Chapter 18: Shark

"Miss Gu, do you dare to recount everything that happened in Mr. Fu's office today, without omitting a single word?"

Gu Qingmeng's face flushed red with suppressed anger, and her arrogant aura was instantly crushed by overwhelming fear.

"Don't even think of turning on us; we already clarified the matter before we came."

Gu Qingmeng, terrified, reached out to Su Yan'ai and Gu Cheng for help, daring not to make any sound.

"Don't hurt my daughter; tell us how much money you want, and we'll pay!"

Su Yan'ai hurriedly stood up, stopping two steps away from Lu Xiwán; she also dared not forcibly pull Lu Xiwán, fearing her daughter might truly get hurt.

Gu Cheng, who had been looking down on Lu Xiwán from above, also stood up and looked toward Fu Sijue.

"Fu Sijue, Qingmeng has been toiling behind you all these years, and Uncle Gu never intervened. This time, consider it Uncle Gu asking you to forgive her once. Fortunately both children are unharmed, right? It's not a big matter; the Gu Family is willing to take full responsibility."

Lu Xiwán gave Gu Cheng a cold stare and couldn't help but mutter, "Old fox."

Knowing she was ruthless yet wouldn't truly harm Gu Qingmeng, she invoked her senior status and the ties between the two families to force Fu Sijue to act.

Lu Xiwán saw that the intimidation had achieved its goal, so she withdrew, tossed Gu Qingmeng aside, and returned to her seat, saying, "Mr. Gu thinks sending a child to the hospital is a minor issue; then what is a major issue? Losing a life?"

Su Yan'ai, cradling the constantly coughing Gu Qingmeng with compassion, heard this and turned sharply, glaring fiercely at Lu Xiwán, "Shut up! Our family has no right to your words. Paying you off is the best solution our family can offer! I haven't even said your daughter is extorting us!"

Fu Sijue's expression darkened instantly, "Mrs. Gu, watch your words! The incident happened right under my watch; are you questioning my judgment?"

After speaking, he turned his head toward Lu Xiwán, "Tell me how you want to handle it."

Lu Xiwán was startled; she had assumed Fu Sijue would, as before, choose to forgive Gu Qingmeng, but she didn't expect him to change his stance this time.

She wanted Gu Qingmeng to kowtow and confess in front of Xi Xi's hospital bed, ideally causing a concussion, but the Gu Family's power loomed, and she knew the idea was unrealistic. Though she now had modest achievements, before a powerful clan she was merely a trampling ant.

Killing a person punishes the heart; if you can't kill, then punish the heart.

"Miss Gu, apologize to Xi Xi in person; before treatment ends, without my permission, you cannot casually see Yao Yao."

Gu Qingmeng wasn't trying by any means to see Fu Yao, yet she refused! Moreover, she didn't want to keep wasting time with this bunch of lunatics; she hoped Fu Yao would recover soon and she could leave.

"I am the child's biological mother! Visiting my child is a reasonable need; how can you do this?"

Gu Qingmeng, ignoring the pain in her neck, protested loudly; without the pretext of seeing Fu Yao, how could she legitimately approach Fu Sijue?

"Miss Gu, I am very pleased that you still remember you are Yao Yao's biological mother; you must also hope Yao Yao recovers quickly, right? Don't tell me you don't want that."

"I… I certainly hope Yao Yao gets better; I am his mother!"

Lu Xiwán snapped her fingers, tilted her head, and gave Fu Sijue a brief smile; Gu Qingmeng also saw that smile.

That smile was so unmistakably Lu Xiwán's that Gu Qingmeng felt like a rabbit was constantly hopping inside her heart.

Fu Sijue was momentarily stunned; that gesture, that expression, reminded him of Wanwan's demeanor before they were married.

Lu Xiwán withdrew her smile, gazing at Gu Qingmeng with a mix of jealousy and resentment, and felt a strange, quiet satisfaction.

Did Gu Qingmeng feel that way back then, watching herself beg Fu Sijue desperately?

"The child has already been taken back," Fu Sijue's tone softened considerably compared to earlier when he faced Gu Qingmeng.

Lu Xiwán simply gave a composed "Hmm," without glancing further at Fu Sijue.

Thus the two maintained this subtle atmosphere as they returned to the Fu Family.

It wasn't until they got off the car that Fu Sijue spoke.

"Wanwan?" he called tentatively, and Lu Xiwán's spine stiffened for a moment.

He rarely called her that; the few instances in his memory have become vague recollections.

But it was only a moment; Lu Xiwán turned her head toward Fu Sijue, her eyes now filled with cold indifference.

"Mr. Fu, I am Xi Wan," she said, pulling Fu Sijue out of his reverie; Lu Xiwán waved her hand, not a cloud in sight.

Trying to expose her like that? Better to just dream about it.

Lu Xiwán, upon entering the room, saw Yao Yao sitting dazed on the sofa, and beside him, the sorrowful Lu Xixi.

The moment Lu Xiwán appeared, Lu Xixi scampered over as if she had seen a savior.

"Mommy, Brother Yao Yao hasn't spoken since returning from the hospital. I told him I'm fine, but he still ignores me, and Xi Xi doesn't know what to do either."

Lu Xixi babbled a brief account of what had just happened; it was her first time encountering such a situation, and she dared not act rashly.

Lu Xiwán patted Lu Xixi's head, "Good girl, it's not your fault; Mommy will properly guide Brother Yao Yao."

Fu Sijue, newly arrived and confused, was suddenly grabbed by Lu Xixi.

"Uncle, don't go; Brother Yao Yao is very sad now, and Mommy wants to properly guide him," Lu Xixi pouted, looking at Fu Yao.

Lu Xiwán gently embraced Fu Yao's small body, softly stroking his head.

"Yao Yao, don't be afraid; Mommy is here…"

In that instant, Lu Xiwán's brows and eyes softened as if a filter had been applied, and Fu Yao's rigid body gradually softened.

Amid the darkness, he caught a whiff of something familiar—Mommy calling his name…

"As long as I'm here, no one will bully you. Yao Yao, wake up quickly, okay? Xi Xi got scared too."

Fu Sijue, watching Lu Xiwán comfort Fu Yao, felt an overwhelming familiarity, as if that person had stepped out of his memories—so familiar.

Sweating cold from this absurd thought, Fu Sijue took out his phone and sent a message to his assistant.