Chapter 131: Trembling Lightly in His Arms

Seeing that all this tossing about still hadn't woken Meng Shutang, he used a bit of strength and carefully lifted her into his arms.

In her sleep, Meng Shutang's body stiffened. Gu Yunci thought she had woken up and waited for her little fist.

But she only nuzzled against his chest, her head sinking heavily against the pillow, without the slightest sign of waking.

The man curled his lips in a faint smile and leaned over her, pressing her soft, warm body close against his own.

He had wanted to prove that he was not the "thin, soft, and useless" she had described, but she was so sleepy that he didn't continue teasing her.

Even if she woke up, he was only purely trying to frighten her and hadn't actually intended to do anything.

The lights in the room were off. By the moonlight filtering through the window, Gu Yunci watched her quietly.

They were very close — at a distance where breaths intertwined.

He could clearly see her long lashes casting a tiny silhouette on her face.

A powerful urge overrode everything else. Reason, like a taut bowstring, snapped with a pop.

His thin lips quickly pressed against her cheek and forehead several times, then covered the lips he had yearned for day and night.

First, tentative light pecks. Only when she showed no sign of waking did he deepen the kiss.

Meng Shutang was clearly lying right there, yet for some reason felt her body growing unsteady.

She felt like a fish in the deep sea — suffocating and sweltering, waiting for Gu Yunci to mercifully pour oxygen into her.

But the man did not. As if driven by desire, he carried a madness that brooked no refusal.

Meng Shutang could pretend no longer. She reached out to push him, but her hand was pinned down by his lean, powerful palm. His fingers threaded through hers, one by one, until their fingers were tightly interlocked.

He plundered everything of hers. In the quiet room, the ambiguity spread heavy and stifling.

"Don't." Meng Shutang frowned and resisted again, though feebly.

"When did you wake up?"

The man's breath was hotter than hers. He seemed to want to confirm something, and also as if to possess something.

Meng Shutang didn't let him have his way. Her hand, pinned against the bed, struggled with all its might.

A moment before suffocation, the man finally released her.

Meng Shutang looked at him, eyes glistening with tears. Without a word, she bit down hard on his shoulder.

The man unhurriedly raised a hand to undo his shirt buttons, then turned to glance at the neat row of tooth marks on his shoulder.

With a faint smile, he suddenly pressed over her again, kissing and nibbling her inch by inch.

Meng Shutang trembled lightly in his arms.

He reached to undo her buttons; she tried to stop him. The next second, a knock sounded at the door from outside. "Tangtang, has Yunci left yet?"

Both froze. In the moonlight, their eyes met for a second, then they both got off the bed.

Meng Shutang tidied her hair and clothes and was the first to walk out of the room. "Not yet, he's just about to leave."

Gu Yunci fastened his buttons, wiped the sweat from his brow, leaned down to kiss the sleeping Xin Xin, and came out of the bedroom.

Grandma had already turned back to her room. Only Meng Shutang was outside by herself.

He looked at her, emotions surging in his eyes. He walked out the door and stood in the doorway. "Tomorrow morning, I'll come pick you up."

Meng Shutang pressed her lips together. "Mm."

Then, bang — she shut the door.

She didn't dare linger in the living room, afraid Grandma would come out and ask something. She went straight back to the bedroom and closed the door.

The next day, Gu Yunci came early to pick them up and take them back to the old estate.

At the mention of going to see the Gu family, Grandma was unwilling at first, but when she heard it was the old lady, she felt reassured and let them go.

Li Xiuyun had met Old Madam Gu before. They were about the same age and got along very well.

Old Madam Gu had no airs about her — clearly the kind of cultured matriarch from a prominent family.

She knew that with the old lady there, Meng Shutang and her daughter wouldn't suffer any losses.

The exquisitely delicate Xin Xin was led between Gu Yunci and Meng Shutang, one on each side, as they left. She wore a pink princess dress.

Her soft little hands each gripped tightly onto a finger, her steps light and brisk, but her manner proper, exuding a touch of refinement and good behavior.

"Daddy, where are we going?"

