Outside the office, Gong Chen was stopped by Li Rui, his expression puzzled. “Is my uncle not in the office?”
Li Rui smiled politely. “He is.”
Gong Chen glanced at the tightly shut office door, even more confused. “Then why won’t he see me? Didn’t he ask me to come back?”
Because the old man wants you dead, of course.
Naturally, Li Rui couldn’t say that out loud and worsen the already icy relationship between uncle and nephew. He simply cleared his throat and respectfully handed over his phone. “The boss asked me to give this to you, Third Young Master.”
Gong Chen glanced at the phone Li Rui offered, his expression suddenly stiffening as he was about to ask a question.
This was Wen Yue’s phone!
He hurriedly took the phone, and with a light tap, the screen lit up—it wasn’t turned off.
Gong Chen instinctively tightened his grip on the phone. “Why is Yueyue’s phone with my uncle?”
As he thought about it, he seemed to suddenly understand. “Did Yueyue come to see my uncle?”
Li Rui replied, “Miss Wen did indeed come to see the boss, but she only sent him a message.”
Gong Chen was surprised. “What did she say? Did she complain to my uncle about the wedding?”
His assumption was actually quite reasonable, given that Wen Yue and his uncle had never had much interaction.
In fact, Gong Chen could sense that Wen Yue was quite afraid of his uncle.
So if Wen Yue had suddenly taken the initiative to seek out his uncle, it could only be because her temper had flared up and she had gone to complain to him about the wedding.
Gong Chen tugged irritably at the collar of his shirt. At that moment, he thought that Wen Ze was right—Wen Yue’s temperament really needed to be tempered.
She knew full well that his relationship with his uncle wasn’t particularly close, yet she had gone to his uncle to embarrass him.
If he continued to indulge her like this, who knew what trouble she’d cause him next.
Suppressing his anger, he said to Li Rui, “Didn’t I explain this to you before, Secretary Li? The wedding matter was discussed with the Wen family elders. With Wen Xi injured, no one was in the mood for a wedding, and even Grandfather agreed. So no matter what Wen Yue said to my uncle, he doesn’t need to take it too seriously.”
After a brief pause, he added coldly, “I’ll go find Wen Yue later and make it clear to her that she shouldn’t disturb my uncle so casually in the future.”
Li Rui, however, merely smiled and asked, “Is Miss Wen Xi feeling better now?”
Gong Chen replied, “She’s better. Her fever broke completely last night.”
“That’s good.”
Li Rui’s smile grew even gentler. “Then I suppose Third Young Master can now spare some time to attend Miss Wen Yue’s funeral.”
“I…”
Gong Chen was about to respond when he belatedly realized what Li Rui had said—a funeral?
What funeral? Whose funeral?
Tao An, standing beside Gong Chen, also widened his eyes, thinking he had misheard.
Gong Chen was stunned for a moment before disbelief set in, leaving him frozen as if he had heard an outrageous joke but couldn’t bring himself to laugh.
Even though it was summer, his voice sounded as if it were coated in ice shards. “What did you say?”
Li Rui’s smile remained unchanged, his tone as calm and unhurried as ever. “To answer you, Third Young Master, Miss Wen Yue slit her wrists in her apartment at Haiting two nights ago.
At the time, she sent a text message to the boss, asking him to help collect her body. By the time the boss sent someone to the apartment, Miss Wen Yue had already passed away. There wasn’t even time to take her to the hospital.”Li Rui finished speaking slowly, only to see the expression on the face of the Gong family’s third young master completely freeze, then gradually shatter.
His jawline was tightly clenched, his cheeks twitching slightly as if he were gritting his teeth, and his Adam’s apple bobbed repeatedly.
A storm gathered in his eyes, and perhaps thunder and lightning would soon follow.
Oh, just like the lightning that struck his boss that night.
Li Rui smiled as he imagined the scene, then slowly added the final words: “Oh, by the way, judging by the timing, Miss Wen probably tried to call you around then too, but you were likely too busy to answer her.
Ah… what a pity. Otherwise, the task of collecting Miss Wen’s body should have fallen to you, Third Young Master. Why trouble our boss with it?”
Gong Chen’s pupils contracted violently, his expression completely collapsing.
He wanted to say that Li Rui was lying to him.
But just as he was about to speak, darkness clouded his vision.
Amid Tao An’s startled cry, Gong Chen swayed and collapsed.
~
At dusk, a piece of news trended on the hot search.
“Confirmed: On the early morning of July 31st, Wen Yue attempted suicide by cutting her wrist at home.”
Within minutes, the topic exploded.
Wow, did she die?
Don’t tell me it’s an act? Cutting her wrist but not dying?
Could be. Using suicide to force a marriage? How disgusting.
If she really died, it’d be a cause for celebration. This shameless trash was always dragging Third Young Master Gong into the spotlight. If she’s dead, it’s karma.
If she really died, you should at least show some decency. Besides, weren’t they engaged? What’s with the spotlight-grabbing accusations?
If she’s dead, she’s dead. Good riddance. The entertainment industry can finally be a little cleaner, haha.
