The Gentle, Sickly Beauty Is Won Over By The Loyal Big Shot - Chapter 9

The red light ended, and Yu Shen drove unhurriedly as usual, glancing in the rearview mirror from time to time. The black car Cheng Dan had mentioned was following at the same speed. Yu Shen rolled up the windows and called Gu Han at the next intersection.

At this time, Gu Han was having dinner with Qi Ran. Qi Ran’s stomach pain was no longer as severe, and he could walk around a bit, so the two of them ate at the dining table. Qi Ran had seafood noodles, while Gu Han preferred a stew of potatoes and green beans. Gu Han was mixing the stew into his rice, it smelled delicious and seeing that Qi Ran wanted to try some, he set aside a clean bowl to serve him a portion. Just then, his phone on the table rang. Gu Han picked it up casually: “Yu Shen, what’s up?”

“Gu Zong, Cheng Dan just sent me a WeChat message telling me to be careful on the way to the company. There are a lot of thugs from Ruihao following me in cars,” Yu Shen lowered his voice. “He told me to park the car in the ‘Small Vault’ (private garage) to prevent any outsiders from tampering with it.”

“Is that so?”

Gu Han grew anxious immediately: “Should I call the police for you? Be careful, don’t get hurt.”

Yu Shen already had a plan and remained indifferent to Ruihao’s blatant threats. “Cheng Dan told me they won’t hurt me. Calling the police would be troublesome. First, those thugs don’t care about going to jail. Second, if Cheng Dan is the only one who knows about this, reporting it might easily implicate him. I’ll be fine. I’m only calling to remind you, you’d better park your luxury cars in the Small Vault too, to avoid trouble.”

Gu Han remained uneasy, but after Yu Shen repeatedly guaranteed he was safe, Gu Han finally hung up. He looked up to find Qi Ran staring straight at him with a puzzled expression. “What’s wrong?”

Qi Ran asked, “Gu Zong, do you know Cheng Dan?”

Gu Han shook his head. “Before I met you, I had absolutely no interaction with Cheng Dan.”

Qi Ran grew more confused as he listened, so Gu Han briefly explained how Yu Shen had ended up adding Cheng Dan on WeChat. Qi Ran nodded: “So that’s how it is. No wonder he was so anxious for me to add your WeChat. He really is a good person. I feel that the pure friendship between us is something few people can achieve. Though, maybe that’s not true, you and Manager Yu are the same.”

“Not as good as you two,” Gu Han said. “We have a superior subordinate relationship, we hold each other’s lifeblood and our interests are intertwined. There’s an element of mutual restraint. Your bond is the one that is truly peerless.”

Qi Ran smiled gently. “I actually hope Cheng Dan finds a better future, but he seems quite content with the status quo.”

“How about this,” Gu Han proposed, “after you come to work at Jianchen, I’ll poach Cheng Dan as well?”

“That would be great, of course, but it won’t be easy,” Qi Ran’s tone shifted. “The fact that Cheng Dan knew about Manager Yu being followed and warned him suggests his position at Ruihao isn’t simple. If you try to force a poaching, remember what kind of company Ruihao is. Look at the Garden Villa collapse case, so many dead and injured. They don’t even care about human lives for the sake of profit. A messy aftermath is one thing, but if lives are lost, that’s a disaster. We can’t rush it.”

“You’re right. I haven’t considered many things carefully. I’ll reflect on that,” Gu Han felt there was more to Qi Ran’s words and asked tentatively, “Little Qi Ran, do you know other things about Ruihao?”

Qi Ran nodded. “I do.”

Gu Han pressed, “For example?”

Qi Ran said, “For example, Jiali Real Estate, the former top ten giant that was once legendary but is now ruined. The Chairman of Ruihao, who is currently serving time, had someone drive a car to kill Jiali’s most capable and favorite secretary cum general manager. Before the Ruihao Chairman went to prison, he was even joking about it in his office. I overheard it while passing by with documents. I think that happened at least five years ago. Jiali went downhill precisely after losing that manager, the timeline fits perfectly.”

Gu Han was shocked. “Then why was he able to remain at large until the villa collapse case?”

“Because he wasn’t the driver. Reportedly, there were no chat records on the phones. Most likely, the bounty was paid in cash. It’s normal for a Chairman to withdraw large sums of money, so you couldn’t judge him for murder just because of a withdrawal.”

Qi Ran spoke plainly: “Gu Zong, you know that it’s very hard to uncover the truth of a road accident. Determining intent requires detailed motives and evidence. Their lawyers back then were very good at manipulating those key points. Furthermore, since they planned it, they wouldn’t be stupid enough to admit who the mastermind was. It’s very difficult. Both the judiciary and Jiali’s lawyers tried their best, but they couldn’t change the outcome.”

Gu Han followed Qi Ran’s logic: “So, the judiciary and Jiali’s lawyers both knew it was likely a premeditated murder?”

Qi Ran nodded. “Yes. Both sides fought to reveal the truth, but the opposing lawyer was too skilled at arguing. The motive couldn’t be established, and there was no evidence to support it. The lawsuit dragged on for a long time without a reversal. When I was in university, I went to the public gallery of the second trial with a classmate from the law school and witnessed the whole thing. That lawyer didn’t feel a shred of guilt for twisting black into white. People inside and outside the industry called him the ‘Bounty Hunter’, he’d do anything for money.”

