Friday came and went in a blur of contracts and meetings, but for Gu Ze Yan, the hours dragged heavier than usual.
The reason sat stubbornly in his pocket.
No reply. Not a single WeChat bubble back from Sunny.
He hid it well in front of investors—polished smile, sharp answers, confident tone—but the moment he stepped into his office, the calm slipped. His thumb hovered over the screen more than once, refreshing the chat as if words would appear out of thin air.
"Boss?"
Chen Rui leaned on the doorframe, balancing coffee in one hand, laptop in the other. "Should I call the paramedics? You look like a man whose favorite noodle shop ran out of chili oil."
Ze Yan shot him a look.
Chen Rui smirked. "Oh, I get it. The goddess didn't text back. Classic drama setup. Next act: CEO gets moody."
"Out."
"Fine, fine." Chen Rui retreated, calling over his shoulder: "Don't frown too hard, you'll age ten years!"
Ze Yan exhaled slowly. Maybe tomorrow.
Saturday afternoon, Haiyun Road buzzed with weekend life. Lanterns swayed over the street, couples strolled with paper bags of roasted chestnuts, and steam curled from winter snack stalls.
Inside the bookstore, the familiar warmth wrapped around him the moment he stepped through the door.
And there—behind the counter—was her.
Lin Qing Yun. Smiling, talking, fussing over a girl beside her.
The girl looked sixteen, maybe seventeen, casual in a pale sweater and jeans, sneakers dangling off the stool rung. Ponytail slightly messy, but her grin was bright enough to light the shelf behind her.
For a moment, Ze Yan thought he was looking at a younger version of Qing Yun.
The girl noticed him first. "Jiejie," she whispered, tugging Qing Yun's sleeve, "is that… him?"
Qing Yun turned, blinking once before her lips curved. "Mr. Gu. What a coincidence."
Relief. It was ridiculous how much relief he felt just hearing her voice.
"Si Yao," Qing Yun said, gently nudging the girl. "This is Gu Ze Yan. A… friend."
Her sister's grin widened. "Oh! Chili-guy's friend?"
Qing Yun groaned softly. "Don't start."
Ze Yan laughed, bowing his head slightly. "The title seems permanent."
"Titles are important," Si Yao said solemnly. "I'm Lin Si Yao. Nice to meet you!"
She offered her hand with a confidence that made him chuckle. He shook it carefully. "Nice to meet you too."
They settled at the counter together. Si Yao leaned forward eagerly. "Jiejie said you run a company? What kind?"
"AI technology," Ze Yan replied.
Her eyes widened. "Artificial intelligence? Like… robotics? Or self-driving cars?"
"Close," he said, amused by her excitement. "More like teaching computers how to think. Making them read, learn, and predict."
"That's amazing." Her voice brimmed with genuine admiration. "I'm preparing for the math and science Olympiad. I love coding, but our school lab computers are… let's just say older than my teachers."
Ze Yan's lips curved. "That just makes you more impressive. Anyone can do well with good tools. The real talent is making broken ones listen."
Si Yao's laugh was bright, her eyes shining. "See, jiejie? He gets it!"
Qing Yun smiled, patting her sister's head. "Mm. My little genius."
Si Yao squirmed but leaned into the affection anyway, cheeks pink. "Stop making me sound like a child."
"You are my child," Qing Yun teased, fixing the collar of her sweater with the automatic touch of someone who had done it a thousand times.
Watching, Ze Yan felt a quiet tug in his chest. The tenderness in that gesture—the warmth in her smile—wasn't for show. It was who she was.
Then Si Yao turned mischievous. "Mr. Gu, are you pursuing my jiejie?"
Qing Yun froze. "Si Yao!"
Ze Yan's smile was slow, confident. "What if I am?"
Her sister clapped once, delighted. "Then I support you!"
Qing Yun's face turned red. "Don't encourage him. Right now, all that matters is Si Yao's studies."
But Si Yao just grinned. "If he helps you smile like that more, it'll improve my grades too. Happiness boosts brainpower."
Qing Yun groaned, burying her face in her hands. "You've been reading too many psychology articles again."
Si Yao only laughed harder.
The three of them lingered there in the warm lamplight—one sister fussing over the other, one man quietly captivated by both.
And for the first time in years, Gu Ze Yan realized how much he wanted this—this warmth, this family, this brightness that wasn't only for customers.
This is why she shines, he thought, steady and sure. Not because she smiles at everyone. But because she loves so fiercely that the people around her glow too.
And he knew then: he wanted to be part of that glow.