Chapter 70: Carrying Her to the Hospital

Bai Cixian pulled Meng Zhibang to leave, but Meng Shutang suddenly called them to a stop.

"Stop."

The two of them stood still; the gifts blocked Bai Cixian's legs, and she kicked them aside with a bang. "So in the way—this is my one-million custom dress, don't get it dirty again!"

As if she hadn't heard, Meng Shutang tossed the six walnuts to them, looked at Meng Zhibang, and said softly, yet every word cutting to the heart, "Four years ago, when Bai Cixian got close to Gu Yunci, you already knew he was my husband, didn't you?"

Meng Zhibang froze.

"In this life of yours, have you ever once treated me as your daughter?"

Seeing tears slowly welling up in Meng Shutang's eyes, Meng Zhibang felt even more guilty.

Seeing him not answer, Meng Shutang tugged at the corner of her lips in a sorrowful, cold laugh, her eyes burning with sour heat.

"Enough, get out of here!"

Meng Zhibang's face turned ashen, but he kept his voice low. "Tangtang, the family ran into difficulties back then, and Dad had no choice.

I wanted to come find you too, but your Auntie Bai said that after so many years of ignoring you, going to you only when trouble came, you wouldn't help anyway.

Dad had no choice either."

Seeing this, Bai Cixian wrapped her arm around Meng Zhibang's. "Dad, I think Sister just doesn't want to acknowledge us. Look how fierce she is—so scary."

Meng Shutang: "Don't call me Sister."

Bai Cixian felt uncomfortable hearing this and started shoving her.

"What's wrong with calling you Sister? You think you're somebody? You think I'm dying to call you that!"

She had long since trampled this bond into the dirt, humoring her with a few words, and now Meng Shutang had the nerve to put on airs!

Just then—

Gu Yunci strode over with long, swift steps.

He saw Meng Shutang backed into a corner by the two of them, her face deathly pale, barely able to stand steady.

Without asking anything, he shoved them aside and shielded Meng Shutang behind him.

"Whoever touches her again, I won't spare!"

Bai Cixian was about to flare up—who was so bold as to dare shove her, the eldest Miss Bai? But when she saw clearly that it was Gu Yunci, she paused slightly, and her attitude immediately changed.

"Brother Yunci, what brings you here?"

Bai Cixian didn't show the slightest trace of willfulness.

When she spoke, her voice was light and soft, tender and sweet, carrying a perfectly measured hint of timidity that made anyone who heard it instinctively want to protect her.

"President Gu, we…"

Meng Zhibang wanted to explain, but Bai Cixian grabbed him.

She knew very well that Gu Yunci didn't know her relationship with Meng Shutang.

If it came out, Gu Yunci would hate her to death and ache with heartbreak for Meng Shutang.

If that happened, everything would be over.

"We didn't do anything. My father and Auntie Zhou are old acquaintances, and we came by today to visit while passing through.

Who knew Miss Meng would take it amiss, blaming my father for not coming by all these years. I felt bad and said a couple of words to her."

Meng Zhibang turned to look at Bai Cixian, his eyes saying: How could you lie!

Bai Cixian leaned close. "Dad, the cooperation between the Meng company and the Gu Clan is about to expire—do you not want it anymore?"

Meng Zhibang thought for a moment. "Yes, President Gu, the fault is also mine for coming over without giving notice beforehand."

Seeing it was like this, Gu Yunci couldn't help but turn and gently urge Meng Shutang. "They came with good intentions to visit Auntie Zhou. The courtesy was there—we can't say anything more."

"We?" Meng Shutang's tears poured down, weeping like pear blossoms in the rain. "We with whom? It's you and them!"

Gu Yunci felt a pang of heartache seeing this and raised his hand to wipe her tears, but before his well-defined fingers could draw close, Meng Shutang took a step back and dodged.

"Have you acted enough? Gu Yunci!

You clearly already knew… didn't you?"

Knew that Meng Zhibang was her father, knew that Bai Cixian was her half-sister.

That was why four years ago, he was so cruel—so cruel to her, all to take revenge on Gu Jin Xing.

Gu Yunci was taken aback, his brows drawing tightly together. "What are you talking about? I don't understand…"

Bai Cixian immediately seized the opportunity, driving the knife in with a soft voice, sounding wronged and innocent:

"Brother Yunci, don't make things hard for Sister Meng… she's just upset seeing me come over…

I really didn't mean to make her angry. If I'd known it would be like this, I wouldn't have come even if you beat me to death…"

Meng Zhibang was completely panicking on the sidelines.

She understood Bai Cixian's intentions, but also ached at Meng Shutang's heartbreak.

But he was even more aware that if the truth came out, he would be utterly ruined, and the Meng family he had painstakingly maintained for years would collapse.

It wasn't that he hadn't heard of Gu Yunci's thunderous methods.

He'd heard before that at a drinking gathering, some men forced his woman to drink, and he dealt with those companies so thoroughly that to this day they're neither dead nor alive.

If Gu Yunci found out that they, father and daughter, had been deceiving him all along—

Would they even survive?

Meng Shutang had suffered for so many years; a little more wouldn't make much difference.

He looked up at Gu Yunci. "President Gu, talk to her. Then we…"

Gu Yunci waved his hand, telling them to leave quickly.

After they left, Gu Yunci stepped closer, lowered his head, and asked carefully, "Tell me, what exactly is going on?"

Meng Shutang didn't say a word, only looking at him, smiling until tears fell.

In that instant, Gu Yunci suddenly panicked—things might not be as simple as he had thought.

Meng Shutang's wrist suddenly tightened.

He reached out and grabbed her wrist.

Not gentle, it was urgent, panicked.

"Tangtang, what exactly are you angry about?"

Meng Shutang's whole body stiffened, as if scalded, she struggled violently.

"Let go!"

He not only didn't release, but instead tightened his fingertip slightly, the force not strong, yet she couldn't escape.

The man's breath pressed down, low and hoarse, carrying a layer of irritation she couldn't understand, "What exactly are you making a fuss about?"

"Making a fuss?"

Meng Shutang felt a stab in her chest, her eye sockets instantly reddened.

She retreated back to the ward, bangingly closed the door.

……

Secretary Zhang usually leaves work at 5 o'clock.

Because Gu Yenan merely held an idle position in the group.

But today Gu Yenan lingered at the group for a while due to some matters, so he came out late.

The sky was pitch black, you couldn't see your hand in front of your face; he had just parked his car, walking toward the gate, when he was blocked in a nearby alley.

Four or five people came, without a word, with sticks and fists, they beat him until his nose was swollen and face bruised, he was a mess.

Finally, a man stepped on his face, "From now on, keep your hands in check; if you dare touch someone you shouldn't again, I'll cripple you!"

After they left, Secretary Zhang lay on the ground for a long time without moving.

Today, who did he touch?

He usually favors the charm of other men's families, unable to let go of those married women, sisters-in-law, younger sisters-in-law.

But today he swore he didn't touch a single one.

He staggered to his feet, drove to the hospital to check his injuries, the car hadn't even steadied.

Seeing Gu Yunci's hair slightly disheveled, anxious expression, holding Meng Shutang, they got out of the Maybach and rushed toward the outpatient building.

In my impression, he is usually steady and noble, rarely flustered, but now his eyes are only on her, "Tangtang... we've arrived at the hospital."

In an instant, he understood why he got beaten!

Today at the artifact exhibition, he took Meng Shutang's hand.