Chapter 229: Chapter 229: Men Say One Thing and Mean Another
Gu Yan and Tang Yuxiu conversed as if no one else was around, while Gu Qin and Li Xiulan seemed as if they were soaked in ice water, their bodies still trembling.
It was Gu Yan who reacted first, walking over to her father’s hospital bed, "Dad, are you okay?"
Gu’s father also snapped back to reality, shaking his head, "I’m fine, what could be wrong with me? But you, are you alright?"
"I’m alright." Gu Yan gave him a reassuring smile.
"That’s good." Gu’s father relaxed, then glanced at Tang Yuxiu, paused for a moment, and asked, "Gu Yan, is this your friend?"
Gu Yan let out a sound of "ah," then nodded, "Yes." And also her boyfriend.
But their relationship couldn’t be known to outsiders. Gu’s father wasn’t an issue, but there was the troublesome Gu Qin. If she said Tang Yuxiu was her boyfriend, Gu Qin would probably spread it around, causing trouble for Tang Yuxiu.
Gu’s father glanced at Tang Yuxiu again, still intimidated by his aura, speaking in a low voice, "Your friend doesn’t seem simple."
Gu Yan felt a bit uneasy and awkward, vaguely saying, "He’s alright."
"Who is he?" Gu’s father asked softly, a bit afraid of letting Tang Yuxiu know he was inquiring about him.
Gu Yan pursed her lips, unsure of how to tell her father who he was. To say he was a president, how could someone like her, a commoner, be involved with such a big figure? It was truly troubling.
But just when Gu Yan was struggling with how to answer, Tang Yuxiu stepped forward two steps voluntarily and started talking to Gu’s father.
"Hello, I am Tang Yuxiu, not anybody special, just an ordinary person."
Gu Yan was taken aback. It was rare for Tang Yuxiu to speak up on his own...
Moreover, he addressed Gu’s father with formal respect, showing his respect to her father.
Gu Yan felt warmth in her heart, because he acknowledged her father, which was why he would speak up and respect her father.
Gu’s father, hearing Tang Yuxiu speak first, was startled at first, then focused on what he said.
He frowned slightly, carefully asking, "Sir, is your surname Tang?"
"Yes." Tang Yuxiu stood upright, neither humble nor arrogant, yet not appearing rude.
Tang... Gu’s father’s frown deepened, but soon relaxed.
But these small details did not escape Tang Yuxiu’s notice.
He couldn’t help but wonder, what did Gu’s father’s reaction mean?
"Do you have any questions?" Tang Yuxiu asked directly.
Gu’s father was startled, hurriedly shook his head, "No questions, it’s just that I heard there’s a Tang Group in Jiang City, a big company. I wonder if sir has any relation to it?"
"Tang Group is my family’s business, and I am currently the president of Tang Group." Tang Yuxiu said truthfully.
Gu Yan was anxious beside him, couldn’t he be less honest!
"So, it’s President Tang. We, country folk, are not familiar with big figures like you. If there’s any offense or disrespect, I apologize."
Tang Yuxiu’s dark eyes swept over the others in the room, shaking his head lightly, "It’s nothing, but if there is a next time, don’t blame me for not considering anyone’s face."
"That’s right, that’s right." Gu’s father hurriedly responded.
Mrs. Gu had earlier been too frightened to make a sound, no wonder he could kill her without hesitation, with no consequences. Even a countryside woman like her knew how powerful the Tang Group was.
Remembering how she acted so wild in front of him last time, she felt a wave of fear.
Gu’s father didn’t say much more to Tang Yuxiu, telling Gu Yan, "Gu Yan, go ask the doctor about my condition. You must be tired after a day of work. Once you’ve asked, go home and rest, come see me next time."
Gu Yan nodded, "Sure, Dad, you take care too, get some sun when you have time, but as the weather is hot, find a cooler time."
"Alright, I understand, you go ahead."
"Yes, goodbye, Dad."
"Goodbye."
Gu Yan bade farewell to her father, ignoring everyone else, and left the room. Tang Yuxiu politely nodded to her father as a farewell, and left with Gu Yan.
Gu’s father watched the two disappear at the door, only after a long while did he say to Gu Qin and her mother, "If you have nothing more, you should leave too, I’m tired and need to rest."
Gu Qin and her mother took a while to stabilize their legs, and hearing Gu’s father’s dismissal, couldn’t stay longer, and left hurriedly.
Mrs. Gu was still in a state of fear, didn’t send them off, just sat there dazed.
And Gu’s father closed his eyes, remaining silent, with his brow furrowed, never relaxing.
The Tang Family...
The Tang Family, the ruling power of the Tang Group!
The man by Gu Yan’s side was a member of the Tang Family, how could this be?
Judging by their appearance, their relationship was not ordinary; they were definitely not just ordinary friends. How did they meet? How did they end up together!
Gu’s father felt uneasy, was it really inevitable?
He recalled a scene from many years ago, his hand lying on the bed unconsciously clenched.
If the two of them were really together, what would happen then!
The Tang Family and Gu Yan... how could they coexist peacefully.
