Qu Xiao let out a cold laugh. “He’s gone missing. I couldn’t find him. If you miss him, send someone to look for him yourself.”
Old Master Qu’s voice turned icy as well. “Are you trying to hide him from me?”
Qu Xiao got out of the car and watched Gu Yan approach him. His tone remained cold as he said, “So what if I am? If you want to see him, go find him yourself.”
After saying this, he hung up directly and opened his arms to catch Gu Yan as she ran toward him.
“Why are you running? Aren’t you afraid you might trip?”
Gu Yan chuckled softly and nestled closer into his embrace. “I didn’t want to keep you waiting too long. Why did you suddenly come to see me?”
Qu Xiao tightened her coat around her and affectionately ruffled her hair. “Let’s go home for dinner first. I asked Aunt Mei to prepare your favorite dishes.”
Gu Yan wrapped her arms around his neck and replied, “Okay.”
…
At the Qu Family’s Old Mansion.
Old Master Qu stared at the disconnected call, his face turning livid.
“Fine, very good. You think your wings are strong enough now, do you? Let’s see how long you can keep up this arrogance.”
Qu Mou and Qu Bai exchanged puzzled glances as they entered and overheard this remark.
Qu Mou walked over and sat beside him, frowning as he asked, “Father, what’s wrong? Who made you so angry?”
Qu Bai followed and greeted, “Grandfather.”
Old Master Qu nodded and gestured for Qu Bai to come closer. “Xiao Bai, come sit by your grandfather.”
Qu Bai took a seat beside Old Master Qu, who patted his hand gently. “How are things at the company?”
Qu Bai smiled and replied, “Everything is running smoothly. With the experienced staff you assigned to guide me, it’s been much easier.”
Old Master Qu nodded meaningfully. “If Grandfather were to hand The Qu Corporation over to you, would you have the confidence to make it even stronger?”
Qu Bai was taken aback and glanced at Qu Mou, unsure of what Old Master Qu meant by this.
Qu Mou frowned and asked, “Father, what do you mean by that?”
Old Master Qu patted Qu Bai’s shoulder and stood up. “It’s always best to keep family assets in the hands of our own people.”
“Xiao Bai, focus on learning how to manage the company well from the senior staff. When the time is right, Grandfather will support you in taking over.”
Watching Old Master Qu’s retreating figure heading to the garden, Qu Mou’s face broke into a smile. He turned to Qu Bai and said, “Son, your grandfather wants you to inherit The Qu Corporation. From now on, just stay close to him and learn.”
Qu Bai frowned. “Father, what about Qu Xiao? Most of the company’s staff follow his lead.”
Qu Mou sneered. “So what if they listen to him? Your grandfather holds something he wants dearly. He won’t be able to cause any trouble.”
“But, Father…” Qu Bai hesitated, looking at him uncertainly.
Qu Mou patted his shoulder reassuringly. “Xiao Bai, he’s just a bastard, not a true member of our Qu Family. Do whatever you need to without holding back. Your grandfather and I will always have your back.”
With that, Qu Mou followed Old Master Qu to the garden in high spirits.
Qu Bai watched them leave, his gaze growing resolute.
…
At the Qi Family residence.
Qi Furen frowned as she looked at Qi Yan, who was reeking of alcohol and had been brought home by her friends.
After settling Qi Yan on the bed and seeing her friends off, Qi Furen stared at her daughter, who was dead drunk. She helped her out of her coat and gently patted her cheek.
“Yan Yan, how did you drink yourself into such a state? Good thing your father went to the cocktail party – if he saw you like this, he’d be angry again.”
Qi Yan showed no reaction. Qi Furen sighed and fetched water to wipe her face.
Just as she finished wringing the towel dry, she saw that Qi Yan was already in tears.
Qi Furen immediately dropped the towel in her hand, looking at her with concern. “Yan Yan, why are you crying? Are you feeling unwell somewhere? Tell mother where you’re uncomfortable.”
Qi Yan opened her eyes, gazing at the blurry figure before her, and murmured softly.
“Tang Qingru, please take me away with you.”
Hearing this name, Qi Furen frowned slightly. She hadn’t heard this name mentioned since three years ago.
Over these years, she hadn’t heard Qi Yan bring him up, so she thought she had forgotten. Who would have thought that just the second day after returning, she would drink herself into such a state.
Qi Yan’s tears continued to fall as she curled up on the bed, making Qi Furen’s heart ache.
Qi Furen sighed and held her in her arms, wiping away her tears. “Yan Yan, mother thought since you hadn’t mentioned him all these years, you had long forgotten. Who knew you were still so deeply affected? Mother shouldn’t have asked you to come back.”
Qi Yan was too drunk to recognize who was before her. She just kept calling Tang Qingru’s name over and over, as if doing so would bring him back to her.
“Why do you look at me without any emotion, as if nothing ever happened between us?”
“Why are you so cruel to me, Tang Qingru? Why are you so cruel? Why can’t you just look at me?”
Qi Furen could only sigh silently. Truthfully, she didn’t see any problem with it – as long as Yan Yan was happy, she could support her. After all, besides their disobedient son, they only had this one daughter.
But her father simply couldn’t accept it. Forget about the teacher-student relationship – what her father couldn’t accept was Tang Qingru’s lack of status and background, the mismatch in social standing.
If they wanted to be together, the path would be very difficult. That’s why she had advised her to go abroad back then. Who would have thought that after three years, she still hadn’t moved on.
Looking at Qi Yan’s swollen eyes from crying, Qi Furen sighed again.
What should they do with this girl?
…………
Rose Garden.
After dinner, Qu Xiao and Gu Yan were enjoying the night view on the balcony.
Gu Yan leaned against Qu Xiao’s chest, a content smile on her face.
Qu Xiao held her tightly, rubbing his chin against her neck.
Gu Yan felt ticklish from the stubble on his chin and laughed, “Uncle Qu, your stubble is prickling me.”
After saying this, she turned around and wrapped her arms around his neck, facing him directly.
“Uncle Qu.”
Qu Xiao looked at her, swallowing hard. “If you keep looking at me like that, whatever happens next will be beyond my control.”
Gu Yan curled her lips into a smile, tucked her hair behind her ear, and gave him an extremely alluring smile.
“Then don’t control yourself.”
Qu Xiao’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he picked her up and prepared to go downstairs to their room.
Gu Yan laughed while holding onto his neck, whispering seductively in his ear, “Going downstairs is too much trouble. Let’s just stay here.”
Qu Xiao stopped in his tracks. Looking at the mischievously grinning person in his arms, his voice took on a bewitching tone. “It’s too cold up here.”
Gu Yan knew that when he wore his suit, he was just pretending to be proper. In reality, he was wilder than anyone else in his heart.
She reached out and gently rubbed his earlobe.
“It’ll warm up in a moment.”
After saying this, she curved her lips into a smile and leaned in to kiss him directly.