The beautiful woman clung tightly to Liang Feifan's waist, nestling even deeper in his arms, only her defiant eyes peeking out, as if she were watching a good show. She'd encountered this kind of situation far too often; the key was the man's attitude. No matter a woman's status or how arrogant and domineering she was, without Liang Feifan's favor, it was all for naught. She had certainly used some methods to defeat so many rivals and get close to Liang Feifan in such a short time.
The chest she was leaning against shook with laughter.
Liang Feifan made a gesture of surrender with his hands and laughed heartily.
Gu Yan glared at him, still not satisfied, and stepped forward to kick him hard.
Liang Feifan groaned in pain, pushed away the person in his arms, and said politely, "Ms. Chen, I will give the check to your assistant. Goodbye."
A movie star is a movie star. With a gentle push from Liang Feifan, she staggered back a few steps. Finally regaining her balance, she tugged at her clothes, looking pitiful, and leaned weakly against the table, tears streaming down her face. "Fan... I don't want money. Being with you has never been about money. I... could I use this money to exchange for one sentence from you? I just want to hear you say one thing: do you... even for just a minute, is it real?"
"I'm sorry." Liang Feifan buttoned up his shirt, offering a charming smile with impeccable manners.
"Heh..." Yu Nu gave a bitter laugh, her slender fingers gripping the table until they turned white. "It's alright... I know that someone like you can't be held back by just one woman... Fan, I only hope that in the future, even if only occasionally, you will remember that there was once a me who loved you, loved you deeply." Yu Nu's tears fell in a steady stream.
Gu Yan got goosebumps all over. Seeing the male lead still smiling politely and reluctantly watching the performance, she couldn't help but feel genuinely furious. "Liang Feifan, I'm warning you, make her disappear from my sight right now! Now!"
That movie star talked for so long, just waiting for Gu Yan to lose her temper. Now that she's all tough and assertive, the effect is immediate. Fan should have figured it out by now, right?
She looked at Liang Feifan with a pitiful expression, truly embodying the role of a wronged female protagonist.
Liang Feifan sighed, walked over and hugged the sulking woman, without even glancing at Yu Nu, "Miss Chen, please leave immediately, otherwise—if you see this, I'll be in big trouble."
Gu Yan pushed Liang Feifan away in disgust, and, in keeping with the plot, reached out and pinched him hard, causing him to cry out in pain.
"Has your vanity been satisfied?" Gu Yan asked, sitting on the sofa some distance away, at someone who was grinning like a thieving rat.
"Hmm, I don't deny that I really enjoy seeing your jealous expression." Liang Feifan walked over with a smile, his long arms reaching out to hug her.
“Take off your shirt.” She stopped him from getting any closer.
"She touched your pants too, should we take them off as well?" Liang Feifan asked, raising an eyebrow as he put his hand on his belt.
"Replace that chair and your desk," she said coldly.
Liang Feifan smiled and approached, reaching out to lift her clothes.
"what!"
"Take off your clothes."
"No! You just touched other women, I find you disgusting!" Gu Yan struggled.
“Very well, Fang Yicheng has touched your clothes too, and I also think you're dirty. Take them off,” Liang Feifan said, unbuttoning her clothes and whispering in her ear, “Let’s change them together. From now on, it’ll just be the two of us, okay?”
Gu Yan pushed him hard, "You weren't wearing this that day!"
Liang Feifan stepped aside and silently watched her for a long time, until Gu Yan felt a slight tension in her back.
"But why do I feel like you smell like him all over?" He sat down, his forehead against hers, their eyes meeting.
Liang Feifan asked her in a low, serious voice, a stark contrast to the relaxed and carefree person he had been just moments before, "I can take off my clothes and never wear them again, but what about you? Why do you still smell of him even when you're wearing other clothes? When will you be able to get him out of your heart? You're even willing to throw away my desk because of a worthless woman. You're lying under me, thinking about someone else. Should I throw you away? Hmm?"
He suddenly seemed like a different person; his tone became softer and softer, yet increasingly sinister and terrifying.
Gu Yan froze, suddenly realizing that she had come to the wrong place.
This time, he wasn't just throwing a tantrum.
This time, she couldn't just coax him and let it go.
This time, he was serious.
As long as he wants it, as long as I'm willing to give it to him.
