Volume One, Chapter 18: Gu Moting Has Always Been Cold and Distant Since Childhood

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The main hall on the first floor was brightly lit. Zhu Pingxi, the eldest brother of Zhu Lizhen, sat on the sofa, repeatedly adjusting the gold-rimmed glasses on his face, nervously watching Gu Moting, who was standing by the window with his head lowered, typing a message.

Zhu Pingxi was two years older than Gu Moting but had been afraid of him since childhood.

Gu Moting was the exemplary child everyone admired, while Zhu Pingxi was the black sheep of the family, often used as a negative example.

For instance, if you don’t study hard, you’ll end up like the foolish son of the Zhu family.

Zhu Pingxi repeated a grade twice and eventually ended up in the same class as Gu Moting, scraping through school by copying homework from others until graduation.

Later, the Zhu family sent him abroad to polish his credentials. Upon returning, he took over a small family business to gain experience.

But even with this small company, he bungled several projects and had to ask old classmates for help to barely keep it afloat.

Zhu Pingxi had always wanted to establish a good relationship with Gu Moting, but it was difficult.

Gu Moting had always been cold and distant, looking unapproachable to both strangers and acquaintances alike.

Zhu Pingxi tried hard but could never learn how to naturally call Gu Moting “boss” like Zhou Chenbo or Liang Jun did.

After several years of not seeing each other, Gu Moting seemed even more aloof; years of managing the company had added an imposing aura to him. A casual glance from him was enough to overwhelm anyone.

Moreover, there was a strange feeling — Zhu Pingxi clearly sensed that Gu Moting was now more composed and reserved than before, yet there was also a wild, defiant streak beneath it.

Still, Zhu Pingxi thought this might just be his imagination.

And his instincts rarely proved accurate, otherwise the company wouldn’t be in such a state...

At that moment, a servant who had been sent upstairs to call Zhu Lizhen came back, speaking quietly behind Zhu Pingxi: “Miss Lizhen says her leg is broken again; she can’t come down, she can’t even climb.”

Zhu Pingxi hissed softly, “That’s nonsense! Go up and have her answer my call. Otherwise, I’ll have someone carry a ladder up and climb to her balcony.”

The servant hesitated, “Miss Lizhen also said if the young master tries to climb up with a ladder, she will... she will...”

“What?” Zhu Pingxi asked sharply.

The servant struggled, “She said she would retaliate in a way the young master would never expect.”

“...” Zhu Pingxi paused, then angrily said, “Retaliate? She used that word against me?”

The servant nodded.

Zhu Pingxi slapped the sofa and stood up, “I’m going to find her!”

His voice was a bit loud. Gu Moting, with one hand in his pocket, turned from sending a message and looked up.

Zhu Pingxi immediately softened his expression, “President Gu, Lizhen isn’t feeling well. I’m going to check on her.”

Gu Moting’s voice was cold and low, “I only need one answer: who was the woman in Little Tao’s grandmother’s hospital room this afternoon? If she speaks, call me immediately. I’m going to the hospital now.”

Zhu Pingxi hurriedly said, “Don’t worry, President Gu. I’ll find out as soon as possible and tell you right away!”

Zhu Lizhen lay at the foot of the bed, typing rapidly with two fingers.

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Hearing the noise outside the window, she picked up her phone and quietly peeked out with a pair of eyes.

She heard her brother acting like a doormat over there, playing the welcoming host—

“Goodbye, President Gu!”

“Come visit again next time, President Gu!”

“Don’t worry, President Gu, I’ll find out right away!”

...

Zhu Lizhen twitched the corner of her mouth and lowered her head to reply to Su Qiuyu: “Sometimes I think my brother endures humiliation for the sake of the family, other times I wonder if he actually enjoys it.”

After sending the message, she looked up and suddenly met a pair of clear, dark eyes.

Gu Moting opened the car door with one hand. His tall, upright figure stood beside the driver’s seat, catching her right in the act.

