Chapter 428: Chapter 428

Just the attitude of love made Qiu Yuan raise her eyebrows, paused for a moment, and said, "Are you really sure about him?"

Gu Zixuan chuckled softly, "As long as he doesn’t do anything to let me down, what’s the harm in accepting? Besides, Mom, haven’t you said that all these years there’s always someone targeting our family? Cheng Jin, he..."

Gu Zixuan glanced outside, "His network is quite extensive. I plan to investigate after we get married to find out who’s been repeatedly attacking our family."

Upon hearing this deeper implication, Qiu Yuan was momentarily stunned, understanding that her daughter was also considering the Gu Family’s welfare.

Honestly, given the chaotic state at home right now, having such a powerful force to assist would naturally be extremely beneficial. The dignity that has been repeatedly mocked by people in the circle over these past months could be restored considerably.

However, Qiu Yuan took another look at her daughter, realizing that her daughter’s not-so-wide shoulders bore too much thinking for them, for her brother.

Back then, things developed with He Qimo in such a way, wanting to leave but unable to was for them.

Now, facing Mrs. Feng, the future undoubtedly will entail too much scrutiny from others. Although some of it is for love, part of it is also for them. This weighed heavily on Qiu Yuan’s heart.

She sighed, "Ah, being born into a family like ours, it is destined that whatever you do in your life will become a topic for others to discuss under their breath. I really don’t know when you can be free from all this and live the life you truly want."

Feeling heartache, Gu Zixuan hugged her mother’s neck, whispered in her ear, "Haven’t I always been living the life I want? Mom, there’s no need to feel I’ve lost too much of myself. From a young age, I studied those things like playing the piano, chess, calligraphy, and painting. Although it was hard, I genuinely enjoyed them. The current situation is win-win, so it’s not that bad. As for your worries about me being scrutinized by the Feng Family... there’s even less need to worry. Cheng Jin and I live alone, and occasional gatherings don’t bother me, much more..."

Gu Zixuan lengthened her voice, whispered more softly into her mother’s ear, "Don’t tell Dad, I’m afraid he’ll scold me, I’m pregnant, I have a baby."

In an instant, Qiu Yuan’s body froze, gazing at Gu Zixuan’s belly. After waiting for eight years without any news, initially thinking her daughter was still young, there’s no rush, but later realizing either it’s a physical problem or a marital issue, Qiu Yuan began to feel anxious.

Now, hearing this news...

Qiu Yuan couldn’t help but feel extremely happy.

Even though Qiu Yuan also knows that getting pregnant before marriage is somewhat detrimental to family reputation, given Zixuan’s special circumstances... Qiu Yuan, halfway through washing fruits, couldn’t help but glance outside at that tall figure.

The corner of her lips curled into a smile, unconsciously adding a touch of deep expression reserved for looking at her son-in-law.

Mother and daughter whispered in the kitchen.

In the living room, Feng Chengjin sat, taking stock of everything the Gu Family currently possessed. He glanced at the little ash-gray kitten nestled in his arms, wondering whether it was curious or unafraid, having walked up to him, tilted its head for a while, and now settled in his lap.

A name tag hung around the kitten’s neck, with the characters "timi" engraved in metal.

He gently stroked Timi’s soft fur, then looked around, feeling a heavy weight he could hardly express.

The Gu Family used to have a villa.

It’s just that possibly due to Gu Qingfeng’s political career, thinking it would have a negative impact, he bought a four-bedroom, two-living-room apartment in the city center, within the range where government people reside, using the villa as an old residence, abandoned unused.

The apartment is quite spacious, roughly estimated to be about 240 square meters.

Any paintings, inkstones, tobacco pipes, or tea sets placed inside the house are also valuable.

Gu Zixuan’s mother comes from a literary family, her grandfather a famous calligraphist, and her grandfather even once held the rank of a mid-level officer. Before the incident, her father had already reached the level of Vice Governor of Rong City. The assets left by her grandfather and grandfather’s generation were quite substantial.

From the perspective of a family like the Gu Family, where wealth is considered external, it’s their inner quality and level that are their greatest strengths, they ought to be desirable candidates for marriage alliances sought by numerous people.

However, both the Gu Family and the Qiu Family have one prominent issue, a reluctance to have many children, leading to sparse descendants.

The Gu Family left only Gu Qingfeng as the sole successor after his elder brother died young, resulting in the Gu Family losing the desire for more children.

Aside from Qiu Yuan as the eldest daughter, the Qiu Family only has one uncle of Gu Zixuan.

As it carries on to Gu Zixuan’s generation, there’s only a younger brother.

So, with such sparse population, when things are going well, it indeed feels glorious, as if the entire clan rises from the mud unsullied, akin to a lotus floating in the aristocratic circle, with the personalities of the whole family similar, nothing but admiration from others.

