Gu Mian stood stunned for two seconds before she suddenly snapped back to reality and immediately turned around to dash toward the neighboring elevator!
The elevator doors closed at that instant, and she didn't see the face of the person inside.
Gu Mian pressed the elevator button forcefully, but the elevator was already ascending.
After a brief shock, Gu Mian quickly calmed down and couldn't help but mock herself with a laugh.
She was so obsessed with Li Tingshen that she was starting to hear things.
If Li Tingshen had returned, how could he not come home to look for her and Niannian?
Gu Mian turned around dejectedly and made her way to the car in the parking lot.
She leaned against the leather seat, closed her eyes, and forced herself to try to sleep.
She didn't know how much time had passed when she was once again awakened by a phone call.
"Mianmian, Gu Xing is bleeding profusely!"
"I'll be right there!"
Gu Mian immediately got out of the car and, without thinking, grabbed silver needles and rushed upstairs.
Outside the delivery room, Wang Shulan was so frantic that she didn't know what to do.
Seeing Gu Mian, she immediately ran over, crying, "Gu Mian, please save Xingxing! Save Xingxing!"
"What happened? Hasn't the baby been born yet?"
"Xingxing just can't give birth, and just now the doctor came out saying there's been a lot of bleeding, they need to switch from natural to a cesarean section, and the situation is very dangerous, they can only save either the adult or the child!"
"But President Ye decisively chose to save the child and signed the papers right away!"
"Gu Mian, Xingxing is your cousin, you can't just stand by and do nothing!"
Gu Mian checked the time. It had been an hour since she went downstairs.
That meant, in this past hour, Gu Xing had been forcefully trying to deliver naturally, until she began bleeding profusely.
Gu Mian frowned, looking at Ye Huaizhi, "Although Gu Xing may not have the right values, her life is still a life, how could you just decide to save the baby?"
"Sister, that's an interesting thing to say. Should I not save my child and instead save Gu Xing?" Ye Huaizhi said with a light laugh, "What is she to me that I should save her?"
Wang Shulan was shocked, "Xingxing truly loves you, how can you treat her like this?"
"Haven't I treated her well enough?" Ye Huaizhi countered, "The glory and wealth she wanted, I gave it all to her."
"Besides, what she truly loves is money, how come when it gets to you, it suddenly becomes true love for me."
"She needs money, I need her to bear my child, mutual benefit for both parties, don't make it sound as if I've wronged her..."
Wang Shulan: "..."
"Mianmian, you go in first and take a look," Old Master Ye spoke up, "The Gu Family raised you and has been kind to the Ye Family, I don't wish for your grandmother's only granddaughter to die in the delivery room while giving birth for the Ye Family."
Gu Mian nodded and followed the nurse into the delivery room.
As dawn was approaching, Gu Mian finally came out of the delivery room, "It's a boy. He's born."
Ye Huaizhi breathed a sigh of relief, and a look of joy crossed his handsome face.
The significance of the first great-grandson to the Ye Family went without saying.
And since the child was borne by Gu Xing, who was trivial and whose life was even considered expendable, it was certain that Gu Mian would cherish this child.
After all, she is the only descendant of Gu Mian's grandmother who raised her.
Wang Shulan asked anxiously, "How is Xingxing?!"
Gu Mian took off her mask, "The bleeding has stopped, and her life can be saved, but I'm afraid her uterus can't be."
"How could this happen..." Wang Shulan shuddered violently, unwilling to accept, "She is still so young and was going to have more children, how can she be without a uterus!"
"Gu Mian, it must be because you didn't treat her wholeheartedly, right? You dislike our family's Xingxing, and you can't stand to see her well, so you deliberately made her lose her uterus, right?"
Gu Mian was speechless, "Wang Shulan, are you a mad dog? Biting whomever you see?"
"I'm speaking the truth!" Wang Shulan yelled, "You go back in there now and cure Xingxing for me, save her uterus, or I won't let this go!"
"How can you speak like this?" A nearby doctor couldn't stand it anymore and interjected, "If it had not been for Madam Li's utmost effort to stop the bleeding, even the mother's life couldn't have been saved, let alone something as simple as removing the uterus."
"Look at you, immediately biting the hand that feeds you..." the doctor said. "This is the consent form for the hysterectomy. Hurry up and sign it. If we delay any longer, the mother will be in life-threatening danger again."
Wang Shulan cried, "I don't care! My daughter is under your care, and you must find a way to cure her! In any case, her uterus must not be removed!"
Doctor: "..."
Gu Mian looked to Old Master Ye, "Grandfather, my business here is done, I'm heading back now."
"Alright, you've worked hard, go back and rest."
"Gu Mian, you can't leave! You must stay and treat Xingxing!"
