Chapter 29: Ill Be Your Shield Part 4

No matter how powerful the Shen family was, they couldn’t protect him forever.

Maybe one day, someone would force their way into the Shen family home and make Shen Chang kowtow in apology, slapping his right cheek and then making him turn the left.

The Shen family wasn’t important to Ming Li.

Gu Qingshuang said solemnly, “No financial demands?”

“How much money do you think would be enough compensation?” Ming Li smiled. “Besides, didn’t you already give compensation as Shen Chang’s ‘guardian’? Ming Xi already received the hundred thousand yuan in her account.”

Gu Qingshuang went silent.

She heard the sarcasm in Ming Li’s voice.

“I am not Shen Chang’s guardian,” Gu Qingshuang explained. “I went on someone else’s behalf.”

“Whether you went for someone else or not, you still went,” Ming Li said airily. “It’s like if I killed someone with a knife and told the police I was doing it for someone else. Do you think the judge would let me off?”

Gu Qingshuang had no reply.

It was clear that Ming Li was feeling hostile.

Gu Qingshuang hadn’t slept well again. She had tossed and turned, instinctively listening for movement in the next room.

She had stayed up specifically waiting for Ming Li to come home, wanting to talk, but seeing how exhausted Ming Li looked, she hadn’t known what to say.

Perhaps the best thing she could do was let Ming Li go—end the contract early.

But that would mean falling back into the cage she was in three years ago.

She was caught between a rock and a hard place.

Her peaceful life would be shattered. She would have to engage in meaningless arguments with Gu Xueqiang every day. Gu Xueqiang would throw things and cry hysterically. They would both be driven mad.

Right before she could voice the suggestion to end things, a sense of suffocation washed over her.

That same suffocation that had trapped her in darkness once before.

It was only after the marriage that she had seen the light of day again.

Gu Qingshuang admitted it—she was selfish.

She had been selfish from the very beginning.

Unable to take that final, heaviest step, she could only try to compensate Ming Li in other ways.

But Ming Li was like a hedgehog now, refusing to let her get even half a step closer.

Gu Qingshuang had never handled such a difficult relationship. She stood there, unsure of what to do.

Ming Li had already reached the door. Seeing her about to leave, Gu Qingshuang panicked. “Ming Li!” she called out urgently.

Ming Li stopped. “What is it?”

“I will give you a satisfactory result,” Gu Qingshuang said, her voice serious and determined. “Not as Shen Chang’s guardian, but as your wife and Ming Xi’s sister. I will get you the result you deserve.”

Ming Li looked at her and saw a hint of awkwardness on her face. It was as if she had never made such a vow before; there was a clumsy sort of cuteness to it.

“And the Shen family? Shen Lideng?” Ming Li asked. “How will you explain it to them?”

Gu Qingshuang said calmly, “I don’t need to explain anything to them.”

She had long since severed ties with the Shen family.

As for Shen Lideng… that connection couldn’t be cut.

But in this matter, she owed no one anything.

Ming Li didn’t know what Gu Qingshuang planned to do, nor did she hold out much hope. But since Gu Qingshuang was making such a grand gesture, she didn’t want to throw cold water on her. She gave a perfunctory smile. “Sure. I believe you.”

In reality, she didn’t.

–

It was still chilly when she stepped out of Gu Manor. The wind whipped at Ming Li’s suit jacket and messied her hair.

She pulled out a hair tie to fix it, but as she was on the last loop, a pair of hands suddenly covered her eyes. A voice whispered in a mock-spooky tone into her ear: “Guess~ who~ I~ am~~”

Ming Li paused, her eyes rolling upward behind the hands.

“Ah! I guess it’s a ghost!” Ming Li played along. “I’m so scared~~”

“Then hurry up and faint.”

Ming Li sighed. “Gu Fei! You’re so bored.”

Gu Fei let go and hopped in front of her. Her black hair was a mess, looking like a bird’s nest, but she was full of energy. “No fun.”

“What kind of ghost comes out in the early morning?” Ming Li asked, crossing her arms as she looked at her.

Gu Fei looked relaxed after her trip, though she was still wearing one pink shoe and one green shoe.

“I’ll come out at midnight next time, then.” Gu Fei ran her fingers through her hair, pulling it into a messy, high bun that made her hair look incredibly thick. She yawned. “Going to visit your dad’s grave?”

“Yeah,” Ming Li nodded. “You just get back?”

“Yup, just made it in time,” Gu Fei said. “I had so much fun that I almost didn’t want to come home.”

“Grandmother would be disappointed to hear that,” Ming Li teased. “Aren’t you afraid of breaking her heart?”

“My mom won’t be disappointed. I called her five times a day while I was away; she’s probably just sick of me.” Gu Fei bragged, “I bought you a gift, Little Li. Come get it later.”

“Sure.” Ming Li asked, “Are you going to pay your respects this year?”

Gu Fei curled her lip. “Yeah, why else would I come back?”

“Then hurry up and go. Everyone is probably ready.”

“It’s fine, my eldest brother-in-law is here,” Gu Fei said, her voice dropping. “Watch out tonight. Your house is definitely going to be chaotic.”

Ming Li froze. “…”

Gu Liufu was coming back?

Ming Li looked around but didn’t see anyone. Gu Fei added, “My mom wants everyone to gather this year. The eldest brother-in-law has to be there.”

Ming Li was confused. “I wasn’t notified?”

Normally, Ming Li was the one who helped Gu Xueqiang organize these family banquets. But she hadn’t heard a word. She was even planning to spend the day at her father’s grave.

“I think the Second Brother’s family is hosting today.” Gu Fei’s tone turned somber. “His family has been handling the household affairs lately. Mengdie and Qingzhi are running around like headless chickens.”

“I see.” Ming Li didn’t care for such duties anyway, so it didn’t bother her. She suddenly remembered something Aunt Ying had mentioned a few days ago. She wondered if Gu Fei knew and hesitated about whether to tell her.