Li Tingshen did not return all night.
Gu Mian guessed that he had gone to find Yin Luoxue because his physical needs weren’t being relieved.
But this no longer had anything to do with her.
……
Early the next morning.
Gu Mian got up and went downstairs to have breakfast with Madam Li.
“Where’s Tingshen?” Madam Li asked.
As she poured milk for Madam Li, Gu Mian said, “There’s some urgent business at the corporation. Tingshen left early this morning and asked me to have breakfast with you in his place.”
“Good, as long as you’re here. Whether he’s here or not doesn’t matter.”
Madam Li smiled. How could she not know that Li Tingshen had left last night? She just didn’t want to expose Gu Mian’s lie.
After all, the child just didn’t want her to worry.
After breakfast, Gu Mian bid farewell to Madam Li and went to the hospital.
Despite hurrying, she was still half an hour late. Xiaobao had been eagerly waiting for her, “Mom!”
Gu Mian smiled and asked, “Have you had breakfast, Xiaobao?”
“Yes, I have.”
“I made you some small desserts. You can have them later.”
“Thank you, Mom.”
Gu Mian put down her things and began cleaning the room.
Xiaobao had particularly high requirements for air quality. Gu Mian had to clean three times every day to ensure it was spotless.
When Pei Jinchuan opened the door and came in, he immediately said, “Don’t do this kind of work. Rest.”
Gu Mian smiled, “Mr. Pei, you hired me as a nursing aide, not as an ancestor. This is my job.”
“Your current situation is special. It’s best to move less, especially during the first three months,” Pei Jinchuan said. “I’ve hired another nursing aide. Whether Xiaobao accepts it or not, at least you won’t have to do these tasks.”
“That won’t do,” Gu Mian felt uncomfortable. “Then my salary should be halved.”
Although they hadn’t known each other long, Gu Mian’s character wasn’t hard to figure out. Pei Jinchuan could only agree, “You really don’t want to take any advantage at all.”
Gu Mian said, “My grandma said that everyone has a predetermined amount of what they’ll receive in this lifetime. If you take what doesn’t belong to you, you’ll inevitably lose what you have in other areas.”
She hadn’t understood this before, but during her year in prison, she seemed to have grasped the meaning.
Li Tingshen didn’t belong to her. She had forcibly taken him, and that’s why she had lost so much.
“Your grandma is right,” Pei Jinchuan said. “Gu Mian, we can be considered friends now. Forgive me for asking, but your relationship with Li Tingshen doesn’t seem good.”
Gu Mian didn’t hide it, “I’m preparing for a divorce.”
“What about the child?”
“The child is mine alone. It has nothing to do with him, and he will never know about this child’s existence.”
Pei Jinchuan nodded, “Actually, I have an idea. Would you like to hear it?”
“What is it?”
“I checked the hallway surveillance. That day when Xiaobao was beaten and his bipolar disorder acted up, normally we would have had to give him a sedative to calm him down. But that day, with your comfort, Xiaobao didn’t need a sedative.” Pei Jinchuan sighed, “You know, for a child this young, sedatives aren’t good for his health.”
“That’s true.”
Pei Jinchuan looked at her, “You’re pregnant now, and you’ll need to earn money to raise the child. It won’t be easy. I can help you. I’m from Hai Cheng and came to Imperial Capital on business. I’ll be returning soon. If you’re willing, you can come back to Hai Cheng with me. You can help take care of Xiaobao, and I’ll pay you. How about it? This way we can both benefit.”
“I understand what you’re saying, Mr. Pei.” Gu Mian thought for a moment before speaking, “But I can’t agree to it.”
“Why not?”
“I know you want to help me, but if Ting Shen finds out that I’ve divorced you and returned to Hai Cheng with you, and even went to your house to take care of Xiaobao, he would definitely misunderstand.”
Pei Jinchuan raised an eyebrow, “I thought you decided to divorce because you no longer have feelings for Li Tingshen. Why are you still worried about him misunderstanding?”
“I’m not worried about him misunderstanding, but I’m worried that once he misunderstands, he’ll target you.” Gu Mian explained, “You might not know him well, but his possessiveness is almost pathological. He would never allow me to get too close to another man right after the divorce.”
Seeing Pei Jinchuan deep in thought, Gu Mian added, “Mr. Pei, of course, there’s nothing improper between us, but Ting Shen might not see it that way. You’re so eager to help me, and if I end up causing trouble for you, I would feel guilty for the rest of my life. Please believe me, I can take care of myself and the child.”
“Since you insist, I won’t say more. But Gu Mian, I hope that if you ever need help, you’ll call me first. Not for any other reason, but because Xiaobao likes you, and I’m willing to help you.”
“Thank you, Mr. Pei. You’re truly a good person.” Gu Mian asked, “When are you planning to return to Hai Cheng?”
“Soon, in the next few days.”
…
At 9:30 in the evening, after putting Xiaobao to sleep, Gu Mian prepared to leave.
Pei Jinchuan stood up, “I’ll see you out.”
“No need, you should stay with Xiaobao.”
“The new caregiver is staying overnight. I happen to be going out anyway, so it’s on the way.”
