msmithbooks Chapter 97 Aunt Qin Unexpectedly Helps a Great Way
Chapter 97 Aunt Qin Unexpectedly Helps a Great Way
Chapter 97 Aunt Qin Unexpectedly Helps a Great Way (4k)
Qin Hongfang, who had just returned from buying vegetables downstairs, was puzzled to see Gou Youqian sitting alone on the sofa.
"Hey? Old Gou, Xiao Geng went back? I was just saying I'd invite him over for dinner!"
"No, I haven't gone back." Gou Youqian gestured towards the study with a complicated expression. "I'm still inside."
"Oh? What about Wan Ning?" Qin Hongfang put down her shopping basket.
"They're inside—talking about business," Gou Yougan added.
"Huh?" Qin Hongfang was taken aback at first, then her face instantly lit up with immense joy. "I knew it! Wan Ning was just being sarcastic when she was criticizing Xiao Geng! She was just shy!"
Gou Yougan then realized what his wife was getting excited about, and immediately felt both amused and exasperated: "Teacher Qin! What are you thinking! We're discussing serious business! Legal consultation! Wan Ning only invited me out because it's industry practice!"
"Do you need to avoid legal consultations?" Qin Hongfang raised an eyebrow. "You're such a blockhead!"
Can't you see? What a great opportunity to be alone! Look at Xiao Geng and Wan Ning, they're a perfect match, so handsome and beautiful!
Gou Youqian tried to reason with him: "Isn't the age difference a bit too much? Wan Ning is eight or nine years older than Xiao Geng after all."
"What do you mean, 'more'?!" Qin Hongfang retorted immediately, hands on her hips and glaring. "Wasn't I three years older than you back then? What, did I hold you back in any way? Did I wrong you?"
Gou Yougan: "————I, I didn't mean that————" Seeing his wife's piercing gaze, he wisely chose to shut up, picked up the newspaper again, and covered himself completely.
In the study, Gu Wanning had already explained her strategic suggestions to Geng Zhi in detail, and also briefly mentioned several possible directions for clause design.
"Thank you, Attorney Gu. Your words are more enlightening than ten years of study. They have given me a sudden clarity," Geng Zhi said sincerely.
"Boss Geng, you're too kind." Gu Wanning deliberately emphasized the words "Boss Geng" clearly and teasingly. "I've always been curious, did you work on a ranch before?"
She had already switched from her professional lawyer persona to her usual banter mode, her eyes sparkling with liveliness.
Still absorbed in the equity design, Geng Zhi was a little confused and subconsciously asked, "Why would Attorney Gu ask that?"
"First, he tried to rent my house, begging and haggling for a deposit and payment, and now he wants to get my expensive legal advice for free," Gu Wanning rolled her eyes at him. "Your ability to fleece people is truly an art, Boss Geng."
Geng Zhi then realized what was happening, gave an embarrassed smile, and was still trying to figure out how to answer.
Seeing that Geng Zhi wasn't as quick-witted as he had been during their first meeting, Gu Wan Ning worried that her joke had gone too far and embarrassed him, so she politely changed the subject: "My home, is it a complete mess?"
"Of course not! I keep it cleaner than my own house!" Geng Zhi deliberately placed his hand on his right chest, looking very serious. "I'm speaking from the heart!"
"Pfft—" Gu Wanning looked at his serious expression, her eyes crinkling into crescent moons with laughter. "You're quite humorous, aren't you? Is your heart on the right side? A special ability?"
"Uh, mistake, mistake." Seeing that he had been found out, Geng Zhi very naturally moved his hand slowly to his left chest and even pressed it.
Gu Wanning was amused even more by his serious "correction," and her shoulders shrugged slightly.
Geng Zhi smiled at her, then, a sudden idea struck him. He tentatively suggested, "If the landlord is really worried, I'll send you photos of the room every night, a comprehensive inspection from every angle, so you can check it remotely. Is that alright?"
"Whatever," Gu Wanning blurted out, only realizing afterward that her words seemed to imply some kind of ongoing connection, which was somewhat inappropriate.
