It's been a week since Shang Yi Qi reappeared.

  This morning, after breakfast, Gu Xiyan took Xiaoyu to her in-laws' house and asked Xiaoyu's grandmother to take care of the little guy. She herself went to work. At noon, Xiaoyu's grandmother called and said she wanted the little guy to stay with her in the big yard tonight. Gu Xiyan did not object. So she was left alone by herself.

  Shaoyuan has been quiet for the past few days, his expression always carrying a sense of fatigue and decadence. Gu Xiyen had also asked him with concern about the reason, but he just pursed his lips without saying a word. After all, it was someone else's private matter, so Gu Xiyen didn't pursue it further, and just continued to work together as usual.

  At five o'clock in the afternoon, the bell rang to signal the end of work. Gu Xiyan bid farewell to Shao Yuan as usual and then walked away with her bag.

  Just out of the company gate, Wei Zhe's black Audi appeared once again.

  The car drove slowly on the highway. Gu Xiyan looked out of the window at the scenery, but her eyes seemed to be shrouded by something. Although she was looking at the lush greenery by the roadside, her thoughts had drifted thousands of miles away.

  The car was filled with an unbearable silence. Wei Zhe tried to break the oppressive atmosphere. "Yan Yan, want to go eat together?"

  Gu Xiyan didn't actually notice what Wei Zhe said, and responded with a perfunctory nod. It wasn't until Wei Zhe led her to the front of a restaurant that she finally realized what she had just agreed to.

  Two people ordered three dishes and a soup. During the meal, Gu Xiyan's gaze would involuntarily wander away from time to time. She didn't know why, but in recent days, she had been feeling an inexplicable unease lingering in her mind.

  "Xian Xian, eat more." The dishes on the table were all Gu Xiyan's favorites. Wei Zhe added a lot of food for Gu Xiyan. However, Gu Xiyan didn't move her chopsticks much.

  Wei Zhe saw that she seemed to have something on her mind. His eyebrows furrowed slightly. His voice was magnetic and gentle. "Yan Yan, what's wrong?"

  Gu Xiyan just shook her head. She didn't know what was wrong with herself either.

  "Good girl, eat more." Wei Zhe said again.

  Gu Xiyan's appetite was still not very good, but she still cooperated and ate some dishes.

  After dinner, Wei Zhe saw that Gu Xiyan was not in a good state, so he gave up the idea of taking her out to play. The car slowly drove to the front door of the villa. After Wei Zhe stopped the car, Gu Xiyan wanted to open the car door.

  Wei Zhe, however, grasped one of Gu Xiyan's hands at this moment. "Xiyan, whether you're happy or sad, I'll always be there for you. As long as you need me, I'll definitely appear by your side."

  As long as you need me, I'll be there.

  Gu Xiyan's hand, which was about to open the car door, stopped in mid-air. She turned her head to look at Wei Zhe. In the dim light, the man's resolute features conveyed an unwavering determination. Gu Xiyan's eyes suddenly welled up with a few points of panic.

  "Wei Zhe, I've told you before not to call me 'Yan Yan'. You didn't listen. I've told you before to leave me alone. You didn't do that either. I want you to stop being so good to me. I don't deserve it. But you... also didn't do that. Are you trying to make me owe you a debt? Wei Zhe, I owe you... and I really can't pay it back.

  Gu Xi Yan's long hair was loose, hanging down her shoulders and back. Her voice was hoarse as she spoke, shaking her head. "Wei Zhe, I don't want to ruin you. I can't give you any promises. Really... from now on, don't come looking for me again. Don't..."

  "Yan Yan" Wei Zhe wanted to scold her for being heartless. But he loved her. If he loved her, how could he bear to scold her at all? Even if she was holding a knife and stabbing it into his heart.

  "Xian Xian, I can't help it. Xian Xian, I love you. It has nothing to do with you. I just can't control my love for you. Even if you say I'm despicable, that I deserve it. Xian Xian, it's fine like this. It's fine like this. You mustn't, you absolutely mustn't... take away my right to love you..." Wei Zhe suddenly loosened his seatbelt and wrapped his arms around Gu Xiayan. His words trembled with a hint of fear of loss. He buried his head in Gu Xiayan's powdered shoulder, and a few tears streaked down his cheek. They were hers."

  "It's okay, don't worry. If you want to cry, just cry. Don't hold back." His cheek was moist. Wei Zhe stood up straight and gently wiped away Cuxiuyan's tears while clumsily comforting her.

  Gu Xiyan didn't continue crying like Wei Zhe said, but instead quickly gathered her emotions. "I lost control."

  "No, how could that be? I hope Yan can always maintain this most authentic side in front of me. Yan, you said so, right?" Wei Zhe's eyes sparkled, his gaze locked onto Gu Xiyan's delicate face. Gu Xiyan saw the fervent expectation in his eyes at a glance.

  "It's late. I'm going in. You should head back early." Gu Xiyan nodded randomly and then thought about making a quick escape.

  Wei Zhe felt the warmth in his hand turn to ice. Suddenly, he opened the car door and chased after her. At the entrance of the villa, he grabbed Cui Xiyan's left arm. Wei Zhe stared at Cui Xiyan as she turned around with a puzzled expression. He moved his lips but didn't know what to say.

