Chapter 487: Qu Mei Comes Alone to Visit the Sick

After Gu Zhiyan settled everything behind his mother, he left, propping a black umbrella as he walked out of the sanatorium, not looking back, bowed and sat in the car, his eyes fixed only on the road.

The driver saw through the rear‑view mirror that the Young Master's eyes were blood‑red.

"Young Master, where to?" As the Gu family's driver, he couldn't be unaware of the events of the past two days; the Young Master probably didn't want to return to that home, didn't know whether his fever had fully subsided, and his husband was still lying in the hospital.

Gu Zhiyan rasped, "The hospital."

"Alright." The driver drove to the hospital; because of the continuous drizzling in recent days, it was already dark before six o'clock.

Gu Zhiyan collided head‑on with the newly arrived Ke Zhongyu; the two exchanged a glance, said nothing, and walked toward the inpatient building, one ahead of the other.

They entered the same elevator and stood side by side.

Gu Zhiyan said hoarsely, "Thank you."

Ke Zhongyu glanced at him peripherally, ignored him, and after the elevator opened, stepped away with long strides, leaving Gu Zhiyan behind.

Ke Zhongyu appeared here, so Jiang Lai was probably still there; Gu Zhiyan thought he would not disturb them, and went to ask a nurse for a temperature check, which showed the fever had already gone down.

Gu Zhiyan still needed to undergo a physical examination.

It was also time for a re‑examination.

Gu Zhiyan was not nervous about this re‑examination; Gu Zhiyan had already prepared for the worst.

Gu Zhiyan sat alone on a stool, head slightly lowered, when a soft, melodious voice drifted down from above.

"Zhi Yan, why are you alone here?"

Gu Zhiyan's gaze gradually focused, first seeing a wash of mint‑wave green—both the skirt and the shoes.

The flat shoes bore delicate butterfly ribbons, and their shape resembled ballet slippers.

He slowly looked up; it was Qu Mei.

In the dim, heavy, rainy day, Qu Mei, dressed entirely in mint‑wave green, felt as refreshing as the air after a rain.

Qu Mei held a fruit basket in her hands, looking at him with puzzlement.

Gu Zhiyan glanced at the basket, stood up and asked, "Are you here to see my father?"

"Mm‑mm." Qu Mei nodded, "Will you take me there?"

"I'll tell you which ward; I have other matters." Gu Zhiyan did not agree to escort her; facing the fiancée his mother had chosen for him, his emotions were complicated.

Qu Mei did not make things difficult for him, nodded in agreement, and walked away with the basket.

Gu Zhiyan watched Qu Mei's slender silhouette and suddenly wondered why the Qu Family would let Qu Mei come alone.

It was the Qu Family that was familiar with the Gu Family, not Qu Mei herself.

Over all these years, he and Qu Mei had hardly ever met; Qu Mei had only visited the Gu Family a few times with elders.

Qu Mei had appeared alone at the Gu Family only once, on the day Jiang Lai returned to the Gu Family.

Gu Zhiyan suddenly realized that Qu Mei was coming of his own accord, not at the Qu Family's request.

He frowned as a nurse called him over for a blood draw.

Qu Mei appeared in Gu Sen's ward.

Gu Sen was a little surprised; he hadn't expected the Qu Family's second miss to come alone.

"Uncle Gu, Jiang Lai, Young Master." Qu Mei's voice was pleasant; she walked over, looked at Gu Sen on the bed and said, "Uncle Gu, are you feeling better? Everyone at home is very busy; I'm here on behalf of the Qu Family to see you."

Although the Gu Family's affairs had not been fully exposed, rumors had already circulated in the circles; Gu Sen leaving the Gu Family was equivalent to stepping away from the towering Gu tree, which outsiders did not see as a wise move.

Great families never split their branches to weaken their power, yet Gu Sen was not part of a split; he voluntarily left, hinting at establishing his own branch.

Once away from the Gu Family, Gu Sen's aura would be greatly diminished, and naturally some people would cut ties with them.

