A_Ray_of_Light

Years later, the people of Yucheng still regard the bygone scandal of the aristocratic family as an after-dinner topic.
A cunning woman of the streets ascended to the summit of society, becoming the esteemed lady of a high-priced aristocratic family. 
She was addicted to gambling, once accumulating millions in debts.
Her demeanor was worldly and vulgar, known as a prominent socialite.
Yet, Gu Hansheng still favored her.
Until, this femme fatale of the century dug her own grave, causing the demise of Mr. Gu's beloved, the White Moonlight.
Henceforth, she vanished from Yucheng without a trace.
People say: "Blood debts must be repaid with blood, and death settles it all."
No one knew that night became a thorn in Gu Hansheng's heart.
On the snowy streets, a woman wrapped in a coat stood trembling beneath neon lights, delicately reaching for the car door.
The window lowered, a man gazed at her, softly laughing: "Madam Gu, there is no one in this world more cold-hearted and ruthless than you."
She grasped the door handle, lips pallid, face filled with grievance, "Hansheng, I'm cold."

The dead are colder than you.

The black silhouette departed into the night.

In the rearview mirror, snowflakes fluttered like tattered fragments, nearly engulfing the woman's shoulders.

In later recollections, in the midnight reveries, Mr. Gu could always hear her saying, "Hansheng, I'm cold."

The most missed when departing

Liang Shu, with a slight smile touching her forehead, said, "It's not painful, just feeling a bit dizzy."

"There might be symptoms of anemia, so be sure to rest more," the nurse said.

Liang Shu sat on the chair, pressing the cotton swab with her fingers.

At this moment, her dizziness seemed to worsen, lowering her head, she closed her eyes to soothe herself.

A shadow fell before her, and she squinted slightly, catching sight of a pair of black bespoke Italian leather shoes belonging to Gu Hansheng.

Without lifting her head, Liang Shu noticed the shadow in front of her disappear after a while.

After a moment, as if suddenly remembering something, she discarded the cotton swab in her hand and went to find Gu Hansheng.

After wandering for a while, she learned from a servant that Gu Hansheng was on the ground floor.

She descended the spiral staircase and stood on the steps. Just as she caught a glimpse of his back, Liang Shu smelled cigarette smoke.

At this moment, the man sitting on the sofa was smoking.

The pale smoke lightly lingered around him, and Liang Shu approached slowly, standing at a distance neither too close nor too far.

The man turned at the sound, taking a deep drag, gesturing for her to come closer.

She circled to the front of the sofa, gazing at Gu Hansheng's profound features. His black short hair had a hint of dampness, and there was a touch of crimson on his fingertips, inexplicably adding to his allure.

"Mr. Gu, I still don't know about my friend's safety. You mentioned earlier that you would ensure it, didn't you?"

He narrowed his eyes, his black gaze veiled in the half-light of the smoke, even his stern countenance blurred.

"Haven't you sent the money? Do you still need me to guarantee their safety?"

"I was brought back by your people so quickly, I didn't even see their faces."

"It's my fault. I know you're angry. If that person..."

Gu Hansheng stared at her, the cigarette in his fingertips nearing its end, while a small pile of extinguished cigarette butts had gathered in the ashtray on the table.

Liang Shu continued calmly, "If something really happened to that person, most of the responsibility lies with me. But you have people you care about, and so do I. I don't think there's necessarily a right or wrong between us."

He stood up abruptly, his oppressive presence causing Liang Shu to step back.

"Take my money, fail to accomplish what I want, and yet claim no fault? Quite adept at sophistry."

She chuckled, "Mr. Gu, you nearly choked me to death. I risked my life for you. That should count for something."

Gu Hansheng stared at her pale face, her clothes still damp, as if hearing a joke.

He flicked the cigarette butt into the ashtray, hands in his pockets, with an air of nobility, summoning a servant to find her a change of clothes.

"A bunch of lowlife, and they talk about feelings."

With that, Gu Hansheng glanced coldly at her and turned to walk towards the stairs. Behind him, Liang Shu stood in the glaring light of the living room, her slender legs fair and straight, her eyes bright. "In my heart, Mr. Gu, you can't even compare to that bunch of lowlifes."

The man halted, abruptly turning back.

His lips curled slightly, his stature towering over her by more than a bit. Having just experienced chaos, he now seemed indifferent to arguing with her, "I hope that when you see me again in the future, you can still speak with such arrogance."

A week later, Liang Shu left the Yusun Villa.

Chapter 7: Confrontation