  "Go back." Gu Xiyan said softly. At the same time, her right hand gently pulled down Wei Zhe's hand that was on hers.

  "Alright, you go in first." Wei Zhe looked crestfallen and rubbed her forehead, letting her leave.

  Gu Xiyan walked step by step towards the gate, and with each step, the gaze behind her grew more scorching. Gu Xiyan felt that her entire back was burning up.

  Standing still at the door, Gu Xiyan opened it and turned back to look again. Wei Zhe was still greedily fixated on her face, as if looking at her for one more second would bring him a little more comfort and happiness.

  Gu Xiyan suddenly wanted to cry again. She knew it was impossible. Why are you still... so silly?

  There was no direct entry. Gu Xiyan paused for a moment, then suddenly ran to Wei Zhe's side and took off the long black scarf from her neck and tied it around his neck. Finally, she hooked up the corner of her lips with a few childish mischievous looks.

  "Come on in." The warmth around his neck made Wei Zhe raise an eyebrow. His whole body seemed to be enveloped by a warm source. At this moment, Wei Zhe only felt that his heart and body were very comfortable.

  "Well... goodbye." Gu Xiyan smiled lightly and turned around.

  "Goodbye." Wei Zhe's mouth moved slightly, until he saw Gu Xiyan enter the house. The indoor lights lit up, and only then did he return to his car, open the door, get in, and drive away.

  Compared to Wei Zhe's calm and refreshing demeanor, Gu Xiyan entered the villa but was frightened instead.

  Not for anything else, but because she found that there seemed to be someone in the living room. At this time, who would be in the villa? And besides, that person didn't turn on the light.

  Suppressing the fear in her heart, Gu Xiyan stepped into the living room, one step at a time. The lights in the living room suddenly turned on. Gu Xiyan's mouth slightly opened, and she saw Shang Yi Qi looking at her with an indifferent and cold expression.

  The original fear suddenly dissipated in the face of the wind. Gu Xiyan's mood instantly improved, and joy seeped into her eyebrows. Gu Xiyan didn't bother to probe Shang Yueqi's thoughts either. She happily skipped a few steps to Shang Yueqi's side, ignoring his chilly expression. She wrapped her arms around Shang Yueqi's waist and abdomen, and her little head rubbed against his shoulder several times. Gu Xiyan was completely carefree and content in her posture.

  "Ah, you're back. You're really back." Gu Xiyan pouted slightly, seemingly unhappy about his departure for so many days. But in an instant, she was excited again and got up. "It's good that you're back, Qi. It's good that you're back."

  "Is that so." Shanggui Qi finally spoke up. His tone was cold and chilling to the bone. "I'm back. You must be thrilled."

  "Hmm." Gu Xiyan only realized that she had expressed herself a bit too much. But, she just couldn't control her emotions. However, Qi's voice was... She shook her head slightly, and her long hair swayed back and forth. Gu Xiyan warned herself not to think wildly.

  However, Shang Yu's next words instantly plunged her into an endless dark abyss. "If I didn't come back, were you already planning to be with Wei Zhe? Hmph. Now that you see me so happy, is it to cover up your affair with him or are you really so promiscuous that two men can satisfy you? Gu Xiyan, what do you take me for? Have you ever put me in the bottom of your heart?"

  Extreme anger, extreme hatred, extreme hurt. Merchant Xi had not noticed that his careless words had stirred up a huge storm in Gu Xiang Yan's heart. He only knew that when he was chasing after the cunning drug dealers day and night, as long as her shadow flashed across his mind, no matter how bitter or tired he was, it didn't matter; He only knew that this time their attack was an extremely difficult battle to fight because the enemy had somehow found out about their movements, which was very unfavorable for them. In just a few days' time, he had already narrowly escaped death several times, trapped in the enemy's trap. If Teacher Lai hadn't ordered them to temporarily abandon this encirclement action, he wasn't sure if he would have the chance to return and see her again; He only knew that three days ago when he was forced by the enemy to a desolate island in the wilderness, looking at the endless sea and desolate landscape around him, his heart only wished that if she could give him a hug at this moment, no matter how brief it was, even just for one second. How wonderful would that be? But what did he see when he returned after going through hardships? Haha, now he only wants to laugh at himself for being foolish. For such an unfeeling and heartless woman, what is there to care about? What does she have that's worth his concern?

  I don't know why Shang Yiqi is laughing so wildly. Gu Xiyen subconsciously took two steps back, also retreating from his embrace. This kind of Shang Yiqi was unfamiliar to her. Indeed, his words just now, she understood them all too clearly. He had misunderstood her and Wei Zhe again. Only this time, she didn't want to explain anymore. Didn't want to think about it anymore.

  Before, when he misunderstood her, she was willing to explain. Because at that time, she hadn't realized how much she cared about him. But now, she has discovered that she can't tolerate even a little bit of distrust from him. If he really doesn't trust her, what's the use of explaining? It would just give him another chance to hurt her.

  Tired. So tired. The joy and delight from before have all turned into sarcastic remarks. A hint of pain flashed across Gu Xiyan's eyes.

  Author's Notes