Chapter 186 Is that all?

Gu Xingnian stared blankly at the woman playing the piano. She was very beautiful and exuded an indescribable sense of warmth.

Zhuang Linyue had already stood up and walked over quickly. When she looked at Gu Xingnian, her eyes were slightly red.

She herself didn't know why, but a voice in her heart was calling out for Xixi.

But Xixi has already been found, and she's right here beside me.

However, the woman in front of me really does look like her.

Gu Xingnian smiled and said, "Madam, you play so well."

Zhuang Linyue smiled, but the smile didn't reach her eyes. "Thank you. What's your name?"

Gu Xingnian nodded. "My name is Gu Xingnian."

"Are you from Haicheng? Is your home in Haicheng?" she couldn't help but ask again.

Gu Xingnian smiled and casually replied, "Yes, my parents are from Haicheng."

Zhuang Linyue's heart sank instantly.

It seems it really wasn't her.

She forced a smile. "You like the guqin?"

"I don't really understand," Gu Xingnian answered honestly, "but you play so well. It feels like being inside a painting; it's very moving."

Before she could finish speaking, Zhuang Linyue suddenly took her hand.

The hand was warm, and trembling slightly.

"Come over here, I'll play you another tune."

Gu Xingnian was a little flattered and was led by her to sit in the nearest seat.

Zhuang Linyue returned to the zither, her fingertips touching the strings once more, and a brand new piece flowed out. This time, it was played especially for her.

Gu Xingnian was stunned.

Fragmented images suddenly flashed through my mind.

Long, long ago, a woman dressed in an elegant cheongsam sat beside a zither, holding her tiny baby in her arms.

The woman gracefully played the guqin with one hand, while her two small hands vigorously slapped the strings.

"Pat, pat."

All that was being emitted was a cacophony of noise.

But the woman laughed, lowered her head, and kissed her face repeatedly.

The song ended.

Gu Xingnian's eyes reddened; she didn't understand why she had lost her composure like this.

Thunderous applause and endless praise filled the air, with everyone calling her Madam Bai.

Zhuang Linyue walked over and warmly invited her to have lunch together.

Gu Xingnian snapped out of her daze and pointed to a spot not far away, "My friend is still waiting for me over there."

She whispered goodbye to Zhuang Linyue.

Zhuang Linyue watched her retreating figure, her disappointment impossible to hide, and walked in another direction with the group of wealthy women.

Fu Beichen walked over and naturally and gently put his arm around her waist.

His body temperature emanated through the thin fabric of his clothes.

Gu Xingnian leaned against him and said softly, "That Madam Bai, when I saw her, I had a very familiar feeling, I don't know why."

Fu Beichen knew, of course, that it was... a mother and daughter connected by heart.

Today was specially arranged by him to bring her here, just so that they could meet in advance.

I didn't expect her reaction to be so strong.

His deep voice sounded in her ear, carrying a soothing tone.

"Alright, let's eat first. If you like listening, I'll bring you again next time, and you can see her again."

He embraced her and led her to the reserved private room.

After lunch, Fu Beichen took her to the president's office to rest.

He held her in his arms and let her sit on his lap. The two of them leaned against the sofa and slept for a while.

When he woke up, he lowered his head and kissed her, kissing her so hard that she was dizzy and her breathing became disordered.

The masculine scent filled the air, the temperature in the office soared, and things seemed about to escalate to a point of no return.

Gu Xingnian jumped in fright, pushed him away abruptly, and ran away quickly.

When it was time to leave work, Fu Beichen waited for Gu Xingnian in the company's underground parking lot.

After waiting and waiting, no one came. Instead, a familiar black sedan sped away from the exit.

It's the Sheng family's car.

Fu Beichen's face darkened. Had he been outmaneuvered again?

A message popped up from my darling wife: "I'm going home for dinner, you don't need to wait for me."

Fu Beichen looked at it and smiled helplessly, but he liked the way it was told in such a forceful tone.

At this moment, the atmosphere at the Sheng family's dining table was somewhat heavy.

Sheng Chengjun cleared his throat and glanced at his daughters with a serious expression.

"I am now announcing a few family rules."

"First, you absolutely cannot stay out overnight before getting married."

"Secondly, if you have a boyfriend, you must bring him back for me and your mother to see. Only if we agree can you continue dating."

"Third, anyone who misbehaves will lose their allowance."

Li Qingning was the first to speak up, nodding frantically like a chick pecking at rice.

Gu Xingnian and Sheng Weiwei nodded obediently in agreement.

Sheng Weiwei pouted, "Old man, these terms seem tailor-made for Qingning."

Mr. Sheng looked at him with disdain, "That's true, after all, who would want you?"

Sheng Weiwei's smile froze on her face.

That hurts, bro.

Gu Xingnian couldn't help but laugh, but Sheng's father's sharp gaze fell on her, "Don't laugh, you too. From now on, you're not allowed to stay out overnight. None of you give me any peace of mind."

Gu Xingnian quickly nodded, "Yes, I heard you."

She absolutely dares not go out tonight.

Seeing that his daughters were all obedient, Mr. Sheng nodded, "If you're good, I'll peel shrimp for you every day."

As he spoke, a bowl piled high with shrimp meat was placed over.

Sheng Weiwei and Gu Xingnian both covered their noses at the same time; they were now terrified of seafood.

Only Li Qingning excitedly snatched the large bowl away, gesturing with her hands, "I'll eat! I'll eat!"

