Chapter 47: Everyone Fell Silent
The woman looked at the child in front of her. Her lips trembled slightly, but in the end, she couldn’t say what she wanted to say.
Because Nie Ying’s expression was simply too terrifying.
He clenched his teeth tightly, standing there in rigid silence.
“It’s normal to be so happy that you can’t speak when meeting your mother for the first time.”
In this suffocating atmosphere, Mrs. Nie actually smiled faintly. She hadn’t shown Nie Ying such a pleasant expression in a long time. “But it’s alright. Everything has already been explained. You’ll have plenty of time to get along in the future.”
Hearing this, Nie Ying finally snapped.
With one sweep of his arm, he knocked everything on the table to the floor. The vase shattered with a loud crash. Then he grabbed a chair and smashed it into the painting on the wall—one that had just been brought back from an auction not long ago.
Under such terrifying force, spiderweb cracks spread across the wall. One of the chair legs snapped, and a piece of wood flew toward Mrs. Nie and the woman.
Mrs. Nie looked at him, her smile unchanged.
But the woman had never seen such a scene before. Her face turned deathly pale, and she instinctively took a step back.
Nie Ying’s eyes were bloodshot. He threw the chair aside.
He had done things like this before. It was how he expressed resistance and emotion.
The more expensive the things he smashed, the more panicked the servants became. That panic would spread throughout the house, and before long, Mrs. Nie would have someone come to soothe him and agree to his demands.
It was a silent compromise.
Nie Ying actually found it meaningless.
He knew that he was just a childish kid trying to get his mother’s attention.
But Mrs. Nie had never been willing to say more than a few words to him.
He couldn’t stand the way she looked at him now—as if he were a clown. But what he couldn’t accept even more was why the woman beside her, who claimed to be his biological mother, was looking at him with such fear.
The woman’s gaze trembled violently.
The violent, frenzied figure in front of her gradually overlapped with the nightmare in her memories.
Back then, she had simply been tending to the potted plants in the garden as usual.
The butler had told her to go upstairs to replace the flowers in Madam’s vase. Madam wasn’t there at the time—only Mr. Nie was…
The woman covered her mouth, feeling nauseated, desperately trying to suppress those unbearable memories.
So many years had passed. She had thought she was already fine.
But after seeing what had recently happened to the Nie family in an old work group chat, a mother’s instinct had driven her to overcome her fears and come see the child.
Now, she was dazed.
Was the person in front of her really the child she had given birth to?
Her gaze deeply hurt Nie Ying. For the first time, he felt embarrassed—almost like he was fleeing—as he ran out of the room.
After Nie Ying left, the woman finally managed to breathe again. Mrs. Nie glanced regretfully at the ruined painting, then slowly shifted her gaze to Gu Qingxu, who had been an outsider the entire time, and smiled lightly.
Gu Qingxu looked somewhat helpless.
Honestly speaking, he hadn’t come here specifically to watch Nie Ying make a fool of himself.
Yet he had unexpectedly witnessed quite the spectacle.
What a pity. With Nie Ying’s petty personality, he’d probably hold a grudge against him too.
Gu Qingxu was already calculating whether it was still worth maintaining this superficial friendship.
After running out, Nie Ying sprinted along the street.
He didn’t know how long he ran until he was completely exhausted, his overflowing emotions finally easing a little.
Panting heavily, he leaned against a wall to steady his breathing, trying to look less disheveled.
It was still early. He didn’t want to wander the streets alone, and there happened to be a billiards hall nearby that he frequented.
After leaving his personal cue at the front desk, he was about to retrieve it when he unexpectedly spotted someone familiar.
Lu Ran was there too.
The two of them weren’t particularly close due to their personalities, so the encounter felt a bit strange.
Lu Ran had been sulking alone when an uninvited guest appeared.
He glanced at Nie Ying, who sat down behind him without even asking, and said irritably, “What do you want?”
“And you? What’s the point of playing alone?” Nie Ying smirked.
That only made Lu Ran angrier.
He had overheard Lu Zheng discussing bringing Lu Ji back home with their parents. Furious, he had stormed out after a huge argument.
But of course, he wouldn’t tell Nie Ying that. He sneered, “What, you here to laugh at me too?”
Recently, people he barely knew had been coming around, all pretending to chat but actually just there to watch his downfall. Naturally, he assumed Nie Ying was the same.
At those words, Nie Ying’s gaze darkened.
He had already heard about the Lu family situation. Suddenly, he realized that he and Lu Ran were somewhat alike.
Both had experienced sudden upheavals in their identities, losing everything they once had, and now had to endure cold looks and ridicule.
Perhaps because of what had just happened, he felt a sense of shared misery.
