Secretary Cai clicked her tongue, thinking to herself, "I practically plastered 'Mrs. Gu' on everyone's foreheads, and you bunch of stupid women still don't understand what I mean!" "What I mean is, could it be that my little niece is Mr. Gu's little wife?"
Upon hearing this, everyone's reaction was even greater than when they found out Mr. Gu was already married. Their mouths gaped open, their eyes wide. The receptionist was the first to react, clutching her bag containing the gambling money, looking wary.
"Secretary Cai, I know you placed a bet on a cute little girl, but you don't need to spout such nonsense over such a small amount of money!" Secretary Cai thought these women were incredibly stupid, and couldn't help but roll her eyes upwards. "That's all I have to say. If you don't believe me, that's fine too."
With that, she went to the front to direct everyone to start climbing. Gu Yizhou led the way with Su Mianmian, followed by the senior executives, and then the rest of the group arranged according to their positions.
Song Zhi had wanted to walk with Su Mianmian, but she couldn't handle the attention. It felt like a celebrity walking the red carpet. She silently lagged a few steps behind, walking among the group of executives.
The two female executives who had previously lost their raises for trying to catch a glimpse of the woman in President Gu's office were puzzled. "Mrs. Gu, why aren't you walking with President Gu?"
Upon hearing this, Song Zhi's almond-shaped eyes widened, suddenly remembering Su Mianmian's earlier mention of the Gu Group claiming she was Gu Yizhou's niece, and she quickly clarified. "Miss, you've got the wrong person, haven't you? I'm not your Mrs. Gu." "If you're not, then who are you?"
The female executives exchanged glances, simultaneously looking at the hands of Gu Yizhou and Su Mianmian clasped together. A few seconds later, their pupils constricted in shock. "I knew I wasn't mistaken about the lipstick President Gu wore last time!" "Niece?! Who exactly said that woman was President Gu's niece?!" Manager Qin, who had been peacefully climbing the mountain, was inexplicably called upon and stepped forward. "What's wrong? I told you, is there a problem?" "Of course there's a problem! Manager Qin, your eyesight is so bad, you should go home and get some glasses!"... Yuquan Mountain has exceptionally beautiful scenery. The group climbed the mountain, enjoying the view. Soon, the group dispersed; the women chatted in small groups about gossip, while the men discussed work and current events.
Gu Yizhou, worried that Su Mianmian might get tired, asked her after a few steps if she wanted to rest. Su Mianmian waved her hand, "I'm in great shape, climbing this little mountain is nothing." Gu Yizhou raised an eyebrow, leaned down, and whispered in her ear, "Whether someone is in good shape or not can't be determined just by climbing a mountain."
"Then how can you tell?" Gu Yizhou smiled without answering.
Su Mianmian paused for a couple of seconds, still not understanding, but judging from Gu Yizhou's expression, she knew it wasn't a compliment. A faint blush crept onto her cheeks, and she changed the subject, "Um, I just realized today that you look quite good in sportswear."
Gu Yizhou's lips curled slightly. "It's because Mrs. Gu has good taste. I'll reward you when we get back."
Su Mianmian smiled shyly. After promising Gu Yizhou in his office that they would publicly announce their relationship during the team-building event, Su Mianmian had specifically bought two sets of matching sportswear.
So later, when Gu Yizhou asked her where she wanted to go for the team-building event, she said she wanted to go hiking, a perfect opportunity to show off their matching outfits. She just hadn't expected that even with such an obvious hint, the other women in the company still hadn't caught on.
Su Mianmian looked troubled, her dark eyes darting around. "We've worn matching outfits, held hands, what else do we need to let them know we're a couple?" Gu Yizhou's thin lips curved into a smile. "How about you kiss me?"
He looked at Su Mianmian seriously, coaxing her gently, "A little niece can hold her uncle's hand, but a little niece can't kiss her uncle's lips, right?" Kiss him, and on the lips too?
Su Mianmian glanced back at the long line of people behind her. "This... isn't that a good idea? It'll ruin your tall and steady image in the employees' eyes."
Gu Yizhou hooked Su Mianmian's little finger. "So considerate of your husband, huh? Or are you just shy and afraid to kiss me?" Su Mianmian, her thoughts exposed by Gu Yizhou's words, lowered her head shyly. "Okay, it's me who's afraid."
