Chapter 107: When you see me, is it panic or pity?

Meng Shutang gave a faint smile, her tone as plain as water, "No way, how could it be."

She averted Lu Shenyang's gaze, lowered her eyes, picked up a tissue beside her and wiped the table in front of the car, "Xin Xin is reluctant to part from Song Yilin, so I agreed to let Gu Yunci take her away together."

She spoke lightly, then asked Lu Shenyang about something else, shifting the topic, "Are you going to the museum later or heading home?"

"Back to the museum, there's an emergency meeting."

"What about the luggage, shall I deliver it home for you?"

"Just leave it in your car for now; I'll come get it later."

At the museum, Lu Shenyang took out all the documents, "It may keep me busy for two days; after that, I'll spend quality time with you both."

Meng Shutang nodded, "Hmm, Xin Xin also said she misses you."

"I miss her too."

After speaking, Lu Shenyang went inside, while Meng Shutang stood there for a while before leaving.

Just now Lu Shenyang asked her whether she and Gu Yunci had become a couple.

She froze for a moment, or rather, she panicked.

Could it be… that her attitude toward Gu Yunci had unconsciously shifted?

The phone dinged—, interrupting her train of thought.

She pulled out her phone and saw a WeChat message from Gu Yunci.

【Just fell asleep, when will you be back?】

Attached below was a photo: Xin Xin curled up like a tiny bundle in Gu Yunci's arms, sleeping peacefully, clearly having had a good dream.

Meng Shutang's eyes suddenly tightened with a sharp sting of sourness.

In a daze, she recalled two years ago, when Xin Xin had just started speaking, taking her to the residential complex to play.

She lifted her little face, timidly asking, "Mom, other kids have dads, why don't I have a dad?"

Her heart was pierced sharply then; she crouched before her and gently embraced her, "Dad went to a faraway place, but… Xin Xin, having me is enough."

But looking at that photo, the little dumpling trusted the man's embrace infinitely, and she truly realized.

Some voids cannot be filled no matter how hard she tries.

She pressed send and recorded a voice message.

【Just about to head back.】

Lu Shenyang's meeting lasted from morning until late night.

He originally intended to look for Meng Shutang, but fearing he might disturb her rest, he went straight home.

Carelessly opening the bedroom door, a sliver of light seeped in from the foyer; after changing shoes and closing the door, he walked toward the living room, glanced up, and saw a silhouette seated on the sofa.

Arms crossed over the chest, sunk in the darkness, looking very imposing.

His heart tightened; through the outline he recognized her, "Mom, why aren't the lights on?"

Lu's mother: "What lights? I have no face to show anyone! People my age—my grandchildren can even make soy sauce now."

"But my son, he has looks and a degree, a respectable job, yet he just won't marry."

Saying that, Lu's mother stood up, "Yingying has been dead for so many years; her death has nothing to do with you, you should let it go."

He slapped the light on, "I told you, I don't like Yingying."

Lu's mother was stunned; she thought his previous words were just a brush‑off, "Then who do you like?"

Lu Shenyang slowly poured a glass of water, drank it politely, set the cup down, "Will you stay at my place tonight, or go back?"

Lu's mother grabbed his hand, "Son, tell Mom which family the girl is from; you're embarrassed to say, I'll go."

Lu Shenyang thought briefly, "Don't worry about it, I know what's in my heart."

"Then don't leave, stay here tonight!"

Gu Yunci looked at Meng Shutang and said lightly.

Meng Shutang looked at Xin Xin, who was still playing merrily with Song Yilin in the living room, and said, "No, the little girl can't stay overnight outside."

Gu Yunci: "This isn't outside."

Meng Shutang turned her head toward him, but said nothing.

She got up, approached Xin Xin, and for the fifth time asked, "Xin Xin, it's really late, Uncle and Yilin need to rest."

Xin Xin shook her head, "I don't want to go… I like it here."

Meng Shutang felt deep remorse, realizing she shouldn't have let Gu Yunci bring her back to Qian Shui Wan.

"We really can't, we're leaving."

She took the toy from her hands, put it back in the toy basket, lifted her, and said, "Come home with Mom."

Xin Xin's face was full of disappointment, hurt as if about to cry, yet she neither cried nor threw a tantrum, making her look even more pitiable.

