Qin Hao hadn't even figured out what Gu Zheng had said before, and now hearing this last sentence left him completely dumbfounded.
"No, cousin, how did I disrespect Xia Ran? I genuinely consider him family. You know my personality. If I didn't like Xia Ran, would I treat him like this?"
"You like Xia Ran?" Gu Zheng's eyes turned cold.
Qin Hao was taken aback, then clicked his tongue twice, looked at Gu Zheng with a mysterious smile, and said,
"Cousin, where's your brain at work? I told you my feelings for Xia Ran are just like family, what are you thinking?"
"And with you getting so jealous, could it be that you've fallen for Xia Ran?"
Qin Hao's face showed curiosity and gossip.
Indeed, it's really hard not to like someone like Xia Ran.
Not to mention that Xia Ran's face looks so much like that person's, it's quite normal for his cousin to fall for her.
Gu Zheng's face suddenly turned cold, completely devoid of warmth. His icy gaze fell on Qin Hao, and he said in a cold voice,
Do you think it's possible?
Instead of answering yes or no, he threw the question back to Qin Hao.
Qin Hao paused, looking at Gu Zheng's expression, he already knew the answer without even needing to reply.
He sighed silently and said,
"Cousin, what's the point of you always having such a cold face? Aren't you tired of living like this?"
Although his cousin has always been aloof from a young age, he is still quite tactful.
It only becomes colder and more heartless after that person is gone.
Gu Zheng turned his gaze away and looked ahead without saying a word.
Upon seeing this scene, a strange glint flashed in Qin Hao's eyes before he sighed, feigning annoyance.
"Although I don't have those kinds of feelings for Xia Ran, it's hard to say what about others. People like Xia Ran are very popular."
"If someone else discovers Xia Ran's good qualities and attacks her directly, I don't think you have a chance of winning with your cold demeanor."
As he finished speaking, Qin Hao clicked his tongue twice, his eyes fixed on Gu Zheng, wanting to see his reaction.
He refused to believe that Gu Zheng truly had absolutely no feelings for Xia Ran.
However, Gu Zheng's reaction was destined to disappoint Qin Hao.
Gu Zheng's expression remained unchanged; he simply spoke coldly.
"He won't."
Xia Ran has liked him for so many years, how could she possibly like someone else?
Qin Hao was taken aback; his cousin's words left him somewhat at a loss for words.
After thinking for a while, Qin Hao still felt that he couldn't let Gu Zheng be so smug, so he spoke up again quietly.
"That's not necessarily true. People's hearts are easily changed. Maybe Xia Ran likes you now, but what about in the future? Can you guarantee what will happen in the future?"
After he finished speaking, Qin Hao still stared intently at Gu Zheng, trying to catch some other emotions on Gu Zheng's face.
However, Gu Zheng's reaction was exactly the same as before, without any change, which was destined to disappoint Qin Hao.
“I told you, he won’t.”
Gu Zheng's voice was very firm. Xia Ran had liked him for so many years. If she were capable of liking someone else, she would have done so long ago. Why would she wait until now?
Qin Hao choked, finding himself speechless. He really wanted to say that confidence is a good thing, but excessive confidence is not.
But seeing Gu Zheng's expression, he could only let out a soft hum and say...
"Life is unpredictable, and nothing is absolute. Anyway, if you continue like this, I think you will lose Xia Ran very soon."
Qin Hao knew that Gu Zheng wouldn't react any further, so after saying that, he didn't expect Gu Zheng to answer him at all, and just looked down at his phone.
Gu Zheng's expression was exactly as Qin Hao had expected, unchanged from before.
But that wasn't the case at all in his heart.
Actually, when Qin Hao said that Xia Ran would like someone else in the future, he immediately thought of the man he met when he and Xia Ran went back to Xia Ran's house last time.
Although Xia Ran said that the man was a classmate, what he saw at the time was completely different. The way that man looked at Xia Ran was definitely not that of a classmate.
However, since Xia Ran and he are now husband and wife, he feels no tension or fear whatsoever.
Xia Ran would never be willing to leave him.
Thinking of this, Gu Zheng suddenly felt enlightened.
"From now on, you are not allowed to call Xia Ran by her name. Call her sister-in-law or brother."
Qin Hao, who was looking down at his phone, immediately looked up after hearing Gu Zheng's words and said,
"Seriously? It's just a form of address, why are you making such a fuss? Xia Ran said it's inappropriate for a grown man to call someone 'sister-in-law,' so he won't let me. As for calling him 'brother,' how could that be! I'm so much older than him..."
