The principal's wife

  "Alright, you said don't investigate, so this matter will end here." Gu Bei Chen didn't dare to continue asking, afraid of stirring up her painful memories. "You... why aren't you asking me who I saw just now?" Foolish girl, do you need to ask? Of course, Director Gu is very intelligent and would guess correctly. "When you want to say it, you will naturally speak, I won't force you." The saying 'the insider is confused' indeed wasn't wrong, knowing how to advise others but not being able to relate it to himself, he himself was hiding a big secret waiting for her to ask about it voluntarily, if she never asked, would he still want to hide from her forever? "That person... looks very much like my mother. She's been gone for ten years, I'm not too sure if it's really her."

  "So... let's just not investigate then." Ye Shanshan was indeed a well-behaved child, and with him teasing her like that, she immediately confessed the truth. She honestly told him everything, and Gu Beichen's heart felt a bit more at ease, "Why don't you want to investigate? Don't you... want to see her again?" "No... I don't." The two simple words were separated by almost two seconds of hesitation, revealing Ye Shanshan's true feelings. How could she not miss her? She was her mother, the only person in this world with whom she shared a blood relationship. She really wanted to know why her mother had left her when she was eight years old, and why she hadn't contacted her for ten whole years.

  "If you really don't want to see her, then stop being sad about it, huh?" Being sad means caring, but she's been forcing herself not to think about it, and the one suffering is still herself. His voice was gentler than ever before, and Ye Shanshan's psychological defenses were slowly crumbling. He was her husband, her most solid and only reliance; there was no need to hide anything from him. "I'm not sad, I just... can't accept it." "Then you should see her, ask her directly, and clear up the knot in your heart. Only then will you be able to live at ease." Escapism is a coward's behavior, and it can't solve any real problems either. Gu Beichen still hoped he could persuade her to bravely face reality.

  "Maybe... I really misjudged her?" Ye Shanshan's mood was still a bit anxious and conflicted at this moment. Even if that person was indeed her mother, she might not necessarily want to see her. "The people living in this area all have a background, and the vehicles entering and exiting also have records, it's easy to investigate. Tell me, what is your mother's name?" Gu Beichen deliberately used a relatively fresh title, intending to make Shanshan's mood relax a bit. As it turned out, this trick was quite effective, Ye Shanshan really couldn't help but laugh, "She doesn't even want me, and you still call her Mother-in-law?" "Foolish, if she hadn't given birth to you after ten months of pregnancy, where would I find such a good wife?" Even if Mother-in-law had a thousand faults, Gu Beichen would still be grateful to her from the bottom of his heart. If it weren't for her bringing Shanshan into this world, who knows, maybe he'd still be a bachelor now?

  Ye Shanshan, who was easily satisfied, was delighted by his sincere and sweet words, and the worries in her heart gradually dissipated. "Her name is Yang Sulan, just do your best, it's okay if you can't find anything, don't bother too many people." "If we're going to investigate, we have to do it thoroughly, I won't be at peace if I don't get a clear answer." Gu Shou had always been someone who saw things through from start to finish, and he wouldn't rest until the job was done well. Without warning, Ye Shanshan suddenly stood on tiptoes and kissed him on the cheek. This level of affection clearly wasn't enough for Gu Shou, "Are you flirting with me?" "No, I just wanted to thank you." Ye Shanshan instinctively took a step back, quickly changing the subject as she sat down at the computer, "Let's choose a car, my parents insist on buying one, what price range should we choose?" Forget it, she had just recovered from her emotional turmoil, no need to make a big deal out of this.

  Gu Beichen didn't follow her to continue kissing, but instead stood quietly behind her, helping her choose a car. When Gu Beichen was not at home, Shanshan and Xiaoxiao would spend the night at the Gu's house every Saturday, and they had everything they needed, including clothes to change into. It was also raining outside, so no one planned to go back home. The several cars on the alternative list had basically been decided on, according to Old Lady Gu's idea, it couldn't be too cheap, the cheapest one would cost at least 160,000 yuan. When going to sleep that night, Ye Shanshan was still muttering, "We could buy several QQs with this money." Silly girl, don't you know that mom cares about face, she wouldn't allow her own daughter-in-law to drive a small QQ around everywhere.

  Frugality is a good habit, but after all, the environment is there, and sometimes for the sake of elders' happiness, money that should be spent still needs to be spent. "Buying such an expensive car, if you accidentally hit..." "Shh, don't talk nonsense! You have to believe in your driving skills." The coach also said, "Don't rush to take the driver's test, make sure you practice well before taking it." With her parents arranging for a car, Gu Bei Chen didn't urge her to take the driver's test either. Learning to drive can't be taken lightly, safety must come first. "If you can accompany me every day to practice, I'll definitely pass quickly." The coach was very serious, but how could he compare to him in terms of meticulousness? More importantly, with him by her side, she felt more at ease.

  "Tomorrow afternoon, we'll go to the driving school for practice, and then I'll accompany you to buy two decent dresses." Gu Shou had always been a planner, and he had already arranged tomorrow's schedule. "What are we buying dresses for?" Ye Shuangshuang still lacked social experience after all, and she didn't think of many things. "The exhibition tonight is also a formal social occasion, you can't dress too casually." Poor Gu Shou, having to teach his little wife about social etiquette. This...she hadn't thought of at all. What to do? With him around, she didn't have to worry about anything, and if this continued, she would become more and more dependent on him. Wasn't that bad? "You always tell me not to spoil Xiao Xiao too much, but you're relying on me for everything, aren't you afraid of spoiling me?" "I'm not afraid, my wife is so obedient, can't be spoiled."

  And... the time I can stay at home with you is really limited, no matter how much I do for you, it's not as good as those husbands who can accompany their wives every day. You don't have to think about anything, just wait for me to spoil you." The helplessness that comes with a military marriage cannot be avoided, and all Gu Bei Chen can do is try his best to treat her well on the days he spends with her. "Wait, we need to go practice driving and buy clothes, what about the martial arts school?" Ye Shuang Shuang was completely immersed in the sweetness of being spoiled, and almost forgot about the important things. "Don't worry, I've already made arrangements." Gu Bei Chen never fights an unprepared battle. "You're not going to bother Captain Shen again, are you?" Hmm, it seems that husbands and wives really do have a tacit understanding, she guessed it correctly.

