Chapter 59: Reunion 1

Chapter 59: Reunion 1

The morning sun seeped through the curtains, casting a glow on Yun He's eyelids. He turned over, seeking the shade to catch some more sleep. Unfortunately, his snooze was cut short by his phone alarm just a few minutes later.

Yun He gritted his teeth, trying to endure the disturbance for a while longer before finally giving in. With a groggy body, he got up to silence the alarm on his bedside table. Half-awake, he stumbled to find his slippers and made his way to the bathroom for his morning routine.

Recently, Yun He had quit his job in Shanghai and returned to his hometown. After coming back, he didn't live with his parents but instead bought a small apartment, just under eighty square meters, which was ample for him alone. Yun He had grown accustomed to living independently during his years of working away from home, so his parents didn't insist on him staying with them. They only occasionally invited him for family dinners.

After getting ready, Yun He slipped into a simple white T-shirt and black athletic pants in front of the dressing mirror. Since his current job at a local, sizable private education institution as an English teacher didn't require formal attire, he dressed for comfort.

Finished with his preparations, Yun He skipped breakfast and rushed to the underground garage of his apartment complex to get into his compact sedan. On his way to work, he received a call from Cai Mingzhi.

"Happy birthday, son," Cai Mingzhi's voice echoed in the car through Bluetooth, sounding cheerful. Over the years, the fruit store business had flourished, allowing her to hire many young and strong workers. Thus, Cai Mingzhi wasn't as busy as she used to be, granting her more free time.

Yun He was taken aback, glancing at the date displayed on the car's dashboard. "Oh, it's my birthday today? I completely forgot."

"Well, Mom did good this year, didn't forget!" Cai Mingzhi chuckled.

"Indeed, you're amazing." Yun He played along. Back then, with his parents busy at their fruit store, his birthdays were often overlooked. However, he never really cared much about celebrating them.

"Well, come home for dinner tonight. Mom will celebrate your birthday."

"I'm already so old; I don't place much importance on it anymore. Besides, I haven't celebrated my birthday much these past few years living on my own. It's not a big deal." As Yun He signaled to change lanes, he glanced in the rearview mirror and noticed a G-Class SUV tailing him.

"What do you mean 'how old are you'? A man at twenty-eight is like a beautiful flower!" Cai Mingzhi protested.

Yun He chuckled. "You also called me a flower when I was twenty-five."

After successfully changing lanes, the G-Class drove past. Yun He had always admired this car model and couldn't help stealing a couple more glances whenever he saw one.

"Are you driving? Then I'll stop talking. Remember to come back for dinner tonight."

"Alright, Mother." Yun He hung up and stepped on the gas pedal to make it to work on time.

With two classes in the morning and one in the afternoon, by the time Yun He finished teaching, he felt a burning sensation in his throat. As soon as he returned to his office, he quickly grabbed a large glass of water.

"How's it going? Are you still getting used to it?" There was another teacher in the office, a Japanese language instructor named Jin, a woman around forty who found Yun He's hurried water-drinking amusing.

"Not bad, but talking constantly is taking a toll on my throat." Yun He pointed at his neck. "It feels like someone's rubbing sandpaper over it."

"Drink more chrysanthemum and jasmine tea to soothe the irritation. Our profession is like that – it's quite taxing on the vocal cords." Mr. Jin took out a box of chrysanthemum tea from his drawer and handed it to Yun He. "I have some here. You can brew it if you'd like."

"Thanks, but I'm almost done with work. It would be a waste to brew it now," Yun He replied with a smile.

"Sigh, how nice. I had to add two extra classes this afternoon, so I won't be finished until around seven o'clock tonight." Mr. Jin let out a frustrated sigh. "I promised to take my daughter to the newly opened sports center for her class, but looks like she'll have to take the bus there by herself today."

"A new sports center? Where is it?" Yun He had developed an interest in fitness over the past few years, but he hadn't found a suitable gym since he came back. His curiosity piqued, he asked.

"It's right in the city center, quite spacious and comprehensive. They even have separate areas for teenagers and adults, offering all sorts of activities," explained Mr. Jin.

"Really? I've been looking for a place to work out recently. Do they have Muay Thai classes?"

"Probably, I didn't inquire in detail. But the entire building is theirs, with facilities like a swimming pool and ice-skating rink. It's become quite popular among young people here lately; it's very convenient."

"That does sound great."

"Indeed. I didn't pay attention to the adult section, but the teenage area where my daughter goes seems very professional. The coaches are all handsome, too, haha..."

"Intrigued by your description, I'm tempted to check it out myself. Coincidentally, I'm heading to my mom's for dinner and will pass by there. Would you like me to give your daughter a ride?" Yun He offered.

"Sure! That would be fantastic. My daughter will join me shortly, so please take her with you when you finish work," Teacher Jin replied joyfully. "Thank you so much, Teacher Yun."

"No problem at all, it's on my way anyway."

Teacher Jin's daughter was named Little Meng, a lively and active thirteen-year-old who attended taekwondo classes.

