A confession from Gu Yanzhi
Yuehua's warning, "He will ruin you," was like an invisible needle, deeply piercing Yu Jinli's heart.
In the following days, she was somewhat distracted while studying the metaphysical mental techniques.
She would uncontrollably think of Feng Jinxuan.
I remember how he clumsily peeled an apple for me, how he stood up to his future father-in-law for me, and his awkward yet affectionate words, "What's mine is all yours."
She knew she had fallen in love.
Moreover, they were deeply entangled.
This feeling, like a vine growing wildly against the storm, had already wrapped around her heart so tightly that it was impossible to breathe.
That afternoon, only Gu Yanzhi came to the metaphysics tutoring class.
"Master and Mistress," Gu Yanzhi bowed to Yu Zhengdao and his wife, speaking respectfully, "there are some matters in the pavilion that require your decision."
Yu Zhengdao and Yuehua nodded and left first, heading to the study.
In the large living room, only Yu Jinli and Gu Yanzhi remained.
"Koi," Gu Yanzhi looked at her with a gentle smile, "How's your study of the cultivation technique going these past few days?"
"It's...it's alright." Yu Jinli said somewhat guiltily.
These past few days, Feng Jinxuan has been on her mind constantly, causing her study efficiency to plummet.
"There's no need to rush things." Gu Yanzhi seemed to see through her thoughts and comforted her gently, "The Tianyan Pavilion's mental cultivation method emphasizes going with the flow. If your mind is troubled, your luck will be blocked. If your mind is not calm, you will naturally achieve less with more effort."
He paused, then added meaningfully.
"That 'concern' of yours, is it Mr. Feng from across the street?"
Yu Jinli's cheeks flushed instantly.
"Great...Great God, don't talk nonsense!"
Looking at her shy, lovestruck appearance, Gu Yanzhi's smile faded slightly.
He paused for a moment, seemingly considering his words.
After a long while, he slowly spoke, his voice soft but carrying an undeniable solemnity.
"Koi, there are some things I shouldn't have said."
"But now, I have to say it."
The atmosphere in the living room instantly became somewhat heavy.
Yu Jinli looked at him, feeling inexplicably flustered.
Do you remember when we first met, I said that we were 'destined' for each other?
Yu Jinli nodded.
“That’s no joke.” Gu Yanzhi looked at her with an unprecedented seriousness in his eyes. “Our destiny was set the moment you were born.”
“I am your master and mistress, the one you have chosen as your future Daoist partner.”
"boom--"
Yu Jinli felt as if her brain had been struck by a thunderbolt.
She stared in disbelief at the gentle and refined man before her, speechless for a long time.
Dao... Daoist companion?
What era are we living in? How can there still be such feudal dregs as arranged marriages!
“I know it’s hard for you to accept right now.” Gu Yanzhi laughed self-deprecatingly. “I also think this approach is absurd.”
"So, I've been waiting."
"Waiting for you to grow up, waiting for you to return to Tianyan Pavilion, waiting for you... to truly know me, to understand me."
He looked at her, and those eyes, which were always gentle and clear, were now filled with an intense, unyielding affection that had been suppressed for more than twenty years.
"Koi, I've known of your existence since I was little. I know that somewhere in the world, there is a girl I need to protect with my whole life."
"I cultivated with all my might, studied with all my might, and tried my best to become the most outstanding senior disciple of the Heavenly Evolution Pavilion..."
"So that one day, when I truly stand before you, I will have enough qualifications and enough ability to shield you from the wind and rain."
"It was no coincidence that I noticed you on the forum. I sensed the aura of that 'Phoenix Hairpin' on you."
"I contacted you and got close to you not for any purpose of 'keeping an eye on' you."
"I just... just want to be closer to you, even closer."
"I just wanted to see what the girl I've cherished since I was little has grown up to look like."
This heartfelt confession is enough to move any girl.
Yu Jinli, however, felt utterly overwhelmed.
She admitted that she had feelings of affection and admiration for Gu Yanzhi.
But this is not love.
She looked at the man before her, whose deep affection left her somewhat at a loss, and spoke with difficulty.
“Senior Brother Gu…” she even changed her way of addressing him, “I… I have always only regarded you as… a teacher and an idol.”
"I know." Gu Yanzhi's face showed a bitter smile that was more painful than crying. "Your heart has long been filled with that man."
He looked at her, his eyes filled with resentment and confusion.
"I just don't understand... what's so good about him?"
"He's cursed with misfortune, eccentric in nature, and will only bring you danger and unhappiness. And I..."
“He’s not good.” Yu Jinli interrupted him, her voice soft but unusually firm, “He’s not good at all.”
"He has a sharp tongue, a bad temper, is childish and awkward, and is particularly good at making people angry."
"but……"
She raised her head and looked at Gu Yanzhi, her clear peach blossom eyes sparkling with a dazzling light that she herself was unaware of.
"But he would stand up to my powerful father for my sake."
"He would clumsily learn how to care for someone for my sake."
"He would lay all his secrets bare before me for my sake."
"He would do it for me..."
She paused, and the image of that broad back on the deck, unhesitatingly pulling her into his arms, flashed into her mind.
"...recklessly."
Gu Yanzhi fell completely silent.
He looked at the girl in front of him, who had become radiant and dazzling because of another man.
He knew he had lost.
They suffered a crushing defeat.
A long silence fell over the living room.
And none of them noticed.
At the corner of the stairs leading from the living room to the second floor.
A tall figure had been standing there for quite some time.
Feng Jinxuan had just finished an important overseas video conference and was about to go downstairs to get a glass of water.
Then, he heard what followed... a deeply moving and heartfelt confession.
He looked at the girl who was cornered by Gu Yanzhi but was still trying her best to protect herself.
Looking at her eyes, which sparkled when she mentioned herself.
He felt his usually cold and silent heart being completely filled with a huge, bittersweet emotion.
He desperately wanted to rush downstairs immediately and throw that arrogant Gu Yanzhi out of his house. Then, he wanted to pull that silly, adorable girl tightly into his arms.
But he didn't.
He just stood there quietly, like a despicable thief who had spied on someone else's secret, until Gu Yanzhi got up to leave in a daze, until only Yu Jinli was left in the living room, hugging a cushion and staring blankly on the sofa, before he slowly walked down the stairs.
He deliberately stomped his feet heavily.
"cough."
Yu Jinli was startled by the sudden sound.
She turned around abruptly and saw Feng Jinxuan; her cheeks instantly flushed red.
"Boss... Boss! When did you come down?"
He... he couldn't have heard everything, could he?
"Just got off." The man lied without batting an eye, walking over and sitting down beside her. "Where's Mr. Gu?"
"He...he's gone."
"Oh." The man nodded, then picked up the remote and turned on the TV.
On the television, a boring financial news program was playing.
Neither of them spoke again.
But a strange atmosphere, filled with awkwardness and a hint of sweetness, was quietly brewing in the air.
After a long while, the man seemed to suddenly remember something, turned to look at her, and asked with a serious expression:
"By the way, what did you say was wrong with me?"
"Sharp tongue? Bad temper? Childish and awkward?"
“Yu Jinli,” he narrowed his eyes, moving closer to her dangerously, “do you think I’m giving you too much pocket money?”
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