Campus Ace Girl

Gu Anxi held back a laugh. "It wasn’t him who said it."

So Old Wang immediately guessed who had said it—

This big mouth Jingchuan really told this little brat Anxi everything. On the spot, he felt a bit embarrassed; after all, given his status, this wasn’t exactly something glorious.

Gu Anxi smiled again. "It’s not a big deal anyway, just some jealousy and rivalry."

Wang Jingyao snorted lightly. "Competing with him over jealousy? Do I look like I’d stoop that low?"

After saying that, he let out a soft sigh. "We’ll talk when you get here. Bring Xichen along, I’ll have a few drinks with him tonight. It’s been a long time since I’ve had a proper drink with anyone."

It wasn’t that he lacked people around him, but one after another, none of them understood him. They all got mad at him. None of them were as good as Xichen—Xichen was sensible, understood what was on his mind, and didn’t poke at his sore spots. So the more he thought about it, the more he felt that drinking with Xichen was the best.

As soon as he finished, Gu Anxi chuckled. "Probably because you’re too used to making things hard on other people, that’s why things turn out like this."

Wang Jingyao was about to blow up, but when he thought of the consequences of losing his temper, he forced himself to hold it back and muttered in a low, defeated voice, "Alright, alright, I’m not going to bicker with you. See you tonight."

He added another instruction: "Find a place for the kids to mess around."

Gu Anxi simply said, "Why don’t we send them to Sister Lin Hua’s place? More kids will put her in a better mood. You guys are definitely going to drink late into the night. No matter how good the place, it’s not suitable for kids."

Wang Jingyao nodded. ’You really have grown up and know how to think things through now. Well said.’

Saying that, he picked up his phone and called Secretary Wang. ’Arrange for the kids to be sent over to Lin Hua’s tonight. Tell her I’ll pick them up tomorrow morning and take them to kindergarten, have her watch them for a night. And tell Auntie Zhang to make a few more dishes the kids like.’

Hearing this, Wang Jingchuan couldn’t help but agree. "That’s a good idea. Madam will definitely be pleased. She’s always liked those two kids, Bo Xin and An An."

In his heart, Wang Jingyao thought silently: A little thing like that—who wouldn’t like her? She’s even my future daughter-in-law.

After giving all the instructions, he hung up on Gu Anxi as well.

That evening, it was naturally lively over at Lin Hua’s. Gu Anxi and Bo Xichen also did their best to comfort Wang Jingyao, and Wang Jingyao, for once, actually relaxed a little—

Ever since losing his child, he hadn’t slept well at night and had never really relaxed. Now that he’d agreed to Lin Hua’s divorce, he actually felt a bit relieved.

He held his glass, looked at the liquor in it, and sighed softly. "I’m just making a bet, betting that she can’t bear to give up these years we’ve had."

Gu Anxi propped her chin in her hand and looked at her uncle.

Bo Xichen noticed her gaze and glanced over, giving her a faint smile.

When Wang Jingyao waited a long time without a response, he grew a little dissatisfied. "Xichen, why aren’t you saying anything?"

Bo Xichen smiled faintly. "Your line of thinking is correct."

"Oh." Wang Jingyao stroked his chin. "I thought so too."

In his happiness, he inevitably drank a lot more... Bo Xichen usually rarely drank because he was a surgeon and could be called into the operating room at any time. But tonight he made an exception and drank quite a bit with him. In the end, both men had had more than enough, especially Wang Jingyao, who was well and truly drunk, while Uncle Bo was just slightly tipsy...

Looking at one of them slumped over the table and the other clearly also having had too much, Gu Anxi was both exasperated and amused.

By this time, Wang Jingchuan was already gone, and the bodyguards had all withdrawn; they were really placing a lot of trust in her. She had no choice but to hoist her older "brother" over one shoulder and pull her own uncle along with the other hand. "Time to go home."

Bo Xichen, slightly drunk, didn’t say much—he had very good drinking manners. Old Brother Wang, on the other hand, was the opposite. Once he drank too much, his mouth wouldn’t stop. He said anything and everything, including things about his married life.

Once they got in the car, she dumped the old guy in the back seat, with Bo Xichen sitting beside her. In the back, Wang Jingyao lay there still muttering about those things. Glancing at her uncle, Gu Anxi asked, ’Hasn’t Sister Lin Hua gotten sick of him after all these years?’

Bo Xichen’s handsome face was slightly flushed as he looked at her.

Gu Anxi was also rather embarrassed, wishing she had a stinky sock to stuff into that old turtle’s mouth. But really, she was probably the only one who would dare think and do something like that... She stepped on the gas and muttered under her breath, "If I’d known, I wouldn’t have come to this dinner. Look at him—he got himself drunk on purpose, dead set on crashing at our place."

And what she thought was exactly right. That night, Wang Jingyao stayed at Si Garden, and early the next morning at breakfast, he looked radiant as he said to Bo Nianyao and his wife, ’This Si Garden is really nice, such a pleasant view. Staying here for a long time should be very good for one’s health.’

