Shen Weilan raised an eyebrow, her tone provocative. "What? Are you done strangling me?"
Gu Yunze’s hands froze in mid-air. His brows knitted together, and he pressed his lips into a tight line, refusing to speak in the face of her taunts.
It wasn’t that he didn’t want to vent his anger, but the North City Nanwan District project was crucial to the Shen Group. If he could secure that investment, the Gu Corporation’s stock price would soar.
"Daddy, why did you stop? Shen Weilan just hit you!" Gu Haoran was pacing in agitation; had he been older, he would have attacked her himself.
"That's right, you usually listen to your son so well. Why don't you hit me back?" A sneer curled the corners of Shen Weilan’s mouth, and the mockery in her eyes was nearly overflowing.
She knew exactly where Gu Yunze’s weaknesses lay, and that was precisely where she struck.
After weighing his options, Gu Yunze reluctantly dropped his hands. However, he still cared about his dignity, so he made sure to throw out a final threat. "Shen Weilan, this is my last warning to you. If there is a next time, I won’t concern myself with our ties as husband and wife."
Husband and wife?
The term grated on Shen Weilan’s nerves. She shook her head and let out a cold laugh. "You still have the nerve to call us husband and wife?"
"I have done nothing to wrong you," Gu Yunze said, puffing out his chest and lifting his chin, acting as if he were entirely in the right.
"Go tell that to the ghosts," Shen Weilan said, pointing toward the door to dismiss him. "Get out, right now."
She didn't want to look at him for a second longer.
Gu Yunze let out a cold snort, bent down to pick up Gu Haoran, and left. Gu Haoran glared at Shen Weilan with deep resentment, his fists clenched tightly. "Bad woman!"
Facing her ungrateful stepson, Shen Weilan no longer cared. She viewed the sincerity she had once shown him as nothing more than casting pearls before swine.
Outside, Gu Haoran looked up at Gu Yunze, fuming. "Daddy, Shen Weilan hit you. Why didn't you hit her back? Don't tell me you actually like her?"
"Of course not. How could I ever like someone like her?" Gu Yunze scoffed. Men preferred a challenge; someone like Shen Weilan was merely a hothouse flower—incapable of fighting back, incapable of saying no. She was nothing more than a vase.
Gu Haoran snorted. "Anyway, I don't care. You aren't allowed to like Shen Weilan. You belong to Mommy and me. Sooner or later, I’ll drive Shen Weilan away."
Gu Yunze nodded in agreement. "Yes, yes, my precious boy is always right."
Gu Haoran finally smiled, then made his demand: "I miss Mommy. Will you send a driver to pick her up and bring her here?"
"Not right now." Gu Yunze hadn't forgotten what Gu Chongyang had told him. He was allowed to keep in touch with Lin Huichu, but he absolutely could not bring her into the house, nor could he allow Shen Weilan to become jealous and jeopardize the Shen Group partnership.
Gu Haoran’s small face fell, his eyes filled with resentment. "Daddy, you don’t love Mommy and me anymore. Otherwise, you wouldn’t refuse me."
"Haoran, Daddy only has you and Mommy in his heart. But the situation is different now; I can't afford to have a falling out with Shen Weilan just yet. You and Mommy will just have to endure this for a while," Gu Yunze said, softening his tone to soothe him. "Just wait a little longer. Your Mommy will eventually enter the Gu Family in the light of day."
Gu Haoran pressed his lips together and remained silent, his expression heavy with displeasure.
Gu Yunze felt helpless, but the company project was the priority. He could not afford to break with Shen Weilan yet; he needed her support for the Gu Corporation. Once the Gu Corporation was fully independent, it wouldn't be too late to cast her aside.
After dropping Gu Haoran off at his room, Gu Yunze drove away.
Gu Haoran called Lin Huichu and recounted everything that had just happened. Lin Huichu’s expression soured as she listened, a flicker of viciousness crossing her eyes, her grip tightening on her phone.
"Haoran, do you want to see Mommy?"
Gu Haoran’s eyes brightened. "Of course! I want to sleep with Mommy tonight, too."
"Then do as I say, and I promise your wish will come true."
"Okay! Tell me, Mommy, I’ll do whatever you say!" Gu Haoran was ecstatic.
By evening, Gu Chongyang and Chen Yujuan returned. A maid rushed over, her voice trembling, "Sir, Madam, it’s terrible! The young master has a fever, and it hasn't gone down for hours."
Gu Haoran was the apple of Gu Chongyang and Chen Yujuan’s eyes. Hearing he was ill, the couple was frantic. They hurried toward Gu Haoran’s bedroom.
On the large bed, the small child was curled up, hands clutching his stomach, a fever patch stuck to his forehead, his face flushed bright red.
Gu Chongyang and Chen Yujuan’s pupils contracted. They rushed over and scooped Gu Haoran up. Seeing the boy’s obvious agony, Chen Yujuan’s eyes reddened, tears welling up. She reached out to touch his burning face. "Ranran, Grandma is back. Open your eyes and look at me."
"Ranran, Grandpa is here too. Aside from the fever, where else does it hurt?" Gu Chongyang’s voice was choked with emotion. They say the bond between grandparents and grandchildren is the strongest; even as the head of the Gu Corporation, he was just a worried grandfather when his grandson was sick.
Gu Haoran struggled to open his eyes, his voice weak. "Mommy… I want Mommy… *sob*…"
The couple exchanged a silent look, brows furrowed. They understood how he felt; when sick, a child naturally craved their birth mother. But Shen Weilan was currently in the Gu household. If they let Lin Huichu come now and Shen Weilan found out, she would tear the house down. The Gu Corporation was currently courting investment, and the Shen Group was the primary target.
"Ranran, be a good boy. Grandpa and Grandma are here with you; just tell us what you need," Chen Yujuan whispered. "But Mommy can't come to the Gu house right now. Why don't we have the driver take you to her once you're feeling better?"
"Your grandma is right. Fevers pass quickly. How about we take you to see Mommy tomorrow?" Gu Chongyang added.
Suddenly, Gu Haoran burst into wails, giant tears rolling down his cheeks, striking Gu Chongyang and Chen Yujuan’s hearts like heavy stones.
"I don't want to wait until tomorrow! I want to see Mommy now! If you don't agree, I’ll never talk to you again!" With that, Gu Haoran tried to wiggle out of their arms, his nose red and his voice thick with tears.
"This…"
Gu Chongyang and Chen Yujuan were in a bind. On one side was their business, on the other their beloved grandson. Both were precious to them.
After a moment of thought, Gu Chongyang said, "How about this: I’ll send a driver to take you to Lin Huichu’s place?"
"I'm too tired. I don't want to go anywhere. I just want to see my Mommy." Gu Haoran suddenly stared at the ceiling, smiling vacantly, and waved his hand. "Mommy… I see you."
The couple looked up at the ceiling, startled. They were terrified—Haoran was so sick he was hallucinating. If Lin Huichu didn't come, the fever might not break tonight.
Gu Chongyang made a snap decision. "Fine. I’ll send a driver to bring Lin Huichu here right now."
A flash of triumph crossed Gu Haoran’s eyes. Mommy’s plan really worked.
Chen Yujuan looked worried. "Shen Weilan and Ranran’s bedrooms are only two rooms apart. I’m afraid they might run into each other."
"It doesn't matter. Lin Huichu is Ranran's mother, after all," Gu Chongyang said coldly. "At worst, we’ll just have Yunze coax Shen Weilan later tonight, and it’ll be fine."