The changes at Gu Corporation also affected the collaboration with Ye Corporation.
Gu Xiukai harbored ambitions to become the top magnate in Sijiucheng. As for Ye Corporation, he viewed it as a thorn in his side, a formidable rival.
And so, immediately upon taking office, he suspended the project.
The project's suspension resulted in losses not just for Ye Corporation, but for Gu Corporation as well.
However, Gu Xiukai was indifferent. He had learned that the reason the project chose to collaborate with Ye Corporation was because Gu Xiuyu had fallen for Ye Ziyu. The cooperation was merely a shield he used to maintain contact with her.
For a woman, he was willing to abandon the company and his status as the second young master of the Gu family. Gu Xiukai was curious about who Ye Ziyu was, such that she could cause Gu Xiuyu to fall out with both his father and Grandpa Gu.
A few days later, Ye Ziyu arrived at Gu Corporation again, in response to Gu Xiukai's invitation to discuss cooperation matters.
Yang Jie was waiting outside the lobby. Upon seeing Ye Ziyu, he immediately stepped forward to greet her.
"Miss Ye, our President Gu is already waiting for you in his office." Yang Jie gestured for her to enter the elevator.
The "President Gu" he mentioned must be Gu Xiukai!
The layoffs at Gu Corporation had already become a topic of gossip in business circles. The laid-off employees were furious and were spreading malicious rumors about him.
The elevator reached the top floor, and Ye Ziyu followed Yang Jie to the president's office.
"Miss Ye, please go in."
Yang Jie pushed the door open, and Ye Ziyu entered the office.
"President Gu," Ye Ziyu greeted.
Gu Xiukai looked up and was struck by Ye Ziyu's beauty. So this was why Gu Xiuyu would argue with Grandpa Gu. She was indeed attractive, possessing a certain sharpness that set her apart from other wealthy young ladies.
He rose from his desk and invited Ye Ziyu to sit on the sofa beside him. "Miss Ye, would you like tea or coffee?"
Ye Ziyu had been to this office when Gu Xiuyu was the president of Gu Corporation. Seeing that the interior layout had changed, she assumed it was his doing.
"Plain water, please," Ye Ziyu replied.
Holding a cup, Gu Xiukai turned back to look at Ye Ziyu, who appeared serious. He glanced at the high-quality tea and coffee on display and chuckled teasingly, "Miss Ye, are you sure?"
"Yes," Ye Ziyu nodded. "Just plain water, please. It won't trouble you, President Gu."
Gu Xiukai poured a glass of water and placed it in front of Ye Ziyu. "I know Miss Ye is being considerate of me, but if I didn't know, I might think you look down on Gu Corporation's tea."
It was just a glass of water. Ye Ziyu looked at Gu Xiukai's earnest expression and felt that her visit was not going to end well.
She smiled and remained silent.
Gu Xiukai picked up documents from his desk and turned to place them before Ye Ziyu. "Miss Ye, I've learned something about our previous cooperation. I also know why Xiuyu chose to collaborate with Ye Corporation. Now that I am in charge of the company, I have my own ideas regarding the cooperation between Gu Corporation and Ye Corporation."
"Does President Gu mean that the cooperation between the two companies is terminated?" Ye Ziyu asked directly.
Gu Xiukai was no easy opponent. Since he brought it up, he must have had his own thoughts. He was merely waiting for her to confirm the matter.
Seeing Ye Ziyu's forthright nature, Gu Xiukai smiled. "Miss Ye is correct. I do have that in mind. The cooperation between Ye Corporation and Gu Corporation is considered a powerful alliance in Sijiucheng. However, a month has passed since the project began, and there has been little progress. Is Ye Corporation incapable, or do Gu Corporation and Ye Corporation have too many differing ideas that hinder the project's rapid development?"
If he wanted to discuss cooperation, he could have said so directly. What was the point of speaking in such grand terms now?
Ye Ziyu looked at Gu Xiukai, who wanted to terminate the cooperation while appearing innocent, and found it quite exasperating.
"President Gu, please state your intentions directly and don't beat around the bush," Ye Ziyu said.