As Gao Jian took the stage, the reporters first scrutinized him and Mr. Gao's faces, quickly noticing the five-point resemblance between father and son.
This confirmed it; he was definitely their biological son.
Mr. Gao looked at Gao Jian with eyes full of paternal love and satisfaction. "This is my eldest son. His name is Gao Jian, a name given to him by his late mother. I have always placed great expectations on this son, but he dislikes corporate management, and I have never forced him."
"Mr. Gao, then may I ask why your son has agreed to return to the company now?"
"Does Mrs. Gao have no objections?"
"It's rumored you have a younger son. If you have him return to manage the company, will your younger son still be able to inherit it in the future?"
"Does Mrs. Gao agree to this?"
"Or has your relationship with Mrs. Gao already broken down?"
"We haven't seen you and Mrs. Gao together in a long time. Is it true, as the rumors suggest, that you are planning a divorce?"
A barrage of questions came at him like a string of beans from a bamboo tube.
Mr. Gao, having prepared for these questions, raised a hand, signaling for quiet. "Please, everyone, do not rush. I will answer all your curious questions one by one, but there is one thing that will not change today."
He glanced at Gao Jian, his eyes filled with deep affection.
"Gao Jian will, without a doubt, enter the company as my successor."
The entire press conference fell into a sudden silence.
Gao Jian stepped forward, his handsome young face beaming with pride. "My father has entrusted me with a brand-new project. I will devote all my efforts to conquering this project and will certainly achieve great success, never betraying my father's expectations."
The crowd then understood just how important this eldest son was to Mr. Gao.
Otherwise, he would not have assigned him a project to manage solely upon his arrival.
Shen Qingqing watched the entire live broadcast of the press conference from beginning to end and was reasonably satisfied with Mr. Gao's performance. "If this fellow had done this earlier, Gao Jian wouldn't have been forced to leave home for so many years."
"The pillow talk is very powerful," Fu Jingshu said slowly, peeling an orange.
Shen Qingqing tilted her head. "That's true. A son who becomes increasingly rebellious is naturally no match for a gentle, obedient, and understanding wife."
The rift and power struggle between father and son finally vanished after Mrs. Gao's downfall.
"You know, if a certain person sees this live broadcast, will they be furious?"
Shen Qingqing chuckled with schadenfreude.
Fu Jingshu brought the peeled orange to her lips. "Yes."
Given Mrs. Gao's personality, losing something she thought she had controlled for years to someone else, in her rage, she might do anything.
Shen Qingqing wasn't afraid of what she might do, but rather what she might not do. "I'm actually a little anxious. If she makes a move soon, we can catch her faster."
"What's the hurry?" Fu Jingshu glanced at the television screen, his voice cool. "As soon as she makes a move, she will be caught."
Shen Qingqing ate the orange and smiled contentedly.
In the rental apartment.
This rental apartment was very cramped, with the bedroom and living room occupying the same space. The furniture in the room was also a bit old. The coffee table was littered with many instant noodle boxes, and there were even a few wine bottles.
Mrs. Gao sat on the worn-out sofa, her eyes fixed on the television screen, malice and jealousy churning in her depths.
Beside her, Gao Xu, seeing his older brother and father, stared with covetous eyes.
He didn't know why his mother had taken him away, only that he really missed his father and brother.
"Mom, when are we going home?"
"Home?" Mrs. Gao murmured, then suddenly became agitated. "What home? Where is our home now?!"
Gao Xu was startled and flinched back.
This action angered Mrs. Gao. She grabbed the child's shoulders and asked fiercely, "Are you also tired of me? Do you also want to go back to those two men?!"
In the dim rental room, Mrs. Gao's expression appeared ferocious and terrifying. Gao Xu was frightened and quickly shook his head.
"No, I don't."
"You're not allowed to think about them! Understand?!" Mrs. Gao's expression grew even more sinister. "I will never allow you to betray me and go back to them!"
Gao Xu was scared into tears. "I know, Mom, don't be angry with me. I won't think about Dad and my brother anymore. I will stay with you forever."
Hearing these words, Mrs. Gao's emotions slowly calmed down. She stared at Gao Xu, complex emotions swirling in her eyes.
Gao Xu looked at her, shivered, and tentatively called out, "Mom..."
Mrs. Gao seemed to jolt awake, immediately releasing her grip. Gao Xu plopped onto the floor, his backside stinging, but he didn't dare make a sound.
He was truly afraid of his mother when she was like that.
Mrs. Gao looked at his tear-streaked, wronged face, as if seeing him for the first time. She suddenly hugged him. "Did Mom scare you?"
Gao Xu cautiously shook his head.
Mrs. Gao quickly apologized. "Don't be afraid, Mom won't hurt you. No one in the world loves you as much as Mom. You must remember, Mom will always be the one who loves you the most..."
Gao Xu nodded, very obediently.
Mrs. Gao closed her eyes, content, but at a certain moment, they snapped open, and she shoved the son in her arms to the ground.
"It's all your fault, you heartless wretch! I spent so many years with you, and it still doesn't compare to that slut's son!"
"I also bore you a son, so why am I so unimportant in your heart? We shared a bed for so many years; was I just a pawn you could discard at will?!"
Gao Xu silently curled into a ball, watching his mother question the air with frantic intensity.
He had grown accustomed to this over the past few days.
Ever since leaving home, his mother's mental state had deteriorated day by day. She would often talk to herself.
Gao Xu was very scared at first.
He had also tried to wake his mother, but every time he approached her, she would hit him. Gradually, Gao Xu dared not go near her anymore.
He sat on the floor like this, watching his mother's frantic outburst, and remembered his father and brother, remembering their warm home.
He couldn't help but shed tears.
He longed to go home.
After her frenzy, Mrs. Gao collapsed on the sofa, exhausted, and fell asleep.
When she woke up an hour later.
Mrs. Gao picked up her phone from the sofa. She had already replaced the SIM card with one that hadn't been registered with her ID.
She found a number from it and dialed.
A man's voice answered from the other end.
"Hello."
Mrs. Gao said, "Help me kill someone."
"Of course, but can you afford my price in your current situation?"
"Don't look down on me!" Mrs. Gao's voice suddenly became sharp. "Even a starved camel is bigger than a horse. Even though I'm down on my luck, I can still afford to pay you!"