  Apart from Shen Mufeng, it's really hard to think of someone trustworthy for the time being. That kid had caused a lot of trouble when he was in the army, and asking him for help whenever there were difficulties had almost become Gu Beichen's instinctive reaction. "Congratulations, you're right! You can ask for a reward, anything is fine." Ye Shanshan didn't have time to bother with his joke, "It's always troublesome to others, isn't it?" "No big deal, anyway he's on holiday tomorrow, and he especially likes kids." Gu Beichen casually brushed off two sentences, with a mischievous grin on his face, "Really don't want a reward?" Cough cough, Director Gu is really too bad, this expression is clearly asking for a reward, and he still has the nerve to ask if they want it! "Don't be too excessive, okay."

  "After last night's intimate entanglement, Ye Shanshan's sensitivity to certain things has become stronger, and she couldn't possibly not know what was on his mind. Although he had been warned in advance, Ye Shanshan was still a bit startled, and as they were kissing dazedly, a large hand suddenly covered her chest, pinching it lightly. She immediately pushed him away, sat up with the quilt wrapped around her, and scolded with a red face: "If you mess around again, I won't sleep with you!" "I don't dare, I don't dare. Hurry up and lie down, give me half of the quilt, it's so cold." Poor Gu Shou, his body had already reacted, but he didn't want to let Ye Shanshan see, so he shamelessly burrowed into the quilt. Fortunately, dull-witted Ye Shanshan didn't notice anything, and really thought he was cold, so she obediently lifted the quilt to let him in: "I'm so sleepy, don't make any more trouble."

  "Alright, go to sleep now." Ugh, it's tough but I have to endure it, who told you to marry a tender and delicate little loli? Just bear with it slowly... On Sunday morning, car selection is in progress. A group of five people, one test-driving, one watching the excitement, two advisors, and one paying the bill. The car suitable for the little loli to drive must have good performance and not be too low-end. Hmm, after trying out several options, it seems that Beetle is still the most suitable. An eternal classic model, this season's main color - ink purple, super-low price during the promotional period, various temptations are irresistible. Most importantly, the little princess of the Gu family also loves this car and even said that if they don't buy this one, she would rather take the school bus to school herself. Old man Gu immediately paid the deposit, and the car will be picked up a week later, with all related procedures such as license plates and insurance handled at the same time.

  Anxious old lady Gu had even prepared the gas card, with this card, she can refuel at any gas station in G city. Everything is ready, just waiting for the driver's license. Laughing and shouting to sit in the new car, Ye Shanshan's pressure on her shoulders is not small. Because of preparing for the jewelry exhibition tonight, driving practice time had to be shortened. No way, Sophia came with the halo of France's first jewelry designer, such an opportunity is rare, Ye Shanshan will not miss it. At the same time, Gu Beichen has also asked someone to investigate the black Audi car with license plate number 168, and has a general idea, but wants to know the detailed identity of the owner and passengers still need further investigation.

  One who always wears military uniforms and one who rarely wears skirts, this combination naturally made choosing a dress a headache. In the end, they could only listen to the salesgirl's introduction: A pink off-the-shoulder knee-length dress with lace trim on the chest and hem, adding a touch of elegance while not having to worry about being too revealing. Looking at the lively and beautiful young woman in front of him, Gu Bei Chen was stunned for a long time before he came back to his senses. Indeed, people rely on clothes and horses rely on saddles; after dressing up like this, he was a bit hesitant to take her out. "Isn't it strange?" Completely transformed, Ye Shanshan felt uncomfortable all over, wearing a small dress with bare shoulders for the first time, she always felt like her upper body wasn't dressed at all.

  "How could this be, to be honest, I'm a bit worried when you dress like that." Gu Bei Chen's gaze couldn't bear to move away from her, his expression was as if he hadn't seen a beauty in 800 years. "You're just flattering me." Women all love to hear praise, and Ye Shuang Shuang was no exception, being praised by him made her feel a bit fluttered. Standing next to him dressed like this shouldn't embarrass him, right? Putting on a beautiful little dress was only the first step in transforming herself, she also needed suitable makeup and shoes to match. These things were what Ning family's young lady was best at, although she studied design, but in terms of dressing up and making up, she had done quite some research, under her manipulation, Ye Shuang Shuang's appearance wasn't any worse than those newly emerged entertainment circle new stars.

  Miss Ning was very satisfied with Ye Shanshan's fresh and elegant appearance, and reminded Gu Shou Zhang in a serious tone, "Gu Shou Zhang, when we go to the venue later, you must take good care of Shanshan. Don't let those talent scouts and entertainment agents notice her." "Don't talk nonsense, it's not that serious! Who would notice me when I'm with you?" Ye Shanshan didn't think so, Ning family's young lady was born to be stunning and had a prominent status. Wherever she went, she was the center of attention. When she was with Gu Shou Zhang, others could only be her foil. "You two have your own unique qualities, maybe someone will like your little freshness. It's better to be careful." Gu Beichen didn't dare to slack off at all. In short, after arriving at the venue, he would closely follow Ye Shanshan.

  Two beauties with different styles were ready, and Ning Xiaojie's driver finally arrived late. "Sorry, I'm late." "Good evening, Mr. Ning." This was the first time Ye Shanshan saw Ning Zihao since they parted ways at the hospital last time, and her tone was noticeably more cautious and polite than before. "Mrs. Gu is truly radiant tonight." Ning Zihao still had a humble smile on his face. However, his greeting lacked the familiarity of their past friendship. Gu Beichen stepped forward in a timely manner, politely extending his hand to his former potential rival, "Mr. Ning, long time no see." Ning Zihao politely extended his hand and smiled, but didn't say a word. Ye Shanshan felt that the atmosphere was a bit strange, so she quickly walked up and took her husband's arm, "Well, it's almost time, let's get going now."

  "You and Miss Ning go get the coats, I'll come pick you up." Gu Bei Chen seemed to intentionally want to be alone with Ning Zi Han for a while, which is why he made an excuse to send the two women away. These two people have had their share of conflicts in the past, Ye Shanshan still didn't feel at ease, "But..." "Let's go, nothing will happen." Ning Ziyu knew that her brother had already completely let go and fully trusted Gu Bei Chen, so she quickly pulled Shanshan away. Ning Zi Han and Gu Bei Chen exchanged a tacit smile as they went out to get the car together. "Last time when Shanshan and Xiaoxiao were hospitalized, thanks to Mr. Ning's help, having you as such a good friend is an honor for Shanshan, thank you." This favor had been etched in Gu Bei Chen's heart all along, no matter what kind of feelings Ning Zi Han had towards Shanshan, he should still express his gratitude in person.

