Chapter 192: Madame Gu In Turmoil
Seated around the antique mahogany dining table, the Gu family broke their tense silence as Master Gu snapped open the newspaper. "Gu Patriarch Embarrassed at High Society Banquet!" screamed the headline in bold strokes.
With a roar of rage, Master Gu slammed his fist onto the table, rattling fine china. "Damn that Li Chen!" he spat. "Now we are the laughingstock of all the elite circles!"
Madame Gu winced, but retorted sharply, "And whose foolish behavior made us so? Did you have to debase yourself by kneeling before him?"
Master Gu rounded on her, face purple. "You dare criticize? We both know offending the Sun family spells utter ruin! One whisper from old Master Sun and our decades-built business empire would come crashing down!"
He tore at his hair in agitation, cursing himself again for not recognizing Li Chen’s background sooner. "All my life’s work...we’d be peniless beggars by sunrise if that woman directs her wrath against us! So yes, I kneeled, hell take my useless pride!"
Got it, thanks for sharing more details on the Gu family’s situation and relationships. Here’s a continuation:
Gu Hua spoke up hesitantly "Maybe...maybe if I talk to Li Chen alone, explain ourselves..."
Gu Liang cut him off with a derisive snort. "After how our family treated him for years? There’s no possibility he would show mercy now."
Master Gu brightened up. "Liang, my dear, perhaps you could speak with Master Shan instead? He has sway with the Sun family too. If he put in a good word for us..."
Gu Liang shook her head bitterly. "I won’t involve my future in-laws and jeopardize my engagement to Shan Zitong. We’re leaving for Beijing tomorrow as planned."
At this Madame Gu frowned deeply. "You still insist on accompanying the Shans? Have you forgotten about our court hearing Monday next?"
Anger flashed in Gu Liang’s eyes. "You think my presence makes any difference to the case’s outcome, Mother?"
Madame Gu gasped. "How dare speak that way! I am still your mother and the elder here!"
Master Gu slammed his fist down. "Enough!" he bellowed. Everyone quieted, despairing silence settling on the room.
Finally Master Gu broke the tense silence with a ragged sigh. "Arguing gets us nowhere. We must face this calamity together lest Li Chen and his relatives pick us off one by one."
He put a trembling hand on his wife’s shoulder. "Forgive me, I spoke harshly in frustration. But Gu Liang is a grown woman now with her own future." He turned to his ashen-faced daughter. "I won’t stop you going with the Shans to Beijing." Madame Gu looked ready to object but said nothing.
As Master Gu moved to leave with his briefcase in hand, Madame Gu looked at him sharply. "Why are you going into the office on a Saturday?"
Master Gu sighed "Ever since the headlines about our court case, company shares have been falling. I need to get ahead of things before it causes deeper financial troubles." Without waiting for a response, he hurried out.
Madame Gu then rounded on her daughter. "Now you listen to me Gu Liang. I don’t care if you’ll soon be married. I am still your mother and you owe me respect!"
She jabbed an angry finger. "From the start I opposed your engagement to Shan Zitong and you know very well why. Yet you insist on this defiance!"
Gu Liang met her fury unflinchingly. "To me its starting to look like you have something against the Shans that only you know about, Mom. I love Zitong and I WILL be his wife."
She stood to leave as well but paused at the doorway. "I apologize if that disappoints you, Mom But it is my life to lead now, not yours."
Gu Hua tentatively spoke up in defense of his sister. "Mom, must you be so hard on Liang? Can’t we let her find happiness with Shan Zitong at least?"
Madame Gu rounded on him venomously. "You shut your mouth, Gu Hua! Your father needs your help at the office. Instead, you waste time frequenting casinos and clubs like a worthless piece of trash!!"
Gu Liang stepped between them, aghast. "Mom! How could say such a thing to him?"
Madame Gu was working into a full rage now. "Do not dare coddle or make excuses for your pathetic brother! Both of you are content to stab knives in your parents’ backs rather than uphold your duties!"
Gu Liang, fueled by anger, shook her head and walked out, her frustration evident. Gu Hua, hurt by his mother’s words, followed suit, leaving Madame Gu alone in the room. Madame Gu, deep in thought, was startled by the ringing of her phone. She answered with irritation, saying, "Yes."
On the other end, Li Yanyan’s voice calmly remarked, "That is such a cold way to greet an old friend, don’t you think?" Madame Gu instantly recognized the voice and gulped before responding, "Sorry, I didn’t mean..."
Li Yanyan cut her off with a cold laugh, saying, "You don’t have to explain yourself. Anyways, it was really nice seeing you at the banquet last night. I see your husband made the headlines." Li Yanyan laughed menacingly, sending shivers down Madame Gu’s spine. The mention of her husband making headlines hinted at potential trouble, leaving Madame Gu apprehensive about the unfolding situation.
Li Yanyan’s voice echoed through the phone, a cold warning, "Be ready, Rumeng. Things will make sense to you in a few days." With that, she hung up, leaving Madame Gu dripping in sweat. The ominous promise hung heavily in the air, and Madame Gu couldn’t shake the sense of impending trouble.
She knew what Li Yanyan’s threat meant, but the true problem lay in the uncertainty of how Li Yanyan would execute her revenge. The fear of the past coming to light paralyzed Madame Gu. She couldn’t even confide in her husband, hesitant to open a Pandora’s box of secrets that could shatter the delicate facade they had built over the years.
Madame Gu was left in a state of anxiety, grappling with the unknown consequences of her past actions and the impending revelation that Li Yanyan seemed determined to unveil. The days to follow would filled with apprehension and a gnawing sense of dread as Madame Gu braced herself for whatever storm Li Yanyan had in store for her.
Madame Gu contemplated for a while, and after a moment of thinking, she dialed a number. The call was answered, and the man on the other end said, "Yes."
Madame Gu identified herself, "It’s Rumeng." There was a brief pause, and the man responded, "My, my, my. To what do I owe this pleasure? I am surprised you even remembered me after so many years. You left me dry and out and went on to start a new life. I wonder..."
Madame Gu cut him off abruptly, urgency in her voice, "Listen, I need your help."
The man chuckled, a touch of sarcasm in his tone, "Oh, I’m scared."
Madame Gu insisted, "It’s urgent."
The man laughed again, saying, "I am listening." As Madame Gu sought help from her past, the echoes of unresolved history began to resurface, setting the stage for a collaboration fraught with tension and uncertainty.
Madame Gu laid out her request to the man, and when she was done, he responded, "That is not a small request. I risk losing my job and even getting arrested. What’s in it for me?"
Madame Gu, after a moment of contemplation, replied, "Half."
The man seemed satisfied, saying, "Perfect. But if you play me like last time, Rumeng, I will bury you. Do you understand?"
Madame Gu affirmed, "Sure."
The call ended, leaving Madame Gu deep in thought. She poured herself a glass of wine, grappling with the reality of the choices she was forced to make. She didn’t want things to unfold like this, but feeling cornered, she believed she had to protect herself at any cost. The weight of her past actions seemed to press on her shoulders, leaving her with a sense of impending consequences and the uncertainty of what the future held.
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Hey Readers!
The next few days will be quite busy for me, hence I will only release one Chapter a day. I apologize for the inconvenience and thank you for reading, for the library ads, the powestones and the golden tickets. I appreciate you all!
