Xu Tao looked at Gu Yan sitting across from him, feeling that something was off, though he couldn’t quite pinpoint what it was.
He placed a folder in front of her and asked with a smile, “Why do you suddenly want to see the evidence we’ve gathered of his crimes?”
Gu Yan took the folder, glanced at the photos inside, and smiled.
“I just want to see what you’ve found so I don’t end up with duplicate information.”
Xu Tao watched as Gu Yan calmly took a sip of coffee. “Xiao Yan, I heard you went to Di Hao to find Qu Xiao yesterday, stayed at his place overnight, and the car you just drove is his too. You two…”
Gu Yan sneered inwardly. This bastard still has the nerve to act like I’m the one who betrayed him. It makes me sick.
She sighed without changing her expression. “I went to ask him to help me take back the Gu family.”
Then she looked directly at Xu Tao. “How about you give me a few hundred million so I can buy the Gu family back from him?”
“Ah, well…”
His face showed hesitation, but he quickly put on a pained smile. “Xiao Yan, it’s not that I’m unwilling, but we still need you to get evidence of his illegal activities from his home. Only then can we bring him down. I’ve found out that the contraband discovered in Gu Corporation was planted by his people. He did all this to force you to beg him and marry him.”
As he spoke, he reached out and grabbed her hand, looking at her with sincere eyes. “Xiao Yan, don’t worry. Once we take him down, I’ll help your family make a comeback.”
Gu Yan withdrew her hand, pretending to be somewhat troubled. “But he’s been really good to me. If I ask him to help my father, he wouldn’t refuse.”
Xu Tao’s face instantly darkened. “Xiao Yan!” he raised his voice.
Only after shouting did he notice many people looking in their direction. He coughed lightly and lowered his voice.
“Xiao Yan, have you forgotten? Qu Xiao is a demon. He played with Yao Yao’s feelings, and when she was pregnant, he had someone force her to have an abortion. And your Gu Corporation was destroyed by him too. We don’t even know if your two brothers are alive or dead. How can you think he’s a good person? If his illegal overseas businesses were exposed, he’d be executed by firing squad!”
Gu Yan cursed eighteen generations of his ancestors in her heart. This bastard can lie without even blushing.
He’s the one who got Qin Yao pregnant, yet he’s pouring muddy water on my Uncle Qu.
What a complete bastard.
Struggling to calm her thoughts, she stood up. “Alright, I understand. I need to go back now, before he gets suspicious.”
Xu Tao also stood up, looking at her. “Xiao Yan, you know I’m doing all this for you. I love you, I’m willing to do anything for you. You must not betray me.”
Seeing the deep affection in his eyes, Gu Yan almost vomited. She hummed in acknowledgment, picked up the folder, and went downstairs to leave.
Disgusting.
Disgusting, so fucking disgusting.
Watching Gu Yan drive away, Xu Tao frowned and took out his phone to call Qin Yao.
When the call connected, he asked, “Where are you? Should I come find you now?”
A rather seductive voice came through the phone. “We haven’t seen each other for long, and you already miss me?”
Xu Tao had no interest in discussing romance with her. “I just met with Gu Yan, and I found her somewhat strange. Let’s talk in person.”
“I’m at our small villa. Come over.”
Meanwhile, Gu Yan glanced at the folder in the passenger seat, a slight smile curling her lips. Her Uncle Qu did engage in some illegal businesses, but those were strictly overseas. He had no intention of expanding such operations domestically.
She recalled overhearing him tell Liang Yan in her previous life, “This kind of money can only be made overseas. It must never extend to our homeland—we mustn’t harm our own people.”
Thinking of Qu Xiao, the smile on Gu Yan’s face brightened.
Driving all the way back to Rose Garden, she got out of the car with the folder and handed the keys to the driver waiting there.
It was already past seven in the evening, and night had fallen. A cold gust of wind made her shiver and pull her collar tighter as she hurried into the villa.
Upon entering, she immediately noticed the icy, almost disgusted look in Yu Yang’s eyes.
She didn’t pay it much mind—after all, given what she had done to Qu Xiao before, she wouldn’t forgive herself either.
“Yu Yang, where’s Uncle Qu?”
“The master is upstairs. He said if Miss Gu returns, I should send you back. He doesn’t wish to see you today.”
With that, he gestured politely. “Miss Gu, please.”
Gu Yan frowned, glancing toward the rooms upstairs. “Are you sure he really doesn’t want to see me?”
Yu Yang avoided her gaze, maintaining his gesture. “Miss Gu, please.”
Without another word, Gu Yan placed the folder directly into his hands. “Investigate whether these leaks came from someone close to Uncle Qu.”
Having said that, she already ascended to the second floor.
Yu Yang frowned, about to have someone stop her, when the folder slipped from his hand and fell to the floor.
He stared at the photograph on top, momentarily stunned. He recognized the person in the picture.
It was a scene of his master shooting someone dead in Country K.
How could this have been photographed? And how did she get hold of it?
Upstairs, Gu Yan approached the door and knocked. “Uncle Qu, it’s me.”
There was no sound from within. Gu Yan waited a moment longer.
“Uncle Qu, if you don’t answer, I’m coming in.”
Still hearing no response, she turned the doorknob and found it unlocked.
Pushing the door open, she entered the dark room. Only the intermittent glow of a cigarette by the window broke the darkness.
It was Qu Xiao holding the cigarette. As Gu Yan closed the door and reached for the light switch, his cold voice cut through the silence.
“Don’t turn on the light.”
Gu Yan withdrew her hand and moved toward him by instinct.
Qu Xiao took a deep drag from his cigarette, his voice hoarse. “I told Yu Yang to take you back.”
Gu Yan stopped in her tracks, watching his back. She gritted her teeth and asked, “Why? Don’t you want me to stay?”
Qu Xiao remained silent, continuing to smoke.
Staring at his silhouette, Gu Yan’s voice held a note of inquiry. “Uncle Qu, did I do something wrong? Or… do you not want me anymore?”
Qu Xiao shook his head and let out a soft, bitter laugh. “No, it’s not you who’s wrong. It’s me.”
I mistakenly believed that as long as I kept you by my side, you would eventually choose to stay willingly.
But alas, love cannot be forced—if it isn’t there, it simply isn’t.
“Uncle Qu, I don’t understand.”
Qu Xiao took one last drag from his cigarette and stubbed it out in the ashtray beside him.
His voice carried a chill, “I went to your favorite dessert shop to buy cake after work.”
Gu Yan froze for a moment before suddenly realizing—he must have seen her with Xu Tao.
She hurried to explain, “Uncle Qu, it’s not what you think, please let me explain.”
Qu Xiao gazed at the nightscape outside the window, his hand tightly clutching the hair tie in his palm. Gone was his usual arrogance and pride; instead, his voice carried a tinge of desolation and defeat.