Chapter 86 There's more to the story... Wait until he climbs higher and stands more firmly, then...

As Gu Qingyan finished speaking, the entire living room fell into a long, almost suffocating silence, with only the second hand of the wall clock ticking away, striking a chord in everyone's heart.

Lin Yulan's face was tense, her lips pressed into a pale line, her hand on the sofa armrest gripping the edge tightly. Gu Qingyan's words, neither humble nor arrogant, logical and sincere, were like waves crashing against the high wall in her heart built by past pain and worldly prejudice.

Time passed by, and sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, slowly moving across the floor.

Finally, Lin Yulan raised her head. The coldness in her eyes had faded considerably, replaced by extremely complex emotions: exhaustion and a deep sadness. A tear flashed in her eyes as she looked past Gu Qingyan, as if she were seeing certain people and events from a very long time ago through him.

“Starting from scratch…heh…” she muttered to herself, a bitter smile curving her lips, thick with self-mockery. “Now that things have come to this, I’ll tell you the story from back then. At the beginning, Weiwei’s father and I were just like you, even more devoted than you…We had nothing but love, crammed into a drafty, leaky rented room in winter and a damp, cold bun, but our hearts burned with passion. We believed that as long as we were of one mind and worked together, we could swallow any hardship and overcome any obstacle…”

Lin Yulan's gaze slowly focused, landing on Gu Qingyan's face again. Her eyes were no longer merely scrutinizing, but also carrying a bloody warning from the past: "Later, we really succeeded. The company grew bigger and bigger, we made more and more money, and we had everything we could want. But what was the result?"

Her voice suddenly became agitated, filled with years of pent-up resentment and pain: "He started to despise me for only knowing business all day, being petty and calculating, and reeking of money! He said he was tired, fed up, and what he needed was a soulmate who could talk to him about poetry and literature, who could understand his so-called 'artistic pursuits,' someone untouched by worldly concerns!" Lin Yulan's thin chest heaved violently as she pointed into the empty air, as if Lin Yuwei's father, that heartless man, was right in front of her: "He turned around and found a young female student who had just graduated, knew nothing, and could only play the piano and draw a few pictures!"

Lin Yulan abruptly turned to Lin Yuwei, her eyes filled with the deepest fear and worry a mother could feel, stemming from her own painful experiences: "Weiwei! Open your eyes and look at your mother! Look at the path your mother has walked, the wounds she has suffered! This is the price that your so-called great 'love' and 'fighting together' might bring! Yes! He treats you so well now, but what about later? When he climbs higher, stands more firmly, and sees more of the dazzling world of women younger, prettier, and 'more understanding' than you, won't he become another person like your father?! What will your mother do then? Watch you repeat my mistakes, filled with hatred and resentment?!"

This heart-wrenching accusation made Gu Qingyan's face extremely solemn. He finally understood what a bloody scar was hidden behind Lin Yulan's almost obsessive opposition. Just as he was about to speak and make his promise, Lin Yuwei gently squeezed his hand and stepped forward to stand in front of her mother.

She reached out and took Lin Yulan's hand, looking directly into her mother's excited and reddened eyes. Her voice was clear and calm, yet it carried a gentle yet firm strength that could soothe the turmoil.

“Mom!” she called softly, interrupting her mother’s outpouring of painful memories: “You know what? From childhood to adulthood, although I’ve never said it out loud, I’ve always felt in my heart that you have lived a very, very remarkable and very successful life.”

Lin Yulan was stunned, her tear-streaked face filled with astonishment. She seemed completely unprepared for her daughter to say such a thing. Her daughter was not close to her, and they would usually start arguing after only a few sentences.

"You and Dad started from scratch and built the Lin family company from the ground up. That courage and ability is your skill, and no one can take it away from you." Lin Yuwei's tone was full of admiration. "Later, when your marriage failed, you didn't get depressed and collapsed. Instead, you gritted your teeth and single-handedly took on the crumbling company and raised me to adulthood. You made all those who wanted to laugh at us dare not underestimate the Lin family mother and daughter anymore. Your life is fulfilling, independent, and wonderful. You have never been anyone's appendage. You are yourself, you are Lin Yulan."

Her gaze was gentle yet unwavering, soothing her wounded and lonely soul through her mother's agitated exterior: "So, Mom, please don't keep punishing yourself for Dad's mistakes, and don't let a failed marriage completely negate all relationships in the world that are willing to fight together. And please... don't look down on your daughter."

Lin Yuwei paused, her tone becoming more confident and forceful, carrying her own sharp edge: "I chose Qingyan because I understand his character, believe in his integrity, and, more importantly, trust my own judgment. Your daughter isn't a vine that needs to cling to him to survive, but a tall tree that can stand shoulder to shoulder with him and weather the storms together. We're together hoping that we can both become better and more complete versions of ourselves, rather than one becoming a burden to the other, or the other unable to live without the other."

