Chapter 356: Waking From a Dream

It was nearly two in the morning when everyone finally left the Platinum Association.

…

In the blink of an eye, New Year’s Eve had arrived.

In the days leading up to New Year’s Eve, Gu Heng spent two days carousing with Wan Jiakai. After seeing him off, he made time to see Xu Mo and Luo Xiwen separately. He spent the rest of his time reading.

“CRACKLE… POP… BANG…”

At the main entrance of the mountaintop villa, a long string of firecrackers burst into flames one after another. The countless bits of red paper from the exploded firecrackers formed a festive red carpet on the ground.

Gu Heng and Jiang Ruan stood on the third floor of the villa, taking in the entire scene without needing to step outside.

For the New Year’s Eve festivities, Jiang Ruan wore a loose-fitting red sweater. It softened her usual cool demeanor, making her appear much more vibrant and bright.

“Gu Heng!”

“Happy New Year!”

Jiang Ruan looked at Gu Heng, who was wearing the matching couple’s sweater she had bought, and couldn’t help but feel a sweet warmth in her heart.

“Happy New Year.”

Gu Heng smiled in response. He turned to Jiang Ruan and said, “Why don’t you take the Maybach GLS 600 from the garage? It’ll make your trip back and forth easier.”

“I can just take the train back.”

Jiang Ruan replied in a small voice.

“There’s no high-speed rail to your hometown, only the slow, conventional trains.”

“Not only are they slow, but they’re also crowded and chaotic.”

Gu Heng handed the keys to the Maybach GLS 600 to Jiang Ruan. “Besides, it’s New Year’s Eve. Forgetting for a moment whether you can even get a ticket at this point, even if you could, the train would be packed to the gills.”

“Alright, then.”

“Thank you, Gu Heng.”

Jiang Ruan pursed her pink lips, ultimately deciding to accept Gu Heng’s kind offer.

“It’s getting late.”

“You should get going soon.”

Gu Heng gestured to Jiang Ruan. “I’ll walk you out.”

“Okay.”

Jiang Ruan agreed, first heading to the walk-in closet to grab her suitcase, then following Gu Heng into the elevator and down to the garage.

She opened the trunk, and seeing it was completely filled with New Year’s goods and gifts, she froze for a moment.

“This is…”

Jiang Ruan looked astonished and turned her head to look at Gu Heng.

“You only go home once a year. You can’t go back empty-handed.”

Gu Heng leaned casually against the car door, his hands in his pockets. “It’s all just some health products, and some special foods for your family to enjoy over the New Year.”

“I already bought New Year’s goods for my family. I had them mailed home directly.”

Seeing how thoughtful Gu Heng was, the tender affection in Jiang Ruan’s eyes nearly overflowed.

“See that small black box?”

Gu Heng took a hand out of his pocket and pointed to a small black box in the corner of the trunk. “Open it.”

Jiang Ruan followed his gaze, reached out, and picked up the small black box.

Slowly opening it, she saw an employee ID badge and a certificate inside.

Her ID photo was on the badge, and beneath the photo was a line of small text.

Jiang Ruan—

Deputy Director of the Cabin Department, Ruyi Airlines!

“It’s just a nominal position, but all your information is searchable on the official Ruyi Airlines website. So you can tell anyone about this identity without any worry.”

Gu Heng said slowly, seeing Jiang Ruan’s stunned expression.

“Gu Heng…”

Tears streamed down her face. Jiang Ruan couldn’t hold back her emotions any longer and rushed over to hug Gu Heng.

For Jiang Ruan, the past two years had been the darkest of her life.

Her parents were just ordinary, working-class people. The 100,000 yuan she had taken from home back then was money her parents had saved up by scrimping and saving.

After being scammed last year, she couldn’t bring herself to tell her parents. She had even less courage to tell them that because of it, she had missed the recruitment window for all the airlines and hadn’t even gotten a job with one.

