Shen Lang discovered a problem: Wang Yuyan and Ye Shishi were incompatible.
These two formidable ladies could argue about anything, big or small, and neither would ever back down.
Wang Yuyan was exceptionally intelligent, but Ye Shishi was no pushover. Furthermore, Ye Shishi, having navigated the ups and downs of the business world, possessed unfathomable cunning and depth, causing Wang Yuyan to be at a disadvantage repeatedly.
Shen Lang didn't want Wang Yuyan to suffer, so he was constantly trying to mediate between them.
However, if Shen Lang sided with Wang Yuyan, Ye Shishi would become unhappy. Caught in the middle, Shen Lang was in agony.
Two hours later, to Shen Lang's relief, the two ladies finally quieted down.
Wang Yuyan returned to her room to read, while Ye Shishi took her laptop to work in her room. Shen Lang finally found some peace and sat down beside Gu Qinghan.
"Sister, let me hug you."
Approaching Gu Qinghan, Shen Lang opened his arms and embraced her, his voice gentle as he spoke.
"What is it? Something on your mind?"
Shen Lang looked at Gu Qinghan and said, "You look like you have something to say but can't bring yourself to. Are you troubled by something?"
Hearing Shen Lang's words, Gu Qinghan was startled. She never imagined that Shen Lang, who had been mediating between Ye Shishi and Wang Yuyan, could still see through her inner thoughts.
"Brother, I want to go home..."
After holding back for a long time, Gu Qinghan finally revealed what was in her heart.
Her home, a place she could visit anytime before, now made her feel an unprecedented sense of irony with her current hesitation to return.
"Sister, you need me to accompany you back, don't you?"
Shen Lang looked at Gu Qinghan and smiled.
"Do you have time?"
Gu Qinghan looked at Shen Lang, her eyes shining with longing.
"Of course—"
Shen Lang smiled and said, "As long as Sister needs me, I'm always free. I'll just inform Yu Yan and Ye Shishi, and then we can go."
"Okay—"
Hearing Shen Lang's words, Gu Qinghan's face lit up with a smile like sunshine melting snow. "I was so worried, but with you by my side, I can finally relax."
To force her engagement with Qi Tuojiang, the Gu family had used the San Shi Nao Shen Gu (Three Corpses Brain God Gu) to control her mind, intending to make her a puppet at the wedding.
Upon learning the truth, Gu Qinghan, in a fit of rage, severed ties with the Gu family.
However, while relationships could be severed, the intricate and complex ties that remained were not so easily broken. Gu Qinghan still had some belongings at the Gu family home, and she needed to go back to retrieve them.
Gu Qinghan was not a weak woman, but returning home alone still made her feel uneasy. Yet, with her "stinky brother" Shen Lang present, everything felt much better.
Gu Qinghan had always had a strong intuition: as long as Shen Lang was around, there was no trouble in the world that couldn't be solved.
After informing Ye Shishi and Wang Yuyan, Shen Lang and Gu Qinghan drove away from the Nanling Imperial Villa Garden and headed towards the Gu family residence.
The old mansion, having weathered centuries of storms, had not only stood firm but had also acquired a mythical aura.
Upon arriving at the Gu family's ancestral home, Shen Lang and Gu Qinghan couldn't help but admire the taste of the Gu family members. Their style was far more refined than those who lived in villas.
"Sister, are you here to get something?"
Standing at the entrance of the Gu family home, Shen Lang looked at Gu Qinghan with curiosity.
"It's nothing much, really. Just a piece of clothing."
Gu Qinghan sighed and said, "In high school, I had a close friend. After graduation, we chose different paths. I studied criminal investigation, and she pursued her passion for fashion design."
"After graduation, I became the director of the Criminal Investigation Department at the Nanling Security Bureau, while she became a renowned fashion designer in the Dragon Country."
"She designed a dress for me and mailed it to me. We agreed that I would wear it for her when she returned from Xiguo, and I promised her I would."
"Alas, fate is unpredictable. The flight she was on encountered a once-in-a-millennium storm, and the plane vanished. Two years have passed, and we still don't know if she's alive or dead."
"I see..."
Hearing Gu Qinghan's story, Shen Lang said, "Now I understand why you need to retrieve this dress at this particular time. It holds significant meaning for you."
"Yes, she was one of the few friends I truly connected with. In some ways, Ye Shishi and I grew up together like sisters, but she was the friend I could confide in."
"Sister, what is her name? Perhaps I can meet her someday. If she's in danger, I'll save her."
Shen Lang looked at Gu Qinghan, his curiosity piqued.
"Nan Ruyan."
Gu Qinghan replied, "Red beans grow in the southern land, how many branches sprout in spring? Like smoke, like a dream, elusive and unattainable."
Hearing Gu Qinghan's words, Shen Lang silently committed the name to memory, reminding himself to convey Gu Qinghan's longing to her if he ever encountered her.
"Miss, you're back?"
As Shen Lang was lost in thought, the large door of the Gu family residence suddenly opened, and an old woman exclaimed excitedly.
"Liu Ma, please don't be so loud. I'm just here to pick up something and leave."
Gu Qinghan looked at the old woman, a hint of warmth appearing on her face. "Everyone here hates me now. If you're this happy to see me, others will be unhappy, and you won't be able to stay here."
"What are you afraid of?"
Despite Gu Qinghan's warning, the old woman was unfazed. "I've bought five houses in Nanling now, and my daughter is a doctor at Nanling Medical College, earning millions annually. If they ask me to leave, I'll leave immediately."
"You know, Liu Ma has wanted to leave for a long time, but she couldn't bear to part with you, girl, so she stayed for all these years."
Hearing Liu Ma's words, Gu Qinghan's eyes welled up with emotion. "Liu Ma, thank you. But you can resign now, because I will never return to the Gu family again."
"Alright, I'll resign after today and go home to retire. But remember to visit me from time to time. After all, I've treated you like my own daughter for so many years."
Liu Ma looked at Gu Qinghan, her eyes full of affection.
"Don't worry, I will," Gu Qinghan said with determination.
"Miss, who is he?"
As Gu Qinghan finished speaking, Liu Ma looked at Shen Lang beside her, her voice filled with curiosity.
"Liu Ma, this is Shen Lang. He's my brother."
Gu Qinghan replied.
"What? He's Shen Lang?"
Hearing Gu Qinghan's words, Liu Ma was astonished.
"What? You know him?"
Seeing Liu Ma's reaction, Gu Qinghan asked, confused.
"I don't know him, but when I was tidying your grandfather's study, I overheard him on the phone telling someone that he and Qi Tuojiang had dug a pit deep enough to bury Shen Lang."