Chapter 200

Chapter 200: I Hold Grudges That woman was none other than Meng Yaqin. But she looked very different from before. Every time Chu Tang had seen her in the past, she was either dressed in designer luxury suits or fine silk qipaos, with jewelry matching her outfits and her hair meticulously styled—exuding the aura of a wealthy madam from head to toe. Today, just as Yu Jiaojiao had said, she was very plain. No makeup, haggard face, sallow skin, dark circles under her eyes, wearing an ordinary light gray long-sleeved casual set—she looked no different from any woman in her forties from an average family. There was no trace of the former Mrs. Gu's grandeur. It seemed the Gu family was really struggling now. Even Meng Yaqin, the Gu family matriarch who had always cared so much about face and appearance, had fallen to such a state. Chu Tang curled her lips. What a satisfying sight. She walked slowly toward Meng Yaqin. Meng Yaqin spotted her and immediately rushed over in three quick steps, her expression wildly agitated as she tried to grab Ruan Chutang's arm—only to be shoved aside by A Wen. Meng Yaqin looked at Chu Tang. The woman had long lost her former arrogance; her face was now filled with humble pleading. "Ruan Chutang, please, I beg you to save the Gu Group. Please help us. Isn't the Ruan family the wealthiest in Jiangcheng? As long as you're willing to invest and help us, I'll do anything you ask!" Chu Tang let out a mocking laugh. "Anything I ask?" "Yes, yes." Meng Yaqin nodded frantically. "As long as it's within my power, I'll do anything. Please help our family. We're truly bankrupt this time. My husband collapsed from overwork and is in the hospital. Zechuan has been drinking himself senseless every day. Our family is falling apart—we can barely hold on." Ruan Chutang looked at Meng Yaqin with a half-smile and asked, "What can you do for me?" Meng Yaqin froze. What could she do for Ruan Chutang? She didn't even know herself. She had just been desperate to plead and said whatever came to mind without actually thinking about the question. "I... Can't you help our family for Zechuan's sake?" Meng Yaqin said. "After all, you were together with Zechuan for three years. You were once in love. Can you bear to watch him sink into despair because of the bankruptcy?" If she hadn't mentioned Gu Zechuan, it might have been fine. But the moment she brought him up, Chu Tang laughed in anger. "Mrs. Gu." Chu Tang looked at Meng Yaqin's haggard face and called out. Meng Yaqin's expression turned sour. That title now sounded nothing short of ironic to her. And Chu Tang had indeed used it with mocking intent. A cold smile curled at the corner of Chu Tang's lips as she asked, "Mrs. Gu, do you remember what you said to me the first time we met?" Meng Yaqin's face went pale. Of course she remembered. Back then, Chen Wan had returned to the country, and she wanted Chen Wan to marry Zechuan. But she had heard that Zechuan had a girlfriend of three years—an ordinary person with no family background or connections, completely mismatched with their family. How could she ever allow such a girl to marry into the Gu family? So she had gone to find Ruan Chutang and thoroughly humiliated her. At the time, she had said, "A girl like you wants to marry into the Gu family?" Back then, she had assumed Ruan Chutang was only with her Zechuan for the money. She thought Ruan Chutang was nothing but a gold digger dreaming of marrying into wealth—no matter how well she pretended, she would never amount to anything respectable. She had spoken to Ruan Chutang with an air of superiority. "Don't bother putting on an act in front of me. I know exactly what's in your head. I know our Zechuan attracts girls. It's not easy for you to run into a rich second-generation heir like him. He must spend a lot of money on you, doesn't he?" "What are you pretending for? Acting all virtuous while taking the money—I've seen plenty of girls like you. You say you don't care about the money, but if you really didn't, would you have gone after Zechuan?" "I came here today to tell you that the Gu family isn't a place where just any stray cat or dog can enter. You want to marry Zechuan? Impossible!" "Chen Wan is the daughter-in-law I have in mind. Not only is her family a long-standing friend of ours, but she's also Zechuan's first love. I advise you to give up that dream. Pack your things and leave as soon as possible, and free up the spot by Zechuan's side!" ... She had said many things of that sort, all with