B5SB -Chapter 360 Guilt

Near noon

Gu Yihan glanced at the time and smiled at Li Yajing beside her. “Yajing, have lunch at home before leaving.”

Li Yajing shook her head with a smile. “No need. My cousin already bought the ticket back to Kuncheng for noon. If I have lunch at your place, I’ll miss the train.”

After saying this, Li Yajing looked as if she wanted to say something but didn’t know how.

Gu Yihan noticed and asked, puzzled, “Yajing, is there something you want to tell me?”

Li Yajing thought for a moment and let out a sigh. “Xiaohan, I don’t even know Zeng Xiao. How could she go to such lengths to frame me?”

Gu Yihan was momentarily stunned, then realized something. She frowned. “Did Zeng Xiao frame your uncle and aunt?”

Li Yajing nodded. “My cousin said she bribed my cousin’s sister and left letters from overseas in my father’s study. But I’ve thought about it over and over… our family has never had any conflict with the Zengs. We don’t even know them. What benefit could Zeng Xiao get from doing this?”

Gu Yihan recalled what Lu Huailin had said: Grandma Gu and Gu Meng had been reported by Zeng Xiao to the neighborhood committee and revolutionary committee, which caused them to be forcibly sent back to Gujia Village by the local police because they didn’t have Kuncheng household registration or an introduction letter.

Now, Li Yajing’s parents were in trouble too. Could it be because of Secretary Jiang, that Zeng Xiao held a grudge against her?

And so she indiscriminately retaliated against anyone close to her?

Thinking of this, Gu Yihan felt that she had dragged Li Yajing into this, and a sudden wave of guilt overwhelmed her, pressing down on her chest.

Li Yajing, noticing Gu Yihan zoning out, felt a bit relieved.

After a moment, Gu Yihan lifted her gaze and forced a small smile at Li Yajing.

Then she asked, “Yajing, I remember your aunt is a doctor, right?”

Li Yajing smiled faintly. “My mother is an obstetrician, my father works in a chemical factory as a technician.”

“As for my brother…”

Li Yajing’s expression was more pained than crying, and she said coldly, “He already publicly severed ties with us.”

Gu Yihan didn’t respond.

Given the political background, unwillingness to lose a job, and going to the countryside, Li Yajing’s brother had no choice but to sever relations.

At that moment, Lin Yifei, who had finished talking with Lu Huailin in the study, came downstairs.

“Yajing, it’s getting late. We should go,” he said with a smile.

Lu Huailin, noticing Gu Yihan’s pale expression, hurried to her side. “Darling, are you feeling unwell?” he asked softly.

Gu Yihan looked up at him and shook her head.

Li Yajing stood and said goodbye to Gu Yihan.

Suddenly, Gu Yihan grabbed her just as she was turning to leave. “Yajing, give me a way to contact you.”

Li Yajing’s eyes lit up, and she quickly gave Gu Yihan Lin Yifei’s phone number in Kuncheng.

Gu Yihan saved the contact info and, with Lu Huailin, escorted Li Yajing and Lin Yifei to the door.

On the way back, Lin Yifei glanced at the beaming Li Yajing. “Are you really sure Xiaohan can help?” he asked with a smile.

Li Yajing smirked, leaning close to his ear. “Just wait for the good news about my parents’ return.”

Lin Yifei shook his head, smiling. “I really don’t know what you’re thinking. If you believe Xiaohan can help, why not just say it directly instead of speaking in circles?”

Li Yajing rolled her eyes at him, annoyed. “How would you say it directly? Ask Xiaohan if she’s the one who caused my parents’ trouble?”

Lin Yifei froze for a moment and pursed his lips.

Li Yajing shot him a glance, then turned away.

Does he really think she’s stupid?

If she had said it outright, Gu Yihan would’ve helped, but their relationship would have ended there.

Now, by letting Gu Yihan discover the situation herself and realize that her parents’ troubles may be connected to her, Gu Yihan’s natural sense of guilt would drive her to help.

That way, Li Yajing’s parents would return, and their relationship would remain intact. Why not?

As for Secretary Chang, such a greedy man can go to whoever wants him.

At the residential compound

Lu Huailin saw his wife going in and out with him and stopped on the way to the kitchen.

He turned, held her in his arms, and carried her to the sofa, sitting down while gazing into her eyes. “Darling, is something wrong?”

Gu Yihan lowered her head and softly murmured.

She recounted everything Li Yajing had told her to Lu Huailin.

After finishing, she sighed deeply. “Huailin, I feel so guilty. If it’s really because of me, Yajing must hate me to death.”

Lu Huailin gently patted her back, soothing her. “Darling, since Li told you all this, she wants you to help. Everyone’s smart—no one’s foolish.”

Gu Yihan pondered for a moment.

Among her own acquaintances, no one had enough power to protect Li’s parents.

Lu Huailin silently watched his wife, waiting for her to realize she still had him as a support at home.

Gu Yihan racked her brain, realizing she knew very few people capable of helping.

Suddenly, her eyes lit up. She stood quickly. “I know who to ask!”

Lu Huailin thought she had finally thought of him, but she walked straight to the phone.

She dialed the research institute.

Hearing that Leng Xiao answered, she froze for a moment, then smiled. “Comrade Leng, is Master Chu there?”

Lu Huailin immediately stood close to her, occasionally whispering.

At the research institute

When Leng Xiao heard that Gu Yihan and Lu Huailin wanted Master Chu to protect Li’s parents, he couldn’t help twitching his lips.

Without hesitation, he refused. “Brother Lu, sister-in-law, don’t even ask. Master Chu won’t agree.”

Then, slam!—he hung up.

Even Lu Huailin was exasperated. Even caring for his wife didn’t justify this! During this sensitive period, who dares to protect people with a political background?

Elsewhere

Gu Yihan stared at Lu Huailin in disbelief, pointing at the phone. “I’m not asking Master Chu to help for nothing! I was going to give him a medicine vial, and Leng Xiao just hung up before I even finished speaking!”

Lu Huailin, seeing his wife furious, worried she’d vent on him and quickly patted her back. “What a piece of work… such arrogance!”

Gu Yihan glared at him and stormed upstairs.