Chapter 163: The Two Major Factions

Gu Laoyezi's words were like a sharp blade plunged into Lin Jingshu's heart, making the tip of her heart tremble uncontrollably.

Could it be that she truly did not love Chenchen?

In choosing Chu Chen and abandoning Chenchen, had she truly done something wrong?

Lin Jingshu undoubtedly loved Gu Yichen, but this love appeared exceptionally weak and unimportant in the face of interests.

Lin Jingshu was born into a Beijing aristocratic family; the principle she had strictly followed since childhood was that interests came first. In wealthy families, familial affection was the most insipid thing of all.

To them, children were only useful or useless.

A biological child was perhaps not even as important as an outstanding adopted son.

Familial affection was the lowest form of existence; only interests were the capitalistic assets linked to their social class.

Lin Jingshu had never once wavered in this.

Yet at this very moment, as Lin Jingshu watched the backs of Gu Laoyezi and the butler as they left with Gu Yichen, an indescribable sorrow welled up from the depths of her heart.

That was the child she had cherished for nine years.

If this child's leg hadn't been crippled, and his grades had remained as excellent as ever.

Then there would have been no place for Chu Chen.

But fate plays tricks on people.

Lin Jingshu watched their departing backs, her face as pale as paper, as if something very important had slipped through her fingers.

So fast that she could not hold onto it.

She stood up, her spine held very straight, and her previously grief-stricken expression returned to calmness in an instant.

She was still the high and mighty Matriarch of the Gu Family.

Lin Jingshu whispered, "I have not done anything wrong."

The law of human survival is just like this: the weak are prey to the strong.

Gu Yichen was no longer suitable to be the future heir of the Gu Family; the only thing Lin Jingshu could do was to cultivate Chu Chen into a talent in the future to inherit the Gu Family.

She hoped Chu Chen could leave a share of the assets for his brother so that he could survive well.

Lin Jingshu looked in the direction Gu Yichen had left and sighed softly, "Chenchen, you might resent Grandma for not loving you."

"When you grow up in the future and have children of your own."

"You will understand Grandma's hidden bitterness."

But for now, she did not expect a nine-year-old child to understand these adult principles.

Lin Jingshu patted the non-existent dust off her skirt, either deliberately or out of a desire to wipe away these unpleasant memories of the day.

She straightened her spine and walked outside, her expression as arrogant and indifferent as ever, her bones revealing a cold, heartless, and ruthless nature.

By the time Gu Tingyan drove back to the Gu Family Old Residence, Gu Laoyezi had already taken the person back to his own small courtyard.

As soon as the man entered the door, he saw Gu Yichen sitting on the sofa, obediently lowering his head to drink his medicine; the little fellow's face was pale, and his lips lacked any color.

On the way back, Gu Tingyan had already learned everything.

The man's tall and upright figure enveloped Gu Yichen's small body; the corners of his eyes were slightly red, and he reached out to hold his child tightly in his arms.

He held Gu Yichen, as if he were also holding his former self, who had been discarded at will and left to fend for himself in the backyard all those years ago.

His mother, that high and mighty mother who was forever arrogant, cold-blooded, and ruthless.

She had once cold-bloodedly and ruthlessly abandoned Gu Tingyan.

And now...

She had similarly abandoned his son.

She loved no one; she did not love Gu Tingyan, and she did not love Gu Yichen.

From beginning to end, the only thing she loved was the power and status of the Gu Family.

And her own high and mighty reputation.

Gu Tingyan held Gu Yichen, his fingertips trembling; Gu Yichen was held in his arms, his body slightly stiff, his expression numb and rigid, his eyelashes trembling slightly, showing no emotion.

Gu Tingyan let him go, raised his hand to cup his small face, and said in a hoarse voice, "Chenchen, it's okay, Daddy will cure you."

Gu Yichen could no longer speak, nor could he answer him.

Gu Tingyan coaxed the child to sleep and walked outside to smoke; his whole body was filled with baleful energy and violent rage, and a sinister aura lingered around him, appearing exceptionally terrifying and frightening.

The man leaned against the outside of the door, head bowed as he smoked; the scarlet cigarette butt at his fingertips burned and danced frantically, that cluster of fire as fierce and terrifying as ghost fire.

Gu Tingyan's dark, pitch-black eyes were lowered; he finished the cigarette, crushed it under his foot, and turned to stride away.

Gu Laoyezi watched Gu Tingyan's departing back; the man's tall and upright figure seemed to be shrouded in a layer of low pressure.

He sighed in a low voice.

The butler stood beside him and said softly, "The Young Mistress has returned."

Gu Laoyezi, of course, knew about the matter of Qin Shu being alive; the news of her return had spread everywhere, and the servants in the residence were usually discussing it as well.

It was difficult for Gu Laoyezi not to hear it.

Gu Laoyezi sighed sadly in a low voice, "Do not go and disturb her anymore."

"The further away from the Gu Family she stays, the better; do not come back again."

The old man's eyes were red at the corners, and he let out a long, low sigh, "Hua Hua should not have come back."

Gu Laoyezi was old, and his health was not good; he was no longer the decisive and swift man he once was.

If one day he died, he would no longer be able to protect them.

Once Gu Laoyezi died, this pack of wolves and tigers in the Gu Family, these ruthless and vicious people, would not let them go.

Hearing Gu Laoyezi's sorrowful lament, the butler's heart also felt heavy; his complexion turned poor, and he could not help but sigh as well.

With Gu Huaiyuan and Lin Jingshu present, plus the first branch that seemed invisible yet held its position, everyone inside was far from simple.

They appeared indifferent and detached, as if nothing concerned them, yet they were the very ones fighting and grabbing for everything.

The housekeeper said in a low voice, "The eldest branch has entered the company and has already consolidated a certain position within the Group."

"Young Master Gu Lichuan is getting along very well with the senior executives of the Group."

Over these past four years, the person who claimed to be indifferent to fame and wealth and did not want the power of the Gu Family had quietly won over quite a few hearts.

Even the company employees preferred Gu Lichuan more, because Gu Tingyan always kept a cold face, as if everyone owed him millions.

Gu Lichuan, on the other hand, had no airs, could lower himself, and could get along with anyone among the company employees; he was glib, had a pair of charming peach-blossom eyes, and with that handsome face and tall, dashing figure, he had the female employees in the company infatuated.

Without fighting or grabbing, Gu Lichuan had managed to get his hands on many benefits.

Gu Huaiyuan was clearly also deliberately allowing Gu Lichuan to act this way; he did not restrain him, but instead backed him up at the company.

Nowadays, the company is divided into two factions.

One faction is the veteran employees led by Gu Tingyan, the high-level executives who once worked under him and whom he trusts deeply.

The other faction is the new generation, the high-level executives and some technical staff who have been poached into the Gu Group in recent years.

The old retainers in Gu Huaiyuan's hands, the old shareholders who rarely appear at the Group, are maintaining a neutral stance.

Gu Laoyezi's brows were dark and heavy as he sat in his chair with a calm expression, making it impossible for others to see what he was thinking.