SFBF CH17

“Hao Yi, what’s going on over there?”

After the store manager interrupted Hao Yi, the group members on the other end of the video call began to ask questions one after another.

After all, what appeared on the screen now was no longer Shen Qing’s face, but the serious face of a staff member.

“Over here…”

Hao Yi’s voice paused. He wanted to say, I fcking don’t know what’s going on either!*

That cowardly little wimp Shen Qing, when did he get such clout here?!

How did he blacklist me, turn around, and become some kind of shopping center Lady Boss?

He was so submissive all those years in the Shen family, but instead gained a voice after going to the Gu family??

Then he heard the store manager explain to Shen Qing that it was President Gu’s personal order…

The expression on Hao Yi’s face became even more twisted.

And hearing the other party ask whether to call the police, Hao Yi started to chicken out!

If it were just Shen Qing alone, he wouldn’t care even if Shen Qing said he would call the police.

He didn’t believe he couldn’t handle this Shen Qing.

But now, it seemed Shen Qing had someone backing him up.

…

This time, perhaps there really was someone!

Some of the group members were also stunned. Their thoughts were similar to Hao Yi’s. After all, they all knew very well how cowardly and lacking in presence Shen Qing had always been.

Now, suddenly someone was calling Shen Qing “Madam” and saying he was some kind of Lady Boss…

“Hao Yi, which mall are you at? Huayu International? I remember you said this morning you were going to check out Huayu International?” someone in the group asked uncertainly.

In the multi-person video call, someone quickly picked up the conversation, their tone trembling: “Huayu International… indeed belongs to that person…”

The group fell silent.

Of course, they knew whose property Huayu International Tower was.

Anyone would know!

But the problem was this Shen Qing… wasn’t he just married off for alliance, and didn’t dare speak at all in front of the big shot?!

A while ago, people in their group were still deliberately teasing, saying Young Master Shen had flown up to a high branch and become a phoenix, and that they wanted to visit the big villa Young Master Shen lived in now.

As expected, Shen Qing tried every way to stop them from going, making up all sorts of excuses.

While disappointed, everyone tacitly understood—who didn’t know Shen Qing was scared to death? Leaving aside whether the big shot would agree, even if the big shot could agree, Shen Qing wouldn’t dare invite friends like them to visit.

For the past two months, people in the group had made plenty of jokes about this. They openly and secretly mocked Shen Qing for being nothing more than a free nanny, actually blaming him for being useless; every time he held such good resources, he just couldn’t leverage them.

They just wanted to gather at his house, eat hotpot in the big villa, take pictures, and post on their “Moments” afterwards. He couldn’t even do that; truly useless.

Yet this Young Master Shen loved saving face. Things he couldn’t do, he insisted on pretending and bragging that he could.

So everyone mocked him while waiting for him to “do it.”

Unexpectedly, Young Master Shen left the group without a word a few days ago, and it was said he even blacklisted Hao Yi.

Even so, no one cared much. After all, besides them, what friends did Young Master Shen have?

But what they absolutely didn’t expect was that another possibility for Shen Qing cutting ties with them was…

Shen Qing’s class had leveled up.

He was no longer associating with people like them?

Someone still didn’t believe it and deliberately said on the video call: “Hao Yi, this is your fault. How could Young Master Shen not afford an eight-thousand-yuan robot? That store should belong to his family!”

Unexpectedly, upon hearing this, the store manager nodded affirmatively: “Indeed, it is so. Knowing that the young masters like toys, President Gu acquired the exclusive agency rights for this store in China a month ago.”

Hao Yi: “…”

The friends on the phone: “…”

Thinking that Shen Qing couldn’t possibly orchestrate such a grand act of hiring someone to play along, the friends fell silent one by one. Finally, someone even started to defect: “See, I told you, Young Master Shen is definitely no ordinary person! Young Master Shen, where is Young Master Shen? Can’t see Young Master Shen. Haven’t seen Young Master Shen in a long time, say hello.”

Once this was said, everyone chimed in agreement.

Hao Yi: “…”

He was nearly knocked over with anger by these fair-weather friends in the group who steered according to the wind!

Among this group, Hao Yi was doing the best. He usually took the others out to eat and drink, and was quite generous.

But he was just an unemployed vagrant himself. The money for eating and playing with friends mostly came from asking his family, or leeching off Shen Qing to get benefits.

His fair-weather friends ate his benefits, and he enjoyed their support and flattery.

Now these people were bypassing him directly to curry favor with Shen Qing. Hao Yi couldn’t stand it and immediately said: “Hehe, acquiring toys is also for the young masters. Putting it bluntly, isn’t he still just watching kids for free? Do you really think he can give you any benefits?”

