"Uncle?"
Gu Cheng recognized the voice instantly. At the same time, another emotion arose in his heart, a mix of confusion and anger.
Gu Luxing admitted calmly, without a hint of guilt, "Yes, it's me."
"Why do you have Xiao Er's phone?"
"She's sleeping, and the phone happened to be on the table."
Such a natural, yet highly suggestive statement. And it was enough to breed endless suspicion in Gu Cheng's mind. He tried not to overthink it, but the heavy sense of betrayal made it impossible for him to stay calm.
He thought Gu Luxing would understand his previous warning, but he forgot that understanding was one thing, and acting on it was another.
"Uncle, you've always liked Song Er, haven't you?"
Gu Cheng coming to find him was entirely within Gu Luxing's expectations. He had anticipated all of this when he decided to answer the call. Moreover, Gu Cheng had hung up without a word after hearing his explanation.
Gu Luxing clearly saw the longing in Gu Cheng's eyes, the desire for him to deny it, to make this all a figment of his imagination. But—
"That's right." Gu Luxing didn't give him that chance, even calmly destroying everything. "I like Song Er. I always have, no less than you, and perhaps even more."
Gu Cheng's clenched fist instantly slammed into Gu Luxing's face. He had thought Gu Luxing might explain or evade, but he never expected him to be so open and frank in his admission.
"Why? Why is it you?"
It was the howl of a boy, so intense, so heartbroken, so disappointed. The hand gripping Gu Luxing's collar was strained with rage, veins bulging, his eyes bloodshot as he glared at Gu Luxing.
Gu Luxing's glasses were knocked off his nose and God knows where. He didn't bother to retrieve them, immediately returning a punch to Gu Cheng.
"That's right, it's me. Haven't you already guessed?"
He channeled years of jealousy toward Gu Cheng into that punch. Everyone thought Song Er belonged to Gu Cheng, but his girl—how could he give her to someone else, how could he allow someone else to have her?
"You clearly know Song Er is my fiancée."
"But you don't deserve her at all!"
"But she's still my fiancée."
"You haven't gotten engaged yet."
The two exchanged punches, one after the other, in the residential area below Song Er's apartment, neither willing to back down, fighting until they were completely exhausted.
"Song Er is my fiancée." Even lying tiredly on the ground, Gu Cheng desperately emphasized his claim.
This was the phrase Gu Luxing least wanted to hear, and now it was ringing in his ears repeatedly. But he didn't plan to continue the fight. He just said calmly, "If I told you your father was involved in the accident that killed Song Er's parents, would you still say that?"
"What accident?" Gu Cheng hadn't reacted yet.
"What else could it be?"
"What did you say?" Gu Cheng, who was still lying on the ground, suddenly shot up because of Gu Luxing's words, lunging forward to try and understand, but Gu Luxing's next words stopped him: "That accident was no accident at all."
"Impossible. Father wouldn't do such a thing."
"Gu Mingjing of course disdains doing such things. All he cares about are contracts and profit. But don't forget, he's acquired and bought shares at low prices from quite a few small companies over the years. I think you should be clearer about these things than I am."
Gu Cheng still didn't believe it. "He still wouldn't target Song Group."
"He also wouldn't refuse other people's kindness." Gu Luxing propped himself up off the ground. His glasses had been smashed during the fight, but he still picked up the pieces and put them in his pocket. He explained, "Li Chongming wanted Song Group, and Gu Mingjing wanted a certain project from Song Group. It's not surprising that the two hit it off."
"But isn't Li Chongming Song Er's uncle? He was the head of Song Group's development department. Why would he do that?"
Gu Cheng had worked at Gu Group and understood the intricacies, but he still couldn't understand why Gu Luxing had reached these conclusions.
Gu Luxing's gaze darkened almost imperceptibly, but he suddenly cut the conversation short. "Do you think Song Er would still get engaged to you if she knew all this?"
No!
The answer was so clear, yet so heartbreakingly desperate.
Aunt Zhou, worried that neither of them had returned, was waiting by the door. She was terrified to see the state they were in.
"Oh my, what happened to you two? Why are you covered in bruises?"