Wang Shulan tried to step forward to stop Gu Mian but was restrained by the Ye Family's bodyguard.
Gu Mian ignored her hysterical screams and left straight away.
...
Gu Mian only found out after waking up that after she left the hospital, Old Master Ye and Ye Huaizhi also left.
Wang Shulan refused to sign, but the hospital, to save Gu Xing's life, went ahead with the hysterectomy.
Wang Shulan kept making a scene, claiming that the hospital owed her an explanation, otherwise, she would sue them until they closed.
Because it involved the Ye Family, and also because Gu Xing initially refused a C-section, the hospital covered their bases by recording the entire childbirth and treatment process as evidence, proving there was no medical malpractice.
When Gu Xing woke up, she heard Wang Shulan arguing with the doctors.
"Mom..." Gu Xing said weakly, calling out to her, "How's the baby?"
"Xingxing, you're awake?" Wang Shulan hurried over, "The baby is fine; it's a big, chubby boy, seven and a half pounds!"
Gu Xing heaved a sigh of relief, "As long as it's a son, my status is stable now..."
"But the doctors removed your uterus, you won't be able to have children anymore!"
"Having this son to secure my position is enough; there's no need to have more. I am not a baby-making machine, and I don't like having children anyway."
Wang Shulan immediately changed her tune, "That's true. It's a good thing not to have to suffer this again."
"Where's Huaizhi? Why don't I see him?"
Wang Shulan's mouth twitched, "Xingxing, after all the effort you went through to bear him a son, he chose to save the child over you last night! It infuriates me to no end!"
Gu Xing's face showed hurt, but she quickly consoled herself, "It's the Ye Family's first child, and it's normal for Huaizhi to value him. Those who achieve great things must make sacrifices. If it were me, I would also choose to save the child."
"Xingxing, why are you still speaking up for him?"
"I'm speaking the truth." Gu Xing took a deep breath, smiled, and said, "Anyway, I'm not dead now, and my good fortune is yet to come."
"As long as Huaizhi divorces his wife and marries me, this bit of grievance is nothing, my vision is something ordinary women can't compare to..."
"That's true, our Xingxing is no ordinary woman, she has a grand vision indeed!" Wang Shulan said proudly, "Now that you've given birth to a son, Ye Huaizhi should keep his promise and divorce to marry you."
"Xingxing, how much dowry do you think Mom should ask for to be appropriate?"
Gu Xing almost rolled her eyes, "How many times have I taught you to think bigger? No matter how much dowry you take, there will be a day when it runs out, but if I become Mrs. Ye Huaizhi, I'll have money I can't spend in a lifetime, understand?"
"What you should be doing now is taking good care of the child and making Huaizhi happy."
"Mom understands," Wang Shulan said as if she had an epiphany, "Xingxing, I'll listen to you!"
"Where's the child?"
"The child has high jaundice; he's been sent for phototherapy."
"You better go and check if he's done, and bring the child here for me to see."
"Alright, Mom will go now."
Wang Shulan went to the nurse's station to inquire but was informed the child wasn't in the hospital.
"This morning, President Ye already had the child discharged. Didn't you know?" the nurse scoffed, "No wonder, you were too busy causing trouble to care about these matters..."
Wang Shulan was so angry she could barely contain herself, "You dare to mock me as a mere nurse? Do you know who I am? I am the mother-in-law of Ye Huaizhi, President Ye; believe it or not, with one word from me, you could be out of here!"
The nurse laughed, "Impressive, I'm so scared. The Ye family left the hospital with the child without even notifying you, or casting a glance your way, and you're the mother-in-law? Dreaming much?"
"You..."
Angered, Wang Shulan immediately returned to the room, picked up Gu Xing's phone, and called Ye Huaizhi.
But the call wouldn't go through.
Wang Shulan turned pale, "Xingxing, it's not like Huaizhi took the child and doesn't want you anymore, right?"
"Don't talk nonsense," Gu Xing said displeased, "Huaizhi personally promised that once I gave birth to the child, he would divorce and marry me!"
"But his phone is unreachable!"
"It can't be..." Gu Xing couldn't believe it, "He must be busy with something and can't answer the phone... Yes, that must be it! He wouldn't abandon me!"
"Xingxing, what should we do now?"
"You can run from the monk, but not from the temple," Gu Xing suddenly realized, "What are you waiting for? Go to the Ye family and find him!"
"Right, going to the Ye family is definitely correct! I'm going now!"
...
Wang Shulan rushed to Yunyue Bay, but she was denied entry.
To say nothing of entering the Ye family residence, she couldn't even get through the gates of Yunyue Bay.
"Let me in! I'm a relative of the Ye family, how dare you stop me!"
