collapsing beside the ambulance with both of his hands drenched in blood.
That was the moment when Gu Hai finally knew why Bai Luo Yin's fingers were deformed to such extent.
It felt as if the excruciating pain of the steel plate cutting into flesh and tearing all ten fingers then, was stabbing his own heart now.
As it turns out, not only did he save Bai Luo Yin's life, but his own life was also saved by Bai Luo Yin.
The next day, Gu Hai requested a meeting with Bai Han Qi and Jiang Yuan without Bai Luo Yin's knowledge.
Hastily calculating it, Bai Han Qi had not sat together with Jiang Yuan like that for many years.
"Father, mother." Gu Hai started to speak.
There was a kind of mutual understanding between Bai Han Qi and Jiang Yuan when they heard those words and became immediately shocked.[3] This kind of courtesy… isn't it just a bit too much?
"I invited you both here today because I have something to discuss with you."
The expression in Bai Han Qi's eyes changed. In truth, he had already guessed the reason— only Jiang Yuan expressed a deep look of concern as she waited for Gu Hai's next words.
"I plan on marrying Yin Zi."
Once those words came out, even Bai Han Qi couldn't help but to be astonished. He had only thought that Gu Hai would admit his real relationship with Bai Luo Yin, at most. How could he have anticipated that he would be approached with such mediworthy hot news like those? How could he, as a person that had just received a heart surgery, endure it?!
Jiang Yuan's hands started to tremble.
"Xiao Hai, what you said can't be serious, right?"
Gu Hai had a very earnest expression on, "I am absolutely serious."
Jiang Yuan picked up the teacup and drank it, swallowing with great effort.
"…that's not permitted in China ah!"
Pausing for a second, Gu Hai then spoke again with a calm expression, "We do not need a certificate. We only want a ceremony, a ceremony that can receive everyone's recognition. That is enough for the two of us."
Jiang Yuan turned to look at Bai Han Qi, "How come you're not saying anything now? He is your son."
"Now you know that he is my son?" Bai Han Qi snorted coldly, "Don't you normally always say that he is your son? Say it, I give you the rights to decide today."
Those words made Jiang Yuan stare at Bai Han Qi ruthlessly before shifting her gaze back to Gu Hai, who still had a considerably calm look on.
"Xiao Hai ah! It doesn't matter what I say regarding this matter! You also know what your father's temperament is like. He will definitely not approve!"
Gu Hai replied indifferently, "You don't need to be concerned about my father right now. Today, you are making the decision as Yin Zi's mother, and that has nothing to do with my family. You don't need to think too much about anything else."
"This…"
If this had taken place a few years ago, Jiang Yuan would have certainly refused without even so much a thought. But her relationship with Gu Hai had quietly changed for the better in the last two years— to the extent that she could no longer say any ruthless words to Gu Hai when she faced him.
Suddenly, Gu Hai took out a small box from his pocket and pushed it in front of Jiang Yuan.
"This is a small token of my appreciation."
Isn't it too soon to accept a betrothal gift?… Jiang Yuan was unexpectedly startled.
Gu Hai opened the small box, inside was a ring. After all these years, this ring was not as bright or glamorous as it was back then.
"This was the ring that my paternal grandmother gave to my mother when she married my father. She said that it was the proof of being acknowledged into the Gu family. Once my mother put it on, she wore it for more than ten years until she passed away. This ring has been kept in my possession since then. Now, I want to gift it to you. Please take it as that my father's love and the Gu family's respect have all been placed in your hands. And also take it as a kind of compensation for any grievances or suffering you might have been put through all these years. From today on, I will formally acknowledge you as my mother."
Jiang Yuan was rendered speechless from utter shock.
Translator's Note:
[1] He's saying that he would have slept with the women (at least some lol) and have kids with them. Yes, Yang Meng, I need you to have a child with A WOMAN that you love, not get with You Qi like the author is forcing down my throat :)) (I know others disagree with this lol)
[2] Remember that the company only hires woman, so I think Yang Meng thought Tong Zhe is either a woman or is trans
[3] From here on, Gu Hai is speaking very formal to BHQ and JY