"To the old estate, to see Great-grandma."

Li Xiuyun stood on the balcony and watched the family of three come out of the apartment building and get into a Rolls-Royce before leaving.

Her brow furrowed slightly.

Back then, it was Gu Yunci who had initiated the divorce. His attitude was so resolute that even when she swallowed her pride and begged to see him, he wouldn't give her the chance.

All these years, Meng Shutang had gone to prenatal checkups alone, raised a child alone, and struggled to hold things together alone.

From the bottom of her heart, she could not forgive Gu Yunci.

But now, Xin Xin was held by his hand, calling him "Daddy" with every other word, smiling sweetly and dependently.

Gu Yunci was no longer as cold and hard as before. Whether toward Xin Xin or Meng Shutang, he was gentle and patient.

She sighed softly. That rigid wall in her heart loosened a few degrees completely.

The old estate.

Old Madam Gu led a group of servants standing at the entrance, craning their necks in anticipation.

Finally, a familiar car slowly approached.

Someone called out, "The eldest young master and the others are here."

The Rolls-Royce stopped at the entrance. The door opened. Gu Yunci stepped out with long strides, his posture upright as he bent to emerge from the car.

He gentlemanly walked to the passenger side and escorted Meng Shutang out.

When the old lady saw Meng Shutang, her cloudy yet shrewd eyes instantly grew moist.

She walked forward in a few quick steps, grabbed her hand, and said in an excited, choked voice, "Tangtang, Grandma has finally seen you again."

Meng Shutang took her hand, which also trembled slightly, "Grandma, I've missed you all these years."

Gu Yunci picked up Xin Xin from the child seat and held her in front of the old lady.

"Grandma, this is Xin Xin."

The old lady's gaze swept from Meng Shutang to settle on the delicately carved Xin Xin.

Seeing her eyebrows and eyes like Gu Yunci's and the dimples on her face like Chu Fu's, she shuddered, unable to speak for a moment, and tears streamed down.

She stretched out her thin, twig‑like hand, trembling as she wanted to touch Xin Xin, but fearing to frighten the child, she nervously drew back.

Xin Xin's features were exquisite and noble, her smile perfectly sweet and soft; looking at the old lady, she cheerfully called out, "Hello, great‑grandma!"

Aunt Song urged the old lady, "Old lady, today is a happy day."

The old lady wiped her tears, "Right, I can't cry."

The old woman broke into a smile through tears, "Little darling, you've made great‑grandma worry."

Saying this, she turned and took from the brocade box held by Aunt Song a substantial, all‑red‑gold longevity lock engraved with intricate intertwining lotus vines and a little blessing, and placed it around Xin Xin's neck.

"My precious great‑granddaughter, great‑grandma gives you this lock to ward off fright and keep you safe.

"This lock was worn by your great‑grandma and your father back then; it's been passed down three generations."

After saying that, she shoved a black card into Meng Shutang's hand.

Meng Shutang refused, "Grandma, it's too valuable; I can't accept it."

The old lady smiled and forced the card into her palm, "Good child, don't stand on ceremony with Grandma.

"By bringing the child here, you show you still acknowledge me as your grandma.

"Raising a child costs money everywhere; only if you're well‑off can I rest easy.

"This is my own heart; take it, and don't refuse again."

Meng Shutang felt warm inside, nodded slightly, "Thank you, Grandma."

The old lady took Xin Xin's hand and led her inside.

Aunt Song also liked Xin Xin very much, praising her without end, "Old lady, Miss Meng has raised Xin Xin truly well—she's poised and unafraid, very sensible."

The old lady nodded.

Gu Jin Xing, who had been standing silently behind, upon seeing Xin Xin, suddenly walked over to Meng Shutang's side.

His smile was gentle, his voice neither loud nor soft—just audible to everyone present.

"After talking with you at school yesterday, I realized it's been seven years—aside from you gaining a daughter, I've gained a little niece; many things seem unchanged."

As his words fell, the air suddenly froze.

Everyone present had different expressions.

In an instant, probing yet ambiguous glances flitted between Gu Jin Xing and Meng Shutang.