Chapter 27 The most frantic thing is when the poor fight over the wine glasses.
Since returning home that night, Liang Yizhi and He Xintu have been in contact more often.
One day, when Liang Yizhi was on her way home from get off work, she looked up and saw a vast blue sky with large clusters of white clouds floating in it.
She tugged at the straps on her shoulders, slung the violin over her shoulder, took out her phone, opened the camera, slightly raised the angle, and snapped a picture of the largest cloud.
She sent the photo to He Xintu.
He Xintu replied quickly: "The weather is really nice."
【NONO.】
Liang Yizhi said: "Don't you think this cloud looks like something?"
【？】
She deliberately kept everyone in suspense. There was a few seconds of silence on the other end, then the phone vibrated again.
When Liang Yizhi opened it, her pupils widened slightly, and a smile secretly appeared on her lips.
His telepathic connection came very directly.
She quickly glanced at the screen, then pressed the phone back against her chest and looked around.
No one around noticed her. Liang Yizhi blushed slightly, scratched her chin casually, and then looked down to open WeChat again.
He Xintu sent a photo of himself.
With the front-facing camera pointed at his forehead and his collar covering the lower half of his face, Liang Yizhi realized that although He Xintu had single eyelids, his eyes were actually quite large.
Her messy, loose bangs covered her clear eyes, and her hairstyle appeared even thicker and heavier due to the slight distortion of the camera lens.
You mean this?
Liang Yizhi couldn't help but laugh out loud. She asked, "Did you just take this picture?"
【Hmm. Just woke up.】
Liang Yizhi glanced at the darkening sky; the clouds from a moment ago had drifted away and were gradually swallowed by the rising darkness.
Leung Yik-chi: [Did you just wake up?]
The other person sent a voice message, their voice lazy and husky: "Hmm. Just finished catching up on sleep. Have to go to work tonight."
Oh right, I forgot he only works at night. She probably thought that hiring an employee would save her so much trouble.
Liang Yizhi politely replied with a voice message: "Thank you for your hard work, boss."
These days, there have been many conversations like this, which makes her feel that the distance between the two of them is getting closer and closer.
A few days later, He Xintu sent her a message asking when Jiang Huai needed to come to the bar for team building, and whether she should bring her friends to the bar to get to know them beforehand.
Liang Yizhi agreed and relayed the message in their small group chat:
Are you free tomorrow night? Want to go hooking up together?
[Boss He called everyone together.]
He Man was the first to respond: 【Go away!! I've been so busy lately, this is a good opportunity for me to relax!】
She tagged Liang Yizhi in the group chat again, jokingly, and also quoted the previous message:
When did you two become so close? The way you're talking about it makes you sound like family.
Liang Yizhi replied with a blank expression: 【I'm just a messenger.】
Jiang Huai chimed in, "Brother He is treating us, we can't refuse! Shall we meet at the bar at eight?"
He Man replied: 【Who called you brother? Did they get your permission?】
Jiang Huai: [Boss He and I have a life-or-death bond!]
[And who was the fight about at the hot pot restaurant that day? You've forgotten again, haven't you?]
Jiang Huai kept tagging He Man in the comments, sending a long message, arguing that this meal shouldn't be hosted by He Xintu, but by He Man as a gesture of goodwill.
He Man was rebuffed, but couldn't withstand his barrage of messages, so she finally agreed.
Everyone responded enthusiastically, except for one person who didn't chime in.
Gu Yinyan glanced at his phone, ignoring a string of meaningless arguments, his gaze lingering on the words "Boss He called everyone together" in the chat box at the top.
He turned off his phone and tossed it onto his desk.
When your palms are empty, you always want to reach for something else. Your fingers spread open and then close, rubbing silently between them.
Ever since Liang Yizhi discovered him at his doorstep that day, he promised her he would never smoke again.
Gu Yinyan pinched the bridge of his nose to suppress the irritation in his heart and decided to ask Xiao Tang to buy a cup of coffee.
Xiao Tang was indeed a competent secretary. Before the task could be relayed, there was a knock on the office door.
Xiao Tang walked in and said, "President Gu, Chairman Gu has arrived. The meeting was originally scheduled for five o'clock, but Chairman Gu would like you to come earlier."
