Chapter 78 Let's go together
In Gu Qingxu's eyes, even though Ruan Xingzhu was not related to him by blood, he was already as close as his own little sister.
But now, she heard that Ruan Xingzhu and Gu Yun'an had done such a disgraceful thing. This news hit her like a heavy hammer, leaving her extremely shocked.
Looking at Ruan Xingzhu's pitiful, tearful face, Gu Qingxu's mind raced, and he instantly guessed that Gu Yun'an had forced her.
After all, Gu Yun'an was the eldest son of the Gu family, a man of noble status, and no one dared to question his actions. How could he be forced by a young woman?
Thinking of this, Gu Qingxu's heart clenched suddenly, as if it were being tightly gripped by an invisible hand, causing her heart to clench violently.
She never imagined that her fourth brother, who was always strict with himself and meticulous, would do something so outrageous to Ruan Xingzhu.
She quickly stepped forward and gently embraced Ruan Xingzhu, who was on the verge of tears. She patted Ruan Xingzhu's shoulder and arm with a gentle and soothing touch, comforting Ruan Xingzhu's frightened and uneasy heart.
Although the gesture comforted her, her brows were furrowed tightly, and she was unsure how to deal with Ruan Xingzhu.
Gu Yun'an is always resolute and will certainly not listen to her advice. If this matter is told to Madam Cheng, given how much Madam Cheng values her eldest son, she will most likely sacrifice Ruan Xingzhu, a weak woman with no background, to protect Gu Yun'an's reputation.
Feeling Ruan Xingzhu sobbing against his chest, her shoulders trembling slightly, Gu Qingsu's heart couldn't help but clench.
She couldn't help but recall the time she had asked Ruan Xingzhu to beg Gu Yun'an. At that time, she was only thinking about Yi Mingyu and didn't notice Ruan Xingzhu's unusual behavior at all.
Looking back now, Ruan Xingzhu's demeanor and behavior were quite different from before, yet I still made her beg Gu Yun'an, which was tantamount to handing her over to the gun.
Ruan Xingzhu finally found an outlet for her emotions and cried for a long time until her wet eyes were red and swollen. Only then did she slowly leave Gu Qingxu's embrace.
Even so, she still held onto Gu Qingxu's arm tightly, as if it were her last support in this world, fearing that if she let go, Gu Qingxu would disappear.
Gu Qingxu felt a mix of emotions. She knew that if she didn't take care of Ruan Xingzhu, then in this huge mansion, Ruan Xingzhu would have no one to rely on and could only silently endure everything Gu Yun'an did.
Thinking of this, a deep sense of difficulty appeared between her brows, but then she made up her mind and suddenly said, "Why don't you come with me to the Yi residence?"
Everyone in the Yi household treated her with utmost respect, and she felt completely at ease there, as if she were in her second home. Yi Mingyu, in particular, was extremely accommodating to her every whim.
He could simply say he was lonely and wanted to bring a younger sister along to keep him company; no one would gossip about that. Besides, if Ruan Xingzhu really went to the Yi residence, he wouldn't have to travel back and forth to see her whenever he wanted.
Ruan Xingzhu's red eyes were filled with confusion and blankness. She stared blankly at Gu Qingxu, her voice trembling slightly with uncertainty.
"Go to the Yi residence..."
If she went to the Yi residence, perhaps she wouldn't have to fear being discovered by Madam Cheng about her affair with Gu Yun'an. If she went with Gu Qingsu, she wouldn't have to worry about being woken up every night, nor would she have to face her ambiguous and shameful relationship with Gu Yun'an.
"May I?"
After thinking for a moment, she asked in a weak voice, her tone full of caution, as if afraid that even this glimmer of hope would be shattered.
Hearing that Ruan Xingzhu was willing to go with him, Gu Qingxu's face immediately showed a gentle smile, and she said firmly, "Of course you can. Just come and keep me company as my little sister. No one will say anything."
The matter was settled, and Ruan Xingzhu subconsciously wanted to pack some things to take with her, but Gu Qingsu felt that the Yi family had everything they needed and there was no need to bring these things.
The journey back to her parents' home wasn't too far. However, Madam Cheng took a lot of things and made Gu Qingxu take them with her.
Looking at the pile of things, which was even more than when they arrived, Gu Qingxu couldn't help but feel a little ashamed. It made it seem as if the Yi family was penniless and had nothing at all.
Sitting in the carriage, Ruan Xingzhu watched as the outline of the Gu residence became increasingly blurry in her vision, and a complex emotion welled up in her heart.
But she really couldn't stay any longer. She couldn't maintain that ambiguous relationship with Gu Yun'an any longer. Otherwise, if it were discovered, the Cheng family wouldn't let her off the hook, and it would also damage Gu Yun'an's reputation.
The carriage slowly drove into a long road. Gu Qingxu saw that Ruan Xingzhu looked worried and her eyes were full of sorrow, so he gently held her hand and softly comforted her, "It's alright, it will be alright once we get to the Yi residence."
At this moment, Ruan Xingzhu's eyes were no longer so red and swollen. She hugged Gu Qingxu's arm tightly and nodded obediently.
However, the carriage, which had been moving steadily, suddenly stopped without warning.
Gu Qingxu thought something was blocking the road ahead, so she reached out and gently lifted the carriage curtain to see what was going on outside.
