Chapter 498| Chapter 499| Chapter 500
Chapter 498: The Gu Family is Furious
“Mom, please, don’t be impulsive,” Sheng Wanyan whispered urgently. “What if we try to follow them, they spot us, and they corner us to keep us quiet? We wouldn’t stand a chance against them. Let’s just head home first and let Tingxiao and the others deal with it.”
Hearing her daughter-in-law’s grounded words, Mother Gu gradually snapped out of her blind rage. Sheng Wanyan was entirely right. If they recklessly pursued the pair now and drove them into a corner, it could easily turn into a desperate, violent struggle. How could two women and a toddler possibly hold their own against an adult man?
“You’re right! Let’s go home—we need to get back immediately!” Mother Gu agreed, grinding her teeth. “What a piece of work this Wang Chunmei is! Truly unbelievable!”
Mother Gu hurried back to the compound, her jaw clenched tight the entire way. She felt a staggering sense of fury; Wang Chunmei’s actions were a devastating blow to the Gu family’s honor. Inflicting such a public disgrace upon their household was an unpardonable shame.
The moment she crossed the threshold, Mother Gu marched straight to the telephone and called Father Gu’s office, demanding that he drop everything and come home immediately.
Receiving such an urgent, panicked summons, Father Gu rushed back to the residence, only to find the entire household gathered in the living room with grim, thunderous expressions.
“Did you truly see her clearly?” Grandpa Gu asked, his face so dark it looked as though a storm were about to break. This entire situation was a profound humiliation to the clan.
“Dad! Yan’er and I saw it with our own eyes!” Mother Gu insisted fiercely. “It was absolutely Wang Chunmei. The two of them were behaving with the unmistakable intimacy of a married couple. Their conversation and physical gestures were completely improper. Even little Yi Yi saw her!”
Grandpa Gu knew his daughter-in-law would never fabricate such a claim, but given the severity of the accusation, he needed absolute verification.
Turning to the toddler, Eldest Brother Gu asked gently, “Yi Yi, did you see your Fourth Aunt?”
Yi Yi nodded her head. She had indeed spotted her Fourth Aunt at the market. She had even wanted to call out and wave, but her mother had quickly covered her little mouth. “Yes~”
The adults exchanged grim looks. While a child might not comprehend the sordid details of the situation, a toddler’s innocent confirmation was entirely reliable. Since even little Yi Yi had recognized her, there was absolutely no room for Mother Gu and Sheng Wanyan to have misidentified her.
Eldest Brother Gu’s eyes narrowed into slits. Historically, he had never interfered in the personal lives or disputes of the family’s women. But Wang Chunmei was currently trampling all over the hard-earned reputation of the Gu name. As the primary heir of the family, how could he possibly tolerate such a blatant insult?
Grandma Gu let out a cold, venomous snort. “So this is how the Wang family instructs their daughters—teaching them how to sneak around with other men.”
She swept a calm, freezing gaze across the room. “Keep this strictly confidential for now. Boss, Third Brother—arrange for a few of your trusted people to keep a silent watch on Wang Chunmei over the coming days. Once we have everything documented, it will be time to completely purge our home of unwanted elements.”
A dangerous chill radiated from Grandma Gu’s eyes. She rarely meddled in domestic squabbles, but that didn’t mean she would sit idly by while a woman like Wang Chunmei humiliated the family. Grandma Gu had survived decades of political and military upheaval; if she truly resolved to handle a problem, she possessed a dozen ways to ensure Wang Chunmei was cast out of the Gu family without a single cent to her name.
“Find out exactly when this affair began,” Grandma Gu commanded, her voice cutting through the room with absolute authority. “And uncover who this man is and what his true motives are. Investigate every single detail, but ensure it is done with the utmost discretion. Do not let a single outsider catch wind of it.”
In just a few precise sentences, Grandma Gu organized the entire counter-strategy. As for Gu Tinghao, they all tacitly agreed it was best to keep him completely in the dark for the time being, preventing him from doing something incredibly reckless or letting himself be manipulated by Wang Chunmei’s tears yet again.
“Understood, Grandma,” Eldest Brother Gu and Gu Tingxiao replied in unison. As high-ranking military men, they possessed endless resources to put a covert surveillance detail on Wang Chunmei without her ever suspecting a thing.
