Chapter 69: Nothing Tastes Better Than Dumplings
As soon as they entered the inner courtyard, the noise from the outside world seemed to disappear completely, replaced by a peaceful silence.
After getting out of the car, Shen Xi glanced around. The courtyard was elegantly designed, with decorative rock formations and lush greenery, making the space feel tranquil yet full of life.
There were very few people here. It seemed like there were more medical staff than actual patients. Shen Xi curiously scanned the surroundings and asked,
"This is a private section just for the Gu family? No outside patients?"
Gu Hanling nodded slightly but didn’t say a word.
She secretly rolled her eyes at him. Playing mute again, huh?
Before entering Grandma’s hospital room, Shen Xi, as the dedicated worker, took the initiative to reach out and hold Gu Hanling’s hand.
Feeling her soft little hand grasp his, Gu Hanling couldn't help but be slightly taken aback. He inexplicably felt a hint of flattery.
Lowering his gaze, his eyes fell on their intertwined hands, and he let out a barely audible hmph.
He tightened his grip slightly, then pushed open the door to the hospital room.
As soon as they walked in, Shen Xi was surprised to see Feng Weiwei sitting beside Grandma’s bed, affectionately holding the old lady’s hand while chatting away.
However, Grandma didn’t seem very interested. Her expression was slightly impatient, as if she wasn’t too keen on entertaining the visitor.
Hearing the door open, Feng Weiwei turned her head.
The moment she saw Shen Xi and Gu Hanling enter the room, hand in hand, her smile froze. A flicker of jealousy flashed in her eyes.
But she quickly masked it, replacing it with a bright, sweet smile. She stood up and ran over to Gu Hanling, completely ignoring Shen Xi.
"Brother Han, you’re finally here! I was waiting for you all day yesterday."
Gu Hanling gave her a polite nod, but without stopping, he led Shen Xi straight to Grandma’s bedside. His voice, noticeably gentler than usual, said,
"Grandma, I brought Xixi with me to see you."
Feng Weiwei felt awkward at his cold attitude, but she was used to it by now. Even so, she still followed closely behind him.
The moment Grandma saw Gu Hanling and Shen Xi together, her previously indifferent expression softened into a warm smile, and her eyes lit up.
Completely ignoring Feng Weiwei, she immediately reached for Shen Xi’s hands, showering her with concern and affection.
While Gu Hanling was out of the room taking an important company call, Feng Weiwei, unwilling to be ignored, took the chance to speak up. With a hint of resentment, she said,
"Grandma, you don’t know this, but Brother Han wanted to come last night. Someone held him up, so he could only come today."
Well, she wasn’t wrong. Shen Xi's face flushed with embarrassment as she let out an awkward laugh.
As soon as those words left Feng Weiwei’s mouth, the atmosphere in the room shifted slightly. Though she spoke innocently, the underlying meaning was clear. She was trying to stir up trouble, directly pointing fingers at Shen Xi.
However, Grandma didn’t react the way Feng Weiwei had hoped. Instead, she gently patted Shen Xi’s hand, smiling kindly.
"It’s all the same whether they came earlier or later. I wasn’t in any hurry."
Feng Weiwei’s expression stiffened when she saw that her words had no effect. Unwilling to give up, she added,
"Grandma, don’t be fooled by some people’s act."
"Some just pretend to be sweet and innocent in front of a man, but behind the scenes, who knows what kind of plans they have for the Gu family?"
Uh… well, if you put it that way, Shen Xi was technically here for the money. But all she wanted was the two hundred million she was promised, nothing more.
Grandma acted as if she hadn’t heard a word, though. Instead, she reached for the teacup on the bedside table, took a small sip, and immediately frowned before spitting it back out.
"Ugh, this green tea is way too sour."
(Note: Green tea" (绿茶, lǜ chá) is a Chinese slang term used to describe a girl or woman who appears innocent, pure, and harmless on the surface, but is actually manipulative)
Feng Weiwei’s face instantly darkened.
Shen Xi pressed her lips together, trying to hold back a laugh. She couldn’t help but admire grandma's sense of humor.
Just by sitting there quietly, she had someone standing up for her. This feeling… was actually pretty nice.
Shen Xi gently squeezed Grandma’s hand to show her gratitude, and the two exchanged a warm smile.
When Gu Hanling finished his call and returned to the room, he saw them smiling so sweetly together. A faint curve appeared at the corner of his lips.
He walked over to Shen Xi’s side, his hand naturally rested on her soft shoulder. The feel of her skin seemed even more pleasant than before. He couldn’t help but lightly rub her shoulder a few times.
Shen Xi felt the warmth of the man’s large hand resting a little too comfortably on her shoulder, making her body tense up slightly. She instinctively looked up at Gu Hanling, only to find that he was already looking at her.
Noticing the clarity in his gaze, Shen Xi thought to herself that maybe… just maybe, he wasn’t trying to take advantage of her. Probably…
There was an indescribable tension between them, but everyone else in the room saw it clearly, especially Feng Weiwei, who couldn’t stand it anymore. Huffing angrily, she stomped out of the hospital room.
Grandma, on the other hand, smiled at them with a look of expectation in her eyes.
