Chapter 34
Chapter 34
“The maximum penalty is a fixed-term imprisonment of more than five years but not exceeding ten years. It has been ten years, and now eighteen years have passed, surpassing the statute of limitations for prosecution.”
Gu Ci furrowed her brows, suppressing the anger in her heart. “She’s getting off too lightly.”
After consulting with their lawyer, Lu Man and Gu Chuyun learned that there would be no imprisonment, at most just compensation. Their attitudes changed drastically, and Lu Man didn’t care whether Gu Ci signed the settlement agreement or not. After all, she couldn’t do anything to her.
When Gu Ci went to sign the document, Jiang Minghua, Jiang Junlin, Lu Man, Gu Wenliang, and Gu Chuyun were present. Lu Man covered her mouth and chuckled, proudly saying, “Gu Ci, I have raised you for eighteen years, providing you with a life of luxury. I neither abused you nor sold you off to a remote mountain village. The debt of nurturing you is greater than the heavens. You should thank me.”
“Lu Man, you’ve gone too far!” Jiang Minghua was furious. This pair of cousins had torn their faces long ago. He had once treated both Jiang Mingyue and Lu Man like princesses. “How did you become so heartless and venomous?”
“Brother, it’s because of the bond of blood and kinship that I raised her well.”
“Is that so?” Gu Ci signed the document and handed it to the staff. Then she turned to look at Lu Man. “When I was three years old, we went to Haicheng for a trip. You took me to the amusement park and left me there. I couldn’t find you, so I called the police. The police brought me back home. When I was five years old, you took me to the countryside and left me with a rural family, telling me that they were distant relatives. Later, when you left alone, that couple said they would take me to find you. I became suspicious and used the excuse of going to the restroom while waiting at the high-speed rail station. I found the police at the station, and they sent me back home. It’s not that you didn’t want to abandon me, but I had a good memory from a young age. At the age of three, I could recite your phone number and our home address. You couldn’t get rid of me.”
That year, when she was brought back home in a miserable state by the police, Gu Wenliang, Lu Man, and Gu Chuyun were busy celebrating Gu Yaozu’s birthday at a banquet. No one paid attention to her near miss of being abducted.
Gu Ziyu’s eyes turned red with anger when he heard Gu Ci recounting the past for the first time.
Lu Man suppressed the panic in her heart and smiled. “You were so young. What could you remember? It’s just your paranoid delusion, Gu Ci. They really are distant relatives and wanted to take you to play for a few days.”
Gu Wenliang impatiently interjected, “Enough. These are all old stories. Don’t bring them up again. After signing the document, let this matter quietly pass. Don’t make it a big deal and affect the reputation of the Gu family.”
Gu Wenliang didn’t think the matter was particularly serious. After all, regardless of who Gu Ci’s biological parents were, she was his daughter. He simply didn’t like Gu Ci, purely because she was too gloomy and taciturn for his taste.
The police officer and prosecutor behind them, who were handling the case, listened to the gossip of the wealthy family with a calm expressions. After all, they had seen all sorts of grand scenes in their line of work, so they remained composed.
“Lu Man will issue an apology statement, and the Gu Group will release a statement clarifying the whole incident. Once that is done, I won’t pursue it any further,” Gu Ci stated her demand.
“That’s impossible. This will affect the reputation and stock price of the Gu Group,” Gu Wenliang said angrily. His daughter had always been so tactless since childhood, always poking him where it hurts.
Jiang Junlin remained expressionless. “A single word from Gu Ci, and I can make the Gu family disappear from the business world. Mr. Gu, do you prioritize reputation and stock price, or offering her an apology?”
Gu Ziyu silently gave his uncle a mental thumbs-up. Well done!
“Dad, don’t be angry. We are family. It’s better to be harmonious,” Gu Chuyun reminded Gu Wenliang appropriately.
Gu Wenliang became flustered and angry. “Jiang Junlin, the Gu family hasn’t had any collaboration with Hualan Bank for a long time. And it’s not just your bank that provides loans. You can’t threaten me.”