He told her not to see Fang Yicheng anymore, and she didn't really want to see him either. However, this wasn't Fang Yicheng's problem. Liang Feifan didn't trust her, and because of this distrust, he felt insecure, which led to his repeated suspicions and outbursts.
Sangsang said, "As long as he wants it."
But Sangsang, what he wants is the most important strategic position in love. Tell me, should I give it to him or not?
"Liang Feifan, are you really that insecure?"
"yes!"
His crisp and concise answer left her speechless.
"I'll say it again: if you never see him again, I'll let it go. Otherwise—I won't hurt you again. Believe me, Gu Yan, I regret what happened that time far more than you do." Liang Feifan turned his head to look at the sky outside the window. "If I could go back on my word, even if—even if you were to leave with Fang Yicheng, I would never… hurt you like that."
His expression was more serious than ever before.
If I could have another chance, even if you were to leave with another man, I would not want to treat you that way.
"I won't force you, but if you can't give me a guarantee, then it's over between us."
He rubbed his temples, and wearily told her, "Give up."
He seemed to have finally gotten tired.
Gu Yan suddenly stood up. "Liang Feifan, are you sober now?"
"very."
Have you thought it through?
"yes."
Liang Feifan remained calm.
Gu Yan remained silent for a long time.
"Then, that's it. Let's break up." Gu Yan thought for a long time before finally saying this to him.
Liang Feifan's eyes widened suddenly, his lips turned deathly pale, and a chilling despair filled his eyes. He looked at her in disbelief.
“You’ve left your things at my house. Come and pick them up within a week, or I’ll throw them away.” She paused, mimicking his serious expression, and stared directly into his eyes with a slight, cold smile. “Also, don’t try the hunger strike trick again this time. It’s childish.”
After saying that, Gu Yan turned and left gracefully.
As soon as she closed the door, a series of loud bangs erupted from inside, shaking the wooden door violently. Gu Yan left under the horrified gaze of Secretary Lin.
Now, it's probably not just the desk and chair that will need replacing; even the sofa and bookshelves will have to be bought again. Gu Yan thought with a sense of satisfaction.
He created a huge scandal, and even though she knew he wouldn't touch them, she still went and acted like a shrew. He wanted her to be jealous, so she did. He felt resentful, so she ruined her image to save face for him.
She knew perfectly well that she was in the wrong this time.
But what more do you want? Do you expect her to have no temper?
This stingy and indecisive man.
Before I even left the main street where Liang lived, my phone rang.
"Come to the hospital right away, Dad has fainted." Gu Mingzhu said calmly and then hung up.
Gu Yan panicked and immediately ran back to Liang's company. She found Liang Feifan's personal driver, disregarding whether she had just been arguing with his boss, and borrowed the car to leave.
toad
Gu Boyun lay on the hospital bed, his body covered by the blanket looking like a piece of dry, rotten wood. If it weren't for the slight rise and fall of his chest, he would have looked utterly lifeless. His hair, which had been mixed with black strands just a few months ago, was now completely silver-white. He lay on his back, quiet and almost imperceptible.
“Dad…” Gu Yan rushed to the bedside and called softly, tears streaming down her face.
“It’s alright,” Gu Mingzhu leaned against the bed and wearily pressed her temples. “But, Xiaoyan, you need to be prepared. Dad doesn’t have much time left. Come and spend some time with him when you have time.”
"Sister, why didn't you tell me sooner?" Gu Yan gently grasped her father's hand, her heart clenching with pain. Terminal liver cancer, terminal liver cancer... those four terrifying words!
She only found out now.
“He’s been undergoing chemotherapy for a while now, and things are relatively stable. He knows you’ve moved out and must have a lot going on, so he doesn’t want you to worry and has ordered that no one be allowed to tell you.” Gu Mingzhu looked out the window and objectively explained the reason.
“There’s a sleeping pill in the IV drip, so Dad won’t wake up for a while. Go to the attending physician and find out the next treatment plan for Dad. I’ll come over tonight, you can stay here with him during the day.” Gu Mingzhu frowned as she checked the schedule.
Gu Yan was used to her indifference. After her father retired, Gu Mingzhu carried all of Wei Bo's business on her own. She had managed to build a shell company that was just a front for supplying weapons into what it was today. Indifference was her most basic survival tactic.
Her high heels clicked on the cold ground as she walked away stiffly.
