Chapter 16 - "What do you want to do with the child?" (1)
As soon as Lin Xi turned her head, she saw a man walked into the small conference room.
He was very tall. Much taller than he looked in his pictures in the articles and much taller than Lin Xi had imagined.
He looked very young as well. Lin Xi remembered she had read that Gu Shao was just 37 years old this year.
Gu Shao looked cold but it was a different kind of cold than the creepy coldness coming from Lin Yize. The coldness from this man standing in front of her resembled more the kind coming from someone of a high status. He exuded cold and domineering aura.
As though one only needed standing in front of him to want to lower one's head.
Lin Xi, nevertheless, didn't do that. She cocked her head and looking at the man standing in front of her with very bright eyes. Her lips curved upward uncontrollably.
-- She finally figured out why she looked more attractive than Lin Anxin.
Lin Anxin looked like their mother and Song Kexin was not your typical beauty. She was more the cute and virtuous type from your ordinary family in your cliché romance novel.
It was apparent that Lin Xi got most of her looks from her father.
And, meeting him in person allowed Lin Xi to see that Gu Shao's eyes were the same color as hers – a brown color that was lighter than most others.
***
Looking at the dirty child in front of him smiling foolishly at him, Gu Shao couldn't help but frowned a little. He tried to recall if he could recognize this child.
There had been charitable activities at school in the past and Gu Shao had, indeed sponsored a few students in poverty.
But the school took care of all the administrative work. Gu Shao had no idea who exactly did he sponsored.
And how exactly did this child in front of him locate him?
Did the school provide his information to her?
Gu Shao parted his lips and was just about to ask.
At this very moment, Lin Xi beat him to it. She took a step forward and said, "Dad!"
BAM!
Came a loud noise.
That was Xu Fei, losing his footing, slamming into the edge of the table.
Xu Fei, "Em...." They were just sponsor and student recipient a little while ago. How did she refer to him as "Dad" now?? That was not a funny at all.
"Em, little girl. This is our Boss Gu, who is also your sponsor. You can refer to him as Uncle Gu or Boss Gu." Xu Fei forced himself to say.
Anything but "Dad". Their Boss Gu didn't even have a girlfriend. So how would he have a daughter her age. Granted, many netizens referred to their boss as "Dad", but that was all in jest. This little girl didn't think that was for real, did she?
Xu Fei looked at Luo Xiu, then cautiously looked over at his boss.
At the same time, Gu Shao, who somehow got promoted to the rank of "Dad" after just one meeting, his lips also twitched.
Gu Shao looked into Lin Xi's eyes but Lin Xi did not look again.
After looking into each other's eyes for a few seconds, Gu Shao seemed to have noticed that this girl wasn't joking and finally said coldly, "You have the wrong person. I am not your father."
"But you are my father." Lin Xi was insistent about it.
Noticing that Gu Shao's look became even colder than before, Lin Xi's heart sank a little. She quickly went on to explain, "You really are my father. I am not lying. You had a relationship with a woman inadvertently 15 years ago. That woman became pregnant later on and gave birth to a girl and that is me!
"You may not believe it or know that woman or maybe you didn't even remember the incident, but I am telling you the truth. You can look into it if you want. We can do a paternity test."
At this point in time, Xu Fei's eyes were widened and his jaw was about to hit the floor.
15 years ago? Inadvertently? Relationship? Child? Doesn't remember?!
He had always thought of his boss as an emotionless machine who knew of nothing other than work. He even suspected that his boss had "issues" in certain areas. Who would have thought that he had such "rich past" 10 plus years ago? And, by the sounds of it, might even be a scum by every definition.
Xu Fei felt that he had an alarming melon out of the blue. Suddenly, a chill went down his spine: Would his boss "get rid" of him now that he knew of his dark history?
As such, was his best move right now to disappear instantly pretending that he hadn't heard a word?
***
Chapter 17 - "What do you want to do with your child?" (2)
Over on this side, seeing that Gu Shao had a surprised look that crossed his face and then returned back to his cold self and was difficult to read, Lin Xi became nervous. Biting on her lip, Lin Xi said to him, "I am not here to blackmail you."