“If…” Lin Yuwei took a deep breath, her gaze clear and brave, and said the most crucial words with unwavering determination: “I mean, if the situation you're worried about really happens in the future, if he changes, or if it proves that I misjudged him today and made the wrong choice…”

She met her mother's shocked and complicated gaze, and spoke each word clearly: "I believe I have enough ability and courage to cut my losses in time and walk away gracefully. I will continue to manage my own life well, just as you have done, making it equally wonderful, or even more wonderful. My happiness should not, and will never, be built on the fear of the unknown future or the endless suspicion that my partner might change. My happiness should be built on the clear and firm choice I make at this moment, and on the courage and ability deep within me to leave behind mistakes and start anew!"

These words were powerful and thought-provoking! Lin Yuwei not only expressed her trust in Gu Qingyan, but also declared her strong confidence and sovereignty as an independent woman.

Lin Yulan was completely stunned, as if she had been frozen in place.

Looking at her daughter, now standing tall and graceful with a determined gaze, her brows brimming with the light of independence that had long since shed her youthful naiveté, and seeing in her the resilience and courage she herself had once possessed but had almost lost in the trials of marriage, a mix of shock, realization, heartache, and indescribable pride surged into her heart, bringing tears to her eyes once more.

Lin Yulan had been trying to use her own failed experiences as a blueprint, desperately trying to build an absolutely safe and airtight golden cage for her daughter. But only now did she realize that her daughter had unknowingly inherited her spirit and grown into an eagle capable of soaring through the sky alone with a powerful core.

A long, suffocating silence filled the living room.

Finally, as if all her strength had been drained, Lin Yulan sank deeply into the soft sofa back, utterly exhausted and almost slumped. She closed her eyes, rubbed her throbbing temples, and when she opened them again, the intense emotions in her eyes had faded, leaving only an overwhelming weariness and a trace of helpless compromise.

She waved her hand, her voice hoarse and dry, but no longer meant to drive him away: "Gu Qingyan." She finally looked at him directly again, her eyes as complicated as a tangled mess of threads: "You... heard everything? My daughter... she's determined to be with you. She's given herself and her heart to you."

Lin Yulan paused for a long time, as if each word required immense effort, before continuing with great difficulty, word by word: "...You must...treat her well. If you dare to wrong her in the slightest, or cause her any suffering..." Her voice trembled slightly, yet contained an undeniable determination: "I, Lin Yulan, will risk my life to never let you go." These words carried a heavy worry, yet were a final warning and acquiescence, a resignation she could not utter.

Gu Qingyan's heart, which had been hanging in her throat, finally settled down, followed by an overwhelming sense of responsibility and excitement.

He stepped forward and, facing Lin Yulan, made the most solemn and sincere promise of his life, his gaze clear and firm: "Mrs. Lin, please rest assured, and please keep an eye on me from now on. I will use my whole life and everything I have to protect her, respect her, and cherish her. I, Gu Qingyan, will never betray her trust in me today, and I will never betray your... support at this moment."

Lin Yulan said no more, only nodded wearily, turned to Aunt Wu who had been waiting at the restaurant entrance, her voice returned to its usual calm, but with a hint of barely perceptible hoarseness: "Sister Wu, let's eat."

The atmosphere at lunch was still somewhat subtly tense, but at least the three of them sat at the same table.

After lunch, Aunt Wu took the initiative to tidy up the guest rooms, while Lin Yuwei took Gu Qingyan back to her room on the second floor to rest for a while. She gently closed the door behind her, finally shutting out the heavy and complicated atmosphere.

Having just endured a mentally and emotionally exhausting confrontation, Lin Yuwei hadn't even had a chance to catch her breath, or even turn around to see Gu Qingyan's expression, when she was suddenly pulled into a huge embrace from behind!

Gu Qingyan almost fiercely pulled her tightly into his hot and firm embrace. His arms were so strong that she felt a slight pain, as if he was about to crush her delicate bones and completely embed them into his flesh and blood, becoming one with her.

His entire body was even trembling slightly.

Lin Yuwei was startled by his behavior, which was completely different from his usual calm and self-control, and almost out of control. She subconsciously whispered in his arms, "Qingyan? What's wrong with you?"

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Author's Note: Vivi's mother's life was also troubled by love. She was beautiful and had a good business mind, but she was plagued by infidelity her whole life...

I know several older women who are like this, so it's like they're based on real people. The desires of women are unspeakable, so I hope all my sisters can cherish and value themselves more in relationships. Self-love is the prerequisite for being loved, and it's also the beginning.