Campus Ace Girl

Watching this, Gu Anxi found it a little amusing, secretly took out her phone, and sent a WeChat message to Wang Kegui—

"Aunt Lin is having dinner in Si Garden."

"The old master introduced someone to her."

"They’re getting along pretty well."

...

As soon as she sent the three messages, she put her phone away, ignoring how anxious Wang Kegui was getting on the other end like a dog on a leash.

Once she set her phone down, she saw Lin Shuang quietly looking at her. Gu Anxi gave a small smile. "Since everyone’s here, I have something to announce..."

Manager Ma’s eyes went wide; he was even a little nervous. Manager Wang nudged his arm and cleared his throat lightly. "Steady, Old Ma. You’re not some green kid anymore. Don’t sit there all stiff and let people laugh at you."

Hearing that, Manager Ma straightened his clothes, and indeed gained a bit more composure.

Just then, in a soft voice, Gu Anxi said, "It’s actually nothing major. I’m planning to transfer Lin Shuang over to An Pu as management. From now on, here at Cloud He Group, I’ll be relying on the two of you, Manager Ma and Manager Wang."

As soon as she said that, Lin Shuang was a bit surprised.

She really hadn’t expected Gu Anxi to have such a plan, so she froze for a moment. Gu Anxi smiled slightly. "What’s wrong?"

Only then did Lin Shuang come back to herself. "No, I just mean... why all of a sudden..."

"An Pu is short of a capable manager over there," Gu Anxi said casually.

Lin Shuang relaxed at that, smiled, and said, "Thank you, President Little Gu."

"Don’t thank me, I’m the one asking you for help." After Gu Anxi spoke, she looked at Manager Ma and Manager Wang.

The two of them were already dumbfounded, because the surprise had come too quickly.

Especially Manager Wang—he hadn’t even been thinking about a promotion anymore, and now suddenly he was soaring up together with Old Ma. How could he not be both shocked and delighted? Manager Ma, on the other hand, was thinking a bit more. A promotion was indeed nice, but the most important thing on his mind now was still his personal life. All these years he hadn’t found someone he really liked, and when the old master mentioned it just now, he had been incredibly tempted. But in just a short while, President Little Gu was transferring her away, so he felt quite down.

Still, disappointment was disappointment; he had to fight for it a little. Manager Ma cleared his throat lightly. "Even though Xiao Lin is being transferred, we’re colleagues all the same, and even if it’s two companies, it’s as good as one, right? We’ll still have to keep in touch and visit more often. Old Wang, don’t you think?"

Only then did Manager Wang snap out of his happy daze and quickly chime in, "Yes, yes, that’s right."

He then looked at Lin Shuang with great warmth. "Xiao Lin, keep in touch, alright?"

Of course, Lin Shuang could only say yes, then she glanced at Manager Ma.

Manager Ma had had a few drinks, hovering between tipsy and sober. Being looked at by a beauty like that, he all the more wished they could see it through to a happy ending soon.

The meal was eaten in a somewhat uneasy way; at the very least, no one was overjoyed. Everyone knew what the others were thinking...

Around eight in the evening, Lin Shuang took her leave, and Gu Anxi asked Ah Xiang to walk her out.

Lin Shuang said a few polite words, but in the end still let Ah Xiang lead the way. She knew Ah Xiang had come from the Wang Family in Jiangcheng, and was a bit curious, but didn’t ask. Instead, it was Ah Xiang who was lively, talking as they walked. "Miss Lin, I know who you are."

In the night, Lin Shuang paused slightly. "Oh?"

Ah Xiang’s tone was very animated. "I know Second Young Master likes you."

Lin Shuang gave a faint smile and continued walking toward the parking lot. "That’s all in the past."

Walking beside her, Ah Xiang asked cautiously, "But he still likes Miss Lin. Do you... not like him anymore?"

Lin Shuang didn’t answer, just walked along the quiet gravel path. After that, Ah Xiang fell silent as well. She kept feeling that Miss Lin had something weighing on her heart. By all rights, her conditions were very good, and she was beautiful too. If she’d wanted to, she could’ve been in a relationship long ago...

