Gu Mengyao glared at Wei Zhao. As if this fellow cared about her in the slightest? As if he gave a fig whether she and An Jianwen had been childhood sweethearts? Was he not the least bit anxious about her?

But Wei Zhao's next words disappointed her — he did not linger on the subject of childhood sweethearts at all.

He simply nodded. "Uncle Gu, have you ever heard of an organ-trafficking ring? Among the common folk they call it the Kidney Reaping Gang."

"The Kidney Reaping Gang? You suspect An Jianwen has ties to this criminal ring?" Gu Pengzhan frowned. "That said, after the An family moved to Donghai, they began doing business that was half black, half white — quite a change from their old way of operating. And yet in only a few short years they piled up an enormous fortune."

"I have my suspicions. Otherwise, why would An Jianwen have cut out Zhong Yongliang's kidney, of all things?" Wei Zhao said. "But it has nothing to do with us anymore, so long as he doesn't come bothering us."

"Quite right. With people like that, it's best to keep your distance." Gu Pengzhan nodded. "By the way, Xiaoyi, how exactly did you get hurt this time? I heard from Yaoyao that you were avenging a classmate?"

Earlier, when Gu Mengyao had called, the matter could not be explained in a few words over the phone, so Gu Pengzhan had not pressed for details. At the time he had only asked whether Wei Zhao was all right; once he learned Wei Zhao was tending his own wounds, he had come home first.

Though he had not known Wei Zhao long, Wei Zhao was unquestionably a man of measure. Judging by how he had handled the bank attack, the Xie Guangbo affair, and Gu Mengyao's kidnapping, Wei Zhao was steady, methodical, and clear-headed.

So if Wei Zhao had chosen to treat himself rather than go to a hospital, he must have been confident in his own judgment — there was no need for Gu Pengzhan to worry unduly.

And Gu Mengyao had been vague at the time, saying only that Wei Zhao had been hurt avenging a female classmate, and never hinting whether she was Wei Zhao's girlfriend.

"Oh, I know about that one! Arrow Brand Bro flew into a rage for a beauty and broke that what's-his-name Young Master Bing's leg!" The moment violence came up, Shen Yushu grew terribly excited. "What a shame I didn't get to see Arrow Brand Bro go berserk with my own eyes!"

"Young Master Bing?" Gu Pengzhan was startled, and he looked at Wei Zhao in some shock. "The Young Master Bing Xiaoshu mentioned — you mean Zhao Qibing?"

"The very same," Wei Zhao said with a nod.

"How did you run afoul of him?" Gu Pengzhan could not help smiling bitterly. "Xiaoyi, this Young Master Bing is no simple matter. Rumor has it he's the illegitimate son of some formidable figure, and very influential — even Li Cihua is one of his men..."

"Uncle Gu, don't worry. This business will never drag you into it. If Zhao Qibing comes looking for you, just send them straight to me."

Wei Zhao said it flatly.

"Xiaoyi, what sort of talk is that? When you're in trouble, how could I just stand by?" Seeing that Wei Zhao had misunderstood him, Gu Pengzhan spoke with a touch of anger.

"Heh, Uncle Gu, you've got me wrong." Wei Zhao smiled wryly. "What I mean is, if they come for me, I'm sure I can handle them. But if they go making trouble for you, then I'd have to split my attention to deal with them too, wouldn't I?"

"All right, then. But I won't just stand by either." Gu Pengzhan nodded. Wei Zhao plainly did not want to pursue the subject, so he said no more.

After the meal, Wei Zhao and Uncle Qing went to clear the dishes, while Gu Mengyao was summoned alone into Gu Pengzhan's room. Father and daughter had not seen each other for some time, after all; surely there were private words to be exchanged.

"Yaoyao, are your studies keeping you busy?" Gu Pengzhan settled onto the sofa and asked casually.

"Not too bad, Daddy. You know I'm not the bookworm type. Studying with Xiaoshu, there's no pressure at all — it's just that lately there have been a few more exercises to work through..." Gu Mengyao was clever to begin with, and so was Shen Yushu; between them, the two had breezed through most of their senior year.

"That's good. Whatever university you want to attend, the family could pay your way in — but getting in on your own merit means something different," Gu Pengzhan said with a nod.

"Mm, I know. I don't want to lean on the family and have people look down on me." At this, Gu Mengyao was rather proud.

From this one could see that the Young Miss's character was sound. A little proud, perhaps, but altogether different from those spoiled rich brats. Some second-generation rich kids were desperate for everyone to know how wealthy and powerful their families were; when they failed the college entrance exams and bought their way in, they were not ashamed but proud, boasting to anyone who would listen about how formidable their family was.

"By the way, how is Wei Zhao? With him at your side, keeping you company at school and in life — are you more or less satisfied?" Gu Pengzhan asked offhandedly.

"Ah... Wei Zhao..." The mere mention of Wei Zhao set Gu Mengyao's teeth grinding. "Daddy, that man is simply hateful!"

"Hateful? How so?" Gu Pengzhan was taken aback.

"He... he... he philanders! He was supposed to be my attendant, always at my side, and yet he went and found himself a girlfriend at school, stirring up a storm all over campus..." Gu Mengyao said resentfully. "A man like that is utterly unfit to be an attendant — his private life is a mess! And just now, he went off to avenge his girlfriend. An attendant who disobeys orders is simply beyond the pale!"

"Oh? As hateful as that!" Gu Pengzhan shook his head mightily. "It seems this Wei Zhao really is a despicable fellow!"

"Exactly, Daddy, you think so too?" Hearing her father take her side, Gu Mengyao was delighted.

"Mm, indeed!" Gu Pengzhan nodded, then said with great solemnity, "In that case, I'll go fire him right now. How could I leave a despicable man like that here and rest easy? I'll go at once. Yaoyao, you wait here for Daddy!"

With that, Gu Pengzhan rose to his feet and turned toward the door.

"Uh..." Gu Mengyao was startled. Fire Wei Zhao? She had never wanted Wei Zhao fired! She had only been complaining to Daddy so that he would put some pressure on Wei Zhao and make him stop philandering in future — there was no need to drive him off outright! At that thought, Gu Mengyao instinctively rose and blocked her father's way. "No!"

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