Chapter 198

Qiao Suisui was a bit surprised. "Teacher Guan still remembers this?"

Guan Weizhi looked at her surprised expression and didn't say anything. Actually, it was more than just remembering.

He also knew why Father Qiao's company was not doing well.

Previously, he had given Father Qiao some benefits through his connections, but over time, that man started to become somewhat inflated, and he was negligent in maintaining relationships with clients, thinking it was because he himself was capable that clients were fawning over him, not knowing that without Guan Weizhi, those people would treat him like nothing.

Guan Weizhi knew a bit about Qiao Suisui's situation in that home. Her mother remarried with her and her younger brother, feeling that her condition of "one dragging two" was inferior, so she was submissive to Father Qiao in everything. After marriage, she poured all her efforts into helping Father Qiao's career. It had to be said that this woman did have some ability; in the old society, she would have been a hero among women. In five years, she had managed to help him turn a small workshop of twenty or thirty people into a startup company of over two hundred.

But people cannot earn money beyond their cognition.

The couple's mindset of small-scale business was simply not enough to look at now. They had no basic business thinking, practiced nepotism, didn't know how to manage, and squeezed out truly professional talents, leaving behind a bunch of workplace slackers who didn't do any real work. So the faster they expanded, the faster they died. Now, the couple's company didn't have two cents in the account, yet they were still putting on airs when they went out. They didn't even reach the level of *nouveau riche*, let alone having any foundation.

When poor people start a business, they only get poorer.

That day, when he asked Qiao Suisui for her father's company address, he was actually asking something he already knew. Guan Weizhi felt that the young girl was too embarrassed to open her mouth to him directly and was using that method to advance by retreating.

Since he was a child, countless people had wanted to take advantage of him or climb the social ladder through him. At first, he would feel annoyed by this, but later he could evaluate who was useful to him and how much cost needed to be paid to get how much return without any emotion... Now, this had become an internalized way of thinking.

To be honest, he had an average impression of the couple, feeling that their family was like leeches that couldn't be shaken off once they latched on. If it weren't for his worry that Qiao Suisui would go hungry or thirsty, he wouldn't bother with such people at all. This was also why he hadn't used his own identity in the several times he had taken action, but had gone through two or three degrees of separation. He didn't want to get involved with such a family.

Although he did want Qiao Suisui to be his lover, it didn't mean he would tolerate her family without a bottom line.

So when he heard Qiao Suisui mention on the phone that the Qiao family wanted to get involved and have dinner with him, there was a moment of listlessness, but he quickly adjusted. If helping her this time could make her trust him, it would be conducive to the development of their relationship.

Guan Weizhi lifted his eyelids and said emotionlessly: "You didn't send me your father's company name last time, but I've already found out. Don't worry too much, I'll find someone to solve his funding... this week."

"Teacher Guan."

Before he could finish his sentence, he was directly interrupted by Qiao Suisui.

"Thank you for wanting to help our family, but I don't want you to intervene."

These words were crisp and neat, yet very polite. Guan Weizhi revealed a hint of surprise in his eyes upon hearing this. He frowned slightly, seeing the young girl in front of him with a calm expression, very frank.

Guan Weizhi suddenly found that he couldn't understand what she was thinking now.

Qiao Suisui's tone was gentle, but every word was full of certainty, leaving no room for ambiguity: "They will handle their own affairs. If the company really collapses in the end, that is the result they have to bear. I have my own things to do. Teacher Guan, let's end this matter here. Don't mention it again in the future. Thank you for your kindness, I'll take it to heart."

A set of words, decent and generous, brooking no argument, left Guan Weizhi stunned on the spot.

He suddenly felt that he had been pushed very far away by Qiao Suisui. It was as if they were truly just a distant student and teacher, with no other possibilities.

The man lowered his eyes, feeling a dry mouth, a complex astringency surging in his throat.

After a long while, he looked up at her and asked: "Are you angry?" Qiao Suisui was startled. "No."

"You don't like me managing your family's affairs?"

She sat up straight and smiled: "I just don't want to make the relationship between people complicated. You are my teacher; you have no obligation to worry about my private affairs. I have always been grateful that you stood up when no one spoke for me. I respect you very much, Teacher Guan."

After finishing, she saw Guan Weizhi's complexion become somewhat ugly. She blinked and asked: "Teacher Guan, what's wrong with you?"

Guan Weizhi's judgment had failed for the first time. At this moment, he was truly certain that Qiao Suisui had never wanted him to manage her parents' mess from beginning to end; it was his own overactive imagination. What surprised him even more was that the identity of a teacher had ended up becoming an obstacle. At this moment, he was truly "a mute eating coptis"—suffering in silence—and had to say nonchalantly: "Nothing, eat."

For the rest of the time, Qiao Suisui focused on eating sashimi. Guan Weizhi was depressed inside and called someone to open a bottle of Juyondai.

Fortunately, Qiao Suisui didn't recognize this wine, otherwise, she would have fainted on the spot. Not to mention that the price of this bottle of wine was in the five digits, just the fact that this brand was rarely tasted by anyone on the market.

After she had a full meal, she planned to go pay the bill quietly. The kimono-clad woman smiled with a strange look in her eyes: "Didn't Mr. Guan tell you? He owns this place. When the boss brings a friend to eat, how could there be any reason for you to pay?"

This shop was just one of Guan Weizhi's many investments. He usually didn't think of it and only came once or twice a year.

Qiao Suisui refreshed her understanding of Guan Weizhi once again.

The kimono-clad woman kindly sent the two to the door. Before leaving, she even handed Qiao Suisui a carved gilded wooden box, which contained some Japanese-style snacks, each small and exquisite, with cute shapes.

"Miss Qiao, come often if you like."

Qiao Suisui hurriedly thanked her. Guan Weizhi saw her flushed little face because of the surprise, curled his lips in satisfaction, nodded to the kimono-clad woman, then took the things from Qiao Suisui's hand and turned to leave with her.

The kimono-clad woman kept bowing and smiling until she couldn't see their figures anymore, then she let out a sigh of relief. She clenched her fist and shouted "Yoshi," "The bonus for this month is here, I'm worthy of myself!"

Because Guan Weizhi had drunk alcohol, he called Old Tang to pick them up. Qiao Suisui followed him into a black Maybach, always feeling like she had seen this car somewhere, but couldn't remember.

At this time, the man was leaning beside her with his two long legs spread out. He used his hand to undo two buttons of his shirt, moved his neck, and stared at Qiao Suisui with a scorching gaze.

The young girl sat quietly and obediently in the back seat. Today she wore a simple-styled dress with a very soft texture, her long hair casually pulled behind her head, a few stray hairs falling on her snow-white back of the neck. Guan Weizhi, as if possessed, pinched her back of the neck with his hand. Qiao Suisui was startled and moved a bit further away from him.

"Teacher Guan?"

"You have something here."

"What is it?" She reached out to touch it, but touched the man's fingertips that he hadn't retracted yet.

(End of chapter)