Chapter 145: Madame Gu Wicked Ways
The lawsuit cast a shadow over Master Gu’s office, where he paced in annoyance, deep in thought. Xuan Yongxin, his lawyer, patiently awaited his client’s calm.
"I don’t want this to make the news," Master Gu asserted, concern etched on his face. "My daughter just got engaged, and I don’t want my future in-laws—"
Xuan Yongxin interrupted, "Sir, I can try, but I can’t guarantee that the news won’t find out."
Master Gu, intrigued, asked, "Who is their lawyer?"
Xuan Yongxin sighed before revealing, "Ao Junfeng."
"I am not sure if I have heard of him," Master Gu admitted.
"He’s based in Beijing, never once lost a case like this," Xuan Yongxin explained. "But what surprises me is why he came all the way here for this. We both know that those men can’t afford a lawyer."
"You think?" Master Gu queried, sensing a deeper game at play.
Xuan Yongxin nodded. "Yes, there is someone else at play here. If they had another lawyer representing them, it would be fine. But we are talking about a lawyer with a clean track record."
Master Gu, contemplative, said, "I have been too busy to offend anyone lately."
Xuan Junfeng, with a hint of concern, advised, "I think you have to sit down with your family, Master Gu. Ask them if they have offended anyone they don’t know these days. Because if my suspicions are correct, that means you will still go through a lot."
Master Gu sighed, understanding the gravity of the situation. "I see. I will talk to them. Now, be honest, what are our chances of winning?"
Xuan Junfeng replied, "I will do my best for the company to pay less than the money they are demanding."
"I can’t give those nobodies millions. I have worked too hard to build up this empire," Master Gu declared.
"Don’t do anything that might jeopardize the case, Master Gu," Xuan Junfeng warned.
"Prepare, and make sure we have a solid case. I want to walk out of that court a winner," Master Gu commanded.
Xuan Junfeng, nodding, gathered his belongings and left the office, leaving Master Gu to continue pacing, his mind consumed by the impending legal battle.
The brewing legal drama was the last thing Master Gu needed, especially with the Shans still in Shanghai. The wish for all of it to disappear lingered in his thoughts, an elusive hope.
In a sudden moment of clarity, Master Gu had an idea. He seized his phone and dialed a number, greeted promptly with a respectful "yes, sir."
"Visit all the people in the lawsuit," Master Gu instructed. "Offer them something less than they are demanding. I am sure some of those men will take the money and back down. If they back down now, the case might not even reach court."
The obedient response came, "Consider it done, Master Gu."
Hanging up, Master Gu felt a slight calm settling within. He recognized that a strategic offering of some amount might persuade those involved to abandon the case. The prospect of avoiding a court battle appealed to him, and he awaited the outcome of this calculated maneuver.
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Inside the spacious private room, Madame Gu anxiously awaited, her heart pounding as if it might leap from her chest.
The door creaked open, and Madame Shan remarked, "You seem on edge."
Amidst laughter, they settled down. Madame Gu couldn’t hide her fear as she said, "Don’t act like you’re not scared of that woman."
Master Shan retorted, "We’ve paid for our sins; we’re not like you, Rumeng."
Tension heightened as the door swung open once more. Ding Chengxi entered, glancing around before the door widened. The click of approaching heels resonated, each step echoing in Madame Gu’s apprehensive heart.
With a small smile, Li Yanyan entered, saying, "I didn’t think you’d be this early, Rumeng. I see you’ve really matured."
Madame Gu stammered, "I didn’t want to keep you waiting, ma’am."
Li Yanyan, unfazed, declared, "I’m starving. Let’s order first, okay?" The uneasy gathering set the tone for what promised to be a tense encounter.
As they were eating, Madame Gu found it impossible to enjoy the meal. Her every bite felt heavy, laden with the weight of memories she longed to forget. She stole glances at the Shan couple, each look a reminder of a past filled with deception and heartache. The atmosphere around the table was thick with unspoken tension.
Li Yanyan, ever perceptive, noticed Madame Gu’s unease. "Rumeng, you can’t arrange lunch and not eat, right?" Li Yanyan’s voice carried a tone of curiosity, almost amusement.
Madame Gu, caught off guard, replied, "I am not hungry, ma’am."
Li Yanyan, undeterred, remarked, "I see. Well, the food here is great, so I will have my fill." She continued to eat gracefully, her demeanor unfazed by the palpable discomfort in the room.
Master Shan, attempting to lighten the mood, added, "Yes, the food is great."
