PART 3
Gu Youchen took the two red booklets, his fingers trembling slightly.
He handed Ning Qingqing hers. Looking at the two names side-by-side, she still felt a sense of disbelief.
She… was married?
She didn’t know how she got into the Civil Affairs Bureau, and she was even more clueless about how she got out.
It wasn’t until the slightly dazzling sunlight outside made her instinctively raise her hand to shield her eyes that she realized that in just one short day, she had gone from breaking up to getting married—a truly magical experience!
Beside her, Gu Youchen stepped forward, his tall figure shielding Ning Qingqing from the bright light. He looked down at the girl in front of him, his wife.
Today was destined to be a special day.
Ning Qingqing had ended a nine-year relationship and started a new chapter with someone else.
Gu Youchen’s ten years of unrequited love had finally come to fruition.
In the car, Ning Qingqing still clutched the red booklet. She didn’t know how she had suddenly married Gu Youchen.
And how could Gu Youchen be so impulsive, marrying a girl he’d barely met twice, just because he didn’t like what Xue Wenlan and her daughter said?
Was even acts of bravery this dramatic now?
Just then, Ning Qingqing’s phone rang. It was Qiao Xiaomian: “Qingqing, I don’t have to work overtime today. Let’s meet at 6 o’clock at the Xinghe Square pedestrian street? Shall we have hot pot at that nine-grid restaurant?”
Ning Qingqing subconsciously glanced at Gu Youchen beside her.
Her… husband.
Gu Youchen nodded slightly. Although he couldn’t hear the conversation, he vaguely guessed the caller’s identity.
Ning Qingqing also wanted to talk to her best friend, so she replied, “Okay, whoever arrives first can wander around inside.”
“Okay, see you then!” Qiao Xiaomian hung up.
Ning Qingqing put away her phone. Gu Youchen beside her asked, “Qingqing, you have a date with a friend?”
Ning Qingqing nodded. “My best friend, Qiao Xiaomian. She asked me to have hot pot at Xinghe Square at six.”
She hesitated. Should she invite Gu Youchen?
Gu Youchen checked the time. “It’s still a little early. I’ll take you home first to rest and change clothes. I’ll take you there when it’s time. You two can chat properly then.”
Ning Qingqing nodded. “Okay, thank you.”
Gu Youchen wanted to say that they were married and she didn’t need to be so polite, but he knew Ning Qingqing needed time to adjust to their new identities.
He drove to Ning Qingqing’s apartment building. As he was reversing, his phone rang.
“Qingqing, can you take a look?” Gu Youchen said naturally.
Ning Qingqing took the phone and said, “It’s Zhou Luo.”
“Zhou Luo is my special assistant. Answer it for me,” Gu Youchen said. “Just use the speakerphone.”
Ning Qingqing had no choice but to answer and turn on the speakerphone.
“Mr. Gu, are you finished with your business?” Zhou Luo’s voice sounded urgent: “Shen’s company must have taken some action last night, because I saw Shen Zhiqian having dinner alone with Manager Wen last night. Manager Wen’s attitude towards us is clearly cold today, even though President Zhou gave us some face, but…”
Gu Youchen parked the car and then picked up his phone. “Zhou Luo, this project ultimately depends on mutual benefit. Even if Manager Wen is closely connected with the competition, he still represents himself. There are several other shareholders in their group with significant equity. Have you found out their intentions?”
Because Gu Youchen hadn’t switched to the handset, Ning Qingqing could still hear Zhou Luo’s reply: “Mr. Gu, we’ve tried contacting those few, but even when President Zhou went, they didn’t give us any face.”
Gu Youchen said, “Give the phone to Zhou Linghang. I’ll talk to him.”
He unbuckled his seatbelt and got out of the car, switching to the handset.
He was about to open the car door for Ning Qingqing, but she had already gotten out.
When she heard Gu Youchen say, “I have urgent business and can’t go there,” she wanted to say something, but Gu Youchen was leaning over to make a phone call and didn’t see her, so she didn’t find an opportunity.
