'Girlfriend...' He seemed to have gotten used to her presence and closeness without knowing it...He seemed to be more relaxed when she was around.She always felt that he had helped her with many things, but she had no idea that she was the one helping him......Zhong Keke was awakened by a phone call from Zhou Xinmian."Keke, did Gu Lichen spend 100 million dollars on your portrait yesterday?" Zhou Xinmian asked in surprise.Zhong Keke was confused. "H-How do you know?""It's online, but someone seems to have suppressed it, so it didn't go viral. My colleagues at the magazine told me about it," said Zhou Xinmian.Zhong Keke finally sobered up slightly. 'Thank God... it didn't go viral.'"But that's too much! He spent 100 million dollars on your portrait. Aren't you going to be rich in the future?""The Gu family was going to donate money to charity anyway. He only bought my portrait to donate to charity. Besides, don't you know how much my portraits are worth?" Zhong Keke
Zhong Keke was relieved when she heard that. "Alright.""By the way, get prepared for the comic fiesta and come up with your own tagline." Zhou Xinmian began telling Zhong Keke details about the comic fiesta.On the other hand, Ye Chongwei arrived at Gu Lichen's office."I didn't expect you to spend 100 million dollars on your girlfriend's portrait yesterday. It seems you're more serious about her than I thought," said Ye Chongwei.Gu Lichen glanced indifferently at his best friend. "Did you come here to tell me that?""I just wanted to ask you to keep an eye on Qingyao. I'm afraid she'll get hot-headed and do something bad," said Ye Chongwei."You want me to keep an eye on her? Didn't you try to talk her out of it? Do you think I would spare her if I’ve been keeping an eye on her and I find out she did something she shouldn't have done?" Gu Lichen said coldly.Ye Chongwei laughed drily. "Since I told you to keep an eye on her, you'll minimize the damage as much as you can, of c
When the bus arrived at the bus stop and the door opened, Zhong Keke saw Gu Lichen standing there.He wore a white shirt with partial black stripes, black trousers, and leather shoes. He looked elegant and noble.He attracted attention like a prince in a fairy tale.Zhong Keke got off the bus and immediately felt everyone waiting for the bus looking in their direction."How long have you been waiting?" she asked in a mutter.Gu Lichen said, "Not too long. My car is parked nearby. Where do you want to eat tonight?""Why don't... we buy some ingredients from a nearby supermarket and go to my apartment for a simple hotpot?” she said. They had bought ingredients and cooked themselves before."Alright," said Gu Lichen.Therefore, they went to a nearby supermarket and started shopping for hotpot ingredients for the evening.However, Zhong Keke would look at Gu Lichen from time to time while shopping in the supermarket. When Gu Lichen looked at her, she immediately avoided him.'I c
"So that's what you wanted to ask." Gu Lichen suddenly understood.Zhong Keke nodded and immediately added, "Of course, it... it doesn't matter if you don't tell me. It doesn't matter at all..."She said as she lowered her head, not wanting him to see her embarrassed expression and flushed face."You changed out of your clothes yourself," said Gu Lichen."Myself?" Zhong Keke suddenly raised her head and stared at Gu Lichen in disbelief.He said, "Yes, but... it's not like I wasn’t involved. After I brought you home yesterday, you woke up and started yelling that the gown wasn't comfortable, so you tried to get it off. But the gown had a zipper at the back and you couldn't pull it down anymore after pulling a third of it. Then you insisted that I pull the zipper for you.""And then..." she asked in a mutter."And then?" Gu Lichen had a faint smile he did not even notice. When she started to strip herself out of the gown last night, he turned away and did not look at her.However
It was the first time he had been kissed while blindfolded. He could not see, but his other senses became sharper.Her scent, warmth, and nasally voice became very clear to him.He could not help being absorbed in the kiss. Zhong Keke's hand tugged off his tie and caressed his eyes when it was over."Lichen, you have such beautiful eyes. They're so beautiful! Do you know... I... I was drawn to them the first time I saw them on that rainy day.""Drawn?" he murmured."Yeah, drawn. I just thought... your eyes looked like they were going to cry. I... I didn’t want to see you cry. Such beautiful... eyes shouldn't be crying..." she said as she kissed his eyes.He shuddered. The woman had said not long ago that she would never make such intimate gestures unless he had fallen for her.However, she was so intimate with him after getting drunk.Instead of rejecting her, he was... expectant.'Expectant... What am I expecting? Am I expecting her to be more intimate with me?'"I'm not goi
"Do you think I'll ever take back what I’ve given away?" Gu Lichen asked rhetorically.Zhong Keke said, "Thank you for the gifts... then. By the way, the comic fiesta is next week. The magazine will be holding a small book signing for me. Will you be free to stop by after the book signing?""Comic fiesta?" he asked."The comic fiesta venue doesn't close until 10 o’clock, so we can take a look around until then. Of course, I'll just look around myself after the book signing if you're unavailable."She had often attended comic fiestas by herself. If Xinmian were free, she would take Xinmian with her.However... she wanted to check out the comic fiesta with him. It was as if she wanted him to get to know her hobbies, and it would be great if he liked them too."Okay, I understand. Let me know the specific time and address," said Gu Lichen.Zhong Keke instantly had a bright smile when she heard the news.He paused slightly when he saw her smile. 'When did I start to enjoy seeing he
If Lichen wanted to fall in love with anyone, it should be her. She looked like Ling Yiran the most!The next day, Ning Ranxue came to Zhong Keke's studio. After seeing Zhong Keke, she said, "Do you have a minute? There's something I wanted to talk to you about, Miss Zhong.""You..." Zhong Keke looked at her suspiciously. At first glance, she mistook her for Ling Yiran, but she could see their differences on closer inspection.Yiran was now pregnant and resting at home, but the woman in front of her was slim and had a flat belly."I'm Ning Ranxue, Lichen's secretary abroad. There's something about Lichen I wish to tell you. Don't you want to find out?" said Ning Ranxue.Zhong Keke frowned. 'She’s addressing Lichen by his first name. Is she close to Lichen?'Jealousy spread in her heart as she thought of it."No thanks, I'll ask Lichen myself if there's anything I want to know about him. I don't need others to tell me. Miss Ning, please leave if there's nothing else," said Zhong
Zhong Keke asked rhetorically, "So, are you smug because you look similar to Ling Yiran? It's not surprising that two people look similar, but you're even trying to copy her hairstyle and fashion sense. Are you trying to imitate her and become her substitute? Do you think Lichen would love a substitute?""So what if I'm a substitute? I love Lichen, and I don't mind being a substitute for him!" Ning Ranxue said."I’ll never want to be a substitute when I love someone. If you're a substitute, what's so great about getting temporary affection? You're only taking advantage! You're nothing when the real deal appears," Zhong Keke said bluntly.Ning Ranxue's expression became ghastly. She had wanted to embarrass Zhong Keke, but now it seemed like she was the embarrassed one."What do you know? Lichen loves Ling Yiran so much that he’ll never fall in love with anyone else! Do you know how hard Lichen cried and hugged me when he woke up in the middle of the night when we were abroad? Do you
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