"It's nothing, just a little sparring," Gu Luxing explained, touching his wound before heading straight back to his room. As for Gu Cheng, Zhou Yuwei, who had just come out, took him away immediately.
"What's going on?" Zhou Yuwei became uncharacteristically serious and questioned Gu Cheng.
Gu Cheng certainly knew the gravity of the situation. Moreover, saying such a thing would benefit no one and would only hurt Song Er.
"It's nothing, Uncle and I just had a little friendly match."
Zhou Yuwei could tell Gu Cheng was hiding something, but she didn't press. Her face remained displeased, and her movements while getting the first-aid kit were no longer gentle. She angrily treated Gu Cheng's wounds.
Gu Cheng was preoccupied with the turmoil in his heart and couldn't focus on anything else. His mind was filled with the words Gu Luxing had spoken. If Li Chongming was truly the one who caused the accident, and if his father did cooperate with Li Chongming, even if his father wasn't directly involved, there was still a connection. How could he face Song Er with such an identity?
"Mom..." Gu Cheng hesitated, unsure how to begin.
Zhou Yuwei was very intelligent and could naturally tell that Gu Cheng had something to ask her. She knew her son well; if it was something that made him so hesitant and evasive, it was probably difficult for her to handle as well. She naturally didn't want to ask him directly.
Until Gu Cheng spoke again, "Mom, why did you ask me to call Song Er that year and lie to her about the temporary rehearsal at school?"
That year, Song Er was planning to go sailing with her parents. But her mother suddenly asked him to call Song Er and arrange a weekend rehearsal at school. They were preparing for a class performance at the time, so no one thought much of it.
That evening, the terrible news arrived. They were so young and focused on the shock of the event that they couldn't even think about the connections.
After that incident, Gu Cheng had always been grateful that Song Er hadn't gone sailing, and that she had been at school rehearsing with him that day—until Gu Luxing's words tonight.
Zhou Yuwei's hand movements visibly paused, and her expression turned panicked. "When was that? I don't remember."
"How could you not know when I'm talking about?" Gu Cheng's emotions became agitated. He even pulled at his wound from the overly large movement, but he didn't give Zhou Yuwei a chance to evade. "The day before Song Er's parents' accident, why did you ask me to make that call?"
Denying it now would clearly be intentional, and Gu Cheng wouldn't believe her anyway. But what confused Zhou Yuwei was, "Why are you suddenly asking about this?"
"Because—" Gu Cheng almost let the truth slip but stopped himself in time. "Did you know something back then? If you don't want to tell me, I'll find out myself."
Zhou Yuwei knew Gu Cheng was cornering her, but no mother could withstand her own child. Faced with Gu Cheng's persistence, she had no choice but to concede. "I asked you to make that call because I unintentionally overheard your father's conversation with Li Chongming and learned about their plan. I couldn't bear it. After much thought, I could only ask you to call Xiao Er."
She hesitated as she spoke, but this matter had weighed on her heart for too long. She also hoped to be able to tell someone someday, at least to lessen the guilt she felt.
"Since you knew, why didn't you tell Uncle Song?"
"How could I tell him? Besides, how could I disregard your father's position?" Speaking of this, Zhou Yuwei was filled with helplessness and regret. "I didn't expect things to really end up that way. I've been so regretful facing Xiao Er all these years."
That's why, after Song Er moved into the Gu house, her concern for Song Er surpassed even that for Gu Ye. It was all to compensate for the accident that year and to alleviate her internal guilt.
Gu Cheng felt like he had been punched in the chest, the fierce impact making the pain unbearable, at the thought that his father had actually done something so excessive to Song Er. He didn't hear a word Zhou Yuwei said afterward, and he was still stuck in his thoughts even after she left.
Gu Luxing was absolutely right that he didn't deserve her. Knowing this truth, how could he still interact with Song Er with a clear conscience?
The exam week had just ended when Su Xie came to find her. It was right after her last exam. As she walked out of the classroom, she saw him waiting in the hallway.
"Su Xie," Song Er greeted him with a smile, likely guessing the reason for his appearance.
