After more than a month's absence, not only Wen Baozhu's figure had changed, but also her aura was different from before.
No longer gentle, but full of fortitude.
A kind of fortitude born of injury.
When he looked up and met her eyes, he could see her face, fair and bright, with her long, fluffy hair pulled up into a simple bun.
Under her long, black eyelashes were a pair of eyes as calm as a lake.
Under her gaze, all dark and gray thoughts had nowhere to hide.
She just stared at him quietly, her eyes showing nothing but peace.
Like a mirror, what was reflected was only his own heart.
Finally, unable to help himself, Gu Xiujing lost the battle.
"It was me who was possessed by a demon at that time. I lied to you." He lowered his head to admit his mistake. "But I didn't have any ulterior motives. I just didn't want you to worry."
"Lies can't comfort people's hearts." Wen Baozhu lowered her eyes. She was becoming more and more aware that Fu Lian would abhor deception.
Compared to the so - called "white lies" that were supposed to make people feel better, often the bloody reality was more acceptable.
Because even if you couldn't accept it, you always had to learn to.
Give up illusions, recognize reality, and then start fighting bravely.
In this regard, Fu Lian had taught her well.
Gu Xiujing was flustered by Wen Baozhu's words. The speech he had prepared in advance was now difficult to say.
In what capacity? As a deceiver?
No matter what he said at this moment, it seemed despicable.
Gu Xiujing took a deep breath and still gave in. "I know that you must hate me to the core now."
Wen Baozhu: "I don't hate you. It's just that I haven't walked out of my grief."
She was no saint, and she would always regret in the middle of the night.
If she had known her grandmother's situation earlier, perhaps there would have been a chance to turn the outcome around.
But there was no medicine for regret in this world.
"If that's the case, then why are you still staying in Hong Kong?"
Wen Baozhu did not plan to answer.
Everything she wanted to say had been said in the sentence before.
It had nothing to do with him.
Fu Lian had taught her: You didn't have to answer every question you didn't want to answer.
When Gu Xiujing saw that she did not speak, he only felt extremely disappointed. "Fine, I won't ask you these questions. But, have you been watching the news recently? Fu Lian is going to continue his engagement with Fang Yuan. The two of them have been going in and out of events together. Have you thought about how awkward your position will be in the future?"
Wen Baozhu mocked herself. "Mr. Gu knows everything. Why do you still have to say it out to humiliate me?"
Gu Xiujing lowered his voice. "I'm not humiliating you. I'm reminding you that you should plan for yourself."
"How do you know that I haven't planned for myself?"
Gu Xiujing was so angry that he couldn't catch his breath. There was only grief, indignation and disappointment in his eyes.
In his eyes, Wen Baozhu had been completely bewitched by Fu Lian and was willing to fight for him.
Perhaps it was because men had heroism in their bones, or perhaps they were happy to persuade people to turn over a new leaf. He actually wanted to wake up the stubborn Wen Baozhu.
He drank the water in the cup on the table in one gulp and directly spoke frankly. "Since you're planning for yourself, then you should leave him and stop working for him."
Wen Baozhu still did not say a word.
Gu Xiujing: "Now that your grandmother has passed away and your mother is in jail, you don't have any handles in his hands. You don't have to beg him low - keyed."
"You're still young. If you leave Hong Kong and return to the mainland, you can still live a good life. I know that Old Master Zhou appreciates you as well. You don't have to worry about not having anything to do or food to eat in the future."
"All roads lead to Rome. Your future is bright. Why do you have to be a canary kept in a cage, unable to see the sun from now on and always having a cloth covering your eyes?"
Wen Baozhu: "You also know that I'm a canary kept in a cage. If I say that I want to fly away, do you think he'll let me go?"
Do you think that Fu Lian is a philanthropist, a great good person? Even when raising birds or small animals, he'll ask them if they want freedom?
"As long as you want, I can help you."
There was determination in Gu Xiujing's eyes. "As long as you want to leave Hong Kong, I can use all my connections to send you out of Hong Kong."
"You don't have to worry that Fu Lian will capture you back. I'll erase your identity in advance. Even if his hands are long, he can't reach the capital. I have friends there. You can live incognito for a few years. Once he completely forgets about you, you'll be free."
Wen Baozhu knew that Gu Xiujing did not lie to her this time.
Perhaps it was because of the empathy of a fellow villager, or perhaps it was because of the guilt of having deceived her before.
But there was no doubt that he was willing to help her.
"You don't have to worry about owing me a favor. I won't use this to control you. As long as you leave Hong Kong, you can do whatever you want."
His tone became gentle. "Baozhu, making a living in Hong Kong isn't like playing Monopoly when you were a child. If you go bankrupt, you can still exit the game and be a spectator on the side. If you lose, you'll lose everything."
"You just have to trust me this one time. I'll definitely protect you well. Even if I turn against Fu Lian, I'm willing to help you escape."
The emotions in his eyes were so sincere that it was difficult to doubt their authenticity.
"Mr. Gu is willing to help me at all costs, even not asking for a favor. Why?"
In the western restaurant, someone was playing the violin.
The melodious sound of the violin drifted everywhere. The sound of metal utensils colliding, the sound of men and women flirting, and the sound of the waiter asking for their needs in a low voice.
At this moment, everything was filtered out.
Gu Xiujing stared at Wen Baozhu, who was sitting opposite him. His heart began to beat wildly out of control.
It was as if he had returned to his youth, where he could only stand behind her forever and watch her be like a small sun.
Shining on him and protecting him.
His voice was very soft. "Because..."
"Because you protected me before."
That kind of bright sunlight had also shone on him for a moment.
He wanted to protect that moment of sunlight, and he wanted to protect her behind him like she did when she was a child.
Wen Baozhu smiled.
She looked at Gu Xiujing in front of her. After a very long time, her eyebrows and eyes gradually relaxed.
As if she remembered something, she smiled slightly. "Thank you for remembering me."
The tense nerves instantly relaxed at this sentence.
So she remembered as well.
Remembered that there was once a timid and cowardly boy who had been encouraged and shone on by her.
Wen Baozhu: "However, I'm afraid that I can't agree to you."
As soon as she said that, the corner of Gu Xiujing's mouth opposite her dropped.
He was in disbelief. "Why?"
Wen Baozhu opened her mouth to explain. "It's very difficult for me to explain, but in this situation, even if you can protect me well, I can't leave Hong Kong for a while..."
Before she could finish speaking, a tall figure suddenly walked over, and his shadow was cast on the table of the two of them.
Wen Baozhu looked up.
Fu Lian was standing on one side of the table, smiling at her leisurely. "Where are you going to leave for a while?"