Chapter 334: Coming to the Door on Her Own

Wang Yuan only saw Zhao Nuanyue’s current glory and status, but she never saw how much effort and sacrifice Nuanyue had made to get there. Setting aside everything else, just the fact that Hua Yusen was in a coma, a vegetative state, was enough. Not every woman would have the courage to spend her life with a man in that condition, but Zhao Nuanyue did.

Even without the Little Red Carp’s reminders, and even if Hua Yusen never woke up, Zhao Nuanyue would have taken care of him for the rest of her life.

In her past life, Zhao Nuanyue had been willing to die for Hua Yusen, let alone simply take care of him.

One bodyguard drove while the other sat in the front passenger seat. Through the rearview mirror, he saw Wang Yuan staring at their car with a strange expression.

As bodyguards responsible for Zhao Nuanyue’s safety, they would immediately report anything out of the ordinary.

The bodyguard, Zhang Hong, said, "Ms. Zhao, the look on your friend’s face as she watched our car just now was a little off. Are you two really friends?"

"Huh?" Zhao Nuanyue was taken aback. "What was off about it? You could see her clearly from that far away?"

"Heh, we’re bodyguards. We can see clearly from this distance," Zhang Hong replied, confident in his judgment.

Hearing this, Zhao Nuanyue nodded. "Yes, we’re friends. We were part of the same group of young people working together, but she returned to the city early. I’ve been so busy with work that I haven’t contacted her. We used to get along quite well. If her expression was strange like you said, it’s probably because she’s envious that my job is respectable now and that I’m engaged to Hua."

Of course, Zhao Nuanyue couldn’t tell them the real reason.

Zhang Hong considered it and found it plausible. "That’s probably it," he said. "People are always making comparisons and feeling competitive."

"Mm. In any case, keep a close eye on her if you see her again," Zhao Nuanyue instructed. "I never think about harming others, but I don’t want anyone causing trouble for me. Not even a former friend."

"Yes, Ms. Zhao," Zhang Hong acknowledged. This was the task Zhao Nuanyue had given them.

As for the rice cakes Wang Yuan had brought, Zhao Nuanyue didn’t eat them. Instead, she threw them into Qingya Lake to feed the fish.

It wasn’t that she wanted to waste food, but she was afraid Wang Yuan had poisoned them.

Zhao Nuanyue didn’t dare accept a kindness from someone with a history, and Zhang Hong’s warning only made her more suspicious of Wang Yuan.

Although the Little Red Carp repeatedly said there was nothing harmful inside, Zhao Nuanyue didn’t want the carp or her younger brother eating them.

Meanwhile, Wang Yuan rode her bicycle not home, but to the area near Guo Dongmei’s house in Shijia Lane.

Wang Yuan didn’t go in right away. Instead, she lingered nearby for a while, her mind racing.

Guo Dongmei had sought her out again, and there was no escape. Wang Yuan tried to console herself. ’I’m being forced into this. It’s not my choice, and I’m not doing it on purpose.’ But deep down, another voice was encouraging her. If she could just get in with Guo Dongmei and complete her task, she too could live a spectacular life and become one of the elite!

’One of the elite! What a thrilling thought!’

At the factory, a director kept trying to get handsy with her. Wang Yuan was furious, but she didn’t dare confront him directly. She needed the job and had no connections. Though she was pretty, she couldn’t afford to offend that greasy, pot-bellied old director.

At times like this, her good looks brought her no benefits, only a lot of trouble.

Her parents were ordinary people, so they couldn’t possibly afford to offend a factory director. She could only swallow her pride and put up with him. But now, someone had been spreading rumors, and the director’s wife had found out. Not long ago, his wife had even come to the factory to cause a huge scene. Now Wang Yuan had to deal with her, too.

Wang Yuan was tired and annoyed, exhausted from it all. She wanted to escape as quickly as possible.

Besides Zhao Nuanyue and Guo Dongmei, she didn’t know anyone who could help her get away.

Zhao Nuanyue had been in Jincheng City for a year now but hadn’t contacted her once. It was clear she wanted nothing to do with her. Even if she begged Zhao Nuanyue, she probably wouldn’t agree to help. That left only Guo Dongmei.

If even Zhao Nuanyue, who was supposed to be her friend, wouldn’t help her, what hope was there with Guo Dongmei, who wasn’t even her friend?

Her relationship with Guo Dongmei was purely transactional.

She had to do something for Guo Dongmei to get her help. That’s what Guo Dongmei had said when she found her.

Guo Dongmei hadn’t forced her, because she knew she would agree.

And so, here she was.

Finally, Wang Yuan glanced at her watch. It was almost eight o’clock. Any later, and Guo Dongmei probably wouldn’t see her.

So, Wang Yuan went to the Guo Family’s front gate. She had just parked her bicycle when a car suddenly came up from behind and knocked it over.

Startled, Wang Yuan jumped back a few steps, crying out in alarm.

"Who’s standing there so late at night?" a loud, impatient man’s voice boomed.

Wang Yuan didn’t dare to look up, stammering, "I’m... I’m looking for Guo Dongmei! I’m her friend, Wang Yuan."

Just then, someone inside heard Guo Donghai’s voice and immediately turned on the lights. The lamp at the main gate lit up.

Only then did Guo Donghai get a good look at the woman standing before him. She was young and graceful, with a somewhat curvaceous figure that radiated youthfulness. Even though she stammered, her voice was soft and pleasant to the ear.

"Wang Yuan?" Guo Donghai didn’t know her at all, but hearing she was here for his sister, he asked, "What do you want with my sister?"

Hearing that Guo Donghai’s voice was no longer as impatient as before, Wang Yuan finally dared to lift her head. Her upward-slanting, almond-shaped eyes glistened, red-rimmed like those of a frightened rabbit. "She... she wanted to see me, that’s why I came," she said. "Could you please let her know I’m here?"

Guo Donghai finally got a clear look at her face. She was a very pretty woman, and her eyes were especially captivating.

"Heh, of course. Come on in," Guo Donghai chuckled. "I’ll let her know."

Hearing his words, Wang Yuan breathed a small sigh of relief. This man wasn’t so difficult to talk to after all.

"Thank you," Wang Yuan said gratefully, following behind Guo Donghai into the Guo family compound.

Guo Dongmei was eating fruit when she heard her older brother return. She hurried out, as she had something she wanted to ask him.

Her belly was getting bigger and bigger, yet Li Gongming still hadn’t set a date for their engagement or wedding, which made her extremely anxious.

At this rate, her belly would soon be too big to hide.

Giving birth out of wedlock was far more serious than just getting pregnant while living together unmarried. It would be a stain on her reputation for the rest of her life.

She was also terrified. What if she had the baby and Li Gongming still refused to marry her? The child would be illegitimate. What would she do then?