Chapter 72: I Will Accompany Him

Is what I said wrong? He simply snatched Brother Die away.

Don't keep calling him Brother Die, it's really disgusting.

Zihan hadn't noticed before that Feng Wei's calling Gu Die "Brother Die" sounded a bit affected; now the more she hears it, the more uncomfortable she feels, especially when Liuli hears it.

If she could, she really wanted to tape Feng Wei's mouth shut so she wouldn't have to hear her speak.

Gu Li heard Zihan's words, glared at her, and Zihan, like a little rabbit, fell silent.

But just thinking about Feng Wei's mouth being taped made her feel amused just by the thought.

Luo Zihan, how are you speaking? Uncle, you should discipline her properly—are you too busy normally? What has your daughter become? She has no manners at all; please teach her well!

My own daughter—I know how to manage her, no need for you to worry. I know my daughter; she only lacks manners toward people she dislikes.

Feng Wei, upon hearing that, was so angry she didn't know what to say, while Zihan felt pleased—indeed, it's her own dad.

Auntie, let's go.

Feng Wei pulled Ju Zi and left; Ju Zi saw that Feng Wei was unwelcome, just like herself, and thought she might be able to help her.

Dad, how can you be so good!

After Feng Wei and Ju Zi left, Zihan said.

You're my daughter—if I don't treat you well, who should I treat well? If I don't protect you, who will?

If you don't protect me, someone else will protect me in the future.

Zihan was referring to Cheng Li; she hoped that Cheng Li would also protect her like that in the future.

You look like……

Gu Li certainly wouldn't be unaware of Cheng Li's existence; as a father, he naturally pays attention to Zihan's every move.

What is it? There's nothing—don't overthink it!

Zihan's face turned red in an instant.

I only have this one daughter; if someone tricks her into running away, I'll have no daughter.

Dad, Cheng Li isn't like that; if I were with him, he would surely treat me well, and I would definitely be happy!

Zihan had basically shot herself in the foot, directly revealing Cheng Li.

This Cheng Li kid is indeed not bad.

Gu Li nodded.

Who told you his name is Cheng……

Zihan was just about to ask when she realized she herself had just said Cheng Li, and she wanted to hit herself.

As long as you like it, I'll be reassured if you're treated well; you're grown up, it's time to marry.

Gu Li gave a bitter smile; thinking that one day Zihan would marry someone else and go to another family left him feeling uneasy.

Dad, don't overthink it; even if I marry someday, I'll definitely visit you often, or else I'll have my future husband move into our house so I can see you every day.

How would that work? What about the other person's parents?

Gu Li laughed; any childish idea of Zihan's seemed adorable in his eyes as a father.

That's true, but I can't bear to part from you; otherwise, I could discuss with them later and we could all live together, otherwise, with you living alone, how could I rest easy?

Good, good, good! With this heart of yours, I'm pleased; all I want is for you to be happy and safe—I don't care about anything else, and I don't mind how I myself fare.

Dad……

All right, no more talk—see your aunt's husband off.

Zihan then bowed several times before Gu Qing's portrait.

Gu Li sighed, his eye sockets slightly moist.

He thought, he would never see Gu Qing again, but he hoped that over there, Gu Qing would be happy and not wear a cold face.

After the funeral ended, Gu Li returned, and he also stayed at the Gu family for a few days—this was the first time he had stayed so long at someone else's home.

Zihan clung to Gu Li every day; when Gu Li left, she felt a bit unaccustomed.

How so? Missing your dad?

Liuli, seeing Zihan look unhappy after Gu Li left, asked.

He just left, and I'm already thinking of him; I'm worried he'll be lonely on his own.

Then you've been staying at the Gu family for so many days—isn't he also alone?

It's different—look, these past few days I've been with him; when he suddenly left, I felt an emptiness in my heart. He stayed with me for a few days, then went back alone, and he'll surely feel the same.

Zihan sighed.

Then you could go back early to keep him company.

But I don't want to go back!

Once she leaves, she won't be able to see Cheng Li; torn between wanting to go and not wanting to go, she's agonizing over it.

How so? Can't bear to part from me?

I'm reluctant to leave you, but what I'm most reluctant to part with is, of course, Cheng Li!

Tch! With Cheng Li, you don't need me anymore?

What? I never said that—I only said I'm reluctant to leave him!

No, you said you're most reluctant to leave him.

Liuli corrected.

Have you all eaten?

Yu Ke yawned, came downstairs, and asked.

Not yet, hurry up and come eat.

Liuli replied.

"Okay." Yu Ke let out another big yawn.

"You haven't slept well yet?"

Zi Han asked.

"Isn't this still because of you?"

"What's wrong with me?"

"You were sleepwalking last night—it was scary!"

"Really?"

"Nonsense, it kept me from sleeping well."

"I've never sleepwalked before, but sleeping with you makes me sleepwalk—you should think about your own reasons."

Zi Han retorted.