After saying this, he was about to hang up the video call.

But at this moment, the seven or eight-year-old child who had been following him suddenly ran to the shelf where Shen Qing was.

He pressed directly against the glass below the shelf, looked up at the toy worth over eight thousand, turned back, and said to Hao Yi: “Uncle, I want to look at this!”

Hao Yi immediately shouted ill-naturedly: “What’s there to look at!”

He wanted to say even if you look, we can’t afford it, so what’s there to look at.

But thinking that Shen Qing was present, and this store belonged to Shen Qing…

His anger flared up even more.

And the child he brought wasn’t ordinary either; his personality was quite naughty. Seeing Hao Yi yelling at him and taking anger out on him, he simply pouted and said: “That’s true, even if I look, you can’t afford it.”

Hao Yi: “…”

The child looked disgusted: “Sigh, other people’s uncles can buy them a toy city, my uncle can’t even buy me a toy…”

A burst of intense laughter erupted from Hao Yi’s phone among the fair-weather friends because they found that what Hao Yi’s nephew said was actually true.

Hao Yi: “…”

Turning off the video suddenly at this moment would make it seem like he was fleeing in defeat. Hao Yi gripped his phone tightly. Continuing the video wasn’t right, turning it off wasn’t right either. He could only yell exasperatedly at his nephew: “What the hell does a kid like you know? Can just anyone compare to that? Besides, why should I buy you toys? Do I owe you?”

The child surprisingly refused to show weakness. Obviously, Hao Yi had a bad temper, and he had a bad temper too. He immediately shouted back at Hao Yi: “Because you spent my mom’s money! You cheated my mom out of money and didn’t pay it back! You do owe me!”

“…”

Hao Yi was also someone who cared about face. Usually spending lavishly outside, the people in the group held him up.

Now it was suddenly exposed that the money he used to keep up appearances outside was actually his sister’s money, and he swindled it without paying it back…

Hao Yi: “You little brat, shut up!”

Flying into a rage out of humiliation, Hao Yi went straight to hit him.

Although his nephew was eloquent, he wasn’t tall, and he was dark and skinny. He took a punch hard, his small body shaking from the blow.

But this child was stubborn too; he actually didn’t cry. Instead, he put on a posture of fighting his uncle to the end.

Shen Qing, who had been standing in the back: “…”

Just as Hao Yi was about to hit the child again, Shen Qing suddenly made a move, grabbed the child, and pulled him behind himself.

“Shen Qing, why are you meddling!”

Currently, Hao Yi was already holding back a fire. Seeing Shen Qing dare to interfere in the matter between him and his nephew, Hao Yi immediately said rudely: “Got used to protecting kids? Really think you’re the aunt of a wealthy young master! You’re just forcing your warm face onto someone’s cold butt! Do you think those young masters care about you?!”

Originally, to incite the timid Shen Qing to fight for the family property, Hao Yi had said plenty of divisive words.

It was nothing more than openly and secretly saying Shen Qing had a cheap fate, was humble, and even if he treated other people’s children sincerely, the young masters wouldn’t appreciate it, still looked down on him, and wouldn’t support him in old age, etc.

Now bringing up this rhetoric again, Hao Yi was still handy with it: “Don’t look at your own virtue and background. You want to be someone’s aunt? Do those precious young masters need you? Are you worthy!”

…

No matter what Hao Yi said, Shen Qing just stood quietly aside and listened to him.

Although Shen Qing was relatively good at trash-talking, there was nothing to say to someone like Hao Yi.

Saying one more word would be giving the other party face.

He just had to wait quietly for the security guards to come and drag him away like a madman.

However, the first one to notice the commotion on his side wasn’t the mall security, nor the bodyguards who came along.

Gu Duo, who should have been in the middle area of the toy city, suddenly ran through the crowd. Not only did he appear straight in everyone’s line of sight, but he also ran directly in front of Shen Qing, looked up, and asked him: “Auntie, what are you chatting about?”

After taking off the outer padded coat, Gu Duo was wearing a brand new white sweater and a pair of denim overalls.

Although thin, Gu Duo had fair skin, and the good food over the past few days had made the child’s originally pale complexion return to a supple pinkish tone.

Added to his expressionless face, a look of depth…

At this moment, Gu Duo stood tall and straight in the middle of everyone, his temperament steady and noble.

Without anyone needing to introduce or emphasize it, anyone could see that this child came from an extraordinary background; he was undoubtedly a wealthy young master.

