Chapter 166: Gu Yunci Cries

"Don't be afraid, I'm coming."

Gu Yunci's voice trembled with an unmistakable quiver and lingering fear as he wrapped his arms around Meng Shutang so tightly it seemed he wanted to embed her into his very bones, gently soothing her.

Meng Shutang leaned into his warm and reliable embrace, and her taut nerves instantly collapsed.

She clutched him tightly with both hands, the fear and grievance of surviving a disaster surging together, and large tears burst from her eyes.

His bony, defined fingers massaged her scalp; once her emotions steadied, he shielded her and stepped back a few paces, handing her over to Qin Zheng.

He then went to the seaside, looked at Gu Jin Xing, who stared blankly at the sea, and seized his collar in one swift pull, his eyes full of ferocity.

"Do you even know what you're doing? You keep saying you love her, yet you love her by this mutually destructive way?"

After speaking, he swung his fist hard, striking Gu Jin Xing's face; Gu Jin Xing staggered twice before regaining his footing.

"Whatever you did to me, recalling the childhood misunderstanding, I won't pursue it at all.

But remember, from now on, if you dare to force her, to lay a single finger on her, I will never spare you."

Finishing his words, Gu Yunci turned, hoisted the trembling Meng Shutang from the sea breeze sideways, and walked away.

Calming down, Gu Jin Xing stood there, suddenly at a loss.

What was he doing just now?

Was he about to drag Meng Shutang into the sea to commit a love suicide?

What if they die—could Chu Fu survive? Could the countless mother‑killing hats that were tied to his head in childhood be taken off? Or could his relationship with Gu Yunci be restored to how it once was?

None of them!

He knows better than anyone.

He is just a madman.

His madness gradually faded, leaving only endless bewilderment and sorrow; his tears fell silently, splashing into the sea.

He seemed as if all his strength had been drained, no longer possessing the earlier obsession and ferocity.

While Gu Jin Xing stood despondently there watching the sea, a solitary figure behind the reef slowly rose.

Since yesterday's birthday banquet until now, Bai Cixian had been lurking, wanting to see who was helping her from behind and who was harming her.

At Qian Shui Wan, she saw Zhang Ning approach Gu Jin Xing, calling him "sir."

In an instant, she understood everything.

Gu Jin Xing had been lying low abroad for years; after achieving fame and success, he returned intending to ruin Gu Yunci and seize Meng Shutang.

And she was merely a pawn he ruthlessly used.

He helped the Meng family, and she was grateful to him.

But to exploit her, he disfigured her, welding the scar onto her face as a lifelong disgrace, which she could not tolerate.

Gu Yunci was reluctant to send Gu Jin Xing to prison.

But she would; she swore she would definitely send Gu Jin Xing to jail.

On the day of the car accident, she secretly saved a copy before the dashcam was destroyed.

Bai Cixian tiptoed away and went to the police station.

Gu Yunci left the seaside and returned to the car.

Meng Shutang curled up like a soft bundle in the car seat; her whole body had been soaked by sea water and wind, the thin dress clinging to her, freezing her limbs to the point of numbness.

Gu Yunci opened the door, sat beside her, and lifted her up, letting her lean against him.

The car's heater was strong, yet Meng Shutang couldn't stop shivering, occasionally murmuring in a tiny voice, "Cold, so cold."

Gu Yunci held her tightly, reached out to touch her forehead, and found she was feverish.

Dressed so thin, after an hour in the cold sea air, it's no wonder she developed a fever.

He instantly felt both heartache and guilt; he shouldn't have lingered in sorrow over his mother's death, and should have sent Meng Shutang home first.

Fortunately he arrived in time; had he been a moment later and Gu Jin Xing grabbed Meng Shutang to leap into the sea, he would never forgive himself in this life.

The car sped along, entering the luxurious, tranquil Chengxi Bieshu; warm amber lights gradually illuminated the courtyard, dispelling the pre‑dawn chill and darkness.

Gu Yunci carried her to the master bedroom, called the family doctor, and minutes later the doctor arrived, examined Meng Shutang, and told him.

"President Gu, Miss Meng is chilled and feverish; a little warming, dispelling‑cold medicine will suffice."

