Chapter 553: Hidden Boss (2)

She understood that some things were better guided than suppressed.

“Aunt Zhao, I promise to complete the task,” Xue Rui said with a serious expression.

Zhao Lizhen opened her mouth to say something, but then decided it would be pointless. She changed the subject. “I’ve done some research on your startup. Your marketing strategy is fine, but your monetization channels are a little too narrow.”

Zhao Lizhen was sitting in a lounge chair on the balcony. She lightly tapped the table beside her with her knuckles and gestured for Xue Rui to sit in the chair opposite her.

Xue Rui didn’t sit down immediately. Instead, he went to the living room to get the tea, poured a cup for Zhao Lizhen, and then closed the balcony’s sliding glass door…

‘Right now, I have to wait on this grand dame!’

Gu Qingshan was the head of the family, and his high-ranking position gave him an undeniable air of authority. But Zhao Lizhen was no pushover, either!

The image of a gentle, beautiful mother-in-law in his mind instantly crumbled, replaced by the picture of a master strategist, a powerful career woman…

It now seemed she was about to offer him some career advice, so he put on the air of an obedient student, listening attentively.

“A campus app can be monetized by integrating e-commerce and credit platforms. Those are the most profitable,” Zhao Lizhen said.

Xue Rui thought for a moment before replying, “I already have some ideas for e-commerce.”

In the short term, he could run ads for existing e-commerce sites. He could also integrate a proprietary marketplace into the app. Most online purchases required shipping fees, so he had already sent his people to negotiate with logistics companies.

His electronics factory was surrounded by other factories—a wealth of resources. They could take on many orders themselves, sell across multiple platforms, and use a direct-from-factory shipping model to keep costs at an absolute minimum.

In other words, it was the Pinduoduo model of a future generation. He was even thinking of looking for Boss Huang after the New Year to start his own version of it…

“And what about credit?” Zhao Lizhen asked.

Xue Rui shook his head. “I won’t consider it. That would just be harming students.”

‘The campus loan craze of 2014 had been hotter than he’d expected. You could even see loan ads written in marker on the bathroom stall dividers. Many of his employees had told him that lenders had approached them to run ads, offering extremely tempting rates. But Xue Rui had rejected them all in no uncertain terms, ordering his staff to never get involved in that business. Not only did Xue Rui turn down the easy money, he even planned to launch a feature to educate college students about the dangers of spending beyond their means. He didn’t have any grand dreams. He’d never considered becoming the world’s richest man, and he didn’t have the audacity to change the world. But he knew very well how many families were dragged into a quagmire by student loans. If he could help just one, it was worth it.’

“Oh?” Zhao Lizhen’s expression was one of surprise. Xue Rui was different from what she’d imagined; he wasn’t the type of person who would do anything for money.

“I want to make sure every cent I earn is clean. It might be a bit harder, but it will secure our future,” Xue Rui said earnestly.

Zhao Lizhen smiled, satisfied. This was the path all parents hoped to leave for their children. She actually hadn’t planned on having Gu Muxue take over her businesses—the waters ran far too deep.

Now, without her needing to guide him, Xue Rui already knew what kind of path he should pave for Gu Muxue…

She smiled and nodded. “I support you. In the future, Muxue must hold shares in all your companies. As long as your combined stake is over 51 percent, that’s fine.”

Xue Rui almost spat out a mouthful of water. Zhao Lizhen’s “support” was definitely financial.

The implication was too obvious. She was binding his fate to Gu Muxue’s. If they ever had a falling out, the consequences would be far more complicated than a simple heartbreak…

‘She usually looks so benevolent, but when it comes to planning her daughter’s future, she doesn’t pull any punches at all!’

“Er… Aunt Zhao, please don’t lose money on my account. I couldn’t bear that responsibility,” Xue Rui said awkwardly.

“I believe in you. It’s just… Xiaorui, you’re so outstanding. Are there any other girls at school who like you?” As Zhao Lizhen spoke, she glanced toward Lin Ruoxi in the living room, then pulled open the balcony’s sliding glass door and said with a smile,

“What gift did you bring for Muxue today? Let’s have a look.”

In Zhao Lizhen’s view, Xue Rui certainly had some flaws, but compared to his strengths, they hardly seemed worth mentioning.

Xue Rui pinched the bridge of his nose and looked up at the azure sky, feeling as though a sharp blade were hanging over his head.

His conversation with Zhao Lizhen hadn’t been confrontational; they had just chatted simply about work and life. And yet, Xue Rui felt the pressure she gave off was no less than Gu Qingshan’s.

She had only subtly hinted that she knew what was going on, without tearing away the facade of civility. Xue Rui had no idea just how much Zhao Lizhen had found out.

It was as if she were magnanimously tolerating his mistake, just waiting for him to obediently correct his ways.

Xue Rui’s mind was a mess. The more Zhao Lizhen acted this way, the more his heart trembled with unease.

He felt Gu Muxue’s personality was very similar to Zhao Lizhen’s. ‘She’s not going to become like this one day, is she?’

Xue Rui took a deep breath and answered with a smile, “I’m going to cook for Muxue today. Food from a restaurant can’t compare to something you make yourself.”

It was now the afternoon of October 4th. Gu Muxue’s birthday was actually still a day away, but Gu Qingshan and his wife had to leave Chang’an unexpectedly, so they had moved the celebration up a day.

Gu Qingshan looked at Xue Rui with a surprised expression. He’d never heard Xie Jianfeng mention that Xue Rui knew how to cook.

“Xiaorui, you can cook?” Gu Qingshan and Zhao Lizhen said at the same time.

Xue Rui skillfully tied on an apron. “You can tell just by tasting whether or not a meal was made with care. That’s what my dad always says.”

Gu Qingshan and Zhao Lizhen exchanged a glance, and both could see the satisfaction in the other’s eyes.

The gift Xue Rui had prepared exceeded their expectations. It had a certain domestic warmth, revealing a gentleness within its simplicity that made Xue Rui seem all the more mature.