But seeing Geng Zhi's calm expression, she realized that correcting him would seem petty, so she simply turned her head slightly, picked up a cherry from the fruit plate, and used it as a tactical cover.
"So what time do you usually go to bed at night?" Geng Zhi asked naturally, his expression still very serious.
"Why are you asking about this?" Gu Wanning immediately glanced at him warily, her fingers pinching the cherry stem.
"I work overtime every day and get home quite late," Geng Zhi said seriously. "I'm worried that if I send you pictures after you've fallen asleep, it will disturb your sleep, and then I'll be in a terrible position."
"That makes a tiny bit of sense," Gu Wanning tilted her head and thought for a moment.
Just then, Qin Hongfang, who couldn't resist coming to find out what was going on, gently pushed open the door and happened to hear Geng Zhi say, "It'll be late when I get back" and "I'm worried about disturbing your sleep." Seeing the harmonious atmosphere between the two, she was overjoyed.
"Oh dear, I'm so sorry!" Qin Hongfang hurriedly brought in a fruit platter, her face beaming with smiles. "I was in such a rush to get you some more cherries that I forgot to knock."
As she put down the fruit plate, she apologized, her eyes quickly scanning back and forth between the two of them: "You two continue, continue chatting, don't mind me."
After Qin Hongfang left and carefully closed the door again, the study was quiet for a moment.
Geng Zhi turned to look at Gu Wan Ning and said with a smile, "It seems that Attorney Gu is still a bachelor, otherwise Professor Qin wouldn't be so eager to come and watch the drama unfold."
Gu Wanning pursed her lips and sighed, feeling both helpless and amused.
On a sudden inspiration, Geng Zhi said, "I would like to formally hire Attorney Gu as my long-term top legal advisor. Of course, it will be for a fee."
"Oh?" Gu Wanning raised an eyebrow, looking at him leisurely. "My consulting fees are really expensive. Is Boss Geng sure you want to hire me? Aren't you a startup supposed to control costs?"
She specifically emphasized the words "cost control".
"Absolutely, absolutely." Geng Zhi said earnestly, "Attorney Gu is highly skilled and has a clear mind; he's exactly the kind of professional partner a fast-growing company like ours needs. This investment is well worth it."
"So how are you planning to pay this time?" Gu Wanning leaned slightly forward, resting her chin on her hand, deliberately drawing out her words, "It's not going to be—'one month's rent as deposit, one month's rent in advance' again? Or, will you continue to pay on credit?"
"If we extend credit, wouldn't that be putting Gu Lu at a huge disadvantage? I always believe in win-win situations." Geng Zhi met her gaze, a hint of cunning in his eyes.
"Oh? How does it work as a win-win situation?" Gu Wanning's curiosity was piqued, and she picked up a bright red cherry, waiting for him to continue.
Geng Zhi cleared his throat and said seriously, "I bet someone as outstanding as Attorney Gu must be troubled by the pressure to get married, and it's a bit of a sweet burden, right?"
Gu Wanning didn't say anything, but gave him a look that said, "You continue."
"That just so happens that our Jiaotong University matchmaking service does just that," Geng Zhi laughed. "As a token of our sincerity in cooperating, I can give you a free VVIP membership valid for 71 years, so you can participate in our matchmaking events anytime for free."
Upon hearing this, Gu Wanning almost choked on the cherry in her mouth. She quickly grabbed a tissue to cover her mouth, coughed twice, and her cheeks turned slightly red, whether from coughing or something else.
She stared at Geng Zhi with wide eyes, both amused and annoyed: "71? I'd be 100 years old then! Geng Zhi, are you planning to use this membership to keep me as your free legal counsel for life?"
Emerging from the study, Qin Hongfang tiptoed into the kitchen and whispered to Gou Yougan, who was preparing vegetables, "I just went in to deliver some fruit. What were you doing? Wan Ning and Xiao Geng were chatting and laughing so happily!"
