Chapter 117 - 116: Telling the Big King from the Small King

Chapter 117: Chapter 116: Telling the Big King from the Small King

The crowd was filled with shock and suspicion, their gazes darting back and forth between Gu Qingyin and Huo Yunjing. ’Is it the person that’s special, or the ghost?’

Gu Qingyin acted as if she hadn’t noticed a thing. She felt the warmth in her Dantian—it was quite comfortable. She patted her stomach, then turned to the Mystic Association elders with a broad smile. "The claiming ceremony is over. Can we go now?"

The elders were reluctant to let them go, but there was nothing they could do. Who could they blame but themselves for not being skilled enough?

"Let’s go." Dongfang Ran was the first to turn and walk out. In just over an hour, she had suffered too many blows. She was now physically and mentally exhausted and just wanted to get back quickly.

Once outside the warehouse, Gu Qingyin suddenly asked, "Lin Wu is being held here, right? Has he confessed?"

"Lin Wu?" Elder Zhang gave her a puzzled look. "How do you know him?"

Dongfang Ran’s expression faltered for a moment before she took the initiative to explain, "She and Liu Daoist captured him together."

Realization dawned on Elder Zhang. He then shook his head and sighed. "Lin Wu is a tough one. He hasn’t said a thing."

"Can I go see him?" Gu Qingyin asked.

Elder Zhang hesitated. "That’s against the rules."

Gu Qingyin clicked her tongue but didn’t press the issue. "Fine. I hope there’s good news soon. I’ve met the person behind Lin Wu once, and to be honest, none of you here are likely a match for them. If we don’t catch them soon, they’ll be an endless source of trouble in the future."

Her words were blunt, and the elders’ faces darkened upon hearing them. But they also knew Gu Qingyin was just giving them a well-intentioned warning, so they could only hold their noses and thank her.

After returning from the Mystic Association, Gu Qingyin rested for two days. Liu Ergou also went back, having matters to attend to in the mountains.

A new day began. Gu Qingyin decided to go to the company to make sure Huo Xingye was eating. ’He’s a grown man, but he can’t even maintain the habit of eating on time. He was even working while sick a couple of days ago. He really gives me no peace of mind.’

Gu Qingyin didn’t tell Huo Xingye she was coming. She timed her arrival for lunchtime and planned to take the executive elevator straight up to catch Huo Xingye by surprise.

But unexpectedly, she was stopped the moment she entered the company. Two young receptionists, their eyes sparkling, told her they were her fans and asked if she could sign an autograph.

Gu Qingyin, of course, graciously signed autographs for her young fans.

She thought that was the end of it, but it was only the beginning.

All the way up, as the elevator doors opened and closed, almost everyone who got in asked for an autograph.

Of course, some were real fans, while others were just trying to suck up, mindful of the boss’s connection to her.

Gu Qingyin’s face was stiff from smiling. She let out a huge sigh of relief when she got out of the elevator.

’The price of fame is too high!’

Shaking her head with a sigh, Gu Qingyin went straight to Huo Xingye’s office.

The people in the adjacent executive office had already heard from their group chat that Gu Qingyin had arrived. They were itching to get autographs too, but they figured she must be tired after signing them all the way up.

’We have the home-field advantage anyway,’ the executive office staff thought. ’It won’t be too late to ask for an autograph when Gu Qingyin is leaving!’

Gu Qingyin knocked, pushed the door open a crack, and peeked inside, her eyes meeting Huo Xingye’s cool gaze.

Huo Xingye hadn’t expected to see her either. He froze for a second, then his expression instantly softened. He stood up and went to greet her. "Mom, what brings you here?"

Gu Qingyin entered the room, ignored him, and sniffed the air first.

Huo Xingye’s eyelid twitched. He quickly explained, "I was just about to go eat..."

"Family Head!" Xue Ning’s anxious voice came from outside the door. "We have to go eat! If you end up in the hospital with a stomachache again, I absolutely will not lie for you anymore! The Matriarch will kill me if she finds out!"