Not until they reached the parking lot did Lin Shuang turn around and give Ah Xiang a gentle smile. "Since you’re here, make the most of it. Opportunities like this don’t come often. Anxi is a very good person."

Ah Xiang was a little moved and hummed in response.

She watched Lin Shuang get into the car, turn on the air conditioning, then take off her coat. Through a layer of glass, she saw Lin Shuang sitting in the shadows, her face stunningly beautiful... yet with an indescribable, tragic grace.

Ah Xiang suddenly thought of that book. She ran up and banged on the car window hard.

The window slid down and Lin Shuang tilted her head up. "What is it?"

Ah Xiang’s little face was slightly flushed, though in the dark it couldn’t be seen clearly. She blurted, "The book you gave Second Young Master has always been in his study. He’s read it over and over again..."

She spoke in such a rush that she didn’t even know what exactly she was saying or why she was saying it; she just felt that Lin Shuang ought to know.

Lin Shuang was clearly stunned for a moment, but she said nothing, quietly sitting in the car.

Ah Xiang hesitated, then added, "Last time Second Madam got angry and tore the book up. They had a huge fight about it."

Lin Shuang lowered her eyes. After a long moment, she took out a cigarette and was about to light it when, from who knew where, Ah Xiang suddenly found the courage to snatch the cigarette away, her voice timid. "Someone as beautiful as you should smoke less."

Lin Shuang didn’t get angry; instead she looked at Ah Xiang and smiled. "You’re quite likable. No wonder Anxi brought you back from Jiangcheng."

Then she took a box from the passenger seat and handed it to Ah Xiang. "This is for you."

Ah Xiang was a little overwhelmed and didn’t dare take it. Lin Shuang smiled. "Take it. A friend brought it back from France for me. It suits young girls."

Since she put it that way, Ah Xiang finally accepted it. It was something nice, after all, and she really liked it.

After Lin Shuang drove off, Ah Xiang stayed rooted to the spot in a daze. Only when she started to feel cold did she run back.

Back inside, she went straight to see Gu Anxi, delighted. "Miss Lin gave this to me."

Gu Anxi was curled up on the sofa on the phone with Uncle Bo. When she heard Ah Xiang, she said a few words and hung up. Once the call ended, she opened the box in Ah Xiang’s hands, then smiled. "Top-tier French skincare. A set like this costs tens of thousands. My Little Aunt really treats you well."

Ah Xiang’s little face flushed. "Miss Lin and Second Young Master aren’t even... together."

"You fool." Gu Anxi looked at her like she was a little idiot, then paused. "If not for my Second Uncle, you think she’d give you something this expensive? She just sees you, a girl from Jiangcheng, and... uses you as a reminder, that’s all."

Ah Xiang’s face turned even redder. "I...I...I’m not a ’thing’..."

Gu Anxi smiled with her eyes. "I know you’re not a ’thing’."

Only then did Ah Xiang realize she’d misspoken. She was mortified and furious, pouting. "You only know how to bully me."

Gu Anxi chuckled, closed the lid of the box, then thought for a moment. "When spring comes, I’ll send you to school. And it’s best if you don’t keep working here in Si Garden. This place is full of old aunties... How about this: since Lin Shuang’s quite fond of you, I’ll arrange for you to be a working student at An Pu. As for housing... the company has standard apartments. I’ll get you a one-bedroom; the conditions are pretty good."

Hearing that, Ah Xiang grew a bit uneasy. "I’d rather stay here."

She was a maid born and raised in the Wang Family. Her parents were servants, and with their limited means she’d only gone through junior high before stopping. She was used to doing chores at home.

Gu Anxi sighed. "I told you, the staff here are all a bunch of old aunties. It’s not good for you to stay. What’s wrong with the company? There’ll be people to look after you..."

As she spoke, she hooked an arm around Ah Xiang’s shoulders and pressed her down to sit, their bodies almost touching. Ah Xiang immediately tried to stand up—