A deathly silence fell over the room. The air seemed to freeze, making it hard to breathe.

Gu Qingyan knelt on the ground, bent down, and picked up the broken photo frame with trembling hands, making a faint sound.

In the photo, Xiao Wanqing still wore that radiant smile. His fingers gently traced the smile on the photo, his eyes gleaming with sorrow. His lips were pressed into a tight line, as if he were desperately trying to control his emotions. He slowly lowered his head, pressing the photo tightly against his chest, as if he could feel Xiao Wanqing's presence that way. His tears slid down his cheeks, dripping onto the photo and mingling with the shattered glass shards.

"Wanqing..." Gu Qingyan murmured to himself, his voice filled with endless sorrow and longing. There seemed to be a huge, unfillable void in his heart. He felt as if his soul had been torn in two, one half sinking into endless darkness, the other half struggling in endless pain.

One week later.

As usual, Gu Qingyan appeared at her hospital room door on time, dressed in a sharp suit and looking composed.

I just came today to pick up Xiao Wanrou from the hospital.

For the past week, Gu Qingyan has visited Xiao Wanrou at the hospital every evening. Although he didn't do anything special, he simply sat there quietly, watching Xiao Wanrou finish her tonic soup before leaving. However, his presence gave Xiao Wanrou a sense of inexplicable comfort and peace of mind.

I'll take Lin's mother back with me on my way back.

Lin's mother had been anxious for many days, but now things are finally over; Xiao Wanrou is going to be discharged from the hospital.

Carrying large and small bags, Gu Qingyan parked her car directly at the entrance of a residential area near the Gu Group.

"Lin Ma, get out of the car and grab your things," Gu Qingyan instructed.

Lin's mother looked around curiously, unsure of Gu Qingyan's intentions, but dared not disobey, and got out of the car to get her things.

"Brother Qingyan," Xiao Wanrou pursed her lips, "Where is this? How did we get here?"

“I bought an apartment here. It’s not as big as our villa, but it’s close to the company, so it’s convenient for me to come back and see you,” Gu Qingyan explained patiently, without the slightest impatience.

"Am I not going back to my aunt's?" Xiao Wanrou was clearly surprised that Gu Qingyan would do this, so she was a little uneasy.

“Your aunt isn’t feeling well, and she’ll worry about you if you go home. I’ve already spoken to her, so just stay here and focus on getting better.” Gu Qingyan opened the car door, got out, and walked around to Xiao Wanrou’s side to open the door. “Get out, be careful.”

After unlocking with her fingerprint, Gu Qingyan opened the door.

The overall color scheme of the large apartment is mainly white and gray, which is clearly arranged according to Gu Qingyan's preferences.

The spacious and bright living room walls are sparsely decorated, with only a few simple abstract paintings adding an artistic touch to the space. The sofa is a trendy designer piece, paired with soft beige cushions and throw pillows, creating a warm and comfortable atmosphere.

The dining area is located on one side of the living room, featuring clean lines. The kitchen has an open-plan design and is adjacent to the dining area. A coffee machine and several elegant coffee cups are placed on the kitchen island.

"Do you like it?" Gu Qingyan asked, interrupting Xiao Wanrou as she looked around.

“Yes,” Xiao Wanrou nodded slightly, “Thank you, Brother Qingyan.”

"Lin Ma, you stay here and take care of Wanrou. If you need anything, just call Huang Lin." Gu Qingyan gave the instructions and then prepared to leave.

A pair of slender arms grabbed his sleeve.

"Brother Qingyan, where are you going?" Xiao Wanrou looked at him timidly.

Gu Qingyan lowered his head and handed her a black card. "I have a meeting in a bit. I'll come see you when I'm done." His voice was gentle yet firm, as if he were making a promise to Xiao Wanrou. "The card's PIN is your birthday. There's no limit. Go shopping in a while and buy whatever you like."

Since realizing his decision to treat Xiao Wanrou as a substitute for Wanqing, Gu Qingyan's attitude towards her has noticeably changed. He has begun to pay more attention to her life and feelings, trying his best to meet her needs, and his words have become exceptionally gentle.

Xiao Wanrou was pleasantly surprised by Gu Qingyan's change in attitude, and her heart was filled with ripples of emotion. Although she knew perfectly well that all this warmth and care was based on her resemblance to Gu Qingyan's beloved older sister.

But she didn't care. As long as he was by her side, why should she worry that he wouldn't fall in love with her in the future?

However, she didn't understand Gu Qingyan at all.

Moreover, in this world, love has always been the greatest luxury, so it's perfectly normal that she can't get Gu Qingyan's love.

There should have been no expectations from the beginning.

One month later, Gu Qingyan opened the door as usual, only to find Xiao Wanrou busy in the kitchen.

"Why are you cooking?" Gu Qingyan frowned. "Where did Aunt Lin go?"

"Lin Ma's daughter is sick, and it seems quite serious, so Lin Ma rushed home first." Xiao Wanrou waved the spatula, not looking back for a moment, her eyes focused intently on the food in the pot, afraid it would burn.

"Go wash your hands first, then wait a moment for the food to be ready," Xiao Wanrou said gently.

Gu Qingyan took off his coat, changed into slippers, and walked in. He stood at the kitchen doorway, quietly watching Xiao Wanrou's busy figure. Only when he turned around did he notice that the dining table was already full of several dishes, each emitting an enticing aroma.

What surprised Gu Qingyan even more was that these were all his favorite dishes.

When Gu Qingyan finished washing his hands and came out, Xiao Wanrou had just brought the last dish to the table. She looked at Gu Qingyan with a smile and said, "Brother Qingyan, let's eat first. You must be hungry after a busy day."

Xiao Wanrou was wearing a light blue plaid apron, her hair was casually tied back, and a few playful strands of hair broke free and gently fell on her forehead, covered with a little oil and sweat, making her look a little messy but exceptionally charming.

Seeing that Gu Qingyan's gaze was fixed on her, Xiao Wanrou's cheeks flushed slightly. She lowered her head and said somewhat shyly, "Brother Qingyan, my cooking skills aren't very good, but would you like to give it a try?" Her voice was soft and slightly shy.

"Okay." Gu Qingyan sat opposite, took the chopsticks handed to him by Xiao Wanrou, picked up a bite of steamed fish, and tasted its tenderness. He looked up at Xiao Wanqing and smiled, "Your cooking is very good, the fish is delicious."

Seeing Xiao Wanrou smile shyly, Gu Qingyan felt a surge of inexplicable emotions. He had never expected Xiao Wanqing to cook for him; he was always the one giving, never thinking of anything in return.

But now, this girl before him had silently memorized his preferences. Like a gentle breeze rippling across a lake, Gu Qingyan's heart trembled.

Gu Qingyan never expected that this attraction would later sow the seeds of a huge hidden danger that would lead to his utter ruin.