Chapter 161

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Main Character:

Shen Yao

"Why? It's already been three full months, he—" Qiao Xiyue's fingertips had turned faintly white, clutching the phone as it trembled uncontrollably in her hand; the tears in her eyes threatened to fall but wouldn't, making her look utterly wretched.

Gu Jingzhi on the other end of the line, however, was perfectly calm, not a trace of the joy of first-time fatherhood in him.

Then again, Gu Jingzhi had been playing the field since childhood, a notorious playboy famous throughout Yingzhong.

Hoping Gu Jingzhi would settle down and live properly? You might as well hope he'd cough up more money instead — that would be far more practical.

"Three months? Even if it were thirty months, as long as I don't acknowledge him, he serves absolutely no purpose."

Gu Jingzhi's words were so coldly indifferent that Qiao Xiyue on the phone's other side completely broke down.

"Be good, we're still young, we can have children later, Xiyue, whatever you do, don't disappoint me."

Beep—beep—beep—

Qiao Xiyue's tears had already soaked her entire face; listening to the busy tone from the other end, she touched her belly and drew a deep breath, her eyes holding a resolve to perish together if need be.

Can't abort it, this child, absolutely cannot abort it!

Qiao Xiyue had a premonition; she knew her own situation — there would be no next time.

If this child were aborted as he wished, Gu Jingzhi would lose nothing, but Qiao Xiyue would surely regret it for the rest of her life.

The gap in status between her and Gu Jingzhi was too vast; it wasn't as if she had many more chances — what she feared was that this was her very last one.

Reaching up to wipe the tears from her face, Qiao Xiyue forced herself to calm down.

Regardless, the child in her belly had already been sentenced to death by the child's father.

All she could do was try to keep this child safe before the other side noticed.

Domestic, domestic won't work!

Have to go abroad, at least for several months, and during that time must not let Gu Jingzhi notice a thing.

Turning back, she picked up the phone again, and Qiao Xiyue called her agent in a perfectly normal tone.

By the way, Qiao Xiyue notified her birth mother, summoning her to the residence to discuss countermeasures.

But none of this had anything to do with Shen Yao for the moment; Shen Yao and Gu Jingrun finished their meal, returned to the Company, and continued busy with their own work.

A few days later Gu Jingrun went on a business trip out of town, and Shen Yao didn't stay idle either — almost on the heels of his departure, she too arrived out of town.

Only their destinations were different, so they didn't run into each other during that period.

Once the work on hand was temporarily finished, next came Shen Yao and Gu Jingrun's wedding.

Several times more complicated than the Engagement Banquet; under Jiang Peiyi's envious gaze like a little wife, Shen Yao shuttled daily between the Company and the Old House.

Trying on wedding gowns, finalizing invitations, inviting guests, preparing the Banquet — Shen Yao was so muddled by these messy affairs that her head spun and she felt completely dizzy and disoriented.

When Gu Jingrun suddenly mentioned that Gu Jingzhi and the Su Family's young lady were getting along like a house on fire, she was stunned for a moment.

"Qiao Xiyue went abroad to film; on the surface she's already broken off with Second Young Master."

As the boss of Hehuan Film & Television, Gu Jingrun basically kept tabs on the movements of the Artists under him.

Especially Qiao Xiyue and Gu Jingzhi's Intimate Relationship — even if Gu Jingzhi didn't want to hear it, his subordinates would report it to him every few days.

Shen Yao blinked, "Went abroad to film? Right now?"

How could she believe that, and at such a sensitive time too.

If memory serves, Qiao Xiyue was pregnant, right? Could it be another run-away-with-the-bun drama? Jiang Peiyi isn't someone just anyone can be.

Gu Jingrun told Shen Yao about Qiao Xiyue's past visits to Gu Family Hospital.

"Second Young Master does things without ever leaving a Handle; since he's cut it off this time, it's truly cut off."

At least from the daily companionship between Gu Jingzhi and the Su Family's young lady, it looks more genuine than Gu Jingxing's.

Shen Yao: …

Shen Yao crossed her arms, smiling with deep meaning, "That's not certain; your Gu Family men have stumbled over women no small number of times."

The System just said Qiao Xiyue was pregnant, and she's already fled to the safer abroad — how could she possibly be willing to abort the child in her belly.

That's a Meal Ticket for a worry-free life from now on; Qiao Xiyue has been mixed up in the Entertainment Industry since childhood, she knows better than anyone what maximizing benefits means.

Gu Jingzhi, hah!

Shen Yao reached out and patted Gu Jingrun's shoulder, subtly reminding him never to learn those two's ways, "That's all a Suicidal Path, it won't work out."

For something like abortion, at the very least you'd have to arrange a trusted confidant to watch over it.

This marriage of Gu Jingzhi's, I'm afraid it won't come off, because Financial Consortiums would never be willing to swallow that kind of loss.

Especially this Su Family young lady — reportedly spoiled, willful, and extremely proud.

Tsk tsk tsk

Gu Jingrun: …

Gu Jingrun decided to leave Second Young Master's affairs alone for now; he'd better focus on his own wedding first.

After all, no matter how big a spectacle others stir up, it's not his life.

…

May 5th, Shen Yao and Gu Jingrun's wedding was held at the Gu Family Old Residence.

On the wedding day, Fresh Flowers and fine wine, luxury cars and Beauties — every standard far surpassed last year's Banquet.

Gu Jingxing was fine; years of Upbringing let him control his expression, aside from occasionally stiff movements, not a single flaw could be found.

But Jiang Peiyi fell far short; she turned into a lemon through and through.

The repressed life of over half a year in the Old House finally exploded on this day.

