Chapter 155: Can

"When our people arrived, the surgery had just started; your call just now couldn't get through. By now… it should already be over."

Qin Zheng said with a slight regret.

Bai Cixian, though not the kind of timeless beauty like Meng Shutang,

still ranks first‑class among ordinary people.

From then on a lifelong scar would mar her face; whatever she had done before, for a beauty alone it hurts more than being killed.

Gu Yunci's voice revealed no emotion, "I understand."

Beauty salon.

In the hallway, the nurses deliberately lowered their voices, and their murmurs drifted in, each sentence stabbing her heart like a needle.

So she hadn't misheard.

The scar on her face truly could not be removed; the face she once took pride in would trap her for the rest of her life.

She sprang up from the bed with a bang, hurried to Zhang Ning, eyes reddened, voice sharp and out of control.

"You just now held my hand and told me not to go mad.

You have a way to rescue me from hell, and this is your method?"

"You could transfer billions to me in one go; why didn't you save me? To let these scars be etched on my face like disgrace—how will I face anyone thereafter?"

She lunged, grabbed Zhang Ning's collar, intending to strike hard.

But before she could act, a crisp thud exploded through the tranquil salon.

She had just finished surgery, couldn't be slapped; Zhang Ning lifted a foot and kicked her over.

Seeing Bai Cixian's defiant look after falling, Zhang Ning kicked her a second, then a third, hard.

Zhang Ning stood on high heels, looking down at her with an icy stare, her tone openly contemptuous.

"What right do you have to go mad? Who gave you the nerve!"

"Don't forget, everything you and your mother now possess was given by us."

"Since the moment you stepped into Tangxia Si Yan, knelt before the gentleman begging for a way out, you have had no right to show attitude, let alone question!"

Each sentence hammered her heart like a hammer.

She bowed her head and lay there, suddenly snapping to clarity.

She was no longer the Meng family's prized daughter, no longer a treasured jewel.

From the moment Gu Yunci began tidying up the Meng family, she had already fallen from the heights.

It was that "gentleman" she still didn't know, who rescued her from hell.

Now, aside from lacking that radiant face, she has everything else.

Designer bags, designer clothes, luxury cars…

She is merely a pawn.

"When you came in earlier, I told you not to go mad!"

Zhang Ning sat down beside her, "Even if you want to go mad, now is not the time; why are you in such a hurry!"

Bai Cixian sensed an ulterior meaning in the words; her legs gave way, she scrambled up and knelt before Zhang Ning.

"Sister Zhang," she dared not look up, fearing Zhang Ning would see through the remaining pride, dignity, and façade in her eyes, "…I was wrong. I shouldn't have gone mad, shouldn't have spoken recklessly, shouldn't have… I beg you, don't abandon me!"

Speaking, she slowly lifted her head, "Whatever you make me do, I'm willing to do.

As long as you don't drive me mad, don't let me die."

Zhang Ning clenched their chin, like a ruthless executioner gripping a chick's throat.

"Do what you were best at before: lure Gu Yunci."

In the following days, Meng Shutang did not see Gu Yunci again.

The man who once fell for her at first sight and could not live without her seemed to have vanished from her world.

Yet she could learn from her grandmother and Xin Xin's conversation, and from the mountain of gifts piled in the living room, that he had gone to Qingluju and had met her grandmother and Xin Xin.

The only one he was avoiding was her.

"If he doesn't appear, let him stay hidden; that works, just right, clean."

While brushing her teeth, she muttered to herself.

After breakfast, she drove to Gu Group.

Recently Wanxing Ge took on a Gu Clan project; she and Chen Man went today for negotiations.

In the 28th‑floor conference room, Chen Man and Zhou Songyan chatted happily.

Zhou Songyan laughed, "For such an important project, President Gu said he would attend personally; you can see the sincerity just by placing the conference room on the 28th floor."

After the words fell, Qin Zheng pushed the door open, "Manager Zhou, President Gu is calling you."

Zhou Songyan exchanged a few polite words, then rose and followed Qin Zheng out.

Meng Shutang sat there, her slender fingertips unconsciously tracing the pen barrel.

She thought that when she later met Gu Yunci, she would discuss the project strictly business‑like, letting him know that the words spoken that night were only aimed at that night.

She didn't hold such a strong prejudice against him.

She pondered as the steady click of leather shoes grew nearer.

She lowered her head, her brows and eyes faint, but her heartbeat quickened.

Until the door opened and Zhou Songyan entered, explaining to everyone.

"President Gu suddenly had something come up and couldn't make it, so the few of us will discuss."

Meng Shutang lifted her eyes, seeing the doorway empty, and the spot that should belong to a man was also vacant.

Her heart lightened, and her hand unconsciously tightened a little.

He… didn't come!

Is it because of her that he changed his mind at the last minute?

Throughout the meeting she was somewhat absent‑minded; even the parts that concerned her were mostly said by Chen Man in her place.

In her mind, the words she had spoken that night…… kept replaying—did they really hurt him?

After the negotiations ended, Meng Shutang followed Zhou Songyan and the others out.

Just as she turned the corridor corner, her gaze narrowed.

Not far away beside the elevator, a tall, slender figure suddenly stood there.

The man was straight and slender, his waist and abdomen taut; his profile bore the dignity and desire for control of one long accustomed to high position, every movement exuding supreme elegance and oppression.

And this person was someone she could try not to think about these past few days, yet she couldn't help but care about him.

Her steps faltered slightly, and her breath grew shallow.

Other coworkers walked over and greeted him one after another.

Meng Shutang also instinctively walked over—after all, that night she had been too impulsive, and her words had indeed been too harsh.

She should…… take the initiative to dispel this awkwardness.

Huo Yanchen stood nearby, saw her approaching, and took the initiative to greet her.

"Miss Meng, you're here too."

Meng Shutang nodded slightly, "Doctor Huo, nice to see you again."

Having said that, she turned her gaze to Gu Yunci a few steps away, about to speak.

In that moment of her hesitation, the elevator doors opened with a ding.

Gu Yunci and Huo Yanchen were talking, one hand in his pocket, walking in unhurriedly, sideways, and he didn't notice her at all.

Watching the elevator doors slowly close, Meng Shutang stood where she was; amid the surrounding clamor, she felt the world had never been so quiet.

Gu Yunci…… truly did not want to see her again.

Chen Man saw her dazed, put an arm around her shoulders, and asked, "What's wrong?"

Meng Shutang pressed her lips together, "Nothing."

The two entered the elevator and went downstairs; just as they stepped out of the Gu Clan Building, discussing returning to the studio, Meng Shutang was called out.

"Shutang."

Meng Shutang turned around and saw Gu Jin Xing waving at her from near his Bentley.

Seeing this, Chen Man said, "Shutang, go over there; I'll head back to the studio alone."

Meng Shutang approached Gu Jin Xing and said, "Let me take you somewhere."

After getting in the car and chatting a while, Meng Shutang learned that before she came down, Gu Jin Xing had run into Gu Yunci.

But Gu Jin Xing didn't know she was at the Gu Clan; presumably Gu Yunci really hadn't noticed her just now.