Her eyes were filled with unease, like a small animal about to be abandoned at any moment. He stopped in his tracks, gazed at the girl blocking his way, and frowned slightly. At this moment, his parents were in the living room, his grandmother was resting in her room due to her inconvenient legs, and Xiao Yu was still sleeping in, leaving the living room with just the four of them. Yet, suddenly, the living room fell completely silent. He spoke slowly, "I’m going to meet my classmates, I’ll be back in the afternoon." "Can you take me with you?" she asked timidly. He shook his head without hesitation, "No." This gathering was a boys-only event for his childhood friends; he really couldn’t bring her along. This rejection made Gu Qiaoqiao’s face turn instantly pale, and before he could react, Gu Qiaoqiao slammed into the opposite wall. Even though he had great reflexes, he couldn’t save her at that distance. When he rushed to her, Gu Qiaoqiao had already fainted. This unexpected turn was too sudden. He urgently checked her neck and pulse, then breathed a slight sigh of relief. He looked at her forehead, thankful there was no bleeding, but the impact must have been strong; otherwise, she wouldn’t have passed out. She should be taken to the hospital immediately. He scooped her up and hurried outside. Unexpectedly, a startled cry came from behind him; turning around, he saw his own mother had fainted as well. He had no choice but to call an ambulance and send both of them to the hospital. Luckily, there were no major issues, and after a round of checks, they returned home. Gu Qiaoqiao woke up after an hour; maybe she hadn’t slept well the night before, or perhaps it was due to the medication, but she fell asleep again. Naturally, he couldn’t attend the gathering. Somehow, the neighbors got wind of the incident, and they came to inquire, leaving the family speechless and forced to fabricate lies for the sake of their reputation. The instigator remained asleep. When she woke up, he couldn’t help but scold her a bit. However, seeing her cry so sorrowfully, he swallowed his remaining words. In this community, news spread quickly, and the fact that his wife and mother were hospitalized reached Chu Chengfeng and Du Tian. They called to inquire, and though there was no mockery in their tone, the empathy conveyed made him feel uncomfortable. But now, he seemed helpless. After dinner, the atmosphere at home remained oppressive, and Gu Qiaoqiao kept a sad face, tears lingering in her eyes. Chapters first released on NoveIＦire.net His grandmother’s mood wasn’t great either, but she patiently explained to Gu Qiaoqiao that Ah Ze was out with a group of friends, all boys, so bringing her along was inconvenient... It was unclear whether Gu Qiaoqiao understood; she kept her head down. Tears pattered onto her clothes, deepening his irritation. Today’s drama had put him in a terrible mood, as well as his parents, but they refrained from reprimanding her. At that time, he didn’t realize that silent reproach was no less piercing than a sharp knife. Each blow pierced Gu Qiaoqiao’s fragile heart. He didn’t stay in the house but went outside to clear his mind, wandering aimlessly without visiting anyone. When he returned, he happened to see Bai Yun, the daughter of the Bai Family next door, walking out of his house.