Chapter 599 — Can't Drive Him Away

Gu Mengyao glared at Wei Zhao. Was this guy completely indifferent to her? As if he didn't care at all whether she and An Liwen had been childhood sweethearts? Was he not the slightest bit anxious about her?

But Wei Zhao's next words left Gu Mengyao disappointed. He did not dwell on the subject of childhood sweethearts at all.

Wei Zhao merely nodded. "Uncle Chu, have you ever heard of an organ-trafficking ring? What the public calls the Kidney-Cutting Syndicate?"

"The Kidney-Cutting Syndicate? You suspect An Liwen has ties to this criminal gang?" Gu Pengzhan frowned. "But after the An family moved to Donghai, they began dabbling in businesses that were half-legitimate, half-shady, completely changing their old way of doing business. Even so, they amassed enormous wealth in just a few short years."

"I have my suspicions. Otherwise, why would An Liwen have cut out Zhong Yongliang's kidney, of all things?" Wei Zhao said. "But that has nothing to do with us anymore. As long as he doesn't come bothering us, we're fine."

"Quite right. With people like that, it's best to keep your distance." Gu Pengzhan nodded. "By the way, Xiaoyi, how exactly did you get hurt this time? I heard from Yaoyao that you were avenging a classmate?"

Gu Mengyao had called earlier, but the matter was too complicated to explain in a few words over the phone, so Gu Pengzhan had not pressed for details. At the time he had only asked whether Wei Zhao was all right, and once he learned Wei Zhao was treating his injuries, he had come back first.

Though he had not known Wei Zhao long, there was no doubt Wei Zhao was a man who knew his limits. Judging from how he had handled the bank attack, the Xie Guangbo affair, and Gu Mengyao's kidnapping, Wei Zhao was a steady, methodical person.

So if Wei Zhao had chosen to treat himself rather than go to a hospital, he must have been confident in his own ability. Gu Pengzhan therefore had no reason to worry excessively.

And Gu Mengyao had been vague at the time, saying only that Wei Zhao had been hurt avenging a female classmate. He hadn't even known whether the girl was Wei Zhao's girlfriend.

"Oh, I know about this! Arrow-Brand Brother flew into a rage for a beauty and broke that so-called Soldier Young Master's legs!" Shen Yushu grew terribly excited whenever the topic turned to violence. "What a pity! I didn't get to see Arrow-Brand Brother go berserk with my own eyes!"

"Soldier Young Master?" Gu Pengzhan was taken aback, staring at Wei Zhao in some shock. "The Soldier Young Master Xiaoshu mentioned — you mean Zhao Qibing?"

"That's the one." Wei Zhao nodded.

"How did you manage to provoke him?" Gu Pengzhan could not help but smile bitterly. "Xiaoyi, this Soldier Young Master is no simple matter. They say he's the illegitimate son of some powerful figure, with a great deal of influence. Even Li Cihua is one of his subordinates..."

"Uncle Chu, rest assured, this matter will never drag you into it. If Zhao Qibing comes looking for you, just send him straight to me."

Wei Zhao said this flatly and without hesitation.

"Xiaoyi, what kind of talk is that? When you're in trouble, how could I just stand by and do nothing?" Gu Pengzhan said, somewhat angrily, seeing that Wei Zhao had misunderstood him.

"Heh, Uncle Chu, you've got it wrong." Wei Zhao smiled wryly. "What I mean is, if they come for me, I'm confident I can handle them. But if they come making trouble for you, wouldn't I have to split my attention to deal with them too?"

"All right then. But I won't just stand by and do nothing either." Gu Pengzhan nodded. Clearly Wei Zhao did not wish to continue this topic, so he said nothing more.

After the meal, Wei Zhao and Qingbo went to clear the dishes, while Gu Mengyao was called alone into Gu Pengzhan's room. Father and daughter had not seen each other for some time, after all, so there were surely some private words to exchange.

"Yaoyao, are you busy with your studies?" Gu Pengzhan asked casually, seated on the sofa.

"It's all right, Daddy. You know I'm not the bookworm type. Studying with Xiaoshu isn't stressful at all — it's just that there's been a bit more homework lately..." Gu Mengyao was naturally extremely bright, and so was Shen Yushu. The two of them had gotten through most of their senior year almost stress-free.

"That's good. Though whatever university you want to attend, the family could pay your way in, getting in on your own merit means something different." Gu Pengzhan nodded.

"Mm, I know. I don't want to rely on the family and have people look down on me." There was a touch of pride in Gu Mengyao's voice as she said this.

From this, one could see that at heart the Young Miss was made of good stuff. A little proud, perhaps, but nothing like those spoiled rich kids. Some second-generation rich are terrified that others won't know their family has money and power; when they fail their college entrance exams and buy their way in, they feel no shame — they wear it as a badge of honor, forever boasting to anyone who will listen about how formidable their family is.

"By the way, how is Wei Zhao? Having him around to keep you company at school and in daily life — you're satisfied enough with that, I take it?" Gu Pengzhan asked casually.

"Ah... Wei Zhao..." The very mention of Wei Zhao set Gu Mengyao's teeth on edge. "Daddy, that man is simply hateful!"

"Hateful? How is he hateful?" Gu Pengzhan was taken aback.

"He... he... he philanders! He was supposed to be my follower, always at my side, but instead he found himself a girlfriend at school and stirred up a storm over the whole place..." Gu Mengyao said bitterly. "A person like that is utterly unfit to be a follower — his private life is a mess! Why, just now he went off to avenge his girlfriend. A follower who disobeys orders — he's simply beyond the pale!"

"Oh? As hateful as all that!" Gu Pengzhan shook his head again and again as he listened. "It seems this Wei Zhao really is a most detestable sort of person!"

"Right, Daddy? You feel the same way?" Gu Mengyao was delighted to hear her father take her side.

"Mm, quite right!" Gu Pengzhan nodded, then said with great solemnity, "In that case, I shall go and dismiss him this very moment. How could I rest easy leaving such a detestable man here? I'll go right now — wait for me, Yaoyao!"

With that, Gu Pengzhan rose to his feet and turned toward the door.

"Uh..." Gu Mengyao was startled. Dismiss Wei Zhao? She had never meant to dismiss Wei Zhao — she had only wanted to complain to her father and have him put some pressure on the man, so that he would stop philandering in the future. There was no need to drive him away outright! At the thought, Gu Mengyao instinctively sprang up and blocked her father's way. "You can't!"