But, girl, your behavior right now certainly looks a lot like it...
Thought Xu Fei to himself.
Gu Nian continued to look at Lin Xi coldly, "So what do you call this?"
"I, I just hope that you can raise me." Having said that, Lin Xi quickly elaborated, "It won't be long. Just till I am of age.
"I won't spend money irresponsibly or cause any trouble. I am very easy to raise." Lin Xi's look was very sincere.
She couldn't do much until she was of age and what happened to her in the novel would still happen to her if she stayed with her original family. Then there was also that strange dream. She found the part where Lin Yize appeared at the end very disturbing.
She needed a guardian.
Gu Shao didn't say a word. His calm look was enough to put a lot of pressure on anyone.
Lin Xi was anxious. She asked tentatively, "Do you not believe in what I am saying?"
"How much would you believe in the words of some random stranger who just popped out of nowhere?" asked Gu Shao.
"... ..." Err, not that much.
Lin Xi grumbled to herself.
She then heard Gu Shao went on to say, "You and I are not related nor do I have the obligation to raise you. As such, you can go now."
Gu Shao called the building security to take Lin Xi out.
Lin Xi panicked all of a sudden and grabbed Gu Shao by his arm. "I'm not leaving!"
Looking at the child who hung onto him like a koala and her pair of dirty hands that were holding onto him, Gu Shao's brows furrowed deeply and a hint of resentment flashed through his eyes.
Overlooking Gu Shao's look, Lin Xi refused to give up. "I am begging you. Please just raise me till I am of age. I won't even spend any of your money and I will repay you in the future.
"I will take care of you when you grow old and be by your deathbed. I will hire you the best caretaker and buy you the bet plot for your grave..."
Gu Shao, "... ..."
Xu Fei, "... ..." Perhaps this girl wasn't here to scam his boss. She was here to drive him insane.
That being said, their boss's patience toward this little girl had exceeded what he had seen in the past.
The few security guards stood next to them in a daze, not certainly about what to do.
***
Suddenly, someone else pushed the door open and walked inside.
This was Gu Shao's aide, Chen Zhiyang.
"Professor, your ride to LAS Technical Forum in City N is ready. We can leeeeeeeave, um, anytime." Chen Zhiyang was taken aback by the scene inside of the conference room. He looked around, baffled, and saw Xu Fei gesturing him madly with his look.
"Em, let me go see if our documents for the technical forum is ready." Having said that, Chen Zhiyang backed out voluntarily and took the dazed security guards with him.
"Let go," said Gu Shao again. His voice cold like there was ice in it.
Seeing that her "danger" had disappeared, Lin Xi let go of Gu Shao and stood there docilely in front of him.
"Name?" asked Gu Shao.
"Lin Xi, no. My name is Gu Xin. 'Gu' as in 'Gu Shao', 'Xi' as in 'milkshake'." She even gave Gu Shao a fawning smile as she spoke.
Gu Shao, "... ..."
"I have no child, nor do I plan on raising one." Having said that, Gu Shao took a look at the time and walked out of the conference room.
***
Xu Fei, standing to one side, suddenly remembered something when he saw that Gu Shao had left. He ran after him.
"Boss."
"Follow up on our projects while I am over in City N for the next couple of days. Call me if you have any questions," said Gu Shao.
"Okay. I will," said Xu Fei. He then asked again, "What do you want to do with the child?"
Xu Fei thought his boss would say to see her out, or call the cops. Lo and behold, Gu Shao pondered over it for a couple of seconds and said, "Keep an eye out on her for now. I'll take care of her when I return."
"Okay..." His boss meant for him to keep the child around for the next couple of days, right?
***
Chapter 18 - "What do you want to do with your child?" (3)
Xu Fei returned to the little conference room after Gu Shao had left.
Lin Xi was still standing where she was a while ago. Her head lowered, her fingers twisted together, the disappointment on her was a stark contrast to her shamelessness from earlier.
She looked pitiful.
This girl was certainly suspicious looking. But she also didn't look like some technological spy sent from some special organization.
Xu Fei walked over to her and asked her gently, "Do you have family?"
