"Auntie, I'm Jiang Yuning. I used to be Xing Dong's colleague. I heard you were hospitalized, so I came to visit."
"A former colleague of our third child?" Gu Shoufou smiled and got up, gesturing, "Hello, please sit down."
"Uncle, you don't have to be so polite. This is a little something for Auntie," Jiang Yuning said, handing over the gift box.
Gu Shoufou recognized the brand and knew it wasn't cheap. He waved his hand, "This is too valuable. It's enough that you came, dear. We can't accept it."
Gu Xingdong and Chen Lishu's friends and colleagues had also visited, but most brought fruits or milk powder. Jiang Yuning's gift, with foreign writing on the packaging, was something he couldn't casually accept.
Jiang Yuning smiled, "Uncle, I work at the military hospital. I specifically asked my colleagues in the neurology department, and they said this is very helpful for patients recovering after surgery. Please accept it."
Gu Shoufou insisted, "Dear, your visit is enough. We are very grateful, but we really cannot accept this. Please take it back."
Jiang Yuning's outstretched hand hovered in the air, and she eventually withdrew it with some awkwardness. However, she quickly changed the subject, "Auntie, how are you feeling? Before I came, I specifically asked my colleagues for a lot of advice..."
Gu Xingdong heard laughter from inside as he reached the doorway. He initially thought Chen Lishu had arrived, a smile gracing his eyes as he pushed the door open and walked in.
"...Uncle and Auntie, you have no idea. Xing Dong and I had only been colleagues for a short time then, and I had never seen anyone so fierce. I was stunned at the time."
"Our third child has always had that grumpy temper since he was little," Li Xiulan chimed in with a smile.
"Why are you here?" Seeing it was Jiang Yuning, Gu Xingdong's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.
"Xing Dong." Jiang Yuning stood up from her stool when she saw him enter, "I heard Auntie was sick, so I came to visit."
As if sensing Gu Xingdong's lack of welcome, a hint of timidity crept into her eyes.
"Are you done visiting? The doctor specifically told my mother to get plenty of rest. You should go back now."
"I'm truly sorry. I was chatting so congenially with Uncle and Auntie that I completely forgot about their rest. Uncle and Auntie, I apologize. I'll be going now."
Jiang Yuning walked towards the door. As she passed Gu Xingdong, her steps faltered slightly, "Xing Dong, won't you walk me out?"
"Dad, Mom, I'm going out for a bit." Gu Xingdong spoke, then led the way out.
Li Xiulan's ward was on the third floor. Gu Xingdong escorted Jiang Yuning to the ground floor and was about to turn back.
Jiang Yuning quickly said, "Xing Dong, can you walk with me for a bit?"
"No."
Jiang Yuning bit her lip. "I have a few things I want to say to you."
Gu Xingdong remained unmoved. "Say it."
"I..."
Jiang Yuning felt a surge of annoyance, yet she was helpless. After a moment of hesitation, as if finally making up her mind, she spoke, "Xing Dong, you don't misunderstand my feelings for you, do you?"
"I do," Gu Xingdong's expression turned cold. He looked at her with a forced smile, "If there's nothing else, you don't need to come here anymore. We weren't particularly close to begin with."
"Xing Dong!" Seeing him turn away, Jiang Yuning stepped forward and blocked his path, her eyes stubborn. "I've loved you for eight years. I knew you first, yet you'd rather marry a country woman than respond to my feelings. Do you know how I've lived these past eight years?"
"You two are a military marriage. I didn't even have the courage to confess. I tried to convince myself to let go, but I found I couldn't. To be closer to you, I applied to transfer to the army, but you just left without a word. Was it worth abandoning your career for a woman?"
Gu Xingdong narrowed his cold eyes. "It has nothing to do with you."
"Xing Dong, you are so outstanding. You shouldn't give up your career for anyone. If you wished, with your capabilities, you could pursue a career in politics. With just a little push from someone behind you..."
"I don't wish to."
"Why? There's a shortcut laid out before you, yet you insist on degrading yourself to become a profit-driven businessman, choosing the most difficult and hopeless path?"
She had the right to pursue happiness. Moreover, Gu Xingdong's status had changed, and she no longer had any reservations.
"What I choose to do is my freedom. Considering we were colleagues, I don't want to say anything unpleasant. From now on, let's pretend we don't know each other. I'll consider what you said today as you talking nonsense in a delirium." Gu Xingdong turned and walked towards the lobby.
Watching his retreating back, Jiang Yuning questioned him, unwilling to give up, "What am I not as good as that woman?"
Her voice was unrestrained. People coming and going around them stopped, pointing and gossiping.
"What's going on? Is this woman interested in that gentleman? She's quite pretty, and bold too," a man said curiously.
"She didn't mention another woman. Could it be that this man is playing with her feelings? Tsk tsk, he looks like a fine young man, but you can't judge a book by its cover."
There was so little media coverage back then. With the slightest stir, people could immediately concoct a whole story, even pointing fingers and commenting with great conviction.
Gu Xingdong turned, his gaze towards Jiang Yuning growing colder. "In this world, she is the best woman. No one can be compared to her. I have no feelings for you at all. Don't waste your time here. Are you satisfied with this answer?"
Jiang Yuning's face turned extremely ugly. Her body trembled slightly as if unable to bear Gu Xingdong's words, like a delicate flower about to be blown away in the autumn wind.
"Hey, comrade, you're going too far. She's a delicate young girl, how can you say such hurtful things?" A man immediately stepped forward to defend her, unable to watch.
"Yes, the girl confessed to you. Even if you don't accept it, why humiliate her?" an elder chimed in.
"I really didn't know my husband was humiliating anyone," a clear, cold female voice cut through the air. Everyone turned to look.
Gu Xingdong looked at the person emerging from the crowd, his eyes smiling. "When did you arrive?"
"A little while ago." Chen Lishu walked to his side, a smile playing on her lips. "I just wanted to see how my husband would handle a confession from a beautiful woman."
Gu Xingdong raised an eyebrow, his tone laced with a hint of pampering. "Are you satisfied with the result?"
Chen Lishu gave a noncommittal answer. "It wasn't bad."
Watching them exchange tender glances, Jiang Yuning found it extremely jarring. She clenched her fists and questioned, "Chen Lishu, what do you mean?"
"Heh. You have the nerve to ask me what I mean?"
Chen Lishu sneered at her. "Do you think publicly confessing to a married man is a glorious thing, and you want me to help you publicize it?"