Chapter 16: A Punch Straight to His Face

Fu Sijue returned to the office with the two little ones, and happened to run into Gu Qingmeng, who had come looking for him.

The assistant, already waiting at the door, saw Fu Sijue approaching, hurried forward, "President Fu, the overseas conference has been connected properly; we're just waiting for your attendance."

How could I have forgotten this…

Gripping the two children's hands tightly, Fu Sijue looked uneasily at Fu Yao.

"Brother SiJue, you go to the meeting without worry; leave the children to me," Gu Qingmeng leaned in, her face full of gentle concern.

Seeing her docile smile, Fu Sijue subconsciously frowned, looking at Fu Yao; the little guy's condition had stabilized a lot recently.

Seeming to sense his unease, Gu Qingmeng added, "I promise to keep them obediently in the office until you return."

After speaking, she raised her hand and pushed Fu Sijue toward the door.

"President Fu, time is running out," the assistant's urging came again.

Fu Sijue hesitated a moment, turned his head and gave Gu Qingmeng a warning glance.

"Don't leave this."

"Don't worry, I'll definitely take good care of them."

Having secured Gu Qingmeng's promise, Fu Sijue hurried away.

Thinking the meeting would be only two hours and the two little ones were well‑behaved, there should be no problem.

But unexpectedly, as soon as the office door closed, the smile on Gu Qingmeng's face changed.

She turned, leaned against the door, surveyed Lu Xixi sitting on the sofa with her head down, and recalled that Fu Sijue, at Lu Xiwán's urging, had prevented her from seeing Yao Yao; a cold sharpness flashed in her eyes.

It's just that she's relying on having a face similar to that woman!

A moment later, Gu Qingmeng lifted her smile, expression unchanged, walked to Yao Yao's side, and reached out, "Xi Xi, it's too stuffy here; auntie will take you out for a walk, okay?"

Xi Xi didn't even lift her head.

Mom had told her to stay far away from bad women.

Yao Yao, seeing this, looked up, "Dad said we can't leave."

Hey, unfamiliar white‑eyed wolf! Already colluding with that scum's child so quickly!?

Gu Qingmeng's face stiffened, a feral glint crossing her eyes, "Yao Yao, Dad said you must not leave."

"Little Xi Xi likes to go out and play; Dad's meeting will be long, she'll be suffocated."

While speaking, Gu Qingmeng reached out and grabbed Xi Xi's little arm.

In her mind, however, she thought, once she takes this little thing out, where should she throw it?

"Snap!"

A crisp sound.

Feeling the sting on the back of her hand, Gu Qingmeng looked down angrily at Fu Yao, "Yao Yao, how could you hit mommy!"

Fu Yao lifted his head, saw the feral expression on Gu Qingmeng's face, and instinctively stepped back two steps; then he mustered courage, raised his hand to block between Gu Qingmeng and Xi Xi, his tiny shoulders trembling continuously.

"Taking someone else's child without permission is also wrong; Xi Xi is Aunt Xi Wan's child, and Aunt said Xi Xi must stay with Yao Yao forever."

She can't let her take Xi Xi; if she does to Xi Xi what she did to herself back then, Aunt Xi Wan would be very sad…

Gu Qingmeng clenched her teeth in anger, grabbed Fu Yao's shoulder, pinned him onto the sofa, "Yao Yao, I am your mommy! You should listen to me!"

Fu Yao flinched at her sudden shout, then straightened his chest, met her gaze, "Aunt Xi Wan isn't a bad woman; you are the bad woman."

Gu Qingmeng, as if provoked by his words, immediately released him and rushed toward Xi Xi, "You little scum, all of you are scum."

Xi Xi, seeing her long‑nail hand about to seize her arm, her little face set with stubbornness, grabbed Gu Qingmeng's outstretched hand.

"Awooo!" "Ah!"

The hand that never touched a woman's skin was now clenched by Xi Xi, her sharp little teeth sinking into flesh.

Gu Qingmeng let out a scream, instinctively raised her hand and swung.

Xi Xi was tossed violently, lost balance, staggered two steps, and her head slammed hard against the sofa corner.

The scene before them again triggered unpleasant memories for Yao Yao.

He leapt down from the sofa, intending to check on Xi Xi, but his breathing grew increasingly rapid and he could barely move.

Seeing his complexion turn ever paler, Gu Qingmeng was startled into instant clarity.

She seized Yao Yao's frail shoulder, frantically covered his mouth, "Fu Yao, don't try to scare me with a fake illness; I tell you, that trick doesn't work on me!"

His eyes reflected her feral visage.

His breathing, which had finally eased a bit, became rapid again.

Xi Xi scrambled up from the floor, rushed to Yao Yao, "Brother Yao Yao, don't be scared; Xi Xi is fine… Mommy will come protect us right away!"

The room was filled with Xi Xi's choking comforting voice and Yao Yao's rapid gasps.

Seeing the situation go wrong, Gu Qingmeng immediately grabbed her backpack and bolted for the door.

These two little brats are definitely putting on a show for me! I didn't do anything; it has nothing to do with me. No one should think of hurting me, no one!

…

When Fu Sijue returned from the meeting, only the two little ones huddled together remained in the office.

Where was any trace of Gu Qingmeng?

"Wuwu… Uncle Fu, hurry and take Brother Yao Yao to see a doctor…"

Xi Xi's sobbing snapped Fu Sijue back to his senses; he then noticed bruises on the corners of Xi Xi's eyes and that her grape‑sized eyes were swollen from crying.

Yao Yao lay on the ground as if lifeless, his little face as pale as paper, only occasional twitches showing he was still alive.

Fu Sijue, hands trembling, lifted the two children into the car and sped to the hospital.

Elsewhere, Lu Xiwán, who had also received the news, hurried to the hospital, confirmed that Xi Xi had been treated and was already asleep, then turned toward the ICU and saw Fu Sijue standing in the hallway.

Without a word she lunged forward, grabbed Fu Sijue's tie, and punched him square on the face.