But when things go wrong, if one person in the family encounters an issue, it becomes the shadow over the whole family, a disaster that could destroy a good name.

When the wall collapses, everyone pushes, let alone once proud families in Rong City that disdained discussing marital interests with any wealthy families...

Looking at the "money tree" delivered by some unknown person at the door, already covered by Qiu Yuan with a piece of cloth, seemingly preparing to find someone to move it out again.

Feng Chengjin could easily imagine how during the period when Gu Qingfeng’s incident occurred, the renowned noblewoman born into a literary family, Qiu Yuan, endured so much ridicule and mockery from many at home.

As he saw the stack of various receipts placed at the bottom of the table which have been sent but not paid, he pondered deeply.

Feng Chengjin could easily imagine the reasons for this situation. The Gu Family’s financial standing was solid, but all their assets were currently frozen.

With Gu Qingfeng’s regular salary, living expenses were covered, but when it came to paying fees or covering some extra purchasing costs, the Gu Family truly had no money. Among them, there was even a card with Gu Zixuan’s signature on the back.

It seemed that Gu Zixuan had secretly given money, but both Gu Qingfeng and Qiu Yuan were relatively proud people, unwilling to spend their daughter’s money, or perhaps they felt that since their daughter was married, they were not sure if this money came from the husband’s family, and thus Gu Qingfeng and Qiu Yuan did not want their daughter to endure any sneers from a man’s family for money in this lifetime.

In short, their current situation in life was that they had no money.

Then looking at the study where the documents piled up like a mountain, it was obvious that Qiu Yuan had tidied up, but there were too many, and no amount of tidying could make them look attractive.

Focusing on the whole house, at this moment only Qiu Yuan was busily occupied, with not a single servant in sight.

Feng Chengjin could easily understand what kind of transition the Gu Family had gone through from paradise to hell in just half a year.

He also understood why Gu Zixuan would be so hesitant on the issue of divorce, afraid of making the slightest mistake when it came to their reputation.

Isn’t it true that most daughters’ hearts are the same? Seeing her own parents , how could she bear to bring about another disaster that would make the whole Rong City sneer, destroying her parents’ pride and family traditions of half a lifetime?

Feng Chengjin was lost in deep thought, feeling a heavy weight making it hard to breathe.

The sound of the door lock turning was heard.

"Clack," followed by a heavy push.

A man in a dark blue suit, appearing to be around fifty years old with hawk-like brows and eyes, walked in with a briefcase, talking to his secretary as he entered.

"Let’s discuss the specifics after I get in touch with Minister Qi after New Year’s. There’s something going on at home today, so you can go back now, and on your way tell Governor Gao not to worry about me."

"Yes!" The secretary respectfully pulled the suitcase behind him and said, "Then Vice Governor Gu, I’ll be leaving."

"Hmm." Gu Qingfeng himself pulled back the suitcase, and in that moment of turning around,

he met Feng Chengjin’s eyes directly.

Feng Chengjin narrowed his eyes.

He knew that Gu Zixuan’s father, Gu Qingfeng, had returned...

Gu Qingfeng, looking at Feng Chengjin, for a moment seemed incredulous, but after confirming, his lips curled into a coldly mocking smile...

The scene was awkward and stagnant for a moment.

Paused, just as Gu Qingfeng was about to speak first,

Gu Zixuan came out, seeing her father return, with some uncontrollable delight in her eyes, "Father."

Gu Qingfeng composed himself, glanced at his daughter, glanced at Feng Chengjin again, and then thought of the things Qiu Yuan had called him about before he returned.

Gu Qingfeng seemed to realize something.

After a quick flicker of incredulity, he gave his daughter a deep, repeated look and spoke, changing his tone, "Hmm."

To Gu Zixuan, that soft response was the best form of communication.

Her father was consistently stern and spoke little, and by not immediately asking who Feng Chengjin was, an awkward question, he tacitly allowed Feng Chengjin to stay.

A good start made Gu Zixuan unable to help but deepen her smile. Seeing her father standing with bags in hand, she hurried forward to help.

Gu Zixuan went to the bedroom to put things away.

Gu Qingfeng and Feng Chengjin exchanged a look in silence.

The depth in those eyes made Qiu Yuan, who came out holding fruit subsequently, feel a sudden jolt of anxiety. Looking puzzled at them, she followed the shadow of Gu Zixuan but didn’t get an answer.

Consequently, whether it was Qiu Yuan’s sensitivity or not, she always felt that this new son-in-law had some grudge with her husband.

Qiu Yuan was uncertain, looked again at Zixuan, and finally, remembering the incident Zixuan always mentioned from eight years ago, but never told her the specifics, with ominous feelings rising, Qiu Yuan thought of the baby in Zixuan’s belly.

As a mother herself and about to become a grandmother, a trace of unspeakable trembling and heartache slipped through her heart. For origınal chapters go to novel~fire~net