  "Director Gu is being too serious, I should be the one apologizing to you, last time on the phone..." "No, what you said was right." Gu Bei Chen calmly interrupted him, his tone exceptionally firm as he reflected on his own mistakes: "When Shanshan and Xiaoxiao needed me most, I wasn't by their side, it's my dereliction of duty. So...I've come back, this is the first time since joining the army that I've returned less than two months after submitting a leave application. Perhaps in your eyes, such compensation is far from enough, but...I've made my greatest effort." Ning Zihansuddenly didn't know what to say, Director Gu's words on the surface seemed like a confession and self-reflection, but also an indirect defense. He knew he was wrong, yet couldn't help it.

  After a moment of silence, Ning Zihans slowly opened his mouth: "Xanxan is lucky to have such a husband. In the past, I and Ziyan didn't understand, and we did some wrong things with our cleverness. I hope Mr. Gu can forgive us." "Mr. Ning's words are heavy, loyal words are hard to hear, if there is something to change, then change it, if not, then encourage each other." The head of the family is indeed the head of the family, and when he speaks, he has a strong official tone! But Ning Zihans suddenly laughed lightly without warning, "Head Gu won't often use this tone to talk to Mrs. Gu at home, right?" "I dare not!" Gu Beichen smiled helplessly and resignedly, "Usually, if I'm a bit serious, she'll carefully call me 'Head of the Family', I don't know what other strange titles she'll come up with if I'm so rigid."

  Looking at Gu Shou's nostalgic expression, Ning Zihans last bit of attachment was completely let go. Love is not about finding the best person to spend your life with, but finding the most suitable one, that is true happiness. In this smokeless war, he lost convincingly. At 7:30 in the evening, Gu Beichen and his wife, along with Ning's siblings, arrived at the high-end exhibition hall on the seventh floor of the Golden Light Building. With their VIP invitation cards, they entered relatively smoothly, only undergoing basic identity verification without detailed security checks. Those who held ordinary invitations were not so lucky, having to undergo top-level identity verification and security checks, and were also ordered not to approach within two meters of the central exhibition area.

  "What's the origin of these exhibits?" Gu Bei Chen couldn't help but feel curious about these rare items. "Masterpieces personally designed by the master, with only one piece in the world, and several sets of diamonds and gems on display are worth a fortune." Being able to enter the central area for a visit, Ye Shanshan's mood was also quite excited. Of course, she wasn't shocked by these priceless treasures, but rather attracted by Master Sofia's unique design. "How did you think of studying jewelry design?" This question had been puzzling Gu Bei Chen for a long time. Given Shanshan's family environment, even if Ye Lao didn't send her to study at the police academy, she should have sent her to study some more popular majors. How did she end up being related to art-related majors? "I haven't told you before, my mom... used to be in this line of work."

  Studying design requires interest and talent, and Ye Shanshan has both. Her mentor often says that if she didn't study design, it would be a huge waste. "So to say, you completely inherited her talent?" This matter is related to his mother-in-law, and Gu Beichen's tone also became extremely cautious. "Hmm, when I was young, I often watched her draw at home and thought it was very interesting, so I pulled her to teach me. It can be said that I laid some foundation. When the college entrance exam came, my scores weren't ideal, but G University had this major, which didn't require high cultural scores, but required a separate professional exam and interview. I casually drew a few pictures and unexpectedly got the highest score, so I was admitted."

  Although it's been several months, Ye Shanshan still feels that experience was full of drama. When she was a child, she always complained about her mother's ruthlessness and even harbored hatred towards her. However, thinking carefully, the things her mother left behind were actually quite useful. "I didn't know our family's Shanshan had this talent." After being married for so long, Gu Beichen finally had the opportunity to understand another side of Ye Shanshan. She wasn't just a gentle and virtuous wife and mother, but also a heroic and chivalrous woman. Now, she had another identity - a brilliant designer! Hearing him say that, Ye Shanshan couldn't help but puff out her chest, "Hmph, you thought I only knew how to show off my martial arts skills?" "Sorry, it seems my understanding of you was insufficient."

  The aftereffects of the flash marriage and military marriage have finally appeared. Although the two people have feelings for each other, their understanding of each other is very limited. Despite various objective reasons, Gu Bei Chen still feels guilty towards her. "It's not too late to understand now," Ye Shanshan said with a smile, holding his arm as they walked towards the central exhibition area. "Sophia is an outstanding artist, and every piece on display here has a story behind it. It would be great if we could ask her about it in person." Ye Shanshan just casually mentioned this, but was overheard by someone with ulterior motives. "You can," a low voice said, barely containing excitement. Before Ye Shanshan could react, her small body was enveloped in a pair of powerful arms.

  Ten years had passed, and many memories had gradually faded away, but this voice and the scent on her mother's body were not something that could be forgotten at will. Although she hadn't looked up to confirm the person's appearance, Ye Shanshan could be 100% certain who was holding her. Yang Sulan had been watching from a distance for a long time, and she didn't dare approach recklessly for two reasons: on one hand, she was worried that suddenly appearing would scare Shanshan; on the other hand, she also didn't dare confirm whether Shanshan still remembered her. However, her longing for her daughter easily overcame these concerns, and she carefully approached, just in time to hear Shanshan say she wanted to personally ask Sophia for guidance, and she could no longer control the surging emotions. Sophia was her husband's sister, and fulfilling Shanshan's wish was just a matter of one sentence for her.

  At this moment, Ye Shanshan's mind was a complete blank, and she only vaguely heard someone gently calling out to her from above her head, "Shanshan, my Shanshan..." The voice was still as gentle as it had been ten years ago, but to her, it sounded sarcastic. However, Ye Shanshan suddenly struggled free with great force and rushed forward without looking back. Everything happened too suddenly, and for a moment, she couldn't digest it. "Excuse me," Gu Beichen didn't even bother to greet his mother-in-law, politely responding with a sentence before quickly chasing after her. Seeing the teacher's stunned face, Sophia hurried over from another district to ask, "Teacher, what happened?" Due to having a quarter of Chinese blood and often discussing designs with Yang Suyuan, Sophia could also speak fluent Chinese.

