Chapter 33

Gu Ci took the cherry juice from him, her eyes filled with a hint of teasing. “Why don’t you guess?”

Lu Zhiyuan replied, “I won’t guess. I want you to tell me.”

“A question for a question,” Gu Ci’s lips were stained with a hint of cherry juice, fragrant and enticing. “Why did you see my message that night but didn’t reply?”

The sight of that captivating color on her lips ignited a flame in Lu Zhiyuan’s eyes. Yet, upon hearing her question, he returned to calmness. It was a mix of ice and fire. He averted his gaze and remained silent.

Gu Ci gently tapped her fingers on the crystal glass. “Lu Zhiyuan, we both have secrets, which is why we have stories.”

As the plane arrived in City A, the last ray of sunlight sank behind the mountains, painting the sky with a dreamlike and enchanting evening glow.

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Lu Zhiyuan had a dinner party to attend, so the two of them parted ways at the airport. When Gu Ci returned home, Gu Ziyu had been waiting for Gu Ci at the doorstep, and she greeted him with a smile, embracing him tightly.

“Mommy missed you so much!”

“I missed you too,” Gu Ziyu said, concern flickering in his eyes as he noticed her injuries. “Mommy, does it hurt?”

“It doesn’t hurt,” Gu Ci reassured him, holding him close as they walked inside. Unbeknownst to them, a camera hidden behind the flower bed continued to capture their every move. Gu Ci had brought some local specialties for Gu Ziyu from Hai Cheng.

“What about Dad?”

“He’s attending a dinner banquet. Do you miss him?”

“I want to tease him, even his own wife needs protection,” Gu Ziyu crossed his arms and pouted, displaying a hint of childishness. “If it were me, when I grow up, things like this would never happen.”

Gu Ci couldn’t help but smile and recalled the attack on Jiang Junlin. “Who would want to take Uncle’s life?”

“We couldn’t trace the employer,” Gu Ziyu handed over the information he had gathered to Gu Ci. “The money was transferred from an underground bank, and we couldn’t trace its source. The order came from Black Hawk’s headquarters, but I don’t know who was behind it. I also investigated the recent projects at Hualan Bank, but I couldn’t find any leads. The Hai Cheng branch handed over the culprits, probably trying to contain the situation and avoid further escalation.”

“Are you sure it’s not Gu Chuyun?” Gu Ci asked.

“Mom, you think too highly of her. Even if she’s cunning, she doesn’t have that much power,” Gu Ziyu replied. “When Gu Chuyun found out about you going to Hai Cheng to find Zhang Xiaomei, she was too preoccupied with herself. She doesn’t have such extensive resources.”

“Then who could it be?”

Jiang Junlin was also pondering, wondering who wanted his life. In the business world, harmony brings wealth. Hualan Bank had numerous projects for approval and a vast investment portfolio. He filtered through the recent rejected projects, but still couldn’t find any clues.

Jiang Minghua said, “This time, you were fortunate to encounter Gu Ci, who saved your life. But what about the next time?”

Jiang Junlin poured himself a cup of hot milk, recalling the moment when Gu Ci came rushing in and called him “Brother.” Was it just a stroke of luck? Jiang Junlin knew he didn’t mishear it. Gu Ci had learned about his identity and purposely came to save him.

But how did Gu Ci know that he would be attacked tonight?

“Dad, let’s not worry about me for now. I know what’s going on. Grandpa and Grandma are confused, but don’t you follow their lead. Gu Ci is my sister, not Gu Chuyun!” Jiang Junlin’s tone was heavy. “Zhang Xiaomei has been escorted back to A City. We must bring this matter to a conclusion and make a decision as soon as possible.”

“I understand,” Jiang Minghua sighed. “She does resemble Mingyue in appearance, but their personalities are completely different. Mingyue is like a sunflower, warm and radiant. Gu Ci… seems colder.”

“We have never shown her any genuine affection, so how can we expect her to greet us with a smile?” Jiang Junlin said. “Emotions are not maintained by a piece of paper proving blood ties.”

“Do you think Gu Chuyun knows about this matter?”