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Gou Youqian was completely bewildered: "?? No, just now Wan Ning was saying in all seriousness that, according to industry practice, discussing specific plans should be kept confidential, and I had to recuse myself, right? How did we end up—chatting and laughing?"
"I told you you're a blockhead! You actually believe what girls say!" Qin Hongfang shook her head in exasperation.
"Alright then." Gou Youqian shook his head, a smile appearing on his face. "Xiao Geng is indeed quite good. Whether it's his appearance, temperament, or his intelligence and eloquence, he's impeccable. If he really can get together with Wan Ning—it wouldn't be a bad thing. We won't get involved; let them decide for themselves."
Squeak-!
The study door opened, and Geng Zhi and Gu Wan Ning walked out one after the other.
Seeing this, Qin Hongfang quickly came over: "Xiao Geng, are you two done chatting? Come on, sit on the sofa for a while longer. Your teacher Gou and I are preparing dinner, it'll be ready soon!"
Seeing this, Geng Zhi quickly said, "Thank you, Professor Qin and Professor Gou. I won't bother you any longer. I'll visit you again when I have the chance."
It wouldn't be appropriate for me to stay for a meal on my first visit.
Although he knew that staying for dinner might help him get closer to the person, he was still unsure whether they were truly interested in staying despite their polite words.
"Xiao Geng, it's rare for Wan Ning to be here today. Your Uncle Gou and I are both very happy. It's not often that the house is so lively, so please stay for dinner!"
Gu Wanning listened silently to the side, thinking to herself: Auntie's way of addressing people changes so quickly. Just a moment ago it was "Teacher Gou", and now it's "Your Uncle Gou"?
"Thank you, Professor Qin. There's really no need to trouble yourself. Um, I still need to go back to the company to arrange some things, so—"
Geng Zhi continued to politely decline.
"What do you mean 'just'? Do you think Aunt Qin can't see through your excuses? You're just like Wan Ning. No matter how busy you are at the company, you still have to eat! It's lunchtime now, so it's just one more pair of chopsticks!" Qin Hongfang pretended to be angry.
Before Geng Zhi could speak, Qin Hongfang quickly added, "Perfect timing! Your Aunt Qin would love to hear the story behind your mysterious heart-shaped card. It's a fantastic design! Share it with me!"
"Yes, Xiao Geng, your Aunt Qin just retired and needs someone to talk to. Why don't you spend more time chatting with her?" Gou Youqian chimed in with a smile.
Gu Wanning: I just finished talking about Uncle Gou, and now it's Aunt Qin??
Before Geng Zhi could respond, Qin Hongfang turned around, took off her apron, and neatly tied it around Gou Yougan's neck, instructing, "Old Gou, the master chef, it's up to you!"
She herself pulled her straightforward manner back to sit on the sofa.
Seeing that Professor Qin was genuinely interested in keeping him, Geng Zhi didn't want to refuse too much, so he sat down and chatted with Qin Hongfang again, while Gu Wan Ning could only sit beside him and listen.
"Xiao Geng, I heard from your Uncle Gou that you said during your presentation that the mission of universities is to cultivate well-rounded individuals and help them achieve a happy life." That's so well said!
Qin Hongfang opened up: "A happy life certainly requires a good career, but a fulfilling emotional life is also an indispensable part."
As she spoke, she glanced meaningfully at Gu Wanning.
"Take Wan Ning for example, she's good at everything, but she works too hard. She lacks someone who understands her and can talk to her—"
Seeing that her aunt was about to start "matchmaking" again, Gu Wanning quickly interrupted, "Aunt! Didn't you want to ask about Geng Zhi's card idea? Ask him now!"
"Oh right, right! Look at me, I got carried away and went off-topic." Qin Hongfang turned to Geng Zhi, "Xiao Geng, that heart-shaped card, and your 'If You Are the One' event, and the TV station's recommended guest—there must be a lot of stories behind all of this, right?"
Next, Qin Hongfang started by asking about the creative cards, and then inquired with great interest about the event planning, execution details, and the opportunity to collaborate with the "If You Are the One" program team.
