Seeing Gu Qinghuai remain silent, Lin Xihe felt a pang of regret.

Perhaps she shouldn't have said that she was Lin Xihe.

At least, Gu Qinghuai still retains that beautiful image from the beginning in his heart, that Lin Xihe from the past.

However, after so many separations and reunions, and having hurt him many times, knowing full well the depth of his hatred for Mu Ruoyan, she herself had ended up with Mu Ruoyan at this point.

Lin Xihe felt that he was not wronged at all by showing her such disgust now.

Those words just now have probably shattered the last vestiges of hope in his heart.

The two remained silent, as if time had stood still.

The tea in his cup had long been drunk, and Gu Qinghuai didn't know what reason he had to stay here any longer.

He gently put down his empty glass, his gaze falling on Lin Xihe, who had been keeping her head down the whole time, and finally said, "I'm leaving."

Lin Xihe did not try to stop her.

She was well aware of his attitude towards her over the past year.

The two got up, with Gu Qinghuai walking in front and Lin Xihe silently following behind him, escorting him all the way to the courtyard gate.

As he reached the courtyard gate, Gu Qinghuai suddenly stopped.

Lin Xihe looked up at him, somewhat puzzled.

Gu Qinghuai turned around, took a deep breath, and fixed his gaze on Lin Xihe, his eyes no longer able to conceal the emotions he had suppressed for so long: "Xihe, why can they do it, but I can't?"

Lin Xihe stood there, stunned, unable to understand his meaning for a moment: "Can...can what?"

Gu Qinghuai gave a self-deprecating laugh.

He mustered up his courage, only to be met with her feigning ignorance.

Ever since he returned from Nanzhao, he had been excluded from her world. He had long realized this, but when he gleaned clues from Ji Zhuo and Mu Ruoyan's words, a sliver of hope remained in his heart—perhaps, he too could have a chance.

At least, he would have a legitimate reason to visit her.

At least, he can be by his daughter's side.

However, Sun Ningxiang's words made him waver time and time again, causing him to deny his own thoughts again and again.

"It's alright, no need to see me off."

After Gu Qinghuai finished speaking, he turned and left resolutely, leaving Lin Xihe standing alone, watching his back recede into the distance until he disappeared from sight.

Ling Xue walked gently to Lin Xihe's side, her gaze falling on her slightly tired face, and asked in a low voice, "Miss, is the General still angry with you?"

Lin Xihe nodded slightly, her voice somewhat downcast: "Yes, he doesn't even want to talk to me much."

Ling Xue gently comforted her, "Miss, you always say that it's already quite an achievement that General Gu can join forces with His Majesty. Let's take it slow; things will eventually turn around."

She remembered that when Mu Ruoyan went to war and met with Gu Qinghuai, Lin Xihe was worried all day long and couldn't even eat.

Fortunately, Gu Qinghuai ultimately cared about the people and put aside his resentment towards Mu Ruoyan, joining forces with him to defeat Xiao Yugan.

Lin Xihe forced a smile and gently touched Ling Xue's belly: "Okay, I didn't say anything. Don't overwork yourself, or Xu Qi will blame me."

Ling Xue raised her eyebrows, her tone tinged with a hint of coquettishness: "He wouldn't dare! Miss, I'm not that delicate. It's only been a month, and I haven't felt anything yet."

Since Xu Qi was cured of the poison, he has been pursuing Ling Xue ardently.

The two married quickly and lived a sweet and peaceful life.

Ling Xue and Tao Musheng were once in love, but Tao Musheng was focused on making a name for himself and was reluctant to get married.

That day, Ling Xue told Lin Xihe that she wanted to get married. Lin Xihe asked her if she still missed Tao Musheng. Ling Xue smiled calmly and said, "The person who truly wants to marry you won't make you wait. He had so many opportunities before, but he never spoke up, so I let it go."

Seeing this, Lin Xihe was happy to grant the request.

She wanted to tell Ling Xue that she no longer needed to serve her, but Ling Xue insisted on refusing.

Nowadays, she can only make tea at most; Lin Xihe doesn't want her to do anything else.

Several days passed peacefully, and Lin Xihe stayed at home, silently calculating the time in her heart.

According to the information we received earlier, Mu Ruoyan and the others should be back in the next couple of days.

However, the first to arrive was Gu Qinghuai.

When Lin Xihe saw Gu Qinghuai again, he looked even more haggard than he had a few days before.

He remained seated on the stone bench in the courtyard, a cup of tea in his hand, his expression complex, as if he had a thousand words to say, yet he remained silent.

After at least fifteen minutes, Lin Xihe finally couldn't help but break the silence and asked, "Why do you look more haggard than before now that the fighting is over?"

Gu Qinghuai raised his head, his gaze meeting hers, but he quickly looked away.

He opened his mouth, his voice a little hoarse: "Xihe, I want to ask you..."

However, he stopped abruptly halfway through his sentence, as if some invisible force had blocked his throat, preventing him from continuing.

Lin Xihe leaned forward slightly and said in a gentle tone, "Ask away."

"I……"

Lin Xihe waited a moment, and seeing that he still didn't speak, she finally couldn't help but urge him softly, "Say it..."

"I……"

Lin Xihe was getting a little anxious.

She had never seen Gu Qinghuai like this before. He wasn't like this when he was a teenager; he wasn't like this when she first returned to the capital. Why had he become so hesitant and awkward now?

"Qinghuai, there's no need for this between us. Wouldn't it be better to just say what's on your mind?"

Gu Qinghuai took a deep breath and finally stopped hesitating. He was worried that if he hesitated, he would miss the last opportunity.

He raised his head, looking directly at Lin Xihe, his eyes no longer concealing his deep affection: "Why can't I be by your side? Is it because... you no longer have me in your heart?"

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