From Apocalypse Boss to Farmer: My Vegetables Make Me Stronger!-Chapter 125 - 116: As Long as I’m Not Embarrassed, Someone Else Is
Everyone was stunned.
Even Zhou Jinyu glanced up at Ye Nan, seemingly not expecting her to say something like that.
Gu Xi was taken aback as well.
It wasn’t because of what Ye Nan had said, but because when the young woman looked at her, she had inadvertently revealed a look that said something like, ’This girl isn’t a complete lost cause. Maybe if I lend her a hand, I can keep her from going astray.’ Was it... pity?
Gu Xi was baffled. ’...?’
The vast conference room instantly fell silent. It was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
The atmosphere was probably too awkward. As the host, Zhang Cheng cursed his bad luck inwardly but could only force a smile. He tried to smooth things over and ease the tension.
"Um..."
But before he could get a word out, Zhou Jinyu raised a hand to adjust the frame of his glasses.
"Gu." Zhou Jinyu looked at Gu Xi with a gentle expression, his tone full of the sort of affection an elder might show a junior. "Ye’s proposal is actually quite good. You might want to consider it carefully."
But then, his tone shifted. "Of course, I also believe that with your skills, Gu, you’ll surely accomplish great things in the future, even if you don’t go to the Abnormal Ability Research Institute."
Zhou Jinyu watched Gu Xi with considerable admiration.
Gu Xi held her water cup and said nothing.
’Zhou Jinyu’s words are worth pondering.’
Zhang Cheng had just tried to salvage the situation, only to be cut off by Zhou Jinyu’s deceptively gentle but forceful interruption. He was already quite displeased.
Now, seeing Gu Xi remain silent, his eyes flickered. He chimed in with a smile, "Don’t mind her, Mr. Zhou. Gu is just a bit shy and timid around strangers."
Then he added pointedly, "After all, as you know, she only just returned from the ruin zones. It takes time to adjust to certain things..."
Gu Xi couldn’t help but shoot this Mr. Zhang a second glance.
Just then, Zhou Jinyu suddenly looked up at Zhang Cheng. "Mr. Zhang, I have something I’d like to discuss with Gu alone."
Everyone exchanged glances.
But Zhou Jinyu’s status was undeniable.
Zhang Cheng was the first to get up and leave.
Ye Nan rose hesitantly, while Qi Xiang gave Gu Xi a worried look.
Gu Xi gave her a slight shake of the head, and her gaze inadvertently met Ye Junhan’s eyes.
Recalling that he had helped her a few times, Gu Xi was about to give him a nod of acknowledgment, but the man calmly averted his gaze as if he hadn’t seen her at all and strode out of the office.
Gu Xi was perplexed. ’...?’
After everyone had left, Zhou Jinyu shifted his posture.
Gu Xi lowered her head and slowly took a sip of water.
’Is this the main event?’
She knew it. How could a busy man like Zhou Jinyu make a special trip to South City just to accompany Ye Nan?
Just as she suspected, he had come to see her for another reason.
But Gu Xi wasn’t in a hurry.
Zhou Jinyu was also discreetly observing the young woman before him.
But she seemed even more composed than he had imagined.
’Right,’ he thought, ’after all...’
Zhou Jinyu smiled and looked up at Gu Xi. "I hear you’re very interested in the matter of the seeds?"
Gu Xi sharply perceived that Zhou Jinyu’s attitude toward her had changed.
Sure enough, the next moment, Zhou Jinyu stood up and extended his hand. "Miss Gu, let’s reintroduce ourselves. I am Zhou Jinyu of the Abnormal Ability Research Institute."
Gu Xi didn’t move. She just raised her eyes slightly to look at him and asked, a hint of confusion in her voice, "Mr. Zhou, what is this...?"
Zhou Jinyu’s face showed no trace of embarrassment or anger.
He sat back down on the sofa across from Gu Xi, leaning forward slightly with a polite smile on his face. "Miss Gu, perhaps we could cooperate?"
Gu Xi raised an eyebrow and placed her water cup on the table. "You must be joking, Mr. Zhou. I’m just a small-time farmer who was recently assigned some land. What makes me qualified to cooperate with you?"
The gentle smile on Zhou Jinyu’s face didn’t waver. "Miss Gu, let’s not beat around the bush. I went to see Mr. Xv before I came here."
Mr. Xv?
’Xv Yiyisan?’
Gu Xi’s heart skipped a beat. She then heard Zhou Jinyu say in a tone of reminiscent admiration, "Back then, your mother possessed unparalleled grace and was admired by all... Jinyu was young then, but I also received your mother’s kindness..."
