novelzi Chapter 216
Chapter 216
Jiang Yan became obsessed with a check-in feature in a map app, exploring new places and lighting up icons on the map every day.
Rain or shine, she always carried an umbrella – for shade on sunny days and shelter on rainy ones. With just a small bag, she was ready to set off.
Jiang Yan tried every mode of transport: buses, taxis, shared bikes, and the subway. Each day, she'd happily venture out to find a hidden gem of a restaurant tucked away in an alley, or duck into a flower shop or fruit store to escape the rain and browse around.
When she found a delicious dish, she'd bring some back for Ji Chu. Sometimes she'd buy two fragrant mangoes or a small bunch of daisies to share her day's joy with him.
Ji Chu, whose job didn't allow much flexibility, would dash out as soon as the bell rang, asking Jiang Yan for her location and driving to find her.
Exchanging flowers had become a regular occurrence. Each time Jiang Yan received flowers, she'd jump up and down, hugging Ji Chu. He, in turn, would deliberately raise an eyebrow, his eyes showing mock surprise – a sign that Jiang Yan had once again delighted him.
...
Meeting Gu Yuming was an event that happened much later.
It was during a rare long holiday when Ji Chu finally had time to join Jiang Yan's check-in plans.
The couple drove to a well-known hotel, indulging in several days of carefree enjoyment.
On the day before their departure, Jiang Yan fell into an exhausted sleep. Feeling guilty, Ji Chu got dressed and went out to buy some food that Jiang Yan might want when she woke up.
As he returned, a luxury car drove past the front of the hotel. Ji Chu glanced at it, thinking there were probably only a few such cars in the city.
He didn't think much of it, carrying the hot meals he'd bought, including two flavors of congee.
Feeling she could still walk, Jiang Yan said nothing and simply took his hand as they headed out.
Ji Chu obediently let himself be led, but halfway through, he glimpsed someone entering the hotel lobby – a figure with a cold aura, followed by others.
Ji Chu suddenly stopped. Seeing Jiang Yan's puzzled look, he pulled up the little devil horn hood on her gray sweatshirt.
Someone was coming up the stairs, their footsteps unnaturally steady, exuding an air of deliberate indifference.
On the stairs stood two people in an intimate pose, looking like a couple. Gu Yuming usually paid no attention to strangers he encountered by chance.
After adjusting Jiang Yan's hood, Ji Chu placed his free hand on her back. The devil horn hood was a bit large, slightly obscuring Jiang Yan's view.
As Jiang Yan caught sight of the person and curiously looked up, Ji Chu guided her down the stairs.
Gu Yuming, upon reaching the second floor, recognized Ji Chu from the corridor.
In the past, he would have been very interested in who was with Ji Chu. But now, she had been gone for so long.
As Gu Yuming was about to look away, he suddenly realized that the woman's figure seemed familiar.
But what did it matter to him now?
Gu Yuming withdrew his gaze and returned to contemplating the big deal he was about to close.
The newly minted business tycoon worth billions could command the business world, engage in cunning negotiations with a group of businessmen... yet in the end, he remained utterly alone.