Gu Yin and the rest had made arrangements beforehand as the staff of the hotel came in with champagne, wine, cakes, and some food as everyone ate as they chatted. Their relationship had taken a step further, especially with Gu Yin and Mu Jingchen. The two of them drank quite a bit of wine and even seemed drunk as they had their arms around Su Tao, addressing each other as brothers. At this moment, they did not treat Su Tao as someone in his twenties.
Observing this by the sideline, Ni Jingqiu sighed inwardly as he never expected that within one month, Su Tao would bind his interest with Gu Yin and Mu Jingchen. Mu Jingchen has influences in the Chinese Chamber of Commerce, while Gu Yin had assets in all the Chinatown in the world. Forging a good relationship with the two of them is undoubtedly beneficial to Su Tao when he expands his business overseas.
For Gu Yin and Mu Jingchen looking at Su Tao highly, it was because of his medical skills. After all, being acquainted with a Divine Physician, they will have nothing to be afraid of if they fall ill in the future. Furthermore, Su Tao’s potential had attracted their attention. They were certain that with Su Tao’s talents aside from his medical skills, he will definitely not be willing to be buried as a nobody.
The party only came to an end in the wee hours. Looking at the empty room, Su Tao sighed inwardly. He never expected that he would have such a great harvest on his trip to Japan. Defeating Amaki Hamasaki was only one of it, and most importantly, he already has an outline of his medicine factory with Yu Omuri. Furthermore, he is also going to establish his first oversea branch. When he leaves Japan, the first batch of employees will arrive. With Gu Yin handling everything else, he only has to prepare a few outstanding physicians to oversee the overseas branch.
Without him noticing, he had opened up an unprecedented path, using his TCM Empire to integrate into the world.
After Su Tao walked up, he received a message from Ni Jingqiu, “I drank a little too much and I felt terrible. I wanted to drink water, but I couldn’t muster any strength. Can you come over and help me?”
Reading the message, Su Tao’s heart blazed. Isn’t this temptation a little too blatant?
Even if he’s staying beside Ni Jingqiu, the two of them did not have any concerns when meeting each other. But the moment they shut their doors, they would not interfere with each other’s life, and it was a mutual understanding. It was mainly because Su Tao feels that his current relationship with Ni Jingqiu was more suitable, neither too close nor too distant.
Looking at Ni Jingqiu’s sudden message, Su Tao was distracted for a long time before he ultimately went over to press on the doorbell.
But even after waiting for a few minutes, the door did not open. Instead, Su Tao received another message, “You were too slow and I’ve already got it myself. There’s no need to trouble you anymore.”
Glaring at the peephole sourly, Su Tao flipped the bird and gritted his teeth, “You, good!”
When Ni Jingqiu saw Su Tao flipping the bird through the peephole, she couldn’t help laughing out. Truth be told, she was feeling even more conflicted than Su Tao. Her heart was opened when she sent the message, but after she thought about it, she closed her heart decisively. As the saying goes, women are unfathomable creatures.
However, this incident had also made Ni Jingqiu realise that Su Tao had already walked into her heart, becoming a good friend who she could talk anything with. She was worried that if she took that step out, she might not be able to be so open with him anymore.
Ni Jingqiu cherishes their relationship more than Su Tao, and their current distance was perfect.
When Su Tao went back to his room, he laid on the bed and stared into the ceiling as he couldn’t fall asleep. He wanted to send a message to Asaka Ochi. Even if the two of them hadn’t contacted each other for days, he still feels that he should at least notify her about his departure tomorrow.
“I will be leaving Kyoto tomorrow, and I would like to apologise to you for that night. If I had persevered, I wouldn’t have hurt you so greatly. At the same time, I would like to thank you. The objective of my trip went smoothly, and let’s meet again if we’re fated.” Su Tao typed out a long message with conflicted feelings before he edited a few words and sent it over.
Initially, he thought that he wouldn’t receive any reply. However, his phone soon lit up, “That mistake wasn’t done by you alone. On the contrary, I’m remorseful to you. I know that you’re someone who has your own principles, and that happened that night was an unexpected turn of events. I believe that we will definitely meet again, and I wish you a safe journey!”
Reading through the message twice, Su Tao smiled as he sighed inwardly. He was feeling conflicted. Was that a mistake? Definitely not. That day, Su Tao followed the wishes of his heart. As for Asaka Ochi, she did not put up any resistance either.
However, the two of them had mutually found an excuse.
Perhaps ‘mistake’ was an excuse for them to avoid moral condemnation.
Sitting in the courtyard, Asaka Ochi looked at the moon hanging in the sky with her bright pupils as a gentle breeze blew on her nightgown. When a cough sounded behind her, she immediately turned around and saw her husband, “It’s already late, and it’s cold. Why did you come out?”
