Chapter 154: Meng Shutang

Meng Shutang returned home, and the first thing she did was pull her phone out of her bag to call Lu Shenyang.

The person who invited her and Chen Man to the tavern today was Lu Shenyang; otherwise, she wouldn't have gone.

The tavern was a proper music restaurant; because she had a cold, she didn't drink, only stayed to chat a few sentences.

Lu Shenyang might have been busy, answering a while later, leaving her heart hanging.

After finally getting through, she hurriedly asked, "Brother Shenyang, where are you?"

On the other end, Lu Shenyang's clear, gentle, refined voice said, "I'm at home, reading a book."

Gu Yunci had just left; even if he wanted to have someone "deal with" Lu Shenyang right now, it would still require investigation and sending thugs, which takes time.

She wanted to stay with Lu Shenyang for a while; Gu Yunci's subordinates work efficiently, so if nothing happens within an hour, it stays that way.

"After we part today, there are things I can't figure out, I want to ask you again."

Lu Shenyang was a bit skeptical, "You're so sharp, how could you not understand these?"

Meng Shutang, like a child, began to act coquettishly, "I really didn't get it!"

Lu Shenyang smiled, "Alright, whatever you didn't understand, I'll tell you."

He spoke softly and gently, very mild.

"It's just …"

They talked for a long time until a doorbell rang in the phone; Lu Shenyang opened the door and said, "President Gu, it's fine, come in!"

The mention of President Gu instantly shattered Meng Shutang's calm mood.

Could Gu Yunci have realized that the person who arranged today's drinking gathering was Lu Shenyang and gone there himself to act?

"Brother Shenyang, has Gu Yunci already arrived?" Meng Shutang's tone suddenly turned cold, even a bit angry.

Lu Shenyang was a little puzzled but replied honestly, "Yes, it's him."

"Turn on the speaker."

"…Alright."

Meng Shutang's voice was cold and hard, full of urgent protectiveness, completely forgetting that Gu Yunci had once been someone she cared about.

"Gu Yunci, I went to the tavern willingly; it has nothing to do with my brother Shenyang.

I told you not to meddle in my affairs, why won't you listen?!"

"You're obsessive and unreasonable, doing everything according to your own whims; you'd better take your people and leave, or I won't be polite to you."

President Gu had originally a gentle expression, but hearing this, his chest felt as if a cold hand had clenched it tightly, a dense dull pain spreading.

They had been secretly married for three years; aside from the marriage not being public and his abrupt request for divorce later, he believed he had never done anything that wronged her.

After she returned, he was always cautious and caring in front of her; even when he lost control a few times, it was because deep feelings were rooted.

But in her eyes, he was a cold‑blooded, ruthless, overbearing villain.

Especially compared with Lu Shenyang, he isn't even a ten‑thousandth of that level of self‑shame.

Lu Shenyang thought Meng Shutang might have some misunderstanding, because Gu Yunci, once he looked over, wasn't there to investigate.

But hearing Meng Shutang say "them," he couldn't refute.

Indeed, it wasn't just Gu Yunci; Huo Yanchen was also there.

"You'd better take your people and leave; you're not welcome here." After saying that, Meng Shutang comforted Lu Shenyang, "Brother Shenyang, he's bringing people over to trouble you; don't argue with him, don't be afraid of him, and certainly don't accommodate him."

Meng Shutang's tone grew colder, with a resolute defense, leaving no courtesy, "He's a ruthless, merciless person who leaves no leeway in his actions. Unlike you, who is gentle and refined, showing no malice toward anyone."

Every word she uttered defended her childhood‑friend brother, yet she disparaged him as worthless.

She interpreted all his previous affection and concern as malice.

President Gu listened clearly to each of her complaints and accusations, and clearly realized that he truly could not love anyone.

Otherwise, how could Meng Shutang understand him so well?

He only felt a heartache that made it hard to breathe, and even his usually calm mind suddenly became chaotic.

Meng Shutang was about to say something when Lu Shenyang cut in promptly; actually, he had been stunned just now and should have interrupted earlier.

"Shutang, President Gu came over to ask me about some British matters; it's a misunderstanding!"

Meng Shutang was stunned for a moment.

Doctor Huo chimed in promptly, "Miss Meng, only Huo Yanchen and Gu Yunci came, there are no thugs."

Both Huo Yanchen and Gu Yunci respect Minister Lu; Minister Lu's cousin was my senior during graduate school, so we know each other.

Meng Shutang's red lips part, speechless.

She thought about what the man might "explain," after all.

She would also make small talk with him; in her anger earlier, she spoke a bit rashly, hoping he wouldn't take it to heart.

But after several seconds, the man said nothing.

Meng Shutang's heart tightened in an instant, throbbing with pain.

"Sorry, Doctor Huo, I was muddled by anger just now; I didn't know you were here, I'm really sorry."

Doctor Huo smiled, "It's not a big deal, it's okay. I can understand—you're worried about your brother. Don't blame yourself; it's all over."

After speaking, he sat down on the sofa beside them and poured himself tea to drink.

Lu Shenyang looked at his phone, "Shutang, do you have anything to say to President Gu?"

After the divorce, between them it was always he apologizing to her, humbly coaxing her.

Suddenly making her apologize, a thousand words jammed in her throat, Meng Shutang suddenly didn't know what to do.

A short while later, Gu Yunci spoke slowly, his voice carrying a barely perceptible bitterness, "I respect your brother a lot; I won't do anything to him."

He paused, then looked up at his phone, his gaze serious and forceful, "But from now on, regarding drinking gatherings, unless your brother asks you, don't go."

Lu Shenyang smiled lightly, "Today it's all my fault; indeed we should change the venue."

After speaking, he, fearing that Gu Yunci and Doctor Huo had been waiting too long, said, "Shutang, it's getting late, you should sleep; I'll hang up first."

Meng Shutang gave a soft "mm" and slowly hung up.

Looking at the darkened screen, tears surged up without warning. She pressed her lips together hard and turned her head in a flurry to wipe them away, but more tears fell.

What did Gu Yunci's last sentence mean — was it a final instruction before parting forever?

From that much, at least, he had more dignity than she did.

Even at the very end, he was still thinking of her.

Yet she had never once stood on his side.

Gu Yunci talked with Lu Shenyang until very late, discussing many things about England.

He asked about prominent businessmen in England, and also asked whether Lu Shenyang had seen Gu Jin Xing there.

Lu Shenyang said no. Gu Yunci entrusted him with a few matters, then got up and left.

On the way back, Huo Yanchen noticed he was downcast. "What, did Miss Meng hit a sore spot?"

Gu Yunci didn't know what to say. Several times his thin lips parted, but in the end he said nothing.

Huo Yanchen reached over and clapped him on the shoulder. "Want to grab a drink — drink till we drop?"

Gu Yunci shook his head. "Not in the mood."

Huo Yanchen laughed. "Don't regret it. If I fall asleep in a bit and you call me, I'm not getting up."

Gu Yunci dropped Huo Yanchen off at home first, then detoured to Qingluju and circled around.

After that, he parked the car, smoked a cigarette, sat quietly for a while, and left.

He had barely left when Qin Zheng's call came through.

"President Gu, not long after I got off the phone with you, I sent someone to tail Bai Cixian."

"Just now our people called to say a woman named Zhang Ning sought out Bai Cixian on her own initiative and took her to a beauty salon for scar reduction."

"The strange thing is, Zhang Ning demanded that only one-third of the scar on Bai Cixian's face be removed — the rest welded onto her face, permanently."

"Has the procedure been done?"