PB - Chapter 15
Chapter 15
When Gu Jianchu got home, she made a call to the United States. The other party answered quickly, their tone exaggerated. “Dad already chewed me out the day before yesterday, so don’t you start. I really didn’t know Gu Mingyi had returned to the country. He wasn’t even here for a while, and I have no idea where he went.”
Gu Jianchu listened to him ramble on, trying to distance himself from the situation. Only when he fell silent did she speak. “How much do you know about Witton and Lin Zhi?” As soon as she asked, she waved a hand at the empty air. “Probably about as much as I do. Gu Mingyi has likely never let you get involved in Witton’s affairs.”
“Right. I haven’t met Lin Zhi many times either.”
“How about this? I’ll give you a chance to make up for it. Since I’m in the country, I can’t access Witton’s inner circle. You go around Gu Mingyi and find out about Witton’s situation privately.”
“I’m already on it. I’ll let you know when I have news. It’s late over there, so get some rest.”
After hanging up with Gu Fanchu, she looked at her computer, which displayed the recent stock price trend for the South African TIE Chromium Mining Company. The company was currently insolvent, but chromium ore itself had market potential, so the overall fluctuations hadn’t been too drastic. However, there had been a clear downward trend in the past week. It looked like Witton was starting to make its move.
At Rongfang, her uncle was still the one in charge. The possibility of bypassing the president to use Rongfang for anything was slim. Qiao Qi. Ruifeng. These words had been circling in her mind ever since she got back from dinner. Rongfang was not an option, but Ruifeng was. She hesitated. Although she got along well with Qiao Qi, they had known each other for too short a time.
Picking up her phone, she dialed Su Jiayin. It was past ten, and Doctor Su had just gotten out of surgery and was about to nap on the sofa. Her voice was tinged with resentment when she answered the phone. Gu Jianchu laughed. “Want me to come pick you up and take you home?”
“Come.”
“Then wait for me.”
“You’re really coming? Never mind, never mind. Just tell me what’s up.”
“What do you think of Qiao Qi as a person?” She decided not to beat around the bush with Su Jiayin. “Gu Mingyi came back and gave me a big gift. As you know, I’ve always been one to return a favor.”
“With your uncle controlling Rongfang, you naturally can’t count on it to deal with Gu Mingyi. So you want to use Ruifeng’s resources, but you’re afraid Qiao Qi isn’t reliable.” Doctor Su scoffed. “As long as you’re not doing anything heinous or illegal, just tell her what you need. If she’s willing, you can rest assured.”
“Can Miss Su act as an intermediary guarantor?”
“What? You want to borrow the Su family’s resources too? Looks like this is no small matter. Planning to wipe them out in one go? I’m a little curious what kind of gift Gu Mingyi gave you to make you this angry.”
“It’s not so much anger as it is not being able to let that father and son push their luck any further.” Gu Jianchu closed her laptop. “Are you sure you don’t need me to take you home? Do you really like the hospital sofa that much?”
Su Jiayin laughed over the phone. “If you want to see me, just say so. Why pretend to be so caring? As it happens, I have something to tell you too.”
Gu Jianchu drove to the hospital, where Doctor Su was already waiting at the main entrance. Before the car had even come to a complete stop, she had already gotten in. “I’m freezing to death! How is it still so cold in March? I would have waited upstairs if I’d known.”
As the car pulled smoothly onto the road, Gu Jianchu asked, “What did you want to tell me?”
Su Jiayin took a file folder from her bag and tossed it onto the back seat. Only after turning back around did she say, “You know my dad doesn’t let me get involved in Rongfang’s family affairs, but since I found out about this, I can’t keep it from you completely. Jianchu, Gu Mingyi is using his shares to secure loans from the bank.”
The Su family held direct shares in two of the four major domestic banks, and the relationships between overseas financial institutions and the Su family’s overseas group were intricate and complex. Both domestic and foreign credit financing fell within the Su family’s sphere of influence. So, it wasn’t surprising that Su Jiayin knew about this. But Gu Mingyi was her uncle’s only son. What was he planning by unilaterally pledging his shares?
Su Jiayin added, “You can’t take this to the board of directors. First, it would damage my family’s reputation. Second, if my dad finds out I helped you with this, there won’t be a next time.”
