Chapter 94: The Lady’s Body Was Covered in Bruises and Purples

The doctor paused for a moment, neither confirming nor denying the implication.

Given Gu Pingsheng’s wide range of skills, Wen Zhixia was not surprised. For a businessman striving for success, it was necessary to employ every possible means and resource; only then could the chances of success be increased.

This applied both at the negotiation table and in life.

As time passed, she had no doubt that Gu Pingsheng would enlist others around her to persuade her. Regardless of how he approached these people, he would ultimately achieve his goal.

After finishing her morning routine, Wen Zhixia called Gu Pingsheng.

Since their cold war began, Wen Zhixia had almost ceased all communication with him. Therefore, when Gu Pingsheng, in the midst of a business meeting, saw her incoming call, his sharp brows twitched slightly, and he temporarily paused his conversation with the CEO across the table.

The CEO glanced at Gu Pingsheng with some surprise. Zhou Anbei stepped forward with coffee: “President Wu, please hold on a moment. Regarding what President Gu mentioned earlier…”

Gu Pingsheng stepped outside the office. “Up yet?”

Wen Zhixia was straightforward: “Gu Pingsheng, don’t use the people around me as messengers. I can handle my own affairs.”

Upon hearing this, Gu Pingsheng’s expression darkened. “How do you plan to handle it? Xia Xia, this isn’t something you can capriciously decide. You’ve never thrown childish tantrums over significant matters before.”

“Before?” Wen Zhixia took a deep breath. “Anyway, my matter—”

“That’s enough. If you called just for this, I’m still at work. If there’s something, we can talk after I get back.” Gu Pingsheng didn’t want to argue with her, so he ended the call abruptly.

He rarely hung up on her first, but clearly, this time he didn’t want to continue the conversation.

Wen Zhixia frowned. Aunt Zhao knocked and called her down for breakfast.

At the table, Wen Zhixia had little appetite; even lifting the spoon felt weak. Her breath came out warm, and she vaguely felt feverish.

After eating half a bowl of porridge in small bites, she went upstairs to rest. Aunt Zhao, seeing her fatigue, thought she hadn’t rested well the night before.

“Is the lady feeling unwell? Her face looks much paler than yesterday.” Aunt Wang, who had just finished tidying upstairs, met Wen Zhixia on her way up and told Aunt Zhao downstairs.

Aunt Zhao didn’t pay much attention. “Maybe she just didn’t rest well. I’ll check on her again later.”

At a certain star-rated hotel.

Zhao Fuhe lay on the bed, looking barely alive. The cleaning staff who entered called Gu Pingsheng.

Gu Pingsheng didn’t answer.

So Zhao Fuhe asked the cleaner to call Li Yueting. Li Yueting’s position in the Gu Xia Group was somewhat awkward. Everyone knew she was Gu Pingsheng’s secretary, but most of the work had suddenly been taken over by Zhou Anbei.

Moreover, Li Yueting had checked Zhou Anbei’s records: a top student with overseas study experience and two years in a private foreign company—his resume easily outshined hers. She had no advantage.

And it was all triggered by Zhao Fuhe’s foolishness.

Did she really think Gu Pingsheng was a man to be easily manipulated? Standing alongside him in front of Wen Zhixia—if not for some usefulness she still had...

“Miss Zhao, perhaps you don’t know, but the president suspects that I and you have ulterior motives. My authority has already been stripped. I’m afraid I can’t help you anymore.”

“I don’t need you to do anything. Just tell the senior about my illness,” Zhao Fuhe said.

“Miss Zhao, matters of the heart are best handled by oneself. As an outsider, I’m not in a position to interfere. You might as well take the initiative. Although the president was angry about the lecture, he only took it out on me, not blaming you. This means you still mean something to him,” Li Yueting said.

Zhao Fuhe understood: “You mean... I should take the initiative to approach the senior?”

“The president rarely works overtime these days. Good luck, Miss Zhao,” Li Yueting reminded calmly.

Holding the phone, Zhao Fuhe pondered Li Yueting’s words.

Gu Pingsheng took the executive elevator directly to the underground garage. In front of his car, he saw Zhao Fuhe pacing back and forth, her face pale as if frozen, rubbing her hands continuously.

Zhao Fuhe had been waiting for half an hour. The garage was cold. She could have waited inside the car, but to appear pitiful and fragile, she chose to stand by Gu Pingsheng’s car.

Gu Pingsheng saw her but said nothing, unlocking the car with two beeps.

“Senior, I know I was wrong. I really didn’t know the senior sister would be there. I just heard you were giving a speech at your alma mater and wanted to support you. I didn’t know it would cause misunderstandings.” Zhao Fuhe, seeing no response, tried to get in the car but quickly grabbed his arm, trembling and pale, imploring, “Senior~~”

Her cold palm touched his arm, and Gu Pingsheng paused. “If you’re not feeling well, go rest properly.”

“I’m not... *cough cough cough*...” Zhao Fuhe covered her mouth and coughed.

Gu Pingsheng’s dark eyes swept over her. “How did you come?”

“I took a taxi,” she leaned unsteadily against him.

