After saying this, Mu Ziqi left without hesitation. Her steps were firm and resolute, her back ramrod straight, without the slightest bend. Although tears had already blurred her vision, she stubbornly refused to let them fall, because she knew that once she shed tears, it meant weakness, and she would never allow herself to show the slightest weakness again.
Gu Qingyan reached out, trying to grab her sleeve, but Mu Ziqi jerked her hand away as if she'd been electrocuted. Her movement, though slight, was full of strength. She held her head high, opened the door, and walked out, never looking back at him.
There is no greater sorrow than a broken heart; this is probably the case.
The elevator doors opened, and she strode out. The wind outside ruffled her hair, bringing a slight chill. She looked up at the sky, and tears finally welled up in her eyes. But she didn't wipe them away; instead, she let them slide down her cheeks.
Gu Qingyan stood by the window, his eyes fixed on the street below. His figure appeared particularly lonely and desolate in the dim indoor light.
Downstairs, Mu Ziqi's figure gradually came into his sight. Without the slightest hesitation, she got into the car, the door closing gently, severing the last connection between mother and son. The car slowly started, growing smaller and smaller in the night, finally disappearing into the distant traffic.
Gu Qingyan's heart was filled with sorrow and helplessness. He couldn't understand why his mother couldn't support him? Why couldn't she understand his choices? He knew that his mother meant well, but her methods made him feel suffocated and constrained.
A pair of slender, soft arms gently embraced him from behind, and a warm cheek pressed against his back.
"Brother Qingyan, I'm sorry."
Warm tears soaked his clothes, and his heart ached instantly.
Gu Qingyan sighed, slowly turning around to see Xiao Wanrou, her face a picture of despair, her eyes red and swollen, tears streaming down her cheeks, staining her clothes with dark marks. Her appearance filled Gu Qingyan with a pang of heartache and helplessness. He gently wiped away her tears, pulled her into his arms, and rested his chin on her hair. "It's none of your business. It was my own choice."
From that day on, just as she had said, Mu Ziqi never set foot in Gu Qingyan's world again. Whether it was urgent business at the company or trivial matters at home, whenever the mother and son needed to communicate, Mu Ziqi always conveyed her meaning through the housekeeper, without exception.
Until the anniversary of Gu Suian's death.
Gu Qingyan got up early, carefully selected a bunch of chrysanthemums, and went to the cemetery alone.
The cemetery was quiet, broken only by the occasional birdsong, carrying the unique melancholy of the place.
As expected, Mu Ziqi was already there.
She stood in front of Gu Suian's grave, dressed in black.
"Mom," Gu Qingyan slowly walked up to Mu Ziqi and called her softly. His voice trembled slightly, revealing his nervousness and anticipation.
Mu Ziqi had her back to him and didn't turn around. She quickly put on the sunglasses in her hand, covering her eyes, which were filled with sadness and determination. Then, she turned and left, giving Gu Qingyan no chance to respond.
"Mom." Gu Qingyan anxiously reached out and grabbed her black sleeve, his voice trembling slightly, "Mom, do you really not want me, your son? You're the only family I have left now." His eyes were filled with pleading and helplessness.
Mu Ziqi didn't speak, but looked at him deeply through her sunglasses. That look contained too many emotions: disappointment, anger, sadness... but even more so, an unspeakable pain.
Gu Qingyan was dressed in a dark suit, but he looked noticeably thinner than before, suggesting he hadn't been in a good mood lately. His face was slightly haggard, and his eyes were full of fatigue. However, Mu Ziqi only glanced at him before turning her gaze away, refusing to look at him.
"Mom, please don't do this, okay?" Gu Qingyan pursed his lips, his voice pleading. His voice was choked with emotion, as if he might burst into tears at any moment.
Mu Ziqi sighed, her voice hoarse as she spoke, "I'll just ask you one question: do you still insist on marrying a woman from the Xiao family?" Her voice revealed a sense of despair and helplessness, as if she had already prepared for the worst.
“Mom,” Gu Qingyan’s eyes darted away for a moment, “I…” He hesitated for a moment, but finally spoke firmly, “Wanrou can’t live without me. I can take things slowly, there’s no rush to get married.”
"Then we have nothing to say," Mu Ziqi said coldly. "Let me go." There was no emotion in her voice; she had lost all faith and hope in Gu Qingyan.
"Mom, are we going to argue at Dad's grave too? Aren't you afraid that Dad won't rest in peace in the afterlife?" Gu Qingyan glanced at Gu Suian's photo and said with a bitter smile. His voice revealed a deep helplessness and sorrow, as if he could no longer bear any more blows and hurt.
Mu Ziqi's emotions reached their peak at this moment. She flung Gu Qingyan's hand away with such force that Gu Qingyan staggered and almost fell to the ground. Her eyes flashed with anger and extreme grief.
"Qingyan, do you have the nerve to say that?" Mu Ziqi's voice was filled with anger and disappointment. "If it weren't for Xiao Wanqing, would your father have died? He was so young. If he knew in the afterlife that you were going to marry Xiao Wanqing's sister, do you think you could face your father?" Her voice grew louder and louder as she accused him with heartache, each word dripping with grief.
Mu Ziqi swayed, so grief-stricken she could barely stand. She couldn't accept that Gu Qingyan would have any connection with the Xiao family again, especially with Xiao Wanqing's sister. In her eyes, this was a betrayal and desecration of Gu Suian.
“If I were you, I would never have anything to do with anyone in the Xiao family again in my entire life,” Mu Ziqi continued, her voice revealing a deep despair and helplessness. She smiled bitterly, “Don’t you feel guilty towards your father?”
Gu Qingyan was stunned.
“Mom, Wanrou and Wanqing are two different people.” After a moment of silence, Gu Qingyan tried to calm herself down and said slowly, “You can’t generalize just because they both have the surname Xiao and condemn them all. That’s too unreasonable.”
"Qingyan, you'd better take care of yourself," Mu Ziqi said coldly. "There's nothing more to say between us. You don't need to come see your father anymore, and I hope you won't speak to me again. Our mother-son relationship ends here."
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