Lost in thought, Ming Li inadvertently fell a few steps behind.
After a moment, she looked up and noticed that Gu Qingshuang had grown frighteningly thin lately. Then she remembered Gu Fei’s assessment—You don’t look like you love Gu Qingshuang.
Ming Li thought to herself: If I don’t love Gu Qingshuang, who else would I love? In this kind of life, isn’t falling for her the most natural thing in the world?
Ming Li quickened her pace to catch up. Taking advantage of the peaceful mood, she asked, “Can I ask you something?”
“Speak,” Gu Qingshuang said succinctly.
“Why is Shen Lideng special to you?” Ming Li asked.
She felt a bit apprehensive before asking, fearing Qingshuang might snap, but Qingshuang seemed very gentle today. Perhaps it was the joy of spending time with the child, or perhaps because their previous fights had been so intense that Qingshuang had learned to show some restraint.
Gu Qingshuang remained silent for a while. Ming Li thought she wouldn’t answer and added, “You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to.”
Just as they reached their front door, Gu Qingshuang said in a low voice, “She is an inseparable part of me.”
***
Ming Li couldn’t quite decipher the meaning behind that sentence.
However, she clearly felt that she didn’t have the reaction Gu Fei had described. Hearing that answer—perhaps because she was mentally prepared—she didn’t feel deep sorrow or extreme possessiveness. All she felt was a faint, lingering bitterness.
That slight bitterness vanished the moment Gu Qingshuang pushed the door open and they saw Gu Xueqiang sitting in the center of the living room. Alarm bells rang in Ming Li’s head.
Even Gu Qingshuang’s pace quickened, as if fearing her mother might do something extreme to Mingyue. She almost jogged to the living room, only relaxing when she saw Mingyue sitting properly on the sofa.
“What are you afraid of? I’m not going to eat her,” Gu Xueqiang said. Her gaze swept over them, her emotions appearing more stable than they had been that morning.
Ming Li stepped forward. “Mother.”
“Ming Li,” Gu Xueqiang said. “Come to the study with me.”
Gu Qingshuang moved first, blocking Ming Li. “What for?”
“To talk about her acquisition,” Gu Xueqiang said. “You want to come too?”
Gu Qingshuang frowned. “Are you sure?”
“Why wouldn’t I be?” Gu Xueqiang glanced at the well-behaved Mingyue on the sofa and scoffed. “If you love children so much, have one of your own. What’s the point of treating someone else’s kid like a treasure every day?”
Ming Li was speechless.
Gu Qingshuang told her it was none of her business and ignored her. She turned to take Mingyue’s hand and told Ming Li, “I’ll take her upstairs to wash up first. Once she’s settled, I’ll come find you.”
Ming Li wanted to say it wasn’t necessary, but she heard Gu Xueqiang laugh. “I really am a failure as a mother. My own daughter treats me like a common thief.”
Gu Qingshuang said coldly, “That depends on what you’ve done.”
Gu Xueqiang glared at her back, saying through gritted teeth, “Fine. Gu Qingshuang.”
Gu Qingshuang didn’t look back as she headed upstairs.
“I’ll just wait for you to have a daughter exactly like yourself,” Gu Xueqiang called out. “I want to see when she’ll finally anger you to death.”
“Perhaps I’ll be angered to death by my own mother before I ever have a daughter.”
“…”
Ming Li stood to the side, trembling slightly. She felt Qingshuang’s words had definitely set off Gu Xueqiang’s temper. Wouldn’t she be the one to suffer for it in a moment?
She carefully watched Gu Xueqiang’s face and saw her take a few deep breaths to regain her composure. When she looked at Ming Li again, she was much calmer. “Come.”
Ming Li followed Gu Xueqiang to the third floor. As she was about to close the study door, she heard Gu Xueqiang say, “Leave it open, lest some people worry I’ve locked the door to bully you.”
“Mother, why would you say that?” Ming Li said gently. “You’ve never bullied me.”
“In Gu Qingshuang’s eyes, that’s exactly what I do,” Gu Xueqiang said, taking a sip of tea. “As long as I touch the people around her, she thinks I’m bullying them. Whatever. I didn’t bring you here to talk about that.”
Gu Xueqiang brushed those matters aside and began talking about the Elder Madam’s condition and the current situation within the Gu Group. Gu Zhengbo was impulsive and lacked a moral compass, but his daughter, Gu Mengdie, was a ruthless player. Compared to her, Gu Qingshuang was far outmatched.
The Elder Madam’s health was failing; she had been to the hospital twice in the last three months. The change in leadership for the Gu Group would happen this year.
Gu Xueqiang was determined to take control but feared Gu Mengdie would block her path. She asked Ming Li what the Elder Madam had said to her tonight.
Ming Li recounted the conversation simply, being careful not to trigger Gu Xueqiang, focusing on the matriarch’s warnings about being too forceful and impulsive.
Gu Xueqiang didn’t react much, only saying she understood.
Ming Li took the opportunity to bring up Mingyue again, promising several times that someone would pick her up in a few days. She assured her that Mingyue definitely wasn’t her child and even stated that she hadn’t been in any relationships since marrying Qingshuang; her relationship with Zhu Hanxing was as innocent as could be.
Gu Xueqiang’s expression shifted slightly, then she said calmly, “I know.”
Ming Li was stunned. “You knew from the start?”
“No.” Gu Xueqiang paused, her chair turning so her back was to Ming Li. “Gu Qingshuang was right. When I encounter such things, I can’t stay calm. It’s my weakness, an easy handle for others to grasp. But from now on, I cannot make a mistake.”
Ming Li lowered her eyes and spoke softly, “You aren’t a saint. There’s no need to be so hard on yourself.”
“I misunderstood you at first,” Gu Xueqiang apologized. “I’m sorry, Ming Li. I forgot… not everyone is like him.”
Ming Li heard her voice tremble and hitch; she sounded as though she was crying. She couldn’t help but offer comfort. “It’s been so long. There’s no need to punish yourself for someone else’s mistake.”
Gu Xueqiang didn’t speak.
“You clearly love Qingshuang the most. She feels trapped in the middle of this, and it’s painful for her, just as it is for you,” Ming Li said. “Why not try to let go?”
“I can’t.” Gu Xueqiang tapped her finger on the arm of the chair. “More than half of the Gu family’s current wealth was earned by Gu Liufu. These things must be mine, and they must be Gu Qingshuang’s. Even if she doesn’t want them and squanders it all, I will not allow Gu Liufu to give a single cent to that illegitimate daughter. He doesn’t deserve to!”
Ming Li wanted to say more, but Gu Qingshuang had already entered the room, catching the end of the sentence. She said quietly, “Have you ever considered that she might not want it at all?”
Gu Xueqiang spun around, her eyes cold as she glared at her daughter. “I’ve looked into her. She’s been studying directing abroad all these years, hasn’t she? Quite successful, too—won some directing award last month… tell me, if she returns to the country, could I easily—”
“What are you planning to do now?” Gu Qingshuang’s voice rose sharply.
Standing beside her, Ming Li feared they would start fighting again like they had that morning. Seeing the atmosphere turn volatile, Ming Li grabbed Gu Qingshuang’s hand and said gently to Gu Xueqiang, “Mother, you aren’t such a cold-hearted person. Please stop saying things that make Qingshuang hate you. This is just misdirected anger. You two should be on the same side.”
Gu Xueqiang’s eyes swept over her. “And how would you know I’m not that kind of person?”
“You really underestimate her,” Gu Qingshuang sneered. “My mother once tried to drown a teenage girl with her own hands.”