"Let's go. I'm treating you to a meal to congratulate you on successfully finishing the semester."
Song Er teased him without hesitation. "I didn't expect Professor Su to be so thoughtful. I heard that the class you taught almost had the lowest pass rate in the school's history."
Su Xie was known for his strictness in his profession, and this strictness naturally extended to his teaching. It was rumored that the exams in Su Xie's class were so rigorous that he didn't give an inch, which naturally made it difficult for students who were used to a more relaxed pace to adapt.
He didn't respond to Song Er's comment. He took her to a nearby restaurant, and as soon as they sat down, his expression immediately turned serious. "I've almost finished the investigation into what happened that year. Here are the relevant documents. I think you'll be able to understand them."
"Thank you," Song Er said, taking the USB drive and putting it in her backpack.
Her slightly relieved mood after finishing the exams sank at this moment. She hadn't been completely idle at Song Group, but Li Chongming was too cautious. He basically didn't allow any unrelated people into his office, and all slightly important documents were kept in a safe whose password only he knew. It was impossible to find anything.
Finally, she could only place her hope in Su Xie. Fortunately, he didn't disappoint her. She had tried to use the opportunity to ask Gu Luxing, but he insisted he would handle it for her and wouldn't disclose a single extra word.
"If there's anything you don't understand, ask me after you've read it," Su Xie told her.
Song Er thanked him gratefully but didn't say anything else.
In the end, Song Er paid for the meal, saying it was to thank him for everything he had done for her during this time. Su Xie initially refused, but Song Er insisted, so he could only comply.
Considering Song Er's current emotional state, Su Xie took her home and left immediately.
Song Er held the USB drive Su Xie had given her. She sat in front of the computer, struggling for a long time, before finally plucking up the courage to open it.
Due to the time that had passed, Su Xie could only find very few documents. Fortunately, they were enough to prove their suspicions. As one image after another appeared before her, her long-lost memories came rushing back, and as she recalled these years, she felt an endless, chilling cold all around her.
"Is everything handled cleanly?" It was Gu Mingjing's voice.
"Don't worry, no one will ever suspect that it's related to Gu Group."
"It better be. Otherwise, none of us will get off lightly."
This was an audio recording that Su Xie had gone to great lengths to find. Although the content was only these few sentences, it was enough to prove Gu Group's position in the whole incident.
There were pages of documents that followed. Compared to the shock of the recording, Song Er was able to read the rest with a relatively calm mindset. The documents Su Xie provided also touched upon Li Chongming's role. It confirmed that he was tempted by Gu Group that year and cooperated with Gu Mingjing by disclosing her father's itinerary. Later, when the Song family underwent the change, he used his relationship with the family to naturally become her guardian, thereby using the shares she held to smoothly take the top position at Song Group.
It also mentioned that Li Chongming had slowly been transferring some of her shares over the years, but she wasn't very interested in that detail.
After reading it, although there was nothing she didn't understand, she still called Su Xie.
"Thank you."
Su Xie's voice came from the other end, full of worry. "Are you alright?"
Song Er hadn't recovered yet, but to keep Su Xie from worrying, she tried to sound calm. "I'm fine."
After hanging up, Song Er curled up in the chair, like a lonely and heavily thoughtful kitten. Her posture revealed an endless solitude and melancholy.
Since learning the truth, Gu Cheng had become noticeably quieter. He had wanted to go and explain things to Song Er several times, but in the end, he couldn't make up his mind.
And Gu Ye was being clueless enough to ask him about Song Er right now.
"Brother, why hasn't Sister Er come back since she left? Doesn't she miss us?"
Gu Cheng wasn't in the mood to answer her question, just giving a perfunctory, "Mm."
Gu Ye could tell something was off with him these days and complained discontentedly, "Brother, what's wrong with you these days? You're listless, and now you don't even care about Sister Er's matters. What's going on?"
"What can I do if she doesn't come?" Gu Cheng said, annoyed, and walked out of the Gu house with a wave of his hand. He was running away, perhaps. Right now, he just wanted a place to be alone, perhaps a little alcohol wouldn't hurt.
