Gu Mingzhu followed him out of the car, still feeling anxious. She wanted to ask why he and Ding Ning broke up but didn’t dare to. She had always been afraid of Gu Changqing.

Gu Changqing glanced at her and walked straight ahead, with Gu Mingzhu following behind. The servants at home saw Gu Changqing return and immediately approached, "Sir, you’re back. Would you like some supper?"

It was nighttime, and the servant hadn’t noticed immediately, assuming Gu Mingzhu was Ding Ning and added, "Miss Ding, would you like a portion too?"

Gu Changqing shifted slightly, "This is Mingzhu, my sister."

The servant was stunned for a moment and immediately apologized.

Gu Mingzhu shook her head, "It’s okay."

In the past, she would have thrown a tantrum, but now she knew her place. The days of being a princess were over. Seeing her so agreeable, the servant, who had a favorable impression, was about to make supper when Gu Changqing stopped her, "We’ve already eaten."

The servant was surprised, then smelled the alcohol on Gu Mingzhu and didn’t dare ask further, silently brewing a cup of hangover tea and placing it on the table.

Gu Changqing’s slender fingers rubbed his forehead as he leaned on the sofa, quietly watching Gu Mingzhu.

Once she had drunk enough, he said, "Take these two days to rest. In a few days, go back to Beicheng University to continue your studies."

Gu Mingzhu was momentarily stunned, then a mist of tears rose in her eyes as she softly agreed.

Gu Changqing exhaled a long breath, "There are two aunties here who can take care of the daily chores. Later, I’ll have someone bring your luggage over, or you can take someone to pack it yourself. That place isn’t suitable to live in anymore."

With each sentence he spoke, Gu Mingzhu nodded. After a long while, she carefully asked, "Brother, aren’t you living here?"

Gu Changqing patted his pants and replied indifferently, "Sometimes here, sometimes in the apartment."

He added, "I’ll be staying here for a while."

In fact, when he was with Ding Ning, he lived in the apartment, but now that they had broken up, he didn’t go there often.

Gu Mingzhu didn’t ask further questions, just quietly drank the hangover tea. She was actually already sober but knew she had to be well-behaved here. She had heard that Gu Anxi was particularly obedient in Si Garden and was much favored by the elders. If she behaved well, maybe she wouldn’t be disliked or kicked out.

Moreover, she felt a sense of security because she was with Gu Changqing.

Especially since they had never been this close before.

Her heart particularly yearned for closeness as Gu Changqing stood up, "I’ll show you to your bedroom upstairs."

Gu Mingzhu immediately put down the cup and stood up. Gu Changqing quietly looked at her, "No need to be so restrained."

After speaking, he headed upstairs, and Gu Mingzhu immediately followed.

Upon reaching the second floor, he opened a room on the west side, "You’ll stay here from now on."

Gu Mingzhu looked in and saw it was a girl’s room, very well-decorated, just the way she liked it.

For a moment, she choked up, "Brother, don’t treat me so well."

"It’s no trouble at all," Gu Changqing said in a light tone, "In fact, the one who’s truly good to you is Anxi."

Gu Mingzhu kept her head low and remained silent.

Gu Changqing continued in the same light manner, "You wouldn’t have thought Min Xin could make her do something with just a check, right? Tens of millions don’t matter to her. Maybe she wanted to see you drunk or laugh at you, but she finds it hard to be ruthless."

He casually added, "I have no other requirements, just one thing: you’re not allowed to do anything to Anxi anymore, or I won’t care about you."

Gu Mingzhu paused, feeling incredibly wronged, wanting to defend herself but ultimately just whispered, "I understand."

Times have changed, and this sentence said it all.

Seeing her like this, Gu Changqing felt a bit softened.

He had watched her grow up, and although he hadn’t liked her since she was young, he understood her to some extent. Being spoiled, she was always out of line, unlike now, subdued and humble, lowering herself.

However, this was a good thing.

What they feared was her not knowing her place!

After settling her in, Gu Changqing realized she didn’t have any sleepwear, so he returned to his room to look for a moment and found an unworn piece of feminine sleepwear. It was one of several Ding Ning had bought last time before they broke up, without a chance to show him.

She had suggested the breakup.

Her reason was simply not wanting to be together anymore.

Gu Changqing didn’t agree immediately but remained calm for a month. She didn’t relent, so things between them ended unresolved, and even now, he didn’t know what dissatisfaction she had with him.

Holding the sleepwear, Gu Changqing stood for a moment before heading to the guest room.

Gu Mingzhu was silly fiddling with the furniture; it was exactly like what she used to have at the Gu family, very expensive. Now living in such a large villa, instead of feeling vain, she felt like crying.

She once was very happy, wasn’t she?

So much so that Gu Anxi scolded her, saying she had nothing to do with Madam Tang because the one who got abandoned wasn’t Gu Mingzhu but her, Gu Anxi.

Gu Changqing pushed open the partially closed door, quietly observing Gu Mingzhu without disturbing her.

Perhaps, after a hard ordeal, she finally had some clarity.

When Gu Mingzhu turned her head, she saw Gu Changqing standing there, her eyes filled with uncontained tears.

Gu Changqing still didn’t move, just standing there.

"Brother." Gu Mingzhu bit her lip, her voice trembling, "Am I very unlikeable?"

"Hmm."

Tears filled her eyes even more, and after a long while, she hoarsely asked, "Then why do you and Dad still care for me?"

"Not worth dying over! Dad doesn’t want to waste the Gu family’s resources used to raise you over the years." Gu Changqing faintly smiled.

Gu Mingzhu walked over, took the sleepwear from his hand, and with her head down said, "You and Gu Anxi are sharp-tongued, so you must share the same father."

But she didn’t; she was Ming Xin’s child. She used to feel incredibly proud, wanting to break away from the Gu family to become Ming Xin’s daughter, but now... she had never wanted as much as she did now, to be Gu Yuanshan’s daughter.

If only everything could go back, if it were just a dream. Waking up to find Gu Anxi had returned, not targeting her, and she could have whatever she wanted, then maybe her mother wouldn’t have died. Then she might have always lived with the Gu family...

Suddenly, Gu Mingzhu threw herself into Gu Changqing’s arms, wailing, "Brother..."

Being held by her like this, Gu Changqing felt uncomfortable.

He never liked her, and still didn’t. He always preferred that small bundle when Anxi was just a few days old. But he knew that Mingzhu had always liked clinging to him, always looking at him with adoring eyes, hoping for just a glance from him...

But he never did; he never paid her any mind.

He sighed, feeling pity for her now.

He endured her embrace for a while, waiting until she finished crying, before finally speaking, "Enough, go to sleep."

For some reason, he added, "I won’t abandon you in the future."

Gu Mingzhu knew she could never hold the same weight as Gu Anxi, but she dared not ask for more, just... a little bit was enough.

Seeing her like this, Gu Changqing remembered a message from Anxi.

Gu Mingzhu these days was a bit of a masochist, maybe... just a little...

He chuckled and walked out.

Back in his own room, he couldn’t fall asleep again, inevitably thinking of someone.