Chapter Fifty-Six: A Visit to the Gu Corporation

When Gu Zhiheng returned home, he finally experienced what a real home felt like—warm and cozy. He liked this feeling very much, finding it relaxing and comfortable to be with his family, free from any messy or inexplicable emotions.

“Brother, come out with me! I want to introduce you to my classmates.” Early in the morning, Gu Zhixia saw him sprawled out on the sofa and wanted to show him off to her friends.

Since she was little, she’d always told her classmates that her brother was a formidable fortune-telling master. Her friends never believed her, insisting she was making it up, saying that nowadays, who still believes in fortune-telling? But she refused to accept their disbelief. Her brother really was that amazing—why wouldn’t they believe her?

“It’s so hot outside. Are you sure you want to go out and play?” He hesitated—the weather was thirty degrees, and it would be easy to get heatstroke. Though his health was pretty good, he had no desire to go shopping in the midday heat. Wasn’t it better to stay at home, lying down and enjoying the air conditioning?

“Brother, my friends all say I don’t have a brother, that I’m lying. Please come out with me!” Gu Zhixia clung to him, pestering him to go out, while He Yu, off to the side, kept calling for her uncle to join them.

Gu Zhiheng felt his head buzzing—girls could be terrifying when they started acting cute and pleading.

“All right, all right. I’ll take you two out for a bit, but not for too long!” He had to admit, he couldn’t withstand the double assault of his sister and niece’s pleading and cuteness.

Resigned, he got up to change his clothes, grabbed the car keys, and took the two of them out. Since it was too hot outside, he decided they’d just walk around the mall or maybe check out the supermarket. As long as there was air conditioning, it didn’t matter where they went.

They set off for the nearest mall by car, and in less than ten minutes, they arrived at the underground parking lot. After parking, he brought the two of them into the supermarket.

He needed a bottle of water—he simply couldn’t stand this heat. He Yu, too, was wilting from the heat and refused to walk on her own, constantly demanding that Gu Zhiheng carry her.

“Uncle, it’s hot outside. Can we go home and lie down?” See, even a three-year-old knows how comfortable it is to lie at home.

“We’ll go to the mall in a bit, and the big sisters will come play with you. We’re not going home!” Gu Zhixia didn’t want to turn back right after coming out and tugged Gu Zhiheng toward the mall.

The mall was just across the street from the supermarket, only a dozen meters away.

“Xiaxia, we’re over here!” Two adorable girls with twin ponytails called out, looking sweet and lively.

They were dressed just like He Yu in Gu Zhiheng’s arms—soft shades of pink, impossibly cute.

“Qiao Qiao, Fei Fei, you’re here early!” These two girls were Gu Zhixia’s closest friends, her childhood companions.

Of course, this was the first time they’d met Gu Zhiheng.

He and his sister looked very much alike, but his features were even more refined than hers.

“Brother, these are my friends—I grew up with them.” Her smile was so wide her eyes turned into slits.

Gu Zhixia introduced Gu Zhiheng in front of her friends, and he greeted them graciously one by one, maintaining a gentlemanly demeanor for his sister’s sake. He couldn’t embarrass her in front of her friends, after all.

“Hello, I’m Xiaxia’s brother, Gu Zhiheng.” His manners were impeccable, never overdone.

This was the real Gu Zhiheng—someone few knew. In front of outsiders, he could wear any face he liked. But his true self was rarely seen; only when he wanted would others catch a glimpse.

“All right, let’s go shopping—my treat today!” Ah, girls really were such a handful!

With one in his arms and three more in tow, he felt utterly overwhelmed.

Girls were truly energetic—three older, one younger—dragging him all over the mall. They didn’t buy much, just kept wandering around, refusing to let him rest. He had no idea what they found so amusing—they looked at everything, whether they liked it or not.

“It’s been three hours. Are you actually going to buy anything? I’m exhausted.” It was cool, yes, but his legs were about to give out.

“Brother, if you have things to do, go ahead. I’ll take Yu’er and play a little longer.” Gu Zhixia took He Yu from him and left with her friends.

She knew her brother had to stop by the company. If he didn’t, that bunch would start complaining again.

Gu Zhiheng sighed, checked the time on his phone, and headed for the parking lot.

Since he was out, he might as well drop by the Gu Group.

He had no idea how the company was doing lately, or whether the staff were behaving. Though he wasn’t too concerned with these matters, he still wanted to make an appearance, to remind them that he, Gu Zhiheng, still cared.

At 3:45, he appeared in front of the Gu Group’s headquarters.

In Ming City, there were two Fortune 100 groups—Mo Group and Gu Group—each going its own way without interfering with the other.

“Ninth Master, the chairman is in his office. Take the elevator on the right up.” The young receptionist told Gu Zhiheng his father’s location and returned to her work.

Unfamiliar with company protocol, Gu Zhiheng headed straight for the right-hand elevator, planning to visit his father’s office.

But as he waited, someone beside him clearly wanted to cause trouble. “Now anyone can just take the chairman’s private elevator?” The man’s tone was sour, his face twisted in scorn as he looked at Gu Zhiheng.

A few women nearby chimed in, “Some people just don’t know their place, can’t see reality for what it is.”

Not everyone could cozy up to the new chairman. For a young man to be so shameless—what would become of the company?

A crowd began muttering, their words harsh and unpleasant, all directed at Gu Zhiheng. The atmosphere instantly soured.

“Ninth Master? Why didn’t you tell me you were coming to the company!” Someone hurried over, voice excited, and quickly approached Gu Zhiheng.

“I just came to have a look. I didn’t expect the company to be so full of freeloaders.” His tone was calm, but his displeasure was plain to see.

“If the company isn’t busy, we’ll send the loafers away. We don’t keep dead weight around here.” His demeanor was icy, his tone cold as frost.

The crowd, who had been so lively just moments before, suddenly fell silent, heads bowed as if struck dumb.

“Ninth Master, don’t be angry. I’ll take care of this at once. Let me take you to the chairman’s office.” The man scolded the others under his breath—how could they have offended the president during work hours?

“If anyone so much as grumbles when the president comes in the future, they can leave of their own accord. Don’t disgrace yourselves in front of everyone!” he barked, then led Gu Zhiheng away.

The others were left aghast—they hadn’t imagined that this seemingly ordinary young man was actually the company’s president.