Jiang Lai didn’t answer him. She lowered her head and continued scrolling through the transfer records between Gu Qianhe and Xiao Teng.
Five hundred thousand, 1.2 million, three million… all together it had already exceeded ten million.
“Mr. Gu is quite generous to outsiders,” Jiang Lai said with a half-smile. “Sister can casually give over ten million a year to ‘help friends.’”
She feigned a trace of grievance.
“But you’re so stingy to me. If Jingchuan hadn’t backed me up, I probably wouldn’t even have gotten that secondary card with a ten-thousand annual limit.”
Old Madam Gu’s expression darkened immediately.
“Only ten thousand? I told you to take good care of Lai Lai — is this how you did it?”
She had been in high society for decades. Girls Jiang Lai’s age casually carried bags worth hundreds of thousands. Yet Gu Anchang only gave her a card limited to ten thousand per year!
Gu Anchang’s lips moved, forcing out an explanation:
“Mom, you know the company’s situation lately. We’re preparing to enter the medical equipment field — R&D and networking all require huge expenditures.”
“Don’t talk nonsense to me!” Old Madam Gu snapped. “Since Lai Lai came back, I’ve sent many things to Maple Grove Villa. Did any of them actually reach her hands?”
Gu Anchang’s heart jolted. He exchanged a look with Song Qin.
Song Qin hesitated before speaking, “Mom… those items were too valuable. I was afraid Jiang Lai might lose them, so I locked them in the safe.”
Old Madam Gu pointed directly at the jade pendant hanging from Gu Qianhe’s neck.
“Then why is she wearing the jade fortune gourd I sent for Lai Lai?”
Song Qin coughed awkwardly.
Everything Old Madam Gu sent came from high-end auctions — rare collectibles. Giving them to Jiang Lai felt like a waste to her, so after keeping a few for herself, she gave the rest to Gu Qianhe.
She just didn’t expect to be called out like this.
Gu Qianhe quickly lowered her head.
“I only thought it looked pretty and asked my sister for it. I didn’t know it was from Grandma. If I had known, I would never have—”
Old Madam Gu scoffed coldly.
“Knowing or not makes no difference!”
“The Gu family has already given you more than enough. What right do you have to take things meant for Lai Lai?”
She stepped forward, ripped the jade gourd from Gu Qianhe’s neck, and tossed it to a nearby servant.
“Lai Lai doesn’t need second-hand things. You keep it.”
The servant trembled and hurriedly stepped back while clutching the pendant.
“This is going too far!” Song Qin snapped angrily.
The humiliation was obvious — something meant for Gu Qianhe was now in a servant’s hands.
“So what?” Old Madam Gu said sharply. “Where are the rest of the things?”
Song Qin had no answer.
Gu Qianhe’s eyes reddened again.
“It’s my fault. I really liked those items, so I asked my sister for all of them. I’ll return everything — Grandma, please don’t be angry.”
The three of them felt distressed seeing her like this, but they didn’t dare argue with Old Madam Gu.
Jiang Lai gently patted Old Madam Gu’s back to calm her.
“Grandma, since the things are already with Sister, I don’t need them anymore.”
“That won’t do!” Old Madam Gu said firmly. “Even if you don’t want them, I won’t let her keep them!”
She swept her sharp gaze over the four of them.
“I won’t pursue the car accident — but those items were gifts from me, so I have the final say.”
“If you don’t return everything to Lai Lai today, don’t blame me for making a scene even if it costs me my life!”
“Mom… we understand,” Gu Anchang replied with difficulty.
If he had known Old Madam Gu would press this so hard, he would have stopped Song Qin earlier. If Jiang Lai had kept even one or two items, Old Madam Gu might have let it slide.
Leaning against her grandmother, Jiang Lai felt warmth in her heart.
In both lives, only Old Madam Gu had ever fought so fiercely for her.
“Grandma, let me help you inside to rest.”
As she supported her, Jiang Lai whispered softly:
“In the future, don’t get so angry over me and them. It’s not worth it.”
Old Madam Gu clicked her tongue affectionately.
“What do you mean worth it or not? As long as it’s about you, Grandma will always take it seriously!”
Jiang Lai smiled helplessly.
Night — Qidu Club
Jiang Lai walked along the top-floor corridor.
She had asked Pei Jingchuan to help locate Xiao Teng, but all he gave her was this address — Qidu Club.
Qidu was the largest entertainment venue in Nancheng. Finding someone here was like looking for a needle in a haystack.
She tried using a locating talisman, but with her weak spiritual power and the restrictions of heavenly law, she could only narrow it down to the top floor.
As she moved quietly down the hallway, observing each private room, a sudden force yanked her backward.
“Jiang Lai? It really is you!”
Gu Qiyou, clearly drunk, pointed at her furiously.
“What are you doing here? Even if you beg me, I’ll never let you work on my film crew again!”
“Third Brother.”
The heavy smell of alcohol made Jiang Lai frown as she slapped his hand away.
Gu Qiyou was a rising star director in the entertainment industry. In her previous life, Jiang Lai had worked on his set to repair their relationship.
She worked diligently, earning praise from everyone — except him. He insulted, humiliated, and tormented her before firing her.
Jiang Lai stepped back to keep distance.
“I have something to do.”
Gu Qiyou frowned.
“What business could you possibly have here? Stop embarrassing the Gu family outside!”
Jiang Lai’s voice turned colder.
“If you have time to meddle in me, worry about yourself instead. Anyone touched by a peach blossom calamity won’t live past seven days.”
“What are you talking about?” Gu Qiyou slurred, clearly not processing her words.
Peach blossom calamity? Nonsense — this was just Jiang Lai being superstitious again.
Seeing her about to leave, he grabbed her sweater.
“I’m calling Grandma right now!”
“You act so well in front of her — today I’ll expose your true face!”
The mention of Old Madam Gu made Jiang Lai pause.
She could ignore Gu Qiyou — but if Old Madam Gu had to bury her own grandson, her health might not survive it.
Jiang Lai quickly folded a talisman into a triangle and slipped it into Gu Qiyou’s suit pocket, then formed a hand seal to bind it to him.
“What… what did you do to me?!” Gu Qiyou clutched his pocket in panic.
“Nothing much,” Jiang Lai said calmly. “Just saving your life.”
He stared at her retreating back, muttering:
“Acting all mysterious…”
At the corner of the corridor, Jiang Lai watched him stumble toward the elevator.
Behind him, dark, suffocating black energy swirled — thick enough to swallow a person whole.
Without her talisman, he wouldn’t have made it through the night.