[May You Love Me as I Love You] Extra Chapter 2: Jealousy (End)

Lately, Song Er had agreed to a performance with a theater troupe. To prepare for the show, she had to rehearse with the troupe, so she was getting home later and later.

At first, Gu Lixing didn't think much of it, until he went to the troupe to pick her up one day.

She was dancing to the music, looking so graceful and beautiful. But who was that man next to her?

He had never regretted supporting Song Er's dancing more than in that moment. He knew it was necessary for the performance, but it was still an eyesore.

After the rehearsal, Song Er saw Gu Lixing with a dark expression on his face, standing to the side. She was puzzled. After she finished tidying up, she went home with Gu Lixing, feeling like the atmosphere was off.

"Gu Lixing, what's wrong?"

"Nothing."

She asked, but Gu Lixing didn't answer, which only made her feel more frustrated.

This frustration continued into the evening.

Gu Lixing was in the study handling business. After Song Er finished tidying up, she made two cups of milk and brought one to him.

It was nothing special, but Song Er suddenly brought up the performance and asked Gu Lixing if he had time to go see it. To her surprise, Gu Lixing refused, saying he had something to do at the company that day.

Song Er normally wouldn't dwell on this, but Gu Lixing's behavior today was just too strange.

"Gu Lixing, what is wrong with you today?"

"Nothing."

It was the same answer again, which made Song Er angry.

"Then what was with that face you've been giving me all day?" she demanded angrily.

"Sorry." Even his apology sounded perfunctory, which infuriated Song Er. She looked at the milk on the table and downed it all in one gulp, leaving an empty cup for Gu Lixing before turning and going back to her room.

Gu Lixing returned to the room late at night. When he reached out and pulled Song Er into his arms, she struggled slightly but eventually gave in.

After a long time, she finally heard Gu Lixing speak: "Xiao Er, I never thought I was a selfish person."

Song Er turned to face Gu Lixing, wanting to turn on the light, but he stopped her. She kept her eyes open anyway, pretending she could see him.

"What?" she asked.

"But today, I suddenly wanted to hide you away. I want you to be only mine, for me to be the only one who can see you every day, to hold you like this, to have all of you."

Song Er didn't understand: "Is someone else holding me?"

"Theoretically, no. But in reality, to perform, you can't avoid touching other people."

The more Song Er listened, the more she felt something was off. She thought back to the day's events and suddenly realized something: "Gu Lixing, are you jealous?"

She thought, given his personality, he would definitely deny it. Unexpectedly, he admitted it candidly: "What else? When I saw you that close to that man, holding hands and hugging, I was honestly worried I wouldn't be able to stop myself from going up and punching him."

"We're just professional partners."

"I know that."

Song Er chuckled softly and gave Gu Lixing a light kiss on the lips: "Looks like I'll have to quit my job at the troupe after this."

"That's fine. I'll support you."

"Hey, Gu Lixing!"

"I get jealous."

"You've changed."

Gu Lixing smiled, pulling Song Er even closer: "I've changed by loving you more and more."

Song Er sighed helplessly. It seemed he really had changed. This was not something the usual Gu Lixing would ever say.

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[May You Love Me as I Love You] Extra Chapter 1: Birthday

When Carrie asked Song Er if she had prepared Gu Lixing's birthday gift this year, Song Er didn't react until Carrie pointed twice at a circled date on the calendar. Only then did she finally remember that Gu Lixing's birthday was coming up soon.

Ever since things in China settled down, she had been busy with her competition. Aside from eating and sleeping, she was basically at the dance studio. She was the type of person who, when busy, would have a hard time thinking about anything else. She really had forgotten about this.

She looked at the calendar again and confirmed that Gu Lixing's birthday fell on the eve of the competition. She turned to Carrie and said, "Carrie, I think I've made a mistake."

"You didn't forget his birthday, did you?" Carrie was also a bit surprised.

Song Er nodded shamefully: "I think so."

"You really..."

For the three years she was abroad, no matter how hard she pretended not to care, she never forgot Gu Lixing's birthday. How could she have no idea now?

Just as she was leaving Carrie, she received a call from Gu Lixing. Because of the time difference, Gu Lixing would rarely call at this hour. She specifically checked the clock on the wall: 6:30 PM, London time.

"Still at the dance studio?" Gu Lixing asked.

"No, I just left Carrie's place and am about to head back."

"When are you coming back?"

He rarely asked what she was busy with, but this was a question he would ask every time. The word "back" was as if he were a big tree standing somewhere, and no matter where she, a bird, flew, he would be there when she looked back. But now, it sounded a little different.

She wanted to say she would come back right away, but in reality, she could only regretfully explain, "The competition is coming up. I probably won't be able to come back until it's over."

There was a rare silence on Gu Lixing's end: "I see... Then good luck!" His slow tone sounded like he was thinking about something, but he ended up not saying anything.

"I'm sorry," Song Er said softly, admitting her fault.

Gu Lixing's mind immediately pictured her sad, remorseful look. He could only comfort her, "What are you thinking? Focus on the competition."

"But I promised you I would celebrate your birthday with you this year."

"I have a birthday every year, but this competition only happens once every four years. You've prepared for so long, don't have any regrets."

Even though she knew Gu Lixing wouldn't mind something like this, she still felt bad. It made Song Er feel even more guilty.

"How about I talk to Carrie and see if I can take some time off to go back?" she suggested.

Unexpectedly, Gu Lixing suddenly became serious: "Song Er, you're not a child. You can't be so casual with your plans. Winning the championship would be the best birthday gift for me."

With Gu Lixing saying this, Song Er couldn't insist. She understood his personality; if she really went back just for him, he would probably be upset.

Although she finally agreed to focus on the competition, she couldn't help but feel guilty for not keeping her promise to Gu Lixing. This made her subsequent practice a bit absent-minded.

Carrie asked her if she wanted to go back, but she shook her head. She had promised Gu Lixing she would win the championship, and she couldn't break her word. Besides, she didn't want him to think of her as a child.

On the day of his birthday, various competition matters piled up, leaving her no time to make a phone call. By the time she was done with everything, it was already well past midnight in China.

She still called, and Gu Lixing answered quickly.

"Happy Birthday," she said.

"Thank you."

"Were you already asleep?"

"No, I'm waiting for someone."

"Waiting for someone?" Song Er checked the time again. If she wasn't mistaken, at this hour, even the late-night activities in China would be winding down.

"Yes, waiting for someone to get back to the hotel."

When Song Er saw him in the hotel lobby, she didn't react at first, until Gu Lixing walked up to her.

"How did you suddenly have time to come?" she asked in confusion, her mind a blank slate.

They were both very busy. Gu Lixing was now managing both the Gu and Song corporations. Although Han Xun was helping him, it was still a lot of work. As for her, she would go abroad for every competition, and during her intensive training, she didn't even have time to rest. It had been several months since they last saw each other.

Gu Lixing's eyes were filled with a loving smile: "I heard someone felt very guilty for not being able to celebrate my birthday with me, so I came to check on her."

"I didn't," Song Er denied instinctively.

"Is that so? Then I just missed you."

"Hmm?"

"I had planned not to disturb you so you could focus on the competition, but I couldn't help it. I missed you, so I had to come myself."

Gu Lixing rarely said things like this and felt a bit awkward. Without waiting for Song Er's reply, he took her hand and walked outside: "Let's go, let's get some food."

"You haven't had dinner yet?" Song Er asked.

"There's still an hour left of today. Let's go celebrate my birthday."

Song Er belatedly realized that Gu Lixing had come to celebrate his birthday. She quickly followed in his footsteps. According to the local time, there was indeed one hour left. Enough time to celebrate a birthday.

On the way, Song Er said sincerely, "Gu Lixing, thank you."

Thank you for not blaming me for having to make sacrifices for my career. Thank you for allowing me to feel at ease, without having to worry about what's behind me.

Gu Lixing had a faint smile on his face and pulled Song Er into his arms.

If one person has to give more in a relationship, he hopes it's him, standing behind her and witnessing all of her growth. He can stand still and open his arms to embrace her, and he can also cross mountains and rivers to go to her.

As for her, even if she doesn't look back, she won't have to worry about losing him.

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[May You Love Me as I Love You] Chapter 10: Morning Light

Gu Luxing saw the item Gu Cheng said he had left on the desk—a USB drive. He picked it up and looked at it for a long time before finally plugging it into his computer.

The USB drive was quite empty, containing only an audio recording. Gu Luxing clicked it open, and the first voice that came out was Gu Mingjing's.

"Regarding the cooperation, didn't your CEO Song already clearly state that it's impossible?"

"That's his intention, not mine." It was Li Chongming.

...

Gu Luxing listened to the entire recording calmly, his brows furrowed into a deep knot, as if he had encountered an unsolvable problem. Finally, he sighed and called Han Xun.

"Is everything taken care of?"

"The contacts have been made. As soon as you make a move, I can follow up here."

"Good."

After class, Song Er saw that she still had time before her appointment with Gu Luxing, so she practiced the competition dance a few times. Afterward, she ran into Su Xie, who was leaving late. With so much happening at the Gu Group and Gu Mingjing having paid the price for his actions, she thought the matter was pretty much over.

However, she'd been busy recently and hadn't formally thanked Su Xie yet.

"Su Xie, not gone yet?" Seeing him now, Song Er naturally walked over to greet him.

Su Xie was also surprised she was still there. He asked, "No, I was delayed by some work. Why are you just leaving now?"

"Preparing for the competition, so I practiced a few more times after class." Song Er said, then proactively brought up the Gu Group matter. "I haven't had a chance to thank you yet for helping me investigate so much during this time."

"Is it all resolved?"

"More or less. Anyway, Gu Mingjing has received his punishment."

A momentary flicker of darkness crossed Su Xie's eyes, but he finally smiled gently and praised, "You're truly kind."

Song Er had never received such a compliment. She smiled awkwardly, and just as she was about to say something, a car parked not far away suddenly honked twice, impatiently. Song Er recognized whose car it was instantly and quickly said goodbye to Su Xie, "I have to go. I'll find a chance to properly thank you next time. Goodbye."

"Goodbye."

The smile on Su Xie's face vanished the moment Song Er turned away. He stared at Gu Luxing's car, deep in thought.

"You and that Su Xie seem to get along quite well."

As soon as she got in the car, Song Er heard Gu Luxing's seemingly casual remark. Knowing he was probably jealous for no reason again, she pretended not to hear and asked, "Why didn't you call me?"

"It's fine, I just got here a moment ago."

Gu Luxing drove to a well-rated Western restaurant. After the meal, as he dropped Song Er off downstairs at the Song family's home, he pulled a USB drive from seemingly nowhere and handed it to her.

Song Er took it, looked it over, and asked confusedly, "What is this?"

"Everything you've always wanted to know is inside."

Song Er instantly knew what it was. The hand holding it suddenly felt very heavy. "Have you watched it?"

Gu Luxing admitted frankly, "Yes."

"That..." Song Er suddenly became hesitant.

"I won't say anything," Gu Luxing knew what she wanted to ask and refused without hesitation. This matter was intimately connected to her, and only she had the right to decide what to do about it. He didn't want his words to interfere with her decision.

They ended up listening to the recording together at the Song family home because Song Er became fearful at the last minute. She was afraid of hearing or seeing something she couldn't bear. Moreover, Gu Luxing had been unusually solemn ever since he gave her the USB drive, as if it contained a terrible monster.

The facts proved that it did.

She summoned up all her courage and finally clicked the audio.

"Regarding the cooperation, didn't your CEO Song already clearly state that it's impossible?"

"That's his intention, not mine."

How familiar those two voices were. So familiar that as Song Er listened to the audio, she could visualize the expressions on those two faces.

"What? You can make the decision?"

"Didn't CEO Gu want to use this cooperation to expand the Gu Group? And I don't want the Song Group to remain just a small entertainment company."

"Then what do you plan to do? The CEO Song I know is very stubborn."

"How I do it is not for CEO Gu to worry about. I just need a little help from CEO Gu. Just pretend you didn't see anything, and let me slightly adjust the yacht at Crescent Bay."

"What do you want to do?"

"I want to cooperate with CEO Gu."

...

For a long time after the recording ended, she sat there dazed, her lips moving slightly, but in the end, she didn't say a single word.

"Song Er." Gu Luxing tried to provoke a reaction. She was too quiet, unnervingly so.

After calling her name a dozen times, Song Er finally reacted. She turned to Gu Luxing calmly and said, "Gu Luxing, I want to eat." Yet, barely an hour ago, they had just finished dinner.

"Xiao Er." Gu Luxing made an effort to soften his voice, trying to recall her thoughts.

Song Er stared at Gu Luxing unblinkingly, as if she saw something in his eyes. Then she shook her head in refusal, "No, it's not like that. Gu Luxing, tell me it's not like that. I must have misheard, right?"

