bookrandom Chapter 157 The appraisal report is out.
Chapter 157 The appraisal report is out.
Gu Huaizhou bowed to the two elders with the courtesy due to a junior, "Fifth Grandpa, Grandma Zhou, it's been many years. Do you still recognize Huaizhou?"
The last time Gu Huaizhou saw the Fifth Master couple was three years ago at his grandmother Chu Qingying's funeral.
Three years have passed since Gu Huaizhou last met, and he has changed a lot.
The gloomy and taciturn young man of the past has now transformed into a dashing young nobleman.
Fifth Jue looked at Gu Huaizhou with a mixture of surprise and delight, "It really is Huaizhou..."
"When your grandfather mentioned you on the phone that day, he couldn't hide his joy, saying that you had become much more stable recently and had even found a girlfriend."
"Now it seems that the old man wasn't bragging."
Seeing that Gu Huaizhou's condition had improved, Fifth Jue was genuinely happy for him.
"Your grandfather can rest easy now that you're getting better."
Noticing the young and pretty girl standing next to Gu Huaizhou, Fifth Jue asked Gu Huaizhou, "Is this girl your girlfriend?"
Gu Huaizhou held Li Xi's hand and said firmly, "This is the person I love. Her name is Li Xi."
Li Xi stood quietly and obediently beside Gu Huaizhou, raising her head and letting the two elderly people scrutinize her carefully.
Fifth Jue smiled faintly and praised Li Xi: "When that old guy Gu Wentao mentioned you to me, he was full of praise, saying that Huaizhou's girlfriend is young, courageous, smart and talented."
"Upon inspection, it was indeed the case."
The fifth one has a rather aloof personality. In his youth, he was a ruthless and taciturn individual, but now that he's older, he's become more kind.
He rarely praised a young girl like Li Xi with such a kind and gentle tone.
Li Xi blushed slightly, feeling a little embarrassed by the praise.
Ms. Zhou Zhiwei looked at Li Xi with a strange expression and couldn't help but ask curiously, "Li Xi, how old are you this year?"
As an elder, Zhou Zhiwei's question was not abrupt or presumptuous, and Li Xi replied softly, "She'll be 23 soon."
Zhou Zhiwei nodded, seemingly lost in thought, and said, "You really are young." Changing the subject, Zhou Zhiwei asked Gu Huaizhou, "Huaizhou, aren't you almost 30?"
Gu Huaizhou: "...Grandma Zhou, you're mistaken. I just turned 28 a few days ago, I'm still a little short of 30."
Ms. Zhou Zhiwei chuckled, "You're still five or six years older than this little girl. You're older, so you should pamper and cherish her, understand?"
Gu Huaizhou nodded in understanding, "Grandma Zhou is right, I will take good care of her."
Fifth Jue urged, "Let's go see the peach blossoms."
"Grandma Zhou, let me hold your hand." Gu Huaizhou stepped forward and helped Ms. Zhou along with Jiang Xinghe.
Li Xi then consciously followed behind the Fifth Master.
She noticed that the metal cane that Fifth Master was holding in his right hand had a unique design, and it was clear that it contained some kind of secret.
Considering that the Fifth Family was in the arms business, Li Xi suspected that the cane might be a weapon.
Will it deform?
The Fifth Master noticed the little girl's little movements out of the corner of his eye, and he reminded Li Xi with a half-smile: "Little girl, no one dares to stare at my cane like that."
Li Xi quickly looked away and pretended to be well-behaved.
Fifth Jue raised an eyebrow, thinking to himself: quirky and clever.
As a complete novice, she could see the hidden meaning in his walking stick at a glance; this little girl has a very sharp eye.
The group, each with their own thoughts, arrived on the island and, led by the staff, boarded a sightseeing bus to enjoy the flowers.
Ms. Zhou is getting old and her eyesight is failing, so she has to wear glasses to appreciate the flowers.
With his glasses on, his scholarly demeanor became even more pronounced.
Li Xi secretly asked Gu Huaizhou, "What did Ms. Zhou do when she was young?"