Sheng Wanyan sat quietly on the sofa, holding Yi Yi close as she watched Gu Jingjing play out in the backyard. Gu Jingjing was an exceptionally sweet, well-behaved child, yet she had been cursed with such a disastrous mother. In the future, the emotional fallout between the mother and daughter would likely become a tangled nightmare. After all, no matter how toxic a biological mother might be, a child couldn’t legally or socially escape the burden of supporting them later in life.
A parent like Wang Chunmei was like a piece of industrial tape—impossible to shake off, and if you tried to peel her away, she would gladly weaponize her maternal status to turn around and bite you in public.
And then there was little Gu Jinmin. Once the family’s investigation concluded and the ugly truth was laid bare, the Gu household would undoubtedly be thrown into total turmoil once more.
Sheng Wanyan sighed heavily to herself. To think she had accidentally stumbled right into the middle of someone else’s extramarital affair. It was incredibly stressful. If she had been the sole witness to the encounter, she would have taken the secret to her grave; after all, without proof, the Gu family might have doubted her words or resented the messenger. But because Mother Gu had witnessed it alongside her, she was now firmly tied to the unfolding crisis. If Wang Chunmei ever discovered that she had played a part in her downfall, she would hate her with a burning passion.
Furthermore, there was the problem of Gu Jingjing. If the girl remained deeply attached to her mother, who was to say she wouldn’t grow up to resent Sheng Wanyan for acting as an accomplice in breaking up her family?
The whole ordeal felt like being seated directly over an open flame. She had originally wanted nothing more than to enjoy a quiet, drama-free university life, but this particular piece of family drama was proving to be entirely toxic.
The tension in the air completely ruined everyone’s appetite for dinner. The family members merely forced down a few quick bites before retreating to their respective rooms in relative silence. Gu Jinfang and Gu Jingjing remained entirely oblivious to the storm brewing over their heads, completely unaware of the dangerous atmosphere settling over the household.
Little Yi Yi couldn’t comprehend the specifics either, but her sharp toddler instincts told her the adults were in an incredibly foul mood; even her grandparents’ smiles seemed stiff and superficial.
The following morning, Gu Tingxiao rose at dawn and left the house early, his destination entirely obvious to his wife. After a quiet midday meal together, it was finally time for Sheng Wanyan’s family to make their journey back to their courtyard near Peking University.
Knowing they were leaving, Mother Gu deliberately forced the grim reality of Wang Chunmei’s affair from her mind, leaning down to plant a series of sweet kisses on her granddaughter’s cheeks.
“Yi Yi, make sure you behave yourself and listen to your mother when you get home,” she coaxed softly. “And remember to stay focused during your classical dance lessons. Don’t let your teacher’s dedication go to waste.”
“Okay~” Yi Yi chirped happily, returning her grandmother’s affection with a sloppy kiss. The sweet little toddler made her rounds, offering tender hugs and kisses to every single elder in the room. “Great-Grandpa, Great-Grandma, Grandpa, Nana—make sure you eat lots of food and stay super healthy!”
“Oh, what a sensible, precious girl,” Mother Gu cooed, her heart warming slightly. “Grandma’s little darling, you must eat well and grow strong too.”
The grandfather and great-granddaughter babbled happily back and forth for several minutes. Watching them, Sheng Wanyan checked her wrist watch, realizing that if they didn’t hit the road soon, the evening commute would become logistically difficult in the dark.
“Grandpa, Grandma, Mom, Dad—we’re going to head out now. We’ll bring Yi Yi back to visit again next weekend,” Sheng Wanyan promised with a warm smile.
“Alright, drive safely,” Mother Gu replied, handing over a carefully packed parcel of baked goods, pastries, and treats she had organized so Yi Yi could satisfy her sweet tooth during the long drive home.
“Great-Grandpa, Great-Grandma, Grandpa, Nana—goodbye!”
Yi Yi poked her round, chubby head out of the car window, the soft flesh of her cheeks vibrating slightly as she waved her tiny hands enthusiastically. The Gu family stood on the porch, waving back until the vehicle finally disappeared past the main gates.
By the time the car glided into the Peking University courtyard, it was already four-thirty in the afternoon. Sheng Wanyan immediately hurried into the kitchen to prepare a simple dinner, knowing they all needed an early start for their respective classes the following morning. After a quick meal and a warm wash-up, the family turned in early.
