Chapter 148: Meng Shutang Takes the Initiative

They walked for a while, then stopped beside a pile of sand; Xin Xin picked up a tool and played in the sand with the little companions.

Meng Shutang casually found a clean spot to sit, and Gu Jin Xing, seeing her, sat right next to her.

As he sat, he slightly narrowed his eyes, his posture upright yet relaxed, his movements unhurried, his fingertips lightly resting on his knee.

His lazy posture still exuded a restrained gentlemanly air; the quiet way he sat was dignified and highly attractive.

"What's wrong? Since you left over there, I've felt something's off with you?"

He turned his gaze slightly, looking at Meng Shutang.

She now carried a few more charms than his memory recalled, still radiant and captivating, still so beautiful that it made his heart flutter.

In this moment, Gu Jin Xing had to admit that after seven years apart, Meng Shutang remained the only person in the world who could stir his heart with turbulent, surging emotions.

Meng Shutang pressed her lips together, looked at Xin Xin, and said nothing.

"I know you saw it—was it because of my brother?"

He spoke lightly, his eyes fixed on her for a brief instant.

Meng Shutang's hand tightened slightly.

"I… I trust him."

Although her brows and eyes were faint when she came over, no one knew what inner turmoil Meng Shutang had experienced on this stretch.

Yet with a quick glance, she could easily deceive herself into saying she hadn't seen it, or that she had mistaken it.

But she couldn't fool herself.

She had loved Gu Yunci for fourteen years—fourteen years, occupying half of her life's time.

Any slight breeze or rustle involving him and any woman, especially Bai Cixian, could raise a storm in her heart.

Gu Jin Xing looked at her slightly furrowed dark brows, suddenly feeling pain, and said, "I also don't believe my brother is that kind of person; let me take another look."

He pulled out his phone and immediately saw an announcement from the Gu Group Public Relations Department.

【Regarding the photos circulating online recently, some are private old photos of the parties from many years ago and are not recent; the two parties have no improper relationship.】

【This incident is a malicious, organized, premeditated rumor spread by foreign forces, intended to tarnish the company's reputation and disrupt the group's normal operations; we have already initiated global legal action.】

Gu Jin Xing read the announcement aloud, each word clear.

Meng Shutang, who had just been frowning, suddenly grabbed Gu Jin Xing's arm after hearing it and asked, "Did their company really say that?"

She feared Gu Yunci would completely deny it, because the photo she had just seen was the one from four years ago in a transparent elevator, where a man approached and Gu Yunci protected Bai Cixian.

Since Gu Yunci admitted part of the facts, it suffices to show that someone is deliberately sabotaging.

In the business world, such things are common; during the three years of their secret marriage, she had seen more than once rumors that Gu Yunci was involved with some female star, staying overnight at a certain business magnate's villa, and so on.

These allegations were all fabricated.

Because at that time, Gu Yunci was lying beside her.

Except when he was on business trips, they almost every night shared marital life, each time staying up late.

Even when on a business trip, if Gu Yunci missed her, he would have Qin Zheng bring her over; he never thought he had spare energy or mind to be intimate with others.

So at this point, she still chose to trust Gu Yunci.

Gu Jin Xing, shocked by her trust, lowered his gaze and glanced at the hand she had placed on his arm.

The hand was truly beautiful—delicate, fair, and as lustrous as jade.

Meng Shutang was startled, slowly withdrew her hand, and said, "Sorry, Jin Xing, I got too excited."

Gu Jin Xing put away his phone and said, "It's fine, as long as you trust my brother."

Gu Yunci spent the day being hampered by the online scandal.

First, the stock price fluctuated, then steadied a bit after the announcement.

Later, he began to counterattack with capital.

When he identified the rival company, he froze all overseas collaborations and, together with domestic and foreign capital, pressured the foreign firm.

Step by step, he forced the other side to voluntarily hand over evidence of malicious competition and media manipulation.

Thus, the "top‑stream tyrant's private life scandal" turned into public opinion of "foreign capital maliciously suppressing a mid‑tier pillar enterprise."

As he rode back to Qingluju, the tone in the comment section began to shift.

