Chapter 38: Personal Ties

As the two of them returned to the main hall, news came from outside: the chairman of Hengyuan, along with the CEO and several high-level executives, had arrived.

Who were they visiting?

It was self-evident.

Meng Changjun raised a brow. “Well, they sure got the message quickly.”

Whether they did or not, Gu Yao didn’t care.

What she was curious about was what stance the big leader would take.

Just as they reached the doorway, a cold and distant voice rang out from the reception room:
“Our nursing home is too humble to host a bunch of robbers. Tell them to leave. They’re not welcome here.”

In other words, send them off however you like.

The administrator who had come to report the visitors stood still and didn’t move. Instead, he looked toward the head seat.

He knew that in this room, there was only one person whose word truly carried weight.

The room fell into silence.

Zhou Zhengliang slowly set down his teacup, his voice calm and steady:
“Since Director Li doesn’t want to meet them, then don’t force it.”

With the big man speaking, those present exchanged looks and quickly adjusted their calculations.

The discussion continued until about five in the afternoon.

Gu Yao mentally kept track of the time while also paying close attention to the movement outside the nursing home gate.

Their perseverance was impressive.

Chairman Cheng had waited outside for a full two hours.

Clearly, he had to get this meeting today.

Fifteen more minutes passed.

The tightly shut wrought-iron gate finally opened.

The long-waiting Cheng Shaoguo immediately stepped forward. As his gaze swept over the group, it briefly landed on Gu Yao—his eyes flickered with a trace of surprise.

The change in expression disappeared in a flash.

He then greeted the man walking toward him with a slight nod and said with a smile, “Secretary Zhou, if I may borrow a few minutes of your time to talk in the car?”

At that, Zhou Zhengliang didn’t pause in his stride. He kept walking toward the parking area, replying evenly,
“Yew tea freshly picked from Yuxi Valley in Anle Town—Chairman Cheng should try some when he has time. See what it tastes like.”

Hearing this, Cheng’s steps halted.

Then he caught up quickly, his tone humble:
“I’m slow-witted. I hope Secretary Zhou can enlighten me.”

Inside the Audi’s backseat—

Before getting in, Zhou Zhengliang glanced at him, not too heavily, not too lightly.
“When you’re standing before a matter of principle, I hope you are slow-witted.”

And with that, nothing more.

Not another word the whole way.

Cheng Shaoguo stood motionless on the roadside, watching the official convoy slowly drive off. Then he turned back toward the so-called “nail house.”

He turned around and led his people inside.

His assistant whispered beside him, “Should we call in a few security guards?”

“No need,” Cheng said unhurriedly.
“Today, we’re guests.”

Guests who’d been ignored for two full hours.

On the return trip, Gu Yao was drowsy and nearly fell asleep.

The car was far too quiet.

And with the highway wide open and traffic-free, it was perfect for a quick nap.

But with a certain high-ranking official seated beside her, she could only sit up straight and stay alert. Every time her eyelids drooped, a sudden report from Secretary Xu up front would snap her nerves back to attention.

She actually had thoughts about the nursing home’s relocation issue.

But inside, she hesitated.

As an insignificant junior staffer, did she even have the right to get involved?

Her look of wanting to speak but holding back didn’t escape Zhou Zhengliang’s notice. He asked lightly,
“Something on your mind?”

Her heart skipped half a beat.

Surprised—was this man a worm in her stomach?

After a brief pause, she shook her head.

“No.”

Gu Yao decided to stay in her lane.

After all, talking strategy on paper might sound clever, but in reality, it was nothing but wishful thinking.

However—

Her retreat in that moment was interpreted very differently by Zhou Zhengliang.

He saw it clearly: Gu Yao hadn’t come to Anle Town because of some online promotional video.

He didn’t even bother digging into whether today’s so-called accidental meeting was truly a coincidence or not.

Pure chance? Or deliberate setup?

And right now, wasn’t this her best chance to plead for her ex-boyfriend?

So why hold back?

Did she think he wouldn’t give her the time of day?

If that were truly the case… she should give it a try.

After all, a man’s heart is as unpredictable as the sea.

Even Gu Yao, slow on the uptake, began to feel something strange during the latter half of the ride.

Everything seemed normal—nothing had happened.

Yet she felt a subtle pressure radiating from beside her, a presence that pressed in from all directions, surrounding her completely.

It was suffocating.

Where had it gone wrong?

Gu Yao shifted her gaze slightly and cautiously snuck a glance to her side.

The man’s mature, sharply defined side profile stood out against the sunset, radiating a kind of aloof coldness that warded off strangers.

