Despite Assistant Li’s warning for Song Xuan to mind her boundaries, Song Xuan, fully engrossed in the thought that Gu Qixiao willingly came to see her, naturally paid it no attention.
In truth, if Song Tingdong hadn’t chosen to save Gu Qixiao back then, perhaps Song Xuan wouldn’t be like this now.
But when a young woman encounters a man of such high status and position who shows her tender affection, it’s difficult for anyone to maintain composure.
However, it’s a pity that Gu Qixiao has never had any improper intentions toward Song Xuan. Everything is just her own wishful thinking.
Seeing that Song Xuan didn’t heed his advice too much, Assistant Li said nothing further.
After organizing the personnel tasked with secretly protecting Song Xuan, he followed Gu Qixiao back to work at the Gu family’s company.
After all, no matter how you look at it, paying attention to Song Xuan was solely due to Gu Qixiao’s orders.
Even if Song Xuan was Song Tingdong’s sister, the only family he had left in this world, Assistant Li wouldn’t go out of his way to show undue care.
Honestly speaking, only Gu Qixiao would bother to do something like this.
Watching Song Xuan being wheeled into the operating room once more, Gu Qixiao sighed with helplessness.
Even though Gu Qixiao felt guilty in his heart, despite habitually rejecting Song Xuan’s advances, he often couldn’t help but indulge her under certain circumstances.
"From now on, whenever situations like this arise, have them investigated beforehand. Just inform me, and I’ll handle it in your stead," he said.
Only because Gu Qixiao was unaware of Song Xuan’s exact reasons for contacting him this time did he come to the hospital himself.
Having learned this lesson, Gu Qixiao naturally resolved not to waste any more time on Song Xuan.
A couple of days ago, when he stubbornly decided to cancel the collaboration with the Feng family, the board of directors refrained from intervening much, but Gu Qixiao was well aware of the many watchful eyes constantly monitoring his actions.
With the risk of being toppled at the slightest mistake, Gu Qixiao dared not take lightly the cooperation with Canning Group this time. Even if the other party was a non-starter, he had to find a way to elevate them.
"Understood," Assistant Li replied helplessly to the reminder.
He wasn’t exactly hired to be Song Xuan’s nanny—on top of handling the company’s operations, he also had to constantly manage the array of unpredictable situations surrounding Gu Qixiao.
Had it not been for the considerable compensation from the Gu family’s company, Assistant Li might have already resigned long ago.
With a face full of displeasure, Gu Qixiao finished speaking and swiftly departed, as if some ravenous demon were trailing behind him in the cosmetic surgery hospital.
Watching his boss leave in a hurry, Assistant Li gave a bitter smile.
When Cai Xun arrived late, he just narrowly missed crossing paths with Gu Qixiao, with the two stepping in and out of separate elevators at the same time.
By the time Cai Xun reached the operating room, Song Xuan’s surgery had already begun.
Originally intending to show off and make a favorable impression in front of Gu Qixiao, Cai Xun froze when he saw that only the just-departing Assistant Li remained outside the door.
"Didn’t they say Gu Qixiao had already been summoned and specifically instructed me not to come too early..."
Recalling the message he had just received from Song Xuan on his phone, Cai Xun, certain it hadn’t been sent in error, once again raised his head to see Assistant Li coincidentally heading his way.
It wasn’t as if Assistant Li purposely walked toward him; it just so happened that the elevators closer to Song Xuan’s operating room were along the same corridor.
"Young Mr. Cai?"
As soon as the elevator doors opened for Cai Xun, Assistant Li had already spotted him. However, with no particular relationship to speak of between them, Assistant Li didn’t feel like initiating any greetings.
If it weren’t for lack of a better option, Assistant Li wouldn’t have engaged with him at all.
"Assistant Li, I heard Madam was undergoing surgery here, so I thought I’d drop by to check on her," Cai Xun offered an explanation, though it was clearly meaningless.
Assistant Li didn’t even bother to parse the intent behind the statement.
Particularly since the relationship between Song Xuan and Gu Qixiao remained shrouded in mystery, even after three to four years of serving by Gu Qixiao’s side, Assistant Li couldn’t ascertain whether there was anything truly between them.
However, given Gu Qixiao’s consistent attitude of refusal, combined with his past demeanor toward Ji Yu, which was markedly different from how he treated Song Xuan...
Although Gu Qixiao and Ji Yu had never met in person, the fact that Gu Qixiao referred to her as "Madam" every time he instructed something spoke volumes about the distinction in how he viewed Ji Yu compared to Song Xuan.
Since Cai Xun was evidently trying to cut corners, Assistant Li couldn’t be bothered to say much.
"By the way, Assistant Li, I wanted to ask about President Gu..."
Assistant Li’s face, usually calm, grew instantly dark when Cai Xun broached this subject.
For a minor manager of one company to casually inquire into the affairs of another company’s top executives might seem routine to some, but the Gu family’s company was anything but ordinary.
Such a question from Cai Xun was doomed to elicit no response.
Noticing the change in Assistant Li’s expression, Cai Xun not only felt his own family might have acted too hastily but regretted raising such a question in the first place.
No matter how small Cai Xun’s role compared to Assistant Li’s position, this stark disparity couldn’t be glossed over.
Swallowing nervously, Cai Xun’s legs trembled uncontrollably, to the point where the faint sound of them quaking could be heard in the increasingly silent hallway.
"I, I..."
"Perhaps Young Mr. Cai hasn’t worked with a company of the Gu family’s stature before, so I’ll remind you this once," Assistant Li cut him off sharply, leaving his words choked and rendering Cai Xun as meek as a quail.
"The Gu family’s company is nothing like a small workshop such as Canning Group. No one is permitted to pry into the movements of top executives, especially President Gu."
Anyone with even a shred of intelligence could pick up on Assistant Li’s meaning. Offering this final piece of advice, Assistant Li left without even sparing Cai Xun a glance.
"One last bit of counsel, Young Mr. Cai: focus more on improving your company’s professional standards. As for other matters... you’re on your own."
Left alone, all Cai Xun could do was wait helplessly outside the operating room. Inside, the long and arduous cosmetic procedure continued, even though the lead surgeon lacked confidence in his own abilities.
Gaining satisfaction from crafting something like Ji Yu’s face?
He wasn’t an idiot!
Standing there in the operating room, staring at Song Xuan’s heavily tubed body, the head surgeon found himself momentarily dazed. His earlier assured declarations from a few days ago now only added to the mounting pressure in his chest.
Just days ago, in his office, Song Xuan sat across from him while Cai Xun hovered at her side like a lapdog.
"Are you sure there won’t be any problems, Doctor Song?"
Although Song Xuan desperately wished to possess a face as stunning as Ji Yu’s, having endured numerous instances of excruciating pain in the past, she still cared deeply about her own appearance.
To her, the surgeon, addressed as Doctor Song, exuded an aura of unwavering confidence, boldly proclaiming:
"Rest assured, Miss Song. I am a distinguished graduate of medical school and guarantee that once the surgery is complete, you’ll have a face you’ll be satisfied with."