"What does my sleepwalking have to do with you? Anyway, I didn't sleep well—it's all because of you!"

"Then why don't you just not sleep with me? Go sleep at home!"

"Luo Zi Han, why are you itching to pick a fight first thing in the morning?"

"You're the one who's itching!"

"Alright, hurry up and eat!"

Liuli saw the two of them about to fight and quickly changed the subject, not knowing how those two could even share a bed at night.

"I'm not going to argue with you—I'm starving!"

Yu Ke said, and Zi Han gave her a faint glance.

"Where's Cousin? Why haven't I seen him yet?"

Zi Han saw that Gu Die hadn't come downstairs yet and asked Liuli.

"He's still sleeping; I didn't wake him, letting him rest properly."

Gu Die has been getting up very late these days and going to bed early, basically sleeping all day.

He always feels that once he's asleep he won't think about anything, so he won't feel that Gu Qing's affairs keep affecting him.

"That's true; he's also been really tired lately—I've never seen him like this, and Uncle's passing must have hit him hard."

Zi Han didn't even want to eat and sighed.

"Liuli, why do you think Uncle didn't tell us he had cancer? He insisted on bearing it alone."

"He just didn't want you to worry."

"Gu Qing's body had been uncomfortable for a while, but because work was busy he never had time to get checked, and only went when the condition became severe."

"And when he finally went, there was no good news—it was already late-stage cancer."

"He thought that since he wasn't going to live much longer, saying anything wouldn't help, and Gu Die was also indifferent toward him."

"He didn't even know whether, if he really passed away, Gu Die would be sad."

"But Cousin was also keeping it secret, and now he's gone so suddenly—you say how anguished Cousin must feel inside; if he had told Cousin, Cousin would surely have reconciled with him and stayed by his side to comfort him in his final days."

"Wasn't he already keeping him company in his final days? He even let him move in, and Dad feels content just seeing him every day."

"Liuli, do you know Uncle has cancer?" Zi Han asked curiously, "Did he tell you?"

Zi Han thought, Gu Qing likes Liuli so much, maybe he would have told her.

"He has."

"When? Why didn't you tell us?!"

Zi Han instantly became excited.

"But Dad wouldn't let him say it, because he was afraid you'd worry."

"He won't let you speak, so you don't—honestly, I despise you!"

"It's Grandfather Gu who won't tell you—can you blame Liuli for that?"

Yu Ke retorted.

"Su Yu Ke, what do you want now?"

"Luo Zi Han, I'm starving—if you don't eat, believe it or not I'll eat your portion too!"

Upon hearing Yu Ke's words, Zi Han tightly guarded his own food.

"I'm eating—why wouldn't I? Don't even think about messing with my food!"

"Awake?"

Liuli saw Gu Die come down, walked over, and took his hand.

"Mm."

He nodded.

"Let's eat."

"Okay."

"What's up, headache?"

Liuli saw Gu Die holding his head and asked.

"A little sore—probably because I didn't sleep well."

"Then we'll sleep after we finish eating."

"Okay."

Yu Ke and Zi Han just ate their meal, not wanting to be a third wheel, so they hurried to finish and leave.

"Feng Wei, why are you here again?!"

Zi Han saw Feng Wei arrive and asked.

When did Feng Wei start being able to come and go freely in the Gu Family?

"Die gege, Auntie wants to come see you."

Ju Zi also followed behind Feng Wei.

Yu Ke was also speechless; Feng Wei is really formidable—no matter how you try to drive him away, you can't.

She even started feeling sorry for Gu Die—being liked by someone like that is just too pitiful.

"He's feeling unwell today; nobody wants to see him."

Seeing Gu Die's cold face, Liuli replied.

"When is it your turn to speak?"

Feng Wei countered.

"I am the Young Mistress of the Gu Family—what are you?"

Liuli said with a cold stare; hearing Liuli speak, Yu Ke and Zi Han thought she was incredibly cool.

"I'm nothing, but she is."

Feng Wei pulled Ju Zi to the front.

"What is she supposed to be? She's just a bad woman! She initially swindled her uncle-in-law's money, then abandoned him and her cousin—she's nothing more than a con artist!"

Zi Han retorted.

These two shameless women have gotten together—who knows what tricks they're up to.

"Whether you like it or not, this woman is Gu Qing's legal wife and ought to be the mistress of this household."

"You just want money, don't you?"

Liuli coldly asked the woman.

"Child, how can you say that to me? I just want to see my own child—is that not allowed? I haven't seen him in years; I just miss him, it's so pitiful, I want to be with him."

The woman spoke through tears, as if she would burst into tears after just a few more words.

"You've already seen him; you don't need to worry too much—he's not pitiful, I'll be with him."

As it turned out, Liuli's tone could be that overbearing; Yu Ke and Zi Han both wanted to see if this really was Liuli.

"And me!"

Zi Han replied.

"And me too."

Yu Ke also said.

The gloom on Gu Die's face finally lifted.