“I understand. Besides, even if I took it to the board, no one would dare say anything. I’ll just hold onto this for now.”
“By the way, don’t think you can just squeeze A Qi because she seems like a pushover. She has enough trouble in her own family. Don’t you dare drag her into your family’s muddy waters.”
Gu Jianchu let out a laugh. “Miss Su, how does she seem like a pushover at all?” She suddenly remembered how Qiao Qi wouldn’t tell her what Su Jiayin called her, only telling Gu Jianchu to call her Qiao Qi. She was truly a woman who distinguished between close and distant relationships. “Besides, I’m looking for her for a good reason.”
“Right, what was the ‘good thing’ Gu Mingyi gave you anyway?”
Gu Jianchu fell silent. “Want to get a late-night snack?”
“No, let’s just go home and rest.” As the car entered her residential complex and drove past a grove of flowering trees, she said, “Take that road up ahead.”
Gu Jianchu turned the steering wheel as instructed and asked, “Did you move?”
“No.” The complex where Su Jiayin lived consisted of detached single-family homes, spaced far apart and separated by lawns, vegetation, and an artificial lake. As the car passed a quiet house, she called out again, “Stop, stop, stop.”
Gu Jianchu stopped the car and listened as Su Jiayin muttered to herself, “She definitely wouldn’t be asleep this early.” While speaking, she made a call. The moment it connected, she didn’t give the other person a chance to speak. “What time is it, and you’re still not sleeping? Is work that important? You’re all better now, are you?”
Qiao Qi walked to the window, phone in hand. “Are you at my gate again? It’s so late. Why aren’t you hurrying home after work?”
“I was passing by and decided to check up on you. I knew you wouldn’t be asleep at this hour.”
“Want to come in for a bit?”
Su Jiayin’s eyes darted over to Gu Jianchu, and she repeated the question, “Want to go in for a bit?”
“Qiao Qi?” Su Jiayin nodded. Gu Jianchu thought of the TIE company’s candlestick chart. She would have had to come find her sooner or later. “As long as you’re not in a hurry to sleep.”
Qiao Qi asked, “Is someone else with you?” As she spoke, she was already walking downstairs.
“Jianchu.”
Qiao Qi was slightly taken aback. They had just parted ways a few hours ago, and now they were meeting again. “The courtyard gate is open. You can drive in.”
Qiao Qi’s house was a detached three-story building. On the ground floor, one half with solid walls was the servants’ quarters, which Qiao Qi used for storage since she had no servants. The other half was a three-sided open garage where two cars were parked. The second and third floors were an open duplex, with the master bedroom and study upstairs.
Su Jiayin, familiar with the layout, went straight to the refrigerator for a drink upon entering, grabbing a juice for Gu Jianchu as well. “What are you so busy with this late? Did you have a proper dinner?”
Qiao Qi smiled and glanced at Gu Jianchu. “Dinner was very… How did you two end up coming back together so late?”
“I just got off work, and Jianchu came to pick me up. It just so happens she has something to discuss with you, so we came in for a bit.” Su Jiayin studied Qiao Qi’s face intently. “What did you have for dinner? You seem to be in a good mood.”
“That private kitchen in the hutong,” Gu Jianchu answered.
Su Jiayin’s mouth fell open, and she didn’t react for a long moment. Then, realization dawned. “So you two had dinner together tonight! The food at that place is good.”
Qiao Qi spoke up. “Jianchu, are you here on business or for a personal matter?”
“You could call it personal.”
“Do you have plans tomorrow evening? If not, I’d like to treat you to dinner, and we can talk then. Is that okay with you?”
Gu Jianchu smiled, looking radiant and captivating. “So, have you decided what you’re treating me to tomorrow night?”
“It probably won’t disappoint you.” For once, Qiao Qi sounded uncertain. “I’ll have Xiao Qiu send the time and place to Secretary Liu tomorrow.”
Su Jiayin felt that the relationship between these two was progressing by leaps and bounds, creating an atmosphere she couldn’t seem to penetrate. She looked left and right, observing them back and forth. Qiao Qi still had her usual serene expression, but Gu Jianchu’s smile was just a bit too seductive. She abruptly interrupted them. “It’s late. We should go home and not keep A Qi from her rest.”
