"Auntie..." Xie Leying called out to Liao Ying with some heartache.
Liao Ying gently patted Xie Leying's hand and comforted her, "It's okay."
"You developed both heart disease and depression while under house arrest?" Gu Shaojin asked coldly, his face grim.
"Alright, kid, don't ask so many questions," Gu Ze said calmly.
"A child?" Gu Shaojin looked at Gu Ze indifferently. "If he's a child, why did you let me take over the Gu family business? If he's a child, why did you leave me alone in the country for five years?"
Liao Ying and Gu Ze's expressions immediately stiffened at Gu Shaojin's words. Liao Ying looked at Gu Shaojin with heartache and said in a hoarse voice,
"sorry..."
"Don't say those three words to me anymore. What's the point? Since you're unwilling to say them, don't expect me to be understanding."
Gu Shaojin coldly uttered these words, then took Ming Jiayi's hand and started walking outside.
Liao Ying got up anxiously and grabbed Ming Jiayi's sleeve, while Ming Jiayi stopped and held onto Gu Shaojin tightly.
"I'll talk, I'll talk..." Liao Ying said humbly to Gu Shaojin's back.
Gu Ze grasped Liao Ying's slender arm and then pressed her back into the chair. "Let me speak."
Gu Shaojin turned her head slightly, waiting indifferently for her father to speak.
Gu Ze glanced at Gu Shaojin, then sighed deeply.
"More than 20 years ago, when I married Xiaoying, I was strongly opposed by your grandmother. She believed that as the only eldest son of the Gu family, I should not marry a woman from such a humble family as Xiaoying."
But at that time, I was determined to marry your mother, so I stole the household registration book and took Xiaoying directly to the Civil Affairs Bureau. I also took Xiaoying to another city to start our new life.
We are a large and wealthy family, so it would be incredibly easy for your grandparents to find me and your mother. I know that.
I took Yingzi with me when I left because I wanted to give her some time to make things official. I thought that once Yingzi was pregnant with my child, my mother wouldn't force us to divorce.
At this point, Gu Ze gave a sarcastic laugh, as if recalling how foolish he had been back then.
"Back then, your mother and I lived peacefully in City C for three months, and Yingzi successfully became pregnant with you. Your grandmother never came to find us, and at first we thought we could live our lives peacefully like this."
To my utter surprise, Yingzi disappeared not long after giving birth to you in the delivery room, and I found a note in our house that said goodbye.
I searched for Yingzi for a full half month, but found no trace of her. Then, my mother found me and earnestly told me that the Gu family had many resources and connections, and suggested that I take you back to the Gu family first, and then use our connections to search for her slowly.
I believed you. I took you back to the Gu family and, with my mother's persuasion, slowly began to take over the Gu family's work. I also slowly began to hate Yingzi.
Until the day your grandmother passed away 5 years ago, she confessed to me that Yingzi had been kept under house arrest in that villa in City B ever since she disappeared that day.
She originally planned to release Yingzi after I remarried, but later she realized that I was really determined not to remarry, so she thought of releasing Yingzi directly.
But by then, Yingzi had already developed depression and heart disease. Your grandmother was afraid that Yingzi would say something in front of me that would strain the relationship between my daughter and me, so she hesitated to let go, and the longer she dragged it out, the longer it dragged on…”
Ming Jiayi covered her mouth in surprise.
Goodness, this is outrageous!
"When I found Yingzi five years ago, she was extremely weak. I was very worried that something might happen to her, so I hurriedly let you take over the Gu family business while I took her to see a doctor."
I didn't know how to tell you about this at the time, and I didn't want you to resent your grandmother, so I didn't explain much. I'm sorry, Father acted inappropriately... Will you forgive us?
The elders sighed and began to speak one after another, unable to bear it.
"Oh, Shaojin, your father has had a tough time. He's suffered so much these past years, living in constant fear. And your mother has had it even worse, her life hanging by a thread every day..."
"Yes, we've been watching over your parents all these years."
“Look at Yingzi, she’s only just recovered a little, not fully recovered yet, but she’s already in a hurry to go back to China, just to see you as soon as possible.”
"It's not easy for anyone. Sigh."
Gu Shaojin shook her head in disbelief.
Is this really something his kind and loving grandmother would do?
He imprisoned his own mother for 20 years...
He grew up in the shadow of not having a mother...
"Shao Jin..." Liao Ying called out with some reluctance.
Gu Shaojin resumed his usual indifferent expression, then pulled Ming Jiayi out of the villa gate. The two quickly got into the car, and Gu Shaojin started the car, speeding towards the gate outside the manor.
Liao Ying sat anxiously in the chair. She wanted to get up and stop him again, but this time Gu Shaojin ran out very fast, and she couldn't catch up with him in her physical condition.
Gu Ze looked at Liao Ying with heartache and comforted her gently, "Let him calm down. He'll come back when he's thought things through. He's not such an irresponsible child."
Liao Ying leaned against Gu Ze, staring wistfully in the direction of the villa's gate.
“It’s alright. Didn’t Shao Jin take Jia Yi out? I’ll talk to Jia Yi and ask her to persuade Shao Jin.” Ming’s father said.
“Yes, yes, don’t worry,” Ming’s mother echoed.
Xie Leying squatted down, held Liao Ying's hands tightly, and comforted her in a sweet, coquettish voice.
"It's alright, Auntie. Shao Jin is so understanding, she'll definitely understand. The most important thing for you right now is to get some rest and take good care of your health."
Liao Ying smiled weakly at Xie Leying, then blinked to express her gratitude.
Gu Shaojin floored the accelerator. Ming Jiayi looked at Gu Shaojin with some concern, but she really didn't know how to comfort him.
"Are you alright?" Ming Jiayi scratched her head and asked somewhat awkwardly.
But she regretted it as soon as she asked the question.
Isn't that stupid? How could anyone be okay after something like this?
Gu Shaojin stared blankly at the road ahead, then slowly reduced the car's speed, and replied calmly, "I'm fine."
"Hmm... So where are you driving to?"
"I'll ask for a day off for you tomorrow. I'll take you to meet someone," Gu Shaojin replied calmly.
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