He clenched his fists for a long time but remained silent. As the atmosphere grew increasingly icy, he moved forward, sat by the bedside, and pulled the blanket to check Gu Zixuan’s foot. The stiff posture made Gu Zixuan’s eyes redden, wanting to dodge. Yet before she could move, He Qimo drew her into his embrace by the arm. His long arms bore a solid strength, just like when they first started dating, on rainy days, he would hold her tightly, traversing the long flooded path. Tʜe sourcᴇ of thɪs content ɪs ⓝovelFire.net A tremor ran through Gu Zixuan’s heart, her eyes growing even wetter. He Qimo raised his hand and saw Gu Zixuan’s bruised knee with a scabbed cut, a complex mix of colors clouding his brow, simmering with anger and sorrow. After a long silence, he curled his fingertips and pulled the blanket back over her. Letting go, he didn’t say much, just slowly exhaled a sentence, "Give me some time to handle this, one last time." Gu Zixuan was taken aback. In the air, He Qimo looked deeply and silently at her, drawing closer until a kiss fell on her forehead. Finally, He Qimo pressed his lips, stood up, and turned to leave. When the tall and cold dark silhouette vanished inside the ward, Liang Xixin looked at her tremulously, then looked at He Qimo, sighed softly, and followed. In the air, Gu Zixuan turned her face away, her gaze veiled with indescribable endurance and sorrow. Until she paused slightly, beside her came an aged voice with a faint sigh, "People all share a common trait, stubbornness in youth, focusing on oneself, arguing about right and wrong. As one ages, they realize these things become less important, living well is the most crucial." Gu Zixuan’s eyelashes fluttered as she turned to look at Mrs. Qin. Mrs. Qin gazed at the distant window, seemingly lost in some memory, "But life’s disputes are greater than imagined conflicts, reality’s difficulties don’t lessen by your heartfelt tenderness. Miss Gu, although saying it’s better to demolish ten temples than break one marriage, after hearing about your recent chaotic circumstances, I feel perhaps more obstacles for you stem from family and ideals, these knotty points won’t vanish with a single soft heart." Gu Zixuan’s heart quivered, choking on the words, "What do you mean..." Mrs. Qin smiled, wrinkles spreading on her aged face, "In ancient times, they emphasized family backgrounds aligning, even more so in today’s society where it’s not about money, but upbringing, vision, temperament. Between families, pushing things constantly one-sidedly won’t yield good results. Miss Gu is intelligent, should know from where this young man’s constant silence originates, whether you two are truly suitable, you understand. To persist, it’s indeed feasible, to part, there are better options." After speaking, as if tired, Mrs. Qin placed the carefully crafted clay figures in a small box on the bedside table, then slid down to sleep. Gu Zixuan was stunned for quite a while, truly unable to comprehend to whom Mrs. Qin’s ’actually better’ referred. But pondering about continuing... Her fingertips threaded through her hair, reflecting on how back in the United States during the hospital stay, He Qimo had quite an optimistic and cheerful demeanor, even breaking habits to do a lot of things he previously resisted, no longer feeling inferior or sensitive, even able to bring her joy. She genuinely believed they could marry before agreeing to wed him. Yet after eight years, he hadn’t reverted to the past, always feeling something was missing regardless of how they got along, what went wrong in that fleeting past. Outside the hospital, after leaving the Inpatient Department, He Qimo stood by the flower bed, lighting a cigarette, smoked for a long while. He then said, "Stop all public relations for Shen Jian妮, schedule dinner with Secretary Liang of the Disciplinary Committee tonight, have family hire someone to start twenty-four-hour monitoring, outsource personnel, not using anyone from the company, lastly... have someone watching the hospital, and once she’s home, keep an eye on it, see who comes looking for Zixuan." At first, Liang Xi was stunned, though shocked and surprised, especially regarding Shen Jian妮’s handling, which was nearly tearing apart Junsheng Film and Television Branch for its reputation, he understood the reason. But the last sentence from the CEO, especially the chilly tone, left Liang Xi baffled. "Watch... watch the madam?" Liang Xi’s jaw nearly dropped. Liang Xi grew more perplexed, "Why? Mr. He, knowing such a thing would surely make the madam even angrier?"