An Mingji’s handsome face, almost enchanting, appeared both unfamiliar and familiar in Gu Jin’s eyes.

Even now, he looked gentle and harmless on the surface, but Gu Jin was aware of the changes in his eyes.

Once enchanting and charming, they still stirred the heart, but the depth of those eyes now carried a light borne from witnessing bloodshed and undergoing the baptism of slaughter.

In the video, An Mingji took off his glasses, his deep eyes fixed on Gu Jin, unwilling to look away even for a moment.

Gu Jin’s hair was still wet, dressed in comfortable loungewear, appearing lazy and casual, yet her eyebrows and eyes held a rich, unshakeable sadness.

Seeing this, An Mingji’s smile faded slightly: "A Jin, what’s wrong?"

What’s wrong?

She certainly couldn’t tell Little An that seeing him so close with Linda, the woman who had just appeared in the video, made her feel a bit off and emotionally uneasy.

Gu Jin adjusted her facial expression, slowly curving her lips: "Recently, there’s been too much company work, feeling a bit tired."

Upon hearing this, An Mingji’s face darkened with clear displeasure: "What about Jiajie? Isn’t he planning to make an appearance?"

Ever since Minmin’s incident, Gu Jiajie rarely went to the company, unless necessary.

Recalling the call she made to her cousin earlier, Gu Jin pressed her fingertips to her brow.

"I don’t know, a few days ago when I contacted Jiajie, he said he was with Qianghai in Nanmian and wasn’t sure when he’d be back."

Since Minmin’s incident, Qiu Qianghai had spent most of the year in Nanmian.

He planted a vast stretch of Knotweed Flowers at the scene of Minmin’s accident and built several houses beside the flower sea.

Gu Jin hadn’t seen Qianghai in a long time.

Looking at her weary face, An Mingji felt a pang of sympathy: "Delegate some of your work to others, the company didn’t hire them for nothing."

"I know, don’t worry about me, but your face seems pale, haven’t rested well lately?"

Gu Jin also looked up, only then noticing that An Mingji’s complexion wasn’t looking good.

He chuckled softly: "There have been quite a few matters these days, bothered by some old fogies."

Gu Jin guessed it probably involved the Royal Family members, she wanted to say something but saw Linda appear in the video again.

She inadvertently touched An Mingji’s left arm, the young man looked up at her quietly.

Linda stepped back two steps, Gu Jin couldn’t see her expression, but noticed An Mingji gently shaking his head at her. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

This interaction registered in Gu Jin’s eyes, the words on her lips took a turn.

"No need to harm yourself over them, look at your dark circles, rest early, I’m feeling sleepy too."

She stretched her hand to cover her mouth, yawning aptly.

Far away in Italy, in the shadowy study of the Darwin Family’s estate, sitting in front of the computer, An Mingji clearly saw the tear glint in Gu Jin’s eyes.

The hoarseness in his voice: "Go, rest early."

"Okay, good night."

"Good night—"

The moment the video call ended, the weariness in Gu Jin’s eyes vanished completely.

She leaned lazily on the chair, staring at the computer screen, suddenly remembering that An Mingji’s birthday had passed, he was nineteen now.

Already a man, no longer the naive boy from school days, at the age of interest in women.

Recalling the brief intimacy seen in the video, Gu Jin felt a choking sensation in her heart, indescribably complex and bitter.

This feeling was like the person she wholeheartedly protected was unknowingly taken away by someone else.