Guoguo crossed paths with Jiang Xiaoyue once again a week later while dining out with a friend she hadn’t seen in a while. It was such a coincidence that she ran into Jiang Xiaoyue and her fiancé. Guoguo sighed to herself about her bad luck; she seemed to have a particularly deep connection with Jiang Xiaoyue, always bumping into her.

When Jiang Xiaoyue saw Guoguo, her eyebrows lifted slightly in surprise. She exchanged a few words with her fiancé and then approached Guoguo. Guoguo wanted to pretend she hadn’t seen her, but her upbringing since childhood didn’t allow her to do that.

"Miss Jiang, I didn’t expect to see you again," Guoguo initiated conversation.

Jiang Xiaoyue’s gaze circled around the friend beside Guoguo before returning to her. "Indeed, it’s quite a coincidence, but a timely one. I had been meaning to talk to Ms. Han in these few days. Meeting here saves me the trouble."

Guoguo frowned. "You want to chat with me?" When did they become so familiar?

"There’s something I want to discuss with you."

Guoguo didn’t think she had anything to discuss with her and was about to refuse when the words died in her throat after Jiang Xiaoyue’s next words, "It’s about Pei Hao. I think you would be interested, and it won’t take long, just a few minutes."

Guoguo looked towards her friend who, seeing the situation and understanding what was going on, spoke up warmly, "I’ll wait for you at our table."

Guoguo nodded. Once her friend had left, she turned back to Jiang Xiaoyue. "What do you want to tell me?"

Jiang Xiaoyue studied the face before her intently. Guoguo had inherited good genes from her father and had a classic beauty. Jiang Xiaoyue thought she was not bad-looking herself, but she couldn’t compare to Guoguo. However, Pei Hao was not superficial, only focused on appearances. Since he liked the person in front of her, she must possess qualities that attracted Pei Hao.

Separating herself from her relationship with Pei Hao and just observing as an outsider, Han Nanyan was beautiful, came from a good family, and seemed gentle in nature. Plus, they had grown up together. If she were Pei Hao, she too would choose the person before her. With that thought, she didn’t feel so unjustly defeated.

The person in front of her kept staring, not speaking, making Guoguo uneasy. What was this woman’s problem? She calls her over just to stare at her? Was she harboring resentment towards Brother Pei Hao and taking it out on Guoguo? Surely, someone Pei Hao liked wouldn’t be so tasteless.

"Miss Jiang, you didn’t call me here just to observe me, did you?" Guoguo couldn’t help but speak up.

Jiang Xiaoyue smiled. Truly a well-protected daughter of a wealthy family, simple and pure, unable to hold back her impatience even for a short while. She organized her thoughts and spoke softly, "The truth is, Pei Hao never liked me. I agreed to date him because I was attracted to his circumstances. So, if you think I stole your man, there’s no need."

Guoguo was slightly stunned. "I never thought that way." Pei Hao was never hers to begin with. What was there to talk about stealing? Besides, who Pei Hao liked was his freedom, and she had no right to interfere. Still, hearing that Pei Hao didn’t like Jiang Xiaoyue brought a slight thrill of joy to Guoguo’s heart—not much, just a little.

"Whether you’ve thought about it doesn’t matter. Do you want to know who Pei Hao truly likes?"

Hearing this, Guoguo fixed her gaze on her, curious. If Pei Hao didn’t like Jiang Xiaoyue, then who could it be? If he had someone he loved in his heart, why wouldn’t he be with that person and instead choose someone he did not love? Many questions whirled through Guoguo’s mind.

Jiang Xiaoyue observed her the whole time, noting that the person in front of her seemed inexperienced in society. Likely coddled and cherished at home, she hadn’t learned to manage her emotions, wearing every feeling openly on her face.

Jiang Xiaoyue no longer harbored any ill will towards Pei Hao, especially after learning about his illness. If she hadn’t run into Guoguo, she would have left things be, but meeting her today, she thought she might as well help. After all, if it wasn’t for Pei Hao, she would never have met her current fiancé.

