Chapter 199

Chapter 199: Encounter with Chen Wan at the Hospital The weather was beautiful today—bright spring sunshine, clear skies stretching endlessly. Doctor Chu Tang said her wound had healed considerably and that she could be discharged in about a week. In the afternoon, seeing how lovely the sunlight was, Chu Tang wanted to go down to the garden for some fresh air. This hospital was a private facility under the Ruan Group. The hospital she had stayed at previously was the nearest public hospital to where she had been shot. On the day Jiang Yi jumped, Ruan Shaodong had wanted to transfer Chu Tang to another hospital. But at that time, Chu Tang had just been moved from the ICU to a regular ward and wasn't fit for transfer. Concerned for her health, Ruan Shaodong ultimately heeded the doctor's advice and kept her at that hospital for treatment. After the Jiang family's funeral, Chu Tang transferred to her family's own hospital to recover. The past several days had been overcast with continuous rain, which dampened everyone's spirits. Today was finally clear, so Chu Tang pushed open the door of her ward and headed downstairs, with her bodyguard A Wen by her side. As soon as Chu Tang exited the elevator and stepped out of the inpatient building, she spotted a familiar figure. It was Chen Wan. What was she doing here? A while back, the case where Chen Wan had spread rumors and slander online, inciting her fans to cyberbully Chu Tang, had already been adjudicated. Chen Wan was found guilty of defamation and sentenced to one year in prison. Chen Wan refused to accept the verdict and filed an appeal. The case was currently in the second-instance proceedings. Chu Tang was the plaintiff, and Chen Wan was the defendant—they were irreconcilable adversaries. Why would Chen Wan come to her family's hospital? Judging by her expression, Chen Wan didn't seem to know this hospital was under the Ruan Group. The garden Chu Tang wanted to visit was in the same direction as Chen Wan, so she walked toward her. As she drew closer, Chu Tang noticed Chen Wan's pale face and red-rimmed eyes. Chen Wan had been crying bitterly—a rare sight indeed. The last time Chu Tang had seen Chen Wan, she was boasting about being pregnant with Gu Zechuan's child, saying it might very well be a boy. She had looked smug and triumphant, declaring she was about to marry into the Gu family. Now she sat here alone, crying so miserably. As Chu Tang passed by her, she couldn't help but take a few extra glances. At that moment, Chen Wan also noticed Chu Tang. Her expression stiffened. "Ruan Chutang, what are you doing here?" Chu Tang raised an eyebrow. "That's what I should be asking you. Shouldn't you be busy preparing for your wedding to Gu Zechuan? Why are you at the hospital?" Thinking about the current state of the Gu Group and looking at Chen Wan's present condition, Chu Tang understood. Was Chen Wan here to have an abortion? She knew the situation with the Gu Group all too well. The Gu family's bankruptcy was a trap she had set up to take revenge on Gu Zechuan. Gu Zechuan had fallen for it, pouring massive amounts of money into a project that ended in catastrophic losses. He hadn't made a cent and was now drowning in debt. The Gu Group was already going through bankruptcy liquidation proceedings. The Gu family was now a blazing pit of fire—there was no way Chen Wan would throw herself in. Seeing Ruan Chutang, Chen Wan quickly stuffed the papers in her hand into her bag. Her expression was somewhat flustered. That little move confirmed what Chu Tang had been thinking. "Chen Wan," Ruan Chutang said with a smile, "didn't you say you were about to marry Gu Zechuan and become the young mistress of the Gu family? How come I haven't heard any news of an engagement or an upcoming wedding? Did the plans change?" Chu Tang said this deliberately, twisting the knife right into Chen Wan's heart. Sure enough, Chen Wan's face darkened even further at those words. Chen Wan snorted coldly. "What's it to you?" "After all, we're practically acquaintances. I was even thinking of sending you two a gift when you married Gu Zechuan. Looks like that gift money won't be going out after all. What a pity, what a pity." Chu Tang said with a smile. Chen Wan snapped angrily, "Ruan Chutang, you're doing this on purpose, aren't you?" "Yes, I am." Chu Tang smiled, her eyes curving into crescents, her tone infuriatingly cheerful. "Let me guess why you're at the hospital today—getting an abortion?" "You—" Chen Wan's eyes widened, about to say something, but she stopped abruptly after just one word. How did you know. That was close—she'd almost blurted it out. There was no way she was going to let Ruan Chutang laugh at her. "What nonsense are you talking about?" Chen Wan changed her tune. "I'm here for a prenatal checkup." "Oh, I see." Chu Tang saw through it but said nothing. Her expression was subtle as her gaze drifted down to linger on Chen Wan's belly for a moment. Without another word, she smiled and turned to walk away. Chen Wan watched Ruan Chutang's retreating figure, clenching her fists, her eyes burning with a mix of resentment and fury. ... That afternoon, Chu Tang sat by the window reading a book when a nurse knocked and came in. "Miss Ruan, there's a lady outside who says she'd like to see you." The nurse knew Chu Tang was the big boss's daughter, so she spoke with utmost respect. "What's her name?" Chu Tang was a bit puzzled. The first person she thought of was Mrs. Jiang, Lin Yueying. The nurse said, "She said her surname is Meng." A lady surnamed Meng—Chu Tang only knew one. Gu Zechuan's mother, Meng Yaqin. If Meng Yaqin was coming to see her now, it must be about the Gu Group. Chu Tang didn't want to see her. She said to the nurse, "Tell her I'm recovering from my injuries and not in a position to receive visitors." "Very well." How did Meng Yaqin know she was at this hospital? The only people who knew about her transfer were her family and a few close friends. A few hours later, Yu Jiaojiao came to visit Chu Tang. As soon as she entered, Yu Jiaojiao said with a mysterious look on her face, "Sister Chu Tang, I just saw a suspicious woman downstairs in the inpatient building. She kept staring at me and was even sneaking around following me." The first person Chu Tang thought of when she heard this was Meng Yaqin. She hasn't left yet? Chu Tang said, "Was she a woman in her forties, dressed in all her finery and wearing makeup?" Meng Yaqin was particular about her appearance and never went out without makeup. However, Yu Jiaojiao shook her head and said, "She did look to be in her forties or fifties, but she was dressed very plainly and wasn't wearing any makeup." Could it not be Meng Yaqin? Then who could it be? Chu Tang said, "Take me to see." Based on what Yu Jiaojiao had described, the woman's sneaky behavior was indeed suspicious. She wanted to find out what that woman was up to. "A Wen, come with us." Chu Tang said to A Wen, who was standing nearby. "Okay, boss." The three of them went downstairs. Yu Jiaojiao whispered, "Sister Chu Tang, that's where I spotted the sneaky woman just now..." Yu Jiaojiao led them around a large pillar and pointed at the woman. Chu Tang followed her gaze. Her eyes widened in surprise.