Chapter 48: What Happened Nine Years Ago?

Zhao Fuhe looked into his eyes and parted her lips. The liquor was fierce, burning as it slid down her throat. She wanted to use her discomfort as an excuse to avoid it, but under Gu Pingsheng’s resolute gaze, she had no choice but to steel herself and drink it all. As she finished, she pressed her hand to her mouth, on the verge of vomiting. Gu Pingsheng’s fingertips touched her lips. “Swallow it.”

Zhao Fuhe pursed her lips, obeying his command.

Seeing this, Gu Pingsheng patted her cheek and glanced at the clock on the wall. “I’m going to shower.”

Zhao Fuhe nodded, her cheeks flushed and heart pounding. Moments ago, during her bold dance, she had been daring and uninhibited, but now she appeared as pure as an untouched maiden, all innocence—so long as one discounted the ambition in her eyes.

After Gu Pingsheng entered the bathroom, Zhao Fuhe returned to the bedroom and carefully adjusted her makeup in front of the mirror.

“Men always want their women to be pure and demure outside, but seductive inside the home. Half innocence, half allure—that’s how you keep him tied to you. Gu Pingsheng’s wife holds her place because she’s a thunderous force in the business world, but gentle and understanding at home. That’s the contrast,” Sister Zhang’s words echoed in her mind.

Zhao Fuhe thought leaving the Junyue Club with Gu Pingsheng would free her from serving the men inside. She never imagined she would still be unable to escape the fate of warming someone’s bed.

“Your face is your weapon, but your body is dull, lacking any charm. You have no feminine allure. Only by experiencing several men will you truly understand them,” Sister Zhang lifted her chin. “If you can’t keep Gu Pingsheng, plenty of women can. If I’m not mistaken, you’re just like a bar hostess to him right now.”

Seeing the resentment in her expression, Sister Zhang spoke without mercy. One phrase—“bar hostess”—stripped Zhao Fuhe back to her origin.

“Grip his heart, bear his first child—if your methods are high enough, you can turn from a sparrow into a phoenix.” She delivered a slap and offered a path, making Zhao Fuhe willingly help her.

To achieve her goal, Zhao Fuhe gritted her teeth and agreed to Sister Zhang’s plan, with the sole condition that her full face would not be revealed.

She was trained in how to please men, how to make them lose themselves, all in pursuit of rising above others.

When footsteps sounded at the door, Zhao Fuhe pressed her dizzy head, clouded from the strong liquor, collected herself, and turned off the lights. As she tried to move, she stumbled, and the man behind her reached out to pull her onto the bed.

Hot breaths intertwined.

“Senior, I love you…”

Zhao Fuhe’s voice was low and languid.

Here, spring’s warmth blossomed; over at Lanhu County, coldness intertwined.

Scandal and gossip always spread faster than good deeds. Not long ago, the rumor about Wen Zhixia’s double dealings had been suppressed, but now, riding this wind, it flared anew.

Bang, bang, bang—

Bang, bang, bang—

The door was knocked on loudly, urgent and chaotic.

Wen Zhixia paused, rose to open the door, and Hua Qianjiao, unable to control her strength, nearly fell over as the door swung open.

Wen Zhixia reached out to steady her. “Careful, why so rushed?”

“Wen Sister, are you alright?” Hua Qianjiao, barely steady, blurted.

Ye Lanzhou, following behind, sighed quietly and pulled her back, shaking his head gently to signal her to be more tactful.

Such matters, Wen Zhixia likely wouldn’t want to speak plainly.

But Hua Qianjiao was oblivious to these subtleties. She hurried over only to confirm that her Wen Sister was okay.

“Don’t pull me,” Hua Qianjiao tried to shake off his hand.

Ye Lanzhou squeezed her soft cheeks. “What did Uncle and Aunt ask you to say?”

Hua Qianjiao slapped her head and turned. “Wen Sister, Dad said he’s had the news suppressed, and Mom says you’re welcome at our house. They said if you need any help, just ask.”

Wen Zhixia paused in her motion of pouring water, her breath catching slightly. “The news has already reached Chairman Hua.”

Indeed, good news never travels, but bad news spreads a thousand miles.

Ye Lanzhou paused. “Pingsheng isn’t back yet?”

Wen Zhixia handed them the water cups. “Mm.”

Hua Qianjiao passed a cup to Ye Lanzhou, stood, and hugged Wen Zhixia, patting her back gently just as Wen Zhixia had comforted her before. Miss Hua’s voice was sweet: “Wen Sister, don’t be afraid, I… I’ll have Dad protect you.”

She’d meant to say “I’ll protect you,” but realized her own abilities were limited—it was always Wen Zhixia helping her—so she switched to her father.

Wen Zhixia laughed softly; her mood, previously heavy, eased and relaxed. “Alright, I’m not as fragile as you think. It’s just a bit of gossip.”

Her tone was light, as if she truly didn’t care.

Hua Qianjiao always believed whatever she said, rubbing her head on Wen Zhixia’s shoulder. “Mm-hmm.”

