Rebirth! The Assassin's Revenge-Chapter 289: Liking Her

Facing Gu Ningyue’s question, Ling Tianyou just reached out to twirl a lock of her hair, slowly winding it around his fingertip: "If I said yes, would you be sad?"

He had realized early on that he liked Gu Ningyue, and over the months they’ve lived together, this feeling grew stronger.

However, this girl seemed to carry many secrets, and he wasn’t necessarily the one she had to firmly choose.

Even though she said she liked him, and he was happy about it, if the time apart was too long, he couldn’t help but start to doubt.

Did she really like him? Or was it... just simple dependence.

If it was the latter, would he perhaps... let go?

Gu Ningyue nodded without hesitation, "Of course I’d be sad, not just sad, I’d be angry too."

Ling Tianyou was first delighted, then puzzled: "Why angry? Because I’ve known Chen Rui for many years?"

Gu Ningyue shook her head, looking at him with a faint smile: "Everyone has a past, but when you met me, you were still waiting for her. No matter the reason, my appearance changed your original intention. No wonder Chen Rui hates me so much; I see the reason now."

Ling Tianyou smiled faintly: "Unfortunately, I wasn’t waiting for her. These years I’ve been alone only because I hadn’t met someone I truly liked. Stop overthinking things!"

Gu Ningyue was stunned, "I’m not, I’ve just heard too many rumors and had some doubts about your relationship with her!"

Moreover, why could Ling Tianyou care about her relationship with Master and Lin Ruixian, but she couldn’t doubt his relationship with Chen Rui?

At least, Master and Lin Ruixian hadn’t repeatedly tried to disrupt her relationship with Ling Tianyou, right?

Chen Rui had done so more than once.

Ling Tianyou recalled the argument that had happened in the villa last time. Although there was still some lingering awkwardness, this time he didn’t continue to speak, only slowly saying: "Chen Rui and I are just friends. It’s just that some matters are unfinished, so there’s been some contact. Once these matters are settled, we won’t be in contact anymore."

Gu Ningyue couldn’t help but coldly laugh, "You sound like you’re fooling a three-year-old. The Chen Family and Ling Family are old acquaintances, even closer than the Chi Family in business. Would you be willing to give up such a major business partner and only do business with others? Furthermore, considering the relationship between the elders of the Ling and Chen families, even if you wanted to sever the ties, it wouldn’t be possible to cut off contact completely, would it?"

Especially with Chen Rui still having feelings for Ling Tianyou, even if her love experience is empty, she’s not blind!

That blatant provocation and everything since her return, it couldn’t be more obvious.

Except for Ling Tianyou, probably anyone could see it!

"Business can be done with anyone; I’m already developing other long-term partners." Ling Tianyou furrowed his brow, "Moreover, in your eyes, am I that useless? When my grandfather’s generation cooperated with the Chen Family, both families had nothing. The Ling Family today only gets fifteen percent of its revenue from partner collaborations! A business needs to rely on its own strength, I’ve understood that for a long time. So, since I took over the Ling Family, partners are carefully chosen, but none are indispensable!"

If he lacked even this courage, he wouldn’t be fit to be the president of the Ling Family.

While his grandfather was still alive, he repeatedly told his father that these old ties were easy to remember, but business should not over-rely on them.

Otherwise, over time, they would be tightly constrained.

Ling Tianyou remembered this deeply, but when he took over the Ling Family, the situation was already set.

He spent years of effort to barely shift the balance.

But he didn’t expect, at this point, for Chen Rui to return home.

Her appearance was undeniably a surprise.

Because the day she left, he clearly heard her say to him: "I will never return here; from now on, our paths will never cross again!"

She was exceptionally firm in saying this, just like every decision she made.

He thought Chen Rui would truly never return.

But this time, Chen Rui overturned her promise and went back on her word.

For him, it was nothing short of a sudden thunderbolt on a clear day.

"If that’s really the case, that would be best!" Gu Ningyue didn’t ask what those matters were that he referred to, just yawned and said: "But I can imagine Ling Old Man’s hysterical reaction when you cut ties with the Chen Family! By then, just don’t implicate me."

Chen Rui liked Ling Tianyou, and Ling Tianyou cut ties in return. It’s probably all because of her, in Ling Chengyang’s mind, right?

Oh, when that burden falls on her, it’ll be too miserable!

As for Ling Tianyou mentioning ’those matters’ each time, Gu Ningyue wasn’t much interested.

There’s enough to worry about on the business battlefield, just listening to it gives her a headache.

So it’s better to let it slide.

Seeing her getting sleepy, Ling Tianyou lowered his arm and lay down flat, "Don’t worry, I won’t let you bear that burden."

Even if it was truly for her, Ling Tianyou didn’t want her to endure his wrath.

All he wanted was for her to be happy.

And of course, most importantly—for her to be safe!

"Mm, sleep!" Perhaps their conversation made Gu Ningyue gradually relax, she closed her eyes and mumbled: "Ten-dollar chat is over, time to sleep!"

Ling Tianyou responded in the darkness and said no more.

Not long after, he followed Gu Ningyue into the world of dreams.

When the first ray of morning light streaked into the room, Gu Ningyue slowly opened her eyes.

She was resting on Ling Tianyou’s arm, lying in his embrace in an exceedingly intimate position.

Ready to change her position to slide out of his embrace, but not sure if she moved too much, Ling Tianyou spoke first before opening his eyes: "Awake?"

Without the daily sternness, his voice was lazy, like a small paw, tickling his heart.

"Mm." Gu Ningyue replied softly, attempting to slowly sit up: "It’s daylight, I need to change my dressing."

Ling Tianyou laughed lightly with his eyes closed, reaching out to pull her back into his arms: "Sleep a bit longer, it’s still early!"

Gu Ningyue glanced at the clock on the wall, it was five-thirty in the morning, indeed still a bit early.

But being forcibly pulled back into Ling Tianyou’s arms made Gu Ningyue’s face flush a little.

She wanted to say something, but listening to the rhythmic heartbeat from Ling Tianyou’s chest, like being hypnotized again, she soon drifted back into her dreams.