Chapter 8

Chapter 8

On the third day of the cold war, things spiraled completely out of control.

An anonymous post suddenly blew up online, exposing every messy detail between me and the brothers of the Gu Family. Screenshots of the marriage agreement, old photos, and even my mother’s hospital room were leaked.

Reporters swarmed the entrance of my studio.

The hospital was also blocked off, making it impossible to get through.

When I finally reached the ward, my mother was red-eyed and yelling at the intruders. The IV in the back of her hand had started to backflow with blood.

My mind snapped.

Gu Yanzhou arrived with his people and cleared the scene within three minutes. But at that moment, I no longer had the energy to discern whether he showed up because he cared about me or because the situation had exceeded his control.

I blocked him outside the ward, my voice trembling and hoarse.

“Gu Yanzhou, stop getting involved.”

He stared at me, his gaze terrifyingly dark.

“Say that again.”

“I said, stop getting involved.”

I looked him in the eye, enunciating every word. “The notebook, the authorizations, the project cooperation-I’ll give you everything you want. Just let my mother go, and let me go.”

Gu Yanzhou’s face turned pale instantly.

“Is that the kind of person I am in your eyes?”

“Then what am I supposed to think?”

I finally broke down. Tears fell as the long-suppressed grievances and fears came rushing out. “You never say anything; you decide everything for me. Gu Yanzhou, I’m not a canary you keep in a cage, and I’m not a bargaining chip you can use to win against Gu Zeqian!”

The corridor fell deathly silent.

Gu Yanzhou stood there, looking as if my words had nailed him to the spot.

After a long while, he said quietly, “Fine.”

Another single word.

But this time, it was even colder than the last.

He turned and walked away as soon as he finished speaking.

Watching his retreating back, a sense of panic heavier than before settled in my heart, as if something was truly about to be too late.

That night, Gu Zeqian sent me a text message.

He said if I wanted to know how my father died, I should meet him at the abandoned model building of the Old City Project.

Even though I knew it was a trap, I went anyway.

Because my father was the biggest knot in my life.

The abandoned building was biting cold. Gu Zeqian stood by the second-floor railing, the spark of his cigarette flickering in the dark. His expression was frighteningly grim.

“You actually dared to come.”

“Cut the crap.”

I gripped the strap of my bag. “How did my father really die?”

Gu Zeqian stared at me and laughed.

“He discovered that the project materials were being faked, and he found out someone was using his models for money laundering. He refused to sign off, so he died.”

I felt a chill run through my entire body. “Who did it?”

“Take a guess.”

He walked toward me step by step, his eyes twisted with malice.

“Xu Yutang, do you think Gu Yanzhou is clean? He was part of that project team back then, too. After your father’s accident, he snatched away the most critical document. Marrying him is no different than throwing your father’s life away all over again.”

My breathing became ragged.

Just then, a voice that was familiar enough to make one’s skin crawl suddenly came from behind me.

“Gu Zeqian.”

I whipped my head around.

Gu Yanzhou stood at the top of the stairs. He hadn’t even changed out of his suit, and there was a thin sheen of sweat on his forehead, as if he had rushed here like a madman.

He looked at Gu Zeqian, his eyes cold enough to kill.

“Did I not tell you to stay away from her?”

Gu Zeqian’s laugh grew more vicious.

“Perfect timing. Brother, do you dare to explain what happened back then right in front of her?”

I stared fixedly at Gu Yanzhou.

“You knew too, didn’t you?”

Gu Yanzhou remained silent for a second.

It was that single second that made my blood run cold.