Chapter 47#

Chapter 47: A Piece of Meat

“If he knew—” At this point, Wei Xiangjin’s anger subsided, and a thoughtful expression appeared on his face, “Was this incident done by the Yu faction?”

Gu Chenzhou showed a faint smile: “If he knew, it must be! The Wang faction is not so incompetent that they can’t even keep one thing secret.”

Wei Xiangjin’s eyes flickered: “Which one in the Yu faction do you think it is? He Hailou himself? The head of the He family? Or someone else related to the He family?”

These three choices basically covered all possibilities: if He Hailou knew about this, either he was directly involved, or he discovered it by accident; and for a third-generation young master like He Hailou who has not yet entered the system, what other way is there to accidentally discover such a thing besides learning it from his family? To learn it from his family, how could the person who did this have no relationship with the He family?

When the question reached this point, Gu Chenzhou, who had brought up the topic, did not continue. Instead, he finished the food in his hand in a few bites, restarted the car, and said lightly, “It’s just a guess. Maybe it’s just a coincidence?”

Wei Xiangjin’s hand rested on the car window. He put down the seat and leaned back, just in time to see the deep blue, almost black night sky through the car window, a few lonely stars, a crescent moon, following them all the way, stopping all the way.

The car stopped at the entrance of the Wei family’s house.

Wei Xiangjin got out of the car. Gu Chenzhou sat in the driver’s seat and said, “It’s too late, I won’t go in with you.”

Wei Xiangjin nodded, took two steps, and then turned back and said, “If there’s anything to do, remember to tell me.”

Gu Chenzhou smiled. The corners of his lips were raised a little high, and his eyes narrowed—his cheeks were not fat or thin, and his lines were very soft, so he rarely smiled so obviously, as it seemed too intimate.

“I’ll forget anyone before I forget you.” Gu Chenzhou said. His fingers were long, and whether he was holding the bow of a violin and playing music intently, or tapping the steering wheel carelessly, it was pleasing to the eye. “Don’t worry, it’s not a big deal. The Gu family is in this position. If they don’t have some ability, they can’t blame others for treating them like a piece of fat and taking a bite.”

The day after Wei Xiangjin returned, coincidentally, Secretary Wang brought Wang Rongze to visit.

In the morning, Gu Chenzhou was still at home and had not gone out. The two sides sat down as host and guest, and Wang Boyuan spoke first: “Minister Gu, I came here specially to apologize this time—this nephew of mine is usually poorly disciplined and too outspoken!”

The opening sentence set the tone for today’s conversation: We didn’t do this. My nephew just has a bad mouth and took the blame for others.

“Your son looks very good to me. I wonder what Secretary Wang is talking about?” Gu Xinjun asked. Although everyone knew some things in their hearts, someone always needed to bring them to the surface.

Wang Boyuan smiled slightly, and a few forehead lines appeared on his forehead. Unlike the always serious Vice Premier He Nanshan, this secretary who was transferred from Chunqing City was a slightly fat, very kind and humorous elder in life. But in contrast to his casualness in life, his political style was very tough: “Four days ago at National Beauty and Heavenly Fragrance, this kid said some inappropriate things. I brought him here specially today to apologize to Xiaozhou.”

At this time, Wang Rongze, who had been a backdrop next to Wang Boyuan, also quickly squeezed out a smile and said to Gu Chenzhou, “Gu…” He was a little troubled by the address for a moment: he wanted to call him Young Master Gu, but on second thought, what kind of ‘Young Master’ do you call in front of elders? It’s too high-profile and eye-catching; to call him by his name, they had only met once, and it was too eager to be intimate; to call him ‘brother’, the age was right, but he was here to apologize today; to call him ‘big brother’… he couldn’t bring himself to do it.

In the end, Wang Rongze paused for a moment before continuing, “Brother Gu, I was muddle-headed that time. I spoke out of turn and caused some trouble…” This trouble directly referred to the matter of Gu Chenzhou being attacked. “This is all my fault. Brother, I’m sorry.”

Gu Chenzhou smiled and said, “What’s the big deal? Brother Wang even came here specially, making me seem petty.” He said politely, “Last time I told Brother Wang that I wanted to be a good host and show Brother Wang around the capital, but I haven’t been able to fulfill my promise. I should be the one to apologize.”

This kind attitude made Wang Rongze breathe a sigh of relief. He thought to himself that if he had encountered this unlucky thing, not to mention whether the other party did it or not, it would be impossible not to put on airs and look for some trouble. He didn’t expect this Gu Chenzhou to really not take it seriously. It seems that the matter last time was all stirred up by that He Hailou. Thinking of this, he cast double the resentment on He Hailou. When facing Gu Chenzhou again, not only did his expression relax a little, but even the apology in his mouth became much more sincere.

Wang Boyuan, sitting next to him, had been maintaining a kind smile. When he heard Gu Chenzhou’s words ‘show Brother Wang around the capital but haven’t been able to fulfill my promise, I’m sorry’, he sighed secretly, thinking that the Gu family was unwilling to ally with him.

He didn’t expect that even after the Yu faction had made such a move, Gu Xinjun still had no intention of taking sides.

Although this result disappointed him greatly, it was not enough to make him lose his composure on the spot. He maintained his demeanor and smiled, and took the initiative to stand up and say, “The main reason for coming this time is for this matter. Since the matter is resolved, Minister Gu, I won’t continue to disturb your rare day off.”

