Chapter 26: The Ghost of the Past Part 6

But she had never told anyone that.

Instead, because Ming Li’s circle all called her “A-Li,” and because Ming Li had quickly charmed the Old Madam and become close friends with Gu Fei, the name “A-Li” was heard constantly in the Gu house. Now, Gu Qingshuang naturally associated those sounds with Ming Li.

Hearing Shen Chu say it now made her realize the nicknames sounded identical, even if the characters were different. It felt strange.

But she didn’t dwell on it. “It’s related to her, but also not.”

“Don’t be mysterious,” Shen Chu said. “Speak plainly. I have a wedding dress fitting soon.”

Gu Qingshuang didn’t waste time. “Shen Chang caused trouble.”

The other end went silent for two seconds. When Shen Chu spoke again, there was a sharp edge to her voice. “What did he do this time?”

“He hit Ming Li’s sister—slapped her five times—and he lifted the skirt of another girl in his class,” Gu Qingshuang said. “I went to the school yesterday to speak for him. It was humiliating.”

Shen Chu ground her teeth. “That bastard.”

After a pause, she asked, “But who is Ming Li? Do you know her? The name sounds familiar.”

Gu Qingshuang: “…”

“It seems we really have grown distant,” Gu Qingshuang said.

Shen Chu tutted. “How are we distant? Weren’t you almost my sister-in-law? A-Li just didn’t have the luck to keep you.”

“Don’t call her A-Li,” Gu Qingshuang frowned. “It sounds weird.”

“What’s wrong with you? I’ve called her that for years. You can’t control what I call her just because you broke up.”

“Just don’t call her that in front of me,” Gu Qingshuang said.

Shen Chu: “…”

“You still haven’t answered me. Who is Ming Li?” Shen Chu brought the topic back.

Gu Qingshuang lowered her eyes, her voice faint. “My wife.”

She added, “My current one.”

“Oh, right! I remember now. The little princess of the Ming family. The one who was very beautiful, but when the family went bankrupt, she was sold to you to pay off their debts?” Shen Chu rambled on.

Gu Qingshuang was baffled. “Sold to me to pay off debts?”

“Yeah, you didn’t know? That’s the rumor in the circle,” Shen Chu said, then realized she was asking the wrong person. This woman never cared about gossip or mingled with those crowds. She was the Eldest Miss of the Gu family; she received respect wherever she went. Even her worthless brother, Shen Chang, clung to her because of the Gu status.

“I didn’t know. It’s all rumors,” Gu Qingshuang said.

Shen Chu laughed. “But it’s true you paid back four or five hundred million for her, right? Gu Mengdie let it slip that you used up a huge chunk of the Gu family’s cash flow back then. Rumor has it you even pawned two collectibles.”

Gu Qingshuang: “…Bullshit.”

The four or five hundred million debt repayment was true, and using some of the family cash was true, but it hadn’t drained the accounts. And she certainly hadn’t pawned any Gu family heirlooms.

She had sold the birthday gifts her father had given her from the age of eight to eighteen. Those alone were worth three hundred million.

Hearing her denial, Shen Chu grew more curious. “Then what? Don’t tell me you broke up with my sister and, within two months, met your soulmate and had a whirlwind wedding?”

Gu Qingshuang: “…”

She didn’t want to bring up the past. “How are you going to handle Shen Chang? I need an explanation.”

Shen Chu: “You should have shoved his face into the dirt yesterday and made him kowtow until his brain leaked out. That idiot’s head is filled with mush. He’s both stupid and malicious.”

Gu Qingshuang: “…”

She knew Shen Chu was tough, but she hadn’t expected her to be this ruthless. Gu Qingshuang, influenced by Gu Xueqiang, believed that family matters should stay within the family. You could beat a relative to a pulp at home, but you had to save their face in front of outsiders. That was why, even though she knew they were in the wrong, she had still argued for him yesterday.

Long ago, Gu Qingshuang had mocked Gu Xueqiang for being obsessed with “face” to her own detriment. Now, she was becoming a second Gu Xueqiang.

Shen Chu wasn’t done swearing. “His mother must have eaten dead cats while pregnant with him to make him such a beast. All he does is cause trouble. Just lock him up, out of sight, out of mind.”

“So, what’s your plan?” Gu Qingshuang interrupted the tirade. “If this isn’t resolved, my home life will be in shambles.”

Shen Chu: “Huh?”

Gu Qingshuang ignored the surprise. “He needs to apologize to Ming Xi. He cannot bother her again. And he needs to change classes, or even schools. Can you convince your parents?”

Shen Chu paused. “That shouldn’t be an issue. My wedding is coming up; they won’t want any unpleasantness. But I have a question, Sister Qingshuang.”

“Ask.”

“Are you asking this because your wife wants it, or because you want it?” Shen Chu analyzed before Gu Qingshuang could speak. “Logically, if you wanted to talk to me, you would have called yesterday. But you didn’t. You probably wanted to hide it for that little brat. Plus, A-Li—my sister—is back, so she probably begged you for mercy. They were all afraid I’d find out. The matter should have been buried yesterday. But you’re calling today with such a serious tone… Did your wife give you trou—”

“Shut up,” Gu Qingshuang cut her off.

Shen Chu laughed. “I guess I hit the mark.”

“It’s none of your business,” Gu Qingshuang said. “Just handle your end.”

“Sure thing. Since you asked.” Shen Chu’s voice lost its playful edge. “Sister Qingshuang, my sister returned to the country for you. Has she contacted you?”

Silence.

After a long while, Gu Qingshuang said coldly, “You should have stopped her, Shen Chu.”

“Isn’t your marriage with your current wife just a contract? It’s almost over, isn’t it?” Shen Chu said. “Maybe you and my sister could—”

“Shen Chu!” Gu Qingshuang shouted her name, startling her. “What?”

“Do you remember what I told you back then?” Gu Qingshuang asked.

Shen Chu: “…”

“Fine. I won’t bring it up again. I’ll do what you asked.” Shen Chu hung up.

In a luxury hotel in France, Shen Chu gripped her phone and sighed.

Shen Lideng shouldn’t have come back.

That year, after Shen Lideng decided to postpone the wedding and fly to Paris, Gu Qingshuang had met Shen Chu for drinks.

A drunken Gu Qingshuang had said: “I don’t believe there are any paths back in this world.”

“What’s missed is missed.”

“Actually… I’m not sad.”

Shen Chu had always suspected that Gu Qingshuang didn’t love Shen Lideng as much as everyone believed.

Because after Shen Lideng left, Gu Qingshuang had told her: “Knowing she didn’t want to get married… it feels as if a heavy burden has finally been lifted.”