Thinking this, she felt rather virtuous. Jiang Xiaoyue thought lightly, "The truth is, Pei Hao has always liked you. No, love is a more appropriate word. He loves you."

Guoguo looked at her in shock. "That’s impossible. Pei Hao has always treated me as a little sister." That’s what Pei Hao had personally told her.

Jiang Xiaoyue laughed softly, "Believe it or not, that’s up to you. As for why he never told you, you’ll have to ask him yourself." While she did want to help Pei Hao, after all, he had hurt her, she couldn’t go to such lengths—she wasn’t a saint.

Having said what she wanted to say, Jiang Xiaoyue went to find her fiancé. She had said all she could; Pei Hao, don’t be too grateful.

Guoguo felt deeply agitated by Jiang Xiaoyue’s words, mostly in disbelief. It was just too hard to believe—Pei Hao liking her? How could that be possible?

"Nan Yan, what’s wrong?" her friend noticed her distraught and absentminded demeanor while eating and asked with concern.

Guoguo snapped back to reality and uttered, "What did you just say?"

Her friend, exasperated, "What’s wrong with you? You’re so distracted. Is the food at this restaurant not to your liking?"

"It’s quite tasty," Guoguo replied nonchalantly, not really knowing what the food tasted like; her mind was already miles away.

Her friend had plans to go shopping with Guoguo after their meal, but seeing her like this, canceled the plans, "Nan Yan, I’m really sorry, but a colleague from work just asked me to help out this afternoon. I can’t go shopping. Let’s arrange another day."

This suggestion suited Guoguo perfectly. "Sure, let’s do that another day."

Once her friend left, Guoguo hailed a cab. She originally intended to have her driver come to pick her up, but she couldn’t wait. She only wanted to see Pei Hao, right away, immediately.

She had never been to Pei Hao’s company but knew the address. However, as soon as she entered the company’s doors, she was stopped. They told her the CEO was very busy, and without an appointment, she couldn’t enter.

"I’m Brother Pei Hao’s friend, please let me go upstairs," Guoguo pleaded with the receptionist.

"Sorry, the president is in a meeting right now. Without an appointment, you really can’t go up. Please try to understand our work."

Guoguo frowned. She couldn’t blame the receptionist—it was their job, after all. She’d never thought that seeing Pei Hao would be such a difficult task.

"If you are the president’s friend, you could give him a call," the receptionist kindly suggested.

Guoguo slapped her forehead, realizing her oversight. Yes, why hadn’t she thought to just call Pei Hao directly? She pulled out her phone and dialed the number.

Pei Hao was in a meeting but when he saw the incoming call, he gestured for a pause and stepped out to answer, "Guoguo, what’s up?"

Guoguo bit her lip, "Brother Pei Hao, I’m at your company’s lobby. Can I come up to see you?"

Pei Hao was slightly surprised, "Okay, wait for me, I’ll come down to get you."

After hanging up the phone, Guoguo stood waiting. It didn’t take Pei Hao long to come down. Guoguo’s heart was filled with anticipation before seeing him, but once she actually did, nervousness took over, "Brother Pei Hao," she murmured, head bowed.

Pei Hao smiled warmly, "What brings you here today?" He led her upstairs as he spoke.

"I just happened to be passing by, so I thought I’d come up to see you," Guoguo didn’t dare say she had come on purpose.

Pei Hao took her to his office, "I have another meeting that will take half an hour. Could you wait for me?"

Guoguo nodded, "Sure, go ahead with your work. Don’t mind me, Brother Pei Hao. Sorry for interrupting."

Pei Hao patted her head, "It’s no trouble. Wait here for me, it won’t take long. If you get bored, play on the computer, the password is your birthday." With that, he left.

Guoguo paused, his password was her birthday? Why? Could it be true, as Jiang Xiaoyue had said, that he liked her?