He should go and explain, but he didn't know what standing he had to shamelessly ask for her forgiveness. Even though he was never involved in the incident, and even though he was completely unaware before, he knew he couldn't escape the connection.
It was ridiculous. He had always prided himself on being Song Er's fiancé, yet from beginning to end, he and Song Er weren't even boyfriend and girlfriend.
He loved Song Er; this was an undeniable fact. He had always believed that life would proceed as planned, and Song Er would eventually become his bride, wearing the wedding dress he had carefully prepared, receiving the bouquet from his hand, and becoming the indispensable other half of his life.
But the hand of fate had played a cruel joke on him, waking him up from this grand dream and forcefully pushing him out of her world.
He had always thought that drowning one's sorrows in alcohol was merely a weak person's self-deception, yet now, he could only seek it out, using it to punish himself.
One glass after another, tirelessly...
But despite his usually low tolerance for alcohol, tonight he felt clearer the more he drank. His memories with Song Er played in his mind like a movie, scene after scene.
Liking Song Er wasn't hard. It was simply seeing a doll-like girl when he was a child, which sparked a desire to protect her. Later, when the doll's family experienced tragedy, and she truly needed protection, he stepped forward without hesitation as a knight. He just never thought he might not deserve that title at all.
They say alcohol gives you courage, and it's absolutely true. Otherwise, how could he, after drinking for most of the night, take a taxi to the Song family house and appear before Song Er?
"My goodness, what's wrong with you? How did you get this drunk?"
Song Er opened the door and saw a dizzy Gu Cheng, swaying and unable to stand straight. Seeing that he was about to fall, she quickly helped him onto the sofa. She turned to get a glass of water from the kitchen, but he grabbed her.
"Xiao Er, I'm sorry, I'm sorry..."
He pulled her into his arms, and she couldn't break free for a moment.
Unsure what was wrong with Gu Cheng, she gently patted his back, speaking softly and tenderly. "You're drunk. Shall I get you a glass of water?"
"I'm not drunk! I know you won't easily forgive me, and I never thought of forgiving myself. I'm a sinner. You can do anything to me—hit me, scold me, or even kill me."
Gu Cheng pushed Song Er out of his embrace, grabbing her shoulders urgently and tightly, trying to prove himself.
Song Er had never seen him like this and guessed that something must have happened recently.
"Gu Cheng, what's wrong? Did something happen?"
Gu Cheng was too drunk to truly listen to her. After apologizing, he suddenly thought of something and suggested, "Xiao Er, let's ignore all that messy stuff, okay? Let's leave here together and start a new life, as if those things never happened."
"Alright, alright. I'll help you to bed. You sleep first, and we'll talk tomorrow."
Song Er could only try to placate him for now. Gu Cheng was so drunk he probably didn't know what he was saying, and she didn't expect to get any answers from him. At the Gu house, while he wasn't like Gu Luxing, who was always aloof despite his courteous demeanor, or suddenly stern, he would never let himself get this drunk and lose his composure.
Seeing that Gu Cheng actually obeyed and stood up, she thought he had listened to her, but halfway there, Gu Cheng suddenly stopped, pushed her away, and backed up in a panic.
"How can I even say such things to you? The Gu family did so many outrageous things to you, and I actually delusionally hoped you could pretend nothing happened. I'm a complete bastard..."
Song Er was no match for his strength and was almost pushed into the wall. She finally lost her patience and, regardless of his protests, dragged Gu Cheng toward her room, not forgetting to threaten him. "Gu Cheng, I'm warning you! If you don't sincerely apologize to me when you sober up tomorrow, you're dead!"
Finally, after exhausting all her effort, she managed to get Gu Cheng onto her bed. She collapsed onto the floor, catching her breath for a moment, then stood up, took off Gu Cheng's shoes, removed his jacket, and covered him with the blanket before leaving.
"Is Gu Cheng here?"
In the morning, Song Er was about to make breakfast when someone rang the doorbell. She was confused about who would come so early, and when she opened the door, she saw Gu Luxing standing there. Without a word of greeting, he went straight to asking about Gu Cheng.