She listened attentively, nodding frequently and occasionally expressing her admiration.
Gu Wanning initially listened passively, but as the straightforward narration unfolded, she became captivated by the ingenious operational details and the twists and turns of the process, occasionally interjecting with a question or two.
Her gaze toward Geng Zhi held a mixture of inquiry and admiration.
When Geng Zhi discussed the problems of false information, fraudulent marriage scams, and bar scams on the three major online dating platforms, as well as Jiaotong University's matchmaking services' efforts to purify the industry environment, Qin Hongfang applauded and praised him: "Xiao Geng, your ideal is very meaningful! This is the social responsibility that Jiaotong University students should have! Auntie supports you!"
Gu Wanning frowned slightly and interrupted, "But your power is ultimately limited; you can only ensure the authenticity of the 'Jiaotong University Matchmaker' ecosystem. You can't influence the chaos on giant platforms like Baihe.com and Zhenai.com, can you?"
"Wan Ning is right! So I've been thinking about whether we could contact professors in the humanities and social sciences at National Chiao Tung University in Shanghai to conduct extensive social research together with our matchmaking team, and jointly publish an industry white paper on the current state of the dating and marriage industry and recommendations for its regulations."
"Leveraging academic credibility and media influence, we will promote the establishment of a more comprehensive real-name authentication and credit system within the industry —"
"That's an excellent idea!" Qin Hongfang's eyes lit up, and she became excited again. "Xiao Geng, have you started contacting the relevant teachers?"
"Not yet, Aunt Qin." Geng Zhi said honestly, "I lack connections in this area, and I'm planning to explore the possibility at the School of Humanities first."
"The School of Humanities focuses on philosophy and literature studies, which may not be a very good match for your topic, which emphasizes social and business practice." Qin Hongfang thought for a moment and shook her head.
"Then Aunt Qin, what is your suggestion—"
"Don't rush, let me think about it." Qin Hongfang closed her eyes and tapped her fingers lightly on her knees.
A few seconds later, she opened her eyes and said, "I can introduce you to Liu Kangping, the vice dean of the School of Media and Communication. His research areas include new media and social development, and public relations, which are very compatible with your topic. Moreover, their school has a tradition of regularly publishing industry observation white papers, and their influence and dissemination channels are more mature."
Upon hearing this, Geng Zhi was overjoyed. This was truly an unexpected delight!
He was originally thinking about how to make indirect contact through Professor Qi, but he didn't expect that Aunt Qin could directly connect with the key figure.
"Furthermore," Qin Hongfang continued, "doesn't your team also have a PhD in psychology? You could collaborate with the School of Psychology to delve into the topic from the perspectives of intimate relationship formation, social psychology, and behavioral motivation, thereby increasing the academic depth and persuasiveness of the white paper report."
"Brilliant!" Geng Zhi's eyes lit up; Aunt Qin's suggestion was indeed very constructive.
"I never expected Aunt Qin, who has an engineering background, to have such insightful views on the interdisciplinary application of humanities and social sciences. I really admire her!" Geng Zhi offered sincere praise at the right time.
"Your Aunt Qin was incredibly talented and had a wide range of interests when she was young. She was definitely held back by engineering studies," Gou Youqian said with a smile as he came out carrying a plate of freshly cooked braised prawns.
"Uncle!" Gu Wanning glanced at him sideways, defending him, "My aunt has won quite a few awards in the engineering field. She's a well-rounded individual, excelling in both arts and sciences, okay?"
"Yes, yes, I misspoke. Teacher Qin is an all-rounder." Gou Youqian readily agreed and smiled as he tried to make amends.
"Come on, Xiao Geng, Wan Ning, come to the table, let's eat and chat," Qin Hongfang called out.
Geng Zhi quietly sent a message to Li Haipeng, then sat down with peace of mind and had lunch with Uncle Gou, Aunt Qin, and Wan Ning.
And this simple home-cooked meal brought Geng Zhi another unexpected benefit:
At the dinner table, Gu Wanning offered to accompany him to negotiate the equity with Ma Wencai.
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