Her heart fluttered with excitement. She sat in Pei Hao’s office chair, turned on the computer, and sure enough, the password was her birthday. She stared at the desktop wallpaper—it was a photo of them climbing a mountain during the New Year, with her in the center and Pei Hao standing just behind her, not looking at the camera but at her.

She had asked Pei Hao for this photo before, and he had said it was accidentally deleted; she hadn’t expected him to have kept it.

Her heart beat wildly as she turned her gaze to the photo frame on the desk. It was another group photo, but this time only three of them were in it: her, Pei Hao, and Fu Chenxuan.

Guoguo placed her hand on her chest, feeling the increasingly fast heartbeat, trying to convince herself to stay calm. Two photos didn’t prove anything—if it was just a misunderstanding, it would be truly awkward.

As she worked to calm herself, she glanced away from the photo frame and absentmindedly opened a drawer, looking for something to eat to distract herself.

Since she and Tangtang both loved snacks, Pei Hao and Fu Chenxuan had developed a habit of carrying some wherever they went—initially to keep them happy and prevent them from crying, but it had become a custom. Just like Fu Chenxuan’s desk drawer always contained some cookies or candy.

Guoguo wasn’t sure if Pei Hao would have any, but she tried her luck. Opening the drawer, there really were a few pieces of chocolate lying there. She picked one up, and then, in the corner of the drawer, she caught sight of a pill bottle.

Frowning slightly, why would there be a bottle of medicine here like this, was Pei Hao not feeling well?

She picked up the bottle and glanced at it, relieved to find it was just vitamins. She opened the cap and sniffed, huh, what kind of vitamins were these, they smelled strange... slightly bitter?

But Guoguo didn’t dwell on it and put the chocolate and the pill bottle back in the drawer.

Pei Hao entered the office while Guoguo was still daydreaming, completely unaware of his presence. Pei Hao was somewhat helpless about her oblivion; what if the person entering had been a bad guy?

Guoguo was propping her chin, staring out the window from the thirty-third floor, which was quite high and didn’t offer much of a view.

Pei Hao walked more heavily, and Guoguo, sensing someone coming in, turned to see it was indeed Pei Hao. Standing up, she said tentatively, "Brother Pei Hao, I ate one of your chocolates."

Pei Hao smiled, "Eat if you want, they’re for you... and Tangtang." Although Guoguo never visited his company, the established habit was hard to break. He disliked snacks, but often kept some in his desk, regularly instructing his secretary to replace them.

After half an hour of contemplation, Guoguo was less excited. She moved to sit on the sofa, and Pei Hao sat down beside her, "Did you come today to tell me something?" He said, noting her hesitant and troubled expression—it didn’t seem like she was just passing by.

Guoguo wasn’t one to hide her emotions, especially in front of people she knew well.

"Brother Pei Hao, I met Jiang Xiaoyue at noon. She told me some things," Guoguo murmured, her hands clutching her clothes tightly enough to wrinkle them.

Pei Hao’s gaze passed over her hands, his voice gentle, "What did she say to you?"

Guoguo bowed her head, not daring to look into Pei Hao’s eyes. This way, she still had the courage to speak. If she looked him in the eyes, she would be completely unable to say anything.

"She... she told me... actually, you..." Guoguo stuttered, never managing to finish her sentence.

Pei Hao’s heart sank ceaselessly, assuming Jiang Xiaoyue had said something that had hurt her, "Guoguo, look into my eyes."

Guoguo uttered an acknowledgment, lifted her head, but as soon as she met his eyes, vast as the stars and deep as the ocean, she lost her voice. Pei Hao looked into her eyes with a slightly deep voice, "Did she bully you?"

Guoguo nodded subconsciously, then, realizing what he meant, shook her head vigorously, "No, she didn’t bully me."

"Then, what did she tell you?" Pei Hao’s brows were tightly furrowed. Today’s Guoguo was too out of character, and it made him very worried.

