When Gu Yanxiao finally arrived at the hospital where Ke Yiming was staying, she found the ward blocked by many soldiers. It was clear that Ke Yiming and Yun Laizhe held positions too esteemed to be unguarded.
Beyond protection, there was also an element of surveillance. After all, Yuzhou had recently fallen out with headquarters. With ability users from Yanjing arriving in Yuzhou, who could guarantee that these two had no ulterior motives? Yuzhou had just lost four thousand people in the recent chaos; it could not afford another upheaval.
As Gu Yanxiao was about to enter the ward, the guards, after hearing her request, immediately reported to their superiors, only to be refused.
It wasn't until Chang Jianyi arrived at the hospital from Fengshen Palace that the soldiers allowed her passage.
Chang Jianyi explained to Gu Yanxiao, "Don't have any other ideas. We're considering your safety. We can't let Ke Yiming, in his anger, kill you. With me accompanying you, you'll be a bit safer."
Beside Chang Jianyi was Luo Qing. In reality, Chang Jianyi lacked the ability to protect Gu Yanxiao; it was Luo Qing's ability that provided protection, making it difficult for enemies to kill them.
"Hurry, let's go in," Gu Yanxiao urged.
Then, the two pushed open the door and saw Ke Yiming and Yun Laizhe lying in their hospital beds. They were indeed good brothers who had shared hardships, even sharing a hospital, a ward, and adjacent beds while hospitalized.
Gu Yanxiao immediately walked to Ke Yiming's bedside, pulled over a stool, and sat down. She said gently, "Yiming, you're finally back. You have no idea how hard it was waiting for you?"
As she spoke, Gu Yanxiao held Ke Yiming's hand, looking at him with tender affection, her eyes filled with warmth.
Seeing this scene, Chang Jianyi and Luo Qing exchanged glances. They had heard from Shen Feng that Ke Yiming was furious. Thus, they were both wary of Ke Yiming making a move. Yun Laizhe in the adjacent bed was also concerned that Ke Yiming might kill someone in his anger.
Fortunately, Ke Yiming remained still. Looking at Gu Yanxiao, who was holding his hand, he subtly withdrew his palm and said indifferently, "Congratulations on marrying a good husband. Back then, when I was at sea, my heart was filled with thoughts of you. When I returned to China, I only heard about you. Frankly, I am not worthy of being your husband, and you don't need to pretend to be so affectionate anymore."
Ke Yiming said this to make Gu Yanxiao understand one thing: he already knew about her choice.
In Ke Yiming's view, Gu Yanxiao's current agitation was solely because of his appearance, and she feared retaliation, hence her feigned gentleness. Since it was an act, it held no meaning for him.
"You have to listen to my explanation. There's nothing between Lu Kaiwen and me. We're in a fake marriage, and nothing happened between us during that time!" Gu Yanxiao quickly said.
"Hmph, hmph! A fake marriage? Do you think I've read too many ridiculous romance novels? Do you think I'm easily fooled? A fake marriage, you can actually come up with such an excuse. I won't believe it. Do you have anything else to say?" Ke Yiming replied directly, not believing Gu Yanxiao's answer one bit.
It wasn't that Ke Yiming was unwilling to believe Gu Yanxiao; it was just that fake marriages only appeared in brainless TV dramas, usually of the "enemies-to-lovers" trope, where the male and female leads eventually fell for each other. Therefore, Ke Yiming simply didn't believe Gu Yanxiao's story.
Seeing that Ke Yiming refused to believe her, Gu Yanxiao looked at Chang Jianyi. Now, only Chang Jianyi could prove her innocence.
Chang Jianyi quickly stepped forward and said, "Mr. Ke Yiming, you've truly misunderstood. I know everything about Gu Yanxiao and Lu Kaiwen's situation. I was the officiant, and I even took photos to prove it was fake. If you don't believe me, I can show you the photos right away."
"No need!" Ke Yiming said indifferently.
Gu Yanxiao thought Ke Yiming had finally believed her and a smile finally appeared on her face. However, Ke Yiming's subsequent words made her smile vanish.
"You think that by colluding and having someone of status testify, I'll believe what you're saying? In any case, we can't go back to how we were. Gu Yanxiao, I've seen you clearly now. You're a promiscuous slut!" Ke Yiming said coldly.
If it were just a misunderstanding, Gu Yanxiao could have earnestly explained the entire situation. But at this moment, Ke Yiming directly insulted her as a slut. Upon hearing this label, Gu Yanxiao's face immediately showed distress.
"You... you actually say that to me? You're too much! Why would you say that to me?" Gu Yanxiao looked at Ke Yiming with disbelief, unable to imagine such words coming from her former husband.
Ke Yiming, believing she was still acting, continued, "What did I say wrong? It's pointless for you to continue playing the victim. Let me be clear: you are a slut. I was out of contact for only half a year, and you immediately found a new love. There's nothing wrong with remarrying, but why did you choose Lu Kaiwen? I suspect you two had an improper relationship before. Am I supposed to be cuckolded by you?"
Ke Yiming spoke without holding back. In the days he was away, Ke Yiming had already prepared himself for the loss of Gu Yanxiao.
