Those Classmates who Suddenly Disappeared
Chapter 1202 Each Taking Leave

Chapter 1202: Chapter 1202 Each Taking Leave

Lu Yi, holding the request for extended leave, went to the leader for a signature. After being rejected, he clung to the leader’s legs, begging desperately until he was expelled with a smack of a document.

With no hope of getting the leave, Lu Yi scratched his head, feeling quite troubled; he truly couldn’t bear to leave this job.

Just as Lu Yi was at his wit’s end, Lan Ning walked over, patted him on the shoulder, and then said with a smile, "Alright, stop making that bitter melon face. The leader approved your vacation—you can go and have fun now."

"Really?" Lu Yi could scarcely believe it, then asked in confusion, "How did you get the leader to agree to my vacation?"

Lan Ning shook his head: "I didn’t do anything; the leader figured it out on his own. Probably because you’ve been running around so busy, working so hard, that he finally decided to give you a long break."

"Is that so, he really is a good person," Lu Yi was overjoyed. Suddenly, he noticed Lan Ning’s intriguing gaze, and panic set in as he didn’t know how to explain why he needed such a long leave.

Seeing Lu Yi’s embarrassed look, Lan Ning just laughed: "It’s okay, wherever you go, remember to have fun. And don’t forget to bring me a little gift."

"Sure, I will," Lu Yi was relieved that Lan Ning didn’t press on, which though abnormal and a bit odd, he didn’t ponder it any further. Saying goodbye to Lan Ning, he hurried to pack up and leave work.

After Lu Yi left, Lan Ning’s expression subtly changed, then she headed straight to the manager’s office, not even knocking before standing right in front of the manager.

There was Lan Ning, serious-faced, while the manager looked as scared as if he’d seen a cat.

"About Lu Yi’s leave, don’t spread the word. If anyone asks, you keep quiet about it, and don’t bother about why Lu Yi is taking such a long leave. Do you understand?" Lan Ning uttered each word with an air of command from above, and the person who was the manager could only nod anxiously.

****

Meanwhile, Gu Fan arrived at a financial media company, walking straight into the boss’s office, facing the desk that once belonged to Haywes, Gu Fan felt a flood of emotions: "Old classmate, I really didn’t expect you to make it so big one day. Had I known, I would’ve clung to your coattails."

Li Shi smiled faintly: "As the saying goes, fortune favors the bold. If it hadn’t been for that one time I helped you, I wouldn’t have made it to where I am today. I think I understand what that means now." After speaking, Li Shi scrutinized Gu Fan, eyes filled with suspicion.

"No one visits without a reason. Spill it, what brings you here today?" Li Shi knew Gu Fan too well, opting not to beat around the bush and asked directly.

Gu Fan looked somewhat embarrassed: "Here’s the situation: I know our partnership company has just started, and it’s not ideal for me to go away for a while, but I really have something urgent. So, I hope you can look after both ends while I’m away."

"What, you want me to handle two companies by myself? Can I manage all that?" Li Shi began to complain, "When we first agreed to start a company together, we decided that I would focus mainly on this financial media company, and you would take primary responsibility for the company we started. We had a clear agreement, so why has it changed?"

Gu Fan apologized, "I know it’s my fault, leaving you and the company at this time. But you know me, I’m someone with a sense of responsibility. I wouldn’t leave you and the company like this unless absolutely necessary, and since the company is just getting started, there’s not much going on, so I can leave with peace of mind. That would be better than leaving later when the company is up and running, which would be much harder on you."

Li Shi frowned; Gu Fan’s recent words sounded reasonable, but something still seemed off.

"Gu Fan, tell me honestly, are you going away for a month or so because of something to do with Haywes and their kind?" Li Shi’s intuition was too sharp, and with that question, Gu Fan frowned and his face tensed slightly.

Gu Fan could only say, "You have to trust me, old classmate. There are some things you’re better off not knowing. I’m thinking of you."

Li Shi shook her head, "Don’t forget, you’ve already dragged me down once. I don’t mind getting dragged down a second time. I came into this partnership with that in mind. As partners, you should realize that whatever affects you affects the company, and whatever affects the company affects me. So, there are things you need to tell me, and you must tell me."

Hearing this, Gu Fan was stunned by Li Shi’s determination and underlying trust, seeing her as a partner who can be relied on.

After some thought, Gu Fan decided to reveal the truth: "Alright, I can tell you. I’m indeed going to deal with an organization related to Haywes. This organization is much more powerful than the X Fund, and the chances of winning are slim."

Li Shi remained composed, as if she had expected Gu Fan to reveal something astonishing. She simply said, "Gu Fan, do you remember? Once when I was on my way home, a group of punks bullied me, and you led me to escape with you. I thought we were done for and wanted to give up, but you said even if there seemed no hope, we couldn’t give up. I saw determination in your eyes, a glow. You’re not one to give up easily, nor are you one to blindly hold onto hope. The route you chose for our escape always had police around."

Gu Fan nodded, "Yeah, that route was near a police college, and it coincided with the end of classes and work hours. We were lucky, just as a policewoman from the school happened to pass by on her practicum. She took on all those punks by herself and helped us escape; we were so focused on running we didn’t notice what she looked like."

"Gu Fan, I know you. You wouldn’t take on a hopeless situation, just as you dared to challenge the X Fund." Li Shi looked earnestly at Gu Fan, then confidently said, "Go ahead, I’ll take care of the company. Also, you have to win; I’ll be waiting for you to return."

"Okay, with those words from you, I must win." This time, Gu Fan felt his old classmate’s support, his heart surged with a strong fighting spirit.

Just as the two looked at each other, an unspoken understanding between them, Li Shi suddenly smirked, "Since you’re going to disregard the company for so long, leaving all the burden on me, shouldn’t we discuss readjusting the share distribution? How about seventy-thirty in my favor; sounds fair, right?"

Gu Fan was infuriated, "Fair my foot, you’re trying to rob me while the house is on fire. Are you even on my team, or are you worse than my enemies?"