Chapter 457: Gu & Song: Those Years (II)

When Gu Sen wanted to marry Song Shiwei, everyone in the Gu family was stunned and opposed, asking what was wrong with the people his family had chosen.

Only Gu Hai said: "The Song family isn't that bad; Song Shiwei is tall, beautiful, and considerate. My older brother hasn't had candy for years, and the candy someone gave him he's been chewing lately. He also doesn't smoke or drink when trouble comes; isn't chewing candy fine?"

He didn't think much then, only felt that in this family, brotherly friendship and filial respect were truly rare.

With his persistence, his younger brother's help, and his parents gradually relenting, he got his wish.

A letter was sent to the Song family, then came the marriage proposal.

During those six months, he constantly felt light, as if he had temporarily shed his identity as a Gu family member and a son, becoming someone else's beloved, fiancé, then husband.

With his own little family, he was Gu Sen, the head of the household.

After marriage, Song Shiwei would talk with him, eat, walk, and also hug him at night.

Song Shiwei was gentle, occasionally threw a little tantrum, but everyone has small quirks; it's normal.

Song Shiwei was also kind; when dealing with the disliked Gu Jin, she didn't mind the child's dirty appearance, picking the child up and patting off the dust.

He thought he had found someone who could align with him outwardly.

When Song Shiwei faced his friends, she would show insecurity; insecurity stems from the environment, and confidence can also be cultivated—nothing special. As a husband, he should affirm his wife.

In the morning Song Shiwei saw him off, and in the evening waited at the doorstep for his return… Their married life was like that of ordinary people: calm, comfortable, with occasional minor frictions—sometimes teeth and tongue would clash, which is normal.

Until six months after marriage, the first conflict arose; parents and senior relatives subtly asked why there was still no movement in Song Shiwei's womb.

He thought pregnancy and childbirth should just follow nature.

But he ultimately ignored the force of urging conception and overestimated his own ability, believing that since Song Shiwei, like him, had been carefully cultivated, as peers they should join forces against destiny; even if he lacked such courage, he should be the source of her bravery, the power behind her.

He was taller than her, and the heavenly oppression he had already shielded.

Was it because he stood too far back? Thus Song Shiwei could only see left and right—on one side the Song family parents urging, on the other the in‑laws in the clan pressing for an early heir.

When the son's cry fell to the ground, he thought obedience had perhaps reached its final point.

He was transferred to another region, and the couple began to see each other less, but he still remembered to call home, and whenever he had rare free time he would write two letters—one casual, one affectionate.

Whenever a holiday exceeded three days, he would return once; the daughter existed only during those times. He considered bringing Song Shiwei to his side for care, but he was too busy, and the work environment was mediocre, which would neglect Song Shiwei and the child in her womb.

During that period, an incident involving Gu Jin's mother occurred; he rushed back to soothe it briefly, then hurried back again.

A few months later, Song Shiwei came over herself.

At that time he sensed something off about Song Shiwei, assuming it was just the lingering Gu Jin's mother issue, never expecting that when he truly realized her obsession with their son was deepening, it was already too late.

The daughter was lost.

She disappeared on a snowy day.

He didn't want to quarrel with his wife who was still in confinement, yet she, still in confinement, dared to lose their daughter.

That was their first quarrel since marriage, ending with Song Shiwei fainting from fever before him.

During that period he often blamed himself, having brought Song Shiwei into the Gu family yet failing to provide complete protection, still sinking into that mire, deeper and deeper.

His wife's mental state deteriorated; he bore responsibility and could not abandon his other half at such a time, yet after more than thirty years his other half stood opposite him and abandoned him.

Gu Sen recalled up to this point and withdrew his gaze from Song Shiwei.

It can be confirmed that now Song Shiwei owes him.

Realizing that Gu Sen was looking at her to see her former self, her instinct was to touch her own face; lately she hardly dared to look in a mirror, knowing that no matter the care, at this age wrinkles and sagging skin are inevitable.

While touching, Song Shiwei's hand suddenly stopped, she looked at Gu Sen and said, "Gu Sen, but you're old too."

Gu Sen looked at her with a strangely calm gaze.

He didn't know when they started speaking past each other.

Gu Sen let out a heavy sigh; Song Shiwei truly forgot herself, being assimilated and driven by others.

And he himself was trapped within, lacking the strength to rescue another.

"Song Shiwei, since you chose to stand on the family's side, have you asked the old master if he's decided? I'm waiting for his reply."

Song Shiwei retorted immediately: "I'm not standing on their side; I'm standing on ours!"

Gu Sen: "Then I ask you, will you go with us?"

Song Shiwei opened her mouth then closed it, paused, and said: "I don't understand why it has to be this way!"

Gu Sen: "I also don't understand why you want to do this."

Song Shiwei shifted from gentle to irritable, while Gu Sen remained calmly as ever.

The husband and wife stared at each other face‑to‑face, yet felt as if a whole galaxy separated them.

"Gu Sen, please, I beg you, okay?" Song Shiwei truly could not accept their family splitting from the Gu family, nor could she bear an elderly couple quarrelling here and becoming a laughingstock.

Gu Sen retorted: "Song Shiwei, twenty‑eight years ago I also begged you; did you give me an answer? Did you grant my request?"

After the visiting colleagues left, he half‑kneelt beside the hospital bed, grasped Song Shiwei's hand, leaned in and asked, "Shiwei, tell me, where is the child? Even just a direction, a nearby building—please, okay?"

At that moment Song Shiwei pulled her hand away, covered her ears, began screaming wildly, trembling all over while hiding in the corner of the bed, shaking her head and alternating between "I'm sorry" and "I don't know."

Every time they waited for her condition to improve, any question would lead to this.

Now Song Shiwei began trembling again, eyes wide as before, yet unlike then she no longer said "I'm sorry" or "I don't know"; she just stood frozen, showing a painful expression.

Gu Sen said, "I'm tired, you should go."

Song Shiwei's painful expression deepened; she refused to leave, adding, "Gu Sen, how could you forget? You said no one could drive you out of this home!"

Gu Sen: "So I'm leaving."

Song Shiwei staggered, nearly fainting from anger.

Thump thump.

Someone knocked.

Without needing Gu Sen's permission, a bodyguard quickly entered and handed over the phone that was in a call.

It was the old master's call.