"Mr. Lu, pleasure to meet you!" Gu Heng stood up to greet him. Though he attended Lu Zechuan and Xia Mian’s engagement banquet in the morning and heard some rumors, Gu Heng dared not slight Lu Zechuan in the least. After all, the entire Lu Family is now under Lu Zechuan’s control. Lu Zechuan smiled faintly, holding Xia Mian’s hand as they sat opposite Gu Heng, "Mr. Gu, we came to see you today mainly to ask about some things from when you were younger." Lu Zechuan lightly crossed his legs, his demeanor lazy, his tone casual, effortlessly taking control of the conversation. Gu Heng squinted slightly, somewhat aware of why these two were seeking him out. It should be related to Qin Shuang. Thinking of that woman, Gu Heng’s eyes took on a subtle change. "There are many events in my youth. If Young Master Lu wants to know about my personal affairs, I’m afraid I can’t tell you." Gu Heng’s lips curled faintly, his demeanor somewhat resistant. Xia Mian squinted slightly, recalling Gu Zhi’s mother’s attitude towards Gu Heng, and now observing Gu Heng’s attitude, she had begun to subtly guess at something. "Is it that Mr. Gu doesn’t want to talk about it, or is it inconvenient, or simply incapable?" Xia Mian raised an eyebrow slightly, her gaze deep as if it could pierce one’s soul. Gu Heng frowned slightly, "Miss Xia, these are personal matters, and I have the right not to disclose them." Xia Mian smiled faintly, her probing gaze falling on Gu Heng, "Indeed, these are your personal affairs. We originally hoped you could truthfully recount past events, but unfortunately, Mr. Gu seems unwilling to cooperate." After a pause, Xia Mian continued softly, "It appears that the trouble caused by that woman to Mr. Gu wasn’t severe or significant enough." Saying this, Xia Mian glanced at Lu Zechuan, "Since Mr. Gu doesn’t wish to speak, let’s not force it. Let’s go!" As Xia Mian spoke, Lu Zechuan immediately stood up. Seeing the two ready to leave at odds, Gu Heng’s expression subtly changed, "Mr. Lu, Miss Xia! Wait a moment!" Xia Mian and Lu Zechuan stood side by side, turning back in sync, their eyes filled with scrutiny towards Gu Heng. "Does Mr. Gu have anything to say?" Lu Zechuan’s tone was indifferent, seemingly uninterested in further conversation with Gu Heng. He had already vaguely grasped some of the messy affairs between Gu Heng and Gu Zhi’s mother. Just like Lu Zhenqing, thoroughly despicable. "Mr. Lu, don’t be hasty." Gu Heng smiled awkwardly, pointing towards the sofa opposite, "Please sit!" Lu Zechuan and Xia Mian exchanged glances, then slowly returned to their seats. ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ novel⟡fire.net "Mr. Lu, my relationship with Gu Zhi’s mother was an accident." Gu Heng pondered for a moment, sinking into thought. That year, at twenty, Gu Heng was still a university student, going on a mountain trip with classmates, when the bus broke down and plunged into a deep ditch. Half of the bus’s occupants were dead or injured, Gu Heng thought he would die too, but then he met Qin Shuang. The woman whose every smile and frown was like poetry and art. The woman whose every move was gentle as water. Qin Shuang saved him and took him to her residence. In that remote, backward mountain village, she cared for him attentively, and gradually, affection grew between them. Later, he left the village with Qin Shuang, intending to marry her, but faced vehement opposition from his family. The Gu Family was a prestigious household, and the marriages of the children were not up to them. Mr. Gu had selected appropriate marriage candidates for Gu Heng, and Qin Shuang disrupted all his plans. To stay by Gu Heng’s side, Qin Shuang first displayed her extraordinary abilities, telling Mr. Gu she could elevate the Gu Family to become Beijing’s top elite. Naturally, Mr. Gu didn’t believe her; Qin Shuang voluntarily demonstrated some of her talents, and under her guidance, the Gu Family’s business indeed prospered! Afterward, Qin Shuang guided Mr. Gu in reforming the family’s Feng Shui, further propelling the Gu Family, rivaling the Lu Family’s status as Capital City’s first household. Having done so much for the Gu Family, Qin Shuang initially thought their relationship with Gu Heng would naturally culminate, even giving herself to him on his twenty-third birthday. But ultimately, Mr. Gu still chose to breach faith and let Gu Heng marry into the Xu Family. No matter how capable Qin Shuang was, she was still just one person. Lacking familial background, she could not match the Gu Family. Gu Heng was heartbroken and despaired, resisted and struggled, even fleeing with Qin Shuang. But Mr. Gu cut off his financial support; one month he could survive, two months he could barely hold on... By the third month, he abandoned Qin Shuang, returned to the Gu Family, and agreed to the family’s marriage plans. The love between Qin Shuang and him ended abruptly. Gu Heng spoke softly and evenly, telling his story, a faint bitter smile on his face, "It was my own inadequacy, failing to withstand the test of reality, and my love for Qin Shuang was not deep enough." Lu Zechuan gently lowered his gaze, remaining silent. When it comes to love, who can explain it clearly? Did Qin Shuang and Gu Heng once love each other? He thought indeed they must have loved. "Mr. Gu, you haven’t told the truth." Xia Mian’s dark eyes were heavy, mercilessly exposing Gu Heng’s lies. If it were merely lovers who couldn’t become partners, Qin Shuang wouldn’t harbor such deep hatred for the Gu Family! Gu Heng concealed something from them, and it was this concealment that was the key to Qin Shuang’s transformation. Gu Heng’s expression subtly changed but quickly returned to normal, "Miss Xia, what do you think I’ve concealed?" "Your father didn’t just break you apart, right?" Xia Mian’s lips curved slightly, "He also wanted to kill Qin Shuang, correct?" Qin Shuang displayed abilities that made others fearful. A woman like her, abandoned by the Gu Family, would undoubtedly make them fear her revenge. The most straightforward solution was to eliminate her. Gu Heng’s face showed an uncertain change. Xia Mian was correct; shortly after his return, his father feigned agreement to their marriage and sent him to find Qin Shuang. At that time, Qin Shuang was pregnant and nearing childbirth; his father said to bring her to the Gu Family for care and prenatal care. After all, the child she carried was also part of the Gu Family and couldn’t remain outside. Gu Heng believed him, joyfully bringing Qin Shuang back. But unexpectedly, on the day of childbirth, his father had someone meddle, leading to Qin Shuang’s hemorrhage... After that day, he never saw Qin Shuang again nor the child she bore. Until, by chance, he encountered Gu Zhi, who bore almost an identical resemblance to Qin Shuang, in the place where he first met her.