Li Yanyan, her focus unwavering, continued, "Yet your wife is not eating."
Madame Shan, always reserved, explained, "I don’t eat much naturally."
Li Yanyan chuckled lightly, saying, "Hmm, okay then." She maintained her composure, leaving Madame Gu and the Shans in suspense.
After Li Yanyan finished her meal with practiced elegance, she sipped her wine and leaned back in her chair. "Now, let’s talk about more serious matters, shall we?" The shift in her tone hinted at impending revelations, and both Master Shan and Madame Shan exchanged apprehensive glances.
Li Yanyan’s next words cut through the heavy air, "25 years ago, Rumeng... Do you remember that fateful night?" Madame Gu’s heart raced, and she lowered her gaze, unable to meet Li Yanyan’s piercing eyes.
With a smile that masked the gravity of her words, Li Yanyan continued, "Don’t worry, I am not here to rehash the past. We settled that in my way. But I couldn’t simply let you walk away after what transpired. That wouldn’t be fair to my son and me, don’t you think?" Madame Gu felt the weight of her past actions bearing down on her, and shame engulfed her as Li Yanyan unraveled the layers of their shared history.
Madame Gu, Li Yanyan, Master Shan, and Madame Shan had shared a bond since high school, seemingly an unbreakable friendship. However, beneath the surface, a turbulent undercurrent of jealousy and resentment flowed.
As they matured, Li Yanyan concealed her true identity and opted for a simple life, concealing her involvement in an assassin organization she founded for the thrill of it. The roots of animosity sprouted when Li Yanyan married into a powerful family, drawing the envy of Madame Gu.
Driven by a desire for status and fueled by disdain for Li Yanyan, Madame Gu attempted various schemes to win the affections of Li Yanyan’s husband. Her jealousy intensified when he made it clear that his heart belonged solely to Li Yanyan.
Rejection fueled Madame Gu’s rage, leading her to commit heinous acts. In an attempt to cause discord, she kidnapped Li Yanyan’s son and even considered selling him. Li Yanyan’s husband, discovering Madame Gu’s involvement, confronted her and issued a dire warning.
Undeterred, Madame Gu devised a sinister plan. She hired assassins from a different organization to eliminate Li Yanyan’s entire family. Fortunately, Li Yanyan had left with her son, sparing them from the deadly assault. The husband, however, fell victim to the ruthless attack.
Li Yanyan, devastated and seeking vengeance, spent months recovering from the trauma. When she learned of Madame Gu’s involvement, she sought to track her down. However, her fledgling organization was not robust enough to locate her nemesis.
The turning point came 20 years ago when Li Yanyan’s son was kidnapped once again. Li Yanyan, armed with newfound connections, decided to make Madame Gu feel the pain of losing a loved one. She orchestrated a gruesome scene at Madame Gu’s family, leaving her as the sole survivor. The cycle of vengeance had come full circle.
Li Yanyan fixed her penetrating gaze upon Madame Gu, who was lost in contemplation, and calmly inquired, "Now tell me, Rumeng, why do you think I am here?"
Madame Gu lifted her head slightly, her eyes reflecting a mix of anxiety and regret, and responded, "For revenge."
Li Yanyan acknowledged with a hint of ice in her tone, "You know I am vengeful."
Madame Gu hesitated for a moment before uttering, "My daughter."
Li Yanyan, maintaining her composure, clarified, "I don’t care about your daughter. And, of course, I have plans for you, but her fate lies in her hands."
Madame Gu pleaded with a tremor in her voice, "So you..."
Li Yanyan interrupted, her voice steady, "The Shan couple here has helped you too many times in your wicked schemes. Yes, for 20 years, they have been under my control."
Madame Gu, anxiety writ large on her face, anxiously inquired, "What do you want to do with my daughter?"
Li Yanyan, her gaze unwavering, stated, "Like I said, your daughter’s fate is in her hands now. I won’t touch her; I am not an animal like you."
Madame Gu, desperate, begged, "Please, I will do anything, just don’t tell my husband."
Li Yanyan responded with a chilling calmness, "Oh yes, your husband. Mine would still be here if it wasn’t for you, Rumeng. But I won’t kill yours or try to take him. He is not my type, anyway."
Li Yanyan rose from her seat, her presence commanding authority, and declared with a chilling intensity, "I am here, Rumeng. I am watching you. Everything you do, I see it. Don’t try anything stupid; you won’t like the consequences."
With that, Li Yanyan walked out of the private room, leaving the trio perspiring with fear and Madame Gu grappling with the weight of her past actions.