The Bo Nianyao couple: ...

By then, Wang Jingchuan had already arrived. Hearing this, he naturally understood what was going on, so he cleared his throat lightly. ’Actually, since you’re on your own now, you could stay here for a bit. I just don’t know if it’s convenient for Mr. and Mrs. Bo.’

With that said, how could the Bo Nianyao couple refuse? "You’re certainly welcome. There’s nothing inconvenient about it."

Gu Anxi had gotten up early too. While sipping her soy milk, she rolled her eyes. "If it’s not convenient, you just won’t stay, right?"

Wang Jingyao: ’What kind of nonsense is that? Do I look like the kind of person who forces others?’

Gu Anxi fell silent and just sneaked a look at Bo Xichen.

Uncle Bo reached out and patted her little head, smiling. "Don’t be like that."

Old Brother Wang had just started to feel relieved when Uncle Bo added, "You should have a bit more compassion."

Wang Jingyao: ...

Bo Nianyao held back a laugh and also said to Gu Anxi, "Exactly. Your old brother is now homeless and just staying at our place for a little while. It’s not like he’s never leaving. Look at how anxious you get, as if he’s going to steal your uncle from you."

Gu Anxi gave an "oh," looking very teachable.

And yet, inside, Wang Jingyao felt utterly put out—

What do you mean, "homeless"? What do you mean, "it’s not like he’s never leaving"?

When he got into the company car, he couldn’t hold it in anymore. "Jingchuan, do I look like someone who’s homeless?"

Wang Jingchuan cleared his throat. "Actually, what Mr. Bo meant was... it’s just temporary, only temporary."

Wang Jingyao got angry again, turned his head away, and said nothing.

...

He went to work, and Bo Xichen drove to Cloud He Hospital, leaving only the Bo Nianyao couple and Gu Anxi at home.

As a woman, Mrs. Bo was naturally softer-hearted. She asked gently, "Zai Zai, is your old brother and Xiao Lin really going as far as divorce?"

Putting away her earlier playfulness, Gu Anxi sighed softly. "It’s mainly because Sister Lin Hua’s mood has been so bad. She’s showing signs of depression. Old Brother doesn’t want to push her, so you could say he’s fulfilling her wish."

Mrs. Bo was very worried. "Women are the most vulnerable at times like this, and it’s easy for them to be moved. If right now Xiao Lin chooses that He Qi, will your old brother be able to handle that blow?"

"He won’t have to." Gu Anxi said softly, "Sister Lin Hua won’t choose He Qi again."

She looked at Mrs. Bo and said firmly, "If she was going to choose him, she would’ve done it back then. She wouldn’t have waited until now."

"That’s good then." Mrs. Bo nodded, finally feeling a bit relieved.

Gu Anxi thought for a while longer, then smiled lightly.

Just then Mrs. Bo stood up. "All right, since Bo Xin and An An aren’t home today, I’m planning to go visit your parents. Do you want to come with me?"

Gu Anxi hurriedly said, "I went yesterday, I’ll go another day."

Mrs. Bo laughed. "I’m not going to tattle on you, look how scared you are."

With that, she said a few more things to Bo Nianyao and then left. Bo Nianyao had his own amusements, while Gu Anxi drove over to Cloud He Group to chat for a bit with Secretary Tang, then went to Anpu Company to talk over some business with Shen Congwen. She was about to take on a big project, and basically left it to Congwen to handle while she just casually looked over things and offered a few suggestions...

Everything was under control, and life got a little boring, so recently Gu Anxi joined one of Little Uncle Bo’s medical research teams. But she learned too fast and was too good at it, wiping out all those PhD students in seconds and dealing a huge blow to everyone’s confidence, so in the end she had to withdraw... which made her even more bored.

At noon, after having lunch with Shen Congwen, she ran over to Chu Yan’s company to take a nap.

When she arrived, Chu Yan still hadn’t eaten and had just finished up her work.

Sitting on the desk, watching Chu Yan pack up her things, Gu Anxi propped her chin in her hand. "You’ve got plenty of money to spend, why work yourself this hard? Besides, what we make together is already enough... Aren’t you going on a wedding trip with Bai Xun? What about the company? Still haven’t found someone reliable?"

Chu Yan finished packing up, went to wash her hands and came back, shaking them dry as she said, "And you? You’ve got enough money to spend for ten lifetimes, how come you’re still keeping busy?"

Gu Anxi rubbed her nose. "That’s different, I’m just a hands-off boss."

Chu Yan opened a bento box—it was still warm—and ate slowly and carefully as she said, "I’ve found someone, guess who?"

Gu Anxi watched her, and only after a good while said, "I’m guessing it’s Fang Ming."

Chu Yan let out a shriek. "You’re something else."

She went on, "Our company and Fang Ming’s company have restructured. I’m only holding thirty percent of the shares, but there’s hope of going public later."