How could it be her uncle? How could it be him? He was the only relative she had left. Why wouldn't fate even spare her the last one?

"Su Xie... Su Xie clearly said that my uncle only wanted to trick my father into signing a contract and knew nothing about that incident! He didn't know! I... I'm going to call my uncle now. I'll go ask him. I'll ask him, he definitely couldn't be involved in that matter—"

Song Er frantically searched for her phone, but her hands were trembling so much that she couldn't even enter the simplest password correctly.

"Song Er!" Gu Luxing couldn't bear to watch any longer. He sighed softly, reached out, and took her phone away. He held her shoulders and said seriously, "This is the truth. You didn't mishear. Pull yourself together. Calm down."

"How can you ask me to calm down? Tell me, how am I supposed to calm down? That person is my uncle, my mother's only brother. How could it be him..." Song Er suddenly started to cry. She slid off the sofa, confined herself to the narrow space between the sofa and the coffee table, and wept bitterly with her head buried.

She had always believed that the culprit behind her parents' accident was Gu Mingjing, because her father had rejected the Gu Group's cooperation and was trying to report Gu Mingjing's questionable dealings, which led Gu Mingjing to do such a thing. An audio recording Su Xie played for her had also indirectly proven this.

Now, another recording told her that all of that was false, and the real perpetrator was actually Li Chongming.

Fate always seemed to play cruel jokes on her, time and time again. Just when she had laboriously learned to be forgiving and decided to let go, it silently struck her with another blow from behind.

"Xiao Er, sometimes, in the face of profit, feelings become very insignificant." Gu Luxing originally intended to pull her up, but instead, he worked hard to tuck in his legs and squeezed in with her, pulling her into his arms. He patted her back gently, talking slowly.

"If I could, I'd rather you never knew this. But you would regret that, wouldn't you? Since you've decided to face the truth yourself, I hope you can persevere no matter what, and at least bring the whole matter to a conclusion."

Song Er didn't answer, but Gu Luxing knew she was listening, so he continued to gently console her.

He had long considered how Song Er would react to this, but he also knew that regardless of the outcome, she had the right to know the truth. And no matter how hard he worked to find the truth, only she had the right to decide how to end it all.

He wasn't at ease leaving Song Er like this, so he stayed by her side every step of the way, relentlessly finding ways to help her slowly accept everything.

It wasn't until the next morning, after staring at the USB drive for a long time, that Song Er said to Gu Luxing, "Please come with me."

In the CEO's office of the Song Group, Li Chongming was still frantically dealing with the Gu Group's sudden change in management. After he took charge of the company's affairs as Song Er's guardian, cooperation with the Gu Group had remained close, but most of the collaborations had hidden problems.

Now that Gu Mingjing was under investigation, and the Gu Group was sorting out these issues, it was only a matter of time before the investigation reached him.

However, before he could extricate himself, Song Er appeared before him, accompanied by a team of police officers.

"Xiao Er, what is this..." Li Chongming was, after all, a man who had weathered storms. His strong psychological fortitude allowed him to appear composed even at this moment.

The police officer beside her answered for her: "Mr. Li, someone has reported your involvement in an accident six years ago, which constitutes suspected murder. You need to cooperate with the investigation and come with us to the police station."

Li Chongming's heart skipped a beat, feeling something sink. He turned to look at Gu Luxing standing beside Song Er, already guessing part of the truth, but his mouth remained stubborn: "Is this officer joking? How could an honest businessman like me be involved in a murder case?"

"The evidence is conclusive, Mr. Li. Please."

The police officer displayed the stamped arrest warrant for Li Chongming to see.

When the handcuffs were clasped around his wrists, Li Chongming finally realized the gravity of the situation: "Officer, you've arrested the wrong person! This must be a mistake! How could I kill anyone..."

In his panic, he regarded Song Er as his lifeline: "Xiao Er, tell them for your uncle! They must have misunderstood something. Say something for me, clear your uncle's name!"

Song Er took a big step back, creating a distance between them. She asked coldly, "Uncle, Crescent Bay, do you remember it?"

Li Chongming instinctively denied it: "Xiao Er, what Crescent Bay are you talking about?"

"You don't remember? Then let me help you recall, do you remember the yacht?"

"Xiao Er, tell them to release your uncle first, then you can ask me slowly, see if I can remember."

Song Er suddenly let out a cold laugh and shouted hysterically, "Then do you remember how my mother died?"

Li Chongming's spirit broke. He rushed forward and grabbed Song Er's sleeve, kneeling on the ground and begging, "Xiao Er, no, listen to your uncle. I was possessed by the devil at the time, that's why I did such a wicked thing. Please forgive your uncle, okay? Your uncle knows he was wrong, and I'm very regretful and scared..."

He couldn't lose just like this. He couldn't.

She had thought that when facing Li Chongming, she might soften, but hearing his excuses now, she realized how ridiculous her thoughts were.

"Do you want to tell all this to my mother too?" Song Er glared at him venomously, speaking every word distinctly.

Li Chongming seemed to have been pierced. His energy instantly drained. His lips moved, but in the end, he said nothing more.

As the police were about to take him away, he passed by Gu Luxing and suddenly grabbed his clothes, asking with desperate urgency, "Can you let me see her?"

Almost instantly, Gu Luxing's fist landed on Li Chongming's face: "You bastard!"

Song Er, standing beside him, was startled by Gu Luxing's sudden rage. Before he could strike again, she quickly stopped him and told the police officers, "Take him away quickly."

Li Chongming tried to plead further, but he couldn't resist the two strong young officers who forcefully dragged him away.

Long after Li Chongming was gone, Gu Luxing remained in his previous posture, his face dark as ink.

Song Er reached out and touched him: "Gu Luxing, are you alright..."

Gu Luxing finally reacted to Song Er's voice, grasping the hand that touched him: "I'm fine."

His sudden loss of control, even resorting to violence, was completely out of character. Song Er was worried but ultimately refrained from asking anything, simply leaving with Gu Luxing.

Before leaving, she glanced at the office. The busy searching police officers were just collecting the photo frame on the desk. If she remembered correctly, it contained a family photo that included Li Chongming.

She hadn't slept at all the night after hearing the recording. She knew that if she didn't pursue anything, Gu Luxing would also pretend nothing had happened.

Perhaps she could also let Li Chongming go, give him money to leave Xuchuan, and never see him again.

But after all her hard work for so long, she had to close the chapter on the events of that year. Those who commit wrongdoings must ultimately face punishment. After a long period of internal struggle, she finally handed the recording and the other documents she had requested from Gu Luxing over to the police herself.

She didn't want to have a persistent knot in her heart. Whenever she thought of that year, whenever she thought of her parents' appearance before they went out to sea that day, she knew she couldn't regret her decision.

When Han Xun brought a lawyer to see Song Er and said she needed to go to the police station, she wasn't surprised at all. She didn't want to manage the subsequent matters, so she handed everything over to Gu Luxing. However, some things still required her presence.

For example, signing the stock transfer agreement with Li Chongming.

Life in the detention center was tough. Li Chongming had only been there for less than a week, but he had lost a lot of weight and looked extremely haggard, completely devoid of his former self. Song Er almost didn't recognize him.

Considering she didn't want to talk to Li Chongming, Han Xun handled all the negotiations. Whether it was because the evidence presented by the lawyer was undeniable, or because Li Chongming had already given up the fight, the transfer documents were signed very smoothly, without any resistance. Li Chongming signed the papers without a struggle.

After everything was completed, Song Er said to Han Xun, "I still have something to ask him."

Han Xun looked at the two of them and discreetly left: "I'll wait for you outside."

Li Chongming probably hadn't expected Song Er to stay. After all, if it wasn't for signing the documents, she probably wouldn't have stepped foot in here. Why would she still have something to say to him?

Song Er looked at him coldly, devoid of any emotion, and asked directly, "Regarding the reasons back then, I want to know everything."

What was it that could make Li Chongming go so far as to harm his own sister and brother-in-law? Just for a cooperation, or control of the Song Group? She didn't believe it.

Li Chongming had spent these days in the detention center with his past constantly flashing before his eyes. Only now did he realize that in a moment of madness, he had committed such a foolish act. He was willing to accept the current outcome; this was his deserved punishment.

"Xiao Er, your uncle was blinded by jealousy." When he spoke of those matters, all that remained was endless pain and regret. "When I was young, I liked a girl. She was very beautiful and kind, and she deeply attracted me. I pursued her in every way possible, but she rejected all of it. Just as I was persistently pursuing her, she ended up with a man twenty years older than her. I was young and extreme in my thinking at the time, convinced that she was a gold-digger and that's why she wouldn't accept me.

"But even so, I couldn't forget her. So I swore I would become very rich, richer than that old man. That way, she would leave him and come back to me. Later, I joined the Song Group and slowly climbed to a position second only to your father. I wanted to build a great career at the Song Group, but your father was too conservative and too much of a stickler for rules. Many of my ideas couldn't be realized.

"The cooperation with Gu Mingjing was originally negotiated by me. I knew clearly that although this contract violated the principles of an entrepreneur, it was enough to lead the Song Group to a completely different path. But your father disagreed when he found out and severely reprimanded me. Later, I read a story, and I—"

At this point, Li Chongming suddenly slapped himself, saying in great sorrow, "I was truly possessed by the devil at the time, to do such an inhumane thing. Xiao Er, I'm sorry. Your uncle failed you all..."

Song Er maintained a cold expression throughout, never interrupting a single word. Only after he finished did she ask, "That person, was it Shu Le?"

Li Chongming didn't answer, but his slight pause and the head he buried low fully confirmed her guess.

The person he desperately wanted to see before being taken away must have been very important to him. And this person could provoke such instant rage in Gu Luxing, with such a life experience, she could only think of one person—Shu Le, Gu Luxing's mother.

With the truth now clear, Song Er didn't linger at the detention center. Li Chongming's crime would be dealt with by the law. As for Gu Luxing, she didn't plan to say anything about it, but before leaving, she added one sentence: "Regarding Shu Le, I hope Uncle will let it rot in your stomach and never utter a single word, because you are not worthy."

Song Er finally understood why Gu Luxing had initially been so evasive and reluctant to tell her the truth. The reason was probably also Shu Le. Although Shu Le had nothing to do with the entire matter, Li Chongming did what he did all because of Shu Le.

Since this was the case, she felt she needed to protect Shu Le's reputation.

Because of the smooth stock transfer, Song Er instantly became the largest shareholder of the Song Group. Due to this change, the Song Group had to convene a shareholders' meeting: one, to explain the events that had transpired in the Song Group in recent days, and two, to announce Song Er's succession as the Executive CEO of the Song Group.

At the shareholders' meeting, Gu Luxing accompanied Song Er. He watched as Song Er sat at the head of the table, her voice small yet resolute, explaining to the shareholders that Li Chongming was being punished for his crimes, while also mentioning the company's future development and her hopes for the company and its employees. A satisfied smile constantly played on his lips.

Just the day before, she had specifically rushed to his office, saying she was so nervous she couldn't speak, worried about being chased out of the shareholders' meeting, and asking if she could back out now and simply transfer the shares to him, claiming that managing one company was the same as managing two. Yet now, she was conducting herself professionally.

But right at the end of her speech, Song Er suddenly paused, looked at Gu Luxing, and then continued, "I know everyone is suspicious of my management abilities, and I am too. Therefore, I now, in my capacity as Chairperson of the Board, decide that the position of CEO of the Song Group will be held by Mr. Gu Luxing, with no right of rebuttal."

One second he was praising this little girl for her improvement, the next he was being maneuvered into a position.

Such a bold decision naturally led to some objections: "CEO Song, appointing an outsider as the CEO is perhaps inappropriate."

Song Er didn't seem annoyed by the rebuttal. Instead, she smiled at Gu Luxing, turned back to the shareholders, and announced, "Mr. Gu Luxing and I are currently dating."

Afterward, Han Xun didn't forget to give Song Er a thumbs-up, praising her: "I'm impressed. That move was so brilliant, even our CEO couldn't refuse."

Song Er looked at Gu Luxing, who was walking ahead with a dark expression, and deliberately said loudly, "I don't understand company management."

"If you don't understand management, you can learn," Gu Luxing turned and glared at her, annoyed.

Song Er immediately leaned into Gu Luxing, eyes watering, and asked, "I have so many competitions to prepare for, so many performances to do. If I start learning company management, won't I stop dancing?"

Ah, some people know how to use their advantages. Look, with this tearful, aggrieved complaint, Gu Luxing instantly lost his resolve. He reached out and gently flicked her nose, saying helplessly, "I really can't do anything with you."

However, Gu Luxing quickly got his revenge. One afternoon when he came to pick up Song Er, while she was asleep, he quietly took her to the Gu family home.

