Night Fire Lingering

The partner at Jinhe Law Firm, who also graduated from the law department of Beijing University, called to ask Wen Yan why she had left the project team.

"It's for some personal reasons," Wen Yan said, not wanting others to know too much.

“Xiao Yan, the workplace isn’t school. Many good opportunities in your career will never come again once you miss them. I heard you were injured, so I’m giving you a week off. I hope you can give me an answer again next Monday,” the partner said. “Xiao Yan, you are very talented. If it were anyone else, I wouldn’t give them this opportunity.”

"Okay, thank you, I will seriously consider it."

Wen Yan understood perfectly well that since the law firm partner had brought it up to this point, the only way for her to return to the internship was to go back to the Mingke project team. However, if she couldn't handle her relationship with Gu Yanci, it would be impossible for her to return to the Mingke project team.

Madam Gu's birthday banquet is scheduled for Saturday.

Early Friday morning, Zhou Qi knocked on Wen Yan's door.

"Madam, Mr. Gu asked me to pick you up and take you back to the old Gu family mansion."

"When did Assistant Zhou start doing the work of a personal assistant?" Wen Yan said sarcastically to him. "The birthday banquet is tomorrow, and I will be there on time."

Zhou Qi smiled without changing his expression and said, "Madam, you know how many rules the Gu family has. All close relatives are here today. Originally, the old man also said that you and President Gu should go back early to accompany the old lady."

When an elder speaks, Wen Yan cannot refuse.

The Maybach was parked downstairs.

Zhou Qi opened the back seat for Wen Yan, and the man in the back seat who was looking at a PPT on a tablet glanced up.

"I will talk to Grandma about this after her birthday banquet. Gu Yanci, I hope your private lawyer will be available then," Wen Yan calmly reminded her.

Setting it after the birthday banquet was to ensure that Old Madam Gu wouldn't have a happy birthday.

Gu Yanci looked up at her.

"Is there a problem?" Wen Yan laughed in exasperation early in the morning. "Gu Yanci, you're not going to go back on your word again, are you? Is it a special talent of you men to renege on your promises and deny everything?"

Gu Yanci pointed to his tablet computer and said with a slight parting of his thin lips, "I'm in a meeting."

Wen Yan then noticed a small floating window for a video conference in the lower right corner of the tablet, which she hadn't seen because Gu Yanci's hand had blocked it.

"President Gu?" A suspicious and fearful voice came from outside the tablet.

Wen Yan: "..."

Oh...did the other person hear what she said?

Gu Yanci acted as if he hadn't heard what the other person said, and asked Wen Yan, "When did I ever pull up my pants and forget about people?"

Wen Yan almost couldn't catch her breath. What was this bastard asking?!

Wen Yan glared at Zhou Qi, who was standing to the side. He hadn't even bothered to remind her! He was in cahoots with Gu Yanci, a pair of scoundrels!

Zhou Qi: "..." He looked completely innocent.

In the latter half of the journey, Wen Yan didn't speak again, retreating to one side in a withdrawn manner.

The Gu family's old house is built amidst green hills and clear waters. It is a traditional courtyard house, covering a large area, and its magnificent and dignified appearance can be seen from its carved beams and painted rafters.

Several luxury cars were already parked outside, and servants were parking them.

Wen Yan got out of the car and bent down to take the gift she had prepared. A figure stepped ahead of her, took the long box she had prepared with one hand and held Wen Yan's hand with the other.

"Gu Yanci, you..."

Wen Yan instinctively tried to break free, but a playful female voice interrupted:

"Third Brother!"

A young girl wearing a Chanel dress walked over cheerfully, with a Cartier diamond necklace, a baby face, big eyes, bangs, and a princess hairstyle, looking cute with a touch of spoiled bratness.

Gu Yanci held Wen Yan's hand without moving, applying a little force.

The two men stared straight ahead, their hands locked in a silent struggle.

Someone walked over, and Wen Yan stopped struggling and put on a dignified smile.

"Miss Gu," Wen Yan greeted.

