Chapter 71: Daughter

Meng Shutang ran a fever and fainted; after Gu Yunci rushed her to the hospital, he stayed up all night guarding her.

In the early morning, fearing Meng Shutang would wake up hungry, he had Qin Zheng go to the century-old shop at dawn to buy congee and side dishes and bring them over.

After two bottles of fluid and another night's rest, Meng Shutang slowly woke up.

Seeing Gu Yunci caring for her, she suddenly didn't know what to say.

"I'm grateful you sent me to the hospital—go! I'll call Lu Shenyang and have him come."

Gu Yunci had been immersed in carefully caring for Meng Shutang and being alone with her, but hearing her words, his usually clear‑moon face instantly flushed like pig's liver.

He lowered his head, sitting by the bedside, looking aggrieved and puffed‑up, just like a child who lost a favorite toy.

Qin Zheng saw this, felt a pang of sympathy, but dared not say anything.

Meng Shutang, seeing Gu Yunci wouldn't leave, called Lu Shenyang.

Lu Shenyang arrived, speaking like a husband: "Thank you, President Gu, for looking after Tangtang. From now on I'm enough—go attend to your affairs. I'll remember this favor."

The words were polite, but the dismissal was ruthless.

Gu Yunci stared at Meng Shutang, slowly rose, his Adam's apple rolling, his voice hoarse: "There's food on the table, all your favorites… I… I'm leaving."

After Gu Yunci left, Lu Shenyang sat down: "Shutang, were you too harsh on him? I feel he truly wanted to stay and care for you today."

Meng Shutang said nothing, just pointed to the next ward.

Lu Shenyang got up, walked over, and upon seeing Meng Zhibang inside, his brows furrowed slightly.

Though they hadn't seen each other in years, he recognized him at a glance.

Meng Shutang sighed: "Before I hated him so much I wanted to dig three feet underground to find him, yet I couldn't see him anywhere.

Now he's hiding, yet we keep bumping into each other."

Bai Lianyue was also ill, admitted to the ward next to Meng Shutang's.

Lu Shenyang looked at Bai Lianyue, feeling he'd seen her somewhere before, but couldn't recall where.

"The woman Meng Zhibang was looking after…"

Meng Shutang held a cup of water, lowered her eyes: "My grandmother's goddaughter, my mother's close friend, Meng Zhibang's lover."

Speaking, she gave a light cough, lifted the cup and took a sip.

She was about to say more when Bai Cixian's voice came from outside: "Mom, I've come to see you.

Just now at the hospital entrance I ran into Yunci brother—he's also here to see you, right?"

From next door came Meng Zhibang's voice: "Your sister is also ill, in the next ward."

Bai Cixian walked over, set down a few apples.

"You're also ill—I hope you get better soon."

Lu Shenyang looked at her, silent.

Meng Shutang kept her head down, not looking at her.

Bai Cixian, seeing she wasn't welcome, left obediently.

After she left, Meng Shutang lifted her gaze to Lu Shenyang: "That woman is Bai Lianyue, Bai Cixian's mother. I'm older than Bai Cixian by only three months."

Lu Shenyang's pupils contracted—he hadn't imagined such an explosive thing could happen to Meng Shutang.

He turned to go settle accounts with Meng Zhibang, but Meng Shutang grabbed him.

"Shenyang brother, don't go—I've already scolded and argued with him as needed.

I've cut ties with him; we're just strangers now."

Lu Shenyang paused, then sat beside her: "I'm afraid you'll feel wronged."

Meng Shutang shook her head: "I don't feel wronged—I've actually been prepared in my heart. A living person can't just disappear.

I just didn't expect the outcome to be so surprising."

Lu Shenyang brushed her fallen hair behind her ear: "What about Gu Yunci—does he know?"

"I think he does." After a pause, she coughed lightly: "After all, back then I was merely his tool for revenge."

Lu Shenyang seethed with anger.

But facing Meng Shutang, he couldn't lash out.

He then arranged for Meng Shutang to change wards.