Gu Yunci and Song Yilin both tried to dissuade.

"It's late now, taking the child back alone isn't safe; let's leave first thing tomorrow."

"Beautiful sister, I also don't want to be separated from my little sister."

Meng Shutang halted, "I'm really sorry, we have to go."

Gu Yunci took the clothes, put them on Song Yilin, and said, "We'll go see you off."

On the night road, with few vehicles, the two children were so exhausted that each nestled on a side of Meng Shutang and fell asleep.

Gu Yunci, looking through the rearview mirror, felt his chest tighten.

If four years ago he hadn't asked Meng Shutang for a divorce, they would now likely have both children and enjoy a stable, complete happiness in this world!

Night seeped into the cabin; his fingertips lightly gripped the steering wheel, his gaze repeatedly fell into the rearview mirror.

Meng Shutang inadvertently lifted her eyes, meeting his gentle, burning gaze reflected in the rearview mirror.

At the instant their four eyes met, both froze.

The carriage was so quiet that only a heartbeat could be heard, a thin, tense yet subtle breath spreading silently.

The route that usually took thirty minutes took forty‑five minutes today.

Given Gu Yunci's adept driving, it shouldn't have been like this.

The car stopped by the roadside of the Qingluju residential area, Gu Yunci got out and, like a gentleman, opened the door.

Meng Shutang got out holding Xin Xin, and Gu Yunci tried to take Xin Xin, intending to bring them upstairs.

But after putting Song Yilin alone in the car, Meng Shutang still felt uneasy, "No need to drive us, just look after Yilin!"

"It's so late, you go back; I'm uneasy."

When Gu Yunci's words faded, a footstep could be heard approaching from afar.

Meng Shutang turned her head and saw Lu Shenyang walking over at an unhurried pace; he wore a white sweater under a light‑colored trench coat, his whole bearing warm as jade and exceptionally handsome.

"Shenyang, why are you here?"

"I called you several times, you didn't answer, I couldn't rest easy, so I came to check."

Lu Shenyang naturally took the sleeping Xin Xin from Meng Shutang's arms and cradled her.

"Thanks, President Gu, for sending them," he said, then pulled Meng Shutang, "We're leaving."

As they walked and talked, Gu Yunci vaguely heard Meng Shutang's regret about taking Xin Xin to Qian Shui Wan and returning home so late.

All day, she faced him with an unbearably cold tone.

But at this moment, facing Lu Shenyang, her voice suddenly brightened a few degrees, the ending even tinged with a hint of smile, clear and pleasant.

The car window was open, the man's elbow propped on it; the fleeting delight he felt from the brief eye contact in the car—whether it even counted as a hint of flirtation—had now vanished, and his clear cheek was again covered by a surge of gloom.

He didn't move, just lowered his eyes and stood there.

Lu Shenyang took Meng Shutang and the others home, grabbed his suitcase and left; driving past, he saw Gu Yunci hadn't left yet, stopped the car, rolled down the window and greeted him, "President Gu, you're still here!"

Gu Yunci kept his original posture, lifted his eyes slowly at the voice, and said, "Hmm."

Lu Shenyang, maintaining courteous manners, said, "Then I'll be on my way."

After Lu Shenyang left, Gu Yunci changed his posture.

He leaned against the car, one leg bent and curled, the other leg straight on the ground.

His well‑defined hand took a cigarette from the car and smoked it puff after puff, enveloped by an inescapable heaviness and loneliness.

After Meng Shutang finished pulling the curtains and went to sleep, she suddenly saw him still there, and her chest tightened sharply.

She stared blankly.

When the wind blew, the smoke drifted over his cold, stern brows, as if reaching her as well.

In that daze, her phone rang.

She didn't look, picked it up and answered, "Hello!"

A man's voice came through the phone, "You're going to Zhonglin Dasha tomorrow to claim the prize; shall I go with you?"

Meng Shutang declined, "No need, Shenyang, you can go with me."

The man pursed his lips, "He confessed to you; are you planning to accept?"

Meng Shutang hesitated, "It's none of your business."

The man smiled with pursed lips, "Then now that you see me, what's stirring inside you—panic or concern?"