Chapter 3 – Meaning

No matter how fierce their arguments had been in the past, the word “breakup” had never come up.

This time, it unsettled Cheng Mu.

Still, he managed to stay calm—for now, he chalked it up to angry words spoken in the heat of the moment.

Seeing the girl beside him closing her eyes and feigning sleep, clearly refusing to talk to him, Cheng Mu restarted the car and sped off toward Xiangyang Road.

Outside her apartment complex, the Porsche engine shut off.

Gu Yao unfastened her seatbelt and was about to get out when her wrist was suddenly gripped tightly.

“Let’s talk,” Cheng Mu said.

Talk? About what?

About the scent of perfume on his clothes? Or the lipstick smudge on his collar?

There was always an explanation—an endless list of coincidences and excuses.

She lowered her gaze and calmly laid out the facts:
“I, Gu Yao, clearly don’t have what it takes to turn Young Master Cheng into a reformed man. That must mean we’re not meant for each other. So let’s just part on good terms—no need to waste any more time.”

Cheng Mu’s expression darkened instantly.

After a long pause, a trace of ridicule curled at his lips.
“I chased you for five years—ever since college—finally got you, and now you tell me we’re not destined?”

Gu Yao, do you even have a heart?

But fine—one was willing to fight, the other willing to endure. What good was saying all this now?

Steeling himself, he softened his tone.
“You know I just started working at the company. In this line of business, I’m bound to deal with all kinds of people.”

“I admit there are a lot of women around me, but it’s all for show. I’ve never crossed the line.”

As he spoke, his voice grew hoarse.
“Yao Yao, you always told me to be ambitious. Do you think I don’t want that? But Hengyuan Group doesn’t only have one heir—my older brother is still around.”

To their father, only the eldest son mattered.

Cheng Mu just wanted to prove that he, the second son, wasn’t a waste of space.

“You said it yourself—endure what others can’t, and you’ll achieve what others won’t. A lot of those people are important clients. For the sake of the bigger picture, I can’t afford to offend them.”

By “clients,” he of course meant the kind who came bearing certain… special gifts. He didn’t spell it out, but the implication was clear.

His words painted him as a man caught in a system beyond his control.

It was the first time Gu Yao had heard him speak so openly about his situation in the company—ignored by the chairman, pushed aside by shareholders, one wrong move away from being booted out of management.

When had this proud second son ever shown such vulnerability in front of a woman?

Thinking back on everything they’d been through, her heart couldn’t help but waver.

She did love him—otherwise, she wouldn’t have agreed to be with him in the first place.

Five years of persistence… How many five years are there in a lifetime?

The car was silent for a long time.

Finally, she turned her head slightly, glancing at the bouquet of roses lying in the back seat, and said in a muffled voice, “Next time, buy pink ones. I don’t like overly bright colors.”

Cheng Mu broke into a doting smile.

Leaning over, he wrapped her in his arms, kissed her forehead, and said solemnly,
“Yao Yao, I want to give you a future.”

But her future wasn’t something someone could give her.

She’d have to build it on her own.

Which was why Gu Yao chose to cherish the present.

In the end, she forgave him.

Before parting ways that night, Cheng Mu mentioned his birthday next month and asked what gift she had planned.

“That’s a secret,” she replied.

Then added a heads-up, “It’s a Friday, and I might have to work overtime.”

He’d already expected that.

Cheng Mu scoffed, “You worked so hard to get this job, just so you can live your life stuck in overtime? What’s the point of that iron rice bowl? Might as well quit—let me take care of you.”

Gu Yao froze.

She had always felt like something was missing between them. And now, she finally understood.

He didn’t get it. He couldn’t relate. And he’d never learn to respect or understand her work.

What’s the point?

She knew now—this afternoon, in that sixth-floor office, when Secretary Zhou mentioned the “rectification report” before leaving.

That was the point.

—

The next morning—Saturday—the first thing she did after waking up was video call her cousin.