Song Er woke up to find them at the Gu family entrance and was startled: "Why are we here?"

Gu Luxing only said three words succinctly: "Meeting the parents."

Song Er immediately became nervously restless, trying to back out: "Can I not go?"

"Someone spoke so righteously at the Song Group shareholders' meeting. Did you not consider Gu Liangping's status and connections in the business world?" Gu Luxing appeared calm and composed.

Song Er instantly regretted her sharp tongue. She hadn't intended to say that, but when she heard others call Gu Luxing an outsider, she couldn't help but want to validate him, forgetting that there were many other things awaiting them behind their relationship.

In the Gu family living room, a large group of people sat side by side. From left to right were Grandma Gu, Gu Liangping, Shu Le, and Zhou Yuwei.

Before going in, Song Er was still hesitant and tentative, but Gu Luxing simply held her hand and pulled her inside. As a result, she now hid behind Gu Luxing, afraid to come out, fearing she couldn't withstand the barrage of criticism.

"You scoundrel!" Gu Liangping, seeing them enter, was so angry that he threw his teacup at Gu Luxing.

Gu Luxing instinctively shielded Song Er behind him but remained otherwise motionless, taking the impact from Gu Liangping. The hot tea spilled all over him, but he didn't even frown. Instead, he pulled Song Er from behind him and said neither humbly nor arrogantly, "Dad, Mom, Grandma, Sister-in-law, as you've heard, Xiao Er and I are indeed dating."

"You wicked thing! Xiao Er is Xiao Cheng's fiancée!" It was Grandma Gu's voice.

"Grandma, I love Song Er." This was the first time in his life Gu Luxing had used this tone with Grandma Gu—firm, allowing no one to question him.

The old lady stood up from the sofa, raised her cane, and swung it at Gu Luxing, continuously cursing: "You ruthless person! Not only did you lock your elder brother in jail, but now you're even stealing Xiao Cheng's fiancée! Do you really hate them that much?"

"Grandma—"

Gu Luxing called out helplessly, but his body didn't move. Other than protecting Song Er in his arms, he let the cane strike him.

"Don't call me that!" Grandma Gu said fiercely, her hands still lashing out, venting her anger with every blow.

Shu Le watched from the side, unsure what to do. The old lady was lukewarm towards her but intensely disliked Gu Luxing, a fact well known in the Gu family.

"Mom, calm down first." In the end, it was Gu Liangping who had someone pull Grandma Gu away. He assessed the two people in front of him. If he hadn't known about this beforehand, he wouldn't be much calmer than the old lady right now.

"Ah Xing, do you know that Song Er is engaged?"

"I know. I admit I feel guilty towards Gu Cheng, but that doesn't affect my feelings for Song Er."

Gu Luxing tightened his grip on Song Er's hand a little, allowing Song Er to feel his conviction and finally summoning her courage.

"Great-Grandma, Sir, I'm sorry." As she spoke, Song Er knelt down with a 'thud', pulling Gu Luxing down with her. "You've been so good to me. It's... it's me who didn't know how to appreciate your kindness and harbored these wrong intentions. I know I should have told you earlier. I never loved Gu Cheng from the beginning to the end."

"Xiao Er, why are you joining in the mischief?" Although the old lady disliked Gu Luxing, she was very fond of Song Er. Seeing her make such a gesture, although she was angry, it was far less intense than before.

"Great-Grandma, I'm sorry. I know doing this is very unfair to you and to Gu Cheng, but I still have to be honest. I love Gu Luxing. From start to finish, I have only loved him." Song Er's eyes were red, apologizing profusely, her head buried low, daring not to face anyone.

The old lady was so angry that her hands were shaking. Pointing at Gu Luxing, she demanded, "What kind of spell did he cast on you?"

"It wasn't Gu Luxing. It's my fault. I was the one who broke the agreement between the two families and fell in love with Gu Luxing first. I couldn't control myself. I'm sorry to Gu Cheng. Great-Grandma, you can hit me or scold me, Xiao Er accepts it." Song Er suddenly squeezed Gu Luxing's hand and heavily kowtowed once. "I beg everyone to fulfill my wish."

"Are you two trying to rebel?" The old lady was furious, throwing her cane to the ground. Just as she was about to leave, she suddenly clutched her chest, struggling to breathe. Terrified, Song Er rushed over, her eyes red, tears falling "pat-a-pat".

"Great-Grandma, I'm sorry, I'm sorry..."

Outside the emergency room, Song Er kept tightly gripping Gu Luxing, her expression anxious, not knowing what to do. It wasn't until the doctor announced that the old lady was fine that she finally eased slightly.

Gu Liangping looked at the two of them, sighed, and ultimately said nothing. It was Zhou Yuwei who came to find Song Er.

"Xiao Er, would you be willing to chat with Auntie for a couple of minutes?"

"Auntie, I'm sorry." Song Er bowed deeply in guilt.

Zhou Yuwei reached out to stop her, saying gently, "You don't have to be like this. Auntie doesn't blame you. It's actually good that you and Ah Xing are together. Auntie feels less guilty."

"Auntie..."

"Auntie isn't like Grandma. I don't have as many scruples. It would be nice if you liked Xiao Cheng, but if you don't, Auntie has no right to blame you. On the contrary, Auntie hopes you can be happy."

Afterward, everyone stopped mentioning the matter, which was considered acceptance. Even the old lady, due to Zhou Yuwei's persuasion, had softened slightly.

Song Er, of course, didn't know that Gu Luxing, besides being beaten by the old lady, hadn't fared well with Gu Liangping either. In addition to being splashed with boiling water, he was forced to kneel for an entire night. If Shu Le hadn't interceded later, his temper would have been worse than the old lady's. And as for Zhou Yuwei, Gu Luxing had gone to apologize and make amends, but he didn't plan to tell Song Er about any of this.

Most of the pressing issues were resolved. Song Er had discussed it with Carrie and was preparing to go abroad in a few days. After all, the competition was approaching, and she needed professional guidance and a relatively secluded practice environment.

Gu Luxing had been busy running between two places during this time. Although most of the Song Group's matters had been handed over to Han Xun, he was still incredibly busy, often feeling dizzy with work. He didn't ask many questions, just instructed Han Xun to arrange all her travel plans meticulously.

Just as he finished the call with Han Xun, his police friend suddenly called: "CEO Gu, the matter from back then seems more complicated than we imagined. The evidence gathered these days shows that there has consistently been another person involved in the background. His name is Su Xie."

"Who?"

The person thought Gu Luxing didn't know him, so he elaborated: "Su Xie, originally from Jicheng, later went abroad to study. Afterward, he was active in the foreign music scene under the name Sampson. He returned to China about half a year ago and is currently a specially appointed music teacher at Xu University."

Gu Luxing listened to the introduction, recalling the man who had always been around Song Er, and a sudden sense of unease flashed in his heart.

Song Er said they met abroad because they frequently visited the same bookstore. But since this person was involved in the incident from back then, how could he not have known Song Er?

He hung up the phone and immediately tried to contact Song Er. He couldn't reach her; her phone was turned off.

He immediately rushed to the Song family home, only to receive news from Han Xun that Song Er had left class an hour ago and gotten into Su Xie's car. The car was now heading toward Jicheng.

He left for Jicheng without a word, pushing his car to the limit. If he remembered correctly, Song Er had mentioned a couple of days ago that Su Xie had a performance in Jicheng these days, his first domestic performance since returning, and he had invited her to attend.

Gu Luxing hadn't paid much attention at the time. Now, it seemed that everything was a meticulously planned scheme by Su Xie. The thought made him even more anxious, and his speed reached its limit. He only hoped to find Song Er quickly.

He caught up with Su Xie's car at the theater entrance, but when he arrived, the car only contained a still unconscious Song Er. Su Xie was nowhere to be found. He called Han Xun and instructed him to find Su Xie at all costs.

Gu Luxing tried to wake Song Er, but she didn't stir. He had no choice but to lift her out of the car. But the moment his hand touched her, he realized something was wrong: her flushed cheeks, her burning body...

"You bastard!" Gu Luxing angrily slammed his fist into the car seat and immediately rushed Song Er to the nearest hotel.

On the way, Song Er's consciousness began to fade. She kept complaining that she was uncomfortable. Gu Luxing had to speed up, his face dark as he asked for a room under the hotel desk attendant's scrutinizing gaze.

He placed Song Er in the bathtub, but she wrapped her arms around his neck and refused to let go. Her body began to rub against him restlessly, as if that would ease her discomfort.

"Xiao Er, let go."

He knew what Song Er needed and understood that if he did what she wanted, she would no longer feel uncomfortable. However, something so important to them shouldn't happen like this, so hastily, almost as if he were taking advantage of her.

"Ah Xing, I'm uncomfortable. Help me, please? I'm begging you, help me..."

Song Er actively kissed Gu Luxing's lips, her hands beginning to tear at his clothes.

How could Gu Luxing resist such provocation? After only a three-second hesitation, he transitioned from passive to active.

If this was what Song Er needed, then he would grant it...

Song Er woke up in Gu Luxing's arms the next day. The moment she saw Gu Luxing, the vague memories of the night before came flooding back. Song Er's face flushed with embarrassment. And at that moment, Gu Luxing didn't forget to mention: "Last night..."

"I don't remember last night. I don't remember anything." Song Er anxiously interrupted him, covering her face in shame. She knew it was due to the drug's effect, but she was the one who was active. Thinking back on it now, she felt she couldn't face anyone.

"I'm sorry, I could have refused."

Song Er hadn't expected Gu Luxing to suddenly apologize. She was stunned, realizing her reaction might have made him misunderstand. She quickly explained: "I didn't mean to blame you. And, I... I really liked it."

Gu Luxing looked up in surprise, stared at Song Er, then chuckled softly, leaning down to kiss her forehead: "I liked it too."

Gu Luxing's men found Su Xie at a cemetery in Jicheng. He was kneeling before a tombstone. In the center of the tombstone was a very young girl, her smile beautiful.

When they arrived, Su Xie was about to leave. He didn't seem surprised to see them. Instead, he said calmly, "You've come."

Gu Luxing said angrily, "If we weren't here, I'd really want to beat you up."

"I apologize." Su Xie directed this sentence towards Song Er.

"What right do you have to apologize?" Gu Luxing looked at him coldly.

"Su Xie, why?" Song Er asked incredulously.

After so many incidents, she could at least face these sudden changes calmly. She had heard some details from Gu Luxing on the way, but she still wanted to ask Su Xie herself.

Su Xie avoided Song Er's gaze: "No reason, I just suddenly didn't want to do it anymore."

Eight years ago, his sister, to allow her brother to complete his studies, dropped out of school to work at a company under the Song Group. However, she was drugged and assaulted, leading her to commit suicide in grief. The location was a hotel room long-leased by Song's father. He wanted justice for his sister, but the Song Group, to protect the company's reputation, not only twisted the facts and covered up the incident but also gave him a large sum of money and threatened that if he continued to make trouble, his sister's reputation would be ruined.

Because of his sister's tragic death, he held a deep grudge against Song's father. For revenge, he exploited Li Chongming's desperate desire for success at the time, writing a personalized murder plot and story based on Li Chongming's situation and sending it to him anonymously. Li Chongming, struggling to expand his influence, only waited a day after reading the letter before executing the plan.

After orchestrating the death of Song's parents, he decided to take the money and go abroad to focus on his career. But he never expected to meet Song Er abroad. Seeing her, and thinking of his deceased sister, his inner resentment was rekindled.

The plan last night was far more extensive than what happened. He originally intended to inflict everything his sister suffered onto Song Er as an act of revenge. But in the end, seeing Song Er's face and recalling their moments together over the years, he suddenly couldn't bring himself to do it.

"You're wrong. The person who harmed your sister was not Song Er's father," Gu Luxing looked at him coldly. "Back then, a small manager under the Song Group wanted a promotion and somehow learned that Song Er's father had a long-term leased room at the Changwan Hotel. He took advantage of the father's visit to bribe a hotel server and arranged for your sister to enter. But Song's father didn't accept, and upon receiving a business call, he left immediately. It was that manager who, on impulse after the father left, harmed your sister. Later, the Song Group, considering the company's reputation, tried to handle the matter quietly, giving you a large sum as compensation. As for the threats, that was likely arranged by the manager."

"You're lying!" Su Xie glared at Gu Luxing.

"I'm not lying. This is the police evidence."

Su Xie took the documents Gu Luxing handed him and examined them carefully.

Su Xie's hands slowly trembled. He suddenly tossed the documents away: "No, my sister was clearly killed by him! There's no mistake! These are fake, you're lying!"

"No, this is the truth. My father does have a poor reputation, but that was all before he married my mother. After marriage, he never betrayed my mother," Song Er said seriously.

"Then my sister..."

"Regarding her incident, I'm very sorry," Song Er lowered her head.

