"I know that Ai Shunan and the others, as your biological parents, didn't cherish you properly after bringing you back to the Ai family, causing you to suffer a lot. I'm doing this so that you can have the Ai Group. They all have to listen to you and act according to your moods. From now on, you won't have to endure their anger anymore," Yang Sijie said self-righteously.
Gu Susu, however, said, "What do I need the Ai Group for? I'll transfer everything in the Ai Group back to Ai Yifeng's name."
"The Ai Group rightfully belongs to you. Legally, they can't do anything to you if you don't transfer it back," Yang Sijie said. "They treated you that way before, so it's only right for you to take back what you deserve. You don't need to be too kind to them."
Upon hearing this, Gu Susu paused and asked, "You helped me get the Ai Group and also attacked Aoxiang, killing two birds with one stone. But you also know very well that I don't understand how to manage the Ai Group at all. So, are you waiting to control the Ai Group for me? This way, you can reap the benefits without lifting a finger. What clever intentions and methods!"
"Susu, you misunderstand me. I'm only doing this to stand up for you, and I haven't thought of anything else."
"So, your constant targeting of Aoxiang Group is also to stand up for me?" Gu Susu was not stupid. Did he have no selfish motives at all, no consideration for his own interests?
"Yes, I don't like Qin Tianyi constantly bothering you. I want to take everything away from him, then he'll have no capital to pester you," Yang Sijie knew she had figured it out, so he no longer concealed these matters.
Gu Susu gasped and looked at him, "Brother Sijie, you are too brilliant and too ruthless. Whoever displeases you, you will take away their most cherished possessions and drive them into a corner."
"This is a world where the strong prey on the weak," Yang Sijie said with a smile. "If you don't agree with my methods, do you agree with Qin Tianyi acquiring the Ai Group? If Qin Tianyi succeeds in acquiring it, Ai Shunan and the others will also end up with nothing."
"You are mistaken. Qin Tianyi promised me that if he acquired Ai's, he would still retain Ai Shunan and Ai Yifeng's positions in the group and would not be ruthless. Moreover, he genuinely needs the Ai Group to expand his online business. So, what exactly do you want to do?"
"I don't have that many ideas. I just want to do something for you. Why is what I do wrong, but what Qin Tianyi does right?"
Gu Susu felt that Yang Sijie had truly changed completely, no longer the Sijie brother from her childhood. "You keep saying it's for me, but did you ever tell me when you were doing these things? Did you ask if I wanted these things?"
She recalled that when Qin Tianyi wanted to acquire Ai's Group and took Ai Shunan's leverage from her, at least he never hid it from her.
Regardless of whether they were formidable in the business world, at least Qin Tianyi acted openly and didn't keep things from her.
But in Yang Sijie's schemes, she was kept in the dark from beginning to end, like a fool, and would even help him count money if he sold her out.
Seeing her look at him as if he were a stranger, Yang Sijie said, "I didn't want you to know because I didn't want you to worry too much. I can quietly resolve any troublesome matters for you. Are you still doubting my sincerity towards you at this moment?"
Gu Susu did not answer him, only saying, "Brother Sijie, I'll ask you one last question. How did Saiou Company come back from the brink of death? You and Wendy from Saiou Company knew each other long ago, right? The reason I was able to find a job as Saiou's design director and was warmly welcomed by Wendy was also because of you, right?"
"I..."
"And," Gu Susu suddenly understood many things, "Wendy asking me to entertain suppliers was also your idea? When I came out of the private room and ran into you, it wasn't a coincidence! Why did you do that?"
Before Yang Sijie could answer, she continued, "The person who threw a gasoline bottle at me on the road, and the few drunk hooligans I encountered at the entrance of my residential complex the night before last, were also arranged by you? No wonder you never wanted to call the police no matter what happened!"
"No," Yang Sijie immediately denied. "I didn't have anyone throw a gasoline bottle at you. The night before last, I really just happened to run into you, I didn't arrange anything, I didn't arrange any of this!"
Gu Susu looked at him in disbelief, "Okay, even if these two incidents weren't arranged by you, the matter with Wendy was arranged by you, right? That's how she was able to revive the company on the verge of bankruptcy!"
"Listen to me, I did all this just to let you know how much I love you and how much I want to protect you..."
"Then your way of protecting and loving me is truly special." Gu Susu didn't know how to describe her current feelings; it was just a very bad feeling. She felt like an ignorant little rabbit that had fallen into a hunter's trap without realizing it.
During this period, she had been happily hopping around in the trap, and had almost prepared to pledge herself to the hunter.
"Susu, my feelings for you are sincere!" Yang Sijie tried desperately to explain. "But the years we were apart, the blank period between us cannot be compensated. How can I catch up to Qin Tianyi's place in your heart? I had no choice but to use some extraordinary means. But I would never truly hurt you; in essence, I still want to protect you."
Gu Susu still couldn't believe that her Sijie brother from the past had become like this, resorting to any means to achieve his goals.
"You asked me to accompany people for drinks and have them force-feed me alcohol, all to protect me?"
"I wanted you to understand what a woman has to pay to get ahead in her career, and how difficult and dangerous it can be. In fact, you don't need to work so hard at all. With my current strength, I can not only support you but also provide you with the most luxurious life..."
"Brother Sijie, thank you for this kind of protection." Gu Susu didn't want to eat anything else. She stood up. "You have truly shown me the dangers of the workplace and the wickedness of human hearts. I think I've said all that needs to be said today. I can no longer be your girlfriend, but I will still consider you family or a friend. However, I must remind you, no matter what you have experienced these years, please do not lose your inherent kindness."
After speaking, Gu Susu turned and walked out of the private room, almost bumping into the waiter who was bringing in the dishes.
Yang Sijie also stood up and watched as she opened the door of the private room, which then slammed shut heavily, without any lingering glance back.
The waiter carefully placed the dishes down. "Mr. Yang, this is the glutinous rice balls with fermented rice you ordered. Please enjoy."
"Get out."
Seeing Yang Sijie's terrifying gaze, the waiter's legs went weak and he retreated.
"Mark, Miss Gu has left. Follow her and see where she's going now?"
"Yes."
Yang Sijie hung up with a blank expression, tightly gripping his phone, wishing he could crush it into pieces.