Chapter 542 — The Live-In Son-in-Law
The Blossom Guardian · Page 2 of 2
Gu Pengzhan had been in a meeting, but upon hearing that something had happened to his daughter, he had no heart left for it. He hastily wrapped up the meeting and returned to his office.
Deep down, Gu Pengzhan did not much believe Zhong Yongliang's words. If his daughter could have taken a fancy to Zhong Yongliang, she would surely have done so long ago; there was no reason she would wait until now. And Zhong Yongliang's claim that Gu Mengyao had agreed to be his girlfriend was sheer nonsense.
What puzzled Gu Pengzhan, though, was how Qing Bo could possibly be going along with Zhong Yongliang's farce. That left perhaps only one explanation: his daughter had gone missing. Qing Bo had gone to the school to pick her up after class, and he must have failed to find her and instead run into Zhong Yongliang.
With that thought, Gu Pengzhan first called Gu Mengyao and then Shen Yushu. When both calls went straight to a switched-off message, Gu Pengzhan's earlier conjecture was confirmed.
After the upheavals at the company this time, Gu Pengzhan was somewhat more composed than before. Anxious as he was inside, he did not let it show. He sat quietly at his desk and waited for Zhong Yongliang to arrive.
After roughly half an hour, Qing Bo brought Zhong Yongliang to Gu Pengzhan's office.
"Uncle Chu, hello!" Zhong Yongliang had seen to every courtesy, bowing directly to Gu Pengzhan like a son-in-law arriving at the family door.
"Zhong Yongliang. Sit." Gu Pengzhan gestured faintly for him to take a seat, then said to Qing Bo, "Pour some tea."
"How could I trouble Qing Bo? I can do it myself!" Zhong Yongliang was elated. Could it be that Gu Pengzhan meant to accept him? Otherwise, what was Qing Bo's standing? How could he be made to pour tea for him in person? Zhong Yongliang had of course learned Qing Bo's position through his uncle: a man second only to one in the whole company, a mere driver on paper, yet Gu Pengzhan's trusted right hand. What ordinary employee would dare ask Qing Bo to pour tea? Qing Bo served only Gu Pengzhan and Gu Mengyao!
And now Gu Pengzhan had told Qing Bo to pour tea for him -- did that not mean he too had won Gu Pengzhan's approval, that he was as good as his son-in-law? Zhong Yongliang thought exultantly. He had not even said a word yet, and already the man believed in him?
He was still rejoicing when he heard Gu Pengzhan say coldly, "You kidnapped my daughter?"
"Huh?" Zhong Yongliang had been about to take the cup of tea Qing Bo offered him, and the shock made him jump; the cup slipped from his hand and shattered on the floor with a crisp crack. "Uncle Chu... you must not say such things. I... how could I possibly do anything criminal?"
"Is that so? Then where is my daughter?" Gu Pengzhan's gaze fixed on Zhong Yongliang, cold and sharp, and Zhong Yongliang gave a violent start, as though those eyes could pierce straight into his soul and force his head down, so that he dared not meet them.