Chapter 39: Moral Bottom Line

No matter how complex old grievances may be, they are no longer worth dwelling upon, especially when the twists and turns involved cannot be resolved with just a few words.

Dugu Yi wanted to leave, and Gu Xinyao was certainly in full agreement. The other three in the hall may have been the closest of friends in their youth, but matters of the heart are never easily untangled. Besides, as outsiders, it was not appropriate for them to remain.

Wei Qinghua’s earlier aggressiveness had already faded into a haggard, desolate expression. Gu Yu had set aside her icy, frosty demeanor and returned to her usual blankness; perhaps only by remaining indifferent and never looking back could one continue to live a decent life. Dugu Muqing, conversely, was the first of the three to regain her composure; her sharpness and coldness had vanished, as if she were not the same person who had so ruthlessly pointed out the problems moments before.

Gu Xinyao and Dugu Yi slipped quietly out of the hall. The tense, stagnant atmosphere inside made those present feel as if they were suffocating; had they not left in time, they might have either fallen into a deep depression or erupted on the spot.

She did not find any value in prying into the secrets of the aristocracy. Moreover, such love triangles, quadrangles, or even more complex entanglements were among the things she detested most.

Dugu Yi, walking beside her, was silent. From her perspective, he seemed almost overly dejected.

"Their affairs are not your fault, and you have no control over them, do you?" She was truly afraid he would shoulder all the responsibility himself. Even if he were responsible for his elders’ romantic entanglements—which he was not—she did not want him to carry such a heavy psychological burden.

Dugu Yi stopped in his tracks and turned to look at her. Though his face showed dejection, there was no sign of the frustration that comes from self-reproach.

"I don’t blame myself; I just think—I think many things are so absurd. I thought Dad acted that way toward Mom because she kept too many men in her heart. I never expected..." He let out a low sigh, leaving the sentence unfinished.

Knowing he wasn't depressed due to self-blame, Gu Xinyao felt slightly relieved.

"Perhaps the way Mom and Dad are is fine. In the Dugu family’s affairs, Dad still has the final say, doesn't he? I still can't forget that slap he gave Second Dad when he spoke ill of you." Perhaps Dugu Muqing had once loved Gu Yu; it was precisely because she loved her too much that things had turned out this way. No matter how strong a woman is, she ultimately possesses a soft heart. And with the Dugu family’s complex background, even the most authoritative woman could hardly untangle everything so clearly.

"By the way, how is everything going at the company?" Gu Xinyao suddenly wondered, noting that he hadn't even had time to meet Wei Qinghua, let alone return to the Dugu estate.

"Several veteran employees want to impeach me. They feel that a man like me is unfit to direct the company’s operations. They are pushing hard to kick me out once A'Nan recovers her health." Perhaps it was a lingering side effect of the layoffs, or perhaps they felt that since Dugu Nan was a woman—and the only female heir of the Dugu family—they could use her as a pretext to stir up trouble and squeeze Dugu Yi out.

Gu Xinyao wore an incredulous expression. She felt these people were truly adept at "burning bridges after crossing them." Yi had opposed the layoffs, while Dugu Muqing had been the one to insist on carrying them through to the end. The results may not have been stellar, but the orders were executed nonetheless. After much effort, Yi had managed to save several veteran employees, and now they were returning his kindness with enmity, trying to oust him. It was truly something they would think of.

"And what does Mom say?" Gu Xinyao, thinking that Dugu Muqing would ultimately make the final decision, couldn't help but feel concerned.

Dugu Yi gave a faint, bitter smile. He had been summoned back to hear the final decision, but Wei Qinghua had appeared halfway and thrown everything into chaos.

"She hasn't said anything yet—you guys came back first." Given the current situation, it was highly likely he would be ousted. A'Nan’s condition was improving, and since Mom placed all her hopes in A'Nan, it stood to reason that he, a son of little remaining use, would be cast aside. This was one of the reasons he had been prepared to leave.

"How about this: I’ll go talk to Mom. You’ve served the company for so long; they can’t just tell you to leave and expect you to go." She didn't care about his position in the Dugu family company; she cared about him. If he were to be kicked out simply because his value was being denied, she could never tolerate it.

"No, you..."

"Oh! Big Brother, Sister-in-law, why are you standing outside talking? I’ve been looking for you," Dugu Ning suddenly interrupted. He was brimming with triumph, looking as if something very favorable had happened to him.

Gu Xinyao pulled Dugu Yi to her side; she did not believe he was looking for them for any good reason.

"The eldest young master never visits without a cause, and even when he does, it’s rarely anything good. I think it’s better if you keep it to yourself, so we don't lose our appetites," Gu Xinyao said, a cold smile on her lips.

Dugu Ning’s eyes widened. He used to be the most composed and serene of them all, but he had been angered so often lately that he no longer cared to maintain that facade.

He rolled his eyes, and upon thinking of what he held in his hands, his gaze returned to its usual state.

"Sister-in-law, actually, I think you’re quite pathetic. Marrying into our family means you even have to hide and sneak around to do your own things. And Big Brother is a man; he has no say in this house at all."

Gu Xinyao was stunned. Was he really that kind? Pathetic—she thought everyone in the Dugu family was pathetic.

"Forget it, I won't waste any more breath on you two. Sister-in-law, I know you’re researching a 'Gathering Energy Stone.' I won’t tell Mom, as long as you hand over all the data. Then, from now on, you’ll be my good sister-in-law, and I’ll even put in a good word for you in front of Mom," Dugu Ning whispered.

His words made not only Gu Xinyao frown, but Dugu Yi as well. When the Gathering Energy Stone had gone missing, he had always believed it had nothing to do with Little Ning. Now, it seemed very likely that he was the one who had taken it.

"Little Ning, what are you talking about?" Dugu Yi asked in a cold tone, hoping that what he was hearing wasn't true.

Dugu Ning arched his delicate eyebrows, paying no mind to his elder brother’s question.

"Sister-in-law, why don’t we make a deal?" Dugu Ning addressed only Gu Xinyao, ignoring Dugu Yi entirely.

"Little Ning!" This time, Dugu Yi used a stern, commanding tone.

Gu Xinyao patted Dugu Yi’s hand, signaling him not to be anxious.

"I don’t know what you’re talking about, and as for a deal, I have no interest in making one with anyone."

Dugu Ning hadn't expected Gu Xinyao to play dumb. He pursed his lips, pulled an information device from his pocket, and held it up before them.

The device was palm-sized, but the image on the screen was incredibly clear. Every expression and every word spoken was vivid, as if it were happening right before their eyes.

Seeing the information revealed by the visuals and subtitles, both Gu Xinyao and Dugu Yi turned pale.

It was all the information related to the clinic they had visited over a year ago when they thought they were pregnant, including everything the doctor had said.

"How about it? If I show this to Mom, will she still let you live together so peacefully?" Now that their eldest sister could no longer bear children, Mom was planning to have Big Brother’s child adopted by her. If she found out that Big Brother couldn't have children either, the consequences could be imagined.

"How do you know Mom will believe you?" Although Gu Xinyao felt a wave of panic, she tried her best to remain composed.

Dugu Yi, usually calm, couldn't help but turn pale, his fingers trembling. He dared not think about what decision his mother would make once she learned this news.

Dugu Ning pulled out a stack of papers with a smile. "The doctor’s testimony and the medical records are all here. Who do you think Mom will believe?"