"Yes. Are you looking for him?"
Although Song Er was still a little groggy from waking up, she could clearly sense that Gu Luxing was angry. She subconsciously tensed up and became alert.
"You're a girl. Letting a boy into your house in the middle of the night—do you know what could happen?"
As expected, in the next second, Gu Luxing unleashed his anger on her. Even though he clearly knew nothing like that could have happened between her and Gu Cheng, he still scolded her with a stern face and harsh words.
Song Er defended herself in a low voice, feeling wronged. "Gu Cheng was completely passed out. What consequences could there be?"
Gu Luxing glared at her, stopped himself from saying more, and walked straight into the house. This was his first time here, so he wasn't familiar with the place, but he found Gu Cheng in the bedroom using intuition alone.
Gu Cheng hadn't fully woken up from his hangover last night. Gu Luxing forcefully pulled him up and dragged him to the bathroom to splash cold water on his face. Finally, his mind cleared. He looked at the room's decor, then at Gu Luxing, and realized what had happened, feeling ashamed.
"Uncle, I'm sorry."
"Is this appropriate? Come back with me. Auntie is very worried about you."
Seeing that they were leaving so quickly, Song Er reluctantly braced herself and stepped forward. "Why don't you stay for breakfast before you go?"
"No need!" Gu Luxing said, turning his back and leaving with Gu Cheng without looking back.
Song Er was left watching the open door helplessly. Although Gu Luxing hadn't said anything, she was very sure he was angry.
Having interacted with him for several years, Song Er knew Gu Luxing's temperament somewhat. When he was angry, he wouldn't listen to anything. She wasn't ready to clash with him yet, but Gu Cheng...
Given the situation last night, anyone could tell something had happened. What could it be that made Gu Cheng drink like that, and all those incoherent words... Thinking of this, Song Er suddenly realized—could it be that matter?
After considering it, she decided to look for Gu Luxing. Based on his behavior this morning, he seemed to be in the know. Regardless of the circumstances, the matter from that year didn't involve Gu Cheng, and she had always considered Gu Cheng a good friend. If it was what she thought, she might need to clarify some things with Gu Cheng.
Gu Group was no stranger to Song Er, and its people were even less so. Sure enough, as soon as she stepped into Gu Group, Han Xun walked out.
"President Gu is busy right now. You can wait for him in the lounge."
His attitude toward her was the same as ever. She didn't know what she had done to offend him. She was the one who left because Gu Luxing was going to get engaged, yet somehow, it always seemed like she was the one who had done something wrong in the end.
Song Er didn't argue with him and didn't want to waste his time. She simply said, "You go do your work. Don't worry about me."
Han Xun didn't stand on ceremony, nodding slightly and actually going about his business, leaving Song Er alone at Gu Group.
Song Er sighed gloomily and walked to the lounge to wait for Gu Luxing. However, as she passed Gu Luxing's office, her steps suddenly stopped, and she couldn't move her feet.
"You're making such big moves recently. Aren't you afraid they'll notice? It will make things difficult later on."
That voice made Song Er's face sink. Although she hadn't heard it many times, it was too familiar. Every word carried the gentle refinement of a noble family, yet revealed a rare arrogance and condescension. She knew only one person: Jiang Jingjing.
"I have a sense of proportion," Gu Luxing's tone toward her was relatively calm. "I never expected to resolve all of this easily from the start."
Jiang Jingjing's tone was as haughty as ever. "I'm cooperating with you because I see the potential for Gu Group and Jiang Group to develop. But if you don't guarantee Jiang Group's future cooperation with Gu Group, I won't hesitate to betray you."
"If I didn't even have that much ability, you wouldn't have agreed to my suggestion in the first place."
Jiang Jingjing's tone was dismissive and she disagreed with him. "Hard to say. After all, what happened that year makes it difficult for me not to care."
"The rumor is that Miss Jiang was the one who broke off the engagement. I'm the one who should be bothered."
Jiang Jingjing rarely smiled, and her tone relaxed, yet it sounded strangely melancholic. "Are you this cold-hearted to everyone except her? I thought you'd at least comfort me a little."
