Chapter 1218: Borrowing Money From A Loan Shark

Chapter 1218: Borrowing Money From A Loan Shark

Of course, Gu Zi knew better than to lose her composure. She steadied herself, carefully maintained her poise, and responded as if she were entirely unaware of the incoming storm.

“Tang Xue,” she said mildly, resting a hand on her rounded belly, “what brings you to my home? I’m heavily pregnant now, and not in the best shape to entertain guests.”

But Tang Xue—who had just been thoroughly lectured by Chen Xi—was in no mood for civility. Her face was tight with frustration.

“Gu Zi, don’t play dumb,” she snapped. “You know why I’m here. Why did you have to spread that nonsense about me selling counterfeit goods? You deliberately ruined my image in front of Chen Xi, didn’t you?”

Gu Zi, seeing she’d walked straight into the confrontation, chose not to deflect anymore. She kept her voice calm and rational.

“So that’s what you’re referring to,” she said evenly. “Yes, I did tell Chen Xi that hand cream was fake—because it is. I’ve used that brand for years, and anyone who’s familiar with the original can tell at a glance. The texture, the scent—it was obviously different from what I got at the trade zone. Tang Xue, this kind of thing can cause real harm. You’d do better to switch to another business.”

That hit a nerve.

Tang Xue exploded like someone had stomped directly on her pride. Her voice rose as she cut Gu Zi off mid-sentence.

“Oh please, Gu Zi! You practically brainwashed Chen Xi into avoiding me, and now you’re standing here pretending to be the good guy?” she shouted. “Who are you to say my goods are fake? Just because you’ve used them?”

Her tone turned sharp, dripping with resentment.

“So what if you’ve got money? Big deal! It’s not like you earned it yourself—you live off your man! And now you think you’re entitled to slander me? Why is it that people like you and Li Juan just can’t stand to see me making a bit of money? Aren’t we all women? Why do you have to be so cruel to your own kind?”

Gu Zi was stunned into silence.

She had wanted, genuinely, to offer one last piece of advice. But there was no room for peace here—Tang Xue’s anger had consumed the space. Well then. So be it. Gu Zi said nothing more.

Tang Xue, having delivered her tirade, turned on her heel and stormed off with a face like stone.

But once she reached the edge of the alleyway, her fire began to cool and was replaced by regret.

Why had she lost her temper like that? She should have asked Gu Zi for money.

Now, after that screaming match, she had completely burned the bridge. Borrowing from Gu Zi was officially off the table. And the port shipment? It was due to arrive any day now—and she hadn’t scraped together nearly enough cash to pay for it.

The next morning, hoping for another option, she sought out Chen Xi. But she was told he was on sick leave—caught a nasty cold, apparently.

Then, for five straight days, Chen Xi didn’t show up to class.

With both options closed, Tang Xue had no choice but to give up on borrowing. In desperation, she turned to a shady “friend” she’d met through her recent social circle, who suggested something reckless. A high-interest loan from an underground gambling ring.

The entire process terrified her. Her palms were sweaty the whole time, and she nearly backed out more than once. But then she thought of the profits—so tempting, so seductive. How could she give up now?

In the end, she hardened her heart and went through with it. As she stepped out, she tried to console herself with sweet promises:

‘It’s fine. Once the stock arrives, I’ll sell everything in no time. Just one shipment, and I’ll clear the loan. The rest? Pure profit. I’ll reinvest, expand, and the money will just keep rolling in. Soon, I’ll be richer than Chen Xi. Richer than Gu Zi. All of them.’

And so, with the intoxicating fantasy of overnight wealth, she numbed her fear and plunged deeper into the game.

Time slipped by, and the weather in the capital had grown sweltering. Mosquitoes were everywhere—unrelenting, vicious. And Gu Zi, pregnant as she was, had become their primary target.

She lit citronella coils, kept the windows shut, but nothing seemed to help. The three children would swat furiously at the air the moment they got home, but it hardly made a dent.

When Su Shen returned from a business trip and saw the misery his beloved wife was enduring, he was instantly galvanized into action.

Armed with a hoe, he cleared every patch of overgrown weeds around the house, then disappeared again. Hours later, he returned triumphantly with over a dozen boxes of imported peppermint aromatherapy diffusers.

He placed them everywhere—the bedrooms, the bathrooms, even the courtyard.

And to everyone’s astonishment, it worked. The mosquito population dwindled dramatically. Finally, Gu Zi could breathe again.

It was a Sunday.

Su Shen, for once blissfully free from work, wanted nothing more than to lounge beside his wife and wait on her hand and foot. Unfortunately, Su Li had other plans.

“Dad! Let’s go! Take us out on the motorbike!” he insisted, tugging at Su Shen’s arm like a child possessed.

Su Shen tried to refuse—he really did—but Gu Zi couldn’t bear the whining anymore and ordered him to take the kids out for a spin.

As for Gu Zi, her growing belly made any outing impossible.

“Lele doesn’t want to go!” their youngest, Su Le, wailed dramatically, clinging tightly to Gu Zi’s leg. “Lele wants to stay with Mommy!”

Ever since being separated from her mother for a time, little Su Le had become hopelessly attached. She wouldn’t even sleep unless Gu Zi was beside her.

And Gu Zi, ever soft-hearted, never said no. Each night, she had Su Shen place their daughter right between them in bed.

Su Le, now adorably plump, felt like a warm plush toy in her arms—soft, sweet, and utterly comforting.

Every time Su Shen glanced at the two of them curled up together, he felt an aching mix of envy and helplessness.

At this rate, he thought glumly, he wouldn’t get to cuddle his own wife once the third trimester was over.

𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Not unless he found a way to out-snuggle a toddler.

And honestly? That felt impossible.

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