Only then did Gu Mian not refuse.
The black Bentley stopped at the apartment building, and Gu Mian unbuckled her seatbelt to get out.
“Gu Mian.” Pei Jinchuan called out to her, carrying two gift boxes as he walked up to her. “These were given to me by a business partner. I can’t take them with me, so you can have them.”
Gu Mian took a closer look—it was a well-known brand of Bird’s Nest, expensive due to its high quality.
“Mr. Pei, that’s not necessary.”
“Take them. Otherwise, I’d just have to throw them away, which would be a waste.”
Gu Mian had no choice but to accept them. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
Just as Gu Mian was about to say goodbye, she caught sight of a tall, straight figure emerging from the darkness and walking toward her.
Gu Mian froze.
Pei Jinchuan followed her gaze and also saw Li Tingshen.
“Why are you back so late?” Li Tingshen approached Gu Mian, a smile on his handsome face. “And why did you trouble President Pei to bring you back? Didn’t we agree that I would pick you up?”
Remembering what happened the previous night, Gu Mian’s expression turned slightly uneasy.
“President Li, we meet again.” Pei Jinchuan smiled. “I had some business in the area and happened to give Gu Mian a ride back.”
“Thank you for your trouble, President Pei.” Li Tingshen raised his arm and wrapped it around Gu Mian’s shoulder. “My wife and I will treat you to a meal another day.”
“Sure.”
Though they were being polite, Gu Mian could feel the tension in the air growing thicker.
Li Tingshen issued a dismissal, “I won’t see you out.”
Pei Jinchuan had no intention of staying longer anyway. “Farewell.”
Gu Mian secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
She had been afraid they would start a fight right then and there.
Before Gu Mian could collect herself, the two bags of Bird’s Nest in her hands were suddenly taken by Li Tingshen.
Not far away was a trash bin—he threw them directly inside.
“What are you doing!” Gu Mian exclaimed, heartbroken. “That was expensive!”
Li Tingshen turned around, his gaze heavy. “You were bought over by such trivial things? Gu Mian, weren’t you full of integrity? You didn’t even covet the position of Mrs. Li, so why are you coveting these two boxes of Bird’s Nest now?”
“Watch your tone,” Gu Mian said seriously. “I bought these, they weren’t given to me.”
She had no intention of taking others’ things for free and planned to deduct the cost of the Bird’s Nest from her wages when settling accounts later.
“Do you think I’m deaf? I heard clearly—it was given to you by him.”
“I’ll pay him back later. How does that not count as buying it?”
After saying this, Gu Mian moved to retrieve the discarded Bird’s Nest.
“Don’t you dare pick them up,” the man’s warning voice drifted over eerily. “If you dare pick them up, I’ll stew ten servings of Bird’s Nest and make you finish them all in one go.”
Gu Mian remembered the steak incident from that day and forcibly halted her steps.
Li Tingshen meant what he said, and she didn’t want to eat ten servings of Bird’s Nest.
Gu Mian turned to glare at him. “Since I accepted them, I have to pay him. With you throwing them away like this, I’ve worked several days for nothing!”
Having said this, she turned and stomped upstairs in a huff.
Li Tingshen pinched the bridge of his nose. It was just two boxes of Bird’s Nest—how much could they possibly be worth? Was it really worth her getting so angry?
Gu Mian took out her keys, opened the door, and entered. Just as she was about to close the door, the man followed her inside.
Gu Mian quickly blocked his path. “What are you doing? I didn’t invite you in. Get out.”
Her strength was naturally no match for his. Li Tingshen easily made his way into her home and unceremoniously took a seat on the sofa.
Gu Mian could only close the door and busy herself collecting clothes from the balcony, ignoring him.
Li Tingshen scanned the room—it wasn’t even as big as one of the bathrooms in the Li family home. Cramped and cluttered with belongings, it felt stiflingly narrow.
He looked at Gu Mian, who was sitting on the bed folding clothes. “How can anyone live here? Come home with me.”
“I told you, that’s not my home.”
“Still angry about last night?” Li Tingshen felt a headache coming on. He was the one who had to stop halfway through, and he wasn’t even angry with her, yet she was still holding a grudge.
“Come home with me. I promise I won’t force you.”
“I’m not going back. This place is fine.” Gu Mian placed the folded clothes into a small wardrobe. “I’m an ordinary person, so of course I should live in an ordinary neighborhood like this. Yun Yue Bay is nice, but it doesn’t belong to me.”
Just like Li Tingshen—he had never belonged to her either.
Li Tingshen’s brow furrowed, a trace of impatience crossing his handsome face. “Gu Mian, I’m already lowering my pride here.”
Gu Mian turned to face him. “Did Grandma force you to come? Don’t worry, when the time is right, I’ll go explain everything to Grandma.”
“Explain what? That you want a divorce from me and are begging Grandma to pressure me?” Anger flickered in Li Tingshen’s eyes. “Gu Mian, are you pretending to be deaf, or are you deliberately ignoring what I say? I told you, I won’t divorce you!”
“Why?” Gu Mian looked at him, perplexed. “You don’t love me at all. Why won’t you agree to a divorce?”