From now on, she can enjoy a big bowl of shrimp all by herself.

That's so cool!

After dinner, Li Qingning quickly slipped back to her room.

She was clutching her phone tightly in her hand, a video playing on the screen.

She mumbled softly, trying her best to follow the pronunciation in the video, practicing over and over again.

"Huo..."

"Huo..."

"Huo..."

After finishing her meal, Sheng Weiwei secretly slipped away to the boxing gym.

Today is Wednesday, usually the 17th, the day she plays in a match. She is sitting in her private box number one.

The boxers below were fighting fiercely, the muffled thuds of each punch landing, and the roars of the audience made the floor shake.

But she just stared, those eyes that were always so bright, now looked completely empty.

The passion is gone.

The Sheng Weiwei who used to stand up, grab the railing, and shout at the top of her lungs without a care for her image is long gone.

Not far away, a pair of sharp eyes pierced through the darkness and the crowd, locking onto her.

Until all matches are played.

The lights dimmed, the excited crowd gradually dispersed, and only the scattered sounds of staff cleaning up remained in the venue.

She beckoned to the waiter who was tidying up.

Sheng Weiwei handed him a delicate little gold box, "Please give this to number 17 for me."

The waiter looked troubled. "Miss Sheng, Number 17 left a long time ago, but... he hasn't packed his things yet."

Without saying a word, she took out a thick wad of cash from her bag and handed it directly to the waiter.

The waiter immediately bowed and scraped as he took the small box and hurried away.

Sheng Weiwei sat for a while longer before heading backstage.

At this time, almost everyone backstage had left, leaving only a few dim work lights.

She followed the route she remembered, step by step, until she reached the familiar locker.

On the cabinet door, the number "17" is cold and glaring.

Her fingertips gently traced the two numbers, and her eyes instantly welled up with tears.

It was here that she spoke to him for the first time.

She asked, "Five million? Will you be my bodyguard? Will you accompany me to Maduri?"

He did not agree at the time.

But he still went in the end, saving her life time and time again.

If... if she hadn't invited him back then, would he still be standing here, alive and kicking?

Is he still alive?

Her head rested limply against the cold cabinet door.

He started muttering to himself.

"Zhan Xiao, you bastard, how could you die like that..."

"Aren't you supposed to be a great fighter? Aren't you supposed to be amazing? How come you can't beat them..."

"If you can't beat them, you can run away... Why don't you run?"

Her tears fell like beads from a broken string, streaming down her face uncontrollably.

From initially suppressing sobs to finally bursting into uncontrollable tears.

"What should I do... I miss you so much... what should I do..."

"You bastard... Waaaaah..."

In the shadows in the distance, the owner of those eyes watched all this, his heart feeling as if it were being squeezed tightly by a giant hand, the pain so intense he could hardly breathe.

He longed to rush up right now.

He longed to pull her tightly into his arms and tell her that he had always been there for her.

Tell her that everything was unavoidable.

But he couldn't.

The only thing he can do now is to make her forget "Zhan Xiao" as soon as possible, and then... fall in love with "Bai Yu" again.

Finally, the crying subsided. She staggered away.

Bai Yu emerged from the shadows, his tall figure casting a long shadow in the dim light.

He walked to cabinet number 17 and skillfully opened it.

The gold box that the waiter brought was lying quietly inside.

He picked up the box and opened it.

Inside was the blue kitten towel with one corner burned off.

Next to the towel was a heart made of folded tissue paper, which she had given him many times before.

There was a bright red lip print on it.

Above the lip print, there was an extra line of text: "I miss you".

The character "想" (xiǎng, meaning "to think") was slightly blurred by water stains.

It was a tear that she couldn't hold back when she put the lip print on her lips.

His hand gripped the box tightly, his knuckles turning white.

My heart ached terribly. My eyes welled up with tears.

The night was deep.

Fu Beichen's car stopped silently outside the Sheng family mansion.

He tapped his fingers on the screen and sent a message.

Come down, I'll take you home.

As the phone screen lit up, Gu Xingnian's heart skipped a beat.

She quickly replied.

No, nobody is allowed to leave the house today.

Fu Beichen stared at the line of text, paused, and rubbed his fingertips against the steering wheel, his eyes deep and thoughtful.

So, he only got to hug his wife for one day before he had no chance to do it again.

He typed again.

Do you want to see me?

Gu Xingnian looked at the screen, and couldn't help but curl the corners of her lips into a smile.

"You can do magic tricks, can't you? Fly in here."

About five minutes later.

A dull thud came from the direction of the balcony.

Gu Xingnian's nerves tensed instantly.

Immediately afterwards, the glass door to the balcony was pushed open, and a tall man walked in against the moonlight.

The night breeze carried his scent, instantly filling the entire room.

Gu Xingnian stared in surprise, her eyes widening, and instinctively covered her mouth.

he……

"How did you get in?" she asked in a low, trembling voice.

Fu Beichen didn't explain. He took a long stride and was in front of her. He stretched out his arm and pulled her into his embrace.

His chest was firm and hot, and even through her thin pajamas, it made her heart tremble.

He lowered his head and captured her lips precisely.

The kiss was forceful and irresistible, lingering and caressing for a long time until her breathing became erratic.

Fu Beichen lowered his body and leaned close to her ear, his warm breath brushing against her earlobe.

"Um, is it over?"

She froze for a moment, then her cheeks burned even hotter...

Or... should we tell him about the child?