The young uniformed bodyguard spoke politely yet distantly, "The Ye family hasn't announced any visitors; we cannot let you in. Please contact the Ye family first."
"Are you blind? It's not my first time here. Don't you recognize me?"
"Sorry, we haven't received any notification from the Ye family; we really can't let you in."
Wang Shulan, with no other choice, said, "I am Gu Mian... that is to say, the aunt of Madam Li Tingshen. Do you dare to stop me now?"
"Sorry, we haven't received any notification from the Li family either."
"You..." Wang Shulan was so angered she felt dizzy, "Fine, you just wait! Stupid security guard! I'll make you regret this!"
When Wang Shulan returned to the hospital, Gu Xing couldn't wait to ask, "How did it go? Did Huaizhi come?"
"Xingxing, I couldn't even get through the gates of Yunyue Bay, those guard dogs stopped me right at the door."
"What?" Gu Xing was furious, "How can you be so useless!"
"How can you blame me for this?" Wang Shulan said with a grievance, "I used to be able to enter before, so I guess it must be the Ye Family who instructed them, deliberately keeping me out."
"Even if you can't get in, you should find a way!" Gu Xing said anxiously, "You have a brain, it isn't just for height!"
Wang Shulan wanted to retort, but dared not anger her further, "Xingxing, don't be upset, mom already has a plan."
As her words fell, the door to the ward was knocked on, and Gu Zhiyuan walked in.
"Why have you only just arrived!" Wang Shulan said unhappily.
"I made some food for Gu Xing." Gu Zhiyuan came forward, opening the thermal container he brought, "I asked, and you can't eat rich food right after giving birth, only something light. I made you some plain porridge."
"It's just a bowl of porridge, it's not like it can't be bought, did you need to make it yourself?" Wang Shulan said impatiently, "That damn girl Gu Mian has blocked both mine and Xingxing's numbers, quickly call her and ask where the baby was taken, and tell Ye Huaizhi to come to the hospital!"
Gu Zhiyuan spoke, "Mianmian blocked your numbers for a reason, and given that, I don't want to disturb her over your affairs."
"Gu Zhiyuan, do you even know what you're saying!" Wang Shulan was enraged, "Xingxing is your own daughter, and now your own grandson has been taken away, and you're not even concerned!"
Gu Zhiyuan handed the served porridge to Gu Xing, "When you decided to be the other woman, you should have realized that without marrying Ye Huaizhi, you're not protected by the law. Now that the child has been taken away by Ye Huaizhi, even the law can't help you."
"Shut your mouth!"
Gu Xing, in a state of collapse, pushed his hand away, and the bowl of porridge fell to the ground, shattering into pieces.
Gu Xing glared at him with hatred, "You won't help me, fine, but how dare you lecture me! 'Parent's fault, child's misfortune.' I turned out this way, you bear responsibility too!"
"I don't care, you call Gu Mian right now, and no matter what it takes, I must see Huaizhi and the child today!"
"I owe you nothing, nor will I bother Mianmian with these things." Gu Zhiyuan pulled out a thick red envelope from his pocket, placed it on the bedside table, "Take care of yourself, I'm leaving."
"Gu Zhiyuan, you think you're so capable? Did I say you could go?" Wang Shulan stepped forward and grabbed him, "Think you can just walk away with a red envelope? Do you think I need your money?"
"We're already divorced." Gu Zhiyuan looked at her seriously, "When we divorced, it was agreed that if Gu Xing insisted on being the other woman, I would sever the father-daughter relationship. You reap what you sow; I can't help you, and neither can Mianmian."
"You know her name is Gu Xing! She is a Gu by surname! Even if we're divorced, she's still your own daughter!" Wang Shulan yelled, "If you dare leave your daughter behind today, I swear we're not done!"
"You're beyond redemption." Gu Zhiyuan tried to keep his patience, "Move aside!"
"I won't! If you can, hit me!"
Just as Gu Zhiyuan was about to speak, Gu Xing's voice suddenly rang out, "Stop arguing, both of you!"
They turned their heads to see that, at some point, Gu Xing had climbed onto the windowsill.
This was the twelfth floor, a fall meant certain death!
"Xingxing, what are you doing!" Wang Shulan was startled, "Get down! Don't be rash!"
Gu Xing, teetering on the edge of collapse, cried out, "My whole life's hope was in Huaizhi and the child, without them, what's the point of living!"
"If you don't help me bring Huaizhi and the child here, I'll jump from here!"
"I'd like to see after pushing me to death whether any of you can live with your conscience!"
"And Gu Mian... if I die, Gu Mian won't be able to live in peace! I am the only grandchild of grandma and grandpa, if I die, I want to see how she explains it to my grandparents!"