At this moment, the receptionist and her group walking behind, watching Gu Yizhou and Su Mianmian holding hands the whole time, grew increasingly suspicious.
"What's wrong with President Gu? Even if he dotes on his niece, he shouldn't neglect his wife. Look, poor Mrs. Gu has been reduced to walking with Assistant Gao."
Another person shook their head thoughtfully. "From the moment they got out of the car until now, President Gu and Mrs. Gu haven't interacted at all. It seems their relationship isn't good at all; maybe it's just a business marriage."
"I think so too. Speaking of which, President Gu and his niece are a bit too close. They're holding hands like that, never letting go. His niece is sixteen or seventeen, almost an adult; he should be more mindful of his image."
"Holding hands is one thing, but just now, a leaf fell on his niece's head, and when President Gu picked it off, his eyes were so tender they could melt hearts. Anyone who didn't know better would think they were a couple."
The group's murmurs weren't loud, but they were enough for Song Zhi and Gao Ze, who were walking ahead, to hear clearly. Song Zhi clicked her tongue awkwardly. "Assistant Gao, what's wrong with the people in your company? Their IQs are nowhere near those of top-tier university graduates!"
Gao Ze was also quite helpless. "Maybe Mrs. Gu looks too young." Song Zhi's eyes darted around, and a smile played on her lips. "Tell me, should we think of a way to help them?" Gao Ze frowned. "How?"
Song Zhi bit her nail, then suddenly snapped her fingers. "I've got it! They all mistake me for your CEO Gu's wife, right? Why don't we pretend to be boyfriend and girlfriend? Once they see that, they should understand."
Gao Ze waved his hand. "Ms. Song, you're not really addicted to pretending to be my boyfriend and girlfriend, are you?" "Right?" Song Zhi's inner thoughts were exposed, and she laughed awkwardly. "I'm a woman, and I don't feel like I'm at a disadvantage. What are you afraid of, Assistant Gao?"
Gao Ze curled his lip. "I'm actually quite scared. The way your little boyfriend looked at me the other day, like he wanted to skin me alive. I don't want to be walking down the street one day and not even know how I died."
Song Zhi clicked her tongue. "He's not here today. Besides, who said he's my boyfriend? He's just a suitor at most." Gao Ze said "Oh," "Some suitors are even more extreme, the kind who will attack you with a knife if they can't get you. You'd better spare me."
Song Zhi's lips twitched, and the image of Cheng Yuli chasing her with a knife suddenly flashed in her mind, making her involuntarily shudder. "This won't work, that won't work, tell me, how do we help them?" Gao Ze glanced at Song Zhi and sighed.
"Watch me." With that, he grabbed two bottles of mineral water and strode after Gu Yizhou and Su Mianmian. "Mr. Gu, Mrs. Gu, you must be thirsty after walking for so long. Have some water and rest."
Gao Ze shouted loudly, just loud enough for the receptionists to hear clearly. Suddenly, the women who had just been defending Song Zhi, this "Mrs. Gu," seemed to have been silenced, their mouths agape.
They looked at Song Zhi for a moment, then at Su Mianmian, and after a long while, finally realized what was happening. "So, that's not Mr. Gu's niece at all, but his…" "Little wife."
Secretary Cai, who had somehow appeared between them, finished their sentence, quietly completing the conversation. "Excuse me, who collected the gambling money just now? Please count it, I'll accept it."
The receptionist belatedly clutched her bag containing the money, her face showing a look of utter disbelief. "Manager Cai, to be honest, you knew all along that my niece was Mr. Gu's wife, didn't you?"
She had just pretended to gamble with them, but now it seemed she was deliberately trying to extort money! Secretary Cai knew her victory was dishonest. "You all say Mrs. Gu is the 'loli' type, right? If so, then it's a gamble that's fair."
Hearing this, the group simultaneously looked at Su Mianmian. Although she was also wearing sportswear today, she was petite, with delicate features that still hinted at a youthful innocence. With her hair tied in a high ponytail, standing next to the tall and imposing Gu Yizhou, she was definitely a typical little loli.
"Tsk, what a blunder. Who would have thought that President Gu, who seems so aloof and ascetic, actually prefers the cute little girl type?" "I'm impressed, I have no choice but to admit defeat..."