Gu Mian’s pupils suddenly constricted as she pushed Li Tingshen away with all her strength.
Disturbed by the interruption, Li Tingshen didn’t intend to continue and easily let her push him away.
Pei Jinchuan’s gaze fell upon Gu Mian.
The girl’s face was flushed like a ripe tomato, filled with embarrassment. She didn’t dare meet his eyes directly, keeping her gaze lowered as she softly greeted him, “Mr. Pei.”
Pei Jinchuan smiled and looked at the man beside her, “It seems President Li is quite interested in my caregiver.”
Gu Mian was startled—they actually knew each other!
Compared to Gu Mian’s discomfort, Li Tingshen remained calm as if what had just happened had nothing to do with him.
He looked at Pei Jinchuan, his handsome face unreadable, “No wonder Gu Mian has the nerve to oppose me—she has President Pei backing her up. But…”
“But what?”
Li Tingshen curled his lips, raised his hand to wrap around Gu Mian’s shoulder, and pulled her into his embrace, “Has Gu Mian not told you about her relationship with me?”
Pei Jinchuan replied calmly, “I’ve known Gu Mian for several days, and she never mentioned you. Moreover, from what just happened, it seemed she was unwilling.”
Li Tingshen nodded, “It appears President Pei knows my wife quite well.”
A flicker of surprise passed through Pei Jinchuan’s eyes, but he quickly regained his composure, “I truly didn’t expect Gu Mian to be Mrs. Li. Who would have thought the lady of Li’s Group would take on such a demanding job as caregiving just to earn some extra money. President Li, women are meant to be cherished.”
“The little games between husband and wife are none of President Pei’s concern. I’ll take my wife home now.”
With that, he prepared to leave with Gu Mian.
“Wait.” Pei Jinchuan extended a hand to stop them, “Gu Mian is the caregiver I hired. She hasn’t finished her work for today and cannot leave. I’m sure you understand this, President Li?”
Li Tingshen smiled faintly, his handsome face devoid of warmth, “Do you think I would allow my wife to continue serving others when I’m aware of the situation?”
“Regardless, she should complete today’s work.” Pei Jinchuan turned to Gu Mian, “What do you think, Gu Mian?”
“President Pei is right.” Gu Mian pushed Li Tingshen’s hand away, “You should go home first. I need to work.”
Before Li Tingshen could respond, she added, “This is a public place—it doesn’t look good.”
Perhaps because all three of them were exceptionally good-looking, many passersby were already casting sidelong glances, mentally dramatizing a cliché love triangle scenario.
Li Tingshen had always disliked being stared at and didn’t insist. He simply looked at Gu Mian and said, “Come home early. I’ll be waiting for you.”
Whether it was her imagination or not, Gu Mian felt his words carried a chilling undertone, like a summons from the devil that made her scalp tingle.
“Gu Mian… Gu Mian?”
By the time Gu Mian snapped back to reality upon hearing Pei Jinchuan’s voice, Li Tingshen had already left.
She breathed a sigh of relief, “Mr. Pei, thank you for helping me out.”
“It was nothing.”
A strange feeling flickered in Pei Jinchuan’s heart.
He wasn’t normally one to meddle in others’ affairs, and Li Tingshen was not someone to be trifled with.
Yet for some reason, he had intervened anyway.
“Gu Mian, you look quite young. I didn’t expect you to be married, and to Li Tingshen no less.”
Gu Mian smiled faintly, “Did you know each other before?”
“We met at a banquet once, but we’re not close.”
“I see.”
“Let’s go upstairs.”
On the way back to the ward, Gu Mian had already informed Pei Jinchuan about what had just happened, “…It’s my fault. Buying the cake took quite some time.”
“I know my son well. If he wants to eat cake, he must have it. It’s not your fault.”
“Thank you, Mr. Pei.”
“I will handle this matter. Don’t worry.”
“Mm.”
Back in the ward, the crying Xiaobao immediately ran over and hugged Gu Mian upon seeing her, “Mom, you’re finally back! Did that bad guy bully you?”
Gu Mian recalled the scene in the elevator, her face flushing again, “No, Xiaobao, I’m fine.”
Only then did Xiaobao complain to Pei Jinchuan, “Dad, just now a bad auntie bullied me, but Mom protected me. See how much Mom loves me!”
Gu Mian was extremely embarrassed. Anyone unaware might think she had deliberately taught Xiaobao to say that to gain favor!
Pei Jinchuan patted his head, “Dad knows. Didn’t you want to eat Western food yesterday? We’ll go tonight.”
“Okay!”
Pei Jinchuan turned to Gu Mian, “Gu Mian, join us for dinner.”
“No need.”
“You protected Xiaobao today, so he’s fine. I should thank you,” Pei Jinchuan said. “Besides, Xiaobao definitely wants to eat with you too.”
Xiaobao immediately chimed in, “Of course! If Mom doesn’t come, I won’t eat.”
Unable to refuse, Gu Mian relented, “Alright.”
“Let’s go now. It’s a good chance to take Xiaobao out for some fresh air.”
Gu Mian changed Xiaobao out of his hospital gown, and the three of them left together.
Xiaobao held Pei Jinchuan’s hand with one hand and Gu Mian’s with the other, hopping joyfully.
In the neighboring ward, Yin Luoxue took out her phone, captured this heartwarming scene through the door crack, and sent it to Li Tingshen.
As she was imagining how Li Tingshen would deal with Gu Mian after seeing the video, someone knocked on her door.
“Come in.”
A young man in a suit entered. Yin Luoxue asked, “Who are you?”
“Hello, I’m the assistant of the father of Xiaobao next door. I heard Xiaobao damaged your bracelet. I’m here to compensate you.”
Yin Luoxue curled her lip, “My bracelet is very expensive. Can you afford it?”
“Although Xiaobao didn’t do it intentionally, we understand that damaging something requires compensation. May I ask how much the bracelet is worth?”
“Twenty-eight million,” Yin Luoxue said arrogantly. “I’ve only worn it for over a month. With depreciation, it should be at least twenty-five million.”
The assistant remained silent.
“Speechless, huh? I knew you couldn’t afford it,” Yin Luoxue sneered. “If you can’t pay, that’s fine too. Have that child and his caregiver come apologize to me. Maybe if I’m in a good mood, I’ll forgive them…”
The assistant took out his phone, “Give me your bank account number.”
“…You’re really going to pay?”
“Give it to me.”
Skeptical, Yin Luoxue provided her account number. In less than two minutes, her phone received a notification: twenty-eight million, not a cent less.
While Yin Luoxue was still stunned, the assistant spoke again, “We’ve compensated for the bracelet. Now let’s settle the account for you hitting our young master.”
“I…”
Before Yin Luoxue could finish speaking, a heavy slap landed hard on her face!
The man’s strength was naturally formidable, and he didn’t hold back. Yin Luoxue saw stars, “You… How dare you hit me? Do you know who I am… Slap!”
Another slap landed, causing blood to trickle from the corner of her mouth!
Yin Luoxue, both in pain and furious, cried out, “I only hit him once! Why are you hitting me twice?”
“Who told you I’d stop at just two slaps?” The assistant flexed their wrist and continued striking her relentlessly.
“Ah— Help me—!”
In the hospital room, Yin Luoxue’s continuous wails and pleas for mercy echoed without end.
…
When the phone rang, Li Tingshen was watching the video sent by Yin Luoxue with a grim expression.
He had no mood to answer the call, so he muted the phone and tossed it aside.
Not long after, the assistant hurriedly knocked and entered, urgently reporting, “President Li, it’s bad— Yin Xiao Jie has been beaten!”