"Guess?" Gu Huaizhou deliberately kept everyone in suspense.
Many thoughts flashed through Li Xi's mind, and she said uncertainly, "Could it be a professor who does research?"
"You guessed half right. Now guess what kind of research she does?"
Li Xi couldn't have guessed that.
"She designs cold weapons, and is especially skilled in mechanical design."
Hey!
Li Xi's mouth was wide open.
"Wow, she's amazing! I thought she was a writer like your grandma."
Gu Huaizhou tapped Li Xi's nose and laughed at her, "A writer would marry an arms dealer?"
"That's true."
After admiring the peach blossoms for more than two hours, Li Xi finally picked out her favorite peach tree, choosing one that grew next to a stubborn rock.
The tree was rather short, but its trunk was exceptionally thick and sturdy, clearly indicating that it was very moist.
Li Xi pointed to the small peach tree, "I want that tree."
At the same time, Ms. Zhou's voice came from behind: "I want that tree."
Everyone looked in the direction Ms. Zhou pointed and found that what she wanted was the same tree that Li Xi wanted.
"..."
Without the slightest hesitation, Li Xi pointed to the slender peach tree next to the short peach tree and said, "I want that one."
Coincidentally, Ms. Zhou Zhiwei also made the same choice.
The two of them took a liking to the same tree again.
At this, both Fifth Master and Gu Huaizhou couldn't help but laugh.
"What kind of fate brings you two together?"
Ms. Zhou Zhiwei smiled gently, looked lovingly at Li Xi, whose face was flushed, and asked her, "Li Xi, which one do you want? You can choose first."
How could Li Xi possibly compete with Ms. Zhou Zhiwei for her love? She said innocently, "Then I'll take the tree with the most abundant blossoms."
This time, Li Xi chose the peach tree behind the short peach tree that had the most vibrant blossoms.
Zhou Zhiwei said to the staff around her, "Give that short peach tree to Miss Li Xi, and I want the thin peach tree next to it."
Just as Li Xi was about to politely decline, Zhou Zhiwei waved her hand, came to Li Xi's side, and whispered, "That tree is the thinnest and smallest; it probably won't bear fruit until next year."
"I hope that my old man can eat its fruit for me next year."
Li Xi's beautiful eyes widened slightly.
The old lady meant that she was seriously ill and didn't have much time left, and that she probably wouldn't live past next year. She chose that slender peach tree in the hope that the old man could continue to live with hope.
"Little girl."
Zhou Zhiwei gently patted Li Xi's arm and said, "When the peaches ripen next year, can you pick a few for me and send some to my old man to try, okay?"
Li Xi clenched her fists silently, nodded, and said solemnly, "Ms. Zhou, I will."
"Good boy."
Zhou Zhiwei stared into Li Xi's beautiful starry eyes, and for some reason, her heart suddenly fluttered.
She couldn't help but ask Li Xi, "Child, do you look more like your mother or your father?"
This is a rather strange question.
Li Xi shook his head and said, "I don't know."
do not know?
Guessing that Li Xi's background might be somewhat difficult, Zhou Zhiwei asked indirectly, "Have you never met your parents?"
“I’ve never seen them.” Li Xi had long accepted her background and spoke of it calmly. “I was an abandoned child and didn’t have the fortune to see what they looked like.”
Upon hearing this, Zhou Zhiwei couldn't help but feel sorry for him.
"Things will eventually turn out well."
It sounds nice, but how much suffering must one endure before tasting even a little bit of sweetness in order to truly understand the phrase "after hardship comes happiness"?
*
The island's owner had built a resort on it, and Li Xi and his group were invited to the resort to meet the island's owner—
Jun Xiuchen, Chairman of Cangzhou Group, and his wife, Ms. Ruan Qingcheng.
Mr. Jun was just over forty years old, tall and imposing, wearing a smoky gray overcoat that exuded maturity and refinement. Yet, his manner of speaking and laughing carried a sinister air, giving off a sense of unfathomable danger, as if he were both righteous and wicked.
