Honored Guest - Chapter 9
Blueprints
As Lan Yan left the complex, she received a call from Chen Lin. “Lan Yan, are you coming over? I need your help looking at some materials.”
She agreed, “Okay, I’ll be right there.”
Chen Lin was very satisfied with the designs Lan Yan had created, barely requesting any revisions. She'd already hired contractors, and they’d started renovations. She’d asked Lan Yan to supervise the work. Today, they were waterproofing the bathrooms. Chen Lin wasn’t at ease, so she’d asked Lan Yan to come over.
When Lan Yan arrived, the workers were filling the bathrooms with water. She stood at the doorway, checking the waterproofing materials. There were no issues, but she stayed for a while longer. The workers told Chen Lin, “We need to let it sit for two days. If there are no leaks, it’s fine.”
Chen Lin didn’t understand and looked at Lan Yan, who nodded. “Let it sit for two days.”
The workers packed up and left. Chen Lin stood at the bathroom door, unable to enter, the floor covered in water. “That’s it?”
Lan Yan said, “Yes, if there are no leaks, then it’s done.”
“Keep an eye on the water level these next two days. If it drops, we’ll have to redo it,” Lan Yan explained. Chen Lin listened attentively, tapping her fingers against the wall, then stood up.
Lan Yan asked, “What’s wrong?”
“This,” Chen Lin said, pointing. “The sliding door here. The workers said it breaks easily and suggested I replace it with a different kind of door.”
“No need,” Lan Yan said. “The ones I recommended all come with a warranty.”
Chen Lin wasn’t stupid. She understood. “Oh, right. Then we’ll stick with the sliding door. Also, can we make some space here for a shoe cabinet?”
Lan Yan walked over to where she was pointing, near the doorway. “Yes, I can just modify the blueprints.”
Chen Lin smiled. “Thank you, Lan Yan.”
Then she asked, “By the way, have they started renovations on Yue Yue’s apartment yet?”
Probably, right? Lan Yan wasn’t sure. She hadn’t contacted Jiang Jin Yue since their last meeting. Recalling her conversation with Yu He earlier, she asked Chen Lin, “What kind of accident was it that Jiang Jin Yue’s mother was in?”
Chen Lin said, “A car accident.”
Her expression turned somber. “The driver was barely an adult, completely panicked after the accident. Didn’t even know to call the police. It was a passerby who called. His family didn’t have any money either. It was a very difficult time for Yue Yue. Fortunately, Yu He was there…”
“His family didn’t have any money?” Lan Yan looked at Chen Lin. “Didn’t she receive any compensation?”
“Compensation?” Chen Lin scoffed. “She hasn’t received a cent. They were a bunch of deadbeats. The whole family refused to take responsibility. Only after their son was taken away did they come begging Yue Yue. They didn’t even bother visiting her mother in the hospital. Yue Yue ended up suing them.”
Lan Yan asked, “Did Yu He help her with the lawsuit?”
“Someone from his law firm did,” Chen Lin said. “I didn’t follow the case closely. Yue Yue doesn't really tell us anything now.”
Lan Yan’s expression turned serious.
Chen Lin, noticing her expression, continued, “I feel like I owe Yue Yue. She borrowed money from me for her mother’s medical expenses. I was away at the time, and there was a transfer limit, and I couldn't get back in time. By the time I returned, she didn’t need the money anymore.”
Speaking of this, Chen Lin lowered her head. “But Yu He helped a lot. After that, the two of them started talking about getting married.”
Lan Yan frowned, lost in thought.
She still couldn’t figure out where Jiang Jin Yue had gotten the money.
She asked Chen Lin, “Can you do me a favor?”
Chen Lin nodded. “Sure.”
Lan Yan had helped her so much recently; she would definitely return the favor. Lan Yan said, “Could you help me find out who handled the lawsuit for her, and which hospital her mother was in?”
“Her mother?” Chen Lin said. “She was at City Hospital.”
“But I’m not sure who handled the lawsuit. I’ll ask around.”
Lan Yan said, “Thank you.”
Then she added, “Could you please not tell Jiang Jin Yue?”
Chen Lin looked surprised. “Why?” Then she smiled. “Alright, I won’t ask.”
She figured Lan Yan wanted to help Jiang Jin Yue, so she agreed. Lan Yan thanked her again and left, driving back. She didn’t go straight home, instead heading to City Hospital.
She parked at the hospital entrance, but she had no reason to go inside. It had been over half a year. Even the nurses might not remember the details. She didn’t know why she’d come here, she just felt like she was missing something.
Something Yu He had revealed, but Jiang Jin Yue had hidden.
What was it?
And where had she gotten the money to buy the apartment?
At first, she’d assumed it was the compensation, but now she doubted it. Yet Yu He had said she didn't owe him any money. Lan Yan’s mind was in turmoil. She rubbed her temples, watching the people coming and going, mostly patients, with a few nurses passing through the entrance.
The setting sun cast a red glow over everything. She stared intently at the entrance, her gaze fixed, thoughts swirling in her mind, each one emerging only to be dismissed.
As darkness fell, she looked down at the steering wheel, then stepped on the accelerator, speeding away.
Not long after she left, Yu He appeared at the entrance, carrying a black, three-tiered lunchbox. His pace was brisk as he headed towards the inpatient ward. A nurse, curious, looked at him and asked the head nurse, “Sister, isn’t that Yu He?”
The head nurse glanced at him. “Yes.”
The nurse said, “That’s strange. Why does he come to our ward so often?”
The head nurse said, “He and Dr. Luo are classmates. Dr. Luo was the one who treated his fiancée’s mother when she was brought in. Not just him, his fiancée also comes often to thank Dr. Luo.”
