Cai Yongcheng and the others froze momentarily in surprise.

Aunt Liu quickly stepped forward, her face marked with displeasure as she glanced at Cai Qi and his mother, Sun Fanghong. “Mr. Cai, I’ve already told them you didn’t want to be disturbed, but they—”

Sun Fanghong, clutching her monogrammed LV bag, smiled sweetly. “Aunt Liu, my brother-in-law said he didn’t want outsiders, but we’re family. Isn’t that right, brother-in-law?”

Cai Yongcheng’s expression darkened, his face clouded with cold disdain. Yet, unwilling to make a scene in front of outsiders, he merely said, “We’ll discuss this later. All of you, leave.”

Any tactful person would have taken the hint and left.

However, Cai Qi, noticing Secretary Lin and old Li respectfully surrounding Gu Xicao, grew suspicious. He feigned ignorance and smirked, “Godfather, this young lady looks unfamiliar. May I ask who she is?”

“This has nothing to do with you. Leave now,” Cai Yongcheng snapped, his tone colder than before.

Xu Shaowen quickly interjected, “Mr. Cai, why don’t we go upstairs to discuss?”

Xu Shaowen knew the dynamics of the Cai family well enough. Ever since Cai Yongcheng underwent heart surgery, Cai Qi and his mother had grown bolder, meddling in both personal and business affairs.

If Sun Fanghong and her son found out about Cai Yongcheng’s plans to search for his son, they’d undoubtedly find ways to interfere.

“Yes, Mr. Cai,” Secretary Lin added, sensing the tension. “Let’s head upstairs. We can leave the space here for Miss Sun and Mr. Cai Qi.”

Though visibly annoyed, Cai Yongcheng recognized the wisdom in this suggestion. Nodding, he prepared to leave with Gu Xicao and the others.

Sun Fanghong, however, grew suspicious. Worried that Cai Yongcheng might secretly draft a will upstairs, she urgently signaled her son with a glance.

Cai Qi caught on immediately. With a broad grin, he ran up to Cai Yongcheng and latched onto his arm. “Godfather, let me help you upstairs. What’s the discussion about? I’m the company manager. Shouldn’t I be involved?”

“Yes, brother-in-law,” Sun Fanghong chimed in. Clearing her throat, she added, “Ah Qi is no longer a child. The doctor said you should focus on recovery. Why not let Ah Qi handle everything? If not him, I’m here to help.”

Without hesitation, she brazenly followed them.

Cai Yongcheng, already struggling to maintain his composure, trembled with anger at their shamelessness. His hand quivered as he pointed at Cai Qi. “You—you—”

His chest constricted, and his face turned deathly pale.

Secretary Lin panicked. “Aunt Liu, bring water quickly! Mr. Cai, please don’t get upset. Think about your son!”

Aunt Liu rushed to fetch water, and Cai Yongcheng took his medication. His complexion gradually improved, and his breathing steadied.

Everyone sighed in relief.

Gu Xicao noted the fleeting disappointment on the faces of Sun Fanghong and Cai Qi. Her lips curled into a faint, mocking smile. “What’s wrong? Disappointed that Mr. Cai is fine?”

Caught off guard, Sun Fanghong’s face turned beet red. Seeing that the speaker was a beautiful young woman, her embarrassment quickly morphed into fury. “Who do you think you are, speaking like that in our home? aunt Liu, throw her out!”

Aunt Liu hesitated, glancing at Cai Yongcheng for guidance.

Cai Yongcheng’s heart sank further at her reaction. This was an employee who had worked for him for decades. In the past, she wouldn’t have dared to entertain such a suggestion from Sun Fanghong. Now, she hesitated.

Closing his eyes briefly, Cai Yongcheng barked, “Enough! This is my house, and I invited Master Gu here. She deserves your respect. If anyone should leave, it’s you two!”

His booming voice felt like a slap across Sun Fanghong and Cai Qi’s faces.

Sun Fanghong flushed with anger and humiliation.

Cai Qi, equally livid, retorted, “Godfather, are you senile? You’d defend an outsider over us? I see now—this must be Secretary Lin’s doing. She probably brought this little tramp to curry favor with you, hoping to drive us out!”

He glared viciously at Secretary Lin and Gu Xicao.

“Secretary Lin, you’re really something. Not satisfied with climbing into my godfather’s bed, you even brought a partner!”

Secretary Lin, though usually composed, turned red with anger at the insinuation.

Wang Laoshi couldn’t take it anymore. “Hey! Watch your mouth! What nonsense about climbing into beds? Master Gu was invited here to help. Show some respect!”

“Helping? Is she here to help or to seduce?” Cai Qi’s gaze turned lecherous as he eyed Gu Xicao.

Wang Laoshi, initially holding back, rolled up his sleeves, ready to fight.

Gu Xicao stopped him with a smirk. Looking Cai Qi up and down, she said icily, “You, sir, are the lowest of the low—a true scoundrel. Your face is narrow, your eyes are beady, and your demeanor is that of a rat. You lack nobility and are destined to end up behind bars, doing hard labor for the rest of your life.”

