Chapter 10: Holding an Art Exhibition for the White Moonlight

Zhonglin Dasha.

The awards ceremony.

Along with the host's words, "The winner of this year's Ancient Bead Restoration Technique Innovation Award is: Starlight Studio."

Amid the applause, Meng Shutang walked up to the podium with exquisite makeup and unhurried steps.

"Thank you to the judging panel for the recognition. Restoring ancient beads — what is restored is the beads themselves, and also the rings of time settled within them.

This honor belongs to our team, and to everyone who holds fast to the craftsman's spirit."

Having said that, she raised the trophy high.

She walked off the stage to thunderous applause, and Ruan An stuffed a lavish bouquet of champagne roses into her arms.

"Sister Tangtang, President Gu said he had no time to accompany you to receive the award, but then turned around and had someone deliver such a huge bouquet to the venue.

These are your favorite variety — President Gu has always remembered what you like."

The two left the awards ceremony, talking as they walked, but when she raised her eyes and caught sight of the commotion across from the exhibition hall, her feet froze rigidly in place.

An art exhibition was being held in the exhibition hall across the way. At the entrance, Bai Cixian stood gently and gracefully beside Gu Yunci in a long dress.

Gu Yunci, in a black suit with an upright bearing, was introducing her to several well-known painters in the circle.

Several Gu Clan employees who had come to help stood nearby.

Whispers drifted over on the autumn wind.

"Manager Bai is so young and just an amateur painter, yet she can hold an exhibition at Zhonglin — truly remarkable."

"Getting an exhibition at Zhonglin is so hard to come by — wasn't it all arranged single-handedly by President Gu? He must have poured in a lot of resources."

"President Gu is so attentive to her. This kind of grandeur — even first-rate painters in the industry might not get it!"

"Of course — she's the white moonlight, so naturally he puts his heart into it."

……

The whispers were not loud, yet every word landed in Meng Shutang's heart.

She stood frozen like a white porcelain sculpture, her hands clutching the trophy suddenly tightening, the chill of the cup seeping into her heart.

He never cared about what she liked, yet he would hold an art exhibition for Bai Cixian, an amateur painter — just because his mother Chu Fu was a painter, he regarded Bai Cixian with extra special regard!

Bai Cixian caught sight of her from the corner of her eye. With a flicker of her gaze, she stepped a little closer to Gu Yunci. "Brother Yunci, Miss Meng is back from receiving her award. Do you want to go over and offer your congratulations?"

Gu Yunci's eyes darkened slightly. He turned abruptly, his gaze first landing on the trophy in her arms, then fixing intently on her devastatingly beautiful little face.

Qin Zheng saw this and walked over quickly. "Young Madam, congratulations!"

Meng Shutang did not look at Gu Yunci. Her face was calm as a lake. She raised her hand and shoved the roses in her arms at Qin Zheng — neither too hard nor too soft — her tone cold as ice. "Special Assistant Qin has always been reliable in his work, but today these flowers have been delivered to the wrong person. They should have been sent to the exhibition hall across the way!"

With one sentence, the surroundings fell instantly silent.

The smile at the corners of Bai Cixian's lips froze on her face.

Gu Yunci's Adam's apple rolled heavily. He wanted to say something, but it lodged deeply in his throat.

After leaving, Ruan An kept comforting Meng Shutang nonstop.

"How could President Gu do this? You're not even divorced yet, and he's already entangled with Miss Bai?

Sister Tangtang, don't be upset. If he can't see how wonderful you are, President Gu is blind.

Reaching the underground parking garage, Meng Shutang opened the car door for Ruan An. "Get in. I'll take you to eat something delicious and celebrate."

The studio only had three people — her, Chen Man, and Ruan An. Chen Man was on maternity rest and wouldn't be coming for the next month.

Aside from the specialized work of restoring ancient beads, all the other big and small tasks fell on Ruan An's frail shoulders.

Meng Shutang had no energy to think about all that. Earning money and keeping her mother alive — that was her greatest goal.

But on the road, the old lady called.

"Tangtang, tomorrow is your birthday. Come to the old house — Grandmother will celebrate with you.

Thinking of Gu Yeheng, Meng Shutang declined. "Grandmother, no need to trouble yourself. Yunci and I will celebrate on our own!"

The old lady's hearty laughter came through the phone. "Our Tangtang is so well-behaved and sensible, and knows what's proper.

Good. Tomorrow, send Grandmother a photo of the two of you having cake together."

After saying that, the old lady hung up, but immediately called Gu Yunci again.

"Get back here!"

Gu Yunci stood with one hand in his pocket, a slight furrow between his brows, and hung up the phone without batting an eye. "Cixian, I won't go in. If there's anything, tell Qin Zheng."

