Chapter 52: A Show of Force

Gu Wenyan slowly widened her eyes, somewhat surprised.

Gu Yechen patted her head, his movements very gentle, and in his usually cold and indifferent gaze, a very rare trace of caring emotion also appeared.

"Before… it was my fault as your older brother. I never gave you any understanding at all, and never cared about what you truly wanted."

"Only realizing it at this point—isn't it a little too late?"

Gu Wenyan bit her lip and smiled: "Not really. At least we still have plenty of chances to understand each other. Maybe one day…"

What that one day could bring, Gu Wenyan did not say out loud, because even she herself could not be certain whether, on some future day, she and Gu Yechen could possibly become real siblings.

Without any grudge, without any misunderstanding, and without those thorns lying between them… obstructing their closeness.

They had already missed too many years between them.

The emotions in Gu Yechen's eyes shifted, and after a long while, they only turned into a low, helpless sigh: "I understand it all. From now on, let's take it one step at a time."

Though Gu Wenyan was moved, she did not entirely believe it.

Perhaps Gu Yechen, shocked at this moment by discovering Gu Mianmian's true nature, had realized he needed to care about her—but she had not yet fully succeeded.

What she wanted was for them to look down on Gu Mianmian, for everything she had once experienced to be made Gu Mianmian experience all over again, even intensified tenfold or a hundredfold!

The next day, Gu Wenyan did not set out together with the Gu Family. In any case, the Gu Family members were now facing Gu Mianmian with complicated feelings, and there was no need for her to do much more.

And Gu Mianmian, in order to show that she truly recognized her mistake, quickly posted a public apology on her social media account, expressing her remorse for destroying her second brother's important work.

How the outside world would discuss it was easy to imagine. However, since the public had previously been well aware that the three Gu brothers had spoiled Gu Mianmian to the skies, so what if she had made a mistake?

At this moment, the socialites and young heiresses of the upper-class circles still did not know what Gu Mianmian's life would become from now on.

Losing money was a devastating blow to Gu Mianmian. A pampered young lady like Gu Mianmian, who had little ability of her own and whom the Gu Family did not need to have much ability, without the support of her family, might not even compare to an ordinary person.

On the road back to Jingcheng with Bao Sihan, Gu Wenyan also told him about what had happened the previous night.

When the man heard that the always arrogant, cold, and aloof Second Young Master of the Gu Family had actually handed all his power over to Gu Wenyan…

In the man's unfathomably dark eyes, it was as if a layer of ink had been poured over them, with no edge in sight.

"Your relationship with these brothers is getting better and better."

"There's been some progress, but not too much…"

Bao Sihan smiled faintly: "That's a good thing."

In the past, Gu Wenyan might have thought he was speaking sincerely, but today, for some reason, she caught a hint of hidden sourness in Bao Sihan's words.

The air was even filled with that sour, tangy scent.

Gu Wenyan deliberately sniffed: "Why do I feel like someone is getting jealous?"

The man raised an eyebrow without changing his expression: "Is there?"

"Yes, the jealous person is you. Haven't you noticed?"

"No." Bao Sihan's face remained unchanged, and he did not admit it.

But Gu Wenyan tilted her head and smiled at him: "What I want is to win back their trust and affection only to take back what belongs to me."

"Mm?"

"But the reason I want your love is because I know it is precious to me, and it is the greatest motivation that keeps me moving forward."

Bao Sihan's Adam's apple bobbed. He suddenly reached out and gripped Gu Wenyan's wrist bone, pulling her entire body into his arms. Lowering his head, without giving her any chance to prepare, he deeply kissed her lips.

It was a kiss that contained many emotions but was hot enough. Gu Wenyan was quickly robbed of all her breath by him.

Including her reason.

Gu Wenyan felt dizzy, letting him do as he pleased. Her body went limp and fell into his arms, the air in her lungs gradually thinning until she could barely breathe.

Bao Sihan's lips were cool, but overwhelmingly possessive, as if he wanted to tear her apart and swallow her piece by piece.

When Bao Sihan let go of her, Gu Wenyan's face was so red it was almost burning. That man, completely at ease, gently brushed his finger across her lips, his voice hoarse and magnetic: "Very sweet."

Gu Wenyan was so embarrassed that she ignored him all the way back to Jingcheng.

After they landed at the airport, Bao Sihan suddenly said: "Come with me to the Bo Family Mansion?"

Gu Wenyan was stunned: "For what?"

"To finalize the specific decoration and facilities of that newly built building with the designer, according to your requirements."

"Oh… alright."

They were getting married anyway, so some things could indeed be decided in advance.

This was Gu Wenyan's second time coming to the Bo Family, but the moment she followed him inside, she once again felt the strange gazes from the crowd fixed on her.

Suddenly, Bao Sihan received an urgent work call. He signaled the butler to take good care of her and went to the study first.

Gu Wenyan then looked toward that gaze.

It was a girl who looked slightly younger, not wearing the uniform of the Bo Family Mansion servants, her slightly stubborn and dissatisfied gaze staring straight at her.

The butler also noticed, frowning: "Lan Tian, why are you still here? The Old Madam went on vacation and didn't take you with her?"

Lan Tian answered softly: "The Old Madam told me to stay home and attend to the Head of the Family."

"…Fine, there's nothing for you here. You may go now."

Lan Tian stubbornly shook her head: "The Old Madam said that if… Miss Gu is going to move in, she wants me to attend to her afterward."

Gu Wenyan noticed the unnatural look on the butler's face, and seeing Lan Tian's expression, she guessed what was going on.

Presumably, she was not really a servant of the Bo Family, but a confidante of Bao Sihan's mother, who would be responsible for keeping an eye on her once she, the new wife, entered the household?

"Madam… what do you think?"

The butler, caught between the Old Madam and the new wife, did not know which side to choose and could only toss out this difficult question.

Gu Wenyan had not expected that coming to the Bo Family would still have trouble waiting for her.

But this was not the most urgent matter right now, so she did not take it to heart: "Whatever you like."

Lan Tian immediately walked over and said with a forced smile: "Miss Gu, if you have any needs in the future, you can tell me directly."

Gu Wenyan glanced at her, thought of something, and curved her lips: "Alright, go make me a cup of coffee right now. No sugar and no milk, thank you."

"..." Lan Tian probably hadn't expected Gu Wenyan to start ordering her around the moment she arrived, but she could only agree. "Please wait a moment."

Seeing Lan Tian leave, the butler also dismissed the other servants and said with downcast eyes, "Madam, Lan Tian's mother took care of the Old Madam before she passed away. After she died of illness, the Old Madam took pity on her and brought her into the Bo Family..."

Oh, Gu Wenyan finally understood completely.