“Ms. Gu, I do have one question, though. You were ten, your sister was nine, and that outside kid was eight—that’s pretty much back-to-back, isn’t it?” Yu Xiaoduo couldn’t help but think back to when he’d met the old man. He’d seemed so handsome and upright back then. Who knew he was that kind of person?
“Heh, what man doesn’t have a few mistresses on the side?”
“I don’t, for the record. Don’t lump me in with them.”
“Once you have money, you will too.”
“Tch, I don’t buy it. Unless you’re the one giving me the cash.”
Gu Wan’er snorted coldly. “That appetite of yours is getting picky, huh?”
“Yeah, the doctor said I shouldn’t eat anything too hard for the rest of my life, or it’ll mess with my vitality.”
Gu Wan’er: “…”
“So, what’s your so-called brother up to now? Planning to fight you for the company?” Yu Xiaoduo quickly changed the subject. Your family is such a mess—thank goodness my little Yun’er sister hasn’t been tainted by all that.
“You’re giving him too much credit. Right now, he’s just hanging out with my cousins. He can make a hundred mistakes and get away with it, but if I make even one, I get torn apart.”
Yu Xiaoduo stood up and puffed out his chest. “Gu Wan’er, don’t you worry. You and Yun’er—I’ve got your backs.”
“Yun’er?” Gu Wan’er blinked. That’s pretty familiar.
“Yun’er’s been taking care of me, hasn’t she? She’s a great girl. Besides, your sister is my sister. You’re me, and I’m you.”
Gu Wan’er felt like there was a hidden meaning in there somewhere, but she couldn’t quite put her finger on it.
Still, after spilling so much about herself, she figured it was only fair to pry into Yu Xiaoduo’s past too.
“So, you know all about me. Don’t you think you should come clean too? Were you some kind of thug back in the day?” Gu Wan’er was pretty sure she’d nailed it. From everything she’d gathered, Yu Xiaoduo hadn’t exactly been a model citizen.
I mean, would a decent person street race, get into brawls, and gamble? He’d probably reformed by now—a prodigal son turning over a new leaf.
“Ms. Gu, looks like it’s about time. You’ve got a meeting to get to, I need to report to security, and you’ll have to handle Ye Shishi on your own.” Yu Xiaoduo’s tone shifted abruptly, and he started heading for the door as if he hadn’t heard a thing.
Gu Wan’er hurled the throw pillow at him. “Yu Xiaoduo! Do you really not trust me? Why are you running away?!”
“Ms. Gu, it’s not that I don’t trust you. I was a hoodlum when I was younger. It’s embarrassing to talk about, that’s all.”
“I knew you were a thug!”
Yu Xiaoduo shrugged. You already knew, so why even ask?
“Fine. I’m going to the meeting. Call me if anything comes up.” Gu Wan’er felt much better after taking the medicine and resting a bit. Maybe it was the anger that had done the trick—courtesy of Yu Xiaoduo.
Yu Xiaoduo rubbed his fingers together, then wiggled his eyebrows.
“Here I was, feeling all moved, and now I see you’re just in it for the money.”
“Ms. Gu, you’re thinking too small. You think this money goes where? Gathering intel costs money. Taking people out to eat costs money. Everything costs money. And you’re accusing me of being mercenary? Forget it—I knew you were cheap.” With that, Yu Xiaoduo turned to leave.
Seeing him storm off in mock outrage, Gu Wan’er quickly called after him, “I thought you just wanted cash, alright? I’m sorry, okay?”
“Who do you think I’m doing this for? I could be living the easy life, but instead I’m risking my neck for you tycoons. If your cousins get really nasty, they’ll throw me into the sea to feed the fish!”
“Fine, fine. I’ll give you money.”
“Look how long it’s been. That’s all you ever say. You sure know how to dangle a carrot.” Yu Xiaoduo strode out of the room, but the corner of his mouth was curled up in a smirk. Gotta get some cash somehow—I’m not working for free, am I?
Gu Wan’er had to admit he had a point. Money really was necessary.
After thinking it over, she picked up her phone and made a call.
“Big sis, what’s up?”
“Yun’er, could you lend me some money?”
Gu Yun’er was floored. My sister is actually asking me for money? This is amazing!
“How much do you need, sis? I’ve got almost a hundred million saved up.”
Gu Wan’er was dumbfounded. Turns out my little sister is a little rich girl. Being a star pays that well, huh?
“Lend me twenty million for now.”
“Okay, I’ll transfer it right away.”
“Thanks, Yun’er.”
Gu Yun’er’s eyes reddened at her sister’s words. She’d spent her whole life spending her sister’s money—finally, she could let her sister spend hers.
“Big sis, you’re the best.”
A soft smile appeared on Gu Wan’er’s face. Her sister was the one she was fighting to protect.
Soon, a text message came through. To her surprise, Yun’er had transferred the full hundred million over. Then a WeChat message followed.
“Big sis, I don’t really have anywhere to spend it anyway. Use it all. Go get ’em~”
Gu Wan’er felt like she’d been given a second wind. She wasn’t fighting alone—her sister was right there with her.
“Let’s do this together.”
Meanwhile, Yu Xiaoduo was tidying up his desk. There wasn’t much to pack—just his phone charger and a few odds and ends.
“Bro Yu, are you heading out on a business trip with Ms. Gu?” Yan Li, sitting nearby, asked curiously.
Yu Xiaoduo smiled. “Ms. Gu’s not going. I’ve been transferred to the security department for a while. Take good care of her, and watch out for bad guys.” With that, he turned and walked off, leaving Yan Li with a cool silhouette. That was a pretty slick exit, if I do say so myself.
Yan Li couldn’t quite believe it. Bro Yu had been promoted by Ms. Gu. Everything was fine this morning—how did he end up in security?
A general manager’s secretary, reduced to guarding the door. That was a serious demotion.
Was she next?
A chill ran down Yan Li’s spine.
Just then, Gu Wan’er stepped out of her office and glanced at Yu Xiaoduo’s empty seat. She felt a pang of annoyance. She’d gotten used to having him around.
“Come with me to the meeting.”
Yan Li quickly got up. “Yes, Ms. Gu.”
Honestly, Yan Li missed having Yu Xiaoduo there too. With him around, her workload was way lighter. Now it seemed like she couldn’t slack off anymore.
At that moment, Yu Xiaoduo took the elevator down to the first-floor security department.
Security work was pretty routine—patrols, watching the front gate and the parking lot. Nothing too demanding.
But he’d also heard rumors that the security department was full of connections—relatives of higher-ups who didn’t have much in the way of education and were just coasting along, waiting for their paychecks.
In the security office, Yu Xiaoduo hadn’t arrived yet. Four or five guys were huddled together, cigarettes dangling from their lips.
“My uncle said we need to teach this Yu Xiaoduo a lesson—make sure he can’t stand working here!” The man speaking was Zhuang Cha. His “uncle” was none other than Zhuang Shu, the head of HR.
The other men seemed to look up to him, nodding along obediently.
“Don’t worry, Brother Cha. The second he walks through that door, I’ll take him down.”
“Brother Cha, I’ve got a sack ready. Look.”
“I’ve already turned off the surveillance. No evidence, no witnesses.”
Zhuang Cha, sitting on the desk, nodded approvingly. “Good work, all of you. Get this done, and it’s a big win. That squad leader position will go to whoever performs best—and hits the hardest.”
