Chapter 131: She’s Supposed to Stay in the Mountains for Two or Three Days?

“Do you think you can just brush off our losses by throwing out the word ‘responsibility’ so casually? We hired your advertising company to boost our positive reputation, and now the higher-ups have directly named us for rectification. Do you even realize how much damage this has caused?” Such a blunder could easily plunge a company’s corporate image into the abyss.

Wen Zhixia paused briefly, then adopted a firm tone: “Mr. Gu, how do you propose we resolve this?”

“Are you expecting me to come up with solutions for mistakes your company made?” Gu Pingsheng reclined in his chair, crossing his legs. His slender fingers twirled the ring on his ring finger. His deep, narrow eyes lifted slightly, tinged with a cold edge.

Behind him, Zhou Anbei silently observed his boss, quietly rubbing his nose.

“We... are willing to compensate for the financial losses,” Wen Zhixia said.

Gu Pingsheng snorted derisively, “I don’t need your measly compensation.”

Wen Zhixia’s breath deepened. “Then what exactly do you want to do?”

She offered solutions; he rejected them. If he was to suggest something, he clearly wasn’t interested. It was obvious he was here just to make trouble for her.

“What? You make a mistake and then don’t want anyone to say anything? You caused me a huge loss, and this is your attitude?” Adjusting his cuff, he stood up. “Since you have no intention of resolving this privately, we’ll see each other in court.”

Yihe Zhixia had just opened recently, and now, because of errors in their finished product, they were headed to litigation. Who would dare entrust their advertising to them in the future?

“Wait.” Wen Zhixia rose.

Gu Pingsheng halted his steps, his sword-like brows lifted, awaiting her next words.

Wen Zhixia took a few steps closer. “What exactly do you want?”

Turning around, Gu Pingsheng’s eyes darkened like ink. His thin lips pressed lightly together as he leaned slightly forward, his handsome face close to hers. “What do I want?” he said. “I’ve been in a bad mood these past few days, and you just happened to get caught in the crossfire. What do you think I should do?”

Wen Zhixia frowned. “Our personal affairs—I hope you won’t meddle in company matters.”

Gu Pingsheng grasped her delicate jaw, his thin lips letting out a faint breath. “Can’t tell you’re quite the romantic fool. Since I came in, have I ever brought up personal matters with you?”

Wen Zhixia paused.

He withdrew his hand and fiddled with his fingers before continuing, “I want Yihe Zhixia to give me an acceptable response within three days, or else, you should be well aware of the might of the Gu Xia Group’s legal team.”

Half of the Gu Xia Group’s lawyers had been assembled by her back then. Naturally, no one knew their prowess better than she did. A fledgling advertising company like Yihe Zhixia stood little chance against such a top-tier legal team.

Zhou Anbei opened the door. Gu Pingsheng walked out expressionless. Just a few days ago, he had dined with Yihe Zhixia’s staff in a private room, leaving them with the impression of a very approachable boss. Now, seeing his cold demeanor, they all speculated just how serious the situation was.

The assistant reentered the office, quietly asking, “Ms. Wen, how does Mr. Gu plan to resolve this issue?”

Wen Zhixia lightly pressed her temples. “Call a full meeting of the design department.”

Wen Zhixia worked until after hours, focusing entirely on the advertising mishap with Gu Xia Group. Hua Qianjiao noticed that even while dining together, Wen Zhixia kept checking her phone and sending messages.

“Is it a tough situation?”

Wen Zhixia finished her last reply. “Somewhat.”

“Mr. Gu is forcing you to back down, isn’t he?” Hua Qianjiao sipped her milk tea.

Wen Zhixia hesitated. “Maybe.”

Hua Qianjiao puckered her lips mischievously. “If others knew what the president of the prestigious Gu Xia Group was like behind the scenes, they’d be shocked.”

“Let’s not talk about him. It’s frustrating.” Wen Zhixia took a bite of dessert; the sweet, cloying taste spread on her tongue.

They strolled around the mall. Hua Qianjiao entered a clothing store and picked out a dress. Wen Zhixia sat on a sofa outside, waiting for her to try it on, when she unexpectedly spotted Qing Qi and Lin Huiqian at the entrance.

Lin Huiqian carried several shopping bags, clearly having just finished shopping. Qing Qi’s expression was sour. When Lin Huiqian tried to hold his arm, Qing Qi roughly shrugged her off.

Lin Huiqian’s face darkened briefly, but she quickly recovered and reached for his arm again. Qing Qi turned and walked away.

Wen Zhixia’s gaze flickered. According to Hua Qianjiao, Qing Qi was supposed to be financially strained and constrained recently, yet he was still indulging in lavish shopping with Lin Huiqian?

“Wen, what are you looking at?” Hua Qianjiao emerged from the fitting room, calling her twice. Seeing Wen Zhixia still distracted, she waved her hand in front of her face.

Snapping back, Wen Zhixia said, “Nothing… That dress suits you well.”

Hua Qianjiao smiled before the mirror. “I think so too.”

A sales clerk approached, offering praise, and Hua Qianjiao happily paid. “Wrap it up, and also the cufflinks you were recommending.”

