Before Li Tingshen could speak, Madam Li refused on his behalf, “Tingshen is busy. He needs to go home to remove the surveillance cameras.”
Li Xingze asked curiously, “Grandma, why are you removing the surveillance cameras?”
Having surveillance seemed like a good thing—otherwise, who would have thought the servant would poison him?
“Not the cameras in the common areas, but the ones in his room.”
“What?” Li Xingze was stunned. “You installed surveillance in my brother’s room?”
“Of course, I need to know the progress of them giving me a great-grandchild. That’s why I installed the cameras,” Madam Li declared confidently. “If it weren’t for you two suddenly getting poisoned, they would have already given me a great-grandchild by now.”
Gu Mian’s face instantly flushed red. “Grandma, don’t talk nonsense…”
“What nonsense am I talking about?” Madam Li retorted. “You two went back to your room to get intimate right after dinner. I even heard Tingshen asking you if this position was okay, if it felt comfortable or not…”
Gu Mian froze, her eyes wide open, her face so red it looked like it could drip blood!
Yin Luoxue’s face turned pale with anger.
Especially seeing Gu Mian’s reaction, which confirmed that Madam Li was telling the truth!
While she was suffering from poisoning, Li Tingshen was actually happily doing that kind of thing with Gu Mian. How despicable!
Yin Luoxue clutched her chest, her face pained as she gasped for breath.
“Luoxue, what’s wrong? Don’t scare me!” He Meiru cried out in alarm. “Doctor, doctor, come quickly!”
The room fell into chaos as several doctors rushed in and hurriedly wheeled Yin Luoxue into the emergency room. Li Tingshen followed them.
Madam Li took Gu Mian’s hand. “Mian Yatou, let’s go home.”
Li Xingze looked aggrieved. “Grandma, aren’t you going to stay with me a little longer?”
Madam Li glared at him. “Stay by yourself and reflect properly!”
Li Xingze: “…”
Gu Mian followed Madam Li back to the Li residence. After seeing her to her room, she spoke up, “Grandma, I have something to tell you.”
Madam Li smiled. “It’s been a long night, and Grandma is tired. Let’s talk another day, okay?”
Gu Mian nodded. “Grandma, thank you for what happened tonight.”
“Silly girl, a fall into a pit, a gain in your wit. We can be framed once, but never a second time.Madam Li held her hand with pain. “From now on, Grandma will walk this path with you in place of your Grandma. I will always believe in you and protect you.”
Gu Mian could no longer hold back her tears, which poured out as she hugged Madam Li tightly. “Okay, thank you, Grandma…”
“Good child, don’t be sad. With Grandma here, you have nothing to fear.”
“Mm.” Gu Mian asked, “Grandma, is there really surveillance in my room?”
“Grandma doesn’t have the habit of peeping. How could I install cameras in your room? I said that on purpose. Didn’t you see how Luoxue got so angry she fainted?”
Gu Mian didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “Why are you acting like a child, competing with her like this?”
“I just can’t stand her tea-scented scheming. The calculation in her eyes is practically overflowing. If it weren’t for the history between our families and what happened back then…” Madam Li trailed off, sighing deeply. “Forget it, let’s not talk about her. I had Zhang Ma prepare Bird’s Nest for you. Eat it and rest early.”
“Okay.”
…
In the hospital, after emergency treatment, Yin Luoxue was out of danger.
About half an hour later, she finally woke up.
“Luoxue, you’re finally awake. Your mother was worried sick,” He Meiru said, wiping her tears. “If anything happened to you, what would I do…”
Li Tingshen grew irritated by her crying and stood up. “Since you’re awake, rest well. I’ll head back first.”
“Ting Shen!” Yin Luoxue quickly grabbed the hem of his shirt. “Don’t go yet.”
She shot a meaningful glance at He Meiru, who immediately understood. “Ting Shen, Luoxue must be hungry. I need to get her something to eat. Could you stay and watch over her in case anything happens?”
Li Tingshen hesitated for a moment before sitting back down.
He Meiru promptly left.
Yin Luoxue looked at Li Tingshen and asked, “Ting Shen, why did you help Gu Mian today?”
“When did I help her?”
Yin Luoxue felt stifled inside.
To her, the fact that Li Tingshen hadn’t stood up to protect her meant he was siding with Gu Mian.
What she wanted was his unconditional bias toward her.