Gu Jinzhi is one of Gu Yanci's cousins, the fourth in her family. When Wen Yan visited the Gu family before, Gu Jinzhi was still in school. Wen Yan only met her once three years ago at her wedding, and only remembered that she was a poor student and didn't seem very smart.

"Huh? Wen Yan?" Gu Jinzhi tilted her head to look at Wen Yan, puzzled. "Didn't you say you were going to divorce my third brother? Why are you still here?"

Wen Yan suddenly remembered: "I've seen you before, at that restaurant! You're that trainee?!"

Gu Jinzhi glared at Wen Yan and pointed at her: "I didn't! Shut up!"

How could she talk about something so embarrassing as a student? She did poorly on her exam and didn't have any pocket money. Before serving dishes, she deliberately put on makeup to make herself look ugly. Why did that annoying Wen Yan recognize her?

"Gu Jinzhi!" Gu Yanci's voice was slightly deep.

With just a serious call of her name, Gu Jinzhi cowered like a quail, glancing timidly and unwillingly at Wen Yan, no longer daring to shout.

"Oh dear! Yanci is so protective of his wife, huh? Jinzhi was just playing around with Xiaoyan, why are you scaring people for your wife?"

A woman in a lake-blue cheongsam came out, pulled Gu Jinzhi behind her, and looked at Wen Yan with a smile.

But that smile made people feel somewhat uncomfortable.

"Second Aunt," Wen Yan greeted politely.

Aunt Gu was notoriously protective of her own; her daughter was the apple of her eye.

She gave Wen Yan a forced smile and nodded, then said to Gu Yanci, "Yanci, hurry up and go inside. The old man and the old woman are waiting for you to come back. All of us younger generation combined are not as popular with them as you are!"

Wen Yan frowned. Her second aunt's words were really sarcastic and made people uncomfortable.

Gu Jinzhi snorted, "That's right! Third Brother was raised by his grandparents, which is different from us grandchildren."

Aunt Gu glanced at her daughter and told her to shut up.

Wen Yan: "..." For a moment, she didn't know whether Gu Jinzhi was speaking up for Gu Yanci or joining her mother in making sarcastic remarks about Gu Yanci.

The Gu family, including their relatives, numbered twenty or thirty people.

The hall is divided into two sections, left and right. The women are mostly in the right section. The old lady, surrounded by people, has silver hair and a kind face. Today, she is wearing a simple yet elegant jacquard patterned vest.

"Yanyan!"

When Madam Gu spotted Wen Yan, she waved to her happily.

Wen Yan wanted to take the opportunity to let go of Gu Yanci's hand, but unexpectedly the man walked over with her.

“Grandma.” Gu Yanci, who was always indifferent, nodded.

"Grandma, it's been so long! I've missed you so much!" Wen Yan's voice was sweet and endearing.

Gu Yanci glanced at Wen Yan.

Tsk, he's quite the chatterbox when he's trying to coax the old lady, but I've never heard her say the word "want" to him normally.

"My dear! Grandma missed you too!" Old Madam Gu stood up shakily, about to hug Wen Yan, but stopped when she saw Wen Yan and Gu Yanci's clasped hands and the purple jade bracelet on Wen Yan's wrist.

She beamed, "Oh my! Holding hands! They're showing off their love right in front of this old lady!"

With a sudden effort, Wen Yan managed to free her hand from Gu Yanci's grasp, and gave an awkward laugh.

Several ladies nearby egged them on:

"Is the third son's wife still embarrassed? They've been married for three years, and she's still embarrassed?"

"Exactly! We've all been there, there's nothing to be embarrassed about!"

Old Madam Gu leaned closer to Wen Yan, lowering her voice slightly, but still audible to those around her, and asked, "Has there been any movement lately?"

As he spoke, he glanced meaningfully at Wen Yan's flat stomach.

"Huh?" Wen Yan hoped it wasn't what she had guessed.

Old Madam Gu didn't give her a chance. She glanced at Gu Yanci, who had a cold expression beside her, and then looked at Wen Yan with anticipation, asking, "When are you planning to have a child?"