  "Sophia, the little girl just now is my daughter. But... she doesn't want to see me." Yang Sulan didn't follow her, and what she was most worried about had happened - Xuanxuan didn't want to see her. "Don't worry too much, since we've met, there will be a chance to explain things clearly." Sophia could only try to comfort her. But Yang Sulan shook her head with a despondent expression, "Some things can't be explained clearly." A mother who had ruthlessly abandoned her daughter for the sake of her career wasn't worthy of forgiveness. "Then... has she left already?" Sophia asked cautiously. "It seems like she went towards the rest area, there was a man following her, I don't know what their relationship is." Yang Sulan only had Xuanxuan in her eyes and didn't pay much attention to the man who was with her.

  It's better that Yang Sulan doesn't know that this man is Shanshan's husband, or she'll be scared out of her wits. "Don't worry, I'll go ask some familiar friends to find out." Sophia also knew that her sister-in-law had always been worried about her daughter, and this time she suddenly decided to open an exhibition in G City, just to borrow someone to find out where her daughter was. It's a coincidence that they met here, maybe it's fate, and she will do her best to help. Unfortunately, the friend Sophia found was Ning's siblings. Because Ning's family also has a foot in the jewelry industry, Sophia and they have some connections, so asking for their help is a matter of course. After listening to Sophia's story, Ning's siblings already had a rough idea in mind. There was only one person wearing a pink dress at the scene, Shanshan, and she also had a mother who left ten years ago and never came back. If there wasn't a more dramatic coincidence, Shanshan would be the person Sophia was looking for.

  Miss Ning, who always loved to take up the cudgels for others, would not let this heartless mother see Shanshan so easily. "Shanshan is my good friend, I want to meet that Ms. Yang first." Sophia hesitated, and Ning Zihao also stood out at the right time, "From your description earlier, Shanshan seems unwilling to meet this Ms. Yang, as her friends, we must respect her wishes." "Okay, I'll take you to see her." Sophia was the protagonist of tonight's event, but had to run around for her sister-in-law's private affairs. Some more important things were also ignored. The rest area of the venue is divided into two large areas, Sophia took Ning siblings to the east side, while Ye Shanshan and Gu Beichen happened to be on the west side.

  The only thing separating them was a long corridor, but the atmosphere was completely different. "Let's go home." After being silent for nearly five minutes, Ye Shanshan finally spoke up. "Do you still remember what I told you yesterday?" Shanshan's emotions were currently unstable, and logically speaking, Gu Beichen should have taken her away without hesitation, but he felt that escaping like this wasn't the solution. He remembered every word she had said, it was just that when it came to facing her, it wasn't as easy as he thought. "I don't know what to say to her." Gu Beichen considerately took off his jacket and put it over her shoulders, gently holding her hand. "I can tell, these past few years, she's missed you a lot too."

  "Why doesn't she come back to see me? Look at what she's wearing, she must be doing very well. If she really wanted to, why didn't she put it into action?" Ye Shanshan was most angry about her mother's ruthlessness. When her father passed away, it was a turning point in her career. In order to have better development, she had to make a choice. But how could she not come back to see her daughter for ten years? Gu Beichen could only patiently advise with gentle words, "She may... have an unavoidable reason. If you don't talk to her properly, you'll never know the truth, right?" His words were reasonable, and Ye Shanshan also knew how to refute them. Just then, Gu Beichen's phone suddenly rang, it was Fang Jingjun's youngest son Fang Dang calling.

  That black Audi did indeed enter the Fang family's mansion yesterday. He asked the people at home and found out that the guest who came to visit in that car was named Yang Sulan, who had some kind of kinship with his older sister. She had just returned from France and this time she came back to G City to look for her relatives. Because someone in the Fang family worked at the police station, she went to their home seeking help. "Your mother went to the Fang's to ask them to help find you." Gu Bei Chen summarized Fang Dang's words with the simplest and most concise language, then told it to Shanshan. "So?" Ye Shanshan's tone was still a bit cold. Gu Bei Chen could understand Shanshan's feelings at this moment, but understanding didn't mean agreement. "Go see her and listen to what she has to say, then decide whether or not you want to call her mom."

  Ye Shanshan was still hesitating, but the originally quiet exhibition area suddenly transmitted an unexpected sound. Anyone with ears and normal judgment could distinguish that it was a gunshot! "Stay put and don't move, I'll go take a look." Hearing gunshots in such a venue was indeed abnormal, but Gu Beichen remained as calm as ever. The rest area and the central exhibition area were separated by a distance of about 7-8 meters, but this distance did not hinder Gu Beichen from seeing the situation clearly: four black-clad thugs, carrying lethal weapons, with hostages in hand. Judging from their conversation with the on-site security personnel, they should have come for the expensive jewelry at the exhibition. As long as Gu Beichen was willing, he could completely sneak away with Shanshan.

  But he is a soldier, defending the country and people is his duty, so many lives are in danger, he can't just ignore it and leave. At this time, the leader cannot leave, but the leader's wife must evacuate as soon as possible, "The safe passage is right behind you, go first, and call Shen Mufeng immediately after you leave safely." "No! I won't leave alone!" The leader's wife was not grateful at all, they came together, naturally they should leave together. With the situation outside being so complicated and dangerous, how could she be at peace leaving him behind? Besides, Ziyuan, her brother, Sophia, and... mom are still inside, knowing they might be in danger, how could she possibly leave with a clear conscience?

  "Alright, the situation is critical, I'm afraid you won't be able to take care of me if you stay...""No way! I'll be extra careful and follow your instructions for every move, just let me stay!"Because she was worried that making too much noise would alert the hijackers, Ye Shanshan intentionally lowered her voice, but her tone was even more urgent."They're different from the hijackers at the martial arts hall last time, they have guns. If we're not careful and get hurt, it won't be just a scratch."Gu Beichen had no way to persuade her, he could only patiently advise."If you want me to leave, I'll go with you!""Whether we leave or stay, let's do it together. Sharing good fortune and bad is what being husband and wife is all about, isn't it?"

