Chapter 61

While waiting for the blogger to record the video, Qi Baizi noticed that the negative comments online were gradually subsiding. Having been through one public opinion battle before, Qi Baizi knew this was the work of the group’s PR team. However, although the negative comments had decreased, she found that this water army was trying to separate Gu Corporation from Gu Yuetong.

This was the right thing to do. The public opinion storm caused by Gu Yuetong was too big, and Gu Corporation would definitely be affected. But the water army’s rhetoric was too dismissive of Gu Yuetong’s fate, showing an intention to force her to step down. If this continued, all their previous efforts would be in vain.

Qi Baizi could only pray that the blogger would post the video quickly. She refreshed her homepage over and over again. Finally, around three in the afternoon, the blogger, wearing a mask, released a video titled “Gu Corporation’s President Invests in Popular Fried Chicken Shop? Come Quick, Frontline Gossip.” Qi Baizi clicked on it and saw the blogger skillfully reading out the content Qi Baizi had provided in a storytelling manner.

After watching the video, Qi Baizi couldn’t help but laugh. “Talented.” Then she immediately commented below, “I have proof, what she said is true!”

Countless netizens were attracted by this video that was riding on the coattails of the trending topic, but most were skeptical. Qi Baizi’s comment was also filled with mocking voices—”The blogger said she was hit by a delivery guy but was magnanimous and let him go without compensation, what, were you there?” “The rich young lady sure has money, huh? How much for one post as a water army?” “A rich heiress loves to eat fried chicken, who’d believe that?” Qi Baizi wasn’t annoyed. She clattered up the stairs, took a photo, then logged into her food delivery app and recorded her screen. She sent both to the comment that questioned her presence at the scene, with the caption, “Sorry, I was right there. Sue me if I’m lying.”

A few minutes later, she clicked on the video again. Her comment had been pushed to the top, and the tide had turned completely. Everyone was admiring the blogger for digging up real dirt and trying to ask for more information about Gu Yuetong. Qi Baizi posted a few more positive comments, and some people in the comments section had already become Gu Yuetong’s little fans.

“So President Gu also arranged jobs for those workers who filed a joint lawsuit. She’s not as heartless as the sour grapes brigade says.”

“I could tell from the TV interview before that she’s a gentle and kind person. How could someone who studied art have so many ulterior motives?”

“So what if she likes women? That’s her freedom. Some of these sourpusses are revealing their gender with their comments—”

“Am I the only one who cares about that fried chicken shop? Can it open in other cities so I can try how delicious it is? Ahhh, can you open more branches, sister!”

“The person above is such a glutton…”

“When the news about the birthday banquet just broke, everyone was sympathetic. How did people suddenly start hating on her? It’s hard not to suspect that someone is trying to push President Gu into the spotlight as a scapegoat.”

Of course, there were a few comments questioning the authenticity. Qi Baizi didn’t have time for that. She targeted the comment full of conspiracy theories, switched to another account, and replied: The one next door is already in jail, don’t worry, President Gu is fine.

As expected, this reply was pushed to the top again.

The topic shifted from Gu Yuetong to the matter of Huo Bu being taken away by the police. The trending topics with the word “Gu” were suppressed, replaced by analysis of Huo Bu and some of his company’s business practices.

Qi Baizi finally breathed a sigh of relief. She came down from the second floor and borrowed the car keys from Auntie Qin. When Auntie Qin asked where she was going, Qi Baizi just smiled, took the keys, and said nothing.

***

Gu Yuetong was locked in her room and couldn’t get out. She had no means of contacting the outside world, as if she had returned to the days of being confined by Gu Hezhu as a child.

Two bodyguards stood guard outside the door. They would rush in to check at the slightest noise. With her phone taken away, Gu Yuetong was frantic. She was worried that innocent people would be implicated, and even more worried that Gu Hezhu would target Qi Baizi. Every minute and every second was spent in a panic.

It wasn’t until the alarm on the table rang at four in the afternoon that Gu Yuetong finally couldn’t take it anymore. She knocked on the door, and the two bodyguards blocked her with their arms.

“I want to paint,” Gu Yuetong said, her face expressionless. “There are art supplies in the study. Go get them for me.”

The bodyguards looked at each other, hesitant.

Gu Yuetong sneered. “She told you to watch me, but she didn’t say I couldn’t do anything.” She pointed to the empty cup on the table. “Get me another glass of water and a glass of hot milk. I’m hungry.”

“Remember to leave them at the door. I’ll come out to get them myself.”

After speaking, she turned and went back into the room. Behind her, through the door, came the sound of hushed discussion.

The curtains in the room were drawn. Gu Yuetong, with her back to the light, saw the shadows outside disappear from the crack in the door. She immediately slipped to the window, hoisted herself up with one hand, and stood on the windowsill.

Like many business people of her era, Gu Hezhu paid attention to feng shui. To build this villa on high ground, she had laid a thick, hard layer of marble underneath.

Standing on the second-floor window ledge, Gu Yuetong knew that jumping could very well result in broken arms or legs. But it was getting late, and she had promised Qi Baizi they would have dinner together tonight.

With no time to think, she took off her high heels, extended her long legs to shorten the distance to the ground as much as possible, and with a strong push from her hands, landed barefoot on the ground.

The sudden pressure sent a sharp pain through her ankle. She gritted her teeth and moved it a little. Fortunately, she could still walk. She staggered a few steps, stuck to the base of the wall to avoid the surveillance cameras, and slipped out through the back door.

