Chapter 360: Chapter 325: I am Only Responsible for Fulfilling Her Wishes
After arriving in Jiushan, Mu Shuoqian had already made a hotel reservation in advance, this time he booked two rooms.
Gu Qili used the room card to open the door, and seeing it was still early, she didn’t call her uncle. Perhaps due to sleeping a lot on the plane, her jet lag hadn’t adjusted, and she didn’t feel sleepy at all.
After washing her face, she stood on the balcony in a daze. In fact, she could have come by herself, but on a whim, she brought Mu Shuoqian with her. There were some things she didn’t have the courage to face alone, and since this related to his and Qiu Lan’s past, she thought it would be better to lay everything out in the open.
As she lost herself in scattered thoughts for a while, the doorbell rang, followed by the fluent English of a hotel staff member: "Miss Gu, your meal has arrived."
She hadn’t eaten much on the flight, and now seeing the cart enter with various breakfast items, Gu Qili’s stomach embarrassingly grumbled. She knew who ordered the food and, without fussing over it, sat down and started eating.
It was only after sunlight gradually enveloped this strange city, and the noisy morning began with the roar of car engines, that Gu Qili took out her cell phone to call her uncle once more.
Unexpectedly, the call went through this time.
"Qili?"
"Uncle, I’m currently in Jiushan."
Cheng Jinyang was clearly taken aback and after a moment asked, "Are you here to visit your mother?"
"Uncle, could you please make arrangements? I really have something very important to discuss with her."
"As you know, your mother doesn’t want to see you; I’m afraid seeing you could worsen her condition. Qili, I’m truly grateful for the large sum of money you gave four years ago for her surgery. Though the surgery was a success, her health isn’t as robust as before. So, if you want her to live a few more years, it’s better not to see her," Cheng Jinyang suggested subtly.
Gu Qili didn’t have much of a relationship with this uncle; since birth, she had met him only two or three times. He and her mother and sister had always lived in Jiushan without any contact with her.
Yet, since she had come, she couldn’t leave empty-handed. There were things that needed to be resolved conclusively. Four years of resentment had pushed her and Mu Shuoqian further apart, and her intuition told her that if this continued, they would indeed become irreconcilable.
"Uncle, is there still no news about my sister?"
"Hmm." Cheng Jinyang did not believe that Gu Qili still cared about her sister. They might be siblings, but they were less close than strangers. "You...
"Isn’t mom always looking for my sister? Let me pose as her to see mom, I promise not to agitate her. I’ll just ask her one thing and then I’ll leave—please, uncle, this is really important to me," she pleaded.
Cheng Jinyang was silent for some time before finally saying, "Wait for my call."
Although he didn’t agree, Gu Qili knew there was a glimmer of possibility.
She had just put down the phone when the doorbell rang again—only two short rings, impatient. Gu Qili guessed who it was, opened the door, and saw Mu Shuoqian standing there. The overhead light shone on his chiseled face, adding a touch of allure.
"I need to step out for a bit," he said in a tone as casual as a husband detailing his schedule.
Gu Qili was slightly dazed, looking at him with a complex expression.
"Don’t wander off on your own if I haven’t returned by noon, just go down to the restaurant for a meal," he glanced at his watch, "I’ll try to get back as soon as possible."
After Mu Shuoqian spoke, Gu Qili still stood there looking stunned. He frowned, turned to leave, but his sleeve was suddenly gripped tightly. Following the delicate hand upwards, he met her somewhat frantic gaze: "What’s wrong?"
His firm voice made Gu Qili quickly release his hand. She shook her head: "Nothing."
"I’ll try to come back early." He nodded and then strode away.
Gu Qili stood in the corridor for a long time, the bright row of lights seemed harsh to her eyes.
She was actually very afraid; if things turned out as she had anticipated, how would she face Mu Shuoqian?
Mu Shuoqian walked out of the hotel’s front door and got into a sedan waiting outside.
As soon as he entered the car, the person inside said, "Young Master Qian, we’ve confirmed it, Miss Gu’s mother is staying at Yunshan Sanatorium."
"Then let’s head to Yunshan Sanatorium."
"Yes, Young Master Qian."
After sitting for a while, Mu Shuoqian took out his phone and glanced at it. He had read the message sent by Ah Zhong countless times, his emotions complex.
"Young Master Qian, the Execution Order initiated by your wife has taken effect. It will no longer pose any threat to Miss Gu."