Since the joint government office building relocated to Xicheng District, Gu Yao’s commute had stretched from twenty minutes to a full hour. After weighing her options, she decided she couldn’t afford to waste that much energy on the road every day—so she began house-hunting.

Her older cousin, Wen Jing, worked in real estate and had a sharp eye for properties. Since Gu Yao wasn’t too familiar with listings in the area, they agreed to meet over the weekend so Wen Jing could help her evaluate options and meet with an agent or two.

Around ten o’clock, the two met up at the subway entrance.

Wen Jing took one look at the younger girl—bright-eyed and full of energy—and teased, “Broke up with your boyfriend?”

…Uh.

She had sworn before that she wouldn’t be human if they didn’t break up.

At the thought of that, Gu Yao’s face flushed. “No.”

They had grown up together and knew each other inside and out. Wen Jing wasn’t surprised by the outcome.

Still, she couldn’t help but ask, “I just don’t get it—what exactly do you see in Cheng Mu?”

A smart, capable girl like Gu Yao was never short of admirers.

Sure, Cheng Mu came from a good family—but there were plenty of others who were even more outstanding.

Yet Gu Yao had turned them all down.

It was baffling.

Gu Yao’s answer wasn’t very convincing either.

Something about being moved by his persistence… and how watching others fall in love seemed lively and sweet, so she figured—why not give it a try?

“Do you actually like him?” Wen Jing asked.

Gu Yao nodded.

“But when you really like someone, you can’t tolerate even a speck of dust in your eyes.”

Wen Jing gave her a heartfelt warning:
“Don’t spoil a man. If you need to be ruthless, be ruthless. Even if you’re going to forgive him, don’t make it that easy. Perfume and lipstick stains? If there’s a first time, there will be countless more. That whole ‘just playing along’ excuse is total bull.”

She’d been working in Hengyuan’s sales department for three years. She knew all too well the kind of man the second young master was—constantly surrounded by women, completely lacking any so-called ‘moral discipline’. He and Gu Yao weren’t cut from the same cloth at all.

But love is personal. Like drinking water—only the one drinking knows if it’s hot or cold.

As someone on the outside, Wen Jing could offer her perspective, but she would never push her cousin to break up. That was her principle.

After speaking her piece, she noticed Gu Yao stayed silent, so she dropped the subject to avoid spoiling the mood.

Gu Yao didn’t respond, because she knew—everything her cousin said was true.

Unfortunately, the house-hunting trip was unproductive.

From eleven in the morning to four in the afternoon, they toured more than a dozen listings. Some were bare shells without any renovations, others were well-equipped but far too expensive—way beyond what she could afford at the moment.

“Prices in Xicheng have hit 30,000 per square meter. If you want to rent here, you’re going to have to bleed for it,” Wen Jing said.

Then she suggested, “Why don’t you just move in with me?”

The place was small, sure, but it had all the necessary appliances. It was also less than four kilometers from the new office, with a direct subway line—very convenient.

Gu Yao declined politely.

Not because of the money, but because she didn’t want to be a burden.

Also, there was… her stuff.

She had a terrible habit—she hoarded daily items like crazy.

To an overwhelming degree.

On the way back, the bus passed by the northern stretch of Jiabai Road and the luxury residential complex Yufeng Clubhouse.

Wen Jing pointed it out. “Most of the people living here are municipal leaders. It’s a true power neighborhood. And it’s not just about the money—you might still not be able to buy a place here even if you had it.”

Municipal leaders…

Gu Yao leaned her chin against the window and looked out wistfully. “I wonder when I’ll get to enjoy that kind of lifestyle.”

Wen Jing snorted. “Well, work hard and maybe—just maybe—you’ll make it to bureau director level before you’re sixty. Then you might have a shot.”

Oh.

Seeing the younger girl’s mournful gaze, Wen Jing quickly switched gears. “Or you could have Old Gu make a comeback. These days, a lot of officials peak late in life. Who knows—maybe your dad will get promoted.”

Gu Yao gave a hollow laugh.

Whether it was possible or not, she didn’t know. But making it before sixty?

Might as well try climbing to the moon.