CHAPTER 35: CHAPTER 35: DON’T MENTION SHENG QIANCHI, HE’S A CALAMITY

As Lu Xiya was talking, her expression froze, her rosy lips slowly parted in disbelief, "Ji... Jiayin."

Gu Jiayin smiled nonchalantly, "I’m staying over at your place tonight, you don’t mind, do you?"

"What are you saying?" Lu Xiya stepped forward and took Gu Jiayin’s hand, glancing at her reproachfully, "Talking to me like this, are you looking for a beating?"

After some cordial exchanges, Lu Xiya noticed Pei Nianchen standing behind Gu Jiayin.

Seeing Pei Nianchen again felt like it had been a century. Ever since Gu Jiayin "died," Pei Nianchen had completely cut off contact with her. She only occasionally saw him in the newspapers.

He was in great pain; she understood.

After a few seconds, Lu Xiya managed to muster a faint smile, "Brother Nianchen."

Pei Nianchen felt deeply guilty and smiled awkwardly, "Xiya, I’ve neglected you these past few years, I’m sorry."

Lu Xiya had always thought that the person secretly helping her over the years was Pei Nianchen, so she looked at him gratefully, "Brother Nianchen, you’ve done more than enough for me."

Pei Nianchen didn’t understand Lu Xiya’s words and after a few polite exchanges, he excused himself, "I have some things to do, I’ll leave first. Please take care of Jiayin."

With that, Pei Nianchen turned and went downstairs.

He truly didn’t know Lu Xiya liked him, as he never paid her much attention.

Although they grew up together, all his attention was on Gu Jiayin. He never cared about what Lu Xiya was thinking.

He only knew from Gu Jiayin that Gu Yachen liked her, and since Gu Yachen always picked up and dropped off Lu Xiya from school, he naturally assumed she and Gu Yachen were a couple.

Sadly, the four of them have walked such a rocky road.

...

Lu Xiya poured a cup of tea for Gu Jiayin, somewhat embarrassed, "Jiayin, I don’t have any good tea here now, I hope you don’t mind."

Gu Jiayin picked up the teacup and sipped it slowly, the warmth spreading through her body, feeling comfortable, "Do you think I’m still the top socialite from the past?"

During her special training, she had even drunk water from mud pits. With a cup of tea, what’s the need to be picky about tea leaves?

Lu Xiya sat next to Gu Jiayin, suddenly feeling saddened, "Jiayin, how have you managed these past years?"

Gu Jiayin smiled faintly, facing the past with a breeze-like attitude, "Not much better than you, so we’re still a perfect pair of close sisters."

In comparison, the hardship Gu Jiayin endured was a thousand times worse than Lu Xiya’s.

Unknowingly, Lu Xiya’s eyes welled up as she hugged Gu Jiayin’s arm, resting her head on her shoulder, "Jiayin, thank you for still being alive."

Gu Jiayin smiled faintly, without moving.

This pure emotion, she still cherished, but she no longer shed tears so easily as before.

She and Lu Xiya were truly going in opposite directions. Before, she was frail, while Lu Xiya was haughty, but now Lu Xiya would easily be moved to tears, while her heart had become incredibly resilient.

Even though her heart was incredibly resilient, Lu Xiya’s words still touched the softest part of her heart. These ordinary words were understood by those with genuine feelings.

Thank you for still being alive. Whether you’re poor or rich, ugly or beautiful, as long as you’re alive, as long as I can feel your presence in this world, that’s the best outcome.

If one day, Gu Yachen suddenly appeared in front of her, she would surely exclaim as well, "Brother, thank you for still being alive."

...

At night, Gu Jiayin and Lu Xiya lay on the same bed.

"Jiayin, is this a rekindling of feelings between you and Brother Nianchen?"

"I don’t know."

Lu Xiya suddenly sat up, looked at the calm Gu Jiayin under the warm light, "What do you mean you don’t know?"

Gu Jiayin sighed softly, "We want to be together again, but... it seems we can’t be together."

Lu Xiya bit her lower lip, "Then... what about you and Sheng Qianchi? He admitted himself that you are his woman. Knowing you, it’s impossible you’d get involved with him."

At the mention of Sheng Qianchi, Gu Jiayin suddenly felt troubled, turned over, and hid herself under the blanket, "Don’t mention him, he’s a calamity."

Lu Xiya quietly watched Gu Jiayin for a while before lying back down, "Jiayin, what can I do to help you?"

Gu Jiayin pulled down the blanket, revealing her fair face, "Accompany me to Jiangshang tomorrow, okay?"

"What for?"

"To pay respects to my brother. He liked you so much, he’d definitely be happy if you went."

Lu Xiya said nothing.

Thinking of Gu Yachen also hurt her. She knew he liked her.

After a long silence, she said sadly, "Alright, Yachen loved sticky rice balls, I’ll prepare them first thing in the morning."

After some thought, she suddenly got up, "No, I’ll prepare them now."

Saying that, Lu Xiya threw off the blanket and ran to the kitchen. She was no longer a privileged heiress; over the years, she had learned to cook.

Gu Jiayin followed her into the kitchen, "I’ll help you."

Over the years, she had also learned to cook.

Thus, that night, they slept very little.

...

Pei Nianchen returned home to face a struggle, a struggle between family and love.

Pei Keqian sat solemnly on the living room sofa, his expression severe, as steady as a mountain. As soon as Pei Nianchen entered, he sternly ordered, "Come and sit down."

Zuo Qianhua sat on one side, also looking displeased.

Pei Nianchen was already mentally prepared, so he calmly walked over and sat across from Pei Keqian.

Before Pei Keqian could reprimand him, he spoke first, "Dad, if you ask me to break up with Jiayin, I won’t agree."

Pei Keqian slammed the table in anger, his voice deep and sonorous, "I never opposed you being with Jiayin, but the mess is your doing. If you hadn’t gotten Xueyao pregnant, I wouldn’t even oppose you marrying Jiayin right away."

Pei Nianchen, "..."

Lost for words.

This was indeed a mess of his own making. He had been with Gu Jiayin since childhood, and his father had never objected, always encouraging him.

However, if Gu Jiayin hadn’t returned, he could have compromised for the sake of the child, but since she had returned, how could he continue in such a daze?

"That child is not what I wanted, I have no reason to give up Jiayin for him."

"Nonsense!" Pei Keqian glared righteously, "Even if Xueyao trapped you, the child is innocent. How can you force her to get rid of the child? That’s the Pei family’s bloodline; taking it away would let down our ancestors."

Pei Nianchen stood up agitatedly, "I haven’t forced her to get rid of the child; if she wants to keep it, then keep it. If you want to embrace a grandchild, then go ahead. But none of this has anything to do with me."