CHAPTER 278: CHAPTER 260: RESIGNATION LETTER

Gu Qili was waiting for his answer, but what she heard was an off-the-wall remark that only a green boy might make, completely out of character for Mu Shuoqian.

Yet the look he fixed on her was so serious, nothing like a joke,

"Mu Shuoqian, do you know what you’re saying?" Dehydration made her lips somewhat dry, yet her voice was moist, accompanied by a barely detectable tremor.

"I said we should elope." He repeated his words, bringing their intertwined hands to his lips with a seemingly delighted expression, a layer of laughter shimmering in his eyes, "Go to a place where no one knows us, and then... spend a lifetime together."

Gu Qili trembled slightly at his mention of "a lifetime," gazing unblinkingly at him as if trying to gauge how much truth his words held.

If he had said this to her before, she would have burst into excited tears, because such words don’t suit coming from Mu Shuoqian’s mouth. But now, she had too many questions.

"If you agree, I’ll head back to the company to prepare right away. I can give up everything, as long as I take you with me."

"Are you deceiving me?"

He placed a document in front of her, gesturing for her to open it.

Up until now, Gu Qili was still in a fog, not understanding what Mu Shuoqian really wanted to do, until she opened the folder on the blanket and her face revealed a shocking emotion.

It was a letter of resignation; Mu Shuoqian decided to resign from the CEO position.

Another document was a stock transfer deed; he transferred all the shares in his name to Gu Qili.

In another envelope were two plane tickets to Australia, with passengers listed as Mu Shuoqian and Gu Qili.

Gu Qili lifted her gaze, clashing with his bright obsidian eyes. He tightened his grip on her hand,

He really wanted to run away with her, willing to give up everything he had for her.

"Why?" she finally asked with difficulty, what was it that forced him to leave with her.

"There’s no why, there is only willing or unwilling." He stared her down, leaving her no room for second thoughts. Now, he just wanted an answer, "Qiqi, are you willing or not?"

Gu Qili lowered her eyes, hearing a strong voice crying out from the bottom of her heart, she wouldn’t be blindly led by the nose again, she wanted answers to everything, regardless of what the answer would be, she didn’t want to be a fool in the dark.

Yet the words she spoke surprised even herself; she nodded at him so firmly: "I am willing."

Mu Shuoqian was stunned for a moment, and then his lips curled up into a smile, as joyous as a child with candy, he leaned in to embrace her, his happiness radiating all around: "Wait for me, I’ll go to the company now."

"Mu Shuoqian, won’t you regret it?" The position of CEO was hard-won, many people lusted after it, dreaming of it, yet he was ready to hand it over without a wince, and besides, his shares were worth a fortune, and he wanted to transfer them all to her.

"I’m only afraid that you will regret it. If you come with me, you won’t be able to fulfill your dreams, and the vineyard you worked so hard for will lose its owner. So, Qiqi, I ask you once more, are you willing?" His tone was straightforward yet touched with timidity, very afraid that after the time just passed, she had changed her mind.

But Gu Qili still nodded: "I am willing."

His hanging heart finally settled, pressing on her shoulders, he leaned over to kiss her lips, "Wait for me."

Long after Mu Shuoqian had left, Gu Qili still sat dazedly on the hospital bed.

How did things turn around so suddenly like this, what happened to all the questions she had mentally prepared, not a single word asked. Instead, she had unhesitatingly agreed to elope with him.

She couldn’t figure out, whether she was crazy or he was.

Moreover, he mentioned eloping, which generally implies it’s not blessed by both parties’ families. Although Mu Haotian didn’t like her, they were already married, Mu Haotian couldn’t object anymore, and they no longer needed to care about Mu Haotian’s thoughts.

If not Mu Haotian, then it must be his mother’s disapproval. But she hasn’t formally met that dignified and noble woman, so how could he be so sure his mother would disagree?

And even if she didn’t agree, they didn’t need to hide away, did they? If she disliked her, she could change. The mother-in-law relationship is always difficult, but she would endure everything, even humiliation, because that is his mother after all.

Gu Qili pondered for a long time but couldn’t come up with a reason.

The halo outside the window began to envelop the white bedding, and after the doctor came in to check on her and said she could be discharged,

She just sat there blankly without moving, staring out the window even after the doctor closed the door and left.

Even with so much uncertainty, even though she clearly knew he was hiding many things from her, she could see her own heart clearly—she wanted to go with him, just one word from him, and she would be willing to follow.

Be it to the ends of the earth or the corner of the sea, the place she desired was merely wherever he was.

