He turned his head and saw Xiao Wanrou looking at him with bewildered eyes. Her face was still pale and bloodless, but a hint of surprise appeared in her eyes.
But it only lasted a second before her eyes dimmed.
Under the soft light, her face gradually overlapped with the face Gu Qingyan remembered.
"Wanrou." For a moment, Gu Qingyan's voice trembled slightly. He couldn't help but lean down and hold Xiao Wanrou's hand. "You're awake."
Xiao Wanrou nodded weakly, without looking at him again.
"Wanrou, I'm sorry." Gu Qingyan looked at that face, his heart shattered.
For a moment, he couldn't tell whether he was saying "I'm sorry" to Xiao Wanqing or Xiao Wanrou.
at night.
Gu Qingyan sat upright in the study, his posture as straight as a pine tree, his expression exuding an undeniable air of authority. His gaze was fixed on the exquisitely framed photograph in front of him, which contained a woman with a radiant smile.
"Wanqing, do you think this is God's compensation to me?" Gu Qingyan murmured to himself, his voice low and full of emotion. His fingers gently traced the smile on the photograph, as if he could feel that warmth and closeness. However, when his fingers touched the edge of the frame, he couldn't help but tremble slightly, revealing the vulnerability and pain deep within his heart.
The study door was suddenly pushed open, and Mu Ziqi stormed in. Her face was ashen, and her eyes flashed with anger and disappointment. She stared at Gu Qingyan, as if trying to see right through him.
"Tell me again what you said to me on the phone today?" Mu Ziqi gritted her teeth, her voice filled with deep disappointment and frustration. Her hands were clenched into fists, as if she were trying her best to control her emotions.
Gu Qingyan raised his head and met Mu Ziqi's gaze directly. His eyes were firm and frank, without the slightest hesitation or evasion. He took a deep breath and then slowly exhaled: "Mom, I said, I want to marry Xiao Wanrou."
These words were like a bombshell, instantly igniting Mu Ziqi's fury. Her face contorted with rage, as if she had been deeply insulted and hurt. Her eyes widened, as if she wanted to devour Gu Qingyan, her voice sharp and piercing: "Xiao Wanqing! Xiao Wanrou! You're determined to marry a woman from the Xiao family in this lifetime, aren't you?!"
It was rare for Mu Ziqi to lose her composure like this, and Gu Qingyan was stunned for a second.
After a moment, he remained calm and rational, and gently comforted her, "Mom, don't get agitated, take care of yourself."
However, Mu Ziqi seemed not to hear him and continued to vent her anger: "Don't get agitated? How can I take care of my health?! You're going to drive me crazy!" Mu Ziqi said fiercely, and for a moment she was a little out of breath and coughed a few times.
Gu Qingyan stood up, walked to Mu Ziqi, and tried to pull her to sit down first.
"I won't sit. I won't leave until you explain yourself clearly today." Mu Ziqi's attitude was very firm.
"I will never agree to you marrying Xiao Wanrou. You'd better give up on that idea!"
"Mom, listen to me, Wanrou is pregnant with my child." Gu Qingyan's voice was low and sincere, his eyes revealing a deep helplessness. He reached out, trying to grab Mu Ziqi's arm, but she forcefully shook him off.
Mu Ziqi's eyes widened, as if she had heard something unbelievable. She raised her hand and slapped Gu Qingyan across the face, the crisp sound echoing in the study. Gu Qingyan's cheek immediately swelled up, but he did not flinch, silently enduring his mother's anger.
"Gu Qingyan, you really are a bastard! How could I have given birth to such a heartless thing like you!" Mu Ziqi's voice was filled with disappointment and anger, and her tears slid down her cheeks as if she wanted to pour out all her pain and disappointment.
"Since you've already angered your dad to death, you might as well anger me to death too! Then no one will be able to control you anymore!" Mu Ziqi's voice grew increasingly shrill, and she completely lost control of her emotions.
Gu Qingyan was silent for a moment, then slowly said, "But she miscarried." His voice trembled slightly, revealing the deep pain and sorrow in his heart.
Upon hearing this, Mu Ziqi was stunned. She stared wide-eyed at Gu Qingyan, as if trying to read the truth from his expression. Then, she slowly sat down, covered her face with her hands, and tears seeped through her fingers.
"So, you want to marry her?" Mu Ziqi looked up at Gu Qingyan.
"Not really." Gu Qingyan awkwardly turned his gaze away, a hint of embarrassment and helplessness on his face. He didn't know how to explain his thoughts, and could only silently endure his mother's scrutiny.
"Mom, do you want to meet Wanrou first?" Gu Qingyan suddenly suggested, his voice filled with expectation and hope. He hoped his mother could understand his thoughts and accept Xiao Wanrou as a person.
However, Mu Ziqi directly refused: "Why should I see her? Our Gu family will never allow a woman from the Xiao family to marry into the family! You can marry any daughter you want, but there is absolutely no possibility with the Xiao family!" Her voice was firm and decisive, leaving no room for doubt.
Upon hearing this, Gu Qingyan felt a pang of bitterness in his heart.
"Mom, aren't you being unreasonable?" Gu Qingyan was also a little annoyed. He stood up, his brows furrowed.
"When have you ever reasoned with us? Tell me how many awful things you did for Xiao Wanqing! What, have you forgotten all that?!" Mu Ziqi was furious upon hearing this; Gu Qingyan's words had hit a nerve. She stood up abruptly, pointing her finger at Gu Qingyan and shouting.
Mu Ziqi bluntly struck at his heart.
"Mom, I'm going to marry her anyway," Gu Qingyan insisted. "Not being able to marry Wanqing is the biggest regret of my life, and this is a chance to make up for it. This is an opportunity given to me by God, and I'm going to seize it!"
"I disagree," Mu Ziqi replied coldly. "If you had even a shred of conscience, you shouldn't have brought this up in front of me again."
If you want to compensate Xiao Wanrou, you can give her money or a house; I don't care.
But one thing I absolutely cannot do is let her marry into the family!
"What if I insist?" Gu Qingyan's voice was indifferent, revealing no extra emotion.
"Then I'll go to the entrance of the Gu Group and die right there in front of you! I'll tell the whole world that you, Gu Qingyan, caused your parents and grandfather to die because of a woman from the Xiao family! I want to see if you can actually get married!" After Mu Ziqi finished speaking, her gaze fell on the photo of Xiao Wanqing on the table. She walked over, picked up the photo frame, smashed it hard on the ground, and slammed the door shut as she left.
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