Gu Anxi nodded. "That’s good. Want me to buy in too?"

She was worried Chu Yan might have funding issues. She also knew Fang Ming had built up quite a bit of wealth over the years...

Chu Yan shook her head. "No need! Didn’t you say yourself that having enough is enough? My ambitions aren’t that big, really."

She held up a number with her fingers. "I put in this much."

Gu Anxi smiled. "Not bad, pretty flush."

Turned out it was two billion.

Chu Yan hummed, "That’s most of my net worth. What’s left is only enough to feed myself... If it doesn’t work out, I’ll just have Bai Xun ’go to sea’ and support me."

Gu Anxi held back a laugh, sitting sideways. "You’d be willing?"

Chu Yan laughed too, and after a moment said, "Last time I went to Fang Ming’s company, I saw someone there—you’ll never guess who."

Gu Anxi looked at her but didn’t bother guessing.

Chu Yan just said it. "An old acquaintance from Qingcheng. You know him—it’s that fifth-ranked cousin of Shen Wanqing’s... Turns out Fang Ming roped him in. His eye for talent isn’t bad, no wonder he’s gotten where he is."

Gu Anxi suddenly understood. "So it was him."

As she spoke, she fell silent for a moment before saying, "It’s been so many years, if you hadn’t brought him up I’d have forgotten about him."

Back when she ran into that man in Qingcheng, she had nothing, not even family... Yet now she had everything, and Yan Yan had changed a lot too...

Chu Yan saw what she was thinking, laid her hand over the back of Gu Anxi’s, and said softly, "Anxi, I’m not that fragile. I’m doing very well now, aren’t I?"

She pretended not to care. "A young, good-looking husband—what’s there to complain about?"

Gu Anxi smiled.

But inside she still minded and kept tally of what the Chu Family owed Yan Yan... All these years, they’d never paid it back, hadn’t even offered an apology. Yet she’d also grown enough to understand that some things can’t be fixed with a simple ’I’m sorry,’ and some things don’t necessarily need that ’I’m sorry.’

Sometimes, saying nothing is better than saying something.

Pulling herself back, Gu Anxi watched Chu Yan eat and asked softly, "Did Bai Xun make that?"

"I think so, it’s pretty good." Chu Yan smiled. "He says he’s planning to plant a vegetable patch just for us to eat from."

Gu Anxi immediately got interested. "Sounds great."

She thought to herself, with Bai Xun being such a pretty-boy type, could it be that he’s planning to farm and become a stay-at-home househusband later? A face that good, what a waste if he doesn’t go out and show it off...

But the idea of planting vegetables was a good one. She was bored anyway, so once she got home she might as well set up a vegetable patch herself, grow some greens and radishes, then raise a few little rabbits...

Her thoughts drifted off a bit too far, and Chu Yan waved a hand in front of her face. "Anxi."

"Oh," said Gu Anxi, "I was thinking about the veggie patch."

Chu Yan didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

Then she was a little moved. Anxi seemed like she’d never changed, always just wanting to do the things she liked.

But because of that, she often had to endure Bo Nianyao’s lectures. Those lectures were like scolding a child, and Chu Yan found them hard to listen to...

Still, it was great having Gu Anxi over. With her help, a lot of things got handled much faster... Especially since recently there’d been a pretty arrogant hacker, striking several times. Even though Chu Yan had taken on a few big orders, she had a headache and could never catch the other side...

Once Gu Anxi showed up, the two of them teamed up, discussed it, then built a system together—and that system later sold for a sky-high price... Of course, that was the result of a week’s work.

When they finished, Chu Yan breathed a sigh of relief as she sat in the car, counting the money while muttering curses under her breath.

Teaming up with Gu Anxi had its pros and cons. The upside was they could make a lot of money; the downside was that when she went into manic mode or set her mind on doing something, she’d go all out until she got it done. By now Chu Yan had gone more than thirty hours without sleep...

After counting all the zeros on her card, she was about to start the car when she realized someone was sitting next to her. She turned and saw it was Bai Xun, and immediately sagged back against the seat, asking in a soft, lazy voice, "How come you had time to come over?"

After he stepped away from the spotlight and announced he was quitting the entertainment industry, he wasn’t just being a stay-at-home cook. He often went out with friends to play ball or whatever. Chu Yan didn’t feel any dissatisfaction about that. It was Bai Xun’s own life; it was normal for him to want to rest after being busy. Besides, he took good care of their daily life. So far she didn’t think he’d dropped the ball anywhere, so she didn’t interfere much with how he lived.

When she asked, Bai Xun just smiled, leaned over to kiss her, and then said softly, "I had to call your assistant a few times to find out you only just got off work."

He added, "Did Gu Anxi just leave too?"

Chu Yan smiled. "You’ve only met her a few times, but you seem to know her pretty well."

Bai Xun didn’t answer, only gave a faint smile—

Because he and Gu Anxi were the same kind of person.