"Impossible, impossible! I couldn't have investigated incorrectly. How could I..."

After learning the truth, Song Er had to exert great effort to decide to come along with Gu Luxing. Looking back, she didn't know who to blame. Because of an accident, Su Xie lost his sister, and because of a misunderstanding, she lost her parents.

The dead cannot be resurrected. Moreover, Su Xie ultimately held back and didn't harm her. However, some things, once they happen, cannot be made to disappear.

Song Er tried her best to keep her tone calm: "Su Xie, I apologize for your sister's experience and I accept your apology. From now on, we are even. We are no longer friends."

Before leaving, Song Er walked to Su Xie's sister's grave and bowed deeply. His sister's misfortune was, after all, greatly connected to the Song Group, and she felt she must apologize on behalf of the Song Group.

On the way back, Song Er remained silent. Su Xie's desperate collapse onto the ground was etched into her mind. She could actually understand Su Xie, but she would never forgive what he had done to her.

"Do you think it's over now?" Song Er asked.

After so many twists and turns, going around such a large circle, it was ultimately all because of a misunderstanding. Yet, this misunderstanding had cost her too many loved ones.

"It's over."

Gu Luxing wanted to comfort her more, but in the end, he didn't know what to say. He could only pull her into his arms, gently patting her shoulder repeatedly.

Too much had happened along this journey, yet no one had anticipated this outcome.

He had always tried to prevent her from being involved in the whole affair, yet by a strange coincidence, they had almost made an irreparable mistake.

He had never been so panicked as when he learned Su Xie was the mastermind.

Fortunately, in the end, Su Xie chose to let go of the hatred. Upon learning the final truth, Song Er was much calmer than usual. To say calm, perhaps she was already numb.

This circuitous truth, whether a misunderstanding or a result of desire, could no longer change the outcome.

The living, besides knowing the truth, should live strongly. He thought Song Er would also understand this.

After several late-night calls from Carrie, Song Er's departure date for overseas was finally set for two days later.

She was still a little nervous when going to the Gu family with Gu Luxing. The old lady's attitude had softened somewhat. She wasn't happy, but only said she couldn't manage the younger generation's affairs anymore.

Gu Ye quietly asked her: "Did you fall for him when Little Uncle was treating your wounds that night?"

Song Er laughed and shook her head in denial. It wasn't then. It was much earlier, so early that her heart had already settled on a certain person even before she fully understood her feelings.

Before leaving, Gu Luxing drove, saying he would take Song Er somewhere. Song Er mocked him, saying she was just going abroad for a competition, not leaving forever. Why the farewell ceremony?

Gu Luxing smiled without explaining, seemingly wanting to maintain the mystery.

Finally, the two watched a movie, and afterward, they went to Xuchuan's most famous French restaurant.

For such a famous restaurant, there wasn't a single person at this hour. The entire hall was empty, occupied only by them. A violinist was playing 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'. The red wine on the table gave off a sweet aroma, perfectly complementing the steak, easily stimulating one's taste buds.

"Gu Luxing, you've really changed."

The old him would never have understood such romance, so strict and restrained that he only felt dull.

Suddenly, Gu Luxing knelt on one knee in front of her, taking a ring from his suit pocket. He looked at her sincerely and asked, "Ms. Song Er, will you marry me?"

In an instant, the empty hall filled with people. Even Gu Liangping had arrived, everyone's faces beaming with smiles.

Song Er was shocked by this instant change and suddenly began to cry for no reason. It must be happiness. Just a few days ago, she was wondering why Gu Luxing hadn't made any gesture when she was about to leave. It turned out, it turned out he had already made all the preparations.

Was fate trying to compensate her? That's why he was sent to her side.

She stretched out her hand without any hesitation. As the ring slid onto her finger, her entire heart felt as if it had been filled.

Gu Luxing pulled her into his arms and whispered in her ear, "I was afraid you'd run away, so it's safer to tie you down first."

Song Er smiled through her tears and said firmly, "Gu Luxing, thank you."

What tomorrow's Xuchuan Times front page headline would be no longer mattered. Perhaps, it was already going viral on Weibo, but none of that concerned her.

She only knew that at this moment, she was very happy and was sure that she would be happy for the rest of her life.

They had hit walls and taken detours along the way, but they would ultimately have each other again, only because that person was Gu Luxing. It was his persistence and silent devotion that allowed her to firmly believe in a promising future, even when facing a path full of challenges and thorns.

The subsequent years are long, with wind and clouds, clear skies and rain. But her remaining life is entirely with him.

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[May You Love Me as I Love You] Chapter 9: Heavy Snow

"Every time this mouth deliberately sings a different tune from me, I especially want to kiss it, so perhaps it'll be a little more obedient."

Gu Luxing finally released Song Er. As his hand stroked her shoulder, he naturally twirled a lock of her long hair, playing with it slowly. He rarely showed such a subtle smile, looking at Song Er with gentle eyes, yet speaking in all seriousness.

He had never been like this before. When they were together previously, Gu Luxing would just look at her deeply, obviously having things to say and things to do, but all of it would just melt into a deep melancholy in his eyes across the long passage of time.

Even when she occasionally tried to get closer, he would pull away as if shocked. He always deliberately maintained a distance between them, never overstepping his bounds, so disciplined that Song Er even started to doubt the intention of that kiss.

She had once been too shy to ask Gu Luxing for a reason, and Gu Luxing was never prepared to say. Later, when she left and returned, the one holding back was now her.

There was always one person holding back between them—Gu Luxing in the past, and her now.

Song Er felt a little self-conscious under his gaze. She hastily averted her eyes and changed the subject. "Right, what's going on with Gu Cheng?"

Gu Luxing had been playfully and amusingly twirling that lock of Song Er's hair. He stopped abruptly at her question, and the smile on his face instantly vanished, replaced by his usual calm demeanor. "Do you think I'm truly very broad-minded?"

Song Er knew Gu Luxing had always been sensitive about Gu Cheng. She'd asked carelessly in her rush to change the subject, only to hit a nerve with Gu Luxing.

"I didn't mean that," she quickly explained.

"Then you should know that I don't want you to be concerned about Gu Cheng's affairs."

Gu Luxing rose angrily. Song Er tried to reach out and pull him back, but he evaded her. She could only withdraw her hand awkwardly and quietly defend herself, "You clearly know that I don't like him."

"Then should I watch you stand openly with him, listen to everyone congratulating you as a perfect couple, made for each other, and also accept that you're good friends with him in private, trusting him without reservation?" Gu Luxing turned to look down at her. "Song Er, I love you. Seeing and hearing these things makes me jealous too."

Song Er's expression changed several times, and tears welled up in her eyes, though she didn't look sad. She asked uncertainly, "Can you repeat those last few sentences, please?"

Although Gu Luxing was still annoyed, he didn't realize the surge of emotion in Song Er. "Song Er, I love you. Seeing and hearing those things makes me jealous too."

Confirming she hadn't misheard, Song Er instantly leaped up and threw herself into Gu Luxing's arms, her muffled voice replying against his chest, "I love you too."

Gu Luxing was taken by surprise, until Song Er spoke again, "Hearing 'I love you' from you really sounds good."

He finally understood what the little girl was so delighted about and instantly lost his reason to be angry. He returned Song Er's hug but still maintained his posture, refusing to fully give in. "Don't think this means I won't hold a grudge."

Gu Luxing eventually told her about Gu Cheng. Given Gu Cheng's drunken state that day, he had to give her an answer to stop her from worrying needlessly.

"I told him that Gu Mingjing might be related to your parents' accident that year. He likely went to ask Zhou Yuwei afterward and learned some of the truth."

"But, that incident has nothing to do with him. He didn't do anything."

Gu Luxing reached out and tapped her nose. "You can distinguish that. It has nothing to do with him, but it has to do with his father. Do you think he wouldn't care about that?"

Gu Luxing was right. With Gu Cheng's personality and his feelings for her, it was impossible for him not to care. Drinking himself into that state was perfectly understandable.

Song Er complained, pushing the blame onto Gu Luxing, "You knew this would happen, so why did you tell him that?" When Gu Luxing shot her a cold look, she quickly and timidly defended herself, "You're his uncle, after all, practically an elder. You can't bully him."

"Then he should know his place."

"What do you mean?"

Gu Luxing suddenly became serious. "Don't always try to put ideas into your aunt's head."

Song Er didn't immediately understand, until the smile on Gu Luxing's face deepened. She realized what he meant, hit Gu Luxing's arm, and blushed. "Gu Luxing, you're too much!"

Monday morning, as soon as Gu Luxing stepped into his office, Han Xun came in to tell him, "Jiang Jingjing is here to see you."

Jiang Jingjing had been visiting Gu Group more and more frequently recently. Many employees even speculated that the two were preparing to resume the family alliance. After all, Jiang Jingjing hadn't had any dating rumors since Gu Luxing. Gu Luxing had many rumors a few years ago, but he had clearly toned it down in the past six months.

"Shouldn't you be at Jiang Group's morning meeting right now?"

"Do you not know why I'm here?" Jiang Jingjing angrily questioned. "Why is the project different from what we discussed beforehand? Do you think I still have the face to show up at Jiang Group? Gu Luxing, I told you this project is very important to me."

Gu Luxing had someone pour Jiang Jingjing a cup of coffee. He remained composed in the face of her fury. "It's a joint project between our two families. The terms I offered are not bad at all. How could it cause difficulty for President Jiang?"

"You!" Jiang Jingjing hadn't expected Gu Luxing to say that. "Gu Luxing, I don't mind you using me to get things done, but you should at least prioritize your own safety."

She had received news this morning that there were problems with Gu Group's project in Fangshan County, and that major news portals would soon start reporting on it. When that happened, it would be a major crisis, not just for Gu Luxing, but for Gu Group as a whole.

"If I, Gu Luxing, didn't even have that much ability, President Jiang wouldn't have cooperated with me in the first place, would she?"

Gu Luxing showed no sign of crisis, but Jiang Jingjing no longer believed him. "Gu Luxing, I can't put Jiang Group at risk with you. Let's terminate our cooperation for now."

After stating her decision, Jiang Jingjing left immediately. Han Xun, clueless about the situation, rushed in to ask what was going on. Gu Luxing could only tell him the truth. "Jiang Jingjing said she's terminating the cooperation."

"What's going on? She clearly knows we were about to..."

"Gu Mingjing is using Fangshan County as leverage."

The Fangshan County tourism development project was a cooperative project with the government. Gu Luxing wasn't responsible for it initially, but it was transferred to him after the previous person in charge resigned for various reasons. He had mostly resolved the issues, so how could a problem suddenly surface now?

Gu Group's morning meeting today truly seemed to be specially held for Gu Luxing. As soon as he appeared, everyone exchanged glances, each with their own thoughts.

Gu Luxing had been seated for a short while before Gu Mingjing arrived, his face glum, though it was unclear whom he was showing it to.

Gu Mingjing didn't bother with any lengthy preamble. He went straight to the point. "I believe everyone heard on the way here. Fangshan County is a tourism project we developed in cooperation with the Fangshan government in the first half of the year. However, due to certain reasons, not only has the progress been slow, but the construction period has also been delayed. Now, someone has exposed that we disregarded the lives and production of local residents during construction. The severity of the issue naturally doesn't need to be stated by me."

The demolition work had been completed when Gu Luxing took over. Now that this had been exposed, Gu Group needed someone to take responsibility, and currently, that person could only be him.

Gu Luxing just held the coffee cup in his hand, sipping it calmly. His face maintained its usual gentle demeanor. Only after he felt everyone's eyes on him did he finally react.

"Oh, the problem is quite serious. However, this is the first I'm hearing about it from President Gu."

"What? Director Gu doesn't know about this?" Someone asked in surprise.

Gu Luxing sighed helplessly. "If I knew, it wouldn't have reached all of your ears, would it, President Gu?"

Gu Mingjing glanced at everyone without changing his expression, his tone sounding distressed. "Now is not the time to investigate the cause. Let's think about how to solve it."

"How can we solve this? Since it's a project under Director Gu's supervision, he should certainly be the one to solve it. I don't think we can help much."

Gu Luxing adjusted his glasses and looked at the speaker, appearing somewhat troubled. "It's not that there's a problem, but..."

Someone then recalled that Gu Luxing was too busy to handle this and said, "President Gu, Director Gu has several key projects for the company next year. It's not appropriate to send him to Fangshan County right now, is it?"

Gu Mingjing asked everyone coldly, "Director Gu does have key projects, but is there anyone else among you who is more suitable to handle the Fangshan County issue?"

Those who were about to speak up for Gu Luxing immediately lowered their heads. The Fangshan County matter was currently thankless. They had only cooperated with the government in the first place to build a good image for Gu Group and strengthen their relationship with the government; otherwise, the cooperation was unnecessary. Naturally, no one wanted to be sent there.

