"Just look at me like this and raise your hands to help me with my collar," he said, still leaning over slightly.Zhong Keke's face reddened. Like an obedient student, she raised her hands and randomly fixed his suit collar and shirt collar. "Like this?" "Yes," he said. His lips curled slightly. It was as if he was watching her with a gentle smile.However, she knew the gentleness was only an act.Without looking up, she could feel many eyes on her."Umm... A lot of people are looking at us," she whispered."I know. Let them watch," he said. That was his purpose today.Just then, a voice rang out. "Hey, how enviable it is to watch you two's public display of affection."Zhong Keke turned her head and saw Ye Chongwei, whom she had seen at the party with Gu Lichen's friends. However, Ye Chongwei had a new female companion with him today."There you are." Gu Lichen straightened up and greeted Ye Chongwei.The two chatted casually, but Ye Chongwei had no intention of introducing
Wei Jing looked envious. "Keke, what business does your family have? How did you meet Mr. Gu?"Zhong Keke said, "I'm only a comic artist. My family doesn't have any business. I come from a regular family. We met each other when we were eating noodles at a restaurant."These were not a secret anyway. There was no need to hide it.Wei Jing looked surprised. She thought Zhong Keke could become Gu Lichen's girlfriend because of her family background, but now, it sounded like she was only a regular comic artist.'Can such a woman also become Gu Lichen's girlfriend? My family runs a small business, but Ye Chongwei didn't even introduce me to the others just now!'Wei Jing felt a surge of jealousy as she thought of this.Just then, someone suddenly went over. Then, a contemptuous voice rang out. "I was wondering who I saw. It turned out to be you. Who are you to attend such a banquet?"Zhong Keke looked up and saw Song Qingyao in an exquisite bespoke gown. She remembered Song Qingyao f
There were sounds of gasps all around, and Zhong Keke was slightly stunned.She was currently in Gu Lichen's arms as she heard Gu Lichen's voice mutter, "Sorry, I was late."It was just a short sentence, but it somehow made Zhong Keke's eyes water instantly.Even though she looked brave when facing Song Qingyao and the socialites, only she knew how nervous she was earlier. She even had the feeling as though she was going to war. She was afraid they would destroy her if she were not careful.When she heard Gu Lichen say that short sentence while he held her in his arms, her nervousness finally eased a little.Gu Lichen turned and stared coldly at Song Qingyao and the rest. "Song Qingyao, do you have any advice for my girlfriend?" His cold voice sounded faintly furious, making Song Qingyao panic instantly."Lichen, it was... It was just a misunderstanding. I... I was just...""A misunderstanding?" Gu Lichen snapped his fingers coldly and let the waiter with the wine come to him. T
Naturally, they looked at her with surprise after finding out she was a comic artist.It was as if they did not expect the crown prince of the entertainment industry to have a regular comic artist as his girlfriend.Suddenly, there was some commotion at the banquet hall's entrance.Gu Lichen turned his head to look and froze. Zhong Keke, who was holding his arm, was the first to notice something was wrong with him.Zhong Keke looked up to see two figures walking into the banquet hall. Many people walked toward them.Those two were... Yi Jinli and Ling Yiran.Zhong Keke had met Ling Yiran in the shopping mall before, while Yi Jinli... Zhong Keke found his photo online afterward.'They're here, and Lichen...'She subconsciously looked up to Gu Lichen and saw him looking straight at Ling Yiran.Yi Jinli looked over as if sensing something. Then, Ling Yiran also looked over.Instantly, the four people looked at each other from afar under such circumstances."Keke, let's go say h
Zhong Keke replied in acknowledgment.Gu Lichen's eyes fell on Ling Yiran's bulging belly. "I thought you wouldn’t be able to attend such a banquet in your condition.""I'm fine. I’m at home most of the time that I’m getting bored, so I asked Jin to bring me to the banquet," said Ling Yiran. Then, she praised Zhong Keke's appearance today. "Keke, you look beautiful today.""Really?" Zhong Keke smiled shyly. "Lichen helped me with it. It's my first time attending such a banquet, so I don't know much about the right etiquette to have."Her frankness made Ling Yiran like her more. "You'll get used to it later," she said.'I'll get used to it?' Zhong Keke blinked. 'Does that mean I'll have to accompany Gu Lichen to more banquets like this in the future?'"But I can tell Lichen is attentive to you,” Ling Yiran added."Yeah, I know. He's nice," Zhong Keke said with a smile.Yi Jinli said to Ling Yiran, "You shouldn't stand for too long. Why don't you find a place nearby to sit and ta
"Lichen and I met in an accident when we were kids. We were separated for many years before running into each other again when I was 28 years old. But this is all in the past. You're his girlfriend now. This is also the first time in years that I've heard him introduce his girlfriend so seriously. We're only friends now. I hope you won't misunderstand."Ling Yiran said honestly, not wanting her to have any misunderstandings because of her.Zhong Keke said, "I know. Don't worry. I won't misunderstand. Everyone has a past. I... have a past too, but we'll get over our pasts in the end. What matters the most is the present and future! I consider myself lucky to know Lichen. Besides, he's so nice to me. Sometimes, I feel like Cinderella."Zhong Keke was not lying. It was the truth. At least she felt that way. However, she knew that Cinderella would end up marrying the prince.A Cinderella like her would only return to her original status when everything ended.The two continued chattin
