Chapter 111 — Something Seems a Bit Off [Begging for Monthly Tickets, Third Bonus Update]

Uncle Qing's car drove straight into the underground parking garage of the Pengzhan Hotel without the slightest hindrance, and then the group passed through a private corridor and went directly up to the hotel's top floor. This place was clearly not open to the public -- there was none of the usual coming and going of crowds.

Uncle Qing led Wei Zhao and the others straight to the door of a private room and knocked.

In fact, apart from Wei Zhao, Gu Mengyao and Shen Yushu had been here many times before -- so many that they knew the place inside and out.

"Come in," Gu Pengzhan's voice came from within.

Uncle Qing pushed open the door of the private room, but did not enter himself. Instead, he turned and said to Gu Mengyao, "Miss Gu, Xiaoshu, Mr. Lin, please go in."

Gu Mengyao and Shen Yushu were clearly used to this by now. For years Uncle Qing had played the part of the old family steward, and that image was deeply ingrained.

Wei Zhao, however, felt a little embarrassed. "Uncle Qing, you should go in too..."

"Mr. Lin, you are the guest," Uncle Qing said firmly.

There was no arguing with that, so Wei Zhao entered the private room, where he found Gu Pengzhan. Wei Zhao greeted him with a smile. "Hello, Uncle Chu."

"Xiao Yi, sit down, sit down. Haha, make yourself at home -- this is just a family dinner..." Gu Pengzhan waved him over cheerfully. "You'll get used to it in time. It's a fixed weekly affair, unless I'm away on business in another city."

"Haha..." Wei Zhao could only answer with a wry smile. It was their family dinner -- what business did he have being here? Uncle Qing was Gu Pengzhan's trusted aide, and Shen Yushu was not only Gu Mengyao's best friend but also a member of a family with generations of ties to the Gu family, so her presence at a family dinner was only natural. But him...

Even Gu Mengyao, sitting nearby, was utterly astonished. What kind of bewitching potion had Wei Zhao fed her father? Daddy had actually invited him to the family dinner, and even told him he would get used to it over time... Did that not mean that from now on, Wei Zhao would have a place at the weekly family dinners too?

Although Gu Mengyao had already accepted the fact of Wei Zhao's existence, she simply could not swallow her pride. Wei Zhao was infuriating -- lounging about with that insufferably cocky air. Plenty of men would have jumped at the chance to be her shield, and he had the nerve to act so flippant about it, and on top of that, to provoke her...

What Gu Mengyao did not know was that this competitive streak of hers would become something she would regret bitterly before long...

"Hehe, Mr. Shield, you're part of our big family from now on too. I'll be counting on your kind guidance." Shen Yushu greeted Wei Zhao like a proper good girl.

Counting on my guidance? Wei Zhao rubbed his nose. Who's guiding whom? You little minx, waving a chicken feather around like a royal command, threatening me with a lousy roll of toilet paper...

"Yaoyao, so how about it? Are you satisfied with Xiao Yi now?" Gu Pengzhan looked at his daughter with a smile.

"What does it matter whether I'm satisfied or not? If I weren't, could you even fire him, Daddy?" Gu Mengyao sounded aggrieved.

"Haha, I see Xiaoshu and he get along quite well. What, do you have some complaint?" Gu Pengzhan asked.

"No..." Gu Mengyao shook her head. In truth, her heart was still a tangle of contradictions. That day when Wei Zhao had stepped forward to shield her always flashed through her mind, and yet his flippant, couldn't-care-less attitude toward her also made her furious.

It was as if he treated Xiaoshu better than he treated her -- that was what Gu Mengyao could least tolerate. Why should that be? Was she really so inferior? If Zhong Yongliang weren't still pestering her, Gu Mengyao might even have thought she had grown ugly lately...

"Since you don't, then you two should get along well. You're all of the same generation, and it sets Daddy's mind at ease to see you have company..." Hearing his daughter's answer, Gu Pengzhan nodded in satisfaction.

Gu Mengyao sighed. This was practically inviting a wolf into the house -- an innocent young girl like her, living under the same roof as some foul man... Of course, that was not the most infuriating part. The most infuriating part was that Wei Zhao seemed to have no interest in her at all.

The dishes were soon brought out one after another. It was clear the chefs here had put great care into preparing this family dinner. The dishes were nothing extravagant -- all very ordinary home-style cooking -- but both their color and their presentation were meticulously arranged.

At Gu Pengzhan's station in life, he no longer had any interest in rare delicacies; what he needed was food that was flavorful and healthy.

Since Gu Pengzhan had told Wei Zhao not to stand on ceremony, Wei Zhao obliged—who would quarrel with his own stomach? There was no point in putting on airs anyway; his relationship with Gu Pengzhan was purely employer and employee, so excessive politeness was uncalled for. And so, beneath Gu Mengyao's look of contempt and Shen Yushu's astonished gaze, Wei Zhao ate with gusto...

Gu Mengyao felt a wave of revulsion. Brother, could you not embarrass me... You're supposed to be my follower, after all... She stole a glance at Shen Yushu and, finding no particular surprise on her face, breathed a small sigh of relief...

Hmph, just a follower, that's all. Why should I care about him so much? Whether he eats himself to death is none of my concern. Thus did Gu Mengyao console herself.

By the end of the meal, Wei Zhao had eaten the most of anyone. Gu Mengyao's patience finally ran out: "Wei Zhao, are you planning to ask for a doggy bag too?"

"Uh... that was indeed my plan." Wei Zhao nodded.

Gu Mengyao was speechless; Shen Yushu smothered a giggle; but Gu Pengzhan still wore a smiling expression as he watched Wei Zhao. Ever since the business at the bank last time, Gu Pengzhan's impression of Wei Zhao could not have been better. He had heard the old man of the family grumble about it before, but Gu Pengzhan had never taken it seriously. Now it seemed his father's judgment of people was still quite accurate.

"Yaoyao, you and Xiaoshu go down with Uncle Qing first. Xiaoyi and I will take care of the leftovers." Gu Pengzhan rose to look for takeout boxes. Gu Mengyao was somewhat dumbstruck—her father was hardly a lavish man, but he had never asked for a doggy bag before, had he?

Shen Yushu, however, was watching Gu Pengzhan thoughtfully, a flicker of something inscrutable passing through her eyes before she quickly composed herself and took Gu Mengyao's hand. "Yaoyao, let's go on ahead..."

"Oh..." Gu Mengyao was baffled by her daddy's behavior but did not feel it proper to ask. In any case, she was certain that Daddy's attitude toward Wei Zhao seemed better than toward herself. What was that about? He was just a hired follower...

Uncle Qing walked ahead to fetch the car, while Gu Mengyao and Shen Yushu followed behind. Gu Mengyao felt Shen Yushu tug at her hand.

"Hm? Is something the matter, Xiaoshu?" Gu Mengyao looked at Shen Yushu, who was walking rather slowly, with some puzzlement.

"Yaoyao... I have a feeling..." Shen Yushu hesitated a moment, then voiced her thoughts after all, though the bewilderment of that brief instant earlier she buried deep in her heart.

"A feeling? What feeling?" Gu Mengyao stared at her, even more at a loss, having no idea what she was talking about.

"Yaoyao, haven't you noticed? Uncle Chu's attitude toward Wei Zhao... doesn't it seem a little off?" Shen Yushu said in a lowered voice.

"Yes... Xiaoshu, you noticed it too?" Gu Mengyao had been puzzling over precisely this question a moment ago, and now that Shen Yushu had voiced it, she nodded again and again.