Chapter 7: A Dark and Windy Night

“Goodbye properly?”

Gu Nanyan rested her chin on her hand and lazily supported her head, looking at Qin Yuwei with a half-smile. “But I’ve already blocked his number. How am I supposed to say goodbye?”

“You can meet in person,” Qin Yuwei glanced around, noticing that the servants were standing far away. She lowered her voice and said to Gu Nanyan, “He Yunrui really wants to see you. He’s in Rongcheng now, and I can arrange for you two to meet tonight.”

“Meet?” Gu Nanyan froze for a moment, then gave Qin Yuwei a thoughtful look. She lowered her hand from her head. “Where would we meet?”

“At the Shen residence.” Qin Yuwei saw that Gu Nanyan was moved and immediately grabbed her hand, enthusiastically adding, “Nanyan, Mr. Shen is working late at the company tonight and won’t be back until very late. He Yunrui is coming to the Shen residence specifically for you. If you want to leave with him, this is the best opportunity.”

“Oh?” Gu Nanyan raised an eyebrow slightly.

Qin Yuwei immediately continued, “Of course, if you’ve already made up your mind not to divorce Shen Boyan, then take this opportunity to say goodbye to him properly. Give this relationship a proper ending.”

“Okay.”

Gu Nanyan responded decisively.

Qin Yuwei, likely not expecting it to go so smoothly, stood frozen for almost two seconds.

“Nanyan, you agreed?” she asked, a little disbelief in her voice.

“Yes.” Gu Nanyan smiled lightly, took her hand off Qin Yuwei’s, and gently brushed it with her other hand. “I think you’re right, this relationship needs a proper beginning and end.”

She needed to properly say goodbye to that scum who had caused her to be alienated by everyone.

“Okay, I’ll arrange your meeting. Nanyan, wait for my message.”

Qin Yuwei was clearly pleased, and after speaking, she quickly left.

Gu Nanyan watched her excited back, the corner of her lips slowly curling into a meaningful smile.

…

In the evening, Gu Nanyan was accompanying Xiao Mumu while he was painting. A maid walked in, leaned close to Gu Nanyan’s ear, and whispered, “Madam, Miss Qin wants you to go to the back door.”

“Okay, I understand.”

Gu Nanyan responded casually, then squatted down to tell Xiao Mumu, who was still drawing, “Draw a bit more, then take a break. You’re still young, you don’t need to work so hard.”

After gently ruffling her son’s head, she got up and left.

The maid, listening to her words, lowered her head, but a brief gleam of light flashed in her eyes.

Gu Nanyan walked out of the main residence, and the sky was nearly dark.

The last streak of sunset was still hanging on the horizon, and the lights of the manor had not yet been turned on, making it the darkest time of day.

This reminded Gu Nanyan of a saying: a moonless, windy night—perfect for arson and murder.

The front and back doors of the manor were quite far apart, and by the time Gu Nanyan reached the back door, the sky was almost completely dark.

Behind the back door was an apricot blossom grove, and in the early spring of March, the apricot flowers were in full bloom.

As the night wind blew, the petals drifted through the air, creating an incredibly romantic scene.

“Nanyan.”

An excited male voice suddenly called out, and then a figure emerged from the apricot blossom grove.

He Yunrui held a branch of apricot flowers, walking towards Gu Nanyan with deep affection. “Nanyan, we finally meet again. I know you’re angry at me, resent me, but do you know? When I found out you fainted after jumping into the lake for me, I was more anxious and pained than anyone. The feeling of heartache was so intense, no one understands it better than I do. Nanyan, I know you’re not a heartless person. We’ve loved each other for so many years. How could you just stop loving me like that? You’re just angry, right?”

He Yunrui said many things that Gu Nanyan didn’t pay attention to. Instead, she stared at the branch of apricot flowers in his hand and cursed inwardly: This damn scumbag, not a bit of class. Who the hell allowed him to randomly pick flowers in the Shen family’s garden?

