Chapter 88 - Chapter 88: Very Innocent
Chapter 88: Very Innocent
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
“Third Young Master… Has Miss Gu Ci been possessed by someone?” Li Jiang scratched his head. “I also think she has undergone a drastic change in personality. You see, she used to be completely controlled by Gu Chuyun, always competing with her for everything and caring a lot about Gu Wenliang and Lu Man’s opinions. But now, she doesn’t care about any of them.”
“Why?” Lu Zhiyuan furrowed his brows. Scientific laws don’t lie. If Gu Ci could proficiently grasp a field of surgery, then she couldn’t be Gu Ci.
But if she’s not Gu Ci, then who is she?
“Third Young Master, how does Miss Gu Ci understand capital operation when she shorted Gu Group this time? She operates with great skill, which is beyond the level of a high school graduate.”
“Who else knows about your investigation?”
“Jiang Junlin is also investigating,” Li Jiang said. He had purposely kept it discreet, but Jiang Junlin probably found out about it. “He should know that you’re investigating Miss Gu Ci.”
This matter was too fantastical, and everyone suspected each other.
“Li Jiang, is she Gu Ci?”
Li Jiang pondered in his mind, Third Young Master, you’re Miss Gu Ci’s lapdog, and even you’re not sure, how would I know?
“Third Young Master, if she’s not Miss Gu Ci, then who is she?”
Lu Zhiyuan’s expression turned grave. She knew his habits, had their memories. If she wasn’t Gu Ci, then who was she?
Li Jiang tentatively suggested, “How about… asking Third Master?”
Lu Zhiyuan’s face instantly darkened. “My matters have nothing to do with him.”
Li Jiang kept quiet, not daring to say anything further.
Lu Zhiyuan silently looked up at the building, a storm brewing in his eyes. Gu Ci, what have you been hiding?
Sensing Lu Zhiyuan’s low spirits, Gu Ci knew that he usually took a short nap in the afternoon to recharge. With Gu Ziyu not around recently, Lu Zhiyuan liked to come down and find her in her bedroom to sleep. Gu Ci couldn’t chase him away.
But today, he hadn’t slept all this time, staring at her as if trying to see through her. Lu Zhiyuan asked, “Gu Group has gone bankrupt. Are you sad?”
“I don’t care about them anymore, why should I be sad?”
Lu Zhiyuan said, “You shorted their stock, and your technique was skillful. How do you know how to do it?”
“I learned from the environment, and I consulted my brother.” Gu Ci calmly read her book without raising her head. “I have a bit of talent in this area.”
“You seem to have quite a bit of talent. You can perform surgeries and dominate the financial market.” Lu Zhiyuan looked at her with a half-smile, leaning against the desk. “What other surprises do you have in store for me?”
Gu Ci remained silent, lifting her head to look at Lu Zhiyuan.
So, this matter hadn’t been put to rest.
Gu Ci touched her ear, about to say something, but Lu Zhiyuan grabbed her wrist. He narrowed his eyes, looking at the watch on her wrist. “Where did this watch come from?”
Gu Ci blinked. “You gave it to me.”
Lu Zhiyuan’s gaze narrowed slowly. With his recent training, he hadn’t noticed that she had an extra watch on her wrist. Gu Ci raised an eyebrow. “Did you forget?”
Lu Zhiyuan angrily tore off the watch. “I picked the wrong one.”
He turned and left, and Gu Ci didn’t mind. Did the watch have any special meaning? Gu Ci’s thoughts were a bit jumbled. Dealing with two people indeed took a toll on her mind, and she felt tired.
Ten minutes later, Lu Zhiyuan came downstairs with a new watch. It had a black strap, a white dial, and a diamond embedded in it, exuding a subtle luxury. Without any expression, he put it on Gu Ci’s wrist.
“Two watches, do they have any meaning?” Gu Ci asked.
“No!” Lu Zhiyuan said, “That one was too ordinary, not worthy of you.”
Gu Ci didn’t know what to say.