The next day, all three of them smoothly transitioned back into their intensive academic routines. They traveled to the campus together, and after handing little Yi Yi over to Aunt Hu’s expert care at the gates, the mother and daughter parted ways to conquer their own schedules.
Gu Tingxiao kept himself thoroughly occupied throughout the day. At midday, he pedaled out to collect Yi Yi from her lessons, escorting her back to the courtyard for her lunch and essential afternoon nap. In between his parenting duties, he continued to scout the surrounding neighborhoods, looking for the additional commercial properties and workshop spaces Sheng Wanyan hoped to acquire.
He managed the household with flawless efficiency, single-handedly preparing three nutritious meals a day so Sheng Wanyan wouldn’t have to spare a single drop of energy on domestic chores. Every single time she returned home from a grueling day of lectures, a steaming, delicious meal was already waiting on the table. Her husband was an absolute pillar of reliability.
Safely cocooned by his support, Sheng Wanyan threw herself completely into the high-pressure university atmosphere. Her academic workload increased exponentially after she formally declared French as her elective major; Uncle Hu proved to be a highly demanding mentor, pushing her intellect to its absolute limits.
However, when it came to claiming her as his official, exclusive disciple, Uncle Hu didn’t dare openly contest the matter with Professor Zhao. With Old Zhao constantly maintaining a fiercely protective watch over her primary Russian curriculum, the French professor could only train her aggressively within the boundaries of his own lecture hall.
Chapter 499: Ripples of One Night
Uncle Hu would often bring this up in a roundabout way whenever he spoke with Sheng Wanyan. Deep down, however, he truly hoped she would accept Professor Zhao as her formal mentor.
After all, that was the legendary Zhao Yanliang—a giant in their field whom even Uncle Hu had to treat with the utmost respect. If she became his official disciple, her future career would be completely secure.
Professor Zhao genuinely treasured exceptional talent and fiercely protected his students, pouring his heart into teaching every single one of them so they could thrive in their respective fields. Furthermore, as the nation’s former Minister of Foreign Affairs, his backing would give Sheng Wanyan an incredible advantage the moment she entered the Ministry herself.
Sheng Wanyan was well aware of these benefits, but she was still weighing whether or not to commit to a formal mentorship. The reality was that with her existing skills, she didn’t actually need a master to teach her the language; she was simply going through the motions to establish her academic credentials in this era.
While Professor Zhao hadn’t extended a formal invitation yet, he had been constantly testing her by assigning her extra tasks around the department. He was clearly observing her character and work ethic first. After all, the old gentleman was notoriously rigorous.
During a break between classes, Sheng Wanyan drafted a reply to the Capital newspaper office. Her answer was simple: she was happy to continue translating for them, but her current workload would only allow her to take on two books at a time. She was simply too busy to handle a larger volume, and the editors naturally raised no objections. She was a university student, after all, and her education had to come first. With a consensus reached, she requested that the office mail the first batch of manuscripts to her courtyard.
Two days later.
Once her afternoon lectures concluded, Sheng Wanyan hopped onto her bicycle to pick up Yi Yi from her lessons. Gu Tingxiao had returned to the main military compound earlier that morning, signaling that the investigation into Wang Chunmei’s affair was likely wrapped up.
When Sheng Wanyan arrived at the gates of the Peking Dance Academy, she didn’t have to wait long before little Yi Yi emerged, happily holding Aunt Hu’s hand.
“Mommy!”
The moment the little girl spotted her, she broke away and sprinted straight into her mother’s arms, wrapping her tiny limbs tightly around her.
“Thank you, Aunt Hu,” Sheng Wanyan said with a warm smile.
Aunt Hu nodded gracefully. Sheng Wanyan escorted the older woman back toward the neighboring Peking University campus before turning her bicycle around to head home with her daughter.
“Yi Yi, climb onto the back rack and hold on tight to Mommy, okay?”
“Okay~”
Yi Yi wrapped her small arms firmly around her mother’s waist, pressing her soft cheek against her back. The mother and daughter coasted down the lane, the cool evening wind brushing past as they made their way home.
With Gu Tingxiao away for the evening, Sheng Wanyan decided to bypass the kitchen entirely. She simply reached into her dimensional space and pulled out a fully prepared, steaming dinner.
