Qin Hao originally wanted to drive, but Lin Yi insisted that he drive, so Qin Hao had no choice but to give up the driver's seat.
"Um... how will you get back when you come back?" Qin Hao couldn't help but ask. "I can go back by myself. I don't know why you insisted on seeing me off. It makes me feel like a little girl."
Although the last sentence was spoken very softly, Lin Yi heard it clearly.
"I have my reasons for sending you back. You can go back on your own when the time comes, and if necessary, you can send me back," Lin Yi said.
Upon hearing this, Qin Hao curled his lip and blurted out the words without thinking.
"So, will you then bring me back, and I'll bring you back? An endless loop? Tsk tsk tsk... Lin Yi, I didn't realize you were so stupid. If you want to go back, it's simple. Just take a taxi, or have my driver take you back."
"Oh? Really? Am I really that stupid?" Lin Yi asked back, unable to help but laugh.
This truly left him helpless.
He's already made it so obvious, how can you still not see it?
"That's right!" Qin Hao nodded frantically. "Aren't you stupid? If you weren't, you should have let me go back by myself. What are you doing coming back with me? It's a waste of time!"
Qin Hao muttered something, and Lin Yi sighed and said,
How do you know I'm just stupid instead of clever?
"Huh?" Qin Hao turned his head to look at Lin Yi, but Lin Yi was driving and his gaze was not on him at all.
But looking at Lin Yi's profile, Qin Hao felt his face burning for the first time.
Why does he think Lin Yi is so good-looking?
However... Lin Yi does seem to be very good-looking!
The two remained silent the rest of the way until they arrived at the Gu family's gate.
Qin Hao: "No matter what, thank you for bringing me back. You can drive this car back first, and I'll drive it back when I have time."
As he spoke, he unbuckled his seatbelt, preparing to get out of the car. But as soon as he finished, Lin Yi, who was in the driver's seat next to him, also opened the car door.
"Huh? What are you doing? Aren't you going back?" Qin Hao asked, puzzled.
"Why go back? I came here to see Gu Zheng."
Lin Yi got out of the car immediately after speaking, while Qin Hao felt a little awkward inside.
Damn it, he... he actually thought Lin Yi had deliberately brought him back, and he even began to suspect that Lin Yi had other intentions towards him.
But unexpectedly, he actually had something to discuss with his brother.
"Serves you right for thinking such nonsense!" Qin Hao cursed himself harshly, then got out of the car as well.
The two entered the elevator one after the other, but this time Qin Hao kept his distance from Lin Yi.
Ever since that thought in the car, he has felt that he has let Lin Yi down.
After all, they treated him like a brother and a friend, yet he still harbored those kinds of feelings for them!
Lin Yi also noticed Qin Hao's unusual behavior, but he didn't say anything. He simply stopped in front of Gu Zheng's door and raised his hand to knock.
"Come in!"
A cold, angry voice rang out from the office.
Qin Hao trembled involuntarily upon hearing this, but Lin Yi's expression remained unchanged.
The two entered Gu Zheng's office one after the other.
Upon seeing the two of them, Gu Zheng immediately let out a cold snort.
"Is Mr. Lin so busy lately? He's with my brother every day. Anyone who didn't know better would think you had some ulterior motive!"
Gu Zheng could not possibly be unaware of Lin Yi's thoughts, after all, it was he who secretly acquiesced and even gave him a push back then.
But he was in a very bad mood today, and right now, apart from Lin Yi and Qin Hao, there was no one for him to vent to.
Upon hearing Gu Zheng's words, Qin Hao's legs nearly gave way and he nearly collapsed to the ground. After regaining his balance, he immediately began shouting.
"Brother, what nonsense are you talking about! Even if you're in a bad mood, you can't just spout nonsense! Really!"
After he finished speaking, he glared at Gu Zheng, which was one of the few times he dared to glare at Gu Zheng.
But he couldn't care less about that now, since Gu Zheng's data was just too outrageous!
Qin Hao secretly glanced at Lin Yi and found that Lin Yi's face did not show any other extra emotions.
He breathed a sigh of relief. Luckily, Lin Yi didn't hold it against him; otherwise, he wouldn't know how to get along with Lin Yi in the future.
Gu Zheng snorted coldly at Qin Hao and said,
"I don't know how you're thinking. I bet one day you'll get sold out and still have to count the money for the seller."
Qin Hao: "..." What should I do if I really want to argue with my brother? But I don't dare! I can only grit my teeth and bear it!
Lin Yi, displeased to see Qin Hao look humiliated, spoke up.
“I came here because I have something to tell you. You asked me to look into the Lin family and that Lin Ziming overseas. I tried my best to look into it, but I couldn’t find anything. I can only say that if even I can’t find anything, then there must be a problem.”
"After all, the Lin family had never allowed the young master to appear in public since he was a child. Even when he did appear a few times, he was always wearing a mask and disguise, so no one could see his true face. Therefore, it was very difficult to investigate him."
Upon hearing Lin Yi's words, Gu Zheng finally stopped staring at Qin Hao.
