Chapter 32: He Refused to Let Me Go

When Qin Ying uttered her harsh words, the loathing she felt for Gu Shen Shen was written plainly across her face, barely veiled at all.

Yet such a scene seemed to be something Gu Shen Shen had long anticipated. She wore that same look of helpless resignation. “It’s not that I don’t keep my word. It’s just that your son is far too formidable. I was tormented nearly to death by him all the way in Rong City. He simply refuses to let me go.”

A faint furrow appeared between Qin Ying’s brows. Even if what Gu Shen Shen said was true, that did not mean she was willing to accept her version of the story.

“The Gu family is nothing but a bunch of upstarts. What makes you think you’re worthy of a relationship with a man from the Zhou family?” Qin Ying’s arbitrary and one-sided dismissal left Gu Shen Shen feeling a certain discomfort.

She had met plenty of people like this in her life, and yet, no matter how often it happened, she found herself unable to completely ignore their disdain.

“Madam Qin, rather than wasting your time on me, you’d be better off persuading your son. As long as he’s willing to let me go, I promise I’ll disappear without a trace.”

Qin Ying’s expression grew colder, bit by bit. Of course, she knew her son’s temperament all too well. If it were possible to influence him, there would be no need to focus on others.

Gu Shen Shen cast her gaze down at the cup of tea before her, now gone cold, making no move to drink it.

Qin Ying’s thoughts flickered behind her eyes; a moment ago, there had been a hint of weakness in her gaze, but now it sharpened to an icy glint.

Gu Shen Shen felt a little uneasy under the weight of that stare.

She knew all too well what sort of person she was, though she certainly wasn’t aware of every one of her own flaws.

“Why do you look at me like that, Madam Qin? Do you take me for some kind of villain?”

Qin Ying let out a cold laugh. “Back then, you must have noticed there was something off about Ah Ci, didn’t you? Is that why you left him?”

At the mention of this, Gu Shen Shen drew in a slow breath and shifted her gaze out the window.

Indeed, only a mother truly understood her own son.

“I truly loved him,” she said quietly. “But unfortunately, he was not well in mind. Madam Qin, in all these years, you have not managed to cure your own son—that is what’s truly disappointing.”

Qin Ying narrowed her eyes at her, her expression unreadable.

Women like Gu Shen Shen were always the hardest to deal with. She had entered society early, met all kinds of people, and had once basked in glory; now, even in destitution, she faced her troubles with composure.

That was why none of Qin Ying’s tactics had much effect.

“If it weren’t for you, his condition would never have worsened. The way he is now—this is all your doing,” Qin Ying snarled, her anger barely contained.

Gu Shen Shen slowly turned to look at her. “It was you, Madam, who wished for me to do so. I only acted according to your intentions. As for the consequences, what do they have to do with me?”

Her every word was sharp and unyielding; Qin Ying could not gain the slightest advantage.

“Gu Shen Shen!”

“Let Zhou Ci let me go. If he insists on destroying me, I will drag him down to hell with me.” Gu Shen Shen’s eyes were cold as she threw the words back at her, turning the tables ruthlessly.

Qin Ying’s expression froze for a moment. Yet she was left speechless by Gu Shen Shen’s retort.

Gu Shen Shen had made her meaning perfectly clear: her current predicament left her no way out, and she would not risk everything lightly.

Seeing Qin Ying silent for a long time, Gu Shen Shen sighed helplessly.

“If Madam Qin has no solution, then what’s the point of meeting me and saying all these useless things?” With that, she didn’t wait for Qin Ying to reply, but got up and left the tearoom on her own.

After Gu Shen Shen departed, Qin Ying’s gaze at the door grew venomous. She slowly reached for the phone that had been sitting on the shelf all along.

“Ah Ci, you heard everything, didn’t you?”