  Those beautiful big eyes were filled with determination, and Gu Bei Chen couldn't bear to drive her away again. "The back passage is relatively safe, you call Shen Mu Feng first, I'll think of a way to rescue the hostages." In this situation, having hostages in the hands of the hijackers was the most troublesome thing. Even if Shen Mu Feng's people arrived quickly, they probably wouldn't dare to act rashly. "You be careful, if you dare to get hurt, just wait for writing a self-criticism when you get home!" It sounded like a joke, but Ye Shuangshuang's expression was exceptionally serious. After all, the hijackers had guns, and even if he was skilled, he couldn't match the destructive power of such strong weapons. "I will remember the instructions of the First Lady in my heart, and so should you." Looking at her serious and solemn expression, Gu Bei Chen's mood also relaxed a bit.

  The little thing, it really knows how to learn and apply, and has actually returned everything it learned from him. The couple split up and took action, after calling Shen Mufeng, Ye Shanshan suddenly discovered that there was a long corridor at the back of the passage, following the corridor all the way, you can walk to the rest area on the east side. There are not many people here, but they are all familiar with Ye Shanshan, Ziyuan and her brother, Sofia, and... mom. The bad thing is that there is a hijacker holding a gun at the entrance of the rest area, threatening Sofia to reveal the password of the display cabinet. Sofia pretended not to understand Chinese and quickly said a string of French, which enraged the hijacker and he attacked her. What to do, if you don't think of a solution soon, Sofia may get hurt, otherwise, she can only reveal the password and let the hijackers take away those valuable jewels.

  Fortunately, the hijacker was now standing with his back to Ye Shanshan, and he couldn't see what was happening behind him. Ye Shanshan could only take a chance and sneak up on him. Quick-witted Ye Shanshan picked up a fire extinguisher from beside the fire escape route and crept forward barefoot. Just as she was about to get close to Sophia, the hijacker suddenly turned around, and she could only react by swinging the extinguisher at him. Because she hadn't aimed, the blow only hit the hijacker's shoulder, and he cursed in pain, raising his gun to pull the trigger, with Ye Shanshan as his target! Just as all hope seemed lost, Yang Suyun suddenly pounced over and grabbed the hijacker's arm, allowing Ye Shanshan to narrowly escape danger.

  Yang Sulan's strength was limited after all, and the tall and large bandit quickly broke free, kicking her heavily in the abdomen. The force of this kick was too great, forcing her to retreat step by step, hitting her head against the wall, and soon bleeding. However, Yang Sulan's adventure did not go to waste, as the bandit was so focused on venting his anger at her that he forgot someone might be sneaking up behind him. Although she was wearing a skirt, Ye Shanshan's movements were still agile, and with an accurate and flawless spinning kick, the gun in the bandit's hand fell to the ground. Ning Ziyuan and Shanshan had a good tacit understanding, and at the first opportunity, they kicked the gun far away. Without the gun, everyone was less restrained, and Ning Ziheng also joined the "battle", although he hadn't received formal training, but could still lend a hand to Shanshan.

  The hijacker was struggling to cope with the two of them, and one of them was a professional mastermind. On the other side, Gu Beichen was also waiting for an opportunity to act. Among the remaining three hijackers, only one was responsible for holding the hostages, while the other two were busy putting the relatively low-value jewelry into bags, which gave him the chance to make his move. A cone-shaped shard of glass, accurately aimed and thrown, hit the hijacker's gun-holding hand, causing the pistol to fall to the ground. The hostage reacted quickly, seeing the gun drop, immediately raised their elbow and gave the hijacker a blow to the stomach. The hijacker's attention shifted, Gu Beichen swiftly approached, snatched up the gun on the ground, and then quickly subdued the hijacker before he could react.

  The other two robbers were also startled, holding their guns and rushing over. Unfortunately, the difference in their marksmanship and shooting speed compared to Gu Shou's was too great, and after two gunshots, both of them were hit in the shoulder. The robbers no longer had guns in their hands, and the security guards responsible for the safety work no longer had any worries, rushing forward and quickly subduing the three robbers. On the other side, Ye Shanshan also worked together with Ning Zihuan to subdue the remaining robber, and the critical situation was finally brought under control. After confirming that the robbers were no longer a threat, Gu Beichen quickly found Shanshan, and seeing that she was unharmed, he also let out a sigh of relief. However, a bloodstain on the wall still made his heart tighten suddenly, "Use a handkerchief to cover the wound and stop the bleeding as much as possible, and send her to the hospital immediately."

  Ye Shanshan's face was filled with panic and helplessness, her hands trembling uncontrollably as the thrilling scene from earlier flashed through her mind. If it weren't for her mother stepping forward, she might have already become a victim of the robbers' gunfire. In that moment, she deeply felt that her mother still loved her.

  As Gu Beichen and Ye Shanshan accompanied Yang Suyun downstairs, Shen Mufeng's people had arrived. Although the robbers had been subdued and the situation was largely under control, there were still many follow-up tasks to be handled. With such strict security checks in place, it was still possible for the robbers to slip in unnoticed, carrying lethal weapons. The police had a responsibility to investigate the process thoroughly and give an explanation to the exhibition organizers.

  The nearest hospital is also about a 20-minute drive from the Jin Guanghua Building. As she looked at the handkerchief, which was getting deeper in color, Ye Shanshan was on the verge of tears. "Why haven't we arrived yet?" "Don't worry, it's okay." Gu Beichen could only comfort her with a tired expression. Based on his experience, he thought that Madame Yang's injury shouldn't be too serious. Yang Sulan was still conscious and could speak at a normal speed: "Shanshan, who is this gentleman..." Because she was worried that Shanshan would resist or refuse, she didn't dare to mention it, but the more she looked, the more she felt that Shanshan's relationship with this man was unusual. Finally, she couldn't help but ask the question in her heart: "He's my husband." Ye Shanshan's mind was preoccupied with her mother's injury and she blurted out the truth without thinking.

  Of course, even if she was calm, she would still speak the truth without hesitation. She and Gu Shou Zhang were a legitimate couple, with nothing to hide. "Ah?" Yang Su Lan was almost shocked into fainting. Ye Shan Shan was only 18 years old this year, how did they get married? "Auntie, hello." Ye Shan Shan hadn't formally acknowledged her mother yet, and Gu Bei Chen didn't dare call her mother-in-law so casually. However, since his mother-in-law was shocked like this, there were some things he had to explain, "I'm a soldier, with special protection policies, that's why I could bring Ye Shan Shan home so quickly." "He's a colonel," Ye Shan Shan added intentionally. "Oh," Yang Su Lan responded absent-mindedly, still looking dazed. This huge surprise would probably take her some time to slowly digest.