Qin Hao breathed a sigh of relief and quickly echoed those words.
"Anyway, Lin Ziming's identity is very special. He must have ulterior motives. How could someone we can't even find out about be without problems? But brother, why are you investigating Lin Ziming? You can't just suspect that he's from the Lin family, can you?"
Qin Hao hasn't been to the hospital recently, nor has he paid much attention to Xia Ran's situation. He only knows that Lin Ziming is Grandpa Xia's attending physician.
Gu Zheng: "There is now a 50% chance that he is from the Lin family, and a 50% chance that he infiltrated our company for Xia Ran."
"Then..." Gu Zheng paused for a moment, "there is a 100% chance that he had ulterior motives towards Xia Ran!"
At this point, he couldn't help but think of everything that happened at the hospital today.
Xia Ran's familiarity with Lin Ziming, and Lin Ziming's provocations towards him, made him furious whenever he thought about it, and he wished he could beat Lin Ziming up!
When Qin Hao saw Gu Zheng's expression, he suddenly seemed to understand the truth of everything.
So in the end, it all came down to Xia Ran.
After all, the Lin family hasn't caused any more trouble for their company these days.
“But brother, are you… overthinking this? I don’t think Xia Ran is that kind of person. Xia Ran wouldn’t let someone who has those feelings for him stay by his side.”
Qin Hao felt that he understood Xia Ran fairly well. If Xia Ran were really that kind of person, how could she have liked Gu Zheng for so many years without ever falling in love with him?
“Of course I know he isn’t,” Gu Zheng took a deep breath, “but Lin Ziming is!”
"This..." Qin Hao paused for a moment, "Then how about I go and test Xia Ran for you?"
Gu Zheng looked up at him, his eyes filled with doubt.
Qin Hao curled his lip and said,
"Xia Ran is just ignoring you and hates you, it doesn't mean he's really going to cut ties with us. I didn't dare to see him before because I felt guilty and embarrassed. After all, you did such a thing, and as your brother, I felt ashamed to face anyone."
Qin Hao got carried away with his words and unknowingly stepped on Gu Zheng's foot again.
Gu Zheng narrowed his eyes upon hearing this, but ultimately said nothing.
"Then go see Xia Ran. The old man will be discharged from the hospital tomorrow. Take some things with you."
"Don't worry, I understand this without you having to teach me," Qin Hao said directly.
He almost blurted out that he used to be the one teaching Gu Zheng how to handle these social interactions, and now that Gu Zheng was suddenly giving him these instructions, he felt something was off.
Lin Yi listened to the two talking without saying a word or responding, but he didn't seem inclined to leave.
After the two brothers finished speaking, they finally turned their attention to Lin Yi.
Just as Qin Hao was about to speak, Gu Zheng spoke again.
"Could you also check if Xia Ran or Lin Yi have gone to see anyone in the past two days, and check the people around me as well?"
He still hadn't forgotten what Lin Ziming had said today. Lin Ziming told him to handle the things and people around him well. He was very curious about who had done what to make Lin Ziming say such a thing.
In fact, Gu Zheng's first thought was of Gu En, wondering if Gu En had done something behind his back.
But Gu Zheng rejected the idea shortly after it was conceived.
Gu En had already called him last time and said she wouldn't do anything like that anymore.
Most importantly, his men had been monitoring Gu En all along, and only recently left.
Qin Hao frowned deeply upon hearing this and asked,
"What's wrong? What happened? They even want to investigate the people around you."
Gu Zheng: "It's nothing. Just do what I tell you to do."
Qin Hao: "...Alright, is there anything else? If not, I'll head out now."
Gu Zheng glanced at the two of them before finally saying indifferently, "Go out."
Qin Hao breathed a sigh of relief and immediately left Gu Zheng's office with Lin Yi.
At the office door.
Looking at Qin Hao's expression, Lin Yi couldn't help but ask a question.
Are you that afraid of your brother?
"Hmm... I wouldn't call it fear." Qin Hao hesitated for a moment. "How should I put it? I can't explain it. If I had to explain it, I could only describe it as bloodline suppression."
"Bloodline suppression?" Lin Yi clearly didn't understand these words, or even the meaning of this joke.
Qin Hao didn't expect anything from Lin Yidong, so he waved his hand and said,
"It's alright, it's alright, it's not important. If you can't understand, then don't try to understand. But before you came, didn't you say you needed to talk to my brother about something? Like the thing you were just talking about?"
"Otherwise what?" Lin Yi retorted, his eyes fixed on Qin Hao's face.
Feeling a strange heat rise to Qin Hao's face as Lin Yi stared at him like that.
"Ah...hahaha..." He chuckled dryly. "Then you should go back first. Don't bother taking a taxi, just drive my car back. My brother just gave me a bunch of instructions, and I need to get to work."
"Okay." Lin Yi didn't linger. "Then drive it back when you have time."
There will be another opportunity to meet then.
"Or if you have any questions about work, you can send me a message or call me."