And everyone witnessed with their own eyes that this child, who clearly didn’t come from an ordinary family, ran directly to Shen Qing and affectionately called him “Auntie.”

“Auntie, you’ve worked hard. I’ll carry the clothes myself.”

—Not only good temperament and polite, but he also knew how to care for and be considerate of his parent.

…Hao Yi, who had just finished saying the wealthy young master wouldn’t care about Shen Qing at all: “…”

???

No, what’s the situation… Even if I was blacklisted by Shen Qing, weren’t Shen Qing and those two kids in his family incompatible just a few days ago?!

Right, Shen Qing even took a jade pendant from those two kids, and I was helping to inquire about the price recently…

What did this kid call Shen Qing? What did he just say to Shen Qing? Worked hard??

…

Actually, not only was Hao Yi confused, but Shen Qing himself was also confused.

And from an angle no one could see, Gu Duo forcibly kept a straight face. If his two hands weren’t stuffed in the pockets of his overalls, clenched tightly into fists, his expression would have crumbled!

…Since he knew this person was going to support him at the birthday party.

Then this time, he would also support him once.

…

This way, they would be even.

Thinking of this, Gu Duo turned to face the dark, skinny man opposite Shen Qing.

He remembered hearing this person insulting Shen Qing from not far away just now, and couldn’t help frowning slightly.

Although he wasn’t the “precious young master” this person spoke of.

But if this person meant Shen Qing wasn’t worthy of being his aunt, then at least he could come forward and say something.

…Of course, Gu Duo didn’t want to bring up the question of whether Shen Qing was qualified to be his aunt here.

That was a matter between Shen Qing and his younger uncle.

Gu Duo was almost seven years old. He knew the meaning of living under someone else’s roof, so he wouldn’t judge his younger uncle’s choice of partner.

After all, his eldest aunt had once said that he and his brother were just unwanted wild children, and they only took him in out of pity.

Although the discipline in various aspects was looser here with his younger uncle, and the treatment was better and higher, the nature of being taken in was the same.

They weren’t qualified to dictate Shen Qing’s status.

Thinking of it this way, Gu Duo felt no pressure at all changing his address to call Shen Qing “Auntie.”

He stood directly in front of Shen Qing, raised his head, and stared down the opposite Hao Yi. It was still a milky child’s voice, but there was a domineering air in it that didn’t match his age.

Gu Duo said to Hao Yi opposite him: “What kind of thing are you, daring to speak to my aunt like this?”

…

Children speak without inhibition.

Logically speaking, adults wouldn’t take what a child of Gu Duo’s age said too seriously.

But the problem was, little Gu Duo’s imposing manner was simply too sufficient!

Shen Qing was startled by him, let alone Hao Yi opposite him, and the others facing this scene in the video call he forgot to close…

Even the dark, skinny boy older than Gu Duo, who had just been punched by Hao Yi, stared blankly at this thin, porcelain-doll-like young master in front of him.

—Mom, how does this kid manage to be so domineering and mighty?

Can you teach me!!

However, despite this, Gu Duo still felt that saying this might not be effective. But he didn’t know how to build momentum, nor did he know how to quarrel.

In his mind, there was only the scene from a few days ago when a large wave of people came to the house looking for Shen Qing, seemingly about filming a variety show, and what Shen Qing said to those people on the stairs.

Gu Duo was on the third floor with his younger uncle at the time and clearly noticed that as soon as Shen Qing mentioned his younger uncle, those people down there immediately chickened out…

Also, when Third Aunt came last time, she also mentioned younger uncle, and Third Aunt and Third Uncle’s faces changed.

Thinking of this, Gu Duo added another sentence, saying to Hao Yi again: “Even my uncle hasn’t spoken any harsh words to my aunt. How dare you be so disrespectful to him!”

Hao Yi: “…?”

Huh? No, does your uncle spoil him that much?

Unless for self-protection, Gu Duo didn’t lie easily. His uncle indeed hadn’t spoken any harsh words to his aunt… previously, they didn’t speak at all.

But this didn’t hinder him from learning a bit of Shen Qing’s essence. Gu Duo subconsciously put his hands on his hips: “You are fierce and impolite. I’m going back to tell Uncle!”

Hao Yi: !!!

Wait a minute, is it necessary to tell your uncle about this??

Hao Yi panicked completely this time.

The surroundings suddenly fell into a strange silence.

Just then, the bodyguards Shen Qing brought and the mall’s internal security surrounded them. In an instant, three or five tall and strong men surrounded the dark and skinny Hao Yi. Li Hong also jogged to Shen Qing with a pale face.