Gu Yinyan frowned slightly: "Now?"
He recalled that someone had repeatedly emphasized the importance of time management and rules and regulations, but when it came to him, it was all just empty talk.
never mind.
After all, it's already quite unusual for a father and son to choose to meet at the company and even have to schedule a time in advance.
Gu Yinyan glanced at his watch, then finally got up and left the office.
As Xiao Tang caught up with him, Gu Yinyan gestured to her, "You don't need to come along, go do your thing."
He took the elevator to the top floor alone.
After exiting the elevator, Gu Yinyan slowly walked towards the end of the corridor.
He stopped outside the door, knocked twice, and before receiving permission, pressed his fingerprint and pushed open the two heavy aluminum and wood doors.
This is the largest, most spacious, and brightest office in the entire building.
It was the sunniest time of day, and sunlight streamed in through the glass windows, turning the entire office into a sunlit greenhouse devoid of life.
A figure sat on the sofa in the center of the room, and the profile looked exactly like Gu Yinyan's.
It just needs to be a bit more curved and a bit shorter.
He sat down at the tea table, took a sip of tea, and said casually, "Yinyan, your tea is just so-so."
If you only listen to the voice, you would think that this is a middle-aged person in the prime of life.
Outsiders rarely realize that Gu Shiming is nearly sixty years old. This is all thanks to his long-term commitment to health and exercise, and his clear, melodious voice.
Gu Yinyan walked over and sat down on the sofa by himself: "This is not a tea room. If you want to drink tea, go somewhere else."
Gu Shiming glanced at him, frowned, and said with considerable dissatisfaction, "When are you going to change your habit of talking to your elders?"
Gu Yinyan said again, "If you want tea, please go somewhere else."
He added an extra word of politeness, emphasizing the word "please," but this made his words even more impolite.
Gu Shiming remained unfazed and rebuked him, "I've taught you for over twenty years, and this is the kind of etiquette I've taught you."
Gu Yinyan: "I don't remember you teaching me anything."
The father and son hadn't seen each other for about a year. But ever since Gu Yinyan returned to the Gu family at the age of fifteen, they had maintained this irreconcilable relationship.
Gu Shiming put on airs, trying to play the role of a stern and loving father in front of him. But Gu Yinyan treated him like he was invisible.
Gu Shiming wasn't angry and maintained his composure.
"I'm asking you, how have you thought about going back to the United States?"
"I've already said I don't want to get involved in what's going on over there."
"Your grandfather is seriously ill and lying in the hospital, and everyone is eyeing my position. And you, on the other hand, just sit here in the country, guarding your dilapidated temple, ready to live out your life like this?"
He looked at Gu Yinyan and saw that his appearance and temperament were similar to his own, which calmed him down a bit.
At least in this family, he was the only one who inherited his bloodline. With Gu Yinyan by his side, he had more leverage to compete with others.
Chenghui was founded by the patriarch of the Gu family.
In the early days of his business, Mr. Gu's family was very poor. There was a period when they were so poor that they couldn't even afford to cook and had to eat porridge for several days in a row.
They lived hand to mouth, counting every grain of rice, while Mr. Gu, the head of the family, was always out wandering around, neglecting his wife and children, all for the sake of making a name for himself.
Therefore, Gu Shiming had a terrible childhood.
His mother was busy working and taking care of her younger siblings. As the eldest son, he couldn't take up any more of his mother's energy, so he could only follow his uncle around all day.
His uncle didn't like him. The family was already large, and resources were scarce, so naturally, they weren't happy to have another child to share the spoils.
They never treated him with any care; they would only call him to the table to eat after everyone else had finished.
Fortunately, Grandpa Gu later became very successful. The whole family moved into a bigger house, but his childhood memories still had a deep impact on Gu Shiming.
On the contrary, it did not break him. He believed from the bottom of his heart that those experiences could completely shape a person.
It was precisely because of that experience that he was able to be decisive and adept at handling the Gu family business after taking over.
Therefore, Gu Shiming created the same environment and conditions for his son as he had.
It sounds unbelievable to outsiders, but only he can understand the good intentions behind it.
