Chapter 104: Friendship (Part 1)

  Actually, compared to this boring little thing, Gu Huanli was more concerned about another matter.

  "How are you and Jo Yoon-oh?" she asked with some concern.

  Last autumn, San Luo Yun suddenly got a boyfriend. Gu Huan Li didn't ask much until Luo Yun told her about the unease in her heart, and only then did Gu Huan Li realize that the person was actually the famous superstar Qiao Yin Hao.

  Now, the paparazzi are crazily chasing after Qu Yun's non-celebrity girlfriend, and Sang Luo Yun's anxiety has reached its peak. She even quit all her part-time jobs in an attempt to evade the paparazzi's pursuit.

  "I don't know, it's been a month since we last saw each other." Sanluoyun sighed dejectedly. "We just send messages to each other every day, it's laughable to say, I almost can't remember what he looks like anymore."

  "Then go see him." Gu Huan Lian closed the book and said seriously, "Since Qiao Yin Hao is your boyfriend, he has a responsibility to protect you from harm."

  "It's different." San Luo Yun shook her head, not defending her boyfriend, but the reality was just that cruel. "Qiao Yin Hao's status or wealth are not something I can reach for. And now he is the darling of the entertainment industry, extremely popular. If I were to be exposed, it would definitely affect his popularity..."

  The entertainment circle is complicated, Gu Huan Lian doesn't understand it, but in her opinion, Sang Luo Yun just wants to pursue his own happiness. Getting entangled with power and status is understandable, but getting entangled with so-called popularity, isn't it that when a star has someone they love, their fans will abandon them?

  As winter went and spring came, Gu Huanli's studies became even busier, while Sang Luoyun's emotional life was also turbulent.

  Gu Huanli couldn't bear to see her good friend hiding and sneaking around every day, and was even more infuriated by the so-called heir of a large conglomerate, Qiao Yinhao's unbearable weak appearance. Finally, one day, she couldn't help but say to Sang Luoyun, "Let's go to Japan together and chase after the blooming cherry blossoms."

  "It's been a long time since I last went out to work." Sanluoyun bit her lip and shook her head in difficulty.

  "Don't worry, I've got everything under control." Gu Huanli patted her friend's shoulder, a gentle smile playing on her lips. "Just don't forget to bring your passport and we're all set."

  "But..."

  "I'll tell you the flight time tomorrow."

  "I..."

  "Don't refuse, otherwise we can't be friends"

  In short, Sanluoyun had to silently accept the good intentions of her friends. Perhaps she should be willful for once. After all, both Qiao Yinan and she needed time to quietly think things over.

  After the last class in the afternoon, Gu Huanli didn't go to the library as usual. Because, Gu Tianxi is leaving for Europe tonight to attend APIC (International Commercial Real Estate Exhibition) in Cannes, France, and without her brother's approval, she would never be able to leave Beijing for a vacation or relaxation anywhere.

  Standing at the school gate, Gu Huanli looked down at her antique watch on her wrist. It would be a long time before Ruan Hongyu came to pick her up. What to do? Or should she go to the company to find her brother instead? It was all because of herself, forgetting to bring her phone when going out. It seemed that after returning to the country, her laziness had relapsed.

  She hailed a taxi and when she opened the door, somehow her right index finger's nail got cut and there was blood under the nail. Gu Huanlin was stunned.

  The taxi driver saw that she hadn't gotten in the car for half a day and impatiently shouted, "I'm asking you, are you getting in or not? If you're not getting in, don't delay my business."

  Gu Huanli said "sorry" and then got into the car, after telling the driver where they were going, she sat silently in the back seat, lost in thought.

  Half an hour later, she was standing in front of the headquarters of Fengyun International. She didn't intend to go in, nor did she feel like leaving, Gu Huanlin just stood there, with a brilliant smile on her lips, gazing up at the 81-story office building in front of her, its all-glass exterior wall shining brightly in the sunlight.

  As I walked into the spacious and bright hall, the polite receptionist lady showed a professional smile. "Miss, may I ask if there's anything I can help you with?"

  "Hello, I'd like to see Gu Tianxi."

  "President? May I ask who you are? The president's secretary has arranged for a meeting with you at what time?"

  An appointment? Although she knew her brother was busy, she had no idea that seeing him would require making an appointment with his secretary in advance. Gu Huanlin shook her head and said softly, "I didn't make one."

  The receptionist glanced at Gu Huan with her eyes and immediately smiled back, "Sorry, our CEO didn't make an appointment with you, we can't let you go upstairs."

  "But I have an urgent matter to see him."