Once they were out of Qiao Qi’s house, Su Jiayin grabbed Gu Jianchu, her expression serious. “Gu Jianchu, don’t tell me you’ve developed feelings for Qiao Qi.”
Gu Jianchu raised an eyebrow. “Jiayin, she’s not a child.”
Su Jiayin was momentarily unable to argue. She pulled open the car door and got in. The night was silent, so much so that even the sound of the tires on the road couldn’t pierce the thick, unyielding quiet. Just as they were nearing her home, Su Jiayin finally spoke, a hint of a smile in her voice. “Gu Jianchu, I’m afraid you’re going to be the one at a disadvantage this time.” With that, she got out of the car and left.
Another day passed. Lin Zhi’s flowers continued to arrive at Rongfang, and the rumors grew more and more plausible. Only Liu Yanyan had figured out President Gu’s attitude, moving the flowers to an inconspicuous corner before Gu Jianchu arrived. Around noon, Yao Qiu sent the time and place for Qiao Qi’s dinner invitation. Liu Yanyan noted it in the schedule and synced it to Gu Jianchu’s calendar.
Gu Jianchu was first taken aback, then a slow smile spread across her face. No wonder Qiao Qi had sounded so soft and uncertain last night. The address was one she couldn’t be more familiar with—it was her own private clubhouse. Qiao Qi was treating her to dinner while also giving her business. She was truly benefiting on both ends.
She had originally thought of calling Qiao Qi, but on second thought, she knew they would be seeing each other that evening anyway. So she put the phone down and went back to work. In the afternoon, Lin Zhi showed up uninvited again. This time, the front desk downstairs didn’t stop him, but he was blocked outside the door on Gu Jianchu’s floor by Liu Yanyan in the same manner.
“Mr. Lin.” Liu Yanyan was polite and courteous. “President Gu is busy.”
Being blocked for the second time, Lin Zhi felt a flicker of displeasure, but he didn’t let it show on his face. “That’s why I’m here—to help President Gu relax. She can’t keep working this hard all the time.”
“Mr. Lin, President Gu’s daily schedule is set in advance. Your sudden visit will disrupt her upcoming work. Please, I must ask you to leave.”
Lin Zhi suppressed his frustration. “Then can I make an appointment to see President Gu tomorrow?”
Liu Yanyan hadn’t expected him to do this and was stunned for a moment. Fortunately, she recovered quickly. “Of course. Please go ahead.”
“Lin Zhi from the American company Witton would like to invite your President Gu to lunch tomorrow.”
“Very well, Mr. Lin. I’ve noted it down.”
The door to Gu Jianchu’s office remained tightly shut, not a sound coming from within. Lin Zhi glanced at the door one last time, but seeing no sign of it opening, he turned back and got into the elevator. However, he didn’t leave; instead, he waited downstairs at Rongfang.
So, when Gu Jianchu came downstairs, Lin Zhi quickly got out of his car to greet her. Gu Jianchu knew he hadn’t left and reacted calmly. Today, Lin Zhi was wearing a casual suit with a long, sky-blue silk scarf. His hair was styled back and to the side, perfectly embodying the image of a successful young man.
Gu Jianchu’s turtleneck sweater, skirt, trench coat, and handbag were all simple, but because the woman wearing them was so beautiful, the simple combination looked exceptionally striking. Lin Zhi spoke first. “I wanted to ask you to dinner tonight. I knew you were busy, so I didn’t call. I waited here instead.”
“I’m sorry, Mr. Lin, but I have an engagement tonight.”
Lin Zhi paused, thinking it was just an excuse to turn him down. He tried again, “Then at least let me give you a ride.”
A smile touched Gu Jianchu’s lips. “Alright,” she replied.
Lin Zhi was momentarily captivated. He quickly opened the passenger door for Gu Jianchu. After she gave him the address, he stepped on the gas and pulled away from Rongfang, heading toward the private clubhouse. As for what was happening inside Rongfang, the sight of Gu Jianchu getting into Lin Zhi’s car seemed to confirm the rumors. When Gu Mingyi heard about it in his office, he couldn’t help but feel a little smug.
Comments
Post a Comment