Gu Sen had always known this, so when others ignored him at such a time, he did not overthink it.

But Qu Mei had come.

A young girl representing the Qu Family, she upheld the Qu Family's dignity.

No wonder Song Shiwei had chosen Qu Mei after much deliberation.

Song Shiwei was a profit‑driven person, treating people as commodities; her assessment criteria were naturally diverse and thus more precise, so she chose Gu Sen for herself and Qu Mei for her son.

Yet if too many emotions and personal feelings were mixed in, the assessment would become one‑dimensional; therefore Gu Sen chose Song Shiwei, and Gu Zhiyan chose Lin Shutong.

"Qu Er Xiaojie, please sit."

"Uncle Gu, just call me Qu Mei." Qu Mei looked at the stool, sat down, smiled at Jiang Lai and Ke Zhongyu, poised and graceful.

Gu Sen looked at Qu Mei and said, "You're a good child, but unfortunately our Zhi Yan is not a match for you. Our family's recent troubles have left many matters to handle; regarding your marriage to Zhi Yan, let the Qu Family decide. Go back and discuss with your family how to proceed without damaging either your or the Qu Family's face; we can cooperate."

In fact, the matter of Gu Zhiyan and Qu Mei was difficult to handle.

If Gu Zhiyan's side refused the marriage, it would offend the Qu Family and insult Qu Mei, a good girl.

If the Qu Family said they would not continue the marriage, gossip would arise, accusing the Qu Family of distancing themselves when the Gu Sen incident happened, deeming them unprincipled.

Yet if they acted righteously, whose parents would be willing to give away their bright, obedient daughter in marriage?

How to handle the two children's affairs can only follow the Qu Family's wishes.

Qu Mei nodded, "Uncle Gu, I understand your considerations; I will return and discuss with my parents."

Gu Sen nodded.

Qu Mei pursed her lips, seemed to think for a moment, then asked, "Uncle Gu, won't you ask Zhi Yan's opinion?"

"He …" Gu Sen opened his mouth but said nothing; if he didn't consider his son's wishes, would he become arbitrary?

Upon reflection, Qu Mei's question seemed to indicate she had feelings for Zhi Yan.

The old father, happy for his son yet feeling sorry for the girl, asked, "What about your own feelings?"

Qu Mei was momentarily stunned, a little embarrassed, and said, "Uncle Gu, honestly I don't know; it's just that I'm not keen on marrying any of the other matchmakers my parents selected for me."

It wasn't only Gu Zhiyan's face; it was also Uncle Gu's strict guidance of his son's private conduct—a very realistic issue. From what she learned, Gu Zhiyan was already one of the more self‑disciplined young masters in B City.

Moreover, she knew Gu Zhiyan had a terrible ex.

Gu Zhiyan only had that one past relationship; others had many, some even multiple at once. She felt she lacked the ability to reform a rake or manage a husband's lovers.

In the realm of fame and profit, there have always been many unsavory things.

And someone like Ke Zhongyu, who maintains such purity and self-discipline, is as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns in reality; someone like Gu Zhiyan is also scarce.

Gu Sen regarded Qu Mei with new respect, saying: "If that's the case, on my side I can let you and Zhi Yan decide for yourselves; as for the Qu Family, that's not within my power to decide."

"Okay." Qu Mei smiled, then looked at Jiang Lai and gave her a friendly smile.

Even though she is younger than Jiang Lai, she keeps calling Jiang Lai by name; Jiang Lai knows Qu Mei wants to marry Gu Zhiyan and treats her like a sister.

It's truly a wonderful feeling.

When Qu Mei left, it was Jiang Lai who saw her off, and just then they ran into Gu Zhiyan returning after having blood drawn.

Jiang Lai thought Qu Mei would likely want to discuss marriage with Gu Zhiyan, so she brought the person to Gu Zhiyan and then turned back.

In the ward, someone happened to come to report matters.

Gu Yinxue woke up.