CHAPTER 199: CHAPTER 199: HARD TO LEAVE HIM

Zhang Miaoyan and Xie Yuchen arrived at the villa to see An Junxi. As soon as Xie Yuchen arrived, he went to the study with Gu Yikun.

Xie Yuchen sat across from Gu Yikun and said, "I had my team hack into many border systems of various countries, but we haven’t found any news about Second Uncle. There are no anomalies in the accounts under his name either. We’re currently tracking his Swiss accounts, but it will take some time. Hopefully, we’ll find something."

Gu Kuangxia is on the run, and every step requires financial support. He didn’t believe the transaction system would show no clues at all.

Gu Yikun opened a map and began to study the islands near South Africa with Xie Yuchen.

He marked a few archipelagos. This was not a random search but a consolidation of Gu Kuangxia’s activities in South Africa over the past few years from numerous subsidiary reports.

Zhang Miaoyan and An Junxi sat in the first-floor hall. Zhang Miaoyan noticed An Junxi had lost her usual vitality and said worriedly, "Jun Xi, there’s still no news about your uncle and aunt. You mustn’t give up on yourself."

An Junxi silently nodded.

She knew her parents were temporarily safe. Gu Kuangxia wanted her to divorce Yikun, but she didn’t know what his next step would be.

What kind of conditions would he bring up to make him release her parents?

An Junxi was well aware of her Second Uncle’s viciousness. He would not easily let Yikun off this time.

An Junxi was anxious and wanted to tell Yikun immediately so he could prepare for whatever Second Uncle might do. But thinking about her parents still being in his hands, she didn’t dare to act rashly.

Gu Kuangxia had told her that he had many spies and warned her not to try any tricks.

An Junxi was about to break down. She couldn’t just watch Yikun walk into danger. At this moment, she couldn’t bring herself to leave him!

Zhang Miaoyan saw An Junxi remained silent. "Jun Xi, you can’t go on like this. It’s been less than a month, and you’ve lost so much weight."

An Junxi suddenly asked her, "Why did you come with Yuchen?"

Zhang Miaoyan replied indifferently, "He asked if I wanted to come to see you, so I came." Nothing more.

An Junxi didn’t ask further. Instead, she said, "I’m fine. Don’t worry about me."

The two sat in silence. Zhang Miaoyan wasn’t good at comforting people, so she just sat with her.

Less than an hour later, Liang Huiyun and Gu Qianlan arrived.

Liang Huiyun still wore a cold expression. Seeing Zhang Miaoyan there, she held back her impulse to scold the little vixen and sat down on the sofa.

Following Liang Huiyun, Gu Qianlan looked displeased. If Zhi Wen hadn’t asked her to put on a good front for her brother, she wouldn’t have come to see this woman.

An Junxi lacked the energy to deal with them. She greeted them and asked the servant to serve tea, then ignored them.

Zhang Miaoyan wanted to take a walk in the garden to let them talk as a family, but An Junxi didn’t let her go. She didn’t owe Liang Huiyun anything, so why should she avoid Mrs. Liang?

Zhang Miaoyan sat restlessly, but An Junxi was calm. She had already seen through everything. Anyway, once she left Yikun, their family would wish for her death.

Liang Huiyun knew about An Junxi’s family’s situation. Seeing her attitude, she didn’t argue. Instead, she said, "Seventh Uncle’s health has been deteriorating. We’ll bring him home next week. You two should move in too."

An Junxi thought, that would soon not be her home. Or perhaps, it never was.

Seeing no response from her, Liang Huiyun raised her voice, "What, even after I’ve personally come to invite you, you still won’t come?"

An Junxi replied, "I will find time to visit Seventh Uncle in the hospital, but I won’t move back."

Liang Huiyun got angry, "You’re being insolent. If it weren’t for Yikun liking you, do you think we would really..."

"If that’s what you’re here for, then you can go back. I won’t be returning."

Liang Huiyun stood up and pointed at her nose, "If you have the guts, then never step into our Gu Family house again!"

Gu Qianlan also chimed in, "An Junxi, don’t push it. Mom personally came to invite you back, and you still refuse? Don’t ever come back!"

An Junxi was engulfed with bitterness. Looks like she really won’t be going back.

Gu Yikun and Xie Yuchen came down from upstairs. Gu Yikun quickly walked over to An Junxi, "What happened?"

Gu Qianlan complained to her brother, "Brother, Mom personally invited sister-in-law back, but she refused. Does she have no respect for her elders?!"

An Junxi didn’t look at them, "I’m not going back. That is not my home."

She wasn’t afraid of offending anyone anymore. If Yikun got angry because of this, all the better, as it would give her a reason to ask for a divorce.

No matter how determined she was, she couldn’t lie to herself. Leaving him was akin to killing her.

She had no other choice left!

Seeing An Junxi’s firm stance, Gu Yikun gently said, "If you don’t want to go back, then we won’t go back."

An Junxi didn’t dare look at him. How could she bear to leave such a gentle Yikun?

Liang Huiyun was so angry she could hardly speak. Seeing her son not scolding An Junxi at all, she vented her anger on Zhang Miaoyan, "Is it you, little vixen, who spoiled her? I’ve always said vixens like you create chaos wherever they go!"

The Gu Family had helped Zhang Miaoyan with her education, and she was used to Liang Huiyun’s scoldings. She lowered her head and didn’t plan to retort.

Xie Yuchen couldn’t stand it and spoke up, "Aunt, she is not a vixen."

Zhang Miaoyan glanced at him. He looked angry, standing his ground against Liang Huiyun.

Liang Huiyun coldly said, "Yuchen, why are you defending her? This little vixen is truly something else."

Xie Yuchen wanted to say more, but Zhang Miaoyan gently pulled his sleeve. Liang Huiyun, already furious, stormed off with Gu Qianlan.

Gu Yikun didn’t walk them out. Knowing Xie Yuchen for years, he could tell Xie Yuchen was genuinely angry.

He patted Xie Yuchen’s arm, conveying that it was just a few words and not worth holding a grudge over.

"We’ll head back first. Keep in touch over the phone."

Xie Yuchen walked out quickly, and Zhang Miaoyan hurriedly said goodbye to An Junxi and Gu Yikun, grabbed her bag, and followed him.

Xie Yuchen walked fast. Zhang Miaoyan could see he was still angry, though she didn’t know why.

Just before they reached the car, Xie Yuchen suddenly stopped, causing Zhang Miaoyan to bump into his back. She yelped in pain, covering her nose with her hand.

Xie Yuchen turned around, eyes showing restrained anger. He asked, "You let others insult you like that? You used to be quite argumentative. Now why are you so easily bullied?"

Zhang Miaoyan mumbled, "It’s different. The Gu Family funded my education. Being scolded by Mrs. Gu won’t hurt me."

Xie Yuchen stepped closer, "You’re quite the good employee. I heard you’re saving money to buy a house. I happen to have a job that needs a good employee like you."