Chapter 36: The Mistress Brings a Child to the Door to Provoke

After the meal, Lu Shenyang walked Meng Shutang to the entrance of Starlight Studio.

An old banyan tree cast shade, and sunlight like scattered gold fell through the gaps in the leaves onto their shoulders; the breeze was light, the leaves swayed, and time seemed gentle and clear.

"Those two people just now—do you know them?"

Lu Shenyang wasn't wearing his leather jacket today; instead, he wore a long trench coat with his hands tucked in the pockets, exuding a fresh, youthful air.

Meng Shutang gave a bitter smile. "That man is the CEO of the Gu Clan—my husband.

The woman you know—Bai Cixian, director of the Gu Clan's cultural tourism department."

Lu Shenyang pressed his lips together, recalling how nervous Gu Yunci had been about Bai Cixian. "Miss Bai is Gu Yunci's…"

"His white moonlight."

Meng Shutang pressed her lips together, brushing a strand of fallen hair behind her ear. "We'll be divorcing soon, and I've… let go."

Lu Shenyang looked at her lonely figure and felt only heartache. "Someone once said that the moon doesn't emit light—it's the light of others refracted onto her that makes her radiant.

Shutang, you are moonlight too, but you're different from the moon in the sky. You carry your own light.

You've poured so much time into this project—your heart and skill are all in it. Just go ahead and do it with peace of mind.

Don't belittle yourself. You deserve every good outcome."

Meng Shutang went to the studio. Before long, the door opened.

She thought Lu Shenyang had sat here for a while earlier and left something behind. "Brother Shenyang…"

She lifted her gaze and saw that it was Gu Yunci. Her hand froze in midair.

Gu Yunci didn't say much more. He came to her side and placed Bai Cixian's camellia pendant bracelet with the broken clasp in front of her. "Cixian's bracelet clasp is broken. Fix it. I'll come pick it up after work."

Meng Shutang looked at him, her eyes devoid of the slightest ripple. "President Gu, I'm a craftswoman who restores antique beads.

This bracelet is a machine-cast ordinary silver chain, and the clasp is mass-produced. I can't fix this."

She paused. "Besides, there's nothing worth fixing. There are plenty of accessory shops outside. The most expensive ones are only a few hundred. No need to come to me."

Gu Yunci said, "Just buy a new one? President Meng makes it sound so easy. So in President Meng's eyes, anything can just be swapped or tossed aside at will!

Mass-produced means it's not worth caring about? This was given to Cixian by her father. No matter how cheap it is, she would keep it and cherish it—unlike President Meng, who treats even her own family's things as worthless trinkets to be thrown away."

Meng Shutang recognized at a glance that this was Meng Zhibang's item.

But she had been unable to reach Meng Zhibang. The Meng family members who had previously defended her in the group chat seemed to have vanished. When she asked where Meng Zhibang had gone, not a single person replied.

"Did she say this was her father's?"

Gu Yunci said, "Yes."

Meng Shutang said, "Who is her father?"

Gu Yunci said, "Why do you ask?"

The man hadn't intended to tell her, but seeing Meng Shutang standing there all alone with her eyes lowered, as if abandoned by her own family, he said, "Her father is dead. I heard he died before she was even born."

So it wasn't Meng Zhibang. How could that be?

But Bai Cixian wouldn't lie about something like this.

Meng Shutang sat down calmly. "President Gu, please don't demean my profession, and don't use irrelevant things to pressure me.

If you want it fixed, go buy one. If you want to cherish it, let Miss Bai treasure it.

Goodbye—I won't see you out."

Gu Yunci felt that Meng Shutang was becoming more and more unreasonable.

He picked up the bracelet in a huff and left, returning to the 7th floor and handing the bracelet to Bai Cixian. "Don't bother fixing it. I'll have Qin Zheng buy you a new one later."

Bai Cixian looked treasuring it. "Even Miss Meng, with her skilled hands, said it can't be fixed. It must be truly broken.

This was given to me by my father. I've always treasured it."

Saying that, she put the bracelet back on her wrist.

But the clasp was broken and wouldn't fasten.

So she found a string to thread it and wear it, but doing it alone was a bit of a struggle. Gu Yunci saw her like this.

He suddenly thought of his own mother, Chu Fu. Why did he treasure the attic and everything in it so much? Wasn't it precisely because that place still held traces of his mother!

Bai Cixian couldn't fasten it. "Brother Yunci, can you help me?"

Gu Yunci paused for a moment, then helped her tie it.

This scene was photographed by Qiao Mo in the office area.

After Gu Yunci helped her fasten it, he turned and left. Returning to his office, he told Qin Zheng about buying a bracelet for Bai Cixian.

Qin Zheng asked, "What kind should I buy?"

The man said, "Whatever."

Qin Zheng left. Before going to the mall, he roughly found out who Gu Yunci had met earlier and learned that what Bai Cixian had broken was just an ordinary bracelet.

So he went to the first-floor counter of Zhonglin Dasha and bought a silver accessory for 500 yuan.

But when he brought it to Bai Cixian, she was somewhat dissatisfied.

"Are you sure Brother Yunci told you to buy this for me?"

Qin Zheng said, "Yes. President Gu said 'whatever.'"

