Chapter 89 Fourth Brother... This can't go on...

When Granny Liu led Cheng Xiuxiu back to Yutang Courtyard in a hurry, Cheng was resting with her eyes closed.

Granny Liu was a long-time servant of Madam Cheng, and her appearance was tantamount to Madam Cheng herself appearing.

However, Gu Yun'an was still able to act so recklessly, clearly showing that he didn't take the Cheng family seriously at all.

Upon hearing that they had been turned away, Madam Cheng merely half-closed her eyes, as if offering a light sneer. After all, they weren't her own children; they could never be truly tamed.

"Aunt, it's really not right to leave that wild girl at Huaiju all day long." Cheng Xiuxiu was so angry that she had nowhere to vent her resentment.

Why is it that wild girl of unknown origin can enter Huaiju smoothly, while I, a proper young lady, can only be turned away in an embarrassing way?

Wild girl? The image of Ruan Xingzhu instantly flashed into Cheng's mind. She hadn't really paid much attention to that girl, after all, she was just a wild girl with no background.

But now that girl has grown into a graceful young woman, it seems I have to think about it more carefully.

Ruan Xingzhu received the message and warning from Granny Liu. When she learned that Madam Cheng had ordered her to move back to her own courtyard, she panicked, thinking that her affair with Gu Yun'an had been exposed.

After a moment of calm reflection, she thought to herself, if she were truly caught, how could Cheng Shi simply ask her to move back to her courtyard?

Thinking about it this way, she couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief, guessing that Cheng Xiuxiu must have said something to Cheng Shi, which was why Cheng Shi gave this order.

Since the Cheng family has already given the order, how could I dare to disobey?

With Gu Yun'an not around during the day, Ruan Xingzhu packed her belongings and moved out of Huaiju.

Ruan Xingzhu felt very uncomfortable as soon as she entered the courtyard, which she hadn't been back to for so long.

Huaiju has an excellent location, facing the sun and well-ventilated, while this place only gets a little sunlight in the early morning and evening, which is quite different from Huaiju.

The night in Huaiju already had a cold and lonely feel to it, and without any lively figures, the night seemed even more desolate.

When Gu Yun'an returned, the crescent moon was already high in the night sky, casting its cool light.

He stepped into the house but didn't see Ruan Xingzhu. He figured she might have gone to take a bath or had gone to bed early, so he didn't ask any more questions and went straight to the study.

As night deepened, Gu Yun'an emerged from the study, his brows furrowed with exhaustion. After a quick shower, he entered the room, still damp, only to find that the familiar warmth was gone.

He was slightly surprised. He lit a lamp and looked around the room, but there was no trace of her. Even the items on the dressing table that exuded feminine charm were nowhere to be seen.

Without much hesitation, Gu Yun'an quickly put on his outer robe and hurried to the West Garden.

As he tiptoed into the room, he could already hear the steady, even breathing coming from inside.

He sat down gently on the edge of the bed, and in the dim light, he gazed at her sleeping sweetly, his longing for her surging like a tide.

He slowly lowered his outer robe, gently lay down inside, and then tried to tenderly pull the person into his arms, as if only in this way could he dispel the inexplicable unease in his heart.

Perhaps startled by his series of actions, the person in his arms let out a soft moan, tinged with languor and confusion, but her eyes remained tightly closed.

Gu Yun'an looked down and felt a surge of tenderness in his heart. He couldn't help but peck her lips lightly.

He never expected that the moment he touched her lips, he would lose all restraint and couldn't help but kiss her lightly, as if he wanted to pour all his possessiveness into that kiss.

Ruan Xingzhu only felt her breathing becoming increasingly difficult in her sleep, as if she were being tightly bound by something, and when she felt she couldn't breathe, she slowly woke up from her dream.

Before she even opened her eyes, she clearly felt her lips being sealed, and a familiar scent lingering around the tip of her nose.

Without even looking, she knew it was Gu Yun'an. She only felt a little hot from his kiss, a warm breath coursing through her body, and she couldn't help but whisper, "Fourth Brother."

Gu Yun'an paused abruptly, his thin lips parting slightly as he felt a pang of annoyance, realizing he had ultimately woken her up.

He pulled her into a tight embrace, gazing deeply into her eyes, his voice hoarse with suppressed emotion: "Why did you move back?"

The person in her arms seemed to have become more awake. Ruan Xingzhu lowered her eyes, not daring to look him in the eye, and said softly, "It's just... I want to move back."

In his hazy state, Gu Yun'an seemed to unintentionally furrow his brow slightly, his brows slightly furrowed, like a crescent moon obscured by dark clouds in the night sky, but he quickly smoothed it out. Seeing that he had woken everyone up, a strange emotion welled up in his heart, and he thought, it wouldn't be a waste.

His large hand quietly gripped her waist, his palm broad and warm, seemingly carrying boundless strength. Gu Yun'an lowered his head slightly, his deep eyes filled with affection and longing, wanting to capture her soft lips.

Just as he was about to cling to her, he felt as if a small hand was pressing against his chest. He was startled, and his dark phoenix eyes instantly sharpened as he stared intently at her. His gaze seemed to be able to see through every thought in her heart, as if he was waiting for her to give him a reasonable answer.

When Ruan Xingzhu was looked at like that, she couldn't help but shudder. But she had been tossing and turning in bed lately, thinking about many things.