However, as soon as the carriage curtain was lifted, she saw Gu Yun'an standing on his horse, his cold face filled with a chilling aura, blocking their path straight ahead.
Gu Qingxu's expression changed instantly, her heart filled with astonishment.
She clearly heard the servant say that Gu Yun'an had gone out to handle official business, so how could he suddenly appear here and catch up with them?
Seeing Gu Qingxu's frightened appearance, Ruan Xingzhu felt a surge of worry and was about to ask what was wrong.
A gentle breeze blew by, slowly lifting the carriage curtain, and Gu Yun'an's cold and stern face came into clear view of her.
Ruan Xingzhu's wet eyes froze slightly, and the hand that was holding Gu Qingxu tightened instantly, her fingertips turning white from the force, and a strong sense of unease welled up in her heart.
Sensing Ruan Xingzhu's fear, Gu Qingxu, though somewhat apprehensive herself, forced herself to remain calm as the older sister and braced herself.
"I'll go take a look..."
Seeing Gu Qingxu get off the carriage, Ruan Xingzhu's unease grew even stronger. She pressed herself tightly against the edge of the carriage, fearing that Gu Yun'an would come up and take her away.
Gu Qingsu mustered her courage and stepped off the carriage, only to feel a strong pressure coming towards her. It was the faint anger emanating from Gu Yun'an.
"Fourth Brother..." She lowered her eyes and unconsciously lowered her voice, revealing a hint of awe and trepidation.
He quickly replied with the explanation he had prepared earlier: "I brought Xingzhu to keep me company and help me pass the time."
However, as she spoke, her voice grew weaker and weaker, because the powerful pressure emanating from Gu Yun'an made it hard for her to breathe. She couldn't help but recall how Gu Yun'an had punished her for making a mistake before.
Gu Yun'an seemed not to have heard her at all, ignoring her completely, and simply dismounted nimbly from his horse.
His gaze swept coldly over Ruan Xingzhu, who remained hidden in the carriage and refused to come out.
However, when his gaze turned to Gu Qingxu, his eyes showed obvious displeasure, and the corners of his mouth turned up slightly as he scoffed, "It seems that Xiao Wu has forgotten who helped you?"
Gu Qingxu's heart skipped a beat. She couldn't help but recall what Gu Qingming had said: if Gu Yun'an hadn't delivered the letter, she wouldn't have had such a smooth experience.
It can be said that without Gu Yun'an's help, she would probably still be confined to her room by the Cheng family, deprived of her freedom, and might even be forced to go on blind dates with the young masters favored by the Cheng family, and forced to marry someone she did not like.
A conflicted look appeared between her brows; on one side was her fourth brother, who had once helped, taught, and assisted her.
On one hand, there's Ruan Xingzhu, whom he considers his little sister and with whom he's always been inseparable.
Now the two are inexplicably entangled together; how can this complicated situation be resolved?
Her expression showed some hesitation, but she kept blocking the carriage behind her. "I am eternally grateful for Fourth Brother's kindness."
As she spoke, she hesitated, looking troubled. After much deliberation, she finally mustered the courage to voice her opinion: "But Xingzhu didn't do it willingly..."
Gu Qingxu didn't notice the flaw in these words, just as Ruan Xingzhu wouldn't say anything more if she wanted to.
Gu Yun'an stared at her indifferently, as if he had heard something that greatly displeased him. His cold brows furrowed tightly, but he still suppressed his anger and spoke in a low voice.
"How did Xiao Wu know Xingzhu was unwilling? Did Xingzhu herself say so?"
Gu Qingxu paused, thinking back carefully. From beginning to end, Ruan Xingzhu had never said that she was unwilling. But the fact that she was willing to go with him with tears in her eyes meant that she was forced and unwilling.
Seeing Gu Qingxu's righteous and awe-inspiring expression, insisting on her point of view, Gu Yun'an felt a sharp pain between her eyebrows.
He exhaled a heavy breath, his tone tinged with coldness, and said, "That's because she doesn't understand yet, and she doesn't dare to accept it. I will make her understand."
Gu Qingxu's eyebrows and eyes widened instantly, filled with shock. She couldn't help but exclaim in surprise at Gu Yun'an's words. In her opinion, Gu Yun'an was simply stubbornly clinging to his delusions.
"Fourth Brother..."
However, before she could finish speaking, Gu Yun'an interrupted her.
At this moment, Gu Yun'an had lost his patience. If it weren't for the fact that he had raised her from childhood and taught her from a young age, it would be hard to say whether she would still be able to speak to him calmly today, given that she had obstructed him.
"That's enough. Xiao Wu is already married. I hope you won't overstep your bounds."
His words carried an undisguised warning, which reminded Gu Qingxu of the admonition he had given her when she was looking for a husband for Ruan Xingzhu.
Could it be that he developed feelings for Ruan Xingzhu from that time onwards?
Or perhaps, even earlier.
I was startled and couldn't help but recall what Cheng had said: "Your fourth brother is a cold-hearted person with little emotion."
Sitting in the carriage, Ruan Xingzhu tightened her clothes, listening to Gu Yun'an's growing impatience, his tone filled with intense anger, as if he was about to vent his frustration.
Filled with anxiety, fearing that she would implicate Gu Qingsu, she gritted her teeth and finally lifted the curtain herself, slowly getting off the carriage.
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