Chapter 235: Inference

Su Yan also wanted to know. "The 'Banqiao' in this poem refers to Banqiao west of Kaifeng City. As for the carp in the poem, there is also an allusion; it refers to a man from the State of Zhao named Qin Gao, who possessed divine arts and arrived riding a red carp, staying for a month before returning to the water."

These were the only two points she could analyze.

"Wow, Su Yan, you're truly amazing! To think you know so much about a single poem!" Ma Chulan's admiration was written all over her face.

The tense atmosphere dissipated significantly.

Su Yan didn't think much of it; if she had to say, it was simply that her teacher had taught her well.

Ma Chulong's attention, however, was fixed on Su Yan's words. "Could the 'divine arts' imply that your mother might not have been an ordinary person either?"

Su Yan had actually considered this possibility, but unfortunately, she had no memories from her childhood and had no idea what her mother had been like when she was alive.

"There's one more thing." Ma Chulong suddenly thought of something, his voice tightening considerably. "If the information we have is correct, it seems the Kong family lives in seclusion around the Henan area."

Su Yan's breath hitched. She had long suspected a connection between her mother and the Kong family, and now all the evidence was pointing in that direction.

"Su Yan, what is your mother's surname?" Ma Chulong seemed to have guessed it as well.

Su Yan spoke the surname in a low voice, "Kong."

Both Ma Chulong and Ma Chulan wore expressions of shock.

So, she might be a member of the Kong family?!!

By the time the three returned to the hotel, it was already afternoon. Ma Chulan reminded Su Yan to contact Gu Yang immediately to give him the peace talisman.

Su Yan hadn't originally intended to make such a formal affair, but then she remembered that she had previously calculated that Gu Yang would run into trouble in the second half of the year. If she wasn't mistaken, it should be right around these one or two months. Thus, she simply dialed the number for Gu Yang's office.

However, the phone rang until the very end, and no one answered.

As evening approached, the siblings, having rested, came to find Su Yan to go out for dinner.

Being out was different from being at home; for a meal, they had to go to a restaurant.

Su Yan tidied herself up briefly and headed out.

"Editor-in-Chief Gu, I didn't expect we'd be having dinner together today?" Liu Yiyi looked at Gu Yang, who was sitting opposite her, with eyes full of affection and a shy demeanor. Of course, it would have been even more perfect if Lu Feng hadn't been sitting next to Gu Yang.

Lu Feng despised this act of hers the most; her intentions were written all over her face.

"It's just work," Gu Yang replied indifferently.

This afternoon, the President had suddenly called him, telling him that he and Lu Feng must attend an event tomorrow, and that they had to bring Liu Yiyi along.

The President hadn't explained why Liu Yiyi had to come, but his attitude had been very firm.

Gu Yang couldn't refuse, so he had Lu Feng contact Liu Yiyi.

Liu Yiyi, however, used the excuse of needing to discuss tomorrow's event with them to get the two of them to sit here with her.

At this moment, both Gu Yang and Lu Feng felt that perhaps they had known too little about Liu Yiyi's background. Someone capable of being promoted by the President was definitely not ordinary.

"It is Yiyi's honor to be able to work with Editor-in-Chief Gu and Director Lu," Liu Yiyi said, completely unbothered by Gu Yang's aloofness, enjoying herself in her own world.

Seeing her pestering Gu Yang, Lu Feng deliberately changed the subject.

"Gu Yang, are you going to look for your fiancée in a little while?"

When he said the word "fiancée," he even deliberately emphasized the volume.

Gu Yang naturally understood his meaning. He gave a brief "Mhm," then urged Liu Yiyi, "Can you tell us now?"

He and Lu Feng didn't know what tomorrow's event was; the President had only told them over the phone to bring Liu Yiyi.

Liu Yiyi acted a bit languidly. "Don't worry, Editor-in-Chief Gu, I definitely won't delay your time to see your fiancée. But I'm really hungry right now; can we talk while we eat?"

Since she refused to speak, Gu Yang and Lu Feng couldn't use chopsticks to pry her mouth open.

The two men exchanged a glance, both wearing expressions of slight impatience.

"Editor-in-Chief Gu, I saw that you weren't in a good mood yesterday, drinking alone to drown your sorrows. Did you have a fight with your fiancée?" Liu Yiyi deliberately brought up yesterday.

Gu Yang denied it. "No."

"That's good then. I see your fiancée is so young; when I was her age, I was still in school, yet she can already go out traveling with friends. I'm truly envious," Liu Yiyi said, her words carrying a double meaning.

Gu Yang felt extremely irritated, and his expression grew increasingly cold.

Liu Yiyi was smart enough to know when to stop and began talking about tomorrow's event.

"The event the President wants us to attend is a coming-of-age ceremony, so we should probably prepare a gift."

"Whose coming-of-age ceremony is so grand? What does it have to do with our publishing house?" Lu Feng immediately pressed for details.

Liu Yiyi smiled slightly. "It's the Zhou family."

Lu Feng froze for a moment before finally understanding.

The Zhou family was one of the prestigious clans in the capital, with businesses spanning the entire city.

Even the printing factory that had long-term cooperation with the publishing house had the involvement of the Zhou family; no wonder the President placed such importance on it.

"Tomorrow is the coming-of-age ceremony for the Zhou family's eldest son, Zhou Li." When Liu Yiyi mentioned Zhou Li, a trace of an imperceptible, strange emotion clearly laced her voice.

But Gu Yang happened to notice. "You know someone from the Zhou family?"

Liu Yiyi hesitated for two seconds. "How could I know someone from the Zhou family? If I had to say, it's just that I interviewed them before and had a few contacts."

Gu Yang knew that before being transferred to the publishing house, Liu Yiyi had been a reporter at a newspaper, but that alone couldn't be the reason the President personally designated her.

"The Zhou family places great importance on this coming-of-age ceremony. There will be hundreds of guests invited. We might even run into some acquaintances at the banquet tomorrow night," Liu Yiyi said with a half-smile, though a calculating glint flickered in the depths of her eyes.

Lu Feng echoed casually, "The capital is large, but the social circles are limited. It's normal to run into acquaintances."

Unlike Gu Yang, who disliked crowds, he was quite enthusiastic about building connections.

Liu Yiyi wanted to continue, but she suddenly looked toward the direction behind Gu Yang and Lu Feng, and then began to giggle.

"Director Lu is right. Although the capital is large, the chances of running into acquaintances are actually quite high."

Gu Yang and Lu Feng immediately sensed something and turned their heads to look.

When the two saw the siblings, Su Yan and Ma Chulong, who had just walked in, Su Yan also saw them.

Neither Gu Yang nor Su Yan had expected such a coincidence.

However, it was only for a moment before Gu Yang regained his composure, stood up, and walked toward the three of them.

"Yan Yan, Brother Ma, are you two here for dinner as well?"

After all, he had promised Su Yan last night that he would end the marriage, and he had been forcing himself to refrain from contacting her today.

To encounter them here now was, naturally, the best possible thing.

(End of Chapter)