Chapter 5: Uninvited Guest

Gu Mu was a little surprised; she hadn't expected her own biological daughter to be so thoughtful, which made the guilt in her heart grow heavier.

But she still answered honestly: "Wen Yan, I didn't drink the herbal soup you brewed, but your sister did brew me a calming, sleep-aiding medicine, and it worked very well—my sleep has been much better these past few days."

Gu Mianmian was consumed by guilt at the praise, because she knew better than anyone that the herbal soup Gu Wenyan had personally brewed had been passed off as her own work and offered to Ye Yiwen…

But she hadn't expected Gu Wenyan to bring up the topic so bluntly at that moment.

She hurried to speak: "Sister, when did you brew the herbal soup? Mom only drank the one I made for her…"

In her panic she slipped up, finally revealing a small crack.

Gu Wenyan looked at her in puzzlement: "But after I finished brewing the herbal soup, you, my sister, said you'd help me carry it to Mom—how come Mom never got to drink it?"

Gu Mu, hearing Gu Wenyan's words, was stunned again: "Mianmian, you didn't give me the herbal soup your sister brewed, did you?"

"No, Mom… I… I meant to give it to you, but I accidentally spilled that medicine, so I could only make it up to you myself…"

"So that's how it was." Gu Mu nodded. "Wen Yan, Mom appreciates your thoughtfulness, thank you."

Gu Mianmian's hands, hanging beneath the table, had already clenched tightly into fists.

Damnable! She had put in so much effort to make her mother loathe Gu Wenyan, yet after just a few words from Gu Wenyan, her mother was already warm and gentle with her again!

Was this the pull of blood ties? Just because she was an adopted daughter, could she never replace Gu Wenyan's place in her parents' hearts?

No! She would never let Gu Wenyan have their parents' love!

But before Gu Mianmian's hatred could be released, Gu Wenyan said in a soft, clear voice: "I understand, Mom."

"However, little sister, I hope you won't do this again next time, because what herbs you put in the medicine you brewed for Mom, the heat you used, how long you brewed it—these all require care. If anything goes wrong, not only will it fail to calm the mind and aid sleep, it will harm the body."

"I…" Gu Mianmian was left speechless, unable to utter a single word.

She had merely stolen the medicine Gu Wenyan brewed; she had never done it herself, so of course she couldn't give a definite answer!

This scene caused a strange light to flicker in Gu Mu's eyes.

She looked at Gu Mianmian, lowered her gaze, whatever she was thinking unknown, and after a moment said: "Wen Yan, thank you for your thoughtfulness, but I've been much better these past few days, and I won't need you to trouble yourself any longer after this."

She was bailing Gu Mianmian out.

Though she had clearly guessed something, she still preferred to believe Gu Mianmian…

Gu Wenyan, however, showed not the slightest displeasure on her face; she simply placed a prescription in front of her mother: "Understood. In the future, if you still have trouble sleeping, let little sister brew the medicine according to this list."

She gave a slight nod, rose to take the porridge she had bought, and left.

Both Gu Mu and Gu Mianmian's gazes fell at the same time on that prescription, which very clearly noted the different ingredients, as well as the entire process of decocting them.

Soak in cold water, bring to a boil over high heat, simmer over low heat, filter the liquid, then decoct a second time—among them were various special decoction methods, each herb having different requirements for heat and decoction time.

The entire process took nearly two or three hours, and one could not leave the stove.

The amount of care required was plain to see.

Gu Mu's expression could not help but be moved; she held that prescription in her hand, her heart suddenly full of countless feelings.

Gu Mianmian's heart was pounding fast, and she said nervously: "Mom, I…"

A sudden sharpness appeared in Gu Mu's eyes: "Mianmian, what you did, you did; what's not yours, don't make the wrong choice on a momentary whim—always be honest and kind, understand?"

Gu Mianmian nodded with tearful eyes: "I understand, I'm sorry, Mom."

She gritted her teeth hard, knowing that her image in her mother's heart had dropped sharply.

Fortunately, after so many years of mother-daughter bond, her mother couldn't just abandon her like that—she still had a chance…

Gu Wenyan hurried back with the porridge, and didn't expect the man who had lain back down on the sickbed to sound a little displeased: "Too slow. If you'd come back five minutes later, I would have thought you were running away again."

Gu Wenyan looked at Bao Sihan's deliberately calm expression and snorted coldly in her heart—don't think she didn't know he had had people following her the whole way.

But Gu Wenyan still sat down beside him in a pleasant tone, coaxing him: "How could that be? When I promise you something, I will absolutely keep my word."

She deliberately put on a wronged look: "You don't believe me?"

Bao Sihan's cold, fierce expression eased slightly: "No."

"Then hurry up and drink the porridge… from now on remember to eat on time, don't ruin your health just because you're young."

Bao Sihan said coldly: "My health is fine, no need to worry."

"Then who was the one who fainted today?"

"…"

"Gu Wenyan!" Bao Sihan said angrily, "I haven't even settled the matter of you running away from the wedding, and yet you—"

"Alright." Gu Wenyan suddenly switched to a coquettish tone, personally bringing the porridge to his lips: "Thank you, my lord, for being so magnanimous and no longer holding my past mistakes against me, but can we eat first now?"

"Tch."

Bao Sihan, this man, had a temperament as changeable as weather, his joy and anger unreadable, and his personality contained elements of extreme obsession and eccentricity.

No one could be sure that the moment his face was still calm, the next second he wouldn't suddenly erupt with a terrifying aura that made people fear him.

Very difficult to approach.

But Gu Wenyan was actually quite interested in him now, and had the patience to coax him.

Besides… how had she never noticed before that he was this good-looking?

Deep-set brow bones, narrow phoenix eyes, a straight nose bridge, well-shaped lips, sharp facial lines, full of a man's noble dignity and elegance.

Yet cold to the bone, enticing wild thoughts.

"Ah—take another bite!"

Gu Wenyan's smile grew even gentler, but Bao Sihan's expression grew uglier and uglier.

Was she… treating him like a few-year-old child to be coaxed?

Besides, he hadn't lost his hands or his feet—did he need her to feed him personally?

But the tangled thoughts in his heart didn't stop him from very cooperatively opening his mouth when Gu Wenyan brought the spoon over…

Bao Sihan had an IV drip for a day and prepared to be discharged the next day; Gu Wenyan slept that night on the companion bed in his hospital room.

The two were very much in tacit agreement, not bringing up certain ambiguous topics.

The wedding hadn't been held yet, and their relationship was still stuck in some awkward stage.

Gu Wenyan also needed plenty of time to properly think through her plans going forward, and with the wedding called off, the storm of gossip from the outside world would have to be faced as well…

Just as Gu Wenyan was about to accompany Bao Sihan out of the hospital, an uninvited guest arrived at the ward.

A young, handsome man in a tailored bespoke suit, radiating an air of nobility, stood at the doorway. His peach-blossom eyes—the same as the Gu Family's—were filled with disgust: "Gu Wenyan, let's talk. What will it take for you to leave my little sister alone."