Chapter 941 - 938:

Chapter 941: Chapter 938:

Gu Xiaoning stood frozen in place. She had been gone for two years, and not only had her husband and daughter ceased to be hers, but her mother would never forgive her again!

Aunt Gu sat in the car with Xiao Zheng, her face already awash with tears. She was heartbroken! How could she not be? Such a sensible daughter from childhood had turned into this! But why had Ningning come back?

Could it be that she was abandoned by that man?

The more Aunt Gu thought about it, the more likely it seemed; otherwise, why would Ningning return?

Ningning had married and had children... That man must have been only momentarily infatuated, tired of her so quickly? Then dumped her daughter? Helpless, Ningning could only come back!

"Ah..." Thinking about it, Aunt Gu couldn’t bear the heartache.

Why did it have to be like this? She had made such a mistake; there wasn’t even a chance to regret it!

...

Gu Xiaoning returned to the apartment, hoping to find the landlord to fix the house.

But the landlord was nowhere to be found; the family had gone on a trip.

No choice, Gu Xiaoning could only hope the heavens wouldn’t rain anytime soon.

In the afternoon, she had to attend an interview. She couldn’t afford not to work, otherwise... how would she eat?

She divided her not inconsiderable savings into two parts, one for her mother and brother, the other, naturally, for her daughter Jiujiu.

Gu Xiaoning, who dropped out of medical school, couldn’t find a good job.

The interview was for a sales clerk position at a mall.

The job was simple, and the interview not complicated.

Generally, such counters emphasize appearance... and Gu Xiaoning’s appearance was undoubtedly quite solid.

"Miss Gu, if there’s no issue, can you start working on Wednesday?"

"I can!" Gu Xiaoning nodded hastily, of course she could; what choice did she have?

The Lezheng Family had industries, and it was most unfortunately... the mall where Gu Xiaoning was interviewing was one of theirs.

This past year, Le Zhengsheng had recovered physically, had inherited most of the family business, and was managing it all.

He usually busied himself at Guan Chao, leaving matters to the professional managers. But he still had to periodically check in to be aware.

This afternoon, he picked up Jiujiu and happened to come by, and the subordinates had grown accustomed to the boss inspecting with his daughter.

Seeing nothing much going on, Le Zhengsheng planned to stroll around the counters before returning.

Upon reaching a counter, just as a clerk came out, ’thud,’ they bumped into Le Zhengsheng.

"Uh... sorry!" The clerk was frightened, hurriedly bending to pick up the papers on the ground.

Le Zhengsheng’s gaze shifted, suddenly halting.

"Hold on!" He frowned and ordered, "Let me take a look."

"Uh, yes."

Le Zhengsheng held his daughter in one arm while looking at the papers in the other...

At this glance, his breath and heartbeat were disrupted!

It turned out he hadn’t seen wrong! Gu Xiaoning! It truly was Gu Xiaoning!

When did she come back? And she’s here to apply as a sales clerk? Judging by this photo, it must be recent... she seemed thinner, yet he recognized her at once.

In the information column, it clearly read: Gu Xiaoning, 22 years old, native of Hai City, university dropout, marital status divorced...

"Ha!" Upon seeing the word ’divorced,’ Le Zhengsheng laughed, divorced?

The one she divorced was right here looking at her application materials!

The clerk couldn’t fathom the boss’s thoughts and merely swallowed.

"This person..." Le Zhengsheng shook Gu Xiaoning’s papers.

"Yes." The clerk abruptly stood straight.

Le Zhengsheng frowned and said plainly, "Don’t hire her!"

Leaving these four words, Le Zhengsheng carried Jiujiu and left.

"... Uh, yes."

The clerk couldn’t understand why the boss gave such orders? Could there be a grudge? Surely not, Gu Xiaoning seemed like a very nice girl! Yet, whatever the boss directed, they couldn’t defy.

Thus, Gu Xiaoning received notice.

"Miss Gu, we’re sorry... we must apologize to you; you don’t need to start work next Wednesday."

