Volume 1, Chapter 17: If I Cannot Have Peace, Then None of You Shall

"Li, what's wrong?" Mu Li, who had just returned from buying breakfast, saw Gu Li sprawled on the ground the moment she reached the doorway. Startled, she rushed over, knelt down, and looked at Gu Li with concern.

In her memory, Gu Li had never cried in front of her. She had always been calm and composed. Apart from the profound grief she felt when her grandmother passed away, Mu Li had never seen her lose her composure or break down like this.

Gu Li grabbed Mu Li’s hand, crying and shouting, "It’s Lu Zhaobei! He dug up Grandmother’s ashes. He’s threatening me—if I don't beg Fu Yanchen, he’ll just throw away the urn. I’ll never be able to find her again, and I’ll never be able to offer incense or pay my respects to her for the rest of my life."

Mu Li was furious upon hearing this. "What a subhuman beast! To go so far as to target an elder’s ashes? Did your parents really just stand by and let an outsider do this to your grandmother?"

At this, Gu Li let out a cold, hollow laugh. "If it weren't for their tacit approval, Lu Zhaobei would never have dared to bring this to me."

They had actually agreed to dig up her grandmother’s ashes just to threaten her, all for the sake of Gu Mo and Lu Zhaobei. She clenched her hands tightly. What a cruel, vicious threat. What kind of people were they?

Looking at the panicked and heartbroken Gu Li, Mu Li reached out to wipe away her tears. "Li, you're still sick. You can't handle this yourself. I think maybe..."

"No!" Gu Li wiped her eyes. Leaning on Mu Li’s hand, she stood up shakily. Her eyes were cold and vacant as she said, word by word, "He wants me to beg Fu Yanchen? I will. For the sake of Grandmother’s urn, I will do anything."

"But Li..." Mu Li supported her, her heart aching with worry. "You haven't recovered yet. If you beg Fu Yanchen, you’ll owe him a favor. How will you ever divorce him then?"

True. That was exactly what Gu Li was worried about, but she had no other choice now. She had no other options but to do as he said.

With her uninjured hand, Gu Li picked up her phone. Staring at the name "Fu Yanchen" on the screen, she gritted her teeth and dialed.

The line rang for a long time. Just as Gu Li was about to hang up, the call was suddenly answered. Before the person on the other end could speak, Gu Li blurted out, "Mr. Fu, I have something I need to talk to you about!"

"Madam, this is Wang Ye. Mr. Fu is currently in a meeting in Lucheng. Is there something you need?" Wang Ye was standing by a window, speaking in a hushed tone.

Gu Li was silent for a long time before asking, "When does his meeting end? When will he be back?"

Wang Ye thought for a moment. "I’m afraid not today. He should be back tomorrow afternoon. Madam, is there something urgent? I can pass a message along to Mr. Fu."

Tomorrow afternoon? Gu Li frowned and shook her head. "No, thank you."

Gu Li hung up the phone, her pale face filled with sorrow. Mu Li looked at her disappointed expression and asked, "Mr. Fu won't see you?"

"He went to another city for a meeting." Gu Li frowned, trying to think of a solution. How could it be such a coincidence that he left for another city? She suddenly realized that if Lu Zhaobei hadn't known about this, he wouldn't have dared to come and threaten her. He had known all along that Fu Yanchen was out of town, which was why he chose this moment to act. What cunning, what calculation!

Mu Li was also anxious. Grandma Lin was Gu Li’s soft spot. She cursed, "Shameless beast! Lu Zhaobei has calculated everything. He must have known Mr. Fu was on a business trip, which is why he dared to treat you and Grandma Lin this way."

Gu Li endured the pain to dress herself, grabbed her bag, and prepared to leave. Mu Li grabbed her hand, uneasy. "I’m worried about you going out like this."

Gu Li touched her face, feeling a warmth in her heart. "Mu Li, I have no choice. I have to go home. Grandmother is very important to me; I cannot let her remain unsettled and unable to rest in peace even after her death." Since Fu Yanchen wasn't there, she would handle it herself. Anything was better than staying here and doing nothing.

Knowing she couldn't stop her, Mu Li nodded. "Then be careful. Remember to call me if anything happens."

Gu Li left the hospital, hailed a taxi, and headed for the Gu residence. As soon as she reached the door, she heard sounds of happy laughter coming from inside. She frowned and knocked.

"Knock, knock, knock!"

The door opened, and her mother, Bai Ying, looked delighted to see her. She grabbed Gu Li’s hand and said, "Li, you’re back?"

Inside, Gu Mo and Lu Zhaobei were sitting at the dining table, preparing to eat. When they saw her standing in the doorway, they stared, their smiles vanishing instantly. Lu Zhaobei raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised that she had arrived so quickly.

"You're eating. I won't disturb you." Gu Li turned to leave.

Bai Ying quickly grabbed her hand, smiling. "It’s been a long time since you tasted my cooking. Stay and eat. Your sister, your brother-in-law, and I have all missed you."

"Is that so?" Hearing that everyone missed her, Gu Li looked at Gu Mo, who was frowning, and Lu Zhaobei, who was watching her with a composed look. She didn't get angry; instead, she laughed.

Bai Ying ushered her to a seat, placed a bowl of rice in front of her, and began serving her food. "Li, this is the steamed dried bamboo shoots you like."

Gu Li looked at the bamboo shoots in her bowl and smiled. "I don't like bamboo shoots anymore."

Bai Ying froze for a second, then good-naturedly said, "I'll pick them out for you." She picked them out one by one, then started serving her again. "I remember you like braised pork. Have some more."

"Grandmother’s three-year mourning period hasn't ended. I am in mourning; I don't eat meat." Gu Li looked at her mother, Bai Ying. Seeing her face turn pale, she turned to Gu Mo. Gu Mo slammed her chopsticks down and glared at Gu Li. "If big sister doesn't like it, then don't eat it!"

"Mo, don't talk to your sister that way. No matter what, she is still your sister." Bai Ying looked at Gu Li, held her hand, and forced a smile. "It’s Mom’s fault for forgetting your preferences. What do you want to eat? Should I go make something else?"

Gu Li pulled her hand away and stepped back, looking at the group. "You dug up Grandmother’s ashes, and now you have the nerve to sit here and eat?"

"Li, what nonsense are you talking about?" Bai Ying pretended to be horrified, glancing guiltily at her younger daughter. She selfishly didn't want a fight to break out; her younger daughter had only just started smiling at her again, and things had finally been going well. Her face fell.

Gu Mo jumped up, glaring at her and pointing her finger. "What are you talking about?"

These people were such good actors! Gu Li looked at Lu Zhaobei, who hadn't spoken a word, continuing to eat as if he hadn't noticed anything.

"Lu Zhaobei, return Grandmother’s urn to me now, and I won't hold this against you." She clenched her hands, her eyes cold.

Lu Zhaobei shrugged, laughed dismissively, and said nothing, continuing to eat.

"Just eat," Lu Zhaobei said, pulling on Gu Mo, then glancing at Gu Li. "You rarely come back. Just eat first. Mom is tired enough as it is; be considerate and don't be so unreasonable."

Gu Mo clung to Lu Zhaobei, ignoring Gu Li entirely.

Gu Li nodded. She walked to the table, placed both hands on the edge, and let out a sudden laugh. "Since I can't have peace, none of you will either!"

With a forceful shove, she overturned the table, sending the food and dishes crashing to the floor with a loud bang.