Night Fire Lingering

Sunlight elongates a person's shadow.

The two figures intertwined, as if bound by endless ties and entanglements.

Wen Yan was somewhat dazed, so she shook her head to bring herself back to her senses.

"Why did you suddenly come?" she asked the man beside her, turning her head.

“Wen Junming told me that your father locked you in the house.”

"?"

Why did Wen Junming plant spies in his home?

etc--

Why would he tattle on you?

This guy is almost not his brother-in-law anymore!

Wen Yan was somewhat indignant, her furrowed brows and sullen expression carrying a touch of naivety.

A smile flickered in Gu Yanci's eyes.

He didn't tell Wen Yan that Wen Junming could earn a five-figure allowance for a valuable little report.

He may not have much else, but he's never short of money.

"Continue studying or work?" Gu Yanci suddenly asked.

How did you know—?

Wen Yan realized what was happening before she could finish speaking.

That's right, the direct-entry doctoral program quota has been allocated. How could the college not notify Gu Yanci, the "parent" who supported her causing a scene at the college?

Wen Yan felt it was a bit troublesome. After she and Gu Yanci finished their divorce proceedings, would she have to explain it to them again?

"Hmm?" Gu Yanci urged.

Wen Yan didn't really want to talk to him about these things; given their current relationship, it wasn't necessary. However, Gu Yanci had spent time and effort on the direct doctoral program, so there was no reason for him to offer no explanation.

“I’m considering it,” Wen Yan said, looking at the shadow. “It’s just that the academy’s actions are disheartening.”

Wen Yan is precocious and quick-witted, capable of handling things independently, but in the end, she is still just a student who is not yet twenty-two years old, and some of her ideas are still too... naive.

"Wen Zhizhi, although universities are not as complicated as workplaces, they are not entirely ivory towers. For ordinary students, some methods are far beyond their reach, but you are different. Social rules are not black and white, so don't let external factors influence your original intentions. Those people have no right to be your obstacles."

Why is she different?

—Because she is outstanding enough, she has more exposure to conflicts of interest than ordinary students, and where there are interests, disputes are inevitable.

Gu Yanci explained slowly and methodically.

Wen Yan recalled that when she was a child, there were times when she couldn't understand something, and Gu Yanci would reason with her. Although he had a cold face and his words were unpleasant to hear, what he said made a lot of sense, and he was unusually patient.

"The way you're educating me makes me feel like my dad," Wen Yan muttered to herself.

Although Wen Yonghai wouldn't reason with her.

Gu Yanci: "..."

Gu Yanci's expression was strange for a moment, and Wen Yan couldn't discern the rich and subtle emotions he was conveying.

A few seconds later, Wen Yan belatedly remembered that Luo Beiqing had told her not to call a man "Dad" casually, or the consequences would be dire!

For a moment, Wen Yan's expression also became somewhat strange.

Their eyes met, and the atmosphere became even more eerie.

Wen Yan: "..."

Wen Yan's ears turned slightly red, and she awkwardly glanced away, pretending to look at the sky and the ground.

"Heh." The man suddenly chuckled, not letting her off the hook, and asked, "What are you thinking about?"

Wen Yan, like a cat with its fur standing on end, tried her best to remain calm: "What are you thinking?!"

Gu Yanci smiled faintly, his usually serene face now bearing an ambiguous undertone: "You think what I think?"

His expression and tone seemed to say: What shameless things am I thinking? Are you thinking shameless things too?

Moreover, they are all getting a divorce!

Wen Yan took a shallow breath and remained silent.

When it comes to shamelessness, she can't compare to Gu Yanci!

That night.

Wen Yan wrote an email to the college, rejecting the direct PhD offer from Beijing University, and began applying for master's and doctoral programs at other universities.

If she accepts the doctoral recommendation offer from Imperial University, she will probably be disgusted from time to time for the next three to five years.

She didn't want to feel so stifled just because she was studying!

-

Madam Gu's illness was caused by emotional distress. Wen Yan visited her in the hospital for two days, and once the old lady's mood improved, she was allowed to be discharged.

On the day of her discharge, Wen Yan planned to pick her up after get off work.

Just before she was about to leave work, a stack of documents was left on her desk.

"Get all this information organized by tomorrow," a pretty girl with curly hair said arrogantly.

Wen Yan recognized the other person as Ye Sisi, an intern who had joined the firm a month earlier than her, and they were currently on the same project.

Wen Yan glanced at the contents of the document: "Isn't this part of your job description?"

"I joined the company before you, so you should do the work assigned by your senior properly. Don't you understand this simple principle?" Ye Sisi said impatiently.

Wen Yan scrutinized her for a few seconds, then chuckled dismissively: "Don't think that just because Manager Sun is your boyfriend, you can act like a big shot."

After saying that, he picked up his bag and left.

We're both interns, so who do you consider a senior?

Let whoever wants to do it do it!

Ye Sisi stomped her feet in anger and called Sun Xingbai to complain, saying that Wen Yan was uncooperative with the team's work arrangements, left work on time, and had an extremely unenthusiastic work attitude.

Sun Xingbo comforted his girlfriend for a few moments, and finally said, "There's only one spot for permanent employment this time, and I'll definitely protect you. Why are you arguing with an intern who can't get a permanent position?"

Wen Yan's relationship with the Gu family's senior management is unclear, and Sun Xingbai doesn't want to offend Wen Yan for the time being, hoping that Ye Sisi will keep quiet.

However, to Ye Sisi, the key point of these words was: there is only one spot available for permanent employment this time!

She works hard every day, earning just over 100 yuan a month as an internship fee, just to get a permanent position.

Among this batch of interns, only Wen Yan attended a better school than her, was prettier, and was favored by the boss...

We absolutely cannot let Wen Yan stay!

-

When Madam Gu was discharged from the hospital, all the relatives of the Gu family came to greet her, afraid that they would not have made an impression on Madam Gu.

As a result, Madam Gu held Wen Yan's hand from beginning to end, reluctant to part, and even asked Wen Yan to go to the old house to keep her company for two days.

"Grandma, it's Bei Qing's birthday tomorrow, I'm afraid I can't be with you." Wen Yan coaxed her like a child, "How about I take you to see a play another weekend when I'm free?"

Gu's wife was so angry she almost fainted.

All their efforts to curry favor with the old lady were in vain. Wen Yan even refused the old lady's invitation. As expected, those who are favored are fearless!

"Aci, then you see Xiaoyan off." Old Madam Gu winked at Gu Yanci, "Tomorrow is Miss Luo's birthday, please bring her a gift for me."

Gu Yanci replied "Okay" and gestured for Wen Yan to go first.

Wen Yan: "?"

Wen Yan didn't want Gu Yanci to see her off: "Grandma, I drove here, there's no need to see me off."

When Wen Yan said this, Madam Gu, whether intentionally or not, turned her head to talk to someone else and didn't hear what Wen Yan was saying at all.

Gu Yanci directly put his arm around Wen Yan's shoulder and forcibly took her out.

The action looked forceful, yet it subtly revealed a possessive desire.

The Gu family members looked at each other.

No way, a soon-to-be ex-husband who's about to get divorced is still giving gifts to his soon-to-be ex-wife? And he's even bringing gifts to his soon-to-be ex-wife's best friend's birthday party?

When did this kind of thing become popular in their circle?