Chapter 141: You Still Won

Meng Shutang sensed the two brothers were about to argue, so she lifted Xin Xin, and as she passed Gu Yunci, she tugged him, "Keep your voice down, don't scare the child."

Gu Yunci understood what Meng Shutang meant—she wanted him to be more courteous toward Gu Jin Xing.

Gu Jin Xing, seeing Meng Shutang and Xin Xin leave, said slowly, "On the way here just now, I ran into dad, and only then learned that someone has invested in the Meng family,

now they have already come back to life. Brother, during the time you've been back, I've heard about you and Miss Bai; since you've decided to choose sister‑in‑law, you should be steady, not pulling these petty tricks.

Openly, to win sister‑in‑law's heart, he's trying to bring down the Meng family.

Secretly, he also feels indebted to his mistress and wants to cover for them.

"Shut up!" Gu Yunci barked sharply.

Gu Jin Xing pressed on step by step, each word cutting to the heart, "Dad even said, never act against the Meng family early, never act against the Meng family late.

Yet only after I returned do they act; dad thinks that way, so what am I supposed to think?"

Gu Yunci's eyes grew dark, his breath slightly halted, and a faint blue vein pulsed at his wrist.

"Brother, we are brothers; no matter what you've done to me before, I have always respected and loved you. I wish more than anyone that you and sister‑in‑law be a loving couple, as devoted as mandarin ducks.

I have made concessions; don't let those who know me think my yielding makes me a fool, okay?"

Gu Yunci gave a cold smile, "You've been out for seven years, haven't grown any other skills, but your mouth sure can talk."

Gu Jin Xing smiled lightly, "No need to rush to refute me; if your secret deeds toward Bai Cixian were known to sister‑in‑law,

your fate won't be much better than before!"

Meng Shutang held Xin Xin in the guest bedroom, but the door was left open, and she heard every sound from downstairs.

Afternoon sunlight streamed through the floor‑to‑ceiling window onto the carpet, and she stared blankly at the floor.

Gu Yunci's explanation never came.

Does that amount to… tacit consent?

Meng Shutang didn't think further; when the two brothers stopped arguing, she took Xin Xin and left.

Gu Yunci saw and said, "Let me see you off."

Before Meng Shutang could speak, Gu Jin Xing suddenly moved beside Gu Yunci, "Brother, I want to check the attic; keep me company."

Gu Yunci, not wanting to engage, grabbed his coat and seized Meng Shutang's wrist, "Come, I'll see you off."

Meng Shutang suddenly grasped his hand, pulling it back slowly, "Jin Xing, we need you even more."

After speaking, she carried Xin Xin to the doorway, placed her in the child seat, and drove away.

Gu Yunci stood by the floor‑to‑ceiling window, watching Meng Shutang's car disappear into the distance, and coldly asked Gu Jin Xing, "What exactly do you want to do?"

The air stalled for a moment, and Gu Jin Xing came to Gu Yunci's side, like in their youth, wrapping an arm around his shoulder.

"You're my real brother; what else can I do?"

If the earlier Gu Jin Xing was unfeeling, the present Gu Jin Xing is gentle.

He squeezed Gu Yunci's palm firmly, "Let's go up."

After speaking, he turned and walked ahead; Gu Yunci froze in place, "Jin Xing, I have always regarded you as a brother; don't play tricks, or I won't be courteous to you."

As Gu Jin Xing stepped onto the stairs, his pace halted, and he stopped there.

Gu Yunci saw, walked over, leapt over him, "Let's go!"

The two arrived at the attic.

The dilapidated house was cool with wind, and the attic was soaked in twilight.

The window's light and shadow were all old traces of mother.

"Nothing's changed here at all," Gu Jin Xing said, looking at the old wood coated with a thin layer of dust, his voice low and steady.

"Hmm." Gu Yunci replied softly, his gaze landing on the old items by the window, "Mother used to love sitting here to paint."