Seeing that "your Boss Gu is my family" was about to come out of Lin Xi the very next second, Xu Fei quickly emphasized, "Family other than Boss Gu. Where are they? Do you have their contact information? Or perhaps... the way to get in touch with your mother?"
Xu Fei did not entire write off what Lin Xi had said. Especially when his boss had acted differently today...
Hearing that, Lin Xi didn't say anything. She merely shook her head with her mouth pinched shut tightly.
Remembering what his boss had said, Xu Fei waved his hand and said, "Nevermind that. It's alright if you don't want to tell me. Follow me. Let me find you a place to stay for now."
"You mean I can stay here?" Lin Xi looked up, her eyes beaming.
"It's just temporary."
Lin Xi conveniently ignored what Xu Fei said last. She bowed at Xu Fei with a big smile on her. "Thank you for your trouble."
-- This girl was quite polite. She didn't seem like just any child off the street.
Thought Xu Fei to himself.
"Why don't you stay here for now. I have some more work to take care of and I will be back at the end of the work day."
Lin Xi nodded. Stopping Xu Fei again, she asked, "Can I use the bathroom?"
Lin Xi noticed that her hands were a little dirty when she was holding onto Gu Shao's sleeve.
"Sure." Not wanting her to roam around the place, Xu Fei had a female employee showed Lin Xi the bathroom.
***
After walking into the bathroom, Lin Xi walked in front of the mirror. She was shocked by her own disheveled look: She hair was tied up messily. If one was to look carefully, there were even some cobwebs on it. Her clothes were covered in dust and there were oil stains on her sleeve. And, her face... was indescribably dirty.
All these happened when she was dodging Zhang Qiang. She had been so anxious the entire trip that she had forgotten about her own image.
This was what she looked like when she met her real father for the first time?!
No wonder he seemed so resentful toward her.
Lin Xi covered up her face with her palms. She had been too rash...
***
Inside the bathroom.
Lin Xi cleaned her face, redid her hair, and pulled out a set of clean clothes from her luggage.
When Lin Xi walked back out, she saw the surprise look on the female employee from earlier: This girl was surprisingly pretty! And, her look...
***
Inside of the car heading over to the airport.
Chen Zhiyang learned of the incident through Xu Fei on WeChat: Even if he had 10 brains, he would never have guessed that their boss would have a child that age coming out of nowhere.
"Professor, about the incident. I mean the girl from earlier. Do you think we should contact the cops?" asked Chen Zhiyang.
If it was a plan to set them up, they need to be prepared as well.
NTN, as the heart of electronic technology, was an important existence. Their professor himself was privy to much key technology and information. As such, many in the past few years had tried to approach the profession with the intention of stealing information.
They should not rule out the possibility of one of those parties sending over an underage child just to lower his guard.
Gu Shao didn't say anything.
His finger that was drumming lightly on the armrest of the seat betrayed that he wasn't as indifferent as he seemed.
-- There was a certain memory in Gu Shao's mind that he was hazy about.
15 years ago, he was just Second Young Master Gu, the second son of Gu Qinghua and not Professor Gu as he was today and the CEO of NTN Technology Center.
He was able to dodge his enemy's set up at a planned banquet but not entirely.
Half conscious, his assistant had helped him into a room and he had intended to sleep it off. Something, however, happened that night.
By the time Gu Shao woke up the next day, all of the evidences had been wiped clean and everything appeared normal.
Gu Shao never thought about the incident again after he had taken care of those behind the plan.
He couldn't be certain whether something else had happened that night. If someone else had entered into the room and had intimacy with him.
He, however, did not rule out that possibility.
***
Chapter 19 - They said she looks like him? (1)
Chen Zhiyang's eyes widened when he saw Gu Shao sunk into deep thoughts. He seemed to have figured something out: Perhaps, much like Xu Fei had said, the professor really had some "romantic past".
"Professor, would you like to arrange for paternity test?" Chen Zhiyang, doing this best to suppress the shock that he was experiencing, asked tentatively as he tried to maintain a normal look.
Gu Shao didn't say a word but his look became more solemn.
Ignoring Chen Zhiyang, Gu Shao pulled out his phone and placed a call.
The other end picked up the call quickly.
