The Mouth Is Stubborn, But the Body Is Quite Honest [Rebirth] - Chapter 22

Chapter 22: 022 “Your Wife Is About to Be Stolen!”

For some reason, just seeing Qi Wanyang standing there made an invisible hand violently clench Gu Linlang’s chest, and she almost instinctively told the driver to turn around.

She bit her lower lip in annoyance, clenching her hands. This inexplicable emotion came too suddenly, leaving her both confused and irritated.

Gu Linlang simply closed her eyes, completely blocking that distracting figure from her sight.

Just go. Everything will be fine if you are far away. She told herself in her heart.

A week later, Gu Linlang landed back in Longcheng with her suitcase.

Although the trip was very enjoyable, there’s no place like home, and coming back was the most comfortable feeling.

She unlocked her phone and tapped the “Longcheng Four Beauties” WeChat group. She was planning to invite Hong Hui and the others to meet up, but the group had 99+ unread messages, all discussing Qi Wanyang.

“Sisters, big news! Right after Qi Wanyang saw her grandmother off for the last time, the high-level executives at Qi’an sidelined her!”

“I expected it. Who calls the shots at Qi’an now? Her uncle, Qi Yuefeng, of course. That old fox has his ambition written all over his face. The only reason Qi Wanyang could be parachuted in as CEO was because the Old Madam was backing her. Now that the Old Madam is gone, is her uncle going to let this chance slip? Qi’an’s stock has tanked.”

“It’s really tragic. I heard the smart medical project she was running also fell through?”

“Latest inside scoop! The board gave her an ultimatum: If she can’t bring in an investor at tomorrow’s regular meeting, she’s out!”

“Your news is old! I have something even hotter! Lu Yifei from Lushi Construction & Investment is pursuing Qi Wanyang! He’s being so attentive, blocking her company entrance with luxury cars and flowers every day. If they really get together, her project funding would be secured in a minute, wouldn’t it?”

Lu Yifei? Gu Linlang’s fingers paused. Her new cherry-blossom pink manicure nearly scraped the phone screen. She stared at the message, her brows furrowing unconsciously.

Lushi Construction & Investment was the infrastructure giant of Longcheng. They had their hands in everything, from subway tunnels to airports and docks.

In recent years, they had been acting like mad dogs, constantly snatching land and projects from their Gu Sheng Group, refusing to let go once they had a bite.

Gu Linlang’s fingertip unconsciously tapped her phone case as memories from her previous life flooded back.

She clearly remembered that after Qi Wanyang and Lu Yifei got commercially engaged, Qi’an Pharmaceuticals and Lushi Construction & Investment formed an unbreakable alliance.

As Qi Wanyang’s smart medical project became a huge success, the Lu family profited immensely. They then used this momentum to relentlessly suppress the Gu Sheng Group…

Gu Linlang gripped her phone and gritted her teeth.

Her father’s life’s work could never be swallowed by the greedy Lushi Construction & Investment.

She had to find a way to prevent the strong alliance between the Qi and Lu families, and the immediate priority was to sabotage the engagement between Qi Wanyang and Lu Yifei.

Besides, Gu Linlang pouted, Lu Yifei was notorious in their circle.

He was a good-for-nothing, and his scandalous rumors were more exciting than a celebrity weekly.

In her previous life, Qi Wanyang decisively broke off the engagement because the scumbag kept womanizing even after they were engaged and even became addicted to gambling.

Gu Linlang absolutely detested those who played with people’s feelings. Whether for family interests or personal sentiment, she could not just stand by and watch Qi Wanyang jump into a fire pit.

Her phone kept vibrating, the group chat was buzzing with discussion.

Suddenly, someone mentioned Qi Wanyang’s background: “Speaking of which, Qi Wanyang is quite unlucky. Her parents died in a car crash when she was only 5, and she was raised entirely by the Old Madam Qi. Now the Old Madam is gone, too. She goes to the cemetery every day, just standing in front of the tombstone in a daze. It makes my heart ache to see her.”

Gu Linlang’s heart skipped a beat. She quickly typed: “Do you know exactly when she goes to the cemetery?”

Seeing Gu Linlang finally surface, the friends immediately exploded: “Gu Linlang, you finally decided to come back! Your wife is about to be stolen!”

Messages rapidly popped up, flooding the screen.

Gu Linlang’s temple twitched. What wife? Since when was Qi Wanyang her wife? This rumor is ridiculously out of hand!

But for some reason, she recalled the night at the Japanese hot spring inn and the spontaneous kiss and embrace she shared with Qi Wanyang, and her heart filled with mixed emotions.

“Stop with the nonsense. Is she at the cemetery right now?” This sentence was typed out impatiently, almost without thinking.

The group immediately teased her. They seemed very satisfied with Gu Linlang’s “busted-cheater” reaction, sending a pile of giggling, “I support you, sister,” and “Beat up the scumbag” stickers before giving a straight answer: “She’s been going after work these past few days, sometimes staying very late. If you ask me, cemeteries are creepy. Who would dare stay so late normally? Your Ms. Qi is genuinely brave.”

“Got it.” Gu Linlang couldn’t be bothered to argue with them anymore. She exited the group chat and checked the time. It was still early. She planned to go home first, then head to the cemetery to find her.

Returning home, Gu Linlang felt all her fatigue melt away, and her whole body relaxed.

She took a comfortable hot bath. As she was blow-drying her hair, a gentle knock came at the door.

“Linlang, I made you some bird’s nest soup. Drink it while it’s hot,” Sun Lirong’s gentle voice came from outside the door.

