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Upon seeing the glass pendant, Gu Sheng’s expression immediately changed. “Why do you have this item?”
“You don’t need to worry about how I got it. Just focus on doing what I’ve instructed you to do. For example, if you dare to expel me, be prepared to face the consequences,” Gu Xiruo laughed arrogantly and left Gu Sheng’s courtyard.
Gu Sheng’s guard looked at him with concern, Maste, are you alright?”
Gu Sheng shook his head. “I’m fine.”
He couldn’t understand how the glass pendant had ended up in Gu Xiruo’s hands. Not only did she possess the pendant, but she also seemed to know its significance, which now posed a new problem for him.
“Let’s go check on Yanqi.” After some consideration, Gu Sheng decided to go and see Yanqi and also check on Wang Jinhe.
As Gu Sheng approached, Wang Jinhe stood at the door, while Gu Xiruo was there, continuously inquiring about Yanqi’s condition.
If someone didn’t know better, they might have thought that the relationship between the two siblings was quite amicable. However, it seemed that Gu Xiruo was merely putting on a show.
“You clearly wish for his death, so why keep asking about him?” Wang Jinhe, finally fed up with Gu Xiruo’s incessant inquiries, retorted without mincing words.
“Constantly bickering, were you a parrot in a past life? Always chattering so much,” she added.
Gu Xiruo was left speechless by the scolding. Even though she could easily argue with Gu Sheng, upon seeing Wang Jinhe’s reaction, she fell silent.
It wasn’t that she couldn’t argue back; she was just afraid of giving Wang Jinhe a reason to punish her in the end.
Wang Jinhe glanced at Gu Xiruo and was surprised to find her not jumping to argue back this time, which was rather intriguing. Was she having a moment of clarity, or was something amiss with her thinking?
“If you weren’t a Princess, would you have the right to scold me like this?”
Wang Jinhe looked down on Gu Xiruo, speaking with a sly smile. “Well, that would be a shame. Even if I weren’t a Princess, I’d still be the County Princess of Changning, with three or four counties as my fiefdom. I also have many personal guards. Gu Xiruo, why don’t you try scolding me?” Gu Sheng stood by watching Gu Xiruo being bullied, feeling that she deserved it.
Noticing Gu Sheng’s gaze, Wang Jinhe’s eyes turned colder. This shift in his demeanor made Gu Sheng feel uncomfortable.
“Princess, I have something to discuss with you.” After hesitating for a while, Gu Sheng finally mustered the courage to address Wang Jinhe seriously.
“I have nothing to discuss with you,” Wang Jinhe didn’t need to talk to Gu Sheng to know what he wanted to say.
“I’m sorry for what happened before, I…”
“No need for apologies. Head of the Gu family, just remember that you referred to Gu Xiruo as your daughter. I will never set foot in the Gu family again. Furthermore, remember that I have severed all ties with you. After cutting ties, you are as good as dead to me,” Wang Jinhe said coldly to Gu Sheng.
She knew that after Gu Sheng discovered Gu Xiruo’s true nature, they would likely have a falling out, and it had indeed come to pass.
Gu Sheng’s desire to apologize was anticipated.
Unfortunately, she was no longer the person she once was, and her longing for her biological parents had faded.
She had gained too much and couldn’t be too greedy.
“Gu Sheng, hurting others means hurting yourself. It’s a fact. Even if you come to me now crying about how tired and miserable you are, I will only think you deserve it.” Wang Jinhe didn’t harbor as much animosity towards the late Madam Gu, but her feelings towards Gu Sheng, the so-called father, were complex, veering more towards indifference.
Gu Sheng involuntarily took a step back, staring blankly at Wang Jinhe. “Do you truly hate me so much? I am your father.”
“Hate is not the right word, because you never expected anything from me,” Wang Jinhe said coldly, looking at Gu Sheng.
How could Gu Sheng believe all this to be true?
“I…” Gu Sheng began.
“I remember you telling me not to regret it back then. Even if you regret it now, it’s pointless because I won’t go back, and you will never be my father,” Wang Jinhe interrupted.
She could somewhat anticipate Gu Sheng’s thoughts, not because of his severed relationship with Gu Xiruo, but because she was thinking about herself.
She was Wang Jinhe, not someone’s substitute, and she couldn’t be taken away just like that.
Gu Sheng tightly pressed his lips, feeling a sudden unease upon understanding Wang Jinhe’s thoughts.
“I can make amends,” Gu Sheng offered.
“Forget about making amends. After all, I am not a part of the Gu family. I have my own home, my own possessions, and people who fiercely protect and cherish me by my side. You are not significant to me,” Wang Jinhe calmly stated.
Gu Sheng shook his head repeatedly. “No, how can I not be important? Can anyone else compare to a biological father?”
“Indeed, no one can,” Wang Jinhe replied with a smile.
Just as Gu Sheng was starting to feel relieved, Wang Jinhe continued, “They can’t compare to the ruthlessness you have towards your own biological daughter. Don’t deceive yourself. You don’t truly want to apologize to me. You just don’t want to face a lonely and desolate old age. You know very well that if I forgive you, Gu Yanqi will also forgive you. In the end, you will still be a parent with both children by your side.”
“This game of chess has been played quite skillfully, with every move calculated against me,” Gu Xiruo’s expression turned grim, especially when she saw Gu Sheng’s lack of rebuttal.
It seemed like he was truly ready to abandon her completely.
Approaching Gu Sheng, Gu Xiruo gazed at him. “Think carefully before you speak in the future. Don’t bring trouble upon yourself.”
Gu Sheng remained silent, only breaking the silence after a while. “I have only one daughter, but it’s not you.”
Wang Jinhe understood that Gu Sheng’s words were directed at her. Instead of getting angry, she smiled and responded, “That’s fine. I also have only one father, but unfortunately, that person isn’t you.”
“You…” Gu Sheng knew she was referring to Yu Qingfeng. When he had seen him in the capital, it seemed as though time had not touched him, appearing as young as he had been when they last parted, just more mature and reserved.
When Gu Sheng stood in front of Yu Qingfeng, he dared not even take a deep breath.
Wang Jinhe observed Gu Sheng’s somewhat fearful demeanor, reaching out to touch her chin and sizing him up.
Seeing Gu Sheng’s reaction after mentioning her father, it was evident that he was afraid of her father.
“Wishing to compete with my father for his daughter? Why don’t you ask my father if he’s willing?” Wang Jinhe said with a sly smile.
“You haven’t seen each other for many years; there must be a lot to catch up on, right?” Wang Jinhe continued, as if one jab wasn’t enough.
Gu Sheng couldn’t escape the questions.
He truly feared Yu Qingfeng, feeling inadequate compared to him.
“If you dare not confront my father, then don’t come to me with apologies. Someone like you doesn’t deserve forgiveness,” Wang Jinhe concluded before heading back inside, unwilling to watch the interaction between Gu Sheng and his daughter, finding it distasteful.