Gu Jin Xing's fingertips lightly brushed the wooden frame, "She always hoped our brothers would be of one mind."

Gu Yunci lowered his eyes, masking the sourness in his gaze, "All her life, the thing she could never let go of was us."

After speaking, he suddenly turned, looking at Gu Jin Xing, "Jin Xing, what exactly happened that day? I still can't believe mother was pushed by you!"

Gu Jin Xing's hand paused slightly, and in his mind flashed Gu Yeheng shouting, "Jin Xing, hold onto your mother!"

At only five years old, he had no idea what was happening; he only saw his father panicking, his mother crying as she ran outward, and when he turned, he grabbed Chu Fu's leg.

Chu Fu, struggling, accidentally fell down the spiral staircase.

She lay in a pool of blood, as stark as red camellias scattered on the ground.

Gu Jin Xing pressed his lips together, about to speak, when the door suddenly swung open, "You brothers are here?"

Just now, for a brief instant, Gu Jin Xing was about to open his heart to Gu Yunci.

All those years of estrangement, all the betrayals, he ignored them all.

He only wanted, like in childhood, to forever rely on Gu Yunci, even if he despised him.

But Gu Yeheng came over.

"Your faces look so solemn; what are you talking about?" Gu Yeheng entered, inevitably glancing around a few more times.

Gu Jin Xing replied, "Nothing."

After speaking, he was the first to leave the attic, "I have other matters, I'm leaving now."

While descending, he vaguely heard Gu Yeheng and Gu Yunci talking.

Gu Yeheng said, "The Meng family's small enterprise, if it dies, let it die; no need for such a rescue."

Gu Yunci stood tall, expression indifferent, with not a ripple in his eyes, "It wasn't me."

Gu Yeheng, with all his scheming concealed, "That's fine; the business world is already survival of the fittest; a soft heart and weak hand won't achieve greatness.

Always remember, compassion actually cuts off one's own edge."

……

Meng Shutang drove back to Qingluju, and halfway she ran into Miss Bai.

A few days later, Bai Cixian no longer showed the pitiful look she had when she knelt before her that day; she was driving a multi‑million‑dollar sports car, dressed head‑to‑toe in Chanel.

She pulled up beside Meng Shutang, stopped, slowly rolled down the car window, "Sister, that day I begged before you, you watched with cold eyes and never wanted to lend a hand."

I never thought heaven never blocks a person's path; in that desperate plight, someone reached out to carry me through.

You stood by with folded arms, watching me fall into the dust. Today I return from the flames; later, don't blame me if we meet as strangers, with no affection left.

When the words fell, the green light flashed; Bai Cixian put on her sunglasses and drove away.

Meng Shutang hesitated for a moment, then started her car as well.

She didn't return to Qingluju, turned the steering wheel and headed toward Meng's Company.

At the next intersection, she could already see many workers laboring on the original site; the huge Meng logo on the storefront made her eyes sting.

Meng Shutang drove home in a dazed, soul‑lost state; after the car stopped, she emerged from the underground garage cradling Xin Xin.

Xin Xin was asleep; Meng Shutang took off her trench coat and wrapped it around her.

She herself wore a very thin knit sweater.

Just upon arriving at the apartment building entrance, she saw a man standing there, his whole being radiating cold.

"Where did you go, why are you only coming back now?"

Meng Shutang looked at him and felt he was very unfamiliar.

He moved to crush the Meng, and throughout Jiangcheng, no one dared to work with the Meng.

Yet within just a few days, the Meng revived from the brink of death; she doesn't mind seeing Meng Zhibang and Bai Cixian doing well, but she suspects that this man, whenever he gets close to her, also keeps holding Bai Cixian's hand.

"Gu Yunci, I find you very unfamiliar."

The man was startled, "The Meng affair wasn't done by me."

"Not you? How many people would believe that?"

"You think Jin Xing's words are more trustworthy than mine, right?"

"You bring him up for what? I have my own judgment!"

"So you'd rather trust your own judgment than believe in my feelings for you?"