Chapter 142: Boss Su’s Scandal
Su Tao: “?!”
Lei Xing: “!”
Su Tao was completely dumbfounded. She turned to Lei Xing with a shocked expression, shaking her head frantically to prove her innocence. She opened her mouth and whispered loudly:
“Are you kidding me?! That’s nonsense! I’ve never even met Gu Mingchi!”
Lei Xing’s mood instantly took a nosedive. His tone toward Qu Jingwen became noticeably colder.
“Did you even verify this properly? If you can’t beat your competition, don’t just make up gossip about them. If this is how unreliable your operations are, I’d have a hard time trusting you as a teammate.”
But Qu Jingwen was completely convinced, almost swearing on it.
“There’s no mistake. Gu Mingchi has repeatedly spoken up for Su Tao in front of our boss. We’ve worked together for years, and we’ve never seen him go out of his way to defend a woman like this. He even got into a cold war with us and firmly opposed attacking Panliu Mountain.”
“Captain Lei, think about it—he’s a businessman. If Su Tao hasn’t promised him any benefits, why would he go out of his way to stand by her?”
It sounded so convincing that even Lei Xing almost believed it.
Before he could say anything, Su Tao reached over and ended the call with an exasperated expression.
“That’s enough. I can’t listen to this garbage anymore. What a load of nonsense! I did try to recruit Gu Mingchi, but he didn’t budge, which means he hasn’t betrayed the old station. But having an affair? Seriously? Are Tan Yong and Qu Jingwen out of their minds? Can’t beat me in business, so now they’re spreading rumors about my private life?”
Lei Xing’s golden leopard-like eyes studied her for a moment.
“Then why would Gu Mingchi defend you?”
Su Tao was speechless. “How the hell should I know what’s going on in his head? My relationship with him is purely transactional. At most, I’m his grandfather’s landlord… Maybe he just appreciates that his grandfather is living comfortably in Taoyang. Who knows? The guy is impossible to read.”
Seeing her genuinely confused reaction, Lei Xing believed her—mostly. But for some reason, he felt a newfound hostility toward Gu Mingchi.
Su Tao was afraid he’d overthink things and back out of their deal, so she quickly added,
“Captain Lei, this whole thing is completely made up. Don’t let it mess with your thoughts. I always say things as they are—I have nothing to hide. Let’s not let gossip affect our partnership.”
Hearing this, Lei Xing fully believed her and grinned, revealing his sharp canine teeth.
“Alright, then I’ll just assume Gu Mingchi is a toad lusting after a swan. As for Qu Jingwen, I’ll play along for now—then stab them in the back when the time comes.”
That afternoon, Su Tao made a special trip to check on Grandpa Gu, only to be informed by the caretaker that he had gone to Old Mei’s house for a game of chess.
The caretaker smiled warmly. “Taoyang isn’t just a great place to live—it’s got a wonderful atmosphere too. The old man’s mood has improved, and his appetite is much better. He’s even gained a few pounds since he arrived! He used to sing by himself in the afternoons, but now he spends his time playing chess with Mr. Mei or watching TV and chatting with his old buddies. He laughs a lot more now.”
Su Tao was genuinely happy to hear that. Whatever her issues with Gu Mingchi were, Grandpa Gu was still her tenant, and she genuinely wanted him to have a peaceful and joyful retirement.
“That’s great. If he ever needs anything, just let Manager Zhuang know. By the way, has Mr. Gu called recently? Did he say anything important?”
The caretaker replied, “He called just yesterday to ask about his grandfather’s daily routine and health. He seemed really happy to hear he was doing well and even asked me to pass along a thank you to you.”
Hearing that, Su Tao didn’t ask any more questions. She figured Gu Mingchi wouldn’t be telling a caretaker about his whereabouts anyway.
Whatever. Let him do whatever he wants.
Coincidentally, she had some matters to discuss with Old Man Mei anyway, so she headed downstairs to his house.
The moment she stepped in, she heard Grandpa Gu’s loud, energetic voice:
“Checkmate!”
Liu Panpan greeted Su Tao with a bright smile and led her in. She greeted the two elderly men politely.
But as soon as Grandpa Gu saw her, his face went blank.
He still didn’t recognize her.
Holding his chess piece mid-air, he stared at Su Tao for a long moment, trying to recall who she was.
Then suddenly, he turned to Old Mei and said—
“Haha, you’re your grandpa’s little granddaughter, right? My memory isn’t so bad after all!”
Old Mei chuckled and agreed.
But as soon as Grandpa Gu finished speaking, he started cursing angrily:
“I have a grandson too, but that little bastard never comes to see me all year round. Not even a single phone call! Tell me, isn’t that unfilial? I raised him for so many years for nothing. When he was a kid, on snowy winter days, I was afraid he’d slip, so I carried him everywhere when he got off the car!”
As he spoke, his eyes turned red, and he became emotional:
“Old Mei, you’re really lucky. Your granddaughter visits you every few days, always making sure you’re warm and well. But look at me—I’m all alone. I bet the only time that brat will come back is when I drop dead, just to collect my corpse!”
Everyone exchanged glances, sighing inwardly.
Old Mei felt especially bad for his friend.
After all, his beloved grandson had just called him yesterday, showing concern and checking in on him. But all Grandpa Gu did was curse him out on the phone for a full thirty minutes while the other side just quietly listened until he got tired of yelling.
Sensing the heavy atmosphere, Su Tao quickly changed the subject. She pulled out a map of the red zones surrounding Taoyang and handed it to Old Mei, hoping he could help plan the city’s future expansion.
She also took the opportunity to ask for advice on management issues.
At first, Grandpa Gu was still caught up in his sadness. But the moment Su Tao finished speaking, he completely transformed, exuding a powerful aura as he declared:
“No, you shouldn’t follow a corporate management model. You should model it after a government system instead—establish various functional departments! Right now, you don’t have enough people, so first, set up a Human Resources and Social Security Department. Then, build a government administration department, which is what companies typically call the ‘executive department’…”
Su Tao was stunned. A lot of things that had been unclear in her mind suddenly clicked into place.
Without hesitation, she grabbed a notebook and sat down to take notes.
She listened intently until nightfall, only stopping when Grandpa Gu got too tired to continue.
The caretaker, hearing that Grandpa Gu had just given a full afternoon’s worth of a management lecture, told Su Tao:
“Before the apocalypse, the old gentleman was a highly successful entrepreneur. He often traveled the country giving speeches on management strategies. Even after falling ill, he never lost that knowledge. Boss Su, you might find some valuable insights if you selectively learn from him.”
Su Tao nodded vigorously. “Absolutely! I’ve learned so much already. I’m incredibly grateful.”
She made up her mind to visit Grandpa Gu more often—there was simply no one who understood these things better than him.
Old Man Mei, on the other hand, was more experienced in design and school management, so he wasn’t as knowledgeable in this area.
That night, after absorbing knowledge like a sponge for hours, Su Tao had just returned to her room, preparing to go over the key points Grandpa Gu had taught her.
But before she could start, her phone rang—
It was a call from his grandson.
