"Jiayin, don’t get excited, listen to me slowly." Compared to Gu Jiayin’s emotional ups and downs, Sheng Lanzhang remained calm and loving, with only regret and sadness evident on his face, showing little emotion otherwise. "My relationship with my first wife was always good. Although it was an arranged marriage within the family without love, she was well-educated and kind-hearted. We treated each other with respect after marriage and lived harmoniously." "When she gave birth to Sheng Yang, she fell ill, and it kept worsening. Later, she was bedridden for a long time. When I met your mother, the doctor had predicted she only had two years left to live." "Your mother and I fell in love at first sight, but we were both bound by morals and dared not take that step. Sheng Yang’s mother knew of my feelings, and secretly learned that your mother was a good woman, so she took the initiative to meet her and expressed that she didn’t mind our romance, entrusting Sheng Yang to her." At this point, Gu Jiayin understood. It was because Sheng Lanzhang’s first wife had given her permission and entrusted her young child to her mother that she bore the label of a mistress while being in love with Sheng Lanzhang. Sheng Lanzhang let out a deep sigh, "Your mother was very kind, and she got along with Sheng Yang’s mother like sisters, giving her much warmth and care during her final days." "I loved her deeply and was very grateful to her. Later, when Sheng Yang’s mother passed away, my plan was to marry your mother the following year, but who knew..." He couldn’t continue, as what happened afterward led to a lifetime of regret. Gu Jiayin had heard of what happened later. At a masquerade ball, a drunken Sheng Lanzhang mistook Gu Shaohua for Gu Qiyun, leading to things that shouldn’t have happened. Meanwhile, Qin Zhennan, who had secretly admired Gu Qiyun, inexplicably ended up with Gu Qiyun that same night. To make matters worse, both Gu Shaohua and Gu Qiyun became pregnant from that night. At this moment, Sheng Lanzhang was already in tears, "I thought we would never become husband and wife in this life, so watching each other from afar would suffice. But who knew your mother..." He sighed deeply, not knowing how many sighs he had let out that night, "Jiayin, the past is unbearable to recall, so let’s not mention it. You are the only bloodline your mother has left, which makes you my child. Uncle Sheng will treat you well, and I hope you and Qianchi will have a good outcome." A good outcome? She and Sheng Qianchi? Ha, Gu Jiayin dared not imagine. To her, the best outcome was finding the Blood Tears Jade and then fleeing far away. As the past was laid bare, Gu Jiayin no longer felt such a deep-seated resentment toward Sheng Lanzhang, but neither did she suddenly feel very close. She replied indifferently, "There can be no outcome between me and him." Sheng Lanzhang was silent for a few seconds, then spoke with a deep and meaningful tone, "Jiayin, you mentioned to me last time that he was using power to imprison you and doesn’t love you. But from my understanding as a father, you are very special to him." Gu Jiayin lowered her eyes and said nothing. Whether she was special or not seemed to matter little to her. "Jiayin," Sheng Lanzhang’s voice came up again, "You have no relatives left. Uncle Sheng is the only elder who can truly care for you, and Qianchi, although he is cold, he is not frivolous and has a sense of responsibility. Being with him is your best choice. If you marry into the Sheng Family, we will treat you well." Marry into the Sheng Family, ha, what a fantasy. Gu Jiayin sneered silently, keeping her thoughts to herself. She had too many secrets, with no one to share them. Sheng Qianchi was not her destined one, and the Sheng Family was not her haven. Sheng Qianchi came down from upstairs, his hair wet, and his body cold, indicating he had taken a cold shower. Although soaking in cold water for a while calmed his inexplicable anger a bit, he knew it wouldn’t last long. So, the first thing he said upon coming downstairs was, "Dad, if there’s nothing else, I’ll have someone take you back to rest. Your health has just improved; it’s not suitable to stay up late." "Alright." Sheng Lanzhang nodded, "Jiayin, go upstairs and rest. I’ll have a few words with Qianchi." "Okay, goodbye, Uncle Sheng." Facing an elder who had always been tolerant and kind to her, Gu Jiayin, although not feeling much closer immediately, was much more polite in her actions. Once Gu Jiayin went upstairs, Sheng Lanzhang looked seriously at Sheng Qianchi, "What exactly is your relationship with Jiayin?" What relationship? He himself couldn’t say. Seeing Sheng Qianchi silent, Sheng Lanzhang spoke again, his tone serious and heavy, "Qianchi, although you were sent abroad since childhood and lacked fatherly love, I owe you a lot. But as the one who gave you life, I beg you, do not hurt Jiayin, treat her well." Back then, because of an accidental mix-up with Gu Shaohua, Sheng Qianchi came to be, causing him to be separated from Gu Qiyun forever. His heart remained dark and difficult to pacify. He didn’t like Sheng Qianchi because seeing him made him almost want to kill himself. So when Gu Shaohua proposed sending Sheng Qianchi overseas to be raised, he agreed without hesitation. Latest content published on novèlfire.net But sixteen years later, his beloved son Sheng Yang died in a car accident. When Sheng Qianchi returned to the Sheng Family, seeing that very similar face deeply shook his soul. This was his son, bearing his blood, to whom he hadn’t given a drop of fatherly love for sixteen years. Yet he had grown to be so outstanding, so handsome and charismatic, so wise and poised. At the moment he saw Sheng Qianchi, he felt the burden of his deep guilt, for he had abandoned his own flesh and blood for sixteen years. So, he constantly thought of making amends, loving Sheng Qianchi even more than he had loved Sheng Yang before. Unfortunately, the connection was too brief, and before he accomplished even a tiny fraction of the reparations he planned, Gu Qiyun died in a shipwreck, leaving him bedbound with illness. Sheng Qianchi suppressed the unbearable yearning deep within his body and slowly lifted his eyes to look at Sheng Lanzhang, "I never intended to mistreat her." Yes, he always wanted to cherish her well. But her rejection of his care was palpable. Sheng Lanzhang continued to stare intently into Sheng Qianchi’s eyes, not missing any expression, "Qianchi, for a girl like Jiayin who has suffered much, a man’s care is not the best thing. She needs love, do you understand?" Caring combined with love is the best gift to give a woman. Only caring without love is like nurturing a pet. He was well aware that his son, having lacked love since childhood, was inherently cold and unable to truly love another, yet he also sensed that Sheng Qianchi’s feelings for Gu Jiayin were different. His worry was that his son’s coldness and refusal to love anyone would become a sharp weapon that would destroy Gu Jiayin. He had spent a life grappling with his betrayal to Gu Qiyun—a life so short, with regrets so long. Only by making amends for this through Gu Jiayin would his heart find a bit of peace. Sheng Qianchi remained silent. The word "love" was too entangled and too daunting to accept. The room fell into a silence. One person furrowed their brows in struggle, while the other’s gaze was filled with a fervent longing for a response.