Guoguo’s ears turned pink, and she avoided his gaze, "She told me that you never really liked her."

Pei Hao’s eyes flickered slightly, "And?"

Guoguo looked here and there, but didn’t dare to meet Pei Hao’s gaze.

"Guoguo." Pei Hao called her name, and Guoguo mumbled, struggling to say the words stuck in her mouth. She felt that she shouldn’t have come here to seek confirmation from Pei Hao. What if Jiang Xiaoyue was just deceiving her and she, like a fool, had come right over?

"It’s nothing." Guoguo decided not to ask anymore. If Pei Hao liked her, she would definitely have noticed. Moreover, her own confession had been rejected. Probably, Jiang Xiaoyue was lying to her. She had to be more cautious and not believe everything people said.

Pei Hao didn’t get his answer from Guoguo, but he could guess that Jiang Xiaoyue must have said something to her.

"Guoguo, since when did you start withholding the truth from me? You were not like this before." Pei Hao spoke in a low voice, seemingly disappointed.

Guoguo did not follow his pace, instead, she asked, "Brother Pei Hao, you haven’t told me yet, is it true that you don’t like Jiang Xiaoyue?"

Pei Hao looked at her, "Is it important?"

Guoguo nodded, her expression serious, "Yes, very important." At least she really wanted to know.

Pei Hao looked straight at her and after a while, nodded slowly, "Yes, I don’t like her. I know you must be wondering why I would be with her if I don’t like her, but I can’t answer that question for now. When the right time comes, I’ll tell you, okay?" Just give him a little more time, very soon, as long as he could get through the upcoming surgery, he would be able to share his feelings with the girl in front of him.

Guoguo, just wait for me a little longer.

Guoguo wanted to continue asking, but looking into Pei Hao’s eyes, she found herself unable to say a word, merely nodding subconsciously.

Leaving Pei Hao’s office, Guoguo looked at the tall figure in front of her, thinking to herself that men can indeed lead astray... How did she just nod her head? She must have been bewitched by Brother Pei Hao’s eyes.

"What are you thinking about, that you’re not even walking carefully?" Seeing that Guoguo was about to walk into a glass door, Pei Hao had to grab her. This girl, why was she always so careless?

Guoguo stuck out her tongue, "I was just thinking about something. Brother Pei Hao, where are you taking me?" She was very curious, as Pei Hao had just mentioned taking her out.

"I’m taking you to eat, aren’t you hungry?" He had just seen her rubbing her stomach.

Indeed, Guoguo was hungry. In the afternoon, after bumping into Jiang Xiaoyue, all her thoughts had flown to Pei Hao, leaving her with no appetite. She had eaten only a few bites before coming and had only eaten a piece of chocolate while waiting for Pei Hao.

"Brother Pei Hao, have you eaten lunch?"

Pei Hao shook his head. He had been in meetings all afternoon and hadn’t eaten anything.

The two went to a restaurant, and with her mood lifted, Guoguo’s appetite returned. It wasn’t until halfway through the meal that she realized Pei Hao had hardly eaten and put down her chopsticks, "Brother Pei Hao, why aren’t you eating? Didn’t you say you haven’t had anything?"

"I’m past the point of hunger, so I’ve lost my appetite." During this period, his appetite had plummeted. Eating even a little more made him feel nauseous and want to vomit. Even without eating, he didn’t feel hungry, which was why Pei Hao rarely ate these days, and if he did, it was just a few bites to get by.

He was living alone now, and his parents didn’t know about his health condition.

"Oh, Guoguo, I have to go abroad in a few days and won’t be in the country for a while," Pei Hao said nonchalantly.

Guoguo was about to remind Pei Hao to eat properly but was interrupted by his change of topic, "Are you going on a business trip?"

"Sort of." The date for his surgery had been set. He had wanted to delay it a bit longer, but he couldn’t put it off any longer. The doctor had said that if he waited any more, it would be too late.