"Oh my god, so it was a business frame‑up."

"Do you want to put on a smug face, destroying someone's reputation because you can't beat them? Truly low."

"National enterprises rise!!!"

…

His tightly knit brows gradually relaxed, but when he suddenly thought of Meng Shutang, the calm he had just regained became tense again.

Their relationship had just taken a step forward when such a scandal surfaced online, involving him and Bai Cixian; he couldn't imagine, but he knew Meng Shutang would be utterly furious.

Gu Yunci returned to Qingluju at seven p. m.

He pushed open the door and saw Xin Xin being held in Gu Jin Xing's arms, her short legs hooked around his, her face nestled in his neck hollow, smiling softly.

Gu Jin Xing cradled the child with one arm, while his other hand pinched a small orange, coaxing patiently in a voice she had never heard from him before, "Eat slowly, don't choke."

Xin Xin responded in a baby‑like, milk‑sweet voice, her little arms hugging Gu Jin Xing's neck, looking very affectionate.

Gu Jin Xing chuckled, lowered his head to nuzzle her forehead, his eyes full of indulgence.

Beside them, the lady Meng Shutang sat on the sofa with her legs folded, her brows and eyes gentle as she watched the adult and child, her lips pressed together in a faint smile, as if already accustomed to the scene.

He had only been away for a day; inside, the house exuded a timeless tranquility, warmth beyond words.

In an instant, his jealousy boiled over.

But recalling Meng Shutang's words, he silently thought, "Jin Xing is my brother, Jin Xing is my brother…"

The next second, Xin Xin hopped down from Gu Jin Xing's lap, "Dad, you're back."

She threw herself onto him; Gu Yunci bent down, lifted Xin Xin, her short legs hooking around his waist, one hand clinging to him, and she planted a "smack" kiss on his cheek.

In an instant, Gu Yunci was soothed.

His little cotton-padded jacket still loves him the most.

But his gaze shifted back to Meng Shutang, and he inexplicably felt a tightness in his chest, his fingertips slightly curling.

Those rampant scandals, she must have seen them, right?

The PR department's clarification announcement and follow-up handling—did she see it?

She will definitely be angry and won't look at the follow-up; whether it's a cold stare, questioning, or anger, he's prepared.

Gu Jin Xing saw him return, stood up, and said, "Brother, why don't we go back to Qian Shui Wan together?"

What does Gu Jin Xing mean by this?

Does he know that Meng Shutang will be furious soon, so he's letting him leave first and come back tomorrow?

After all, after a night, Meng Shutang will definitely be able to see the news after the clarification.

But he hardly thought, "Jin Xing, go back first; I have something to say... to your sister-in-law."

If one of them must struggle tonight, he would rather it be him.

Meng Shutang has just recovered from illness; he doesn't want her to lose sleep over this, feeling suffocated.

Meng Shutang's fingertip twitched slightly.

Slowly rose from the sofa.

Gu Jin Xing looked at the two of them, pondered, and said, "Alright, I'll leave first."

After Gu Jin Xing left, grandmother came out to play with Xin Xin; Meng Shutang glanced at Gu Yunci, and the man tacitly followed her into the room.

Looking at her slender back, the man felt a lump in his throat, and he didn't dare let his gaze linger too openly on her.

"Many photos in the news are fake; the only genuine one is my past from back then when I was a scoundrel not restrained enough—I won't defend myself."

"But I have never betrayed you, never been perfunctory with you."

Meng Shutang listened, slowly turned around, and walked to face him.

Gu Yunci watched, his heart growing more agitated, "This scandal is a malicious scheme by foreign capital, but the fault lies in my having a past that can be exploited."

"Let all the attacks fall on me; I only ask you... not to be angry."

He spoke very sincerely, just like when he suddenly came over last night to hug her.

Meng Shutang approached; Gu Yunci felt she might raise her hand to slap him.

After all, any woman who saw such a scandal would be angry.

The next second, Meng Shutang reached out and lightly grasped his tie, with a slight pull bringing him down.

The man was caught off guard, leaning in; before he could react, she rose on her toes and kissed him, her soft lips carrying a somewhat reckless initiative, "I trust you."