“Madam, are you okay?”

Shen Qing shook his head easily and said, “I’m fine.”

Li Hong wiped his sweat again. He was playing with the young master just now and heard some quarreling coming from here, but he didn’t expect the Madam to be involved.

He immediately glanced at Hao Yi and asked, “Who is this person?”

Shen Qing said with a cold face: “Don’t know him.”

Hao Yi: “???”

Shen Qing stepped sideways again, revealing Hao Yi’s nephew, and then said to Li Hong: “Disturbing public order and hitting a child in a public place. Call the police.”

Hao Yi, who dared not talk back at all anymore: “…”

The video call on his phone was still on; he didn’t have time to turn it off.

But no one on the other end of the phone dared to make any sound anymore.

Shen Qing said call the police, so Li Hong unceremoniously called the police directly.

Disturbing public order and cursing in the street were secondary. The main thing was that Hao Yi obviously had violent tendencies and bad intentions. If his nephew continued to hang out with him, it was hard to guarantee he wouldn’t grow up crooked.

Shen Qing felt this kind of thing still needed to be taken seriously. It was best for the police to mediate.

At the very least, it could attract the attention of the boy’s parents. And let them thoroughly understand what kind of virtue Hao Yi had outside, so they wouldn’t give him money to spend anymore, to avoid being cheated again.

On the way the police arrived, Hao Yi was quickly escorted away by security guards, and afterwards, he would probably be invited to the station for tea.

Li Hong actively stated that he would follow up on this matter. Then, after the cubs finished choosing gifts, the group went home.

On the way back, Shen Qing sat in the passenger seat, looking back from time to time.

In the back row on the driver’s side, Gu Ao in the child seat was holding a big toy, lowering his big round head and concentrating on fiddling with it.

Next to him, Gu Duo, who no longer needed a child seat, turned his head and kept looking out the window, saying nothing.

Shen Qing’s position made it inconvenient to see clearly what expression Gu Duo, who was sitting behind him, had.

So Shen Qing was even more puzzled—

Just now in the mall, Gu Duo obviously took the initiative to come forward and defend him.

This kid always liked to hide his emotions and rarely revealed his feelings. He looked even less like someone who would meddle in others’ business.

Besides, “he” (the original host) had bullied him quite a bit before. Gu Duo was sensitive and had always resented him.

So why did he suddenly come forward to help him scold Hao Yi?

Shen Qing couldn’t figure it out, but he wasn’t someone who could keep things to himself.

After Hao Yi was taken away, Shen Qing asked Gu Duo this question directly.

But Gu Duo just turned his head. His small body, like a thin bamboo pole, maintained an upright posture. The child’s expression was cold, and he only said one sentence to him: “Don’t mind it.”

One sentence, three words.

Shen Qing: “…”

No, are kids nowadays so deep??

Hmm, it just feels a bit awkward.

However, the thoughts of a future sinister villain were probably impossible for an ordinary person like him to guess. Finding he couldn’t communicate, Shen Qing just said thank you to him.

After that, Gu Duo was stunned, his expression looking a bit awkward, then he buried his head and left to find little Gu Ao.

Later, until getting into the car, Gu Duo ignored him again.

But it had to be said, Gu Duo was very domineering when defending Shen Qing.

The original novel said Gu Duo was good at planning but never revealed his sharpness; he was a needle hidden in silk, which was why he was said to be sinister and terrifying. Because it was impossible to guard against him.

Compared to him, Gu Ao was domineering outwardly.

A sharp aura that couldn’t be hidden at all, and his actions were quite arrogant and casual…

Thinking of this, Shen Qing looked back at the little Long Aotian again.

The child concentrating on fiddling with the toy seemed very happy. His expression was pure and harmless, his bun face squeezed together, long eyelashes drooping down, cute and well-behaved. Where was there any domineering aura…

It can be seen that what a person becomes when they grow up depends entirely on what they experience later and how they grow up!

Thinking of this, Shen Qing felt a little relieved again.

Anyway, Gu Duo defending him this time showed that their relationship had eased a lot.

Just as I said!

Children are still easy to coax!

After returning to the villa, arranging for the two children to rest in their rooms, Shen Qing went straight to the third floor.

Hearing that President Gu was working in the office, he ran over directly and knocked on the office door: “President Gu?”

“Come in.”

When the low and slightly hoarse voice sounded, Shen Qing pushed the door open and entered directly.

The light in Gu Huaiyu’s office was a bit dim. Shen Qing looked up and found that the curtains were indeed drawn inside.