Wen Zhixia glanced quickly and noticed the cufflinks were masculine in style. Raising her brows suspiciously, she teased, “That doesn’t look like something for your uncle.”

Hua Qianjiao toyed with her hair and muttered softly, “I just thought they looked nice.”

“Who do you think would look good wearing them?” Wen Zhixia continued smiling.

“Oh, Wen, why are you so nosy? I’m just buying them as a thank-you gift. He’s helped me many times, I can’t show no appreciation,” Hua Qianjiao explained.

Wen Zhixia chuckled and nodded.

They didn’t shop long before deciding to head home, but unexpectedly, they witnessed quite a scene.

“...Buying, buying, buying, and you still have time to shop?” Qing Qi glared at the shopping bags Lin Huiqian carried, his anger barely contained.

Lately, not only was work going badly for him, but finances were tight. His investments were all locked in losses, and his father, influenced by the illegitimate son, had cut his monthly allowance. While he wasn’t exactly destitute, he could no longer tolerate Lin Huiqian’s extravagant lifestyle.

Lin Huiqian was unaware of this. She thought he was just in a bad mood due to work troubles and clung to his arm coquettishly. “I buy these to wear for you. Don’t you like seeing me in beautiful clothes? And it’s not that expensive. At worst, I’ll buy less next time, so please don’t be mad…”

Despite his still sour face, Qing Qi responded less coldly since she was the woman he had loved for so many years. “You should go out less these days. Father’s still upset about the Flower family breaking off the engagement.”

Lin Huiqian hated hearing Hua Qianjiao’s name. “I understand, I’ll listen to you.”

Seeing Qing Qi’s mood improve somewhat, Lin Huiqian hugged his waist, pressing against the car hood. “My old car is getting worn out. I want to get a new one.”

Qing Qi pulled her hand away. “The old one still runs fine. We’ll talk about this later. I’m tired.”

Qing Qi’s impatience was clear as he climbed into the car. Lin Huiqian clenched her fist inwardly. With Qing Qi demoted recently, he was clearly less generous toward her. Was he growing tired of her?

As the car drove away, Hua Qianjiao and Wen Zhixia emerged from the corner.

“Wen, how long do you think their stubborn, obsessive relationship can last, even against everyone’s wishes?” Hua Qianjiao asked curiously.

“Built on financial dependence, it will crumble as soon as Qing Qi gets demoted. Like a pile of scattered sand,” Wen Zhixia replied.

Hua Qianjiao rubbed her chin. “True enough.”

On the way back, Wen Zhixia received a call from Zhou Anbei.

“Following the senior management meeting, our company has made decisions regarding the major errors in the advertisements your company produced and aired. Ms. Wen, are you available to take the call now?”

Wen Zhixia: “...” The call was already connected. Could she say she was unavailable?

That would only give them grounds to accuse her of lacking sincerity in resolving the issue.

“Um.”

Zhou Anbei nodded. “Our company wants to give Yihe Zhixia a chance to show good faith. We hope your company can reshoot and re-release the advertisement within three days starting tomorrow. Of course, our company will not cover any filming costs.”

Wen Zhixia hesitated but accepted. It was a reasonable proposal, considering they were at fault. “Understood.”

Zhou Anbei breathed a half-sigh of relief, glancing at the motionless man at the desk. “One last condition: Ms. Wen must supervise the entire filming process. Although Gu Xia Group is a large company, we cannot afford a second round of mishaps.”

This request made Wen Zhixia hesitate. Unlike before, she didn’t agree immediately because...

She vaguely recalled that the filming location was in the mountains. Would she have to stay there for two or three days?

Thinking of how bitterly cold it was in Sifang City this year, Wen Zhixia hesitated—she was sensitive to cold, especially in the mountains.

“Ms. Wen, do you have any objections?” Zhou Anbei asked, noticing her silence and glancing at Gu Pingsheng, who awaited her reply.

“We will dispatch the most professional photography team to reshoot. I will monitor the production of the final product closely.” In other words, she planned not to go herself.

Gu Pingsheng listened, poured a glass of red wine, and lightly tapped the rim with his knuckles, producing a crisp “cling.”

Zhou Anbei understood. “That’s our decision. Three requirements. We hope you will fully cooperate.”

Jingyuan.

Xu Qichen noticed Wen Zhixia ordering the servant to bring out her suitcase. His eyes flickered slightly. “Why the suitcase all of a sudden?”

Wen Zhixia touched her forehead. “Tomorrow I’m going to shoot an advertising concept. It will be a three-day business trip.”

“What kind of advertisement requires your presence? Where will it be filmed?” Xu Qichen handed her a peeled orange.

“The advertisement we launched recently had errors. The client wants us to reshoot in the mountains.” Speaking of which, Wen Zhixia felt somewhat troubled. She’d grown complacent these past few years, no longer possessing the drive to pull all-nighters to finish projects. The idea of filming in the mountains stirred an instinctive reluctance.

“If you don’t want to go, then don’t,” Xu Qichen said, brushing stray hair behind her ear.

“It’s already settled. It’s only three days, so it’s fine,” Wen Zhixia replied.

