Redemption from the Abyss: The School Beauty Insists on Pulling Me Out of the Mire

At 2:40 p.m. the next day, Uncle Zhong drove his black Maybach smoothly into the old town and stopped by the bluestone road outside the Tingyuxuan Teahouse.

Xie Wang pushed open the car door and got out. The winter air conditioning instantly dissipated the remaining warmth in the car. Today he was wearing a black turtleneck sweater with a dark gray cashmere coat over it. His high nose bridge was clearly visible in the cold air.

He walked around to the other side of the car and opened the back door for Su Qinghe.

Su Qinghe was wearing a pure white cashmere coat, and her long hair was simply tied into a low ponytail at the back of her head.

She stepped out of the car and onto the slightly uneven cobblestones.

A gust of winter wind blew in from the alley entrance, causing a few stray hairs that weren't completely tied around her ears to fall down and cover half of her cheek.

Xie Wang took a step forward and naturally raised his right hand to gently tuck the stray hairs behind her ear.

Tingyuxuan is the most expensive private teahouse in Jiangcheng, and it is also the place where local business tycoons like to discuss private business. From the outside, it is just an inconspicuous antique-style courtyard with gray tiles and white walls and no superfluous decorations.

There wasn't even a proper sign at the entrance; there was only a wooden plaque with the three characters "Tingyuxuan" carved on it.

As soon as the two reached the steps, a waiter dressed in a plain Chinese-style long gown came up to them, confirmed the reservation information, and then bowed his head to lead the way.

The wooden walkway underfoot made no unusual noises when stepped on, demonstrating the excellent building materials used.

The corridor is entirely partitioned with precious sandalwood, and the air is filled with a faint but penetrating sandalwood fragrance.

This environment itself carries a sense of psychological pressure designed by those in power, attempting to make everyone who enters feel the owner's profound knowledge and influence.

Xie Wang didn't stop walking; he gripped Su Qinghe's hand even tighter.

He could feel Su Qinghe's steady breathing rhythm. This quiet state from the person next to him greatly relieved the tension in his nerves that had been slightly heightened because he had come to enemy territory.

They walked to the door of a private room at the far end of the corridor. The waiter stopped, knocked lightly twice on the rosewood door, then pushed the door open, gestured for them to enter, and stepped aside.

Xie Wang led Su Qinghe into the private room. The room was spacious, with thick woven tatami mats on the floor. A huge wooden tea table was placed in the center of the room, and Gu Nan was already sitting in the main seat.

Today, Gu Nan was wearing a dark blue custom-made suit, his tie was perfectly tied, and he wore a classic Patek Philippe mechanical watch on his wrist.

On the tea table was a complete set of exquisitely crafted Ru kiln teaware. The clear yellow tea soup in the tea tray was steaming. In the cup in front of Gu Nan, the tea had been mostly gone, clearly indicating that this was the third infusion.

He arrived much earlier than the agreed time.

Seeing the two walk in, Gu Nan stood up from behind the tea table.

His smile was perfectly measured, neither overly enthusiastic nor aloof, displaying the composed demeanor of a host welcoming an old friend.

"Thank you, Miss Su. It's windy outside, please have a seat." Gu Nan's voice was gentle as he pointed to the two armchairs opposite him.

Xie Wang pulled Su Qinghe over and sat down.

He leaned back in his chair, still maintaining the same relaxed and lazy demeanor he had at school.

He didn't touch the Ru kiln teacup filled with hot tea in front of him. His gaze was fixed on Gu Nan's face, as if he were looking at a complex machine in operation, only concerned with when the machine would expose the underlying logical flaws.

Gu Nan sat down again, picked up the purple clay teapot and refilled the fairness cup in front of him with boiling water. The scalding water poured into the spout of the teapot, stirring up a cloud of white steam.

"I heard your final exam results came out a couple of days ago." Gu Nan put down the purple clay teapot, picked up his teacup, and smelled the aroma.

"First in the city and fourth in the city, Ms. Su's grades have always been stable. However, it is really rare for Xie to be able to rise to the top of the science class in such a short period of time. Among young people nowadays, it is indeed rare to see someone with your level of focus and intelligence."

This kind of praise, delivered in the tone of an elder or superior, is essentially a test to gain control of the conversation. Gu Nan is trying to use this casual small talk to break down Xie Wang and Su Qinghe's psychological defenses and soften the atmosphere of confrontation.

Xie Wang placed one hand on the armrest of the armchair and casually tapped the wood twice with his knuckles.

"Young Master Gu, you're too kind." Xie Wang's voice was flat, revealing no emotional fluctuation.

"Compared to high school students like us who are still doing exam papers, people like you who have two overseas doctoral degrees and can manage the funds of large enterprises in a short period of time are rare in Jiangcheng. After all, not everyone can clean up a mess so well."

This statement is laced with sarcasm, directly pointing out that Gu Nan's return to China was to clean up the mess left by Tianlong Group.

Gu Nan paused for a second while pouring water, but he quickly resumed his polite smile and pushed the snacks on the tea tray toward the two of them.

"As always, Xie Wang speaks so directly." Gu Nan used tongs to pick up a white porcelain cup and placed it in front of Xie Wang.

"The cinnamon tea in this teahouse comes from the core production area of ​​Wuyi Mountain. It's from a very good vintage and has a warming effect on the stomach. You should try it."

Su Qinghe sat beside him, looking at the steaming cup of tea. She noticed that although Gu Nan tried his best to show a relaxed sense of control, he had tightened his index finger when he held the handle of the purple clay teapot earlier.

These subtle body language did not escape her long-cultivated observational skills; Gu Nan was not as calm as he appeared.

"Mr. Gu Nan's time is far more valuable than this cup of tea," Su Qinghe said, her voice as cool and aloof as ever.

You didn't call us here today just to treat us to a cup of Wuyi Mountain tea or chat about our high school final exams. Please speak frankly; this will save everyone's time.

Gu Nan glanced at Su Qinghe and placed the purple clay teapot in his hand on the wooden mat on the tea table.

He leaned forward slightly, crossed his hands on the table, and completely abandoned his casual, conversational demeanor.

"Miss Su is an efficient person, so I won't beat around the bush." ​​Gu Nan's gaze swept across the two faces, finally settling on Xie Wang's eyes.

The sandalwood scent in the private room was somewhat diluted by the aroma of cinnamon tea. Xie Wang looked at Gu Nan and could sense that the man opposite him was rebuilding an extremely sophisticated system of rhetoric.

He felt Su Qinghe's left leg gently rest against his right leg. This simple physical contact transmitted a steady force, effectively keeping his alertness within a range of absolute rationality.

Xie Wang did not avoid Gu Nan's gaze. He slightly raised his chin, waiting for the other party to bring up today's core topic.

Gu Nan looked at Xie Wang's young but fearless face and slowly began to speak.

"Student Xie, I invited you here today not as the heir to the Tianlong Group, nor as your current business rival."

Gu Nan deliberately slowed down his speech, making each word sound heavy, "I want to talk to you about something very important in my personal capacity."

Xie Wang remained silent, simply looking at him.

Gu Nan took a deep breath and loosened his crossed hands.

"I'd like to talk about your mother, Ms. Xie Wan."