Chapter 101: Enduring Love Swells, Life Devours Life

To avoid disappointing the two children, Meng Shutang voluntarily took Gu Yunci's hand.

Gu Yunci instinctively interlocked his fingers with hers; their team fell behind at first, but after the two adults worked together, they quickly overtook all the other teams and ultimately took first place.

Unfortunately, along the way the kids were small, and many of them fell.

So on the way back, the director suggested, "The babies don't need to participate; just dad and mom can do the three‑legged race."

Meng Shutang's heart tightened, her brows furrowed, and she subconsciously thought of not playing.

But the next second, the two children came in front of them.

Song Yilin said, "Uncle, beautiful sister, I'm watching you."

Xin Xin said, "Mom, you should focus on the competition and not keep thinking about other things."

Not wanting the two darlings to be disappointed, Meng Shutang "willingly" joined in.

Their legs were tied together; Gu Yunci proactively placed one hand on her waist and used his other hand to clasp her wrist.

Just like the other dads treated the moms in the team.

"Stand steady; the kids are watching," the man's voice was sexy and low.

Meng Shutang glanced at the children's expectant eyes, then leisurely wrapped her arms around Gu Yunci's waist, thinking this would make their steps steadier.

Their legs were forced even closer; with each step they brushed against each other, and their heartbeats rang unusually clear amid the noise.

Outside the competition area, Lu Shenyang watched Meng Shutang gradually lower her guard toward Gu Yunci; the water bottle in his hand was squeezed into a slight deformation, and his icy stare fixed on Gu Yunci, full of a protective warning.

Bai Cixian saw this and said, "Minister Lu, I know you have a gentle temperament; I think my sister just got divorced and has a child, so I don't want to disturb you."

"But when it comes to love, if you don't take the initiative, how can there be any result?"

Speaking, she looked toward the arena, "Look, President Gu and my sister are so well‑matched, but I know you are the one who understands my sister best."

"President Gu… is too overbearing; you really need to be more proactive from now on, otherwise you won't even get a chance to get close."

The competition here ended, and Meng Shutang's team secured first place with an absolute advantage.

After the competition, there was a picnic segment.

Lu Shenyang and Bai Cixian also took part.

Originally, Gu Yunci had a huge appetite; he felt he could eat four jin of cooked beef.

But seeing Lu Shenyang occasionally glance at Meng Shutang, who sat obediently beside him and tended to his mood, he couldn't even swallow a mouthful of water.

After the meal, the few of them dispersed.

Lu Shenyang was invited to Meng Shutang's home; Xin Xin originally planned to invite Gu Yunci, but Meng Shutang stopped her, "Uncle Gu doesn't want to go; we're heading home."

Gu Yunci was extremely dejected and pulled Song Yilin back into the car.

Bai Cixian saw this and said, "Brother Yunci, sister actually took the initiative to invite Minister Lu home; they grew up as childhood sweethearts, and sister trusts him even more."

She lowered her head, twisting her hem, looking as if she feared Gu Yunci would get angry.

"But Minister Lu seemed very unhappy; I saw his gaze just now when he watched you hugging sister—it was so cold."

"I think sister has him in her heart, and he has… in his."

Gu Yunci suddenly stopped, and Bai Cixian almost collided with him.

The man's gaze was sharp, his aura imposing, "You have a lot of free time, don't you?"

Bai Cixian froze, not daring to breathe out.

Gu Yunci lifted Song Yilin, shoved him into the car, then turned and left.

Bai Cixian stood where she was, "Brother Yunci, I will never let the three of you reunite."

That night, Song Yilin developed a fever.

Zhang Ma took leave and returned to her hometown; Gu Yunci suddenly felt at a loss and, in a panic, called Meng Shutang.

"Yilin has a fever; the doctor just came and left. I've never cared for a child before; can you come over and help me?"

Meng Shutang replied almost without thinking, "Where are you?"

"Qian Shui Wan."

"Wait for me; I'm coming right away."

Xin Xin, who was playing with her grandmother in the bedroom, heard the commotion, grabbed her plush bear and came out, "Mom, are you going out?"

Grandmother followed out, "What's wrong?"