President Gu seemed to really dislike sunlight.

Gu Huaiyu had changed into white silk pajamas today, with a dark coat draped over his shoulders. Even in the dimly lit room, the pallor on his face could not be hidden.

He was chronically ill, lifeless, and abnormally thin.

So his neck appeared very long, and his figure very slender, even when behind the large desk, sitting in a wheelchair.

Of course, this also had to do with the big shot’s extremely upright sitting posture.

Seeing Shen Qing enter, Gu Huaiyu slowly raised his head.

Perhaps due to innate good breeding, his movement of looking up was more standard and poised than ordinary people.

It was just that Gu Huaiyu still kept a straight face without expression: “What’s the matter?”

“…Nothing much, just telling you we’re back.”

Gu Huaiyu was stunned, seemingly not expecting Shen Qing to run over specifically to tell him this.

Shen Qing: …Suddenly uncertain, does the big shot know about his and the children’s arrangements today?

Logically speaking, they went out to buy gifts with Assistant Li Hong following, bodyguards sent, and even the store manager greeted by President Gu in advance. Gu Huaiyu should definitely know about this.

But what did this bewildered expression on his face mean?

Or did the big shot know they went out, but just didn’t think he would run up to tell him they were back after returning home?

Shen Qing felt this situation was more likely.

Sigh, President Gu, who attends to a myriad of daily affairs and was born into a cold family, isn’t used to family members greeting each other after coming home. This is also normal.

But Shen Qing’s habit was to say something to his family after coming home… maybe it was also because his previous home was too small.

…

Hmm, whatever.

Since the big shot wasn’t used to it, he wouldn’t disturb him next time.

But this time…

Shen Qing squeezed straight in through the door. Compared to the first visit, he was already quite familiar.

Gu Huaiyu seemed to feel his question just now was too cold, so he proactively asked Shen Qing: “Are the birthday banquet gifts all bought?”

Shen Qing said: “All bought, bought very well!”

He went straight to President Gu’s desk, not beating around the bush, placed three large paper bags on President Gu’s desk, and said: “Here, these are gifts from Duoduo and Aozai for you.”

As he spoke, he took out two boxes from the paper bags one by one. One contained a large transforming robot, and the other was a hero figurine.

The transforming robot was chosen by Aozai.

This kid liked these things, so he wanted to give what he liked to his younger uncle.

The hero figurine was chosen by Gu Duo.

Shen Qing didn’t watch cartoons and didn’t know who this character was or what it represented, but he knew this was what Gu Duo carefully selected after circling the toy city several times, very attentively.

Shen Qing said: “Aozai and Duoduo asked me to bring the gifts to you.”

Gu Huaiyu lowered his eyes to look at the gifts, then looked up at Shen Qing, the questioning look in his eyes very strong.

Shen Qing: “Hmm, the cubs are still a bit shy with strangers, Big Shot, don’t take offense.”

After saying this, Shen Qing himself couldn’t help but want to complain—clearly Gu Huaiyu was the cubs’ biological uncle, and he, the “aunt,” was a latecomer with a not-so-close relationship. How did it end up that he was the one passing messages and speaking for the cubs now…

Asking the cubs to each choose an extra gift for their younger uncle, although he proposed this.

But it could be seen that the cubs were very attentive when choosing this gift.

It was just that when it came to giving the gift, Gu Duo and Gu Ao awkwardly asked Shen Qing to deliver it for them, not coming themselves…

Of course, one couldn’t blame the cubs for being distant with their younger uncle.

It was really that the big shot had been hospitalized a while ago, and now that he was home, he only stayed on the third floor. Even Shen Qing, who couldn’t stay idle and would run to the third-floor gym, hadn’t seen him for two days. Gu Duo and Gu Ao, those two cubs who nested in their room secretly studying all day, had even less communication with their uncle.

Maybe the Gu family’s affection was thin, somewhat related to the estrangement in their genes.

These three people, including Gu Huaiyu, Shen Qing believed he cared about the cubs; otherwise, he wouldn’t have gone to great lengths to bring them back when he was dying, arranging servants and food and shelter.

But it was just that… one after another, none of them knew how to express their concern.

Forget it, then I can only take the lead.

Shen Qing didn’t like that heavy family atmosphere.

Even if not heavy, he would feel depressed if it was always lifeless.

As a person, why make yourself so gloomy.

…Regardless of whether others felt depressed, he didn’t want to be depressed anyway.

After emphasizing how attentive the cubs were in choosing gifts, without waiting for Gu Huaiyu’s reaction, Shen Qing opened the third paper bag and took out the third gift.