"What?" Gu Xiaoning was stunned, how could this be? She really needed this job, "May I ask, what’s the reason? Am I not hired?"

"Sorry, truly sorry..."

The voice on the other end didn’t elaborate, simply hung up.

Gu Xiaoning was dazed, how could this happen? She wanted to find a job, settle down, keep her mother, keep her daughter, was it really this difficult?

Where had Le Zhengsheng gone?

He drove, feeling increasingly uncomfortable.

Gu Xiaoning was back, she actually came back!

The woman who abandoned him two years ago had returned!

Back then, she was unwavering, refusing to turn back, why didn’t she stay forever with that man? As expected, was she disliked by that man?

She could return, but why apply as a sales clerk? Didn’t she receive a breakup fee? The Lezheng Family had given quite a bit back then, even though she was the one who had the affair! Le Zhengsheng visited Aunt Gu’s house.

"Here you are."

Upon hearing the doorbell, Aunt Gu quickly opened the door, surprised to see Le Zhengsheng. "Master Lezheng."

"..." Le Zhengsheng was slightly embarrassed, nodded, "Auntie."

Inside, Xiao Zheng was eating with his head down.

Le Zhengsheng went over, gently ruffled Xiao Zheng’s hair. Xiao Zheng finally looked up and smiled seeing Le Zhengsheng, "Brother."

Now, only Xiao Zheng didn’t feel awkward; to him, Le Zhengsheng was always his big brother.

Aunt Gu was busily making tea; since Le Zhengsheng hadn’t come for a long time, the house wasn’t prepared.

Seeing her fumbling around, Le Zhengsheng quickly said, "Auntie, no need, water’s fine."

"Ah." Aunt Gu awkwardly smiled, poured him a glass of water, and with the weather hot, added some ice specially.

Le Zhengsheng held the cup; his mind wasn’t really on the visit.

In fact, he had come to inquire about Gu Xiaoning.

Since Gu Xiaoning had returned, not seeking him was logical, after all... they were divorced.

But, Aunt Gu and Xiao Zheng were her close relatives, she had to contact them, right?

"Auntie." Le Zhengsheng found it difficult to speak, absentmindedly sipped the water, "Are you and Xiao Zheng well? I’ve been busy and haven’t had time to check in on you."

Aunt Gu smiled shaking her head, "It’s fine, Xiao Zheng and I are doing well."

In her eyes, there was some disappointment, "Jiujiu... didn’t come with you?"

"Jiujiu’s tired." Le Zhengsheng shook his head, "Played all day, exhausted... next time I’ll bring her to see you."

"Ah, okay."

"Well..." Le Zhengsheng stammered, "Has anything unusual happened at home?"

For instance, has Ningning come to see you?

Aunt Gu hesitated, her expression obviously unnatural, but she shook her head, "No, everything’s fine at home."

... Oh, I see.

Le Zhengsheng couldn’t help feeling disappointed, "That’s good."

He stood up, took out a wad of cash from his wallet, "Auntie, take this money."

"No!" Aunt Gu hurriedly shook her head, "I can’t take your money anymore! Xiao Zheng’s medical expenses, tuition, and the house we live in... I truly can’t accept it any longer."

"Just keep it!" Le Zhengsheng insisted, placing the money on the dining table, "Xiao Zheng is at an age where he’s growing."

He glanced at the dishes on the table, "Too plain, buy more meat for Xiao Zheng to eat... boys at this age eat the most. Don’t be stingy, if you lack money, there’s always me."

Aunt Gu’s eyes reddened immediately, feeling guiltier.

Was her daughter blind? How could she abandon such a good man?

"Well... I’m off."

Having failed to gather the information he wanted, Le Zhengsheng stood to leave.

"Ah, drive safely."

Le Zhengsheng sat in the car, but didn’t leave for a long time.

He lit a cigarette, taking intermittent puffs.

Ningning had returned, but hadn’t contacted her mother and brother? That didn’t make sense... was she embarrassed? That year, she was certainly decisive; even her mother’s pleading and kneeling couldn’t sway her to return.