Qiao Mo came over. "Special Assistant Qin, President Gu said 'whatever,' so you just bought a cheap few-hundred-yuan trinket to fob off our future young madam?"

Qin Zheng realized. "Sorry, I misunderstood."

After saying that, he left and bought one matching the standard he had previously used when buying jewelry for Meng Shutang, and brought it over.

Bai Cixian was still not satisfied, but upon hearing that what Meng Shutang had received before was the same, she let it go.

Late afternoon, just before getting off work.

Qiao Mo pushed open the door to Starlight Studio and walked in. "Teacher Meng, you're busy!"

Meng Shutang was discussing the details of antique bead restoration with Ruan An. She glanced up briefly but didn't acknowledge her.

She held her phone in front of Meng Shutang. "This is President Gu taking the bracelet back and thoughtfully putting it on my bestie. The other one—he had Qin Zheng buy new for her."

Meng Shutang didn't look.

Qiao Mo saw this and put away her phone. "I know you heard. Don't pretend and busy yourself with your designs. I came today to pass along a message from my bestie—"

Saying that, she slowly leaned down, looking at Meng Shutang. "If I were you, I'd bow out on my own. I'd never cling to the position of Young Madam Gu."

Meng Shutang's emotions were steady, but Ruan An couldn't listen anymore. "Whose dog got loose and ran in here, barking so loud? Looking to mate?"

Qiao Mo was a firecracker too, ignited at the slightest spark. "Who are you cursing at?"

Ruan An: "Whoever answers, that's who I curse at!"

Qiao Mo: "You're asking for death!"

Her words had barely left her mouth when Bai Cixian pushed the door open and entered, interrupting her. She lifted the corners of her eyes coldly. "Enough, Qiao Mo."

Qiao Mo swallowed back a belly full of fury and pointed at Ruan An. "You wait for me."

Ruan An smiled contemptuously. "Fine. I'll wait."

Bai Cixian came to Meng Shutang's side. "Miss Meng, don't be angry at Qiao Mo. That's just the kind of person she is—sharp tongue, soft heart. She actually respects you very much."

Meng Shutang set down her pen. "That's why I didn't engage her."

Bai Cixian deliberately revealed the new bracelet on her wrist, but she placed the old bracelet in front of Meng Shutang.

Meng Shutang had initially suspected she had a familial relationship with Meng Zhibang, but hearing that her father was dead, she couldn't be Meng Zhibang's biological child.

As for what relationship her mother had with Meng Zhibang, she no longer wanted to concern herself with it.

After all, she and Gu Yunci had been in love for three years and could still be tossed aside like trash. Her mother Zhou Xingfan had lain in a special care ward for so many years—she couldn't demand that Meng Zhibang not find a new love.

Qiao Mo couldn't stand Meng Shutang's aloof, high-and-mighty look. "Tangtang, I told you you're too kind. You should have told her about the pregnancy. Let's see if she'd still have the nerve to cling to the position of Young Madam Gu."

Hearing that Bai Cixian was pregnant, Meng Shutang wasn't very surprised.

They had been together for so long. Especially today at the restaurant, when Gu Yunci protected her belly—she had already guessed.

Ruan An was utterly shocked.

She had always thought Gu Yunci and Meng Shutang were just having a lovers' quarrel. She never expected that Gu Yunci and Bai Cixian had already slept together.

Seeing her shocked expression, Qiao Mo grew smug.

"In Tangtang's belly is the Gu family's seed. She is the future mistress of Qian Shui Wan!"

This bracelet was also just bought for her by President Gu—seven figures, without batting an eye. Tell me, who is in his heart?"

Meng Shutang said nothing. Ruan An sat beside her, supporting her.

Bai Cixian saw this and said timidly, "Qiao Mo, don't say that. Miss Meng and Brother Yunci had a good relationship too. Brother Yunci and I just… couldn't restrain ourselves."

Qiao Mo patted her hand. "What's wrong with not being able to restrain yourselves? You're carrying President Gu's child—you deserve it rightfully!

She, Meng Shutang, clinging to the position and refusing to let go—that's what's unreasonable!"

Bai Cixian lowered her head, gently stroking her lower abdomen, but from the corner of her eye she was watching Meng Shutang.

"Miss Meng, I know you still love Brother Yunci, but I am with child now.

After the child is born, they can't be without a father. I think Brother Yunci would also want the child's household registration under the Gu family. After all, this is his first child."

Qiao Mo chimed in. "Did you hear that, Teacher Meng? Tangtang is being this reasonable and you still won't scram?"

Or are you going to wait until President Gu personally throws you out before you're happy?"

With a chime, Meng Shutang's phone flashed.

She picked it up and saw the Gu family group chat.

Gu Yeheng, who never showed his face and had always been lurking, sent a WeChat message.

【Family, I'm officially announcing something to everyone📢: Miss Bai beside Yunci is pregnant.

As an elder of the family, I'm making my stance clear—I support Yunci and acknowledge this child. Miss Bai and her family will receive the respect and care due from the Gu family.

I also urge the Eldest Young Master to diligently and responsibly take care of his wife and little grandchild, to shoulder his responsibilities as a husband and father-to-be. The whole family together, walking hand in hand!】

Finally, he also @-mentioned Gu Yunci.