Chapter 84: Gu Tingyan's Illegitimate Child

Lin Jingshu looked at the child Chu Sheng was holding by the hand, her expression stunned, and she looked up at Chu Sheng: "Who is this child?"

Chu Sheng lowered her head, stroked Chu Chen's head, and wore a gentle smile on her face: "He is my son."

Lin Jingshu's heart jolted. She looked at the child; his features were sixty percent similar to Chenchen, just like a biological brother.

Lin Jingshu was shocked to the core and looked at Chu Sheng: "Is he Tingyan's child?"

Chu Sheng's face was bitter; she refused to speak, shook her head, and said with red eyes: "No, he is not Tingyan's."

"I brought him here to wish Grandfather a happy birthday."

Chu Chen shook off Chu Sheng's hand, trotted over, grabbed Lin Jingshu's thigh, and called out aggrievedly: "Grandma."

He hugged Lin Jingshu's leg and cried loudly: "Why doesn't Daddy want us?"

Chu Sheng's face turned slightly pale, and she scolded: "Chenchen, you are not allowed to call people that!"

Chu Chen lowered his head and sobbed: "But she is Grandma."

Lin Jingshu was shaken. Outside, the guests were arriving in succession; they were all prominent figures in Beijing. If a scandal about Gu Tingyan having an illegitimate child were to spread, it would be detrimental to the Gu Family.

Lin Jingshu gave Chen Ma a look, and Chen Ma said with a smile: "Miss Chu, let's go to the backyard to talk."

Lin Jingshu sat on a chair and looked at Chu Sheng: "You don't need to hide it from me; this child looks very similar to Chenchen."

"He is Tingyan's seed, isn't he?"

Chu Sheng's face was ashen, her fingers tightly clenched, and her eyes welled with tears: "I never thought of coming between Tingyan and Qin Shu; I only wanted to raise Chenchen."

Chu Sheng explained: "Today is Grandfather Gu's birthday, so I just wanted Chenchen to kowtow to his biological grandfather."

Lin Jingshu felt an indescribable emotion in her heart; she had not expected that their Gu Family still had a grandson wandering outside.

Lin Jingshu sighed: "You are a filial child."

"Since he is of the Gu Family's bloodline, he must absolutely not be left wandering outside."

Lin Jingshu asked: "Does Tingyan know?"

Chu Sheng shook her head: "He won't accept Chenchen."

"He has a child with Qin Shu; if he finds out, he will definitely take Chenchen away from me."

Chu Sheng knelt on the ground, crying and begging: "Lin Yi, please don't tell him."

Upon hearing this, Lin Jingshu knew that this was something Gu Tingyan was capable of doing; for the sake of Qin Shu, he would do anything now.

Gu Tingyan would definitely not let Qin Shu know of this child's existence; if Qin Shu knew, she would surely leave him.

And Gu Tingyan would not allow such a thing to happen.

Lin Jingshu had seen it ever since their first failed divorce.

Gu Tingyan had never intended to divorce at all; it was true that there were matters at the company abroad that forced Gu Tingyan to go.

But whether there were truly matters, or if it was something Gu Tingyan had plotted, Lin Jingshu suspected the latter.

Lin Jingshu sighed, walked over, and helped Chu Sheng up: "If this child is truly Tingyan's, I will make the decision for you."

"I will make Tingyan marry you."

Chu Sheng's heart trembled, and she looked up at Lin Jingshu: "Will Tingyan agree?"

Lin Jingshu sneered: "He won't have a choice."

Chu Sheng lowered her head, the corners of her lips curling up: "Mm, I will listen to Lin Yi."

Lin Jingshu gave Chen Ma a look. Chen Ma took out scissors and cut a strand of hair from Chu Chen's head. Thinking of Gu Tingyan's gloomy face, she felt a bit afraid and looked at Lin Jingshu, saying with difficulty: "I'm afraid it will be hard to get the Eldest Young Master's."

Lin Jingshu's eyes were indifferent: "I will handle it."

Chen Ma: "Yes."

Qin Shu had bought a gift and arrived at the Gu Family home by car. As soon as she entered the door, she saw Gu Tingyan, and her footsteps paused slightly.