“You!” Cai Qi’s face contorted in rage.

Sun Fanghong was equally furious, jabbing her finger at Gu Xicao. “How dare you curse my son!”

Unfazed, Gu Xicao turned to her. “Madam, no need to get worked up. I’ve read your fortune too. Yours is a life of infamy. With your high cheekbones, thin lips, and shifty gait, you’re either a homewrecker or a brothel madam. Consider yourself lucky—you’ll share in your son’s fate. When he goes to prison, you’ll enjoy state-provided meals too. Truly enviable!”

“You—you—you—” Sun Fanghong stammered, trembling with rage.

Sun Fanghong had enjoyed a life of luxury for over twenty years. Out of respect for his late wife, Cai Yongcheng had treated her and her son generously. They lived in a villa, drove expensive cars, and dined at high-end restaurants. Everyone treated them with deference due to their association with Cai Yongcheng.

Never did they expect to meet someone like Gu Xicao, whose sharp tongue was as venomous as her words were unfiltered.

Even Lin Secretary and old Li, standing by, were left stunned by the scathing remarks. Yet, inwardly, they couldn’t help but applaud.

Sun Fanghong and her son Cai Qi had a long history of bullying others, especially Secretary Lin. Because of her youth and beauty, they constantly insinuated that she had climbed the ranks through unsavory means.

The harassment disgusted Secretary Lin, and if not for Cai Yongcheng’s mentorship and generous salary, she would have left the company long ago.

“Godfather, are you really going to let this person insult me and my mother?” Cai Qi demanded angrily, pointing at Gu Xicao. “Have you forgotten Auntie’s dying wish for you to take care of us?”

Mentioning his late wife caused Cai Yongcheng’s face to darken.

Gu Xicao, however, scoffed coldly. “Mr. Cai hasn’t forgotten, but how have you repaid his kindness? By betraying him. And wasn’t it your mother who caused his son’s disappearance all those years ago?”

Her words dropped like a bombshell, leaving everyone in shock.

Cai Yongcheng’s eyes widened as he turned to Gu Xicao. “What did you say? My son’s disappearance was Sun Fanghong’s doing?”

Gu Xicao nodded, her expression resolute. “Yes. Mr. Cai, you’ve been played for a fool all these years. While you generously took care of them, they repaid you by orchestrating your son’s disappearance, hoping to inherit everything for themselves.”

“You wretched liar! How dare you!”

Sun Fanghong’s face turned ashen, and she lunged at Gu Xicao, raising her hand to strike.

Secretary Lin quickly intervened, holding her back. “Mrs. Sun, what are you doing? Trying to stop Master Gu from uncovering the whereabouts of Mr. Cai’s son?”

Exposed so bluntly, Sun Fanghong’s face twisted with anger and fear.

“You’re spouting nonsense!” she shrieked. “Brother-in-law, this so-called master must be a fraud. Why would I do such a thing? I loved Abaobao more than anyone. His disappearance devastated me! I even almost got hurt while searching for him back then!”

Cai Qi, drenched in cold sweat, dropped to his knees before Cai Yongcheng. “Godfather, you can’t believe this! My mother and I have spent years tirelessly searching for my cousin. This woman and Secretary Lin must be conspiring to deceive you and steal the family fortune!”

Hearing this, even the servants began to whisper amongst themselves.

“Could this be a setup?”
“Ah Qi and Mrs. Sun are family. How could they harm their own? But Secretary Lin… who knows what her motives are?”

The murmurs gave Sun Fanghong a glimmer of hope. Seizing the opportunity, she wiped her eyes and began to sob. “Brother-in-law, you’ve seen how we’ve treated you all these years. Yes, we’ve been worried about you lately, but only because we don’t want you to be deceived by outsiders. Ah Qi is your godson and even shares your surname. Why trust strangers over us?”

Secretary Lin couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity of their act.

“Enough!”

Cai Yongcheng slammed his hand on the table, the resounding thud silencing the room.

Sun Fanghong stopped crying immediately, her nerves frayed. She stole a glance at Gu Xicao, whose calm demeanor unsettled her further.

Back then, the deed was done in utmost secrecy. Only she and her son knew the truth. Could this so-called master truly know what happened?

“Master Gu is here at my invitation, and she doesn’t speak carelessly,” Cai Yongcheng declared, his voice cold. Turning to Sun Fanghong, he continued, “Tell me the truth—was my son’s disappearance your doing?”

Cai Yongcheng wasn’t naïve. If he put aside familial ties and assessed who benefited most from his son’s absence, the answer was clear: Sun Fanghong and her son.

Years ago, his wife had taken in Sun Fanghong and her son out of compassion. They were destitute, and life at the Cai family had been their salvation.

But with family assets totaling billions, his son’s existence would naturally mean that the inheritance would go to him. If his son disappeared, however, Sun Fanghong and Cai Qi stood to gain everything.