Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Gu Jingze looked at Lin Che. She gazed at him seriously and her expression was so grave for the first time.

Gu Jingze said, “You’re saying that you don’t want me to continue doing this with you…”

Lin Che also looked at him and plainly said, “That’s right. I think this is completely different from what we agreed on in the beginning. We should keep a certain distance from each other. Doing this now puts me in a pinch.”

Gu Jingze looked deeply into her eyes as if he wanted to capture the slightest hint of emotion in them that could explain why.

However, if she wanted to follow their agreement, what else could he do?

He gently let go of her hands and turned away. His stiff posture looked even darker under the glow of the fireworks.

He also suddenly became quiet.

After a long time, he finally spoke, “If you’ve already made this decision, then I will respect it.”

Lin Che heard his answer and felt relief in her heart. At the same time, there was an indescribable pain.

But there was no future for them. If they continued this way, it would make her feel disgusted.

Thinking about how he was still keeping in contact with Mo Huiling while being with her, she somehow couldn’t accept it.

It was New Year’s Eve. The distant sky was filled with an enchanting red color. The two of them sat at the verandah in silence and listened to the countdown behind.

When they returned to the room, Gu Jingze took the initiative to take his blanket and head out. Lin Che didn’t bother about him and leaned on the bed. She heard him making his bed on the floor outside but didn’t pay attention to him.

Lying down, there were still sounds of firecrackers but it was already a lot quieter.

Lin Che hugged her blanket and heard Gu Jingze soon fell asleep. There was no movement outside.

He was usually a quiet sleeper but he seemed to be much quieter today.

Maybe she was being too sensitive. In any case, she hugged her blanket and smiled gloomily. She didn’t think that he would agree so readily.

It looked like his heart was still certain that they would divorce sooner or later. That was why he logically agreed with her thinking.

But why did he agree? She began to feel uncomfortable as if something was touching her small heart. There was a pulsating pain.

Lin Che smiled bitterly and thought, Did her heart really have such a glimmer of hope? Did she really think that he wanted to spend a lifetime with her?

Actually, being able to meet such an outstanding man and interact with him for a few years was already her good fortune. How could she still be so hopeful?

She was with him for so long that her heart actually had such unrealistic dreams.

This man… It was better to keep a distance from him.

Thinking about it, Lin Che blurrily fell asleep.

The next day.

Gu Jingze left early in the morning and didn’t care about Lin Che.

Lin Che went out and Mu Wanqing was puzzled, “It’s the first day of the New Year. How come Jingze went to work when he should be keeping you company?”

Lin Che said, “Hm, I thought his work was very busy. Wasn’t he like this in the past?”

“That’s true. He didn’t care that much about these festivities in the past but he has you this year. I thought he wouldn’t go.”

“Oh,” Lin Che replied. “It’s only right to be serious with work. I should understand and support him.”

Mu Wanqing looked at Lin Che empathetically, “I’ll talk to him next time. There’s no use working so hard.”

Lin Che and Mu Wanqing walked out together and got ready to drink some tea in front.

Lin Che said, “Oh right, Mr. President and Gu Jingyu… didn’t come back this time?”

Mu Wanqing said, “Jingming said that he would come back but something cropped up that he had to tend to. Jingyu… Sigh, it’s okay if he doesn’t want to come back. I know he doesn’t want to see me.”

Lin Che looked at Mu Wanqing strangely, “Mom, why do you say that? I worked with Senior Jingyu many times. He probably does want to see you. He may be stubborn but he is still good at heart.”

Mu Wanqing sighed, “It was wrong of me as well that year, I know that. I know none of my children are bad. He is a good kid. It’s just that these three brothers all have different characters but they are all stubborn people.”

Lin Che said, “I know I shouldn’t be asking all these, but… I’m very familiar with Senior Jingyu, so I really don’t understand what exactly happened that made him not come back anymore.”

Mu Wanqing said, “That year… when he was still in school, he had a girlfriend. When they were in school together, they got along very well. That girl initiated the chase and from what I heard, her family background wasn’t good. However, that wasn’t a big deal. We judge the person by how good they are, not their families. But I found out that the girl got close to Jingyu on purpose because she wanted money. How could I agree to that? I couldn’t watch Jingyu get cheated. That time, while they were still young and ignorant… I separated them. I sent the girl away with two million dollars. If it really wasn’t for money, she would have chosen to be with Jingyu. How could she just take the two million and leave? She definitely would have rejected it, but she readily took it.”

Lin Che thought, There was such a thing? Seriously…

Lin Che looked at Mu Wanqing, “Then, wasn’t Senior Jingyu very sad?”

“Of course he was, but at least he wasn’t cheated any further. What if he only realized that she was after money after a few years? That would have been even worse. However, he never came back home after that. He even rebelled, went to learn acting, and became a star. Otherwise, he would have been helping Jingze out at home. Then, Jingze wouldn’t be so busy that he doesn’t have time for you. He’s working so hard that even my heart aches for him. Sigh.”

Lin Che smiled awkwardly. Mu Wanqing tugged Lin Che’s hand and felt that it was cold. She quickly told her to go back into the house.

Lin Che looked at Mu Wanqing and gratefully said, “Thanks for telling me all of these, Mom. I know Mom wouldn’t say all these to anybody.”

“Yes, but you’re not an outsider. You’re my daughter-in-law and a daughter of the family. I can only pour my heart out to you.”

Lin Che’s throat choked. She felt that she really couldn’t bear to tell her that her marriage with Gu Jingze was only contractual.

She could only carry her guilt and hold onto Mu Wanqing’s hand tightly.

Mu Wanqing even wanted her to have a child one day but she didn’t know that it was forever impossible between her and Gu Jingze.

Because Gu Jingze knew what he wanted and he already agreed logically to never touch her again.

They were going to be formal with each other. How could they have a child…

Over at the office, the atmosphere was so dull that everyone on the high floors was breaking out in cold sweat.