Chapter 27
“Does it not look good?”
Gu Yuetong responded to her reaction, gently raising a hand to touch the hair at the back of her head, and smiled weakly.
Qi Baizi quickly snapped back to her senses. “It looks good,” she said earnestly.
“You look good no matter what, President Gu.”
Gu Yuetong looked at her as if she were a child and chuckled again. “When did you learn to be such a bootlicker?”
“…” Qi Baizi pressed her lower lip together and lowered her head, not saying a word.
The hall was bustling with people coming and going. The portable oxygen bag on Gu Yuetong’s lap was still full. Qi Baizi took the initiative to ask if she wanted to go for a walk outside.
It was a cloudy day, and the sun was already beginning to set in the west, causing the temperature to drop a little from the sweltering heat of the day.
Gu Yuetong said yes, so Qi Baizi pushed her out for a stroll.
The two of them stopped at the garden. This hospital was quite large. Qi Baizi navigated with ease, not even looking at the signs, and reassured Gu Yuetong, “Don’t worry, all the flowers in the hospital have been sterilized. To prevent patient allergies, none of them have pollen.”
Gu Yuetong was surprised. “How did you know?”
Qi Baizi casually fudged the truth. “I was just chatting with the doctor earlier and asked.”
Gu Yuetong said no more, gazing at the open green space. Both of them were lost in their own thoughts.
A few minutes passed. A gentle breeze brushed against their faces, and the temperature dropped completely. The sun grew redder and redder until it was obscured by the low buildings in the distance.
Qi Baizi hesitated for a moment before telling Gu Yuetong about asking Li Yi to investigate the pollen.
“I want to check the surveillance footage to see if it was the white lily that caused it,” Qi Baizi said. “We can avoid similar incidents in the future.”
Gu Yuetong was silent for a moment, then said, “It’s not that complicated.”
She tilted her head to meet Qi Baizi’s eyes. “My allergy to lily pollen is no secret.”
Qi Baizi froze.
Gu Yuetong continued, “Anyone who knows me well knows about this.”
Anyone who knew Gu Yuetong well… Qi Baizi’s mind went blank. Then why didn’t she know?
Gu Yuetong had never told her.
A look of confusion appeared on Qi Baizi’s face.
But Gu Yuetong easily saw through her thoughts, sighed softly, and then looked at the ground with a feigned look of grievance. “I occasionally forget.”
Qi Baizi instantly regained her composure. “I’ll keep allergy medicine on hand from now on.”
“Okay.”
After a moment’s hesitation, Qi Baizi added, “We should still do an allergy test, just in case there are other allergens.”
“Okay.”
“I’ll schedule a full physical for you as well.”
Gu Yuetong: “…Okay.” There was no need to be quite so cautious, though.
As dusk fell, the oxygen bag deflated. The two sat in silence for a while before Qi Baizi suggested taking Gu Yuetong back to her apartment.
Actually, there were still some things at the company that hadn’t been dealt with… Gu Yuetong hesitated for a moment before agreeing. But Qi Baizi instantly changed her mind, saying with lingering fear, “I should take you to East Mountain Manor instead. I’ll feel more at ease with Auntie Qin taking care of you.”
Gu Yuetong quickly refused. “There’s no need, I…”
But Qi Baizi didn’t give her a chance to finish. When she called for a car, she set the destination directly to East Mountain Manor.
Gu Yuetong was amused by her sudden ‘domineering’ behavior, but she didn’t show it, only feeling a secret tickle in her heart.
On the way back, Gu Yuetong called Auntie Qin to explain the situation. When they entered the house, the food was just being served, and the air was filled with a fragrant aroma.
After a tumultuous afternoon, both of them were indeed hungry, especially Qi Baizi. The high tension had consumed a lot of her energy, so she didn’t refuse their kind offer to stay for dinner.
