Gu Ningzi expressionlessly picked up the coffee cup.
The video on the wall flickered, and Chi Nuan heard a rich male voice: “Good evening, A-Ning.”
Chi Nuan looked up. The man on the video was strikingly handsome, likely over fifty, but impeccably maintained. Beneath his perfectly tailored suit was a physique that put most young people to shame.
Gu Ningzi looked at the screen as He Zhen said, “President Lin.”
Professor Lin: “He Zhen, before the meeting starts, please let me speak with A-Ning alone.”
Chi Nuan immediately left the conference room with He Zhen.
He Zhen rubbed her temples. Chi Nuan asked if she wanted coffee or juice, but He Zhen waved it off, poured herself a glass of warm water, and pointed toward the conference room as she explained to Chi Nuan, “President Lin is Spider’s founder and also BOSS’s academic advisor.”
Chi Nuan showed a look of sudden realization.
He Zhen: “…You’re thinking President Lin spotted BOSS’s talent, groomed her as successor, and in just three or four years, put her at the top of Spider?”
Chi Nuan: “…Isn’t that the case?”
“Yeah, BOSS is indeed the most outstanding.” He Zhen affirmed Chi Nuan’s thought, placed a hand on her shoulder, and nodded. “At the same time, BOSS’s mother was Spider’s top partner. All her shares in Spider were inherited by BOSS.”
Chi Nuan: “…………” Capital markets are brutally realistic.
Chi Nuan didn’t know how the meeting went, but past midnight, she received two texts.
One from He Zhen: “BOSS’s flight to Corporation headquarters is booked, return date TBD. All domestic schedules canceled starting tomorrow. Assistant Chi, your New Year’s holiday begins now.”
Chi Nuan opened the other one.
Gu Ningzi: “Pack my luggage before noon.”
Chi Nuan tossed and turned all night without sleeping. The next day, she arrived at He Nan Shan with dark circles under her eyes.
She entered the code and was about to push the door when it opened from inside.
Gu Ningzi wore a hoodie and sneakers. Chi Nuan eyed her outfit and asked, “…Are you going for a morning run now?”
Gu Ningzi tugged out her left earbud and looked at her.
Chi Nuan repeated, “Are you going running?”
“A walk.” Gu Ningzi handed her water cup to Chi Nuan, popped her earbuds back in, pulled up her hood, and led the way out of the courtyard.
Chi Nuan got the hint and followed Gu Ningzi.
The villa district connected to a forest park via an entrance. The sun had begun to climb, filtering through dense branches and leaves, leaving only scattered light spots on the slope.
The mountain air was chilly, not cold enough to feel it deeply, but Chi Nuan pulled her scarf up higher anyway.
They encountered no one along the way—the air was fresh. Chi Nuan took several deep breaths, but the low mood from “Gu Ningzi leaving today” found no relief. She occasionally stared blankly at Gu Ningzi’s back ahead.
After walking over half an hour, Gu Ningzi stopped ascending, turned, and reached out to Chi Nuan.
Chi Nuan handed over the water. Gu Ningzi drank casually.
The hood was large, shadowing her upper face. Her lips glistened with water as she slowly licked them.
Chi Nuan whispered, “Gu Ningzi.”
Gu Ningzi, earbuds in, ignored her and walked past toward home.
Chi Nuan murmured even softer, head lowered, “Don’t leave me again.”
Gu Ningzi’s pace stayed steady. At the fork, she pushed down her hood. She paused slightly, turned her head, and her misty eyes from the mountain fog gazed back at Chi Nuan, who lagged far behind. “Don’t get lost.”
Back home, Chi Nuan began packing for Gu Ningzi.
There wasn’t much to pack—most of her daily essentials were already there. He Nan Shan was more like her temporary residence.
With rare leisure, Gu Ningzi sat in a comfy single chair flipping through a fashion magazine. Winter sunlight streamed in from the window, making her glow like the most beautiful movie scene.
Time stretched out in the quiet house, just the two of them.
Chi Nuan packed the folded clothes into the suitcase and asked Gu Ningzi, “When do you think you’ll be back?”
“Not sure.” Gu Ningzi finished the last pages of the magazine and walked over to watch Chi Nuan pack. Chi Nuan’s hands were fair, slightly plump, evoking “soft as boneless.” Now they smoothed over dark fabrics, tracing shoulder and waist lines, folding meticulously.
Gu Ningzi pulled out each piece Chi Nuan had packed. “No.”
“…” Didn’t you pick these yourself? Chi Nuan looked up at Gu Ningzi, her gentle beauty face full of bewilderment.
Gu Ningzi looked down at her. After a few seconds, she tossed the clothes back into the suitcase.
…
In the afternoon, He Zhen picked up Gu Ningzi. After that, there was no word for several days.
On New Year’s Eve, every household gathered for reunion dinner. Chi Nuan cooked a feast and welcomed the new year with Little Wutong amid lively TV shows.
“Happy New Year.”
Amid crackling fireworks, Chi Nuan sent New Year’s greetings to Gu Ningzi and attached a photo of the reunion dinner. Little Wutong focused intently on shelling a walnut and feeding it to Chi Nuan. She took it, then ruffled his hair in return. Her phone buzzed.
“Ahem, ahem…” Chi Nuan covered her mouth and coughed nonstop.
“Mom, what’s wrong? Did you choke?” Little Wutong hurriedly patted her back.
Chi Nuan stared at the screen. “…Mom’s fine.”
Gu Ningzi: “I’m not happy like this.”
A photo followed: Glasses atop a stack of financial reports, steam rising from coffee. Gu Ningzi was clearly in the midst of work.
Chi Nuan chose to unsend the reunion dinner photo. Two seconds later, Gu Ningzi’s video call request popped up in the chat.
