IF Line: Redemption

Gu Zhao gently wiped away her tears, "Because you are a very good person."

"That's why I like it..."

Gu Zhao paused for a moment, then smiled at her with her eyes crinkling: "I like being friends with you."

"Okay, stop crying."

Gu Zhao looked at the little crybaby in front of him, his tone nonchalant, and leaned closer to whisper to her, "They are much more seriously injured than I am."

"If they dare to talk bad about you again, I'll beat them up again!"

He childishly clenched his fist at her.

Ke Qi was eventually amused by him and stopped crying and started laughing.

That night, Keqi originally wanted to go home.

However, because he was worried about Gu Zhao's injuries, and because Gu Zhao had repeatedly invited him, he was concerned.

So, after finding a reason to keep it from her family, she went with Gu Zhao to his home in S City.

A high-end villa community very close to their junior high school.

"Qiqi, come here, Auntie will take you to your room first."

As soon as they got out of the car, An Qingyao took Ke Qi's hand and went up to the second floor.

Gu Zhuoyan accompanied Gu Zhao to the family doctor to treat the injury on her face.

"Qiqi, drink this first to warm your tummy."

As soon as they arrived at the room, An Qingyao asked the housekeeper to make a cup of brown sugar water for Ke Qi.

Keqi held the steaming cup of brown sugar water, the warmth from the night breeze on her hands reaching deep into her heart.

Although the initial surprise of discovering that Gu Zhao's mother was her childhood goddess had subsided considerably, the way she was treated still felt somewhat unreal.

"Thank you, Auntie."

"You're welcome." An Qingyao gently rubbed Ke Qi's head.

"Qiqi, drink first. Auntie has already had someone prepare clean clothes for you. You can change into them after your bath."

She gently untied her school uniform jacket from her waist. "Aunt Wang will wash and dry your school uniform tonight, so don't worry about being questioned when you go home tomorrow."

She had considered all the details that needed to be taken into account.

Ke Qi: "Thank you..."

"Oh, you're welcome, you're welcome."

An Qingyao put two fingers to her lips and winked at her: "You don't need to be so polite with your aunt next time."

Her beautiful peach blossom eyes, just like Gu Zhao's, curved into a smile. "Auntie likes you very much. Seeing you is as warm as seeing my own daughter."

"So Qiqi, just treat yourself at home when you come here, don't be too reserved."

It felt as warm and comforting as seeing my own daughter.

Ke Qi silently repeated this sentence in her heart, and for some reason, the tip of her nose suddenly felt a little sore.

"good."

An Qingyao said she liked Ke Qi, and then she truly proved it with her actions; she really liked Ke Qi.

After Ke Qi finished drinking the brown sugar water, An Qingyao led her to the bathroom, washed her hair herself, and then dried and combed it.

The pajamas I prepared for her were also very comfortable, and the size was just right.

In a daze, Ke Qi felt as if she were being cared for by her own biological mother.

"Qiqi".

A knock on the door suddenly interrupted Ke Qi's emotional state, which made her want to cry.

It was Gu Zhao's voice.

An Qingyao opened the door, said a few words to her son, and then waved to Ke Qi.

"Qiqi, you and Azhao chat, don't stay up too late."

"Ah Zhao, you should estimate the time and go back to your room to rest. Qi Qi isn't feeling well today, so don't disturb her rest."

Gu Zhao nodded: "Okay."

An Qingyao closed the door with satisfaction and left.

"Gu Zhao".

Ke Qi looked at his face, which had been treated with medicine, with concern. "How's the injury? Does it feel any better?"

"It's okay now, it doesn't hurt anymore."

Gu Zhao dragged the chair in front of the dressing table over and sat down in front of Ke Qi, crossing her legs like a puppy squatting.

"Don't worry, I'm an eighth-dan Sanda fighter, and I'll probably reach the ninth dan next year."

"If I hadn't deliberately held back today, those bastards wouldn't have been able to hurt me."

He deliberately stopped.

Ke Qi thought for a moment and suddenly understood something.

"You mean, you intentionally hurt yourself?"

Intentionally inflicting a little pain on yourself so you can settle scores later.

Ke Qi didn't know what to say; she felt both touched and heartbroken.

After holding it in for several seconds, she simply reached out and gently poked him with her fingertip: "Are you stupid?"

"Not stupid."

Gu Zhao took her small hand in his own and said, "Qiqi, I'm so happy to be able to protect you."

"If I had to do it all over again, I would still do the same thing."

He said seriously, "I will be here for you in the future. I will never let anyone hurt you again. I mean what I say, otherwise I will... um."

