Chapter 1020 - 17:

Chapter 1020: Chapter 17:

"Ningning, so... this is what you’ve always thought. Let me think how to say this to you... Mm, let’s put it this way: if you’re going to believe that A‑Sheng is with Cui Ruoya, you might as well believe that A‑Sheng is still pining after me."

"Huh?"

Gu Xiaoning froze. A‑Sheng would never still be pining after Yu Sangwan.

It wasn’t that Yu Sangwan wasn’t good enough, it was that A‑Sheng just wasn’t the kind of man who would pine after someone else’s wife like that!

"Heh." Yu Sangwan couldn’t help laughing. "Funny, right? You think it’s funny too, so... how could you believe something as ridiculous as A‑Sheng being with Cui Ruoya?"

Ridiculous...

Gu Xiaoning didn’t think it was ridiculous.

"But, Wanwan‑jie, isn’t A‑Sheng and Dr. Cui going to... get married?"

"No." Yu Sangwan’s expression turned serious. "It’s true that Cui Ruoya likes A‑Sheng, but... don’t you really know who A‑Sheng likes? Can’t you feel it? If you really can’t, Ningning, all I can say is, A‑Sheng is just too pitiful..."

Gu Xiaoning’s pink lips trembled. She already understood what Yu Sangwan was about to say, but she still didn’t dare believe it.

"Ningning." Yu Sangwan had no choice but to be blunt. "The one A‑Sheng has always liked is you... He’s not someone who easily falls for anyone. Did you forget that?"

"Mm—"

Gu Xiaoning covered her mouth, nodding over and over.

"Mm!"

She hadn’t forgotten, how could she?

Gu Xiaoning asked a stupid question. "Wanwan‑jie, in these two years... has A‑Sheng... had any women?"

"Hm?"

Yu Sangwan was half amused, half exasperated. "You mean close ones?"

"Mm." Gu Xiaoning nodded.

"Sure."

Gu Xiaoning was taken aback. "Huh?"

"Jiujiu." Yu Sangwan burst out laughing. "Extremely, extremely close... Even when he’s in meetings, he brings her along, lets Jiujiu nap in his arms, drooling all over him. Tell me, is that close enough kin for you?"

"...Mm!"

Tears streamed down Gu Xiaoning’s face. "Then Dr. Cui... the miscarriage..."

"Mm." Yu Sangwan sighed. "I heard about it, I don’t know what happened, but... that child had nothing to do with A‑Sheng..."

She suddenly remembered. "Ningning, you just asked for A‑Sheng’s address. What’s going on? Did something happen to him?"

"I..." Gu Xiaoning faltered. "I’m not sure, but... I have this feeling! I have to see A‑Sheng!"

"Okay." Yu Sangwan quickly agreed. "I’ll send you the address right away... Once you two meet, talk it out properly. These two years, it hasn’t been easy for you, and it hasn’t been easy for him either."

"...Mm."

After hanging up, Gu Xiaoning’s face was covered in tears.

Her phone chimed—it was the address sent by Yu Sangwan.

Gu Xiaoning didn’t waste a single second and immediately hailed a cab over.

When the car stopped, she hurriedly got out, only to see several cars parked at the gate.

Among the people there, there was someone Gu Xiaoning recognized—Liao Jingqing...

"Mr. Liao." Gu Xiaoning rushed up and nodded to him.

Liao Jingqing was momentarily stunned when he saw her, then he smiled. "Ms. Gu."

Huh? Gu Xiaoning was surprised; she could sense that this Liao Jingqing didn’t seem very friendly toward her.

"Mr. Liao." Gu Xiaoning didn’t think too much of it. "May I ask, A‑Sheng... Mr. Le Zheng..."

"He’s not here!" Liao Jingqing frowned and gave a curt reply.

"Huh?" Gu Xiaoning’s heart skipped. "He’s not here? Where did he go?"

