Chapter 269: Cold War
He Sirui found it incredible upon hearing this. Mrs. Gu throws a tantrum and he cares about it so much that he doesn’t even want to talk about business. President Gu was never like this before.
He Sirui wanted to know more, "What did Mrs. Gu say to you?"
Gu Yikun said, "Let’s not talk about this. Let’s talk business."
This time, He Sirui couldn’t focus. Distracted, she responded absentmindedly and said as she was leaving, "Are you bringing your wife to the banquet three days from now? I’d love to meet the legendary Mrs. Gu."
This banquet serves as a prelude to the hotel’s opening, so President Gu wouldn’t refuse. It’s just uncertain whether he will bring his wife or not.
"I’ll go alone."
He Sirui felt a bit excited, "Alright, see you then." She needed to go back and prepare her gown.
Gu Yikun glanced at his phone, still no messages.
He Sirui left the Gu Family, and Gu Qianlan called her, "Si Rui, is my brother really not letting Zhiwen go? Zhiwen said she hasn’t got a single job offer right now."
He Sirui felt helpless, "Your brother already said so. Whatever your sister-in-law wants, I really can’t help. You should talk to her yourself."
Gu Qianlan was annoyed, "I don’t want to beg her. Si Rui, I’ve returned to the country. No one in my family knows. Can I stay at your place for a while?"
"You came back? Why can’t you let your family know? This won’t stay hidden for long."
"I won’t have any freedom if I go home. I’m here to find someone. I won’t give up until I find him."
"Who are you looking for, a man?"
Gu Qianlan admitted, "Si Rui, I’m waiting at your door. I can’t use my card’s money in the country, and I don’t have much cash on me."
"Alright, I’ll head back."
He Sirui returned home. She lived on her own after moving out, so it wasn’t a problem to let Gu Qianlan stay for a few days.
Gu Qianlan was waiting at the door with a small backpack, and nothing else.
He Sirui opened the door and let her in, fetched her a drink, and they sat in the living room, "You’ve graduated a year ago, but you still act like a kid. If your brother knew I was secretly housing you, he’d definitely blame me."
"I really don’t want to go home. I get grounded for the slightest things."
He Sirui said, "I went to meet Zhiwen. She’s changed a lot. Qianlan, you help her plead because you see her as a friend, but I’m not sure if she sees you the same way. I’m afraid you’ll be used. You can’t help her unconditionally; you need to think for yourself too."
Having reconnected with Liu Zhiwen upon returning to the country, He Sirui noticed how ambitious and scheming the girl had become. Liu Zhiwen knew she’d eventually face An Junxi’s retribution and was frantically seeking alliances and backers, losing composure in the process.
No matter how smart Liu Zhiwen was, she also had her moments of foolishness. She didn’t realize that outside the Gu Family, there was no stronger backer to be found, even going abroad wouldn’t save her.
He Sirui didn’t understand why An Junxi hadn’t taken action yet, but she was certainly patient. Without doing anything, Liu Zhiwen was already scaring herself half to death.
Gu Qianlan confidently said, "I grew up with Liu Zhiwen. She hadn’t changed when I came back from studying abroad. She’s always been good to me, so of course, I’ll help her."
Over the past two years, too much had happened at home. Her scandals were widely reported by the media, forcing her to go abroad to hide.
Throughout, Yin Feibai never stood up to say a word for her. He even seized many projects during the Gu Family’s crisis. It was then she knew it was time to give up on him, to not drag the family down due to her whims.
She concentrated on her studies in the United States and graduated smoothly, hearing that An Junxi had returned to the Gu Family with her daughter. She still harbored hatred for that woman.
An Junxi nearly caused her brother’s death. She was nowhere to be seen during the Gu Family’s crisis, and now that her brother had restructured the Gu Family, she returned.
She was a vain woman. Even if she bore her brother’s daughter, it didn’t change this fact.
Gu Qianlan had seen Ai Xi’s photos and liked the niece she had never met. As for her mother, she would never approve of her.
Gu Qianlan looked at He Sirui and suddenly asked, "Si Rui, you’ve known my brother for so long, do you like him?"
He Sirui’s heart skipped a beat, "I see your brother as a friend, just like you do."
Gu Qianlan lay on the sofa, "I think you’d be a great match for my brother. An Junxi doesn’t deserve him."
He Sirui felt a secret joy, as Qianlan also thought she and Yikun were a good match.
"Qianlan, why are you asking me this? Haven’t you noticed Liu Zhiwen has feelings for your brother?"
He Sirui observed everything in detail. If Liu Zhiwen didn’t have feelings for Yikun, she wouldn’t have targeted An Junxi so much at Wanling Entertainment.
Gu Qianlan never considered this, "How could that be? Whenever she comes over, she barely speaks to my brother."
"Maybe she didn’t have the chance to speak? That doesn’t mean she doesn’t like him. You should find a chance to ask her and make sure she doesn’t act recklessly."
Gu Qianlan sat up, "Then I really need to ask her."
An Junxi and Gu Yikun were cold-warring for two days, barely speaking a word. Even Gu Aixi sensed something was wrong and tried hard to make An Junxi smile.
An Junxi tried to appear cheerful in front of her daughter until Gong Xiaoyu invited her to a bar.
An Junxi heard her senior’s slurred speech, "Senior, you’re drunk. I’ll ask Yue Xiaoyang to pick you up."
"I don’t want him," Gong Xiaoyu cried, "Jun Xi, come over. I feel so awful."
Feeling uneasy, An Junxi, recalling the last incident, dared not go out casually. If Gu Yikun knew she went to a bar, they’d argue again.
"Senior, wait for me a bit and don’t wander off."
Gu Yikun hadn’t returned yet from working late. An Junxi didn’t know if he was really busy or avoiding home. After some thought, she called Gu Yikun.
Gu Yikun was in a meeting with senior executives. With the hotel nearing its opening and the need to increase maritime routes to South America, they had been in continuous meetings for days.
Seeing his wife’s call, he picked up his phone and stepped outside, "What’s up?"
After two days of no words, she finally called. Gu Yikun felt a little comforted, wondering if she was worried about his late returns from work.
An Junxi said, "Yikun, my senior got drunk at a bar. I need to check on her."
Gu Yikun loosened his tie, realizing it wasn’t the concern he had imagined.
He didn’t want her to go to such a place. About to say no, he changed his mind seeing her recent moods and said, "Which bar? I’ll pick you two up later."
An Junxi gave him the address, "I’ll have Mrs. He watch over Ai Xi for a bit. I’ll be back after taking my senior home."
Gu Yikun said, "Alright, let Xiao Liu drive you. I’ll pick you up after the meeting."
He sighed, knowing she only called because of Gong Xiaoyu. He felt increasingly unimportant in her heart.
An Junxi put her daughter to sleep and told Mrs. He, "I’m going out for a bit. If Ai Xi wakes up, please look after her. I’ll be back soon."
"Sure, I’ll take good care of Ai Xi. Go ahead."
An Junxi had Xiao Liu drive her to the bar. Coincidentally, it was the same one where You Lifen had gotten drunk and called her last time. The place was chaotic, and she feared something might happen to her senior.