At the dinner table, Auntie Qin kept putting food on Qi Baizi’s plate. Qi Baizi felt a little embarrassed, simply taking it as the affection of an elder. But after dinner, when Auntie Qin was serving fruit, she suddenly bent her knees and knelt directly in front of Qi Baizi. In an instant, the hair on Qi Baizi’s entire body stood on end.
Gu Yuetong was in the upstairs bathroom, leaving only Auntie Qin and her in the living room at that moment.
Qi Baizi didn’t dare to speak loudly, unsure whether to sit or stand. For a fleeting moment, she even felt like kneeling in return.
The next second, Auntie Qin looked up, her eyes red-rimmed. “Thank you, Little Bai. Thank you for saving Yuetong.”
Qi Baizi saw her trembling lips and pale face as she heard her say, “I see Yuetong as my own daughter. If anything happened to her, my life would be over…”
“Auntie Qin, please get up quickly.” Qi Baizi breathed a sigh of relief at these words and hurriedly helped the old woman onto the sofa.
“It’s my duty. I will do my utmost to take care of President Gu.”
Qi Baizi explained, “Besides, I wasn’t the only one who helped President Gu at that time…”
Qi Baizi was not one to take all the credit. Chen Hao had provided the life-saving medicine in a critical moment. Even though they had their conflicts, she would not deny him this contribution.
After she recounted the events, Auntie Qin’s expression was no longer sorrowful, but it grew increasingly grave.
Seeing this, Qi Baizi asked, “Are you still worried about President Gu?”
Auntie Qin was silent for a moment, then asked, “That Chen Hao, does he also have asthma? How could he have asthma medicine on him?”
Qi Baizi was stumped by the question. She hadn’t really thought about that.
“You mean…” She didn’t dare to say the rest of the sentence, but she did mention the lily in the trash can.
After hearing this, Auntie Qin let out a cold, meaningful laugh. “Sometimes when we women are in power, we have to be extra careful of men.”
“Most women just want to scheme for money, but they dare to commit murder.”
Just as she finished speaking, Gu Yuetong came down from upstairs.
Qi Baizi quickly stood up, but Gu Yuetong gestured for her not to be nervous. “It’s after work hours.”
Gu Yuetong had changed into casual loungewear, her semi-dry hair cascading down her back. She looked languid yet utterly charming. As she sat down, Qi Baizi felt an impulse to sweep her long hair aside for her.
“What were you two talking about?”
Qi Baizi glanced at Auntie Qin, who straightforwardly relayed their recent conversation.
After listening, Gu Yuetong let out an “oh.” Before Qi Baizi could understand what she meant, Auntie Qin had already swiftly made a phone call.
From the conversation, it was clear that the person on the other end was a lawyer. Auntie Qin had mentioned evidence and other things.
Then she arranged to go to the police station first thing the next morning.
At the mention of the police, Qi Baizi paused and said, “Chen Hao has already been to the police station.”
Auntie Qin frowned. “When did that happen?”
Qi Baizi then recounted the incident at the hospital where Zhou Qin and Chen Hao had gotten into an argument.
After she finished, before either of them could respond, Qi Baizi took the initiative to call Zhou Qin.
No one answered. It was a long time before the call was returned.
The two of them exchanged a few words, then Auntie Qin took the phone and directly ordered, “Put your brother on the phone.”
Zhou Qin did as she was told, and Auntie Qin reported the incident directly over the phone.
Zhou Qin’s brother, Zhou Hao, a civil police officer in that jurisdiction, was a bit unsure after hearing the story. It was originally just a financial dispute, but Zhou Qin had dragged it out until now, refusing to settle. And now his own aunt was popping up saying she wanted to report it to the police.
When the word “Aunt” came through the speakerphone, Qi Baizi’s jaw nearly dropped.
Hearing Zhou Hao’s hesitation, Auntie Qin scolded him angrily, telling him that if the man ran away, she would have his mother beat him to death.
Zhou Hao quickly mumbled a few “uh-huhs” and agreed, adding at the end, “Then have the lawyer send the evidence over now.”
