Volume 1, Chapter 19: Little Darling, Don't Be Afraid, Your Husband Is Here

In her previous life, she had fallen in love with Lu Zhaobei and married him, serving his parents without regret, only to be worked to death in the end—a fitting retribution for her folly.

In this life, she wanted neither Lu Zhaobei nor Fu Yanchen.

The rain in Handing was cold and dense, cutting into her skin like a blade. She had nothing left—no family, no freedom, and not even her grandmother, the person she cherished most. She had failed her grandmother; she never imagined that even in death, her grandmother would be used as a pawn. How utterly absurd.

She stood alone in the downpour, shivering in pain, abandoned and helpless.

"Mom, are you feeling pity for her?" Gu Mo stopped her mother, who was reaching for an umbrella to head outside, her face cold.

Bai Ying felt a pang of heartache for her eldest daughter. She nodded, saying, "Regardless of everything, she is still your sister. She is out there all alone in the rain, and she’s injured. She won't survive the night."

"Then go, if you want!" Gu Mo shoved her mother’s hand away, pointing toward the window and snarling, "She is an ungrateful wretch, a heartless thing. After everything she’s done to us, you’re still going to bring her an umbrella?"

"But..."

"Enough!" Gu Mo snatched the umbrella from her hand, snapping irritably, "I’ll take it. You clean up the house. What a nuisance; it’s my birthday, and even a dinner with Zhaobei was ruined by her."

Looking at the shattered dishes on the floor, Bai Ying sighed. They had wronged their eldest daughter, but since she refused to forgive them, what else could they do?

Gu Li was walking slowly through the rain when an umbrella was tossed at her feet. Gu Mo stepped on it, looking down at Gu Li with a triumphant smirk. "See that? Zhaobei loves me; he only cares about me. As for you, if you just go and beg Fu Yanchen, you can still be my good sister. There, take the umbrella; don't die in the rain."

Gu Li ignored her, as if she hadn't heard a word. The cycle of a slap followed by a sweet treat was utterly sickening.

"Do you regret marrying Fu Yanchen?" Gu Mo followed her with the umbrella, trying to pierce her heart with every word. Gu Mo felt sure that Gu Li must be on the verge of a breakdown, desperate to die. She lowered her head and laughed, "You haven't even reached the worst part yet. The Fu family has much more terror waiting for you."

Gu Li turned around sharply. Gu Mo recoiled, startled by the sudden movement. Gu Li’s eyes were cold as ice, identical to the look Fu Yanchen had once given her.

Before they knew it, a car screeched to a halt in front of them, and several men in black stepped out, charging toward them. Gu Li, unaware of the danger, turned and slapped Gu Mo across the face. "Consider this my 21st birthday gift to you, sister."

Gu Mo stumbled, dizzy, and collapsed into the muddy rain. The umbrella was blown away by the wind, and she sat there with her hair disheveled, looking like a drowned spirit. "Gu Li, how dare you hit me?"

Gu Mo clutched her face, eyes wide with fury, and scrambled up, rushing toward Gu Li like a madwoman. Suddenly, two pairs of hands grabbed her from behind, pinning her arms. Gu Mo roared, assuming they were the men protecting Gu Li for the Fu family, "Gu Li, Mom and Dad treat you so well, and this is how you repay me? Let me go!"

Gu Li didn't recognize these men. Seeing others advancing toward her, she sensed the danger, dropped her bag, and turned to run.

...

Lu Zhaobei had spent the entire night gathering all the capital of the Gu family. He had intended to come alone, but Bai Ying, worried for her younger daughter, insisted on tagging along.

"Mr. Lu, you’ve arrived quite promptly!" The scarred man stood on the edge of a cargo truck. Behind him, two bodyguards held the bound Gu Li and Gu Mo.

Lu Zhaobei threw the bag of money onto the ground. He looked at Gu Li, who was covered in bruises and hanging limply in the grip of her captor, and then at Gu Mo, whose face was swollen and clothes caked in mud.

The scarred man looked at the bag of money, laughed, and gestured to the two women. "Which one of them do you want?"

Lu Zhaobei frowned, his expression grim. He hadn't expected the man to offer only one. He looked at Gu Li’s sagging, fragile frame, his hands clenching into fists, his lips pressed tight.

Gu Li’s eyes were barely open, but she was conscious. She heard their exchange. Only one? She had faced this kind of choice years ago; her parents had chosen Gu Mo, and now it was their turn again. Her body ached, and she seemed to be running a fever; the wounds on her abdomen were tearing open from the rough handling.

She tilted her head, watching Lu Zhaobei hesitate. Though she loathed him, at this moment, she yearned to be chosen firmly just once. *Lu Zhaobei, will you choose me?*

Bai Ying saw Gu Mo’s injuries and, hearing there was only one choice, panicked. She grabbed Lu Zhaobei’s hand and insisted, "Choose Momo! She is your wife; you must choose her!"

Gu Li let out a sardonic laugh. *Right. They would never choose her. All that talk of forgiveness was ultimately just to benefit Gu Mo.*

"Mom, honey, I can't hold on anymore, please save me!" Gu Mo cried out before fainting.

Bai Ying looked at her younger daughter with heartbreak.

"I choose Gu Mo."

Lu Zhaobei stepped up to the scarred man, picked up Gu Mo, and cast a glance at the kneeling Gu Li. "I'm sorry. Gu Mo is very important to me. I will compensate you later."

Gu Li said nothing, closing her eyes. It was the expected outcome. She shouldn't have harbored any illusions that Lu Zhaobei would save her. Of course—choosing Gu Mo meant the entire Gu family and the Gu corporation would remain his. Choosing her meant having nothing.

Bai Ying watched her younger daughter being carried away by her son-in-law. She looked back at her eldest daughter once, hardened her heart, and turned away. There was no help for it; she had no extra money to save the other daughter. *Li-li, don't blame Mom. Mom loves you, but if you must blame someone, blame your own misfortune in being born.*

The scarred man turned back, grabbing Gu Li by the hair. He looked at her closed eyes and gave a mocking laugh. "No one wants you, Gu Li. You're truly pathetic. How about you stay here and entertain my brothers?"

"But boss, I heard she’s the daughter-in-law of the Fu family."

The scarred man kicked him aside, laughing with arrogant disdain. "What are you afraid of? If she’s the daughter-in-law of the powerful Fu family, it’ll be even more fun for us!"

He looked at the woman before him—her fair skin, the faint, intoxicating fragrance, her slender waist, and long, white legs. He swallowed hard, unable to contain himself.

"No..." Gu Li pushed him away with weak, trembling hands, terrified of what was to come.

*No!*

As the man’s hands roamed over her, she struggled and resisted, while a cold, stern face flashed in her mind. *Fu Yanchen!*

"Boss! Boss, it's bad!"

The scarred man turned back, roaring impatiently, "What is it now?"

"Police cars and Fu Yanchen's men are here!" The subordinate pointed at the woman in the scarred man's grip and added, "They say she really is Fu Yanchen's wife."

In a daze, Gu Li felt herself being lifted into a gentle embrace. A familiar, clean scent enveloped her, and a familiar, tender voice whispered in her ear, "Little one, don't be afraid. Your husband is here."