Yi Wei walked over to the data administrator’s desk, and the administrator quickly stood up to offer him the seat.
Using Gu Yueshan’s authority, Yi Wei didn’t even need a password; all the files were available for him to view at will. He opened all the documents related to this round’s recommendation list, including the grades and other records of the students who made it to the list. Out of the five students on the list, three had no issues whatsoever, but the inclusion of two others, who had pushed Sun Qi’s brother off the list, raised red flags.
Yi Wei carefully reviewed the academic records and the recommendation processes of these two students multiple times. Based on their performances, Sun Qi’s brother should have been on the list instead. However, the recommendation process documentation didn’t show any irregularities.
“Well, what did you find?” Xu Peng asked smugly, leaning back. “Any issues?”
“I couldn’t find anything wrong,” Yi Wei responded. “The documentation is… very well done.”
“If there’s nothing wrong, then when you report back to Yueshan, make sure you tell him everything clearly. Don’t make it seem like I, as the deputy director, had any ulterior motives or tampered with the recommendation process,” Xu Peng said in a sarcastic tone.
“You sound rather resentful, Deputy Director,” Yi Wei said, standing up and walking over to him. “I’m reviewing these files on Director Gu’s behalf, which is the same as him reviewing them himself. Does your unwillingness to cooperate and your current resentment mean that you think Director Gu no longer has the authority to intervene in the family academy’s affairs?”
“Stop trying to use Yueshan to pressure me. There’s nothing wrong with these files or the recommendation process. What do you think you can do to me?” Xu Peng shot back, glaring at Yi Wei.
“I’m not planning to do anything to you,” Yi Wei replied with a smile. “But I’ll be coming by often to review various documents for Director Gu, so it’s best if you get used to it sooner rather than later. Otherwise, you might just make yourself sick with anger.”
The staff around them didn’t dare make a sound, trying to minimize their presence. Only after Yi Wei and Sun Qi had left, and Xu Peng had stormed back into his office and slammed the door, did they cautiously resume their work without discussing what had just happened.
“Yi Wei, he’s still Director Gu’s uncle. Won’t offending him like this cause trouble for you?” Sun Qi asked with concern. “If he complains to Director Gu’s mother, it might lead to conflict between you and your mother-in-law.”
Yi Wei chuckled at Sun Qi’s worry. “Mother-in-law conflict? Don’t worry, she can’t do anything to me. I could have just asked Director Gu for access to the files directly. Do you know why I went to the deputy director first?”
“Why?” Sun Qi asked, puzzled.
“Remember the time Gu Heng’s group of new students got special treatment for the piano competition? It was this deputy director who secretly processed their paperwork early. I hold grudges, and I’m not letting anyone off the hook. Besides, I have other plans, and I needed to start somewhere. He just happened to be my first target,” Yi Wei explained.
“What plans do you have?” Sun Qi asked.
“You’ll see,” Yi Wei replied cryptically.
Sun Qi sighed. “If the recommendation process is flawless, then maybe there really were students more qualified than my brother.”
“That’s not the case,” Yi Wei shook his head. “There are two students your brother is clearly more qualified than, but their recommendation processes were so well-done that it’s impossible to find any issues. I’m certain something’s off, but it’ll take time to unravel.”
Sun Qi stared at Yi Wei, not fully grasping his meaning.
“Tell your brother not to worry too much. Since the academy won’t recommend him, I will,” Yi Wei said. “My piano teacher, Feromon, has several students, and all but me have made a name for themselves. I’ll reach out to him and send over your brother’s profile, and he’ll help find a suitable teacher for him.”
Sun Qi was stunned. “Really?”
Yi Wei nodded. “All the costs will be covered by the academy. I’ll make sure the paperwork is processed, and I’ll be the one to officially recommend him as Director Gu’s assistant.”
“No, we’ll cover the costs ourselves. We don’t need to go through the academy’s process,” Sun Qi said. “Consider it a favor we owe you.”
“I’m not just doing this for your brother. This is part of my plan to get involved in managing the academy, so you don’t need to feel indebted,” Yi Wei explained.
Meanwhile, Xu Peng was growing increasingly furious and couldn’t contain his anger any longer. He went straight to his sister, Xu Hua, to complain.
After listening to his story, Xu Hua glared at him. “If all the records and processes were flawless, why did you try to stop him from seeing them? It only makes you look guilty!”
“I… I just couldn’t stand his arrogance. I wanted to put him in his place. And after all, I’m the elder, yet he showed me no respect. It really pissed me off, Sis,” Xu Peng said, still fuming.
“He just gave Yueshan a son, and Yueshan is fiercely protective of him. Even I have to tread carefully and pick my battles. And here you are, trying to act like a superior elder!” Xu Hua said angrily. “He wanted to see the files, so you should have let him. I’ve been carefully plotting every move, trying to find his weaknesses. Now, before I’ve even identified any, you’ve handed him a perfect excuse on a silver platter!”
“But all the files and processes are clean. Even if Yueshan sees them, there’s nothing to criticize. I didn’t give him anything to use against me,” Xu Peng said, confused and feeling wronged.
“Your attitude toward him is the weapon he can use against you!” Xu Hua hissed. “This is the Gu family. As long as Yueshan doesn’t object, Yi Wei can do whatever he wants under Yueshan’s name. Your dissatisfaction with him translates into dissatisfaction with Yueshan. If Yi Wei throws a tantrum and insists on removing you from your position, it’s entirely possible! Why can’t any of you hold your tempers?”