The villa was built on a mountain. Gu Yuetong walked on the winding mountain road that led from the back door. Unfortunately, this area was remote, and there were no cars passing by. After passing a five-kilometer sign, Gu Yuetong finally couldn’t walk anymore. Her hair was loose, stuck to her forehead with sweat. As she rested, she wiped her face and laughed bitterly at herself. It had been a long time since she had been this disheveled.

She didn’t dare to stop for too long. Although she hadn’t seen anyone chasing her yet, two legs were no match for a four-wheeled car. If she were discovered…

Gu Yuetong took a few breaths and quickened her pace.

If she were discovered, she might be hung up and beaten like when she was a child.

It got dark early in the mountains. The sun was already setting in the west. Gu Yuetong calculated the distance; there were less than ten kilometers to go before she reached an inhabited area. If worse came to worst, she would have to ask someone for help.

With a determination to escape even if it killed her, Gu Yuetong walked another stretch of road.

Fortunately, before she was completely exhausted, an approaching car came into view. Worried it might be Gu Hezhu’s people coming around from the main road, Gu Yuetong cautiously hid behind a road sign to observe. As it got closer, she was stunned to realize it was Auntie Qin’s car.

The person driving was Qi Baizi.

Qi Baizi didn’t know the details of Gu Yuetong’s escape, nor did she know that Gu Yuetong would take this road. She had originally driven up the main road but had seen people with microphones and cameras by the roadside. She recognized one of them as a reporter who had been at the press conference before. Not wanting to provide them with new material and increase her exposure, she had turned around and taken another road.

As luck would have it, she ran into the disheveled, escaping Gu Yuetong.

After helping Gu Yuetong into the car, Qi Baizi said nothing, just hugged her.

Gu Yuetong did the same. The surprise had already outweighed her exhaustion, and even the pain from her bleeding, scraped feet seemed to heal the moment she saw Qi Baizi.

“How did you get here?”

“To pick you up for dinner.”

They both forced a smile. Qi Baizi helped her fasten her seatbelt, preparing to take her back to her place.

But a series of sharp honks interrupted the moment. Looking up, she saw a business van parked a few meters away.

The door opened, and several people got out, including Gu Hezhu and Doctor Cen.

Gu Yuetong’s alarm bells went off. “You go first.” She unbuckled her seatbelt and was about to get out of the car, intending to hold off Gu Hezhu to give Qi Baizi time to leave.

But Qi Baizi, with a blank expression, pulled her back and, under Gu Hezhu’s fierce gaze, kissed her.

Warm lips landed on her forehead. Gu Yuetong felt a chill run through her body, and even her shoulders trembled.

From the moment she was locked up by Gu Hezhu, she had been anxious. The past came flooding back to her mind like a wave: confinement, physical punishment, even implicating her classmates and Auntie Qin—now she didn’t want to implicate Qi Baizi.

For Qi Baizi, it was a long kiss. She held Gu Yuetong’s head, silently waiting for Gu Hezhu to have someone come and pull them apart.

And Gu Hezhu did just that. The glass of Auntie Qin’s car was violently shattered. The bodyguards didn’t dare to be rough with Gu Yuetong, but they dragged the slender Qi Baizi directly out through the broken glass.

Blood seeped from Qi Baizi’s back. Gu Yuetong ran out of the car like a madwoman and hugged her. Qi Baizi lay in her arms, but only showed a smile.

At the same time, her eyes stared at Gu Hezhu in the distance. Under Doctor Cen’s comforting words, Gu Hezhu not only didn’t calm down but became even more agitated. Finally, she broke free from Doctor Cen, strode towards the two of them, and just as her hand was about to slap Qi Baizi’s face, her gaze suddenly froze, and she fell down stiffly.

Stroke.

The doctor’s opinion was to let her rest quietly and undergo regular rehabilitation. As for the extent of her recovery, it was hard to say.

As her partner, Doctor Cen couldn’t voice any opinion. In other words, she had no right to sign any of Gu Hezhu’s treatment documents. The doctors would bypass her and communicate directly with Gu Yuetong. She was like an outsider.

Qi Baizi’s back injury was also disinfected and bandaged. Although it wasn’t serious, it covered a large area. The new nurse’s technique was mediocre, and she had wrapped her in a thick layer.

Gu Yuetong wanted to hug her, but her hands could only touch the thick gauze.

“Let Auntie Qin re-bandage it when we get back.”

Qi Baizi smiled. “Okay.”

Although Gu Yuetong deliberately acted relieved, Qi Baizi could still read another complex emotion in her eyes.

Doctor Cen came back from running errands and handed over a stack of forms.

Gu Yuetong asked deliberately, “Why are you giving these to me?”

Doctor Cen was taken aback. “Aren’t you concerned about what medicine she’s taking or when she’s doing her rehabilitation?”

“That’s your business.”

Doctor Cen fell silent, nodded, and said no more.

In the intensive care unit, Gu Hezhu’s eyes were tightly closed. Doctor Cen actually didn’t support the surgical treatment plan. Gu Hezhu had once said that if she ever became unable to care for herself, she should just be sent off, without any treatment.

Although Doctor Cen was unwilling, they had been together for many years and she understood Gu Hezhu’s temperament. She didn’t want her to hate her, so she had verbally agreed.

When they brought Gu Hezhu to the hospital just now, the doctor had clearly stated that without surgery, she would certainly die. With surgery, the risk of paralysis was over ninety percent. Doctor Cen had hesitated, but in that moment of hesitation, Gu Yuetong had signed the papers: “Do it.”

Doctor Cen felt powerless. Although as a doctor she held patients’ lives in her hands, as a partner, she couldn’t make any decisions.

Through the reflection in the glass, she saw Gu Yuetong and Qi Baizi standing side by side behind her, and felt a lump in her throat.