Chapter 66: Old Master Gu Hospitalized, the Gu Family Driven Out

Gu Shiyan and Luo Xing hurried to the hospital, where Luo Xing went straight into the ward.

“What happened? Why did Grandpa Gu suddenly faint?” Luo Xing rushed in. By the sickbed, only Grandma and Assistant Song were present.

Assistant Song was still holding some documents in his hand. “The doctor said it’s nothing serious now.”

Luo Xing looked at him, then back at Old Master Gu. His face appeared even more haggard.

“Grandpa Gu, are you feeling unwell anywhere?” Luo Xing stood by the bed, leaning in to look carefully at him. Her gaze fell to the back of his hand attached to the IV drip—it seemed a bit swollen.

“Don’t worry, I’m fine now. Maybe I’ve just been working late recently,” he replied, his voice faint and lacking its former authority.

But Luo Xing didn’t dare trust his words anymore. She anxiously glanced at the door.

She and Gu Shiyan had come together, yet he still hadn’t entered.

Luo Xing turned to Assistant Song. “Where are Grandpa Gu’s other family members?”

Just as she asked, a middle-aged man entered, accompanied by a woman adorned with luxury brands and diamond jewelry.

Luo Xing stepped aside, thinking these must be Grandpa Gu’s family. She moved to the side to make room for them.

Gu Yunzhi, seeing them arrive, instinctively lowered her head and tried to leave.

But Old Master Gu caught the hem of her clothes. “Yunzhi, stay,” he said.

He glanced at Assistant Song.

Assistant Song nodded, his expression complicated, and turned to the two at the door. “President Gu, Second Madam, may I ask you to leave? Old Master Gu needs a quiet environment to rest.”

As Luo Xing looked at the pair, they studied her in return, their brows furrowed as if pondering who she was.

The woman addressed as Second Madam, Xie Lu, smiled. “Assistant Song, Gu Xiang is busy at the company but specifically instructed me to come and look after the old master. As his daughter-in-law, I haven’t fulfilled my duty yet. How can you drive me out?”

Only then did Luo Xing recall news she had seen about the Gu family.

Gu Xiang was Old Master Gu’s second son, Gu Shiyan’s father’s elder brother.

The man beside her, President Gu, must be the eldest son, Gu Ming.

Luo Xing had always thought that none of Old Master Gu’s three children came to visit out of unwillingness to fulfill their filial duty.

But now, seeing two of them here and yet being turned away by Old Master Gu through Assistant Song, she realized it wasn’t that they were unwilling—it was that Old Master Gu wouldn’t let them come.

Xie Lu looked at Luo Xing and Gu Yunzhi. “And who might these two be?”

She scrutinized them, then turned to Assistant Song. “You’d better not let unrelated outsiders deceive the old master! Have you verified their identities? How do you allow outsiders in, but not us?”

President Gu, Gu Ming, bore some resemblance to Gu Shiyan.

His brow was higher, his gaze sharp, exuding the calm and inscrutable air of someone in power.

He looked at Gu Yunzhi. “Yunzhi, it’s been a long time.”

Xie Lu didn’t recognize Gu Yunzhi, but Gu Ming did.

Xie Lu glanced over. “You’re the sister who was driven out of the Gu family, aren’t you?”

The flicker of suspicion that crossed her face did not escape Old Master Gu, who said in a low voice, “Leave.”

Xie Lu seemed unwilling to accept this. She looked at Gu Taihua. “Dad, you’d rather have strangers take care of you than let us in to see you?”

The two were left standing at the door, not permitted to enter.

Luo Xing felt lost and uneasy. She looked at Grandma. “Grandma… are they Grandpa Gu’s family?”

She couldn’t understand. If they were family, why weren’t they allowed in?

Gu Yunzhi shook her head but remained steadfast by Gu Taihua’s side. Seeing this, Luo Xing said no more.

Gu Taihua, however, looked coldly at those outside. “Don’t think that just because I’m old and sick, I don’t know what you’re scheming. Leave, all of you!”

Gu Ming remained eerily calm. He looked at his father. “Dad, I heard you had Gu Shiyan…”

“You’ve started investigating your own father!” Gu Taihua erupted in anger, glaring at Gu Ming.

Gu Ming was still unsettlingly composed. “I didn’t mean to investigate you. It’s just that you said before you wouldn’t show favoritism to anyone. I hope you’ll treat us all equally. You refuse to see any of the younger generation, yet you meet with Gu Shiyan. If word gets out, no one will be happy.”

“Out!” Gu Taihua looked to Assistant Song, clearly unwilling to continue.

Assistant Song was helpless. “Please don’t make things difficult for me.”

The two had no choice but to leave.

Luo Xing caught Gu Yunzhi’s eye, signaling her to step out for a moment.

She also wanted to find out what had happened to Gu Shiyan, who had yet to appear.

Leaving the ward, she turned down the corridor they’d come from.

There was an empty terrace.

She walked over, and at the glass window stood Gu Shiyan.

Luo Xing approached to stand beside him. Looking down, she saw the ground below littered with cigarette butts.

This spot had clearly become everyone’s unofficial smoking refuge.

“Why aren’t you with Grandpa Gu?”

Gu Shiyan glanced sidelong, his cigarette glowing softly in his hand.

His wrist rested on the window frame, the smoke drifting out into the wind.

“I was just talking with the old master’s attending physician,” he said, his voice low and hoarse, his mood clearly subdued.

Luo Xing nodded. “How is it?”

“It seems he was instructed not to reveal the truth about the old master’s condition.”

“Could it be… something serious?” Luo Xing’s voice was hoarse as well. “Is that why he doesn’t want you all to know?”

“Perhaps…” Gu Shiyan lowered his head, taking a drag as smoke curled away.

A gust of wind brought the scent to Luo Xing’s nose. She coughed. “Cough, cough…”

Gu Shiyan stilled, then stubbed out the cigarette, fanned the air with his hand, and opened the window wider.

“Did you see him? Is he alright?” Gu Shiyan stepped back, making space for Luo Xing.

She moved with him, the scent of smoke fading.

“He doesn’t seem well, not as spirited as before.” She looked up at him. “You should go see him.”

In the face of life and death, whatever had been between them seemed momentarily insignificant.

Luo Xing saw Gu Shiyan take a deep breath and nod. “Alright.”

They returned to the ward together.

Standing at the door, they could hear the muffled voices of Gu Yunzhi and Gu Taihua from within.

“The children came to see you, yet you drive them away. They may have made mistakes, but with your health like this, wouldn’t it be better to let them stay with you?”

“Hmph, I’d rather die alone than be surrounded by a pack of hypocrites,” Gu Taihua retorted.

Outside, Gu Shiyan and Luo Xing exchanged a glance.

Neither spoke.

…

Old Master Gu remained in the hospital for half a month.

Summer vacation was coming to an end, and Luo Xing and Grandma prepared to return to North City.

In the elevator, Gu Shiyan stood beside Luo Xing, the two of them sharing that confined space in peaceful silence.