Zhong Lin Building.
The awards ceremony.
Accompanied by the host's words, "The winner of this Ancient Bead Restoration Technology Innovation Award is: Fan Xing Studio."
Amidst the applause, Meng Shu Tang, with exquisite makeup and a calm gait, walked onto the stage.
"Thank you to the committee for the recognition. Ancient bead restoration is not just about repairing ancient beads, but also about the years and time settled within them.
This honor belongs to our team and to everyone who upholds craftsmanship."
After speaking, she held the trophy high.
She walked off the stage amidst thunderous applause, and Ruan An stuffed a bouquet of top-tier champagne roses into her arms.
"Tangtang Jie, President Gu said he didn't have time to accompany you to receive the award, but then he turned around and had someone send such a large bouquet to the venue.
This is your favorite variety; President Gu has always remembered your preferences."
The two left the conference, talking as they walked, but when they looked up and caught sight of the bustle in front of the exhibition hall opposite, their footsteps froze in place.
A painting exhibition was being held in the opposite hall. At the entrance, Bai Ci Xian stood gently by Gu Yun Ci's side in a long dress.
Gu Yun Ci was in a black suit, his posture tall and straight, as he introduced her to several well-known painters in the circle.
Standing nearby were several Gu Corporation employees who had come to help.
Whispers drifted over on the autumn wind.
"Supervisor Bai is so young and an amateur painter, yet she can hold an exhibition at Zhong Lin. It's truly remarkable."
"How hard it is to get an exhibition at Zhong Lin; it must have been handled by President Gu himself. He must have poured a lot of resources into it."
"President Gu is really attentive to her. With this kind of prestige, even top-tier painters in the industry might not have it!"
"Of course, she is his white moonlight, so he is naturally attentive."
...
The discussion was not loud, but every word landed in Meng Shu Tang's heart.
She froze like a white porcelain sculpture, her hand holding the trophy tightening abruptly, the coolness of the cup seeping into her heart.
He never cared about what she liked, yet he would host a painting exhibition for the amateur painter Bai Ci Xian—perhaps just because his mother, Chu Fu, was a painter, he looked at Bai Ci Xian with a bit more favor!
Bai Ci Xian caught a glimpse of her out of the corner of her eye, her gaze shifted, and she moved a little closer to Gu Yun Ci, "Brother Yun Ci, Miss Meng is back from receiving her award. Would you like to go over and offer your congratulations?"
Gu Yun Ci's eyes darkened, and he turned around abruptly. His gaze first landed on the trophy in her arms, and finally, he stared fixedly at her stunningly beautiful face.
When Assistant Qin saw this, he hurried over, "Young Madam, congratulations!"
Meng Shu Tang did not look at Gu Yun Ci. Her face was as calm as a lake. She raised her hand and shoved the roses in her arms toward Assistant Qin, with a force that was neither light nor heavy, her tone as cold as ice, "Assistant Qin, you are always reliable in your work, but I think these flowers were sent to the wrong person today. They should have been sent to the exhibition hall opposite!"
With that one sentence, the surroundings instantly went quiet.
The smile on Bai Ci Xian's lips froze.
Gu Yun Ci's Adam's apple rolled hard, wanting to say something, but it remained deeply stuck in his throat.
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After leaving, Ruan An kept trying to comfort Meng Shu Tang.
"How could President Gu be like this? You aren't divorced yet, so why is he getting entangled with Miss Bai?
Tangtang Jie, don't be upset. It's President Gu who is blind for not seeing your worth."
When they reached the underground parking lot, Meng Shu Tang opened the car door for Ruan An, "Get in quickly. I'll take you to eat something delicious to celebrate."
The studio only had the three of them: her, Chen Man, and Ruan An. Chen Man was pregnant and wouldn't be coming for the next month.
Aside from professional work like restoring ancient beads, all other big and small tasks fell on Ruan An's thin shoulders.
Meng Shu Tang didn't have the energy to think about so much; making money and keeping her mother alive were her biggest goals.
However, on the way, Grandmother called.
"Tangtang, tomorrow is your birthday. Come to the Old Residence, and Grandmother will celebrate it for you."
Thinking of Gu Ye Heng, Meng Shu Tang refused, "Grandmother, don't trouble yourself. Let Yun Ci and me celebrate it instead!"
Grandmother's hearty laughter came from the other end of the phone, "Our Tangtang is still so sensible and understanding.
Alright, send Grandmother a photo of you two eating cake tomorrow."
After speaking, Grandmother hung up the phone, but immediately called Gu Yun Ci.
"Get back here!"
Gu Yun Ci had one hand in his pocket, his brows slightly furrowed, and he hung up the phone calmly, "Ci Xian, I won't go in. If there's anything, tell Assistant Qin."
