Chapter 362: Chapter 362

Of course, Ji Yu wouldn’t stay with the Hu family forever.

She had many other matters to attend to, so she straightforwardly discussed with Hu Jianyu whether she could go back first to look around.

"I know you’re definitely worried about my safety, but there are people at home who are waiting for me. They’re all very kind. If there’s a chance, I can bring you to meet my adoptive parents and my brother."

When she talked about her family, her tone softened noticeably.

Hu Jianyu became even more curious. What kind of family could influence Ji Yu so deeply?

"Since you’ve decided to go back, Yu, I’ll go with you to take a look then. I want to see if they really treat you well. That way, I’ll feel more reassured."

As a father, his foremost concern was his daughter.

Ji Yu didn’t see anything problematic about this.

So she agreed without hesitation.

But when Hu Jianyu and the Ji family’s three members actually met, none of them knew how to start a conversation.

"Mom and Dad, this is my biological father. You don’t need to doubt it—I’ve already confirmed it."

Ji Yu was always cautious about certain matters, especially those close to her heart.

Seeing Ji Yu , they were happy for her.

"Yu, now that you have more family members willing to accompany you, we’re of course delighted." Madam Ji truly felt Ji Yu had endured so much hardship, and now, having more family to love her was a rare stroke of good fortune. Naturally, she was happy for Ji Yu.

Mr. Ji, however, felt a bit uneasy. After all, Ji Yu had found her biological father—who knew what changes this might lead to?

His mind remained conflicted, but seeing Ji Yu so joyful, he couldn’t bring himself to voice any concerns.

He still cared deeply for Ji Yu.

"Yu, are you really alright?" Mr. Ji worried about whether Ji Yu had been injured during that time. Though someone had come to deliver reassuring news recently, it hadn’t been directly from Ji Yu herself, so he’d still been uneasy.

Seeing Ji Yu in person now, he naturally wanted to ask about her condition.

Ji Yu smiled gently. "Dad, I’m fine now. Let’s go home and talk. I have a lot I want to tell you both."

Ji Yuanzhou quickly chimed in, "Exactly. There are too many things that aren’t convenient to talk about here."

And so the family returned to the Ji household.

At this moment, Hu Jianyu still felt somewhat awkward. He knew these people had protected his daughter incredibly well, which left him feeling guilty. If he wanted to rebuild the father-daughter bond, it surely wouldn’t be easy.

His gaze toward Ji Yu carried hesitation and unspoken words. Ji Yu, naturally, understood what he was thinking.

"Actually, I brought you here because I wanted to tell you that I’ve lived a good life. So there’s no need to feel guilty about the past. My adoptive parents love me deeply, and I’ve led a happy life. You being my father will never change, but neither will the fact that they are my parents."

She could honor all of them.

But she would never give up the family she had now.

Hu Jianyu sighed deeply. Truthfully, he had no intention of taking Ji Yu away. He knew there were many conversations they still needed to have.

"I just wanted to see the kind of life you had before. It’s a relief to know you were happy. Yu, I don’t have any plans to take you away—I just feel ashamed of myself."

Not fulfilling his duties as a father was something he could never completely move past. Thinking about it now, it was indeed hard to bear.

Ji Yu was surprised by his words but quickly understood. "You will always be my biological father. I don’t blame anyone for what happened back then. Since I grew up healthy and strong, it’s not such a big deal."

She had already let go of the darker memories of the past.

She had so much happiness now.

"Alright." Hu Jianyu smiled; it was obvious he no longer felt as burdened.

He was preparing to stay for a while to experience what Ji Yu’s life had been like.

Ji Yu didn’t object. ᴛʜɪs ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʙʏ novel•fire.net

"Gu Qixiao, you should go back and rest for now. I’ll spend some time here with Uncle Hu, and then I’ll come find you."

Gu Qixiao understood that Ji Yu needed to sort this matter out, but rather than leaving right away, he took her hand and led her to a quiet corner.

He gently slid a ring onto Ji Yu’s finger. "Yu, when I saw this ring back then, there was so much pain in my heart. Now, I finally have the chance to put it back on your hand. I hope it will stay there forever."

He looked at Ji Yu with warmth and determination.

Ji Yu couldn’t help herself and kissed the corner of Gu Qixiao’s mouth. "I know you care deeply for me. This ring won’t ever leave me again. Honestly, I didn’t even notice when it went missing back then."

Thinking about it, she felt a bit regretful. How could she have overlooked something so important? And now, she’d made Gu Qixiao worry so much.

Gu Qixiao considered it his own failing. "Yu, it was my fault for not protecting you properly back then. No matter what, every time I think about it, I know it was my mistake, not yours."

He understood how difficult the situation had been for Ji Yu at the time, and he still worried about her even now.

"I don’t care what happened back then. In the end, didn’t we both make it out alive?" Ji Yu looked at Gu Qixiao, unwilling to dwell on those painful memories.

"During this time, I’ll get rid of any remaining threats. I won’t let anything harm you again." Every time he thought of Ji Yu potentially experiencing danger because of past events, it felt like being stabbed in the heart.

The pain was real and piercing.

Ji Yu, however, remained clear-headed.

"Be careful. I might need more time to figure things out here—it’s still about my biological father, and this situation carries emotional weight for me." She understood Gu Qixiao’s thoughts and knew that they would need to handle this carefully.

"Alright, I’ll wait for you. If anything happens, just call me immediately." He was constantly watching over Ji Yu’s affairs, ever since the last ordeal when he began seeing her as fragile and precious.