Since that was the case, Gu Luxing had no need to argue. He only asked one more question. "Then how should the projects under my supervision be handled?"

Gu Mingjing's explanation this time was unexpectedly proactive. "For urgent ones, we will coordinate personnel. For non-urgent ones, it won't be delayed if you handle them after resolving the Fangshan County issue."

"Since President Gu has already made all the arrangements, it seems inappropriate for me to say anything more."

He claimed to have no objection, but to the directors present, it looked more like he couldn't have an objection. Because Gu Luxing was Gu Liangping's son from his second marriage, although he was favored in the Gu family, his shares were less than a third of Gu Mingjing's. Coupled with the shares Gu Mingjing had slowly acquired over the years, Gu Luxing's shares were no match for Gu Mingjing's.

After the decision was made, Han Xun stormed into Gu Luxing's office, tossing the documents onto the floor. "What's the meaning of this? The Fangshan County problem was clearly caused by his people's incompetence, which is why it was handed over to us. Now it's become our responsibility?"

"The Fangshan County problem would have to be resolved sooner or later."

"But does it have to be you? Can't the entire Gu Group find someone else to handle such a minor issue? And he specifically demanded you go in person."

"Han Xun!" Gu Luxing's face darkened as he rebuked him. "Everyone knows the current situation. You know what Gu Group means to me. The impact in Fangshan County is so huge right now. What's wrong with me going?"

"Then you should know what I mean. If you go, what about all the projects you're currently handling?"

"Don't you have a role?"

Han Xun paused, then realized. "I'm just cleaning up your messes!"

Gu Luxing glanced at the many curious onlookers at the door and didn't plan to say more. "Get out."

Han Xun left, exasperated, and quickly received a text message—"Who are you acting up for? You sound so resentful."

He immediately texted back—"If you don't act up, and I don't act up, the play isn't convincing."

Song Er only learned about the Fangshan County matter through conversations with colleagues. Later, a phone call with Su Xie gave her more information.

Since the holiday, she and Su Xie hadn't met, but they had kept in touch. They still hadn't found solid evidence to reopen the case regarding what happened that year. Although she and Gu Luxing were back together, she still wanted to resolve this herself. After all, Gu Mingjing was Gu Luxing's older brother, and she didn't want to put him in a difficult position.

After hanging up with Su Xie, Song Er immediately called Gu Luxing, but no one answered. It wasn't until late at night that she received a call back from him.

"Are you asleep?" he asked.

"Huh?" Song Er picked up the phone groggily, but instantly woke up when she heard Gu Luxing's voice. "I'm not asleep!"

Gu Luxing didn't call her out. He explained, "I was in meetings all afternoon. My phone was silenced, so I missed your call. Is something wrong?" His voice was unusually gentle, but it carried an undeniable weariness.

"Why did you go to Fangshan County?" Song Er asked anxiously.

Both Gu Group and the Fangshan government were currently trying their best to suppress the news there, but a few reports had still slipped out. Song Er had read them all online that afternoon and naturally understood the severity of the situation.

"Something came up suddenly here, and I need to go handle a few things," Gu Luxing explained, trying to downplay the situation to keep Song Er from worrying.

Song Er clearly didn't believe him. "I heard the situation is a bit complicated. Will you be okay going there?"

"It's nothing. Just a small issue. I'll be back as soon as I handle it."

Song Er wanted to say more, but Gu Luxing changed the subject. "The Lunar New Year is in two weeks. Have you decided where you'll spend it?"

The first few Lunar New Years she lived at the Gu house were spent with the Gu family. She would only go with Li Chongming to visit her parents' graves and have dinner when he had time. After going abroad, she intentionally avoided returning for those holidays, usually spending them casually with Su Xie outside. This year, she truly hadn't decided yet.

"Will you be back?" Song Er asked.

"It depends. If things here are finished, I'll naturally come back."

"Okay, good." Song Er replied, secretly deciding that if he didn't return, she would go to Fangshan County to find him.

Gu Luxing didn't press for an answer. Given her current state, forcing her to come to the Gu house might be a bit much. However, knowing her personality, she would probably still visit the Gu family. It wasn't appropriate for him to say anything about that.

Song Er was afraid of disturbing Gu Luxing, so they exchanged a few simple words and said goodnight. Even though she had been woken up from a light sleep, after hanging up, she found herself unable to sleep, staying awake until midnight before finally feeling sleepy again.

As the year-end approached, the company was mostly wrapping up work. The office was bustling with busy people. Su Xie had previously arranged two commercial performances for Song Er, and she still had one more to prepare for.

Li Chongming came to find her at noon. "Xiao Er, accompany your uncle for lunch today, okay?"

The two rarely saw each other at Song Group. Li Chongming was always busy, and she was busy too. This was the first time she had received such an invitation.

"Sure. I'll get ready and be right there." She shut down her computer and grabbed her bag before leaving.

Li Chongming chose a restaurant near the company with various cuisines, but Song Er only casually ordered a few dishes after taking the menu.

"Are you adjusting well?"

She was already used to his perfunctory questions.

"Very well," she answered.

"I heard Gu Luxing spared some time to help you a lot?"

Even though she hadn't intentionally avoided the topic, Song Er's nerves still tightened slightly when Li Chongming brought it up. "I didn't know much when I first came here, so I asked him to teach me a few things."

"Your relationship with him seems quite good."

Li Chongming smiled and spoke casually, but Song Er felt something was off, until Li Chongming added, "Has he told you anything about Gu Group?"

"Gu Group?" Song Er frowned subconsciously. "What about Gu Group?"

"Nothing much. I just heard that Jiang Group suddenly canceled their cooperation with them, and he was transferred to Fangshan County. I was just wondering if you knew what happened?"

Song Er didn't understand why Li Chongming would ask her this, but she played along. "I think I heard something about that. Is it serious? He didn't tell me much."

Li Chongming shook his head. "I only heard it from others, but it must be a big deal to send him to Fangshan County. I thought you might know something."

"No. He rarely talks about work with me."

Li Chongming had never cared much about her affairs. His questioning now made her suspicious.

Song Er pondered without showing it, casually continuing the conversation with Li Chongming. Although neither of them revealed the core of the issue, Song Er realized that Li Chongming probably wanted to find out from her what was happening at Gu Group. Unfortunately, she genuinely didn't know anything.

This lunch was a strain for Song Er. Afterward, she found an excuse to buy a cake and a coffee at a nearby dessert shop before returning to the company.

The weekend finally offered a much-needed day off, but Gu Ye came to find her. Because Song Er hadn't returned to the Gu house, the girl, after her phone invitation was rejected, simply came directly to find her.

"Sister Er, let's go shopping," Gu Ye urged a few minutes after arriving.

Song Er was lying on the sofa, lazily saying, "Shouldn't you ask Auntie Zhou or your friends to go shopping?"

"But their taste isn't as good as yours," Gu Ye leaned closer to Song Er. "The Lunar New Year is coming soon. Aren't you going to buy new clothes, Sister Er?"

Zhou Yuwei usually arranged these things. Even after going abroad, she would call and instruct her, but Song Er was always too lazy to bother, often avoiding it if possible.

However, she couldn't find a reason to refuse the girl's request.

Thus, a day she had planned to spend lying down, watching TV, and relaxing, turned into accompanying Gu Ye shopping in the cold wind and light rain.

Xuchuan hadn't had any snow yet this year, but the rain hadn't stopped, one shower after another, seemingly endless. If this were London, fluffy snowflakes would have been falling by now, the sound of 'crunch-crunch' underfoot.

Gu Ye was in high spirits, skipping and hopping happily. Song Er wasn't fond of shopping. She followed behind her, offering advice while picking out clothes for her.

It must be said that Song Er had excellent taste, though she tended to be too meticulous when selecting things. They spent the entire morning shopping, finally finding an outfit Gu Ye liked. They had lunch at a restaurant on the top floor of the mall, then planned to look around some more in the afternoon.

Song Er was much more casual about her own clothes. She found a brand she often wore, picked out a coat, tried it on, decided it fit, and went straight to the checkout.

Afterward, Gu Ye couldn't help but complain, "Sister Er, you're too casual about buying clothes for yourself!"

"It's fine. I think it suits me well." As she spoke, her gaze was caught by the display window next to her. After a moment of hesitation, she finally walked into the store.

Gu Ye quickly followed Song Er. "Sister Er, what are you doing here?"

Song Er smiled at her without explaining. Instead, she pointed to one of the coats and asked the sales associate, "Excuse me, do you have this coat in size 185?"

The associate immediately smiled and said it was a new item for the season, having just arrived yesterday, implying that if she wanted it, they could get it for her right away.

Gu Ye understood immediately, but what puzzled her was, "My brother doesn't seem to like wearing clothes like this."

Song Er's expression froze. She forced a calm explanation. "I just thought it looked good."

This coat indeed wasn't suitable for Gu Cheng. The cut and style were too severe, and the color was too dark, lacking distinctive features. Yet, the first time she saw it, she felt he would look very good in it.

Gu Ye didn't think too deeply about it. After re-examining the coat, she said, "Anyway, as long as Sister Er buys it, my brother will love it."

Song Er didn't refute her. She and Gu Cheng hadn't formally discussed some things, and she couldn't publicly reveal her feelings. If the little girl misunderstood, so be it.

Life was unpredictable. She wasn't sure what lay ahead, but she still felt that no matter what, she should at least do something for him now.

It was already the next day when she saw Gu Ye off. The girl had insisted on staying overnight at her place, and she had no choice but to let her.

As soon as Gu Ye returned, she told Gu Cheng that Song Er had prepared a surprise for him. Unfortunately, Gu Cheng's reaction was lukewarm, showing little interest, which made Gu Ye very angry.

After leaving the Song family that day, he had considered apologizing or explaining, but in the end, he did nothing. Gu Ye had invited him to come along this time, but he had refused, citing company matters.

He still didn't have the courage to discuss those things with Song Er while sober, so he could only pretend to be completely oblivious for now. As for how far Gu Luxing and Song Er's relationship had progressed, he wasn't curious. In any case, there was no longer a possibility for him and Song Er, even if Song Er forgave him.

Song Er had been feeling restless all week, though she couldn't pinpoint why. It was as if something was about to happen, and everything around her was covered in the unknown. She disliked this feeling intensely.

With the performance approaching, she had to go to the theater for rehearsal after work. However, Song Er was noticeably distracted during practice today, making continuous mistakes and constantly losing focus.

The theater staff noticed her state and asked worriedly if she felt unwell.

Song Er shook her head. "I'm fine." She didn't know what was wrong with her. She just couldn't concentrate, and her mind was a mess, with no discernible cause.

Assuming the rehearsals were too intense and she was physically drained, the theater told her to go home and rest to adjust her condition. As soon as Song Er arrived home, she unexpectedly received a call from Gu Cheng.

Gu Cheng hadn't contacted her for a while, and she was a little nervous answering the phone, worried he was calling to discuss those issues.

"Gu Cheng, is something wrong?"

"Uncle is hurt and in the hospital. Are you going to come?"

Her heart plummeted with a "thud," and her head buzzed, hearing nothing. She tried to confirm if she had misheard, to understand how serious the situation was and what exactly had happened. Finally, she managed to say three trembling words: "Where is he?"

Where was he? She wanted to see him immediately. No amount of description was as important as seeing him herself, as being by his side.

She hastily grabbed her bag, hailed a random taxi downstairs, and rushed toward the hospital where Gu Luxing was.

She had only experienced this kind of panic once before: when she received the police call that year. Her clasped hands trembled uncontrollably, and anyone could see her panic. The driver tried to talk to her, but she didn't respond, even her final thank you was absentminded.

All the Gu family members were at the door of the operating room. They said Gu Luxing had fallen off the mountain while inspecting the site, sustaining injuries all over his body. They were fortunate the rescue was timely, or he might have lost his life.

"What's his condition now?" Song Er couldn't stay calm anymore, asking urgently. "Where exactly is he hurt? How serious is it? What did the doctor say—"

"He's still in the emergency room," Gu Cheng interrupted her calmly, taking her hand and leading her aside. "You sit here for a while. It'll probably be a while longer."

Song Er realized her momentary loss of control. She tried her best to restrain herself and calm down. Even though she was extremely worried about Gu Luxing's condition, she couldn't let the Gu family members notice anything unusual.

The surgery ended four hours later. The moment the light above the operating room door went out, Song Er's heart clenched in tension. Only when she heard the words "The surgery was successful" did she finally let out a sigh of relief.

The Gu family was already arranging his hospitalization. Song Er stood to the side with no right to speak. It was Gu Cheng who suggested, "You wait here for him."

Song Er hesitated for a moment, then agreed. "Okay."

