Chapter 50: Just an Illegitimate Child—Only You Treat Him Like a Treasure

"Smack!" Gu Shen Shen, humiliated and furious at his words, swung her hand and slapped him hard across the face.

The slap shattered the bedroom’s previously charged atmosphere. Zhou Ci, stunned by the blow, stared at her in a daze, his eyes blank.

"I have a lot of work to deal with. Calm yourself," Gu Shen Shen said, exasperated by his unpredictable mood. If she weren’t so completely at his mercy, she would never have endured this life under his thumb.

She slowly crawled out from beneath him, gathered the scattered clothes from the floor, dressed herself carefully, and left.

She hadn’t yet stepped out of the bedroom when a dull thud echoed behind her. Gu Shen Shen jumped in fright and turned instinctively. Zhou Ci had collapsed to the floor, unconscious.

"Ah Ci," she called his name, rushing over in panic.

The sudden turn of events left Gu Shen Shen utterly unprepared. In her memory, Zhou Ci had never been the frail type—had she pushed him too far?

Late into the night, Gu Shen Shen waited at the hospital until Qin Ying arrived, finally allowing herself a sigh of relief. Alongside Qin Ying came Pei Wan, whom Zhou Ci had abandoned at the Mo family that evening.

Looking at Pei Wan, Gu Shen Shen felt a pang of guilt. After all, she was the legitimate fiancée.

She had never intended to be a third party; only Zhou Ci’s coercion had forced her to compromise. Yet such excuses would hardly convince anyone.

"What happened?" Qin Ying, barely restraining her anger, interrogated Gu Shen Shen. In Pei Wan’s presence, she asked nothing more, only wanting to know Zhou Ci’s condition.

"I don’t know. We argued over some work issues, and then he fainted," Gu Shen Shen replied succinctly.

Qin Ying eyed her suspiciously.

"You may leave," Qin Ying finally said after a moment.

Gu Shen Shen felt a burden lift. Her gaze lingered on Zhou Ci lying in the hospital bed, then she turned and left.

She should have been able to walk away without a ripple in her heart, but as she stepped out of the hospital room, her pace involuntarily slowed, a restless unease knotting inside her.

"Secretary Gu." Just as Gu Shen Shen reached for the elevator, Pei Wan called out to her.

As Pei Wan approached, Gu Shen Shen managed a polite smile. "Is there something else?"

Pei Wan’s eyes bore into her, making Gu Shen Shen uncomfortable.

"He suffers from severe psychological issues. Miss Gu, you shouldn’t argue with him again," Pei Wan said.

Gu Shen Shen wasn’t surprised at all. With Zhou Ci’s temperament, it would be odd if he didn’t have psychological problems.

"I don’t want to argue with him either." After being tormented all night, she felt exhausted; even mentioning Zhou Ci left her irritable.

Pei Wan continued to stare at her without blinking.

Gu Shen Shen reached to press the elevator button.

"His private life is a mess, Miss Gu. You should be careful," Pei Wan’s voice turned cold.

Gu Shen Shen was slightly taken aback, but looking at the elegant, composed woman before her, she smiled.

"So Miss Pei knows everything. You’re really tolerant."

"We’re about to get married. You’re just one of the many women he’s played with. Whatever you do with him is your business, but if you hurt him, I won’t let you off."

Gu Shen Shen was weary, barely paying attention. Only when the elevator doors opened did she revive a little, stepping inside.

"Gu Shen Shen!" Pei Wan, dissatisfied with her indifference, called her name sharply.

Gu Shen Shen replied, "He’s just an illegitimate son. Only you treat him like he’s precious."