Gu Shiming took a sip of tea. The rim of the cup was pressed against his lips, and he sipped the tea without making a sound.
Gu Shiming said calmly, "Do you know? Over the years, people who know a little about the Gu family have said that you are very similar to me."
“Although I did neglect your upbringing when you were little, that doesn’t change the fact that you’re still my genes at heart. So no matter what environment you’re placed in, you’ll thrive.”
When childhood memories came up, Gu Shiming even joked with him in a good mood: "You should thank me as your father, shouldn't you?"
He continued to drink his tea with his head down, but his eyelids lifted.
Due to his age, Gu Shiming's eye sockets are more sunken than when he was young. He has lost collagen and developed multiple eyelids, layer upon layer, making his eyes look deep and profound.
Those eyes, embedded in flesh and bone, are the best proof of their genes.
Gu Yinyan had no interest in listening to him discuss biology: "If you're here to show off your genetic advantages, you shouldn't be here. You should go to the hospital and donate your excellent sperm to those in need."
Gu Shiming's expression remained unchanged, but upon hearing these offensive words, his brows twitched uncontrollably.
He steadily tapped his teacup down and changed the subject to something lighter: "Are you still in contact with that girl?"
Gu Yinyan frowned slightly: "She's all grown up now, she's not a little girl anymore."
He didn't really like being called that, but Gu Shiming hadn't changed it for over a decade.
Seeing Gu Yinyan's reaction, Gu Shiming understood.
He continued, "You two have known each other for quite a while now. The last time I chatted with Liang Youde, I heard that she got a boyfriend."
Gu Yinyan said casually, "We broke up."
Gu Shiming chuckled softly.
He crossed his legs, rested his hands on the leather sofa, and squinted as he recalled Liang Yizhi's appearance:
"She's Liang Youde's daughter, after all. I used to think she could at least become a cellist, which is why I encouraged you guys to hang out together. I never expected that she would find an orchestra to retire with as soon as she came back from abroad, just like the people downstairs from your company."
When Gu Shiming first met Liang Yizhi, she was sitting opposite him with her father, her hands obediently placed on her thighs, looking trembling with fear.
Gu Shiming didn't really like the Liang family's youngest daughter.
He imagined the daughter of pianist Liang Youde to be like a wine glass filled with red wine.
With slender bones and an upright posture, every word and action exudes elegance and grace, radiating a rich and profound artistic aura.
Although Liang Yizhi is beautiful and has a good temperament, she still has a fragile naiveté, which is far from what Gu Shiming had imagined.
In Gu Shiming's words, Liang Yizhi could only be considered a beautiful piece of glass, but not a vessel capable of holding wine.
Seemingly uncomfortable, Gu Shiming crossed one leg over the other and tapped his fingers on the sofa.
He simply cut to the chase: "Yinyan, that kind of person is not suitable for you."
Hearing this, Gu Yinyan finally spared him a glance.
Gu Shiming laughed: "I'm afraid only this little girl herself can't see it. She's naive and innocent, clueless about the ways of the world, and impulsive. What help can she possibly offer you by being with you?"
"Besides, if she were interested in you, you two would have been together already. Why do you have to watch her date one person after another? Doesn't that make you feel bad?"
Thinking of this, Gu Shiming smiled sarcastically again: "Or do you enjoy being this kind of immoral person and also enjoy this kind of relationship?"
As soon as he finished speaking, Gu Yinyan remained unmoved, one hand on his lap and the other casually draped over the sofa.
He just sat there, his arrogant posture exactly like Gu Shiming's.
Gu Yinyan ignored his words and spoke lightly:
"I can't stop her from dating, but you can't interfere in my affairs either."
Gu Shiming looked at him quietly, his smile gradually fading.
As Gu Yinyan said, he had no control over either his career or his personal life.
Gu Shiming was sometimes proud that Gu Yinyan was his son, but at other times he was unable to control him and could not treat him fairly.
Gu Shiming often felt that even with his age and experience, he couldn't suppress Gu Yinyan at all.
How could a person possibly be unable to control the flesh and blood they have raised themselves?
