Rekindled Hearts: The Tycoon’s Reluctant Love

Chapter 131: Chapter 131: Is She a Rampaging Beast? He’s Actually Avoiding Her!

Gu Mingde watched Madam Gu’s face in disbelief, his pupils contracting slightly.

Her usually fair and smooth skin was now covered in countless red bumps.

They were densely packed, varying in depth and size, so horrifyingly clustered that anyone who saw them would feel nauseated.

Gu Mingde could only take one look before a wave of nausea hit him.

Madam Gu didn’t know what was happening; she snuggled into Gu Mingde’s chest and tiptoed to kiss him.

However, before she could reach Gu Mingde’s lips, he pushed her away forcefully.

Madam Gu fell to the ground, in utter disarray.

Her eyes misted over with tears, not understanding why Gu Mingde had suddenly pushed her away.

In the circle of noble ladies, her beauty was second to none.

Over the years, many temptresses had tried to seduce Gu Mingde, but she had always managed to keep his heart firmly in her grasp.

Anytime she took the initiative in the past, Gu Mingde couldn’t resist her.

But why was he now looking at her with such disgust?

“Mingde, what’s wrong?”

Gu Mingde pointed at Madam Gu’s face, “Did you use some makeup products again? Go look at your face!”

Not wanting to stay at home any longer, Gu Mingde left after speaking.

Madam Gu touched her face, feeling the densely packed bumps, and was shocked.

It wasn’t painful at all; without touching it, she wouldn’t have noticed anything was wrong.

She quickly got up and rushed to the bathroom.

“Ah—”

A scream escaped her lips, causing Gu Mingde, who had reached the courtyard, to shiver.

Madam Gu stared at the woman in the mirror, unable to believe that it was her.

Her body shook violently, her hands clutching at her chest, and she kept shaking her head.

Why had she become like this?

She took out her cell phone, her hands trembling as she dialed the family doctor’s number.

The family doctor arrived quickly.

After an examination and a blood test, nothing was found.

They told Madam Gu that it might be an allergic reaction to cosmetics.

In the following days, the red bumps on Madam Gu’s face showed no signs of receding.

She began seeking remedies to eliminate the bumps at various beauty salons.

After ten days or so, the red bumps finally subsided, but left behind faint marks. The possibility of her skin returning to its original smooth and delicate state was nearly impossible.

Madam Gu was furious; she took the company that sold her skincare products to court.

Meanwhile, Gu Siting also sued her for embezzling public funds. Entangled in two lawsuits, she was unable to get involved in the matters between Gu Siting and Ming Yao.

Ming Yao was recently busy with the Li University fashion contest, and Gu Siting’s company seemed quite busy as well. Though they lived under the same roof, every morning when Ming Yao woke up, she could never see Tyrant Gu.

It was as if he was deliberately avoiding her.

Ming Yao snorted lightly. She wasn’t a flood or a wild beast; she didn’t understand why he was avoiding her.

Soon, it was time for the fashion contest at Li City University.

The Gu Family.

Ming Wan got up early in the morning, wearing a ladylike long dress with a little jacket over it and her straight black hair draped over her shoulders, looking graceful and dignified.

Jiang Biyun looked at Ming Wan and praised, “My Wanwan is so beautiful. After you win the championship today, Autumn Water Studio will be yours, and then you can even collaborate with Fourth Master’s SY Media!”

“Mom, Sister is also participating in the contest, she might outperform expectations,” Ming Wan said.

At the mention of Ming Yao, Jiang Biyun’s face showed disdain, “What kind of design can that rustic produce? You’re the champion; she’s definitely going to be the last one!”

Ming Wan clung to Jiang Biyun’s arm, “Mom, did Dad convince the shareholders? Will they all go watch the competition? I think we should also bring Grandma; that way, she won’t be biased toward my sister and refuse to hand over Autumn Water Studio to me!”

Jiang Biyun nodded thoughtfully, “I’ll go call your dad, and we’ll make a trip to the old house together.”

Old Madam Ming had taken the medicine given to her by Ming Yao, and she had become much more robust.

When Ming Guoan, Jiang Biyun, and Ming Wan visited, the old lady was exercising in the courtyard.

Ming Guoan, seeing Old Madam Ming dressed thinly, frowned and said, “Mom, you’re not well, why are you wearing so little?”

Old Madam Ming turned to look at the three of them.

Seeing Old Madam Ming’s rosy complexion, all three of them were surprised.

Her vitality and spirit seemed much improved over the past.

“I’m quite hale and hearty!” Even her voice was much more vigorous.

Jiang Biyun stepped forward with a smile, “Mom, it must be the tonic Wanwan gave you last time that’s working wonders. Wanwan is so thoughtful and filial, always concerned about your health!”

Ming Wan feigned modesty and lowered her head, “Mom, it’s my duty to be filial to Grandma.”

“Wanwan and Ming Yao really have completely different characters, not only filial and sensible but also talented in many ways.” Jiang Biyun took Old Madam Ming’s arm, “Mom, you can rest assured letting Wanwan take over Autumn Water Studio!”

Old Madam Ming shook off Jiang Biyun’s hand, her kindly face showing a sharp edge, “The improvement in my health is all thanks to Yao’s efforts! I also trust that Yao is no fool; you’re pressuring the shareholders to vote, to choose the champion of this Li University fashion competition as the successor to Autumn Water Studio, but I believe Yao will not let me down!”

Jiang Biyun was stunned for a moment.

She didn’t expect Old Madam Ming to be so protective and trusting of Ming Yao.

Ming Yao doesn’t understand anything, yet she wishes to become the champion of this fashion competition?

That’s simply a pipe dream!

But Old Madam Ming’s health indeed looks much better; what exactly did Ming Yao give her?

A complex look appeared in Jiang Biyun’s eyes.

Hearing Old Madam Ming’s words, Ming Wan’s lips curled into a cold sneer.

Every year, Ming Yao’s designs fail to impress in her exams; could she really beat her in such an important competition?

Old Madam Ming is really becoming senile!

Ming Guoan clearly did not believe in Ming Yao’s abilities either; he treated Old Madam Ming’s words as a joke.

In his heart, only Ming Wan was the most excellent and remarkable!

The group drove to Li University.

The fashion competition was held in the conference hall building of Li University.

It wasn’t just students from Li University who participated in the competition, but students from other higher education institutions as well.

Anyone who passed the preliminary rounds was here for the finals.

A total of twenty people made it to the finals.

Ming Wan brought Ming Guoan, Jiang Biyun, Old Madam Ming, and a shareholders’ representative to the VIP viewing area.

Being a hot favorite to win the competition and well-known in her school, Ming Wan was given several VIP viewing area tickets by the school.

Of course, there were also VVIP seats, reserved for those with the highest status and prestige.

Getting VIP tickets was already a great honor for Ming Wan.

“Mom, Dad, Madam Xiao and Brother Yichen will also come later; I’ll go to the school gate to meet them.”

Jiang Biyun nodded, “Go ahead, and make sure to seize the opportunity with Xiao Yichen!”

…

At this moment, Ming Yao was still at home, preparing to go downstairs for breakfast.

Unexpectedly, she saw the man who had been avoiding her for several days.

Although she could embrace his removed jacket every night to sleep, it had been a long time since they had sat down together to eat breakfast.

The man was dressed in a crisp white shirt, with a business-style tailored vest on top. There was a brooch on the vest, understated, luxurious, and shimmering.

He was sitting in the dining room reading the financial news, and when he saw Ming Yao coming, he indifferently lifted his eyelids, glancing at her.