Chapter 167: Temporarily Let Him Off

"Tang Tang, if I let Jin Xing go like this, will you blame me?"

Gu Yunci embraced Meng Shutang, moving slowly.

On the birthday banquet, Gu Jin Xing publicly displayed the oil painting "Imprisonment" as a metaphor for the engagement banquet; afterwards Gu Yunci took Meng Shutang away, bringing her to Qian Shui Wan to "imprison" her.

He knew about it, but he went along to let Gu Jin Xing vent his anger.

Later, Gu Jin Xing took Meng Shutang again, intending to jump into the sea with her.

In this situation, he should set aside brotherly ties and either exile Gu Jin Xing abroad or send him to prison.

But having learned the truth of his mother's death, he cannot do it.

Meng Shutang knows he cannot.

She now feels only fear toward Gu Jin Xing, with no lingering affection.

As long as Gu Jin Xing doesn't trouble her again, she will willingly show mercy.

"Hmm," she nodded firmly; darkness spread over the bed, she curled in his arm, the two pressed tightly together, leaving no gap.

He lowered his head, burying himself in her hair, his breath scorching.

She looked up at him, her slender fingertips lightly gripping his back, "After this, none of us will owe him anything."

Gu Yunci pressed a kiss to her brow, "Thank you, but rest assured, I will never let him hurt you again."

Meng Shutang nodded, "I trust you."

She tried to stand.

Gu Yunci, "What are you getting up for?"

"I haven't seen Xin Xin for several days; I miss her." She lowered her head, noticing the clothes on her weren't the ones she used to wear, "My clothes…"

Gu Yunci smiled sheepishly, "I changed them for you,"

Saying so, the tip of his ear flushed red, "I didn't see anything."

If he hadn't emphasized it, Meng Shutang wouldn't have thought much of it.

But considering his good intentions, she didn't probe further.

Seeing her stand, he grabbed her, "It's midnight; if you go back you'll affect them. Rest assured, Qin Zheng will guard for 24 hours; there'll be no problem."

Meng Shutang listened, then lay down slowly again.

In the following days, they didn't see Gu Jin Xing again.

He seemed to have vanished; the old lady roughly knew what happened that day and didn't ask where Gu Jin Xing had gone.

Gu Yeheng had visited the group a few times, feeling a bit guilty about his father's desire to get close to his son; he spoke with a slight hunch, his gaze complex as he looked at Gu Yunci.

Gu Yunci was colder than ever, yet when the conversation turned to work he remained strictly businesslike.

He was full of guilt and timidity; his hand reached into the air but only drooped listlessly, unwilling to disturb his eldest son who had long closed his heart to him, "When Jin Xing returns, let me know."

After speaking, he turned to leave, perhaps sensing that Gu Jin Xing would never want to see him again in this life; after a few steps he turned back, "Just tell him directly, tell him I'm sorry."

Having said that, he cleared his throat lightly and turned away.

Gu Yunci's hand paused briefly, then he resumed his work.

Half an hour later, the commotion outside reached the office.

Gu Yunci felt a slight pain at his brow, picked up the desk phone and asked, "Who's making noise outside?"

On the line, Xiao Zhou's voice said, "President Gu, it's Bai Cixian; she's demanding to see you, and Qin's assistant is blocking her."

Gu Yunci considered, "Let her in."

Unlike before, Bai Cixian this time neither flirted nor acted coyly toward either of Yunci's brothers.

She almost jogged to his side, "President Gu, the time Gu Jin Xing dragged Meng Shutang to Chen Bi Shan Zhuang, I heard him say he caused a car accident to hurt me in order to avenge Meng Shutang; I reported it to the police, yet he cleared himself completely."

That's normal; Gu Jin Xing couldn't possibly get involved personally over such a trivial matter.

Last time he reported it, the police closed the case, and the at‑fault driver took full responsibility, saying he was the one who crashed.

As for the escape, the driver said he was too scared and fled in panic after the accident.

"This was definitely done by Gu Jin Xing; for Meng Shutang's sake, you must send him to prison."

Gu Yunci said nothing, stood up, grabbed his coat and left.

Bai Cixian saw this and said, "His goal was never me; if you don't put him in prison, you'll regret it."

Gu Yunci's steps halted; he turned slightly, gave her a quiet glance, then hurried away.

Gu Jin Xing vanished completely from Hua Guo, as if he'd never been there, and even Xiao Xin Xin gradually forgot him.

To cheer Meng Shutang up and help her fully shed the lingering fright, Gu Yunci suggested going to the racetrack for fun.

He originally planned to bring Xin Xin, but Li Xiuyun, upon hearing it was the racetrack, didn't let her go.

"You young ones play together; Xin Xin and I have gone, we won't waste any time."

Gu Yunci didn't linger; such a place truly isn't suitable for children.

In the morning the group arrived at the racetrack, and Meng Shutang changed into riding attire.

A waist‑cinched black riding suit wrapped her figure snugly; her long hair was tied high into a neat ponytail, revealing a pale neck, giving her a sleek, dashing appearance.

She hurried to the stables; the horse Gu Yunci had chosen for her had already been led out.

It was a jet‑black horse, its coat glossy and smooth, mane fluttering in the wind, posture erect.

She had raised this horse shortly after their marriage; despite its imposing appearance, its temperament was especially gentle.

The horse Gu Yunci rode was a pure white steed, entirely snow‑white, untainted by any hue, its coat smooth as cream, body balanced and strong—a rarity among ten thousand.

That year, he had originally intended to give that horse to Meng Shutang.

But Meng Shutang chose the black horse.

While pondering, Gu Yunci led the white horse to her side.

He wore a sharply tailored white riding suit, his figure tall and slender, shoulders broad and waist narrow.

Leading a white horse, he walked over; his white robes and the fine horse complemented each other, the knight's elegance revealing a noble, icy clarity as he strode forward, his whole bearing unrestrained and sharp.

The horse trainer saw that the horse had grown much taller than four years ago, and Meng Shutang, who hadn't ridden in a long time, couldn't get on.

Just as he was about to help, Gu Yunci saw and said, 'I'll do it.'

He directly placed his left hand under her arm, his right hand circling her slender waist, and lightly lifted her onto the horse's back.

After all, Meng Shutang hadn't ridden in years, and the black horse had grown up; their rapport needed time to adjust.

The riding ground was vast and boundless; she let the horse run for a while, then heard the patter-patter-patter of hooves approaching.

She turned around and saw Gu Yunci galloping toward them on a white horse.

Gu Yunci saw that her riding was decent and voluntarily asked, 'Shall we ride a lap first?'

On the open plain, the west wind blew fiercely.

The white horse was taller than the black one, especially with its long, bulging muscles giving a stronger sense of power, forming a stark contrast with the cold, gorgeous black horse that seemed like a shadow congealed in the wind.

'Good.'

The black horse stepped with its hooves, as if understanding the intent, looking quite imposing.

With a cry of 'Go!' ringing in the air, Meng Shutang spurred the horse into a gallop; her beautiful hair beneath the helmet streamed in the wind as she rode, that slender, pretty face showing a radiant vigor he had not seen in a while.

Especially when she turned back and smiled, her bright, lovely grin made Gu Yunci's lips twitch upward involuntarily.

This was Meng Shutang's true self—vivid and lovely.

At this moment, she seemed to truly forget the fear of being coerced by Gu Jin Xing into jumping off the seaside together.