Chapter 35: A Brand New Life

Gu Yebai felt that if he were a normal person, he should be very, very happy right now.

He was surrounded by love.

He was being looked forward to.

He was being gently accepted.

Yet for some reason, there was always a sense of displacement in his heart.

They were indeed sincere, and they were certainly gentle.

But fundamentally, they were still strangers who had never appeared in the first sixteen years of Gu Yebai’s life.

This sudden closeness did not bring the expected peace of mind; instead, it left him somewhat at a loss.

In particular, the positions of “father” and “mother” could not be replaced by anyone.

“Uncle Gao, Auntie Ya.”

Gu Yebai forced a smile that was not entirely natural.

“Please forgive me for not being able to call you Mom and Dad just yet.”

“I’m really sorry, I…”

“I understand.”

Gao Hongzhi reached out and gently stroked Gu Yebai’s head, his movements restrained and kind.

“Just being able to see you here is enough to make us content.”

He paused, his tone softening further.

“Our sudden intrusion into your life was inherently rude.”

“It is only natural that you feel uneasy.”

“If anyone should apologize, it is us.”

Gao Hongzhi and Ya Xinyao seemed to be extremely gentle people.

That gentleness was not a calculated attempt to please, but a product of composure and boundaries polished by a good upbringing.

They were like the wealthy couples in television dramas who had truly seen the world, rather than the vulgar “nouveau riche” step-parents often found in webnovels.

“However, Yebai.”

Gao Hongzhi smiled, his tone remaining natural.

“Uncle Gao and Auntie Ya are just titles.”

“We view you as our son, and that sentiment will not change regardless of what you call us.”

“What truly matters is the distance in your heart, not the labels on your tongue.”

“Yebai.”

Ya Xinyao spoke softly as well.

“The feelings you have for your parents are precious.”

“It shows that you are a child who values loyalty and affection.”

“So we will not, and do not have the heart to, replace their place in your heart.”

“Just take it slow.”

She blinked, her tone suddenly gaining a bit of soft amusement.

“But, I don’t really want to be treated like an auntie.”

“If you’re willing, I’d be much happier if you thought of me as a slightly older sister.”

“After all, your Auntie Ya…”

Gao Hongzhi picked up the thread, his tone light.

“Is still very concerned about whether she looks young.”

The atmosphere noticeably loosened at that moment.

“By the way, Yebai.”

Gao Hongzhi seemed to suddenly remember something.

“I am also one of your readers.”

“And personally, I am a big fan of mystery novels.”

“For example, that case in your book was clearly inspired by Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None, right?”

“You’ve read And Then There Were None?”

Gu Yebai asked subconsciously.

“Of course.”

Gao Hongzhi smiled.

“When the mystery was revealed and the judge committed suicide, I was very shocked.”

“The angle you took in your novel also perfectly replicated that sense of cold and cruel judgment.”

“To be honest, your imagination left me in awe.”

His tone shifted.

“So even putting aside blood relations, we can certainly be good fellow readers.”

“Just think of me as an older friend.”

“If you have something on your mind, you can come talk to me anytime. I might not be able to solve all your problems, but as someone who has been through a few things, I might be able to offer some perspective.”

“At all times, our relationship is one of equals.”

Gu Yebai nodded seriously.

He was truly grateful to this kind and restrained couple.

They acknowledged the existence of boundaries and respected his yet-to-be-sorted emotions.

Because of this, Gu Yebai was finally able to let down the defenses he had initially raised.

“Yebai.”

Gao Hongzhi walked to the memorial photos, stood still, lit a stick of incense, and observed a moment of silence for them.

His gaze fell on the two long-yellowed photographs, and his tone was solemn and steady.

“Come to Donghai.”

“Your parents would surely want you to go further in life.”

“I’ve already told your parents that in my heart just now.”

The air fell silent for a short while.

Just as Gu Yebai was about to respond—

A slightly cool but exceptionally firm hand suddenly reached out.

Gao Hongyi gave him no room for hesitation.

She directly interlaced her fingers with his.

Their ten fingers were locked tightly.

Her movements were not gentle; they were even a bit aggressive.

As if declaring ownership, she held him firmly in her palm.

“Brother Bai.”

Gao Hongyi looked up, her gaze fixed directly on him.

“We finally managed to meet; I can never leave you again.”

“You must come to Donghai with me.”

When she said this, there wasn’t a hint of a joke.

Her expression was serious to the point of stubbornness.

Her voice wasn’t loud, but it was incredibly certain.

“From now on.”

“I want you to be completely part of my family.”

Her fingers tightened a bit more.

The strength was almost impossible to refuse.

“If you don’t agree to go to Donghai with me…”

Gao Hongyi tilted her chin up slightly, her expression proud and willful.

She looked like a small, unreasonable queen.

“I will absolutely never let go.”

“Isn’t this basically a kidnapping?”

Gu Yebai couldn’t help but laugh.

“You got it right, Brother Bai!”

Gao Hongyi replied without hesitation.

“This is a kidnapping.”

Body heat traveled through their fingertips, clear and real.

Gu Yebai looked down, seeing his hand held firmly by hers.

Then he looked at the faint trace of nervousness and unease hidden on her face.

It was as if she were afraid that if she let go, she would be rejected.

At this point, “staying in Linchuan County” was no longer an option.

“How overbearing…”

Gu Yebai shrugged.

“Sorry, Yebai.”

Gao Hongzhi laughed and sighed.

“We’ve always doted on her since she was little.”

“Uncle Gao,” Gu Yebai said seriously.

“Thank you for being willing to accept me.”

“And thank you,” Ya Xinyao added softly, “for being willing to choose us.”

….

The next steps were very clear.

Packing luggage.

Handling the withdrawal procedures from school.

And updating the household registration and ID card information.

“This house.”

Gu Yebai paused.

“I want to keep it. Is that okay?”

“Of course, Yebai,” Gao Hongzhi agreed without hesitation.

Gu Yebai nodded and turned to walk into the master bedroom.

Gao Hongzhi told him not to bring too much luggage.

Clothes and daily necessities would all be prepared anew once they reached Donghai.

New things.

Better things.

But Gu Yebai wasn’t there to pack clothes.

There were some things he had to take with him no matter what.

A yellowed photo album.

The insulated cup his father used to use.

The wooden comb his mother had used.

And the old diary filled with childish handwriting.

In the eyes of outsiders, these might just be worthless old items.

But in Gu Yebai’s heart, they carried a completely different weight.

That was his past life.

And it was something he would never let go of, even in death.

What followed would be a brand-new life.