Following the navigation, Yun He arrived at the newly opened sports center in the city center. The large outdoor parking lot in front of it was filled with numerous luxurious cars.

"Here we are, Professor Yun. This is it." Little Meng rushed out of the car, pulling Yun He's hand towards the venue.

"Take it easy, you might fall if you rush," Yun He pulled Little Meng back gently. "You seem to really enjoy taekwondo."

"Hehe, Coach Asen is so handsome." Little Meng's smile narrowed his small eyes into slits.

"Seriously? Are you here to learn taekwondo or to admire handsome guys? Does your mother know about this side of you?" Yun He teased.

"Mom is quite fond of Coach Asen too. She's upset today because she couldn't come to see me off and miss the chance to see Asen," Little Meng divulged with a playful tongue poke, revealing his mother's true feelings.

Accompanied by Little Meng, Yun He took the elevator to the third floor. This entire level was dedicated to children's activities, with facilities for taekwondo, physical training, and even kid-friendly rock climbing. The sheer size of this floor alone was staggering, and Yun He found it hard to fathom how many more activities the entire building could accommodate. It likely offered every imaginable sports activity one could think of.

Arriving at the taekwondo gym, Yun He exchanged greetings with Coach Asen and inquired about Little Meng's finishing time. The coach informed him that the session would conclude in about an hour. Yun He pondered for a moment and decided it would be more prudent to wait until Little Meng's training ended so he could escort him back to Teacher Jin's place. Although a thirteen-year-old didn't require constant adult supervision, Yun He felt responsible since Little Meng was out with him and wouldn't rest easy until the child was safely returned.

While Little Meng was occupied with class, Yun He went to the front desk to inquire about the enrollment procedures for their courses. Soon, a customer service representative approached him to conduct a professional full-body assessment tailored to his needs.

Yun He sat in a corner of the lounge, perusing the informational brochures, and discovered that the range of activities here was indeed extensive. In addition to what he had just seen, there were tennis, ice skating, ice hockey, golf, swimming, Thai boxing, yoga, shooting, bowling, and a myriad of other sports. It was truly a kingdom of athletic pursuits.

"Mr. Yun, do you have any specific requirements for your coach?" the customer service representative asked with a professional smile.

"Good looks will do," Yun He joked.

The young lady covered her mouth, giggling. "Do handsome guys also fancy handsome guys?"

"Indeed. Otherwise, why would all the trainers here be so good-looking? Isn't that part of your marketing strategy?" Yun He blinked mischievously.

"Well, you could also consider working part-time here. Our General Manager Gu would definitely be pleased with someone like you," the young lady said, finding Yun He amiable and easy to talk to. She quickly became comfortable enough to make a playful remark.

"General Manager Gu?" Yun He always paid extra attention to this surname.

"Yes—Oh my, Mr. Gu is here. Chinese people truly can't afford to mention their names," the young lady whispered, her eyes instantly fixated on the approaching figure.

Yun He followed the hostess's gaze and the smile on his face froze abruptly. Not only did his smile freeze, but his limbs, hair follicles, and even his breath seemed to hold still.

Gu Jiabei...

The person walking in their direction was Gu Jiabei...

Despite not having seen him for over a decade, Yun He could still recognize him at first sight. For this face had appeared countless times in his dreams. Even with his eyes now darker and his brows sharper, Yun He could still identify him effortlessly.

Gu Jiabei, as expected, had grown significantly taller, his long legs striding with an unhurried grace. He listened to the report from those around him, occasionally furrowing his brow out of habit. His peach blossom eyes, when not smiling, exuded a distant and cold demeanor, complemented by his high nose bridge, firm lips, and chiseled facial contours.

Yun He's gaze was fixed intently on Gu Jiabei's face, watching the familiar yet unfamiliar figure making his way towards him...

It felt as if Yun He's heart had been plucked out and whirled around in mid-air, leaving him disoriented and directionless.

Gu Jiabei engaged in conversation with his staff, walking straight through the reception area without casting a sideways glance, oblivious to the lingering gaze from the corner.

"Ah, every time I see him, it's like a fresh surprise. How can there be such a handsome boss?" The customer service representative's eyes returned to their normal state, a blissful smile adorning her face.

"Is this Mr. Gu you're referring to?" Yun He recovered from his shock and, without realizing it, moved his hand from the table to fidget under the table. "He owns this place?"

"Yes. Not just here, he has branches in several other cities as well. Although our sports brand is relatively new, its scale and quality are among the best in the country," the young lady said proudly, as if the gym were her own.

"How long has he been here? Will he stay...?" Yun He inquired.

"I'm not too sure. Since this branch just opened, he's here to oversee things personally. I suppose he'll leave after a while since this is just a subsidiary. There's a dedicated manager for it," the girl answered Yun He's questions patiently.

"......I'll sign up for a membership," Yun He said.

"Oh, great! Mr. Yun, please rest assured that we're the most professional around," the young lady was surprised by Yun He's decisiveness.

"And... which floor is Mr. Gu's office on?"