Chapter4:Butterfly Effect
1537 Words
"Ten years ago... Columbia University... I saved you?" The words detonated in Gu Wanqing's mind like a bomb, scattering fragments of memories like fireworks, but none clear enough to form a complete picture. She strained to recall her time at Columbia, a period filled with ambition, dreams, and youthful romance. Yet, searching for the memory of saving Shen Xubai felt as elusive as finding a single star in a vast sky.
She remembered the protests that frequently erupted on campus, the all-nighters before exams, the smell of coffee and anxiety filling the library. She recalled picnics in Central Park with her roommates, sharing moments of joy, sorrow, and everything in between. But as for the specific scene where she saved Shen Xubai, her memory remained a blank.
"I don’t remember..." Gu Wanqing murmured, her voice tinged with confusion as she frowned, trying to grasp the fleeting thread of memory.
Shen Xubai gazed at her, his eyes full of understanding and a touch of sadness. "It's okay. It's normal not to remember. It was chaotic at the time, and you probably didn’t even realize what you’d done."
He paused, as if reliving that distant time. "It was winter, and New York was buried under heavy snow. There was a small protest on campus, and a group of us got into a conflict with others over differing views. The scene turned chaotic, with shoving and pushing. I was forced to the street’s edge, and a car lost control, speeding towards me..."
Shen Xubai’s voice faltered, becoming quieter. "Just when I thought I was about to be hit, you suddenly rushed over and pulled me away. We both fell into the snow, and the car barely missed us."
Gu Wanqing’s heart raced as blurred images began to surface in her mind. She remembered the snow, the chaos on campus, and vaguely, pulling someone... but the face of that person remained unclear.
"It was you..." Gu Wanqing whispered in disbelief.
Shen Xubai nodded, his eyes filled with gratitude. "Yes, it was you. Back then, I was just an ordinary student, and no one knew who I was. You saved me and then disappeared without a word. I searched for you, but Columbia is a big place, and finding someone without any information proved impossible."
Gu Wanqing remained silent. She hadn't expected that a seemingly insignificant action from years ago had saved the life of the powerful mogul standing before her. The strange workings of fate often defy understanding.
"Why are you only telling me this now?" Gu Wanqing asked, confusion filling her heart.
Shen Xubai’s gaze grew more complex. "Perhaps because the time wasn’t right. Or maybe, I wanted to wait until you were strong enough, standing on your own, before I revealed everything."
There was a deeper meaning in his words that piqued Gu Wanqing’s curiosity.
"Was that accident really so important to you?" she asked cautiously.
Shen Xubai nodded, his tone solemn. "Extremely important. That incident changed the course of my life. If not for you, I might have..." He trailed off, but Gu Wanqing understood his implication.
The atmosphere in the office shifted, the distance between them narrowing, as an unspoken connection began to form.
The successful IPO of Jinlin Technology was undeniably a major milestone in Gu Wanqing's career. She had not only proven her capabilities but also earned Shen Xubai's respect. The victory in the acquisition deal had temporarily lifted her out of difficulties and paved the way for her future success.
At the celebration banquet, Gu Wanqing was the star of the night. Countless people toasted her, praising her talent and perseverance. After the exposure of Cheng Yu’s scandal, her reputation in the investment banking world had only grown, with many admiring her poise in handling such a crisis.
Shen Xubai watched her from afar, his gaze filled with admiration and tenderness. As the banquet neared its end, he approached her, offering a glass of champagne.
"Congratulations, Miss Gu. You look stunning tonight," Shen Xubai said with a hint of amusement in his voice.
Gu Wanqing accepted the glass, raising it in acknowledgment. "Thank you, Mr. Shen. Without your help, I wouldn't be here today."
"No, you’ve earned this." Shen Xubai shook his head, lowering his voice. "Miss Gu, do you remember our other agreement?"
Gu Wanqing froze momentarily before recalling Shen Xubai’s promise—if she succeeded in the acquisition, he would reward her handsomely.
"I remember," she said, her heart filled with anticipation and a touch of nervousness, unsure of what kind of "reward" he had in mind.
Shen Xubai looked at her seriously. "I’d like you to stay with Shengshi Capital and continue managing significant projects. Naturally, your position and salary will be elevated accordingly."
