Chapter 145: He Thought I Killed Our Mother

Gu Yunci's heart tightened.

He left, Lu Shenyang left, so it's just Gu Jin Xing staying here!

Sure enough, after finishing speaking to him, Meng Shutang turned her gaze and smiled at Gu Jin Xing, eyes full of indulgence, just like an older sister looking at her younger brother.

"Jin Xing, are you available?"

Gu Jin Xing was clearly overjoyed, "I'm free, I'm available."

Gu Yunci was dissatisfied with this outcome, his expression grew cold.

Xin Xin saw it and pleaded, "Mom, let Dad stay too to take care of you, okay?"

Meng Shutang shook her head, "Dad is very busy, he has a lot of work every day; we can't hold him up."

All eyes in the room swept toward Gu Yunci; the person who always held the winds and clouds now felt a tightness in his throat, his eyes swirling with a brokenness and helplessness they had never seen. The proud composure he had forced crumbled, leaving only an unmistakable dead silence and desolation.

He made no protest, merely bowed his head and kissed Xin Xin on the forehead, "Tonight, Dad will come to see you."

After speaking, he affectionately patted her head and turned away.

Lu Shenyang saw this, exchanged a brief greeting and followed out.

The two rode the elevator down together, Gu Yunci hung his head in silence, saying nothing the whole way.

Lu Shenyang looked at him but offered no comfort.

Gu Jin Xing was left to look after Meng Shutang, which surprised him a bit.

After tidying up the food and escorting Meng Shutang back to her bedroom, he asked cautiously, "Why choose me?"

Meng Shutang beamed, "You're my little brother!"

Gu Jin Xing's smile on his face stiffened slightly; he wanted to ask Meng Shutang, "So in your eyes, I'm really just a little brother?"

But he couldn't voice it; being the little brother was still his own suggestion.

At that moment, he suddenly realized he had backfired, because now he truly understood he didn't want to be the little brother.

Just thinking of that title made his chest feel tight.

Meng Shutang didn't see Gu Jin Xing's expression; she obediently finished her medicine and lay down to rest.

Before sleeping, she said to Gu Jin Xing, "Jin Xing, I'm not a child; you don't have to watch over me day and night.

If you're busy, then go be busy!"

Gu Jin Xing nodded, "Alright."

After Meng Shutang fell asleep, Gu Jin Xing sat beside her; he didn't intend to rummage, he just happened to see a diary in the drawer and took it out to read.

That page happened to be the night before the engagement banquet.

"May the future of Jin Xing and I be bright as wished, year after year tranquil!"

Next to it was a photo; she had gone to Xiangguo Temple to pray, hanging a red rope on the big banyan tree.

With hands clasped, she bowed her head, gently closing her eyes, her expression solemn and sincere, as if she folded all her worries into that single bow and prayer, earnest and devout.

Gu Jin Xing watched and gave a faint smile.

Meng Shutang truly was such a person: once she chose a profession, she stuck to it; once she chose a task, she pursued it for life; once she loved someone, she gave her whole heart.

From the start, she set her sights on him, envisioning a lifelong partnership together.

Unfortunately, at the engagement banquet, Gu Yunci suddenly burst in, forcibly cutting in on their love, tearing apart the destiny that had belonged to the two of them.

Gu Jin Xing only felt a pang of aching in his chest.

Because of his mother's death, Gu Yunci has harbored a grudge against him for sixteen years.

Taking Meng Shutang away was his cruel revenge.

Even now, though they are divorced, he still clings to Meng Shutang like a lingering ghost.

The man's hand tightened slightly as he placed the diary back.

Meng Shutang slept through the whole day and only woke near afternoon.

During that time, Gu Jin Xing hadn't left; he sat at her desk, looking over her notes.

She was diligent, practically a master in ancient bead restoration.

"Cough cough..."

Hearing Meng Shutang's light cough, he set down the notes and stood, "You're awake?"

Meng Shutang nodded, "I thought you had left."

