Volume One, Chapter Seventeen: Now It's My Turn as a Model Citizen to Act Bravely for a Just Cause

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Seeing Gu Yubai’s car, Si Tang’s heart, which had just begun to calm, surged turbulently, her blood pressure nearly spiking. She irritably rubbed her brow, cursing inwardly. That specter just won’t leave! The car window slowly rolled down, revealing Gu Yubai’s sharply defined face.

“Su Yuejin said Zhouzhou threw a tantrum at home and refused to eat—maybe it was because she saw you today at the mall,” Gu Yubai’s voice was low and unreadable.

Si Tang was almost amused by anger; she took a deep breath, struggling to suppress the fury within. “So that’s my fault too?”

Gu Yubai frowned slightly. “That’s not what I meant. I was hoping...”

“Hopin’ I’d go see Zhouzhou, and maybe then she’d eat?” Si Tang cut him off mercilessly, her tone thick with sarcasm. “Gu Yubai, can you stop being so self-important?”

She crossed her arms, sneering coldly. “Isn’t Su Yuejin already very good to Zhouzhou? If she can’t even handle a little tantrum and refusal to eat, and yet you still want her to be Zhouzhou’s stepmother?”

Gu Yubai’s expression darkened, his tone hardening. “I told you, I have no relationship with Su Yuejin.”

“No relationship?” Si Tang laughed scornfully as if she’d heard the world’s biggest joke. “Zhouzhou is with Su Yuejin, and dinner probably happens at Zhouzhou’s own home, so Su Yuejin is basically living with you. And you still have the nerve to say you have no relationship with her?”

She paused, her voice growing colder. “Fine, I’ve said it before—your affairs don’t concern me. We’ve been divorced for four years. A normal man having another woman is normal—man and woman, love and desire. You find women, I find men; I’m not entitled to interfere with any of it.”

Gu Yubai finally lost his temper. He slammed the car door open, strode over to Si Tang, looking down at her, eyes blazing with anger.

“I’m telling you about Zhouzhou, and you’re babbling nonsense!” he growled, teeth clenched. “As Zhouzhou’s mother, shouldn’t you care about her?”

Si Tang met his gaze without fear, her voice icy. “So in these four years I was abroad, Zhouzhou never threw a tantrum or refused to eat? Back then, you and Su Yuejin handled it. Now you want me?”

Gu Yubai was momentarily speechless.

He looked at the woman before him, unseen for four years, coldness in her eyes, radiating a chill that repelled everyone.

He didn’t know what was in his heart; all he knew was he wanted to bring Si Tang to see Zhouzhou.

Perhaps subconsciously, he thought since Si Tang was back, Zhouzhou should be under her care.

Or maybe, he just wanted to see her one more time.

Si Tang suddenly wore a look of sudden realization.

“Oh, I get it,” she said, arms folded, voice full of mockery. “Before, it was out of necessity that only you and Su Yuejin could take care of Zhouzhou.”

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She leaned in slightly, eyes sharp as knives, piercing Gu Yubai directly.

“Now that I’m back, you’re just dumping Zhouzhou on me because she’s interfering with your love nest and romance, right?”

Every word struck Gu Yubai’s heart like a jagged stone thrown hard.

Hearing Si Tang constantly drag up him and Su Yuejin made Gu Yubai even angrier.

Veins throbbed at his temple; his chest heaved like an enraged lion.

“You never listen to what I say!” he roared, voice thick with suppressed fury.

Si Tang laughed immediately—a crisp, chilling sound.

“Feeling uncomfortable now?” She raised an eyebrow, her mockery unhidden. “You never listened to me before, did you? Now it’s your turn, and you’re angry?”

Gu Yubai suddenly felt suffocated.

He recalled the past; indeed, he had found Si Tang’s words baffling and was always annoyed when she spoke ill of Su Yuejin in front of him.

The details he had once ignored now flooded his heart like a tide, causing sharp pain.

Was Si Tang’s past self feeling this way every day? His words never entered her heart, never showed respect—such helplessness, such confusion and pain...

He squeezed his eyes shut, trying to suppress the turbulent thoughts.

When he opened them again, his gaze was complex and profound.

He reached out, grabbing Si Tang’s arm firmly, his tone commanding.

“I don’t want to argue about this now,” his voice was low and hoarse. “Zhouzhou needs you now.”

Si Tang jerked away sharply, stepping back, eyes icy as she stared at him.

“Because I wasn’t here for four years, he didn’t need me?” she almost shouted, voice trembling with emotion. “Now that I’m back, suddenly he needs me?”

“He won’t even call me ‘mom,’ and you say he needs me?” Si Tang laughed bitterly. “Who’d believe that?”

Gu Yubai paid no heed to her resistance. Like dealing with a disobedient child, he forcefully pulled her toward the passenger seat.

He opened the car door as if to shove her inside.

Si Tang was furious and desperate, a wave of helplessness rising in her chest.

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What she hated most was Gu Yubai’s domineering ways—never considering her wishes in anything.

It was like this before, and it was like this now.

Did he think they were still husband and wife?

Even if she were still his wife, his actions would still disregard her will!

A surge of humiliation rose from her heart; tears welled in Si Tang’s eyes, but she stubbornly refused to cry, struggling fiercely.

Seeing her struggle only more violently, Gu Yubai tightened his grip.

At that moment, a heavy motorcycle sped toward them at a nearly reckless pace, like a black flash of lightning aimed straight at Gu Yubai.

The roar of the engine tore through the night, carrying an overwhelming sense of pressure.

Gu Yubai instinctively released Si Tang and quickly stepped back to the car, a flicker of shock in his eyes.

Si Tang was stunned too; the sudden turn of events made her retreat several steps, shaken and wide-eyed at the motorcycle.

The motorcycle screeched to a halt barely half a meter from Gu Yubai, tires grinding against the ground, leaving a black streak.

The air was thick with the smell of burning rubber.

Gu Yubai’s face turned ashen, still startled, about to scold whoever was on the bike.

The rider, legs stretched out with casual swagger, leisurely removed his helmet, revealing a strikingly handsome, sharply defined face—Meng Linchuan.

He wore a devil-may-care smile, his tone easygoing.

“Didn’t expect a night ride to lead me to a human trafficking case,” he winked toward Si Tang. “Looks like it’s my turn as a model citizen to play hero.”

His gaze shifted to Gu Yubai, appraising him with a hint of mockery. “You drive such a nice car—don’t tell me you made your fortune off trafficking women?”

Though he smiled, his eyes were cold, utterly devoid of amusement.