“But… but you’re Yueshan’s mother! Surely….”
“He has more than one mother. Whether he acknowledges me or the other one from the East Courtyard depends entirely on his whims,” Xu Hua said bitterly. “If he had only me as a mother, I wouldn’t have to put up with any of this. If he were heartless enough, he could find an excuse to send me, his second aunt, out of the Gu family altogether.”
“So we just have to sit back and do nothing? Just endure all this?” Xu Peng asked, frustrated.
“Endure!” Xu Hua snapped. “We have to endure until the right opportunity presents itself. He’s riding high right now, so don’t provoke him. Even if he treats you poorly, you need to be polite. Don’t give him any excuses to complain to Yueshan. As long as you don’t give him any ammunition, I can still maneuver.”
“When will that opportunity come?” Xu Peng asked, still upset.
“Opportunities like this can’t be rushed. When you’re impatient, you make mistakes. That’s why I keep telling you all to keep calm,” Xu Hua said with a sigh. “Yueshan’s mistress might be the key. If I can uncover her background, I might be able to use her. Yueshan’s been keeping her hidden very well, but that only proves she’s a potential rival to Yi Wei.”
Yi Wei had already contacted his teacher, who had agreed to help. He sent over Sun Yu’s profile and was now just waiting for a reply.
After putting the baby to sleep beside him, Yi Wei lay on his stomach, flipping through his phone contacts, debating whether or not to invite his old friends from abroad to his wedding. Although they hadn’t completely lost touch, their relationships had faded. Every year on his birthday, they would send him messages, but the bond just wasn’t as strong anymore. Reaching out to them now felt a bit awkward, as if he was being too forward.
After careful consideration, Yi Wei decided that since they had been friends, it would be polite to invite them. Whether they came or not would be up to them. So, he sent out invitations, wording them carefully to say that if they had the time and it was convenient, he’d love for them to attend his wedding.
When Gu Yueshan returned home, Yi Wei immediately sat up and asked, “Have you eaten dinner yet?”
“Not yet,” Gu Yueshan replied, glancing at the baby.
“Go take a bath and relax for a bit. I’ll have the kitchen prepare a few dishes for you,” Yi Wei said.
“Alright,” Gu Yueshan nodded and headed to the bathroom.
Yi Wei sent a message to the kitchen, then moved the baby to a small bed beside theirs and lowered the curtains.
By the time Gu Yueshan finished his bath, the food had already been delivered. Yi Wei had also asked for a small bottle of rice wine, brewed by the chef. It wasn’t strong, but it smelled fragrant.
“I’ll have a little with you. Then we can both have a good night’s sleep,” Yi Wei said, pouring two small cups of wine. He seriously raised his cup and clinked it against Gu Yueshan’s before taking a small sip.
Gu Yueshan held his cup but didn’t drink, instead watching Yi Wei’s adorable expression with a fond smile.
“Don’t just stare at me. Drinking won’t fill you up,” Yi Wei said, smiling as he teased him.
Gu Yueshan finally drank his wine in one gulp. Yi Wei poured him another and began recounting the events of his day at the academy.
“Xu Peng probably went to the second matriarch to complain,” Yi Wei said. “I have to admit, the second matriarch really is your mother—she’s impressively patient. I thought she’d summon me to scold me, which would’ve given me the perfect excuse to escalate things. But nothing happened at all. I miscalculated on that front.”
Gu Yueshan picked up a piece of meat and fed it to Yi Wei.
Yi Wei ate the meat and continued, “The academy is definitely flawed. Even though you’ve mostly turned a blind eye to it, I’ll use it to practice handling things. I told you I’d fulfill my duties as your assistant. The company is too intricate, with too many intertwined interests, and understanding it all would take too much energy. Since I’ve switched majors, I won’t delve into the company’s affairs. But outside of the company, I can help you keep an eye on things.”
“Alright, as long as you’re happy,” Gu Yueshan said, gently touching Yi Wei’s face.
“Here, Director Gu, have another drink,” Yi Wei said, moving closer and wrapping his arms around Gu Yueshan’s arm. He lifted his cup and fed Gu Yueshan another sip. “I’ll serve you tonight, but you have to promise to let me bully others later, okay?”
“I’ll… think about it,” Gu Yueshan replied.
“Think about it?” Yi Wei cupped his face and looked into his eyes. “I’ll give you a chance to answer again.”
Gu Yueshan smiled and said, “Whatever makes you happy, we’ll do it.”
“Correct answer,” Yi Wei said, kissing him lightly. “Thank you, hubby.”
Yi Wei’s eyes sparkled mischievously as he playfully teased Gu Yueshan with his gaze.
What should have been a quick dinner stretched on as Yi Wei, mischievously, added a “delicate tofu” course to the meal. This playful interlude delayed the proceedings just a bit.
After dinner, the two went to the bathroom to wash up, exiting one after the other.
Gu Yueshan sat on the bed and pulled Yi Wei into his arms. Yi Wei wrapped his arms around Gu Yueshan’s neck, and they both fell back onto the bed. Yi Wei glanced at the nearby crib and whispered, “Don’t wake the baby.”
“I won’t,” Gu Yueshan promised.
…
I’ll let Director Gu for everybody I think hhh
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lol a “delicate tofu” course
Thank you for this update!!