Call her spineless, say her mind is muddled by love, let those unsolved issues remain mysteries—for now, she just wanted to be with him.

Gu Qili quickly climbed out of bed, put on new clothes she found in the bag brought by Mu Shuoqian yesterday, washed her face, tied her hair up, and applied some simple skincare cream.

Once he was ready, he would take her back to pick up her documents and a few daily necessities; she didn’t want to bring anything else.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, Gu Qili quietly enjoyed the sunlight from the window, her hand habitually stroking the shiba zi on her wrist. The cool, smooth touch calmed her fluctuating mood.

She tried to empty her mind, not thinking about anything, just quietly waiting for his arrival.

It wasn’t until the room’s door creaked open and someone entered, that she hurriedly turned her head to look.

～

After returning to the company, Mu Shuoqian called Xiao Ran to his office and handed him two documents he had prepared earlier.

Upon glancing at the documents, Xiao Ran thought his eyes were playing tricks on him, and after double-checking, he asked incredulously, "Young Master Qian, what is this?"

One was a resignation letter and the other was a stock transfer certificate that needed authentication.

"Proceed with it, the faster the better."

Xiao Ran had always been tight-lipped, but faced with such a sudden decision from Mu Shuoqian, he couldn’t help but ask again, "Young Master Qian, have you truly considered this?"

Having followed him for so many years, he knew all too well how hard Mu Shuoqian had fought for what he had now. Mu Hewen had always been plotting to seize power, but he never expected that Mu Shuoqian would be willing to relinquish it so readily.

For a man to give up his empire, there could only be one reason: for the love of a beautiful woman.

Standing in front of the floor-to-ceiling window smoking, Mu Shuoqian’s silhouette was cold and resolute. Blowing a smoke ring, he said in an indisputable tone, "Get it done immediately."

Xiao Ran sighed silently. Even he felt reluctant for Mu Shuoqian’s family business; his determination was truly intense.

Since it was Mu Shuoqian’s decision, he could not say any more; any attempt to persuade would be futile. As Xiao Ran was about to leave the room, the door was suddenly pushed open.

A faint scent of perfume drifted in, a very elegant and sophisticated fragrance. He looked at the person who entered, dressed in a purple dress with a unique design, her features stunningly perfect. Had she not been of a certain age, she would undoubtedly have been a devastating beauty.

He was taken aback and instinctively said, "Madam, Young Master Qian does not allow...."

No woman is allowed on the twenty-fourth floor, what was that security guard doing outside the elevator?

"You don’t have to worry about that security guard; he’s just temporarily unconscious," the woman said indifferently with a glance, "You may leave now. I have something to discuss with Shuoqian."

As soon as the woman spoke, her commanding presence made Xiao Ran inexplicably intimidated, her aura all too familiar to him.

Xiao Ran hurriedly looked at Mu Shuoqian, who, after a moment of mild surprise, nodded at him.

Xiao Ran was about to leave with the documents in his hand when the woman suddenly reached out and snatched the file from him, catching Xiao Ran off-guard and unprepared for her abrupt action.

The woman quickly opened the file, scanned it, and threw it onto the desk in front, causing several papers to scatter on the floor.

Xiao Ran, nervously attempting to bend down to pick them up, heard Mu Shuoqian’s voice slowly rise: "You go first."

"Yes, Young Master Qian." Xiao Ran ceased his action to pick up the items, opened the door, stepped out, and then turned back to close it.

It was then that he saw the security guard from the elevator lying on the carpet, with two men in black standing beside him.

Xiao Ran frowned, sensing trouble—the visitor definitely harbored ill intentions.

Qiu Lan stepped behind Mu Shuoqian, her purple, diamond-studded high heels matching the color of her dress as she stepped over the resignation letter, puncturing it with force.

"Quite the switch-up scheme, Shuoqian. I never expected you’d even play such tricks on your own mother." She pulled two photographs out of her purse and flung them onto the table, "What is the meaning of this? Which one of these is actually Gu Dezhong’s daughter?"

It was only then that Mu Shuoqian finished his cigarette, extinguishing the butt directly on the glass surface, and after a while, he turned his head back: "Haven’t you already found out?"

"I need you to tell me clearly, why did you keep this from me and do such a thing back then."

"Why?"

Indeed, why? That was probably the question Mu Shuoqian had asked himself back then as well.

He looked at the two photographs on the desk; thrown with such force, one landed on the telephone and the other on the computer. Even though they were far apart, it was clear to see—