Chapter Sixty-Four: Sleep Beside You

From what Gu Ruoyan said, she seemed to want me to come keep her company again tomorrow night. Although I genuinely felt sorry for her, it just didn’t seem appropriate for a man to accompany a woman like this. Nevertheless, this wasn’t the time to speak up. Since she hadn’t explicitly asked, I decided to play dumb for now; whatever comes up, I’d deal with it tomorrow.

I turned on the bedside lamp, then switched off the chandelier. After that, I sat down again, lit a cigarette, and looked at Gu Ruoyan lying on her side in bed. My mind wandered to the string of events that had unfolded since she’d told me I could take a break and go home—not quite sure where to begin. After some thought, I decided to start from the very beginning.

I began, “A couple of weeks ago, you called me into your office and told me I was being let go, to stay home and wait for further notice. Honestly, I didn’t expect anything else would be arranged for me. Those days were pretty depressing. Then one day, my sister came to me—she’s a huge fan of Xu Shu. She begged me to get her a few tickets to Xu Shu’s concert because I happened to have a high school classmate working at the stadium where the concert was to be held. That classmate, a woman, used to like me back in the day…”

So, like telling a story, I began to recount in detail everything that had happened in the past few days. At first, Gu Ruoyan listened as though it were a bedtime story, even starting to yawn as sleepiness overtook her. But when I mentioned meeting Xu Shu late at night, she suddenly perked up and interrupted me, “Really? You met Xu Shu? The famous singer Xu Shu?”

I nodded. Instantly energized, Gu Ruoyan sat up in bed, pulling her jacket over her shoulders, clearly intent on listening closely. Still, I couldn’t help but notice the perfect curves and impressive figure outlined beneath her light gray cotton pajamas… Ahem, best not to look—snap out of it!

I continued to tell her how I carried Xu Shu to the hospital, even sharing my private thoughts and feelings. I confessed that since that day, I hadn’t been able to forget Xu Shu.

The look in Gu Ruoyan’s eyes was a mix of comfort and a touch of pity. She said, “Ah, you’re no smarter than I am—falling for a woman you can never have. How pitiful! We’re both in the same boat.”

Then I went on to explain how I met Hua Jingjing, how we became enemies, how she tried to drug me, and how I switched our glasses…

Gu Ruoyan knew Hua Jingjing and listened with great interest, finding our rivalry novel and amusing. When I told her how I’d sent Hua Jingjing to the hospital and ended up slapped by her, Gu Ruoyan, always sharp, suddenly asked, “So then President Hua… fell for you afterwards?”

I replied, impressed, “Seems like it.”

Gu Ruoyan asked, “Is that why you want to resign?”

“Not entirely. It’s complicated. You’ll understand once I finish.”

“Alright, go on.”

So I told her about attending Xu Shu’s birthday party, being humiliated by Xu Shu, resigning to Hua Jingjing in a fit of anger under Xu Shu’s coercion, then later clearing up the misunderstanding and accepting Xu Shu’s apology. On Hua Jingjing’s side, since I’d spoken so decisively about resigning, I couldn’t take it back. And because Hua Jingjing had fallen for me and I didn’t want to betray my girlfriend, I had no choice but to resign. By the time I’d finished explaining all this, nearly an hour had passed.

As I finished, I saw Gu Ruoyan shaking her head again and again. When I was done, I asked, “Manager, do you think my decision made sense?”

Gu Ruoyan replied, “Sense? I’d say what you did was foolish! President Hua is an excellent woman, devoted to you, and you just let her go so easily?”

“Hua Jingjing is indeed outstanding, and she really likes me. But I already have a girlfriend. I’m a traditional man: if I do something, I do it wholeheartedly, never wavering or being fickle. My girlfriend has loved me for eight years—that alone is worth cherishing. How could I do anything to hurt her?”

She snorted, “So you believe your girlfriend has loved you for eight years just like that? If she truly cared, why didn’t she come looking for you in all that time? Only now that you sought her out did she ‘realize’ she’s loved you for eight years? That doesn’t make sense! I think your girlfriend’s only chasing what she couldn’t have before, not true love that lasted eight years. Can you honestly say your girlfriend hasn’t been with any men over these eight years? If not, I’ll believe she truly loves you!”

I had no answer. Somehow, I felt things weren’t as she said, but I couldn’t refute her.