The master bedroom's air‑conditioner was on, warm as spring.

The man stood at the bedside, looking at Meng Shutang on the soft mattress, and gave a slight nod.

Her damp clothes had already been dried by the car's heater on the way; seeing her fever, he didn't bathe her, merely changed her out of the wet garments into ordinary home wear.

The bedside lamp was set to a soft glow; Gu Yunci sat at the edge of the bed and reached out to touch her forehead again.

Meng Shutang took the medicine but her fever hadn't subsided; he fetched a warm towel, gently placed it on her forehead, hoping to cool her physically.

Meng Shutang lay on the bed, her whole body fever‑dazed.

Yet she could clearly feel the familiar breath and gentle touch; when Gu Yunci rose to change the water, she suddenly grabbed him, "Gu Yunci, don't go."

Gu Yunci's body tensed, he looked at her slightly furrowed brow and sat down beside her.

He held her hand, gently kissing her fingertip, "I won't leave, I will never leave."

Meng Shutang didn't know how long she had slept.

She was awakened by a kiss.

In the sweet dream, she felt her breathing stilted, and reluctantly opened her eyes.

In total darkness, she couldn't see the person before her, only smelled the familiar cool fragrance.

She hummed lightly while nudging Gu Yunci, then suddenly thought of something and sprang up, "What time is it now, where am I?"

Gu Yunci wrapped her and lay down slowly, "It's midnight now, you're at Chengxi Bieshu.

You came back from the seaside with a fever, it's been burning for a day and night."

She wanted to ask Xin Xin and her grandmother, but Gu Yunci pressed her down from above, his movements very gentle.

Xin Xin and her grandmother get along well; someone is taking care of them, and Aunt Zhou is also very good, so there's no need to worry.

His hand, with clearly defined knuckles, pinched her chin, deepening the gentle kiss little by little.

She lifted her hand and touched his still damp hair; the moist, fresh vapor stained her delicate fingertips.

He seemed as if he had eaten candy, exuding a strong orange flavor.

She didn't struggle; Gu Yunci held her in a back‑and‑forth kiss, as if after their marriage they never grew tired of that moment—sometimes light, sometimes heavy, sometimes swift, sometimes slow.

She was gradually stirred, yet he no longer seemed like before to want anything else; it seemed that merely kissing her was enough.

She didn't know how long they kissed before stopping.

The two lay face to face, looking at each other in total darkness.

After adjusting to the light, Meng Shutang saw his face clearly, and the determination in his eyes.

And tears…

Just as Meng Shutang was certain of the glimmer in Gu Yunci's eyes, the man could no longer hold back his tears, he embraced her, "Tang Tang."

Meng Shutang knew why he was crying.

Probably because, at eight years old, he lacked good judgment and believed that Gu Jin Xing had pushed Chu Fu down the stairs, causing her death.

In those years, facing a brother who was both beloved and a "mother‑murderer," his heart must have been in extreme agony.

He had once also distanced himself from Gu Jin Xing, mocked him, and once he gradually accepted his brother's youth, he thought that even if he truly pushed their mother down, it would have been an unintentional mistake.

Young Gu Jin Xing had already been completely silenced amid repeated doubts from the crowd and Gu Yeheng's intimidation to protect his own reputation.

Anyway, it was already like this; no one would believe he didn't push his mother. Even the father who ordered him to hold his mother began to blame him. His life had plummeted the day Chu Fu fell, and it would never improve, only get worse.

"I've always regretted, always thinking, if the person who entered the house first that day had been me, would it have been different."

"My mother wouldn't have died, and I wouldn't have lost my brother."

Meng Shutang held him, "You were only eight then…"

These matters have nothing to do with him.

These matters also have nothing to do with Gu Jin Xing.

They can't influence much…

What could a few‑year‑old understand? Gu Jin Xing was merely obeying Gu Yeheng's words, doing as told.

And Gu Yunci, being young, believed what others said; that's normal.

The instigator of all this is Gu Yeheng.

It was his infidelity that indirectly caused all these tragedies.

But Gu Yunci couldn't do anything about him; twenty‑three years ago, he had sharply cut himself out completely.

Even if this tragedy, doing so caused the loss of a son.