A chance encounter at the hospital

"Auntie, hitting one of my people on my turf-don't you have any respect for the rules?" He addressed my mother, but his eyes were on me.

Intimidated by Gu Hansheng's presence, my mother could not help backing down, though she still tried to save face. "Didn't you used to call me Mom?"

"That was before. Calling you Auntie now is already giving you plenty of face."

Gu Hansheng was no longer the man he had been. Just standing there, he exuded wealth and distinction.

His words left my mother's face flushing red, then white. She dared neither hit nor curse him, so she rolled her eyes and began acting shamelessly.

"So what if you're divorced? Hmph, my daughter was with you for so long. Even if you divorced her, you still have to pay. Without ten million... no, thirty million, this matter isn't over!"

I felt dizzy, and my vision went black!

I grabbed my mother and dragged her toward the exit!

My mother refused to leave, as though she had gone mad, cursing Shen Nian one moment and demanding money from Gu Hansheng the next.

Shen Nian, who had been hiding behind Gu Hansheng looking aggrieved, stepped forward. "Brother Hansheng, could they really be having some kind of trouble?"

Then she looked at me. "Sister Yu Han, if you're having trouble, just say so. Brother Hansheng has always been kind. As long as you ask nicely, he'll definitely help you!"

Shen Nian looked at Gu Hansheng and asked softly, "Right?"

Gu Hansheng watched me impassively. When my eyes met his, I hurriedly looked away.

Ever since my family went bankrupt, embarrassment, humiliation, and a sense of inferiority seemed to be my only companions.

"Thank you, but there's no need."

My mother seemed ready to lose her temper again. Only after I threatened to stop looking after her did she leave with me, still grumbling curses.

On the way back, my mother jabbed her finger at my forehead. "You money-losing wretch! Who told you to get divorced? You couldn't even keep hold of your own man. What use are you?

"Now it's all over. What are we going to do about that ten million? There are only three or four days left. No, I have to go back and ask Gu Hansheng for it!"

"He and I are already divorced. We have nothing to do with each other anymore. He's not going to give you money."

"Then what are we supposed to do? If we don't ask him, are you going to watch those debt collectors come after me? At my age, am I supposed to let them chop off my hands and feet?

"Even if you're divorced, if I ask to borrow it, he'll at least give me some face!"

I was nearly mad with anger. "Mom! How much is your face worth? Think about how we treated him before! How you treated him! Do you think he'll lend you money just to give you face?"

My mother tried to say more, but I cut her off. "If you hadn't been greedy for petty favors, would you have been scammed? Would we have ended up like this?"

My mother sounded aggrieved. "Wasn't I trying to ease things for this family too?"

"Enough, Mom. Stop going to Gu Hansheng. I gave Yu Hui four million. Pay that back first. I'll find a way to handle the rest. I won't abandon you."

After hearing my promise, my mother finally gave up on asking Gu Hansheng for money.

Back at the villa, my head ached terribly. My steps were unsteady as I climbed the stairs. Without the handrail, I probably would not have made it up at all.

Auntie Zhang, the housekeeper, saw that I looked ready to faint.

"Miss Yu, are you all right?"

"I'm fine. I'm going to sleep for a while." After everything that day, I really was exhausted when I returned to my room. I took my medicine, feeling too ill to concern myself with anything else, and lay straight down to sleep.

Before I fell asleep, I was still wondering what to do about the six million.

Half asleep, I seemed to see Gu Hansheng. I could not make out his face, but his tall, slender silhouette alone was enough to recognize him.

I called his name, but he said nothing. I struggled to ask him for a loan.

No matter how hard I tried, I could not get the words out. I was frantic, but then I heard his icy voice. "Who told you I liked her?"

My eyes flew open. In the darkness, I did not dare move a muscle, my whole body drenched in cold sweat.

After taking a while to recover, I realized it was already the middle of the night. My limbs ached. I found two fever reducers by the bed and took them, feeling utterly miserable.

Realizing that Gu Hansheng had not come back at all, I felt a little disappointed. He was probably keeping Shen Nian company.

Dazed and groggy, I soon fell asleep again.

When I woke again, it was already noon the following day.

I got out of bed, but my legs were weak, my head heavy and my feet unsteady, and my joints ached.

I realized that medicine alone probably would not bring down the fever. This could not go on, so I decided to go to the hospital.

I was still wondering whether Gu Hansheng would come back that evening.

I sent him a message, but received no reply.

I called a car and went to the hospital, where I began having blood drawn for tests.

I held out my arm. Just as the doctor slipped the needle into my vein, I heard a familiar voice.

"Brother Hansheng, you didn't have to come up with me!"

The voice was cloyingly sweet. It was Shen Nian.

"Haven't you always been afraid of needles?" Gu Hansheng's expression was gentle as he lightly stroked her hair.

I turned to look. Shen Nian was walking toward me, holding Gu Hansheng's arm.

"Sister Yu Han?" Shen Nian spotted me first.

"Miss Shen, President Gu." I gave a faint smile by way of greeting.

The moment Gu Hansheng saw me, every trace of gentleness vanished, his eyes turning icy.

The doctor handed me the blood sample wrapped in the lab request form and explained where to take it, but I did not hear a single word.

It seemed he was still angry about my mother making a scene at his company.

I wanted to apologize, but with Shen Nian there, I could not bring myself to say it.