Chapter 344: Uncle Gu, someone says I look like you

Ke Group conventionally holds the annual shareholders' meeting at the beginning of February each year, and the meeting must be presided over by the chairman in person.

Even though Ke Yue usually stays behind the scenes as a hands-off manager, the annual shareholders' meeting must be attended in person, with no way to get out of it.

Over the years, the meeting procedure has followed the rules; business reports and financial recaps are old hat, with little novelty.

This year is different: the entire meeting's focus centers on the Three-Region Project, and all progress summaries, planning explanations, and shareholder Q&A are handled single-handedly by Ke Zhongyu.

Father and son maintain a rigorous, businesslike attitude—one asks, the other answers.

The whole meeting had a solemn, formal atmosphere; Ke Zhongyu spoke calmly and concisely, with watertight logic, analyzing the project's advantages, risk control, and future profit trajectory with crystal clarity.

His steady, resolute aura, together with indisputable hardcore strength, not only steadies the group's internal morale but also consolidates his core speaking power within the group.

Such a shareholders' meeting also carries a hint of displaying authority, especially at the end, when Ke Zhongyu specifically asks his fourth uncle, Ke Yi, whether he has any questions.

Ke Yi blinked, laughed and said there were none, then went on to praise Ke Zhongyu.

After the meeting adjourned, Ke Zhongyu asked again: "Fourth uncle, has Ke Chi made up his mind?"

Ke Yi: "I've decided—I'll go to Cloud Road, so I won't come to headquarters and cause you trouble."

Ke Zhongyu: "Hmm."

Ke Yi: "I'll go first."

Ke Zhongyu: "Take care."

Seeing Ke Yi off with a group of shareholders, Ke Zhongyu turned to look at his father.

Ke Yue patted his shoulder, said nothing more, but his approval was obvious.

This is a unique yet common way of communication between father and son.

"It's still early, let's have afternoon tea." Ke Yue glanced at his son, "Just in time to wait for your mom to finish."

Ke Zhongyu nodded: "I want to ask Jiang Lai."

Ke Yue: "Ask."

Ke Zhongyu didn't call; he went to the lab to ask Jiang Lai if she was busy, got the reply 'not bad,' and openly took her hand to leave.

Jiang Lai stared, then stared again, somewhat flustered as she looked back at the people in the lab; everyone had their heads down, busy, and nobody noticed her.

It seems she was overreacting.

However, the lab's inner door was still open; the researchers who had just been busy all lifted their heads, some craning their necks to look at the two holding hands.

General Ke and Dr. Jiang are really together.

Before, they thought it was a rumor—just taking a card, the vendor treating the client's dad to a meal is quite normal.

But the rumor spread with vivid details, they were half‑believing, especially since when they met Dr. Jiang and General Ke at the R&D Center, the pair looked no different than before.

At most they walked a bit closer together—actually they used to be close anyway.

Now that they're holding hands, it's confirmed.

Leaving the R&D Center, Jiang Lai called out to Ke Zhongyu, who responded; he not only didn't let go of her hand, but slipped it into his coat pocket.

"My dad invited us for afternoon tea."

Jiang Lai blinked.

The father and son seem hardly suited for a refined afternoon tea.

Wait a moment.

Does Ke Zhongyu mean that his boyfriend's father is inviting her for afternoon tea?

Jiang Lai's steps faltered slightly.

Ke Zhongyu: "Ke Zhongying is also coming."

That's fine.

Jiang Lai resumed her steps.

Ke Zhongyu couldn't help but chuckle: "What are you afraid of?"

Jiang Lai: "Not afraid."

Ke Zhongyu pinched her fingers.

The two arrived at the tea café opposite the Ke Clan Building; Ke Fu was already seated, they sat down less than ten minutes later, and Ke Zhongying also arrived.

Ke Zhongying came up and placed a plush dog charm in front of Jiang Lai.

"The new shop by the school gate—I thought it looked nice, so I bought two; yours is a dog, mine is a cat." She showed off her bag, "Pretty, right?"

Jiang Lai laughed as she took it.

Ke Zhongyu: "Why give A Lai a dog?"

Ke Zhongying: "You two aren't raising two dogs? And you're pretty dog‑like yourself."

Ke Zhongyu: "…"

Jiang Lai actually found it reasonable, put the dog charm away: "Thanks, Zhongying."

"You're welcome, we're a family~" Ke Zhongying drew out the last syllable.

Jiang Lai said: "Remember to organize your robot's data ahead of time; I'm about to finish up here."

Ke Zhongying: "That fast! Did your brother pressure you?"

Ke Fu: "Do you think he dares?"

Ke Zhongying: "Tsk."

The four were sitting when Gu Sen's call came through; shortly after, he arrived.

Seeing this humble, refined elder again, and another elder who somewhat resembles her, Jiang Lai's feelings were complicated, yet she still called out: "Uncle Gu."

Gu Sen gazed at Jiang Lai before him, a hint of complexity flashing in his expression.

Ke Zhongyu asked offhandedly: "Uncle Gu just went back—why are you here again?"

Gu Sen chuckled: "It's about the kids—let everyone laugh at us."

Ke Fu: "It's normal for parents to worry about their children."

Ke Zhongying ate her dessert, glancing left and right, feeling that something was off; when adults spoke, this child wouldn't interrupt.

Jiang Lai lowered her gaze, the spoon lightly poked into the dessert, but she didn't scoop it up to eat.

Ke Zhongyu, who had noticed, was about to speak when someone beat him to it.

Gu Sen asked concernedly, "Not to your taste?"

Faced with the sudden concern, Jiang Lai raised her head and politely said, "No."

Ke Zhongyu eased the tension: "A Lai likes spicy food."

Gu Sen: "People who grew up in G Province all love spicy food; when I first went to G Province I wasn't used to it, but later I gradually came to like it."

Ke Zhongyu: "Since Uncle Gu also likes that place, why not stay there?"

A sentence made Jiang Lai and Ke Yue both look at Gu Sen.

Gu Sen felt the three seemed to know something; he lowered his eyes slightly, took a sip of water, then lifted his gaze to look at them and said, actually addressing Jiang Lai: "Something happened, so I had no choice but to return to B City."

Jiang Lai didn't understand why Gu Sen was looking at her when he spoke—or perhaps she didn't want to understand.

Ke Zhongying interjected: "What's going on? Uncle Gu, I've always been curious—why did you leave politics for business?"

She ate her food with a serious yet innocent expression.

Gu Sen looked at Ke Zhongying, his peripheral vision falling on Jiang Lai; after a moment of silence he said, "I want to try a different path."

"Oh." Ke Zhongying nodded, not asking further.

Ke Zhongyu said meaningfully: "Uncle Gu, the cost of changing paths isn't small, is it?"

Gu Sen's heart gave a jolt.

Nice kid, well prepared.

Have you investigated him?

Shouldn't be; his affairs have been completely covered up.

"There are gains and losses."

Upon hearing those four words, Jiang Lai's hand trembled slightly; she lifted her gaze and said, "Uncle Gu."

Gu Sen looked at Jiang Lai: "You speak."

Jiang Lai's fingers curled slightly as she set down her spoon, then she asked unhurriedly: "Someone said I look a bit like you when you were young; I think it's a coincidence—what do you think?"