Deep Fog Kiss

If that whip goes down, the Gu family will be turned upside down.

She exclaimed, "Uncle!"

As soon as she finished speaking, she saw Gu Zhishen pause, then lash out with a leather whip at the carved stone pillar beside Yuan Wei.

The sharp, echoing crack of the whip sent chills down one's spine.

"ah--"

Yuan Wei screamed in fright and covered her ears.

Gu Zhishen chuckled lightly, looking down at Yuan Wei with disdain, "Sister-in-law, don't abuse the Gu family's rules. You can't bear the consequences."

After saying that, he threw the whip heavily at Yuan Wei's feet, startling her so much that she staggered back a big step.

Gu Zhishen smiled knowingly, when suddenly several figures slowly approached into his line of sight.

The smile on his lips vanished, and his eyes became dark and unfathomable.

Yuan Wei heard footsteps and looked over, as if she had seen a powerful backer.

"mom!"

Jiang Li looked in the direction of the sound and saw that a number of people had come to the courtyard. The one in the lead was Gu Rou's maternal grandmother, Feng Suqin, who was also the matriarch of the Gu family.

Her attire was understated yet sophisticated, with luxurious fabrics and details.

Her hair, with a few strands of silver hair tucked into her temples, was styled in an elegant updo. Her face bore the marks of time, yet one could still discern the poise and composure of a lady from a distinguished family.

She walked with a steady gait, followed by the butler and others.

It seems there was quite a commotion today.

She then saw that Gu Rou had followed them, and realized that Gu Rou had gone to get reinforcements.

Although Feng Suqin was over sixty years old, she still exuded the dignity of a mistress.

She glanced at Gu Zhishen, then looked at Yuan Wei, "What's going on here?"

Yuan Wei quickly said, "Mom, Jiang Li is being unreasonable. I scolded her a bit, but I didn't expect Zhi Shen to be so protective of her."

"Ginger pear?"

Feng Suqin's gaze then fell on Jiang Li, who was standing under the eaves. "Jiang Li is back?"

Jiang Li's legs were no longer numb. She took a few steps forward, nodded politely, and said, "Hello, Grandma Feng. I just returned to China a few days ago and haven't had a chance to visit you, Grandpa Gu, and Great-Grandma yet. Please don't mind."

"There's nothing to blame her for. It's good that you're back." Feng Suqin was not surprised by her return to China, nor did she blame her.

With a kind smile on her face, she looked at Yuan Wei and scolded, "It's wrong of you to blame Jiang Li for this."

"Besides," she said, her gaze lingering on Gu Zhishen for a second before turning to Jiang Li and smiling, "Jiang Li grew up with Zhishen. Although the age difference isn't large, she's practically his adopted daughter in terms of seniority. It's perfectly reasonable for him to protect Jiang Li; there's nothing wrong with that."

Despite her displeasure, Yuan Wei quickly lowered her head and said, "Yes, Mom, I was making a mountain out of a molehill."

"It's been two years since I last saw you; you've become quite beautiful," Feng Suqin said, looking at Jiang Li. "You haven't visited your great-grandmother yet, have you?"

Jiang Li smiled faintly, "I was just about to go."

"Spring fatigue and autumn drowsiness. After the start of autumn, your great-grandmother tends to feel sleepy. She just took a nap."

"Your Grandpa Gu and Uncle Sheng have gone abroad on a business trip and won't be back for a few days," Feng Suqin said with a smile. "You haven't been back for a long time. Let someone show you around first, and then you can come over after your great-grandmother wakes up."

"Okay, Grandma Feng," Jiang Li replied politely and obediently.

Feng Suqin glanced at Gu Zhishen without showing any emotion, then noticed the leather whip lying on the ground. She gently instructed the butler, "Put the things away. No one is to tell the old man what happened today."

After saying that, she instructed Yuan Wei, "Don't cause such a mess in the future, or you'll become a laughing stock in front of outsiders."

"Yes, Mom," Yuan Wei replied softly.

"Zhi Shen." Feng Suqin looked at her with kind eyes. "It's rare for you to come back. Jiang Li is here today too. Why don't you stay at the old house tonight and have dinner with your grandmother?"

Gu Zhishen met her gaze, smiled slightly, and replied politely, "Unfortunately, I have something to do tonight."

Feng Suqin nodded slightly, said nothing more, and ended the farce with a few words.

Gu Zhishen strode away, but suddenly stopped and glanced at Jiang Li, who was standing there.

"Aren't you leaving? Staying to guard the gate?"

Jiang Li snapped out of her daze, lifted her foot to follow, and frowned slightly.

Although my knee wasn't broken, it was rubbed raw and swollen, making it a little painful to walk.

She tried her best to keep up with the man's pace and limped out of the courtyard.

Walking through the secluded courtyard path, and reaching a corner of the courtyard wall, the man stopped, and Jiang Li almost bumped into his back.

"Uncle?"

Gu Zhishen turned around, his tall figure looming over her.

His brows furrowed, his stern face filled with displeasure.

"Jiang Li, are you made of bone broth?"

"You kneel when I tell you to? When did you become so obedient?"

She wouldn't listen to a single word he said.

She readily complied with Yuan Wei's words.

Jiang Li was already wronged, and Gu Zhishen's reprimand made her feel even more aggrieved.

She didn't dare to look Gu Zhishen in the eye, and could only lower her eyes to argue, "She's my aunt, how could I possibly go against her?"

"What's impossible?" Gu Zhishen looked down at her pale face. "Is there anything you, Jiang Li, wouldn't dare to do?"

"..." Jiang Li was speechless.

She's bold and doesn't like to be bullied outside.

But she didn't dare to go against Yuan Wei because she was afraid that Yuan Wei would shift the blame for her mistakes onto Gu Zhishen and then complain to Grandpa Gu.

Although Gu Zhishen is the son of Grandpa Gu, his mother died early, and now the person in charge of the family is Feng Suqin, the biological mother of his half-brother.

Moreover, Jiang Li had heard something about it when she was in the Gu family. Grandpa Gu used to dote on Gu Zhishen, but after Gu Zhishen's mother passed away, his personality changed drastically, and he became strict and cold towards Gu Zhishen.

When Jiang Li first entered the Gu family, the guardianship originally belonged to Gu Sheng, but later, for some reason, it became Gu Zhishen.

As she grew older, Jiang Li vaguely guessed that Yuan Wei was afraid that she, as an adopted daughter, would block Gu Rou's path.

At that time, Gu Zhishen was only eighteen years old, homeless and alone.

The best course of action is to pass this burden on to Gu Zhishen.

Given this situation, how could she dare to offend Yuan Wei?

When she was a child, Yuan Wei had also caused her a lot of grievances, which she silently swallowed and never complained to Gu Zhishen.

She felt that if she was doing well, Gu Zhishen would be doing well too.

Only if Gu Zhishen is doing well will she be doing better.

In the Gu family, she and Gu Zhishen were like people tied to the same boat.

They float and sink together.

Eighteen-year-old Jiang Li fell hopelessly in love with Gu Zhishen.

She always felt that although she and Gu Zhishen were different, they were also very similar.

She even imagined that she would be bound to him for life, never to be separated.

She even naively and obsessively thought that, if Gu Zhishen was willing, she would be buried with him even after she died.

Thinking about it, it's pathetic how naive we are.

Jiang Li stood there without saying a word, but her eyes were slightly red.

Gu Zhishen kept glancing at her, noticing her long eyelashes trembling and her nostrils flaring, looking extremely aggrieved.

He laughed angrily, "You cry after I say a few words, but you weren't afraid even when Yuan Wei whipped your face."

"He's quite the bully at home."