“Ta-da! This one is from me to you!”

Shen Qing showed a big smile and began to introduce the gift he gave to Mr. Gu.

Gu Huaiyu’s eyelashes trembled as he looked up at him, then he lowered his eyes, his gaze naturally falling on Shen Qing’s gift.

Then Gu Huaiyu, who had been silent, finally spoke again.

“This is…”

He had already carefully examined the gifts from Duoduo and Aozai and roughly knew the children’s thoughts and intentions.

But this one from Shen Qing…

Shen Qing continued to maintain a brilliant smile: “This is what I give you, a Peppa Pig piggy bank!”

Not knowing if he misheard or couldn’t believe it, Gu Huaiyu actually asked: “…What?”

Shen Qing had to repeat: “Peppa Pig piggy bank!”

Gu Huaiyu: “…”

Looking at the pink cartoon pig object in the box, Gu Huaiyu didn’t expect that what Shen Qing gave him was really a…

Cartoon, piggy bank.

…And it was pink.

The face accustomed to hiding expressions lost control for a moment. Gu Huaiyu raised his eyebrows, but perhaps due to being too shocked, his gaze couldn’t tear away from that piggy bank.

…This thing, probably even Aozai wouldn’t want it if given to him.

When giving gifts, shouldn’t one either cater to the recipient’s preference and give what they like;

Or give something one particularly likes and highly recommends sharing?…

The hand resting on the wheelchair armrest tightened subconsciously. Gu Huaiyu barely steadied his breath: “You’re giving me this?”

Sure there’s no mistake?

“Uh-huh.”

Gu Huaiyu: “…Sure it’s for me?”

Shen Qing: “Uh-huh!”

Gu Huaiyu: “Cough cough cough…”

“Don’t get excited.”

Shen Qing kept a smiling face, not noticing the fragmentation on the big shot’s expression at all, and explained patiently: “I saw that your room and this floor are too deserted, with no other colors besides black and white and some green plants! How depressing!”

As he spoke, Shen Qing unpacked the box for the big shot and took out the pink pig inside.

He placed the piggy bank on Gu Huaiyu’s desk, right under the big shot’s eyelids.

Big Shot: “…”

Shen Qing: “Of course, if you think just displaying it is too monotonous, you can also save money in it. This is truly both good-looking and practical!”

But on second thought, the big shot would never use a piggy bank to save money in this life. Shen Qing added: “It’s fine to put checks in instead of money too. …If they are signed by you, I can also come regularly to help you clean it out, haha.”

Gu Huaiyu: “………”

“…Alright, joke’s over.”

Shen Qing became serious on his own: “Actually, I felt that Big Shot, you don’t lack any gifts, so I gave you this most simple and unadorned one.”

“If you really don’t like it, don’t force it. You have so much space here, such a large area, just throw it anywhere.”

Originally, the cubs were giving gifts to their uncle, so Shen Qing followed suit and chose one too.

He indeed chose very casually and unmindfully. After all, he hadn’t planned to compete with the children in gift-giving.

Besides, this thing wasn’t expensive. It might be the lowest priced item in the toy city. It was just given for fun; buying it or not wouldn’t affect the household balance President Gu transferred to him.

Gu Huaiyu: “…”

Shen Qing: “So, Big Shot, take a look, where is it suitable for me to put it?”

Gu Huaiyu: “…”

Didn’t you say just throw it anywhere?

Why ask where to put it now?

Subconsciously pinching the bridge of his nose, Gu Huaiyu discovered for the first time that there existed people in this world whose thinking he couldn’t keep up with at all.

Seeing President Gu show a pained expression, Shen Qing thought he was feeling unwell again or having an attack, so he quickly said: “Then rest well, I’ll leave first.”

Leaving the gift on the table, Shen Qing quickly cleaned up the unwanted packaging bags and boxes, carrying these things and leaving President Gu’s office.

Gu Huaiyu: “…”

In the corridor, several people in white coats carrying medical boxes passed Shen Qing by.

Probably new medical staff; Shen Qing hadn’t seen them before.

These people hurried into Gu Huaiyu’s office. Shen Qing heard the person in the very front say: “President Gu, it’s time for your infusion.”

Then someone else asked: “Do you still feel that painful now? Does your body hurt a lot? Where does it hurt? Sudden medication changes will cause withdrawal reactions…”

Shen Qing: “…”

The entire third floor seemed to become noisy.

Driven by demons and gods (inexplicably), Shen Qing stopped and walked back a few steps, returning to the front of Gu Huaiyu’s office.