  "If you don't have an appointment, our company won't let a stranger meet with the CEO." The receptionist standing in front of Gu Huanli seemed to be unable to bear her "poor communication" and began to reveal some impatience, saying perfunctorily, "Miss, don't make it difficult for us. We're just doing what we should do. If you really have something urgent to discuss with our CEO, then you must schedule a time with the CEO's secretary." Besides, what could a little girl of thirteen or fourteen years old possibly want with the CEO?

  She thought that "appointment" would be difficult, but it turned out to be so simple. Gu Huanli couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief. "Since that's the case, may I ask you to help me make a phone call now to schedule an appointment with your CEO's secretary?"

  A polite smile, after hearing Gu Huanli's simple words, immediately turned green. Who does this moron think she is to ask them to help her make a phone call?

  "Miss, it's 'you' who wants to see our CEO, not 'we'", the receptionist in front of Gu Huanli couldn't help but retort through gritted teeth.

  "I know. I mean... could you lend me your phone, I need to schedule a meeting with the CEO's secretary right now." Gu Huan Lian felt as if she had returned to her childhood years. The elevator door that was just within reach seemed somewhat inaccessible to her. A stranger? To her brother, was she merely a stranger? A stranger with blood ties who had to be taken care of? Such words were almost like the sky falling down on her. Yet even so, even if it pained her heart, she still smiled gently, as if those deeply hurtful words had never reached her ears.

  It's like reasoning with an idiot, the receptionist said with a look of annoyance, "Miss, our CEO is very busy and won't have time to see you." With so many people waiting to see their CEO, how could she possibly get a turn, this mysterious woman who came out of nowhere?

  This situation is just like the spelling bee three years ago, she started from the school's preliminary round and made her way to the national championship. Every time before the competition, Gu Tianxi always promised to watch, but in the end, he didn't show up once. She clearly wanted to see her brother so much, even if it was just a glance, even if it was only for a minute, but her brother didn't even make a phone call to apologize. He just left her in Boston, abandoned in a foreign land.

  Gu Huanli unconsciously clenched her fists and smiled, "He won't ignore me."

  Looking at Gu Huan Lian with a frown, the receptionist said bluntly, "Miss, there are countless people who want to see our CEO, but our CEO doesn't see just anyone. Especially some people, young and ambitious, yet with ulterior motives, claiming they have important business to discuss. If we let these people do as they please, wouldn't our company become a marketplace?"

  Actually, what he said wasn't unreasonable, but at this moment, the words and tone that entered Gu Huanli's consciousness were like a thorn in her eye and a stab to her flesh, making it impossible for her to tolerate. "Miss, I just want to see my brother."

  "Brother? There are plenty of men on the street, which one is your brother? This is a public place, not a playground for you to play house." The receptionist responded with a hint of disdain and impatience.

  "I am Gu Tian Xi's sister - Gu Huan Li."

  "Then I'm still the president's little sister," the receptionist sneered, "Everyone says she's the president's sister, show me proof, show me proof and I'll let you in." She looked at Gu Huanli's increasingly pale face with satisfaction, then sat back in her chair to continue with her work.

  This was the first time in her life that she had been interrogated and left speechless. Anger, sadness, loneliness... all sorts of negative emotions surrounded her from all sides. But who could she vent to?

  During the Spelling Bee, she once screamed into the phone, "From now on, I'm never answering the phone again."

  "Don't say arbitrary words, emotional reactions are of no help in solving problems." Gu Tianxi's tone was cold and detached, as if he were dealing with some annoying official business.

  Yes, that's right. Even if she returns home to her brother, she doesn't know that as Gu Tianxi's sister, this kind of natural and destined thing would still require proof to verify the truth of what she says.

  Should she get a household registration or go for a DNA test?

  Is it going to be like this wherever I go?

  No matter how many emotions were changing in her heart, Gu Huanli still managed to keep her face expressionless.

  "Emotional reactions cannot solve problems."

  Since her brother had instructed her thus, she did as he said.

  So, Gu Huanli decided to stay, because guarding the tree stump waiting for rabbits is the stupidest method, and also the most practical and effective way.

  The first floor of the hall has a cafe, with sofas by the window, seemingly transparent and scattered, but actually very carefully set up. From any angle, it is messy but not chaotic, forming its own landscape, and can be perfectly integrated into one body. Outside the window is a lush greenery, under the white sun umbrella, neatly arranged with plain metal chairs. Here, you can't feel the hustle and bustle of the city at all, only a pure and serene world.

  A sense of stability and comfort gradually calmed down Gu Huanli, she took out a book from her bag, leisurely enjoying the afternoon tea while waiting for Gu Tianxi to appear.

  Suddenly, a very sweet and annoying female voice came from beside my ear, sounding like she was drunk, mumbling "I'm here to see Tian Xi. Don't play dumb, only lowly people need appointments, my dad is Wang Zhengyuan, the chairman of the Bose Group."