Regardless of whether her brother agreed to cooperate with the Gu family, the Qin family was definitely going to vie for this business deal in Italy.
For years, the situation in Qingcheng had been a stable balance between the Gu family in the north and the Qin family in the south, with both families holding equal sway.
This deal was too significant; if either family managed to secure it for themselves, the entire power dynamic would shift.
Qin He drove home, her car pulling back into the Qin residence.
After greeting her mother, she went to her bedroom to shower and change into loungewear.
Qin Yun hadn't returned from work yet. Qin He opened her laptop and searched online for information about this Duke.
There wasn't much online, so she navigated to the Qingyan Prefecture forum.
The group chat was quiet. Qin He began typing.
Qing Crab: [Duke Wilson of Italy is coming to Qingcheng soon, @Mo, help me find out his specific purpose for coming, his life story, his preferences, all detailed information.]
After sending the message, Qin He switched screens to another medical website to check the recruitment post she had made earlier.
She intended to gather a team of elites to research Qin Yun's condition and work on a cure.
Fortunately, Professor Harlana's reputation was strong enough to elicit many replies on the forum.
Qin He opened the forum mailbox and checked. Many people from the medical field had submitted their resumes.
Qin He didn't plan to recruit too many people. After reviewing the resumes, she selected one suitable assistant and replied to them.
For the rest, she sent a unified message of thanks and polite refusal.
By the time she finished handling this, she switched back to the Qingyan Prefecture forum.
Mo had already replied.
Mo: [This Duke has time to visit Qingcheng?]
Ruthless Scoundrel: [Duke Wilson, I know him. When he was in Italy, he was famously henpecked.]
Qin He chuckled.
She typed: [How do you know?]
Ruthless Scoundrel: [Everyone in Italy knows. Duke Morton Wilson is related to the current Italian royal family, a cousin to the Crown Prince, as close as one can get. Given his status and the fact that the Duke had exceptional looks in his youth, he was once the dream lover of every Italian maiden—]
Mo: [Stop spreading gossip.]
Ruthless Scoundrel: [How is this gossip? Mo, are you jealous of my well-informed sources!]
Mo: [Heh!]
Ruthless Scoundrel: [What do you mean, 'heh'? Where are you now, Jiangcheng? I'll come and take you down in minutes!]
The group chat was clearly getting rowdy.
Mo dropped a compressed file into the chat. Qin He immediately downloaded it.
The file contained a wealth of information about the Duke's life.
While observing the commotion in the chat, Qin He carefully read through the Duke's biography.
What Ruthless Scoundrel said wasn't entirely wrong. This Duke held a very high position in Italy and was currently forty-eight years old.
However, judging by his photos, he looked no older than thirty-eight or thirty-nine, having been impeccably maintained.
The Duke had a wife, from a prominent Italian family, and they had one son, who was nineteen years old.
Qin He looked at the photo of the young nobleman. He possessed excellent looks. Dukes in Italy could inherit their titles, making his status incredibly noble.
Qin He glanced at the chat. Mo and Ruthless Scoundrel were still arguing.
Di Shi: [Qing Crab, why are you looking up information on the Duke? Are you in danger?]
Qin He smiled. Di Shishi was currently on vacation.
Qing Crab: [No, just enjoy your holiday.]
After sending the message, Qin He stopped watching the group's "battle." She put the information about the Duke onto her phone and read it bit by bit.
The life stories of the Duke and his wife read like a romantic fairy tale.
Since Wilson loved his wife so dearly, Qin He also noted down the preferences of his wife and son.
From their general interests to their specific tastes in food.
After finishing the information, Qin He went downstairs.
Qin Yun had just returned and was talking with Ming Yuzhu in the living room.
"Duke Wilson's visit this time must be—"
Qin He walked closer, hearing her brother's voice. She raised an eyebrow slightly: "Brother knows about the Italian affairs too?"
That made sense. If Gu Qishen's side had received the news, and the Qin family remained in the dark, she would have reason to worry.
Qin He sat on the sofa and recounted Gu Qishen's proposal for cooperation.
Qin Yun frowned, his expression deep and hesitant.
"If the rumors are true, and it's about those diamond mines, then whichever family, the Gu or the Qin, tries to take it all for themselves will face retaliation from the other. Neither outcome would be good," Ming Yuzhu said from the side.
"Yes, I actually think cooperation is the best way forward," Qin He added. "Although the Gu Corporation and our family have been rivals for many years, as seen in the cooperation on the West District project, the Gu Corporation isn't exactly unscrupulous. They are suitable as partners."
As she spoke, she noticed both her mother and brother looking at her.
Qin He felt an inexplicable sense of unease: "What's wrong?"
Qin Yun looked deeply worried. In his heart, his family ranked above the Qin Corporation.
"Have you been getting too close to Gu Qishen lately?" Qin Yun asked suspiciously.
Qin He laughed: "I'm in charge of the West District redevelopment project. Isn't it normal for me to be close? Don't partners need to meet?"
The small hands at her side clenched subtly.
Her brother's attitude made her feel inexplicably guilty and nervous.
If her brother knew that she not only was close to Gu Qishen, but had also kissed him—
Qin He coughed lightly.
Fortunately, her mother was deep in thought about the matter, frowning: "Xiao Yun, I suggest we agree to cooperate with the Gu Corporation."
"The current situation is that both families are stronger together. If we compete separately, disaster is certain. If our two families go to war, even if one of them secures the business, the price paid will be immense."
The implication was that it was better to earn money together.
Qin Yun sighed: "I know cooperation is the best choice, it's just that—"
It's just that Gu Qishen was a thorn in the hearts of the Qin family. The two years he had bullied Qin He were something the Qin family could move past, but not forgive.
After discussing, Qin He informed Qin Yun that she and Gu Qishen would attend a seminar together the day after tomorrow.
Ming Yuzhu looked at her belly with concern: "You're already seven and a half months pregnant, and you're still rushing around like this."
Qin He chuckled softly: "It's fine. I had a prenatal check-up recently, and the baby is very healthy."
After discussing with her family, Qin He returned to her bedroom and sent Gu Qishen a message.
Qin He: [My brother has agreed.]
Gu Qishen: [Mm.]
After a while, Gu Qishen sent back a cute emoji, which was very unlike his usual cool demeanor.
Qin He thought for a moment and forwarded the information about Duke Wilson's life and preferences, which Mo had given her, to Gu Qishen.
Qin He: [This is the information on Duke Wilson's entire family. I've noted down some things; you should take a look too.]
Doing business requires understanding what appeals to others.
Gu Qishen remained silent for a moment, then sent another emoji of a bear rolling.
The fluffy little bear rolled, hugged a leg, and with starry eyes, three words appeared: Thank you.
Qin He: [...]
Gu Qishen: [What's wrong, He'er?]
Qin He pressed her forehead: [Has your account been hacked?]
At the Gu family residence, Gu Qishen looked at the message Qin He had sent and glanced at Gu Ranran, who had eagerly volunteered to be his "strategist."
Gu Ranran's little hands trembled.
How could this sister-in-law be so unromantic!
This was so cute!