Chapter 1907 - 53: Meng Fan Returns

After night fell, an off-road vehicle drove past the gate of the new courtyard. The young comrade on guard saw the familiar license plate and let it through early, but the car didn’t come in. Instead, it headed toward the family compound next door.

The young comrade’s expression was surprised, and the comrades in the duty room inside saw it too. Curious, they said, "Wasn’t that the Young Chairman’s car just now?" The leaders came back yesterday, and they’d heard the Young Chairman was coming home, so they shouldn’t be mistaken.

"That’s right, it was the Young Chairman’s car."

"Then why didn’t it come in?"

"No idea!"

While they were still curious, the off-road vehicle had already stopped at the gate of the family compound. Meng Fan got out of the car, grabbed the things he’d brought, and headed straight for Building Two. Standing downstairs, he looked up, only to find there were no lights on inside.

The auntie living on the first floor happened to open her door to change the coal balls. Seeing him, she warmly said, "Comrade, you’re here to look for Gu Yunbo, right?"

"Yes! She’s not home?"

"Went out to have fun with her boyfriend. That girl’s too wild, she’s often out all night. Honestly, she has no sense of propriety at all."

The smile at Meng Fan’s lips slowly solidified.

After changing the coal balls, the auntie carried the stove back inside, and still didn’t forget to turn around and remind him, "Comrade, you’d better hurry back! It’s cold out, that crazy girl won’t be coming back. Her boyfriend just came to pick her up this afternoon."

"Alright, thank you!" Meng Fan inclined his head, but stayed where he was without moving. He suddenly felt as if something was stuck in his chest—an emotion he’d never felt before.

*****

The Gu Family’s birthday banquet didn’t end until nine o’clock. Gu Yuehong kept a grip on Gu Yunbo, refusing to let her go, with Ping Simin helping to persuade her nearby.

"It’s too late, and it’s freezing outside. Why not stay at my place!" She’d prepared a lot of "accidents" and "surprises" for Gu Yunbo tonight, but for some reason her brother had ruined all of them. No way, she couldn’t just let Gu Yunbo walk out, or wouldn’t that make Gu Yuehong look like a fool?

"Forget it, I can’t afford your kindness." Gu Yunbo shoved Gu Yuehong aside and was about to leave, only to be blocked by Ping Simin.

"Gu Yunbo, don’t be so ungrateful, you really think you’re something." Ping Simin stood with her hands on her hips, chin lifted arrogantly. "Never seen anyone like you. I said ages ago you were ungrateful and repaid kindness with hatred, but Yuehong still wouldn’t believe me." Getting a chance to stay in the Gu Family’s beautiful western-style building was a stroke of luck others could only dream of; yet she didn’t know what was good for her.

"Simin, don’t be mad. It’s fine—Even if Yunbo’s rude, I won’t mind." Gu Yuehong played the peacemaker in the middle, but every word was vicious.

"Yuehong, you’re too nice. She’s only bullying you because you’re easygoing."

Watching the two of them put on this act, Gu Yunbo found it downright eye-burning. She remembered that in her last life, Ping Simin had gone to a classmate’s birthday and came home too late. She’d drunk too much and, in a daze, was violated. By then the Ping Family had already been turned upside down by her and couldn’t even stand up for her.

Looking at tonight’s setup, it might very well have been Gu Yuehong’s scheme back then too. She’d known from their very first meeting that this woman, wrapped in a cloak of kindness, was rotten to the core underneath.

If Gu Yuehong schemed against people for the sake of profit or gain, that would be one thing. But she did it purely to satisfy her own twisted pleasure.

For no reason at all.

Unless she destroyed someone, she couldn’t rest easy.

If Gu Yunbo walked away tonight, Gu Yuehong might just push Ping Simin into her place.

"Yunbo, are you going to stay the night and keep me company?" Gu Yuehong felt uncomfortable under Gu Yunbo’s gaze and stepped forward on her own. "It’s so cold outside, I’d be worried if you went back alone. Why don’t you stay over and go home tomorrow?"

"Are you going back?" Gu Yunbo swallowed her disgust and asked Ping Simin.