He Lin: "He..."

He just wanted some comfort for his empty heart. At this moment, he didn't want to talk about Gu Qian.

Do you know him?

"Of course." If Qiu Yan didn't understand Gu Qian, how could she have fallen for him?

"If you know him, why don't you know about his past?"

Qiu Yan fell silent for a moment. "Everyone has their own space or privacy. Forget it, I don't want to know about his affairs anymore."

After Qiu Yan finished speaking, she got up and pulled Gu Xiaoran out of the courtyard.

"He didn't want to mention it because he didn't want you to be sad with him," He Lin quickly stood up to explain when he saw Qiu Yan's face darken.

He followed Qiu Yan and the other person out of the courtyard.

Qiu Yan nodded; she agreed with those words.

Outside the courtyard, in the alley, He Lin murmured, "In his childhood, he lived with our maternal grandparents, the Gu family."

"Why doesn't he live in his own home?" Qiu Yan wondered.

"After his aunt died, he was ostracized by his stepmother. His maternal grandfather took him in because he felt sorry for him, but he only stayed at the house for a year."

"Why?" Qiu Yan pressed.

"My maternal grandparents passed away one after another. When they left, their biggest worry was Qian'er. He was only three years old that year. My aunt was mean and my uncle was foolish, so they were unwilling to take Qian'er in."

He Lin's recollections of the past were heart-wrenching.

As he spoke, he looked at Gu Xiaoran, "They were about the same age as Jin'er. They left, leaving behind poor Qian'er."

Looking at Gu Xiaoran's small body, Qiu Yanxin felt sad. "Where is your mother? Didn't she take you in?"

“Mother Consort… Mother is not favored by Father. It is difficult for her to even see her maternal grandfather. She has no say in anything, let alone take in Qian’er.”

"How did he grow up?" Qiu Yan asked in a low voice, her tone somber and filled with heartache.

He spent a year living a life of constant wandering.

He was hungry, so I begged for food with him, and we were chased by dogs..."

------------

"Cousin, there's a dog! Run!"

"Qian'er, don't be afraid, your cousin will protect you."

"Little beggars, stop! Don't run, or I'll break your legs..." A group of men dressed as servants, each with a stick in hand, were chasing after two ragged, disheveled children.

They were about nine years old and about four years old.

Amidst barking, a large, vicious dog suddenly pounced on the two children.

The two children froze, their faces pale with fright, as the ferocious dog caught up with them.

With two thuds, the two children fell to the ground at the same time.

Seeing the vicious dog with its gaping maw aimed at Xiao Guqian's throat, Xiao Helin, though terrified, mustered his courage, pushed the dog away forcefully, and landed on top of Xiao Guqian...

"Ah..." With a scream, Xiao Helin's shoulder became covered in blood.

The vicious dog slowed its movements slightly, opening and closing its mouth as it chewed on the flesh and blood inside.

Xiao Helin was in excruciating pain and fainted. From then on, he developed a fear of dogs.

"Cousin..." Gu Qian's face was deathly pale; he wished he could chop the vicious dog to pieces.

However, he was too weak and lacked strength.

"Hahahaha..." The servant's gloating laughter rang out from all around, "Serves you right for stealing! You're so young and already so bad at everything, you deserve to be bitten by the dog..."

Fortunately, Heaven took pity on them.

Thump... The vicious dog flew backward, kicked to pieces by a powerful and tall figure...

---------

"It was General Li who saved us."

"Did he take Gu Qian in?" Qiu Yan guessed.

"Yes, he is our savior and also Gu Qian's mentor."