Chapter 602 — Li Cihua's Probing
The Blossom Guardian · Page 2 of 2
"Boss Li, might I ask what brings you here?" Gu Pengzhan made no effort at pleasantries. There was no business between the two of them, and besides, the scheme Jin Gubang had lately used against him had been Li Cihua's doing; so Gu Pengzhan did not even put on a show of civility.
"President Gu, there's no need for me to spell out what line of work I'm in. The relationship between us can hardly be called cordial, but that doesn't matter." Li Cihua spoke coolly. "Let what happened before be considered water under the bridge. Since Jin Gubang failed, I've no intention of moving against you again."
"Oh? Then what has brought Boss Li here this time?" Gu Pengzhan was not particularly surprised that Li Cihua so openly admitted to his own schemes; spoken or unspoken, the truth was clear to them both.
"A straightforward man doesn't mince words. Mr. Gu, you've hired a bodyguard by the name of Wei Zhao?" Li Cihua meant to carry out Zhao Qibing's charge as quickly as possible, and so could not be bothered with pleasantries; from the first he struck an aggressive pose.
In Li Cihua's estimation, though he was no match for Wei Zhao, he was still a figure of consequence in Songshan City. Gu Pengzhan, say what one might, was nothing but a businessman — how could he be mentioned in the same breath as a man like Li Cihua, one who moved in the shadows?
"That's right. Is there some problem?" Gu Pengzhan frowned. Li Cihua's visit was indeed aimed at Wei Zhao.
"Heh heh, there is in fact a small matter I'd like to trouble Mr. Gu with. I imagine you've heard that my Young Master Bing was beaten and wounded?" Li Cihua asked mildly.
"Just what are you trying to say?" Gu Pengzhan shot back.
"There's no one truly capable at Young Master Bing's side. I wonder whether Mr. Gu might be willing to part with what he prizes, and let us have Wei Zhao?" This time Li Cihua employed a little cunning: he was probing whether Wei Zhao, too, had been wounded, how badly, and whether his martial skill still remained.
"Oh, I have a contract with Mr. Wei Zhao," Gu Pengzhan answered flatly.
"So that's how it is..." Li Cihua cursed Gu Pengzhan inwardly as an old fox. He had assumed that if Wei Zhao were injured, Gu Pengzhan would surely have said that Wei Zhao was hurt as well and unfit to protect anyone; or that if Wei Zhao had lost his skills altogether, Gu Pengzhan would have said Wei Zhao could no longer guard anyone at all.
But what Gu Pengzhan said had been precisely about the contract! What was that supposed to mean? Did it mean Wei Zhao still had his skills and Gu Pengzhan was unwilling to give him up — or that Wei Zhao had lost his skills and was gravely wounded, and that Gu Pengzhan kept him on purely because of the contract?
The words were spoken without any particular tone, and Li Cihua truly found it hard to judge Gu Pengzhan's real intent.
"In that case, I won't press a man against his will." Li Cihua gritted his teeth and said inwardly with hatred, "Might I ask where Mr. Gu came by Wei Zhao? At a bodyguard company, or some formidable organization? Why not recommend me to them as well, so that I might hire a bodyguard too?" (If you enjoy this work, you are welcome to visit *** (***.***) to cast your recommendation votes, ***; your support is my greatest motivation.)