Chapter 157: The Utterly Outrageous Li Meng

For the casting of the new drama, Gu Yan constantly traveled back and forth between Hangzhou and Hengdian. As the screenwriter, her presence was required at both the preliminary rounds and the grand finale. It came as no surprise that the preliminary rounds had been such a resounding success.

"Cheers!" Inside the minimalist and elegant private dining room sat a gathering of extraordinary individuals.

"I must propose a separate toast to our most accomplished Gu. Bottoms up!" Cai Mei said boldly, raising her glass.

"To our reunion," Gu Yan gestured with her glass and drank it down in one go.

Sitting nearby, Li Min looked at Gu Yan thoughtfully. He could never have imagined that the "Gu" in Xiao Mei's stories was actually the renowned playwright Alisa. Although the woman before him was smiling warmly, she emitted a cold and aloof aura.

"Cai Mei, I'll toast you as well. May all lovers find their happily ever after!" Cai Mei's gaze flicked between Zheng Yingqi and Gu Yan before she smiled and finished her drink. This "welcome banquet" proceeded smoothly, during the course of which Gu Yan said only two words to Li Min: "Cherish."

The following day, Gu Yan took Cai Mei and returned to Hengdian. Before leaving, she promised that the male lead role would definitely go to Li Min. It was not a matter of blatant favoritism on Gu Yan's part; such was reality. Connections would always remain a crucial part of strength.

Upon returning to her familiar hometown, Cai Mei chose to visit the hospital first.

The hospital room was quiet, with only the steady beep of the electrocardiograph breaking the silence. Having not seen her for days, Gu Yan felt the girl in the hospital bed looked even more emaciated. Cai Mei's lips trembled with sorrow as tears streamed down her face.

"Great Immortal... Great Immortal... Pretty Girl is here... Great Immortal... Pretty Girl doesn't want Li Min anymore, Pretty Girl has come back. Gu is the same, Gu doesn't want Shen Hong anymore. Please wake up. It's been so many years, don't let Jiang Yunkai torture you anymore, and don't make us look down on you. I know you can hear me. Wake up, please wake up..."

Unable to bear watching Cai Mei weeping like a broken-hearted person any longer, Gu Yan turned away as a single tear slipped from her eye. What Gu Yan did not know, however, was that the moment she turned around, a single, clear tear also rolled from the corner of the hospital patient's eye.

In the end, Cai Mei decided to stay at the hospital. She said, "Xiao Yan, just like you, I have no home to return to. Let me stay and take care of the Great Immortal." Back at the hotel, Gu Yan collapsed onto the bed and fell fast asleep. With how hectic things had been lately without a moment of rest, it was no wonder she was so exhausted.

"Damn woman, you come back from Hangzhou and don't even bother to come see your big boss. Do you have any idea how much I've missed you?" Wei Hao said as he walked in. Upon reaching the bedroom and seeing Gu Yan fast asleep, his voice noticeably lost its bravado. "Fine, I'll forgive you this once." With that, his hand gently stroked Gu Yan's face.

"Dad... Mom..." A tear slipped from the corner of the sleeping woman's eye.

Sitting by the bedside, Wei Hao felt as though his heart had been struck. He had seen Gu Yan when she was unreasonable and fierce, when she was brimming with talent, when she was cold and aloof, and when she cried out loud, but he had never seen her looking so fragile and helpless. At that moment, he suddenly felt that despite their three years together, he had never truly understood her at all. He should have realized long ago—upon returning to the hometown where she grew up, she had seen her friends, yet uniquely avoided her closest family.

Suddenly, Wei Hao felt a pang of heartache for this woman a few years older than him, wondering how much hardship and tears she must have endured.