Zhou Anbei arrived at the parking lot and hesitated when he saw Gu Pingsheng acting familiarly with a woman. Just as he wavered, Gu Pingsheng glanced in his direction.

Zhou Anbei considered briefly, then approached. “President Gu.”

Hearing someone approach, Zhao Fuhe didn’t release Gu Pingsheng’s arm but leaned closer. “Senior, I’m so cold.”

Zhou Anbei noticed her intimate tone and blinked.

“Take Miss Zhao back to the hotel,” Gu Pingsheng said, pulling his arm free, glancing at Zhou Anbei.

“Understood,” Zhou Anbei replied.

Hearing that another man, whose identity she did not know, would take her away, Zhao Fuhe looked up, pitifully gazing at Gu Pingsheng. “Senior, have you not forgiven me yet? I’m willing to apologize to the senior sister until she is satisfied. I’ll do anything for you.”

Anyone listening would detect the ambiguous relationship between them, but Zhou Anbei remained expressionless, like a wooden doll.

Gu Pingsheng’s phone rang again. It was Aunt Wang.

“President Gu, madam has a fever and, for some reason, her whole body is bruised and pale.” As soon as the call connected, Aunt Wang’s urgent voice came through.

Wen Zhixia had had a slight fever since noon, but the three of them thought it was just a common cold. After taking some medicine, she went to sleep.

However, she remained unconscious well into dusk. Aunt Wang grew worried, entered to check, and found Wen Zhixia’s fever had not improved; her exposed skin showed abnormal bruising.

Only then did they realize something was seriously wrong.

Gu Pingsheng clenched his fists. “I can’t even take care of my own wife! Take her to the provincial hospital immediately. I’m coming now.”

Before he could speak in anger, his reason told him this was not the time to lose his temper. Getting her to the hospital was the top priority.

Seeing his sudden change, Zhao Fuhe guessed something had happened to Wen Zhixia and grabbed Gu Pingsheng’s hand. “Senior, let me come with you. Maybe I can help.”

Gu Pingsheng’s deep eyes glanced at her before getting into the car with Zhou Anbei.

Wen Zhixia was rushed to the emergency room. Director Zhang was called in, and Aunt Zhao and Aunt Wang waited outside.

“If only I had checked on her earlier. The madam seemed listless all day. I shouldn’t have ignored it,” Aunt Zhao said, blaming herself.

When Wen Zhixia’s temperature was taken earlier, they thought it was a common fever. Wen Zhixia didn’t want to go to the hospital, hoping the fever medicine would suffice. No one expected it to worsen by evening.

Aunt Wang sighed softly. “None of us anticipated this.”

Even Wen Zhixia herself probably never imagined this attack wouldn’t just be simple bleeding from the mouth and nose but a fierce onset without warning.

On the way to the hospital, half-conscious and half-asleep, she kept clutching her chest in pain, her pale face creased with worry, terrifying those around her.

Footsteps hurried in the corridor. Gu Pingsheng strode over grimly, with Zhao Fuhe and Zhou Anbei trailing behind, unable to keep up at first.

“How's Xia Xia?” he asked.

Aunt Wang responded, “Still inside. It’s been nearly half an hour.”

Gu Pingsheng looked toward the emergency room’s light, hands behind his back, surrounded by a chill as if wrapped in ice.

Another half-hour passed. Gu Pingsheng stood watching unblinkingly, as if frozen in time.

“Ding—”

When the emergency room door opened, Wen Zhixia was pushed out, eyes closed. Gu Pingsheng looked at her pale face; the bruising was less visible, but her white, thin skin still alarmed him.

After taking her to the ward, Aunt Zhao and Aunt Wang looked after her while Gu Pingsheng went to the office with Director Zhang.

“…As you saw, leukemia’s main symptoms are recurrent fever, progressive pallor, fatigue, bruising all over, sternal tenderness, swollen lymph nodes... If platelets are extremely low, bleeding can occur… Today’s condition shows her illness is worsening. Surgery must be decided on soon…”

Gu Pingsheng stood by the window, his dark eyes staring into the black night. “Besides Zhao Fuhe, is there anyone else suitable?”

Director Zhang frowned. “…Finding a suitable donor is difficult, like searching for a needle in a haystack. And she can’t wait long. The intervals between episodes will shorten, and the condition will worsen.”

Surgery as soon as possible was crucial.

Gu Pingsheng closed his eyes briefly, pressing his fingers to his brow.

A woman usually obedient and sensible could be more stubborn than ten horses combined.

When Wen Zhixia woke, her first sight was Gu Pingsheng standing by the window, hands behind his back, quietly watching her. Feeling her gaze, he slowly turned.

His deep eyes studied her delicate face long without speaking.

Wen Zhixia tried to sit up but lacked strength and nearly fell back. Gu Pingsheng caught her. “You just woke. Don’t move too much.”

“What’s... wrong?” she coughed.

He poured a glass of water, placing it to her lips. After sipping, her throat felt better.

“You had an episode,” he said. “You must have surgery soon.”

He didn’t hide the truth, knowing she feared the illness. He spoke plainly, hoping she’d relent and stop fighting her body.