Using his internal connections for the first time, he got Meng Shutang into a high‑cadre ward.

Meng Shutang looked guilty: "Forget it, Shenyang brother—I don't want to cause you trouble."

Lu Shenyang felt sorry for her: "My cousin is the deputy director here; I didn't say much, but she probably knows what this means.

This ward is empty anyway—you'll stay undisturbed, only the fees aren't reimbursable; you'll have to pay in full."

Meng Shutang snorted: "Of course—I won't mooch off the state."

Over these years, to restore the ancient pearls, she's run around every major museum, giving her all.

She's truly exhausted, and she truly doesn't want to see Meng Zhibang.

She lay down slowly, closed her eyes, two tears trickled from the corners.

"Shutang, don't think too much—Xin Xin and Grandma will be back this afternoon; if your eyes are swollen they'll surely worry.

Security here is tight—no one can get in. Rest easy, heal up—I'll handle everything else."

Meng Shutang nodded, slowly pulled the blanket over her face.

After Meng Shutang fell asleep, Lu Shenyang went out, asked his cousin to help watch over her, then drove off to find Gu Yunci.

In the bleak autumn dawn, Lu Shenyang stood facing Gu Yunci.

"Gu Yunci, you're also a son born of parents—how can you be so cruel, so cold‑blooded?

Shutang has gone fourteen years without a father, her mother has lain unconscious for fourteen years—how did she endure alone, you don't know?

How can you keep showing up before her, again and again, stabbing her in the heart?"

Gu Yunci stared, "What are you talking about?"

"What am I saying? You wouldn't know?" Lu Shenyang raised his hand and punched him!

Only with a waterlogged brain would I agree to your request and let Shutang go to repair and appraise the ancient pearl.

I just made a phone call; the donation project is underway, and I can't withdraw.

Otherwise, I'd rather not wear this administrative jacket; I would never let her suffer such injustice.

Gu Yunci staggered back several steps from the punch, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, but he wasn't angry.

He's not someone who likes to suffer losses, but he could tell Lu Shenyang was really anxious, and he also wanted to figure out what was going on: "Minister Lu, I really don't know what you're talking about!"

"From now on, stay away from her, or I won't be polite."

After saying that, he opened the car door, bent to get in, and the series of movements was neat and handsome.

The sound of the car's engine starting faded at the end of the road; on the deserted roadside, only Gu Yunci remained.

The wound at the corner of his mouth still burned, yet he felt nothing, standing stiffly in place, his gaze fixed on the direction the car had disappeared.

At some point, the sky began to threaten rain.

It started as a light breeze and drizzle, but soon the raindrops came down in sheets, wetting his handsome hair, soaking his expensive suit, the water rolling down his jawline and mixing with the still-wet blood at the corner of his mouth.

He didn't dodge, didn't leave, didn't move.

He just stood there alone in the wind.

Once the lofty, unrivaled head of the Gu family, he now resembled a discarded dog.

This morning's rain drenched his sorry state and also washed away his last obsession.

He stood there like that until noon, then, dragging his wet, cold self, he set off for the airport.

The schedule for the cross‑border negotiations had been set half a month earlier, and he couldn't afford to keep wallowing in pain.

The airport VIP lounge was tranquil; the man had just finished a call on the international project, his fingertips still tingling with residual chill.

As he turned, a small figure darted into his view.

The little girl, about three years old, was delicately carved like jade; her fine brows and eyes marked her as a budding beauty.

Her skin was very white, her face suffused with a faint pink glow; a pair of large, bright almond eyes exuded a lively spirit.

Most striking was that when she smiled, shallow dimples appeared on both cheeks,

both reminiscent of his youthful self in memory and hinting at her mother's gentleness.

Before he could react, the little girl toddled over on her short legs, softly hugging his legs and rubbing her little head against him.

"Daddy, you've finally come."

The man's body stiffened, his Adam's apple bobbed, and his heart clenched suddenly.

A utterly absurd thought suddenly exploded in his mind—

How could this little girl be so alike… like someone from his own bloodline?