Hearing this, Gu Xi finally understood the source of Zhou Jinyu’s cautious probing, hidden beneath his gentle facade.
’So that’s how it is.’
’It seems Zhou Jinyu doesn’t know much.’
’But the man is undoubtedly smart and very calculating... Perhaps this is an opportunity for me?’
Gu Xi looked up at Zhou Jinyu and gave a noncommittal smile.
Zhou Jinyu’s probing received no response.
But he didn’t seem anxious, his face still holding that gentle smile.
"Miss Gu," he decided to play his first card, "aren’t you curious who was tampering with your orchard before?"
"If you’re willing to cooperate, Miss Gu, I believe our collaboration will be very pleasant." Zhou Jinyu stood up and refilled Gu Xi’s cup with hot water.
"As for the seeds, I will do my best to make it happen," he said slowly, looking up at Gu Xi.
Gu Xi’s hand, resting at her side, paused slightly as she looked up.
"Then how would you like me to cooperate, Mr. Zhou?" she asked, tilting her head. The small green sprout circled the bottom of the cup and dissolved silently into the water.
...
「An hour later」
Gu Xi walked out of the office alone.
As expected, she didn’t see Mr. Zhang, but Qi Xiang and the other two were waiting outside. However... the way the three of them were standing was a bit strange. 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶
Gu Xi raised a slight eyebrow, her gaze sweeping discreetly over the young man and woman in the distance.
Qi Xiang noticed Gu Xi’s movement, hurried forward, and leaned in close to ask in a low voice, "Are you okay?"
Gu Xi shook her head and discreetly squeezed her wrist. "I’m fine."
Qi Xiang froze for a second, then looked up to see Ye Junhan striding toward them.
Her heart skipped a beat. She nudged Gu Xi’s arm, her eyes darting around as she lowered her voice and said meaningfully, "Is he here for you? When did you two...?"
Seeing him getting closer, Gu Xi cut Qi Xiang off without a second thought. "We don’t know each other well."
They had only met a few times and had barely exchanged a few words. Of course, they didn’t know each other well.
Ye Junhan’s steps faltered. He suddenly recalled her inexplicably dismissive "Oh" from before, and his already cold and distant expression instantly turned three degrees colder.
The devastatingly handsome and cold man walked past Gu Xi without a sideways glance, exuding an air of detached indifference that made him seem unapproachable.
Gu Xi, remembering how he had indifferently averted his gaze earlier, pulled Qi Xiang aside to make way. But the man suddenly stopped, turned back to look at them, and asked with a frown, "What does ’tool’ mean?"
Gu Xi froze, not expecting Ye Junhan to suddenly ask about that. She couldn’t help but feel a little awkward.
Qi Xiang had already let go of her arm and silently taken two steps back. She looked at the sky, at the ground—anywhere but at the two of them.
Gu Xi was speechless.
Fortunately, Li Ming had taught her when she was young: as long as you’re not embarrassed, the other person will be.
So, Gu Xi met his gaze with a placid expression.
"It doesn’t mean anything. Just a typo."
Ye Junhan was speechless.
It had been a long time since he’d felt this kind of inexplicable, uncontrollable irritation.
Ye Junhan’s brow twitched almost imperceptibly. He then coldly retracted his gaze, turned the handle of the office door, and strode inside.
The door closed silently behind him.
Qi Xiang let out a breath of relief. When she looked up, she saw Gu Xi staring at her pointedly.
Qi Xiang gave an awkward laugh. ’No, Gu Xiaoxi, let me explain!’
However, before she could explain, Ye Nan, after a moment’s hesitation in the distance, walked over. She looked at Gu Xi with a complicated expression and said, "I hope you’ll seriously consider what I said earlier. After all..."
After speaking, she gave Gu Xi a slight nod before turning to leave.
"What’s her deal?" Qi Xiang watched Ye Nan’s retreating back, frowning in bewilderment. "Acting all high and mighty, like she’s graciously giving you advice. Is she crazy?"
What was that about hoping you don’t go astray and that it’s best to keep your feet on the ground and take things one step at a time?
She’s totally nuts.
So weird.
Gu Xi lowered her eyes slightly and slowly shook her head. "I don’t know. Maybe... she’s afraid I’ll go down the wrong path."
"..." Qi Xiang was speechless. Then, as if something occurred to her, she said with a strange expression, "No way, what is this Miss Ye thinking? Could it be because Ye Junhan gave you an extra look just now...?"
Gu Xi silently listened to Qi Xiang’s gossip, her mind already elsewhere.
’How much does Zhou Jinyu actually know? The timing of his visit to South City is a little too coincidental. Could someone else have a hand in this?’