The wait was always torturous. The Gu family left Xiao Zhang and Shu Le to look after him, and Song Er stayed with them. Gu Mingjing never showed up, claiming to be too busy with company matters, which was understandable given the magnitude of the incident.

From the afternoon until deep into the night, Song Er sat outside the Intensive Care Unit without moving. Midway, Shu Le advised her to go home and rest if she was too tired and come back after waking up.

Song Er shook her head. "I'm fine. Waiting here is the same."

She just wanted to be by his side, wanted him to feel it, wanted her to be the first person he saw when he woke up.

But even after the effects of the medication wore off, and even after the doctor said his condition was stable, Gu Luxing showed no signs of waking up. The Gu family members changed in shifts, but only Song Er remained seated there.

When Gu Cheng came over, she asked the worry in her heart for the first time. "He'll be okay, right?"

Two sleepless days had made Song Er look very haggard. Her voice was slightly hoarse, full of worry, even fear.

"He'll be fine. Do you want to rest for a bit?"

Despite being very tired, Song Er insisted, "No."

Gu Luxing woke up in the evening. Song Er had managed to sleep for a while at Gu Cheng's insistence, but she immediately woke up at the sound of Gu Luxing's cough, instinctively rushing to call the doctor. After all the checks were complete and the doctor said everything was normal, Song Er couldn't hold back, and tears instantly streamed down her face.

"Gu Luxing, I was scared."

She had tried so hard to control her emotions, telling herself not to cry, but facing him, she couldn't stop. All the worry and anxiety from the two days of sleepless waiting, all the uneasiness and fear, exploded at this moment.

Gu Luxing smiled helplessly. "Why are you crying?"

This made Song Er cry even harder. She buried her face on the side of Gu Luxing's bed, sobbing as she accused him, "Do you know how worried I was? If you hadn't woken up soon, I wouldn't have been able to hold on."

Gu Luxing tried to reach out and touch the person by his bed, but found he had no strength and could only give up. "I'm awake now, aren't I?"

"Do you know how long you were asleep? Almost three days. Every time the doctor came in, I was terrified, afraid they would suddenly say something bad. I was truly scared..."

Seeing her like this, Gu Luxing had no choice but to change the subject. "I'm thirsty."

Hearing his request, Song Er quickly wiped away her tears and poured a glass of water. But her face was still streaked with tears, and her small shoulders were still shaking with sobs, a truly heartbreaking sight.

Song Er slowly raised the hospital bed, carefully feeding Gu Luxing half a glass of water. She still wanted to say something, but looking at Gu Luxing's body, she could only pout sadly and sit by his side.

When the Gu family arrived, Song Er was still guarding Gu Luxing. Everyone saw her concern for him, but only Shu Le's eyes lingered awkwardly between the two of them. In the end, she said nothing.

Song Er wanted to stay, but she had the final performance of the year to attend. She had already delayed for several days and couldn't inconvenience the theater staff any further.

After the performance, it was almost the Lunar New Year's Eve. When Song Er went to see Gu Luxing, she brought the coat she had bought during her shopping trip that day.

"What a change of heart. You finally remembered me." Gu Luxing was referring to the time she returned to the country and hadn't given him a gift.

Song Er didn't want to reveal her thoughts. She pretended not to understand and spoke matter-of-factly. "Little Ye said you must wear new clothes for the New Year. She dragged me shopping, and I accidentally saw this one. I thought you'd look good in it, so I bought it."

"What about yours?"

"Huh?"

"New clothes," Gu Luxing reminded her.

Song Er was quick to respond this time. "It's not the New Year yet, so of course it's at home."

"Then wear it for me to see on New Year's Day."

Song Er stared at Gu Luxing strangely. After a long pause, she stated with certainty, "Gu Luxing, you've changed."

Words like that would never have come out of Gu Luxing's mouth before.

He didn't answer, picking up a newspaper next to him to read. That deliberate attempt to cover up his feelings only deepened the smile in Song Er's eyes.

Although Gu Luxing was recovering well, he still had some time before he could be discharged. With the Lunar New Year's Eve approaching, it seemed he would have to spend the holiday in the hospital this year.

Song Group had gone on holiday two days ago, so Song Er spent most of her time at the hospital now. Shu Le came to see Gu Luxing every day. Seeing Song Er there, she didn't ask any questions, but Song Er once saw Shu Le talking to Gu Luxing outside the door, but Gu Luxing never mentioned it afterward.

Next to Shu Le, Han Xun was the most frequent visitor. Song Er usually avoided them when they had things to discuss, but she still couldn't avoid seeing him.

Han Xun's attitude toward Song Er was still the same, but recently, he seemed a little more awkward. Song Er thought about it and decided to find a time to clear the air.

"Han Xun, how did I offend you?" Song Er stopped him downstairs when he came to visit again.

Han Xun hadn't expected her to proactively ask, but having followed Gu Luxing for so long, he still had some composure.

"You didn't," he replied calmly.

"Then what's with this attitude? Is it because I decided to go abroad without telling anyone? But I didn't know then that Gu Luxing wasn't planning on getting engaged."

"You just didn't trust President Gu at all."

Song Er was still annoyed about this. She was immersed in the grief of Gu Luxing and Jiang Jingjing's impending engagement, and Gu Luxing hadn't offered a single explanation. How could she have thought about anything else?

"That's unfair! He kept his mouth shut and told me nothing. Can you blame me for that? Besides, your President Gu later said that me going abroad was a good thing, that it allowed me to grow up, become independent, and mature my thinking."

Han Xun was exasperated. "President Gu just loves you too much."

"Are you jealous?" Song Er countered, then smiled ingratiatingly. "Handsome Han Xun, since I didn't do anything wrong, why don't you be the bigger person and forgive me?"

Han Xun didn't answer and walked past her to find Gu Luxing. Song Er didn't mind. When she put her mind to it, Han Xun was no match for her.

She wandered around downstairs and only went up after Han Xun left.

As soon as Gu Luxing saw her, he asked if she and Han Xun had made up. She didn't say anything, but Gu Luxing explained first. "He's mad at me, mad that I gave up such a good project for you during a crucial period."

Song Er was surprised he would talk about this but didn't press. She didn't want to get involved in the matters between Han Xun and him.

On New Year's Eve, Shu Le came to see Gu Luxing early, intending to stay and accompany him, but Gu Luxing refused.

The Gu family had invited Song Er beforehand, but she had politely declined, claiming she would be spending the New Year with her uncle this year. Yet, here she was at the hospital.

Gu Luxing smiled faintly when he saw her, saying with satisfaction, "Little Ye was right. You should wear new clothes for the New Year. You look lively."

Song Er ignored him and set out the food she had brought, treating it as their New Year's Eve dinner. After eating, Song Er scooped up a bowl of bone broth that Shu Le had brought that afternoon and gave it to Gu Luxing.

After finishing the soup, Gu Luxing lay on the bed and rarely sighed, "A while ago, I asked you where you planned to spend the New Year. I never thought it would be here."

"Stop talking about it."

Song Er was both distressed by Gu Luxing's injury and angry that he hadn't taken better care of himself. However, he seemed to be enjoying the forced rest.

"If it wasn't here, did you decide where you would go?"

She didn't really need to think about it. It would either be a simple dinner with Li Chongming or a visit to the Gu house. If he hadn't been hurt, there would have been another option.

"If you hadn't come back, it might have been Fangshan County," Song Er answered truthfully.

This answer clearly pleased Gu Luxing. He looked at Song Er thoughtfully and praised her. "Truly, I didn't spoil you for nothing."

That comment sounded a bit off, but before Song Er could figure out how to object, the sound of fireworks exploding outside filled the air, adding a festive New Year atmosphere.

"Can you help me to the window?" Gu Luxing requested.

Xuchuan had implemented a ban on fireworks in recent years, but there was usually a bit of leniency during the New Year. After all, the lively sounds made it feel more like the holiday.

Song Er watched the fireworks blooming across the sky and sighed. "We should have bought some sparklers and gone to the seaside to set them off right now."

"We will, once I'm better."

"Gu Luxing, once you're better, let's go see a movie, or go shopping. How about a concert, or a vacation?"

Song Er was excited. These were all things she wanted to do with him, without excuses, without being constrained by various reasons. They could do them together openly and honestly.

"Okay," Gu Luxing smiled gently, his eyes and brows full of affection.

Song Er moved a chair closer, propping her head on the back of it to watch the fireworks. Her voice was low, like a murmur. "Gu Luxing, do you know? The moment I saw you wake up, I had only one thought: Thank goodness you're okay."

Gu Luxing reached back and stroked her head. "I'm sorry. I worried you."

"I was genuinely scared then. I always seem to have a little bit of bad luck. I never know when fate will strike me a blow. I had just heard you say you love me, and I was finally starting to have some hope. I really don't want to lose you again."

That soft voice made her fear palpable.

"You won't. Never again."

Gu Luxing promised firmly. From now on, he would do everything in his power to protect her, so that only happiness remained in her future.

"Gu Luxing!" Song Er suddenly exclaimed. She opened the window a bit to confirm, then held out her hand to Gu Luxing. "It's snowing."

Hearing this, Gu Luxing looked toward the window. It was indeed snowing. Tiny, fragmented snowflakes, mixed with small ice pellets, hit the windowpane. If you listened closely, you could hear a 'shush-shush' sound.

The ice pellets that landed in her hand had already melted, but Song Er didn't mind. She looked out the window, her face full of joy.

She had thought Xuchuan wouldn't have snow this year. She hadn't expected it to finally arrive tonight, just as the New Year's Eve was drawing to a close. Was it Xuchuan's New Year's gift to her?

Let's just pretend it was.

When Gu Luxing looked back, the person next to him had actually fallen asleep, resting her head on the chair, looking serene and peaceful.

He remembered the first time he saw her—she had clumsily bumped into him, dirtying his newly bought shoes. It took him a while to remember she was the girl from the Song family who was coming to live with them. He had casually asked her if she was Gu Cheng's fiancée.

To his surprise, she had denied it. Her panicked and eager explanation was truly adorable.

Later, she accidentally entered his attic. In the moonlight streaming through the window, he watched her cautiously enter the room, timid yet unable to resist exploring, just like a kitten newly introduced to the world.

When she told the old lady in front of him that she needed him to tutor her, his instinct was to refuse. But seeing the expectant and longing look in her eyes, he agreed.

In the time that followed, he learned that she was poor at science, that she often struggled with simple arithmetic, that her geography was a mess, but that she excelled in Chinese and English.

Slowly, he learned that she liked listening to piano music, especially Chopin, that she suffered from insomnia when it thundered, and that she—liked him.

This was unexpected. He never thought things would turn out this way. He tried to avoid it, subtly distancing himself from her. But when she asked him plaintively if he hated her, he softened.

To prevent their relationship from becoming awkward, he could only suppress himself, responding to her delight with coldness and distance.

But he never thought that one day, he too would be unable to control himself, that his desperate desire to be close to her would ultimately shatter the calm he maintained on the surface.

He was a person used to solitude. Only when he was with her did he reveal a rare, genuine smile. She made him believe that perhaps there was another kind of happiness hidden in life.

Gu Luxing looked at Song Er, his eyes full of affection. Finally, he sighed helplessly. "After this snow, it should be sunny, right?"

The hospital was exceptionally quiet during the Lunar New Year. Those who could leave had essentially gone home. Song Er visited the Gu family to pay her New Year respects and went with Li Chongming to sweep her parents' graves. All other free time was dedicated to Gu Luxing. After so many years, it felt like the first time the two of them had spent so much time alone together.

She called Su Xie on the first day of the Lunar New Year and learned that he had returned to his hometown right after her performance ended.

Gu Luxing lived a very leisurely life after the New Year. The man who usually traveled all over the place during the holidays was now an idle patient in the hospital due to his injury, spending his days reading, sleeping, and cooperating with physical therapy.

Actually, it wasn't just because of the injury. Su Xie had told her during a phone call that because of the Fangshan County incident, Jiang Jingjing had terminated the project cooperation with him, and Gu Mingjing, seizing the opportunity to transfer him to Fangshan County, had also transferred several of his previous major projects to others.

No wonder Jiang Jingjing hadn't visited him for so long during his hospitalization. She had thought they had just missed each other due to her performances, but now it seemed Jiang Jingjing hadn't been here at all.

She had wanted to ask Han Xun about the situation, but he had been a frequent visitor during the New Year and then seemed to have disappeared for the past two days. She had also considered asking Gu Luxing, but after everything that had happened, he might not be feeling well, so she ultimately chose to pretend she knew nothing.

Nothing seemed to change until the start of the school term. However, she accidentally overheard Gu Luxing talking to Han Xun on the phone about an acquisition, though she didn't hear the details clearly.

She had originally planned to report back to school and then take time off for intensive training in London. However, Song Er was now worried about Gu Luxing's health. She could only delay, risking Carrie's wrath, which meant she had to rely on self-training domestically for the time being.