Xu Qichen wanted to persuade her further but saw she had made her decision and wouldn’t interfere with her work freedom. “Let’s go. I’ll help you pack.”

Wen Zhixia nodded.

After compressing her last two coats into the suitcase, Xu Qichen said, “It’s cold in the mountains. Dress warmly so you don’t freeze. Take one heat pack, bring extra warm patches, wear the thickest socks and shoes, and don’t forget a scarf…”

He was meticulous, almost taking over the entire packing himself. The servants tried to help, but he preferred to do it personally to avoid mistakes.

In her youth, Wen Zhixia dreamed of marrying a man who was gentle, cultured, and refined.

Undoubtedly, Xu Qichen met all those criteria. Gu Pingsheng was the chaos that had shattered the calm waters of her life.

She once thought that life’s unpredictable upheavals were inevitable. Now she felt perhaps those upheavals were just preludes to eventual restoration.

Early the next morning, Xu Qichen personally saw her off at the meeting point. They embraced by the car. He stood before the sedan, watching as she boarded with her colleagues. Wen Zhixia waved to him.

Xu Qichen’s lips curved in a faint smile, silently wishing her a safe journey.

Only after the business van disappeared from view did Xu Qichen get in.

“Sir, you don’t trust madam?” Jin Mao, the driver, asked quietly.

Xu Qichen gazed out the window. “It’s too cold in the mountains. She’s stubborn. Once she agrees to something, she has to follow through.”

His eyes softened briefly at the mention of Wen Zhixia.

But when his phone rang and he answered, the softness faded. “…These past years have become increasingly restless, chasing windfalls only to invite misfortune.”

Jin Mao glanced through the rearview mirror, guessing the call was about the ongoing troubles.

The gentleman was married, yet these people refused to back down.

After Xu Qichen hung up, Jin Mao spoke softly: “Sir, without an heir, the family’s power struggles won’t subside. You’re also at the age to have children…”

Xu Qichen rubbed his finger on the phone screen, his usually gentle eyes deep in thought.

Jin Mao pressed on: “Sir’s love for madam is a blessing. Having a child that looks like both of you would be wonderful, wouldn’t it?”

A child resembling them both?

Xu Qichen’s expression carried a trace of yearning.

After more than three hours of driving, Wen Zhixia arrived at the filming location. She hadn’t been in a car this long for ages. The mountainous roads were rough, and even she, who rarely got car sick, nearly felt nauseous and ached all over.

Stepping out, she breathed the fresh outdoor air and lamented how easy it was to transition from frugality to luxury, but hard to return. Pampered these years, her physical resilience had clearly diminished.

There were no hotels or inns in the mountains, only homestays. Fortunately, the environment was pleasant, and the houses had heating, making the stay bearable.

With time tight, they tidied up briefly, ate lunch, and began work.

Wen Zhixia donned a thick coat and snow boots, wrapping herself tightly, exposing only half her face and a pair of clear, bright eyes.

Her “full gear” startled the group—they thought she was preparing for an Arctic expedition despite the cold mountain weather.

More concerned about warmth than others’ teasing glances, she cleared her throat firmly: “Let’s work seriously.”

The Gu Xia Group staff arrived, including two unfamiliar newcomers sent to help. Wen Zhixia treated them as her own employees without refusal.

Due to recent reports of fake accident scams targeting pedestrians nearby, Wen Zhixia reminded everyone before filming to prioritize safety and avoid wandering alone—especially the female employees.

By evening, after a full day’s work, they stayed late adjusting tomorrow’s shooting plan. Progress had been slow, so the remaining schedule had to be compressed, or they’d face delays.

Gathered around a table in the living room, they discussed details. The host gave some reminders before retiring for the night.

By the time the detailed plan was finalized, it was nearly midnight, and dinner had long been digested. Everyone was quite hungry.

Wen Zhixia, despite bringing many warm items, had neglected to pack any food.

Someone suggested ordering delivery, but it was quickly mocked: “Let alone if they could deliver here, it’d probably be daylight by then.”

“Smells delicious! Do you smell that?” Someone inhaled deeply, excited.

“Roast chicken! And barbecue.”

“I smell it too. There aren’t many houses nearby—who’s grilling?”

“Let’s go see! Let’s go see!”

...

Wen Zhixia was reviewing the day’s footage and didn’t join the others. Moments later, cheers erupted: “President Gu!”

“President Gu, are you an angel? Did you prepare all this for us?”

When the man nodded slightly, cheers filled the air: “Thank you, President Gu!” “Thank you, President Gu!”

Wen Zhixia paused inside the room. Gu Pingsheng?

The assistant ran in, munching on two skewers of barbecue. “Ms. Wen, President Gu is here. He set up a barbecue stall outside. You have to come see—it’s like a godsend in this snowy cold.”

As the saying goes, favor begets favor. At this moment, no one forgot who was responsible for their icy ordeal filming in the mountains.

But why was Gu Pingsheng here?

While Wen Zhixia hesitated, a tall man wearing a black army-green down jacket strode in, carrying a plate of golden grilled wings emitting an irresistible aroma.