CHAPTER 863: CHAPTER 863: HIDDEN SECRETS

Chu Yin never expected to be set up like this.

"But Zhiyi said you saw with your own eyes the old man chatting and laughing with those women. That can’t be wrong, right? What purpose does Gong Yao have in letting them spread it everywhere?"

This is also something Lin Zhiyi and Gong Chen haven’t figured out yet.

To know the real reason, they probably have to ask the person involved.

Lin Zhiyi looked at Gong Chen and said, "Third Young Master, today is the day of the company meeting. The old man should be back. Did you see him?"

"Yes, we did. He left after the meeting and left everything for Gong Yao to handle," Gong Chen replied.

"Is he so blatantly biased towards Gong Yao?" Lin Zhiyi exclaimed in surprise.

Gong Chen remained silent, his expression indifferent.

Chu Yin sneered, "So none of those two women’s words can be trusted?"

Lin Zhiyi shook her head, "Not necessarily. You said they are pretty smug now; some information may inadvertently slip out."

"Golf! It can’t be wrong! I still remember how smug they looked. Some people wanted to invite them over, but they were directly ignored," Chu Yin affirmed.

Hearing this, Lin Zhiyi looked at Gong Chen.

It involved the old man; it had to be his decision.

"Let’s take a look tomorrow."

Chu Yin pursed her lips, "Haven’t I been of any help?"

Lin Zhiyi took her hand, "How could that be? If not for you, we wouldn’t even know their whereabouts."

As she spoke, she glanced at the contemplative Gong Chen and pulled Chu Yin up.

"Chu Yin, come on, I’ve just designed some jewelry for you to wear during events."

"Isn’t this too much? You’re now the most popular jewelry designer."

"Do we need to say such things between us? Let’s go."

As they left, she gave Gong Chen a particular look.

She needed to give him some time.

...

Back in the office.

Lin Zhiyi asked her assistant to fetch the jewelry while she dragged Chu Yin into a chat.

"How have you been lately?"

"Not bad, just flying around constantly. I’m only in Jing City for a week before leaving again," Chu Yin replied.

Lin Zhiyi held back her laughter, "That’s not what I meant. I heard Mr. Sang accompanied you to the film set?"

"No, that’s because someone was causing trouble in the crew, and he just went to deal with it, not specially for me."

There was a trace of disappointment in Chu Yin’s voice.

Lin Zhiyi said, "Mr. Sang is such a busy man, yet he went to the mountains for the crew’s issues. Seems like the Sang Group isn’t that busy."

Chu Yin’s cheeks turned slightly red.

"Stop teasing me. I don’t want to think about that now. I just want to become famous and earn money."

"Yes, yes, big-star."

As they finished speaking, the assistant brought over two sets of jewelry.

Chu Yin’s eyes widened, "Isn’t this too extravagant? I only have a few small offline activities in the coming days."

"Not at all. I think it suits you perfectly and highlights your beauty from every angle."

Fame truly is a fantastic booster.

Chu Yin, with a healthy glow on her cheeks and complemented by the jewelry, had a delicate radiance in her eyes and skin.

"Thank you so much," Chu Yin accepted the jewelry and then asked, "Is everything okay with the Third Young Master? Zhou Zhao told me about your situation. It’s complicated and troublesome."

"I trust the Third Young Master to handle it well," Lin Zhiyi said, not wanting to trouble Chu Yin any further.

"Be careful. Let me know if anything comes up." Chu Yin added.

"Sure."

"I’ll be leaving then."

Chu Yin stood up.

After seeing Chu Yin off, Lin Zhiyi returned to the guest room.

Gong Chen sat on the sofa with a cigarette between his fingers, rested on the armrest, though it remained unlit.

He had given up smoking but retained this habit of holding a cigarette when deep in thought.

Lin Zhiyi approached him from behind and bent down to wrap her arms around his neck.

"What are you thinking about?"

Gong Chen tilted his head, "Guess."

Lin Zhiyi speculated, "The relationship between Gong Yao and the old man in this matter."

Gong Chen smirked, "Well learned, let’s hear it."

"Gong Yao wants to replace so many people within the Gong Family; it’s really difficult unless the old man approves, or..."

Lin Zhiyi trailed off.

She believed Gong Chen had already figured it out.

She actually leaned more towards her second guess.

Gong Chen said, "I had someone ask the house manager’s family. Apparently, he hasn’t returned for a long time."

Lin Zhiyi recalled, "The house manager used to return regularly once a week. In all my years with the Gong Family, I’ve never heard of him not going back."

He had a family, after all.

Gong Chen remarked, "Unless he has something more important keeping him from going back."

"In the entire Gong Family, apart from the old man, what else could be more important... Ah! The old man!"

Lin Zhiyi turned to look at Gong Chen.

Gong Chen responded with a hum.

"That day in the game room, the way he looked at me was strange."

"You two certainly live up to being father and son, unable to stand each other yet understanding each other’s expressions," Lin Zhiyi teased.

"..."

Gong Chen remained silent.

Lin Zhiyi tightened her embrace around his arm.

"Third Young Master, as much as you hate him, you shouldn’t let anything happen to him. He needs to be alive to realize how wrong he was."

Once gone, he’s just dust, nothing more.

Nor sentiments would remain.

Gong Chen brought her hand to his lips and gave it a kiss.

"Designer Lin has truly grown adept at comforting people."

"Since I’ve comforted you, I should go to the golf course tomorrow too," Lin Zhiyi chuckled.

"If I tell you not to go, would you still stay?"

"Of course, I have to go."

...

At the golf course.

Lin Zhiyi adjusted her hat and looked around.

"I didn’t expect so many people today, even some familiar faces."

Gong Chen sat in the lounge, surveying the people outside through the silk-embroidered screen.

"They are people who have done business with the old man before; they’re all very low key. You probably met them at a banquet."

"How influential! Why would the old man arrange to play golf with so many people at once?"

Lin Zhiyi concealed her observation with a coffee cup.

Her eyes occasionally caught glimpses of people outside the screen.

Gong Chen lowered his eyes, "Observe a bit more."

Lin Zhiyi blinked and deliberately took another look.

She noticed Gong Yao, standing beside the old man, holding a stack of business cards.

Lin Zhiyi suddenly understood.

"The old man is actually introducing his decades-old connections to Gong Yao? Yet he didn’t even do that for you..."

She bit her lip.

The old man’s bias is too apparent.

He’d rather let Gong Chen toil at the company but guards against him.

And for Gong Yao, he’s so generous.

She worriedly glanced at Gong Chen, who appeared unfazed.

Gong Chen calmly said, "Although these are his contacts, their connections... are mine."

Lin Zhiyi paused.

Then quickly realized.

Gong Chen didn’t even need the old man to win over these people.

It seemed Gong Yao was a step behind once again.

The old man was trying hard to support Gong Yao, but it was all in vain.

Unfortunately, Gong Yao’s filial piety seemed to harbor ulterior motives.

Lin Zhiyi looked outside again and unintentionally caught someone’s gaze.

But in the next moment, that gaze disappeared with hurried footsteps.

Lin Zhiyi stood up, "Third Young Master, keep an eye here."