Night Fire Lingering

Gu Yanci keenly sensed that Wen Yan's mood had changed from impatient and indifferent to serious in an instant.

“Okay, come see me now.” Wen Yan said without the slightest hesitation.

Having just experienced the kidnapping, Gu Yanci was now on edge. Before Wen Yan could hang up, he asked directly, "What's wrong? Who was it?"

"Wen Muzhi's mother," Wen Yan answered directly.

"Let her come here to see you." Gu Yanci was worried about Wen Yan meeting with the Wen family alone, so he added, "For your safety, Wen Yan."

Wen Yan gave Wan Ying the hospital's address.

Gu Yanci didn't ask any further questions. He knew without asking that Wan Ying would definitely plead for Wen Muzhi.

Wen Yan had originally planned to leave, but now she had to stay and wait for Wan Ying.

She looked at Gu Yanci and said, "If no one had provided any clues, the police probably wouldn't have been able to find Wen Muzhi's trail at first."

Gu Yanci did not hide anything and admitted, "I said it."

Wen Yan had expected this, but she was still somewhat surprised to hear Gu Yanci admit it himself.

This information confirmed for Wen Yan once again that it was true when he said he didn't like Wen Muzhi.

This time, he finally chose her over Wen Muzhi.

Wen Yan felt a little sad, and a little ridiculous at the same time.

"What are you laughing at?" Gu Yanci's face, which was always adorned with a fake smile, revealed genuine confusion.

Wen Yan then realized that she had actually laughed.

She gazed at the sky outside the window and said slowly, "I'm laughing at how fate plays tricks on us. If you had done this a few months ago, I would have been very happy."

They would be overjoyed.

I'll toss and turn in bed, unable to sleep.

"What are you doing?" Gu Yanci was unusually confused about what was going on.

Before Gu Yanci could finish speaking, there was a knock on the door.

"Wan Ying arrived so quickly?" Wen Yan looked at Gu Yanci in surprise and went to open the door in confusion.

The door opened, and she stood there, stunned.

“…Mom.” Wen Yan looked at the person in front of her in astonishment.

Ji Chang was dressed in a custom-made cheongsam, exuding an air of nobility with a subtle hint of arrogance. Behind her were two family-oriented female elders.

The two elders glanced at Wen Yan smugly. Clearly, Ji Chang was the savior they had invited, and they planned to go with Ji Chang to see Gu Yanci.

"What, am I supposed to stop you too?" Ji Chang said with a displeased expression.

“Gu Yanci is awake, please come in.” Wen Yan immediately stepped aside to let Ji Chang in.

Gu Yanci had already heard Wen Yan's address and knew that it was Ji Chang who had come. He sat on the bed with a cold expression.

Ji Chang looked Gu Yanci up and down. Seeing that his complexion wasn't too bad, he moved his lips as if he wanted to say something, but couldn't bring himself to say it, looking awkward.

Gu Yanci wasn't interested in what Ji Chang wanted to say. He looked at the two elders of the Gu family behind her and said, "I want to speak with my mother alone. Please leave."

"Inkstone Farewell..."

Should I treat you?

Gu Yanci's words made the two of them leave the ward unwillingly.

He's no longer even willing to engage in perfunctory greetings and pleasantries.

The two of them only dared to chirp quietly after leaving the ward:

"We called his mother to come see him, but he seemed unhappy."

"Hmph, it seems there's a reason why Ji Chang doesn't like this son. He's so rude! No wonder he didn't have a mother to teach him!"

……

Gu Yanci and Ji Chang looked at each other, neither willing to speak first.

"Mom, have some water." Wen Yan poured a glass of warm water for Ji Chang.

Her hands were not fully healed yet. Although she could move her fingers, there were still some wounds on her palms that had not fallen off, and her wrists were still wrapped in gauze. Gu Yanci frowned as he looked at her.

Ji Chang glanced at the water glass but didn't take it. Instead, she began to scrutinize Wen Yan critically.

Wen Yan's hand, holding the water glass, froze in mid-air, awkwardly stuck in the middle.

"Wen Yan," Gu Yanci said coldly, "give me water."

Wen Yan thought he was thirsty, so she handed him the water glass she was holding.

Gu Yanci took the hand and placed it directly on the bedside table with a "bang," indicating the owner's mood.

Gu Yanci was trying to save face for Wen Yan, but Ji Chang was immediately angered and said, "Gu Yanci, you're lying in bed now because of whom? Get it straight! You're protecting outsiders and giving me face, you're really not as good as your brother!"

—You really are no match for your brother.

Those words were very hurtful.

Wen Yan immediately looked at Gu Yanci, but the man's expression did not change. Instead, he laughed and said, "What can we do? My brother and my father are both dead. You have no choice."

Every word of that sentence felt like a poisoned needle piercing Ji Chang's heart.

She took a deep breath in anger, her eyes contorted with rage, and suddenly strode towards Gu Yanci, raising one hand high as if about to slap him.

"Aunt!"

Without a second thought, Wen Yan intercepted Ji Chang's hand in mid-air.

"Let go!" Ji Chang glared at Wen Yan and commanded, "I'm disciplining my own son!"

“You didn’t educate him when he was young, and he’s been an adult for a long time now. There’s no need for you to educate him now.”

The woman's voice rose and fell in the large ward, until finally only a silence so profound you could hear a pin drop.

Gu Yanci stared intently at Wen Yan, his eyes shifting and changing, finally becoming unfathomably deep, like a dark pool that seemed to draw one in.

Gu Yanci knew that because of Ji Chang's favoritism and tenderness towards Wen Yan when they were young, Wen Yan had always respected Ji Chang.

But now, she actually defied Ji Chang for his sake!

Gu Yanci wanted to laugh, but before he could, he saw Wen Yan's hand and his smile froze.

He sat up straight, taking advantage of his height, and used his hand to remove Wen Yan's hand. He looked at it in his own hand, and only after confirming that the scab had not broken did he secretly breathe a sigh of relief.

Gu Yanci looked at Ji Chang with a sharp gaze: "Mom, I'm recovering well. I'll have Zhou Qi take you home."

If you don't want to talk things out properly, then just tell them to leave!

"Fine, fine, fine!" Ji Chang was so angry that she took two steps back, her elegant demeanor when she entered the room completely gone. She pointed at Gu Yanci and Wen Yan's noses and said repeatedly, "You two betrayed Jing Zhou and now you're ganging up on his mother!"

I, his mother, never considered myself Gu Yanci's mother from beginning to end.

Wen Yan couldn't help but feel sorry for Gu Yanci, and quickly said, "Auntie, let me see you out."

Ji Chang glanced at Gu Yanci with an unfriendly expression, then walked ahead of Wen Yan and left the ward.

"From now on, you can call me Auntie." Ji Chang's emotions fluctuated wildly. She tidied her hair and transformed back into the elegant lady she once was.

"it is good."

Wen Yan originally called her "Mom" for two reasons: first, because she was married to Gu Yanci and liked him; and second, because she respected Ji Chang.

"When are you going to divorce Aci?" Ji Chang asked impatiently.

Wen Yan pursed her lips.

Ji Chang saw through Wen Yan's thoughts and sneered, "You wouldn't refuse to get a divorce just because he saved you, would you? Wen Yan, I've watched you grow up and I don't want to hurt you. Listen to my advice: he doesn't love you, leaving him won't do you any harm!"