Gu Luxing initially disapproved of Song Er's plan, but Song Er could be stubborn. When his persuasion failed, he could only let her decide for herself, though her subsequent rigorous training kept him somewhat reassured.

Song Er also discussed it with Li Chongming and decided to temporarily step away from her work at Song Group to focus entirely on the competition.

Li Chongming hadn't expected her to stay at the company for very long anyway. Given her abilities, it was already impressive that she had persevered at Song Group for this long.

When she went to resign, President Xin unexpectedly took her out to dinner. The usually serious man smiled and told her that the project was feasible, but they had to wait for a comprehensive evaluation from the top before confirming whether to proceed. He wished her success in the competition.

Gu Luxing finally couldn't stand it anymore after more than twenty days in the hospital and insisted on being discharged. Song Er teased him mercilessly. "I thought you were the type who never got bored."

"Am I that boring in your eyes?"

"Absolutely! You answer one question at a time, and your words are so brief you're afraid of wasting a single character."

Song Er was packing his bags. The Gu family would be arriving soon to pick him up. When he fell down the mountain, he'd hit his head, broken his ribs, fractured his arm, and had countless minor injuries all over his body. She had genuinely feared he wouldn't make it, and she couldn't believe he was being discharged so quickly.

The Gu family essentially tacitly approved of Song Er taking care of Gu Luxing, but in reality, no one else knew the extent of it except Shu Le. Even Shu Le was conflicted, thinking she should talk to the two of them sometime.

Song Er didn't go back to the Gu house with him. She bought a bouquet of flowers as a token gift for Gu Luxing. When Shu Le and the others arrived, she chatted for a bit, then quickly made her escape, claiming she had training.

She took the opportunity to find Han Xun, wanting to ask about Gu Luxing's current situation. Han Xun simply told her he hoped she would have more faith in Gu Luxing. Seeing Han Xun's demeanor, she knew the situation was likely not simple.

After being discharged, Gu Luxing recuperated at home. Since their relationship couldn't be too public, Song Er didn't visit, relying on phone calls to ask about his condition.

Han Xun came to see Gu Luxing and saw him chatting on his phone, instantly scoffing, "Who was it that said typing is too much trouble and meeting in person is better?"

"Well, I have to be able to go out, don't I?" Saying this, Gu Luxing put away his phone and turned. "Let's go to the study."

Gu Luxing had mostly recovered. While a visible difference remained, it no longer affected his daily activities, except for the more severe injury to his hand, which still required physical therapy.

As soon as they entered the study, Han Xun locked the door and got straight to the point. "He's planning to expand overseas business, and if it's feasible, you're likely the candidate."

Gu Luxing analyzed the implication, pondering. "He wants me away from the headquarters so I won't interfere with his plans."

"He probably suspects you're investigating him but isn't sure how much you've uncovered, so he wants to transfer you out of the headquarters first."

"He's quite vigilant," Gu Luxing scoffed, then suddenly asked seriously, "Has he made any moves recently?"

"The same as before. But I heard he visited Jiang Group a few times, likely trying to secure the project Jiang Jingjing is currently working on."

Han Xun shared the information he had gathered. Gu Luxing was currently alone on his side, and the upcoming matters required him to be personally involved. Honestly, he felt overwhelmed.

Gu Luxing knew this too. He walked over to the side, calmly took some coffee beans, and slowly began to grind them. Han Xun offered to help, but Gu Luxing declined.

"The doctor said I can exercise moderately," Gu Luxing continued the previous topic. "What's Jiang Jingjing's stance?"

"She's still observing," Han Xun answered truthfully.

"We need to persuade Jiang Jingjing to observe carefully, lest she slip up and fall so hard she can't get back up."

After grinding the coffee beans, Gu Luxing brewed a cup for Han Xun using a siphon coffee maker. During the process, the entire study was filled with a rich coffee aroma.

Handing the coffee to Han Xun, Gu Luxing asked him, "Have you arranged the things I asked you to?"

Han Xun accepted the coffee without ceremony, pouring a cup of warm water for Gu Luxing as well. "Don't drink that while you're recovering." That was his explanation.

Gu Luxing didn't argue and actually picked up the warm water Han Xun offered and drank it. Han Xun then continued the previous topic. "It's all arranged. Once they make their move, we can start to reel in the net."

Gu Luxing walked to the window and opened it slightly. The cold air outside seeped in, carrying a rare freshness. He said casually, "It looks like I have to return to the company next month, no matter what."

Song Er thought about it and decided to talk to Gu Cheng. The current stalemate between them wasn't a sustainable solution.

"Gu Cheng, let's meet."

"Okay."

Gu Cheng agreed to her proposal without any hesitation.

They arranged to meet at Xu University. Since it was the weekend, there were few people around. The sky was gloomy, and an occasional gust of wind stung people's cheeks. Song Er arrived first. When Gu Cheng arrived, her face was completely hidden in her scarf and mask, with only her eyes darting around.

Seeing her like this, Gu Cheng felt as if they were meeting again after a century. When he arrived, Song Er didn't greet him with her usual warmth, only offering a faint smile as a conclusion.

They had been so decisive on the phone, but when they met, both were hesitant and unsure what to say.

"That—"

"I'm sorry."

Just as Song Er finally mustered the courage to clear the air, she was interrupted by Gu Cheng's "I'm sorry." They stopped walking and looked at each other, the atmosphere heavy.

Finally, Song Er forced a light laugh, tucking her hands into her pockets and walking forward, but the words she spoke were serious. "Why are you apologizing? You have nothing to apologize for. If you hadn't called me that day to tell me about the rehearsal, I might have died in that accident too. I should be thanking you. Thank you for saving me."

"If I had known what was happening then, I would have stopped it. That way you wouldn't have—" Gu Cheng still felt deeply remorseful about it.

Song Er interrupted him, finishing his sentence. "—That way I wouldn't have lived in your house, and I wouldn't have received so much care. Everyone in the Gu family was so good to me. I was truly happy every day I lived there."

She had held these words in for a long time. She knew his heart's knot and didn't want Gu Cheng to dwell on it.

Gu Cheng had always been by her side, caring for her and loving her. She was grateful and cherished all those little moments and didn't want him to feel guilty or self-blame because of that incident.

"Gu Cheng, I have never blamed you. I'm truly happy to know you and be your friend. On the contrary, I'm the one who did something wrong and owes you an apology."

Gu Cheng had already guessed what she was going to say. He had basically figured it out that day at the hospital when she nearly lost control. Even so, he still wanted to fight for himself. "Xiao Er, were you serious about getting engaged when you returned?"

Song Er's expression was slightly startled. She didn't want to lie to him. "Yes."

"Then if..."

"Gu Cheng." Song Er stopped him from finishing.

She suddenly stopped and looked at Gu Cheng very seriously. "It seems that ever since I became aware, everyone said I would marry you when I grew up. Over time, this became like a task, similar to studying or going to school, something I had to complete at a certain stage. No one told me if I had any other choice besides that."

"But later you discovered another choice?" Gu Cheng maintained his usual gentle expression, but anyone could easily see he was forcing himself to hold it together.

"No," Song Er instinctively denied, but then realized something was wrong, so she deflected. "I also considered fulfilling that promise, but I found that because of our almost innate relationship, I was willing to play with you and be your friend. I felt very comfortable and happy spending time with you. But it's the same as my feelings for Little Ye—it's a trust and dependence like family. It doesn't make my heart race or blush. It's not crazy joy."

She had always wanted to find a suitable opportunity to make this clear to Gu Cheng. Gu Cheng was the person who helped her through the saddest and most difficult times. He was the person she could trust unconditionally, the first person she was willing to confide in. He was a very important person in her life, but not a lover.

When she was with Gu Cheng, she never felt any shyness or awkwardness. She didn't worry about her image or demeanor. She could do anything freely and say anything without reservation. More than a lover, he was a best friend.

Gu Cheng's expression changed several times as he listened to her explanation. Finally, as if mustering all his strength, he managed to ask, "What about Uncle?"

"I love him." Song Er was full of guilt, unable to look Gu Cheng in the eye. "I'm sorry. I know this is ridiculous, but I can't control it. I... I'm sorry."

Gu Cheng looked at Song Er without saying a word. She thought he would be angry, furious, or perhaps scold her loudly. But after a long silence, he just reached out and gently stroked her head, saying, "I understand."

A single "I understand" ended everything. He had guessed the answer long ago, but hearing those words directly from her lips still made his heart twitch fiercely, a pain that spread through his entire body.

He loved Song Er, and that love hadn't changed even after more than ten years of no reciprocation. He wanted to protect her and prevent her from being hurt. If it weren't for that incident, he would have persisted, either challenging Gu Luxing fairly or using Song Er's slight sense of guilt. He wouldn't have given up this quickly.

Even after learning the truth today, he still yearned for a tiny glimmer of hope. If there were, he would abandon everything and choose her.

But there was none. Nothing had changed. And he had heard those three words, "I love him," from her mouth. It was the most direct statement Song Er had ever used, shattering his last bit of tiny hope.

He still couldn't put her in a difficult position. If he insisted, Song Er would feel guilty, unable to face Gu Luxing with a clear conscience. But how could he do that? This was Song Er, the girl he had secretly resolved to cherish for a lifetime.

So, despite the pain and reluctance, he had to put away all his feelings. He could persist in loving her, but he also had to learn to fulfill her happiness.

Before parting, Gu Cheng asked her, "Can I hug you?"

Song Er didn't refuse. As Gu Cheng gently put his arm around her shoulder, Song Er heard him whisper in her ear, "Let's just be family then."

She felt a stinging sensation in her nose, as if someone had punched her. Her eyes instantly turned red, yet she insisted on smiling and saying goodbye to Gu Cheng. The moment she turned around, tears finally fell uncontrollably with a "pat."

She had hurt Gu Cheng after all.

After recovering a bit from his injury, Gu Luxing actually started to idle away his time by looking for Song Er. In Han Xun's words, he was neglecting his duties. He heard this but didn't care. Now, he had no career to attend to and no family business to manage; he was completely free. Chasing his girlfriend was his main business.

To prepare for the competition's dance, Song Er spent most weekends in the dance studio. Gu Luxing would wait for her there, sitting to the side and attentively watching her dance.

Sometimes, Song Er would feel self-conscious and have to stop.

However, today, not long after Gu Luxing came to find her, he received a call from Han Xun and was quickly taken away by him. When she asked what was going on, neither of them answered.

Counting from his trip to Fangshan County, Gu Luxing hadn't been to Gu Group for nearly three months. He didn't even know that the two camellia trees at the entrance of Gu Group were in bloom.

"All the major and minor shareholders are here," Han Xun whispered to him.

As soon as Gu Luxing entered the conference room, he asked in feigned surprise, "What's going on? Everyone is so free today."

"Doesn't Director Gu know? This is to discuss the person in charge of the overseas assignment," someone quietly informed Gu Luxing.

He had already heard from Han Xun on the way there. Asking now was only to make the upcoming events more interesting.

"Overseas assignment? Are you talking about the foreign expansion plan?"

It seemed he was the star of this meeting again. He had been so popular recently, with meetings being held specifically for him at the drop of a hat.

Soon, Gu Mingjing arrived. When he saw Gu Luxing, his eyes fixed on him, as if trying to see through him.

"Let's start the meeting." Gu Mingjing only reacted after being reminded by his assistant. "Everyone knows we have had overseas subsidiaries, but their efficiency hasn't been great. In the past two years, our domestic development has been excellent, and we plan to synchronize this with the foreign market expansion. Because we value this, we need to transfer some personnel from the headquarters. Today, we're here to ask for everyone's opinions and whether there are any suitable candidates."

Gu Luxing subtly observed everyone present. They all looked at each other, remaining silent. Everyone knew that since the company emphasized this, the person assigned would undoubtedly be one of them. No one wanted to offend anyone right now, nor did they want to be the one to go themselves.

Until Gu Mingjing spoke slowly and deliberately. "I recall that President Jin's English is excellent, isn't it?"

The person whose name was called quickly explained, "President Gu, I currently have several ongoing projects, so I'm afraid I can't go."

"How about President Yan? I remember you spent some time in the overseas subsidiary."

"Several of my projects were in crucial stages last year, and I can't leave right now."

Gu Luxing watched them, finding their conversation amusing, and couldn't help but chuckle softly. He adjusted himself into a more comfortable position and said casually, "President Gu, why bother asking? Everyone in the company knows I'm the most idle."

"Are you interested?" Gu Mingjing naturally seized the opportunity.

"I am a little interested, but I still need some time to recover from my injury."

Gu Mingjing was surprised that Gu Luxing was suddenly interested in the overseas company, but he couldn't help but feel pleased. "There's still some time for preparation, so you don't need to rush."

