Chapter 138: Biological Father and Stepmother Face Punishment

Meng Shutang listened, and felt even more moved.

Gu Yunci, if he were half as understanding as Gu Jin Xing, they wouldn't be able to quarrel.

She was grateful for his responsibility toward Xin Xin, because with him, her grandmother could catch a breath, and she could devote more energy to her work.

But this man is truly good to his daughter.

To others, he's unbearably unreasonable!

Gu Yunci stepped out of the elevator and ran into an old acquaintance in the first‑floor lobby.

"Brother Yunci, you came for dinner too?"

Bai Cixian caught sight of him, her bright eyes instantly sparkling; she lightened her steps, and her voice softened to a honeyed tone.

Gu Yunci acted as if he hadn't heard, and had no intention of stopping.

Bai Cixian, however, stepped forward, blocking his path, and said, "Long time no see, how have you been lately?"

They hadn't seen each other for a long time; ever since leaving the Gu Group, Bai Cixian had politely refrained from bothering him.

Gu Yunci stopped, "What? Unhappy that I halted the Gu and Meng projects?"

Upon learning that Meng Zhibang had an affair with Bai Lianyue, Bai Cixian, fully aware that he was her brother‑in‑law, still drew near.

After uncovering Bai Cixian's false pregnancy and miscarriage, Gu Yunci said no more, immediately terminated all cooperation with Meng Corp, and withdrew all financial support.

Meng Corp had been on a decline since four years ago, and in recent years had relied on the Gu side's cooperative financing.

When the partnership ended, the cash flow chain snapped instantly; other firms, hearing the news, dissolved contracts, orders vanished one after another, and suppliers began knocking on the door for payment.

In just half a month, the company's funds were exhausted, it could no longer sustain operations, and it teetered on the brink of bankruptcy.

Bai Cixian's eyes held a watery sheen, appearing especially fragile, and she said, "No, no, no, Brother Yunci, I didn't—"

"I just haven't seen you in a long time, so I came to say hello."

"If you don't want to see me, I'll just leave. But before I go, Brother Yunci, could you, for the sake of our past bond, give Meng Corp a way out?"

"My father is full of vigor, my mother never lifts a finger for mundane chores; they're not the type to endure hardship!"

Gu Yunci sneered coldly, "Having lain in bed for fourteen years, they're quite happy, aren't they?"

Bai Cixian froze, her demeanor demure and restrained as she stepped back, "I understand."

Watching the handsome, poised figure of the man walk away, Bai Cixian's bright eyes dimmed little by little.

Could it be that she really has to go ask Meng Shutang at this point?

Ten minutes later, Meng Shutang and her party emerged from the second floor.

A few people chatted and laughed, completely missing the unobtrusive Bai Cixian beside them.

Bai Cixian recalled that the Meng Garden had already been mortgaged, and soon they would be left on the streets, fighting for scraps with stray dogs, clenching her teeth.

"Sister."

Meng Shutang's steps faltered.

Chen Man and the others just realized when Bai Cixian had already arrived beside Meng Shutang.

"Sister, dad has a fever, he misses you a lot; can you come with me to the hospital to see him?"

Meng Shutang glanced at Chen Man, "Manman, take Jin Xing and grandma back to the studio; I'll come find you later."

Hearing Jin Xing's name, Bai Cixian lifted her eyes to glance at Gu Jin Xing.

Gu Jin Xing also looked at her, but only gave a faint glance before walking away with Chen Man.

Seeing the bustling lobby, Meng Shutang moved to the quieter tea‑break area and said, "Fourteen years in the same city, Mr. Meng has witnessed many of my embarrassments, yet never offered assistance.

Now, over a slight fever, he thinks of me again—how ridiculous is that?"

Bai Cixian exuded a fragile delicacy, her brows and eyes full of humble deference, "I know I shouldn't have come to trouble you.

But I'm truly at a dead end; besides turning to you, I can't think of anyone else."

Meng Shutang watched her, wondering what trick she might be playing.

"Meng Corp's assets are insufficient to cover debts and have been seized; it's bankrupt, and the Meng Garden has also been mortgaged."

Brother Yunci spent half a year gathering evidence of dad's tax evasion and handed it to the police; dad has already been taken away by the detention center staff. Overwhelmed with anger, he fell gravely ill and was hospitalized.

I just begged Brother Yunci, but he ignored me. Sister, he's most attentive to you—please, could you plead with him?

