"Second brother, Fourth brother, I need to ask you something right now. What exactly has happened in Xixia over the past month? I need detailed information."
Gu Jingchen's voice carried a chill. Even though it was early summer, the atmosphere in the room felt solemn and austere, making his brothers present acutely aware of its gravity.
His cherished little woman was born into a life of privilege. The Shang Family was a renowned household in Yun City, so how did everything change so abruptly?
Gu Jingchen's eyes flickered with a sharp glint as he elegantly sipped his drink. Of course, he wouldn't divulge any of this to his best brothers. The thoughts about his beloved little woman would remain steadfastly locked within his heart—that alone was enough.
"Big Brother, we knew you would ask about this. Honestly, if we'd been able to reach you earlier, we would have told you already. Your wife's family has undergone substantial changes this past month."
Xie Qikan, who had been watching the banter between Gu Jingchen and his own elder brother, Xie Qiyan, softened his usually sharp and cold demeanor into something rare, more relaxed. Yet, upon hearing his elder brother's question, Xie Qikan's expression hardened again.
The man rose to his imposing height, walked toward the liquor cabinet, and extended his sharply defined fingers to fetch a glass of whiskey. Taking a measured sip, he paused before speaking.
"Speak." Upon hearing Xie Qikan's words, Gu Jingchen—typically emblematic of formidable mental fortitude—revealed subtle hints of tension across his usually composed and elegant features, finally uttering a single syllable from his throat.
"Big Brother, last week, your wife's father and mother hosted an anniversary celebration. For years, everyone knew them to have a great relationship. This much was common knowledge. But at the event, a woman named Xiang Fengmei showed up and claimed to have been in an extramarital affair with your wife's father, Shang Yide. She refused to let the man she loved continue deceiving others and took things further, presenting photos of your wife's mother, Li Yuwan, involved in her own extramarital affair. At that moment, your wife's mother was visibly stunned and furious—clearly in distress. She demanded answers from Shang Yide, asking whether the allegations of his infidelity were true. Shang Yide, in turn, questioned Li Yuwan about the photos, asking her to explain her own indiscretions. Overwhelmed by heartbreak, Li Yuwan acknowledged everything."
Xie Qikan's thin lips curved slightly, his voice as light as a feather but tinged with embarrassment. As the president of Xie Group, Xie Qikan had naturally been invited to the event. However, these were family matters, and despite his reputation as one of Yun City's most sought-after bachelors, he wasn't interested in indulging in gossip. His crystal-clear recall was entirely due to his loyalty to their shared big brother!
But aside from mere gossip, Xie Qikan went as far as to retrieve his phone, showing snippets of video clips from the incident. What kind of brother goes to such lengths? Certainly, none but him. One could say he was entirely committed to his role for the sake of his big brother's cause!
Reflecting on all this, Xie Qikan's usually dark and heavy gaze grew even more gloomy and obscure. He shot a covert glance at his elder brother, his lips twitching involuntarily—the weight of secondhand pity undeniable.
Friendship truly changes a person! It could transform a pristine white rose into a shamelessly gossipy red rose!
"In the end, Shang Yide flew into a rage and kicked Li Yuwan out of the Shang Family. But that wasn't the worst of it. Your wife's brother, Shang Pinhao, came home later that night, and upon learning about the incident, he stormed into the house to confront his father. Instead, he stumbled upon an incredibly sordid scene: his fiancée and Xiang Fengmei's son. That was the tipping point for Shang Pinhao—he completely lost his mind. He grabbed a lampstand from the room and smashed it over Xiang Fengmei's son's head! The kid still hasn't woken up, and the police are now hunting for Shang Pinhao."
"The aftermath was brutal. Shang Yide, still livid, declared he would no longer stand by Shang Pinhao. Your wife, hurt deeply by her father's actions, became even more disillusioned. After Li Yuwan moved back to her old neighborhood and fell into depression and despair, her health eventually deteriorated, and she was diagnosed with heart disease. Shang Yide made no effort to reach out or provide financial assistance. These events have left your wife painfully resentful of her father to the point where she refuses to speak of him altogether. That's what's been going on with your wife recently. She's going through a rough time. Oh, there's more—Xiang Fengmei's son, Li Chengxi, is the guy your wife has feelings for, which has left her deeply conflicted. Experiencing both family turmoil and heartbreak simultaneously must be overwhelming, especially for someone as young as her."
Xie Qikan struggled through recounting everything, doing his best to remain composed while visibly attempting to evade the sharp, suffocating glare of his elder brother. Though Gu Jingchen stayed silent, the oppressive pressure in the room was palpable to everyone else present, making even drawing breath a challenge.
"Ha, has feelings for someone else?" Gu Jingchen's cool and refined face, paired with his sharply tailored figure, took on an even more striking intensity under the dim bar lights. He smiled, but instead of comforting, the delicate air of his voice unsettled everyone present.
"Big Brother, if you want to rage, just rage already. This quiet tone of yours gives me the creeps." Gu Jingrui lazily glanced at his elder brother, shifting his previously nonchalant posture with moderate unease, attempting what he thought was a charitable suggestion.
"Big Brother, what do you plan to do?" Gu Jingxin asked bluntly. The sheer amount of new information tonight had been overwhelming, and as the youngest of the Gu brothers, ranking sixth, Gu Jingxin genuinely feared for his elder brother's ability to endure it all.
"Having feelings for someone else proves she's matured. All these years, isn't this precisely what I've been waiting for? Waiting for her to grow up, waiting for the moment I could finally reap the fruit of a love I've cherished deeply all this time?"
Gu Jingchen's voice, though calm, carried an underlying arrogance and assurance. On his sculpted face, his lips curved into the faintest of smiles—a reflection of the confidence and pride of a man who believed he understood her better than anyone else.
"But seeing her like this, it pains me." With slightly rugged fingers, the man picked up a cigarette and flicked his lighter. The ease of his motion exuded a sense of defiant allure and lazy charm. The smoke curled lazily overhead as his narrowed eyes glistened faintly through its haze. Though he wasn't known for speaking much, the few words he uttered carried a weight of emotion that seeped into every corner of the room, making his heartache tangible—as if it had infiltrated his veins, consumed his bones, and dissolved into his very being.