Qin Shu looked at Gu Tingyan, who stood in the center of the crowd like the moon surrounded by stars; no matter where he went, he was the focus, receiving much attention.

This was the first time Qin Shu had seen Gu Tingyan in half a month.

She shook off her distraction, did not linger, and went to see Gu Laoyezi with the items in hand.

As soon as Qin Shu entered the room, she saw that Chu Sheng and Chu Xuanming were also there.

Chu Sheng was wearing a silver-white cheongsam, looking gentle and elegant, and was pouring tea for Gu Laoyezi, her mouth very sweet: "Grandfather Gu, this is the Big Red Robe tea I bought especially for you at Wuyishan; please have a taste."

Gu Laoyezi loved drinking tea and collecting calligraphy and paintings.

As it happened, Qin Shu had also brought tea, which was also Big Red Robe from Wuyishan.

Qin Shu tightened her grip on the bag in her hand; she hadn't expected to run into Chu Sheng.

Seeing Qin Shu, Gu Laoyezi hurriedly smiled and beckoned her to come in: "My dear granddaughter-in-law is here, come quickly to Grandfather's side."

Qin Shu curled her lips into a smile, stepped inside, and called out obediently: "Grandfather."

Seeing Qin Shu, Chu Sheng's expression did not change, but she felt a subtle emotion in her heart regarding Gu Laoyezi's difference in treatment between them.

She was clearly the first woman Gu Tingyan had brought back to see him.

Gu Laoyezi's attitude toward her back then had been lukewarm, not nearly as enthusiastic as he was toward Qin Shu.

Chu Sheng saw the familiar bag Qin Shu was holding and smiled: "Qin Shu, you also bought tea for Grandfather Gu? What a coincidence."

The gifts had clashed; whoever bought the tea would be the one embarrassed.

She had spent a large sum of money to purchase authentic Big Red Robe from Wuyishan.

"I heard that this Big Red Robe from Wuyishan is a rare commodity, and many high-ranking officials and noblemen go to reserve the trees in advance."

"There are many fakes floating around on the market."

Qin Shu chuckled: "Miss Chu, are you saying that the tea I bought for Grandfather is fake?"

Seeing Gu Laoyezi looking at her sharply, Chu Sheng covered her mouth and exclaimed: "I didn't say that; I was just reminding you."

"Don't you go wronging me."

Qin Shu smiled faintly: "Whether it is authentic or not, Grandfather will know as soon as he tastes it."

Gu Laoyezi laughed heartily and took up the thread: "I happen to be thirsty, brew a cup for me."

Qin Shu smiled: "Very well, Grandfather."

Seeing that Qin Shu had not greeted him when she arrived and had gone straight to the backyard, Gu Tingyan also lifted his feet to follow; as soon as he walked in, he saw Qin Shu sitting at the table brewing tea, her every gesture filled with elegance.

Qin Shu brewed tea for Gu Laoyezi herself, preparing the utensils; she chose a purple clay teapot and a ceramic kettle for boiling water, her fair, delicate fingers grinding 6g of tea leaves to place into the purple clay teapot, shaking it gently to awaken the tea's fragrance.

The water in the kettle to the side boiled, and she began to warm and clean the utensils; the boiling water rinsed the pot and cups, which could both sterilize and preheat the utensils, allowing the tea's character to be released better.

She added the tea and poured the water, putting the dry tea into the pot; for the first infusion, she washed the tea, pouring the boiling water in quickly and immediately discarding it to remove impurities and floating dust, then for the second infusion, she filled the pot to the brim, covered it, and steeped it for 15-20 seconds.

Chu Xuanming stared blankly at Qin Shu; her every movement and the elegance in her gestures were very similar to her mother's.

Back then, Qin Shu's mother was also very skilled at brewing tea; when they were most in love, Qin Shu's mother would brew tea at the tea table, and Chu Xuanming would work at his desk nearby; when she had finished brewing the tea, she would have him taste it.

When the time was up, she poured out the tea and divided it, pouring the brewed tea into a cup, and Qin Shu held it with both hands and handed it to Gu Laoyezi: "Grandfather, please have some tea."

Gu Laoyezi took a sip, his expression joyful: "The tea brewed by my granddaughter-in-law is still what suits me best; it is both pleasing to the eye and brewed with great skill!"