He knew Gu Huaiyu was sick, very seriously, and dying soon.

But he hadn’t paid attention to what kind of illness it was, how he got it, and why he wouldn’t live past this year at such a young age.

…

When he first came to this world, everything was strange. To him, Gu Huaiyu was just a paper person in a book. He only defaulted to the fact that he would die and didn’t have any thoughts or ideas about it.

But realizing that this person was actually living in his world, flesh and blood, Shen Qing couldn’t help but care.

He was far from that cold-blooded.

Although Shen Qing had already died once, he was even more afraid of death and couldn’t take life and death lightly.

Peeking secretly inside from the door of President Gu’s office, Shen Qing saw Gu Huaiyu leaning against the back of the wheelchair, face slightly upturned.

His thin jaw was fully visible, cheekbones protruding, even his Adam’s apple protruding excessively.

Gu Huaiyu’s expression was indifferent, letting those doctors and nurses surround him, examine him, and stick needles in him.

…It looked like the big shot was indeed very uncomfortable.

Too hard…

Shen Qing couldn’t bear to watch anymore.

After watching quietly at the door for a while, he left without disturbing the people inside.

Instead, back in the corridor, he met Li Hong holding a stack of documents.

“Assistant Li.” Shen Qing greeted him.

Assistant Li had his own job as Gu Huaiyu’s senior special assistant. He was already very busy, but today he accompanied him and the cubs to the toy city.

Shen Qing was grateful in his heart, so naturally, he greeted him cordially.

Li Hong also heard the movement from President Gu’s office. After all, usually, the entire third floor was silent. If it was excessively noisy, it meant medical staff were working…

Li Hong paused: “Madam, President Gu, he…”

“Should be nothing, just routine check-up and infusion,” Shen Qing said.

“Oh, oh.” Li Hong felt relieved upon hearing this.

Shen Qing remembered that he should have been by President Gu’s side for the longest time, so he asked incidentally: “By the way, Assistant Li, I wonder what exactly President Gu is suffering from? How come it’s so serious?”

He couldn’t say “so serious he’s about to kick the bucket,” because besides him who knew the original novel, no one knew Gu Huaiyu had less than a year left.

Currently, everyone knew Gu Huaiyu’s health was bad, very bad. But outsiders didn’t know exactly how bad.

Even what illness President Gu had and how he fell ill, even the head of the Shen family couldn’t figure it out clearly. The original host himself didn’t care, so he didn’t grasp this information.

As for the original novel, Shen Qing didn’t read this part at all, so he didn’t know.

Now he could only hope to get news from Assistant Li.

But this matter seemed to have other hidden stories. Li Hong, who was asked, coughed very falsely, looked away, and only said to Shen Qing: “…About this, maybe Madam should ask President Gu personally? …This is quite private, hard to say.”

Shen Qing: …

What illness is so private?

Private enough that it can’t be told to people?

…

Shen Qing really couldn’t imagine.

He suddenly thought of two days ago when President Gu rejected his embrace…

Shen Qing: “Cough cough, um, it’s not some infectious disease, is it? Like… AIDS?”

Li Hong: “Huh?”

Li Hong was dumbfounded and waved his hands hurriedly to clarify: “Ah no no, Madam rest assured, President Gu is not someone who would get that disease. After all, he is still a… uh, after all, he is someone who never has contact with people.”

Shen Qing: “?”

Wait, what were you originally going to say? After all, he is still a what?

Li Hong maintained a serious declaration: “In short, President Gu doesn’t have any infectious diseases. Otherwise, he wouldn’t bring the young masters back, and even more so wouldn’t, uh, implicate you. President Gu isn’t that kind of person.”

Shen Qing thought it made sense and felt he was too presumptuous. He apologized: “…Sorry.”

Li Hong continued to wave his hand, indicating Madam didn’t need to apologize: “It’s inevitable that you care about President Gu. It’s just really inconvenient for me to say…”

Shen Qing nodded quickly, expressing his understanding.

This way, he was embarrassed to continue inquiring.

Originally, he wasn’t a doctor. What was the use of knowing what illness Gu Huaiyu had? It couldn’t change anything.

Shen Qing decided not to ask anymore.

What he could do was at most make President Gu’s mood less heavy and depressed in his final days, and treat him a little better.

…Thinking of it this way, that Peppa Pig piggy bank he gave was really perfunctory. No wonder President Gu had a headache…

It seems possible that he really was angered by me?…

.

After the medical team left, Li Hong saw through the window on the wall that his boss seemed to be in good spirits, so he knocked and went in to report on work.