the purpose of humiliating Ruan Chutang and making her know her place—so she wouldn't covet what she shouldn't. Thinking back on all of this, Meng Yaqin was filled with regret. She hastily tried to explain: "No, that's not it. I didn't mean to be like that back then. Chutang, listen to your auntie's explanation. I thought you were just..." She stopped mid-sentence abruptly. Thought you were just a poor girl. Thought you had no family background or connections. Thought you were a gold digger. Those words she absolutely could not say out loud. "Thought I was what?" Chu Tang's cold, clear eyes fixed on her. Meng Yaqin stammered for a long time without saying anything. Chu Tang said with amusement, "Thought I was just a penniless gold digger who got together with Gu Zechuan for his money, right?" Meng Yaqin lowered her head guiltily and looked away. Ruan Chutang said with an indifferent expression, "Actually, back then, I did think about bringing Gu Zechuan back to Jiangcheng to meet my family, and I even considered investing in your Gu Group." Hearing this, Meng Yaqin suddenly looked up, her eyes full of shock. "Then why didn't you bring him back in the end?" If she had said earlier that she was the daughter of Jiangcheng's richest man, what chance would Chen Wan have had? If Zechuan had married Ruan Chutang back then, he would now be the son-in-law of Jiangcheng's wealthiest man—how could he possibly be drowning in debt and facing bankruptcy? Meng Yaqin regretted it deeply. Hearing Meng Yaqin ask this, Chutang smiled. "Because your son thought the same as you did. He also felt I wasn't good enough for him." Meng Yaqin stood there frozen, unable to believe it. "Those who betray a sincere heart never come to a good end." Chutang's tone was cold. "You should leave. I won't help you." "What happened before was my fault. I apologize to you. I'm sorry, I'm truly sorry..." Tears instantly welled up in Meng Yaqin's eyes. She begged, "I'll work like a slave for you. I'll serve you tea and water. I'll do whatever you ask. If you hold a grudge over the past, you can humiliate me in return. I beg you, please help our family." Their real estate and cars had already been seized and impounded by the court, and their bank accounts had been frozen. She had sold her jewelry, designer bags, and clothes at second-hand markets for cash. After paying her husband Gu Minghua's medical bills, there was barely anything left—just enough to scrape by for the family's basic needs. Now the whole family had moved into a cheap rental apartment in the urban village. She had never lived in such a terrible place in her entire life. There wasn't even an elevator—they had to climb the stairs every time. Occasionally, cockroaches and rats would appear in the apartment. The household servants and nannies had long been dismissed. Now she cooked for herself every day, and even she could barely stomach the food she made. That was why she had lost so much weight recently. They had gone to all of Gu Zechuan's and Gu Minghua's former friends. Not a single one was willing to help. With no other options left, she had come to Ruan Chutang. Meng Yaqin was emotionally agitated, her voice unconsciously rising considerably, tinged with sobs. For a moment, the passersby coming and going in the hospital all turned to look. "Our family doesn't need servants." Chutang said coldly. "Begging me here won't do you any good, because your family ending up like this is exactly what I wanted to see." "Sorry, Ms. Meng, but I never go out of my way to make things difficult for anyone." Chutang stared coldly at Meng Yaqin. "However, I hold grudges. You once hurt me, and now I'm going to settle that score with you." "What do you mean? Are you saying that the bankruptcy of the Gu Group was your doing?" Meng Yaqin stopped crying, her eyes widening. "That's right." Chutang was calm and composed, smiling as she looked at Meng Yaqin. "Your humiliation of me was only one of the reasons I retaliated against your family. Your precious son collaborated with the Jiang family's adopted daughter and worked for the Jiang family's illegitimate son, nearly destroying my family. Making your family go bankrupt was my counterattack." "It was you!" Meng Yaqin's expression instantly twisted. "Ruan Chutang! You bitch!" Hearing Ruan Chutang say this, realizing that begging for her help was absolutely impossible, Meng Yaqin's attitude flipped in an instant, and she began cursing Ruan Chutang at the top of her lungs. More and more onlookers gathered around.