Meng Shutang put on her coat, went to the shoe cabinet to change shoes, and said, "Xin Xin, you're sick; Uncle Gu has no experience caring for children, so I'll go over to help."

Upon hearing that Song Yilin was ill, Xin Xin worried, "Mom, I'll go with you."

Meng Shutang shook her head, "It's too late, and I don't know the situation there. It's inconvenient to bring you, so you stay home with Grandma."

Meng Shutang lifted the children's medicine box and left the house, "Grandma, you don't have to wait for me; lock the door and go to sleep!"

After she left, Li Xiuyun grabbed Xin Xin and took her back to the room.

Half an hour later, Meng Shutang parked the car at the entrance of Qian Shui Wan.

She hurried in holding the medicine box, but when her fingertips touched the icy door handle, she was still seized tightly.

Four years later, she stood once again before the villa's gate.

Everything remained as it was in her memory, even the night wind carried the same familiar chill.

It used to be her home, the softest place in her heart.

But now, she is here only as an outsider.

Gu Yunci, hearing the noise, walked from the room onto the terrace, "What are you standing there for? Come in quickly."

"Oh!"

She responded with a single word, decisively pushed open the front door, and walked toward the villa.

Gu Yunci had already reached the living room, opened the door for her, and even fetched the slippers she used to wear, "All clean; Zhang Ma tidies them every month."

The villa was still as it had been when she left, even the vase she casually placed on the side table by the sofa remained in its original spot.

The four years she went through felt like a dream; she went out once and returned.

When she was dazed, Gu Yunci crouched down intending to change her slippers.

Meng Shutang saw it, immediately stepped aside, "Where is Song Yilin?"

"The master bedroom on the second floor."

Meng Shutang's bending to change shoes stiffened.

Four years ago, before the divorce, to draw a line with her, he drove her out of the master bedroom and made her live in the attic.

Actually, before she moved out, that was the place where their affection was most entwined.

There, the bed, the dressing table, the rocking chair…

In every corner, he lay over her, one hand clasping the back of her neck, the other binding her ankles, imprisoning her with absolute possession; each peck and kiss intertwined their breaths.

"When did he start having a fever?"

"After dinner, he usually plays with LEGO, but today he's listless."

"Maybe he sweated at the sports meet and caught a chill; for a child, that's quite normal."

While they walked and talked, entering the master bedroom, Meng Shutang tried to control her gaze; she first looked at the medicine the doctor prescribed for Song Yilin, then took his temperature, 36.4°C.

The child's forehead was sweaty; it was clear he had taken antipyretic medicine, lowering his temperature.

Meng Shutang saw Song Yilin's clothes were soaked through, "Go get a set of fresh clothes for me; I've changed the child."

"Alright," Gu Yunci quickly brought them over.

Meng Shutang carefully lifted Song Yilin, the child sleeping deeply; his clothes were changed before he even opened his eyes.

Gu Yunci looked at the medicine, "The doctor said to give this medicine now, then another fifteen minutes later give this one."

"It looks like the time is about right; should we wake him up?"

"No need to wake him; just let him sleep. Maybe a good sleep will cure the illness," Meng Shutang finished, opened the medicine box, and took out a Silver Hu Cold Patch.

The liquid was in a tiny glass bottle; Gu Yunci saw it, fetched scissors, and said, "Here."

Their fingertips accidentally brushed, and Meng Shutang flinched, "No need."

She declined Gu Yunci's kindness, turned her body, no longer facing him.

Delicate fingertips twisted the slender top of the bottle, pried it open, dripped the liquid onto the patch, then applied the patch to Song Yilin's Shen Que acupoint.

The series of motions flowed smoothly, crisp and decisive.

It seems that over these years, Xin Xin's illnesses have all been cared for by her personally.

"Sleep is the fueling station for immunity; once you fall asleep, the body can fight viruses," Meng Shutang said, picking up the clothes Song Yilin had changed into and heading to the laundry room.

But as he was just about to stand, Gu Yunci grabbed him, "No need; the servant will come to work tomorrow and will wash them."

Meng Shutang raised her eyes, "A task like this, just idling here is also …"

She hadn't finished her sentence when she stopped there.

In the man's eyes, long‑standing love surged, his gaze scorching and hot, as if he wanted to tear her bones apart and devour her whole.