Chapter 232: Confrontation At The Hospital
Madame Gu and Gu Hua sat vigilantly beside Master Gu’s hospital bed, their faces etched with worry and fatigue. Madame Gu’s expression remained unreadable, her thoughts consumed by the uncertain future that lay ahead. Gu Hua, on the other hand, bore the visible signs of sleepless nights, his eyes heavy with exhaustion as he grappled with the weight of his family’s predicament.
Master Gu lay motionless in the hospital bed, surrounded by the steady hum of machines monitoring his condition. The doctors had provided no reassurance about his recovery from the stroke, leaving his loved ones in a state of anxious anticipation.
Gu Hua found himself torn between his duty to remain by his father’s side and his desire to travel to Beijing to visit Gu Liang, who was currently receiving treatment in a mental hospital. The uncertainty of their family’s situation weighed heavily on him as he struggled to determine the best course of action for both his father and his sister.
With worried eyes, Madame Gu said, "I wish the doctor could tell us more about your father’s condition. It’s been two long days without knowing what the future may hold."
Gu Hua swallowed hard and responded, "Dad’s strong - I believe he’ll keep fighting this. He has to..." His voice trailed off.
Madame Gu blinked back tears. "I never imagined we’d be in this situation. Seeing him lying there hooks my heart."
"It’s unthinkable," Gu Hua murmured.
Madame Gu slowly rose to her feet. "I need some fresh air to clear my head," she said in a shaky voice. "This waiting and uncertainty is so hard to endure." She gazed down at her husband’s still form, willing him the strength to recover, before walking heavily out of the intensive care room.
Gu Hua declared, "I’ll go grab some food in the meantime," before he and Madame Gu exited the room. Madame Gu settled into a quiet corner, her mind consumed by swirling thoughts. With a sense of determination, she retrieved her phone and dialed a number.
"Rumeng, what can I do for you? I told you I can’t move the funds," came the voice on the other end.
"I need a fake ID and passport," Madame Gu stated without hesitation.
"Oh... I wasn’t expecting that. Running away again?" the man replied.
"Not yet, just preparing," Madame Gu clarified.
"I see... I’ll get it done. Send me a picture I can use for the passport," the man instructed.
"Okay," Madame Gu responded before ending the call, her mind already set on the next steps she needed to take.
Madame Gu sat alone in the quiet waiting room, the chilly winter night air wafting in through the open window, offering a momentary respite for her turbulent thoughts. Then, unexpectedly, her gaze fell upon a familiar figure in the hallway—Li Yanyan. Beside her stood a man Madame Gu didn’t recognize. Anger surged within Madame Gu at the sight of Li Yanyan, knowing full well that this vengeful woman had played a role in her family’s current predicament. Unable to contain her emotions any longer, Madame Gu clenched her teeth in frustration and rose from her seat, marching purposefully towards Li Yanyan.
Madame Gu’s voice reverberated through the empty hallway as she bellowed, "It’s you, isn’t it?"
Madame Gu’s voice thundered through the empty hallway, her accusation sharp and unrestrained. Li Yanyan turned to face her, the worry on her face quickly morphing into annoyance at the sight of Madame Gu’s fury.
"Rumeng," Li Yanyan began, but Madame Gu cut her off sharply. "Don’t call me that. You’re the one responsible for my family’s troubles," she accused, her tone laced with bitterness.
Li Yanyan’s chuckle only fueled Madame Gu’s anger. "What are you talking about?" Li Yanyan feigned innocence, but Madame Gu saw through the facade.
"You know exactly what I’m talking about. Stop pretending," Madame Gu snapped back, her patience wearing thin.
Li Yanyan’s smirk widened. "Oh, you mean that. I may or may not have pulled a few strings behind closed doors. I thought you wouldn’t mind a little excitement," she taunted. "After all, ever since you got my husband killed, I’ve been rather bored."
Madame Gu’s eyes flashed with indignation. "I didn’t do it," she insisted vehemently.
Li Yanyan’s response was dismissive. "Right, okay," she replied casually, as if Madame Gu’s denial meant nothing.
"It’s been 20 years," Madame Gu continued, her voice filled with frustration. "Twenty years, and yet you still want me dead."
Li Yanyan smirked, her tone dripping with disdain. "If I wanted to kill you, you wouldn’t be here yapping in my face. You know that."
Madame Gu’s voice trembled with a mix of anger and desperation as she confronted Li Yanyan, her words cutting through the tense air of the hallway.
"Just kill me then and stay away from my family," she demanded, her eyes blazing with defiance. "What did you and the Shan couple do to my precious daughter?"
Li Yanyan’s expression remained eerily calm as she countered, "Didn’t your daughter leave with them willingly?"
Madame Gu’s frustration boiled over. "I know you’re working with the Shans. I know you used them to get to Gu Liang so you could do what you did," she accused, her voice sharp with accusation.
Li Yanyan’s lips curled into a smug smile. "And what exactly did I do, Rumeng?" she taunted, her tone dripping with sarcasm.
"I said don’t call me that," Madame Gu snapped, her patience wearing thin. "My daughter has gone nuts. She’s in the mental hospital. She was perfectly fine when she left. What did you do to her?"
Li Yanyan’s facade of indifference cracked slightly at the accusation. "Oh my, that’s quite the accusation," she remarked, her tone feigning innocence.
Madame Gu refused to back down. "You know you did it. If you wanted your revenge, why involve her? What did she do to you?" she demanded, her voice tinged with desperation and anger.
Zhu Fengrui’s world seemed to shatter as he processed Li Yanyan’s words. His eyes widened with shock and disbelief as he turned to face Madame Gu, his mother, his heart heavy with betrayal.
"Mom, she killed Dad?" he questioned, his voice trembling with a mixture of anger and hurt.
Li Yanyan’s confirmation felt like a dagger to Zhu Fengrui’s heart. "Yes, this evil witch took away your father," she declared, her voice laced with venom. "She’s the one who kidnapped you when you were young."
Madame Gu’s protestations fell on deaf ears as Li Yanyan continued, her accusations ringing in the tense atmosphere of the hallway. "This is the woman who took away the love of my life just because she couldn’t have him," she spat, her eyes boring into Madame Gu’s.
Zhu Fengrui’s anger ignited like a wildfire as he took a step forward, his fists clenched at his sides. Madame Gu’s desperate denial only fueled his fury. "She’s lying! I didn’t do it!" she stammered, her voice quivering with fear.
Li Yanyan reached out and grabbed Zhu Fengrui’s arm, her grip firm. "Don’t dirty your hands with her," she warned, her voice low and dangerous. "Retribution is coming."
With those ominous words hanging in the air, Zhu Fengrui’s rage simmered beneath the surface as he reluctantly allowed himself to be pulled away from Madame Gu, his mind swirling with thoughts of vengeance.
As Madame Gu turned to flee, her heart pounding with fear and desperation, she collided with Gu Hua, the shock of the impact causing her to stagger back. Gu Hua stood before her, his expression a mix of confusion and concern, a tray of food trembling in his hands.
"How long have you been standing here?" Madame Gu’s voice cracked, her breath coming in ragged gasps as she struggled to compose herself.
"Long enough..." Gu Hua’s voice trailed off, his gaze piercing as he studied his mother’s panicked demeanor. "Is it true, Mom?" he finally asked, his tone heavy with disbelief and betrayal.
