Chapter 32
The car pulled away from the hospital swiftly. Gu Xi sat quietly in the back seat, clutching her phone, and dialed her father's number.
"Xixi?" Gu Changan answered with a hint of surprise. "What's wrong?"
He had just arrived at the company and was knee-deep in the chaos left behind by recent events. Receiving a call from his daughter at this hour made his heart sink. Had something else gone wrong?
"Dad, I need to talk to you about something," Gu Xi said calmly.
"Oh? What is it? Can we talk over the phone?"
"I'd rather say it in person. I'm heading to your office now. We'll talk when I get there."
"Alright. I'll wait for you."
After hanging up, Gu Xi's face tensed with resolve. Zhan Mingyuan glanced at her from the seat beside her. He opened his mouth to speak, wanting to offer comfort—but in the end, he said nothing.
Her expression was serious, her eyes unwavering. It felt as though nothing could shake her composure. In that moment, Zhan Mingyuan realized there was nothing he could say to make her feel better—nor was it what she needed.
The car soon stopped in front of Changsheng Group. To everyone's shock, Gu Changan was already waiting by the main entrance.
When Gu Xi stepped out of the car in a flowing light blue dress, heads turned. Employees whispered in surprise—who was this girl who warranted the general manager's personal welcome?
"Xixi!" Gu Changan called out, a rare smile softening his stern face. His eyes warmed further when he saw the young man trailing behind his daughter. "Mingyuan, you're here too?"
"Yes, Uncle," Zhan Mingyuan replied. "Xixi's still recovering, so I came with her."
"You shouldn't be running around if you're not well yet," Gu Changan scolded gently. "Come inside with me."
The trio entered the building together, leaving behind a buzz of speculation in their wake.
So that's General Manager Gu's daughter? She's stunning!
Behind the closed doors of the executive suite, Gu Xi settled onto the sofa in her father's office.
"Dad, Brother Mingyuan and I are going to Jiangzhou," she said bluntly.
"To Jiangzhou?" Gu Changan raised his brows, immediately assuming, "Is it about your uncle—?"
"It's not about Uncle," Gu Xi interrupted, shaking her head. "It's about my cousin. He ran into trouble in Beijing."
"What?" Gu Changan nearly sprang out of his chair. "Jinsong? They made a move on Jinsong?"
"It looks like it," Gu Xi replied. "We tried calling him this morning, but a stranger answered. His tone was hostile."
"What exactly did he say?"
Gu Xi hesitated before replying grimly, "He told us to come collect my cousin's body."
"Bullshit!" Gu Changan slammed his palm on the desk and stood up abruptly. "Does he think he can take the life of someone from our family just like that?!"
Dad… Cousin Jinsong's surname is Wei, not Gu, Gu Xi muttered silently to herself, massaging her temples.
"Calm down," she said out loud. "It might not be as serious as it sounds. Maybe it was just some twisted joke among classmates—it might not have anything to do with Uncle's situation."
"Hmph. Don't try to soften the blow," Gu Changan growled. "I looked into the Gu family's dealings in Beijing today. They've been forcibly acquiring companies that don't toe the line—it's happened more than once. Jinsong is studying there, and with the Gu family's power, do you really think they'd pass up the opportunity to use him as leverage?"