"Stop talking."

Ke Qi even covered his mouth before he was about to swear a solemn oath, saying, "I believe you, thank you Gu Zhao, you're such a kind person."

"Yeah?"

Gu Zhao suddenly leaned closer, his dark, bright peach blossom eyes looking at her with a smile: "How good?"

Ke Qi blinked and thought about it seriously for a moment.

Finally, she elaborated, "Gentle, handsome, respectful of girls, with sound values, intelligent, a good listener..."

She meticulously listed a whole host of his good qualities, and finally, looking at his bruised and battered face, added, "His fighting skills are also very high!"

As Gu Zhao listened, the curve of his lips widened, almost reaching his ears.

"So I'm that good to you!"

He hummed, then suddenly moved even closer, his breath almost spraying onto her cheek, and said in a tone that was both teasing and serious, "Then how about you be my wife when you grow up?"

Upon hearing this, Ke Qi opened her mouth in astonishment.

A moment of silence fell over the air.

Gu Zhao thought she was frightened, so he quickly coughed and said, "Um, I was just kidding, don't be afraid."

After saying that, he put his arm around Ke Qi's shoulder like a close friend and asked cautiously, "My best friend, you're not angry, are you?"

"without."

Ke Qi lowered her head slightly and muttered softly, "If you really want to, maybe I can consider it then."

But she spoke too softly, and many words were swallowed up in her breath.

Gu Zhao didn't hear clearly, so he tilted his head and brought his ear closer: "What?"

Before Ke Qi could repeat herself, there was a sudden knock on the door.

"Mom and Dad~"

Gu Qi's sleepy, childlike voice rang out from outside.

Then, in the next second, he opened the door and walked in.

The little guy looked like he'd been woken up from a dream. When he saw Ke Qi and Gu Zhao, he toddled over with his short legs.

Then, the next second, Ke Qi saw a scene that shocked her.

The little guy suddenly grew a pair of dark blue horns and a pale blue tail.

Then the little tail affectionately wrapped around Keqi's arm.

"Mommy~"

He opened his sleepy eyes and opened his arms to Ke Qi: "Hug me."

Keqi didn't move, just stared blankly at the little guy's horns and tail.

"Gu Qi, is she a succubus?"

Gu Zhao's expression also stiffened slightly.

Then he simply stated, "That's right, my brother is a succubus, because my mother is too."

He lied without batting an eye: "He must be half asleep right now, that's why he called the wrong name, don't mind it."

Ke Qi didn't say anything, but silently reached out and picked up the little guy, placing him in her arms and gazing at his delicate and adorable little face.

She hadn't paid much attention the previous times, but this time, she noticed that Gu Qi did look a little like An's mother and Gu's father.

But actually, more like Gu Zhao.

They look exactly alike.

The only difference is...

Looking into the little guy's big, dark, and bright eyes, Keqi had a fleeting illusion that she was looking in a mirror.

This is the second time the little guy has called her by the wrong name.

In a way, she is also a succubus, but she has not yet awakened.

"I don't know why, but I feel a sense of familiarity when I see Qiqi."

She lowered her head and kissed Gu Qi, who had fallen asleep instantly in her arms, and joked, "You know what, Gu Zhao, I feel like I really am Qi Qi's mother."

She laughed at herself after she finished speaking: "Unfortunately, I'm only 14 years old, so it's completely impossible."

"But if I have a baby in the future, I hope it will be as cute as Qiqi."

As she spoke, she couldn't help but lower her head and kiss Gu Qi again.

This heartwarming scene made Gu Zhao's heart beat faster.

The various photos of Gu Qi's family of three stored on his phone resurfaced in his mind.

This is his wife and baby.

Even across time, it remains undeniable.

Yes, it will.

Gu Zhao also raised his hand and gently touched the little Gu Qi in her arms, "The baby you give birth to will definitely be as cute as Qi Qi."

...

It was a warm and wonderful night.

Ke Qi and Gu Zhao opened up to each other and talked a lot.

The next day, after she finished breakfast, An's mother, Gu's father, Gu Zhao, and Gu Qi all got into the car and drove her home together.

Keqi usually only takes a bus to the intersection 200 meters away from her home.

There was only one purpose to do this: to prevent Ke Hengyuan and Jiang Yashi from seeing it and becoming suspicious.

I got off at the intersection again this time.

"Qiqi, bye-bye, call Auntie when you get home~" An Qingyao waved to Ke Qi.

Gu Zhao carried Gu Qi directly out of the car.

But it's not goodbye, it's a reunion.