Unlike him, his wife, Ms. Ruan Qingcheng, was a bright and beautiful woman who dressed elegantly.
Ms. Ruan wore a peach-pink off-shoulder dress, the fitted style of which accentuated her charm.
Her beauty is flamboyant and unrestrained, warm and bright, yet in no way vulgar.
Li Xi rarely saw a woman who could wear a peach-colored dress as beautifully and brilliantly as she did.
Gu Huaizhou whispered in Li Xi's ear, "Mr. Jun and my brother are close friends, but my relationship with him is just so-so."
"But let me warn you, his wife is not someone to be trifled with."
Recalling the story of Mr. Jun's wife, Gu Huaizhou felt quite apprehensive.
He spoke earnestly, "This Ms. Ruan used to be known for her violent temper. She hit a scumbag with her car, went to jail, and didn't change her ways after her release. She even assaulted and broke the ankle of a district chief's son..."
"In short, she was a ruthless woman."
Li Xi was stunned.
"Is she so powerful?"
How could a woman with a fiery temper, a criminal record, and a history of violence and imprisonment become the matriarch of the most prestigious family in Nanzhou City?
"She is indeed remarkable, and her family background is also very impressive."
"How awesome?"
"Her mother is the wife of the former Foreign Minister, Yin Ting, and her cousin is the president."
"..."
That's quite an impressive background.
The young couple were whispering to each other when they looked up and saw the person in question standing right in front of them.
Speaking ill of someone's lover in front of them made even Gu Huaizhou feel a little embarrassed. "Brother Jun, Sister Ruan, it's been a long time."
Jun Xiuchen smiled knowingly, deliberately trying to bluff Gu Huaizhou: "You look so guilty, were you talking bad about me to your girlfriend just now?"
Gu Huaizhou shook his head. "No."
Ruan Qingcheng deliberately dragged out her words, teasing him: "So you're talking badly about me?"
Gu Huaizhou was somewhat at a loss, and gave a dry explanation: "...No."
Nodding, Ruan Qingcheng said, "It seems they're talking badly about me."
Ruan Qingcheng looked at Li Xi and said with a smile, "Little girl, tell me, what bad things did Huaizhou say about me to you just now?"
"..."
Without blinking, Li Xi calmly said, "Huaizhou said that Ms. Ruan has a fiery temper, is upright and incorruptible, and is a woman who cannot tolerate any injustice and has a clear sense of right and wrong."
"He reminded me to speak properly when I see you, and not to act like a 'pure and innocent' or 'green tea' type."
"If anyone dares to try to outsmart you, they'll get a really bad beating."
"Pfft!" Ruan Qingcheng rarely smiled. She gently nudged her husband's arm and pointed at Li Xi, laughing, "Xiuchen, listen to how well this little girl speaks."
Jun Xiuchen smiled enigmatically.
Ruan Qingcheng shook her head and said to Gu Huaizhou, "I bet what you said just now was that I'm a fierce and ruthless person who broke the legs of some bastards before, and that you were warning your girlfriend not to mess with me."
Gu Huaizhou: "..."
Li Xi thought to himself: This woman is truly a prophet.
Gu Huaizhou was completely numb and didn't know how to explain it.
Ruan Qingcheng didn't mind Gu Huaizhou saying those things about her. She told Li Xi, "Huaizhou wasn't lying. I did those things. They're all in my past. There's nothing I'm afraid to admit."
Li Xi liked Ms. Ruan's temperament very much, and guessed that Ms. Ruan's sensational deeds must have been a counterattack after being wronged.
In Dongzhou City, wasn't Li Xi also infamous in her previous life?
Everyone says she's lazy, promiscuous, and vain.
But only she knows the truth.
In this life, she brought down the Xie family. Even uninformed outsiders said she was heartless and an ungrateful wretch.
In this life, it's enough to have a clear conscience.
Ruan Qingcheng clearly admired Li Xi as well. She said to Gu Huaizhou, "Huaizhou, this girl is quite protective of you. She has good taste."