As they ate, she calculated the timeline and figured her mother would be arriving from Chengdu in a matter of days, which meant it was time to finalize the grocery store inventory. After giving Yi Yi a warm bath and coaxing the tired toddler to sleep, Sheng Wanyan stepped into the kitchen to whip up a comforting midnight snack for her husband.
It was already nine o’clock in the evening by the time Gu Tingxiao finally pushed open the courtyard doors. It had begun to snow again outside, and a light dusting of white crystals coated the shoulders of his heavy military coat.
“Wife, you’re still awake?”
The moment he stepped into the living room, he found Sheng Wanyan wrapped snugly in a thick blanket, curled up on the sofa with a book in her hands. The soft lighting cast a gentle, radiant glow over her features. Now that they were in the Capital, the availability of reliable electricity meant reading at night wouldn’t strain her eyes, provided she didn’t overdo it.
Gu Tingxiao shook the fresh snow from his coat, hung it neatly on the entryway rack, and immediately walked over to sink onto the cushions beside her.
“I stayed up to make you a midnight snack,” she said, setting her book down. “Go wash up and have some.”
The exhaustion melted from Gu Tingxiao’s features, his expression softening instantly. Instead of moving toward the kitchen, he suddenly bent down, slipped his arms beneath her, and scooped her right off the sofa.
Sheng Wanyan let out a muted gasp, her book slipping from her fingers and tumbling onto the cushions. She quickly threw her arms around his neck, keeping her voice to a frantic whisper so she wouldn’t wake their daughter. “What on earth are you doing?”
Her tone was filled with a playful reproach. Having just taken a warm bath herself, her body felt entirely soft and relaxed in his arms.
“Eat with me,” Gu Tingxiao murmured, his voice dropping to a low, gravelly register as he carried her toward the kitchen.
“I’m not even hungry,” she protested. While waiting for him to return, she had grown bored and raided her dimensional space for a variety of treats to satisfy her cravings.
“Then just keep me company while I eat.”
Sheng Wanyan couldn’t understand why this imposing military man was suddenly acting so needy, but it was rare for him to lean on her so transparently, and her heart completely melted.
He carried her straight to the dining table, settling her gently onto a wooden stool before turning to fetch the warm food she had left prepared. She had made a pot of millet porridge alongside a few refreshing cold side dishes—the perfect, comforting meal to warm up a person’s stomach on a freezing winter night.
When Gu Tingxiao returned to the table, he didn’t sit on the empty chair. Instead, he pulled her directly onto his lap, wrapped a powerful arm around her waist, and lowered his head to begin eating.
Sheng Wanyan dangled her legs, leaning comfortably against his broad chest. After a few minutes, she made a slight movement to slide back onto her own stool, but the man’s large hand tightened securely around her waist, anchoring her in place.
“You’re acting like a child,” she teased, tapping his shoulder. How was it that this formidable soldier could be just as fiercely clingy as their two-year-old daughter?
“Mmh,” Gu Tingxiao hummed in response. He continued to focus on his dinner, utterly refusing to loosen his grip on his wife.
Seeing that he wouldn’t relent, Sheng Wanyan accepted her fate. Sitting sideways across his lap was proving to be awkward and uncomfortable, so she shifted her weight, threw her legs over his thighs, and sat astride him completely.
A sudden spark of playful defiance flared in her chest. This man was constantly subduing her with his absolute physical strength, and it triggered her competitive side. A mischievous plan began to form in her mind.
Her eyes lit up with quiet amusement. She stole a quick, covert glance at Gu Tingxiao, noting with satisfaction that he seemed entirely focused on his porridge.
Looping her arms loosely around his neck, she slowly shifted her body forward, anchoring her weight with her knees against the edges of his thighs. Gu Tingxiao ignored her shifting movements for the moment, simply keeping one steady hand clamped around her waist while he continued to guide the spoon with the other.
Sheng Wanyan pressed her body completely flush against his chest, leaving no space between them. Lean and supple, she deliberately sank her weight down, tilted her chin up, and bit down sharply right against his prominent Adam’s apple.
“Ah…”
A low, involuntary growl escaped Gu Tingxiao’s throat. His pupils contracted instantly, and the hand anchoring her waist tightened until his knuckles turned white.