"Xiao Han, Xixi, do you two have any good news to share with me?"
Shen Xi froze. Good news? What good news?
The next second, her cheeks turned burning hot.
Wait… she can’t possibly mean that, right?
It hadn’t been long since their last visit to the Gu family’s old residence. Even if something did happen… Ugh, stop thinking about it!
She let out an awkward laugh, unsure how to respond.
Meanwhile, Gu Hanling remained calm as ever, but the smile on his lips deepened.
"Grandma, don’t worry. When the time is right, it’ll happen."
Shen Xi rolled her eyes inwardly. ‘Nope. Not happening. The moment our contract ends, I’d love to see you try to keep up this act. Let’s see if Grandma won’t smack you on the head then, hehe.’
After spending a little more time in the room, Gu Hanling had to leave for the company again. Shen Xi couldn’t help but sigh. Busy? Good. Stay busy.
Be so busy you don’t come home for two years. She’ll be living my best life at the villa.
That was the dream.
But reality? Reality was harsh.
If he wasn’t around, would things really go as smoothly for her, knowing the fate of a villainess like her?
Since Grandma needed to rest, Shen Xi left the room.
With nothing to do, she curiously wandered around the inner courtyard, taking in her surroundings.
A regular hospital wouldn’t be much to look at, but this was the Gu family’s private hospital.
As Shen Xi strolled along the garden paths of the inner courtyard, she admired the lush greenery, flowing water features, and beautifully arranged rock formations. Many of the rare plants here were so valuable that if someone managed to steal just one, they could live comfortably for the rest of their life. Well… assuming they didn’t end up in prison first.
Every detail of the courtyard’s design was exquisite, making it feel like a hidden paradise, peaceful and untouched by the outside world.
“Whoa—where did this stunning woman come from? How did I not see you yesterday?”
Shen Xi, who was strolling around, suddenly heard a frivolous male voice behind her.
She frowned and turned around, only to see a young man in a suit with a greasy, slicked-back hairstyle.
He had a cigar in his mouth, completely ignoring the hospital’s strict no-smoking policy. If she wasn’t mistaken, he was Gu Jian’s eldest son, Gu Hanling’s uncle’s child.
Gu… something? Gu She?
If Gu Hanling’s parents weren’t gone, the Gu family’s power would have remained with them. But since they had passed away, leadership should have naturally fallen to Gu Jian, which would have put Gu She in the position Gu Hanling currently held.
However, Gu Hanling, as the direct heir, was still alive and extremely capable. At a young age, he had taken full control of the Gu Corporation, earning the trust of the company’s top executives.
Meanwhile, Gu She was left with only a small share of the family’s dividends, though even that was still a massive amount of money. With no real power and no ambition, he spent his days indulging in parties, alcohol, and leisure.
The last time he saw Shen Xi at the Gu family’s old residence, he was immediately captivated by her stunning beauty and alluring figure. So now, the moment he spotted her, he recognized her instantly.
With a smug grin, he walked closer, his gaze shamelessly scanning her from head to toe.
“Oh, I see now. It’s my dear sister-in-law.”
Back at the old residence, he hadn’t dared to get too close with Gu Hanling around.
But today was different. Today was his chance to feast his eyes on her properly.
Shen Xi could tell from his expression that she wouldn’t like whatever he had to say. She simply nodded politely without speaking and turned to head back to the hospital room.
“Hey, don’t go!”
Gu She quickly stepped in front of her, blocking her path with a sly smile.
“Aren’t you bored wandering around alone? Let me show you around. There are plenty of interesting places in the inner courtyard.”
The overpowering stench of smoke and alcohol on him made Shen Xi feel nauseous. It was the exact kind of smell she hated the most.
Even though he called her "sister-in-law," he was actually older than her.
In her previous life, Shen Xi had been a guy. Back in high school, his dormmates once tricked him into taking a puff of a cigarette, and he nearly choked to death. Since then, he had been one of the rare guys who never smoked.
As a result, he had always despised the smell of secondhand smoke. It made him dizzy and sick.
“No need. I have hands and feet. I can walk on my own.”
With that, she stepped around him and headed briskly toward the hospital room.
But Gu She wasn’t willing to let her go so easily. He chased after her again, his tone still playful but carrying an unsettling undertone.
“A delicate woman like you… being with Hanling… what if one day you suddenly meet a tragic end? I’d be heartbroken.”
His eyes held a dangerous glint, and his voice dripped with insincerity.
“You probably don’t know this, but my dear cousin is a devil. The kind of man who could kill his own parents.”
As he spoke, he reached out, trying to grab her slender wrist.
Shen Xi abruptly stopped, stepping aside to avoid his touch. Her gaze turned ice-cold.
“Not a single word of your nonsense will ever make me doubt him. Please watch your manners!”
The way Gu She talked about Gu Hanling reminded her of how Shen Wanru and Lin Yueyue used to speak about her behind her back. It was no different, people spreading rumors, trying to destroy someone’s name.
She raised her head slightly, her voice unwavering.
“Even if the man I married is a devil, I still like him. And if he goes to hell, I’ll go with him!”