Seeing that he was about to leave, Bai Ci Xian stepped forward and grabbed his arm, "Brother Yun Ci, since you're already here, come in and take a look!
Inside are all my painstaking works, and also... when I had a crush on you, I secretly kissed you..."
Gu Yun Ci pulled away, "I have something to do. I need to go back to the Old Residence."
After speaking, he turned and left.
Just as he entered the villa of the Old Residence, a cup of hot tea was thrown at him.
"Gu Yun Ci, have you grown some backbone?"
Grandmother's voice was not loud, but her cane tapped on the floor with a rhythmic sound.
"Tangtang received an award today, and you didn't accompany her. Instead, you turned around and threw money and resources to support an outsider, and even used your connections to let her hold an exhibition at the Zhong Lin Building. Where do you expect Tangtang to put her face?"
In fact, their three-year marriage was a secret marriage.
Except for a few senior executives at the Gu Corporation who knew Meng Shu Tang was Gu Yun Ci's Madam, other employees had no idea.
"I agreed to let you marry Tangtang back then because I valued her kindness and clarity. Look at you now, leaving your own wife aside to go support an amateur painter with no solid foundation. You are blind, and your heart is muddled too."
"I will say it again: that woman surnamed Bai is not worthy of entering our Gu Family.
Stop while you're ahead. If I hear that you've made Tangtang sad again, I won't spare you."
After speaking, Grandmother raised her cane and struck him.
"Tomorrow is Tangtang's birthday. She promised me that you would celebrate it for her. Come home early after work tomorrow and send me a photo of you two in bed."
After speaking, Grandmother picked up her teacup and sipped it slowly, not looking at Gu Yun Ci at all.
Gu Yun Ci leaned in, lying on the table, "A photo in bed? Grandmother, you're so old, and you still have this hobby?"
Bang, Grandmother threw the teacup onto the table, tea splashing everywhere and wetting Gu Yun Ci's cuffs.
"Get out! If you don't send it, I'll book you an appointment at the urology department."
A low chuckle escaped Gu Yun Ci's throat, his tone carrying a bit of arrogant teasing, "Grandmother, you still remember that? Your grandson doesn't need it."
As he spoke, he slowly got up, "Let's just send a photo of the cake. Forget the bed photo, lest you get dizzy looking at it and blame me for being unfilial later."
As he spoke, he turned and left.
Grandmother, "Don't forget."
The man raised his hand and snapped his fingers.
...
Meng Shu Tang took Ruan An to a hot pot restaurant with a lot of character.
This small shop was in a very remote location, and it was Gu Yun Ci who had brought her here shortly after they were married.
He said this was a place he often came to when he was in college.
At that time, he would kiss her hand, look up at her without blinking, and say to her word by word, "I will take you to every place I have ever been."
For a while, Meng Shu Tang was very resistant to this place.
Because coming here always reminded her of Gu Yun Ci.
But not anymore.
The red marriage certificate would eventually be replaced by a green divorce certificate, and those agonizing pasts would also be cooked away by the boiling red oil in the pot.
The two ate to their hearts' content. After coming out, they passed a dessert shop, and Meng Shu Tang bought some for Zhang Ma and the others to take home.
She didn't expect Gu Yun Ci to be at home.
This was the first time she had formally encountered him at home since she moved to the attic.
She didn't speak, lowering her eyes to change her shoes. Her cute rabbit slippers brushed against the floor, light and soundless.
After changing her shoes, she walked to Zhang Ma's side, "I bought these for you."
After speaking, she deliberately bypassed the spot where he was standing, not even giving him a glance, and turned to leave.
Gu Yun Ci recognized that the dessert was from next door to the hot pot restaurant. Seeing that everyone else had some but he didn't, his voice carried a hint of imperceptible bitterness, "Where did you go?"
Meng Shu Tang didn't stop, her hand resting on the stair railing, "It has nothing to do with you."
Gu Yun Ci's Adam's apple rolled, and he got up from the sofa and followed her directly.
Meng Shu Tang heard the movement and stopped at the entrance of the attic, "President Gu, is there something?"
Gu Yun Ci stopped on the stairs.
All along, it had been him looking down on her, whether in bed or elsewhere.
This standing position was a first.
Gu Yun Ci just felt that something was wrong, but he couldn't put his finger on it.
He walked to the door and stood face-to-face with Meng Shu Tang, his tone business-like, "Let's go inside and talk."
"We can talk right here."
"What, does this mean you don't want me to come in?" He had one hand in his pocket, looking somewhat like a refined scoundrel.
Meng Shu Tang's back was straight, the bottom of her eyes as cold as if they had no temperature, "You kicked me out of the master bedroom, wasn't it just to keep me far away from you?"
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