"Susu, no replies to texts, no answering calls, are you still busy? What about the lunch and dinner you promised me?" Yang Sijie bombarded her with a series of lighthearted questions before she could speak.
Gu Susu said calmly, "I was indeed a bit busy today and didn't have time to call you back."
"Oh, I know you're busy. Did you eat anything tonight?"
"Yes, I did."
Yang Sijie immediately asked, "Who did you eat with?"
Gu Susu didn't want him to know that she had met with Chang Qingchuan today, so she casually replied, "I just had some takeout at the company."
Yang Sijie said "oh" and added, "Take care of yourself. I'm a bit busy today too, so I can't come to accompany you."
"It's fine, you be busy." Gu Susu felt completely relaxed because she didn't want to go back to her place right now and wanted to figure some things out.
After finishing her call with Chang Qingchuan, she contacted Xiao Anjing again.
Xiao Anjing didn't answer her call at first, but after a while, he called back.
"I was with Tianyi just now and have already left the seaside villa," Xiao Anjing said coldly. "Is there something you need, Miss Gu?"
Gu Susu paused and said, "There are a few things I want to ask you. Did your acquisition of Ai's Group really fail? Is Ao Xiang Group in big trouble and about to collapse?"
"I'm sorry, Miss Gu. Tianyi won't let me reveal a single word to you. If you have anything, you should ask him directly." Xiao Anjing was about to hang up.
"Wait, don't hang up! If even you won't tell me, he certainly won't tell me anything?"
Xiao Anjing said impatiently, "Miss Gu, why are you asking me these things now? Are you trying to gather information for Yang Sijie, or do you want to see Tianyi make a fool of himself?"
"You're mistaken. I only found out today that Ao Xiang Group was in trouble, and I'm a little worried... worried about him."
Xiao Anjing chuckled on the other end of the phone. "To help Yang Sijie, you even had Ai Shunan transfer all the movable and immovable assets of Ai's Group to your name. The leverage Tianyi held over Ai Shunan is now useless. Ai Shunan, without any scruples, used Yang Sijie's help to make a comeback, causing us heavy losses. And now you say you're worried about Tianyi? Isn't that a joke?"
Gu Susu's mind went blank. She had never expected that Ai Shunan's intention to transfer Ai's Group to her was for this purpose.
"I didn't. I don't understand your business competition. I only agreed because I couldn't bear to see Yuan Shuna suffering from cancer..."
"You should have agreed. You got Ai's Group for free. With their successful counter-acquisition, the market value has increased by at least ten million. You are now the boss of a group."
Gu Susu felt that she couldn't explain herself clearly and said urgently, "I didn't expect to control a group, and I don't know how to explain it to you. Just tell me what I can do now to help you."
"Miss Gu's relationship with Yang Sijie is already extraordinary, why would you want to help us?" Xiao Anjing asked cautiously.
After all, Ao Xiang Group was hanging by a thread and couldn't afford any more blows. Everyone knew that Gu Susu and Yang Sijie were often seen together, deeply in love. Why would she suddenly come to help them?
Gu Susu hesitated and said, "Of course, it's for Little Star. As for what Yang Sijie did, I didn't know before."
"Is that so? But how can I believe you?" Xiao Anjing had considered asking Gu Susu for help, to persuade Yang Sijie to stop suppressing Ao Xiang's stock price.
But Qin Tianyi had firmly forbidden it and warned him that he would fall out with him, so he had abandoned the idea.
Moreover, he knew that Gu Susu had moved into Yang Sijie's villa and they were almost inseparable. How could she come to help them? It would be good if she didn't join Yang Sijie in harming them.
"I don't know," Gu Susu said, unable to defend herself. "But there's one thing you must believe: I just want to fulfill his dreams, I never expected things to turn out this way."
Xiao Anjing decided to take the risk, regardless of whether Qin Tianyi would fall out with him. He directly told Gu Susu, "If Miss Gu wants to help Tianyi, it's very simple: just get Yang Sijie to stop targeting Ao Xiang Group. You can also tell Yang Sijie that even a cornered dog will fight back. If he really pushes us to a dead end, it'll be a lose-lose situation, and he won't benefit either."
"What exactly is going on? Why is Yang Sijie targeting you..."
Before she could finish speaking, Xiao Anjing had already hung up.
Gu Susu stared blankly, still clutching her phone tightly. No wonder Qin Tianyi had told her last time that Yang Sijie had set up a plan before coming to Lancheng.
Was her Brother Sijie still the same Brother Sijie as before? What skillful means and planning! If he had been targeting Ao Xiang Group all along, then she was just a fish caught in his net.
Just then, Yang Sijie's call came again. "Susu, have you returned to your place?"
"Not yet, but I'm almost there."
Yang Sijie said tenderly and considerately, "It's getting late. I can't come over tonight. Be careful when you go back alone. Call me if anything happens."
Gu Susu stopped outside a convenience store, looking at the cars passing by on the road. She didn't know how to ask him about some things.
"Okay."
Yang Sijie seemed to sense her unusual mood and asked, "Is there anything else you want to tell me? What happened today? Are you unhappy at work?"
"It's nothing, work is going smoothly. You should get back to your business." Gu Susu hung up without saying more.
She sat on a chair outside the convenience store, feeling tired. She couldn't bring herself to ask Yang Sijie to help Qin Tianyi.
Besides, Qin Tianyi was such a proud person. How could he allow her to beg another man for mercy? If he found out, it would be the greatest humiliation for him.
But now that she knew Ao Xiang was in such dire straits, could she just stand by and do nothing?
She sat for a while, unable to think of a good solution. She got up to go back, only to realize that she had unknowingly walked near the apartment where she and Little Star had lived.
Qin Tianyi had brought her here when he broke off the engagement. At that time, she thought he was crazy and just hoped he wouldn't be impulsive and could salvage the cooperation with the Shu family.
It seemed he hadn't tried to salvage it, or perhaps he disdained to do so. Gu Susu felt a mix of emotions. Suddenly, she wanted to go up and take a look, wondering if the apartment's password lock had been changed.
She arrived at the apartment door, her eyes feeling a little sore. Recalling everything from the past, she realized that somewhere along the line, she had fallen in love with Qin Tianyi.
He always said harsh words, but when she was in trouble, he would rush to help her without hesitation.
In fact, she should have had feelings for him, but her pride wouldn't allow her to fall in love with Qin Tianyi. She felt that falling in love with him, who was so high and mighty, would make her appear even more worthless, humble, and pathetic.