Upon hearing this, Gu Qingyan looked up at her, his voice somewhat cold, "Wanrou, if I've always treated you as a substitute for your sister, won't you really resent me?" His eyes revealed a deep doubt and probing, as if he wanted to see through her true thoughts.
Xiao Wanrou pursed her lips, forcing a bitter smile. "No." She tried to make her voice sound relaxed and natural, but a hint of disappointment and sorrow flashed in her eyes. She knew that Gu Qingyan had always deeply loved Xiao Wanqing, and she was just a substitute. There was nothing she could do about it, and she didn't want to compete with Xiao Wanqing at this moment, nor could she.
She looked at their hands with a touch of melancholy and said softly, "But, Brother Qingyan, could you spare me just a little bit of your love? I only need a tiny bit, and I'm sure Sister Wanqing wouldn't mind." Her voice was weak and trembling, as if she were pleading with Gu Qingyan for a little attention and warmth. Her eyes were filled with longing and expectation.
Looking into her eyes, so similar to Xiao Wanqing's, and seeing her looking at him so pitifully, Gu Qingyan felt his defenses crumble. He reached out and gently took Xiao Wanrou's hand, softly stroking her hair, without saying a word.
Xiao Wanrou lowered her head, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes. She grasped Gu Qingyan's hand and said softly, "Brother Qingyan, thank you for letting me stay by your side."
Summer gradually passed, and by the time Gu Qingyan felt a hint of autumn, the golden ginkgo leaves downstairs at the company had already fallen to the ground.
That afternoon, he had just finished a tense meeting and was walking out of the company building when his gaze was inadvertently drawn to a scene by the flower bed downstairs.
Xiao Wanrou wore a beige long dress, the hem swaying gently in the wind like a blooming lily. The close-fitting cut accentuated her slender waist, revealing a delicate yet resilient beauty.
She was intently holding her phone, trying to capture the ginkgo leaves falling from the tree.
Gu Qingyan stood quietly in the distance. Xiao Wanrou's profile looked exceptionally soft in the sunlight, and with the falling leaves, it looked like a beautiful oil painting.
He approached quietly, as if afraid to break the tranquility and beauty. When he reached Xiao Wanrou's side, she had just finished taking a photo and was looking at the result on the screen with satisfaction.
"What are you doing here?" Gu Qingyan asked softly, somewhat puzzled.
Hearing the voice, Xiao Wanrou turned around and saw Gu Qingyan. A look of surprise and delight appeared on her face. "Brother Qingyan, when did you come out?"
"I just came out and saw you taking pictures here. What are you doing here?" Gu Qingyan asked again.
A blush crept onto Xiao Wanrou's face. She lowered her head and smiled softly, "Brother Qingyan. I just missed you, so I took a walk over here."
Gu Qingyan's heart skipped a beat.
Xiao Wanrou pursed her lips nervously, her clear eyes filled with unease and anticipation. She said cautiously, "Brother Qingyan, are you angry? Then, then I won't come next time." As she spoke, she made a move to leave, her slender figure appearing particularly lonely in the autumn wind.
Gu Qingyan looked at her, a complex emotion welling up inside him. He frowned slightly and continued to ask, "What if I drive home? Wouldn't you just be waiting here for nothing?" His voice carried a hint of reproach, but more so, concern and worry.
Hearing Gu Qingyan's words, Xiao Wanrou felt a warmth in her heart, but on the surface she still pretended not to care, scratching her head awkwardly: "Then forget it, it's not the first time." Her voice was so low that it was almost inaudible, but Gu Qingyan still clearly caught her disappointment.
"So, you often come to wait for me?" Gu Qingyan was a little stunned. During this period, there were indeed times when he arrived home and Xiao Wanrou wasn't there. When asked, she would say that she was taking a walk downstairs or buying things. She would also bring fruit or something similar when she came home, so he never suspected anything. Now, thinking back, those details revealed Xiao Wanrou's care and concern for him.
A warm feeling welled up in Gu Qingyan's heart. He reached out and gently took Xiao Wanrou's hand, saying tenderly, "Wanrou, let's go out to eat." His voice was full of tenderness and affection, making Xiao Wanrou's heart beat faster.
Xiao Wanrou's eyes lit up, and she nodded, letting Gu Qingyan take her hand. They walked side by side on the path covered with ginkgo leaves, the leaves rustling under their feet. The setting sun shone through the gaps in the leaves, casting a golden halo over them.
This scene will forever be etched in Xiao Wanrou's heart.
She believed that from this moment on, Gu Qingyan had truly begun to like her. Her heart was filled with happiness and anticipation, as if the whole world had become a better place.
Unfortunately, one shouldn't be too confident, especially in relationships, as it's easy to be hurt beyond recognition by one's own fantasies. Xiao Wanrou was no exception.
Even if he says he loves her, what good does it do? He might still change his mind.
Moreover, he had never said he loved her.
After dinner, Gu Qingyan carefully looked at Xiao Wanrou's dress. He frowned slightly and said considerately, "Wanrou, you probably didn't bring many clothes. Since we have some free time today, I'll go with you to buy some new clothes."
"Okay, thank you, Brother Qingyan." Xiao Wanrou happily took his arm, her face beaming with joy.
Coincidentally, Shen Meiyan and her best friend Song Shiyao were also dining at the same restaurant. They had just returned from the restroom when the sharp-eyed Song Shiyao spotted Gu Qingyan and Xiao Wanrou coming out of the private room.
"Hey, Meiyan, isn't that your ex-brother-in-law? Why is he so close to another woman?" Song Shiyao nudged Shen Meiyan's arm and asked curiously.
Shen Meiyan was looking down at her phone when Song Shiyao bumped into her, and she couldn't help but look up.
Song Shiyao whispered, "Look!"
She looked in the direction Song Shiyao was pointing and indeed saw Gu Qingyan and Xiao Wanrou. Her expression instantly turned ugly, and a complex emotion flashed in her eyes.
Gu Qingyan occasionally lowered his head slightly to talk to Xiao Wanrou, a faint smile on his face. Just from the fact that Xiao Wanrou was holding his arm, the two were definitely not ordinary.
"Meiyan, didn't you say that your dad had a way? That as long as your sister divorces him, you can marry into the Gu family smoothly? Then what's going on? Look how intimate the two of them are!" Song Shiyao was a little anxious. Before, Shen Meiyan had confidently told her that she was going to marry into a wealthy family and become Mrs. Gu, so Song Shiyao had been flattering her, thinking that she could also get some benefits after Meiyan successfully took over. Now it seemed unlikely, so she was a little unhappy.
"Men, it's inevitable that they'll have affairs outside of marriage." Shen Meiyan forced a smile.
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