"You must be hungry. Try and see if you like these. I'll get something else if you don't." Gu Lichen's voice rang in her ears."These will do," Zhong Keke said hurriedly.Gu Lichen helped her cut a large steak into pieces before moving the plate in front of her."Ah, thank you," she said subconsciously."Why are you thanking me? It's what I'm supposed to do since I'm your boyfriend," he said, lifting his fingers and gently tucking the locks of hair over her cheek behind her ear.Zhong Keke's face reddened slightly. She knew everything was false, but her heart was still beating fast.Zhong Keke was already 70 to 80 percent full after eating the food. While she was eating, Gu Lichen was like the perfect boyfriend. He carefully told her how to eat something she had never eaten before and even bent over to fix her skirt when she got up after she finished eating...Everything was like Cinderella's dream.After finishing the meal, Gu Lichen said to Ling Yiran and Yi Jinli, "Excuse me
Outsiders would only think that the couple was loving and happy, but... how would Gu Lichen feel when he saw that?"Why don't we leave earlier? We've met... so many people anyway. Everyone in your circle probably knows I'm your girlfriend now," said Zhong Keke. However, her intuition told her that maybe the biggest reason he brought her to the banquet was to meet Ling Yiran.'Is our fake relationship just to show Ling Yiran?’However, Gu Lichen shook his head and said, "There's no need to leave early. I have to introduce some more friends to you. But... lend me your shoulder for a moment, will you?""Oh, okay," she replied in a mutter.Gu Lichen bent over and laid his head on her shoulder.There was instantly a heavy feeling on her shoulders, and she could feel his warm breath on her neck.Zhong Keke suddenly felt that the man in front of her looked exhausted, and she seemed to have become his only support at the moment.She raised her hand slowly to his back and patted him gen
He clenched his jaw and felt his teeth ache. 'Yeah, she’s broken up with me. She has every right to find a new boyfriend, but... the thought of her smiling at another man, and kissing and hugging him makes me uncomfortable.’ Gu Lichen could not help feeling irritated."You can't find one! Do you think you can find another man like me to love when you love me so much?" he said.Zhong Keke retorted with a slightly red face, "You... You're too confident. Who are you to say I can't find one? I love you now, but I can slowly get over you. Besides, I don't need to find a man like you in the future. I just need to find an ordinary man with a good personality who treats me well! I’ll give him all my heart, and he’ll do the same!"It was more like she was telling herself that.'Yes, I can move on from him. I can do it!'However, her words seemed to have provoked him as he turned the steering wheel sharply, slammed on the brakes, and pulled over at the roadside.She was thrown forward and
The fact Zhong Keke accepted was that she feared she would love him more and more!When Yi Jinli and Gu Lichen returned to the ward, Ling Yiran was still chatting with Zhong Keke about the children, not only the new baby but also the triplets."Alright, Lichen and I are going home first. Yiran, have a good rest. I'll visit you and the baby again next time," Zhong Keke said and got up after seeing the exhaustion on Ling Yiran's face.Ling Yiran replied, "Okay. I'll let you meet my triplets next time.""Sure."After Zhong Keke and Gu Lichen left, Yi Jinli lay on Ling Yiran's bed and said, "If you're sleepy, sleep first. The doctor said you need more rest."Ling Yiran said, "I'm a little sleepy, but I had a nice chat with Keke today. Jin, you know what? I think it's great that Lichen has fallen in love with Keke. Keke's a wonderful woman, and Lichen has finally found his happily ever after."She said as she slowly closed her eyes and fell asleep.Looking at his wife's sleeping fac
"Thank you! It's a good painting, and I like it very much. I didn't expect you to draw my daughter like that.""I saw the baby when I came to the hospital that day, so I remembered," said Zhong Keke."I heard from Jin that you and Lichen both came to the hospital that day. I didn't scare you, did I?" said Ling Yiran.Zhong Keke smiled softly, "All that matters is that you're safe. Being alive is better than anything."The two women chatted while the two men looked at each other. Then, Yi Jinli said, "Lichen, let's go get some air."The two men got up and walked out of the ward.Zhong Keke looked uneasily at the ward door.Ling Yiran said, "They’ll be back soon. Don't worry. My Jin won't kidnap Lichen."Zhong Keke smiled, knowing that Yi Jinli probably had not told Ling Yiran about what happened that day."By the way, how are you and Lichen's relationship? Does he treat you well?" Ling Yiran asked."He treats me well." It was true. He treated her well. He would give her everyt
