Gu Anxi asked again, "Where is Uncle Bo?"

Wang Jingchuan rubbed his head and smiled, slightly embarrassed. "Professor Bo is in a meeting. Mr. Wang’s injury isn’t particularly serious, so I thought it unnecessary to disturb him."

"If it’s a minor injury, then why not just ask a department head to treat it?" Gu Anxi said, as if it were the most logical thing.

The Secretary-General was complaining silently. After a good while, he cleared his throat and said, "Actually, that’s not quite it. We also need to consider Mr. Wang’s status. Being upset is one thing, but his status is another matter entirely. Don’t you agree?"

Gu Anxi slid her hands into her coat pockets and said softly, "Alright, let’s go."

She glanced at Gu Mingzhu again, paused for a moment, then said, "Take good care of her. There isn’t much time left."

Gu Mingzhu had been watching the drama unfold, not expecting Gu Anxi to suddenly say something like that. She froze for a moment. By the time Gu Mingzhu reacted, Gu Anxi was already nearing the elevator entrance. Gu Mingzhu shouted after her, "Gu Anxi, are you deliberately trying to make me unhappy? Don’t think I’ll believe you!"

Gu Anxi turned around but said nothing, merely looking quietly at Gu Mingzhu.

Gu Mingzhu had expected her to speak, but after a long moment, Gu Anxi remained silent and entered the elevator with Wang Jingchuan.

She stood there for quite a while, until Tang Yuan was wheeled back, accompanied by a doctor. After Tang Yuan was settled, the doctor called Gu Mingzhu out. Hesitating for a moment, the doctor finally spoke, "Miss Gu, I have some bad news. You should brace yourself..."

Gu Mingzhu was stunned...

The female doctor’s words buzzed in her ears. Through a pane of glass, she watched her mother lying there, a warm feeling welling up in her eyes. The female doctor, a mature woman, patted her shoulder and said, "Your mother worries least about you. She always mentions you to us."

Gu Mingzhu murmured, "But right now, in her heart, the most outstanding daughter must be Gu Anxi, right?"

The female doctor, not knowing what to say, gave a faint smile, checked on Tang Yuan once more, and then left.

There weren’t many people around, just a nurse recording data. Gu Mingzhu sat in front of the hospital room and whispered, "Why isn’t she awake?"

The nurse’s hand paused. "She hasn’t woken up since the puncture."

Gu Mingzhu was dazed, her eyes fixed on Tang Yuan’s face. After a long moment, she asked again, "Is... is she not going to live much longer?"

The nurse hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

"How long?" Gu Mingzhu pressed, as if stubbornly demanding an answer. She had always been willful. Even now, with Tang Yuan about to pass away, she wanted to be willful one last time. She knew clearly that once Tang Yuan was gone, there would be no one left in this world to indulge her willfulness. Although she had told Gu Anxi that she would have Min Xin’s affection, she herself knew perfectly well that it was just false bravado. After those beatings, how could she not understand!

Her relentless questioning put the nurse in a difficult position. She wasn’t a doctor; she only knew the situation was dire. Perhaps a few days, perhaps a week, or maybe half a month—in any case, Tang Yuan didn’t have much time left...

Before Gu Mingzhu could get an answer, she suddenly burst into tears...

「On the other side.」

Gu Anxi put on a white coat—it was Uncle Bo’s, a bit too long and large, so she rolled up the sleeves a few times. With her hands in her pockets, she went into a private consultation room. King Jingyao was already sitting there, thoroughly impatient, his face as dark as thunder.

That Wang Jingchuan! I asked him to find a doctor, and he took a full half-hour, just leaving me hanging here. Hearing footsteps, King Jingyao looked up. Well, well, if it wasn’t that little rascal.

King Jingyao stared at her intently for a few moments, then snorted. "Where’s Xichen? Why isn’t he here?"

Gu Anxi plopped down in the chair opposite him and said unceremoniously, "Professor Bo is in a meeting. Either you wait, or I’ll do it."

King Jingyao turned his head away, apparently choosing to wait.