The nurse nodded. “Oh…”
She said, “That’s why they come here so often.”
Yu He ignored the whispers and entered the office. A man sat inside, frowning when he saw him. “Why are you here? Didn't I tell you I’m working late tonight?”
“I was worried you’d starve to death.” Yu He’s lips curved into a smile. “So I brought you some food.”
Luo Sheng Sheng said, “You should spend this time trying to persuade Yue Yue.”
“Can I even persuade her?” Yu He said. “She’s so stubborn, even eight donkeys couldn't budge her. If I could persuade her, she would have started chemotherapy already.”
The topic brought a heavy silence between them.
Yu He asked, “How is she doing now?”
“Not good,” Luo Sheng Sheng replied. “The tests we did last week showed that it's spreading rapidly.”
Yu He frowned. “Does she know?”
Luo Sheng Sheng said, “She knows. I told her everything from the beginning.”
The illness was incurable, but chemotherapy could buy her more time. The treatment wasn’t cheap, but Jiang Jin Yue could definitely afford it. But then she’d insisted on buying that bridal suite.
Yu He said, “I met with Lan Yan today.”
Luo Sheng Sheng’s expression changed dramatically. “Did you tell her?”
Yu He said, “No.”
He sat opposite Luo Sheng Sheng. “I think it’s better for Yue Yue to tell her, or for Lan Yan to find out herself.”
Luo Sheng Sheng nodded. “Don’t get involved in this. You don’t want Yue Yue to hate you.”
“So be it if she hates me.” Yu He looked down, his voice low. “How long can she hate me for?”
Luo Sheng Sheng wanted to say something, but he stopped himself, closing his mouth, saying nothing. Yu He took out his phone and called Jiang Jin Yue. “I’ll send you the blueprints in a couple of days.”
Jiang Jin Yue frowned. “You found someone to design it?”
“It’s designed exactly according to your requirements. It was expensive!” Yu He said. “Forget it, you don't have to pay me back. Consider it a wedding gift.”
Jiang Jin Yue chuckled. “Should I thank you, then?”
Yu He laughed. “Of course, you really should thank me properly.”
Jiang Jin Yue said, “Okay, thank you, Lawyer Yu.”
Yu He responded, “You’re welcome, you’re welcome. Have you eaten?”
Jiang Jin Yue said, “Not yet, I’m not hungry.”
Yu He hesitated, then asked, “Do you want Luo Sheng Sheng and me to come over?”
Jiang Jin Yue said, “No need. I’m at the new apartment. I’ll eat something when I get home.”
Yu He said, “Okay then. Call me if you need anything.”
Jiang Jin Yue hung up.
Yu He didn’t mention Lan Yan at all. Luo Sheng Sheng started to say, “You…”
Yu He looked at him, and Luo Sheng Sheng stopped, lowering his head to eat in silence.
Two days later, Jiang Jin Yue received the blueprints from Yu He. They were designed exactly according to her requirements, every detail reflecting her vision. Jiang Jin Yue was very satisfied and immediately gave them to the contractors. Yu He came over on the day construction began and asked, “Are you happy with it?”
Jiang Jin Yue said, “It's great, thank you.”
Yu He said, “You’re welcome.” He couldn’t help himself. “Yue Yue, are you really…”
“Yu He,” Jiang Jin Yue interrupted him. “This apartment will look beautiful once it’s finished.”
Yu He paused, then smiled. “Yes.”
His phone rang. He glanced at Jiang Jin Yue. “I need to take this.”
Jiang Jin Yue nodded and went inside. Outside, Yu He answered the call. It was Lan Yan, asking if he had any revisions for the blueprints. Yu He said, “They’re not quite right. Redo them for me.”
Lan Yan frowned. “Huh?”
Yu He said, “Redesign them. I’ll buy your current design at the original price.”
Buy them at the original price?
What was he trying to do?
Show off how rich he was?
Lan Yan said, “There’s no need. If you’re not satisfied, Mr. Yu, then they’re just scrap paper. I’ll redesign them for you.”
Yu He said, “I’ll trouble you then, Miss Lan.”
Lan Yan hung up, slightly annoyed. She pursed her lips, tossing her phone onto the desk. Lan Qi walked over. “What’s wrong? So angry in the middle of the day?”
Lan Yan said, “Nothing.”
Lan Qi asked, “By the way, how’s that lawyer’s apartment design coming along?”
Lan Yan said, “He asked for a redesign.”
“Really?” Lan Qi was surprised. “The whole thing?”
That was certainly unusual. Clients were usually extremely satisfied with Lan Yan’s designs, which was why they kept coming back. Lan Yan had only been back for less than a month, but her performance was already at the top. To think someone was actually dissatisfied.
Lan Qi said, “It’s fine. People have different tastes.”
Lan Yan knew Yu He was deliberately making things difficult. Feeling frustrated, she grabbed her bag and stood up. Lan Qi asked, “Where are you going?”
“Just going for a walk.”
Lan Qi asked, “What about the dinner tonight…?”
Lan Yan said, “I won’t be going. It’s Chen Lin’s birthday tonight.”
“Oh, I completely forgot.” Lan Yan was supposed to have the weekend off and go to Chen Lin’s birthday party in the evening, but she’d ended up coming to the office to work overtime. Lan Qi had forgotten all about it. She asked, “Did you buy a gift?”
Lan Yan said, “Yes, I’m going to pick it up now.”
It was a custom-made bracelet, the latest GH design, stylish and chic, perfectly matching Chen Lin’s usual style. Lan Yan hadn’t expected to see Jiang Jin Yue when she arrived.
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