Focused on trying to find out who the culprit was, Gu Nian turned around expressionlessly and impatiently.
Zhuo Yixuan was startled.
It was still the same 1.6-meter girl and her harmless and delicate deer eyes and cat lips, but she was much intimidated than she normally was.
As though some sort of a switch had been flipped and she had become a completely different person.
Zhuo Yixuan touched the window sill behind her, cleared her throat and looked away, "I just want to offer you a reminder."
"What is it?"
"Don't get too close to Luo Xiu."
"… …"
Gu Nian had no time for this cliché threat. She depressed the doorknob and was about to head out.
She had just pulled open a small, small crack at the door when Zhuo Yixuan's voice ran, once again, from behind her.
"I've known Luo Xiu for ten years. I know him better than anyone else. He was good at manipulating others and hiding who he really is. You think you know him when, in reality, you know nothing about him. If you like who he wants you to believe he is, then you have been fooled completely, he -- --"
"I don't like hearing anyone speaking poorly of anyone else," said Gu Nian in a low voice with her hand still resting on the doorknob. "Especially that of Luo Xiu's."
Zhuo Yixuan was upset as well. "I am not speaking poorly of him. I am trying to tell you the truth."
"I only believe in what I see with my own eyes," said Gu Nian.
Zhuo Yixuan was so angry that even her cheek bones were shaking. "As long as he wants, what you see with your eyes will fool you the most."
"Is there anything else you wanted to say? If not, I've got to go," said Gu Nian nonchalantly.
"Wait!" Zhuo Yixuan still refused to give up. "That's fine if you don't believe me. Just recall the first time you and I met at the cafeteria. You've just met Luo Xiu at that time, right?"
Gu Nian's hand that was resting on the doorknob stiffed.
Zhuo Yixuan's voice followed, "Do you think it was normal that he had defended you so when you two had just met? No. He was only using you as shield! He didn't even try to mask his intention at the time nor did he care about you at all. I don't believe you didn't notice that at all!"
"-- --"
Gu Nian let go of the doorknob.
She turned around and looked at Zhuo Yixuan calmly. "Are you done talking?"
Zhuo Yixuan was taken aback by her look.
Gu Nian's look remained unchanged. "I like Luo Xiu for my own reasons. I don't need anyone to rattle that nor would that work – you should stop wasting your time on that."
"… …"
She didn't give Zhuo Yixuan a change to say another word. Gu Nian turned around and pulled opened all the way the door that was already half opened and turned around.
She walked down the hallway a few meters, round a corner and looked up.
She froze on her path.
Luo Xiu, leaning up against the wall, was standing just some 20 or so centimeters from her. She had no idea how long he had been there.
As though he had heard the noise, the man looked up casually.
"Mr… Luo Xiu?"
Startled, Gu Nian turned around and looked behind her.
She wasn't sure how long the distance was or how sound-proof the conference room was nor was she certain whether Luo Xiu had heard what Zhuo Yixuan had said.
"I heard from the other girl in your team that Screenwriter Zhuo made you stay." Luo Xiu walked over to her. His look was gentle as he normally was. Then, he asked with uncertainty, "Her name is Qin… …"
"Yuanyuan." Gu Nian finished his sentence reflexively. "Qin Yuanyuan."
Luo Xiu's eyes flickered a little. Then, lowering his eyes a little, he smiled casually, "Yes, that's her. I was a little worried so I came to take a look. Did Screenwriter Zhuo give you a hard time?"
"No, she didn't." Gu Nian shook her head.
The hallway quieted down.
Gu Nian lowered her eyes in silence. Luo Xiu waited for her patiently. The tacit understanding between the two lasted tens of seconds before Gu Nian finally gathered up her courage and looked up.
"Mr. Luo Xiu, did you, hear our conversation earlier?"
"… …"
___
Translator Rambling:
As if it was possible for Zhuo Yixuan to give our Gu Nian a hard time...