Gu Ruoyan continued, “On the contrary, I think President Hua’s feelings for you are the purest. I’ve met her twice. Although she’s a bit spoiled, she’s genuine and direct. Once she loves someone, she gives her whole heart, for better or worse. You’re lucky to have her affection, Tang Qian. Let’s not even discuss her family’s wealth or the help her career could provide you. The fact that, as her subordinate, she fell for you makes her incredibly lovable and sincere. She’s the one you should value most.”

I couldn’t fully agree with her, but I couldn’t disagree either. Hua Jingjing truly was a sincere and straightforward woman. Her only real flaw was her temper—sometimes a lack of tolerance—but overall, she was a good person. And as Gu Ruoyan said, the fact that she could feel genuine affection for a poor underling like me proved just how pure her feelings were. That was truly something to cherish.

I took out my last cigarette and lit it.

Suddenly, Gu Ruoyan grew a bit melancholy. “Actually, our troubles couldn’t be more different. You’re troubled by not knowing whom to choose, while I… am troubled that no one wants me.”

I laughed, “Impossible. In my eyes, you’re the epitome of a woman. Your husband doesn’t appreciate your worth—that’s his loss. But there will be someone who does, and when that day comes, there’ll probably be too many to choose from. Just hold on to the one who treasures you most, and you’ll be happy.”

Gu Ruoyan looked surprised. “Am I really that good in your eyes?”

I nodded, joking, “Of course! If I didn’t have a girlfriend now, I’d be courting you. A woman as passionate and genuine as you is a true treasure—the man who wins your heart will be the luckiest man alive.”

A faint blush appeared on her cheeks, and she chided me gently, “Nonsense. You really know how to flatter a woman. No wonder so many want to marry you.”

I said, “I mean it. I truly think you’re a wonderful woman. Don’t think I’m just trying to make you happy.”

“Alright, enough. Say one more word and you’ll have me blushing,” she interrupted quickly. After a moment, she added softly, “Thank you, Tang Qian. I do feel much better now—not nearly as miserable as before. You really are the kindest person I know. I wasn’t wrong about you. I’m glad that, in my lowest moments, you’re here with me, comforting and supporting me. I’ll remember you for a lifetime. Thank you.”

I was moved. “Really, I should be thanking you. You’ve always looked after me at work.”

Gu Ruoyan yawned and stretched. “Alright, no more thank-yous. Let’s just remember we’re good friends, and good friends help each other, right?”

I nodded in agreement. She yawned again. “I didn’t sleep a wink in the office last night—I’m exhausted. I’m going to bed. As for your tangled romance with girlfriends and celebrities, let’s analyze that tomorrow.” She slipped off her jacket, crawled under the covers, and added, “Don’t leave yet. Wait until I’m asleep. And don’t fall asleep yourself like last time—you’re not allowed to stay here overnight!” Smiling, she took off her glasses and set them by her pillow, then closed her eyes.

I finished my cigarette, stubbed it out on the floor, and stood up to fetch a broom to clean up the ashes. But as soon as I stood, Gu Ruoyan opened her eyes and said, “Leaving so soon? I haven’t fallen asleep yet.”

I replied, “No, I just wanted to sweep up the ashes.”

“No need. I’ll do it tomorrow. Just sit by the bed. If I close my eyes, I can’t tell you’re there.”

So I sat at the bedside while she closed her eyes. After about a minute, she stretched out her hand from beneath the covers. “Sorry, could I borrow your arm for a moment?”

Not knowing what she wanted, I offered my right hand. She found it and rested her palm on my wrist, a contented smile on her face. “Now I can feel you here. Good. I’m really going to sleep now. Don’t talk, and don’t move.”

From my angle, I could see how delicate her features were. The most beautiful part of her face was her nose—straight, small, and perfectly shaped. Without her glasses, its elegance stood out even more. I recalled that her figure was equally stunning. Not just in her youth—even now she was a strikingly attractive woman.

Right here beside me lay a woman so alluring, mature and tempting in every way—a man would have to be made of stone not to be stirred. Yet she trusted me so completely, letting her guard down entirely. Didn’t she fear I might not resist temptation and try to take advantage of her?

Night had deepened. I couldn’t tell if Gu Ruoyan was asleep, but she hadn’t moved for a while, her breathing slow and steady. The curtains were open, and a full moon broke through the clouds, its silvery light pouring through the window and bathing her sleeping form. Through the covers, I could see the graceful curves of her body.

I sat on the bed with her hand over my arm, my mind wandering from Hua Jingjing to Qiu Jieqin, thinking of all the wonderful things about them, and how much they loved me. My heart was both sweet and troubled. Lost in these thoughts, I drifted into a daze…