Wen Zhixia paused, a flash of panic crossing her eyes.

She had witnessed her grandmother’s painful struggles with the disease. Of course, she was scared; otherwise, she wouldn’t have needed a psychologist to recover.

Gu Pingsheng held her trembling fingers. “It’s okay. You’ll get better.”

Wen Zhixia met his gaze, her clear, elegant eyes searching his. His deep, dark eyes reflected the endless night outside, with only her inside.

He couldn’t resist her gaze, lowering his head to plant a kiss on her eyelids.

“Senior~~”

Wen Zhixia didn’t pull away, but this quiet warmth lasted only seconds.

Zhao Fuhe stood at the ward door, watching their intimate moment, then called out.

Wen Zhixia frowned and immediately pushed Gu Pingsheng away.

Gu Pingsheng narrowed his eyes toward Zhao Fuhe.

She hesitated at his cold look but, seeing Wen Zhixia’s pale face, lost her fear. “Senior, I need to talk to you.”

Gu Pingsheng lightly touched his finger to his lips, glanced at Wen Zhixia, then stood.

Outside the ward, in the empty corridor.

“How is the senior sister?” Zhao Fuhe approached, feigning concern.

Gu Pingsheng glanced at her but didn’t answer the pointless question.

Zhao Fuhe wasn’t truly concerned. She leaned on his shoulder before he could push her away and said, “Senior, I don’t like staying in hotels. I want to go back to Chengyaju. Whenever you want me to donate bone marrow to senior sister, I won’t complain. But I’ve been sleeping poorly outside…”

Wen Zhixia had kicked her out of Chengyaju, but Zhao Fuhe insisted on returning openly.

She refused to stay anywhere else—only Chengyaju.

Zhao Fuhe wasn’t worried Gu Pingsheng would refuse; he still needed her.

Gu Pingsheng’s narrow eyes squinted. “Chengyaju is already sold.”

Zhao Fuhe traced circles on his chest. “But I’ve gotten used to living there. Even after donating bone marrow, I need a familiar place to recuperate. I can’t get used to anywhere else. Chengyaju holds so many beautiful memories for us. Can you really bear to let them disappear?”

Gu Pingsheng was silent.

“Senior, do you not like me anymore?” She looked up pitifully. “In bed, you’re so gentle and passionate, agreeing to everything. Why won’t you even let me go home now? If that’s the case, what’s the point of me staying here?”

Gu Pingsheng’s deep eyes darkened. His long fingers traced her face. His thin lips curled. “If you like it that much, then go back.”

“I knew you’d agree.” Zhao Fuhe hugged him excitedly but soon whispered, “But won’t senior sister be unhappy?”

Gu Pingsheng pulled her arms away and called Zhou Anbei. “Repurchase Chengyaju.”

Zhou Anbei glanced at Zhao Fuhe. “Yes.”

“It’s late. Anbei, take her back,” Gu Pingsheng said.

Zhao Fuhe clung to Gu Pingsheng’s arm, reluctant. “But I want to stay with you.”

“Go back. You need to rest,” Gu Pingsheng said.

In the car, Zhou Anbei drove Zhao Fuhe back to the hotel. She replied to messages.

Halfway through, she looked up at Zhou Anbei. “Are you the secretary replacing Li Yueting?”

Zhou Anbei: “Li and I manage different tasks. There’s no replacement.”

Zhao Fuhe didn’t care about the replacement. What mattered was whether he could be useful to her. “Secretary Zhou, since you have the senior’s trust, you must be special. I can’t always be with him, so I hope you’ll support him. I never neglect my own.”

She handed over a card. When Zhou Anbei hesitated, she slipped it into his coat pocket.

Zhou Anbei didn’t refuse. “Miss Zhao is favored by President Gu. I suppose you’ll have more chances to speak well for me.”

Zhao Fuhe tidied her makeup in the mirror. “Naturally.”

After sending Zhao Fuhe into the hotel, Zhou Anbei returned to the car, grasped the card in his pocket, and a mocking smile curved his lips.

“President Gu—”

The next morning, Zhou Anbei placed the card before Gu Pingsheng.

Gu Pingsheng glanced at it, showing no other expression.

Zhao Fuhe received the keys to Chengyaju.

Holding the keys again, she packed the soup she had prepared and walked into the hospital radiant.

Those penniless students at Four Directions University said she wasn’t as beautiful as Wen Zhixia?

They should see the sickly pale Wen Zhixia—how could they compare?

“Senior sister, I came to see you. Are you feeling better?” Zhao Fuhe handed a thermos to Aunt Wang. “I specially made this nourishing soup for senior sister. Put some in a bowl and have her try it.”

Wen Zhixia looked at the elegantly dressed Zhao Fuhe, instantly understanding her intentions. She said coldly, “Aunt Zhao, the chicken in this soup is overcooked.”

“Madam is right. Chicken is only useful when tender. At first, I thought this chicken looked fancy and would be tasty, but now it’s clearly not up to par.” Aunt Zhao brought over a hot towel, accidentally brushing Zhao Fuhe and quickly apologized. “Miss Zhao, please don’t mind. I was talking about the chicken.”