The porcelain spoon slipped from his fingers, clattering sharply against the rim of the bowl. Seeing that her surprise attack had succeeded flawlessly, Sheng Wanyan let out a triumphant laugh and immediately scrambled to flee his lap.
But the moment she tried to stand, those massive, burning hands locked onto her hips like steel bands. Before she could launch an escape, a searing palm slid beneath the hem of her nightgown, firmly pressing her back down.
She caught her breath, her eyes widening in absolute disbelief as she stared down at him. When did this person become so fast…
“Wife…” Gu Tingxiao’s voice was rough, a dark, thoroughly satisfied rumble vibrating through his chest. “Let’s finish this right here.”
It wasn’t a request. Before Sheng Wanyan could gather her senses, she was completely swept away by the sudden, overwhelming tide of his passion.
Gu Tingxiao’s promises of a “quick snack” proved to be entirely fraudulent. By the time the night finally drew to a close, he had thoroughly made his rounds across every single surface of the house, leaving only their actual bedroom untouched.
Sheng Wanyan had felt a wave of intense shyness at the beginning—the sheer audacity of it was overwhelming. But as the hours blurred past, a fierce, uninhibited wildness took over her senses. Why shouldn’t a woman fully embrace and enjoy the intimacy of her marriage? What’s more, this magnificent man belonged entirely and legally to her.
The couple matched each other’s intensity flawlessly throughout the night. Sheng Wanyan discarded her usual delicate reserve, refusing to make Gu Tingxiao coax or pamper her through every movement. Instead, she met him with a fiery, uninhibited passion that drove him completely over the edge.
For Gu Tingxiao, her sudden, unbridled enthusiasm was a lethal temptation. He was already utterly captivated by her on a normal night, but this absolute surrender felt as though she were tearing the very soul from his body.
It was a profound stroke of luck that the following day was the weekend; otherwise, Sheng Wanyan would have found it physically impossible to rise for her morning university lectures.
She ended up sleeping past ten o’clock the next morning. The moment the hazy memories of the previous night flooded back into her conscious mind, her face burned a bright crimson. In all their years of marriage, she had never allowed herself to behave with such reckless, uninhibited abandonment.
Gu Tingxiao had risen hours ago, quietly transferring little Yi Yi over to Sheng Wanze’s courtyard so she could spend the day playing with Hu Zi, leaving the house entirely to the two of them.
The moment the bedroom door clicked open and Gu Tingxiao walked inside, Sheng Wanyan immediately yanked the heavy quilt over her head, turning her back to him in a fit of absolute embarrassment.
But the sudden movement caused a wave of dull aches to ripple across her entire frame. Peeking beneath the covers, she discovered to her utter horror that there wasn’t a single patch of unmarred skin left on her body.
This man must have been born in the year of the dog, she thought, her face burning hotter as she glared at the wall. He literally spent the entire night chewing on me like a bone!
Chapter 500: Wang Chunmei’s Secret Revealed
Gu Tingxiao went to fetch her clothes and gently lifted Sheng Wanyan up, even though she was currently so mortified that she was throwing a full-blown tantrum.
“Come on, wife. Stretch out your arms.”
As Gu Tingxiao helped her change, Sheng Wanyan kicked him in sheer annoyance. He didn’t get angry at all, completely unfazed by her fussing.
“You’re the one who provoked me last night, wife,” he whispered directly into her ear, which only made her flare up even more.
Provoked him? He was clearly the one who had completely subdued her with force!
Realizing she could never win an argument against him, Sheng Wanyan simply huffed and turned her head away, refusing to look at him.
“Alright, alright, it’s all my fault,” he cooed, his patient voice dropping to a soothing murmur. “Don’t be angry anymore. Let’s get some food into you first.”
Sheng Wanyan definitely had a stubborn streak, but Gu Tingxiao possessed an endless supply of patience when it came to her. He readily yielded to her wishes, obeyed her without question, and was always the first to apologize for his mistakes. By the time he was finished coaxing her, Sheng Wanyan actually felt a bit guilty for being so petty.
When little Yi Yi returned home at noon and saw her mother still resting in bed, her tiny face scrunched up with utmost gravity.
“Mommy, are you all better from your sickness?”
The toddler’s eyes were filled with genuine, deep-seated worry. Sheng Wanyan stared back at her, entirely bewildered. When exactly did I fall sick?
