Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
“This is only the beginning,” she said candidly.
“They’re such sinners.” Shi Qingzhou sighed and said, “Take care of your health, don’t tire yourself out.”
“I’ll be mindful.”
Noticing that she was about to leave, Shi Qingzhou reminded, “Be careful when it comes to everything, and you must be on your guard against people at all times. There are only those few that you can trust.”
“Yes, Mother, I’ll remember your words.”
She headed to the hospital to discover that Gu Beicheng and Lin Mingxi had yet to come to, but all the shareholders of the Gu Corporation had already gathered at the hospital.
The bunch of old fogies tried to find out about their condition from the specialist in charge, but to no avail. Hence, they had no choice but to wait outside the ward.
They immediately surrounded An Xiaoning as soon as they saw her.
“Ms. An, the hospital staff refuse to disclose CEO Gu’s condition. Were you the one who instructed them not to?”
She admitted straightforwardly, “You’ve seen for yourselves, Beicheng is still unconscious in the intensive care unit. What’s there to ask about? You’re already so old and yet you have such poor awareness.”
The middle-aged and elderly men were peeved upon hearing her snide remark.
“We’re just being anxious. Since CEO Gu is in such a condition now, there has to be an acting CEO for the time being.”
“Do you really think the company will collapse just because there isn’t someone to take charge for a few days? Look how anxious and worried all of you are. You’re kicking up such a huge fuss,” An Xiaoning chided with a sullen expression on her face.
“Ms. An, you’re so young and yet you’ve got such a sharp tongue. You’re really rude and ill-mannered.”
“Age has nothing to do with sensibility. Cut the crap. I’m warning all of you, you’d better not spout any nonsense to the media, lest I cut your tongues off. Beicheng will definitely wake up.”
The shareholders were at a loss for words.
As soon as the shareholders were chased away, the extended family members of the Gu family arrived in the hospital.
There was a huge crowd.
They bombarded An Xiaoning with questions, causing her to feel vexed and frustrated.
“Xiaoning, before your parents died, did they inform you about the arrangements to be made after their deaths?”
“Did Beicheng say anything?”
“There needs to be someone taking charge of the company for now. Seems like your cousins are the best candidates to be acting CEO.”
An Xiaoning retorted bluntly, “Beicheng and Mingxi have yet to come to, and you’re already so eager to squeeze your sons into the company. Are you secretly hoping that they won’t ever regain their consciousness?”
Second Auntie Gu covered her mouth and said, “Hey, don’t say that, I’m not as brazen as to harbor such ill intentions.”
“There’s no need for an acting CEO for now. If Beicheng still doesn’t come to in the next few days, I’ll take over his duties in the office.”
Second Auntie Gu gasped in shock and exclaimed, “What!?!” She then looked at her husband before saying, “How can you do that? You may be a member of the Gu family, but you’re still an outsider who’s not related to us by blood. How can you take over the Gu Corporation? Besides, you’re just a woman.”
“Don’t talk to me about such nonsense. We’ll decide when Beicheng comes to,” said An Xiaoning, not wishing to argue with her.
Second Auntie Gu was sent into a frenzy and remarked callously, “Who knows if you’d secretly drug Beicheng to make him stay unconscious? Xiaoning, are you eyeing the Gu family’s assets?”
A sullen expression formed on An Xiaoning’s face as soon as she heard the accusation.
A sudden tension filled the air.
“Second Auntie, I’m sure you’re clear on who the one eyeing the family assets really is. I, An Xiaoning, have never been short of money and I’ll never resort to coveting and snatching away the assets belonging to others. That’s such a despicable act,” An Xiaoning retorted, after which she walked past them and proceeded to ask the doctor about Gu Beicheng and Lin Mingxi’s conditions.
“Was I wrong? Get off your high horse. If you’re really that high and mighty, would you be coveting the Gu family’s assets?” Second Auntie Gu murmured, “This woman is really scheming, all she harbors are ill intentions.”
“Mother, Cousin Beicheng didn’t allow me to work in the company when he was in charge. It’s a great opportunity to do so now. The corporation belongs to our ancestors, not Uncle alone. Some of it belongs to us too.”
“That’s right, what rights have they got to encroach on the company? If Dongcheng wasn’t displeased, he wouldn’t have done such a cruel act. At the end of the day, it’s all Brother and Sister-in-law’s fault for being partial and biased toward Beicheng.”
“That’s enough. We’re in the hospital. Why are you making such a ruckus? We’re going to become a laughingstock if others hear us,” Second Uncle Gu chided.
—
What worried An Xiaoning the most was the fact that their conditions were not optimistic.
Gu Beicheng took a bullet to his head and was still breathing faintly at the moment.
An Xiaoning was perturbed and found it hard to accept the truth upon hearing the possible outcomes as described by the doctor.
If Gu Beicheng did not come to, he might very likely become a vegetable.
That was a bolt from the blue.
However, conjectures can only be made at this point.
Everything would depend on the results of the treatment.
Bei Qi was the only one who survived amongst the bunch that was crushed beneath the rooftop. However, he had sustained severe injuries.
There were only two survivors in total.
The rest of the corpses were sent to the crematorium to be cremated while the other two were sent to the Gu family mansion.
When An Xiaoning saw them again, Bei Qi had already regained his senses, though he seemed to be on his very last few breaths.
The man, whose legs were shot, was in a much better condition, although the bullets had not yet been removed from his legs. Hence, he could not walk at all and would feel excruciating pain with every slight movement.
An Xiaoning stood in front of him and glared at him from above. “Tell me how you managed to control Gu Dongcheng.”
The man refused to look at her and did not seem to be willing to concede.
“I see you’re refusing to speak up. I have a million ways to make you feel like you’re in a living hell and think that you’re better off dead,” An Xiaoning threatened coldly.
The man looked up and said, “Go and ask Master Bei Qi if there’s anything you want to know. I have no idea at all. What’s the point of asking me?”
“Are you blind? You were watching the entire process, how could you not know what happened? Would you prefer to be in a living hell or come clean about everything you know? I’m giving you thirty seconds to decide.”
The man’s heart was ricocheting strongly against his chest.
Not wanting to be physically tortured, he said, “Master Bei Qi concocted a special kind of medicine and a vial of blood, both of which he injected into Gu Dongcheng’s body after the hypnosis took place. By doing so, they would be able to control Gu Dongcheng’s consciousness for a limited amount of time. Not only does Master Bei Qi know how to concoct his secret medication, but he’s also an expert in formulating poisons.”
Glancing at Bei Qi, who was lying on the bed, An Xiaoning said, “I really couldn’t tell that you had such capabilities. Would you like to stay alive? You’ll only be one of Pei Yi’s lackeys by staying loyal to him. Why don’t you consider following me instead? I’ll offer you just as much as Pei Yi does.”
Bei Qi naturally did not wish to die. Needless to say, he knew clearly just how valuable he was, as well as the predicament he was in currently.
A living dog is better than a dead lion, isn’t it?
“Are you for real?”
“Yes.”
“I’ve manipulated Gu Dongcheng into killing the Gu family, after all. Don’t you hate me for that?” he said feebly.
An Xiaoning raised her brows and said, “What has you working for me got to do with whether I detest you or not? I appreciate and value those who are genuinely capable. You received orders from Pei Yi. That’s different from being the true mastermind.”
