Chapter Twenty: We have a long road ahead.

Early the next morning, Gu Yao rose unusually early. In truth, she had barely slept all night. Her mind had been filled with the image of Lu Zheng’s gaze, which held a persistence she couldn't account for. After washing up and having breakfast with Han Yuncai, Gu Yao hurried away from the Lu residence.

As her black Jaguar drove into the distance, a tall figure emerged from the shadows on one side of the villa. He watched the car, which seemed to be fleeing, with profound eyes. He stood there for a long time until the vehicle disappeared through the distant gates. Only then did he lift the towel from his shoulder to wipe the fine beads of sweat from his chin.

"Gu Yao," he murmured, "we have a long way to go."

...

Two days later, the construction team officially handed over the completed renovations for the company’s shop. After Gu Yao and Chen Ping’an inspected the site and confirmed everything was in order, they signed the paperwork and paid the final balance. Preparations for the grand opening then began in earnest.

The shop spanned three floors. Following their plan, the majority of the ground floor was designated as a retail sales area, with a bakery corner set up opposite the checkout counter to sell freshly made desserts. The second floor served as a display area for wholesale goods and a space for meeting clients. The third floor was divided into an office, a baking room, a storage room, a changing room, and a live-streaming studio. Although Gu Yao hadn't yet hired a streamer for the studio, she had ensured it was fully equipped.

The opening was scheduled for one week later. Over the past month, Chen Ping’an had traveled to at least eight cities, and Gu Yao had made four trips of her own, ultimately securing contracts with over a dozen brands. As the opening approached, the first shipments of inventory began to arrive. The company currently employed thirteen people, and although the opening was near, Gu Yao had been training the staff for two weeks, so things remained orderly.

Two days before the grand opening, Gu Yao and Chen Ping’an stayed late at the office, accompanied by Chen Yan. Since it was an opening, promotional activities were essential. To generate buzz beyond the flyer distribution and social media sharing they had been doing, Gu Yao had invited two well-known local food influencers to visit and live-stream from the shop on the opening day and the day after. It wasn't just about immediate sales; the priority was to make sure everyone knew that a new company specializing in baking ingredients and finished goods had arrived.

The promotional plan for the ingredients was already set, but the specific categories and quantities of baked goods to be sold on opening day had yet to be finalized. The three of them worked until ten at night to settle the menu. The moment it was decided, Chen Ping’an collapsed into his chair with a long sigh, staring blankly at the ceiling.

"Finally done," he groaned. "Can I just sleep here at the office? The thought of the commute home is exhausting."

Gu Yao chuckled as she packed her bag. "The sofa is huge, so feel free to stay if you want. Who knows, once things get busy, you might end up sleeping here often!"

Hearing this, Chen Ping’an sat up straight, his peach-blossom eyes fixed on her. "That’s a good point. I hope your words come true—if the company’s profits reach a point where I need to live in the office, I’d be more than happy to!" He stood up, looking visibly lighter at the prospect.

Gu Yao was ready to leave, and as they walked out of the office, Chen Yan emerged from the changing room with her bag. Before Gu Yao could speak, Chen Ping’an took the lead. "Let's go. I’ll give you a ride, so President Gu doesn't have to go out of her way."

Chen Yan looked instinctively at Gu Yao. Since Gu Yao had been the one to interview her and they had worked closely on the training and product selection, she had developed a sense of reliance on her. Seeing this, Gu Yao offered a reassuring smile. "It’s fine. Giving you a ride won't cost President Chen much extra fuel. I have an appointment anyway, otherwise, I would have taken you myself."

Chen Yan nodded shyly at Chen Ping’an. Gu Yao wasn't lying; she did have plans to meet Shu Nuan, who had just received her paycheck and wanted to go out for a drink.

They met at a newly opened bar. The environment was pleasant, and the semi-open private booths on the second floor offered a view of the lively crowd below while providing a sense of quiet detachment. Gu Yao took a sip of her drink and glanced at the woman sitting opposite her, who looked utterly dejected. Sensing something was wrong, she asked with concern, "What’s wrong? Your mood seems off today."

Shu Nuan looked at her, fell silent for a moment, then downed a large gulp of alcohol. She let out a long breath and looked at Gu Yao. "I think..." She stopped halfway, seemingly torn.

Gu Yao raised an eyebrow, signaling her to continue. After a long struggle, Shu Nuan finally blurted out, "I think I’ve fallen for my boss!"

"What?" Gu Yao choked on her drink, staring at her in shock. "Didn't you say he was more ruthless than a skinflint? How did you... fall for him?"

Upon hearing this, the already tipsy Shu Nuan’s expression shifted, and she tearfully wrapped her arms around Gu Yao. "Ugh... he’s just too handsome! And he’s even more handsome when he’s taking care of someone... he even fed me medicine... but it’s no use..."

Gu Yao understood. It sounded like something personal had happened between them. She found the situation amusing and peeled the clinging woman off her. Downstairs, the dancing was at its peak; the dazzling lights and thumping music made thoughts in the chaotic environment feel all the more reckless.

Gu Yao sat on the sofa, turning away several men who tried to enter the booth to invite them to dance. She turned to look at Shu Nuan, who was slumped to the side, still sipping her drink. Seeing her reach for another glass, Gu Yao stopped her and pinched her soft cheek. "Alright, that’s enough. Let’s go home."

Shu Nuan’s behavior when drunk was relatively mild. Hearing that it was time to leave, she quieted down. She stood up, staring blankly as Gu Yao picked up both of their bags. When Gu Yao reached out, she took her hand obediently. Gu Yao was amused by her docility, but the moment they stepped out of the booth, things took a turn.

As soon as they crossed the threshold, Shu Nuan slumped against her. "Yao Yao, I’m so dizzy. I want to sleep!"