Chapter 390: Starting the Rumors Fashionably

"Do you want to discuss this in more detail with me?" he asked with the raise of his eyebrow.

"Not right now. The plan is just starting, so I don't want to say anything too early. When we sit down to discuss our finances and investments this week, I will update you on it." She turned to look at him curiously. "Are you worried about this?" she prompted.

He nodded. "I am just worried that your father will get wind of the situation. Your bodyguard was kept on standby for some time, but I will call them back on an urgent basis," he informed her. "I was picking you up and dropping you off. If you are going to get busy, it's better that we have extra security."

Qian Meng rolled her eyes. "What? Do you think my father will explode and try to kill me?" And then she stopped. She wouldn't put it past her father or her stepmother to do something drastic when they realize they are on a sinking ship without a lifeboat or means to survive.

His stare gave her the same answer. 

"Understood. I will never oppose more security." 

He nodded and chuckled. "Do you realize that you take my advice more freely now?" It was delightful for him. 

She nodded and then nuzzled into his neck. "You have domesticated a shark. Do you feel satisfied?"

He chuckled and didn't respond. All was well.

That night, she dreamt of shimmering black eyes. This time, they weren't Mo Qingchen's. They were his eyes in the face of a little girl. A little girl with her nose and his eyes.

When she awoke the next morning, she remembered that little face vividly. Unlike other dreams, this one didn't vanish when the day passed. It was embedded in her mind for a long time after that.

- - - - -

The meeting with Mr. Gu was fixed. The venue was an upscale steakhouse that Mr. Gu would surely enjoy. When she entered the restaurant, she was silently led to a private room.

"Yun Qian Meng," the older gentleman called the moment the door opened and she stepped in. 

"Mr. Gu," she greeted. "You have been doing well, yes?"

The gentleman waved it off. "Sit down quickly. Let's order food and go over our business while dinner is prepared," he prompted. 

Qian Meng gave a firm nod before taking the seat across from him.

The order was placed and Qian Meng was almost done going over all the bills when Mr. Gu stopped her. 

"Your style of business mirrors that of your grandfather, did you know that?" he said out of the blue. 

Qian Meng looked at him in surprise. "Is that so? I don't hear a lot of stories about my paternal grandfather and his days in business. Everything I know is from old news clippings and sales reports," she admitted.

"I was a young man when I met him. We were both struggling, him more than me. But he had tenacity." He nodded in contentment. "I was buying in all the land during the real-estate crash, taking renters to make ends meet. It wasn't a bad policy. I had enough money. Your grandfather pushed forward and asked me to lend him money… invest in this company and in return he would help with building real-estate on the land I owned." He smiled, seemingly in reminiscence. "Your bullish drive and methods are so similar to his. He was feared of."

He smacked his lips together and shook his head. "You will be taking over Yun Corporation after your father, will you not?"

Her eyes widened in shock. "I don't think so. I already have so many investments and companies to look after. I don't think Yun Corporation is an entity someone as small as me can handle." While her tone was humble, the implication was clear. 

She was not the one who thought this way. It was others. Namely her so-called family. Anyone with a discerning eye could tell. Qian Meng was known to take up larger-than-life projects that no one thought her capable of handling and then doing so fashionably. 

It was impossible for her to have low confidence in taking over the family business.

"Don't be negative. I see great potential in you. And your husband… he is also a capable man!" Mr. Gu said lightly. "His family is also in the same business. It would be a shame to let the chance pass."

He clucked his tongue and continued. 

"My husband is in the technology space and I am in fashion. We don't dwell in real estate even though our family does. We are content with our lot," Qian Meng pronounced magnanimously. 

Mr. Gu nodded. "Youngsters always want to prove themselves to the world. It's a boon to have children like you and Mr. Mo. Mine just loitered around and partied all day at your age. I wish I had kids like you," he admitted in an attempt to flatter her. 

Qian Meng chuckled, pretending to be shy. "Thank you for the compliment."

"But… I saw that your father didn't attend the wedding. Are things not good between the two of you?" he asked, leaning in, his gossip-filled brain taking over. 

Qian Meng patted her lips with the handkerchief in an attempt to hide the smile that threatened to escape at any time. "My father had some personal issues to handle," she said. She slightly hesitated before the word 'personal,' in an attempt to show that the reason was probably not that. 

"I see." The wicked glint in the eyes of the older gentleman was as clear as day. "I was really worried about you running losses or not having capital. You are selling this prime location…" he trailed off, fishing for inside information. 

"Oh, it's not that!" she protested. "It's just a precautionary thing. Some of the companies I am invested in might not be giving out dividends this financial year. I have some pressing investments to make, so I am taking this route," she mentioned casually. 

Mr. Gu nodded. "The companies you invest in… are all highly acclaimed ones. Why would you suspect…" He coughed. 

"I have just been hearing rumors from here and there. Nothing major. I am sure it is not the case." She chuckled, pushing a hint of nervousness. She invested in dozens of companies. 

If someone thought her a gullible child, which clearly Mr. Gu still thought of her, they wouldn't look too much into her plotting. They would wonder which company Qian Meng could have heard rumors about. There was a handful and the most likely one was the one he was also invested in.

"Rumors?" he asked, his voice rising in pitch. "What kind of rumors?"

Qian Meng clammed up. She lifted her hand and waved it off. "Nothing major," she said immediately. 

Mr. Gu nodded, letting her off, but for the rest of the signing process and dinner, he looked contemplative. Knowing how paranoid and gossip-centric this man was, he would dig out what she meant and look over every small step she took. 

She wouldn't have to directly reveal anything. And she had possible deniability when the time came.

It was a win-win situation.