Chapter 396: Chapter 396

When Ji Yu said those words, they were so hurtful that he could no longer keep his emotions under control.

However, his hand still did not land on Ji Yu’s face.

"Ji Yu, you’re really something. Not only did you manipulate my feelings to free Gu Qixiao, now you’re using my feelings to hurt me. You truly understand me too well."

It was precisely because they understood each other too well that there could never be true love between them.

"So now that things have come to this, is there anything left that you can’t comprehend? I don’t think you need me to explain anymore."

They had already explained everything very clearly.

"Then do you want to watch Gu Qixiao or your child die at my hands? Actually, I’m quite curious—when that happens, what kind of expression will you have?"

He repeatedly tested Ji Yu’s limits. As long as she made any compromise now, he would continue to use such reasons to hurt her again and again.

Ji Yu took a deep breath, fully understanding the meaning behind his words.

"Jiang Huai, you’ll come to realize sooner or later that someone like you, even if you carved out your own heart, would still never have anyone who truly wants it—because the color of your heart has already changed." As Ji Yu spoke, her expression remained indifferent.

It seemed she was simply stating a fact.

"Someone like you has no chance of ever winning the affection of the person you love."

Perhaps this counted as karmic retribution.

Jiang Huai fell silent for a moment after hearing this, then suddenly burst into laughter. "Yes, I’m already , so what could you possibly do to me? You say I’m nearly dead already—why would I care how you kill me?"

He had fully embraced his own descent and destruction.

Ji Yu frowned, though she understood that he likely had psychological issues.

She said nothing more, calmly sat down, and continued eating her lunch.

But she still had no intention of giving up. If she surrendered now, who knows how much torment she might face next.

Of course, she had other matters to attend to as well.

At the same time, Gu Qixiao wasn’t doing so well either.

He couldn’t quite decipher his feelings for the child. While the child was indeed his, the idea that having this child might mean utterly losing Ji Yu was something he simply couldn’t accept.

"Even if you’re feeling uneasy, you can’t take it out on the child," Mr. Gu rarely saw Gu Qixiao behave this way.

It was clear his discomfort stemmed from things related to Ji Yu—even without needing to guess.

"Dad, every time I think about what happened back then, I regret it. Why didn’t I save Yu at that moment? If something happens to Yu, what am I supposed to do?"

This was the first time he felt such confusion. Ji Yu, the person he loved most—why had things turned out this way?

"I know what you’re thinking, but what’s done is done. All you can do now is protect the child. Don’t you trust Yu?"

How could Gu Qixiao not trust Ji Yu?

It was precisely because he trusted her that he hadn’t given up from the start. But now, as he continually failed to find any trace of Ji Yu, his composure began cracking.

"You’re just being too stubborn. Look at what a mess you’ve made of yourself over this. If you keep acting , do you really think Ji Yu will come back?" Mr. Gu had come with the intention of taking the child and also hoped to help Gu Qixiao release some of his obsession over the matter. ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ NovєlFіre.net

"I understand, Dad. I’ll leave this matter to you. I need to focus on Yu next; as for the little one, I’ll have to trouble you to look after him."

He truly didn’t know what kind of feelings he ought to have for this child.

Besides, he had always been a rather cold-hearted person. Facing circumstances , he had no idea what to do internally.

Watching Gu Qixiao walk away, Mr. Gu sighed and glanced at the child cradled in his arms, his heart filled with worry for what lay ahead. "Don’t resent your father. He’s just overwhelmed at the moment, that’s all."

Anyone in such a situation would likely collapse.

Gu Qixiao was just temporarily unable to cope.

Meanwhile, Hong was also doing all he could to locate Ji Yu.

Seeing Gu Qixiao in such a dazed and despondent state, Hong suddenly found himself no longer harboring such animosity toward him. "Gu Qixiao, you shouldn’t keep fixating on this situation. I know you must be curious about Sister Yu and her connection to this man; actually, their relationship might be closer than you think."

The thought of it left him feeling helpless.

"Sister Yu has been through a lot, her connection with Jiang Huai is genuinely tangled and confusing. You might think Sister Yu treats him coldly, but she does have some feelings for him."

Though it wasn’t love, at least there was familial affection.

Their mutual dependence during that time was moving, no matter how one looked at it.

"Yu holds no such sentiments now. When they meet, I can clearly sense Yu’s aversion towards him. She has no extraneous feelings for this person."

He felt heartache for Ji Yu and understood her character. There was no chance of misunderstanding on such matters.

"I don’t mean anything else by this. I just hope you don’t get too caught up in this. Maybe, deep down, Sister Yu hopes this matter can be untangled as well. It’s better not to let conflicts fester endlessly."

He wasn’t trying to persuade Gu Qixiao to give up; he just hoped they could sit down and talk it out. Perhaps by then, new perspectives might emerge.

"President Gu, I understand your bond with Sister Yu, which is why I’m telling you all this. If you keep going , Jiang Huai is capable of doing anything—and he’s an incredibly clever man."

They could afford not to fear Jiang Huai for being bad, but they couldn’t afford to disregard his intelligence.

"I haven’t found Sister Yu yet. It’s likely because he already knows we’re investigating him. I don’t know when I’ll actually locate Sister Yu, but you should still tread carefully."

Gu Qixiao’s thoughts were difficult to discern. He simply sat there quietly, myriad fragments flashing through his mind—but his longing for Ji Yu remained steadfast.

If he truly gave up on Ji Yu, who knows how many conflicts would remain unresolved.

"I’ll do my best to communicate with him, but can someone like Jiang Huai really take my words to heart?" Gu Qixiao doubted this greatly. His main concern was Ji Yu’s safety—no one could say for sure whether Jiang Huai wouldn’t harm her.

"He won’t hurt Sister Yu. After all, it was Sister Yu who reported him back then."