Gu Shiming slightly raised his chin, his tone softening:
"Yinyan, to be honest, you are outstanding. Although we don't rely on each other's families in private, you are at least impeccable in every way. That's how outsiders see you, and it's also how I see you."
"After getting married, my only wish is not to have a lot of wealth or fame, but you."
Gu Shiming smiled, a smile that, in the sunlight, seemed to blend coolness with warmth:
"You are excellent, which proves that my education has been successful. But there's one thing I'm not entirely satisfied with, do you know what it is?"
He uttered a few words: "—You have no guts."
Gu Shiming continued talking to himself, shaking his head helplessly and self-deprecatingly:
"To be honest, it's my fault. Maybe it's because I left you with those poor families for too long, and that made you become like them."
Gu Yinyan looked at his father's face without saying a word.
He suddenly remembered the day he argued with Liang Yizhi, and the words she said to him. She said he was too arrogant and didn't understand human suffering, which was a huge injustice.
He should have asked Liang Yizhi to come and see this kind of person, so that she wouldn't meet some shady people outside and he wouldn't have to bear a bunch of unfounded accusations.
Seeing that Gu Yinyan remained silent, Gu Shiming continued, "The poor are the most cowardly. Because they are afraid of failure and dare not try and make mistakes."
“I heard that when you were a child, you didn’t even dare to pick out your favorite dishes when eating at other people’s homes because you had to watch the expressions of the other relatives’ children at the table, and you were even bullied. I felt really sorry for you then.”
“You don’t even dare to compete with others for the person you like. I asked you to go back to America, but you refused and insisted on staying here. Are you afraid you can’t control the businesses there, or do you feel you can’t bear the consequences of failure?”
Gu Yinyan found it more and more interesting as he listened.
"Where did you hear this version from? Did that guy surnamed Zhang tell you?"
He raised an eyebrow: "Did he tell you that it was because I saw his new wife not cleaning the food properly that day? In the end, everyone who ate that dish except me got food poisoning?"
Gu Shiming's expression changed slightly upon hearing this.
Gu Yinyan: "As for what you said about being bullied, it's because they found out that I deliberately hid it, so they wanted to get revenge on me. But after I gave them all the new clothes and game console you bought for me, no one bothered me anymore."
During his time at the Zhang family's house, Gu Yinyan remembered every single thing very clearly because he was alone and living under their roof.
His adoptive father, Zhang Ji, had an affair and divorced his original wife. The woman became pregnant, and Zhang Ji, disregarding others' opinions, insisted on bringing her home.
The woman was disliked by the Zhang family and his two sons, so she tried every means to curry favor with them.
They meant well, but they never expected it to lead to such a disaster.
Only Gu Yinyan escaped unscathed from that incident. Afterwards, those kids disliked Gu Yinyan even more.
Gu Yinyan's expression and temperament naturally attracted hatred. They saw that he was a guest, quiet and taciturn, and had no one to support him, so they tried every means to bully him.
Gu Yinyan knew that they often skipped school to go to internet cafes, so he deliberately played with the game console his father had given him in front of them.
He pretended to be nonchalant and said, "I don't need it. If you like it, you can take it."
With the kids occupied, no one bothered him anymore.
Gu Yinyan stood up and looked down at Gu Shiming:
"You say I lack courage, but it's just that those people aren't at the point where I need to fight them. I don't like to create trouble for myself."
"I also advise you, what era are we living in? Stop with this 'rich vs. poor' theory." He walked around the table, stood behind Gu Shiming, and patted the back of the sofa twice.
The leather rubbed together, producing two soft creaking sounds.
"Besides, you know that poor people are the most frantic when they start robbing."
Gu Yinyan's words were loaded with meaning, and she said goodbye in a light tone, "I have something to do tonight. I'll be going now."
He strode confidently toward the door.
The office was carpeted throughout, and walking on it absorbed all the sound of your footsteps, making your steps feel even heavier.
Gu Shiming was extremely displeased with his arrogant attitude. He glared at him and shouted in a deep voice, "I haven't finished speaking! Where are you going?"
“Learn from the wealthy how to cultivate your character.” Gu Yinyan waved his hand. “Let’s go to a concert.”
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