Qin Hao stopped speaking when he saw the look in Gu Zheng's eyes.
He swallowed nervously, feeling as if his throat was being choked, unable to utter a word.
In the end, Qin Hao gave in!
"Fine, fine, I can call you 'brother,' okay? It's just a form of address, why are you being so petty? You already said you don't like him, so what we call each other doesn't really matter."
Qin Hao said this on purpose to provoke Gu Zheng, but there was also some truth in it.
He found that he was seeing his cousin less and less clearly now.
Despite Qin Hao's words, Gu Zheng's expression remained unchanged; he simply said coldly,
"Whether I like him or not, he is now my partner in name only, and that fact will not change."
"So you have to address him properly, that's the rule. And even if I don't say anything, when your mother comes back tomorrow, she'll probably be angry when she hears how you address Xia Ran."
Gu Zheng spoke in a calm tone, but every word he said made perfect sense.
In short, it left Qin Hao both angry and helpless, wanting to refute but not knowing where to begin.
If his mother heard him address Xia Ran, and Gu Zheng said it to his mother, he would definitely get a beating!
"Alright, alright, you're the eldest brother, whatever you say is right!"
Qin Hao was furious, but then his expression turned serious again.
“Cousin, the Lin family seems to be causing trouble lately. Everyone knows that the land in the east of the city belongs to the Gu family, and no one dares to take it. But the Lin family is openly and secretly trying to get a share of it.”
When the topic of work came up, Qin Hao's expression became much more serious, and all traces of his previous carefree and irresponsible demeanor disappeared.
Chapter 34 I don't want to embarrass him
Because he didn't like life in the business world, his parents, after he came of age and Gu Zheng took over the Gu family business, consulted him and then handed over their Qin family company to Gu Zheng.
Qin Hao simply helped Gu Zheng with trivial matters every day, living the life of a rich second-generation heir who did nothing but eat and wait for death, and his parents did not object to this at all.
It was only in this matter that he felt his parents were his biological parents!
However, since the Qin family's headquarters are overseas, he usually spends most of his time abroad.
Gu Zheng also frequently travels between China and abroad.
Upon hearing Qin Hao's words, Gu Zheng's face remained expressionless, something Qin Hao was already completely accustomed to.
"He can't cause any trouble," Gu Zheng replied coldly.
Upon hearing this, Qin Hao felt instantly at ease. Of course, with his cousin there, what did he have to be afraid of!
With that thought in mind, Qin Hao felt justified in starting to play the game again.
Gu Zheng saw this, frowned again, and said...
“You’re not a child anymore. Stop playing childish games. It’s time to get down to business.”
Qin Hao, who was about to play games with his teammates, quietly put his phone away.
Indeed, this game is played by many elementary school kids, and they get so angry every time they play it.
However, this can't be considered a game for children!
However, he didn't dare say it aloud, lest his cousin criticize him again.
"Cousin, is there something you need me to do? Or are you planning to have me sound out the Lin family's opinion?"
The Lin family was not a threat before, but later, after their son, who had been raised outside since childhood, was brought back, their business flourished, elevating the company to a whole new level.
Moreover, the Lin family's son is also very mysterious; they have basically never seen his true face.
Gu Zheng glanced at him coldly, his tone seemingly laced with sarcasm.
"You're going to sound them out? Don't let them find out what you're thinking."
Qin Hao: "..."
Oh my god! Don't be angry! This is his cousin, his mother's eldest son!
"So...cousin, what do you mean by asking me to do something serious?"
He had a smile on his face, but it looked forced no matter how you looked at it!
Gu Zheng: "Find out some places suitable for children to play, and once you find them, prepare a document and send it to me. Also, if there are any places that require tickets, buy the tickets for them as well."
After hearing Gu Zheng's words, Qin Hao was completely dumbfounded. He looked at Gu Zheng in disbelief, his lips twitching a few times, but he couldn't utter a word.
Finally, after waiting for Qin Hao's reply, Gu Zheng spoke again and asked,
"Didn't you hear what I said?"
"No...no..." Qin Hao came to his senses. "Brother, is this the serious thing you just told me to do?"
Gu Zheng frowned. "You have a problem with this? Isn't this a serious matter? Isn't it better than you playing those childish games?"
Upon hearing this, Qin Hao was speechless and silently put his phone into his pocket.
"Yes, you're right, but are you planning to take Chen Baobei out to play?"
If that's the case, then he tacitly agrees that it's a serious matter.
After all, it was the first time he had heard that his brother was going to play with Gu Chen.