"Do you need that?"
"Forget it then."
Jiang Jingjing refused decisively, quickly finishing the coffee in her cup. She wasn't planning to stay long. She had only come to Gu Group for a business matter and to offer a few extra reminders, but the other party clearly didn't need them. Naturally, she had nothing more to say.
Song Er subconsciously wanted to hide. Even though that would seem a little pathetic, it was better than running into Jiang Jingjing here. However, Jiang Jingjing moved too quickly. Before Song Er could move away, she had already opened the door.
"Song Er?" Jiang Jingjing recognized her at a glance. Although surprised, she immediately gave a slight chuckle. "What a coincidence, running into you here."
Song Er turned awkwardly, her smile strained. "Not really a coincidence."
Gu Luxing also noticed the scene at the door. He stood up and his gaze fell on Song Er. "Why are you—"
"I hope you don't mind if I borrow her for a while."
Jiang Jingjing interrupted Gu Luxing. Her tone was still polite, but it carried an air of determination. Song Er, caught in the middle, lost the right to speak.
"What good would it do if I minded?" Gu Luxing glanced at Song Er, not angry at Jiang Jingjing's move, but only reminding her, "You should ask her that question yourself."
Jiang Jingjing understood and turned to Song Er, wearing a rare smile. "You wouldn't refuse, would you?" A rhetorical question, combined with her polite attitude, made Song Er's refusal seem petty.
After her gaze went back and forth between the two, Song Er finally forced a smile. "No."
The cafe downstairs at Gu Group was playing soothing music. The rich aroma of coffee mixed with the sweet scent of bread—it was a perfect spot to relax in the afternoon. However, Song Er, sitting stiffly and upright, felt anything but relaxed.
"Why did you want to talk to me?"
She always felt compelled to be on high alert when facing Jiang Jingjing.
Compared to her, Jiang Jingjing was much more composed. Even though she had just had a cup of coffee at Gu Luxing's office, she ordered another one to match the setting, sipping it slowly until she suddenly placed the cup on the table with a light thud.
"I really want to know what's so special about you that makes Gu Luxing willing to pay so much for you."
Jiang Jingjing observed Song Er seriously, trying to find the reason. Finally, she reminded her, "Put away your hostility toward me. If Gu Luxing and I really had something, there would be no place for you."
"What do you mean?"
"Gu Luxing doesn't like me. He has never liked me from beginning to end. The person he has always liked is you." Jiang Jingjing let out a soft chuckle, but for some reason, it sounded a little sad. "I just never thought he would be willing to use Gu Group's most coveted project to exchange for me to voluntarily break off the engagement, all for you."
"I am the eldest daughter of the Jiang family, a well-known figure in Xuchuan. Compared to him, it's not like one of us is clinging to the other. But in the end, right before the engagement, he came to me, hoping I would voluntarily cancel the engagement. On the surface, it looks like I rejected him, but in fact, I was the one being rejected. I didn't even receive a single apology in the end."
"You're saying that Gu Luxing personally approached you and asked you to cancel the engagement that year?" Song Er was momentarily unable to process this. If Gu Luxing never intended to get engaged in the first place, why hadn't he offered a single word of explanation, even until she returned to the country? She had never heard him mention it.
"Don't tell me you really thought I was spoiled and willful, deliberately causing such a scene?" Jiang Jingjing stirred her coffee, her speaking speed noticeably slowing down. She had fully returned to her former arrogance. "As a member of the Jiang family, I have self-awareness. If I weren't marrying into the Gu family, I would be marrying into another family. Why would I cause a fuss over such a matter?"
"But..."
"But Gu Luxing hasn't said a word to you?" Jiang Jingjing sneered coolly. "You should ask him that question yourself."
Ask Gu Luxing? Even if Jiang Jingjing hadn't told her, she would have asked him herself. She could sense that Gu Luxing was planning something, and that plan had never included her. But why was he keeping it from her?
But for now, she still had to deal with Jiang Jingjing. "You brought me out alone. It can't just be to tell me this, right?"