Bai Cixian saw he was about to leave and stepped forward to grab his arm. "Brother Yunci, you're already here — come in and take a look!

Everything inside is my heart and soul poured into each piece, and also… when I had a crush on you, I secretly kissed you…"

Gu Yunci pulled free. "I have business. I need to go back to the old house."

With that, he turned and left.

He had barely entered the old house villa when a cup of hot tea came hurling at him.

"Gu Yunci, you've really made something of yourself, haven't you?"

The old lady's voice was not loud, but her cane tapped against the floor with a clatter.

"Tangtang was receiving an award today, and you didn't accompany her. Instead, you threw money and piled resources to promote an outsider, even pulled strings to let her hold an exhibition at Zhonglin Dasha. Where do you expect Tangtang to save face?"

In truth, their marriage of three years was essentially a hidden marriage.

Aside from a few senior executives at Gu Group who knew Meng Shutang was Gu Yunci's wife, the other employees had no idea at all.

"When I agreed to let you marry Tangtang, it was because I saw her kindness and clarity of mind. And look at you — leaving your own wife out in the cold, running off to put on a show for an amateur painter who doesn't even have solid fundamentals. You're not just blind — your heart has gone muddled too.

"I'll say it once more: that woman surnamed Bai is not fit to enter our Gu family's door.

Know when to stop. If you make Tangtang sad again and it reaches my ears, I won't let you off.

After saying that, the old lady swung her cane and gave him a whack.

"Tomorrow is Tangtang's birthday. She agreed to let you celebrate with her. Come home early from work tomorrow, and send me a photo of you two in bed.

With that, the old lady picked up her teacup and sipped slowly, not looking at Gu Yunci at all.

Gu Yunci leaned close and sprawled across the desk. "Bed photos? Grandma, you're that old and still have this hobby?"

Bang—the old lady slammed her teacup onto the desk, tea splashing everywhere and soaking Gu Yunci's cuffs.

"Get lost! If you don't send them over, I'll register you with andrology."

A low laugh spilled from Gu Yunci's throat, his tone carrying a hint of haughty teasing. "Grandma, you still remember that. Your grandson doesn't need it."

Saying that, he slowly stood up. "Better send cake photos instead. Let's skip the bed photos, lest you get dizzy looking at them and then accuse me of being unfilial."

With that, he turned and left.

The old lady: "Don't forget."

The man raised his hand and snapped his fingers.

……

Meng Shutang brought Ruan An to a very stylish hotpot restaurant.

This little shop was in a remote location; it was where Gu Yunci had brought her not long after their marriage.

He said this was a place he used to frequent in college.

Back then, he was still kissing her hand, gazing at her without blinking, and telling her word by word, "Every place I've been, I'll take you to."

For a while, Meng Shutang had been quite averse to this place.

Because coming here always reminded her of Gu Yunci.

But not anymore.

The red booklet would eventually be exchanged for a green one, and those tormenting memories would be boiled away into nothingness by the rolling red oil in the pot.

The two of them ate to their hearts' content. After coming out, they passed by a dessert shop, and Meng Shutang bought some to bring home for Aunt Zhang and the others.

She hadn't expected Gu Yunci to be home.

This was the first time she formally ran into him at home since moving to the attic.

She said nothing, eyes lowered as she changed shoes. The cute bunny slippers brushed across the floor, barely making a sound.

After changing shoes, she walked over to Aunt Zhang. "This is for you all."

With that, she deliberately skirted around the spot beside him, not even granting him a glance from the corner of her eye, and turned to leave.

Gu Yunci recognized the desserts as being from the shop next to the hotpot restaurant. Seeing that everyone else had some and only he didn't, his voice carried a barely perceptible roughness. "Where did you go?"

Meng Shutang didn't stop walking, her hand resting on the stair railing. "None of your business."

Gu Yunci's Adam's apple bobbed. He rose from the sofa and followed right after her.

Hearing the movement, Meng Shutang stopped at the attic door. "President Gu, is there something you need?"

Gu Yunci stopped on the stairs.

All along, it had been him looking down on her, whether in bed or anywhere else.

This kind of stance was a first.

Gu Yunci only felt that something was off, but he couldn't quite put it into words.

He stepped forward to the doorway and stood face-to-face with Meng Shutang, his tone all business. "Let's talk inside."

"We can talk right here."

"What, you mean you don't want to let me in?" He slipped one hand into his pocket, looking somewhat like a refined scoundrel.

Meng Shutang stood with her back straight, her eyes so cold they seemed devoid of any warmth. "You drove me out of the master bedroom—wasn't that to keep me far away from you?"