Hearing this answer, Yu Yuanshen’s heart sank heavily, but he also felt relieved. Lowering his head, a sudden smile appeared on his lips. It’s normal not to get the answer because how could Gu Zixuan get the real answer from a person like Feng Chengjin? The goal was achieved, and that’s enough. Thinking about Gu Zixuan’s character, Yu Yuanshen could easily guess that with Feng Chengjin’s cunning, how could he not hear the implied meaning? So, as long as Feng Chengjin doesn’t act rashly, it’s good enough for him to wait patiently for Gu Zixuan’s divorce. Otherwise, if he keeps pretending to be innocent, by the time Gu Zixuan gets divorced, she might have already been deceived and used completely. Looking at Gu Zixuan’s expression, Yu Yuanshen smiled gently, feeling a bit distressed about her current dilemma. After all, the He Family still has a load of issues waiting for her. In deep thought, Yu Yuanshen knit his brows tightly, raised his hand, and tucked the loose strands of Gu Zixuan’s braided hair behind her ear, saying, "Alright, stop overthinking it. It was my recklessness that added to your troubles. You still have many important matters to deal with. You’ve been running around all day today and must be tired. Take a good rest; tonight Youxuan wants to have shrimp porridge, I’ll make some for you." The gentle smile was incredibly comforting, bringing warmth directly to the heart. It could make someone completely relax. Gu Zixuan pursed her lips and nodded, "Thank you, Brother Yu." Follow current ɴᴏᴠᴇʟs on novelFirｅ.net "Thank me for what?" Yu Yuanshen laughed, stood up, took a couple of steps, pondered for a moment, then turned back. He opened Gu Zixuan’s handbag, grabbed her phone, quickly entered a string of numbers, saved it, and handed it back to her. "My private number is available 24 hours. Things at home are quite complicated for you lately, so don’t think too much. If it really comes to bearing the blame, I’ll be there to bear it with you. I’ll also help protect Uncle Gu, but if it reaches that point, there are some things you’ll need to face with me." Gu Zixuan’s eyelashes trembled, and instantaneously, an uncontrollable warmth and moistness filled her eyes, "Brother Yu..." Yu Yuanshen smiled, pointed at the phone number, "Call me if there’s anything. I have only one request: no matter what happens, think of me first, okay?" Warm tides surged in Gu Zixuan’s heart, tears welling up, she said nothing. She understood Yu Yuanshen’s intention. Now, the whole elite circle was basically spreading rumors about her infidelity. Once the situation couldn’t be contained, and the He Family pressed her further, if she wanted a divorce, someone would certainly need to step forward to bear the brunt of the blame. In fact, Yu Yuanshen’s status was the most suitable. The Yu and Gu families had been family friends for decades; from the day she became the first socialite of Rong City, many people speculated whether she would grow up and marry into the Yu Family. But back then, she married too early, dispelling many speculations. Now, with her father’s accident and Yu Yuanshen being divorced, the close relationship between the two families, Yu Yuanshen helping her, it wouldn’t be hard to understand if love developed over time based on their childhood friendship. Some people might criticize it, but others would probably understand too. Looking at the phone number in her hand, Gu Zixuan still felt the friendship too heavy, her heart trembling, she shook her head and said, "Brother Yu, but I can’t do that. Even if I were to leave He Qimo, that is a matter between the two of us; if anyone is to be criticized, it should be me. It shouldn’t involve anyone else. Besides..." Pausing, she looked up with gentle warmth, "even if you’re willing to wait for me, I’ll choose to consider it two or three years after the divorce. Bearing criticism for me, not even a single word, you’re not worth it." Yu Yuanshen hearing this, smiled, knelt in front of Gu Zixuan, in the air, he held both of her hands. Her fingers were slender and long, filled with the kindness and stubbornness he wanted to protect all these years, the warmth he wanted to hold hands with. "There’s nothing unworthy about it, Zixuan. I’ve waited for you for more than ten years, watching you grow up, date, get married. Maybe I’m not the one who makes your heart race the most, but I’m definitely the one who understands you best. The biggest regret of my life is not being able to put a wedding veil on you personally. If you would marry me, that would be the best gift for me; everything else would be worth it. You need to know, facing anything with you is not suffering; it’s a happiness for me." Warmth completely formed a deep pool in Gu Zixuan’s heart, with hot springs flooding in, all brought by Yu Yuanshen’s touch. Looking at the deep eyes of the man in front of her, gazing at his broad shoulders. Her eyes trembled more, "Brother Yu..." Yu Yuanshen smiled, with a soft closing of lips, he raised