Everyone on this end of the line was satisfied.
On the other end of the line, Zhou Hao was completely bewildered, while Zhou Qin was secretly relieved. She had just wanted to extend Chen Hao’s period of absenteeism to have an excuse to punish him when she got back. As it turned out, she had stumbled upon a lucky break; Gu Yuetong’s side had actually started to suspect Chen Hao.
After hanging up, Auntie Qin eagerly contacted the lawyer.
Qi Baizi looked at her curiously, thinking how messy the relationships in this big company were. Wasn’t Zhou Qin the Chairman’s person? How did she also become Auntie Qin’s niece?
Gu Yuetong noticed her confusion and explained softly, “Auntie Qin used to be my private nanny and lived with me abroad for a long time. When we returned to the country, she moved back with me. After I came of age and went abroad to study art, Auntie Qin stayed here waiting for me. Our relationship is closer than that of a mother and daughter.”
Qi Baizi nodded. So that was how it was.
“Later, Auntie Qin won fifty million in the lottery and invested a portion of it in Gu Corporation. Now she’s considered a minor shareholder.”
Qi Baizi was shocked. “Fifty million?”
Gu Yuetong smiled. “That’s right. After she became financially independent, I wanted her to take a break and not be cooped up here taking care of me, but she said she had grown attached to this place and didn’t want to leave.”
“I thought about it, and being able to see her often is a comfort, so I agreed to let her stay.” Gu Yuetong looked at Auntie Qin’s back. “So she’s different from the other maids and nannies. She’s my real family, who grew up with me and has stayed with me until now.”
Qi Baizi was filled with awe. Who said there was no true affection in wealthy families?
“Don’t be so serious.” Gu Yuetong saw the change in her expression and said with a smile, “Not everyone is willing to live like Gu Hezhu. The only thing in her eyes is money.”
As she said the last part, Gu Yuetong lowered her eyes.
But Qi Baizi still caught the fleeting look of disappointment that crossed her face.
That’s right. Even Zhou Qin knew about Gu Yuetong being hospitalized, yet Gu Hezhu hadn’t even made a single phone call.
The last time she said her control over Gu Yuetong was a mother’s love, but now it seemed that her so-called motherly love was different from what ordinary people understood, or rather, from what a daughter truly needed.
Auntie Qin contacted the lawyer to gather evidence, then briskly went upstairs to change, saying she was going with the lawyer.
Qi Baizi quickly stood up, also saying it was getting late and she had to leave.
But Auntie Qin pushed her back down into her chair and said with a serious expression, “Please stay.”
Qi Baizi was hesitant. Beside her, Gu Yuetong spoke up, “Auntie Qin, don’t force her. I’ll be fine on my own.”
Hearing this, before Auntie Qin could say anything more, Qi Baizi immediately agreed.
That’s right, wasn’t the whole point of bringing Gu Yuetong back here so someone could be with her? Now that Auntie Qin was going out and who knew when she’d be back, what if something happened to Gu Yuetong while she was alone?
Qi Baizi stood up and asked, “Where am I sleeping?”
Gu Yuetong was stunned for a moment. By the time she came to her senses, Auntie Qin had already taken her upstairs to find a room—right next to Gu Yuetong’s bedroom.
Qi Baizi had no objections. She could sleep anywhere; being closer to Gu Yuetong was even better, as it would be more convenient to take care of her.
After Auntie Qin left, Qi Baizi quickly washed up, then got dressed and went downstairs to accompany Gu Yuetong.
Gu Yuetong was sitting cross-legged on the sofa, reading a poetry appreciation on her iPad. Qi Baizi sat beside her without moving. After a while, Gu Yuetong saw Qi Baizi yawning. She put away her iPad and stood up to put on her shoes.
Qi Baizi perked up for a second and asked Gu Yuetong where she was going.
Gu Yuetong turned around and winked at her. “To bed. Together?”