Chapter 108: Chapter 108: Control, Mother

After his outburst, Gu Yunchuan finally regained his composure. Setting aside emotions, he certainly knew how to handle this mother and daughter pair.

His words struck directly at the deepest pain in Chen Zhaodi’s heart. She hadn’t wanted to be born into such a family either, but was that something she could control?

She was terrified of losing everything she had now, and didn’t dare gamble on whether Yun Nianzhou would still want her if she lost her identity as Gu Qingyue.

The Yun family was powerful and influential. Old Madam Yun had already looked down on her current status, but at least as the daughter of an accountant, she hadn’t said anything too harsh. After all, the Yun family had previously arranged for Gu Qinghuan, but Yun Nianzhou had changed his mind.

But if she was just the daughter of some good-for-nothing, things would be entirely different.

“Dad, I’m begging you, please don’t. I’ll listen to you from now on.” Chen Zhaodi instantly wilted, her earlier bravado gone without a trace.

People like her were experts at bowing and scraping, never feeling wronged, and completely lacking in backbone.

“Your mother gave you her emergency savings, didn’t she? Hand it over!”

Gu Yunchuan grew angrier at the thought of his own children living pitifully while someone else’s child was raised plump and pampered. Of course, it wasn’t that he felt sorry for his children—he just felt sorry for himself.

Chen Zhaodi wanted to hide it, but her face betrayed her.

Gu Yunchuan snapped impatiently, “Don’t make me say it twice.”

Resigned, Chen Zhaodi pulled out the thick wad of cash from her pocket, still warm from her body heat.

Watching from inside, Xia Shuhua felt utterly hopeless. Even her last shred of hope was gone. She felt as if she’d returned to her days in the Chen family, living in misery, bullied by anyone and everyone.

Gu Yunchuan raised an eyebrow and snatched the money. Good—this woman, Xia Shuhua, had really fooled him for too long. Never again.

The argument had gotten loud, and Xia Chun’s baby was startled awake, crying loudly in her arms.

She stood there, helpless, unsure whether to comfort the child or not.

Gu Yunchuan shot her a glare. “Are you dead? Take him away! I don’t want to hear a sound from him.”

Panicking, Xia Chun hurriedly carried the baby into the other room.

Xia Shuhua hadn’t expected Gu Yunchuan to be so ruthless, not even caring about his own flesh and blood. But then again, weren’t Gu Qinghuan and Gu Lanting proof enough? What did children mean to him? In his heart, there was only himself.

Thinking of this, her mood sank even lower. What would become of her and her son in the future?

Chen Zhaodi didn’t know.

Xia Chun knew even less.

Gu Yunchuan left with the money, destination unknown.

Seeing Xia Shuhua’s bruised and battered face, Chen Zhaodi was terrified. How could she possibly attend her wedding like this?

Xia Shuhua cared about her reputation, too. Fearing she’d embarrass herself at her daughter’s wedding, she wrapped her face in a scarf and went to the hospital late at night for treatment.

—

Gu Yunchuan took the money downstairs and had a couple of drinks with Wu Zhenqiang.

Alcohol gave him courage. After drinking, he staggered out, boarded a bus, and rode toward a stop he remembered from long ago.

Getting off, he walked into a pitch-dark alley, wandering around for nearly half an hour. Relying on deeply ingrained memories, he finally found the familiar door.

Standing outside, he didn’t dare knock, feeling a pang of homesickness.

He’d lost his father young, and his mother had raised him through endless hardship, suffering countless grievances because of him. He hadn’t seen her in over five years. Now, he desperately wanted to hug her and cry. When people are at their lowest, they instinctively long to confide in their parents.

All these years, his mother had refused to see him. Every time he came, she’d chase him away with a broom.

Ever since he betrayed the Zhong family and did that heartless thing, his mother had said he was no longer her son. So, for years, they’d had no contact.

Zhong Zijun had always been honest and kind to the elderly. Though they didn’t live together, he never missed sending gifts and supplements for holidays, and often brought the children to visit. The old lady couldn’t accept her son’s heartless actions.

After much hesitation, Gu Yunchuan finally knocked on the door, emboldened by alcohol.

“Who is it?” After a while, the door opened from inside.

In the dim light, the old lady came out holding a string of prayer beads.

“Mom!” Gu Yunchuan forced an awkward smile onto his face.

Seeing it was him, the old lady turned to go back inside and close the door.

Noticing her Buddhist attire, Gu Yunchuan was startled. “Mom, why are you dressed like that?”

“What’s it to you? I’ve already taken refuge as a lay Buddhist. Don’t come here again. My life and death have nothing to do with you.”

She’d wanted to become a nun and leave the secular world behind, but the master had said she still had unresolved attachments and could only be a lay disciple, practicing at home. He’d said true cultivation wasn’t bound by form.

Seeing this, Gu Yunchuan dropped to his knees and clung to her leg. “Mom, I was wrong! I really was wrong. Please forgive me, just this once!”

“I told you, you’re no longer my son. We each have our own path.”

There was a trace of helplessness in her voice. She probably understood now why the master hadn’t accepted her—her heart was still tied to worldly attachments.

“Mom, don’t make me leave. Let me sit for a while, please. I’m so miserable. How could that woman treat me like this… wah—” As he spoke, Gu Yunchuan began to sob like a child.

Several neighbors opened their doors to see what was going on.

Someone shouted, thinking the old lady was being bullied, “Auntie, what’s going on? Need any help?”

“It’s nothing, you can all go back!”

Unable to get rid of him, the old lady finally sighed. “Come in, then.”

Gu Yunchuan immediately got up and followed her inside, as if he hadn’t just been kneeling at the door.

The old lady had lived simply these past years. Aside from making paper boxes for a living, she spent her days eating vegetarian food and chanting sutras. The house was filled with the scent of incense.

Gu Yunchuan sat down and, like a child, poured out his recent troubles to her, hoping for a moment of comfort.

But the old lady’s attention was on her two grandchildren. She hadn’t seen them in a long time. Because of what happened with Zhong Zijun, the children resented Gu Yunchuan and stopped visiting her as well.

She’d thought that no matter how much of a scoundrel Gu Yunchuan was, he wouldn’t mistreat his own children.

“What did you say? Huanhuan went to the countryside as a ‘zhiqing’? Xia Shuhua’s daughter stole Huanhuan’s man? And you kicked Lanting out?

Gu Yunchuan, are you out of your mind? Are you trying to kill me with anger?

This is your retribution! Serves you right!”

Her heart had been calm, but hearing this news, she couldn’t stay composed and scolded Gu Yunchuan furiously.

“Mom…”"