Chapter 31: The Hidden Cracks of the Gu Family Part 3

Gu Fei continued her broadcast. Gu Zhengbo and Gu Xueqiang were arguing over project issues, both waiting for the Grandmother to make a ruling. The old matriarch just watched them with a cold face, letting them tire themselves out before berating them both.

Yet, come the next holiday, the Grandmother would still stubbornly force everyone to sit at the same table.

The old woman seemed to have an unshakable obsession with the family being “together.”

Ming Li sent a few brief replies and said she had work to do. Gu Fei sent an “OK” sticker.

As Ming Li pulled into the Xingwan underground garage, Gu Fei sent one last message.

[Don’t work too hard. You’ve lost so much weight.]

Ming Li replied with a cute emoji and tucked her phone into her pocket.

As she headed upstairs, she rolled up her sleeve to look at her arm. Because she saw herself every day, she hadn’t noticed any weight loss.

But if Gu Fei said it, there must be some truth to it.

Perhaps that was also why Ms. Ming was suspicious.

Her mother had been testing her today. Ming Li knew that with her mother’s intelligence, she couldn’t keep her secrets forever.

Ms. Ming had never wanted her to give up dancing. But now, she truly had no time to balance both. Being able to practice for an hour as a hobby was already a luxury.

The elevator doors slid open. Ming Li took a deep breath, cleared her mind, and focused entirely on the acquisition.

…

At 6:50 PM, Ming Li and Assistant Lin arrived at Yuxing Pavilion’s 18th floor as scheduled.

From the private rooms here, one could see the decadent glitz of Jingan. Naturally, the rooms were exorbitant.

The appointment was for 7:00 PM. Ming Li arrived ten minutes early but didn’t order food yet.

The clock on the wall slowly ticked past 7, but the other party didn’t show.

Assistant Lin stood quietly behind Ming Li. Ming Li poured a cup of tea for her.

“They’re late,” Lin whispered as she took the tea.

Ming Li wasn’t worried. “Expected.”

On the surface, she appeared patient, but the fingers of her left hand were tapping a chaotic rhythm against the back of her right hand—sometimes fast, sometimes slow.

Another ten minutes passed. Lin asked, “Should I call and nudge them?”

“No,” Ming Li said. “They want to wear down our patience. We’ll just wait.”

Lin pursed her lips and leaned in to whisper, “Usually, it’s the buyer who wears down the seller’s patience.”

Ming Li brushed it off. “They likely look down on doing business with me and want to test me.”

“If President Gu had come today, they wouldn’t dare be so disrespectful,” Lin said coldly. “These people… they really underestimate the Gu family.”

“Don’t.” Ming Li picked up her teacup, blew on the steam, and took a slow sip. “This company doesn’t rely on the Gu family now, as you know. Since Mother handed it to me, it’s my business. What’s the point of hiding behind her name to scare people? Besides, if Mother were here to do business with them, they wouldn’t just be early—they wouldn’t even be qualified to sit at the same table as her.”

Lin paused. “So we just keep waiting?”

Ming Li glanced at her. “Lin Xun, you seem very impatient today.”

Lin Xun lowered her head. “Understood, President Ming.”

Ming Li still wasn’t used to that title, but she was adapting.

Especially when it came to negotiations, she had to keep up appearances.

Ming Li had kept her phone silenced and face-down since entering the room, sitting as steady as a mountain.

Half an hour later, the guests still hadn’t arrived.

Lin Xun quietly checked her phone and sent a message to “President Gu”: [Miss Ming has excellent patience. The negotiations should go well today.]

A few minutes later, “President Gu” replied: [Are you fanning the flames beside her?]

Lin Xun: [I am, but Miss Ming is completely unaffected.]

[Well done.]

…

Meanwhile, inside Gu Manor.

Seven or eight maids were working frantically in the kitchen, sending exquisite dishes to the table as soon as they were finished.

Tonight’s banquet had been organized by Gu Mengdie. A woman in a sharp black suit was methodically directing the placement of every dish. As cars continuously pulled into the manor, Gu Mengdie sat at the entrance to welcome guests.

“Second Uncle, you’ve arrived. Where is Second Aunt?”

“Second Grand-Aunt, please, take the seat of honor. Grandmother is waiting for you.”

Finally getting a moment to breathe, she saw Gu Xueqiang pushing Gu Liufu’s wheelchair toward her.

Gu Mengdie’s smile stiffened slightly. “Aunt, Uncle, you can find your seats, right?”

“We can.” Gu Xueqiang nodded. There were many people present. While she and Gu Zhengbo fought bitterly, she wouldn’t take her anger out on the younger generation. She asked neutrally, “Are you tired? If so, Qingshi can help you.”

“I’m fine,” Mengdie smiled. “It’s just family; I can handle it. Where’s Sister Shuang? Is she coming tonight? Grandmother specifically asked about her. If she doesn’t show, Grandmother will be disappointed.”

“She’s coming. She’ll be here soon.” Mengdie glanced toward the entrance. “Is she coming with Sister-in-law?”

“She has business tonight; she won’t be coming,” Gu Xueqiang said. “Go back to your work.”

“Right.” Mengdie left to greet other guests.

Gu Xueqiang pushed Gu Liufu further inside. She put on a practiced smile for the relatives, chatting amiably as they moved.

When others asked about Gu Liufu’s health, she played the part of a devoted wife, lamenting the fickleness of fate and expressing her deep desire for his recovery. Gu Liufu acted as the perfect social prop; whenever he sensed Gu Xueqiang wanted to end a conversation, he would start coughing, giving her an excuse to move on.

Once they reached a secluded corner, Gu Xueqiang’s face immediately went cold. She let go of the wheelchair.

Gu Liufu covered his mouth and coughed several times. “I think Mengdie has matured quite a bit these past few years. If you’re too tired, you could let her take over the company…”

“Shut up.” Gu Xueqiang glared at him. “The company’s affairs have nothing to do with you. Stay out of it.”

“Shuangshuang doesn’t like managing the company. Just leave her enough shares to ensure she’s set for life. Ming Li has a strong heart, but in terms of management, she lacks Mengdie’s foundation. If you let go early, you can rest,” Gu Liufu said. “You’re too tired.”

After finishing his sentence, he broke into another coughing fit.

In truth, there was nothing wrong with his legs; he could technically stand.

But he had no strength. Years of being bedridden had caused his muscles to atrophy.

He was currently clinging to life through chemotherapy and a cocktail of drugs.

At this stage, old grievances had lost their edge. He was genuinely trying to advise Gu Xueqiang.

Gu Xueqiang let out a cold snort. “My mother is nearly eighty and is still the captain of the group. I’m only in my fifties. What is there to ‘let go’ of? Should I hand the family legacy over to that useless waste Gu Zhengbo? Or his daughter? In your dreams! Gu Liufu, are you still thinking about your little—”

Before she could finish, Gu Liufu coughed violently, spitting a mouthful of blood onto a tissue.

Gu Xueqiang froze for a moment. She tossed him a clean napkin and said coldly, “Don’t speak anymore.”

The banquet was crowded. Relatives from the old patriarch’s generation and their children were all present, filling two long tables.