The next day, at the top floor of the Gu Corporation headquarters.
When Shen Que pushed open the door to Gu Chengyu's office, the man inside was standing with his back to him by the window, looking down at the city below.
Hearing the sound, Gu Chengyu slowly turned around. His face was expressionless, his gaze icy.
There were no pleasantries, no formalities between them.
Shen Que walked to the desk and placed a document on its surface.
"The trade division, a fifty percent equity transfer agreement."
Shen Que's voice was slightly hoarse but exceptionally calm. "Once signed, it's yours."
Gu Chengyu's eyes swept over the document. He didn't reach for it immediately. Instead, he looked up at Shen Que, waiting for him to continue.
Meeting his gaze, Shen Que went on, "Additionally, the Shen Corporation headquarters will gradually relocate to City B."
"I won't be returning to City S in the short term."
This was the greatest concession and retreat he could offer.
Ceding core interests, distancing himself from Su Qianqian, to demonstrate he had no intention of repeating his mistakes.
A brief silence fell over the office.
Gu Chengyu looked at the dark circles under Shen Que's eyes, recalling years of shared drinks, fun, and shoulder-to-shoulder collaboration.
Their brotherly bond, after all, wasn't fake.
In the end, he said nothing. He walked behind the desk, picked up the pen, and signed his name with a decisive stroke.
It meant he accepted this apology and compensation, and that, for now, the matter was closed.
Watching the signature dry, Shen Que felt as if a heavy stone had been lifted from his heart, yet a hollow space remained.
He gave a slight nod, said nothing more, turned, and left the office.
That same afternoon, on the tree-lined path of Galaxy College.
Su Qianqian and Qin Yuwei had just finished class. Arm in arm, they were discussing what to eat for dinner when a figure blocked their way.
It was Shen Nian'an.
She was dressed simply today, with little to no makeup, looking somewhat haggard.
Under Qin Yuwei's wary gaze, Shen Nian'an took a deep breath, then bowed deeply at a ninety-degree angle to Su Qianqian.
"I'm sorry!"
Her voice was loud and clear, drawing the attention of people around them. They didn't dare openly watch the Shen family young lady make a spectacle of herself, pretending to look away casually while all ears were perked up.
Shen Nian'an straightened up and spoke earnestly, "I apologize for my rude and thoughtless remarks at the mall last time."
"I promise nothing like that will ever happen again."
Qin Yuwei's jaw nearly hit the ground, her eyes wide with disbelief.
Had Shen Nian'an lost her mind?
Since when did she look at them with anything other than disdain? And today she performs this grand gesture?
Had the sun risen from the west?
Qin Yuwei immediately straightened her posture, cleared her throat, thinking that after apologizing to Qianqian, it would be her turn.
Her mind raced. What should she say? Accept or not accept?
However, after Shen Nian'an finished speaking, without waiting for Su Qianqian's response and without any further fuss, she gave a slight nod, then turned and walked away decisively, not looking back.
She didn't even glance at Qin Yuwei.
Qin Yuwei: ???
She was dumbfounded, pointing at Shen Nian'an's retreating back, hopping mad. "What the... what does she mean by that? Was I not included when she was hurling insults last time?"
"Why only apologize to you and not me? Who does she think she's looking down on?"
Su Qianqian, also slightly stunned, watched Shen Nian'an's rapidly disappearing figure.
007 had shown her the conversation between the siblings in the Shen family study yesterday.
She could more or less understand Shen Nian'an's behavior.
In Shen Nian'an's world, before yesterday, Su Qianqian was an obstacle to be removed at every opportunity, and Qin Yuwei was a natural-born rival she simply couldn't stand.
An apology? Unthinkable.
But now, her brother Shen Que had made it clear that Su Qianqian was not a plaything, but someone he genuinely liked and even wanted to marry.
Therefore, for Shen Nian'an, Su Qianqian was no longer an enemy, but someone her brother cared about.
Someone her brother cared about was someone she needed to protect and respect.
So this apology was for Su Qianqian alone. It wasn't about right or wrong, but about allegiance.
And Qin Yuwei? Clearly, she hadn't yet been included in this circle of people Shen Nian'an felt the need to respect.
Su Qianqian withdrew her gaze and gently tugged at the still-fuming Qin Yuwei, saying softly, "Alright, don't be angry. Maybe she took the wrong medicine today?"
Qin Yuwei puffed out her cheeks in anger. "She did it on purpose! This hypocrite, it's infuriating!"
Seeing her friend's ruffled feathers, Su Qianqian couldn't help but smile.