Since she was little, she had always been the pride of her parents, the “good kid” admired by neighbors, relatives, and friends.

She had secretly returned to Beichun to work as a car salesperson, but she told her parents she was working for Southern Airlines.

Last year, she was so afraid of being exposed that she didn’t even dare to go home for the New Year.

Drifting alone, unable to return to a home she had.

Only she knew the heartbreak and bitterness of it all.

In fact, she had hesitated for a long time about whether to go home this year. In the end, she couldn’t bear the longing any longer. Plus, her grandfather’s health hadn’t been good for the past six months, so she finally decided to return for the New Year.

But even though she had decided to go home, she still had no idea how to talk to her family about her job situation.

‘Should I keep up the lie?’

‘Or make up a completely new one?’

‘Or should I just confess the truth to my parents?’

All these conflicting thoughts had left Jiang Ruan paralyzed with indecision.

And she had never revealed any of this to Gu Heng.

But Jiang Ruan never would have imagined that just as she was about to leave for home, Gu Heng would proactively step in and sweep away all her worries.

Deputy Director of the Cabin Department at Ruyi Airlines!

Searchable on the official website!

Although it was just a nominal position, it was more than enough to satisfy her parents. More importantly, it would allow her parents, who had always been so proud of her, to continue holding their heads high in front of their neighbors, relatives, and friends.

When a lie becomes verifiable, it’s no longer a lie.

At this moment, tears streamed down Jiang Ruan’s cheeks.

It wasn’t just because she could finally face her parents without fear, but because of Gu Heng’s meticulous thoughtfulness and care.

“Why are you crying?”

“It’s the New Year. You should be happy.”

Gu Heng felt the dampness spreading on his chest. He raised a hand and gently stroked Jiang Ruan’s silky black hair, which felt like the finest satin, comforting her in a soft voice.

“I don’t really want to leave now.”

“How about I stay and spend the New Year with you?”

Jiang Ruan looked up, her face streaked with tears, and said between sobs.

“You already told your parents you were coming. They’ve surely told your grandparents on both sides. They must all miss you terribly and are looking forward to you coming home today.”

Gu Heng gently wiped the tears from her delicate cheeks with the pad of his thumb. “If you suddenly told them you weren’t coming back now,” he said softly, “imagine how disappointed they would be.”

“Then I’ll come back to be with you after the third day of the New Year.”

Jiang Ruan mumbled, pursing her lips.

“You just stay at home and relax until after the seventh day. You barely get to go home as it is, and there’s nothing urgent here. What’s the rush to come back?”

Gu Heng finished, giving Jiang Ruan no chance to bargain. “The seventh day is the seventh day. If you dare come back before then, you’ll see how I punish you!”

“Oh? And how would you punish me?”

Jiang Ruan batted her eyes, a sudden, inexplicable flicker of anticipation rising within her.

“I’ll just…”

Gu Heng raised an eyebrow and whispered a few words in her ear. As soon as he finished, a deep blush instantly spread across Jiang Ruan’s beautiful face.

“You’re a pervert!”

“How could you do that… there!”

“That’s…”

“It’s so dirty there!”

“If we do the prep work right, it’s not dirty at all~”

Gu Heng leaned down and gave Jiang Ruan’s pink lips a gentle kiss, his voice full of doting affection. “Besides, my dear Ruan Ruan is so fragrant. How could she possibly be dirty~”

“You’re terrible~”

Jiang Ruan clung to Gu Heng, reluctant to leave.

The two of them shared a tender moment at the garage entrance for a little while longer, but with time pressing on, Jiang Ruan had to get back in the car and prepare to leave for home.

“Drive safely. Message me when you get home.”

Gu Heng stood by the car, reminding her.

“Okay~”

Jiang Ruan nodded, then leaned out and gave Gu Heng another kiss before reluctantly starting the car and driving out of the garage. Gu Heng stood watching until she was gone, then turned and went back inside the mountaintop villa…