"Of course. I don't have the time to worry about you and Gu Luxing's affairs." Jiang Jingjing's face suddenly turned serious, and her gaze became sharp. "I just hope you figure out what you truly want. Don't involve Gu Luxing in making any irreparable mistakes for you. After all, if he jeopardizes the cooperation with Jiang Group, I will definitely betray him without hesitation."
"Miss Jiang doesn't need to remind me. I know what I should do." Song Er was slightly annoyed. She stood up to leave. It was surprising that Jiang Jingjing would tell her all this, but even so, it was impossible for her to simply drop her guard against Jiang Jingjing.
Besides, one thing she was absolutely certain of—
"You like Gu Luxing, don't you?"
Jiang Jingjing's hand movements visibly paused, and her expression stiffened slightly, but she quickly recovered, her tone serious. "My life as Jiang Jingjing has never been just about romance. No matter how good Gu Luxing is, if he doesn't like me, I won't give him a second glance."
She was someone who could pick up and put down things easily. A man came to her with an important project just to negotiate a break in their engagement, all for another woman. Even if he had made her heart flutter before, from that moment on, she wouldn't hold any affection for him.
Song Er didn't doubt Jiang Jingjing's answer at all. Although she had never liked Jiang Jingjing, her character was completely trustworthy. As the only girl in the current generation of the Jiang family and a highly respected leader at Jiang Group, she was definitely an upright person.
After leaving the cafe, Song Er didn't return to Gu Group. She had never been able to truly understand Gu Luxing. Whether it was his affection for her or his engagement with Jiang Jingjing, he always appeared so calm.
Sometimes she wondered if Gu Luxing actually liked her. If he didn't, how could she explain the kiss that year and all his actions these past few days? But if he did like her, why had he never made any promises to her from beginning to end?
How many things was Gu Luxing still hiding from her, things he never intended to tell her?
The continuous rain in Xuchuan finally stopped after several weeks. The long-unseen sun finally decided to show its face. Song Er hailed a taxi and went to Song Group.
Gu Luxing came to find her after work. Song Er wasn't surprised to see his car parked at the company entrance. Whether it was because of Jiang Jingjing or Gu Cheng, he definitely had something to say to her.
On the way back to the Song family house in Gu Luxing's car, Song Er kept her face turned toward the window, silent and seemingly lost in thought.
She could never be sure of Gu Luxing's feelings for her. That man always hid all his emotions very deeply. What he liked and what he didn't like—if he didn't actively reveal it, no one could guess.
Just like the kiss when she was sixteen and his actions now.
She had thought Gu Luxing might not like her that much, or perhaps company interests came before her. Yet, Jiang Jingjing said he was willing to trade a long-planned project for the annulment of the engagement, that he had always liked her. So why, after all this time, had he never offered a single explanation, and why hadn't he contacted her even once during her long time abroad?
How many other secrets was Gu Luxing keeping from her, things he never intended to tell her?
In the living room of the Song family house, the two sat at opposite ends of the sofa. Song Er kept her head down, deliberately silent, while Gu Luxing remained bafflingly calm. Neither seemed anxious to break the silence.
Until Gu Luxing took out a lighter from his pocket and prepared to light a cigarette. "Do you mind if I smoke here?"
Song Er looked up, not answering his question but asking one in return. "Do you want to know what Jiang Jingjing told me?"
Gu Luxing, who was about to put the lighter away, paused. He lit the cigarette, took a deep puff, and slowly exhaled the smoke. "She could only have told you those things."
"Why?"
Why he did that, and why he didn't tell her—Song Er wanted to know all of it. Or perhaps, she wanted to hear what Gu Luxing truly thought.
Her gaze was fixed on Gu Luxing, burning with sincerity and longing.
Since the secret was out, Gu Luxing didn't bother looking for other excuses. "I never intended to get engaged to Jiang Jingjing. The news was released by my father without my knowledge. I argued against it, but it was useless. To avoid damaging the relations between the two families, I could only resolve it privately. I didn't expect you to find out beforehand and even point out the awkwardness of our relationship. You said you were going abroad. I was indeed angry. I felt you didn't trust me, and I was also angry that you made the decision without telling me first."
