Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Was Mother Zhuang really a mistress?
Mother Zhuang had taught Zhuang Nainai as a young child that one had to first cultivate a righteous state of mind to be a good person. Mother Zhuang had also led Zhuang Nainai by example by demonstrating how to live by such morals and principles in one’s daily life.
Zhuang Nainai clearly remembered that she had suffered from a high fever when she was five. The fever eventually worsened and she ended up contracting pneumonia. As a result, she stayed in the hospital for about half a month and racked up a medical bill of $40,000. At that point in time, their household had no savings at all.
Mother Zhuang was initially part of the service staff in a hotel. However, her boss grew enamored with her because of her elegant disposition. Her boss had offered her money in return for being his lover.
However, Mother Zhuang had been insistent on turning his offer down. She even resigned the next day. Even if she had to borrow money from loan sharks, she would not stoop so low as to accept his offer.
After Zhuang Nainai had recovered and was discharged from the hospital, Mother Zhuang had explained this matter clearly to her. Then, Mother Zhuang took up two jobs and worked hard for three years in order to pay off the loan she had borrowed from the loan sharks.
Mother Zhuang had always told Zhuang Nainai, “You’re not worth any less than others, nor do you lack anything that others have. So, no matter what happens, you cannot do things that would devalue your own self-worth.”
This was the baseline for both mother and daughter.
She really could not accept the idea that her mother was a thief who had stolen a child, nor could she wrap her head around the idea that her mother was a mistress.
After Zhuang Nainai asked her question, she held her breath and silently stared at Gu Deshou. She uneasily waited for his reply.
Actually, even if Gu Deshou answered in the affirmative, she would not believe him.
But she wanted to ask.
She clenched her fist as she studied Gu Deshou’s expression. He was deep in thought, and his gaze suddenly wandered erratically. It was as though he had reverted to the Gu Deshou that she was familiar with — even his expression seemed more unsightly than before.
Zhuang Nainai did not press him for an answer. Instead, she waited quietly for his reply.
After some time, Gu Deshou finally said, “No. She wasn’t.”
Zhuang Nainai’s heart suddenly sank.
Because Gu Deshou did not speak his mind inconsiderately, Zhuang Nainai felt her impression of him growing slightly more favorable for the first time.
She continued, “Then you both were…”
Gu Deshou snapped back to his senses. His gaze darkened, then he sighed, “Your Mother Zhuang is an upright and chaste person, please don’t be mistaken about that.”
Zhuang Nainai paused. “Then, do you love her?”
Did he love her?
Gu Deshou lowered his gaze.
How could he possibly not love her?
God knows that he was over the moon when he found out that Mother Zhuang had feelings for him.
She was so outstanding, so dazzling, and his standing in society was incomparable to her…
Gu Deshou sighed. That was all in the past.
He raised his head. He had intended to brush the matter aside with some ambiguous words, but after seeing the inquisitive light in Zhuang Nainai’s eyes, he was unable to speak.
Actually, he had been trying to find a confidant with whom he could share what he had buried deep in his heart all these years.
He paused, then said, “Nainai, although your birth mother is Li Yufeng, your circumstances are special. I have never told Xinghao and Xingshan the things that I am about to tell you.”
He paused, then said devotedly and earnestly, “She is the only true love of my life. My love for her is deeply engraved in my very being.”
Zhuang Nainai felt an inexplicable sense of bitterness after she heard this.
For Mother Zhuang and for Li Yufeng.
Had Mother Zhuang been unmarried all these years because of Gu Deshou?
And Li Yufeng? She… was actually really pitiful.
Zhuang Nainai suddenly understood why Li Yufeng hated Mother Zhuang so deeply.
She looked at the man standing before her. There were remorse and longing written all over his face, and his forehead was severely wrinkled from how he had furrowed his brows.