Chapter 23: To Love You Is to Fear That Nothing I Give Will Ever Be Enough

Zhang Guoguo found herself speechless in the face of Chen Menglu’s words. She sighed, her smile tinged with helplessness. “Do you know? Sometimes I feel rather shameful, always using his love to achieve my own ends.”

“What’s shameful about that? Zhang Guoguo, you must understand, you’re living for me now, but you are still Zhang Guoguo herself. Luo Minglang loves you, gives everything for you—that’s only right, that’s what he’s supposed to do. True love is always afraid of giving too little, always giving and giving of its own accord, not waiting for the other to ask. For that matter, I owe you an apology. Because before, when he wanted to give me money, property, shares—I refused it all. You’ll have to figure out how to make him give to you automatically.”

“What nonsense is this? Property, shares, I don’t need any of that. I just need a little money. Why must it come from him?”

“But the reality is, if he doesn’t give you any, you’ll have no money, and you’ll have to find a way. You have a billionaire husband’s wealth at your disposal—whose money would you use if not his?”

“I’ll ask Gu Yiqiao to lend me some.”

“No, no, no—don’t even think about it. If Luo Minglang finds out, you’re finished. In this world, no one hates Gu Yiqiao more than Luo Minglang. I don’t want to see them at odds again.”

“So what should I do? I can’t bring myself to ask him for money.”

“I don’t get it—you never lack for anything, what do you need money for?”

“I have my own reasons.”

“Then go home and ask your mother.”

“My mother?”

“Yes, the tigress of the Zhang family—if you’re not afraid, go ahead.” Chen Menglu took another sip of coffee and smiled. “But let me warn you, you’ll need to be sharp with her. She’s highly vigilant, not as easily fooled as Luo Minglang.”

Seeing Chen Menglu’s nonchalant attitude, Zhang Guoguo felt frustrated. “Forget it, I’ll figure it out myself. No need for you to worry. By the way, how’s it going with you and Gu Yiqiao?”

“He’s busy as a dog all day, always in meetings or on business trips. If I see him once a day, I’m already grateful.”

“Locke is undergoing restructuring this year. He’s bound to be busy.” She lowered her head, distracted as a news alert popped up on her phone: ‘Madam Shen critically ill, hospitalized and under emergency care.’ The headline was so striking it sent her heart racing. Without thinking, she dialed her grandmother’s number, anxiously listening to the beeps and then the automated voice saying no one was available. Grabbing her coat, she rushed out.

“What’s wrong?” Chen Menglu stood up, baffled, watching Zhang Guoguo leave in a hurry.

*

The hospital corridors were packed with media, leaving no way through. Wearing sunglasses, Zhang Guoguo didn’t dare push forward—her identity was no longer Shen Linyue, but the wife of the richest man. If she were photographed now, the media would surely sensationalize it. So she quietly slipped into an office, where she happened upon a nurse’s uniform. Without hesitation, she changed, donned a mask, and carrying a medical file, made her way past the reporters to the door of the emergency room.

Her uncles, aunts, cousins—all stood guard outside. The second uncle, furious, pointed at the eldest uncle and shouted, “Big brother, I never thought you could be so cruel! It was you who framed second brother, wasn’t it? Are you plotting against me now too?”

Seeing his second uncle’s anger, Shen Yi’s son, Shen Wei, quickly grabbed him. “Second uncle, calm down, can’t you? Maybe someone is setting you up. Think about it—second uncle has been dead for years, and suddenly a video emerges? Isn’t that strange?”

“What’s so strange?” Second uncle’s daughter, Shen Yue, retorted sharply, pointing at the eldest uncle. “Big uncle, how can you be so ungrateful? If it weren’t for second uncle pulling strings for you to join the Shen Corporation, would you even be sitting in the general manager’s chair today? My father was clearly more qualified, but you constantly suppressed him. Who would believe you didn’t deliberately frame