Gu Luxing smiled bitterly, meeting Song Er's gaze without evasion. "Later, I thought, you were so young then. You might not have been ready to commit to a lifetime together. Your feelings for me might have just been a temporary infatuation. Plus, as you said, our relationship was indeed the biggest problem for us being together. Your decision to go abroad might not be a bad thing. At least, when you've grown up a little and are more certain of what you want, it might be better for us to discuss those things."
"What if I had really changed my mind during those three years abroad?" Song Er asked. Although she hadn't been very angry initially, she was completely calm now.
Gu Luxing looked around the table, finally stubbing the cigarette out in the ashtray. In the brief moment it took him to stand up, he was already next to Song Er. He was so close that Song Er could clearly smell the woody aroma of men's cologne mixed with the scent of smoke.
He leaned in close to Song Er, speaking with certainty, "I would win you back, or I would drive the other person away. You know that what I want, I always get."
Song Er had no doubt about this. She pouted and turned her face away, pretending to be angry. "If that's the case, then why didn't you contact me even once for those three years?"
"I happened to be investigating some matters concerning your parents at the time. Considering the complexity of the situation, I didn't want you to be involved. At the same time, I also wanted to see what you would choose."
He was always confident in everything he did, and he was never timid. But Song Er was his one exception. He couldn't be completely carefree, so he could only suppress his feelings, looking for the right opportunity, at least one that wouldn't put her in a difficult position.
Song Er challenged him, "Then why, after I returned to the country, did you stop caring about involving me and repeatedly provoke me?"
"Do you think I wasn't afraid you'd be stolen away by someone else?"
She would be lying if she said she wasn't touched.
She had thought that relationship had come to an end when he got engaged and she went abroad. She never expected Gu Luxing never intended to end it.
She had decided to close her eyes and no longer fantasize about escaping fate, yet one person had ultimately overturned everything she thought was fate.
When she went abroad, she thought she would never look back in this lifetime, at least not be easily swayed by him. But when he told her he never intended to get engaged, and when she heard from Jiang Jingjing that he had always liked her, her heart couldn't help but lean toward him.
"But when I returned, I was genuinely prepared to get engaged to Gu Cheng," Song Er insisted stubbornly.
Gu Luxing sighed softly, his tone carrying a rare lightness. "But I was always in your heart, and that plan was easily shaken by me."
"Absolutely not! I left the Gu house only because I wanted to investigate what happened that year."
"Xiao Er..."
Gu Luxing suddenly leaned close to her ear, slowly uttering her name as if savoring it, causing Song Er to tense up and subconsciously turn to look at Gu Luxing.
"What?"
"I want to kiss you." It sounded like a gentlemanly request, but it was more of an announcement, because before Song Er could even reply, his kiss had already landed on her lips.
Unlike the fleeting peck when she was sixteen, this time he was unhurried, slowly and deliberately savoring the moment, as if trying to reclaim three years of restrained affection and three years of lost time in this one kiss.
God knew how he had survived those three years. To keep her out of it, he could only glean news of her from family conversations, struggling to hide his feelings for her, not letting anyone see a hint of it.
Han Xun had scolded him, saying he was blinded by love, that he wouldn't know pain until he completely fell for her.
But what could he do? He had tried to suppress it, avoiding the joy in Song Er's eyes and fighting against the flutter in his heart. But this feeling hadn't diminished under his suppression. It only intensified every time he saw her and Gu Cheng together, every time he saw them talking and laughing, which eventually led to that kiss when she was sixteen.
At that moment, he was absolutely certain: He loved her. He loved her so much that he broke through the confines of convention. Even knowing she was his nephew's pre-determined fiancée, even knowing she had to call him Uncle, he still acted as he did.
To love someone is to have your consciousness clearly know it's not feasible, yet your body can't control itself, desperately wanting to be close to her, desperately wanting to possess her, even if that closeness is dangerous, crazy, and off-course.
Looking back, he did regret it a little. Song Er was still just a child back then, and he might not have been capable of handling all those obstacles. Fortunately, she believed in him. Fortunately, she truly liked him.
Comments
Post a Comment