Chapter Fourteen: Turmoil Within the Gu Family (Part One)

Because it was late at night, the matter was temporarily put to rest. Aside from Gu Zhiheng, Chu Xingran, and the others, who returned to Mo Han’s villa to rest, Gu Zhixia stayed behind to look after Madam Gu.

“Mom, you must go to the hospital in the morning. Brother is back now, so you have to listen, alright?” Gu Zhixia, her eyes brimming with tears, gently urged the frail figure lying on the bed.

In truth, everyone understood in their hearts—Madam Gu was holding onto life by a thread, waiting only for Gu Zhiheng. Now that her wish was fulfilled, it would soon be time for her to leave.

As expected, a little after four in the morning, Madam Gu’s condition worsened. Gu Zhiheng and Gu Zhixia rushed her to the hospital in the dead of night. Mr. Gu had intended to go as well, but with the chaos at home, he had to stay behind to keep an eye on the troublemakers.

Though they arrived at the hospital in time, after examination, the doctors told Gu Zhiheng that Madam Gu was beyond saving and wouldn’t last more than a few months.

As dawn crept in, Gu Zhixia, still drowsy, opened her eyes to see Gu Zhiheng sitting by the hospital bed. The sight warmed her heart. She’d always known that her brother truly cared for his family.

“Do you want to get some rest? I’ll stay with Mom,” she offered, blaming herself for having fallen asleep.

“It’s alright, sleep a bit more. Dad will come at eight to take over for me.” Looking at the concerned girl, a strange warmth rose in his heart. He smiled faintly and continued to watch over their mother, whose face was unnaturally pale.

She was only in her fifties or sixties, yet looked more worn than an eighty-year-old crone. The last time he’d seen her in a video call, she’d seemed fine—how had things deteriorated so quickly?

Seeing the guilt that filled Gu Zhiheng’s eyes, Gu Zhixia’s tears welled up again. Everyone called him a harbinger of misfortune, insisting he should never have been born. Yet in his eyes and in his heart, all he held was family.

From birth until now, he’d been well-behaved, never stepping out of line or harming anyone. What had the Gu family’s misfortune to do with him? Why place all blame at his feet? It was so unfair.

“Don’t worry, little one. Now that I’m back, no one will bully you anymore,” he said, affectionately ruffling Gu Zhixia’s hair in comfort.

How could he possibly let anyone hurt his family now that he’d returned?

“Then I’ll nap a bit longer. If you get tired, wake me,” Gu Zhixia replied. Though she wanted to take over for him, seeing his resolve, she relented.

Grandfather had been right—her brother was the most upright of all the Gu family.

Time ticked by, and Gu Zhiheng remained steadfast by Madam Gu’s side. As the morning light slowly crept into the ward, the dark circles under his eyes became more noticeable, making Gu Zhixia’s heart ache.

At last, Madam Gu awoke, her condition stabilized for the time being.

“Zhiheng, it’s all my fault. You’ve suffered so much because of me.” Tears streamed down her face, and the pain in her gaze struck Gu Zhiheng to the core.

He had always thought his parents, like the others, kept their distance because they saw him as unlucky. He never imagined that, in their hearts, he mattered deeply.

“Don’t worry, I’m fine.” A gentle warmth blossomed within him, the same feeling he’d had when his sister cared for him. It was strange and unfamiliar, but comforting.

Madam Gu, her emotions settling, held Gu Zhiheng’s hand and spoke of all her longing. She soon tired again and drifted back to sleep.

When eight o’clock arrived, the rest of the Gu family was sure to start causing trouble, and Mr. Gu would come to the hospital to take over.

Right on the hour, the door to the ward opened from the outside.

“Son, I brought breakfast for you and your sister. Eat before you go back.” His son had not only returned from the ancestral hall, but seemed a changed man—mature, steady, and serious. But why had he aligned himself with the Mo family’s heir?

Gu Zhiheng nodded. “Alright, I’ll take my sister home afterwards. At noon, she can bring lunch back for you and Mom.”

He felt no aversion to his parents and sister; his affections were reserved for them alone. As for his eldest sister, her mere presence grated on him—he couldn’t bring himself to care.

That woman always acted superior, arrogant toward their parents and sister, never once behaving as a true daughter or elder sibling should.

Perhaps because he hadn’t slept all night, Gu Zhiheng had little appetite for breakfast. He ate a few bites with Gu Zhixia, and when she finished, the two returned to the Gu family estate.

As expected, chaos reigned at home. The marriage certificate Old Master Gu produced the previous night clearly showed that the so-called “old witch” had been divorced while the old man was still alive.

In other words, the old witch had been freeloading off the Gu family for years, shamelessly seizing everything for herself. Her nephews, nieces, and other relations were like vampires, draining the Gu family dry.

“What’s with all the shouting this early? Have you no manners?” The old witch, seated in the living room, slammed her hand on the table, glaring at everyone present.

There were no outsiders today—only Gu family members.

Gu Zhiheng, his patience worn thin, said, “Enough. I’ve already called the lawyers. If you have anything to say, speak now.”

Gu Zhixia, being young, said nothing, just sat quietly by her brother’s side, nervously clutching his sleeve.

“Don’t look at me like that. The moment Grandfather presented the divorce certificate, I arranged for the lawyers. As for evidence, that’s easy enough to come by.”

After all, those around him were far from ordinary. A little incentive was all it took for people to help.

The world appeared orderly on the surface, but beneath were all manner of supernatural beings in human guise. It certainly made his work easier.

Though his task was to hunt such creatures, it didn’t hurt to make use of them if it fit his plans.

Seeing no one respond, Gu Zhiheng continued, “The matter with our eldest sister will be settled by noon. The old lady would be wise not to resist.”

Gu Zhixin, that fool, had a long list of offenses. A quick investigation would be enough to send her to prison. As for compensation, aside from a sum left for her children, the rest would go to Mo Han, Chu Xingran, and the unfortunate Dust Fate.

Her so-called husband was no better—he too had committed enough crimes to be sent away with her.

As for the children, the boy was being raised by others, while the girl had been sent back to the family—left at the Gu family’s front door early that morning.

The little girl, only three years old, looked at Gu Zhiheng and Gu Zhixia with pitiful eyes and clung to her aunt, refusing to let go.

Perhaps she’d never been treated kindly at home, but seeing her aunt made her happy and eager to stay, saying she wanted to live with her and not return.

That rather conveniently solved the problem of keeping the children, saving everyone a great deal of trouble.

However, with the Gu family in the midst of such turmoil, caring for a three-year-old child would be no easy task.