Chapter 600 — Keeping Him for Xiaoshu's Sake

"Uh... because... because... because... right, that's it — it can't be easy for Wei Zhao to find work, can it? Maybe I should just put up with him for a while..." Gu Mengyao's mind raced, and she seized on a reason. Yes — she pitied Wei Zhao, and that was why she did not want him dismissed!

"That doesn't seem quite right, does it? I don't want my daughter suffering any indignity." Gu Pengzhan waved a hand. "Besides, plenty of people seem to want Wei Zhao. I had a hard enough time hiring him in the first place. It's fine — no need to worry about him. I'll go dismiss him now, and tomorrow I'll find you a new attendant!"

"Then... then no, that won't do either!" Gu Mengyao was growing anxious.

"Won't do either? And why is that?" Gu Pengzhan looked at his daughter in puzzlement.

"Uh... because... because... because... right, that's it — Wei Zhao may be rather hateful, but Xiaoshu and I have gotten to know him, more or less!" Gu Mengyao had finally hit on a reason. "Daddy, you know I don't much like strangers coming into the house. It's very hard for me to accept a stranger! And Wei Zhao keeps his hands clean — he won't steal anything! If we switched to someone whose background we know nothing about, I wouldn't feel safe either!"

"Heh heh, Yaoyao, that worry of yours isn't entirely without merit!" Gu Pengzhan said with a chuckle. "But never mind — I've already thought of the perfect candidate. Uncle Qing has a junior fellow disciple who used to serve as a bodyguard for others too, but his employer went abroad, so he has nothing to do now. Uncle Qing has introduced him to come work for me. This man is reliable! There won't be any problem!"

"Is that so... but that won't do either, will it?" Gu Mengyao said instinctively.

"And how is that no good?" Gu Pengzhan asked.

"Uh... because... because... because... right, didn't I just say? This man may be thoroughly known to us, but I'm terribly averse to strangers. When Wei Zhao first came, it took me quite a while to get used to him! If we suddenly switched people, I wouldn't be accustomed to it — and what if it affected my studies?" Gu Mengyao said.

"You needn't worry about that! Aren't you familiar with Uncle Qing? Let Uncle Qing protect you, and his junior fellow disciple protect me!" Gu Pengzhan laughed. "You're surely familiar with Uncle Qing, aren't you? You won't be averse to him, will you? He watched you grow up, after all!"

"Uh... Uncle Qing..." In her heart, Gu Mengyao also felt Uncle Qing was acceptable, but for some reason she simply did not want Wei Zhao to leave, so she said, "I think... let's just keep Wei Zhao!"

"Oh? Why still him? And why is that? Didn't you say he was thoroughly hateful?" Gu Pengzhan was all the more bewildered.

"Oh! Actually... actually... actually it's because... Xiaoshu has a secret crush on Wei Zhao! If Wei Zhao left, Xiaoshu would surely be heartbroken!" Gu Mengyao thought: there it was — the reason she had never wanted Wei Zhao to leave was that wretch Shen Yushu. She had a secret crush on Wei Zhao; it was no secret at all.

"Ga?" Gu Pengzhan's eyes went wide. He had anticipated a few possible reasons, but never in his wildest dreams had he expected Gu Mengyao to come up with this one! Xiaoshu had a secret crush on Wei Zhao? How was it Xiaoshu? Wasn't it Yaoyao?

A father knows his daughter best. Gu Pengzhan had watched Gu Mengyao grow up, and he had taken note of the changes in her and her attitude toward Wei Zhao. Instinct told him his daughter had probably fallen for Wei Zhao, yet he was not entirely certain, so he had chosen to have a private heart-to-heart with her alone, to see what she was really thinking.

To begin with, dismissing Wei Zhao had been nothing more than a pretext to probe his daughter's feelings, but Gu Mengyao's reasons had grown more plausible one after another, and in the end she had even dragged Shen Yushu into it. Gu Pengzhan was left somewhat dizzy.

"Xiaoshu has a secret crush on Wei Zhao? Doesn't Wei Zhao already have a girlfriend?" Gu Pengzhan asked tentatively.

"Well... yes, that's just it — that's why Wei Zhao is so hateful! He already has such a pretty girl as Xiaoshu in the house, and still he goes out philandering!" Gu Mengyao said, thoroughly convinced. "Daddy, wouldn't you say he's simply dreadful?"

"Mmm... now that you mention it." Gu Pengzhan could not help but find it rather amusing. So this was the real reason his daughter called Wei Zhao hateful, was it?

"So you see, for Xiaoshu's sake, I'll just put up with it — better not to dismiss him after all," Gu Mengyao said.

"But Wei Zhao already has a girlfriend — what's to become of Xiaoshu?" Gu Pengzhan asked, somewhat puzzled. In truth, he also wanted to see where his daughter stood.

"Her? She spends all day dreaming of being someone's mistress, so it probably won't be much of a problem!" Gu Mengyao said.

"Mistress?" Gu Pengzhan shook his head. "Is that true or not?"

"Who knows? She's flighty and wild all day long — I can't tell if it's true or not." Gu Mengyao shook her head. "Daddy, you just leave this matter alone and let Xiaoshu handle it herself, all right?"

"All right, then I'll leave it alone!" Gu Pengzhan smiled and rose to his feet. "Well, it's quite late. I'll be off. You two get to bed early! Tomorrow may be the weekend, but you still can't stay up all night!"

"Mm..." Gu Mengyao sighed with relief. He would not be dismissing Wei Zhao after all.

Though tomorrow was the weekend, Gu Pengzhan still had work to attend to, so he departed first with Uncle Qing. Wei Zhao had just finished clearing the table and settled into a moment's leisure when his phone rang.

Wei Zhao took out his phone and glanced at the screen — it was Tang Zhi calling.

"Hello, Tang Zhi." Wei Zhao picked up. "You're back at the hospital?"

"Mm, just got here not long ago. Mom made me eat something first, and now she's gone to keep Dad company, so I'm only just calling you." Tang Zhi's voice was very gentle, like a young wife pining for her husband.

"Heh, I'll come see you tomorrow. That wound on your head should be almost healed by now," Wei Zhao said with a laugh.

"Mm..." Tang Zhi touched her forehead. Sure enough, it didn't hurt at all anymore — it seemed the remedy had already taken effect.

"It's so late, why aren't you resting yet? Is there something you wanted to call about?" Wei Zhao asked with some puzzlement. Ordinarily, if there was nothing pressing, Tang Zhi would not initiate a call on her own.

"You... are you at Gu Mengyao's house?" Tang Zhi hesitated a moment before asking.

"Yes, I'm here," Wei Zhao said plainly, making no attempt to hide it.

"Oh..." Tang Zhi had in truth already known Wei Zhao must be at Gu Mengyao's house, but she could not help wanting to confirm it for herself.

"Don't worry — I'm staying downstairs. They're upstairs," Wei Zhao reassured her.