Gu Jin Xing, "I was worried about you, couldn't bring myself to go."

Meng Shutang took it as casual politeness; after all, seven years ago Gu Jin Xing was outgoing, cheerful, and never took things to heart.

Gu Jin Xing asked what she wanted to eat; Meng Shutang suddenly craved clear broth noodles, but she feared voicing it and making Gu Jin Xing overthink, so she said, "Anything, as long as it's soupy."

Gu Jin Xing nodded, "Grandma just took Xin Xin downstairs to throw out the trash; I'll make it for you."

Cooking was Gu Jin Xing's specialty; in just a few minutes he placed a steaming bowl of clear broth noodles before Meng Shutang.

Meng Shutang was delighted, sat down to eat, "Thank you, Jin Xing."

Gu Jin Xing saw her eating happily, "Do you also like this dish?"

Meng Shutang didn't know how to answer; she usually didn't like it, perhaps she was ill today, appetite weak, so she wanted it.

Gu Jin Xing rested his hands on his cheeks, leaned on the table, staring blankly, "My mother and I both like this dish, but my brother... doesn't."

Meng Shutang's heart skipped; after living with Gu Yunci for three years, she was sure his favorite food was exactly this...

"Jin Xing, is there some misunderstanding between you and your brother?"

Four years ago, at the divorce, Mother Zhang told her that if she didn't understand anything, she could ask anytime.

But she never asked.

She didn't know why, but at this moment she was curious and just wanted...

"He thinks I caused our mother's death."

Gu Jin Xing choked a little.

Meng Shutang's heart tightened slightly, "What about the real situation!"

Gu Jin Xing lowered one hand, absentmindedly doodling on the table, "What the real situation is like… I…"

At that time, he was too young, only five years old.

He was just obeying Gu Yeheng's order, kindly holding his mother, and didn't know Chu Fu would fall from the spiral staircase and die.

"My dad doesn't want me to bring this up."

Saying that, Gu Jin Xing stood up, "Do you still want to eat? If not, I'll go wash."

Meng Shutang obediently stood up, watching Gu Jin Xing's retreating back, she suddenly couldn't hold back, "Jin Xing, you misunderstood your brother."

"Actually your brother, he especially loves this rice."

Gu Jin Xing's steps halted, standing still, his back elegant and handsome, broad shoulders, narrow waist, upright figure, yet in this moment a subtle, barely perceptible stiffness seeped through.

But he only slightly turned, "Rest well."

Gu Jin Xing went to the kitchen to wash the dishes, then got a phone call and told Meng Shutang he was leaving.

But halfway there, he realized something was left in Meng Shutang's room, so he turned back.

While he was away, Li Xiuyun and Xin Xin, coming downstairs, ran into Gu Yunci; the three rode the elevator upstairs together.

Gu Yunci coaxed Xin Xin for a while; Xin Xin sat down to draw peacefully, while Li Xiuyun went to the kitchen to prepare dinner.

Gu Yunci came to Meng Shutang's room.

Meng Shutang, drowsily, mistakenly thought Gu Jin Xing had returned; she opened her eyes, a gentle joy instantly spreading in her gaze, and softly said, "Why are you back again?"

When she saw it was him, all the smile suddenly froze on her face, the joy extinguished like by a cold wind, sinking away bit by bit.

Gu Yunci looked at her, his heart felt as if a piece had been torn out, even his breath carried a dull, heavy pain.

Around him, the air pressure was chillingly cold, yet without any sharpness, leaving only a dead, desolate emptiness.

Meng Shutang's heart tightened sharply, unable to tell if it was compassion or some other tangled feeling, blocking her from speaking.

Their gazes met, in the twilight.

The setting sun's afterglow washed over their shoulders, blurring each other's outlines.

In the end, Meng Shutang's heart softened, "Gu Yunci, what's wrong with you?"

Gu Yunci twisted his brow forcefully, walked toward her, and embraced the Meng Shutang sitting on the bed.