Gu Anxi let out a cold laugh and rose to leave, but Wang Jingchuan blocked her.

The Secretary-General was in a very tight spot. Letting her go now wasn’t the issue, but Mr. Wang was being aloof. Later, his anger would surely be directed at him. So, he squeezed out a smile. "Mr. Wang has a meeting later. Could we trouble Doctor Gu to take a look?"

Gu Anxi leaned against the doorframe, playing with her phone, neither responding nor leaving.

King Jingyao inwardly wished he could strangle her. This little brat really wouldn’t yield an inch!

He spoke coldly, "Jingchuan, I don’t think my hand is crippled. Forget it, it doesn’t need treating."

He added, "Besides, no one cares if I live or die."

He had barely finished speaking and was about to leave with a show of indignation when the little rascal glanced at him, slipped her phone into her pocket, and actually bolted out before he could.

King Jingyao was fuming. "She really just left like that? She’s not going to bother with me?"

The Secretary-General, still in a difficult position, put on a placating smile. "Things will get better with time. Both sides are angry right now. It’s best to be calm, take a deep breath."

King Jingyao was seething. How could he possibly remain calm and collected now?

Just as his anger was peaking, Director Hao walked in with a practiced, professional smile. "Mr. Wang, Doctor Gu happened to run into me. She asked me to come and treat your wound, saying you’re incredibly busy and it’s not good for your hand to remain injured."

King Jingyao sneered, "As if she’d be so kind-hearted. Right now, she probably wishes I were in more pain, that my luck was worse. Jingchuan, from the moment she came in until she left, did you see her even glance at my injury? Not even basic concern."

The Secretary-General’s face contorted. Daringly, he said, "You were the one arguing with her. Besides, Miss Anxi’s leg injury might not have fully healed yet."

Wang Jingyao, who had been about to erupt again, suddenly fell silent. After a good while, he waved his hand. "Fine. She’s just holding a grudge against me, blowing a small thing out of proportion."

The Secretary-General thought to himself: This is hardly a small matter! You drove Mr. Zhou out, and he’s of no use to you anymore. This is like slapping Little Gu in the face and deeply embarrassing the Bo Family. They’re not fools; why would they keep trying to curry favor with you? You have a temper, and so do they!

King Jingyao was furious, but he did indeed have a meeting to attend shortly, and constant delays like this wouldn’t do. So, he suppressed his anger and let Director Hao bandage his hand. As he left, he flicked his hand brusquely, his mood exceptionally foul.

Director Hao rushed out after him. "Mr. Wang, remember to change the dressing tomorrow."

King Jingyao glanced at him and said coldly, "Come to my office to change it tomorrow."

He absolutely did not want to see that little brat again. Just the sight of her made him furious.

Director Hao watched him leave, rubbing his nose. He felt rather unlucky to have been inexplicably drawn into their affairs; it clearly had nothing to do with him.

After a while, he went to Bo Xichen’s office. Pushing the door open, he said with a broad smile, "Doctor Little Gu, everything over there is taken care of. Sigh, Mr. Wang’s temper is truly awful. It must have been so hard for you, dealing with him for so long."

Gu Anxi was playing a game and listened to Director Hao’s words with an air of indifference. "He’s always like that. When he’s in a good mood, he’d offer you half his family fortune. When he’s in a bad mood... Heh, he’d love to kick you into the Pacific Ocean. He’s just a menopausal old man. Ignore him."

She mused that perhaps he wasn’t normal and should find a wife...

But as she was saying this, little did she know that King Jingyao had doubled back unexpectedly. He had something to ask Director Hao and heard her words from the doorway. His expression changed instantly.

A menopausal old man! Wonderful. She actually dared to say it! So that was his image in her heart.

King Jingyao, having come from a privileged background since childhood, was now both furious and somewhat ashamed and annoyed. Unable to bear it any longer, he kicked the door forcefully...

The people inside naturally heard it; at least, Director Hao jumped in fright and quickly went out...

One look, and he was terrified.

