Chapter 19 Since when did you become so close with the old lady of the Shen family?

An Rui’er’s air of innocence, as if the whole affair had nothing to do with her, utterly infuriated the matriarch of the Shen family, Shen Hanqing. Clutching her cane with trembling hands, her entire face quivered with anger. Zhang Guoguo was startled—she had never before seen her grandmother so worked up, a testament to how deeply enraged she was.

With a shaky effort, the old lady rose to her feet and swung her cane at An Rui’er. Then she pointed at the surveillance screenshots laid out on the table. “See for yourself. Look at what you’ve done!” Her whole body shook, her finger stabbing at the photos. Zhang Guoguo hurried to support her. It was this very gesture that made Gu Yiqiao realize she was present as well.

This fact puzzled Gu Yiqiao. She had always thought Zhang Guoguo had nothing to do with the Shen family—why would she show up here now, and be on such familiar terms with the old matriarch?

“Grandmother, please calm down. Don’t let someone so unworthy harm your health.”

“Guoguo, don’t stop me. I must teach this ungrateful and vicious woman a lesson today!” The old lady pushed Zhang Guoguo aside, leaving her anxious but unable to intervene further, especially after noticing the piercing gaze Gu Yiqiao was casting her way.

As for An Rui’er, she stared at Zhang Guoguo in shock. “You—why are you here? Why is it that every time something happens to me, you’re always around? Tell me, is it you who’s setting me up? Is it?”

“Don’t lash out at people just because you’re desperate. Don’t you have any idea what you’ve done? An Rui’er, probably no one in this world understands you better than you do yourself. Now that your web of lies is being exposed one after another, it’s time you faced reality, instead of playing the perfect saint in front of everyone.” Shen Hanqing nodded, her voice ringing out with authority. “Guoguo is right—you’re just cornered now. You framed our Lin Yue for stealing Locke’s secrets, then accused her of murder. And now, before her body is even cold, you go and desecrate her grave. An Rui’er, what did our Lin Yue ever owe you in a past life to deserve this from you? Was stealing her husband not enough? Was ruining her not enough? Tell me, what more do you want to do to Lin Yue, you shameless, immoral woman?”

Seeing the cane about to come down again and no one rushing to her aid—not even Gu Yiqiao, the man she loved, who watched on with cold detachment—An Rui’er’s heart sank. Utterly disappointed, she closed her eyes and caught the old lady’s cane with her bare hands, then fixed her gaze on Gu Yiqiao. “Even if you have evidence that I disturbed Shen Lin Yue’s tomb, it’s the police who should punish me. What you’re doing now is illegal imprisonment and vigilantism. I can sue you for this.”

Uncle Shen Hai, upon hearing this, was livid. Although Lin Yue was not his daughter, she was still family, and with rumors swirling outside about the Shen family, as an elder he couldn’t stand by idly. He turned to his mother and pointed at An Rui’er. “Mother, hit her, give her a good beating! Whatever happens, I’ll take responsibility.”

Yet, in the end, the old lady could not bring herself to strike again. Shaking her head in defeat, she returned to the sofa. “Even if I beat her to death, our Lin Yue would not come back.” She gazed sorrowfully at Gu Yiqiao. “Now, at last, do you see clearly? Who is truly worthy of your devotion?”

These words left Gu Yiqiao stricken with grief, his desolation beyond words. He stood there, lost and adrift. Zhang Guoguo watched, a cold smile flickering in her heart. She glanced at An Rui’er, sprawled on the floor with tear-streaked cheeks, and thought to herself that men were indeed fickle creatures.

In the end, the Shen family turned An Rui’er over to the police, and Zhang Guoguo left by car. On the road, however, her car was forced to a stop by Gu Yiqiao.

On that nearly deserted stretch of road, the blazing sun beat down on the asphalt. In the shade of the trees, Gu Yiqiao got out and strode over to knock on Zhang Guoguo’s window.

Composing her emotions, Zhang Guoguo lowered the window and offered a faint smile. “What is it?”

“I called your phone just now, but it was switched off the whole time. Did you block me or something?”

She picked up her phone, scrolled through her contacts, and replied with a smile, “Sorry, I don’t have your number saved.”

Gu Yiqiao looked a bit embarrassed, leaning against the window. “Are you free for dinner tonight? I have something I want to ask you.”

She raised an eyebrow, her tone slightly awkward. “Yiqiao, have you forgotten that I’m a married woman? It wouldn’t be appropriate for me to have dinner alone with another man. You know how much my husband, Luo Minglang, loves me. If he found out I was having dinner with you, do you think I’d have an easy time at home?”

He laughed. “Then let’s invite Minglang too. The three of us haven’t had dinner together in ages.”

“Sorry, but my husband’s busy with board meetings these days. I doubt he has time.”

After being rebuffed again and again, Gu Yiqiao felt more humiliated than ever. He no longer understood Zhang Guoguo. The woman who once clung to him, heedless of her marital status, seemed to have vanished.

“Fine, if you don’t have time, I’ll just ask now. Why were you at the Shen house today? Since when have you been so close with the old matriarch? As far as I know, the Zhang and Shen families have been bitter enemies for generations.”