Seeing that Ruan Qingcheng was finally willing to let him go, Gu Huaizhou secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
"Huaizhou." Jun Xiuchen clinked glasses with Gu Huaizhou before asking, "Uncle Gu, how have you been lately?"
"Thank you for your concern. Grandpa is in good spirits."
Nodding, Jun Xiuchen carefully examined Gu Huaizhou. After a long while, he said, "You look alright too. It seems you've finally accepted the truth."
Gu Huaizhou smiled bitterly, "I can only accept the facts."
Thinking about what had happened to Gu Huai'an, Jun Xiuchen fell silent for a moment.
"You've never been interested in these kinds of events before, so why are you interested in attending your sister Ruan's peach blossom banquet today?"
"Or do you need our help?"
Gu Huaizhou's eyes darkened. "Nothing can be hidden from Brother Jun."
"To be honest, I do want to ask Brother Jun for a favor."
"Oh? What do you need me to do for you? Tell me." Jun Xiuchen did not agree rashly.
Gu Huaizhou hesitated for a moment before asking, "Brother Jun, do you know Feng Qing?"
Jun Xiuchen frowned slightly, his gaze towards Gu Huaizhou filled with vigilance. "Why are you inquiring about this person?"
"My people have learned that Feng Qing possesses extraordinary medical skills, especially in brain surgery. However, his whereabouts are a mystery. Some say he has passed away, while others say he has changed his identity and is living a low-profile life..."
“My people investigated for a long time before they got some leads and learned that Brother Jun might know that Dr. Feng Qing.”
After listening, Jun Xiuchen's gaze softened slightly.
But he didn't say a word, and it was unclear what he was thinking.
Ruan Qingcheng asked gently, "What do you want with Feng Qing?"
Gu Huaizhou didn't hide anything and told the truth: "Back then, my mental state was unstable. In order to save my life, my grandfather asked a doctor to perform hypnosis on me."
"But I don't want to run away anymore. I want to ask Dr. Feng Qing to perform the surgery on me. I want to remember everything."
Upon learning that Gu Huaizhou was seeking medical treatment from Feng Qing, Jun Xiuchen's attitude finally softened. "I will pass on your matter to the other party."
"As for whether Dr. Feng Qing is willing to treat you, that's not something I can control."
"Thank you," Gu Huaizhou said. "It would be enough if Brother Jun could pass this message on to Dr. Feng Qing."
Upon hearing this, Li Xi suddenly grabbed Gu Huaizhou's wrist and said, "I need to have surgery too!"
Gu Huaizhou instinctively refused, "No, forcibly restoring memories will definitely cause serious brain damage, the risk is too great, I don't agree to you having this surgery."
"Besides, once I have the surgery, I will be able to remember the killer's appearance completely, so you don't need to take any more risks."
Li Xi thought it made sense and gave up on the idea.
*
After dinner, we took a boat and left Peach Blossom Island. By the time we returned to the dock, it was already dark.
It was almost eight o'clock, so Li Xi suggested that she stay with Jiang Xinghe to wait for the DNA kinship test results.
Gu Huaizhou agreed.
Jiang Xinghe moved closer to Li Xi and gave her a grateful smile, "Sister Xi, you are truly loyal."
"I knew you were panicking." Li Xi stood with Jiang Xinghe and chatted, saying random things to help him distract himself.
Soon, it was eight o'clock.
The Fifth Master's phone also rang.
He answered the phone and put it on speakerphone.
Luo Wen's voice came from the other end of the phone: "Godfather, the DNA kinship test results are in. Jiang Xinghe is not related to you or Godmother."
Jiang Xinghe didn't have high expectations for the family reunion. After hearing the result, he was only momentarily stunned for a few seconds before accepting reality.
Jiang Xinghe took the cigarette out of his mouth and smiled indifferently at Li Xi, "See? I told you reality isn't an idol drama."
Li Xi felt quite regretful, thinking that Jiang Xinghe would have more relatives.
The Fifth Master seemed to have anticipated this outcome. He wasn't too excited and was about to hang up when he suddenly heard Luo Wen say, "However."
Ok?
Is there more to the story?