Someone Had Been Poisoned

Meng Huai sat on the sofa, swirling the wine flask in his hand. Watching Yun Zimo work nonstop, he gave a bored yawn.

Three days had passed, and that fellow had made no further moves. Meanwhile, Meng Huai had become Yun Zimo's personal bodyguard, spending every day in her office like a lump of cured meat.

The incident at the last fashion show had dealt a severe blow to Yun Zimo's company. After all, being afflicted with gu was simply too bizarre to bring out into the open.

The Fenglan Clothing Group was a well-known corporation in the southwest. It had poured enormous effort into its brand, only to have things ruined like this.

Whenever Yun Zimo thought about it, she ground her teeth. That damned bastard Xiang Yu was good for nothing but making a mess. After what he had done, none of them would have an easy time!

She tossed the documents in her hands onto the desk and sighed dejectedly. If she could not persuade the other party to forgive her this time, even selling her company would not cover the compensation.

Meng Huai shook his head helplessly. "Why does a girl have to be so competitive? Wouldn't it be better to take a step back?"

Yun Zimo gritted her teeth. "I fell out with my family before striking out on my own and founding this company. It took so much effort to get this far. How could I just back down?

"I've overcome so many hardships already. I refuse to believe I can't get through this one. I've made an appointment with Shan Meirong, the chairwoman of the Fenglan Group. I'm hoping we can discuss this matter again!"

Meng Huai shrugged helplessly. He often simply could not understand it. Wouldn't these pretty girls be better off marrying someone suitable and staying home to support their husbands and raise their children?

Instead, they insisted on being so domineering. People said women held up half the sky, but now they wanted to take over the whole thing, leaving men with no choice but to act like effeminate pretty boys, preening on television.

Yun Zimo made another phone call before asking him to go with her.

He was reluctant, but when she gave him two choices—accompany her to a business meeting or accompany her shopping—he decisively chose the business meeting.

The Fenglan Group was in the industrial district, and they soon arrived. A vast stretch of factory buildings stood before them, bustling with activity inside.

Beside the factories stood a small three-story building that housed the management offices. After they entered, a secretary soon escorted them to the top floor.

Shan Meirong was a woman of around fifty. She looked exceptionally capable, and everything about her exuded wealth and elegance. She was clearly a woman of considerable means.

Meng Huai's brows drew together slightly. He passed both hands over his eyes and saw a wisp of black energy lingering between the woman's brows. It was unmistakably a symptom of gu affliction.

It seemed that son of hers could no longer wait. Perhaps he feared complications if he delayed and wanted his mother to hand her position over to him sooner.

While he was observing her, Yun Zimo had already explained everything, but the woman clearly did not believe her.

Shan Meirong said sternly, "Zimo, I've always thought highly of you among the younger generation, because I saw something of my younger self in you!

"I could overlook the ruined show. After all, a brand isn't built in a day, nor can a single incident destroy it.

"But I cannot accept the explanation you've given me. Even if you told me all your models had gone crazy that day, I could convince myself to believe it.

"Yet now you're telling me those models were afflicted with gu, and that my son sent someone to do it? You're shirking responsibility, and I'm very disappointed in you."

Looking anxious, Yun Zimo said, "Please believe me, Auntie. I really haven't lied to you. Xiang Yu's main target was me. Something unexpected happened during the attempt, and that was why the show was ruined..."

Shan Meirong interrupted her. "You've disappointed me terribly. There's no need to say any more. I hadn't intended to pursue this matter, but now I've decided to see it through. With that show ruined, how much do you think my brand is worth?"

"I don't know how much your brand is worth, but let me ask you something: how much do you think your life is worth? You can choose not to believe in something, but that doesn't mean it doesn't exist.

"You've been afflicted with gu yourself. This gu worm will numb your central nervous system. I'm sure your memory has been poor lately, and every morning when you get up, your seventh and eighth vertebrae ache badly.

"Also, you often have nightmares at night, dreaming that insects are biting you just above your knees, and that they keep moving upward. I haven't gotten any of that wrong, have I?"

Shan Meirong stared at Meng Huai in astonishment. These were all private matters. How on earth did this man know about them? Could everything Yun Zimo had just said be true?

Having built her business to this level, Yun Zimo was naturally adept at reading people. The moment she saw Shan Meirong's expression, she knew Meng Huai had been right about everything.

She smiled and said, "Let me introduce him, Auntie. This is my fiancé. He's also a Gu Master—not a poet, but someone who works with gu."

Meng Huai walked up to the desk and shot Yun Zimo a glare. "Let me correct that. I supervise people who use gu poison to harm others.

"Everything Zimo just told you was true. It was precisely because she was with me that night that the gu poison took effect early and ruined the show.

"Even a vicious tiger doesn't eat its cubs. I've seen plenty of sons harm their fathers, but sons harming their own mothers are truly rare. I have to say, that son of yours is quite a specimen.

"I know you don't believe it. As they say, seeing is believing. Today, I'll show you the gu poisoning arts of Miaojiang."

As he spoke, he formed another Hand Seal with both hands. This time, however, he did not force the gu out of her. Instead, another insect appeared out of thin air, landed on her face, and crawled into her nostril.

Shan Meirong's face turned deathly pale, and her teeth chattered incessantly. She had no idea what this fellow intended to do. It was utterly terrifying.

Meng Huai said with a cheeky grin, "Your son really is ruthless. He actually used bone-attaching gu. It can't be forced out by external means, so I put another gu worm inside you.

"No matter how powerful gu worms are, they're still insects in the end, and they retain certain insect instincts. Those include territorial behavior. Once my insect enters, that gu worm will definitely come over to drive it away.

"Then the two insects will start fighting. The human body has instinctive responses, so your bodily functions will expel them when that happens. Is there a restroom here?"

Shan Meirong still looked utterly bewildered when she suddenly felt a knife-like pain twisting through her belly. She hurried toward the restroom.