novelraw Chapter 153: What is Borrowed Must Eventually Be Returned
Chapter 153: What is Borrowed Must Eventually Be Returned
Xu Xiangbei sneered and reached out to stroke Gu Xinyan’s tender calf, saying: "Such a pity, you’ve fallen like this. Need me to give you a massage?"
Remembering the stimulating sensation from Xu Xiangbei’s massage, and the passionate kiss from last night, Gu Xinyan blushed with her neck turning red. She gently pressed the electric switch, escaping from Xu Xiangbei’s unwanted touch.
Before entering the restaurant, she stopped again, and turned her head softly, looking gloomy: "Can you promise me one thing?"
Thinking it was about treating the leg, Xu Xiangbei laughed heartily: "Just say it, whatever it is, I will agree."
Gu Xinyan looked a bit agitated: "Later, if there’s any argument inside, you must help my sister and not let them bully her."
Xu Xiangbei was stunned, smiling indifferently, thinking that with a big family coming to celebrate their birthday, how could they bully her.
In front of each sister, there was a cake filled with birthday candles, white cream, bright red strawberries, and a fragrance of chocolate.
This year’s birthday was the happiest for Gu Xiangyi, as Xu Xiangbei accompanied her to the zoo, and her grandfather along with her cousin who just returned from America, attended her birthday banquet.
At the moment of blowing out the candles, she even doubted whether it was a dream, so unreal. With Xu Xiangbei’s encouraging gaze, she and her sister gently closed their eyes, made a wish, and then blew out the candles together.
Xu Xiangbei led the singing of the birthday song, with candle shadows swaying, full of joy, Gu Xiangyi laughed like a happy child.
"Let’s eat the cake! The first piece is for yourself, then share with the oldest, Grandpa..."
Just after eating the cake, Aunt Sun Xiaoli raised her glass, her laugh deepening the crow’s feet around her eyes: "To our Gu Family’s two blossoms getting more and more beautiful, Auntie toasts you both."
Gu Xiangyi felt a bit flattered. In her memory, Aunt Sun Xiaoli had never actively toasted them, smiling, she said: "Thank you, Aunt."
Her sister Gu Xinyan remained silent, expressionless, not reacting to Auntie’s toast at all.
Xu Xiangbei was closest to the sisters and saw a trace of disdain flash through Gu Xinyan’s eyes.
Even though today’s feast was hosted at his home, he acted as an observer. As the saying goes, those in the game are confused, while observers are clear. Xu Xiangbei sensed that something was unusual about this birthday banquet.
Sun Xiaoli and Shang Xiaorong kept signaling Elder Gu with their eyes. Elder Gu was engrossed in chatting with his grandson, pretending not to see. Clearly, they wanted Elder Gu to do something, but he paid them no attention.
Seeing how Elder Gu remained silent, Sun Xiaoli’s gaze turned sharp, with a false smile fixed on her face: "Gu Xiangyi, my dear girl, Auntie wants to discuss something with you, which was also mentioned to Elder Gu last night, and he’s agreed."
Gu Xiangyi, like a child, licked the cream at the corner of her mouth, happily responding: "Oh, what is it? You even had to bring Grandpa into it, Aunt, just tell me directly."
Sun Xiaoli proudly looked at her son Gu Jie: "Now that Ah Jie is back and has obtained his graduation diploma from a college in the US, I want him to join the company and manage it with you, what do you think?"
Gu Xiangyi contemplated for a moment, her expression relaxed and joyful, she kindly smiled: "Of course, we are all family, after all. There’s timely a vacancy in the marketing manager position. I’d be delighted for cousin to come to help me manage the company."
Sun Xiaoli laughed ambiguously: "You misunderstood. What I meant is, have Ah Jie become the president of Xiangyi Group, and you assist him in managing the company."
The atmosphere at the dining table instantly turned tense. Gu Xiangyi’s face turned pale, and rather than looking at Aunt Sun Xiaoli, she gazed at Grandpa.
Alone, Sun Xiaoli wouldn’t dare to say such words unless, last night, Grandpa, Uncle, Second Uncle, and Gu Jie all conspired together.
Seeing Gu Xiangyi stunned there, a smug smile flashed across Shang Xiaorong’s face: "The company rightfully belongs to grandson Ah Jie, dear niece, you are merely helping Ah Jie manage it. It will be returned to Ah Jie sooner or later, wouldn’t you agree, Grandpa?"
Gu Mingchun’s face showed some embarrassment, his old face slightly red, he remained silent, which was basically acquiescence. In his mind, Gu Jie, being the eldest grandson, should take over the entire family business, while Gu Xiangyi, being merely a granddaughter, is still an outsider.
The previously clear sky turned cloudy and overcast, lightning and Thunder rumbled, and soon it poured rain, raising a curtain of rain between heaven and earth.
Gu Xiangyi then realized they weren’t genuinely there to celebrate her and her sister’s birthday, but rather to have her relinquish the presidency.
"A girl shouldn’t strive so hard, why not find herself a boyfriend, go have fun, be a lady of the family."
"Niece, you should return the president’s position Grandfather gave you, as grandson Ah Jie is back now."
Gu Jie wore a constant smug smile, coldly looking at Gu Xiangyi, just like when he made her cry as a child, still smugly telling her, a child without parents is bound to be bullied.
Xu Xiangbei suddenly felt disgusted, understanding the meaning behind Gu Jie’s earlier words—borrowed things need to be returned, he publicly referred to that Ferrari, but really meant Gu Xiangyi’s presidency.
Xu Xiangbei couldn’t sit still any longer, holding back his temper, he said: "Elder Gu, I respect you as an elder. Gu Xiangyi has invested so much effort for your Gu Family’s Xiangyi Group, signing contracts despite doing business risks, even disregarding personal safety, drinking to the point of stomach spasms. Your grandson graduates from America, we all know, that’s money-bought diploma, not worth a damn thing. Yet, just a word and you want to hand the presidency to him? Do you owe her? Without Xiangyi, even if you secured investment, can you successfully operate?"
Sun Xiaoli, with a cold face, said: "Xu Xiangbei, you helped us secure the investment, but the presidency belongs to the Gu Family affairs—please do not interfere in family matters."
Gu Jie suddenly stood up, pointing at Xu Xiangbei, shouting: "Who the hell are you, what does our family matter have to do with you, meddling around like this, do you believe I’ll ruin you?"
Xu Xiangbei wore a cold smile, his expression frightfully intimidating, loudly said: "Several people have said similar things to me, yet they all ended up with broken hands, kneeling down to beg for mercy. Who says I can’t interfere in this matter, Gu Xiangyi is my fiancée, of course, I can interfere. Also, this damn place is my home, all of you get out!"
Sun Xiaoli, scared, grabbed her son Gu Jie and left, Elder Gu sighed lightly, tremblingly stood up, Sister Wu supporting him as they walked to the door.
He turned back, ashamedly saying to Gu Xiangyi: "Xiangyi, Grandpa is sorry to you, please think about it."
The joyful birthday banquet just moments ago, turned instantly empty, leaving only vacant seats and untouched dishes on the table.
Gu Xiangyi sat there dumbfounded, her eyes hollow, tightly holding her sister Gu Xinyan’s hand.