Combined with the fact that Lu Ji had previously ruined his plans, he slowly said:
“Instead of sulking here, you should think about how to deal with the one in your family. I wouldn’t mind helping you.”
Lu Ran froze. He hadn’t expected that response. But then, as if understanding something, he let out a laugh.
“Perfect. You still owe me a favor. I won’t hold back this time.”
—
“What’s wrong?” He Ming’an closed the menu and asked Gu Yang, who was sitting across from him. “You’ve seemed distracted all day. Didn’t sleep well again last night?”
Gu Yang propped his head up, took a sip of his drink, and slowly shook it.
After handing the menu to the waiter, He Ming’an teased, “So, how’s it going with Xiao Song lately? He’s been tutoring you for a while now, right?”
Gu Yang’s expression finally shifted slightly, but he didn’t answer.
He Ming’an was about to say something when his gaze paused.
Their dining area was a semi-private booth. A carved elm screen partially blocked the view, but through the gaps, one could vaguely see outside.
There was a tall figure with long hair passing by.
But the view was limited, and soon nothing could be seen.
Gu Yang noticed the pause. “What’s wrong?”
He Ming’an snapped back to attention, seeming a bit confused. “Hmm? Maybe I saw wrong.”
“Is that so?” Gu Yang said casually, stirring the ice in his drink.
But where Gu Yang couldn’t see, a trace of surprise appeared in He Ming’an’s eyes.
Someone who never paid attention before…
As if his ears had been covered and his eyes blindfolded.
After the meal, as the waiter removed the screen, He Ming’an glanced subtly to the side when walking out.
The hall was almost empty at this hour.
“Shouldn’t you be heading to the company now? It’s about time,” He Ming’an said with a smile.
Gu Yang took a moment to recall, then barely remembered.
Gu Yuhui’s assistant had called before—about the proposal he submitted. He was asked to attend the presentation.
“I don’t want to go,” he said bluntly. “Too troublesome.”
He really didn’t want to. He hadn’t even wanted to write the proposal, but since he had helped Yu Bai, he just submitted it to avoid further nagging.
Why did he have to show up in person?
Seeing how lifeless he looked, He Ming’an didn’t push him. Instead, he smiled and pointed behind him. “Maybe take a look at where you are first.”
Gu Yang turned around.
This entire area was a business district—and right behind him stood the headquarters of the Gu Group.
Gu Yang: “……”
He turned back in disbelief. “Why didn’t you just take me straight to the company cafeteria?”
He Ming’an spread his hands innocently. “No choice. Your company’s assistant called me and begged for help.”
He placed a hand over his chest, smiling warmly. “And I’ve always been a helpful person.”
Just then, the assistant—who had been waiting downstairs—rushed over the moment he spotted them, grabbing Gu Yang’s arm.
“Young Master, I’ve finally found you!”
Inside the Gu Group’s conference room.
The room was spacious, brightly lit, with a dignified redwood interior. Senior executives filled both sides of the table.
The meeting focused on launching a new subsidiary.
Gu Group, originally known for jewelry, already had Feili Jewelry as an industry leader. With its long history and preserved craftsmanship, it held strong advantages.
But this also meant its customer base skewed older.
Now, Gu Yuhui was targeting a younger market.
The new subsidiary would focus on affordable luxury—a sub-line under Feili Jewelry.
Although many such brands already existed, quality was inconsistent. Some customers had spent thousands on poorly made jewelry that oxidized or fell apart within months.
Compared to that, Gu Group’s craftsmanship and supply chain were clearly superior.
However, more than half the board initially opposed the plan due to the heavy upfront investment.
Yet somehow, Gu Yuhui persuaded the most senior directors, and the plan was pushed through.
After Gu Qingxu finished presenting, applause filled the room.
His proposal was indeed mature and well-structured—far beyond what a high school student could usually produce.
Then it was Gu Yang’s turn.
He had no intention of presenting personally and simply sat at the back, even yawning.
All eyes turned to him.
Gu Yang looked back at them blankly.
Several elders quickly turned away, still remembering how “terrifying” he could be.
The assistant nervously went on stage and opened the file.
At first glance, the design was vibrant and eye-catching. Some executives showed interest.
But as it progressed…
Something felt off.
The proposal suggested collaborating with influencers and entering high-traffic livestreams.
Then a video played.
In the solemn, dignified conference room, an enthusiastic sales pitch suddenly echoed:
“Only 998! Family, just 998! Ten necklaces—take them all home today!”
“What? The brand doesn’t agree? I don’t care! Even if I fall out with them today, I’ll fight for this deal for my family!”
The entire room of brand executives fell into silence.
