Three days later, the matter escalated further. Although the results were not yet in, Gu Yuan's embezzlement and bribery were already a fait accompli. From the moment he was investigated, the reputation and interests of the Gu family plummeted.
The stock market kept falling, and in just a few days, losses amounted to hundreds of millions.
Despite the board's decision to remove Gu Yuan from his position as chairman and elect a new head of the Gu family business, the board failed to reach a decision after two meetings over three days.
Liu Lingyi naturally supported her son, but unfortunately most of the board members were not optimistic about him and opposed him as the head of the Gu family business.
Gu Ci hasn't been having a good time these days either. She's not feeling well, her house is a mess, and she hasn't seen her mother, Liu Lingyi, or her older brother, Gu Lin, since the day Gu Yuan was arrested. She can't even get through to them on the phone.
She now finds it difficult to even go out, partly due to her health condition and partly because it's too embarrassing. Whether it's because of Meng Sheng's deliberate targeting or the changes in the Gu family, she doesn't want to face the strange and disdainful looks from outsiders.
All the information she gets every day comes from the internet.
As soon as you open the app, you're bombarded with insults, slander, and accusations in the comments section.
Some of the words were so harsh that they hurt her deeply. Many netizens also used the photos she took at the art exhibition to create various parodies and jokes, making even her beautiful face seem like a sin at that moment.
These past few days, she has been living in constant fear, and even the frequency of her heart pain from pressure has increased compared to before.
Sometimes even medication doesn't completely relieve the symptoms.
Perhaps it was under such intense pressure that her mentality crumbled inch by inch. She was afraid that the edifice she relied on would collapse, and that she would no longer have the identity of the third young lady of the Gu family to support her for the rest of her life.
She feared being abandoned by these wealthy and powerful families in Beijing, becoming just another insignificant speck of dust in this world.
Judging from her physical condition, without the Gu family and the Gu Corporation, she dared not imagine what would have happened to her in the second half of her life.
Even in her previous life, she had never experienced the Gu family nearly going bankrupt.
In her past life, the Gu family had a smooth and successful life, without any major problems, and their relationship with the Pei family was very close, without any cracks.
How could this happen?
How could that be?
Was it all because of Meng Sheng's unexpected turn of events?
It changed the course of everything.
But... but she's back too.
Even if things are going to change, they shouldn't change so much; the ones who will suffer are the Gu family.
Even someone like Gu Ci, who was born a prodigy, wouldn't reflect on what she did to change these trajectories, even in this situation.
Her rebirth was a mistake.
She played a significant role in the downfall of the Gu family.
No one is to blame.
Seven or eight days ago, when she left the Pei family, she was determined to teach them a lesson and show them no mercy. But she overestimated herself.
Given the Pei family's status, and the methods and ruthlessness of the Pei brothers, Pei Yu and Pei Sui, they wouldn't bother dealing with her; all they need to do is bring down her backer, the Gu family.
If Gu Yuan is not good enough to be the head of the Gu family, then they can put forward someone else with good judgment to take over.
It could be either the direct line of the Gu family or a collateral branch.
Trying to clear her mind, she was momentarily confused. In the end, she put aside what little dignity she had left and shakily took out her phone to dial Pei Sui's number.
The phone rang for the third time before being answered. A cold, familiar voice came through the receiver, "Hello?"
Gu Ci paused for a second, trying to remain calm, and said softly, "A-Sui, it's me."
"explain."
Pei Sui frowned, took her phone away, and glanced at the number; it wasn't her old one.
Unbeknownst to him, the internet was in an uproar these past few days, with someone doxxing his phone number and Instagram account and starting to harass her. She had no choice but to change her number.
Otherwise, you could find hundreds of text messages and thirty or forty unfamiliar phone calls every day.
That could drive her crazy.
She had no choice but to change her number.
But Pei Sui's voice, so cold it was almost icy and devoid of any affection, still stung her heart slightly.
Her nose stung, and tears welled up in her eyes. She cried out, "Ah Sui, for the sake of our past relationship, I beg you, please help my brother, okay? He's in a really tough situation right now. My dad's in jail now, and he deserves it. I'm too ashamed to ask you for anything, but my brother... you know, you and he grew up together, you know what kind of person he is, right?"
"I beg you, please help him. Only you and Brother Yu can help him now. I can apologize to Director Meng for my previous disagreement. I'll do anything, I just hope you can consider the past friendship between the Pei and Gu families..."
"Friendship?"
Pei Sui, on the other end of the phone, finally interrupted her impatiently, "When you wanted to make a move against my grandmother, why didn't you think of our past friendship? Gu Ci, I warned you, didn't I? But you don't seem to have listened. You keep challenging my bottom line. Your Gu family's claws are so long, I don't mind cutting off the extra part."
Gu Ci's face turned deathly pale instantly. She shuddered violently, but she forced herself to remain calm and swallowed hard. "Attack Grandma? Me...me? How could that be? Ah Sui, who told you that? I've been with Grandma for over two years. She's like my own grandmother. How could I possibly harm her? There must be some misunderstanding. Is it Director Meng? She's always misunderstood me. It's not like that, Ah Sui, you have to believe me, believe me..."
Pei Sui probably didn't want to listen to her useless nonsense, and besides, he had nothing to say to her.
He originally gathered evidence with the intention of crippling the Gu family.
But Gu Ci insisted on courting death by attacking the old lady. Not to mention him, even his older brother Pei Yu would not let the Gu family off easily.
This time, the Gu family will suffer more than just physical damage.
With him and his elder brother in the middle, the Gu family's health will definitely drop below 20%. The remaining health will be a testament to the Gu family's century-old heritage and resilience.
Once he's made up his mind, he can't be soft-hearted.
After hanging up, he blocked the number as well, tossed his phone aside, and continued dealing with his work.
The communication was suddenly cut off, and Gu Ci's unfinished words and pitiful, soft sobs were all stuck in her throat, leaving the large room completely silent.
It was so quiet that Gu Ci could hear her own heartbeat.
what to do?
Pei Sui refused to help her. After Meng Sheng posted the video, her reputation was ruined, and people who used to be on good terms with her now avoid her like the plague.
Who else can she turn to for help?
The Pei family is trying to force the Gu family to their doom!
She clenched her fists tightly, her fingertips turning an unhealthy white. Just as she was struggling to breathe again, her phone suddenly rang once more.
It was her personal driver calling.
Her hands trembled as she answered the phone, "What is it?"
"Third Miss, I have found Cheng Jie, whom you asked me to investigate."
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