Having alighted from the taxi, Gan Yuan stood by the roadside, looking across the street at the Dynasty Hotel. Retrieving her phone with a newly replaced SIM card, she deftly dialed the customer service department’s number.
"This is Gan Yuan. Has Mr. Huangfu returned?"
The customer service operator was unaware of her resignation and responded politely upon hearing her name, "Manager Gan, Mr. Huangfu has already returned. Would you like me to transfer your call to his room?"
"No need, thank you."
Gan Yuan hung up and bent down to tighten the laces of her flat shoes.
She had to take away those documents and only risked it this one time. The most dangerous place is often the safest; he probably wouldn’t expect her to come back.
Jogging across the street, she glanced towards the lobby and then stepped up the stairs.
The doorman noticed her and promptly greeted her with a polite bow.
Nodding with a smile, Gan Yuan confidently entered the hotel lobby.
It was late at night, and aside from the staff on duty, there was no one else in the lobby. She nodded to the staff and walked into the elevator.
As the customer service manager, her coming and going in the hotel was not likely to arouse suspicion. Arriving on the fifth floor without incident, she looked around to ensure no one was present and quickly took out her keys from her pocket, swiftly moving to her office door.
Entering her office and softly closing the door behind her, she switched on the light and hurried to her desk. She pulled out the safety deposit box and took out Gan Tang’s birth certificate. Then, from above the box, she took down a small black box taped to the top.
Outside, there was a faint sound.
She lifted her head and carefully stuffed the items into her coat pocket, gently closed the safety deposit box, and tiptoed to the side of the door, holding her breath and listening intently.
It must have been her imagination; who could be in the corridor this late? She reached for the doorknob, gently lifting her hand to pull the door open.
Outside stood a tall figure.
The light above his head illuminated his golden-brown short hair to a brilliant gold, and in his blue eyes was a mix of surprise, yet mostly, helplessness.
Gan Yuan was stunned for a second, then her lips slightly curled up.
"It’s really hopeless with you, isn’t it? You guessed it?"
Frowning at the woman in front of him, who was smiling as if in bloom, Huangfu Jue spoke softly.
"I want to have a serious talk with you."
While her mouth said yes, her body suddenly stepped diagonally, attempting to slip past him. Huangfu Jue stepped to the side, blocking her path.
He knew she wouldn’t comply so easily.
Gan Yuan couldn’t stop her momentum and crashed into his arms, then immediately tried to rush in another direction.
His arm encircled her waist and with a swift motion, he lifted her into the room.
She struggled to jump out and backed away two steps, watching as he closed and locked the door with a backhand, before she hissed through clenched teeth.
"Huangfu Jue, are you annoying or what?"
She and her son, Lele, depended on each other, living happily and joyfully like ordinary people. Why did he have to suddenly appear and disrupt her peaceful life?
"You have no right to know."
"So what? Just because you provided a tiny sperm, do you think you can take him away?!"
"I never thought about taking him away," Huangfu Jue’s gaze fell upon her bloodshot eyes, his tone grave, "I just want to fulfill a father’s responsibility."
"There’s no need, he doesn’t need it." Gan Yuan tugged at her wrinkled clothes, "He isn’t safe sleeping alone, move aside."