58 Chapter 58: Feelings

  After Su Ning and Li Youqing went to bed, Lin Miao cautiously went out the balcony and dialed a familiar string of numbers. The summer night in A City was still rather chilly but Lin Miao barely felt the cold since she was immersed in the spectacular night view of the city. It took several seconds for her call to connect and on the other line spoke a calm deep voice.

"Lin Miao," he gave a perfunctory greeting.

"Gu YuChen, it's been a while," Lin Miao greeted back

.........…..

To be quite honest, Lin Miao was surprised when Gu YuChen had first approached her. The latter had a stoic look on his face the entire duration of their conversation that it took a minute or two for Lin Miao to process that he'd been asking for a favor. 'Is this how people request a favor nowadays? He looks like he is reading funeral rights,' Lin Miao thought back then.

In fact, Gu YuChen's request was quite simple, he merely wanted Lin Miao to help watch over Su Ning and report any suspicious events to him. This was something Lin Miao was already willing to do for her good friend. Did it really warrant this young master to specifically come and see her? As Lin Miao sat at the corner table of a boutique cafe, she glanced at the tall, lean and impressively handsome teen across from her with an impassive expression on his face. 'Su Ning was right when she said Gu YuChen had facial paralysis,' Lin Miao mused as she tried to hide a rapidly forming grin.

As they began to talk, Lin Miao quickly grew serious. She's always been a mature girl owing to her poor childhood and was forced to grow up quickly.

"Young Master Gu, Su Ning is only a normal 16 year old girl who doesn't have any enemies. Am I correct to assume your concern for her safety is a result of her association with you?" Lin Miao commented astutely. 

"Lin Miao is a smart girl. It was right to reach out to you." Gu YuChen said with a ghost of a smile on his cold face.

"Su Ning is my best friend. I will of course do my best to take care of her but you know we aren't able to meet often," she explained.

"I understand. However Su Ning still keeps in close contact with you. And there are things that she would only tell her girlfriends," he calmly said.

"Mm. Alright. I'll let you know if there is anything out of the ordinary," Lin Miao agreed.

"Thank you. Here is my number please call me directly," Gu YuChen slid a small card on the table.

"There is no thanks necessary. I know you had a hand in having the editor of kkuaikanmanhua reach out to me," said Lin Miao and the young teen nodded in acknowledgement. 'Who would've thought the day would come that Young Master Gu would give me his phone number.'

............

Back in the present, Lin Miao recounted what had occurred recently highlighting how Su Ning had become close friends with someone who previously bullied her. This point made Gu YuChen frown somewhat at the other end of the line. 'Su Ning is oftentimes too kind to a fault,' thought Gu YuChen.

"I'll have Xiao Yi look into that girl Qing Mei. What is your personal opinion on the matter?" asked Gu YuChen.

"Hmm. To be honest, I don't believe someone can change that easily. Maybe...it's possible if someone had gone through a life or death situation," Lin Miao responded thinking of Su Ning's circumstance several years back. "But in general no...it's more likely that the person is simply faking it," Lin Miao continued calmly.

Meanwhile, Gu YuChen gave a small nod of acknowledgement and didn't make a comment of his own. He has always been sensitive of the people surrounding Su Ning. Truthfully, if he had his way he would have each one investigated; however, he was certain Su Ning would hate that. Nevertheless, he feels an exception is warranted  for this person, Qing Mei.

Still at the hotel balcony, Lin Miao made a split second decision to tell Gu YuChen about their recent conversation regarding Su Ning's views on dating. She could tell that both Gu YuChen and Lin JinYan harbored special feelings for her friend. In fact, they were both quite obvious in their physical and emotional displays of endearment. 

Lin Miao recalled seeing Gu YuChen's apartment via their video calls and she was shocked to find that it looked exactly like that Hygge catalogue Su Ning liked so much. She seriously doubted that a person with such a dry and serious personality as Gu YuChen would choose to decorate his apartment in such a cozy manner. This was all done to cater to Su Ning's wishes, despite the party in question being completely unaware of the matter.

Su Ning had also previously mentioned that before Gu YuChen had left for Cambridge, he had been the one responsible for all the cooking at the apartment. Nevermind Li Youqing, even Lin Miao had been flabbergasted; how can such an esteemed and pampered young master know how to cook?! Isn't it more likely that Gu YuChen learned to cook for Su Ning? Of course, these were all conjectures on her part, for Su Ning would merely refute any inference of a possible romantic interest coming from the boys.

Further, Lin Miao also remembered a certain user of kkuaikanmanhua called TheRealPrince❀ who purchased a premium subscription of her webtoon and continuously spent thousands in USD for polls and commissioned artwork of 2 of the 3 main characters. She had quite the niggling feeling in her heart that this was Lin JinYan. The same school prince who used to dislike updating his Vechat and Veibo would now constantly post images of him and Su Ning together. Recently, Lin Miao learned that Lin JinYan was even walking Su Ning to her classes whilst carrying her school bag.

  At the top of her head, Lin Miao can recall many such instances of Gu YuChen and Lin JinYan's preferential treatment towards Su Ning. Yet alas, the girl remained oblivious to their advances. However after their conversation a few hours ago, Lin Miao realized it wasn't that Su Ning was oblivious to love, she completely doesn't consider Gu YuChen and Lin JinYan as potential romantic interests. At that moment, Lin Miao sincerely felt pity for the two young masters while at the same time she couldn't help but chuckle in glee. 'God is fair. Even the super rich have their troubles.'

"Su Ning said that?" Gu YuChen's even voice came from the other end.

"Yes, NingNing says that you and Lin JinYan are her older brothers. And she will consider falling in love in university here in C Country," Lin Miao responded.

"I see. Thank you," came a curt and somewhat despondent sounding reply. 

"Goodnight. And thank you, Gu YuChen for keeping us safe," said Lin Miao referring to the young master's subordinates who are currently in the neighboring room of the hotel. After Gu YuChen's short humm of acknowledgement, a soft click could be heard indicating that the person on the other end of the line had hung up the phone. Lin Miao smiled and proceeded to return to the bedroom occupied by her two sleeping friends.