“Let’s wait and see!” Jiang Junlin, who had a handsome and refined appearance, was overly sharp. In the world of business, one couldn’t give off too strong an oppressive feeling on the first encounter. That’s why Jiang Junlin wore a pair of gold-rimmed glasses. These glasses were like a scabbard, concealing his sharpness. He transformed into a cultured gentleman. Even if a wolf wore sheep clothing it couldn’t become a sheep.
Gu Wenliang felt the pressure emanating from Jiang Junlin, his heart pounding. He truly feared that Jiang Junlin and the Gu family would clash, stopping at nothing.
“Gu Ci, what happened was done by your mother… by Lu Man, going too far. After today, her reputation will be ruined, which can be considered a lesson. We have raised you for eighteen years. Don’t argue with your elders anymore. What’s rightfully yours, Dad won’t deprive you of it.” Gu Wenliang’s words were directed at Jiang Junlin and Jiang Minghua. He also compromised under Jiang Junlin’s gaze. “I will issue a statement, and she will offer an apology. Gu Ci, don’t forget, you are also a part of the Gu family. If the Gu family faces any trouble, you won’t be able to escape it either.”
Gu Ziyu held Gu Ci’s hand and retorted, “No one cares about the meager assets of the Gu family. Only you treat them as treasures. You have no worldly experience.”
He would build a fortune for his mother. He would be the one to support his mother.
Yours truly has plenty of money!
Everyone was speechless.
Even the judges and police officers who were spectating couldn’t help but laugh. The child used the most innocent voice to speak the most mocking words, devoid of any threat.
Jiang Junlin and Jiang Minghua had long wanted to ask who the child accompanying Gu Ci was.
“Who are you? The adults are talking, and you, a child, interrupting like this shows your lack of upbringing,” Lu Man’s voice turned sharp. “Don’t know where this illegitimate child came from. Don’t you have a home? Always sticking with Gu Ci… Ah!”
Before Lu Man could finish speaking, Gu Ci slapped her. With great force, Lu Man’s cheek instantly swelled up. Gu Ci remained calm throughout, but when she heard Lu Man insulting Gu Ziyu, she became enraged. “He has a name and a surname. His name is Gu Ziyu.”
“Do you dare to hit me?” Lu Man yelled hysterically, covering her face and turning to the police officer behind her. “You’re all witnesses. Gu Ci hit me. I will sue her.”
“If you dare to insult Ziyu, I will hit you every time you say it!” Gu Ci sneered.
Gu Ci emitted such a strong aura of hostility that Lu Man felt as if she had just met her for the first time, feeling both shocked and fearful.
“Is the case over? Can I leave now?” Gu Ci didn’t want to get entangled with the Gu family any longer.
The police officers and lawyers who were watching the scene nodded. “Miss Gu Ci, the matter is resolved. You can leave now.”
Gu Ci was about to leave while holding Gu Ziyu’s hand when she was stopped by Gu Chuyun. “Gu Ci, you mentioned that Mom almost abandoned you back then, and you have such a strong hatred towards human trafficking. So where did this child with you come from?”
Gu Ci slowly turned around, staring at Gu Chuyun. She instinctively tightened her grip on Gu Ziyu’s hand, her expression cautious. Gu Chuyun was up to her tricks again.
Gu Ziyu smirked. “What’s it to you?”
“Little friend, where is your home? Why have you been following Gu Ci? Were you kidnapped? You can tell the police uncle, they will help you find your parents,” Gu Chuyun asked innocently and naively. “Gu Ci, you wouldn’t be involved in child trafficking, right?”
Everyone didn’t know what to say.
All eyes were focused on Gu Ziyu. Gu Ci couldn’t explain the origin of Gu Ziyu. It was too fantastical, and no one would believe it. If a paternity test were conducted, would Ziyu be treated as a monster? Would he be captured for research? Why did Gu Chuyun bring up Ziyu?