Chapter 79: Gu Yujing
Madam Gu took the peace talisman, and as she looked at her obedient and understanding younger daughter, the heaviness in her heart seemed to lessen. She took Gu Xueying’s hand and said, “Luckily, you’re such a sensible child, or I really wouldn’t know what to do.”
Gu Xueying comforted her, “Mom, I wish I were the one who was sick instead. I also hoped I could be a match for Big Brother’s transplant, but unfortunately…”
Madam Gu’s nose tingled with emotion. All along, besides her husband, the person she relied on the most was her eldest son. Now that something had happened to him, her heart ached deeply. She gently patted her daughter’s hand. “Silly child, don’t say things like that. You and your big brother are equally important to me. If someone had to be sick, why couldn’t it have been that disgraceful thing outside?”
Gu Xueying lowered her head to hide the subtle curve of her lips, then threw herself into her mother’s embrace, speaking with genuine emotion, “Sister is also your flesh and blood. I’m the outsider. You’ve raised me for so many years—I’d do anything for you.”
Madam Gu hugged her daughter, looking at this elegant child who maintained her grace even while crying. She fit perfectly into the image of an ideal daughter. Once again, Madam Gu couldn’t help but lament—why couldn’t Gu Xueying be her biological daughter?
At some point, Gu Shuangbai and Gu Yujing had appeared beside them. Gu Yujing coughed lightly and took the initiative to say, “Mom, there’s no need to rely on Xu Youyou. My match with Big Brother was successful—I’ll donate my bone marrow to him.”
The Gu children were named after wind, frost, rain, and snow. The eldest, Gu Fengchuan, was originally set to inherit the family business. The second, Gu Shuangbai, loved the spotlight and entered the entertainment industry. The third, Gu Yujing, was passionate about painting and had already gained fame as a genius artist.
These two brothers valued family immensely. Upon learning of their eldest brother’s illness, one canceled all his engagements, while the other returned from abroad, where he had been following his teacher for artistic inspiration, to be with their family.
Madam Gu immediately stopped her youngest son. “Your health has always been weak—how can you donate bone marrow to your big brother? You’re all my children; your sister’s match will surely be successful. You don’t need to worry about this.”
Gu Yujing coughed lightly and fell silent.
Instead, Second Brother Gu Shuangbai raged indignantly, “I’m in perfect health, but my match failed! Otherwise, we wouldn’t have to beg that wretched girl. She really is heartless! Mom, even if you didn’t raise her, pregnancy is exhausting, and you even had a difficult labor! Without you, she wouldn’t be here today. Now the Gu family is willing to take in this countryside girl, and she should be grateful!”
Madam Gu looked at her second son with deep emotion. “As long as you understand how hard it was for me, that’s enough.”
Gu Shuangbai launched into another tirade against Xu Youyou, speaking so fast he might as well have been rapping. In his version of events, her refusal to acknowledge her biological parents was a crime on par with murder and arson. As he scolded her, he also took time to reassure Gu Xueying.
“Xueying, I don’t care about ‘real’ or ‘fake’ daughters. You are my only sister.”
Gu Xueying had just returned a touched smile when she suddenly felt a burning gaze, as if someone was trying to burn a hole through her.
Unable to resist, she turned her head—and met Gu Yujing’s intense stare. In that moment, she felt an overwhelming heat in his eyes and quickly looked away, panicked.
Madam Gu didn’t notice her daughter’s reaction and simply said, “You’re all good children. Our family will get through this crisis together.”
Gu Shuangbai had someone bring in another bouquet of flowers and arranged them with Madam Gu.
When the bouquet was finished, he instructed the maids to send it to the hospital room. “Big Brother is sick, so his flowers should always be the freshest. Seeing that they’re from Mom will definitely make him happy.”
Madam Gu’s eyes grew misty again. She disliked the scent of disinfectant in hospital rooms, so she rarely visited, but she believed her eldest son would understand her intentions.
Surrounded by her children, Madam Gu’s mood improved. She even ate half a bowl more than usual at dinner, finally breaking out of her melancholic state.
As the “thoughtful daughter,” Gu Xueying spent extra time with her mother, only leaving after Madam Gu had fallen asleep. She then quietly returned to the second floor.
The Gu couple lived on the third floor, while their four children occupied the second. At this hour, the hallway lights were on, but the house was silent. Gu Xueying let out a small breath of relief and quickly entered her room.
But just as she stepped inside, the lights suddenly switched on.
Each of the Gu children’s bedrooms was a suite, complete with a small living room, study, and walk-in closet.
The light came from the small living room near the entrance.
Seeing the person sitting under the light, Gu Xueying froze, standing stiffly at the doorway, unable to move.
“You’re avoiding me?” Gu Yujing asked softly.
He was toying with a necklace in his hand—the very one Gu Xueying had casually tossed onto her desk earlier.
Gu Xueying hurried to explain, “Third Brother, you misunderstood! I’m not avoiding you. I just wanted to spend more time with Mom…”
Gu Yujing stood up, slowly approaching her. She wanted to step back, but the door behind her left her no escape.
An overwhelming pressure descended on her, making her mind race with ways to flee.
Gu Yujing placed one hand on the doorframe beside her, effectively caging her in.
Lowering his head, he whispered into her ear, “It really hurts me when my little sister avoids me.”
Gu Xueying trembled. “Third Brother, I—”
His left hand gently covered her lips. “Call me ‘Brother.’ Don’t call me ‘Third Brother.’”
Gu Xueying pressed her lips into a thin line, her face filled with silent resistance, as if enduring immense torment.
“You’ve grown up… and you have your own little secrets now,” Gu Yujing murmured. “But when you were younger, you always said you wanted to stay with me forever.”
Her heart pounded wildly, her eyes pleading desperately, fearing that anyone passing by might hear the conversation in her room.
“Why aren’t you wearing the necklace I gave you?”
As he spoke, he personally fastened the necklace around her neck.
His fingers lightly brushed against her pale, delicate skin. She shuddered, her eyes glistening with moisture.
“Brother…” she choked out.
Gu Yujing gently rubbed her throat with his thumb. “You really want to stay in the Gu family, don’t you? I saw everything.”
Gu Xueying’s pupils constricted. She stared at him in disbelief, her mind in turmoil—how much had he seen?
A faint scent of sandalwood drifted from him. He seemed calm on the surface, but his eyes held a brewing storm. His right hand suddenly closed around her throat, firm yet gentle, his voice as soft as a lover’s whisper.
“You knew you weren’t really part of this family for a long time, didn’t you? So… you deliberately seduced me?”
