Gao Hongyi sat on the living room carpet, knees together, holding Gu Yebai’s black suit jacket in her arms.
She buried her face in it and took a deep breath.
Besides the faint smell of laundry detergent, there was also a very small amount of his scent, along with some residual body heat.
If it was Gao Hongyi, she could easily perceive it.
“Uncle Bai…”
“What time is it now?”
She whispered into the air, as if he were right beside her.
Her phone screen was lit, showing the map interface of Donghai City.
A small red dot remained at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel.
It had been there for about thirty minutes already, so the interview should have started a while ago.
She stared at that red dot.
Gao Hongyi’s eyelashes didn’t blink.
She closed her eyes, imagining the interview scene.
But the next second, she suddenly pressed her face tighter, and her shoulders couldn’t help but tremble slightly.
“Uncle Bai, you’re dressed so handsome today… there must be a lot of girls looking at you, right?”
“Uncle Bai, I don’t know why.”
“But tonight, I’m really scared…”
Her hand couldn’t help but press over her heart.
‘I should have gone with him after all…’
Even if it was on a different floor, that would have been fine.
She took out her phone.
(Yi): Is the interview going well?
She only sent one message.
She believed that if Uncle Bai saw it, he would reply immediately.
Then, she curled up into a ball, covering her head with the suit jacket, as if trying to hide herself.
“Uncle Bai…”
“I love you.”
“Love… to the point that even breathing feels unnecessary.”
“So… come back soon.”
“If you don’t come back soon…”
“I really… will go crazy.”
Through the living room’s floor-to-ceiling windows, the sky was already completely dark.
Neon lights shone on her face, making her red hair look like flowing blood.
Gao Hongyi slowly sat up straight.
She picked up her phone, this time without hesitation, and directly opened the voice message.
She pressed and held the talk button.
“Uncle Bai…”
“I’m now wearing that burgundy silk nightgown you like the most… I’m not wearing anything underneath.”
“When you come back… you can hold me directly.”
“I’ll obediently let you hold me… let you kiss me… let you… do whatever you want.”
“As long as you come back soon.”
“As long as you… don’t let any other girl get close to you.”
She paused, her voice suddenly dropping low, like a whisper.
“Especially… that girl named Bai Xialin.”
……
At the same time, Ritz-Carlton Executive Floor, Private Meeting Room.
Gu Yebai had just introduced himself in English.
Almost flawless.
The atmosphere in the room was also gradually softening.
A red wooden nameplate, a silver teapot with wisps of steam.
It was authentic Ceylon tea.
“Truly, there is much to admire in the younger generation.”
“Looking at you young people, I feel as if I’ve returned to my youth.”
He personally poured a cup of tea for Gu Yebai and Bai Xialin each.
“Don’t be nervous, this isn’t a bribe.”
“It’s just that I feel we can already talk like old friends. I think, if one day in the future you see me on the streets of London, you’ll greet me generously, call me ‘Sir.’ I am Gu Yebai from the Class of 2027, or Bai Xialin. I’m very happy to meet you here, and I will surely respond to your enthusiasm with full joy.”
Gu Yebai looked at the cup in his hand, somewhat at a loss.
Actually, for a moment just now, Gu Yebai really thought he had messed up.
Because when he shouted out that most suppressed voice from his heart, he thought that as a British person with a noble title, the other party would definitely sneer and mock him.
But what was the result?
Not only did the principal not get angry, but his eyes seemed to light up, shining fiercely, and although he was the principal, he completely didn’t have that feeling of trying to overpower others with his status.
When communicating with him, the first impression was equality.
He wouldn’t rudely interrupt Gu Yebai’s words, but quietly listened to every choice of words, then gave a positive response.
Sir Huo Sang leaned back in his chair.
His silver hair shimmered coldly under the light.
“The time is about right.”
“Mr. Gu, I have lived for seventy years, and many people have said they want to change the world, including some famous figures.”
“But many people, while saying they want to change the world, gradually become the very kind of people they once hated the most.”
He looked at Gu Yebai, his expression suddenly turning very serious.
“And you?”
“Will you walk firmly to the end?”
“People always choose a slightly easier path after hitting their head bloody.”
Gu Yebai’s Adam’s apple bobbed.
“To express my unwavering determination for the future here would be lying to you.”
“But I want to try to do what I can. After all, I’m not a famous person, I’m just an ordinary person.”
“But even so, I will still try to move forward a little step.”
“Good. Not arrogant, with clear self-positioning and awareness. No great heroic passion, but a personality that coexists with reason and passion…”
“I vaguely understand why you can make two young ladies fall for you.”
Sir Huo Sang raised his cup, toasting Gu Yebai.
“St. George’s International School welcomes you, Mr. Gu.”
Bai Xialin was resting her chin on her hand beside him.
“Sir Huo Sang, if you praise him like that… he’ll get so proud his tail will stick up.”
Sir Huo Sang laughed heartily.
“Miss Baek, you’re not bad either.”
“You said earlier that your only purpose in coming to St. George’s is love…”
He looked at Gu Yebai, then at Bai Xialin.
“Love is also an impeccable motive. What drives social progress forward is never hatred, but love.”
“Miss Baek is already excellent, but I believe that with the presence of noble love, you will become even more outstanding. Therefore, I also warmly welcome you, Miss Baek.”
“Then, tonight’s interview ends here. From now on, you are also part of us. In the next few days, you will receive the official offer and payment notice. One to two weeks before official enrollment, complete registration, medical check-up, class placement, and new student orientation. My assistant will prepare everything by then.”
“Then, I wish you a wonderful evening.”
After Sir Huo Sang stood up, he smiled and said goodbye to the two new students… So they still couldn’t enroll immediately.
‘I guess Gao Hongyi will be very disappointed when she learns I can’t go to school with her tomorrow.’
Gu Yebai thought to himself.
The room suddenly fell silent.
Only the faint crackling of wood in the fireplace could be heard.
Bai Xialin suddenly laughed.
“Come on, we should head back too.”
She slowly stood up, the hem of her purple evening dress flowing like water.
Then she bent down, cupping Gu Yebai’s face with both hands.
Her fingertips were icy cold, yet with a slight tremor.
“Little Gu Gu…”
Her voice was low, like a whisper.
“I want to ask you, do I really have no chance at all?”
‘I want to turn the whole world into a universe where it’s just the two of us.’
“I’m sorry…”
“Sorry?”
Bai Xialin lowered her head, shrugged, then stood up, stepping in her silver heels and dragging her violet evening dress.
“Sorry… I can’t help it. Now I have no choice but to force myself on you.”
“What are you saying?”
Gu Yebai looked at Bai Xialin in confusion.
“Nothing…”
“I’m just saying, I gathered my courage but still got rejected. What a pity.”
The shadows in the executive lounge had long been eager to act.
They were just waiting for them to walk out of the interview reception executive hall to make a move…