Chapter 70: The Heartbreaking Contrast of a Fifth Birthday

"Is there anything else?"

Lan Tian said, "Miss Gu, I know that deep down you look down on me… You think I'm just a servant, that I shouldn't have those wild hopes, let alone all kinds of delusional thoughts…"

Gu Wenyan's cool, aloof face showed no trace of emotion. She listened to Lan Tian's words and shook her head: "I've never said anything like that."

"You must think that way, I know. Ladies like you, in your hearts, feel we're not on the same level."

"First of all, no one has ever said anything bad about you, nor thought there's something wrong with you. You should first think about why you have such thoughts, and then think about why you'd think I look down on you."

Lan Tian's expression shifted again and again, with so much she wanted to say: "For me, everything between us is different…"

In her heart she had those feelings of inferiority, but even more wild fantasies.

But she would only show that side of herself in front of Gu Wenyan.

Perhaps she wanted to use this method to arouse sympathy.

Even during the most painful days of her life, Gu Wenyan had never been so wretched, so she actually didn't want to judge Lan Tian.

She wouldn't say anything either. Since Lan Tian felt she had so many grievances, she could bear them herself.

"No one ever promised you anything. At the very least, Si Han doesn't owe you."

Gu Wenyan calmly pierced through Lan Tian's real thoughts at that moment: "You were placed here by Si Han's mother, with the aim of one day being able to marry him, but…"

Lan Tian never thought about it—besides arranging for Lan Tian to be here to keep an eye on everything happening around him at any moment, how could Bao Sihan's mother possibly really let her marry him?

Given the Bo Family's status, the daughter-in-law Bao Mu wanted would inevitably be a woman from an absolutely good family background.

Although Gu Wenyan didn't think only such a person could be worthy of Bao Sihan, Bao Sihan's mother certainly thought that way.

And the hopes Lan Tian harbored, the expectations she believed she had successfully secured, were actually false from the very beginning.

Gu Wenyan didn't say anything more to Lan Tian and turned to leave.

As for whether Lan Tian could figure it out, that was Lan Tian's own business; Gu Wenyan couldn't be bothered to interfere too much.

Bao Sihan was waiting for Gu Wenyan in the living room. He raised an eyebrow: "Why so long?"

"Who told you your house is too big? I spent forever looking for the bathroom…"

"It's not your first time here, and you still got lost?"

After Gu Wenyan walked in, the man's finger gently tapped her forehead: "Silly girl."

"I did not, don't talk nonsense… I'm very smart."

"Has Fang Qihang contacted you recently?" Bao Sihan suddenly spoke up.

Gu Wenyan blinked, a little surprised: "Why would he contact me?"

"I thought he'd still show up and pester you."

"Not really. Last time he did come looking for me, but didn't you step in and suppress all related news? After that he never showed up again."

Looking at the man's composed expression, Gu Wenyan's heart stirred, and she took the initiative to grab his hand: "You're not thinking I'd still have lingering feelings for him, are you?"

"…No."

"Si Han, I've already promised you—I really don't have any feelings for Fang Qihang. Before, it was all because of a misunderstanding…"

"A misunderstanding of what?"

"Anyway, I just misunderstood that he was someone very important to me, but he actually wasn't at all…"

Bao Sihan's eyes darkened: "Who is that person who's very important to you?"

Gu Wenyan made a playful face: "Guess for yourself. Who do you think it is?"

"Is it me?"

Gu Wenyan huffed: "Who else could it be besides you?"

She tugged him outside as she walked: "I'm heading back. Walk me for a bit."

The warmth from Gu Wenyan's fingertips passed through Bao Sihan's skin straight to the depths of his heart, stirring a heat that curved his lips into a smile.

Wasn't this very moment what he had been longing for most?

His obsessive, frenzied thoughts would be so easily satisfied—as long as Gu Wenyan stayed by his side, as long as to her, he was the most important person…

Even though Bao Sihan's own work was still piling up, he still personally escorted Gu Wenyan back to the Gu Family before leaving.

Gu Wenyan hummed a tune as she walked through the gates of the Gu Family. At that moment, everyone was home.

The moment she stepped inside, she heard laughter and chatter, along with the sound of a video disc playing on the television.

Gu Wenyan caught a glimpse of the picture on the TV from afar—a little girl in a princess dress, surrounded by family, celebrating her birthday.

So many children by her side, she was the one most showered with adoration.

She wore a crown on her head, pressed her palms together, made a happy, blissful wish, and then spent her fifth birthday under everyone's blessings.

It was Gu Mianmian.

On her own fifth birthday, where was she?

Gu Wenyan thought about it. Back then, she seemed to be… at the family her parents had sent her to.

Her parents had indeed found a fairly decent family for her, but after sending her over, they never asked about her again.

Although her parents had given that family plenty of money from the start, asking them to take good care of her, and after a while, to give feedback and send back photos and videos of her.

But Gu Wenyan didn't know whether her parents had actually checked whether she was doing well or not.

And in the year Gu Wenyan turned five, she didn't celebrate her birthday at all. She was even, on a cold winter day, wearing summer sandals, squatting outdoors, washing her own clothes.

That family didn't hit her, didn't scold her—they just wouldn't give her anything to eat if she didn't do it.

Gu Wenyan could only use that method to make her life a little better.

Even though for her back then, being full meant her life was a little better…

Yet Gu Mianmian, also five years old, was able to grow up in such a happy environment. Her single birthday had such a grand affair, and they even specially filmed a video to commemorate it…

And even on some day more than ten years later, they could take it out and look back on the happiness and joy of that time.

"Sister, you're back!" Gu Mianmian was the first to notice Gu Wenyan, and excitedly said to her, "Do you want to come take a look? When I was little celebrating my birthday, I was so silly back then—I still had baby fat on my face, not pretty at all like now!" m.

Gu Yeting sat lazily on the single sofa, his head resting against the backrest, the corner of his mouth curving up slightly: "Pretty cute. A bit of baby fat on the face isn't bad either."

After saying that, his gaze drifted aside and happened to land on Gu Wenyan.

Gu Wenyan's face showed little change; there was even a trace of a smile on it: "Is that so? But I never celebrated a birthday when I was five, so I won't watch it with you all."

After delivering those words in a calm, unhurried tone, she walked past the group and went upstairs.

Gu Yeting was the first to furrow his brow, his emotions suddenly stirring.