Gu Wanqing was somewhat surprised, but it also made sense. With her current skills and experience, Shengshi Capital was an ideal platform for her growth.
"I’m willing," Gu Wanqing answered without hesitation.
Shen Xubai smiled in satisfaction. "Good. I believe we’ll have many more opportunities to collaborate in the future."
After the banquet, Shen Xubai personally drove Gu Wanqing home. The car ride was quiet, but the silence was comfortable, underpinned by an unspoken understanding between them.
When the car pulled up in front of her apartment building, Shen Xubai turned to her, his gaze soft.
"Wanqing..." he called softly.
Gu Wanqing’s heart quickened. She looked up at him, waiting for his next words.
Shen Xubai hesitated briefly before saying, "I’m glad we met again."
His words were simple yet sincere, filling Gu Wanqing’s heart with warmth. She knew their story was just beginning.
However, just as Gu Wanqing thought their relationship might deepen, a new crisis quietly unfolded.
A few days later, Gu Wanqing received a phone call from her hometown. It was her neighbor, Aunt Wang, and her voice was filled with panic.
"Wanqing, you must come back quickly! Your brother... your brother’s in trouble!" Aunt Wang cried over the phone.
Gu Wanqing’s heart sank, an ominous feeling washing over her. "Aunt Wang, calm down. What happened to my brother?"
"He... he got into some kind of trouble and was beaten up. He’s in the hospital now!" Aunt Wang stammered through her tears.
Gu Wanqing’s mind went blank, almost refusing to believe what she had just heard. Her brother, Gu Mingxuan, was her only family in the world. Though he was often irresponsible and caused trouble, she had always loved him, supporting him through school and hoping he would find his way.
"Which hospital? I’ll be there right away!" Gu Wanqing’s voice trembled as she spoke.
After hanging up, she immediately asked Shen Xubai for leave, booked the earliest flight, and rushed back to her hometown.
When she arrived at the hospital, exhausted and breathless, she saw her brother lying in the hospital bed, his face bruised and swollen. Tears instantly welled up in her eyes.
"Xuan..." Gu Wanqing choked out, rushing to his side.
"Sis..." Gu Mingxuan called weakly upon seeing her.
"What happened? Who did this to you?" Gu Wanqing asked, holding his hand, her voice thick with emotion.
Gu Mingxuan hesitated, then muttered, "I... I owe some people money..."
"Owe money?" Gu Wanqing frowned. "How much this time?"
"Not... not much, just a few thousand," Gu Mingxuan’s voice grew softer.
Gu Wanqing’s heart filled with disappointment and helplessness. Her brother had always been like this—irresponsible, lazy, and now involved in gambling again. She had paid off his debts numerous times before, yet here he was in trouble once more.
"Is it gambling debt again?" Her voice was stern.
Gu Mingxuan lowered his head, unable to meet her eyes.
Sighing, Gu Wanqing knew this wasn’t the time to reprimand him. The priority was to deal with the immediate problem.
"Who are these people? Why did they beat you?" she asked.
After a moment’s hesitation, Gu Mingxuan replied, "They’re loan sharks... If I don’t pay them back soon, they said they’ll..."
He didn’t finish, but Gu Wanqing understood the threat.
Her heart filled with anger and fear. She hadn’t expected her brother to get involved with loan sharks. If mishandled, the consequences could be dire.
"I’ll take care of this," she reassured him, though her mind was racing, trying to figure out a solution.
While a few thousand yuan wasn’t a problem for her financially, letting her brother continue down this path was dangerous. She also feared the loan sharks might continue to harass her family.
As she sat in the hospital corridor, her phone rang—it was Shen Xubai.
"Wanqing, how are things on your end?" His voice was filled with concern.
After a moment of hesitation, Gu Wanqing explained her brother’s situation.
Shen Xubai listened quietly before responding, "If you need help, don’t hesitate to let me know."
His offer of support brought a sense of comfort to Gu Wanqing amidst her distress.
"Thank you, Mr. Shen. I’m still figuring things out. I’ll let you know if I need anything," she replied.
Once the call ended, Gu Wanqing sat alone in the hospital corridor, gazing out at the overcast sky. Her heart was heavy with uncertainty and frustration. She didn’t know what other challenges awaited her on this unpredictable
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