Ye Lanzhou glanced at the calm Wen Zhixia, but was not so easily fooled. Something was off with her.

He fiddled with his phone, wanting to contact Gu Pingsheng and ask if he was aware, but suddenly noticed new developments. His brows rose. “Gu Xia Group’s official blog says they’ve sent a lawyer’s letter to the first big account that spread rumors, and they’re offering a hefty reward across the internet for information on the rumor-monger—one hundred thousand yuan for reliable information.”

As he finished, a tall figure appeared at the door: Gu Pingsheng.

“Looks like we’re not needed here,” Ye Lanzhou stood.

Wen Zhixia watched the man stride toward her, her gaze calm as water.

“Why didn’t you answer the phone?” Gu Pingsheng steadied his breath and asked.

Wen Zhixia glanced at the phone on the table. “It was too noisy.”

Whether well-intentioned or malicious, calls and message alerts had been endless. After calling Gu Pingsheng but getting no answer, she’d switched off her phone and tossed it aside.

“This was my oversight,” he said gravely. “I’ll take care of it.”

Wen Zhixia raised her brows. “What did you neglect?”

What did he mean, it was his oversight?

Gu Pingsheng gripped her hand, his thin lips uttered a name: “Zheng Xuancheng.”

Wen Zhixia’s eyes flickered, as if she suddenly understood. “You know everything that happened yesterday?”

He nodded silently.

Wen Zhixia stared at him for a long while, saying nothing.

Ye Lanzhou, seeing this, wanted to take Hua Qianjiao away, but she refused. “I want to stay with Wen Sister.”

Ye Lanzhou was helpless. “Her husband is home now. Why do you need to stay?”

Hua Qianjiao pursed her lips and tugged Wen Zhixia’s sleeve. “Wen Sister, you want me to stay, don’t you?”

Wen Zhixia smiled faintly. “Stay if you want.”

“Mm.” Hua Qianjiao nodded happily, and glanced at Ye Lanzhou with her chin raised in a show of pride.

Hua Qianjiao was always childlike; if she wanted to stay, Wen Zhixia would let her. Wen Zhixia was always tolerant of those close to her.

But Ye Lanzhou had no reason to stay, so he bid them farewell and left.

After settling Hua Qianjiao, Wen Zhixia walked alone to the living room. Gu Pingsheng was on the balcony, making a call, his deep gaze fixed on the heavy darkness outside.

“President Gu, when we found him, Zheng Xuancheng had already been beaten severely and was in the hospital for emergency treatment.”

“Who did it?” Gu Pingsheng asked.

The person on the other end was apologetic. “…Right now, we don’t know.”

Gu Pingsheng: “Keep investigating.”

Who could act so decisively in such a short time after the incident broke?

“Yes.”

The footsteps behind him made Gu Pingsheng turn slightly, ending the call. “What did you eat tonight?”

Wen Zhixia sat on the sofa. “I thought you had other questions for me.”

Gu Pingsheng turned and walked to her, his slender fingers playing with her hair. “When you called tonight, my phone wasn’t nearby. The company has denied the rumors officially, and the search terms have been scrubbed. This will soon blow over. For the next few days, I’ll arrange two bodyguards for you. If you go out, take them, just in case.”

Wen Zhixia looked at him. “How did you know this was connected to Zheng Xuancheng?”

She hadn’t told anyone about yesterday. How had he found out? Last night, after returning, he hadn’t mentioned a word, as if nothing had happened.

“Are you suspecting I’m monitoring you?” he asked.

Wen Zhixia was silent.

“Qian Hongdan was negotiating a partnership with Gu Xia Group. She was called out by a phone call mid-meeting.” He explained that Qian Hongdan had told him afterward.

It seemed a reasonable explanation.

Wen Zhixia hadn’t forgotten Qian Hongdan’s words upon entering: “So you’re Wen Zhixia.”

It all seemed logical, yet there was a vague sense of something amiss.

“…What about the video online?” he asked.

At the mention of the video, Wen Zhixia’s body visibly trembled—a reflex that Gu Pingsheng didn’t miss.

“What happened nine years ago?” When he met her, she was the quiet, aloof bookworm, reserved and seldom spoke, so obedient that one wanted to bully her.

Yet the video online told Gu Pingsheng there was a past he didn’t know, one she’d never spoken of.

“I don’t want to talk about it.” She didn’t want to speak, didn’t want to utter a single word about that chapter of her life.

She had spent so much time sealing those memories away—how could she now tear them open?

“Before I sent people to find Zheng Xuancheng, he was crippled and sent to the ICU. Did you know about this?” Gu Pingsheng opened her hand, noticing her palm had been scratched and the blood had dried.

At his words, Wen Zhixia suddenly looked up. “Who did it?”

Gu Pingsheng met her eyes. “…I thought you would know.”

Wen Zhixia shook her head. “I didn’t have anyone do it.”

