Chapter 131: Subtle

Chapter 131

Nian Suian saw Gu Junxing sitting motionless and went over to give him a gentle push.

"You should go get some rest. Be careful not to work yourself to death."

Gu Junxing chuckled but allowed Nian Suian to help him up as he headed to her room.

"Sleep well. I'm going to go for a walk," Nian Suian said. Having woken up early for once, and being in the mountains, she thought it would be nice to go out for some fresh air.

"Just stay close by. Don't go hiking up the mountain alone. Have breakfast first before going out."

"Alright, I know! Go to sleep already. You worry too much." Nian Suian shut the door, exasperated.

Gu Junxing stared at the closed door, wondering if he had been too talkative again.

But fatigue overcame him before he could dwell on it further. As he lay down on the bed, he noticed the lingering warmth in the sheets and a faint fragrance on the pillow, giving him an odd feeling.

After leaving, Nian Suian went straight to the restaurant where they had dinner the night before. Unlike many hotels with buffet breakfasts, this one offered à la carte options.

With her distinctly Chinese palate, Nian Suian ordered a bowl of soy milk and four pan-fried beef buns.

"Sister-in-law, why are you up so early? Didn't you sleep well?" Liu Jian approached as Nian Suian was halfway through her meal.

"Not at all. I slept so well that I woke up early," Nian Suian replied with a smile.

"Where's Old Gu?"

"He's still sleeping. He went to bed late last night," Nian Suian answered casually, unaware of any implications and missing Liu Jian's meaningful expression.

"I see. I'll tell the chef to prepare something special for Old Gu at lunch!"

Nian Suian nodded noncommittally, not quite understanding why sleeping late warranted special food.

"Would you like to look around later, sister-in-law?"

The thirty-something man calling her "sister-in-law" made Nian Suian uncomfortable.

She said to Liu Jian, "I was planning to take a walk nearby after breakfast. And please, just call me by my name instead of 'sister-in-law'."

"Alright. Sis... Suian, let me find someone to accompany you then."

"Thank you, big sister. I've memorized it."

"No problem. I'll be going now." Nian Suian waved goodbye and retraced her steps.

The girl stared blankly as Nian Suian walked away, then snapped back to reality and ran to her dormitory. After searching for a while, she found pen and paper to write down the phone number.

"Ah, little Erya, where have you been? I've been looking all over for you."

"I'm sorry, Aunt Wang. I just stepped out for a bit."

"Quick, come with me. The kitchen is busy. The boss is entertaining guests for lunch. Go help wash the vegetables."

...

When Nian Suian returned, she ran into Qin Wei and Xu Jiasong at the entrance.

"Sister Jiasong! Qin Wei, you're here!" Nian Suian greeted them.

"Suian! It's so good to see you again!" They had hit it off at their last dinner but hadn't had a chance to meet since.

"Where's Old Gu? Just you?"

"He might still be sleeping," Nian Suian replied, unsure if Gu Junxing had woken up in the half day she'd been gone.

"Still sleeping at this hour? That's not like him..." Back in university, Old Gu was always the earliest riser.

"Why do you care when he sleeps? Can't he sleep in on a day off?" Xu Jiasong gave her husband a light smack, signaling him not to meddle.

"Come on, let's go inside." Xu Jiasong took Nian Suian's hand and went in, ignoring Qin Wei.

Gu Junxing slept until eleven, only woken by Liu Jian's call saying everyone was waiting for him for lunch.

Surprised he had slept so soundly, Gu Junxing hurriedly got up and made the bed. He rushed to open the wardrobe to change clothes before realizing this wasn't his room.

He went back to the room across the hall to freshen up and change.

When he arrived at the restaurant, he found that apart from Nian Suian and his good son, everyone else was looking at him with a peculiar expression.

...