"Tsk!" Liao Jingqing sounded a bit impatient. "Ms. Gu, you really don’t know? Do you truly not know, or are you pretending not to?"

"Pretending?" Gu Xiaoning looked completely baffled. "What do you mean?"

Liao Jingqing knit his brows. "Ms. Gu, our Director, the way he treats you... Even as his subordinate, I can’t help being moved when I see it. How is it that you’re not moved at all?"

Gu Xiaoning froze, staring at Liao Jingqing in confusion.

"Ai..." Liao Jingqing grumbled twice, then his tone softened.

"The Director headed out first! Because Young Master Ling is in danger... He said he’s going to bring Young Master Ling back safe and sound for you!"

"Ah!" Gu Xiaoning was stunned. So that’s what A‑Sheng meant by what he said!

How could he... be this stupid?

Gu Xiaoning glanced at the cars by the gate. "And you all are...?"

"I’m taking a team over now..." Liao Jingqing’s brows were tightly drawn.

"Strictly speaking, this isn’t our business. The Director is only doing this... for you! He got demoted, ’exiled’ to a place like this, also because of you! Honestly, before you showed up, the Director was not this reckless and hot‑headed!"

Liao Jingqing shook his head. "We’re about to set off..."

He bent slightly at the waist and turned to get in the car.

Gu Xiaoning stood there in a daze, her heart in complete turmoil.

Clearly, they were in love... so why did they have to be apart?

That fool A‑Sheng—what’s this about going to bring Ling Yu back for her? She and Ling Yu had never had the kind of relationship he thought they did!

What a self‑righteous idiot! 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ

Gu Xiaoning clenched her fists, loving and hating him all at once!

As the car started, Gu Xiaoning jogged forward and slapped the car door. "Mr. Liao!"

"Hm?" Liao Jingqing rolled down the window. "Ms. Gu?"

"Take me with you!" Gu Xiaoning pleaded.

"..." Liao Jingqing was taken aback. "Ms. Gu!"

"Please unlock the door!" Gu Xiaoning directly pulled open the backseat door and got in.

Liao Jingqing looked troubled. "You really shouldn’t come... What if..."

"I have to go." Gu Xiaoning shook her head, her attitude firm. "Will A‑Sheng listen to you? The only person he listens to is me."

"..."

Liao Jingqing was a little dumbfounded. What did that mean? Ms. Gu and the Director... are good now?

He chuckled as well. "All right then! If the Director finds out you came, he’ll definitely be thrilled!"

Gu Xiaoning’s lips twitched. Just knowing she was about to see A‑Sheng... she could barely keep her emotions in check.

Maybe, in these two years... neither of them had actually changed; they just hadn’t said it out loud.

Thinking back on how they got together, A‑Sheng himself had never been very proactive. Back then, thankfully she was... she was always the one clinging to him, and that’s how they ended up together. Now, once she started to shrink back, the two of them just kept drifting farther and farther apart.

If that’s how it is, then she’ll be the one to take the initiative again!

A‑Sheng really is such an idiot...

Every time he faces a girl he likes, the only move he knows is to give, give, give! That was how he was with Yu Sangwan, and it’s how he is with her too!

Does he really have to watch every girl he likes walk away from him before his story can be considered complete?

But Gu Xiaoning is not Yu Sangwan... They’re different.

Heart full of worry, the car jolted along. She had no idea how long they’d driven when they finally stopped. The stop was a bit abrupt; Gu Xiaoning lurched forward, her forehead slamming against something, and a sharp pain shot through her head. She was baring her teeth at the pain when Liao Jingqing was startled. "Ms. Gu, are you okay? We’re here." The car had pulled up in front of a castle‑like building. It was already getting late, and the lights inside were on.

Liao Jingqing took out his phone to dial a number, but couldn’t get through for the moment.

He quickly looked at Gu Xiaoning. "Ms. Gu, can you reach Ling Yu? The Director came here for Young Master Ling. If you can get in touch with Ling Yu, you should be able to find the Director."