When they reached Ning Qingqing’s floor, Gu Youchen still hadn’t finished his call, still instructing Zhou Linghang.
Ning Qingqing opened the door, and this time the man followed her inside.
Ning Qingqing rummaged through the shoe cabinet and found a pair of unopened men’s slippers.
These slippers were originally intended for Shen Zhiqian. Ning Qingqing had packed and thrown away all the ones he had worn, but this pair was unopened, so she kept it as she didn’t want to waste it.
Gu Youchen glanced down, put them on, and sat down on the sofa in the living room. He gave a few more instructions before hanging up the phone.
Ning Qingqing finally found a chance to speak. “Mr. Gu, you probably have work to do, right? You don’t need to worry about me. I have to meet my best friend tonight, so you just go ahead with your business.”
At this moment, she realized that after her sudden flash marriage, she had no idea how to get along with her new husband.
She didn’t know why Gu Youchen had suddenly decided to have a flash marriage with her, and what his plans were for the future…
The deed was done, but she felt even more confused than before.
Gu Youchen looked at Ning Qingqing’s somewhat flustered appearance. He stood up in front of her. “Qingqing, maybe you feel it’s sudden and need time to adapt to our current status?”
Ning Qingqing nodded. “So you go ahead with your work, don’t worry about me. Just do what you usually do.”
Gu Youchen was amused by her eagerness to send him away, but he still nodded.
“Okay, I’ll rush to Beishi to handle some work. My childhood friend, Zhou Linghang, is not very reliable, and he might mess things up.”
Ning Qingqing nodded. “Okay.”
Gu Youchen said, “When I come back, I’ll introduce you to my friends. Also, let’s find a time for our parents to have dinner together and get to know each other formally.”
Ning Qingqing looked up in surprise. “Huh?”
Seeing her stunned expression again, Gu Youchen couldn’t help but curl his lips. “Qingqing, we’re married, so we should formally meet each other’s families.”
“Oh—” Ning Qingqing’s heart began to panic.
Would her mother be angry about her sudden marriage?
Seeing her pale face, Gu Youchen bent down until his eyes were level with hers.
“We just expedited the results; the process will still happen. Qingqing, I’m serious about marrying you, and I have no intention of separating.”
Ning Qingqing’s breath hitched. Meeting Gu Youchen’s gaze, she felt that his eyes seemed to hold something she couldn’t see through.
She quickly looked away and softly said, “Okay, I understand.”
Gu Youchen continued, “Shen’s company is also participating in the bidding for this project, and we need to compete with them.”
Ning Qingqing nodded. “Yeah, but I’ve already resigned, so their matters have nothing to do with me.”
However, she was happy about Gu Youchen’s honesty.
“When you go out later, call my driver; he’ll take you there, and he’ll also take you home when you’re done. I’ll send you some important phone numbers.” Gu Youchen said, opening his phone and sending several numbers to Ning Qingqing.
There was his other phone number, his special assistant’s number, the driver’s number, and the home phone number of the villa.
Ning Qingqing copied them all and added them to her contacts.
“Okay, I’ll be back as soon as possible.” Gu Youchen said, suddenly stepping forward and extending his arms.
By the time Ning Qingqing reacted, she was already held in his arms.
The unfamiliar, refreshing scent enveloped her again, and her body involuntarily tensed.
The next second, the man’s voice rang out above her head: “Qingqing, happy wedding!”
Then he let go of her.
Ning Qingqing could finally breathe. She also smiled at Gu Youchen, “Happy wedding!”
The man walked to the door: “Qingqing, I’ll contact you when I get there.”
He would have to use his private jet again. Fortunately, there were no flight restrictions recently, and applying for a flight path was relatively easy; it usually could be approved within an hour.
Ning Qingqing saw him off to the elevator. When the elevator doors opened, she finally couldn’t help but ask, “Mr. Gu, why did you have a flash marriage with me?”