“Nanyan, you once said you liked flowers. This apricot blossom is picked by my own hands for you. It represents my love for you—always as fiery and brilliant as this. Don’t let the Shen family’s cage trap you anymore. Come with me, will you?” He Yunrui said, handing the flowers to Gu Nanyan with deep affection.

Gu Nanyan didn’t take the flowers, but she could already sense a chill coming from some dark spot behind her.

It was as if a terrifying, cold-blooded beast was lurking there, ready to open its bloodthirsty mouth and swallow her whole.

Before coming here, Xiao Yue had secretly told her that Shen Boyan had already returned.

But for some reason, the other servants had kept this information from her.

It seemed that Qin Yuwei had intentionally arranged this little drama for Shen Boyan to witness.

Whether she was willing to leave with He Yunrui or not, the sight of the two former lovers confiding in each other would forever leave a thorn in Shen Boyan’s heart.

What Qin Yuwei did was to sow discord between her and Shen Boyan.

Gu Nanyan couldn’t help but scrutinize the man before her, who looked like a lead character from a romantic drama.

She had to admit that Qin Yuwei had indeed put in some effort—He Yunrui was rather handsome, and with his flowery words, it was no wonder the original owner had been so bewitched.

However, in her eyes, when it came to looks, He Yunrui and Shen Boyan were worlds apart.

Although Shen Boyan wasn’t good with words, his appearance was truly breathtaking, the kind that completely captured her heart.

How could this effeminate scoundrel before her even shake her resolve?

The back door was right next to the side residence. At this moment, on the second floor of the side residence, Qin Yuwei was quietly standing at the windowsill, clearly watching the scene unfold.

Seeing that Gu Nanyan was lost in thought while looking at He Yunrui, a smug smile spread across her face.

As expected, Gu Nanyan had loved He Yunrui for so many years. How could she possibly let go so easily?

No matter what her reasons were for not wanting to divorce Shen Boyan, once Shen Boyan saw her in such a tender moment with another man, he would never be able to accept her again!

But what happened next made Qin Yuwei’s smile freeze completely on her face.

In the apricot blossom grove, Gu Nanyan raised her hand and struck He Yunrui hard across the face.

“Who the hell allowed you to pick flowers from the Shen family’s garden?” Gu Nanyan punched him and then kicked him hard.

This kick hit the target squarely. He Yunrui let out a howl of pain and sat on the ground. Gu Nanyan walked over and continued to punch and kick him. “You, what are you? How dare you defile such a sacred place as the Shen family’s garden? Didn’t I tell you to get lost? In the past, I was blind and foolish. I let go of such an outstanding man like Shen Bo Yan and was actually deceived by you. Grandma Gu is now enlightened. Shen Bo Yan is my true destiny. You are not even as good as a single hair of Shen Bo Yan’s. Get as far away from here as possible! How dare you come to the Shen family? I think you’ve eaten bear’s heart and leopard’s gall, daring to harass me. I’ll beat you to death!”

Finally, she found an opportunity to vent her anger for the original owner. Gu Nanyan struck with every blow.

In the apricot blossom forest, He Yunrui was beaten black and blue and fled in all directions.

“Stop hitting me, stop hitting me… please stop hitting me…”

“I have such a handsome husband, such a cute son, and such a perfect family. What the hell are you doing coming to me? Don’t you look in the mirror? If I don’t beat you to death today, I’ll cripple you!”

Gu Nanyan, still not satisfied with just punching and kicking, turned around and saw a large stick in the apricot blossom forest. She grabbed it and began smashing it “bang, bang” onto He Yunrui.

In the shadows, Shen Boyan watched the scene, and the coldness around him slowly dissipated.

Meanwhile, his assistant, Ling Hanzhi, who stood behind him, was so scared that the muscles on his face twitched.

The young madam is too fierce.

Even more ruthless than him. It seems like there’s no need for him to intervene.

He Yunrui, beaten and spitting blood, didn’t dare to stay for even a second longer. He quickly fled through the back door.