"Sir." The deep male voice from the other end of the phone was very respectful.
"Go look into a Gu Xi." Noticing that he had misspoke, Gu Shao paused and corrected himself. "A girl around 13-14 years old by the name of Lin Xi.
"In addition." Gu Nian looked down and added, "Look into what happened in Imperial Court Hotel 15 years ago."
The man on the other end of the call did not ask too many questions. "Yes, Sir. I will arrange for that right away."
Gu Shao sunk into deep thoughts once again after hanging up on the call.
This time, however, he wasn't trying to sort out his vague memory from 10+ years ago. Instead, he was thinking about the girl covered in dust whom he had just met 20 minutes ago.
***
The Lin's residence on the other end.
Zhang Cui, after dropping Lin Xi off at Zhang Qiang's place, used visiting relatives as an excuse and had the chauffeur took her back.
She stayed over at the Lin's place for another night and finally started packing to return to her own place after she had lunch.
Before she took off and noticing that concerned look on her daughter, Zhang Cui spoke to her, "Kexin, are you still worried about it?"
Song Kexin nodded, then shook her head. "Mom, I just have a bad feeling about it. What did you tell Lin Xi when you left? Would she notice that something is off and run away from Zhang Qiang's place?"
Zhang Cui patted Song Kexin on her hand and said, "You worry too much. Lin Xi had no money with her and she is not familiar with the area. I even stole her cellphone. Where do you think she can go?
"Besides, I've specifically asked Zhang Daitian's wife to go take a look over at Zhang Qiang's place this morning."
"How did that go?" Song Kexin was nervous.
"Don't worry. She is still there. She made a fuss and Zhang Qiang locked her up."
Song Kexin let out a sigh of relief but still frowned from feeling worried. "I worry she would continue to fuss. Would negative words get out?"
If the media got hold of this, it would negatively impact the Lin family's reputation for sure.
"Don't worry. News won't get out from there. Besides, she is just a child. It's only normal that she would fuss in a brand-new environment. She will get over it in a few days."
Song Kexin felt better after hearing that from Zhang Cui. She nodded and said, "When push comes to shove, we can always offer more money to Zhang Qiang and have him keep a closer eye out on Lin Xi."
Zhang Cui agreed with her. Her eyes rolled and something else had occurred to her. She pulled over Song Kexin's hand and said to her, "I have an idea if you worry that Yize and your mother-in-law are bothered by that child."
"What are you thinking?" asked Song Kexin.
"We have already sent the child away. We might as well move her household register over to your second grandfather's family. That way she will have nothing else to do with the Lin family. Besides, your second grandfather's family has a lot of children. Nobody could tell when they gain or lose a child."
The regulations on household register had been tightened as of late, unless 10+ years ago. It would be hard press to add a child under Zhang Qiang's name when he was a single man. Second uncle was a relative of hers and it would not be difficult to move Lin Xi's household register over.
Song Kexin frowned a little. "How would we explain it away on our end?"
"I have thought of that as well. What I am thinking is that you can pick another child from second grandfather's place that is around the same age and raise her instead." Zhang Cui paused for a little and carried on talking, "Nobody knew what First Miss Lin looks like anyway. She would still be your older child after the swap.
"But you can raise her as though she is a niece of yours. That way she wouldn't feel such envy.
"Besides, children from the villages are simple and honest. They won't be manipulative like Lin Xi and we won't need to worry about our Xin-er being bullied."
Song Kexin understood where Zhang Cui was coming from but bringing over another child was a big deal. "Let me talk to Yize and my mother-in-law about this first."
Zhang Cui nodded and got ready to take off.
Song Kexin stopped her again. Looking anxious, she asked, "Mom, do you think Lin Xi will hate us?"
Zhang Cui waved her hand, "She's just a child. She wouldn't think that much. She'll get used to living in Village Zhang in a few days."
Song Kexin nodded and saw Zhang Cui out.
***
Chapter 20 - They said she looks like him? (2)
On this end, Lin Xi still had no idea that after experiencing being sent away, even her household register was about to be moved out in a package deal.
After she had changed into a set of clean clothes, Lin Xi returned to the little conference room and waited without worries.
