Chapter 21: A Loud Slap Landed Across His Face

"She did this?" Gu Pingsheng's gaze fell upon the bruise on Wen Zhixia's forehead, his deep eyes radiating a chilling darkness.

Hua Qianjiao, meeting his look, shrank back in fear.

Wen Zhixia nodded while simultaneously grasping Gu Pingsheng's hand, shaking her head—she had no intention of escalating the matter.

"President Qing's suggestion is quite reasonable." Gu Pingsheng withdrew his hand from hers and turned to look at Lin Huixian. "Hit back. Then let this matter be over."

Meeting his eyes, Lin Huixian felt a jolt of dread. She wasn't foolish enough to think that in Gu Pingsheng's words, the subject omitted before 'hit back' was herself.

Qing Qi's face was also grim. "Gu Pingsheng, what do you mean by that?!"

Gu Pingsheng smiled, though the smile never reached his eyes. "Do you want me to do it?"

If he laid a hand on someone, it would never be as simple as just returning a slap.

The two men confronted each other, neither willing to give ground.

"What do you think you're doing?! Do you take this station for your own home? Pingsheng, come with me." The chief, having heard what happened, hurried over and called Gu Pingsheng into his office.

"The Qing family and the Zhang family have long been friends. What on earth are you doing?" The chief turned and asked.

Gu Pingsheng replied, "Director Zhao, you must be joking. My surname is Gu. Neither the Zhang family nor the Qing family have anything to do with me."

Director Zhao said, "There can never be lasting grudges between father and son. Your father still cares for you. After your mother passed away, he's always felt remorse toward you. You're not a child anymore; listen to your Uncle Zhao. Stop dwelling on the past. If your mother were alive, I doubt she'd want to see you and your father estranged."

Estranged from his father?

From the day his mother died on the operating table, he no longer had a father.

"I only remember that, before my mother died, she said she regretted marrying him," Gu Pingsheng said quietly.

Director Zhao sighed, "Child, how can you say such things..."

Outside, Qing Qi, after coldly warning Hua Qianjiao not to trouble Lin Huixian again, left with his people without looking back.

Lin Huixian turned and cast Hua Qianjiao a mocking glance.

Hua Qianjiao lowered her head in dejection. As Wen Zhixia moved to comfort her with a gentle pat on the shoulder, Hua Qianjiao suddenly looked up and forced a smile. "Sister Wen, your husband was truly frightening just now."

She went on, "He must love you very much. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been so angry when he saw you hurt."

Even if Qing Qi no longer loved her, Sister Wen's husband would protect her, and that was enough.

Before Gu Pingsheng returned, someone from the Hua family came to fetch Hua Qianjiao.

Wen Zhixia waited for him in the corridor outside.

She pondered Hua Qianjiao's parting words, a vague confusion growing in her heart. Did he truly love her so much?

What she had once believed without question now seemed uncertain in light of recent events.

Her stray hair veiled her vision, and she did not come to her senses until someone lifted her into their arms.

Gu Pingsheng carried her to the car, then took out a disinfectant wipe to gently clean the wound on her forehead.

The tenderness and care in his eyes made Wen Zhixia's heart tremble slightly. Perhaps she was simply overthinking things.

Her young man, when he looked at her, was the same as ever.

"I..." She wanted to speak openly with him, but at that moment, Gu Pingsheng's phone rang.

Her memory was sharp. Even a fleeting glance at the number was enough for her to recall most of it. This call was from the same number she had seen in the president's office at Gu Xia Group.

If she wasn't mistaken, it was Zhao Fuhe's number.

Wen Zhixia was suddenly overtaken by an inexplicable irritation. "Since President Gu is so busy, I'll go back by myself."

She pushed open the car door, intending to get out.

Gu Pingsheng glanced at his phone, reached out to stop her, and refused to let her leave. "It's so late. Where would you go?"

"Let go!"

Wen Zhixia struggled. He refused to relent, and without warning, with a sharp crack, she slapped him across the face.