“Good heavens,” Zhu Lizhen exclaimed and quickly ran away.

Gu Moting raised his head; the interplay of light and shadow in the Zhu family mansion outlined his sharp jawline and deep facial contours.

His eyes narrowed slightly, intently staring at Zhu Lizhen’s window.

The more she avoided his gaze, the more certain Gu Moting felt, as if something was about to break through the surface.

He was eager to see what lay beneath the water.

At the hospital.

Little Tao leaned against the headboard, her expression dazed.

When she first woke, she could still speak, but as memories of what had happened returned, her face darkened and lips pressed tightly, refusing to say a word.

Shao Shanshan tried to cheer her up with several purple dolls, but after a long time, Little Tao showed no response.

Shao Shanshan sighed softly, feeling hurt, “Little Tao, do you not like Auntie Shanshan anymore?”

This trick usually worked, but today, Little Tao seemed deaf to everything.

Her eyes were confused, and every breath she took mirrored the fierce expression of her grandmother.

As if she were one of those wicked witches in fairy tales...

But this was her grandmother, her own family.

The person Little Tao was closest to could never be a witch.

Suddenly, hurried footsteps came from outside.

Gu Moting strode in.

Little Tao seemed to come alive at the sound, quickly turning her large eyes toward the hospital door.

The tall, slender figure of the man appeared, and Little Tao immediately threw off the covers, jumped from the bed, and rushed to him.

Gu Moting bent down and embraced her. Little Tao, unable to hold back, opened her mouth and cried out, “Uncle!”

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Gu Moting lifted her up, his knuckles distinct as he wiped away her tears.

“Don’t cry yet. The doctor said you can’t get too emotional.”

Little Tao’s tears flowed freely, one after another.

“Uncle, why did my grandmother hit me? I looked for her for so long, and she hit me with a cup.”

Shao Shanshan came over to comfort her, “Don’t cry, don’t cry. Little Tao, it’s okay. You won’t have to look for Grandma anymore.”

Just as she finished speaking, Shao Shanshan caught Gu Moting’s cold, sharp glance.

Her heart sank, and she whispered, “Senior...”

Gu Moting looked toward Zhuang Jian, “Please, Miss Shao, step outside first.”

Zhuang Jian respectfully said, “Yes. Miss Shao, please—”

Shao Shanshan pursed her lips, her expression turning aggrieved and resentful, “Senior, you’re still angry with me over Su Xiaowu’s matter? Didn’t I already help you resolve it?”

By bringing up the topic herself, Shao Shanshan made Zhuang Jian’s scalp tingle. He quickly stepped forward to stand between her and Gu Moting.

“Miss Shao, please.”

Shao Shanshan angrily went to the sofa, picked up her bag, and left. Before leaving, she glanced at Gu Moting and Little Tao.

Neither uncle nor niece spared her a second look.

Tears welled up in Shao Shanshan’s eyes. She took a deep breath and walked out of the hospital room.

Little Tao leaned against Gu Moting’s shoulder, exhausted from crying but still sobbing intermittently.

Gu Moting comforted her and was about to ask Jiang Qiong something when his elder brother, Gu Cangpeng, called.

Gu Moting held Little Tao with one hand and answered, “Hello.”

Gu Cangpeng frowned, “Did something happen to Little Tao?”

Gu Moting replied calmly, “She’s fine now.”

“Was it serious?”

“It won’t affect the Gu family.”

Gu Cangpeng was silent. After a pause, he asked, “What did Gu Shengjie’s side say?”

“He hasn’t called me.”

Gu Cangpeng sneered, “His daughter is still your daughter, huh?”

Gu Moting’s eyes showed no emotion. “Anything else?”

“About President Mou, you gave him so much face and got just a vase? Then you gave that vase to Zhou Chenbo?”

A cold glint flashed through Gu Moting’s dark eyes. “Brother, I sold Fengting’s face to him. Isn’t your hand a bit too long?”