  All the way in silence, they finally arrived at a relatively well-equipped regular hospital. Yang Sulan was quickly sent to the emergency room for various treatments and examinations. Ye Shanshan was still worried, thinking of pulling open the curtain to take a peek every two minutes. At first, Gu Beichen had patience to persuade her, but later she walked back and forth so frequently that he could only pull her down and hold her tightly in his arms, "Believe me, your mother's injury is not very serious, just sit quietly and wait for her to come out, okay?" "But...she lost a lot of blood." The handkerchief was stained red, and there were also bloodstains on her coat. How could she sit still and wait? "Obviously worried and anxious, but trying to be strong, putting on an indifferent expression, it's hard to watch you like this, and it doesn't make you feel comfortable either, what's the point?" This topic changed a bit too quickly, but it was also the best way to calm Shanshan down as soon as possible.

  Ye Shanshan lowered her head and didn't speak, her mind tangled like a mess. What he said was right, she was worried and tense, but that didn't mean forgiveness. "She still loves you so much... I firmly believe that there must be a reason why she hasn't come back after walking away for so long." There were parents in the world who didn't love their children, and Gu Beichen had seen it with his own eyes before, but he always believed that Ye Shanshan's mother was not one of them. "Why do you always speak up for her?" Ye Shanshan pouted, looking adorable with a childlike expression. "She is your mother, the only person in this world who shares blood ties with you, I don't want you two to become strangers like passing acquaintances."

  I can hurt you, pamper you, be meticulous and attentive, but some love no matter how hard I try cannot replace. The words of the captain are always particularly convincing, and it's a must to lose when discussing big principles with him. Let's listen to his suggestions, "Then... what do you think I should do? Sincerely thank her?" "I think she'd rather hear you call her mom." Although Captain Gu looks like a tough guy with a rough demeanor, he can always pinpoint the key to emotional matters. Ye Shanshan fell silent again, looking down at her toes, her fingers entwining the hem of her clothes, feeling all sorts of anxiety and helplessness. The emergency room curtain was finally pulled open, and the doctor in charge came over with a relaxed expression to report to the patient's family: "The wound is not deep, has been sutured, and the bleeding has basically stopped."

  However, due to the impact on her head, she had a slight concussion, so it's best to stay in the hospital for observation overnight." "Thank you." Gu Bei Chen politely thanked him and then asked Shanshan in a seeking opinion tone, "Do you want to handle the hospitalization procedures or should I?" "You go, I'll... accompany her to the ward." This was something she had to face eventually, Ye Shanshan didn't want to be a coward who escaped reality. Gu Bei Chen smiled reassuringly and helped her button up her coat, "Don't think too much, just follow your heart." "Mm-hmm." Looking at the perfect curve of his smiling mouth, Ye Shanshan suddenly felt more at ease. With him by her side, everything was really okay. The nurse quickly pushed out Yang Suyun, who had a bandage wrapped around her head, and Ye Shanshan hurried over to ask concernedly, "Does it hurt?" "Not at all, as long as you're fine, I'm at peace."

  "Poor parents, as long as their children are safe and sound, they have no other desires. Ye Shanshan stood up decisively behind the wheelchair, taking over the push handle from the nurse, "I'll do it." "Is this your daughter? She's really beautiful," the young nurse chatted with a smile. Neither of them responded, one didn't want to respond and the other didn't dare to respond. Yang Suyan was completely passive on this issue, Shanshan didn't show her attitude, she could only wait patiently. The little nurse was quite clever, sensing that the mother-daughter duo had some unusual expressions, and quickly changed the subject, "The wound has just been sutured, there may be some minor discomfort, it's best to rest as soon as you enter the ward, which is good for wound recovery."

  "This topic, Ye Shanshan didn't plan to avoid it again. How could she say that her mother was injured just to save her? 'I know.' After sending the patient into the ward and reminding them of some precautions, the nurse left. The only ones left in the ward were this pair of mother and daughter with their own thoughts. They remained silent for nearly half a minute before Ye Shanshan spoke up, 'You rest first.' 'It's fine, I don't feel any of the unsuitable symptoms the nurse mentioned.' Yang Suyan's gaze kept wandering around her daughter, unable to bear looking away, as if she wanted to make up for all these years of separation at once. 'I know you resent me, hate...' 'Those are things of the past.' Ye Shanshan hastily interrupted her, 'I don't want to mention it again.'"

  Shan Shan's attitude was very resolute, and Yang Sulan didn't dare to continue. "How is your grandfather?" "He has passed away." Ye Shan Shan suddenly turned around, with her back to the hospital bed, and opened a small gap in the window for no reason. "When did it happen?" Yang Sulan sat up excitedly, her voice trembling slightly. If the old man had been gone for a long time, wouldn't Shan Shan have been an orphan without any support? "Almost two months ago." Ye Shan Shan responded calmly, still with her back to the hospital bed. Yang Sulan visibly let out a sigh of relief and remained silent for a moment before continuing to ask, "Then... your marriage..." "It was Grandfather's decision." Ye Shan Shan hastily gave an answer before her mother could finish speaking.

  The old man was also a military background, he wanted to find a reliance for Shanshan before his death, which is not unreasonable. However, someone who can be promoted to the rank of senior colonel should not be too young, how could Shanshan agree to this marriage? Yang Sulan was thinking quietly, when suddenly the quiet hospital room was broken by the ringing of her phone. It was a call from home, probably from Xiaoxiao, Shanshan took a deep breath before answering, "What's up?" "Mommy, when are you and daddy coming back?" The little girl's tone was simply inquiring, without any urgency. "Maybe we'll have to wait a while, we're currently at the hospital..." As soon as she heard the word "hospital", the little girl immediately became anxious, "What happened?" "It's not me or your dad, we're... visiting a friend."

  "It's already ten o'clock, and it might be difficult to get back home. Why don't... you just stay overnight at Grandpa and Grandma's house tonight, and we'll come pick you up for school early tomorrow morning?" Although her injury wasn't serious, Ye Shanshan still didn't feel at ease leaving her mother alone in the hospital. With a smile, she said, "Okay." But she was still curious, "Mommy, who is that friend of yours in the hospital?" "A very old friend, someone you wouldn't know even if I told you. You can't use your phone for too long in the hospital, so be good and listen to Grandpa and Grandma's words, okay? I'll hang up now." Little Xiao had a lot on her mind, who knows what other strange questions she would ask, Ye Shanshan could only quickly get rid of her.