his hand, gripped her palm, and lowered his head to plant a light kiss inside, accompanied by a hint of gentle assertiveness, "So this is it then; I still won’t interfere with your marital matters. However, if you can’t hold on and need someone to bear it with you, make sure I’m the first name you call." The insistence warmed Gu Zixuan’s heart, she pressed her lips together and nodded, "Mm." The smile on Yu Yuanshen deepened, deeply gazing at Gu Zixuan, unable to resist reaching out, brushing through her hair, then lightly kissing her forehead. "Hopefully, my persistence this time comes in time to catch up with the pace of your heart’s longing." Gu Zixuan’s eyelashes trembled, she didn’t speak. Yu Yuanshen patted her head, and turned to leave. When the tall figure disappeared into the bedroom, Gu Zixuan sat by the bed, somewhat dazed, wondering why, despite Yu Yuanshen being such a good person, she had never felt a flutter of affection for him from childhood to adulthood. However, thinking of his goodness, that surge of reluctance in Gu Zixuan’s heart quietly spread further. Outside the door, after closing it, Yu Yuanshen did not leave immediately but leaned lightly against the hallway wall, next to which hung a charcoal sketch of an artistic young girl. The ballet posture painted restraint, painted elegance, and painted the stubbornness of standing on tiptoe. Beside the charcoal sketch was a hanging indoor basket, its lush green seemed to fill the ballet girl’s life with hope. This was why Gu Zixuan liked this bedroom at the time. Only, her always simple demands seemed never to have achieved the peaceful and quiet life she wanted. Lighting a cigarette, he placed it to his lips. Actually, he knew the better he treated Gu Zixuan, based on her temperament, the less likely she would drag him down with her. Even preferring not to divorce, unwilling to let anyone bear infamy for her sake. But, thinking of her situation. Not divorcing would inevitably face the continuous disdain of the He Family. If she divorced, she would face the darkest baptism of infamy in her life. Even if she did nothing, simply not wanting to persist in the marriage, she would be called a slut by this circle... Either way, she would be hurt, thinking of the future days. Anyway, if she doesn’t leave, he accepts it. If she leaves, he would feel pain, so he is determined to protect her! At night, after eating the shrimp porridge cooked by Yu Yuanshen, along with the seven or eight side dishes, Gu Zixuan, with her stomach full, played games with Youxuan on the sofa. Until the phone rang, she reached out and picked it up. At the moment she saw the caller’s name, her gaze dropped heavily. The instantly icy tone made Yu Youxuan blink her big eyes, somewhat curious. To avoid arousing suspicion among them, Gu Zixuan smiled, patted Youxuan’s head, took the phone, and walked to the balcony. Hearing He Qimo’s voice in that instant, her voice turned colder, "What’s the matter?" "Can you come down for a bit?" Lowering her gaze along the rooftop, looking at the dazzling black Maybach parked below, she seemed to barely see a tall silhouette. Laughing coldly, Gu Zixuan shook her head, "No." The calm words caused a sudden pain in He Qimo’s eyes at the building’s base. Lifting his eyes, looking at the outline of the lighted rooftop, he restrained his emotions and slowly said, "I know you hate me now, blame me, and don’t want to say a word to me, but I want to tell you something, just 10 minutes, can you come down?" He Qimo’s voice was very calm, as if in the ten years since knowing each other, she had never heard this calm of a voice. In an instant, Gu Zixuan’s eyes reddened. From calm to moist seemed to be a matter of mere three seconds. She didn’t know how she adjusted her emotions in such a short time, maybe always suppressing, not wanting to touch, not wanting to think about things, once opened, would bleed profusely and painfully. With a light laugh, she uttered words with a sarcasm even she hadn’t heard, word by word, "Why meet again, what is the point? The first time when we met, you said I had an affair with Yu Yuanshen, and I stayed in the hospital for half a month. The second time, you accused me of cheating with Feng Chengjin, my reputation spread throughout the circle. Now, what’s the issue today? Am I involved with the He Mansion’s butler, waiting for tomorrow’s headlines and then for my grandfather’s grave to burn a couplet of glory to ancestors next spring, right?" Sarcasm made the emotions hidden in He Qimo’s Mo Tong even deeper, especially knowing what Gu Zixuan valued most, "Zixuan..." "Don’t say it." But Gu Zixuan didn’t want to hear a word, "No matter how you handle the public rumors now, I won’t thank you at all; handling it is your responsibility, and I don’t care if you don’t. Moreover, I did sleep with Feng Chengjin on the night you said I cheated, so just go." At the moment Gu Zixuan said this, a tremor shook within He Qimo, Mo Tong instantly freezing in the air.