Chapter 3: The Playboy Second Young Master × The Domineering CEO (Part 3)

Gu Yin once again drove to the Nan Corporation. The front desk had already been instructed to let him in freely, so he wasn’t stopped and went straight to Nan Ming’s office.

“All packed up?” Nan Ming glanced at the clock. She didn’t expect Gu Yin to be so quick. Looking at the work in her hands, she apologized to Gu Yin, “Give me a moment.”

“Yeah, all set. I’ll wait on the sofa. No rush.”

Gu Yin spoke gently. He had already anticipated that Nan Ming wouldn’t be able to get off work on time, so he brought his computer to kill time by doing some drawing.

“Alright.”

Each went about their own tasks, and time passed quickly. When Gu Yin looked up again, it was already 7 o’clock.

He put away his laptop and walked over to Nan Ming’s desk, knocking on it. “It’s seven. Let’s eat first.”

Nan Ming looked up, a bit dazed from working too long. She rubbed her neck and said, “Okay, let’s go.”

“I’ll leave my laptop in your office. Tomorrow I’ll come to work with you.”

“Give it to me. I’ll put it away. I’ve already told Bai Xin to help you complete the onboarding process tomorrow morning. Do you want a separate office?”

“No need for all that trouble. I’ll just work here in your office.” Gu Yin handed her coat to her and pointed to the open space in the office. “There’s plenty of room here for a desk.”

Nan Ming frowned slightly but eventually nodded. She hoped Gu Yin wouldn’t disturb her work—otherwise, she’d have to kick him out after all.

“Alrighty, let’s go, let’s go. I know this amazing hot pot place. Not sure if you’ll like it?” Gu Yin tried to hold Nan Ming’s hand. Seeing that she didn’t reject it, he grinned even wider.

“Sure.” Nan Ming looked at his silly gesture and realized that this guy was actually pretty innocent. Her heart softened a bit.

The two of them walked out of Nan Corporation high-profiled and hand-in-hand. The employees were all stunned.

“The young lady is getting off work this early?”

“Yeah, and that guy—isn’t that her fiancé? So handsome!”

“It really is a typical elite family marriage alliance. Even if they don’t want it, they still have to put on a show.”

“Chairman, the young lady just walked out of the company holding hands with the Gu family’s second young master.”

Nan’s father had just finished a meeting when he heard the news and immediately flew into a rage. “That brat! Talking big about refusing a marriage alliance, but secretly seducing my daughter? Shameless! No way—I’m calling Old Gu to ask him how he raised his son!”

When Gu Zhongming received the call, he was just as confused. Did his son finally go off the rails? Even though he disliked his younger son’s reckless behavior, he’d never mistreated him. If he’d really driven the boy insane, how was he supposed to explain that to his wife?

He quickly called Gu Yin. Gu Yin was casually driving and answered without checking the caller, only to be greeted by his father’s booming voice:

“Gu Yin, are you crazy? What the hell are you doing at the Nan Corporation?”

Startled, Gu Yin helplessly glanced at Nan Ming, who was watching him with amused eyes. He quickly explained, “Old man, why are you shouting? You scared Ming-jie.”

“Ming what now?” Gu Zhongming was about to scold him, then suddenly remembered the Nan family’s daughter was named Nan Ming. He cleared his throat awkwardly. “Come home tomorrow. I need to have a word with you.”

“Got it, old man. Hanging up now—don’t interrupt our date.” Without giving his father a chance to ramble, Gu Yin hung up and looked at Nan Ming.

“You see? If I don’t treat you well, I’ve got at least a hundred people watching me.” Well, even with all of Nan’s father’s precautions, he still couldn’t prevent the original Gu Yin’s shameless persistence.

“Then you’d better behave,” Nan Ming said, patting Gu Yin’s head.

Gu Yin immediately declared loudly, “Absolutely!”

He had taken Nan Ming to a very famous internet-famous hot pot restaurant. He picked a window seat, wiped down the table and chairs for her, and only after they sat down did he speak a bit sheepishly.

“Don’t mind the modest setup here. The flavor is top-notch. You’ll understand once you try it.”

“The environment’s fine. Back in college, I often ate at places like this—some were even worse.” Nan Ming watched as Gu Yin rinsed the bowls and chopsticks for her, feeling more and more satisfied with him.

“This place is a hidden gem I just found. The broth is super fragrant, and they’ve got tons of dessert options too.” Gu Yin handed her the menu. “Can you handle spicy food?”

“I’m okay with it. Should we get a yin-yang pot?”

“Great—half spicy, half tomato, okay? Their tomato broth is really rich and flavorful.”

“Sounds good.” They ordered almost every specialty on the menu. Gu Yin reassured her, “Order whatever you want—I’ll finish everything.”

Watching how grounded and easygoing Gu Yin was, Nan Ming couldn’t help but laugh, her eyes crinkling. Gu Yin, watching her laugh, suddenly thought this big sister was really beautiful.

The meal left them both very satisfied. Gu Yin was busy the whole time cooking meat for her, peeling shrimp—totally in his element. After dinner, he suggested going to a movie.

They chose a romance film. On the way home, they discussed the plot.

“I can’t believe the female lead forgave the guy in the end and became a housewife? What was she thinking?”

“What do you think she should have done?”

Nan Ming looked at Gu Yin curiously. These days, many men were still so patriarchal, believing women should stay at home caring for the family. It was even worse among the rich, where women were often seen as nothing more than baby-making machines, like not giving birth to a son was a crime.

“She should’ve continued her career, obviously! She became a Best Actress, with such a bright future ahead of her. And then, just because the guy cried and apologized on his knees, she quits the industry and goes home? That’s insane.”

Gu Yin truly didn’t understand it—just like how he couldn’t comprehend the original plot where Nan Ming repeatedly softened, compromising again and again for the sake of family and children. He found it absurd and decided to correct Nan Ming’s outdated views.

“Ming-jie, you must never be like that female lead,” Gu Yin earnestly advised.

“Oh?” Nan Ming looked at Gu Yin’s sincere face. “Then what are your expectations for your future wife?”

“That she has her own career, shines in her own field, and shines in my heart too.” Gu Yin glanced at Nan Ming with meaning in his eyes. “Like you.”

Nan Ming smiled. And somehow, she felt a deep sense of peace in her heart.

When they got home, Nan Ming looked at the roses in the dining and living room and felt that the house now had more of a homey feeling. She turned to Gu Yin.

“Why’d you buy flowers?”

“Doesn’t it feel cozier?”

“Mhm.” Nan Ming nodded. “You can buy hibiscus flowers next time.”

“Got it!”

The next morning, Nan Ming was woken up by her alarm as usual. Gu Yin’s moving in hadn’t caused her any discomfort—he was extremely well-behaved and hadn’t done anything she had initially feared. She was quite satisfied.

She went into the bathroom to shower, wrapped her hair in a towel, and walked out planning to order breakfast.

But the moment she stepped out, she smelled something delicious coming from the kitchen. Curious, she walked over and leaned against the kitchen doorframe, watching Gu Yin bustle around. She smiled softly.

“Didn’t expect Young Master Gu to know how to cook.”

“Feeling like you struck gold yet?” Gu Yin plated the fried egg and turned to look at her.