Listening to Qi Ran’s calm narrative, anger flared in Gu Han’s heart. He hated Ruihao’s consistent conduct, and he hated his own late realization. Looking back, every collaboration with Ruihao in the two years between the death of Jiali’s manager and the villa collapse made him feel disgusted.

Gu Han was an upright man, always had been.

While Gu Han was brooding, Qi Ran put down his chopsticks and spoke softly, “Gu Zong, do you think if I could get the paper evidence for this case, it would make Ruihao exit the real estate market sooner?”

“It’s not just a matter of exiting. Exiting the competition doesn’t necessarily mean the death of the group. If you really got paper evidence, Ruihao would collapse. The enterprise would disintegrate, and the real estate world would reshuffle. But… I don’t want you to do it,” Gu Han was unwilling to let Qi Ran wade into muddy waters. “It’s too dangerous. I want you to be okay.”

After Gu Han finished speaking, Qi Ran stared at him for a long time with a playful look in his eyes.

Seeing Gu Han’s confusion, Qi Ran curled his lips. “Ah, so you’re afraid something will happen to me? It’s not that you think I lack the ability?”

“How could you lack ability, Little Qi Ran? Look at what you’re saying.”

Gu Han felt frustrated. “I feel bad for Jiali’s manager, and I’m even more afraid you’ll get into trouble. Besides, how could someone like that leave evidence in their office?”

“They would. It’s exactly that kind of person who leaves evidence,” Qi Ran said incisively. “He takes pleasure in it, he thinks he’s incredibly powerful. Because he’s conceited and loves to brag, the evidence must be kept.”

Gu Han’s eyes widened. “Why?”

“Think about it, Gu Zong,” Qi Ran analyzed the psychology gently. “He keeps the evidence, written in black and white, but he hides it and doesn’t bring it out. No one can do anything to him. That is the ultimate form of bragging for that kind of ‘beastly’ personality.”

“Right, right. Little Qi Ran, you really know a lot.”

Gu Han was thoroughly impressed. “In the future, if I have problems, I must come and ask you.”

“So, a boss actually knows how to praise an employee?”

Qi Ran rested his chin on his hand, tilting his head to look at Gu Han. “Zhou Cheng always rejected all of my insights. Sometimes, I really thought I was the one in the wrong.”

Gu Han ruffled Qi Ran’s hair and said with a smile, “Little Qi Ran, don’t lower yourself to the level of an idiot. He was inherently insecure looking at you, your looks are better, your skills are better, and he can’t even beat you in an argument. Ruihao isn’t a real industry company, they are a vanity fair. Sincere people like you aren’t welcomed there. They prefer weaving themselves into dreams and only love hearing flattery. They’ll die a miserable death when the dream wakes. That’s one of the reasons you were never promoted. Another is that Zhou Cheng was afraid you’d shake his position if you held power. Bottom line: Zhou Cheng has no real talent, he’s a typical loser. Little Qi Ran, he’ll be like that for the rest of his life. Don’t take his past bullying to heart, just leave it to me to handle.”

“You’re right, Gu Zong. Zhou Cheng does have a sweet tongue, the Chairman in jail likes him very much. No wonder I always felt he was unworthy of his position.”

Qi Ran asked for advice: “If an entire company is full of such people, is the building already about to collapse?”

“Yes,” Gu Han nodded. “Only by being practical, speaking the truth, and doing real work can a path be long-lasting. A foundation built that way is eternal, dreams always eventually end.”

Qi Ran gazed into Gu Han’s eyes for a long time before saying, “Rest assured, Gu Zong. I will definitely come to work by your side.”

“Then, now,” Gu Han asked softly, “can I be the person you trust the most?”

This time, Qi Ran nodded without hesitation. “Mm.”

“We were so busy talking, did your noodles get cold?”

Gu Han touched the soup bowl in front of Qi Ran. “Should I buy a new portion?”

“No,” Qi Ran picked up his chopsticks again and tasted some noodles. “It’s warm. I prefer food that isn’t too hot.”

“Once you’re full, sleep for a little while. I’ll clear the table,” Gu Han liked touching Qi Ran’s hair, his palm stroking it very gently. “Do you have a habit of taking naps?”

Qi Ran looked a bit dejected. “I don’t have the habit, but I actually really want to sleep. I’m always so tired.”

“Because work is too busy?”

Gu Han guessed, “Or is it your health? The doctor said you might have a gastric ulcer. Does it hurt after eating, making it hard to sleep?”

“Yes, it’s my health,” Qi Ran said. “I vomit frequently. If I sleep right after eating, I get acid reflux. It burns my throat and makes my voice hoarse. I’m afraid of the discomfort, so I don’t dare sleep.”

“You vomit frequently?”

Gu Han was shocked. “Is your health that bad?”

Qi Ran nodded. “Yes.”

“Then in a bit, you can lean on me to sleep. If you don’t lie flat, it should be fine.”

Gu Han withdrew his hand to stop disturbing Qi Ran, letting him eat properly. He comforted him, “Little Qi Ran, don’t be sad. I will try my best to make your health better.”

Qi Ran tilted his head. “Why does Gu Zong care about me so much?”

Gu Han was caught off guard and laughed to hide it. “Because we are very good friends.”

“Friends.”

Gu Han stayed with Qi Ran until he finished eating. Qi Ran didn’t want to go back and lie down alone, he insisted on helping Gu Han clear the table. As he stood up, his body suddenly swayed, and he nearly collapsed. Terrified, Gu Han dropped everything in his hands and rushed to grab Qi Ran by the waist: “What’s wrong? Where does it hurt?”