The one talking about decency, have you ever seen a top female star commit suicide without anyone sympathizing, while fan communities everywhere are celebrating and wishing her an early death? It shows everyone wants her dead. She never showed any decency herself, yet expects others to? Don’t make me laugh.
So the happiest must be Wen Xi’s fans. I saw her top fans are practically overjoyed, hahaha.
What engaged couple? Wasn’t the Wen family’s clarification clear enough the other day? Xi Bao is the real heiress, so the one truly engaged to Gong Chen should be our Xi Bao. That plague-ridden impostor who stole someone else’s life shouldn’t think she can whitewash herself by dying.
Occupying Xi Bao’s place for 18 years, what right does a fake heiress have to act so high and mighty? I still feel sick remembering how she pushed Xi Bao into the water during that talent show. Finally, I can breathe a sigh of relief today.
So, what goes around comes around. If you do too many bad things, even the heavens won’t stand for it, hehe.
Don’t mess with our Xi Bao from now on. I’ve always said Xi Bao is destined to be the female lead, the kind with a halo. Anyone who tries to take advantage of her or bully her will meet a terrible end and never find peace.
Hehe, then let’s wish that plague-ridden impostor never finds peace.
Plague-ridden impostor never finds peace +1
In the office, Gong Hengye frowned as he scanned the vicious comments on the hot search.
He rarely paid attention to such things before, unless his family or company was trending, in which case he’d glance at it casually and have Li Rui handle it.
Just like when Gong Chen trended the other day, he only checked to see if there was anything harmful to the Gong family.
So he hadn’t realized that Wen Yue had been subjected to such abuse all along.
No wonder she felt driven to take her own life.Feeling a headache coming on from watching, he put down his phone and instructed Li Rui beside him, “Have someone handle the trending searches.”
Li Rui nodded and said, “Yes.”
Indeed, the person was already dead; it was too unreasonable for her to be criticized like this.
Then, he hesitated and said, “Boss, Third Young Master has been kneeling outside, wanting to see you, wanting to ask you about Miss Wen…”
After Gong Chen woke from his coma, he had been clamoring to see Gong Hengye.
But Gong Hengye clearly didn’t want to see him, even having Gong Chen blocked outside the company.
Hearing this, Gong Hengye only glanced lightly at Li Rui. Li Rui paused and changed his tone, “If Third Young Master continues making a scene like this, it won’t be good if it alarms the old master.”
Just as Gong Hengye was about to speak, thunder suddenly roared.
Li Rui trembled, looking uneasily out the window, “This ghost weather, why is it thundering again?”
He now had a deep-seated fear of thunder and lightning.
It was only because his boss was lucky, struck by lightning yet unharmed, only unconscious for a while.
But the scene still felt terrifying to recall.
After all, last time it struck the boss; what if next time it struck him too?
His life probably wasn’t that tough.
Gong Hengye also turned his gaze toward the window, frowning slightly.
In almost an instant, the clear sky had become overcast with dark clouds.
Downstairs at the Gong Corporation, Gong Chen was being blocked by Feng Yang and the bodyguards.
Gong Chen’s face was pale, but his eyes were frighteningly red, “Let me in!”
Feng Yang was very helpless, “Third Young Master, Ninth Brother doesn’t want to see you now. If you ask me, you should go back first. When Ninth Brother wants to see you, I’ll have Li Rui contact you?”
Gong Chen stepped forward, gritting his teeth and growling, “Get out of my way!”
Feng Yang raised his hand to stop him, his tone turning cold, “Sorry, Third Young Master, Ninth Brother ordered not to let you go up. If Third Young Master insists on going up, you’ll have to step over my corpse.”
Gong Chen’s eyes were bloodshot, “Yueyue is my fiancée. What’s wrong with me coming to get my fiancée back?
Gong Hengye doesn’t dare let me go up, doesn’t dare see me—is it because he did something to my fiancée?
Did he hide Yueyue? What exactly did he do to Yueyue?”
Hearing this, Feng Yang was stunned, then completely chilled, “Has Third Young Master gone mad, slandering his own uncle like this?”
“Mad?”
Gong Chen sneered, “Yes, I’m mad.”
He clenched his fist and swung at Feng Yang, roaring angrily, “I won’t believe she’s dead until I see Yueyue’s body!”
Feng Yang sidestepped to avoid it and, without holding back, kicked Gong Chen in the back of the knee.
Gong Chen instantly lost his balance, falling to one knee on the ground.
He braced himself with both hands, looked up, and stared at Feng Yang with bloodshot eyes, “If Gong Hengye doesn’t dare see me, then let Wen Yue come see me. I want to see Wen Yue!”
Feng Yang sneered, “Third Young Master won’t be able to see Miss Wen. As for Ninth Brother, the way you are now isn’t suitable for seeing him. You should calm down first.”
After speaking, he turned to the bodyguards beside him, “Block him.”
Over a dozen bodyguards in suits quickly stepped forward, completely blocking Gong Chen outside the door.
Feng Yang swept his gaze around; the onlookers who had been sneaking glances at the drama quickly lowered their heads, not daring to look any longer.
After Gong Chen fell to his knees, his whole person seemed dazed, as if his soul had been snatched away.