Gu Yun'an is going to get married in the future. His wife will either be a daughter of an official like Cheng Xiuxiu, or she will definitely be a noblewoman from a prestigious family.

Given the vast difference in their social statuses, she couldn't continue this ambiguous entanglement; otherwise, she would only end up getting hurt.

Her eyes held a resolute determination, her gaze like a star in the cold night, faint yet firm, and her tone was extremely clear.

"Fourth brother, we can't go on like this."

She spoke clearly, emphasizing "cannot" rather than "do not want to," as if drawing an insurmountable line for herself and Gu Yun'an.

Gu Yun'an paused slightly, a complex expression flashing across his handsome face, as if he instantly understood her worries, which must be about Cheng's intention to marry Cheng Xiuxiu to him.

In an instant, the air seemed to change from thin to incredibly heavy, as if an invisible boulder was pressing down on their hearts.

Gu Yun'an slowly released her, neither agreeing to her words nor refusing her, but simply looking at her quietly with an unfathomable gaze.

He simply stood up and asked softly, "Did Mother ask you to move out of Huaiju?"

The sound was exceptionally clear in the quiet night, yet it carried a hint of barely perceptible probing.

Ruan Xingzhu peeked out from under the covers. She didn't answer the question, but just looked at him quietly, her eyes filled with complex emotions: reluctance, helplessness, and a trace of unspeakable sadness.

In the darkness, Gu Yun'an's expression seemed unusually indifferent, and his dark eyes seemed to hide an endless abyss, as if he was thinking about something.

After a while, he slowly got up, sat on the edge of the bed, gently covered her with the blanket, and said softly, "Go to sleep."

Having said that, he got up and left alone, wearing his outer robe.

In the darkness, Ruan Xingzhu hugged her blanket, listening to his footsteps fading into the distance. Her expression faltered slightly. As the door closed, a void seemed to suddenly appear in her heart, and a bittersweet feeling spread like a tide, engulfing her completely and lingering for a long time.

The sour taste, like an unripe green fruit, was both bitter and astringent, causing a dull ache in her heart.

In the darkness, Gu Yun'an's figure appeared exceptionally indifferent yet resolute. He understood that Cheng was avenging Cheng Xiuxiu, and at the same time, asserting her own authority.

It's a pity, he's no longer the puppet he used to be, someone who could be manipulated at will.

In the darkness, no one saw the fleeting hint of melancholy in his eyes, nor did anyone see that melancholy gradually transform into ruthlessness.

It'll be soon, very soon. He will allow Ruan Xingzhu to enter Huaiju with dignity and honor.

It was past midnight, and the entire mansion was immersed in tranquility, except for the candlelight in Huaiju's study, which had been burning all night.

Meanwhile, the bedding in Xiyuan was soaked with tears of frustration.

Ruan Xingzhu knew she relied on Gu Yun'an, but in the past she had relied on him like an older brother. However, she underestimated the unspeakable feelings that were quietly growing in her heart.

That feeling was more painful and choking than a beating; it was like sharp thorns piercing her heart, causing excruciating pain with every movement.

Since Miss Ruan moved out of Huaiju, Cheng Xiuxiu finally regained some balance in her heart, and her mind was now focused on how to win over Gu Yun'an.

Upon hearing that Gu Yun'an had returned, her eyes lit up. She quickly sat down in front of the bronze mirror, carefully applied some rouge, and adorned herself beautifully before rushing out to greet him.

"Fourth cousin, this is a purse I made myself. I think it suits you very well." Cheng Xiuxiu smiled and held the purse, looking at Gu Yun'an with anticipation.

Gu Yun'an didn't even lower his head, his gaze merely shifting indifferently away from her, his voice utterly detached.

"I don't bring inferior products."

His words instantly extinguished Cheng Xiuxiu's high expectations.

Cheng Xiuxiu froze on the spot, holding the purse, as if she had been frozen in place. She looked down in disbelief at the purse in her hand, which was made of the finest silk. She had put countless efforts into this purse, and every stitch was filled with her feelings for Gu Yun'an, but in Gu Yun'an's words, it was a cheap product.

But she couldn't utter a single word of rebuttal; she could only bite her lower lip lightly to express her dissatisfaction. Her delicate lips turned white from being bitten, revealing the grievance and resentment in her heart.

But how could she give up so easily? She looked at the bronze mirror and saw her beautifully painted face reflected in it, and a glimmer of hope rekindled in her heart.

Finally, she applied a heavy layer of bright red rouge, making her rosy lips appear even more vibrant, as if they could drip blood.

A confident smile appeared on her face reflected in the bronze mirror. She refused to believe that Gu Yun'an, a righteous young man in the prime of his life, would remain unmoved by her meticulously groomed appearance.

Hearing the noises coming from outside, Cheng Xiuxiu keenly noticed them and quickly went out to investigate.

Gu Yun'an stepped down from the carriage, his posture as upright as a pine tree, but his face still held that indifferent expression he always wore.

As Cheng Xiuxiu looked at his face, she became more and more curious. The more she looked, the more she wanted to see his different expressions, such as the way he looked when he was moved by her.

"Fourth cousin." Cheng Xiuxiu quickly went up to him, speaking in a sweet, coquettish voice.

The man's handsome brows furrowed slightly, as if he was extremely annoyed by the voice. He didn't say anything, but coldly walked past her and went straight into the mansion.