Just as his voice trailed off, Xue Ning pushed the door open and came face-to-face with Gu Qingyin’s smirk. He stopped in his tracks, then reacted with lightning speed, grabbing his phone, putting it to his ear, and doing a 180-degree turn. "Hello? President Wang, yes, yes, about that contract from before..."

Gu Qingyin snorted coldly. "Quite a convincing act."

Xue Ning froze on the spot, not knowing whether to stay or go.

Gu Qingyin ignored him and turned to glare at Huo Xingye. "Didn’t you say you had a cold two days ago? How did it turn into a stomachache? Have you had it checked? What’s the situation?"

Huo Xingye didn’t dare hide it any longer and confessed, "Gastritis, and a small, minor ulcer. I’m already on medication. It’s nothing serious."

"Getting stomach problems at such a young age. Truly the standard package for a domineering CEO." After her sarcastic jab at Huo Xingye, Gu Qingyin turned her attention to Xue Ning. "Assistant Xue is so loyal. Remember to double his bonus at the end of the year."

Xue Ning stiffly turned around, his attitude utterly sincere. "I’m sorry, Matriarch. I promise it won’t happen again. From now on, I will report truthfully on any and all of the Family Head’s situations."

The moment the words left his mouth, Xue Ning felt Huo Xingye’s icy gaze land on him, but he pretended not to notice.

’At a critical moment, it’s important to know who’s the King and who’s the Joker. The Family Head used to be the undisputed King, but since the Matriarch’s return, a Dowager Empress has appeared above the King.’

’If you offend the King, you can still ask the Dowager Empress for mercy. But if you offend the Dowager Empress, then no one can save you.’

Gu Qingyin snorted coldly again, but her expression had clearly softened quite a bit.

Seeing this, Xue Ning relaxed slightly. In his excitement, he sold out his boss again. "The Family Head also has a business banquet tonight. The host is a big drinker."

Huo Xingye’s gaze wasn’t the only thing that turned cold; his face did too.

Xue Ning couldn’t help but shudder. He lowered his eyes and gave a slight bow to them both. "If there’s nothing else, I’ll get back to work."

Holding his breath, Xue Ning retreated from the office as calmly as he could. The moment the door closed, he let out a huge exhale. ’I survived!’

*Sigh*. ’Being caught between the Matriarch and the Family Head is so hard!’

Shaking his head, Xue Ning returned to his desk. Just as he sat down, his phone chimed. He immediately switched into work mode, opened the message, and took a look.

Big BOSS: Your bonus for this month is zero.

Zero... zero... zero...

Xue Ning gripped his phone tightly, his heart aching. ’Can I ask the Matriarch to make up for my zeroed-out bonus?’

Meanwhile, Gu Qingyin, with a stern face, stared Huo Xingye all the way to the company cafeteria. Since his stomach hadn’t recovered, he only ordered a bowl of plain noodle soup, which was easy on the stomach and filling.

Huo Xingye obediently ate his meal without daring to say another unnecessary word. That’s right—he had wanted to talk while eating, but his mom shot him a particularly fierce glare. It was terrifying.

Not until he had finished the entire bowl of noodles did Huo Xingye wipe his mouth and say, "I won’t drink tonight."

"Is that so?" Gu Qingyin was clearly unconvinced.

Huo Xingye explained, "Given the Huo Family’s status, there aren’t many people qualified to make me drink with them."

Gu Qingyin raised an eyebrow. "I’m curious, what are these business banquets for?"

"For me, it’s a good opportunity to assess new projects. For others, it’s a chance to expand their network, attract investment, find partners..." Huo Xingye paused, then said, "And some people bring the younger members of their family for matchmaking."

"Matchmaking?" Gu Qingyin’s interest was suddenly piqued. "The banquet... you wouldn’t mind bringing me along, would you?"