“You were protecting Gu Mian,” Yin Luoxue accused him tearfully. “You even shielded her from the vase!”
Li Tingshen froze.
He didn’t know why he had protected Gu Mian either. In that moment, he had almost instinctively stepped in front of her without a second thought.
That wasn’t something he should have done.
Agitated, Li Tingshen took out a cigarette and lit it.
He hated this feeling of losing control.
Yin Luoxue didn’t need to ask to know he must be thinking about Gu Mian, which only made her angrier.
Not daring to vent her anger at Li Tingshen, she could only pout and act pitiful. “Ting Shen, I was poisoned today and almost died. The stomach pumping was awful…”
Li Tingshen took a drag of his cigarette. “It’s over now. The poisoner has been found. I’ll make sure justice is served.”
Yin Luoxue sniffled. “The maid must have had a momentary lapse in judgment. Ting Shen, since Xingze and I are both fine, why not let it go? It’s better to be merciful when you can.”
“She dared to poison Xingze. Someone like that can’t be let off lightly,” Li Tingshen said. “I’ll handle this matter. You don’t need to concern yourself with it.”
Yin Luoxue hesitated for a moment before tentatively saying, “Ting Shen, it really seems like Gu Mian is pregnant. My mother said she was the same way when she was pregnant with me—she couldn’t stand the smell of cooking oil at all.”
“Grandma wouldn’t lie to me,” Li Tingshen said casually. “Besides, after that time over a month ago, she took emergency contraception. There’s no way she could be pregnant.”
Yin Luoxue was completely stunned!
Over a month ago?
Did they sleep together on the day Gu Mian was released from prison?
Yin Luoxue suddenly remembered that Li Tingshen had just returned from a business trip abroad that day. He had promised to change his clothes at home and then come to the hospital to see her, but she waited and waited. It wasn’t until the afternoon that he finally showed up.
So, he had run into Gu Mian as soon as he got home, and they slept together, which delayed him the entire morning?
Hatred surged within Yin Luoxue, threatening to overflow!
That Gu Mian—even in prison, she couldn’t behave herself, seizing every opportunity to seduce Li Tingshen. She deserved to die!
She had to find out for sure whether Gu Mian was really pregnant or not!
Suddenly, the phone rang. Li Tingshen picked up his phone and answered, “Speak.”
Zhang Ma reported, “Young Master, the maid said that last time she didn’t brew the coffee properly and was scolded by Second Young Master, so she held a grudge and poisoned the food. But she claims she wasn’t targeting anyone else. She knew the cakes made by the young mistress were always eaten exclusively by Second Young Master, which is why she chose to poison the cake. She begs for your leniency.”
Li Tingshen said coldly, “Gather all the servants in the household. In front of everyone, break one of her hands and expel her from the Li family.”
“Yes.”
Yin Luoxue trembled in fear.
Li Tingshen hung up the phone and stood up. “I’m heading back now.”
“Then drive safely.”
As soon as Li Tingshen left, He Meiru immediately entered. “Luoxue, how did it go?”
“He broke one of her hands and expelled her from the Li family.”
“Tingshen is ruthless. Nothing even happened, and he already broke her hand.” He Meiru felt a wave of fear. “Fortunately, you were clever to instruct the maid in advance never to reveal you.”
Yin Luoxue sneered, “What these poor people lack most is money. As long as you give them enough, they’ll naturally obey.”
“My daughter is so capable!” He Meiru said resentfully. “Who would have thought that old woman would install surveillance at home? Luckily, we didn’t do it ourselves, and it’s a pity we couldn’t frame Gu Mian with this.”
“Gu Mian is just a mouse, and I’m the cat. She can’t escape my grasp.” Yin Luoxue leaned against the headboard, a sinister glint flashing in her eyes. “But that old woman is determined to protect Gu Mian, which is truly annoying. Once I figure out a way to get rid of her, let’s see what support Gu Mian has left!”
…
Gu Mian finished the bird’s nest and returned to her room to bathe.
When she came out after her shower, she saw Li Tingshen sitting on the sofa.
Gu Mian was startled. “Why are you back?”
In the past, Li Tingshen would have stayed at the hospital with Yin Luoxue all night.
“This is the Li family. Can’t I return?”
Li Tingshen stood up and walked toward her step by step.
Gu Mian felt like prey being targeted by a beast. The dangerous aura gradually closed in on her, and she instinctively retreated.
The next second, the man strode forward and pinned her against the wall.