Gu Linlang quickly wrapped her wet hair, hurried to open the door, and took the tray from Sun Lirong.

The bowl of bird’s nest congee was steaming, and its sweet aroma wafted into her nose.

“Aunt Rong~” Gu Linlang drew out the end of her sentence playfully. “You should have just let Wang Ma handle a small thing like this. Why did you cook it yourself?”

Sun Lirong smiled and shook her head, reaching out to tuck Gu Linlang’s damp hair: “This is nothing. You look thinner after your week in Japan. You need to nourish yourself properly.”

Gu Linlang’s heart warmed, and she unconsciously tightened her grip on the bowl. “Is your cold better?” She remembered seeing Chengze mention in the group that his mother was sick.

“It’s been gone for a while,” Sun Lirong waved her hand. “But your dad insisted I take a week off. With so much going on at the company, how could I possibly sit still?”

“That’s because Dad cares about you~” Gu Linlang spooned some bird’s nest, blew on it, and ate it. “Dad is there to handle the company. You just focus on resting.”

Sun Lirong looked at her affectionately as she ate the congee, smiling as she said: “Alright, let’s not talk about the company. We received the health supplements you brought back from Japan. I also gave Chengze his action figure. He loves it. Our Linlang is so thoughtful.”

“Aunt Rong, these are just things I should be doing,” Gu Linlang winked playfully.

The two chatted about home life for a while longer. Sun Lirong then changed the subject, suddenly asking: “Linlang, you’re graduating soon. When do you plan to start interning at the company? Your dad has even prepared an office for you.”

The spoon in Gu Linlang’s hand clattered against the side of the bowl. She frowned slightly and stammered: “Aunt Rong, I haven’t even defended my thesis yet… how about we talk about it after I finish this busy period?”

Sun Lirong nodded understandingly: “That’s true, your studies are important. We’ll discuss this after you graduate.” She rose to leave, but turned back at the door to advise: “Drink the congee while it’s hot. It will taste fishy once it cools.”

Gu Linlang nodded obediently. Once the door closed, she let out a long sigh of relief and made a face at the bowl of bird’s nest congee.

She absolutely did not want to be tied down by the company so soon!

Gu Linlang’s gaze returned to the bowl of bird’s nest congee on the table.

Although she was tired of eating the stuff, knowing it was a special gesture from Aunt Rong, she forced herself to pick up the bowl and drink a few more mouthfuls.

The slippery bird’s nest melted on her tongue with a touch of sweetness, making it not so difficult to swallow after all.

Sun Lirong married into the Gu family two years after Gu Linlang’s mother, Lin Sixuan, passed away.

The Sun family and the Gu family had been close friends for decades. Years ago, the two families collaborated to found the Gu Sheng Group, successfully turning an obscure small company into the leading real estate developer in Longcheng.

Unfortunately, the Sun family’s talent pool had dwindled over the years, leaving only Sun Lirong holding an important position at Gu Sheng.

Thus, Aunt Rong and her father were childhood sweethearts.

When Gu Linlang was six, her mother passed away from a sudden heart attack. The old servants at home said that the one thing her mother worried about most before she left was her. She specifically called her father and Aunt Rong to her bedside, hoping they would get together to give her daughter a complete home.

Her father decided to remarry after careful consideration.

Sun Lirong currently serves as the Director of Finance for the Gu Sheng Group.

Despite being a woman, her management of the finance department was stricter than any man’s. Every account, big and small, was clear under her watch, making the company’s profits and losses instantly apparent.

At home, Sun Lirong was also an excellent homemaker and treated Gu Linlang as her own daughter.

Case in point: immediately after Gu Linlang returned from her trip to Japan, she personally made her a bowl of bird’s nest congee.

Mom… would probably have been like this, right?

Lost in her thoughts, Gu Linlang felt a warmth spreading through her, and her lips curled into a smile.

But soon, her thoughts drifted to Qi Wanyang. The discussions from the group chat earlier today surfaced in her mind again.

It was true, as Hong Hui and the others said, that Qi Wanyang’s parents died in a car accident when she was five, and she was raised by her grandmother.

The young Qi Wanyang was timid, afraid of strangers, and didn’t talk much, which was likely related to her early experiences.

Gu Linlang rubbed her temple. Her memories before the age of six were too blurry.

While she remembered Qi Wanyang being shy, timid, and obedient back then, she couldn’t recall how they started playing together.

All she remembered were the years after Qi Wanyang learned about her heart condition, when she started acting like an overprotective mother, managing everything.

From middle school and high school to university, they clashed like fighting cocks whenever they met, constantly snapping at each other, never having a moment of peace.

However, Gu Linlang had to admit that Qi Wanyang was genuinely competent.

She became a group CEO at a young age, faced the loss of her closest relative right after taking office, and dealt with constant internal exclusion.

Yet, she managed to turn the situation around in just one year, leading the company to new achievements, and was even recognized as a National Outstanding Young Entrepreneur—very impressive.

It was certainly unwise to oppose someone like her.

During her week of relaxing in Japan, Gu Linlang had thought about a lot of things and gained a lot of clarity.

She felt perhaps she should let go of past prejudices and try to face Qi Wanyang with a more open mind.

An extra friend is always better than an extra enemy. Furthermore, Qi Wanyang was currently her “life-saver” and the person she needed to complete those “Intimate Contact” missions.

If their relationship remained this tense, interacting would only become more awkward.

Having figured this out, Gu Linlang felt much lighter inside.

She glanced at the wall clock. The hands were pointing to the time Qi Wanyang usually got off work.