“A cold?” she managed to ask.
“Mmh!” Yi Yi nodded. “Daddy told Yi Yi this morning that you caught a bad cold and that I had to be super quiet.”
A sharp prick of guilt struck Sheng Wanyan’s chest, though she understood immediately what had happened. Yi Yi must have tried to wake her up early in the morning, prompting Gu Tingxiao to spin a lie about her being ill just so she could get some extra rest.
“Mommy was sick… but I’m completely fine now,” Sheng Wanyan muttered. The guilt was overwhelming; this was the absolute first time she had ever lied to her daughter. It was entirely Gu Tingxiao’s fault for inventing such a clumsy excuse.
“Really?” Yi Yi asked skeptically. She reached out a small, chubby hand and pressed it against her mother’s forehead, her gaze tight with nervous concern.
Watching her daughter fret over her, Sheng Wanyan felt her conscience burn even hotter, silently cursing Gu Tingxiao a dozen times in her mind.
“Really, sweetheart. See? Mommy is perfectly normal now.”
Only when Yi Yi observed that her mother had indeed recovered and looked no different from usual did the tension leave her small frame. “That’s great~”
The little girl kicked off her shoes and began scrambling onto the raised platform bed. Catching sight of her short legs struggling to make the climb, Sheng Wanyan reached out and gave her round little bottom a helpful nudge.
“Mommy, Daddy said we’re going to see Nana later,” Yi Yi chirped once she settled in.
Sheng Wanyan’s eyes narrowed slightly as she processed the statement. It had only been a single week, yet the Gu family had already unraveled every thread of the investigation. It seemed a massive storm was waiting for them the moment they returned to the compound.
“Alright. I’ll take you back to see Grandma,” Sheng Wanyan said softly. She held Yi Yi close, chatting with her for a long time. Once the family of three finished their midday meal, they officially set out for the compound.
“Let’s drop our things off at our courtyard in the city first,” Gu Tingxiao suggested as he drove.
The city property’s extensive renovations were completely finished, though Sheng Wanyan hadn’t personally inspected the final results yet. The furniture Mother Gu had purchased had already been moved inside, and Gu Tingxiao had organized the layout perfectly, making it ready for immediate occupancy.
“Sounds perfect,” Sheng Wanyan agreed, and they pulled up to their new town property first to unload their personal bags.
“Mommy, is this our new home?” Yi Yi gasped.
“Yes, sweetie. This is our home in the city. We’ll be staying here on weekends to visit your grandparents,” Sheng Wanyan explained, turning to her with a smile. “Do you like it, Yi Yi?”
Yi Yi nodded her head enthusiastically, immediately setting off to explore every nook and cranny. The house was absolutely massive!
While Sheng Wanyan focused on unpacking their essentials, Yi Yi and Maodou ran laps around the courtyard together. Once the little girl had thoroughly familiarized herself with the layout, the family prepared to head to the main compound. Sheng Wanyan left Maodou behind to guard the property, ensuring no wandering eyes would target the newly renovated estate.
By the time the vehicle cleared the gates of the military compound, it was officially dinner time. Every single member of the household was present today—including a highly restless Wang Chunmei.
Wang Chunmei remained entirely in the dark regarding why the family patriarch had suddenly demanded everyone’s presence, and a deep, chronic nervousness gnawed at her stomach. But Grandpa Gu remained completely silent throughout the meal, his face carved of unyielding ice as the family dined together in a tense, stifling hush.
The moment dinner concluded, Grandpa Gu settled onto the living room sofa, cutting a sharp look toward Eldest Brother Gu. Understanding the silent directive, Eldest Brother Gu rose from his seat, marched to the front of the house, and firmly bolted both the heavy courtyard gates and the primary entrance doors.
A profound family disgrace was about to be laid bare, and it could not be leaked to the public—especially not the humiliation of a Gu family member being cuckolded.
Wang Chunmei and Gu Tinghao stared at the locking mechanisms in total confusion, unable to comprehend what the elders were orchestrating. They could only sit on their respective cushions, their bodies stiffening with anxiety.
The family was locked in. While the children remained entirely oblivious to the severe undercurrents, the oppressive silence forced them to sit rigidly in their seats.