He truly didn’t believe Wen Yue had committed suicide, didn’t believe Wen Yue was dead.
She loved him so much; how could she commit suicide? How could she bear to leave him?
She was still waiting to marry him.He had promised her the most perfect wedding, how could she bear to leave now?
Besides, Yueyue had barely spoken a few words to his uncle.
If she wanted to commit suicide, even if she couldn’t reach him, she wouldn’t have contacted his uncle.
No matter how Gong Chen thought about it, it seemed impossible.
So the only explanation was that Gong Hengye had hidden Wen Yue away while he was gone.
Others might not know, but Gong Chen knew—Gong Hengye actually had feelings for Wen Yue.
He had known since they were both just teenagers.
Gong Chen clenched his fists, his entire body trembling, his heart aching with a dull pain.
Yes, it must be Gong Hengye. He must have taken Wen Yue away.
Perhaps he had said something to Wen Yue, making her misunderstand him.
As long as he could see Wen Yue, he could explain everything.
Yueyue was so obedient—she would surely understand him and wouldn’t continue to be deceived by Gong Hengye.
Gong Chen’s reddened eyes fixed tightly on the entrance of the Gong family mansion, his teeth clenched in determination.
He had to see Gong Hengye. He had to get Wen Yue back.
Time passed minute by minute until thunder rumbled.
Moments later, raindrops the size of beans began to patter down.
Gong Chen knelt motionless, letting the heavy rain soak him through.
The rain blurred his vision, and a dizzying sensation overwhelmed him.
Gong Chen swayed slightly, closing his eyes for a moment. When he opened them again, a pair of black, polished leather shoes appeared before him.
His gaze sharpened, slowly moving upward—following the crisp lines of tailored suit pants, a white shirt, casually rolled-up sleeves, and a hand with slender, elegant fingers gripping a black umbrella handle.
Beneath the black umbrella, the man’s cold and stern face remained indifferent as he looked down, meeting Gong Chen’s eyes.
Gong Chen’s throat tightened, his voice hoarse, “Uncle…”
Gong Hengye spoke, his tone colder and damper than the rain, “What are you doing kneeling here? Paying respects at a grave?”
The corner of his lips curved slightly, “You’ve come to the wrong place.”
Without another word, he stepped past Gong Chen without a hint of sympathy.
Gong Chen’s pupils contracted. He turned and grabbed the hem of Gong Hengye’s pants, “Uncle, please give Wen Yue back to me, I beg you…”
His voice grew increasingly strained and hoarse, “Yueyue is my fiancée, Uncle, you can’t do this…”
Sincere and emotional, his voice choked with tears, he seemed on the verge of breaking down.
But Gong Hengye merely lifted his gaze, looking at the dark, oppressive clouds in the distance and the occasional flashes of lightning within them, frowning in annoyance, “Why doesn’t this lightning strike you?”
Gong Chen didn’t understand what he was saying. He just clung desperately to Gong Hengye’s pants, repeatedly calling him “Uncle,” trying to appeal to any remaining familial affection.
Gong Hengye sighed, as expected. He turned back, looking down at his nephew, who was as pitiful as a drowned rat, and asked leisurely, “Want to see Wen Yue?”
Gong Chen’s grip tightened even more. For Wen Yue’s sake, he lowered himself to the lowest possible point, “Yes, I want to see her. Please, let me see her.”
Gong Hengye finally smiled. He nodded, and just as Gong Chen thought he had agreed, he said, “You can see her when you’re dead.”
He crouched down, gripping Gong Chen’s wrist with one hand, and with a slight effort, pried open the fingers that were desperately clutching his pants.
Placing the umbrella handle into Gong Chen’s stiff palm, Gong Hengye spoke with rare gentleness, “But remember, die far away. Don’t dirty the Gong family’s doorstep.”
With that, he stood up. Feng Yang, standing beside him, quickly held an umbrella over him.Just as he was about to leave, Gong Chen threw away the umbrella handed to him. The uncontrollable sense of agitation made him appear slightly deranged. “Gong Hengye, do you think I don’t know what your intentions are toward Wen Yue?”
Gong Hengye paused once more, turning his head slightly with a raised eyebrow. “My intentions toward her? What intentions?”
Gong Chen stood up shakily. “That year, I saw with my own eyes that you kissed her.”
He thought he had exposed Gong Hengye’s lofty facade—that his cold indifference and composure were all fake.
He also wanted to see if stripping away his uncle’s proud disguise would leave him even more disheveled than himself.
Yet Gong Hengye remained in his dignified and arrogant posture. Even Feng Yang beside him was so startled he nearly dropped the umbrella, but Gong Hengye merely lifted his chin slightly and uttered a surprised “Oh.”
As if finally understanding something, he spoke in a tone of sudden realization, “So, you pursued her deliberately because you thought I had feelings for her?”
Gong Chen’s clenched fist trembled, but he said nothing, his attitude already making it abundantly clear.
Gong Hengye was genuinely amused by this, curling his lips into a smile. “Fool.”
He turned, bent down, and entered the car door that the bodyguard had already opened, leaving without any further hesitation.