Gao Hongyi looked so wronged she seemed about to cry.
Her eyes were already red, as if her father had said something very harsh, bullying her mother… then.
She buried her delicate face in Gu Yebai’s neck.
Her shoulders shook.
She looked extremely wronged.
The tears were real.
Gu Yebai could feel them, hot and wet.
“Dad… am I not worthy of love?”
Gao Hongyi’s voice was soft as cotton candy.
Just hearing it was heartbreaking.
“If I have a life without love…”
“… I’d rather die.”
“Hongyi! That’s not what I meant!”
Gao Hongzhi immediately retorted loudly.
“I just hope you can consider Uncle Bai’s feelings. I’m not asking you to give up love, child!Love is a person’s instinct, the source of their courage. Dad supports you in loving, but you shouldn’t use the name of love to coerce the one you love into submitting to you!”
“I just…”
“… I’m afraid that one day Uncle Bai won’t want me, afraid that Uncle Bai, like in Linchuan, will be alone with no one to hug him, no one to warm his hands, in that situation, completely unaware, living in pain…”
“I know I was wrong… I know I’m too controlling… but… but I really can’t control myself…”
Her voice grew softer and softer, until finally she pressed her entire face against him, as if trying to knead herself into Gu Yebai’s body…
Gu Yebai felt he should cry too.
But he couldn’t.
In this world, sometimes the weak have the right to speak.
And what proves weakness?
Tears.
Gu Yebai can’t cry, so he is strong.
Gao Hongyi can cry, so she is weak.
The weak deserve sympathy.
Especially such a delicate girl.
Too bad her parents couldn’t see the scene in the room earlier—he, a boy his own age, couldn’t even move the wrist she used to pin him down…
Gao Hongzhi had been holding his breath, his fists clenched white.
But seeing his daughter cry like this, his Adam’s apple bobbed, and he finally deflated.
He let out a heavy sigh, his voice hoarse, as if scraped by sandpaper.
“Xiao Yi… Dad isn’t stopping you from loving him… Dad is afraid that if you do this, you’ll suffocate him…”
“Dad… I know I went too far…”
“But… do you know what kind of life Uncle Bai had in Linchuan?His parents were sick for a year. He shouldered the medical bills alone, ran to the hospital alone, wrote novels for that pitifully small income… “
“He couldn’t even afford KFC… He couldn’t even cry out loud…I brought him back so he would never have to suffer like that again… I want to give him the best in the world…”
“But… there are so many bad women out there… They’ll trick him, seduce him, take him away from me… and when they’ve sucked him dry, they’ll throw back Uncle Bai’s dried-up skin…”
“I absolutely won’t allow it!”
Gao Hongyi lifted her head.
Her eyes were red like a rabbit’s, with water droplets on her eyelashes that fell with every blink.
“I know. I won’t harm him!”
That’s why I’m so forceful.
I won’t harm him, Dad…
Even if we install a few cameras at home, put a tracker on him… it’s all for protection…
What do you mean by ‘prisoner’?
Would I treat my most beloved as a prisoner?
No, Dad, I would never do that!
“Why do you see something so natural as protection as so… filthy?”
Gao Hongyi’s words came like a barrage, attacking Gao Hongzhi.
Ya Xinyao also gently put down her chopsticks, her voice gentle.
“Don’t be so old-fashioned, Lao Gao. Look how you’ve scared the child.”
Xiao Gu is now the eldest son of our family.
His status is different.
Do you know how many people covet the immense wealth of the Gao family?
Those who covet the Gao family’s wealth have many tricks!
Installing a monitor, installing a tracker—it’s all for the child’s safety.
As for girls, who knows if the girls outside are after love or money?
Xiao Gu just came from a small county town.
He’s still too naive.
“Besides, do you really know the backgrounds of girls outside?”
Ya Xinyao began to press her advantage, not giving Gao Hongzhi any room to counter.
“Let’s return to the issue of Xiao Yi’s behavior. Isn’t she like this because she cares too much?”
“When you were chasing me back then, didn’t you often ask my roommates what time I returned to the dorm?”
“Honey, is that the same? I was…”
“That was youthful impulsiveness. Thinking back, it was pretty childish.”
Ya Xinyao interrupted him with a smile, but her tone was firm.
“But Xiao Yi is different. She’s truly afraid of losing him.”
We were all young once.
Why can’t we put ourselves in each other’s shoes?
Besides…
“Haven’t you heard Hongyi play the piano yet, Hongzhi?”
Ya Xinyao’s tone began to soften, no longer confrontational.
Instead, it took on a kind of seductive quality.
“It’s really beautiful. You’re too busy with work. “
You don’t know how much our daughter has improved.
The old professor in Paris said on the phone that our daughter is a true piano genius.
If you have time, listen to her play.
Maybe you’ll understand everything!
“The piano speaks louder than words.”
Gao Hongzhi fell silent.
He looked at Gu Yebai, his eyes complex, as if asking: Son, can you really take this?
Gu Yebai swallowed.
Gao Hongyi’s arms were like vines, tightly wrapped around his arm, her fingertips trembling slightly.
She said nothing, just pressed her face closer, as if silently begging.
Gu Yebai closed his eyes, realizing he was the root of this family argument.
It seemed there was no other option.
“Okay.”
His voice was soft but clear.
“I’m willing to listen to Hongyi.”
I’m willing to continue being with her.
“In the future… I’m also willing to marry Hongyi.”
The dining table fell silent instantly.
Gao Hongzhi’s pupils contracted sharply.
Ya Xinyao’s lips curved into a gentle, gratified smile.
Gao Hongyi’s body stiffened, then she burst like a firework, hugging Gu Yebai tightly.
“Uncle Bai…!”
Her voice trembled, tearful but sweetly cloying.
“Say it again. Say it again, please…”
Gu Yebai’s voice was hoarse.
“I’m willing… to listen to you.”
Gao Hongyi’s pitiful sobbing changed; her cries sounded like laughter.
It was the choked joy of being suppressed for too long and finally given permission.
She hugged him so tightly that Gu Yebai’s ribs ached.
“Uncle Bai… you’re the best…I’ll treat you well… I swear…”
“I’ll never make you sad again…”
Gao Hongzhi watched this scene.
His lips moved, and finally he managed only one sentence.
“Son…If you ever feel wronged, just tell your dad…Dad… will always be here.”
Gu Yebai nodded but said nothing.
Then Gao Hongyi suddenly looked up and gave Gao Hongzhi a sweet smile.
“Dad, thank you.”
But… Uncle Bai has me, and that’s enough.
He won’t feel wronged.
“I will absolutely spoil him rotten. Okay, everyone, let’s eat.”
This day’s family dinner.
Gao Hongzhi didn’t speak again until the meal ended.