novelraw Chapter 129 Light Bulb
Chapter 129 Light Bulb
Lu Xiran's fingertip hovered over the send button.
a long time.
I deleted it anyway.
Never mind. Let's talk about it face to face tonight.
She planned to tell him "I love you" every day to see if he could still refuse her.
My phone vibrated.
The password is 276025
Lu Xiran stared at the string of numbers, secretly pleased with herself.
—Of course she knew. She had secretly written it down when he wasn't looking that day while she was pretending to take Chinese medicine. She hid it in her memo pad, noting "Not important."
She's such a clever little devil.
But she can't let it slip.
Could you also give me the master bedroom key?
Gu Yanshen looked at the message and a slight smile appeared on his lips.
He felt his pocket. The key was on him.
I typed one word: 【好】 (Good)
Before it could be sent, the office door was pushed open.
Lin Chen walked in.
"Did you tell her?"
Gu Yanshen put down his phone.
"not yet."
He paused.
"But... I can't refuse her."
Lin Chen looked at him and remained silent for a few seconds.
"You manipulated the Song family's stocks, didn't you?"
Gu Yanshen did not deny it.
"They dug their own way to their deaths."
The tone was indifferent, as if it were about something trivial. But Lin Chen could tell—beneath that calm exterior lay something that could chill anyone to the bone.
"Speaking frankly," Lin Chen sat down opposite him, "Even if no one can find out about your private elevator, the Song family's stock has been hitting its daily limit down for several days, and you, as Song Zhihe's fiancé, have shown no reaction. Won't people become suspicious? When are you planning to stop?"
Gu Yanshen looked up at him.
His gaze was indifferent.
"Until the Song family goes bankrupt."
Lin Chen was stunned for a moment.
"What about Song Zhihe?"
Gu Yanshen remained silent.
He had no time to think about her.
Lin Chen frowned: "Are you asking if Ranran is taking revenge on you?"
"The Song family has a shallow foundation, is plagued by internal strife, and its leaders are incompetent." Gu Yanshen leaned back in his chair, his voice unhurried. "They've been losing money for the past few years, only managing to stay afloat thanks to the Gu family. Bringing down the Song family would be a piece of cake."
Lin Chen looked at him.
Looking at that indifferent face, a hint of genuine emotion finally surfaced.
A chill.
"Speaking frankly," his voice deepened, "Do you really think Gu Qishan and the others won't suspect anything because of Ranran's actions against the Song family?"
"Song Kexin actually dared to lay a hand on Ranran."
Gu Yanshen's voice suddenly lowered, as low as if it were dust being ground from his chest.
"She herself didn't want to live anymore."
He paused.
"What kind of life have I been living for the past three years? Every single day has been agonizing. All for the sake of her finishing her studies safely and living a good life. I've endured three years, watching her laugh, cry, and slowly get better over there—do you know how much I wanted to fly over there and bring her back?"
Lin Chen didn't say anything.
"But I can't."
Gu Yanshen's knuckles turned white.
"I thought she would be safe as long as I didn't bother her. I thought that as long as I stayed far away, those people wouldn't notice her. I thought—"
His voice suddenly choked up.
"And what about Song Kexin? She targeted Ranran time and time again. She drugged her in the bar, ambushed her in the hallway, and spread rumors at the company. She actually dared to drug her!"
Gu Yanshen suddenly raised his head, his eyes bloodshot.
"What if you hadn't made it that night?"
He closed his eyes.
"I can't even imagine it."
The office was silent for a few seconds.
The only sound was the buzzing from the air conditioner vents.
"But that's too risky," Lin Chen said softly. "After all, Liu Lin and Gu Qishan..."
"But I can't stop."
Gu Yanshen interrupted him.
Lin Chen remained silent.
He looked at the man. For three years, he had watched him fight his way out of the Gu family's cannibalistic quagmire, watched him be chased, poisoned, and driven to the brink of despair countless times, but he had never seen Gu Yanshen show such an expression before.
That's not ruthlessness.
That's fear.
When Lu Xiran was involved, he began to feel afraid.
"Don't forget," Lin Chen said slowly, "you're portraying yourself as someone who loves Song Zhihe in the eyes of outsiders. And even though Song Zhihe hates the Song family, that persona was given to her by the Song family. She won't ignore it."
Gu Yanshen did not speak.
"If you decide to make your relationship with Ranran public, then continue to deal with the Song family. Given how dependent the Song family is on the Gu family, we can wear them down in less than half a month."
Gu Yanshen lowered his eyes.
a long time.
"Then let's increase cooperation."
Lin Chen was stunned.
"What?"
"Increase the intended amounts for all cooperation agreements." Gu Yanshen looked up at him, "So the Song family thinks I'm saving them."
Lin Chen looked into his eyes.
Suddenly I understood what he wanted to do.
—Officially providing support, but secretly draining resources.
—Let them think they've grasped a lifeline, then snatch it away once they've staked everything on it.
He opened his mouth.
I thought that was too risky.
But he didn't say anything.
He knew that Ranran was his bottom line.
For her, he didn't care about anything else.
When Gu Yanshen pushed open the door, he was greeted by the long-lost aroma of food.
He stood in the entryway, stunned for a second.
Then I saw her.
Lu Xiran was wearing the apron he had kept for three years—pink with a touch of lace. He had once said the apron was too childish, but she wore it every time she cooked, saying, "It makes cooking more enjoyable."
Now she's tied up again.
She was carrying the last dish out of the kitchen; the steaming braised pork glistened under the light. She looked up and saw him, her eyes instantly curving into two crescent moons.
"You're back? Time to eat!"
That tone was exactly the same as it was three years ago.
It's as if these three years were just a dream. It's as if she never left. It's as if he's still Gu Yanshen, the one who comes home from get off work every day with someone waiting for him under the lamp for dinner.
The light fell on her.
Her hair was casually tied up, with a few stray strands falling beside her face, slightly flushed from the heat. There seemed to be a little bit of flour on her cheeks, I wondered where it had come from.
Gu Yanshen stood there, looking at her.
Suddenly, I felt a little soreness in my eyes.
Three years ago, when Grandma still lived here, they ate like this. She cooked, and he waited. She brought the dishes to the table, and he sat at the table watching.
At that time, he thought those days would continue forever.
Gu Yanshen lowered his eyes.
Then he walked over.
Sit down at the dining table.
Lin Chen followed in and paused for a moment upon seeing this scene.
Lu Xiran had already set the table. Looking up and seeing him, she smiled and waved, "Uncle, come on, sit here!"
Lin Chen looked at the spot she pointed to—opposite Gu Yanshen.
He glanced at Gu Yanshen.
She glanced at Lu Xiran again.
Suddenly I felt like a giant light bulb, and a two-kilowatt one at that.