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Join the ServerA sliver of morning light slipped through the gap in the curtains.
Gu Qiuhang slowly opened his eyes, staring blankly at the ceiling as his consciousness gradually returned. After a long while, he closed them again, weary, and awkwardly draped an arm over his face.
A night of chaotic dreams, so many things he thought he had long forgotten came roaring back from the sealed darkness.
Strangely, this time, those dark memories felt… precious.
He tried to move, but from bone to flesh, every part of him felt sore and weak, as if he had fought a hard battle.
Beneath him was a patch of cold dampness. Pressing his lips together, he reached down, his hand came away wet and sticky.
He shut his eyes, unable to stop himself from muttering a low curse. A faint flush crept onto his cheeks.
With a trace of unspoken frustration, he leaned against the headboard in silence for a moment before getting up and heading to the bathroom.
By the time he went downstairs, Gu Qiuhang had already returned to his usual calm indifference and sharp composure.
It seemed as if endless energy always resided within him, something that inspired both trust and awe.
The only difference was that when he passed He Ting’s bedroom, he paused, listening carefully for any sound inside.
There was nothing. Complete silence.
When He Ting came downstairs, Gu Qiuhang was already seated at the dining table, handling work. Aunt Zhou was setting out breakfast.
Gu Qiuhang noticed him from the corner of his eye but didn’t look up.
He Ting hesitated on the stairs for a moment, still a little shaken, before walking down.
His back was tense, but he greeted as usual, “Good morning, Young Master.”
Gu Qiuhang lifted his eyelids slightly. “Morning.”
He Ting lowered his head and quietly stuffed food into his mouth.
While wiping the corner of his lips, Gu Qiuhang asked, “You have a younger brother?”
The utensils in He Ting’s hand clinked softly. He nodded. “Mm.”
“Your parents…” Gu Qiuhang paused before asking, “Do they want you back?”
“Maybe,” He Ting replied softly. He clearly didn’t want to talk about them.
Gu Qiuhang nodded, hesitating. Now he had to hear about He Ting’s affairs from others.
He Ting gave a small smile. “What’s wrong?”
“What are your plans? Do you want to go back? Or not?” He looked at him. “I heard you acknowledged your brother.”
He Ting pressed his lips together. “I won’t go back. They… they’re not worth it.”
After a brief thought, he settled on those three words: not worth it.
Gu Qiuhang nodded, secretly letting out a breath.
Not worth it indeed. On that freezing night, they had abandoned this child outside, clearly intending for him to die, to rid themselves of any burden. People so selfish and heartless didn’t deserve to be parents.
He Ting’s gaze was cold, as if he were speaking about something unrelated to himself.
“I’m helping Meng Ling because what happened before has nothing to do with him.”
For the first time, Gu Qiuhang saw such decisiveness in him.
“Why didn’t you ask me for help?” he asked.
When He Ting needed help, the first person he thought of wasn’t him, but Su Bei. That left him feeling wronged, bitter, and unsettled.
“What?” He Ting looked confused.
Gu Qiuhang’s tone remained firm. “About transferring Meng Ling. And anything else. Why didn’t you come to me?”
He Ting smiled faintly, a hint of bitterness showing. “You’ve already helped me for so many years. From now on, I want to try doing things myself.”
Gu Qiuhang’s heart tightened. He raised a brow and smiled faintly, but his gaze turned cold.
“And Su Bei? It’s not trouble when it comes to him? Because you’re ‘family,’ is that it?”
As he said it, even his own heart ached.
He Ting felt the same sting. He frowned, a sudden sense of grievance tightening his lips, leaving him looking fragile and helpless.
Lowering his head, he hid his emotions. “I don’t understand… why are you suddenly asking me this?”
Gu Qiuhang fell silent for a moment, then softened his voice.
“You used to like me, didn’t you?”
Clang- the fork dropped onto the plate.
He Ting stared at him, eyes wide, heart pounding.
He wanted to deny it, but when he opened his mouth, no sound came out.
Gu Qiuhang continued, a trace of expectation hidden in his tone.
“Do you still like me? Do you?”
He Ting avoided his gaze, forcing down the tears welling in his eyes.
“I’m sorry… I…”
How could he not?
But he couldn’t say it.
He didn’t know what other traps Gu Donghang might have waiting for him.
Forcing a strained smile, he said, “I want to study abroad… with Su Bei.”
Gu Qiuhang looked at him quietly for a long moment, then stood up, a self-mocking smile appearing on his face.
He looked at him, at the boy sitting there with his head lowered like a child who had done something wrong, so uneasy.
Among his dark hair, a small swirl caught his eye. Unable to resist, he reached out and gently ruffled it.
“I understand.”
He Ting twisted his fingers nervously, wanting to cry.
Gu Qiuhang added, “Bring your brother home sometime. And if anything happens with your parents, don’t hide it from me. I’ll handle it.”
His footsteps gradually faded away.
Only then did He Ting’s tears fall, one drop after another. He didn’t lift his head, remaining in the same position.
The white shirt over his chest was soon soaked through.
His mind was in chaos, reason and emotion tangled together, making his stomach churn.
His eighteenth birthday, the turning point that would decide his fate.
As long as that day hadn’t passed, he didn’t dare to indulge himself.
He raised his head slightly and murmured, “Eighteen…”
You’ve got to see this next! Illusionary Dream will keep you on the edge of your seat. Start reading today!
Read : Illusionary Dream
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