Grandpa Gu had deliberately blocked the children from leaving the room. Gu Jinfang and Gu Jingjing were old enough to comprehend the world around them; they had a right to know the truth. Most importantly, Gu Jingjing needed to see exactly what her biological mother had done to warrant being permanently cast out of the Gu lineage. If they shielded her from the truth now, she would grow up harboring a bitter resentment toward the clan, believing they had cruelly destroyed her family of four.
Little Yi Yi sat obediently tucked against Gu Tingxiao’s chest, her tiny hands clutching her milk bottle as her eyes darted curiously between her grandparents.
“Today marks the absolute last time this family will ever sit together for a reunion dinner,” Grandpa Gu announced, his voice slicing through the room like a blade.
“Grandpa?” Gu Tinghao blurted out, staring at the old man in sheer bewilderment. Why on earth would his grandfather utter such ominous words? Had a sudden crisis struck the household? But every branch was thriving, and Eldest Brother Gu was on the cusp of a major military promotion. This made absolutely no sense.
Beside him, Wang Chunmei’s heart was hammering violently against her ribs. Over the past few days, a suffocating sensation of being watched had plagued her steps. Yet every single time she whipped her head around to scan the streets, the sidewalks were empty. She had spent the week desperately trying to convince herself that she was merely being paranoid.
“Shut your mouth!” Grandpa Gu roared.
The sheer, deafening volume of his fury struck the room like a thunderclap, sending a shockwave of terror through the children. Yi Yi’s entire body flinched, and she instinctively buried her face deep into Gu Tingxiao’s chest to seek sanctuary. Zeng-Zeng was so scary today!
Gu Tingxiao wrapped his powerful arms securely around her, rhythmically patting her back to soothe her tremors.
Grandpa Gu’s features were twisted with a scorching, absolute rage. His eyes burned as they locked onto Wang Chunmei, before shifting to the small boy seated at her side. Gu Jinmin was so terrified by the display that he whimpered and scrambled to hide behind his mother’s jacket. The sight only drove Grandpa Gu’s temper to a lethal tipping point.
“Fourth Branch’s wife—on your knees!” he thundered.
Stunned by the command, Gu Tinghao instinctively dropped to his knees, dragging his wife and young daughter, Gu Jingjing, down to the floor alongside him. While Gu Tinghao remained entirely blind to the root of his grandfather’s wrath, he knew with absolute certainty that the crisis was tied directly to Wang Chunmei.
Gu Jinmin didn’t want to remain on the floor, throwing a small tantrum as he attempted to stand back up. But before he could rise, Grandpa Gu’s heavy wooden crutch slammed violently against the floorboards.
“You little bastard!” the old man bellowed.
Grandpa Gu was consumed by a visceral, blinding fury. Throughout his entire life, his absolute boundary was the purity of the Gu bloodline; he would never allow the hard-earned honor and legacy of his clan to be inherited by a child of foreign blood. The Gu family had dedicated themselves to military service for generations, pouring their blood, sweat, and very lives into serving the nation until their dying breath. Why should the sacred honor passed down by his ancestors be squandered on an outsider’s seed? Grandpa Gu would sooner see the household burn!
The moment the words echoed through the room, Wang Chunmei went entirely pale, her mind short-circuiting as she stared at Grandpa Gu in absolute horror.
No! It’s impossible! There is absolutely no way the Gu family could have uncovered it! She had executed every meeting with such flawless, clinical secrecy. How could they possibly know that Xiaomin wasn’t Gu Tinghao’s biological child?!
Even the slow-witted Gu Tinghao finally processed the terrifying weight behind his grandfather’s roar. His head snapped toward his wife, his eyes widening in stark disbelief.
“You absolute piece of trash! You actually dared to cheat on my son!”
Mother Gu had been suppressing her blinding rage for an entire week, and at this exact moment, her restraint shattered completely. She lunged across the floor, descending upon Wang Chunmei and unleashing a flurry of fierce, ringing slaps across her face. Gone was her usual aristocratic elegance, gone was her gentle maternal poise; in this moment, she fought with the primal fury of a mother hen fiercely protecting her brood.
“And this boy… this pathetic little bastard!” Mother Gu shrieked, her voice cracking with agony.
The realization that the grandson she had coddled, loved, and spoiled for three years was actually the product of another man’s betrayal made her very soul bleed. How was she supposed to accept this reality? How could any mother tolerate such a sickening deception?
