Gu Jianing raised an eyebrow—so he had some backbone, huh?
Fine.
Gu Jianing smiled. “General Sheng, I’ll remember those words of yours.”
“As they say, those who walk different paths cannot work together. General Sheng, my grandmother and I have matters to attend to outside, so we won’t be entertaining you further.” Gu Jianing wasn’t intimidated by his status as a high-ranking official.
After all, she hadn’t done anything wrong. As for whether Sheng Xinhao would try to make things difficult for her?
With the powerful fertility system in her hands, who did she have to fear?
If someone came to her doorstep to bully her, was she supposed to just submit? Sometimes, a person had to stand their ground.
Since Gu Jianing had made her position clear, Sheng Xinhao naturally didn’t stay.
With a cold snort, he left.
“Ning girl, don’t take his words to heart,” Grandma Sang reassured Gu Jianing after Sheng Xinhao had gone.
“Grandma, don’t worry. I won’t let it bother me.”
“That’s good.”
“Then let’s head to Beijing Middle School now. The lecture is about to start.”
“Alright.”
With that, the two of them got into the car and headed for Beijing Middle School.
Meanwhile, Sheng Xinhao returned home seething with anger. At the same time, Fang Wanrong was preparing to go to Beijing Middle School to invite Dr. Gu to treat Sheng Xinhao’s arm injury.
Though Sheng Xinhao was furious, he wouldn’t take it out on Fang Wanrong.
“Fine, go ahead. Thank you for your trouble,” he said. Once his arm was healed, he’d settle the score with that brat and that ignorant country girl who didn’t know her place.
…
By the time Gu Jianing and Grandma Sang arrived at Beijing Middle School, the place was already packed.
Doctors from all over the country had come to attend Gu Jianing’s lecture on how to treat tuberculosis.
The turnout was massive. Even though the auditorium was full, many people were still standing.
Nearly everyone had brought pens and notebooks to take notes.
The moment Gu Jianing stepped into the auditorium, she was met with an intense atmosphere of eager learning. Looking out at the crowd, she saw expectation and passion burning in almost every pair of eyes.
Gu Jianing thought, perhaps this was the true meaning of this lecture.
“Let’s welcome Dr. Gu Jianing, who will be leading today’s lecture. Please join me in inviting Dr. Gu to share her knowledge and treatment methods for tuberculosis.”
Amidst enthusiastic applause, Gu Jianing stepped onto the stage and began her lecture.
Every pair of eyes in the audience was filled with a thirst for knowledge. As Gu Jianing began speaking, despite the large crowd, the auditorium remained remarkably quiet—save for her voice, the only sound was the soft scratching of pens against paper as everyone took notes.
When Fang Wanrong arrived, this was the scene that greeted her.
Looking at the young, beautiful woman on stage, Fang Wanrong couldn’t help but marvel at the doctor’s youth.
She had originally assumed that a doctor with such extraordinary skills would be much older. Yet, to her surprise…
Truly, appearances could be deceiving.
Since the lecture was still in progress, Fang Wanrong naturally couldn’t interrupt.
She would have to wait until it was over before approaching Dr. Gu.
However…
Fang Wanrong glanced around but couldn’t find a single empty seat.
Was she really expected to stand the entire time?
At the thought, her expression darkened slightly.
But she suppressed her irritation.
As the wife of General Sheng, she couldn’t bring herself to demand a seat outright.
Fine. If she had to stand, then she would stand.
Once she successfully invited Dr. Gu back, she could tell her husband all about it.
He would surely feel sorry for her.
And then… she could take the opportunity to bring up the matter of transferring the ownership of the Sheng family’s ancestral home.
Fang Wanrong had long coveted the property. If she could coax her husband into signing it over to her this time, it would all be worth it.
With that thought, she decided that no matter how long she had to stand or wait, it would be justified.
Just then, as she scanned the room, her gaze landed on a familiar figure.
Wasn’t that the eldest son of the Li family, Li Tingxuan?
What was he doing here?
Could he also be here to seek out Dr. Gu?
Fang Wanrong wasn’t mistaken.
Li Tingxuan was indeed present.
He had arrived late and could only stand in a corner.
However, his complexion was far from good—he had been running a fever since last night, and though it had subsided by now, his face remained pale, and he looked utterly drained.
Yet, upon hearing that today was Gu Jianing’s lecture, he had come anyway.
His grandfather had objected, insisting that he stay home to rest and recover.
Li Tingxuan had agreed—but the moment his grandfather left, he had quietly slipped out.
Now, his intense gaze was fixed on the figure on stage, his eyes brimming with tenderness and warmth.
But beneath that affection lingered a trace of bitterness.
Yesterday, after returning home, he had immediately ordered an investigation into Gu Jianing and her husband. By this morning, most of the details had been uncovered.
It turned out that her husband was Sheng Zexi.
Li Tingxuan knew exactly who Sheng Zexi was—a man somewhat unruly in temperament but undeniably outstanding.
The son of General Sheng.
Currently serving as deputy regimental commander in the Northwest Military Region.
Though not yet at the same rank as Li Tingxuan’s own position as full regimental commander.
But Li Tingxuan knew Sheng Zexi was truly exceptional—decorated with numerous military merits, consecutively crowned the “Soldier King” for years, and his current standing was entirely earned through his own efforts.
Had it not been for General Sheng’s suppression, Sheng Zexi would never have remained just a deputy regimental commander.
And Sheng Zexi had personally gone to Huaihua Village—Gu Jianing’s hometown—to her family’s home to propose.
Though General Sheng did not approve, Sheng Zexi’s maternal grandparents, the elderly Sang couple, fully supported the marriage and adored Gu Jianing.
As for Gu Jianing…
She was extraordinary in her own right.
After joining the army, she quickly became a doctor at the Northwest Military Region Hospital. Her outstanding performance earned her honors and even led to her being taken as a disciple by Elder Chen.
Now, she was holding lectures in the capital, sharing her knowledge on tuberculosis treatment with doctors nationwide.
Her reasons for coming to the capital this time were twofold: to pay respects to her late mother-in-law and to treat Hua Zhenrong.
Li Tingxuan was well aware of the relationship between Sheng Zexi and Hua Zhenrong.
From the investigation materials, Sheng Zexi was outstanding, she was outstanding, their relationship was strong, and now she was even carrying Sheng Zexi’s children—twins.
They seemed… perfectly happy.
Li Tingxuan knew he had once again arrived a step too late.
In his dreams, in their past life, he had been far too late. And in this life, he was still one step behind.
Perhaps this was fate, Li Tingxuan thought.
Perhaps it was destined that he and she would share no fateful connection.
Since that was the case, he knew he shouldn’t cling to false hope.
Truthfully, he had never intended to force anything.
He had told himself—if there was no fateful bond, then he should let go.
But…
Watching her on that stage—so confident, so radiant, so beautiful—Li Tingxuan smiled bitterly.
He knew he couldn’t let go.
If that was the case, then so be it. He would keep her in his heart, a secret only he knew.
He would carefully conceal this affection, ensuring no one else discovered it—especially not her.
It was enough to watch her happiness from afar.
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