Chapter 703 — Defending Happiness

The house had only just begun to feel truly warm and full of life—how could Gu Mengyao let anyone take her happiness away?

As for all that talk about Wei Zhao not seeing any pretty girls at home and going out to sow his wild oats—those were nothing but excuses she had made up to fob herself off. The real reason was, in fact, the eldest lady's fragile heart, starved of warmth since childhood.

Gu Mengyao guarded her innermost feelings like a safe, deliberately locking them away. She did not want to admit that the warmth that had come into the house after Wei Zhao's arrival—that was the tenderest part deep in the eldest lady's heart, and she did not want anyone to know of it!

True, sometimes she found this Wei Zhao utterly infuriating, but living under the same roof with him really was not bad at all! If she could, Gu Mengyao wished days like these could go on forever!

But Tang Zhi's appearance jolted Gu Mengyao from her dream back to reality in an instant, shattering it in a flash! Yes—sooner or later, Wei Zhao would leave the villa and begin a life of his own! He would have a girlfriend too, have a home of his own...

But Gu Mengyao had not expected that day to come so soon! So she was full of hostility toward Tang Zhi and wanted to drive her away from Wei Zhao's side! She would never allow Tang Zhi to destroy her warm, happy home!

She wanted Wei Zhao to prepare breakfast for her and Xiaoshu every day! She wanted Wei Zhao to appear at the first moment whenever she or Xiaoshu ran into trouble!

So that night, when she saw Wei Zhao injured and saw Tang Zhi there, Gu Mengyao was furious. What right did Tang Zhi have? Wei Zhao was a member of the villa—what right did he have to get hurt for Tang Zhi's sake? And so the eldest lady's first clash with Tang Zhi began.

Furious beyond all restraint, the eldest lady declared war on Tang Zhi without thinking it through.

That declaration of war led to the second clash, in the cafeteria at noon.

Only, Tang Zhi's kindness brought the eldest lady back to her senses all at once. Yes, what fault was Tang Zhi's? In the beginning, it had been Wei Zhao chasing after her, hadn't it? How could she blame her? And yet Gu Mengyao truly did not want her to take Wei Zhao away from the villa!

Still, after what had happened today—after Wei Zhao had seen her body, after she had so mortifyingly wet herself all over him—could her relationship with him ever be the same as before? Would he look down on her? Laugh at her?

And even if he did not, how could she possibly face Wei Zhao after this?

It was awful—truly awful! Gu Mengyao felt she would worry herself to death. In all her years, she had never been so troubled!

So in that moment, the eldest lady made her decision: she would treat Tang Zhi to a meal, to show her gratitude! Whatever else, from then on they would be even—the eldest lady did not want to owe anyone a favor, least of all Tang Zhi!

How she handled her relationship with Wei Zhao was her own business. She did not want to be hemmed in at every turn simply because she owed Tang Zhi a favor. The eldest lady was a clever sort; naturally she could tell the difference.

The eldest lady's words left Wei Zhao somewhat taken aback, but after his surprise, he still took out his phone and called Tang Zhi. Whatever else, Wei Zhao did want to ease things a little between the eldest lady and Tang Zhi—otherwise, being caught in the middle himself would be a nuisance later on.

"Wei Zhao? Are things sorted out on your end?" Tang Zhi was delighted to receive his call. She had been waiting in the hospital room all along; earlier she had wanted to call and ask whether he could still come back tonight, but she feared it would affect his work and put him in a difficult position, so she had restrained herself.

"Yes, all sorted," Wei Zhao said. "I've just come out of the inpatient building."

"Then... can you come back?" Tang Zhi hesitated a moment before asking.

"Yaoyao says she wants to treat you to a meal. Why don't you come over?" Wei Zhao asked.

"Gu Mengyao? Treating me to a meal?" Tang Zhi was slightly startled, finding it rather unbelievable. Why would Gu Mengyao invite her to dinner?

"To show her gratitude, I suppose," Wei Zhao said.

"Huh? Gratitude?" Tang Zhi understood at once—Gu Mengyao was thanking her for calling Wei Zhao earlier and sending him to treat her. But toward the eldest lady, Tang Zhi still felt a certain hostility, so she was not keen on going. "I'd better not. That wouldn't be appropriate, would it?"

"You don't want to come? Then forget it..." Wei Zhao could guess what was on Tang Zhi's mind. Between her and the eldest lady, there would surely still be some friction.

Gu Mengyao wanted to take the phone and speak to Tang Zhi herself, but she could not bring herself to do it, so she shot Shen Yushu a look, meaning for her to speak on her behalf.

"Sister Yaoyao, you see, Tang Zhi doesn't dare come, does she?" Shen Yushu blinked and leaned in close to Wei Zhao's phone to say.

Gu Mengyao was instantly trembling with rage. This Shen Yushu was going to be the death of her! She had asked her to invite Tang Zhi on her behalf, and instead she went and said something like that? Wasn't that just carrying on the feud with Tang Zhi?

Tang Zhi had heard Shen Yushu's words on the other end, and she grew a little anxious at once: "Who says I don't dare come? I'm on my way right now!"

It had to be said that Shen Yushu's goading had worked; in any case, Tang Zhi had made up her mind.

"Let's meet in the parking lot in front of the hospital," Wei Zhao said.

"Fine, I'm coming over now." Tang Zhi had no intention of letting Shen Yushu look down on her, as though she were afraid of them.

After the call ended, before Wei Zhao could say a word, Shen Yushu had already burst into cheers: "Sister Yaoyao, aren't I amazing? One sentence and I tricked Tang Zhi into coming!"

"You! You did trick her into coming, but I meant to thank her. How am I supposed to do that now?" Gu Mengyao shook her head helplessly.

"Once she's here, you can thank her then. I only tricked her into coming, that's all," Shen Yushu said innocently.

Gu Mengyao did not want to quibble with Shen Yushu anymore; the more she did, the worse her headache became. She merely asked Wei Zhao: "Did you drive?"

"Xiaoshu's Beetle. It'll barely fit four people," Wei Zhao said.

"Oh. Xiaoshu and I will sit in the back." Gu Mengyao nodded. "Next time, drive the 5."

Wei Zhao nodded. He had not dared to touch the eldest lady's car before, but now it seemed she did not mind such things at all.

"I want to sit in the front! I'll give Arrowbrand Bro directions—I know a super awesome Western restaurant!" Shen Yushu, however, refused to sit in the back. Who knew whether she did it on purpose, leaving Gu Mengyao and Tang Zhi to sit together.

"You can give directions from the back too," Gu Mengyao said.

"I'm nearsighted. I can't see clearly from the back," Shen Yushu said, shaking her head.

"You're nearsighted? Then we won't eat. We'll take you to get treated right now—we're at a hospital anyway. A little laser surgery and you'll be fine." Gu Mengyao pointed at the hospital behind them.