Chapter 50: Chapter 50: Moderation in Advancement and Retreat

    An Junxi moved her ankle, "It’s okay."

    "Hmm."

    There were no other words.

    An Junxi remained silent, believing Mr. Gu needed the quiet more right now.

    Soon, Gu Yikun put down the medicine and applied the burn ointment to her hand, "Don’t touch water tonight."

    "Thank you, Mr. Gu."

    Gu Yikun gently lowered An Junxi’s foot and bent down to help her put on her slippers.

    It tugged at An Junxi’s heartstrings. Would the high-and-mighty Gu Yikun actually do such things?

    She stared at Gu Yikun in a daze. Why was he doing this? Wasn’t he afraid she might overthink it?

    An Junxi was indeed having some wild thoughts.

    Gu Yikun put away the medicine and stood up, "If there’s no problem, help me trim the balcony plants." His tone remained as cold as ever, no different from usual.

    An Junxi snapped out of her thoughts. Gu Yikun tending to her wounds only proved his good upbringing. If she overthought it... that would truly be ridiculous.

    An Junxi warned herself not to be presumptuous, "Sure, Mr. Gu."

    Gu Yikun sat back down at his desk and continued reading.

    An Junxi slowly walked to the balcony, picked up the scissors, and began trimming the plants. Occasionally, she glanced at Gu Yikun. After a long while, she asked, "Mr. Gu, do you want more coffee?"

    "No need."

    "Alright then."

    The study returned to its quiet state.

    Gu Yikun’s eyes on the book gradually grew distant as he recalled the phone call just now, anger still simmering within him.

    If it hadn’t been for his second uncle’s instigation back then, his father wouldn’t have forced him to marry Yin Yue, and Xiao Mo wouldn’t have... He dared not think further, gulping down a mouthful of ice water, finally calming his rage a bit.

    Sending his second uncle to South Africa was hardly a punishment. There were many things left undone. He would ensure that man’s life was a living hell.

    His gaze grew frigid. In the past, he had no power and had to comply with the elders’ arrangements. Now, it’s different. No one could stop him. Everyone who wronged Xiao Mo would pay the price.

    An Junxi silently observed Gu Yikun, knowing that his mind was not on the book but unable to fathom what he was thinking.

    She didn’t speak much, only trimmed the plants on the balcony, then walked to Gu Yikun’s desk, where there were a few small anti-radiation potted plants.

    Gu Yikun watched her quietly water the plants and asked, "Don’t you have anything you want to ask?"

    Tonight’s odd behavior had all been witnessed by her, yet she acted as if nothing had happened.

    An Junxi responded, "Do more, talk less. I know what I should be doing. Since Mr. Gu doesn’t want coffee, how about some tea?" She noticed a tea set on a nearby shelf.

    Gu Yikun appreciated her sense of propriety and nodded.

    An Junxi moved the tea set to the coffee table, lit a small stove, and began heating the water.

    Her tea-making process was like treating an artwork. Gu Yikun found himself quite enjoying it.

    An Junxi washed the tea set, preheated it, and rinsed the tea leaves... By the time she brought a small cup of tea to Gu Yikun, a long time had passed, "It’s late. Drinking too much tea isn’t good. Mr. Gu, just have a taste."

    Gu Yikun took a sip, finding it sweet, slightly astringent, and lingering, "I didn’t expect you to be good at making tea." Initially, he had allowed her into the Gu Family for a part-time job to compensate for the injury she suffered because of Jin Xiu. Unexpectedly, he discovered several merits in her over time. This tutor turned out to be quite the find.

    President Gu’s mood finally lightened a bit.

    An Junxi said, "I wouldn’t say I’m great at making tea, just know some basic skills."

    She sat back down to clean the tea set.

    Gu Yikun’s long fingers played with the petite purple clay cup, the tea’s aroma filling his nostrils, gently relaxing him.

    An Junxi quietly tidied up the tea set without making a sound, which entranced Gu Yikun.

    While during dinner, she almost broke a wine glass. Now she seemed gentle and graceful. What kind of person was she really?

    Gu Yikun hadn’t realized how much more often his gaze fell upon An Junxi.

    An Junxi put the tea set away, "I’ll go rest now. Mr. Gu, don’t stay up too late."

    As An Junxi went downstairs, Gu Yikun remained lost in his thoughts.

    That woman called He Mengya once said An Junxi wanted to get into his bed. He wasn’t entirely skeptical but subconsciously felt she wasn’t that kind of woman.

    Tonight he was testing her. If she dared to seduce her employer, he would have to make her leave the Gu Family.

    She was indeed proper, but why did he feel somewhat disappointed?

    Gu Yikun didn’t delve further into it and opened the U.S. stock market.

    The Gu Group’s businesses spanned the globe, and his ambitious second uncle had aimed to acquire more shares. Unexpectedly, he was now exiled to South Africa, which was the only thing that pleased him.

    His second uncle was already desperate to return, not even considering whether he would get permission. Gu Yikun planned significant reforms within the Gu Group and hoped those self-important old hands could maintain their confidence.

    An Junxi first went to Jin Xiu’s room. Jin Xiu was already asleep, and Sister Li softly said, "The young master was waiting for you. He fell asleep only when he couldn’t hold out any longer."

    An Junxi gently adjusted his quilt. Jin Xiu looked less arrogant and more cutely handsome in his sleep, which softened her heart.

    She whispered, "Mr. Gu wanted tea, so I made him some."

    Sister Li was curious about why Mr. Gu had An Junxi stay in the study but didn’t want to wake the young master, so she held back her questions.

    After they left the room, Sister Li couldn’t help but ask her question.

    An Junxi knew if she didn’t explain it clearly, rumors might spread about her tomorrow, given the gossip-prone Gu Family.

    She said, "Mr. Gu was in a bad mood and happened to want tea. I just made it. Who knows what he’s thinking?" She appeared nonchalant.

    Sister Li didn’t think much more, "That’s true. We’ve watched the young master grow up and still don’t fully understand him."

    An Junxi returned to her room, filled the bathtub with hot water, and noticed the array of essential oils prepared. She couldn’t help but marvel at the wealthy lifestyle, with everything meticulously arranged even for a tutor’s room.

    She soaked comfortably, then donned a bathrobe and went to the balcony for some air. The surroundings were quiet, with occasional sounds of insects from the grass.

    Feeling relaxed, An Junxi began to wonder who Gu Yikun had been on the phone with tonight.

    He’d said, "Unless they don’t bear the surname Gu," meaning even if he wasn’t speaking to the old lady, he was talking to one of the Gu Family elders. It seemed his relationships with them were all strained.

    They had forced him into a corporate marriage with Yin Yue, and he surely harbored resentment.

    Gu Yikun was no longer the young man he once was. He held ultimate control now. An Junxi had an inkling that the Gu Family was headed for turbulent times.

    Was her staying here right now a good thing or a bad thing?