CHAPTER 810: CHAPTER 810: BLACKMAILED

"I..."

"Fourth Uncle? Did he send you here to force me to go on a blind date?" Li Huan asked directly.

"Li Huan, the lady your Fourth Uncle introduced has seen your photo and knows your situation. She is very satisfied with you, she..."

"I don’t like it." Li Huan interrupted her, "Stop getting so close to Fourth Uncle. When our family was in trouble, he didn’t say a word. Now that I’ve made some money investing with the Third Young Master, he’s getting all chummy."

"Li Huan, stop it. This family cannot fall apart. Have you forgotten your father’s last words?"

Mrs. Li closed her eyes for a moment.

Li Huan sighed helplessly, "Let’s go, I’ll take you home."

The two of them went downstairs together and heard Nina crying in the parking lot.

Mrs. Li said, "Go take a look, make sure nothing’s wrong."

Li Huan went over unwillingly.

They saw Gu Yingxi on guard, looking around, while Nina was sitting in the car crying.

Li Huan asked, "What happened?"

Gu Yingxi saw who it was and let out a sigh of relief.

"I don’t know where it came from, but a stray cat startled both me and Nina."

As she spoke, she rolled up her sleeve, showing a bruised arm.

Mrs. Li looked at it, "Why don’t I have Li Huan take you home?"

Gu Yingxi said nothing, just looked at Li Huan.

Li Huan hummed in agreement.

On the way back, no one spoke.

Mrs. Li said, "Drop me off first, I’m a bit tired."

Li Huan turned the car without saying much.

After dropping Mrs. Li off, Li Huan drove Gu Yingxi.

Gu Yingxi was comforting the child in her arms, her head down, "Li Huan, what happened earlier? I thought I heard you arguing with Mrs. Li."

"It’s nothing."

"Well, parents do tend to overthink when they get older. It all comes down to caring for you."

"Overthink about what?" Li Huan kept his eyes on the road.

"Just... nothing."

Gu Yingxi pressed her lips together in silence.

When they reached the district, Gu Yingxi got out of the car with Nina in her arms.

"Li Huan, want to come up for a bit?"

"No, it’s late, it’s not convenient," Li Huan said directly.

Gu Yingxi looked at him, "Do we have to talk like strangers now?"

"We’re classmates and colleagues, we weren’t that close to begin with. I’m leaving."

Li Huan hit the gas and left without hesitation.

Gu Yingxi watched the car disappear, gritting her teeth.

"Ren Xiya can’t hold on for long. She either gives up Gong Group or gives up Li Huan."

...

Ren Xiya’s situation was becoming more and more intense, and public opinion was increasingly against her.

In addition to her hitting someone at Gong Group, Gong Yao turned around and indicated in the meeting to suspend Ren Xiya.

Gong Chen looked at the dispirited Ren Xiya and nodded, "Take a couple of days to rest."

Ren Xiya: "Got it."

Gong Yao looked at Ren Xiya with some satisfaction.

Gong Chen continued, "I hope nothing similar will happen again."

Gong Yao smiled, "It won’t."

Gong Chen didn’t reply and directly moved on to the main issues of the meeting.

Before the meeting ended, everyone was distracted by their phones.

They occasionally glanced at Gong Yao.

Gong Yao noticed and looked toward his assistant.

The assistant approached with a grim expression, whispering in his ear, "Fourth Master, someone online has exposed news about you and your wife."

"What?"

Gong Yao’s voice rose, drawing the others’ attention at the table.

Gong Chen frowned, "What’s going on?"

"Nothing." Gong Yao’s face was ashen, denying repeatedly.

Opposite him, Ren Xiya chuckled.

"Interesting, you aren’t any nobler than I am."

"You..."

Gong Yao gritted his teeth.

Gong Chen coldly said, "You’re both suspended. Meeting adjourned."

The others followed Gong Chen out.

Ren Xiya laughed, "Good suggestion, Fourth Master, getting yourself suspended too. I don’t care, but you are the Old Master’s hope, isn’t it amusing."

She left with a smile.

Gong Yao took out his phone to check the news online, unexpectedly discovering that the media which exposed Ren Xiya’s illegitimate daughter had suddenly turned their attention to him.

They had even dug out Fu Xiuzhu.

Saying she had a child with an older man to take shortcuts at a young age.

The comments were very unpleasant.

As he skimmed through, a call came from Old Mr. Gong.

"What’s happening?"

"I don’t know either, I’m going to investigate immediately," Gong Yao said.

"You and your mother are really worrisome, always causing me trouble... cough cough cough."

"Dad, don’t worry, I’ll definitely handle it. Your health is what’s important," Gong Yao comforted.

"I’ve already got someone investigating, it seems someone leaked information, probably the same person who leaked Ren Xiya’s incident. Pressure the media to hand them over. We can’t let this be further explored."

"I understand."

Gong Yao’s eyes turned vicious.

After hanging up, he immediately instructed his assistant to investigate.

...

At the hospital.

Gu Yingxi sat in her office, browsing the web comments attacking Ren Xiya.

She was curious to see how long Ren Xiya could hold out.

Little did she know, she would see news about Gong Yao.

The buzz entirely shifted half the focus off Ren Xiya.

What’s going on?

At that moment, her other phone rang.

She glanced at the door and answered the call.

The person immediately said, "If you have more inside information, spill it now, we should strike while the iron is hot."

Gu Yingxi, confused, asked, "What do you mean?"

"Don’t play dumb. Aren’t you trying to use these stories to pressure the Gong Family? You must have other dirt on the Gong Family, right?" The voice on the other end was urgent.

"I’ve given you everything I had, stop calling me."

Gu Yingxi faintly felt something wasn’t right.

The other person sneered, "Trying to back out now? No way. If you don’t have any dirt, I’ll out you. You probably don’t know the Gong Family is searching everywhere for the leaker."

"What... what do you want?"

"What do you think?" the voice responded cunningly.

"How much do you want?"

"Start with a million, and I can keep your secret."

"Alright."

"I’ll send you an address. Bring the money, and I only take cash."

The person was cautious, knowing the issues with bank transfers.

Gu Yingxi didn’t expect to be bitten back.

She reluctantly agreed, "Okay."

...

Two hours later.

Gu Yingxi walked into a café with a suitcase.

After sitting down, she looked around, feeling uneasy.

On her way, she had been constantly checking the news online.

Because Gong Yao’s identity had been exposed, things had spiraled out of control.

Gu Yingxi was acutely aware that if the Gong Family really investigated, she would be finished.

She only knew that Ren Xiya was not favored in the Gong Family, and even if the illegitimate daughter’s identity was exposed.

The Gong Family would not care, they might even use it to get rid of her.

But she never expected, Gong Yao would also be exposed.

Her plans were entirely disrupted.

When she collected herself, a man had already sat down across from her.

"Did you bring the money?"

"Yes, but how do I know you won’t out me?" Gu Yingxi retorted.

"You can choose not to believe me, but I just need to make one call."

Saying this, the man opened his phone, showing Ren Xiya’s number.

Gu Yingxi smiled at the man, handing over a cup of coffee she had ordered.

"Don’t get angry; this money is definitely yours. Have some coffee, we can talk slowly and discuss everything at once."

"You’re quite savvy, Doctor Gu."

The man raised the coffee.

Before he could drink, a voice came from behind.

"If I were you, I wouldn’t drink that coffee."