“President Gu, this is the contract from Xu Group. Legal has already reviewed it and there are no problems. I brought it for you to sign…”

Li Hong didn’t say the rest.

His attention was occupied by the pink Peppa Pig on the table.

“…Cough cough cough hahaha! This must be the gift Madam gave you, right?”

Hearing the sound, Gu Huaiyu turned his head to look at him.

Li Hong hurriedly patched things up: “Ah, just now in the mall, Madam mysteriously said he wanted to give you a gift. I was taking care of the young masters and didn’t see clearly what he wrapped. So it was this…”

Having said that, looking at that piggy bank, Li Hong still wanted to laugh a little.

The pink and tender little pig squatting between the transforming robot about half a meter high and the hero figurine appeared…

Extraordinarily comical.

The key was that this little pig was given by the Madam.

How old was the Madam, yet the thing he gave President Gu was even more… cute than Young Master Ao’s.

Could this not make people want to laugh!

Hahaha!

“It had to be the Madam, truly original! This is too cute!…”

Gu Huaiyu: “…”

Lowering his eyes, he looked at that pink piggy bank again.

Four eyes met suddenly. This little pig called Peppa was still looking up at him, smiling foolishly, quite brightly.

Gu Huaiyu: …

Took a deep breath, then closed his eyes.

“Leave it here,” Gu Huaiyu said.

Seeing Assistant Li didn’t react, he took another deep breath, voice lower: “Contract, leave it here.”

“Oh oh oh.” Li Hong finally realized he forgot the business. He quickly put away his smile and respectfully placed the contract in front of President Gu… next to that little pig.

No way, looking closely, this little pig seems to be making eye contact with President Gu! And wearing a silly smile, even more comical haha!

Especially since Li Hong knew that growing up, what good things hadn’t President Gu seen? What precious things hadn’t he owned? What storms hadn’t he experienced? But such a cute gift…

President Gu had probably really received one for the first time!!

Gu Huaiyu had already opened the contract with a stern face.

He was still on an IV drip, so his movements couldn’t be too large.

Hearing the sound of Li Hong struggling to suppress laughter by his ear, Gu Huaiyu frowned subconsciously. He knew what his assistant was laughing at, glancing at that pink pig out of the corner of his eye… but didn’t understand what was so funny?

Did Li Hong like this little pig very much? Did he understand Shen Qing’s taste?

Right, they went to choose toys together today.

…

Gu Huaiyu frowned unconsciously, feeling a bit irritable.

Perhaps the noise from the assistant was too loud.

Yes, he always preferred quiet over noise.

“Take it down,” Gu Huaiyu said somewhat impatiently.

“Uh, okay President Gu.” Li Hong: “Where should I put it?”

Remembering the youth saying just now that it could be thrown anywhere, Gu Huaiyu: “Anywhere.”

Li Hong: “Ah? This…”

Gu Huaiyu’s voice was a bit heavy: “Just find a place to put it anywhere.”

Generally speaking, this was a signal that President Gu was losing patience.

Li Hong didn’t dare ask more, intending to take this piggy bank away first.

However, just when Li Hong was about to touch that piggy bank, Gu Huaiyu inexplicably paused his pen: “Wait.”

Li Hong: “?”

Li Hong’s hands stopped in mid-air.

Gu Huaiyu paused again. He lowered his eyelids expressionlessly and didn’t move for a long while.

Finally, tapping the contract with the tip of his pen: “You just said, Legal has reviewed all these contracts?”

“…Y-yes!” Li Hong didn’t dare be careless about work matters, immediately getting nervous, hairs almost standing on end!

“Did you discover any problems?”

“Nothing.”

On the pristine white paper, Gu Huaiyu calmly signed his full name, his strokes vigorous and powerful.

Li Hong: “…”

Hi, scared him a jump!

So since there’s nothing, why did you scare me!

Li Hong went to take the Peppa Pig again.

Gu Huaiyu threw the signed document back to him directly, saying: “Send the document out first, then pour me a glass of water.”

Li Hong, flustered catching the contract: ???

When Li Hong came back from pouring water, he keenly discovered that the Peppa Pig on President Gu’s desk was gone.

President Gu was using the hand with the IV tube to unwrap the gifts Young Master Duoduo and Young Master Ao gave him.

“President Gu, water.”

Looking at President Gu still on the drip in the wheelchair, obviously unable to move much, Li Hong wanted to ask where that little pig went.

But President Gu asked him absently while unwrapping the gifts: “Today when you went to buy toys… were Duoduo and Aozai happy? Was the trip smooth?”