Chapter Four: Turning the Tide

“Oh dear, you actually saw through me!” Xie Qingtang gave a somewhat embarrassed smile, but admitted it openly and without hesitation. “The first thing I did after coming down the mountain was to visit the old Xie family residence to look for my grandfather, but the place is no longer the Xie family home—it’s been occupied by Shao Siming, his mistress, and his illegitimate son. I went through a lot of trouble and found out only that my grandfather is still alive, but couldn’t learn anything else about him. That’s why I had no choice but to come to you.”

Then her smile faded. She straightened her posture and spoke seriously:

“Believe it or not, the engagement is real. But I know you resent it, and so do I. So, just as you said, I didn’t come here to make you marry me—I want you to help me save my grandfather. If you do this for me, you can decide the fate of the engagement. If you say it’s real, then it’s real; if you say it’s fake, then it’s fake!”

Her meaning was clear: as long as he helped rescue Old Master Xie, Gu Xiujin could cancel the engagement at any time, with no strings attached.

The Xie family had fallen on hard times under Shao Siming’s depredations, but the Gu family, under Gu Xiujin’s leadership, was more powerful than ever. The gap between the two families was wide. In Gu Xiujin’s eyes, dealing with Shao Siming was not difficult, so this was a deal with no risk and guaranteed profit. He agreed without hesitation.

Both were people of their word, and since there was nothing to put in writing, they made a verbal agreement in Li Zhao’s presence and sealed it with a handshake.

Once they finished, Gu Xiujin said, “I have one last question.”

Xie Qingtang was in a good mood and replied generously, “Ask anything you like. I’ll tell you everything I know!”

Gu Xiujin said, “You just brought me back from the brink of death—why didn’t you ask for anything in return? You know, saving my life once is enough for me to do anything for you, even rescue Old Master Xie.”

Xie Qingtang: “!”

Could she admit that she had simply acted on impulse when she saw him having an attack, and completely forgot to claim any favor for saving his life?

Her face twisted into a smile worse than tears. “Is it too late to ask now?”

Gu Xiujin refused solemnly, “Too late—our contract is already in effect and cannot be changed!”

Xie Qingtang’s shoulders slumped at once, her face full of regret as if she’d just missed out on a fortune.

Gu Xiujin ordered Li Zhao to mobilize resources and contacts to fully investigate Old Master Xie’s situation. As he turned away, the corner of his lips curled up imperceptibly.

Hmph, finally managed to win a round in front of this woman!

The Gu family was highly efficient; by the next day, they already had news of Old Master Xie.

Gu Xiujin brought a middle-aged woman with a weathered face directly to Xie Qingtang.

“Aunt Lan?” Xie Qingtang rose in surprise.

The middle-aged woman’s tears fell in a torrent as she trembled, “Young Miss, Young Miss, you—you actually still remember me?”

Xie Qingtang’s eyes grew moist as well, but she smiled, “Of course I remember. After my mother’s accident, I cried all day, every day—it was you, Aunt Lan, who stayed by my side day and night. Have you been well over the years?”

But as soon as she finished, she noticed something was wrong. Although Aunt Lan’s clothes were clean, they were extremely shabby—she was clearly in dire financial straits.

But how could that be? Aunt Lan had been Old Master Xie’s senior nurse and housekeeper, with a salary no less than a company executive’s. How had she fallen into such hardship?

Gu Xiujin saw her confusion and explained, “Ms. Zhao Xianglan here was dismissed by Shao Siming not long after you were sent away. We only found her by chance while investigating Old Master Xie’s whereabouts. If not for Ms. Zhao, we might not have found clues about him so quickly.”

“What?” Xie Qingtang grabbed Aunt Lan’s hand in surprise and delight. “Aunt Lan, do you know where my grandfather is?”

Aunt Lan nodded, gritting her teeth as she cursed, “That damned beast Shao Siming! He sent you away, then fired all of us old servants. I knew then he was targeting the old master. I begged him to let me stay and care for the old master without pay, but he wouldn’t allow even that! Within days, he sent the old master to a nursing home. I couldn’t rest easy, so I tried to get in, careful not to let Shao Siming find out, and finally managed to get hired in the kitchen as a dishwasher.”

As she spoke, she gripped Xie Qingtang’s hand tightly, choking up again.

“Young Miss, you don’t know—Shao Siming is a monster! That place calls itself a nursing home, but it’s really an asylum for the mentally ill! The old master’s condition was actually quite good; the doctor said with care he’d recover. But after he was sent to that hellhole, under Shao Siyuan’s orders, the doctors claimed his illness was critical. They not only restricted his freedom, but also gave him all sorts of strange drugs every day! Even when I managed to swap his medicine for vitamins whenever possible, his mental state kept deteriorating. Young Miss, you have to save him—he can’t hold on much longer!”

Xie Qingtang felt as if a knife twisted in her heart. She couldn’t wait another moment. She turned sharply to Gu Xiujin, anxious.

“Mr. Gu—”

Gu Xiujin cut her off, “I’ve already arranged for my people. We’ll depart immediately. Once we know where the old master is, I guarantee I’ll bring him out.”

Xie Qingtang pressed her lips together, her tone earnest. “Thank you.”

Gu Xiujin shook his head. “No need. Even without our agreement, just for the friendship between my grandfather and Old Master Xie, I owe it to him. All these years, Shao Siming deceived us, causing the old master such suffering—it’s inexcusable. I must bring him back myself and apologize properly.”

With that, he stood from the bed and moved toward the wheelchair that had already been prepared.

Li Zhao hurried to support him, protesting, “Sir, you only just recovered yesterday—your health is still fragile. Perhaps you should rest and let us handle this.”

Gu Xiujin shook his head. “According to our information, Shao Siming is able to act in that hospital because he owns a significant share. You don’t have enough standing—they won’t let him go easily. I have to be there in person. As for my health…”

He turned to glance at Xie Qingtang, a faint smile in his voice. “Thanks to Miss Xie’s miraculous skills, I’ve never felt better.”