This is to start avoiding suspicion from now on.

Gu Xinjun and Gu Chenzhou thought together.

Not to mention Gu Xinjun, who had worked with Wang Boyuan before, even Gu Chenzhou had a slight good impression of this secretary whom he had only met once.

Gu Xinjun stood up to persuade him to stay: “Secretary Wang, you just arrived. Why are you in such a hurry to leave? Let’s drink tea and chat. Don’t let a few years of separation erase all our friendship.”

“No, no, I should go, I should go,” Wang Boyuan said with a chuckle, “Business is business, and private matters are private matters. There will be plenty of opportunities to talk slowly in the future. Don’t complain that I’m long-winded then!”

Gu Xinjun tried to persuade him to stay a few more times, but Wang Boyuan insisted on leaving. They had already reached the door, so he had to see him off.

The two young ones fell behind. Wang Rongze took the opportunity of Gu Xinjun talking with his uncle to chat with Gu Chenzhou for a few more words: “Young Master Gu, I owe you one today. We are all in the same circle, and our interactions are not just once or twice—you just watch next time.”

This was also a statement. Gu Chenzhou said, “Young Master Wang is too polite. It’s all small things, not worth mentioning.”

Wang Rongze praised Gu Chenzhou’s magnanimity and continued, “Let me tell you the bottom line here. I really didn’t do this. If it were me—why would I look for Young Master Gu instead of the troublemaker He Hailou? If it were us,” he said the Wang faction a little more implicitly, “why would we push away what’s at hand? There’s no such logic in the world.”

“Also,” he added with deep meaning, “I heard that He Hailou was with Young Master Gu that night. Don’t you think it’s too much of a coincidence, Young Master Gu? I didn’t invite He Hailou at that time…”

“Rongze,” Wang Boyuan, standing in the distance, raised his voice slightly and called Wang Rongze, “we should go.”

“Okay, uncle, I’m coming!” Wang Rongze said, and hurriedly shook Gu Chenzhou’s hand, “Young Master Gu, see you next time.”

“See you next time, Young Master Wang.” Gu Chenzhou also shook hands with the other party.

Gu Xinjun stood by the roadside, watching Wang Boyuan’s car disappear around the corner, then walked back and said to Gu Chenzhou, “What do you think?”

Gu Chenzhou asked, “Did Secretary Wang find any evidence?”

Gu Xinjun nodded slightly: “He has been investigating these past few days.” But he didn’t say whether the other party did it or not. Obviously, the evidence presented by the other party was not enough to prove that the Wang faction did not do it, or that the Yu faction did it.

“It’s not certain yet.” After hearing this, Gu Chenzhou thought for a moment before answering Gu Xinjun.

Gu Xinjun was a little surprised: since his son returned from abroad, he clearly felt that the other party was becoming more and more calm and cautious. And from the sound of this, he also had some ideas about this matter?

Gu Chenzhou did have some ideas.

But this idea was less of an analysis and more of a natural distrust of He Hailou. Therefore, while he had no intention of saying it out loud, he also quietly strengthened his contact with He Hailou—any event involving politics is rarely a simple “event”. These events are often just a stepping stone to lead to a deeper purpose. And to achieve a deeper result, the person who makes a move will not just do it once.

That night, was He Hailou, who drove over on his own initiative, the mastermind or an insider?

In the next few days, besides accompanying Wei Xiangjin who had rarely returned, Gu Chenzhou would call He Hailou from time to time. In addition, He Hailou had just had his head opened and had nowhere to play. After a while, after Wei Xiangjin attended Wei Chengbo’s birthday banquet and got on the plane, Gu Chenzhou had already visited He Hailou’s door for the third time.

“Squeak!”

The monkey was jumping up and down.

“Squeak squeak!”

The monkey was looking left and right.

“Squeak squeak squeak!”

The monkey was sneaking around.

Gu Chenzhou, sitting on the sofa, took a peach from the plastic bag and stuffed it into the hands of the monkey, which was chained by the neck and could only stretch its neck to look at the fruit on the coffee table.

The monkey, who got the fruit, smiled from ear to ear, clasped its hands together, and bowed repeatedly to Gu Chenzhou, then ran to the corner to gnaw on the peach.

He Hailou glanced at the monkey: “Have you trained it?” He paused, “It has never made this move before.”

How could Gu Chenzhou possibly have the mood to train a monkey? He said, “Maybe it’s because you’ve never given it fruit to eat?”

He Hailou: “…What’s for dinner?”

“Dinner is cooked at home.” Gu Chenzhou replied.

He Hailou showed his signature handsome smile, seducing him: “Begging for company to eat.”

“Is Young Master He short of people to eat with?” Gu Chenzhou laughed in spite of himself.

He Hailou unconsciously touched the wound that extended from his hair to the corner of his forehead, and then touched his jawbone—there was still a faint bruise on it: “Missing, missing a person named Gu Chenzhou.”

Gu Chenzhou did not hide his gaze. He watched He Hailou’s movements for a while before shaking his head and saying, “I have something to do later. Next time I’ll be the host and will definitely have a meal with Young Master He.”

He Hailou was silent for a while, then suddenly raised his eyebrows: “Young Master Gu, how about we play a game?”

Just as Gu Chenzhou raised his eyes, He Hailou smiled and said, “Truth or Dare, I guess Young Master Gu must have played it before. Let me start: When Wang Rongze came to see Young Master Gu before, did he imply that the attack was related to me?”