Chapter 396: Unable to Face Her

Not only Shen Xun couldn't sleep that night.

Gu Yinxue lay in the private ward; the spacious room was empty except for the occasional nurse who came to check and the doctor who told her not to stay up late, with no one else present.

Before, whenever she fell ill, her father, mother, and older brother would never leave her side, staying with her all night.

Other members of the Gu family would also come to visit her.

That evening, aside from her mother's visit, no one else came.

Because today was the day Jiang Lai returned to the Gu family, everyone's attention was on Jiang Lai, and people in their circle only rushed to flatter Jiang Lai—who still remembered Gu Yinxue?

When Gu Yinxue became agitated, the equipment would show data fluctuations, and the doctor and nurse would rush over, urging her to calm down and rest early.

Gu Yinxue said okay with her mouth and slowly closed her eyes.

But when the doctor saw the fluctuations on the monitor, he sighed and asked directly, 'Do you still want to live? If you keep this up, I'll immediately notify Mr. and Mrs. Gu.'

Gu Yinxue opened her eyes: 'Something happened at home today; I need a moment.'

'Don't be too late; I'll come back in half an hour.' The doctor in a white coat left the ward.

Gu Yinxue's attending physician was close to the Gu family and knew a bit about their affairs; the ultimate victims of the mix‑up were the two children.

The doctor thought it over and decided to call Mr. and Mrs. Gu, but no one answered.

After all, the biological daughter had returned home today; they must be busy and have no time.

Finally, Song Shiwei and Gu Zhiyan arrived.

After Song Shiwei finished applying medicine to her face, the two only intended to sneak a glance at Gu Yinxue, worried about waking her, since staying up late is bad for heart patients.

As their footsteps approached, Gu Yinxue opened her eyes and softly called, 'Mom, brother.'

Gu Zhiyan watched his sister slowly sit up, his expression complex.

Song Shiwei worriedly asked, 'Did we wake you?'

Gu Yinxue shook her head: 'I just can't sleep. Mom, what happened to your face?'

Song Shiwei instinctively raised her hand to touch it, fearing to disturb the medicine, then lowered it and shook her head: 'It's nothing; it'll be fine in a couple days.'

Gu Yinxue instinctively looked at Gu Zhiyan.

Normally, parents wouldn't say such things, but if the older brother knew, he would tell her.

This time, Gu Zhiyan, however, remained silent for a long while.

Gu Yinxue couldn't understand how twenty‑eight years of constant companionship could be outweighed by the mistake of saying 'I'm only doing this for your own good.'

'Brother, I'm sorry.' Gu Yinxue immediately apologized, 'I shouldn't have said that today, nor should I have done that before; it was my fault.'

Song Shiwei frowned: 'Did you siblings argue? Because of what? Is it because of Jiang Lai?'

Gu Zhiyan noticed that whenever Mother mentioned Jiang Lai, her tone always carried a sting; previously he had also felt hatred toward Jiang Lai without realizing it, but now listening, he felt something was off.

He disliked Jiang Lai because of Lin Shutong.

This afternoon he learned Lin Shutong's true nature, spending the whole afternoon and half the night unable to fully digest it, yet gradually he realized he had been abetting evil, blinded by his feelings.

From beginning to end, the victim has always been Jiang Lai.

When everything fell into place and the inverted priorities returned to their proper order, his thoughts gradually coalesced.

When a person is no longer biased toward one individual, they can break free of subjective constraints and make a fair judgment.

He is like this because of Lin Shutong; Mother, what is it because of?

Gu Zhiyan hadn't even finished thinking when he heard his sister ask, 'Is it Dad?'

Before, Gu Yinxue thought her father also loved her deeply, defying opposition to let her live as she wished; only after learning that Jiang Lai was her parents' biological daughter did she realize his actions were actually meant to isolate her from the Gu family.

What kind of fatherly love is that?

Song Shiwei stared, speechless, and Gu Zhiyan also hadn't expected her to think of the father.

Gu Yinxue actually felt that besides her father, no one dared to act that way; although her mother's background paled compared to any woman who married into the Gu family, her father's continual care and protection of her mother had always made the Gu family women envious.

Her father was not domineering; whoever spoke harshly to her mother, he would step forward to speak for her; although he never spoke sternly, his gentle demeanor still carried a certain authority.

Especially after the Gu Clan Travel Literature grew large, the funding for any event the Gu family held came from the father, and he also raised the family's economic standing by a level.

Although her father was a businessman, he couldn't sit at the main table in the old residence, but once they left the old house, everyone in the family respected him all the more.

With her father's protection, over time no one dared to speak harshly to her mother.

Even the eldest who disliked her mother the most, if he spoke harshly, could never lay a hand on her.

Only her father could treat her mother that way.

Looking at Mother and Brother's expressions confirmed it.

Gu Yinxue lowered her head and said, 'Dad has never spoken a harsh word to you, let alone hit you.'

She then said, 'I understand.'

Before Song Shiwei could say anything, Gu Yinxue lay back down, pulled the covers over herself, and said, 'Mom, brother, good night; I'm going to rest now, I'll take good care of myself.'

Listening to those words, Song Shiwei felt something was off, but she felt uncomfortable all over today—not only had she argued with her husband, she'd also been slapped by him, and she couldn't react in the moment.

To avoid disturbing their daughter's rest, the two left.

Song Shiwei said good night, and Gu Zhiyan paused a moment before saying, 'Rest well; I'll come pick you up tomorrow.'

The next day, Gu Zhiyan came to the hospital, but the ward was already empty.

The nurse said Miss Gu had already gone home.

Gu Zhiyan frowned, called Gu Yinxue, but no one answered.

He saw a note left on the table.

【Brother, I've gone to the workshop; it's high time I got to work.

I hope Dad and Mom are well, brother you're well too, and Jiang Lai is well.

Only when the whole family is well is it the greatest happiness in the world.

Also, please tell Jiang Lai I'm sorry; I have no face to meet her.】

Gu Zhiyan frowned, jotted down a note, and sent it to his father and mother; soon his mother called, urging him to go to the studio to fetch his sister back.

Jiang Lai still wouldn't come back to stay.

Yeah, his younger sister refuses to come back and live, and Yin Xue also wants to move out.

Gu Zhiyan sighed.

His father still hadn't replied.

Gu Sen was at the company; after seeing the message, he frowned, and Gu Hui beside him asked, "What happened?"

Gu Sen put down his phone, looked at Gu Hui, and said, "Yin Xue has gone to stay at her studio."

Gu Hui froze for a moment.

Gu Sen: "I remember you said last time that after Yin Xue came home from G Province, Shi Wei dropped a used toothbrush? Has it been confirmed that Yin Xue took it?"

A toothbrush used long-term can be used for a paternity test.

Gu Hui: "Not confirmed, but..."

Gu Sen: "Just say it."

Gu Hui: "You and your sister-in-law's room, Zhi Yan, cannot enter."

Just touch on it.

Gu Sen nodded, and said to Gu Hui, "Not much time has passed; check the major hospitals, both public and private, ask around."