Gu’s father was troubled with worry, unable to sleep for a long time.
Gu Yan and Tang Yuxiu approached Gu’s father’s attending physician to learn about his condition, and then left the hospital directly.
Tang Yuxiu recalled Gu’s father’s reaction upon knowing his surname was Tang, sensing something was amiss.
Sitting in the car, Gu Yan saw Tang Yuxiu remaining silent, slightly tense, and couldn’t help but ask, "What’s wrong? You’ve been like this since we left my dad."
Tang Yuxiu shook his head, "It’s nothing." He started the car, not thinking about it for the moment.
When he got back, he should have You Shuyang check if there’s any connection between Gu’s father and the Tang Family.
For some reason, meeting Gu Yan’s foster father this time made him uneasy.
He didn’t say anything, and Gu Yan didn’t think much of it either. In her impression, Tang Yuxiu was always unpredictable, with almost nothing but a cold face aside from a smile.
You’ll get used to it.
The two bought ingredients at the supermarket they often visited and then went straight back.
Gu Yan was yawning all the way, looking sleepy, and Tang Yuxiu was too preoccupied to talk, so both were silent.
It took about twenty minutes from the supermarket to the villa. Gu Yan rested against the seat, nodding off several times before finally falling asleep with her head tilted.
Tang Yuxiu drove smoothly, the road was even, and she slept peacefully.
But Gu Yan seemed to have timed it perfectly—just as Tang Yuxiu’s car stopped in the parking area outside the villa, she groggily woke up.
Gu Yan rubbed her eyes, "Huh? We’re home?"
Tang Yuxiu seemed particularly fond of hearing the word "home" from her lips and momentarily put all thoughts aside, replying to her, "We’re here."
Gu Yan nodded, yawning and stretching as she unfastened her seatbelt and got out of the car.
She wanted to open the trunk to get the things they bought, but Tang Yuxiu had already taken them out ahead of her.
She looked surprised, "Boss, you’ve changed! Since when did you become so gentlemanly?"
In her impression, this was the first time Tang Yuxiu actively helped her carry bags!
Suddenly feeling "moved" inside, what should she do!
Tang Yuxiu cast her a sidelong glance, "I’m afraid you’ll fall asleep on the roadside in a few steps and crush the ingredients."
Gu Yan, "..." Can’t you say something nice!
"Tang Yuxiu, as a man, could you stop being so two-faced like a woman!"
Honestly, saying it nicely is called two-faced, saying it harshly is just foul-mouthed!
Mighty President Tang, being so foul-mouthed, doesn’t that damage your majesty and reputation?
Really, just directly say you care for her, can’t bear to see her tired—nice words like that, it’s all true anyway!
Gu Yan secretly laughed while being displeased with Tang Yuxiu’s frequent jabs.
It’s quite a contradiction.
Tang Yuxiu carried the bags to the doorway, gestured for her to open the door, then asked, "What does two-faced mean?"
Gu Yan opened the door, looked back at him with disdain, and spat out a single word with contempt, "Pretending!"
Young Master Tang scoffed dismissively, "Do I need to pretend?"
"Haha, as if you’ve never pretended before."
Young Master Tang is always pretending!
Pretending to be cool, sophisticated, stylish, every kind of pretend!
In fact, he’s just an immature, domineering, secretly prideful, and ostentatious clean freak.
She just doesn’t say it.
For someone like Young Master Tang, the biggest characteristic is pretending, wearing a mask in public, bluffing the world.
Young Master Tang changed his shoes as he replied, "As long as I don’t pretend in front of you; you don’t have to care how I pretend outside."
Oh? She liked hearing that.
Gu Yan lowered her head to suppress her laughter, feeling very joyful inside.
"Boss, you can also say sweet words now." She changed her shoes and followed Tang Yuxiu, beaming.
"I think I’m just speaking the truth. What’s sweet talk? Someone like me wouldn’t say that."
Oh, look, he’s all proud again.
Gu Yan chuckled, ran up to link arms with him, smiling brightly, "It’s okay, I just love hearing your kind of truth."
Tang Yuxiu turned his head to see her eyes squinting in amusement, feeling very relaxed inside, but still teasing her, "What kind of truth, like saying you’re dry fried green beans?"
The tone changed again!
Gu Yan immediately pulled a long face, glaring at him resentfully, "Can’t you say more than three nice things! With you hitting me constantly, I’ll develop an inferiority complex."
"Let me see where you’re inferior." Tang Yuxiu said while putting all the bags in one hand, using the other to hold her shoulder and shake a little, as if sizing her up.
Gu Yan slapped his hand away, complaining, "You’re so clueless, not knowing how to coax a girlfriend, you’ll lose me! Serves you right to be single for life."
"Heh, if you dare to leave, no matter where you go, I’ll find you, and then break your legs, see where you run then."
Gu Yan, "...You’re so violent!"
"Just behave and I’ll be very gentle with you."
Gu Yan, "...I really can’t see it."
"Why should you see it, as long as I can do it."
Gu Yan was completely speechless.