He had known this day would come. After all, he had meticulously planned for so many years. The invisible dagger once hanging over her head had finally vanished. He could ensure her lifetime of tranquility, but she would never know the conflicted and tormented struggles he had gone through, then and now.
Many years ago, he had people investigate Jesse, and it was because of that past, unforgettable love that he fell in love at first sight with Qiu Lan upon meeting her later.
It took great effort to find that woman. When he found her, she was already severely addicted to drugs, and having hallucinations that made her want to commit suicide several times. His people saved her.
The woman had a heavy addiction and her family was in deep debt, chased by creditors every day. She roamed place to place with her four-year-old son.
It was then that Mu Shuoqian made an agreement with her. He would clear all her debts and ensure her son grew up in an excellent environment.
For four years, Jesse was entangled with that woman, causing Qiu Lan to experience a deep sense of fear, something she hadn’t felt in all those years. Although she couldn’t say she loved Jesse that much, the saying ’it’s cool under the big tree’s shade’ was true, and she didn’t want the tree to fall just like that.
When that woman didn’t want to leave despite Qiu Lan’s carrot and stick approach, Qiu Lan used the Execution Order. She wanted that woman to disappear completely.
The Execution Order was something even Jesse couldn’t stop. Once issued, it was final, and he knew his mother well.
There would not be the current Mu Shuoqian, competing against his own mother for the sake of an outsider.
So, in his heart, he repeated three words: I’m sorry.
Although the current situation was chaotic and Jesse might vent his anger on Qiu Lan, he believed that with Qiu Lan’s current capabilities, she would resolve this matter soon. It was just unfortunate for that woman, but people have their own destinies. She already didn’t care about her own life when she made that agreement with him.
The car stopped in front of Yunshan Sanatorium. After Mu Shuoqian got out of the car, the man who came with him said he’d go in first. Soon after, a middle-aged man in his forties, dressed appropriately and wearing black-framed glasses, with a faint resemblance to Gu Qili, walked out.
Cheng Jinyang looked towards the man standing by the car, tall and distinguished, obviously a man of great importance,
"This is our Young Master Qian." The man in the car gave a brief introduction, "Young Master Qian, this is Miss Gu’s uncle, Cheng Jinran."
Cheng Jinran was surprised. The other party was very well-informed. He didn’t know Mu Shuoqian, but he called him Young Master Qian, just like the other man did.
"Do you need something from me?"
Mu Shuoqian stubbed out his cigarette and got straight to the point, "Mr. Cheng, Qiqi wants to see her mother. Please arrange it."
After receiving Gu Qili’s call, Cheng Jinyang indeed had some thoughts of helping her, but in the end, decided not to get into that trouble. Although Cheng Menghong could be deranged at times, he was still scared of his sister. He feared involving Gu Qili would bring trouble upon himself. He knew that there had always been a huge rift between his sister and their father, Gu Dezhong. She definitely wouldn’t want to see her daughter.
"I’m afraid..." Before he could refuse, he was interrupted by Mu Shuoqian.
"Mr. Cheng, if you can arrange a meeting between mother and daughter, I will cover all of Mrs. Cheng’s medical and sanatorium expenses in the future. In addition, regarding the persistent issue of tight funds in recent years, if Mr. Cheng doesn’t mind, I am willing to invest and help you through these difficult times."
Clearly, Mu Shuoqian’s offer was tempting. Cheng Jinyang was quickly swayed but still cautiously asked, "Do you know what my niece wants to see her mother about?"
"I am only responsible for fulfilling her wish. As for what she wants, Mr. Cheng can ask her himself." Having said that, Mu Shuoqian seemed unwilling to say more. The man accompanying him immediately handed over a business card: "Mr. Cheng, if you’ve made up your mind, call me."
Cheng Jinyang watched the car drive away before slowly coming back to his senses. He didn’t expect the proverbial pie to fall from the sky and hit him. What kind of good fortune had Gu Qili accumulated in a past life to have this man help her without asking for any reasons?
It was almost lunchtime. Gu Qili glanced at the watch, feeling somewhat uneasy. Cheng Jinyang hadn’t called yet. It seemed that her uncle was not going to do her this favor.
Just as she was about to go downstairs for lunch, the phone that she had been holding rang. Seeing the caller ID, she excitedly answered: "Uncle."
"Qili, I’ve made arrangements. Come over after lunch, at Yunshan Sanatorium."
"Thank you, Uncle." Gu Qili hung up the phone and let out a deep sigh of relief.