Chapter 139: White Lotus at a Dead End

Meng Zhibang, dressed in a loose blue‑striped patient gown with a detention‑center identification vest, knelt on the ground in a sorry state under the guard of a police officer.

"You're all I have left, daughter…"

Evening Star Studio is located in the bustling commercial district of Ninggu Road, housed in an exquisitely beautiful little Western‑style villa.

Not only the passing pedestrians, but even many tourists who came by reputation are present.

In an instant, a crowd gathered.

Everyone only heard the gist, and with Bai Lianyue's wailing cries, they all assumed the daughter had money and ignored the parents.

Chen Man saw this and immediately stepped out to drive them away.

Someone couldn't stand it, "Who is the old man's daughter? Let her come out.

Even if the old man had committed a crime, kneeling at the door and still not coming out is too heartless!"

Chen Man, hearing this, dared not shoo them away, and instead let the security guard help them inside and close the main door.

When they entered the studio and saw Li Xiuyun and Meng Shutang, Meng Zhibang collapsed instantly.

He lay on the ground in a sorry state, eyes full of despair.

But he couldn't bother to repent to his mother‑in‑law; with his hair on fire, he had to save himself first.

"Shutang, your sister told you about the family matters, right? President Gu listens to you the most. Dad begs you, please plead with President Gu.

Raise your noble hand and spare dad a way to live."

Meng Shutang stood silently, without a word.

Meng Zhibang began to raise the stakes, "You said in the ward, you mentioned me, and your mother reacted!

If you are willing to help dad, once dad gets out, he'll guard your mother day and night."

Bai Lianyue tried to intervene, but Meng Zhibang shoved her aside.

Bai Lianyue glanced at the sharp‑eyed Li Xiuyun beside her and did not move further.

"Mr. Meng, I made myself clear last time: our bond is severed, our obligations are cut, your life and death are none of my business!"

"Dad knows those were words spoken in anger; I never took them seriously.

Shutang, you must not be foolish; no matter what, the Meng family is still your natal family.

How can a woman have no natal family?"

Meng Shutang sneered, "Four years ago, when I was divorced and Gu Yunci bullied me, why didn't you step forward?"

Meng Zhibang stammered, "At that time, something happened at home; if it weren't for Cixian finding President Gu, President Gu would have gladly helped me.

The Meng clan wouldn't have had a day two years ago as brilliant as the noon sun."

Meng Shutang slowly turned, "You may go, and let your sweet daughter go find her brother Yunci."

Having said that, she walked straight to the work area to work.

Meng Zhibang knelt again, pleading to Li Xiuyun, "Mom, Mom, I know you love me the most.

You once said that marrying Zhou Xingfan to me was the most correct decision you ever made.

Your son‑in‑law is in trouble; please help me."

Li Xiuyun lifted her hand and brushed her hair, "My old eyes are dim, and my mind is sometimes unclear.

President Meng, you know, I can't converse with President Gu."

Having said that, the old lady lifted the vegetable basket and left.

In the following days, Meng Zhibang came again, kneeling at the main door, kneeling in the studio, he did it all.

But Meng Shutang kept the doors shut and did not come out.

Later, when he reapplied, the prison guards seemed to have been tipped off, and his request was denied.

Meng Zhibang gave up, stopped causing trouble, stayed peacefully in the detention center, awaiting legal judgment.

Bai Lianyue fell ill again, but because she couldn't pay the medical fees, the hospital chased her out like a stray dog.

Once a spirited, high‑society matriarch who came and went in luxury cars, now she is gaunt, wrinkled, her former pride completely gone.

All former acquaintances now avoid her.

She curled up in the corner, weakly staring at the sky, only despair left in her heart.

Bai Cixian was even more desperate.

To repay debts, Meng Zhibang recently stopped pampering her as before; amid her crying and fighting, he sold all her designer items, even cheapened her favorite dress.

Bai Lianyue urged her, "We don't know whether we'll live or die in the future, so don't dwell on these empties."