Gu Pingsheng took out the medical kit and tended to her wound. “I’ll get to the bottom of it. Take a bath and sleep well, don’t worry about anything.”

“Are you not going to ask about the video?” she said.

“Alcohol stings a bit, bear with it.” He pressed a cotton swab to her palm; she instinctively wanted to pull away, but his grip prevented it.

“If you know pain, don’t do foolish things again.” He lowered his head and gently blew on her palm. “Does it still hurt?”

The alcohol stung only at first; afterward, it barely hurt at all. She shook her head.

“When you feel ready to speak, it won’t be too late,” he said as he finished tending the wound.

If she wouldn’t talk, he could always investigate. All his uprightness, it seemed, was reserved for her.

Wen Zhixia soaked in the water, her mind filled not only with chaos and noise, but also a haze of blood-red memories.

She had been drugged and deceived; those people wanted to see her lose control and display the wild charm they desired. Yet something went wrong—repeated doses made her completely uncontrollable, lashing out indiscriminately with a weapon.

Perhaps they thought a young girl had no real aggression, or that they’d done such things so often they felt invincible. No one expected her to go mad and attack, injuring several.

One man was pinned by her bloodshot gaze; she stabbed him in the chest with a knife.

The sight of blood sharpened her vision, making her eyes even more scarlet. The drunken man, emptied by debauchery, was pathetically unable to resist.

Kill him—

Kill them!

That was the only thought in Wen Zhixia’s mind.

She was barely conscious, yet she felt someone helping her; whoever it was fought even fiercer than she did. Without him, she could never have succeeded in the attack.

But her world was spinning, drenched in red. She vaguely saw a youth dressed in black.

As the drugs seized her and she raised the knife to kill, sirens blared; her hand was gripped from behind, stopping her, urging her to let go and not do something she’d regret.

Would she regret it? She didn’t know—only that the white-clad youth who stopped her had blood at the corner of his eye, and his palm was warm.

When the police arrived, he took the knife from her hand, wiped the prints, and tossed it beside the man bleeding out. “He overdosed and hurt himself. Don’t mention you harmed anyone.”

Wen Zhixia didn’t know who the youth was. She only saw him recount the events clearly, and the police treated him with respect.

His health seemed poor, coughing several times, his face pale.

There was white paper on the table, stained half-red with blood.

Wen Zhixia folded it into a rose and gave it to him, in thanks for his help.

He asked her why she’d given him a blood-stained rose.

Wen Zhixia told him the blood at the corner of his eye made him look like a bleeding rose.

She had another unsaid thought: In her darkest hour, his frail body fought for her, and she would remember it for life.

But before she could speak, she suddenly lost consciousness.

During her hospital stay, besides police questioning, he visited often. It was then Wen Zhixia learned his name was Xu Qichen.

When she was discharged, he came to say farewell, telling her he was going abroad for treatment, leaving her a contact. Their brief encounter ended there.

The recollection faded; Wen Zhixia opened her eyes in the water.

She picked up her phone, sending a message across the ocean: Did you do what happened to Zheng Xuancheng?

Who else could know so clearly about the events of that year, and find Zheng Xuancheng, the one who slipped through the net?

The next day, Wen Zhixia slept longer than usual.

Gu Xia Group’s public denial and pursuit of accountability had effect, bolstered by the Hua family and Ye Lanzhou’s help. The storm subsided for now.

What sealed it completely was Wen Lechuan’s clarification video, speaking as Wen Zhixia’s younger brother.

Only then did everyone suddenly realize that Wen Zhixia’s parents, who had played the victim and accused their daughter of unfilial conduct, were actually the real-life embodiment of the farmer and the snake: when they could no longer exploit her, they tried to ruin her reputation to threaten her.

It reminded people of a certain famous actress’s ordeal—at the height of her career, accused by her own mother of drug abuse, improper relationships, and being unfilial, nearly driving her to depression and forcing her to disappear for years.

Gu Xia Group, under Gu Pingsheng’s orders, seized the opportunity to shift public opinion, cleaning up her reputation online.

“President Gu, Zheng Xuancheng is awake.”

While Gu Pingsheng was on a call with Wen Lechuan, his assistant spoke quietly.

Gu Pingsheng raised his hand to indicate he understood.

“…How is my sister?” Wen Lechuan couldn’t help but ask.

Gu Pingsheng replied, “She’s well.”

Wen Lechuan took a deep breath. “Brother-in-law, treat her well, or… I won’t let you off.”

Gu Pingsheng’s thin lips curled with a mocking smile. “Say that again when you have the ability.”

As far as he knew, Chu Man didn’t care for Wen Lechuan, in fact, she targeted him at every turn.

Wen Lechuan clenched his fists.

When Gu Pingsheng arrived at the hospital, Qian Hongdan was there. She showed no surprise at his arrival. “Before you came, someone secretly injected another drug into his IV. If the ward nurse hadn’t noticed, the patient would likely be dead by now.”

As she spoke, Qian Hongdan kept her eyes on Gu Pingsheng, as if probing whether he was responsible for this.