Chapter 103: The Tombstone (Part 2)

  At two o'clock in the morning, the windows of the old Gu residence still shone brightly.

  Gu Tianxi gently carried Gu Huanlin, who had cried herself to sleep, up the stairs. Her long black hair fell down her pale face, casting sparse and delicate shadows, her slender jawline was pitifully beautiful, looking like an angel who had accidentally fallen into the mortal world.

  She gently put the person in her arms on the bed and carefully covered her with a quilt. Gu Tianxi hesitated for a moment, but still stayed behind. He took off his coat and then returned to the bedside, lightly holding Gu Huanli's icy hand.

  It might have been a bit chilly, but Gu Huan Lian's eyes fluttered and trembled for a moment before curling up in a fragile posture, just like when she was a child, sinking into the nightmare and muttering to herself.

  Gu Tianxi gazed at her, his tea-colored pupils gradually turning back to amber. He let out a soft sigh, his tall body covering her slender one, a way he used to warm up Gu Huanli. Now, however, it felt unfamiliar, as if the fragile little girl from back then had suddenly transformed into a gentle and charming young woman.

  However, in every deep night of the past five years, he would recall that faintly sweet scent lingering around his nose tip, warm and cozy, just like a springtime hug.

  "My little Li." Gu Tian Xi gently held her, one hand tenderly wiping away the cold sweat on her forehead. His doting eyes seemed to hold the most precious treasure in the world.

  Waking up in the morning, still alone.

  A long, long time ago, she had already learned to fall asleep by herself.

  She rubbed her sore and aching eyes, and let out a faint sigh. She didn't want to move or speak; the message her brother had given her last night was just too much, and her brain couldn't function normally.

  "Knock, knock." A respectful and polite knocking sound came from the doorway.

  "Come in." Her voice was faint.

  "Miss." Ruan Hongyu pushed open the door and called out softly to her, holding a freshly heated glass of milk in her hand.

  "My stomach doesn't feel quite right..." Gu Huan Lian smiled apologetically, then sat up, still looking a bit dazed.

  Ruan Hongyu quickly notified He Muyang to arrange for a private doctor to come and check on Gu Huanlin, but before making the call, He Muyang went to Gu Tianxi's study first.

  When Gu Tianxi walked into Gu Huan's bedroom, he saw her wrapped in a morning blanket, sitting on the sofa with her knees tucked in, staring blankly. He walked step by step to her front, looking at her eyelashes trembling weakly, and couldn't help but say in a low voice, "Not feeling well, why are you still sitting by the window?"

  Gu Huanli raised her head and gazed up at her brother, unable to utter a single word. Her pale lips were tightly pursed, like the color of cherry blossoms in spring, with a faint pink hue tinged with a hint of pallor, exuding a delicate charm.

  "Ah, you..." Gu Tianxi stretched out his hand, his slender and clean fingers gently stroking her cheek, warm and delicate like a gentle breeze. "You didn't want to tell me because you were worried that I would hide away by myself."

  Gu Huanli shook her head, opened her lips wanting to say something, but tears flowed before words.

  A teardrop fell onto his fingertips, Gu Tianxi furrowed her brow, but the gentle smile on her lips still belonged to her sister, "Why are you crying again?"

  "Brother, if I ask you to die after me, would that be too selfish?" Gu Huan Lian said with a sob, she knew that even if there was an answer, it wouldn't be stronger than fate, but she just wanted a guarantee, a sense of security.

  "You little fool." Gu Tian Xi sighed softly, bending down to kiss away her tears. Just like when they were kids, he gently kissed the tears from the corners of her eyes, and finally, his scorching lips lingered on her forehead for a long time.

  Gu Huan stood still, holding her breath, afraid of breaking this brief warmth.

  "Knock, knock." The door was once again filled with a respectful and polite knocking sound.

  Gu Tianxi carried Gu Huanli back to bed and covered her with a quilt before slowly saying "Come in."

  Ruan Hongyu stood at the door with a tray in her hands and said respectfully, "Young master, this is the vegetable porridge cooked according to your instructions for Miss."

  "Give it to me." Gu Tianxi took the porridge bowl, scooped a spoonful and tasted it himself, slightly furrowing his brow. "Xiao Li likes her porridge thicker, not completely cooked like this."

  "Yes, I'll take it back and redo it right away."

  "Brother, feed me." A faint blush rose to Gu Shuang's cheeks as she coquettishly said in a soft voice, "Since I came back, brother hasn't fed me yet."

  "You can leave now." Gu Tianxi gave a faint order, then scooped up another spoonful of vegetable porridge and placed it at the edge of Gu Huan's lips. The amber-colored eyes still held a hint of a smile, "Only this once, next time, if you dare to cry and faint again, I will not show mercy."

  "Yes." Gu Huanli hid under the quilt and responded in a low voice. She knew that her brother didn't like it when she cried, especially not for those unimportant people. But Lan Ge was different; to Gu Huanli, he wasn't just a lifesaver, but also a friend, an older brother. "After that car accident, Lan Ge unfortunately passed away... and that person... the driver... really lost their memory?"

  "You don't call him Brother Yichen anymore?" Gu Tianxi asked lazily, scooping another spoonful to her lips.

  Gu Huanli had never thought of calling Ruo Yichen "Yichen Gege" before, and if she wasn't worried that her brother would scold her for being impolite, she originally planned to avoid him like the plague.

  "He... is now my senior... " Gu Huan Lian hesitated for a moment, and her rationality stood out again at this moment. "Calling him like when we were kids... Besides, he doesn't even remember who I am, we're just seniors and juniors from the same department."

