The black Rolls-Royce drove for a short while. The phone on the console buzzed. Bai Cixian's soft voice came through the speaker.
"Yunci, did Miss Meng forget a supplementary document? I've sorted it. Should I bring it to you now so we don't delay work?"
Meng Shutang looked up, meeting Gu Yunci's gaze.
It was a lie. She just wanted to join them.
But Meng Shutang thought he'd refuse.
She knew him well—he put work first, cold and strict about rules.
He'd never bend for romance, even for his first love.
The next second, he bit his cigarette and said flatly: "Come."
Meng Shutang's fingers tightened around her pen.
His rules only applied to her. For Bai Cixian, he'd break everything.
Three hours later, the cultural town site.
Manager Zhang Nan panicked: "Mr. Gu, the main display stand in the intangible cultural heritage zone collapsed! The workers were careful, but it still happened!"
Gu Yunci's brows furrowed sharply.
"The wooden stand can be rebuilt, but several priceless heritage exhibits are damaged. A tourist group and Yingxia Group are visiting tomorrow—if we can't fix this, the whole zone has to close!"
Gu Yunci's eyes turned to Meng Shutang.
She said simply: "Let me check."
Ten minutes later, she found the problem—
The expansion bolts at the joints were faulty, and the construction team had changed the weight load without permission.
Broken pearls littered the ground, and curious tourists gathered. Meng Shutang explained quickly to Gu Yunci.
"Have Manager Zhang reinforce the stand. I'll fix the pearls now. Redirect the tourists—no one enters until I'm done."
"Okay."
Gu Yunci turned to Zhang Nan, his voice icy:
"You fix the stand. One more mistake, and you're fired."
Zhang Nan paled and nodded frantically.
After Gu Yunci left, Meng Shutang took out her tools and started restoring.
From noon until dusk, she fixed every damaged pearl perfectly.
Zhang Nan watched, impressed. "Miss Meng, you're incredible."
Gu Yunci had appeared beside them silently, his face unreadable.
A soft voice approached.
Bai Cixian walked over in a pink dress, calling sweetly: "Mr. Gu."
Everyone greeted her warmly—they were already familiar.
She passed out pastries and milk tea. "You've all worked hard. Gu Group appreciates you."
Finally, she stood in front of Meng Shutang, who was sweating lightly. Her smile was sweet, but her words were sharp.
"Manager Zhou's team is always careful. Why did the stand collapse?
…Could it be that Miss Meng miscalculated the exhibit weight?"
Zhang Nan held his breath, his heart racing.
He'd just praised Meng Shutang—if this was her fault, he'd be in trouble too.
He glanced at Gu Yunci, whose face was dark, his eyes fixed on Meng Shutang. He feared for her.
Gu Yunci was ruthless about mistakes. Whoever was blamed would take the fall.
But Gu Yunci said nothing. He stuffed his hands in his pockets and turned away.
Bai Cixian hurried after him, calling over her shoulder: "Miss Meng, we'll wait for you at the restaurant. Come when you're done!"
The workers who'd been watching her restore pearls scattered instantly, too scared to be near her.
Dusk fell. Meng Shutang stood alone in the empty exhibit zone, her heart empty.
The accident was in her zone. Until the cause was clear, arguing was useless.
She remembered a suspicious man at the site today. This wasn't an accident—she had to investigate.
She couldn't take the blame for nothing.
She worked a while longer, then headed to the restaurant.
She wanted to avoid Gu Yunci and Bai Cixian.
But when she walked in, she saw Bai Cixian talking to Zhang Nan.
Zhang Nan: "Thank you, Miss Bai."
Bai Cixian: "I just told the truth."
She couldn't hear the rest. She turned to leave—she saw Gu Yunci sitting nearby.
Before she could move, Bai Cixian called warmly: "Miss Meng! You've worked hard all afternoon—eat with us!"
She walked to the long table. Bai Cixian sat naturally beside Gu Yunci.
Meng Shutang sat directly opposite them.
During dinner, Bai Cixian teased Gu Yunci: "I'm not here just for you…." She glanced at Meng Shutang.
"My dad's birthday is soon. He loves orchids, and the town has the best orchids. I want to buy one for him."
Meng Shutang's hand froze.
Her father, Meng Zhibang, also had a birthday soon.
Should she buy him an orchid too? He loved them.
But she shook her head. He'd forgotten he had a daughter long ago.
After her mother's accident, he'd sent her to the Zhou family, saying a father couldn't care for a daughter alone.
He'd paid a tiny bit for her mother's treatment at first, then nothing.
She'd gone to see him, but his assistant always blocked her.
She'd stopped trying.
Her phone lit up. She answered: "Nurse Li."
"Miss Meng, there's a small medical fee due. I sent the details to your phone.
And remind Mr. Gu to pay the treatment fees on time—stop making us ask."
She hung up.
Gu Yunci put down his chopsticks, frowning. "Has your mother's medical payment been delayed?"
He'd told Qin Zheng to handle it—Qin Zheng was reliable. He thought Meng Shutang was doing this on purpose.
Meng Shutang decided to take the chance to remind him.
They weren't divorced yet—he had to pay per the agreement. After divorce, she'd never ask again.
But before she could speak, Bai Cixian knocked over a glass of water, soaking his sleeve.
She panicked, grabbing tissues. "I'm sorry, I'm so clumsy."
She wiped his sleeve, then looked out the window. "It's raining! I didn't bring an umbrella—how will I get back?"
She peeked at Gu Yunci, her voice soft.
Gu Yunci waved a waitress over. "An umbrella, please."
He turned to Bai Cixian: "I'll take you home. It's on the way."
They stood up. Bai Cixian "accidentally" bumped Meng Shutang's chair. She looked at Gu Yunci innocently.
"Yunci, if you take me, what about Miss Meng? She doesn't have an umbrella either!"
He chose to take Bai Cixian into the rain, leaving her alone. But what if the suspicious man at the site was working for Bai Cixian?