  "Okay, Mom, goodbye." The tone of her mother's voice seemed a bit strange, and Xiaoxiao didn't dare to ask more questions after hanging up the phone. After finishing the call, Gu Beichen, who had just returned from handling the hospital formalities, was briefed by Ye Shanshan, "Xiaoxiao called earlier, I told her to stay overnight at her dad's place tonight and we'll go pick her up early tomorrow." Gu Beichen nodded in agreement, but his eyes involuntarily drifted towards his mother-in-law, who was leaning against the bed frame with a bewildered expression. If Shanshan had been in the hospital room when Xiaoxiao made the call, she should have been able to guess something from the conversation, which is why she looked so shocked and surprised. "Xiaoxiao is my daughter."

  "Since she already had some guesses, it's better to just tell her the truth. 'This... what's going on?' The guess was confirmed, and Yang Sulan's expression became even more unpleasant, this expression was no longer just being scared. 'Now I'm Xiaoxiao's mom, that's how it is.' Ye Shanshan's tone still had a few points of coldness and stiffness. 'Shanshan, can you let me talk to your aunt alone for a bit?' Originally thought letting Shanshan and her mother-in-law be alone for a while would improve her mood, but she was still a little lioness who might explode at any time, this wasn't going to work, so Gu Beichen could only take the initiative to do something. 'I'll go buy some drinks.' Ye Shanshan didn't refuse his proposal, it was better this way, anyway he didn't know what to say to her either, might as well let him handle it."

  After the door of the ward was closed, Yang Sulan sat up in a hurry. "How can you do this? My daughter is only 18 years old, and you...". "Auntie, please don't get excited." Gu Beichen quickly walked forward, supporting his mother-in-law to lie back on the bed frame. "Before agreeing to marry me, Shanshan already knew about my family situation, no one forced her." "Don't you think this is too much of a sacrifice for her?" At this moment, Yang Sulan's emotions were still worry and concern, her eyebrows tightly furrowed. "I can only say this...Shanshan really likes Xiaoxiao, Xiaoxiao also really likes her, they get along very well." Gu Beichen also felt that Shanshan marrying him was a sacrifice, but it did not affect the happiness of their family.

  "Is that good? Getting married at a young age, and to a man who is over ten years older than you, with a child from a previous marriage... I don't think such a life can be described as 'good'." Yang Sulan's face was filled with worry, and the wound on her head, which had originally been numb, began to throb in pain. "I know all these things, but... there are some things you haven't experienced personally, no matter how much I explain, you won't understand." The mother-in-law's reaction was completely within Gu Bei Chen's expectations, this was a normal reaction for any mother, he could understand it, so he wouldn't take it to heart. "Yes, I don't understand, and... I also have no right to ask."

  "Shan Shan doesn't even want to acknowledge me as her mother now." Yang Sulan's mood at this moment was somewhat despairing, she had been gone for ten years without any news, what right did she have to interfere with her daughter's life? "Your appearance is a huge surprise for her, give her some time, I believe she will slowly accept you." Even the most well-behaved child would have times when they were being naughty or stubborn, Gu Beichen didn't think Shan Shan's indifference towards his mother was a big deal, and he wasn't worried that this situation would continue. "I can see that you're sincere towards Shan Shan, but... some things are beyond outsiders' help." Yang Sulan's emotions had almost hit rock bottom, her voice had also become weak and powerless.

  "That's not necessarily true, if you don't mind, you can tell me what happened over the years and I'll pass it on to her." Gu Bei Chen suggested. "Even if she knows, how will that change anything? I left her for nearly ten years, she won't forgive me." The current Yang Su Lan no longer had the confidence to wait for a miracle to happen. "I think... you don't seem to understand her." Saying this to a mother seemed somewhat impolite, Yang Su Lan suddenly froze, stunned for a moment, and then let out a bitter laugh, "You're right, she's grown up, no longer that little girl with braids. I have no idea what kind of life she's led over the past decade, how can I claim to understand her?" "Her indifference isn't because she holds resentment, it's just that she doesn't know how to face you."

  "If you really have a grievance, you should let her know. She's a reasonable and good kid, as long as what you say makes sense, she'll understand." After chatting for so long without getting to the point, Gu Bei Chen's patience was also wearing thin. Yang Su Lan hesitated for a moment, stretched out her left leg from under the covers, and lightly lifted up her pant leg, "This leg... is fake." "Was it an illness or a traffic accident?" There are only two possibilities when it comes to amputation. "A car accident." After struggling to say those two words, Yang Su Lan's mood also relaxed a bit, "I went abroad so that I could give Shanshan a better life, I never thought about not coming back. But... after that car accident, for a very long time, I didn't even remember who I was."

  It's not just that, my legs were also paralyzed in a car accident and I spent five years in a wheelchair. After being fitted with prosthetics, I went through more than a year of rehabilitation. The doctor advised me not to take long flights for the next three years, so my plan to return can only be put on hold again." "Why didn't you tell Shanshan about these things?" The guess was confirmed, and Gu Beichen also secretly let out a sigh of relief. He believed that her relationship with Shanshan would soon take a turn for the better. Yang Suyan sighed helplessly, "She's always evasive and doesn't seem to want to talk to me, how could I dare bring it up?" "She's still young and can't help but be playful sometimes, you don't have to mind her carelessness." Remembering Shanshan's mischievous look when she was being playful, Gu Beichen's mouth corners involuntarily curled into a smile.

  "How long have you and Shanshan... been married?" Putting aside age and special family circumstances, this son-in-law was really flawless, and Yang Sulan's dissatisfaction gradually dissipated. "After Grandpa passed away, we went to get the certificate, and Shanshan was still in school, so we haven't had a formal wedding yet." Gu Beichen answered truthfully. "Then... how long did you date before deciding to get married?" Cough cough, is this now officially entering the fixed pattern of conversation between mother-in-law and son-in-law? This question really wasn't easy to answer, if he told the truth, wouldn't Mother-in-law be shocked into fainting on the spot? Just as Gu Beichen was hesitating, the hospital room door suddenly opened. Ye Shanshan, who had gone out to buy a drink but returned empty-handed, answered for him, "We got married after knowing each other for three days."

