Li Hui truly lives up to her status as the mistress of the shipping tycoon's family.
Since I saved the life of her youngest daughter, Peng Zhenzhu, regardless of whether it was by accident or not, she knows how to repay kindness and gave me what she thought was a worthy reward.
As for the seven - day deadline I mentioned, she is also willing to believe me. All she has to do is confine her daughter to a safe place. Even if I can't come up with a solution, she'll accept her fate.
After all, for more than a decade, the Peng family has been caught in a cycle of hope and disappointment.
Li Hui was going to the hospital. Her assistant had reached a compensation agreement with the Peninsula Hotel during our afternoon tea. So she asked him to drive me back to the Gu family's residence.
By the time the car reached the mountaintop mansion, the sun was setting.
The faint yellow halo cast a gentle golden rim around the milky - white building behind the fence gate, making it look luxurious yet gentle.
The surveillance camera in front of the gate turned and recognized the car logo and me sitting inside.
The wrought - iron gate opened automatically, and the car drove directly to the steps of the main building's lobby.
Jinjin and Baobao came bouncing over. "Mama Xixi, you're back!"
The two little ones had only been separated from me for half a day, but they immediately grabbed my hands and hugged my legs, showing their affection.
I led them into the entrance hall. Just as I was about to return to my guest room, I heard a soft voice from the second floor calling me.
"Xixi, you're back!" It was Gu Linyuan. He was standing at the top of the stairs looking at me.
"Sorry. I had some things to take care of today, so I'm back late."
I remembered that I still had to do acupuncture for Gu Linyuan. It was almost seven o'clock now. No wonder he was waiting on the stairs.
"I'm sorry for making you wait so long."
I took the acupuncture kit and went to Gu Linyuan's room. Then I apologized to him seriously.
Gu Linyuan had already picked up the water mixed with the gray powder given by Bai Yu and drank it with his head tilted back.
"It doesn't matter. I don't have much to do in Hong Kong. Unlike Acheng, who has to follow the old man to deal with endless business in the group company."
Putting down the cup, Gu Linyuan smiled self - deprecatingly. "In this family, I'm the only playboy and idle rich man."
I just smiled and motioned for him to lie down as he did before.
Today, I would still insert the needles at the Tanzhong and Qihu acupoints on his chest.
Gu Linyuan closed his eyes and seemed to have fallen asleep. But I noticed Jinjin standing at the door, his big, bright eyes staring at me. He was waving my phone in his hand, and there was still a video playing on the screen.
Afraid of waking Gu Linyuan, I tiptoed out of the room.
"Mama Xixi, look at the news! Look at the news!!" His eyes were full of excited light.
This little guy had only grown up for a short time! How could he learn Baobao's bad habit and become so addicted to the phone?
I gently rubbed his fluffy hair and then took the phone.
The video was shaking, and there was a nervous voice of a host commenting.
The scene was the magnificent room of Chen Tongli on the second - floor building next to the Chixian Temple. Four police officers were walking out of the room with a black body bag on their shoulders, looking nauseated.
"Officer, is it Master Chen inside?" a reporter asked.
The police officers remained silent.
"Why put him in a body bag? Can't he be saved?" The reporter refused to give up.
"Save him? How can you save a man who is so rotten that he has to be scraped off the floor?" A young police officer couldn't hold back and glanced at the inquiring reporter.
"Quiet!" The old police officer beside him gave him a sideways look.
When the four of them reached the stairs and were about to go downstairs, the inquiring reporter refused to give up. She ducked under the yellow tape and tried to squeeze forward with the microphone to ask the young police officer.
Unexpectedly, the hand holding the sound - collecting device accidentally brushed against the side of the body bag. The buckle on the device caught on the wrinkle of the black plastic bag and tore a half - foot - long hole with a "hiss". Immediately, a liquefied arm fell out. The light - cyan linen Tang suit sleeve was stained with yellowish - red putrid juice, and the crushed finger bones were connected by a few tendons. They swayed and splashed thick yellow juice on the reporter's leg...
"Ah!!!"
With a scream, the camera started to shake abnormally, and then there were continuous vomiting sounds coming from the screen.
I couldn't help covering my nose and mouth while watching.
"Mama Xixi, is this real? Is that bad guy named Chen really dead?"
Jinjin still stared at me in disbelief.
The screen had changed to subtitles, clearly stating: Chen Tongli, a well - known fortune - telling master in Hong Kong, is suspected of being backfired by evil magic and died in a miserable state!
"Was it Uncle Gu who did this?"
Jinjin looked around. Although he lowered his voice, his two small fists clenched in front of him still waved excitedly. "Uncle Gu is amazing! Uncle Gu is Jinjin and Baobao's benefactor for life!"
"You can thank him when Uncle Gu comes back."
I rubbed Jinjin's little head again. For him and Baobao, Gu Fancheng was definitely a savior. But for me...
I couldn't help biting my lip.
"Hehe! Right! I'll go find Baobao and wait for Uncle Gu at the door!"
Jinjin didn't notice my low mood. He cheered all the way down the stairs.
I returned to Gu Linyuan's room, removed the needles from his body. To avoid him pestering me to talk, I told him to lie still and rest for half an hour.
Gu Linyuan obediently listened to me and closed his eyes again. After I covered him with a blanket, I quietly slipped out of the room.
I gently closed the door. Just as I was about to turn around and go downstairs, out of the corner of my eye, I suddenly saw a huge figure standing at the end of the second - floor corridor.
I was so scared that I quickly turned to look, only to find Gu Yinghua standing alone in the shadow of the corridor, leaning on his walking stick. He was staring at me sinisterly. Behind him, his wife, Gu Lijiashu, was writhing frantically, as if trying to break free from Gu Yinghua's restraint...
"Come here!"
Gu Yinghua suddenly spoke. His hoarse voice now truly sounded like that of a ninety - year - old man.
I hesitated for a moment. Then I heard him say, "It's about Acheng!"
My heart started pounding, and my body involuntarily followed him.
Gu Yinghua led me into his study. The dark - green sound - proof door cut off all outside noise.
"Chen Tongli is dead."
Gu Yinghua suddenly turned around. On his wrinkled face, the fierce look intensified. "Lu Xiyu, I really underestimated you!"
"He deserved it. It's the retribution of the natural cycle!"
I stared back at him coldly. "Mr. Gu, those who do too many bad deeds will eventually be punished!"
"Retribution?!"
Gu Yinghua slowly uttered these two words, as if savoring their meaning. Then, he straightened his hunched body, which made Gu Lijiashu behind him struggle and wail. She clawed at the air with her hands, desperately trying to grab Gu Yinghua's neck. But there seemed to be an invisible barrier on Gu Yinghua's body. Every time she touched it, she would be in great pain.
"Is my retribution finally coming?" Gu Yinghua's mouth drooped as he spoke sinisterly.