While waiting, Lin Xi pulled out a book from her backpack and started reading.
It was very quiet in the conference room with nobody there to disturb her.
Xu Fei, after taking care of a few documents and walking out of his office, overheard a few female employees chitchatting in a low voice in the break room of 27thfloor and the topic seemed to be surrounding between the girl and their boss.
"You are kidding, right? You said the girl looks like our..." The female employee looked shocked and mouthed the word "boss".
"I kid you not. They look a lot alike, especially the feeling that they give you."
"Aura? What aura?"
"I can't really put my fingers on it. Styles, expressions, um, aura? They are just alike."
"So, the girl is the boss's... um, you know?"
"Stop it! She could be a child from a relative's family too."
"But isn't she supposed to be some student that the boss has sponsored?"
......
Xu Fei cleared his throat and purposefully interrupted the conversation between the employees. The few were startled and quickly wrapped up their breaks and returned to their own desks.
Xu Fei stood there feeling baffled. What did they say? That the child resembles their boss? How come he didn't notice it?
Xu Fei went back into the conference room dubiously and saw Lin Xi, who had cleaned herself. Xu Fei's eyes widened immediately. This wasn't "somewhat alike"; this was very much alike!
Seeing that Xu Fei had returned, Lin Xi put away her book and looked at him.
"You..." are not really the boss's child, are you?
"Your name is Lin Xi?"
Lin Xi nodded.
"You must be hungry. There's a cafeteria here. Wait here, I'll bring you some food," said Xu Fei. He couldn't let his boss's child starve.
***
Xu Fei returned quickly with food.
Lin Xi's lips twitched when she saw the pile of meats on her plate: What's with this sudden "hospitality"?
Taking the chopsticks from Xu Fei, something seemed to have occurred to Lin Xi. Looking at Xu Fei, she asked, "Is my dad back yet? Do we need to get him some also?"
Xu Fei, who was also eating, paused and then explained, "Oh, I forgot to mention. The boss will be at the symposium for the next two days. Going there and back will be another 2.5 days. So you will be staying here with me for the next couple of days."
Lin Xi nodded while biting down on the chopsticks.
As the two ate, Xu Fei noticed that Lin Xi seemed to particularly enjoy the sweet and sour pork so he had another colleague brought over another big bowl for her from the cafeteria.
Lin Xi, "......" Is it murder if she dies from overeating?
***
After dinner, Lin Xi was taking to a building behind the NTN Technology Center.
"This is the temporary housing area for the Center. We normally use it to host different scholar teams or as temporary housing for new employees," said Xu Fei. "You can stay here for the next couple of days. You can use the phone inside your room to contact the building management team directly if you need anything.
"Don't be afraid. It's very safe here.
"Don't do go running around either, okay?"
Xu Fei, worried about Lin Xi, nagged some more before he took off.
-- Xu Fei was quite fond of this valedictorian-like child who popped out of nowhere from the get go, especially it was looking more and more likely that she could be the boss's child.
That being said, what had happened back then that would leave his boss with this child.
Xu Fei couldn't help but wonder when he looked at Lin Xi.
In a minute or less, Xu Fei had already come up with a whole Mary Sue drama of "The Domineering CEO Is in Love with Me" and "Beautiful Female Lead Ran off with Bun".
"Xiao Xi, if you are coming to look for your father by yourself, then..." Where is your mom?
All of a sudden, Xu Fei was very curious about this woman who had crossed path with their boss in the past.
Nevertheless, one thought of what Lin Xi looked like when she presented herself, he stopped himself.
--
She looked dirty and pitiful. Who knew where she came from and how far she had walked before arriving here? And what happened on her way and how much suffering she had to endure on her way. And she had ate so much during dinner. When was the last time she had any food in her?
If her mother was still around and that her days were decent, how would she look the way that she did?
Perhaps, her mother had already...
The possibility of that put a solemn look on Xu Fei. The more he thought about it, the more likely he thought that might be the case.
Why else would this child show up out of the blue looking for their boss?
Perhaps this child's mother could no longer raise her and that was why she had told her the truth and had her come looking for her father.
With that thought, Xiao Xi was such a pitiful child.