Meng Shutang's brows furrowed slightly, "What do you mean?"

"Brother Yunci thinks that after all these years, dad has shortchanged you and halted all cooperation."

Those partners are nothing but opportunistic snobs; when the Gu side withdrew investment, they piled on.

Dad went from a vigorous boss to, within days, a cheating husband, embezzler, tax evader, and now a defaulting debtor under enforcement.

He is now heavily indebted, infamous, and may spend the rest of his life locked up with no way out.

As she spoke, Bai Cixian wept, "The reason the outside world hasn't heard any rumors is because Brother Yunci has been suppressing them."

"Sister, I beg you, go plead with him and ask him to be generous, okay?"

"Rest assured, I will never target you again, and dad will keep you and Aunt Zhou in his thoughts, okay?"

Meng Shutang paused, "Sorry, I have nothing to do with the Meng family."

She turned to leave, but Bai Cixian grabbed her, forced herself down on one knee.

"Sister, a while ago my mother held a birthday banquet, and a close aristocratic lady suddenly exposed that she had interfered in a friend's marriage and seized her property."

My mother was socially ruined in that circle; no one would even acknowledge her.

Brother Yunci is trying to ruin us to death.

"Sister, no matter what, Meng Zhibang is also your father, right?"

He gave you life; do you really want to be so ungrateful, watching his wife and daughter be scorned by the world and die tragically?"

Meng Shutang shoved her away, "The ungrateful ones are you."

Having said that, she turned and left.

When she stepped out of the hotel, Meng Shutang was blocked by a very complicated emotion.

At first, a sudden, unexpected flutter rose in her heart, then a spreading, dense warmth wrapped with a hint of sourness gently struck her heart.

She had never imagined that Gu Yunci would take her grievances to heart, silently back her up, and not utter a single word of self‑praise.

This feeling of being silently remembered and treasured on the tip of someone's heart made the tip of her nose turn slightly sour, and a faint dampness rose in her eyes.

She suddenly longed to return to the old residence, to hug the person who harbored a hidden affection for her in the details and who shielded her from wind and rain.

Last night, she had bitten him hard.

As the one involved, she knew better than anyone how painful it would be.

She took out her phone, intending to locate the old residence and go back to apologize to Gu Yunci.

"Tang Tang."

Hearing the call, Meng Shutang lifted her eyes and saw Chen Man standing by the car, waving at her.

"Come quickly."

Meng Shutang put away her phone, walked over, and asked, "Why haven't you left?"

Chen Man pointed at Gu Jin Xing and said, "Jin Xing said, 'Wait for you a while.'"

A few of them got into the car, and Chen Man asked Meng Shutang, "What's wrong, why did Bai Cixian kneel before you?"

Meng Shutang briefly recounted what Bai Cixian had just said.

Chen Man said, "Serves you right; those who commit many injustices will bring about their own ruin!"

And Gu Yunci also did a good deed, venting his anger for you.

From the tone you just used, you didn't realize?

Meng Shutang nodded, "I didn't know."

Chen Man added, "But back to the point, doing good deeds anonymously does fit President Gu's reserved character."

Gu Jin Xing, who was driving up front, listened without expression, occasionally glancing at the back seat through the rearview mirror.

Gu Jin Xing took them back to Wanxing Ge, then found an excuse to leave.

In the hotel, after Meng Shutang left, Bai Cixian slowly stood up and suddenly regretted how she had treated Meng Shutang earlier.

At that moment, she deeply felt the sensation of being abandoned by the world.

Back then, Meng Shutang was so difficult; she not only never stepped in to help but also fanned the flames everywhere. Is the current plight of the Meng family now a punishment from Heaven?

She got up and went to the hospital, telling the fever‑ish, shivering Meng Zhibang about the kneeling plea to Meng Shutang.

Meng Zhibang couldn't catch his breath, nearly collapsing backward.

But after stabilizing, he lifted the blanket, and, handcuffed and trembling, rose, "I'll go ask in person."

Bai Lianyue said, "No, your body can't endure that."

Meng Zhibang replied, "If I don't go, we'll truly be finished."

Meng Shutang is his last lifeline; he must go.

Under police control, Meng Zhibang, dragging his fever‑weakened body, arrived at the Wanxing studio, a disheveled figure kneeling at the doorway, his voice hoarse.

"Tang Tang, save dad..."