Gu Qingyan moved to Mu Ziqi's other side and firmly supported her arm. He turned to face Shen Zhi Qiu, his gaze lingering on her face for a moment before he nodded, his voice low and deep, "Thank you, Zhi Qiu."
On the way back, a heavy atmosphere of sorrow filled the car. Shen Zhi Qiu sat close to Mu Zi Qi, gently holding her cold hand and soothing her tenderly. Huang Lin drove attentively, trying to avoid bumpy roads to avoid disturbing the tranquility of the car. Gu Qing Yan sat in the passenger seat, his gaze fixed on the scenery outside the window, his eyes deep and sorrowful, lost in thought.
Rong Mo and Wei Qiao's car followed closely behind.
The car slowly drove into the gate of the Gu family villa. After it came to a stop, Gu Qingyan got out of the car first, walked around to the front of the car, opened the door for Mu Ziqi, and gently helped her out of the car.
Shen Zhi Qiu stood outside the car, looking around at the Gu family villa. She found that nothing seemed to have changed much. The familiar sights and smells made her feel a little dazed, as if she hadn't been away for very long.
But everything has changed.
She took a deep breath, suppressing the myriad emotions in her heart.
After settling Mu Ziqi in, Shen Zhi Qiu tiptoed out, only to unexpectedly run into Gu Qing Yan. The two were so close that they could almost feel each other's breath.
Shen Zhi Qiu frowned in disgust and quickly took a step back.
"I'm sorry," Gu Qingyan said softly, his head bowed. His voice carried a hint of apology and helplessness; to be honest, this unexpected encounter had made him feel somewhat awkward. It had been a long time since they had been this close.
Shen Zhi Qiu didn't speak, but simply nodded slightly. She was about to walk past Gu Qing Yan downstairs when he called her back again.
"Zhi Qiu?" Gu Qingyan's voice carried a hint of hesitation and probing.
Shen Zhi Qiu turned around and looked at him with some confusion.
"It's nothing, it's just that there are still a lot of your things in the walk-in closet here, untouched. Since you're back today, would you like to pack them up and take them with you?" Gu Qingyan said politely, pointing in the direction of the walk-in closet.
However, Shen Zhi Qiu's reaction was indifferent. "No need." She shook her head. "When we divorced, you already gave me the villa at market value. The things inside no longer belong to me." Her tone was firm and decisive, without the slightest hesitation.
Gu Qingyan remained silent. When they divorced, he did give the villa to Shen Zhi Qiu for cash, but he did not throw away Shen Zhi Qiu's belongings.
Seeing that he was silent, Shen Zhi Qiu felt it was inappropriate to bring up the past, so she turned around and prepared to leave.
"Zhi Qiu." Gu Qingyan called her again and said softly from behind, "I'm sorry, I wronged you for what happened before." His voice was full of sincerity and remorse, as if he was sincerely apologizing to Shen Zhi Qiu for his past mistakes.
Shen Zhi Qiu felt a strange mix of emotions. This time, upon seeing him again, she sensed that Gu Qing Yan had truly changed. Perhaps Gu Suian's death had finally brought him to his senses? But was the price too high? Shen Zhi Qiu sighed and didn't turn back.
After a long pause, she said, "Gu Qingyan, do you think an apology can solve all the problems? It's all too late now."
Even if you regret it now, Dad can't come back. Do you think a simple "I'm sorry" can make up for the damage you've caused this family?
You don't need to apologize to me; I don't need it.
She took a deep breath to calm her turbulent emotions, and then continued, "Gu Qingyan, after this incident, I only hope that we will never cross paths again."
Gu Qingyan stood there, his face pale, his eyes filled with pain and regret. He lowered his head, his hands clenched tightly together, as if enduring immense suffering. Yet, he stubbornly persisted in trying to express his apology and remorse.
"Zhi Qiu, I know I can't undo the mistakes I've made." Gu Qingyan's voice trembled and deepened. "I regret my betrayal and the hurt I caused you. I know these things can't be undone, but I promise I will do everything in my power to make amends. I will do everything I can to help you find Lu Jia."
Upon hearing the name "Lu Jia," Shen Zhi Qiu's body trembled slightly, her emotions on the verge of breaking down. She took a deep breath, clenched her fingers, and said, "Gu Qing Yan, let me tell you. If you truly want to make amends for your mistakes, then please stay far away from me."
"You don't need to worry about Lu Jia! If it weren't for Xiao Wanqing, Lu Jia wouldn't have gotten into this mess. I hate her so much, I wish I could kill Xiao Wanqing with my own hands..."
Gu Qingyan fell silent, lowering his head and saying nothing more.
Seeing Shen Zhi Qiu leave in anger, he became somewhat anxious.
"Can I go see the children?" Gu Qingyan suddenly said. "I admit that I have done a lot of irrational things in the past and hurt you, but the children are innocent. They were born without their father. I want to be a part of their lives and fulfill my responsibilities as a father."
"Are you kidding me?" Shen Zhi Qiu laughed angrily. She turned to look at Mu Zi Qi's room and said in a low voice, "Gu Qing Yan, don't think that just because you're showing weakness now, everything from the past will be wiped clean! You're dreaming!"
Shen Zhi Qiu turned around and ran quickly toward the stairwell. Her steps were fast and firm, clearly indicating that she did not want to have anything to do with Gu Qing Yan anymore. A feeling of suffocation swept over her entire heart.
However, Gu Qingyan appeared like a ghost at the corner of the stairs. His appearance was like a shadow, making the already heavy atmosphere even more oppressive.
Just then, Shen Zhi Qiu suddenly felt a warm aura envelop her. She subconsciously looked up and found Rong Mo standing in front of her, his figure tall and upright, like a solid fortress.
"Be careful." Rong Mo's voice was gentle and deep. He immediately pulled her behind him, blocking Gu Qingyan's view with his body. His eyes were cold and sharp, staring intently at Gu Qingyan, as if warning him not to make any rash moves.
At the same time, Wei Qiao had reached the stairwell, looking at Gu Qingyan warily. His hands were clenched into fists, ready to strike at any moment. He had initially thought Gu Qingyan was going to cause trouble again, but unexpectedly—
The next second, Gu Qingyan knelt down. His knees struck the hard floor with a dull thud that was particularly jarring in the quiet living room.
"I'm sorry, Zhi Qiu. I was wrong before. Please, give me a chance to be with the children, even if it's just once a month. Is that alright?"
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