"Oh, how long will that be?" Guoguo didn’t care, as Pei Hao had been on business trips before and usually returned after a few days.

"This time it’s going to be longer, at least a month, I guess." Pei Hao gave the most optimistic estimate.

Guoguo was taken aback, "Why is it going to take so long this time?"

"There are a lot of things to deal with over there, and it won’t be possible to come back in a short time. Is there anything you want? I can bring it back for you."

"There’s nothing in particular, but Brother Pei Hao, although work is important, your health is too. When you’re away by yourself, you have to take good care of your health."

Pei Hao smiled, "Do I seem like someone who doesn’t take good care of himself in your eyes?"

"You and Brother Chenxuan are the same; when it comes to work, you two are relentless. Brother Chenxuan once pulled three all-nighters in a row. His eyes were all red, and no matter how much I persuaded him, he wouldn’t listen. In the end, I had no choice but to call Aunt Lan."

Last time, Fu Chenxuan seemed to have been provoked by something; he worked like his life was on the line, really risking his life. It made her heart tremble with anxiety.

Pei Hao asked thoughtfully, "What happened to him?"

"I don’t know, but he was in a bad mood during that time. Either he was working furiously or he was distracted, not knowing what he was thinking about all day long. He wouldn’t tell me when I asked."

Guoguo was a bit troubled; everyone around her was a master at hiding their emotions. She couldn’t tell what they were thinking just by looking at their faces.

Pei Hao smiled faintly, "Chenxuan has a steady nature. As long as he can still work, it means it’s nothing serious. Don’t worry too much."

"Let’s not talk about it anymore, let’s eat." Guoguo sighed, placed a chopstick full of food into Pei Hao’s bowl, and, although he had no appetite, he still ate.

**

When Fu Chenxuan raised his head from the documents, it was already dark. His office was the only one with the lights on in the entire company. He raised his hand and massaged his temples, having forgotten the time due to getting too engrossed in his work.

"Guoguo," he called out. No one responded, and then he remembered that Guoguo had taken the day off. He glanced at the time; it was already 9 p.m. Standing up and stretching, he prepared to shut down his computer and leave.

After placing a relatively important document into the safe, he saw a file folder with a photo on top. It was none other than Qingzhu.

He picked up the photo and glanced at it, "Qingzhu, where in the world are you?"

Since the last encounter in the bar, he hadn’t seen her again. The people in the bar all said the boss was not in and they were unclear where she was.

He felt powerless. This feeling of aimless uncertainty made him irritable, and he could only numb himself with work.

Last night, he had a nightmare where he found Qingzhu, but she turned out to be a cold corpse, lying in a pool of blood. No matter how loudly he called out, she never opened her eyes to look at him.

He woke from the dream and couldn’t fall asleep again. The images from the dream filled his head, so he numbed himself by continuing to work. Only when he was fully invested in work could he temporarily forget about Qingzhu.

He placed the photo back in the safe, locked the door to his office—which held the company’s most important and core documents, not easily accessible to others—and left.

Stepping out of the company building, it was already late. Fu Chenxuan didn’t plan on going home; instead, he drove directly to his apartment in the city center, so it would be closer to work the next morning.

Meanwhile, at the border.

Song Bing stood in the jungle under the dark night, clad in leather, her expression coldly fixed on what lay ahead. A short man stood by her side, half a step behind her, his posture respectful, "Second-in-command, everything is ready."

"Are you sure there are no problems? This deal is critical. If there’s a slip-up, we’ll all go down with it."

"The Boss is already on the way, should arrive in ten minutes. Only a few of us know about this deal, so there certainly won’t be any problems."

Song Bing nodded, "Good. How much longer before the other party arrives?"

"They should be here soon, probably before the Boss arrives."

A glint of dark light flashed in Song Bing’s eyes, and the corners of her mouth curved slightly upward, "Let’s wait for the Boss to arrive. Tell the brothers to stay alert."

"Yes."