Upon hearing this, Lin Xihe froze on the spot, momentarily forgetting how to respond.
"Xihe, don't worry, I will handle the matter of returning to Dahao properly, and then I will marry you. I will never let you and Tangbao be in danger." Gu Qinghuai's eyes were firm, and his words were sincere as he made his promise.
In his heart, if he could return to his high position and marry Lin Xihe in a grand manner, that would be the greatest blessing in his life; but if he was unable to protect his mother and daughter, he felt he had no right to talk about marriage.
"That's not what I meant..." Lin Xihe came to her senses and hurriedly explained.
At this moment, her mind was in turmoil.
The person before her had gone through countless hardships to find her brother and had suffered greatly for her sake. Her deep affection made it impossible for her to refuse him, yet she also found it difficult to agree immediately.
Gu Qinghuai understood perfectly well that not agreeing directly was tantamount to refusing.
During those dark and hopeless days, Lin Xihe and her daughter had become his pillars of support, helping him get through one difficult moment after another.
Especially before coming to Nanzhao, during that tender and passionate night, he vowed that he would marry her when he returned.
Even though time has passed quickly, Gu Qinghuai has never forgotten the deep affection he felt back then.
"I know you didn't mean that, Xihe..."
Gu Qinghuai gently placed his hands on Lin Xihe's shoulders and, with a slight force, made her turn around and look at him.
This one glance seemed to traverse countless mountains and rivers, and witness the vicissitudes of life.
Lin Xihe looked up at Gu Qinghuai, her expression complex and unreadable. After a brief eye contact, she lowered her eyes again.
During her countless days and nights in Moyu City, she often thought of the person in front of her. When she learned that he was in danger in Nanzhao, she rushed to his rescue without hesitation.
Even though she suffered all kinds of torment from Mu Ruoyan, she gritted her teeth and persevered.
However, now that she has gone through so much, she doesn't know what to do when she actually faces him.
Gu Qinghuai raised his hand and stroked Lin Xihe's face, his fingertips gently caressing her cheek with the utmost tenderness.
"Forget everything here, I will never let you down."
His voice was deep and firm as he slowly lifted Lin Xihe's face and gently lowered his head to approach her.
His gaze was fixed on Lin Xihe's lips; in countless midnight dreams, he longed for that face.
Even when they met before, he dared not overstep his bounds because of his predicament.
But at this moment, Lin Xihe's hesitation stirred a strong impulse in Gu Qinghuai's heart. He only wanted to leave his own mark on her, and from then on, everything about her would only be related to him.
Lin Xihe keenly sensed Gu Qinghuai's intention and subconsciously turned her head away, trying to avoid him.
However, Gu Qinghuai was not about to give up so easily. He quickly raised his hand and firmly held Lin Xihe's chin, his voice carrying an undeniable urgency: "Xihe, don't refuse me."
Without waiting for a reply, he kissed her.
Unable to dodge in time, Lin Xihe could only raise her hand in a panic, trying in vain to block them.
She clenched her teeth tightly, determined not to let Gu Qinghuai's lips and teeth get any closer.
Gu Qinghuai seemed to have all his strength drained away, and he leaned his head on Lin Xihe's shoulder, utterly exhausted.
His mind was racing; things shouldn't have turned out this way.
He had meticulously planned that as soon as he found Lin Zhihao, he would immediately go back to marry the woman he loved, accompany her through her pregnancy, take care of her meticulously, and protect her and their daughter for the rest of their lives.
But reality was incredibly cruel. He was imprisoned and tortured, forced to watch helplessly as his beloved was humiliated in front of him. All of this was far too cruel for him.
Lin Xihe felt a pang of bitterness rising in her heart as she watched Gu Qinghuai's body tremble slightly, and a wave of guilt washed over her.
She slowly reached out and gently embraced Gu Qinghuai's body. As her fingertips caressed him, she was shocked to realize how thin he had become. His once tall and imposing figure was now just a frail skeleton, which was heartbreaking.
"Qinghuai, I just don't know how to face you..."
Lin Xihe's voice was choked with emotion as she spoke softly.
"Don't leave me, Xihe."
Gu Qinghuai's voice was full of humility and pleading; he was terrified of losing her.
Unable to make a promise, Lin Xihe could only tighten her grip on Gu Qinghuai's arm, as if trying to offer him some comfort in this way.
"She doesn't love you anymore, can't you tell?"
Just then, a sudden sound came from the bed, breaking the silence between the two.
Lin Xihe subconsciously tightened her grip on Gu Qinghuai's arm. Just as Gu Qinghuai was about to look up, she quickly reached out and gently stroked his head, preventing him from getting up.
Lin Xihe glanced sideways at Mu Ruoyan, who had woken up on the bed at some point, and her eyes instantly hardened.
She could clearly feel Gu Qinghuai's emaciated appearance, and she forcibly suppressed the strange feelings she had for Mu Ruoyan, coldly saying, "The one no one loves is you."
"Then what are you hesitating for? You have me in your heart, don't you?" Mu Ruoyan asked directly, her tone filled with certainty.
He had actually been awake for quite a while, listening quietly to their conversation, secretly delighted.
He was certain that Lin Xihe's hesitation was because she had feelings for him.
Looking back on all the moments they spent together, he firmly believed that it wasn't Lin Xihe's pretense, but rather that he had truly entered her heart.
If it weren't for the unbearable pain in his chest, he would have loved to rush up and pierce Lin Xihe's heart the moment Gu Qinghuai kissed him.
A sneer appeared on Lin Xihe's lips. At this moment, she was certain of Mu Ruoyan's feelings for her, and naturally knew how to hurt him.
"You've investigated me for so long, you naturally know why I hesitated." Lin Xihe's voice was colder than ever before.
"You? I was only acting with you to save Qinghuai. How could I possibly have any feelings for a coward like you who lives in the gutter?"
"I'm a rat? You..." Mu Ruoyan felt a surge of anger rush to her head, almost suffocating her.
Mu Ruoyan had figured out this woman's nature; she was always soft-hearted and not as resolute and strong as she appeared on the surface.
Gu Qinghuai was merely putting on a pitiful act, yet she felt incredibly sorry for him and even said such heartless things to him.
Mu Ruoyan knew in her heart that if she spoke too harshly at this moment, it would only completely dissipate the last bit of care Mu Ruoyan had for her.
Thinking of this, he secretly tapped his waist a few times with his hand hidden under the covers.
In an instant, he uncontrollably vomited several mouthfuls of blood. Because he was lying down, the blood splattered all over his face, neck, and pillow, creating a shocking scene.
Mu Ruoyan stared intently at Lin Xihe's face. Sure enough, a look of tension flashed across her face for a moment, and the concern in her eyes was impossible to hide.
Fortunately, Lin Xihe concealed her actions very well, revealing almost no flaws. Gu Qinghuai could not see her sudden change in expression, but he felt a little relieved because of her protection of him.
Ha, so she really falls for this!
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