"Qiqi, see you on Monday." Gu Zhao chuckled. "You're welcome to come to my house again next time."

Gu Qi looked up at Ke Qi and said, "Goodbye, sister! Come home again next week!"

They said they were going home, not coming to my house.

Keqi simply assumed the little guy had misunderstood the meaning.

Just as he was about to nod in agreement, a familiar voice rang out from behind him.

"You still know how to come back!"

Upon hearing that voice, Ke Qi felt a chill run down her spine and turned to look: "Dad?"

Ke Hengyuan's expression was very unpleasant.

His gaze was fixed on Gu Zhao, who was sitting opposite her.

"When you say you're going on an outdoor sketching trip with your classmates, do you mean you're staying overnight at a male classmate's house?"

"Ke Qi!"

Ke Hengyuan walked over and slapped her across the face in a fit of rage: "You're only 14 years old, how can you be so shameless?"

"Your aunt and uncle both know about this. You've really embarrassed yourself!"

A resounding slap left a clear handprint on Ke Qi's face almost instantly, which then quickly swelled up.

The force was so great that Ke Qi was knocked to the ground.

Ringing in her ears and feeling dizzy, Ke Qi was stunned by the blow.

What are you doing!

"elder sister!"

Gu Zhao and Gu Qi roared angrily and immediately went forward to help Ke Qi.

An Qingyao also quickly got out of the car.

"Why can't you talk things out instead of hitting the child?!"

An Qingyao stepped forward to check Ke Qi's injured face and was furious: "What kind of father is like you?"

Before Ke Hengyuan could speak, Jiang Yashi, who was behind him, spoke up.

"How we educate our own children is none of the business of outsiders, right?"

Holding her two-year-old son and daughter's hands, she looked at Ke Qi with a disappointed expression: "Qi Qi, your father is also worried about your safety."

"You're a girl, going to a male classmate's house to spend the night. You have no self-respect or self-love at all. What kind of talk is that?"

“You lied to me when your aunt asked you yesterday.”

"You used to be so well-behaved, but you've really gone astray lately."

As soon as she finished speaking, Ke Hengyuan lost face even more and rushed forward, ready to attack Ke Qi again.

"You shameful thing! I told you before, but you ignored me. It seems you won't learn your lesson until I teach you a good lesson this time!"

"Try touching her again?"

He had only taken two steps when Gu Zhao blocked Ke Qi's path, restraining his arm and saying sarcastically, "Now you think you care about your daughter?"

"Where were you, her father, when she was being bullied at school?"

Ke Hengyuan frowned: "What does how I educate my child have to do with you, an outsider? Get out, or I'll beat you up too!"

"He only shows off his power and authority as a father in front of his children, but never cares about whether they are doing well or whether they are being bullied at school."

“Now, the child only went to a friend’s house for a day, and then started a fight, claiming that she embarrassed you.”

A magnetic, cool voice came through, "Mr. Ke, is this how you educate your children?"

Hearing the sound, Ke Hengyuan looked up.

Upon seeing Gu Zhuoyan's face, he paused for a moment, his expression blank.

Then, in the next second, their attitude completely changed 180 degrees.

"President Gu?"

"How did you end up in S City?"

His anger vanished instantly, replaced by a fawning smile: "I'm sorry, you must have found this amusing."

"I was just worried and scared my daughter. After all, it's really inappropriate for her to stay overnight at a male classmate's house."

"Usually I..."

"alright."

Gu Zhuoyan reached out to stop him from making any further excuses, and walked step by step to Ke Qi, gently patting her head reassuringly.

"You've suffered, child."

His naturally cold voice, though gentle at this moment, was undeniably cruel as he asked, "Do you still have any hope for your father?"

Ke Qi didn't say anything, she just kept crying in distress.

After several seconds, she said in a trembling but firm voice, "He doesn't love me."

Gu Zhuoyan glanced at Gu Zhao.

Gu Zhao understood immediately, suppressed the urge to beat Ke Hengyuan to death, and hugged Ke Qi in her arms: "Do you still want to live with him as your father in the future?"

Almost as soon as he finished asking the question, he leaned close to her ear and said, "Do you remember what I said that day?"

"Come with me, Qiqi. From now on, my parents will be your parents. We will always protect you, love you, and cherish you."

"You will always be the apple of our eye."

"And also, I..."

The desire to express that he wanted to say was forced back down.

"Qiqi, come with me, let's go live in City A, away from this place that's causing you so much pain, okay?"

His dark, bright eyes gazed intently at her, his hope bordering on pleading.