CHAPTER 53: CHAPTER 53: IRONCLAD STRAIGHT MAN

In the long and endless night, Gu Ningyue ate something and soon fell asleep again.

For some reason, the hospital was so quiet, not even the sound of patients’ footsteps could be heard.

Ling Tianyou sat by the bed, watching her. Her face was pale, and the way she slept so quietly made her look like an innocent child.

How did she manage all these years?

Ling Tianyou saw how the Gu Family treated her.

Gu Ningyue was just an unnecessary existence; Gu Wanwan and her siblings, along with Li Yulan, were the real family of Gu Zheng.

As she said, she hasn’t had a family for a long time.

Involuntarily, he reached out and touched her cheek.

She was the first girl he ever felt pity for, and he hoped she would be the last.

At dawn the next day, when Gu Ningyue opened her eyes, Ling Tianyou was still asleep by the bedside.

The clock on the wall pointed to eight. Had he really stayed with her all night?

The door was pushed open, and the assistant walked in from outside.

"Uh..." The assistant hesitated for a moment, "President Ling hasn’t woken up yet?"

Gu Ningyue knew what he was hesitating about, so with her free hand, she patted his shoulder: "Tianyou, it’s daylight! Tianyou...the stock has dropped!"

Ling Tianyou abruptly straightened up, his eyes filled with confusion: "Stock..."

Gu Ningyue couldn’t help but chuckle, "Awake? Your assistant is looking for you for something."

Sunshine poured in from the window, and Ling Tianyou shook his head, clearing his mind a bit, "What time is it?"

The assistant glanced at the time, "It’s eight o’five, President Ling."

Ling Tianyou stood up, tidied his clothes, and said to Gu Ningyue, who was smiling in bed, "I have a meeting, but I’ll be back soon. If you need anything, just press the bell by the bed."

Gu Ningyue nodded, "Okay, I’m fine, you can go!"

As he walked to the door, Ling Tianyou looked back, not entirely assured.

Gu Ningyue smiled and waved at him, seemingly not afraid of being alone there.

"President Ling, the Ye Group is currently seeking investment for their new project. Some members of the board are optimistic about this project, and there has been considerable disagreement within the company lately."

"I’m aware of this. Have you prepared the information I asked for regarding the Ye Group’s new project?"

"President Ling, it’s all prepared."

Some people on the board were restless, and he could take this opportunity to change the company’s internal atmosphere.

He’d reviewed the Ye Group’s new project. It would be good enough if it didn’t lose money; how could it possibly make money?

At first glance, it seemed like a money-making venture, but after thinking it over for a night, he realized it was just false prosperity.

Why would the Ye Family patriarch choose to undertake such a project?

Fifteen minutes later, Ling Tianyou was standing in the conference room.

Everyone’s eyes were on him, like war drums before a battle, pounding on him.

"Regarding the Ye Group’s investment..."

Ling Tianyou got straight to the point, briefly outlining the Ye Group’s current operational strategy and laying out the pros and cons of the project on the table.

"The profit is too small and the damage too great. Let’s drop this matter! If anyone has any ideas, feel free to bring them up so we can discuss them together!"

As soon as he said this, a once-quiet meeting room finally had people speaking up one after another.

Half an hour later, Ling Tianyou picked up his phone and walked out of the office.

In the elevator, the assistant hesitantly looked at Ling Tianyou and asked, "President Ling, you just fired President Zhang and Mr. Chen, won’t the patriarch be angry about it? They are veterans of the Ling Group."

Ling Tianyou’s face was calm, "They’re getting old; it’s time for them to make way."

Besides, a retirement fund of five million each was already more than enough.

Driving back to the hospital, it was exactly nine-ten when he arrived at the ward.

Gu Ningyue was struggling to eat the porridge in her bowl with one hand, making a mess, "You’re back?"

She thought the meeting would last until noon, not expecting him back so soon.

Looking at her, Ling Tianyou couldn’t help but smile, "Let me feed you! Why are you like a little kid?"

Gu Ningyue pouted, "Can’t help it, my hand is injured!"

Her right hand hurt after the anesthesia wore off, making it inconvenient to eat even with her left hand.

Ling Tianyou asked the assistant to buy some fruit for Gu Ningyue, then sat by the bed to feed her porridge.

Only after picking up the bowl did he realize, "Whose thermos is this?"

Before Gu Ningyue could speak, the bathroom door was pushed open, "It’s mine. I knew you’d be busy and wouldn’t have time to make her breakfast!"

Not long after Ling Tianyou left, Chi Xingtong arrived with freshly made chicken porridge.

Ling Tianyou had Chi Xingtong sit aside, then scooped up a spoonful and fed it to Gu Ningyue, "There’s a meeting today, but I’ll be free after that."

"No worries, if you’re busy, go ahead. I can keep her company." Chi Xingtong looked at Gu Ningyue, "Is it good?"

Gu Ningyue nodded, "It’s quite good. Did you make it?"

Chi Xingtong was a bit proud, "I couldn’t get used to the overseas food, so I slowly started cooking myself."

After Gu Ningyue praised her, Ling Tianyou said, "You can cook too, why be envious of this?"

"It’s not the same," Gu Ningyue said, "Having someone put effort into making food for you is such a happy thing, right? Chi Xingtong."

Chi Xingtong agreed, "Yeah! When I was abroad, if someone cooked me a meal I wanted, I think I would be moved to tears."

Gu Ningyue: "He’s obviously a straight man of steel, he wouldn’t understand even if you told him."

Ling Tianyou: "..."

While Ling Tianyou was handling procedures, Chi Xingtong secretly handed her phone to Gu Ningyue, "What’s Su Heng’s deal? He wants to watch a movie with me again?"

Gu Ningyue skimmed through it, "When are you two supposed to meet?"

Chi Xingtong sighed, "It was supposed to be today, but I postponed. He seemed quite disappointed."

"Don’t drag it out," Gu Ningyue advised, "The longer you delay, the harder it will be for him to forgive you when he finds out the truth."

"I’m just scared of going alone while you’re in the hospital!" Chi Xingtong looked at Gu Ningyue pitifully, "What should I do?"

Gu Ningyue raised her tightly wrapped hand, "I’m powerless, but I can accompany you remotely."

Chi Xingtong was puzzled, "Remotely? How?"

Gu Ningyue pointed to her ear, "Wear Bluetooth earphones, and I’ll accompany you from afar."

Chi Xingtong’s eyes lit up, "Great idea! But don’t tell Tianyou, my family doesn’t like me associating with people from the entertainment industry."

Gu Ningyue nodded, realizing why she was being so secretive.

Ling Tianyou walked in with a document, seeing the two whispering closely, feeling puzzled.

Since when did the two of them become so close?