Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Auntie Mao had been in bed the past few days. Although she survived the accident six years ago, her health has obviously gone downhill rapidly.
Auntie Mao beckoned at the two of them closer when they entered the room.
Ye Yuwei sat down at the side of the bed, while Gu Juexi sat down in the chair that he pulled beside the bed.
“I can feel my time running out, and I guess so is your grandmother’s.” Auntie Mao held Ye Yuwei’s hand with a hand as rough as tree bark as she said something that was quite unpleasant to hear.
“Auntie Mao…”
“I don’t have much to say, so let me finish…” Auntie Mao interrupted Ye Yuwei with a smile on her face. “I didn’t want your mother to know about this. She has suffered so much in her life, and I didn’t want what I have to say now to bother her any more. I was going to take this to my grave, but what master did was beyond tolerance and I feel I must tell you about it. You are all your mother has now, young master.”
Gu Juexi and Ye Yuwei exchanged looks but did not say anything, and waited for Auntie Mao to continue.
“This goes back to a long, long time ago, when your mother was not married into the Gu family. Your father had a girlfriend then.”
“I know, Ai Mijia,” said Gu Juexi resentfully.
“No,” said Auntie Mao.
Ye Yuwei and Gu Juexi exchanged looks of surprise. From what they saw that day, they were certain that things were unusual between Ai Mijia and Gu Tianmu.
“Her name was Wen Lan, the sister of Wen Jie from a different mother,” said Auntie Mao, and she suddenly burst into laughter. “She was an illegitimate daughter of the Wen family with great ambitions, but she was born with congenital liver defects. Why do you think your mother was so ill all the time? Wen Lan had liver failure and needed a replacement. It was a condition that your mother had to donate her liver to Wen Lan for her to marry your father.”
Gu Juexi sprang up from his chair and could barely contain his anger.
“Gu Juexi.” Ye Yuwei quickly held his wrist to calm him down, hinting at him to let Auntie Mao finish.
“Your mother was so young then, only in her first year of university. She barely had any feelings for your father and turned down his ridiculous request but when your grandmother passed away, Wen Lan and her mother were taken into the Wen family, and together with your father they forced a girl who had just turned eighteen to donate her liver. Unfortunately, Wen Lan didn’t live long and died from complications after the replacement,” Auntie Mao continued and her voice began to turn hoarse.
Ye Yuwei got Auntie Mao a glass of water after Gu Juexi sat back down in the chair.
“Ai Mijia was one of the bad friends that Wen Lan had. She clung to your father in the name of Wen Lan but your father married your mother eventually so Ai Mijia seduced your grandfather instead.” Auntie Mao couldn’t hide her resentment when it came to Ai Mijia.
“So Mom was ill from thereon?” Ye Yuwei asked softly.
“Yes. Can you imagine? A girl who had just lost her mother, neglected by her father, framed by her step-mother and set up by her new husband. Even during her time at an awful place like the Gu family’s fortress, she forced herself to live her life smiling. I was the only one there when you were born, Young Master, and that was the first time I saw Mistress cry. She told me that she finally had a proper reason to live and I promised her that for as long as I live, I would make sure to protect the young master,” Auntie Mao said as she held Gu Juexi’s hand. “That’s why I have to follow you wherever you go, Young Master. I didn’t manage to protect your mother, so I have protect you with all I have.”