Gu Boyun slept for eight hours, while Gu Yan curled up beside him, tears streaming down her face.
Her mother was a painter, aloof and independent. Whenever she had time, she would take her on adventures across the country in search of inspiration. She only experienced true family warmth after joining the Gu family. Gu Boyun was dignified yet loving; in her naive eyes, he was a pillar of strength. Ruan Wushuang was gentle and virtuous. Neither she nor Gu Mingzhu were her biological children, yet she cared for them meticulously. Even the cold-blooded Gu Mingzhu would occasionally fawn over her Aunt Ruan and whisper secrets. She and Fang Yicheng were in a relationship from a young age. Gu Boyun initially disapproved. In his view, although Fang Yicheng was intelligent, outstanding, and handsome, his daughter should marry an ordinary man and live a peaceful life. But Gu Yan, with her little face upturned, declared firmly that she would marry no one but him. What could he do? He could only try his best to promote and give important positions to Fang Yicheng, thinking he would eventually hand over his position to his son-in-law.
But who would have thought it would turn out like that?
"Why are you crying again?"
"Dad!" Gu Yan quickly wiped away her tears, "How are you feeling?"
"It was fine at first, but when I woke up and saw my precious daughter wiping away tears, it wasn't so good anymore," Gu Boyun said, trying to cheer her up.
Gu Yan forced a smile and gently bent down to hug him. "Dad, don't leave me. I was so scared just now when you were lying there not saying anything."
Gu Boyun patted her back and comforted her gently, "Everyone has to die eventually, Xiaoyan, be strong. Dad can't be with you forever."
Everyone knows that parents can't be with us forever, but even the most filial children can't spend all their time around their parents. They're always thinking about their studies, careers, partners, and children. Then, before they know it, their parents are old and about to leave, and they regret it so much they can't sleep at night, wishing they had spent more time with them. People always think this way, but if they could really go back to the beginning, they'd probably still be busy with their own lives.
Hearing him say that, Gu Yan felt even more helpless and regretful. All the grievances in her heart surged up, and she cried even louder, alarming the nurses and doctors, who rushed in.
Gu Boyun smiled and ruffled his daughter's long hair. "Xiaoyan, how old are you? You're still making a fool of yourself. Come on, get up. Daddy needs to talk to the doctor."
Gu Yan suddenly felt that she was really useless and could not help at all, but she just couldn't stop crying.
"What's wrong?" Gu Mingzhu was startled by the scene in the ward as soon as she entered. "Dad—"
"I'm fine," Gu Boyun said with a smile and a wave. "It's your sister who's crying like she's going to bring down the Great Wall."
Gu Mingzhu frowned and said coldly, "Gu Yan, get up!"
Gu Yan had always been afraid of her calm and composed older sister, but now she felt ashamed, covered her face, let go of her father, and stood aside.
"Director Wang, could you please conduct a thorough examination for my father? I've already contacted Beishan Hospital. If there are no problems, he can be transferred there first thing tomorrow morning." Gu Mingzhu instructed crisply, "Gu Yan, come out with me."
"Sister." Gu Yan's voice was hoarse from crying.
"What's with all the crying!" Gu Mingzhu frowned in annoyance. If tears were useful, she would have cried herself to death long ago. "I'll help Dad transfer to another hospital first thing tomorrow morning. The conditions in Beishan are more favorable for Dad's treatment. The day after tomorrow—well, no, tomorrow at 12:20 pm, come to my company to find me. We'll have lunch, and I need to talk to you." Gu Mingzhu browsed her schedule on her PDA, trying to squeeze in time.
Gu Yan nodded obediently.
“I have to go back to the company,” she said, packing her briefcase and heading out. She paused, then stopped. “Gu Yan, I’ll talk to you about the details tomorrow, but I’ll tell you something now: as a member of the Gu family, your greatest and only contribution is to live a good life with Liang Feifan. This is extremely important for the Gu family and for Wei Bo. Don’t fall out with him because of some shady characters, and don’t squander his tolerance for you prematurely. Remember that.”
Gu Yan was stunned. "Sister, what do you mean?"
"Can't understand Chinese?" Gu Mingzhu glared at her. "That's enough for now, I'm leaving."
Gu Yan walked back to the ward with a heavy heart. She could hear low conversations inside the room from outside the door. When she opened the door, she found that there were indeed guests visiting.