Chapter 111 — Something Feels a Little Off [Begging for Monthly Tickets, Third Bonus Update]

Uncle Qing's car drove straight into the underground garage of the Pengzhan Hotel without the slightest hindrance, and from there the group took a private passage directly up to the hotel's top floor. This floor was plainly not open to the public; there was none of the usual coming and going.

Uncle Qing led Wei Zhao and the others straight to the door of a private room and knocked.

In truth, apart from Wei Zhao, Gu Mengyao and Shen Yushu had been here many times already — so many that they knew the place inside out.

"Come in." Gu Pengzhan's voice came from within.

Uncle Qing pushed the door open but did not step inside; instead he turned to Gu Mengyao and said, "Miss Gu, Xiaoshu, Mr. Lin — please."

Gu Mengyao and Shen Yushu were plainly used to this. For years Uncle Qing had played exactly this part, that of the old family retainer, and the image was by now deeply ingrained.

Wei Zhao, though, felt a little awkward. "Uncle Qing, you should go in first too..."

"Mr. Lin, you are the guest," Uncle Qing said firmly.

There was nothing Wei Zhao could do but enter the private room. Seeing Gu Pengzhan inside, he smiled and greeted him: "Hello, Uncle Gu."

"Xiao Yi, sit, sit. Ha ha, don't stand on ceremony — this is only a family dinner..." Gu Pengzhan waved him over cheerfully. "You'll get used to it in time. It's fixed, every week — unless I'm away on business."

"Ha ha..." Wei Zhao could only answer with a wry smile. What business did he have at another man's family dinner? Uncle Qing was Gu Pengzhan's trusted man; Shen Yushu, apart from being Gu Mengyao's closest friend, came from a family with generations of ties to the Gus, so her presence at a family dinner was only natural. But he...

Even Gu Mengyao, standing to one side, was astonished. What kind of spell had Wei Zhao cast over her father? Daddy had actually invited him to the family dinner — and told him he would get used to it in time... Which meant that from now on, Wei Zhao would have a place at the weekly family dinner too?

Gu Mengyao had already accepted the fact of Wei Zhao's existence, but she simply could not swallow her irritation. Wei Zhao was infuriating — slouching about with that insufferably cocky air of his. Plenty of men would have leapt at the chance to be her shield, and he, of all people, not only loafed around but had the nerve to annoy her...

What Gu Mengyao did not know was that this competitive streak of hers would become, some time later, a thing she regretted deeply...

"Heh heh, Shield-bro, you're part of our big family now too. Do look after me from here on." Shen Yushu greeted Wei Zhao with the manners of a good girl.

Look after you? Wei Zhao rubbed his nose. Who's looking after whom? You little minx, waving a chicken feather about as if it were a battle standard, threatening me with a scrap of toilet paper...

"Yaoyao, so how is it? Are you satisfied with Xiao Yi now?" Gu Pengzhan looked at his daughter with a smile.

"Satisfied or not, what does it matter? If I weren't satisfied, could you fire him, Daddy?" Gu Mengyao sounded aggrieved.

"Ha ha, I'd say Xiaoshu gets along with him quite well. What, do you have some complaint?" Gu Pengzhan asked.

"No..." Gu Mengyao shook her head. In truth she was torn. The image of Wei Zhao stepping forward that day would flash through her mind again and again; yet his slouching, couldn't-care-less attitude toward her was just as infuriating.

It was as if he treated Xiaoshu better than he treated her — that was what Gu Mengyao could least accept. Why? Was she really so unappealing? If Zhong Yongliang had not still been pestering her, she might even have thought she had grown ugly lately...

"Since there's no complaint, then the two of you should get along well. You're the same age, and it sets Daddy's mind at ease to know you have company..." Gu Pengzhan nodded in satisfaction at his daughter's answer.

Gu Mengyao sighed. This was practically inviting a wolf into the house — an innocent young girl like her, living under the same roof as a stinking man... And that was not even the worst of it. The worst of it was that Wei Zhao seemed to have no interest in her at all.

The dishes were soon brought out one after another. It was clear the chef had put real care into this family dinner: nothing extravagant, only ordinary home cooking, yet the colors and the pairings were all meticulously arranged.

A man of Gu Pengzhan's standing had long since lost interest in rare delicacies; what he wanted was food that was both delicious and wholesome.

Since Gu Pengzhan had told Wei Zhao not to stand on ceremony, Wei Zhao did not. Who would pick a fight with his own stomach? There was nothing to put on airs about anyway — his relationship with Gu Pengzhan was employer and employee, and there was no need for excessive politeness. So, under Gu Mengyao's contemptuous and Shen Yushu's astonished gaze, Wei Zhao ate his fill...

Gu Mengyao felt a chill of mortification. Brother, could you not embarrass me... You're supposed to be my follower... She stole a glance at Shen Yushu, found no particular surprise on her face, and only then breathed a sigh of relief...

Hmph, he's just a follower. Why should I care so much about him? Whether he eats himself to death is none of my business. So Gu Mengyao consoled herself.

By the end of the meal, Wei Zhao had eaten the most. Gu Mengyao could bear it no longer: "Wei Zhao, are you going to ask for a doggy bag next?"

"Uh... that had crossed my mind." Wei Zhao nodded.

Gu Mengyao was speechless, Shen Yushu stifled a laugh, and Gu Pengzhan still watched Wei Zhao with a smiling face. Ever since that business at the bank, Gu Pengzhan's impression of Wei Zhao could not have been better. He had heard the old man at home going on about the boy before, and had paid it no mind; now it seemed his father's judgment of character had been sharp indeed.

"Yaoyao, you and Xiaoshu go down with Uncle Qing first. Xiao Yi and I will pack up the leftovers." Gu Pengzhan rose to look for takeout boxes. Gu Mengyao was dumbstruck — her father was not a man of extravagance, but neither had he ever packed leftovers before.

Shen Yushu, however, watched Gu Pengzhan thoughtfully, a flicker of something unreadable passing through her eyes. Then she was herself again, and took Gu Mengyao's hand. "Sister Yaoyao, let's go on ahead..."

"Oh..." Gu Mengyao was baffled by her father's behavior but could hardly ask. In any case, she was certain that Daddy treated Wei Zhao better than he treated her. What was that about? He was only a hired follower...

Uncle Qing walked ahead to fetch the car, while Gu Mengyao and Shen Yushu followed behind. Shen Yushu tugged at Gu Mengyao's hand.

"Hmm? Is something the matter, Xiaoshu?" Gu Mengyao looked at Shen Yushu, who was walking very slowly, in some confusion.

"Sister Yaoyao... I have a feeling..." Shen Yushu hesitated, then voiced her thought. As for that momentary bewilderment of hers a moment ago, she buried it deep in her heart.

"A feeling? What feeling?" Gu Mengyao looked at her, even more at a loss, not knowing what she meant.

"Sister Yaoyao, haven't you noticed? Uncle Gu's attitude toward Wei Zhao... something seems a little off?" Shen Yushu said in a lowered voice.

"Mm... Xiaoshu, you noticed it too?" Gu Mengyao had been puzzling over exactly that a moment ago, and now that Shen Yushu had said it, she nodded again and again.

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