“I couldn’t sleep due to the pain, so I came out to take a look.” Kohei Koizumi gently replied and added, “There are many mosquitos at night, so don’t stay out for long.”
“Don’t worry about it. I have a unique physique, so I’ve never been bitten by mosquitos.” Asaka Ochi replied with a smile.
“Su Tao will be leaving Kyoto tomorrow. If you want to send him off, then go ahead.” Kohei Koizumi smiled.
“It’s fine, I would rather accompany you.” Asaka Ochi shook her head as she looked at Kohei Koiuzmi seriously.
“You’re truly a stubborn lass!” Kohei Koizumi smiled bitterly.
Ni Jingqiu booked their flights at 9 a.m., which Gu Yin and Mu Jingchen personally sent them off that made Su Tao feel touched.
Su Tao did not directly return to Huainan Province as he came to Beijing together with Ni Jingqiu. After all, he had to provide an explanation to the National Healthcare Committee, which Yue Zun had emphasised the importance to him multiple times.
Since he had a clear conscience, there’s naturally nothing for him to be afraid about.
When they arrived at Beijing Capital International Airport, the Ni Family had already prepared a vehicle for them to receive Su Tao and Ni Jingqiu. Sitting in the front passenger seat was Ni Jingqiu’s assistant, a man. He looks cultured and refined as he reported the current situation of Beijing and the company before Su Tao.
When they were driven out of the airport highway, it started raining.
“Is there any news about our trip to Japan?” Ni Jingqiu asked.
Letting out the sigh, the assistant glanced at Su Tao with a worried gaze and replied, “There is a rumor going around in Beijing, claiming that Su Tao has been bribed by Japan’s Crown Prince, using his identity as a National Healer to come in contact with the leaders in the country to obtain national secrets…”
“Did these bunch of people watch too many spy dramas?” Su Tao laughed out.
“It might sound ridiculous, but the one who fabricated the story was meticulous. Right now, the controversy is unfavorable towards you, and there were even multiple gatherings outside the Beijing branch. But fortunately, they were all dispersed by us.” The assistant immediately explained.
Su Tao nodded his head as he knew what the assistant meant. There’s a mastermind behind these rumors, and if it wasn’t for the fact that the Ni Family was prepared and arranged protection for the Three Flavour Hall’s branch in Beijing, it might damage the good reputation that the Three Flavour Hall has been building all these while.
“Thanks for that!” Su Tao smiled bitterly to Ni Jingqiu.
Shrugging her shoulders, Ni Jingqiu twirled with her hair and replied, “I can’t help it. After all, my interest was bound to you. We’ve already invested a massive sum in the TCM Culture Project that even took up 80% of our investments this year, so we’re bound to the Three Flavour Hall’s reputation.”
“Where did the rumors originated from?” Su Tao asked curiously with his brows knitted.
“A teahouse under the Imperial Uncle, Tong Zuoqing. It was the source of rumors, and regardless of its reliability, it will definitely sweep up waves since it came from there.” Ni Jingqiu’s eyes flickered as she continued, “I intend to have a chat with Tong Zuoqing and ask if he still wishes to stay in Beijing. For those teahouses that did not make much money to bring with, it’s better for them to be closed down instead.”
Tong Zuoqing made his fortune through his teahouses, by making use of intelligence to make a fortune on the stock market before investing in properties. This year, he had made use of the new district in Yubei Province that was close to Beijing and flipped his assets several folds in just two months.
This is the opportunity in the age of information. If you’re a step faster than everyone else, it’s easy for you to obtain a fortune.
But compared to one of the four prominent families of Beijing, Tong Zuoqing still lacks a foundation. Hence, Tuo Zuoqing was smart as he chose to hug Qin Jingyu’s leg.
But even so, there are still ways for Ni Jingqiu to close down those teahouses. Even if Qin Jingyu has been supporting Tong Zuoqing in the dark, Ni Jingqiu had her ways to deal with him. After all, she just had to get taxation personnel, firefighters, and personnel from the Industry and Commerce Bureau to make a trip over daily. In just a month, she will be able to stop his business.
Although Tong Zuoqing did not rely on his teahouses’ business to make a fortune, closing his teahouses will be akin to tearing down his foundation.
Su Tao knew that Ni Jingqiu was truly furious this time as he smiled, “Rumors can’t fool the wise. As for right and wrong, who can determine it clearly? I believe that those in the National Healer Specialist Team aren’t fools to believe in rumors.”
Ni Jingqiu was briefly stunned as she looked at Su Tao’s pupils and smiled, “Letting you go is a great loss to the National Healer Specialist Team, and I believe that they’re not fools.”
“I feel the same as well.” Su Tao smiled. At the same time, he started to plan on how to deal with this crisis.
