IF route: Protect her
"What's wrong?"
When Gu Zhao returned to school on Monday, he saw that Ke Qi had been looking sullen all morning. He naturally put his arm around her shoulder, acting like a close buddy: "Are you unhappy?"
Ke Qi shook her head: "It's nothing."
He said he was fine, but his face showed he was preoccupied.
Gu Zhao frowned slightly, then simply reached out and turned her face around: "Weren't we supposed to be best friends?"
"Or do you not consider me your best friend, so you're unwilling to share your innermost thoughts with me?"
No.
Ke Qi hesitated for a moment, but still told him what Ke Hengyuan had said to her that night.
Finally, she said dejectedly, "I don't think my dad really cares about me; he's just afraid I'll embarrass him."
"Gu Zhao, do you think I'm overthinking this?"
Gu Zhao paused for a moment, then suddenly remembered what Gu Qi had said.
Keqi was not happy during her teenage years, and even later severed ties with her father.
"No need to think about it."
Gu Zhao stated bluntly: "That's exactly what he thinks."
"Qiqi".
He gently patted her head. "Don't make excuses for someone who doesn't love you."
"You are an independent person with your own independent thoughts, privacy, and social life."
He doesn't respect you, so he doesn't respect your friends either.
"At least in my opinion, this isn't how fathers who love their children should act."
Looking into her hesitant eyes, he felt a pang of heartache and softened his tone, saying, "I'm sorry, that might be a bit presumptuous."
"If you don't mind, could you tell me about your relationship with your father?"
It's noon now, and there's at least a two-hour lunch break, so Keqi has plenty of time to chat with him.
He wanted to know about her past, which Keqi certainly didn't mind, and in fact, many times she didn't even have the chance to talk to anyone about it.
Now he's willing to listen, and they happen to be best friends.
Under his gentle gaze, Keqi slowly began to speak.
She recounted the various changes that occurred after her mother passed away and her father married her stepmother.
She recounted the various forms of subtle abuse her stepmother had inflicted on her.
She recounted her father's various acts of indifference towards her in life.
In the end, Keqi laughed self-deprecatingly: "You're right, maybe Dad doesn't love me anymore, but I'm just not giving up."
As soon as he finished speaking, Gu Zhao suddenly pulled her into his arms.
"Thanks for your hard work."
His voice was slightly hoarse: "Qiqi, it must be hard for you living in such a family."
The hug came unexpectedly, but it was incredibly heartwarming.
Keqi's initial sadness was somewhat relieved as a result.
"It's okay."
She buried her face in his chest and mumbled, "Anyway, I'm already used to it."
He was just deceiving himself, making the same mistake again and again. Every time he was disappointed in Ke Hengyuan, he would always rekindle his hope because of the little good things he did for him.
Ke Qi didn't know how long this hope could last.
She's the kind of person people call a shameless rascal, who won't turn back until she hits a brick wall.
Perhaps we should wait until we've accumulated enough disappointment before we give up.
"What if..."
Gu Zhao gently stroked her long hair on the back: "I can give you a better, happy family with the love of parents and siblings. Would you be willing to leave your biological father?"
A happy family with the love and care of parents, siblings, and other relatives?
That sounds wonderful.
"Impossible."
Ke Qi looked at him with slightly reddened eyes: "I don't have these things anymore, how can you give them to me?"
"Gu Zhao, thank you for comforting me, but it's impossible now."
Upon hearing this, Gu Zhao's lips moved slightly.
He wasn't just offering comfort; he was serious.
If she is willing to give up everything she has now, and to abandon the father who doesn't love her, he can take her away without any qualms.
His parents will treat her like their own daughter and cherish her like a precious jewel.
Whether it's family affection or romantic love, it's fine.
But seeing the hidden reluctance and hesitation in her eyes, he knew she didn't believe him.
Or perhaps, she still held onto hope for that irresponsible father.
Even if that man is indifferent to her, he is still her biological father. It's not easy to cut ties cleanly.
"Never mind," Gu Zhao thought.
Life is long, and to ask her to break away from her family of origin without any preparation is indeed too hasty and abrupt.
He has plenty of time to protect her, and when she truly loses all hope in that family, he will take her away without hesitation.
"I'm not sad anymore."
Gu Zhao patted her back gently, as if coaxing a child: "My parents come to stay in S City every Saturday and Sunday now."
"Qiqi, come to my house to play this Saturday and Sunday, okay?"
Shall we go to his house?
Ke Qi hesitated, thinking of Ke Hengyuan's fierce appearance that night.
"You were just visiting a friend."
Gu Zhaoguang could tell what she was thinking just by looking at her expression: "Qiqi, you are already 14 years old, not 4. Even if he is your father, he should at least respect your right to socialize freely."
He sighed softly and rested his chin on the top of her head: "Sometimes you don't have to be so obedient, otherwise he'll think you're easy to bully and will only try to control you more next time."
If these words were spoken by other boys, they would be suspected of brainwashing and seducing naive young girls into deviating from the norm.
But it's clear that Gu Zhao isn't that kind of person.
Moreover, Keqi felt that what he said was not wrong.
So after hesitating for two seconds, she nodded and said, "Okay!"
So, in order to be able to go to Gu Zhao's house on Saturday and Sunday, Ke Qi started subtly brainwashing Ke Hengyuan a few days in advance, using the excuse of participating in an outdoor sketching activity on those two days.
Keqi used to be bad at lying, but this time she lied without batting an eye.
Of course, Ke Hengyuan has never been particularly concerned about her affairs, so he certainly wouldn't ask too many questions.
So all of this was just an act for Jiang Yashi to see, to prevent her from reporting to Ke Hengyuan again.
Time flies, and Friday is here in the blink of an eye.
After finishing the last physical education class in the afternoon, Ke Qi could go to Gu Zhao's house to play after school.
But unfortunately...
"Hahaha!"
"Look at her! She's so embarrassing!"
Laughter and jeers rose and fell, initiated by a few boys who were close to Liang Dan and Bai Meimei, clearly targeting Ke Qi.
Ke Qi, who was playing badminton with Lin Yun, was puzzled.
Just as she was about to retort angrily, Gu Zhao's tall figure suddenly walked over, enveloped her in his arms, and then tied his school uniform jacket around her waist.
Ke Qi was stunned for a moment, then looked up and met his gentle eyes.
In that instant, I understood something.
Her face flushed, and she whispered, "Thank you."
"fine."
Gu Zhao secretly slipped her a sanitary napkin he had gotten from another female classmate: "Go change, you don't need my coat for now."
"good."
Ke Qi's face burned even hotter. She nodded like a chick pecking at rice, took the things he had given her, and hurriedly headed to the toilet.
As she watched her departing figure, the gentle expression on Gu Zhao's face vanished, and she coldly looked at the boys who had just mocked Ke Qi.
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