"Then..."

Gu Luxing adjusted his glasses, deliberately drawing out his words. His eyes were brimming with suppressed laughter, making people nervous. But before he could finish, a small commotion started in the conference room. Everyone initially thought it was about the matter at hand. Then, after an assistant handed a phone to Gu Mingjing, his face instantly changed color.

"President Gu, what's going on?"

News suddenly broke online that several of Gu Group's recent acquisition projects had encountered problems, along with instances of forced oppression during acquisitions. As soon as the news came out, Gu Group's stock price started to fall.

Among everyone present, Gu Luxing was the least concerned, looking completely detached and unaffected.

"This..." Gu Mingjing was at a loss for an explanation. After much deliberation, he finally managed to squeeze out a sentence, "This is fake. The matters are still under discussion. How could there be a problem?"

"Brother, you must be mistaken. I haven't been to the company for a month, and even I know these projects ended mid-month. How can you say they're still under discussion?"

Gu Luxing still smiled like that, but everyone knew his smile was only meant to make the contrast more striking when his expression darkened later.

"How do you know that?"

"How could I know anything about Big Brother's highly secretive acquisition projects? Of course, I just heard it." As expected, Gu Luxing's face darkened. "However, these failed acquisitions have caused losses for the company. Why haven't you reported them yet, Big Brother?"

His tone was light, but it stirred up a huge fuss, and the commotion in the office grew even louder.

"You!" Gu Mingjing pointed his finger at Gu Luxing.

"Oh, right. You wanted to use the cooperation with Jiang Group to salvage the losses, but unfortunately, Jiang Group didn't agree."

"You're wrong! Jiang Jingjing has already agreed to cooperate with me."

Gu Mingjing proudly seized on Gu Luxing's slip, but the latter was completely unfazed.

"Is that so? Then the failed acquisitions are true. You all didn't know yet, did you?" Gu Luxing asked everyone using the same tone as the person who spoke when he entered the room, then motioned to Han Xun. "Then I'll just say a few words."

The projector in the conference room was turned on, as if it had been prepared long ago.

Gu Luxing stood up and took the microphone next to Gu Mingjing, his expression suddenly serious. "Everyone should know that since Mr. Gu Mingjing took over Gu Group, our company has developed very well. But there's one thing I don't understand."

He looked at Gu Mingjing. "Gu Group has an acquisition plan every year. Why can it always acquire various large and small companies at such low prices, and these companies subsequently generate excellent returns? To figure this out, I spent a lot of effort investigating. It turns out that our Mr. Gu Mingjing has been creating profits for our company through improper competitive means such as bribery, coercion, and even malicious deception. But I wonder if everyone remembers? My father once said that Gu Group is a company that values integrity and strives to win over consumers through quality. Is it right for such a company to rely on these tactics to survive?"

"Gu Luxing, I know you've always felt Father's distribution of shares was unfair, but there's no need to use these tactics to falsely accuse me!" Gu Mingjing angrily snatched the microphone from Gu Luxing's hand, nearly pushing Gu Luxing to the floor. He forced himself to remain composed and said to the directors, "Everyone, don't believe what he says. Since I took this position, I have been conscientious and dedicated to the company's development, and yet he is secretly using the Fangshan County matter to threaten me."

"Fangshan County. Speaking of which, I also have a question for Big Brother. Why did I fall like that in Fangshan County?"

"Your fall has nothing to do with me!"

"Then why did your man appear in this location the day before my accident?" Gu Luxing took out a photo from the folder on the table. The spot in the photo was exactly where Gu Luxing had fallen.

"What man of mine? I know nothing about this," Gu Mingjing said.

"Do we need to ask him face-to-face?" Saying this, Gu Luxing had Han Xun bring the person in. Jiang Jingjing also entered with him.

"Assistant Tan, I..." The man didn't recognize Gu Mingjing, but he recognized Gu Mingjing's assistant. The reason was self-evident.

"Big Brother, you hired him to frame me, gave him a sum of money to leave Xuchuan, but he was stopped by my people before he even left Fangshan County. Assistant Tan later thought he had fled out of fear and didn't follow up."

"Gu Luxing, aren't you tired of talking so much?" Jiang Jingjing was clearly waiting for this moment and was already impatient. She slammed the contract in her hand onto the conference table and said dismissively, "This is the contract your President Gu offered us. It clearly states that the two families can use the cooperation to maximize profits, and this maximization is far above our expected returns, as it includes, but is not limited to, using this cooperation to acquire related enterprises."

"President Gu, Jiang Group has always conducted business honestly and openly. I truly cannot engage in this kind of cooperation," Jiang Jingjing said, tearing up the contract in her hand.

"You clearly already—"

Jiang Jingjing let out a cold laugh. "I clearly already signed the contract? President Gu, didn't you look closely? That contract is wrong."

It was meant to be a simple meeting, but it had turned into this. It's not that everyone completely disbelieved Gu Mingjing, but Gu Luxing simply didn't give anyone a chance to object. Sure enough, immediately after Jiang Jingjing spoke, people from the supervisory authority followed, entering and immediately presenting documents, preparing to take Gu Mingjing away.

Gu Liangping's sudden appearance in the conference room surprised everyone. Even more surprising was that Gu Cheng was with him.

"Dad, why are you here?" Gu Luxing frowned unhappily.

"If I hadn't come, would you two have turned Gu Group upside down?" He said this to Gu Luxing, but then turned and slapped Gu Mingjing across the face. "You wicked son! I had someone specially warn you, thinking you would repent. I never expected you to not only not repent but to become even more egregious!"

"Dad, was I wrong to do this? You favor Gu Luxing and tell him everything, but what about me? I wanted to achieve something to prove myself. What's wrong with that?" Gu Mingjing's eyes widened.

Gu Liangping's voice grew louder. "Then is it acceptable to violate principles and do those things? When did I ever teach you that way?"

"Ha! You teach me? After Mom passed away, did you even remember to teach me?" Gu Mingjing struggled to break free from the people restraining him but failed. He could only shout, "Instead, you taught him how to investigate me, how to ruin me!"

"You did something wrong!" Gu Liangping was furious with disappointment.

"I sacrificed so much for Gu Group! What exactly did I do wrong?"

"Truly unrepentant!" Gu Liangping was beside himself with anger.

Gu Luxing noticed Gu Liangping clutching his chest. He quickly had Han Xun support him and turned to the people from the supervisory authority. "Take him away. We will cooperate with the rest of the investigation."

Perhaps he was too angered by Gu Mingjing, or perhaps he felt ashamed to face the directors of Gu Group. After Gu Mingjing was taken away, Gu Liangping only said, "Gu Luxing will temporarily serve as the President of Gu Group," and then left immediately.

Gu Luxing asked Gu Cheng to take Gu Liangping to the hospital, and Gu Liangping didn't object.

Finally, Gu Luxing gave everyone a brief explanation and discussed the cooperation with Jiang Jingjing. Her public statement about terminating the cooperation was actually part of the plan. Now that everything was resolved, the cooperation would naturally continue.

After everything was finished, Gu Luxing leaned back in his chair, a profound sense of melancholy clouding him.

Han Xun stretched, asking confusedly, "You don't look very happy."

Gu Luxing shook his head. "I started the investigation initially because Father instructed me to. Later, when I found out it involved the Song family, I hesitated. But then I thought about it and continued the investigation. I couldn't condone this sort of thing. I guess there's a bit of a heroic sense in that. But now that it's all resolved, there's no feeling of victory, just a sense of relief."

"Because you feel like you no longer have to carry that guilt?"

"Maybe," Gu Luxing sighed, choosing not to elaborate further.

The changes at Gu Group quickly spread throughout Xuchuan. When Song Er heard about it, she quickly called Gu Luxing to ask what happened. Gu Luxing didn't elaborate, only giving a brief explanation.

She had wanted to ask about Gu Cheng, but after thinking about it, she decided against it. She didn't really have the right to care about him anymore.

After the incident, Gu Cheng suddenly announced that he would be going abroad. The atmosphere at the dinner table had been strained ever since the major change at Gu Group. On the night the incident occurred, as soon as Gu Luxing walked through the door, Old Mrs. Gu had struck him fiercely with her cane, calling him an "ungrateful wretch."

The old lady had always favored Gu Mingjing more, especially since Gu Mingjing's mother had passed away early. Now that such a thing had happened, she couldn't scold Gu Liangping, so she could only vent her anger on Gu Luxing.

Gu Luxing hadn't resisted at all, silently enduring about ten blows with the cane before she stopped.

"I'm planning to go abroad soon," Gu Cheng said with a firm attitude, not sounding like he was discussing it with anyone. Gu Mingjing was currently under investigation, and the outcome was predictable. His announcement to go abroad at this time was somewhat surprising.

"What? You're going abroad?" Gu Ye was the first to exclaim in surprise.

"Yes, I've already decided," he explained gently, without any room for negotiation.

Everyone wanted to ask more questions, but Gu Liangping spoke up. "Since you've decided, if you need anything, you can ask A-Xing. I'll have him arrange it for you."

Gu Cheng looked at Gu Luxing. After a long pause, he said calmly, "Thank you, Uncle."

Gu Luxing told Song Er about Gu Cheng going abroad. Just as Song Er was hesitating about whether or not to say goodbye, Gu Cheng came to find her.

In the dessert shop, the aroma of wheat mingled with the sweetness of cream. Song Er poked the slice of mille-feuille in front of her, preparing herself for a long time before speaking. "I heard you're planning to go abroad?"

Gu Cheng had returned to his usual gentle smile, pushing his own dessert toward Song Er. "Yes, it'll be sometime soon."

"Where are you planning to go?" Song Er asked.

"Italy, I think."

The single word struck Song Er like an electric shock. She stopped everything she was doing and looked at Gu Cheng in surprise.

She remembered being on the boat in Tongxi Town, when he asked her which country she would choose if she went abroad, and she had said Italy. Later, he had said that he would always take her with him whenever he went abroad. But there would be no later now. He wouldn't be taking her anywhere anymore.

She suddenly felt her throat go dry. After several attempts, she finally heard her own hoarse voice. "That's nice."

Gu Cheng didn't notice her change and maintained his initial smile, agreeing with her statement. "Yes, I think it's nice too."

They didn't chat much after that. After finishing both desserts, they went their separate ways.

When she went to see Gu Cheng off, Song Er stood on the very edge of the group, never actively getting close to him. So much had happened at the Gu house that no one mentioned her engagement with Gu Cheng anymore. It was as if everything had silently concluded through this tacit agreement.

Gu Cheng said goodbye to everyone individually. When he came to Song Er, he hugged her without exception, then whispered in her ear, "If Uncle ever dares to bully you, I'll come back and beat him up for you." His voice was very soft, intended only for her to hear.

This was the first time he had spoken about her and Gu Luxing. Hearing this, her tears instantly fell. She choked out, "Please take good care of yourself."

Gu Cheng tightened the hug, and when he released her, he reached out and ruffled her hair, teasing her mercilessly, "Why are you crying now?"

This made Song Er's tears flow even more uncontrollably, like a floodgate had opened. Gu Cheng didn't dare tease her anymore and quickly handed her tissues, offering a few words of comfort.

Gu Luxing came over then and patted Gu Cheng's shoulder, saying solemnly, "Take care."

Gu Cheng acknowledged him, then acted as if he suddenly remembered something. "I think I left something in Uncle's study."

"Is it important?"

Gu Cheng raised an eyebrow, but in the end, he didn't answer Gu Luxing's question.

On the way back after seeing Gu Cheng off, Song Er was in a state of sadness. It wasn't entirely because Gu Cheng was going abroad. It was the thought of everything that had happened recently. The person she least wanted to hurt was Gu Cheng, yet her relationship with Gu Luxing was the greatest harm to him.

"Gu Luxing, I feel like I'm a bad person."

"Why do you say that?"

"I should have made things clear to Gu Cheng earlier, right from the start when I realized I liked you."

"Everyone was too young then. If you had told Gu Cheng, his reaction might have been even more extreme," Gu Luxing comforted her, subtly changing the subject. "Are you going abroad soon too?"

"Yes. If I don't go soon, Carrie will come to the country and kidnap me."

Gu Luxing didn't say anything. He was curious about something else. "What did Gu Cheng say to you in the end?"

He wanted to know what Gu Cheng had said to her that made her unable to hold back the tears she had suppressed for so long. But she wasn't planning to tell him. She deliberately said, "Of course he told me he likes me."

"Who doesn't know that?"

"Huh?"

Gu Luxing, as expected, added, "He's overestimating himself."

Song Er was just starting to enjoy teasing Gu Luxing, but he glared at her, and she quickly backed down, sitting obediently by his side. Gu Luxing's warning came to her ear. "Try saying that again next time."

She quickly admitted her mistake. "I was wrong. I promise there won't be a next time."

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