Jiang Junlin sneered. “It doesn’t matter!”

Meanwhile, Gu Chuyun was already in a panic. As soon as she returned to A City, she sought out Lu Man to discuss the situation. Lu Man was also anxious and restless. Gu Chuyun was arrogantly confident that she could control Gu Ci, so she transferred the money to Zhang Xiaomei using her own account. However, that wouldn’t withstand an investigation. The truth was already set in stone, and Gu Chuyun’s only option was damage control.

“Mom, you admit to everything and clear my name. I knew nothing about it. It was all part of your plan, including making Zhang Xiaomei change her statement,” Gu Chuyun remained calm. “As long as there are mountains, there will always be firewood.”

Lu Man looked at Gu Chuyun in shock. “You’re sacrificing me, Chuyun, I’m your mother!”

“Do you dare say that?” Gu Chuyun roared. “Why did you switch me and Gu Ci? And if you did it, why didn’t you eliminate the potential risks? Only dead people don’t lie. Your actions are full of loopholes and utter foolishness. Who can you blame but yourself? And you foolishly told me the truth. You should have kept it to yourself. You often whispered in my ear that I was your biological daughter, and Gu Ci must have overheard it. That’s why she investigated her own identity. From beginning to end, it was your foolishness that caused this calamity. You have to deal with it.”

Lu Man remained silent.

She looked at Gu Chuyun, her eyes swollen and filled with resentment. Her heart ached and softened. “Fine, fine, fine. Mom will handle it. It won’t involve you. Don’t worry, you’ll be safe and sound.”

Gu Chuyun held onto her. “Mom, sacrifice for me once again. It has been eighteen years, and you never abandoned Gu Ci. You raised her. She won’t be sentenced to prison, but her reputation will be damaged.”

Gu Chuyun couldn’t care less about Lü Man’s emotions. She had lost this game. Ever since her engagement to Lu Shijie that night, everything had spiraled out of control. She had to find a way to steer the situation in the direction she had planned.

The investigation into the baby swap case from eighteen years ago was reopened. The evidence was irrefutable. Zhang Xiaomei confessed to the details of the incident. Both Lu Man and Gu Chuyun, as well as Gu Ci, underwent paternity tests. The truth came to light. Old Madam Jiang, who still held onto a glimmer of hope, was deeply disturbed and rushed forward to slap Lü Man. “You wicked woman! You not only killed Mingyue but also targeted her daughter!”

The shock was too much for the old Madam, and she collapsed to the ground!

Lu Man cooperated with the investigation, displaying a good attitude and voluntarily confessing the truth. Gu Wenliang was bewildered, and Lu Man insisted that she alone had orchestrated everything, with Gu Chuyun, Gu Chuyu, and Gu Yaozu unaware of the plan.

Old Master Jiang and Lu Man’s mother were biological siblings who used to share a deep bond. With a hunched back and tears streaming down her face, Lü’s mother pleaded with Old Mr. Jiang to withdraw the lawsuit, seek reconciliation, and spare Lü Man.

Due to Jiang Mingyue’s death, there had been a rift between the siblings for many years. Lu’s mother and Lu Man had little contact during that time. However, blood ties are not easily severed.

“Aunt, the person she has wronged is Gu Ci. Whether or not to forgive her is Gu Ci’s decision, and we have no right to interfere,” Jiang Minghua rejected Lu’s family’s plea.

Gu Ci did not provide a letter of forgiveness, so the matter had to go through the legal process. Lu Man, Gu Wenliang, and Gu Yaozu all called her, hoping that she would offer forgiveness, but Gu Ci avoided them.

Lu Zhizhong found a lawyer specializing in such cases for Gu Ci named Wang Lin. Wang Lin explained, “Although it is a criminal case, over the past eighteen years, she arranged for Zhang Xiaomei to swap the babies but did not abandon you. She kept you by her side and raised you. There has been no evidence of mistreatment. In this situation, the sentencing is unlikely to be severe, most likely just a fine.”

Gu Ziyu’s voice turned cold. “No imprisonment?”