When Director Hao turned back, his expression was completely off. "It’s Mr. Wang! I don’t know why he came back. He must have heard what we said."

Gu Anxi was unfazed. "So what if he heard? So what if he’s angry? Didn’t I already say he’s menopausal? This habit of kicking people and doors at the slightest provocation is terrible. He doesn’t consider his status and still acts like a young hothead."

Director Hao gave a wry smile. This woman truly fears nothing in heaven or earth. She’s not afraid of offending King Jingyao, but I have to go change his dressing tomorrow. Just thinking about it makes me... scared. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

Gu Anxi probably sensed his thoughts and glanced at him. "Director Hao, look at you, so spineless. He’s not a tiger; he won’t eat you. What are you afraid of?"

Director Hao sighed again. In the end, Gu Anxi had to comfort him with a few words, giving a detailed analysis of King Jingyao’s personality. Finally, she patted Director Hao’s shoulder. "Anyway, when you go, just go all out saying bad things about me, curse me. If you curse me, he’ll feel better and naturally won’t give you a hard time."

Director Hao asked, his heart pounding with fear, "Is this... appropriate?"

"Nothing could be more appropriate," Gu Anxi encouraged him enthusiastically.

Director Hao nodded grimly. "Then I’m willing to try. Just, Doctor Little Gu, please don’t take offense."

Gu Anxi magnanimously said it was no problem...

Just as the atmosphere became congenial, Bo Xichen returned from the meeting room. He smiled. "You’re leading Director Hao astray again!"

Gu Anxi didn’t say anything, just looked at Director Hao.

Director Hao, getting the hint, immediately said, "No, no, Doctor Little Gu and I were discussing academic matters. Doctor Little Gu is truly knowledgeable. After our discussion, I feel quite enlightened."

"Is that so?" Bo Xichen smiled, not pressing further.

He had just learned that King Jingyao had come over and seemed to have suffered a minor injury. Anxi not only hadn’t helped treat him but had also angered him half to death. In the end, Director Hao had most likely caught the flak for it. And now, Anxi was giving the poor man bad ideas.

Bo Xichen’s question made Director Hao naturally try to cover for Gu Anxi even more. After a bit more talk, he left.

Once Director Hao left, Anxi knew she couldn’t hide it from Bo Xichen. Unwilling to admit it, she decided to play coy. Bo Xichen knew her tricks well and didn’t mind. He sat on the sofa, beckoned her over, and then said softly, "Still, try not to make him unhappy too often."

She lowered her head, fiddling with her game, and mumbled, "I didn’t mean to anger him. He’s the one who can’t stand the sight of me and hates me for making my own decisions."

As she spoke, a chill crept into her heart. After a long moment, she finally said, "Uncle Bo, what choice did I have? Elder He is my master; I started learning painting from him when I was about ten. He’s also Dad Bo’s dearest friend, my master’s wife’s husband, and the biological father of Zhou Yunchen and Zhou Yunhua... That day, he kicked me. It wasn’t a big deal in itself. But, Uncle Bo," she continued, her voice laced with a lingering chill, "he only remembers that one time I defied him, yet he forgets how the Bo Family risked life and limb for him."

A pang of sympathy went through Bo Xichen. Anxi usually appeared indifferent to everything, but she actually knew and understood everything very clearly. She also cared about King Jingyao, this brother of hers, but... Mr. Wang, being in such a high position, was naturally... different.

Anxi leaned into his embrace and asked softly, "Uncle Bo, have you ever regretted it?"

"Hmm?" he asked gently.

Gu Anxi looked up. "Regretted defending him?"

Uncle Bo smiled faintly. "It was never him I was defending."

Gu Anxi stared at him for a long time, and finally... a happy feeling spread through her. She and Uncle Bo truly understood each other.

She snuggled obediently beside him and, after a moment, said softly, "So, yes, that eccentric, menopausal man... let’s just ignore him for now."

Uncle Bo was momentarily at a loss. Such significant matters, yet in Anxi’s eyes, they were like child’s play!