Chapter 95: An Accidental Collision, Falling into His Arms

Meng Shutang's steps halted.

It turned out that the Ming‑dynasty white jade hairpin wasn't a gift from Gu Yunci to Bai Cixian—Bai Cixian declined it, and he passed it on to her.

It was Bai Cixian who schemed, causing her to be mistaken.

Huo Yanchen's words were actually spoken lightly, yet for some reason they kept exploding in her ears, cracking a fine fissure in the solid ice of four years ago.

So when Huo Yanchen called her, she didn't hear a thing.

"Teacher Meng, you're here."

Huo Yanchen approached, greeting her warmly.

Meng Shutang took out a painting and calligraphy, saying, "I heard the old master not only likes antique pearls but also enjoys paintings and calligraphy.

The Huo family has many precious treasures; this is offered as a token of respect, please accept it."

Huo Yanchen took it with both hands.

Originally, because of Gu Yunci, he held some reservations about Meng Shutang; his temperament is cold, and even in the hospital he gave her the cold shoulder.

But ever since he heard from his grandfather about Zhou Xingfan, he has been filled with respect for this mother‑daughter pair, for in this era few people preserve true craftsmanship.

"If you can come, my grandfather will be very pleased."

Gu Yunci stood there, expression unchanged, watching Meng Shutang.

But Meng Shutang didn't look at him and asked, "Where's the old master?"

Huo Yanchen replied, "Over here; he just asked about you a moment ago!"

He was about to lead Meng Shutang over, but someone called, so he asked Gu Yunci to step in, saying, "Teacher Meng, Jin Xing and I have grown up together; my grandfather is the same as his, you can go with him just the same."

Meng Shutang followed Gu Yunci.

On the way, Gu Yunci explained, "You heard that about the hairpin; I never gave it to Bai Cixian.

Everything I give you is one‑of‑a‑kind in the world."

Meng Shutang didn't look at him and said, "President Gu, watch the road carefully, don't slip."

When they reached the old master, he grasped Meng Shutang's hand, his gaze seeming to look through her at Zhou Xingfan from fourteen years ago.

"You and your mother don't look alike, but your hearts are the same.

Even now, I remember her fixing that old artifact for me; in the whole circle, no one has steadier hands or a finer touch than hers.

She pieced together such fragile things bit by bit, and they look more enduring than brand‑new ones."

He paused mid‑sentence, his voice tinged with pain:

"Such a wonderful person, such deft hands… how did they end up like this now?"

Meng Shutang listened, and her heart ached.

Zhou Xingfan's fourteen years of absence is a huge loss to the field of artifact restoration.

Bai Cixian listened beside her, her eyes cold and fierce.

"This mother‑daughter pair is the most adept at putting on a front I've ever seen.

They can make everyone hold them dear and be as close as family."

That evening, Huo Yanchen introduced Meng Shutang to many celebrities.

All the connections were arranged by Gu Yunci.

Someone offered a toast to Meng Shutang; Gu Yunci stepped forward and declined the offered wine.

In the meantime a waiter clumsily delivered something, nearly colliding with Meng Shutang.

Gu Yunci saw it and, quick as an eye, steadied her waist.

Meng Shutang shoved him away sharply, "Don't touch me."

Meng Shutang is exceedingly beautiful, her voice sweet, and she carries herself with elegant refinement; that push was merely a tickle to a man.

From afar, Huo Yanchen and Shen Duan saw this and both thought Gu Yunci would soon succeed in winning his wife.

When it came time to see Meng Shutang out, Lu Shenyang came to fetch her.

Lu Shenyang bowed his head to smooth her hair; she lifted her eyes and smiled at him, both crisp and gentle, their garments complementing each other—truly a perfect pair.

Gu Yunci, feeling a surge of jealousy, blurted over, "Let me escort Tang Tang!"

Lu Shenyang gave a faint smile and pushed him aside, "No need."

Under Gu Yunci's watchful eye, he escorted Meng Shutang to the car, fearing her head might hit the door, and thoughtfully shielded it with his hand.

Then, amid everyone's gaze, he drove away.

Huo Yanchen and Shen Duan saw this and teased each other.

"Someone's childhood sweetheart is sending them off properly; don't linger here like a pole stuck in the ground."

"A single escort is a favor; any extra glance is unnecessary. Let's go, have a drink."

……

After a night of investigation.

Qin Zheng placed the Integrity Inspection Department's investigation results on Gu Yunci's desk; Gu Yunci skimmed them briefly and asked, "Has Qiao Mo approved?"

Qin Zheng replied, "Mm."

"Did she say anything?"

Qin Zheng shook his head, "No, President, how should we handle this?"

Gu Yunci said, "Issue an internal clarification report; as for Qiao Mo… give the highest-level punishment, termination!"

During the noon tea break, a notice popped up in the lower‑right corner of every Gu Clan employee's computer.

It detailed the entire background of the rumor clearly.

It turned out Qiao Mo had orchestrated a series of actions, including searching online for marketing accounts and attaching transfer records.

Everyone couldn't help but exclaim in amazement.

"President Gu is being way too good to Manager Zhou, isn't he? In such a huge corporation, honestly there aren't many cases like this; people just talk about it, and in a couple of days who will still bring it up?"

"Why is it an exception when it comes to Manager Zhou?"

"He's my senior brother, so naturally he's not like us, who are completely unrelated."

"But I always feel that President Gu is also doing it for Meng Shutang; you should know that four years ago, he was not ordinary towards her."

"I heard Qiao Mo say that Bai Cixian is not President Gu's secret wife; could it be Meng Shutang?"

"When you mention Bai Cixian, I suddenly recall that Qiao Mo and she are usually as close as one person; could she also have a hand in this matter?"

……

Qiao Mo, amid everyone's surprised gazes, packed her belongings, clutching them, and walked out of the Gu Clan building.

She always feels that just a moment ago everyone was chatting and laughing, and now that she leaves, someone will surely come out to see her off.

She tilted her body slightly, waiting.

The result: no one.

Every time something targeted Meng Shutang, it was Bai Cixian who ordered her to do it.

But each time, Bai Cixian cleverly stayed behind, making her the one who sticks out.

Yesterday, people from the Integrity Supervision Department took her to the conference room, asked her about some details, and she listened without saying a word.

Suddenly, she stood up and said, "All the matters were done by me."

She is just a poor student; if it weren't for being assigned to the same dormitory as Bai Cixian during university…

…she might not have even finished university.

Now taking the blame for her, what does that amount to?

Moreover, Bai Cixian said she wouldn't be shortchanged…

What she didn't expect was that Gu Yunci would handle it at the highest level.

When Qiao Mo left, Meng Shutang, who went upstairs to fetch something, saw her, but she glanced at him briefly and walked back.

At that moment, the phone rang; she took it out and answered, "Grandma."

"Yesterday I told you about Aunt Zhang's son, who works in the same field as you; he heard you restored 'Tea Mountain Qing' and wants to hear it in person."

"Is this a blind date?" she asked, only keeping her head down while walking, not noticing the person ahead.

The next second, she collided solidly with a warm, firm chest.

Fearing she would fall, the man instinctively reached to grasp her waist, his strength steady and heavy, pulling her securely into his arms.

The scent of faint cedar lingered at her nose; Meng Shutang looked up, her gaze meeting his deep eyes, and her heartbeat skipped a beat.

In an instant, she pushed him away.