  "Three days?! Yang Sulan's eyes turned black, and she almost fainted. "Director Gu fell in love with me at first sight and insisted on dragging me to register our marriage. I couldn't beat him, so I had no choice but to go with him." As soon as Ye Shanshan said this, another person in the hospital room was also shocked. What's wrong with this kid? Did she take the wrong medicine? She even mentioned love at first sight! Yang Sulan knew that Shanshan was joking, but she didn't expect her to speak so casually after going out and coming back. Was it possible that she had overheard what Yang Sulan said to her son-in-law earlier? "Didn't you say you were going to buy something to drink? Why did you come back empty-handed?" Director Gu was a bit unhappy about being labeled as someone who fell in love at first sight and forced marriage for no reason.

  "Uh... I didn't bring any money." Ye Shanshan's classmate reacted quickly, thinking of an unbeatable reason. "Oh, you didn't bring money, or... are you hiding at the door eavesdropping?" You little scamp, trying to play tricks on me, but you're still a bit too young! How annoying... pretending to be silly will get you less meat! After silently scolding Gu Shou in her heart ten thousand times, Ye Shanshan pretended as if nothing was wrong and stretched out her hand in front of him: "Give me money, I'll go buy it now." "I'll go instead, you chat with mom for a bit." Since she had already heard everything and still had the mood to joke around, things should be fine. Calling mom was probably just a matter of time. Gu Beichen didn't give Ye Shanshan any chance to intervene, and as soon as he finished speaking, he turned around and walked out of the hospital room with big strides.

  "That... earlier I was just joking, don't take it seriously." Ye Shanshan still felt the need to explain her joke from earlier. Her mother already had opinions about Gu Shou Zhang and couldn't let him be misunderstood. "Our family's Shanshan is so beautiful and lovely, it's not strange at all that he fell in love with you at first sight." The son-in-law had already called her 'mom', Yang Sulan also didn't want to fall behind, and straightforwardly referred to her own daughter as 'our family's Shanshan'. Both the mother and father-in-law had made their positions clear, but the most important person involved still seemed a bit awkward. "Earlier at the exhibition... thank you for saving me." This 'thank you' was clearly not what Yang Sulan wanted to hear. "Don't say that, it's mom who owes you an apology."

  "I already said it, didn't I? Past things...I don't want to mention them again, and you shouldn't dwell on them either. Now that you're back, you're still my mom, and that's enough." Ye Shanshan finally couldn't help but say the two words her mother most wanted to hear. Shanshan's reaction had always been so cold, Yang Sulan had already prepared herself mentally for never getting forgiveness, but happiness came so suddenly, she didn't know how to respond either, and two lines of clear tears slid down unknowingly. Ye Shanshan also couldn't help but feel moved, and sat down beside the bed, her hands unconsciously reaching out to touch her mother's left leg, hard and cold, with no feeling at all.

  Amnesia, wheelchair-bound, and prosthetic limbs - she must have gone through a lot of hardships too. "All these years... who took care of you?" Yang Sulan composed herself slightly, grasping her daughter's hand, "Because of my design work, I met my current husband, he's been very good to me, giving me a lot of help in life and career." Mentioning design, Ye Shanshan naturally thought of her idol, "Then how did you meet Sofia?" "She's my husband's sister, we worked on designs together, opened a design company. Later she might come over, I'll introduce you then." Shanshan had shown great talent in design since childhood, Yang Sulan knew this, and with time, maybe she would become as outstanding as Sofia.

  "Okay, just now at the exhibition hall, the situation was too urgent, I didn't even have time to greet her." Who would have thought that my idol is actually my mom's younger sister? With this relationship, it shouldn't be difficult to find her and ask for advice. "You also chose design as your major in college?" Yang Sulan asked, although she already knew the answer, but still wanted to confirm. "Uh-huh, I didn't do well on the college entrance exam, so I don't need a high cultural score to study this." Ye Shanshan has never been one of those students with outstanding grades since childhood, and she felt lucky to have made it into G University. "That's great, starting from your own interests, learning will be easier too." Yang Sulan said casually, but in her heart, she had other plans. She is currently a guest lecturer at a design academy in France, where the learning environment and teaching strength are much better than those in China. If Shanshan could go there to study, she should have a better future.

  More importantly, Shanshan followed her abroad, and it was also convenient for her to take care of her. She had already missed out on ten years and didn't want to waste any more time. Of course, these were just her own wishful thinking, and whether they could be implemented smoothly was still unknown. Gu Beichen took a long time to buy drinks and came back, but unfortunately, when he returned, the mother-daughter pair in the ward were discussing topics related to him - "Shanshan, did you really like him before agreeing to marry him?" Pitiful parents' hearts, all parents want their children to get the best, and it was clear that in Yang Sulan's eyes, Gu Shouchang was still a distance away from being the best. "Not at first, but now...yes."

  "This kind intention, Ye Shanshan had never expressed to him before, but she believed that the clever him should be able to feel it. "Don't blame mom for speaking directly, he's not bad or anything, I just think...he's not good enough for you." The age gap of over a decade and having a child were two fatal flaws that Yang Sulan couldn't accept no matter what. Gu Beichen suddenly stopped his motion to knock on the door, leaning weakly against the wall with an exceptionally solemn expression. Not good enough? Could it be otherwise? He didn't know how much good fortune he had accumulated in his past life to marry her. Yet still, there were people who thought his cultivation was insufficient. "That's because you don't know how good he is." This sentence Ye Shanshan had once said to the Ning siblings, now brought out again to persuade mom."

  She sincerely believes that the most straightforward words are sometimes the most useful. "You only see his good side, why don't you think about his shortcomings?" Shanshan was a honest and innocent child when she was young, and unexpectedly, this personality hasn't changed at all as she grew up. As her mother, Yang Sulan always worries that this personality will bring her trouble. "Why think so much, as long as he treats me well, it's fine." Yeshanshan, however, has a completely carefree tone. "If I could come back earlier, this thing wouldn't have happened..." Yeshanshan cuts her off urgently, with an exceptionally firm tone, "Mom! In this world, there are no 'what ifs', some things... are simply destined." What a destined fate, once you encounter these four words, you can only admit defeat.