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

The man cast a cold glance at her chest, devoid of any lust, while the expressions of several men around him varied from lewd to vulgar.

"Is this amount of money enough to dismiss us?"

Where was this just a small amount? Wasn't there still a large pile scattered on the ground?

Liang Shu rubbed her sore spot while clumsily squatting down to pick up the scattered bills on the ground, one by one, her demeanor so humble it seemed to sink into the dust.

Gu Hansheng stared at this scene for a long time.

The notebook screen flickered off and on again.

Had she reached such a point? To be bullied like this without resistance, so cautious and discreet.

But Gu Hansheng also knew that despite her humility, a coldness permeated her whole being, and although she was submissive, that pride seemed ingrained in her.

For several days in a row, Liang Shu was oppressed by debt collectors to the point where she could hardly breathe. She even suspected that the creditors, as if enchanted, seemed poised to force her to death if she couldn't produce the money!

She went to find Aunt Mei, who had completely forgotten the last time she had generously pulled out a pocketful of money to bail out her man from jail.

The woman held a cigarette between her fingers and delicately wiped her other wrist with a handkerchief, all her jewelry placed on the table. "Didn't I give you a thick stack a few days ago? How come you're broke again?"

Liang Shu lowered her head, her voice indifferent, "A bunch of bastards robbed me."

Smack— Aunt Mei slammed the lighter on the table, stood up to scrutinize her, and coldly hummed, "Don't let me find out you're squandering money on stinking men, or I'll break your legs!"

Didn't she also keep a waste around?

How could she double standard like this when it came to her?

Liang Shu clenched her fists, silent, then turned and left. Feeling unresolved, she casually grabbed a high-quality jade bracelet from Aunt Mei's desk.

Footsteps followed behind her, as Aunt Mei cursed loudly, "You brat, you're asking for it. That was a gift from your uncle..."

The door slammed shut, cutting off all sound from inside the room.

Aunt Mei was like a contradiction, capable of endless love for Liang Shu, yet also capable of countless humiliations.

She looked down at the object in her hand and smirked.

Gu Hansheng stepped out of the room, casually closing the door behind him, cutting off the person inside from the outside world. Ji Chen approached him and handed him an envelope.

He tore open the envelope, and the photos inside were scattered messily on the dark wooden desk.

Leaning against the large armchair, the man scanned the items on the desk with a half-frown, then summoned Ji Chen.

Gu Hansheng closed his eyes, lightly pinching the half-furrowed brow with his thumb and index finger, devoid of any emotion. "Deliver these photos to Liang Shu."

Ji Chen scanned the contents with a single glance, only to see a mess of lewd scenes.

Naturally, it wasn't as simple as Gu Hansheng's casual "delivering" suggested.

Liang Shu had never imagined that debt collection could take so many new forms.

There were burly men blocking her in a dark alley late at night. Unable to run, she calmly handed over all her money and possessions.

At the underground casino, amidst the boiling crowd, she remained unmoved despite all the foul language directed at her.

Debt collection was real, and so was the humiliation.

In the quiet environment of the elegant bar, a bespectacled man in a suit and tie placed a stack of photos in front of her, his gaunt face devoid of any expression. "Take a look."

Chapter 12: Photograph