Chapter 250: Hmph!
Gu Mingchi turned around and left.
He took large strides, quickly getting into the nearby car in just a few steps. With a sharp “bang,” he shut the door.
The whole movement was fluid and seamless—he didn’t even glance at Su Tao.
Su Tao didn’t chase after him, just watching his stiff back as he left.
As soon as the car door closed, the quick-witted driver floored the gas pedal and sped away.
Consul Hou stood frozen in place, his mouth slightly open.
So he was just going to leave this mess for him to clean up?
He stiffly turned his head to Su Tao and forced a smile. “Boss Su.”
Su Tao asked, “You recognize me?”
Consul Hou thought, Who in the Eastern District doesn’t? Even your incoming call ringtone is different from everyone else’s on Boss Gu’s phone.
But on the surface, he answered seriously, “Boss Su, you’ve been working with our Boss Gu for a long time and even solved our water crisis in the Eastern District. If I didn’t recognize you, that’d be a crime.”
Su Tao nodded and got straight to the point. “Alright, tell me—what’s the deal with Zhong Gaoyi?”
Consul Hou was already sweating, fumbling, “Well, last night… uh, I… Yes! I personally invited him out for a little gathering, to catch up.”
Su Tao asked, “And catching up required sneaking him back in?”
Consul Hou racked his brain for an excuse. “Well, he got drunk last night, and we were worried Miss Zhuang would have an issue with it, so…”
Su Tao nodded, her expression unreadable, as if his excuse actually made sense.
Seeing her nod, Consul Hou thought he had successfully gotten away with it. Just as he was about to breathe a sigh of relief, she continued,
“Go back and tell Gu Mingchi that if he wants to borrow someone, there’s no need to be sneaky. Just give me a call. It’s not like I’d refuse to let someone go in a life-or-death situation.”
Consul Hou was startled and immediately nodded.
Su Tao then tilted her chin toward the Dawn building.
“And this too—there’s no need to have Hui Shu relay messages in between. It’s just renting a place. What’s there to be so secretive about?”
Consul Hou nodded repeatedly. He actually agreed with her.
Su Tao thought for a moment, then squinted at him and asked,
“What’s up with your boss? Is he avoiding me? Did he do something shady to me and now he’s too ashamed to face me?”
Consul Hou immediately shook his head, speaking sincerely, “No way. Our boss values you a lot—if he were to deceive anyone, it definitely wouldn’t be you.”
Su Tao didn’t quite believe it. “Hasn’t he tricked and messed with me enough already?”
Every single deal they made, he never took a loss—in fact, he always tried to take advantage of her.
And that time they were bargaining, arguing back and forth, only for it to turn out he was just messing with her.
Not to mention, their very first interaction—he had gone around spreading dirt on Taoyang and even rallied those who had grudges against her to attack.
Consul Hou spoke seriously, “Boss Su, you’re magnanimous, but think about it—did those little pranks ever actually harm you? If anything, it was your fight with Old Station that dragged Boss Gu into the mess. You saw it yourself—these young guys who moved here were forced to leave Old Station.”
“After they left, they’ve been wandering, suffering all kinds of hardships. The youngest one is only ten. They’ve had a rough journey, and we even lost some brothers along the way. But if we hadn’t taken them away back then, with Tan Yong’s pettiness, they probably wouldn’t have survived.”
“Boss Su, do you think what I’m saying makes sense?”
Su Tao replied, “I asked him at the time if he wanted to stand on my side. He refused.”
If he had agreed, the Dawn settlement might have existed much earlier.
Consul Hou shook his head. “No, if he had agreed, that would have been a true betrayal of Old Station and Tan Yong, his long-time business partner. That would be disgraceful. Boss Gu would never stoop to that level.”
Su Tao didn’t want to be blamed for that, so she waved him off.
“We’re all adults. Whatever choices we make, we deal with the consequences ourselves. Go on inside. Just make sure Zhong Gaoyi returns soon—otherwise, Zhuang Wan will start worrying.”
Consul Hou let out a sigh of relief when she didn’t pursue the issue further and quickly called Gu Mingchi.
After listening to the report, Gu Mingchi frowned.
“She said I got dragged into it? Why did you tell her that? I made the decision to take them out. That’s on me, not her.”
Consul Hou felt it was unfair and muttered, “But if it weren’t for Boss Su, you and Old Station would still be coexisting peacefully, each getting what you need. The kids wouldn’t have had to suffer.”
Gu Mingchi was annoyed. “Enough. Stop telling her stuff like that—it makes it sound like I can’t take responsibility.”
Consul Hou realized he had upset him and quickly shut his mouth.
After a long silence, Huigu hesitantly asked, “So… should I keep talking to Boss Su from now on?”
Gu Mingchi glanced at him.
Hui Shu instantly straightened up. “I’ll do it! I love being the messenger!”
*
Back in her place, Su Tao thought over what Consul Hou had said.
Though his words were unpleasant, they kind of made sense.
But who doesn’t have their pride? She might acknowledge it in her heart, but she wouldn’t admit it out loud.
She called Qian Lin over and said,
“From now on, send some vegetables and fruit to Dawn next door every week. Not too much—just enough for them to have a decent meal once a week. You and Wu Zhen can handle the arrangements.”
Qian Lin was always obedient and didn’t ask why—she simply agreed right away.
Just as Su Tao finished giving instructions, Director Guo from the Maternity and Child Hospital came looking for her. She asked if Su Tao was available tonight to join a gathering and visit the orphanage children.
Su Tao checked the time. “I’m free tonight. Would after 7 PM work?”
She had to meet with Fang Zhi and Qian Rongrong in the afternoon to go over Taoyang Commerce’s recent revenue.
She also needed to review the list of new dormitory tenants from Meng Qian.
Director Guo nodded meticulously.
“That works. I’ll pick you up on time. The children are already looking forward to it.”
Su Tao smiled. “Then I should prepare some small gifts for them.”
The wrinkles at the corners of Director Guo’s eyes lifted as she smiled.
“The two teachers you sent are already the best gifts—especially Teacher Xiaopan. The kids even call her ‘Mama Xiaopan’ now.”
Su Tao’s smile faded slightly. “Mama Xiaopan? Liu Panpan?”
