Wang Keru covered her face. "Yun Tian, I’m sorry. You told me to take good care of Anxi..." She lifted her head. "I thought marrying Qin Han would make me a prestigious lady. But without you, I am nothing. Even Anxi doesn’t want to forgive me; she must hate me to death..."
Tears streamed down her well-maintained face. Only in moments of breakdown could she admit her mistakes, admit that she had taken the wrong path. But it was too late; Gu Yuntian’s life’s work, Bishui Yuntian, had already reached the auction approval stage. Thıs text ıs hosted at 𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹✶𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗲✶𝗻𝗲𝘁
She had recently discovered that the Qin family had plans to take over Bishui Yuntian two years ago, back when nothing had happened to Gu Yuntian yet. These things frightened her, making her afraid to think too deeply. She feared she might have been an accomplice. How could she live with herself then? She had indirectly harmed her own husband and then slept beside his enemy. The mere thought of it was enough to drive Wang Keru to madness. That was why her smoking addiction had recently become alarmingly severe, to the point that even Qin Han was starting to find it distasteful.
Wang Keru’s craving for a cigarette flared up again, but with Gu Yuntian lying in the hospital room, she managed to resist.
The moment she was downstairs, outside the inpatient wing, she couldn’t stop herself from lighting a cigarette and taking two desperate puffs. Only after exhaling the smoke did she feel a little better.
The sound of light footsteps approached. Wang Keru looked over. The person emerging from the darkness made her tremble. It was Gu Anxi.
Gu Anxi also seemed somewhat surprised to encounter Wang Keru. "Here to see Dad?"
Wang Keru’s fingers, holding the cigarette, trembled. Her voice was also a little unsteady. "Yes, I came to see him."
Gu Anxi tilted her head up, looking towards that window, and said softly, "The light in there is always on, but Dad... he might never wake up..."
Wang Keru’s fingers trembled even more violently. She struggled to force a smile. "That’s not certain. Medical science is so advanced these days."
"Perhaps." Gu Anxi straightened up, looking as if she were about to leave.
Wang Keru quickly called out to her, "Anxi."
Gu Anxi turned back. "Is there anything else?"
Wang Keru took a harsh final drag of her cigarette, then said with difficulty, "Mom forgot to tell you... Happy Birthday."
Gu Anxi stood under a tree. Light filtered down but was partially blocked by the leaves, obscuring her expression. After a moment, she said softly, "You should smoke less." With that, she turned and left.
Wang Keru stood alone beneath the streetlight, as beautiful as ever despite her meticulous upkeep, just a little thinner than when she was Mrs. Gu. She stood there blankly for a moment, then suddenly covered her face, her voice muffled and hoarse. "I’m sorry... I’m sorry..."
Feeling the sting of her actions, she finally came to her senses, but it seemed too late for everything. She had betrayed Yun Tian’s home, forsaken Anxi. In reality, she had nothing left.
Gu Anxi stood on the ground floor of the inpatient wing, silently watching the weeping Wang Keru, her fingers slowly clenching into fists. Finally, she walked over and offered her a pack of tissues. "Aren’t you the one who cares most about saving face and maintaining appearances? Crying is so unsightly."
Wang Keru looked up, stunned and speechless.
Gu Anxi nudged the tissues in her hand a little closer. "Wipe your tears. It’s quite unsightly."
Wang Keru took them and haphazardly wiped her face, then cautiously asked, "Anxi, how about Mom takes you for some noodles?"
Gu Anxi’s body tensed. Her hands were in her pockets. After a long pause, she managed to utter two stiff words. "Whatever."