Bai Cixian said, "I'll go find Uncle Gu."

Bai Lianyue grabbed her, "Don't go, I've already been there."

Useless.

Meng Zhibang appears gentle and refined, loves the gentleman orchid, but his business dealings are very shady.

These years he has offended many people and indeed done many bad deeds.

Gu Yunci dealt with him, winning over many high‑society hearts; at first Gu Yeheng wanted to help them, but he is also a person who doesn't rise early without profit.

Seeing everyone's loyalty was with the eldest son, he not only didn't raise this issue, he even stopped seeing her.

Bai Cixian, hearing this, hugged herself, curled up in the rental house and sobbed.

It got dark, and it would never brighten again.

She, such a proud camellia, cannot be beheaded in the mud; she quietly took out a fruit knife, aimed at her own heart…

At that moment, the phone rang.

She thought it was Gu Yunci; her dim eyes lit up for an instant, she picked up the phone without even looking, "Brother Yunci…"

An unfamiliar female voice came from the other end.

"Do you want to defy fate and change destiny?"

Bai Cixian hesitated for a moment, "Want."

"Come to Tangxia Si Yan."

Bai Cixian flung the fruit knife that had been stabbed into her chest onto the ground with a bang, "Good."

She hung up the phone and got up, intending to find the prettiest dress to wear, but the wardrobe was empty; Bai Cixian let out a cold laugh.

The reason she wants to "defy heaven and change fate" is just because she doesn't have a pretty dress, right!

Bai Lianyue saw the blood-stained fruit knife on the ground, walked over in shock and picked it up.

Seeing her about to go out, he grabbed her, "What are you doing?"

Bai Cixian slowly pulled her hand away, "Mom, this kind of life won't last long."

……

Meng Shutang, because the Meng family was taken care of, has always felt grateful to Gu Yunci; she always wants to find an opportunity to thank the man.

But the man has been extraordinarily busy these days; every time she returns, he puts Xin Xin to sleep and leaves.

After staying two days at the old residence and returning to Qingluju, their chances to meet have become even fewer.

That day, she was about to sleep when she suddenly received a call from Gu Yunci.

"I bought some things for you; come over and open the door."

Meng Shutang put down her phone, went out, opened the door and saw Gu Yunci standing at the doorway with both hands holding things.

The man's shoulders were neat and aloof; the black shirt accentuated his solitary, upright, noble bearing; his whole person was refined and indifferent.

He didn't look at her, walked in familiarly, changed into slippers, and placed the gifts in the empty space of the living room.

He asked, "Has Xin Xin fallen asleep?"

But without waiting for Meng Shutang's answer, he turned and went into the children's room.

Meng Shutang leaned against the door, watching inside; she saw Gu Yunci bend over and sit beside the bed, staring unblinkingly at the sleeping Xin Xin, his gaze so soft it was almost syrupy, even his usual sharp edges softened by the child's sleeping face into tenderness like water.

After sitting for a while, the man got up and left.

Just as he was about to step into the elevator, Meng Shutang suddenly called out to him, "Hey!"

Gu Yunci's steps halted, one hand in his pocket, he stopped there.

"Um, thank you." But as soon as the words left her mouth, she felt it was wrong.

What if she's being narcissistic; perhaps Gu Yunci's actions against the Meng family are merely for pure business purposes!

"What?" The man didn't understand.

Meng Shutang softened her brows and eyes, her bearing refined and elegant, she walked over in a cultured, tranquil manner, "That day, I'm sorry.

My words were a bit rash, sorry."

She expressed her gratitude to him in another way.

Gu Yunci startled at the sound, a hint of surprise appearing in his eyes, "You are... apologizing to me?"

Meng Shutang nodded gently.

The man's eyes suddenly darkened, he slowly turned, desire surging like a tide, he fiercely gripped her waist and slammed her hard against the wall.

His scorching breath, mixed with obsession and possession, puffed against Meng Shutang's face.

Just a moment ago, he was still that cold.