In all the time she’d known him, she had rarely seen him like this.

When a man in a high position begins to emit emotional signals, the one closest to him is usually the first to suffer.

She was in danger.

Sometimes, instinct really is terrifyingly accurate.

When the car arrived in the city, the silence in the backseat was finally broken by Zhou Zhengliang’s calm, low voice. He instructed the driver and Secretary Xu that they could get off work.

As for Comrade Gu—

She quietly cracked the car door open, just about to step out when she was coldly called back.

“Gu Yao, stay.”

“…”

He used to call her “Xiao Gu.”
When had it changed to “Gu Yao”?

The expression on the girl’s face, like someone being dragged into work against her will, nearly made Xu Mo laugh out loud.

He kept a straight face with effort, nodded seriously to the big boss, and said, “Alright, we’ll be heading out.”

Learning to read the room was lesson number one for surviving in officialdom.

Unfortunately, Gu Yao wasn’t as lucky as Secretary Xu.

She had undoubtedly missed her best chance.

Once everyone else had left, the young woman instinctively walked around to the driver’s side and got in.

Yet another day of being the chauffeur.

At a major intersection, Zhou Zhengliang instructed, “Turn left.”

Left?

She looked carefully. This wasn’t the way to Yufeng.

Though puzzled, Gu Yao obeyed.

After passing the last traffic light on the main road, the man in the backseat calmly reminded her,
“From here, your home is less than ten minutes away.”

Yes, she knew that.

So… what was this high-ranking official trying to say?

Gu Yao felt her head start to ache.

Then it suddenly clicked.

Could it be that the man had seen through what she’d been holding back—was this him deliberately giving her an opportunity?

It must be.

No more hesitation. Gu Yao organized her thoughts and spoke earnestly,
“About the nursing home relocation—I have a proposal. It’s not fully fleshed out, but it might help break the current deadlock.”

She finished and waited for a response.

In the warm and quiet car, the man sat with long legs crossed, leaning back in his seat. His expression was calm as he let out a faint “Mm.”

Signaling her to go on.

Encouraged, Comrade Gu dove straight in, succinctly outlining her idea: a plan where the nursing home and the resort could coexist.

Zhou Zhengliang fell silent after hearing it.

After a moment—

He looked at her meaningfully. “Anything else?”

Anything else?

Of course there was.

Receiving his preliminary approval, Gu Yao immediately added several key points—like how to persuade Hengyuan to revise their design, the construction delays such a change might cause, and what kind of government policy compensation might be necessary.

She spoke for a full ten minutes—concise, well-structured, and cutting straight to the heart of each issue.

Zhou Zhengliang felt a strange wave rise within him.

Regret. Reflection.

Even a sense of guilt.

All along the way, without understanding the situation, he’d unjustly suspected her.

And in truth, his visit to Anle Town had been for exactly this purpose.

The idea of letting the nursing home and resort coexist was the only viable solution, and one Hengyuan must accept. Most likely, by now, Cheng Shaoguo and Director Li had already reached an agreement.

Just as Meng Changjun had said—

The girl was intelligent and extremely capable. If she remained stuck in a grassroots role for the next decade, it would be a waste of talent.

But then again, what’s good for her in theory might not actually suit her.

Ultimately, her wishes should come first.

Zhou Zhengliang’s expression didn’t change, but as he lowered his eyes, he suddenly asked without warning:
“Have you been in touch with your ex recently?”

Gu Yao’s breath caught.

How did he know?

Could it be… he saw her that time at the hotel with Mrs. Cheng?

She paused for several seconds, then reluctantly replied,
“The Cheng family did reach out. I don’t know where they heard it, but they think I have… close ties with you. They wanted me to speak to you on their behalf. I refused.”

“Why did you refuse?” he asked.

The car slowed down.

Gu Yao answered with righteous certainty,
“I’m just a low-level staffer. How could I possibly influence your decisions? Besides, we’re just in a superior-subordinate relationship—there’s no personal… tie.”

But her voice trailed off at the end.

Zhou Zhengliang’s lips curved faintly as he looked into the rearview mirror, his eyes dark and deep.

He stared directly at her, locking onto her expression. His voice was slow, low, and sure:
“Whether there’s a personal tie… isn’t for you to decide.”

Gu Yao’s mind blanked. Her hands jerked, and the steering wheel nearly veered off course.

She gasped softly.

From the back seat, the man said coolly,
“Eyes on the road.”

Gu Yao: ……

Wanna just drive it yourself, sir?