C21 How Are You Doing These Two Years??

The face from her memories hadn't changed, yet it had lost the youthful softness of their school days, now sharpened with distinct edges and a more composed air in the set of his brows.

But what struck her most was the absence of the tenderness she longed for. Instead, his expression was one of cool detachment, nodding occasionally as he listened to his subordinates' reports and issued brief commands.

His gaze never once strayed in her direction. Surrounded by a throng of people, he walked straight into the chief editor's office.

The office, silent until their departure, erupted into a buzz of excitement.

"Wow, I totally expected our chief editor to be some menopausal woman or a creepy old guy, but look at him—so young and handsome!"

"Absolutely! Between the CEO of Chiyao Group and now our new chief editor, I swear my eyesight's getting better by the day!"

Xiaomei, next to Su Kexin, was visibly thrilled, tugging at her arm. "Oh my god, Kexin, who would've thought the new chief editor would be such a catch? He's just... Hey, Kexin, you don't look so good. What's wrong?"

Su Kexin clenched her jaw and shook her head, unable to utter a single word.

Caught up in the excitement over the new chief editor, Xiaomei missed the distress on Su Kexin's face, continuing to gossip with the other young women. "Hey, what's the name of our new chief editor again? I think it was..."

"Gu Yihan."

The group fell silent, turning to look at Su Kexin, who had unexpectedly joined the conversation.

Ignoring their stares, Su Kexin's face remained ashen as she watched the direction of Gu Yihan's office, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears.

Two years had passed, and she thought she had moved on, but his sudden reappearance overwhelmed her like a tidal wave.

As they brushed past each other, she couldn't be certain if he had recognized her as she had him.

With a bitter twist of her lips, Su Kexin scoffed at herself.

What did it matter if he recognized her or not? After all this time, could she really expect an explanation from him, or hope for a second chance at what they once had?

Let's not dwell on the changes two years might have brought him; it was Su Kexin herself who was no longer the same person she had been back then.

The nightmare from two years ago had given way to her current marriage. For both of them, there was no turning back...

The following day, Su Kexin was a bundle of nerves, dreading that Gu Yihan might recognize her. As it turned out, her worries were unfounded.

Newly appointed as director, Gu Yihan wasted no time in convening several meetings to reassess the staff and the magazine's direction.

Throughout the meetings, he was all business, attentively absorbing the chief editors' updates and issuing occasional directives. He seemed oblivious to Su Kexin, seated at the far end of the conference table.

It looked like he had completely forgotten her.

If she had been memorable to him, he wouldn't have left without a word two years prior, nor would he have cut off all communication.

When the workday finally ended, Su Kexin couldn't wait to leave the office. She grabbed her bag and was about to head out when her chief editor stopped her.

"Hold on, Su Kexin. Take this report to Chief Editor Gu and give him a brief," she instructed.

Su Kexin stiffened, turning around with a hint of distress. "Chief editor, I have an emergency at home today. Could I possibly..."

Chief Editor Jiang Li Li was already irritable from not shining as brightly as another editor at the meeting. Su Kexin's reluctance only soured her mood further. "Su Kexin, do you think you're too good for this just because you landed a hot interview?"

Jiang Li Li's bluntness left Su Kexin pale, with little room to argue. She conceded, "No jokes, chief editor. I'm on it."

With the report in hand, Su Kexin approached Gu Yihan's office door. After several deep breaths, she mustered the courage to knock.

Knock, knock, knock.

The simple act felt like it drained her of all energy.

"Come in."

Hearing Gu Yihan's familiar voice from inside, Su Kexin pushed the door and stepped in.

Gu Yihan's office, while not as opulent as Gu Chi's, was tastefully decorated. Seated behind his desk, he was engrossed in a magazine featuring an interview with Gu Chi.

"Chief Editor Gu," Su Kexin spoke up, striving to keep her voice steady, "regarding the recent interview with President Chi of Chiyao Group, Chief Editor Jiang has sent me to provide you with a brief."

Without lifting his head, Gu Yihan acknowledged her with a noncommittal "hmm," prompting Su Kexin to reluctantly proceed with her report.

Upon completing her summary, Gu Yihan remained unresponsive, pushing Su Kexin to the brink of her composure.

"Um..." She fought to quell the quiver in her voice, "Chief Editor, unless there's something else, I'll take my leave now."

With that, she spun on her heel, aiming for the door.

However, as her hand grazed the doorknob, Gu Yihan's voice halted her escape —

"Su Kexin, how have you been these past two years?"

Her body felt drained of all strength, her lips quivering, yet no words would come.

"Su Kexin."

His voice came again, this time much closer.

Turning, Su Kexin locked eyes with Gu Yihan's slender, phoenix-like gaze, brimming with the same warmth and yearning she remembered from two years prior.

"Kexin," he began, closing the distance between them, "ever since I returned, I've wondered how I might reach out to you. To think fate would have us working at the same magazine is quite remarkable."

Gu Yihan's voice was deep and melodious, almost hypnotic, as he drew nearer still, his lips nearly brushing against Su Kexin's forehead.

"No!"

Jolted back to reality, Su Kexin shoved Gu Yihan away, retreating several unsteady steps.

Caught off guard by her reaction, Gu Yihan paused, but understanding dawned on him as his eyes landed on the ring adorning Su Kexin's finger.

"You're married?" Gu Yihan's voice was laced with shock.

Unable to meet his gaze, Su Kexin averted her face and gave a small nod.

A flicker of something unusual crossed Gu Yihan's narrow eyes. He swiftly moved closer to Su Kexin and seized her wrist.

"What are you doing?" Su Kexin, startled by his sudden grip, tried to wriggle free, but her hand remained trapped in his.

Gu Yihan's eyes were fixed on the ring adorning Su Kexin's finger. His lips curled into a sneer. "So, Su Kexin, after all your discerning choices, this is the best the man you picked could do? A plain, unremarkable diamond ring?" His voice, now devoid of any prior warmth or affection, dripped with scorn.

Taken aback by his abrupt shift in demeanor, Su Kexin was still processing when Gu Yihan released her and nonchalantly reclined against the sofa's backrest.

As he caught Su Kexin's bewildered look, the scorn on Gu Yihan's lips deepened. With a tilt of his chin, he taunted, "What's the matter, Su Kexin? Did you actually believe I was serious just now? Surely you didn't think I still harbored any lingering feelings for you?"