Gu Changqing didn’t drink alcohol, but at this moment felt like having a couple of drinks. He walked to the liquor cabinet, pulled out a bottle of wine, and casually picked a glass to pour himself a drink.

Holding the glass, he walked to the balcony, placed the glass on a side table, and lit a cigarette.

For a moment, he puffed smoke rings and quietly gazed at the nighttime scene outside, feeling a rare sense of confusion.

He couldn’t deny that life had been good; his mother’s issues were long behind him, Anxi had returned to him well, logically he should have no regrets in life. But still, separating from Ding Ning left him feeling somewhat empty.

Even he couldn’t tell, as it was initially just a marriage of convenience without emotions discussed.

Moreover, even now, he didn’t know what she was dissatisfied with—was it simply because he hadn’t given her everything like other men would? And what indeed was ’everything’?

In Gu Changqing’s view, loyalty was indeed everything.

He took a long drag on his cigarette, looked into the distance... Late into the night, after finishing the glass of red wine and smoking half a pack of cigarettes, he returned to the bedroom to sleep.

Early the next morning, Gu Mingzhu woke up even earlier; she had already changed, brushed her teeth, washed her face. It must be said, in this regard, she was better than Gu Anxi who, if drunk, wouldn’t get up until noon.

Gu Mingzhu held a nightgown in her hand, knocked, and came in while Gu Changqing was in the bathroom shaving. Hearing the sound, he invited her in, and Gu Mingzhu entered, her expression slightly apprehensive: "Brother, is this Ding Ning’s nightgown? I should bring it over anyway."

She had gotten up early to wash it, and even dried it.

Gu Changqing was somewhat surprised, initially wanted to say not to bother, but then felt it troublesome. Besides, this nightgown seemed unsuitable for Mingzhu, so he spoke calmly, "Just put it on the sofa; I’ll come down for breakfast shortly."

Gu Mingzhu nodded obediently, saying sweetly, "Then, brother, I’ll go down first." 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

Turning to leave, Gu Changqing called out to her, "Mingzhu."

She turned, looking slightly uneasy, "Brother?"

Gu Changqing walked over with his electric shaver until he stood directly in front of her, speaking softly, "Mingzhu, you don’t need to deliberately try to please me like this; just be like before."

Gu Mingzhu hadn’t expected him to say this, feeling slightly awkward for a moment.

Gu Changqing continued shaving, speaking gently, "Go down and have breakfast first."

Gu Mingzhu nodded and left, though she was still somewhat afraid of him.

After she left, Gu Changqing’s gaze fell on the nightgown, staring at it for a long time. Originally, it should have been dealt with, but then he thought it over and didn’t. He turned, heading back to the bathroom to focus on tidying up...

At nine in the morning.

Gu Mingzhu returned to her place to pack things, and Gu Changqing had business to attend to, so he drove her over. They had not long left when Ding Ning arrived; she was also nearby for errands and remembered she had some things left there, so she came to retrieve them.

The servants at home saw her and were slightly surprised, "Miss Ding, you’re here?"

They knew that the gentleman and Miss Ding had split, yet didn’t know the reason—Miss Ding was quite nice and competent, a strong woman; what could the gentleman be dissatisfied with?

Ding Ning nodded, "I have some things to take away."

After all, being a well-mannered lady from a notable family, she paused and asked, "Do I need to check upstairs?"

The servants always respected her and wouldn’t dare monitor her, quickly saying, "No need, no need, if Miss Ding doesn’t trust us, then no one can be trusted."

Smiling lightly, Ding Ning headed upstairs.

She, in total, had been here only three or four times. Gu Changqing had planned to move here after all, considering their jobs were busy, and the apartment didn’t have anyone to cook; once feelings stabilized, they wanted to live a more homely life, yet she didn’t know why she made decisions so quickly or why it was so hard to maintain.

Not one for melodrama, when it was time to let go, she did; he said nothing, so that’s how it was.

Reaching out to push the door open, she went to the dressing room to pack her clothes. Planning to stay, she had left quite a number of clothes here and naturally had to take them away, and as Gu Changqing hadn’t contacted her, she had to come herself.

Tugging the suitcase, about to leave, her gaze fell on an armrest by the window.

On the imported Italian sofa, a woman’s silk nightgown lay draped over the back—the nightgown... she recognized it as one she bought but never wore, yet now... was someone wearing it?

Ding Ning silently stared at it for a minute or so, her eyes nearly tearing from the look, when the sound of hesitant footsteps came from the door, "Miss Ding, do you need help with your luggage? It looks quite heavy."

Ding Ning shook her head, "No need."

Her gaze still lingered on the nightgown before moving away, quietly heading downstairs.

The servant also saw the nightgown and quickly asked, "Miss Ding, is that nightgown yours? Do you want to take it? It seems quite expensive."

Ding Ning didn’t look back, "It’s not mine."

The servant sighed, slightly puzzled, if it wasn’t Miss Ding’s, whose could it be? The gentleman hadn’t brought other women home.

In that brief moment, Ding Ning had already gone downstairs, placed her luggage at the back of the car.

The servant hurried over, "Miss Ding, are you leaving?"

Ding Ning was already seated in the car, fastening her seatbelt, speaking calmly, "Don’t specifically inform Gu Changqing that I was here."