After saying that, she hung up directly. Seriously, besides that idiot Qin Yao, who else would like that scumbag Xu Tao?
He looks like a fucking toad yet thinks he’s some celestial beauty every day.
Although attacking someone’s appearance is wrong, Gu Yan couldn’t help but curse him whenever she thought of his face.
When she came to her senses, she noticed Qu Xiao and Liang Yueran staring at her as if she were a stranger.
Gu Yan smiled lightly and continued massaging his temples.
However, Qu Xiao suddenly grabbed her hand. “What exactly happened to you? Ever since you took the initiative to find me at Emperor Hotel a few days ago, I’ve felt something was off.”
Gu Yan gritted her teeth. It seemed she had no choice but to play her trump card.
She put on a pitiful, aggrieved expression and wrapped her arms around Qu Xiao’s neck.
“Uncle Qu, I recently caught Qin Yao and Xu Tao in bed together and overheard them saying they were just using me to deal with you. That’s when it suddenly hit me.”
Qu Xiao didn’t press further. Just then, Yu Yang arrived with Qu Feng. He gently patted her hand, signaling for her to let go.
Gu Yan released him, and Qu Xiao walked over to Qu Feng.
He had been cleaned up—his hair cut into a crew cut, his beard shaved off.
He looked much cleaner and tidier overall, though he had become so thin he was practically skin and bones.
Qu Xiao’s clothes hung loosely on him, as if he were wearing something several sizes too large.
His eyes were filled with fear, and he hid behind Yu Yang, his body trembling slightly.
Qu Xiao stopped a few steps away, his gaze heavy. If not for the familiar face, he would have doubted this person was even his second uncle.
The second uncle he remembered always wore a gentle, jade-like smile no matter the situation. He carried an air of refinement and never raised his voice.
He couldn’t understand why they had tortured such an outstanding person into this state.
He was also that old man’s biological son—why had he been treated so cruelly?
“Yu Yang, have someone prepare the guest room for Second Uncle and arrange for a few people to take care of him. I’ll have some specialists come examine him later.”
Yu Yang nodded and called for two people to escort Qu Feng away.
“Let’s go, I’ll take you home,” he said, picking up his jacket from the couch and looking at Gu Yan.
Gu Yan shook her head. “I can go back by myself. Liang Yan should be here soon—you two probably have a lot to talk about.”
Qu Xiao didn’t respond. Instead, he took her hand and led her out.
“Yueran, wait here for a while. Your brother will be back soon. I’m going to the Gu residence and will return shortly.”
Liang Yueran nodded, engrossed in her phone. She had no intention of tagging along.
Yu Yang finished arranging matters and came to drive. Qu Xiao was used to having him around—he was almost always the one driving wherever they went.
In the car.
Qu Xiao leaned back in his seat, eyes closed, resting.
Gu Yan kept staring at his face, and before long, she couldn’t resist reaching out to trace the bridge of his nose.
Feeling her touch, Qu Xiao opened his eyes.
Their gazes met, and the atmosphere shifted noticeably.
Gu Yan showed no embarrassment at being caught. Instead, she grew bolder, settling onto his lap.
She buried her entire face into his neck. “Uncle Qu, do you miss me? I don’t know why, but even though you’re right beside me, I still can’t help missing you.”
Yu Yang tactfully raised the partition. He noticed that Gu Yan had been seizing every opportunity lately to flirt with his boss.
Qu Xiao’s body stiffened slightly, but he still wrapped an arm around her waist to prevent her from being thrown forward during sudden braking.
“You’re getting bolder by the day.”
Gu Yan blew softly into his ear. “Do you like it?”
Qu Xiao tightened his embrace, his voice slightly hoarse. “I do.”
Gu Yan giggled delightedly in his arms, reaching up to playfully pinch his earlobe.
Qu Xiao caught her restless hand. “Alright, that’s enough. We’ve arrived at your place.”
The car came to a stop at that moment.
Qu Xiao stepped out first, followed by Gu Yan who immediately linked arms with him as they walked toward the villa.
Upon entering, they saw two men kneeling on the floor.
Gu Xianzhe was glaring furiously at the kneeling figures, while Li Wenhui sat on the sofa wiping her tears.
“Dad, Mom, Big Brother, Second Brother.” Gu Yan greeted them as she and Qu Xiao approached.
It appeared her brothers had already explained everything to their parents, though Gu Yan worried they might not be able to handle the truth.
Li Wenhui dried her tears and stood up from the sofa. “President Qu, Xiao Yan, you’re here. Please have a seat. Let me get you some water.”
“Mom, stay seated. I’ll get it.” Gu Yan had Qu Xiao sit on the sofa before heading to the kitchen to prepare hot water.
When Gu Xianzhe saw Qu Xiao, gratitude filled his eyes. “President Qu, thank you.”
Qu Xiao shook his head, crossing his long legs with respectful demeanor.
“We’re family now. No need for formalities.”
Both Gu Xianzhe and Li Wenhui looked at him, as did Gu Tingyan and Gu Tingli.
Qu Xiao’s gaze settled on Gu Tingyan, his voice calm. “Who took you gambling? And who introduced you to that substance?”
Gu Tingyan avoided eye contact, stammering incoherently.
Gu Xianzhe roared angrily, “Are you still refusing to tell the truth?”
Seeing his older brother remain silent, Gu Tingli gritted his teeth and looked up at Qu Xiao with forced courage. “It was one of your subordinates. He took us to the Underground City casino in Nantang. At first we won some money, but then we started losing. Later he offered us a special cigarette… by the time Big Brother and I realized what was happening, we were already addicted.”
Dead silence fell over the living room.
Qu Xiao’s expression darkened. He had never brought those substances into the country, meaning someone was using his name to operate casinos and deal drugs domestically.
Watching Qu Xiao’s grim face, Gu Tingli swallowed hard and added, “Dad, that person also planted the evidence at the company. I didn’t know he would do that. He said he wanted to visit the company, so I took him there. When I was suffering from withdrawal, I disclosed company secrets to him… he was the one who planted everything.”
Gu Yan returned from the kitchen with hot water, placing it before Qu Xiao without speaking before taking a seat beside him.
Gu Xianzhe stood up with an unpleasant expression. “What nonsense are you talking? President Qu paid off all your gambling debts for you. How could he possibly harm you?”
Gu Tingli, not thinking as deeply as Gu Tingyan, rose directly from the ground.
“Dad, haven’t you heard the rumors circulating outside? It’s him—he wants to get Xiaoyan, so he used underhanded methods to ruin our Gu family, only to then step forward and play the Savior.”