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

*Pa!* The policewoman's palm slapped the table, jolting Liang Shu into a bit more clarity.

She lowered her head and focused on her hands, which were aching from palm to wrist.

"Are you prepared to settle privately or publicly? If privately, you'll need to compensate the other party."

With the effects of the alcohol setting in, Liang Shu didn't quite hear clearly, only vaguely catching the word "compensate."

She raised her head, furrowing her brow. "I'll compensate, I'll compensate. I'll give all my blood to Gu Hansheng... all of it..."

The police station called Gu Hansheng's side, and Ji Chen picked up the call.

He transferred the call to Gu Hansheng.

Gu Hansheng was still at the Royal Palace Club, with the screen in front of him playing the surveillance footage brought in by Ji Chen.

"Well, the person here isn't quite lucid yet, but it seems she's willing to settle privately. Would you mind coming to the police station at your convenience to discuss it further?"

Liang Shu, like a female hero, scratched someone's face and even slapped a man. The force was such that her palms were probably swollen.

The progress bar was dragged back, showing her coming out of the elevator with a cold expression, bravely and resolutely walking towards the bar counter. She smashed everything on the counter without hesitation or hesitation.

She knew all too well which items were valuable to smash first.

Look at her like this, she's not at all out of her mind.

However, this habit of smashing things needs to change.

After waiting for too long, the person asked, "Mr. Gu, are you listening?"

"Mm." Still concise and to the point.

"Well, what do you think about what I just said?"

Gu Hansheng, with half-closed eyes, tapped the table with his slender fingers, seeming to ponder. "Then let her stay at the police station until she's sober enough to talk."

The conditions in the detention center were okay, relatively friendly to newcomers.

Liang Shu woke up in the middle of the night, completely sober, and calmly accepted her situation.

In the latter half of the night, she sat quietly.

After some contemplation, she realized that in recent days, it seemed as though she had opened Pandora's box, one misfortune after another.

She wondered if she should call Aunt Mei to bail her out after daybreak, but where would Aunt Mei get the money?

Should she continue selling relentlessly every day?

Her mental state was tormented, and she was even photographed naked by someone.

Liang Shu didn't want to see that.

But she was never one to enjoy regret. She had smashed up Gu Hansheng's place, and that was that.

The next day, she was brought in front of Gu Hansheng.

The female officer who had interrogated her yesterday was still talking to Gu Hansheng. "I mean, she's completely out of her mind. I suggested settling privately, and she said she'd compensate with blood. Isn't that insane?"

She sat across from Gu Hansheng, in front of him, a freshly brewed small green tangerine puerh emitting steam, and wisps of light smoke rose, blurring her vision.

Everyone automatically backed away.

Gu Hansheng crossed his legs, looking relaxed and noble, while she looked like a criminal.

He smiled, "Settle privately or publicly?"

Liang Shu tightened her grip on her palm. "And if I choose publicly? Look at me now, I'm completely destitute."

"Depending on my mood, it could be as short as ten days or half a month in detention, or..." The man's action of drinking tea was particularly graceful. Perhaps the tea was unsatisfactory, as Liang Shu saw him frown slightly, "...or even the possibility of prison time."

"Prison... Gu Hansheng, you're going too far!"

The man sneered, "Shall I calculate how much valuable stuff you smashed up at the Royal Palace last night?"

Chapter 17: Settling Privately