  "It's me who has a cooperative relationship with the Luo family." Gu Tianxi put down his rice bowl, leaned in close to Gu Huanli, and sat down beside her with one long leg bent under him. The bed creaked noticeably as it sagged under their combined weight. He gazed into her eyes, his fingers lightly stroking her cheek. "And you, just focus on your studies from now on. A dance party like yesterday's, in college, was the first and last time."

  "Yes." Gu Huanli replied softly.

  "Huan Li, this Christmas I don't have to work, how about we go to the Christmas dance together?"

  Gu Huanli, who was studying hard for the final exam, naturally refused the invitation as soon as he heard it. "Sorry, I haven't finished studying European market economy research yet, I don't think I can..."

  "Even if you didn't study hard, you're still the first in class and the academic award is still yours. Just like last semester when you said you hadn't finished studying monetary banking, and last month when you said your report wasn't objective, there won't be a problem."

  "But..."

  "San Luo Yun looked at Gu Huan Lian, who was so determined to learn and make progress every day that nothing could stop her, and felt a surge of anger. 'Huan Lian, you've never been one for competition, you're just too obsessed with grades.'"

  Gu Huanli looked at the original book in her hand and said softly, "I must maintain my grades, this is a promise I made to my brother. At that time, he promised me to come back and study, and set a baseline for my grades."

  "Isn't that too pitiful for the senior?"

  "What does this have to do with you, senior?" Gu Huanli was puzzled and couldn't understand. Since the dance party, Rong Yichen had rarely spoken to her, and when they occasionally met, he would only nod slightly before brushing past her.

  She didn't want to hate him, but deep down she was extremely hateful.

  This hatred is not because of the past betrayals and hurts, but because in a similar car accident, with him in the driver's seat, she gave up her dreams to save him back then, and two years ago, Ling Ge lost his life to save him.

  Gu Xiangli couldn't help but wonder what qualifications Ruo Yichen had to live such a carefree life, just because she loved him so much in the past, and because of Lan Gege's gentleness, heaven would forever bless Ruo Yichen?

  But she was not entitled to punish her.

  Ye and Lu's two families may have reached some kind of deal in private, then...

  Only cold tombstones and departed lives remain.

  Since Valentine's Day, Gu Huanli went to the cemetery every month with a bouquet of fresh flowers and chatted with Leng Gege. She didn't know how many people still remembered him, but she did. It was as if having experienced death made her cherish life even more.

  Yes, nothing is impossible as long as you are still alive.

  However...

  The wind chime in front of the window was mournfully ringing, just like her nightmare that woke her up every night, just like she had to run to her brother's bedroom and see him safe and sound before she could curl up on the carpet at the foot of his bed and fall asleep. Later on, Gu Tianxi had no choice but to have someone tidy up the master bedroom, and he and his sister moved back in from their respective bedrooms. On nights when he wasn't away on business, he held his trembling younger sister until dawn broke.

  Apart from Ruan Hongyu, all the owners of the Gu family's old mansion turned a blind eye to the excessive intimacy between Gu Tianxi and Gu Huanli, as if it was only natural for siblings to be so close. Although Ruan Hongyu found it strange in her heart, her professional ethics told her that being overly curious would only bring trouble. Moreover, she herself had always been deeply fond of and protective of Gu Huanli.

  Gu Huanli's dependence on Gu Tianxi also seems to have entered a new stage. Once, in the United States, her optimism and cheerfulness seemed to have vanished, she had become the Gu Huanli who only lived for her brother again.

  Cassidy seemed to be intentionally giving her freedom and space, staying in Africa until at least summer vacation before returning.

  Actually, he couldn't stand her increasingly demanding requirements for soul condensation, so he fled in a sorry state. Gu Huanli sometimes thought maliciously like this. However, according to their original plan, Liuliu was indeed supposed to disappear for a while again. After all, Gu Huanli's age was gradually increasing, and even if Cassidy dressed up Liuliu as a charming and seductive woman every time, how could the increasingly similar faces deceive that cunning fox-like Ye?

  There are still more than two years until the agreed distance, Gu Huanli believes that if she can't meet Ye's requirements, he will absolutely show her the most severe consequences without hesitation.

  So she had no time for fear, nor did she have time to grieve. Only in her dreams was she unable to control herself, and all sorts of emotions would not let go of this opportunity to vent.

  Gu Huanli hadn't thought it through, after graduating from university she directly entered the company to help her brother, or continue studying, but she made full use of her time, electing some courses she liked, living a very busy life, so busy that she almost forgot about Luo Yichen.

  Occasionally, in the campus, she would see Lu Yi Chen and a group of friends chatting and laughing, but she wouldn't stop to join them. She would just hold her books and head to the library, the reading room, or the self-study room, or simply go home. Later on, she didn't even want to go to the school's library anymore, opting instead to nestle in the national library to enjoy the tranquility.

  She doesn't need to have anything to do with Luo Yichen. Since her brother has already made it clear that he doesn't need her to go out of her way for the family or the company, Gu Huanli naturally follows her brother's orders and keeps a respectful distance from Luo Yichen.

  "Every time your senior comes to find you, you always ignore him, why?"

  "The senior just came to talk to his junior brother, occasionally saw me and said a few words."

  "I think he's just using his junior as an excuse, and finding you is the real reason..."

  "Is it?" Gu Huanli turned her head to look out of the window, neither confirming nor denying.

  For all the speculation about San Luo Yun, Gu Huan Lian's heart didn't have any fluttering feelings. There were plenty of girls in school who had a crush on Luo Yi Chen, so it wouldn't make a difference if she was one less. She wasn't even interested in self-deception, thinking that Luo Yi Chen's "Night Patrol Yaksha" and "Household God Beast" could captivate this heartthrob, although she was a "charmer", but also had to see if she was interested.