This incident interrupted Lu Zhiyuan’s probing. His expression had been unpleasant all along. Gu Ci couldn’t focus on her reading either, and there was a subtle sense of suspicion and testing between them.
Gu Ci asked, “Lu Zhiyuan, I’m starting school.”
“I know.”
It was the beginning of autumn, the start of the new school year.
Gu Ci made a mark on her human anatomy textbook. “Why do you always treat me so inconsistently?”
Lu Zhiyuan froze, looking at her intently. “Then what about you? Why do you have so many secrets?”
“I see… You’ve been holding a grudge all along.” Gu Ci looked at him, a mist covering her dark eyes. “Am I… not like Gu Ci?”
Lu Zhiyuan shook his head. “You’re like her, and yet not.”
“Then which version of Gu Ci do you like?”
Lu Zhiyuan fell into silence, his tone low and hoarse. “The Gu Ci who grew up with me.”
Gu Ci felt a pang in her heart, her eyes welling up with tears. Although she had anticipated it, it still made her sad. So, what he had liked all along was her past self, not the person in front of him.
“But I like the Lu Zhiyuan in front of me.”
Gu Ci smiled through her teary eyes. “I really like him, really, really like him.”
After that day of mutual probing, Gu Ci and Lu Zhiyuan didn’t meet again. Lu Zhiyuan didn’t even come downstairs for breakfast. Gu Ci occasionally sent him text messages, and he responded promptly. Before the start of the school year, Gu Ci went to the Jiang family for dinner, a true reunion meal. She brought Gu Ziyu along as well.
With Gu Ziyu on the household registration, they were listed in the same family register.
Gu Ziyu played the role of a cute and lovely little prince, performing flawlessly, entertaining the table, and bringing joy to the hearts of everyone present, including Jiang Junlin.
The elders gave them gifts, really liking the adorable little Ziyu.
Gu Ci felt both heartache and happiness. In this lifetime, she had a family, and Ziyu had a family too.
Knowing that Gu Ziyu and Gu Ci would be starting their doctoral program together, Ziyu’s treatment in the Jiang family had drastically improved. Even Jiang Junlin found it surprising, considering that the Jiang family was full of academic high-achievers.
Both the old master and the old madam met at A University.
Their children and grandchildren were all alumni of A University, a true scholarly family.
A family banquet brought them closer, and the Jiang family members got along unexpectedly well.
“Junlin, why don’t you buy a house near A University? It would be convenient for Ziyu and Cici to study,” Jiang Minghua brought up the topic of buying a house.
Gu Ci understood their intentions. The rumors of her and Lu Zhiyuan had spread widely, and the Jiang family was no exception. Lu Zhiyuan denied their relationship in public, and the Jiang family naturally had their opinions about him, but they couldn’t be outspoken.
Living at Lu Zhiyuan’s house, in the eyes of others, they were cohabitating, which tarnished Gu Ci’s reputation.
Gu Ci said, “Uncle, I really like Lu Zhiyuan, and I’m pursuing him. It’s easier to be close when you’re nearby. He’s denying our relationship in public, and he hasn’t done anything wrong. I haven’t caught up to him yet.”
Gu Ziyu pouted with displeasure and bit into an apple. “True love, huh?”
Gu Ci could tell that Gu Ziyu was unhappy, so she reached out and ruffled his hair, comforting him.
The expressions of the Jiang family members varied, as they hadn’t expected Gu Ci to be so straightforward.
“Are you able to woo him?” Grandfather felt sorry for her. “Is he so difficult to pursue?”
“It’s quite difficult.” Gu Ci openly spoke about her secret crush. “Grandfather, I’m trying my best.”
“There’ still no need to live together,” Jiang Minghua said.
“We don’t live together.” Gu Ci knew her boundaries. “Ziyu and I live in an apartment downstairs in his building.”
Gu Ziyu raised his hand at the opportune moment. “Brother and sister never meet each other at night, they’re completely innocent.”
Everyone was rendered speechless..