254: Chapter 254 Strike First

Gu Mingming kept his mouth shut while inwardly complaining.

It wasn't that he didn't want to report the matter; it was because he knew complaining would be useless.

Gu Hui would not help him; on the contrary, he would look down on him for being weak, thinking that at his age, he still needed an elder to stand up for him.

Just as he thought, Gu Hui actually thought that way.

He knew Gu Xuantian had been secretly ostracizing Gu Mingming, and he knew everyone in the company was doing the same. He was aware of everything, but he simply didn't want to intervene.

In his view, the business world was a place where the strong preyed on the weak.

Only those with sufficient strength could survive in the commercial arena.

If Gu Mingming lacked the ability to extricate himself from this predicament, then he was unqualified to inherit the company.

Seeing that Gu Mingming hadn't tried to evoke pity from him, Gu Hui's impression of Gu Mingming improved significantly.

"Alright, since you don't want to talk, I won't force you. If there's nothing else, you can go back now."

Gu Mingming nodded and asked, "Then do you need me to take you back?"

Gu Hui shook his head.

"No need. The driver has been called by my secretary. You can go back by yourself."

Speak of the devil, just as he mentioned the driver, the car arrived.

Seeing that the driver was there, Gu Hui directly got into the car and sped away, leaving Gu Mingming alone on the spot.

It was autumn now.

The evening breeze wasn't cold; instead, it felt somewhat cool.

Gu Mingming clenched his coat, a flash of unwillingness crossing his eyes.

He was also a child of the Gu family, so why did Gu Xuantian get everything he wanted while he was constantly being ostracized?

Was it just because he was an illegitimate son?!

No! He was unwilling!

The right to inherit the Gu Corporation was within reach.

He didn't want to miss it, nor could he afford to miss it.

From the earlier dinner, it was clear that Gu Hui was interested in Shen Yan.

Although he didn't know why Gu Hui was interested in Shen Yan, he wouldn't let this opportunity slip by.

As long as Shen Yan could persuade Gu Hui to increase his investment in him, his chances of winning would be much greater.

Thinking this, Gu Mingming took out his phone and sent a message to Shen Yan.

["Mr. Shen, are you free tomorrow? Can we meet again? Just the two of us."]

When Shen Yan received this message, he was in a car.

Because his car was still being repaired after being sent for maintenance, his travel hadn't been very convenient these past two days, forcing him to take taxis.

Just as he was about to reply to Gu Mingming, his phone received another message.

["Mr. Shen, are you available tomorrow? If so, shall we go out for a meal together?"]

This message was from Gu Hui.

Shen Yan narrowed his eyes as he looked at the two messages.

For a moment, he wasn't sure which one he should reply to first.

After some thought, he replied to Gu Hui first.

["I am free. Just send me the time and location for tomorrow."]

After sending the reply to Gu Hui, he opened Gu Mingming's chat window and replied:

["I'm sorry, I have plans tomorrow. Maybe another day."]

Gu Mingming hadn't expected Shen Yan to decline his invitation. He pursed his lips slightly and, unwilling to give up, sent another message.

["How about the day after tomorrow? Are you free then?"]

Shen Yan hadn't expected Gu Mingming to be so persistent about meeting him alone.

He frowned, his fingers hesitating for a few seconds. Finally, he typed his reply in the chat box.

["Yes, that works. Just send me the time and location then."]

After sending the reply, he turned off his phone and rested in the back seat.

...

Meanwhile, on the other side.

Wu Ya was having a meal with Shen Ya.

Since it was the first time the two of them had met, both felt a bit reserved.

Wu Ya hadn't forgotten the purpose of meeting Shen Ya today. She cleared her throat and asked Shen Ya, "Xiao Ya, how have you been recently?"

Hearing Wu Ya's question, Xiao Ya looked up and raised her eyebrows slightly.

"Did you ask me out just to ask how I've been recently?"

As soon as she finished speaking, Wu Ya instantly became nervous.

"I—I didn't mean anything else. I just wanted to ask if you’ve been doing well..."

Seeing her voice trail off, Shen Ya let out a chuckle.

"Why do you look like you have a guilty conscience? I didn't say you couldn't ask."

"Don't worry, I won't treat you the way I treat my brother. I'm just very curious what the person cooperating with him looks like and what kind of personality she has."

Wu Ya blinked, lowering her head somewhat shyly.

"I look average, and my personality is average too..."

Hearing this, Shen Ya quickly shook her head.

"If you look average, then eighty percent of the people on earth would be doomed."

Wu Ya's face turned even redder from Shen Ya's compliment. She nervously touched her nose and said to Shen Ya, "What you said is too exaggerated. I'm not as good-looking as you, nor am I..."

She paused unconsciously after saying that.

"...as good-looking as Sister Hui."

Shen Ya's eyes widened slightly.

"You know A Hui?"

Wu Ya nodded frankly.

"Yes, we've even met."

"Oh, right, you still haven't answered my question. How have you been recently?"

Shen Ya replied with a smile, "How else could I be? Just the usual. I was fired by the company these past two days, so my mood isn't great."

As she spoke, Wu Ya pursed her lips.

"You should know that your brother sent me to chat with you, right?"

Shen Ya nodded.

"Of course, I know. Otherwise, he wouldn't have actively asked me if I wanted to meet you. Go ahead, what do you want to talk about with me?"

Wu Ya thought for a moment, then replied to Shen Ya, "Actually, I just wanted to ask you why you refuse to accept your brother's help?"

Shen Ya fell silent.

She didn't know how to explain, nor did she know where to begin.

Honestly, she felt she was being overly dramatic. Her brother was genuinely trying to help her, yet she always misunderstood his intentions, arguing with him and hurting his feelings.

Seeing her remain silent, Wu Ya pondered for a while before asking Shen Ya, "Are you worried about becoming a burden to your brother?"

Shen Ya: "!!! How did you know?!"

Wu Ya smiled, revealing a few of her white teeth.

"Because I used to have the same thought as you, feeling like I was incapable of anything, particularly awful, and would become a burden to someone."

"Actually... it's very simple to adjust. You just need to accept your own imperfections."

Shen Ya frowned slightly in confusion.

"Accept my imperfections?"

"Does that mean I should accept that I'm incapable and just lie around at home?"

Wu Ya shook her head decisively.

"That's not what I mean, of course. What I mean is, the more dissatisfied you are with something about yourself, the more you need to reconcile with that area you are unhappy about."

"You need to know that in your brother's eyes, you are never a burden to him. You are his family, and the only family he has in this world."