Looking at Shen Yao, dressed in a wedding gown with a jeweled crown, her whole person exuding an extraordinarily noble air, Jiang Peiyi wished she could take her place and snatch everything away for herself.

Why? Why? In what way was she inferior to Shen Yao? She was unwilling to accept it!

In the distance, Qin Kelan watched Jiang Peiyi's pale face and eyes brimming with jealous resentment, smiled, and exchanged a glance with her daughter Gu Mingyue beside her; the mother and daughter simultaneously raised their glasses and clinked them together.

"Look, this is the daily life of financial consortiums — jealousy, anger, despair, forever unable to escape this cage of desire."

As Qin Kelan spoke, her eyes held a trace of complexity; although it was quickly covered by other emotions, it was still caught by Gu Mingyue.

"Mother, this was her own choice; for an ordinary person to marry into a financial consortium is already a stroke of luck that couldn't be begged for.

Greed leads to loss, capability isn't enough — does she still want to blame us? Clearly it's her own problem."

Qin Kelan smiled upon hearing this. "You're right; the road is chosen by oneself.

We merely gave her a choice back then," with the result that Jiang Peiyi unsurprisingly chose to give birth to the child.

With that kind of family background, she could barely support herself, yet she willingly raised a clueless infant.

If the other party didn't have a shred of hidden scheming, Qin Kelan would find it hard to convince herself.

Facts proved that Jiang Peiyi wasn't much more noble than others; in the end, she still stepped into the Gu Family Old Residence.

A mocking smile curled her lips; Qin Kelan had no interest in appreciating the other's ugly display — she had seen too many such people; no matter how pitiful and innocent the words from their mouths, it couldn't change their determination to climb upward with all their might.

"It looks like Jingzhi and the Su family's young lady are getting along well; she's already been brought back."

Qin Kelan swirled the wine glass in her hand, her expression returning to its habitual haughtiness.

Gu Mingyue sneered. "That one abroad won't be able to stay away much longer before returning; when that time comes, it'll be another big surprise. I wonder if Eldest Aunt will be happy?"

She ought to be happy, right? Another grandchild added, and much faster than on her and Eldest Brother's side.

This wedding lasted a whole day; Shen Yao and Gu Jingrun both smiled until their faces stiffened, and it took a long time of rubbing before they recovered.

After seriously washing up and tidying herself, Shen Yao sat before the dressing table patting and dabbing, making Gu Jingrun watch in amazement.

"Mother's attitude toward the Su family's young lady was very good today; from the looks of it, she intends to finalize it."

Shen Yao turned around and ran over to sit beside Gu Jingrun with light steps.

Gu Jingrun hurriedly reached out to steady her, reminding her to watch her step.

Shen Yao waved her hand indifferently. "It's preparing for pregnancy, not pregnancy yet, General Manager Gu; you're a bit overly nervous."

Gu Jingrun shrugged. "Adapting in advance, so as not to be caught off guard when the time comes."

Shen Yao: ……

Shen Yao brought her own flawless face close to Gu Jingrun. "What does Second Brother mean? Really willing to sacrifice marital happiness for power and profit?"

Gu Jingrun laughed. "What kind of talk is that? Does marrying an artist guarantee marital happiness? Gu Jingzhi isn't someone who can settle down at home; no matter who he marries, the result will most likely be the same."

Shen Yao shook her head. Based on the novels she had read, this kind of prodigal son returning — worth more than gold — and the chasing-wife crematorium plot were what readers loved most.

"Too bad it doesn't exist. Second Brother isn't Eldest Brother; what he decides won't change.

President Shen, it seems you'll have a harder time later; the position of Second Sister-in-law will have someone else filling it."

Gu Jingrun's words made the curve of Shen Yao's grin widen even further. "Even if that Miss Qiao is already pregnant?"

Gu Jingrun nodded seriously. "Even if she gives birth, it won't change Second Brother's attitude.

Even if she goes against Second Brother's wishes and does something irreparable, her end will be even worse."

Fearful that Shen Yao didn't understand Gu Jingzhi's character, Gu Jingrun specially said a few more sentences.

The four brothers grew up together; if Gu Jingxing is cold outside and warm inside, then Gu Jingzhi is warm outside and cold inside.

"There is no room for bargaining; Second Brother won't make an exception for anyone."

Even the family elders cannot truly force Gu Jingzhi to do anything.

Qiao Xiyue: "If she's smart enough, she should listen to Second Brother and not do anything superfluous; at least with Hehuan Film & Television backing her, she'll have no worries about food and clothing in the future.

If she tries to be clever, she can only pray she can hide it from Second Brother. Once Second Brother finds out, she won't get any advantage."

After hearing Gu Jingrun's account, Shen Yao held a moment of silence in her heart for Qiao Xiyue.

Tsk tsk tsk.

Looks like I lost the bet; what a pity. I feel like the good show I wanted to watch won't happen.

Shen Yao turned her head and tossed this matter to the back of her mind, pulling Gu Jingrun to do proper business herself.

They are formally husband and wife now, and today is still their wedding night.

Not forgetting the system's mission, Shen Yao pulled Gu Jingrun into this and that with great enjoyment, to the point that they didn't get out of bed the next morning.

Shen Yao: …… How come every husband I pick for myself has such outstanding capability?

Although it's quite comfortable, too many times and the body can't take it.

Shaking her slightly messy hair, Shen Yao got up from the bed and set foot on the floor.

After marriage, she needs to temporarily live in the Old Residence; as for when she can move out, it all depends on the moods of the several elders in the family.

After all, Eldest Sister-in-law Jiang Peiyi is still here; she, this third-ranked sister-in-law, has no secure footing either above or below, so she'll just endure for now.