"Fine, fine, I'm a slut. I shouldn't have come here. If I had known, I should have listened to my parents and remarried an ability user from Jinling. I should have treated you like air! Why am I so pathetic? To escape family pursuit, I fled from the Three Gorges to hide here, constantly struggling for daily necessities! If I had known, I should have returned to Jinling and found someone truly worthy of my love to marry, instead of a suspicious bastard!" Gu Yanxiao was furious. She had done so much to defend their love, but in her husband's eyes, it was utterly worthless. In that case, all her efforts were truly in vain.
After saying all this, Gu Yanxiao walked straight out. Before leaving, she said, "Madam Chang, thank you for your care these past few days. It seems the hospital we planned to open can no longer proceed. I'm returning to Jinling. From now on, Ke Yiming, you will never appear before me again."
Ke Yiming was rendered speechless by Gu Yanxiao's words. He didn't know what to say, nor did he understand the hardships Gu Yanxiao had endured. He was momentarily stunned.
Chang Jianyi then explained, "Mr. Ke, let me explain. You've truly misunderstood. After you were presumed dead, Miss Gu was constantly pressured by her family to marry another ability user. She refused, and to escape their pursuit, she fled from the Three Gorges to Yuzhou, living outside the city for several months. During this time, the only person who helped her was Lu Kaiwen. Furthermore, to make her family give up, she orchestrated a fake marriage. She didn't expect you to return at this time."
No matter how much he disbelieved, Ke Yiming now had doubts after hearing Chang Jianyi's explanation. He pondered, "Could it be that I've misunderstood? Is it possible that Gu Yanxiao truly didn't betray me?"
Yun Laizhe also tried to persuade Ke Yiming, "Yiming, you were too agitated just now. It was supposed to be a good thing, a reunion for a couple. But because you didn't believe Miss Gu's explanations, it turned out this way. You should trust others, right?"
Ke Yiming finally began to think seriously. Could it be that his wife's fake marriage with Lu Kaiwen was to escape family pursuit? If that were the case, wouldn't his misunderstanding be too great?
Recalling his earlier insults, Ke Yiming felt some regret. For Chinese women, one of the most insulting phrases is "promiscuous and flighty." A willow catkin can live and take root wherever it falls, unlike the noble qualities of plum, orchid, bamboo, and chrysanthemum, hence it is called licentious. When used to describe a woman, it is almost an insult.
Ke Yiming thought carefully and said to Chang Jianyi, "Madam Chang, I want to see Lu Kaiwen. Can you fulfill this wish of mine?"
At this time, Ke Yiming and Yun Laizhe were still receiving treatment in the hospital. They had accumulated a lot of ascites; their bellies were large, but it was all accumulated fluid. In such a condition, it was clearly impossible for them to be discharged. Therefore, to clarify the truth, Lu Kaiwen had to be brought to them.
However, regarding this request, Chang Jianyi shrugged and replied helplessly, "I cannot fulfill this wish of yours. Lu Kaiwen, upon hearing that you wanted to kill him, was so frightened that he fled directly to Jiangyang, which is the former Luzhou. I can't find him at the moment, and if he wants to hide, there's nothing I can do."
Upon receiving this answer, Ke Yiming couldn't help but smile bitterly on his bed, thinking, "My wife insulted me and left, my good brother was scared away and is hiding elsewhere. What have I done?"
Ke Yiming was now regretting his actions. Why didn't he listen to others' advice? Both Yun Laizhe and Shen Feng had tried to persuade him, but now he had messed everything up.
Just then, Chang Jianyi's phone rang. Upon looking, it was Du Xinshi, the head steward of Fengshen Palace, calling. Normally, if Chang Jianyi wasn't home, Du Xinshi would take care of the children, as she had experience.
Chang Jianyi thought something had happened to the children and quickly answered the phone, asking, "Sister Du, is something wrong with Shen Xingzhi?"
Du Xinshi quickly replied, "No, Xiao Hu fell asleep after eating. I'm calling you because Xiao Jie is missing. When I discovered him, he was no longer in his room. I called Wu Yelian, and she said Hua Jingran from the orphanage is also missing, as if they vanished into thin air."
"These two little rascals actually dare to elope, how audacious! I'll send people to chase them immediately. Sister Du, please take good care of Xiao Hu." Upon hearing that her brother and Hua Jingran were missing, Chang Jianyi immediately recalled what Shen Feng had said earlier. Chang Haojie had previously planned to elope.
At that time, Chang Jianyi thought her brother was just talking about it and not serious. But now, it seemed that was not the case at all; her brother had actually done as he said.
Chang Jianyi no longer had time to attend to the regretful Ke Yiming. She bid them farewell, then contacted the City Lord's Mansion, first informing them of Chang Haojie's direction of departure, and then dispatching helicopters to pursue them. She also asked Shen Feng to prepare to bring them back.
When Shen Feng learned of this, he shook his head helplessly. He had been mediating between the siblings, hoping they could sit down and talk seriously. But now, Chang Haojie had actually eloped with someone. It had to be said that his courage was truly immense. At only thirteen years old, he could do such a thing.
Soon, Qi Lingshan provided a response, "Reporting to the City Lord, someone saw the eldest young master flying east. We don't know where he's going, but the helicopter has already set off in that direction."
Upon receiving this answer, Shen Feng immediately said, "Since that's the case, I'll chase after them right away and bring them back. Children nowadays are really not making things easy."