He and Song Qingyao were not even friends."You don't have to explain this to me," said Zhong Keke. They had broken up, and she did not need these explanations.Besides, she knew better than anyone that he had always been in love with Yiran.Thinking of Yiran, Zhong Keke said, "I want to go to the hospital to see Yiran. Can I?" The last time she visited Yiran, Yiran was still unconscious, so she wanted to check on her.Hesitation flashed across Gu Lichen's face."Don't worry. I won't say anything to trigger Yiran. I’ll still pretend to be your girlfriend in front of Yiran. If Yiran asks you, you can say we're doing quite well. When Yiran has recovered, I can make an excuse to say we've broken up. Of course, I can take all the blame. For example, I thought being with you attracted too much attention, or I couldn’t get used to being with you, or I had fallen for someone else—"Before she could finish speaking, she was suddenly pulled into a wide embrace.His hands held her tightly
Zhou Xinmian: [I said you were living with Gu Lichen now. Then they said nothing and left readily.]"..."Zhou Xinmian: [Did you block their phone numbers? They said you're not answering your phone.]Zhong Keke: [Yeah.]She should have blocked her uncle's family's phone numbers long ago. Even blocking them now was considered late!Zhou Xinmian: [Well done! But didn’t they try calling you using another phone number?]Zhong Keke: [They did. But as soon as they spoke and I heard their voices, I hung up and blocked their phone numbers.]In other words, she did not give them a chance to talk.She did not want to listen to what they had to say anyway. They had worn out the last of her affection.Zhou Xinmian: [Have you made up your mind this time?]Zhong Keke: [I’ll just consider that my grandparents only gave birth to my father!]In other words, she no longer considered her uncle and his family her family!Zhou Xinmian: [You should have done that long ago! They told me Gu Lichen
It was why he had said such things at the time to keep the woman from leaving!"Maybe I've liked you since then." It probably started earlier than he thought.Zhong Keke's eyes watered as tears were about to pour out. She raised her hands and covered her eyes, "Gu Lichen, stop telling me such things!"Such things would only make her waver when her resolution was hard-won. Did he know how much determination and perseverance it took her to ask for a break-up and keep her distance from him to stop loving him when she loved him so much?Though her hands shielded her eyes, they could not stop the tears.His fingers pulled her hands away. "Alright, I'll stop. I'll stop talking. Don't cry."Her tears had always left him flustered.He hugged her and coaxed her. The indifference in his phoenix eyes had become affection.Zhong Keke finally stopped crying, but she still sniffled occasionally.Holding a tissue, Gu Lichen carefully wiped the tears from her face. After a moment, he said,
"Do you care about me?" She smiled bitterly. "That word isn’t only something you say but..." She did not continue speaking after a pause.However, he already knew what she was going to say.Gu Lichen turned pale. He knew that the incident at the comic fiesta was something that bothered her.He was the one who caused it!"Also, I think we'd better talk about the possibility of me getting pregnant!" she said."Okay, go ahead," he said as he asked the others in the living room to leave."Will you insist that I have the baby if I get pregnant?" she asked, looking at him."If you’re pregnant, I don't want to lose the baby," he said. He had never longed for children even though his parents had always wanted grandchildren, even if it was out of wedlock.However, such ideas had never occurred to him.Now, he wanted to have the baby because they would be... his baby with Keke!"Even if I don't want the baby, are you still going to stop me from having an abortion?" she asked.He was s
Even though he did not love her, she still thought she was a better candidate than Zhong Keke.However, to her disappointment, the way Gu Lichen looked at her was still icy."I'm not interested in you. The Song family you're so proud of will no longer exist in Shen City a year later. Perhaps the Song family can keep some things if you start planning now. Otherwise, you'll have nothing left."With that said, Gu Lichen left the ward, leaving Song Qingyao standing where she was in a daze.Other than reluctance, resentment, and jealousy, there was more shock and fear on her face.'Does Lichen intend to eradicate the Song family within a year? Is... Is he going that far for Zhong Keke? He doesn't love Zhong Keke, right? Why is he doing it? Why?' Unfortunately, no one could give her the answer.Gu Lichen walked out of the hospital and got into the car. He slowly closed his eyes as Song Qingyao's last words flashed through his mind.'It doesn't matter... even if I don't love her?'Kek
Song Qingyao's heart sank. Sure enough, he could find out anything he wanted to."Why did you do it?" Gu Lichen said coldly.Song Qingyao suddenly laughed. "You're asking me why? Gu Lichen, I’ve loved you for so many years. What do you think?""I wouldn't love you even if Zhong Keke didn't exist. If I wanted to fall for you, I would have done so from the beginning," said Gu Lichen.Song Qingyao's mouth was full of bitterness. She knew that!However, knowing was one thing. Her being reluctant and unwilling to accept it was a different matter!She shouted, "Why did you choose Zhong Keke? You love Ling Yiran because Ling Yiran saved your life when you were a child. What about Zhong Keke? Why her?"She accepted losing to Ling Yiran because she had never saved Lichen's life.However, how could she accept losing to Zhong Keke? "Because she's the one who saved me from the messy relationship," replied Gu Lichen."What do you mean?" Song Qingyao was puzzled.Instead of explaining, he