The abandoned daughter of the Lu family turns around and marries a celibate tycoon.

Gu Yanshen shook his head almost imperceptibly.

Lu Xiran's heart sank.

As expected, Gu Yanxu still chose to run away.

In the garage, Gu Yanxu excused himself to go to the restroom halfway through, claiming he had a stomachache. She and Gu Yanshen waited for a while but he didn't come. Lu Xiran went upstairs first to stabilize the situation, while Gu Yanshen went back to look for him.

It now seems that the person really did run away.

Irresponsible playboys, spoiled brats who deserted their posts... those rumors and gossips now seem incredibly real and glaring.

For a fleeting moment, Lu Xiran almost agreed with Xin Rui's resolute decision—perhaps it would be better to have no father at all.

But she quickly suppressed the thought; now was not the time to act impulsively. She looked at Jin Qiqi, who was also looking at her with lingering tears and a silent plea in her eyes.

"Auntie," Lu Xiran turned to Xin Rui, her tone softening, "I know you care about Qiqi, afraid she'll suffer, afraid she'll go down the wrong path. But, after all, the child is inside Qiqi's body. Could you... give her some time to think things through before making a decision? She's an adult, with the right and the ability to take responsibility for her own body and life."

Xin Rui's polite smile vanished completely: "I'm her mother! I have an even greater responsibility to pull her back on the right track when she makes a mistake! This kind of foolish thing needs to be dealt with decisively!"

"Aunt……"

"Stop talking!" Xin Rui interrupted her sharply, reaching out to pull Jin Qiqi away. "This surgery has to be done today! Are we going to wait until her belly gets big and the whole of Haicheng will laugh at our Jin family?!"

Just then, Xue Jingyan came over with the doctor.

Xin Rui immediately went to greet her: "Dr. Lin, you've finally arrived! We had an appointment..."

"Mom!" Jin Qiqi abruptly shook off Xin Rui's outstretched hand, her voice trembling with a breakdown, "Can't you be reasonable?! This is my child!"

"You...you dare to talk back!" Xin Rui was furious and raised her hand to slap Jin Qiqi across the face!

"Auntie!" Lu Xiran exclaimed, instinctively turning to shield Jin Qixi behind her.

The raised wrist was firmly intercepted in mid-air by an even stronger hand.

Gu Yanshen had appeared beside Lu Xiran without her noticing, his tall figure exuding an invisible pressure. He didn't use force, but simply brushed Xin Rui's hand away, his voice calm yet carrying an undeniable authority: "Mrs. Jin, this is a hospital. Even if a pregnancy termination is necessary, it must be Qi Xi herself who voluntarily signs and confirms it. You have no right to decide for her."

Xue Jingyan immediately stepped forward and cooperated, saying, "Yes, Madam Jin. According to medical standards and legal regulations, the surgical consent form must be signed by the patient himself."

Xin Rui recognized Xue Jingyan; she knew he was the young master of this hospital. Her face turned pale as she glared at Gu Yanshen and Lu Xiran, then glanced at her daughter hiding behind them, tears streaming down her face, her chest heaving violently.

"Fine, very well!" she gritted her teeth, her gaze sweeping over the group that had formed a protective circle around her. "If Corning International won't do it, other hospitals will! Jin Qiqi, are you coming with me today or not?!"

Jin Qiqi peeked out from behind Lu Xiran, her face streaked with tears, and shook her head vigorously, her voice weak but clear: "No."

"Fine! You've got guts!" Xin Rui trembled with anger. "From today onwards, I'm canceling all the cards under your name! I'm changing the passwords for all the houses and cars! If you're so capable, then support yourself and take full responsibility for your 'precious' child!"

She glared at Gu Yanshen, who was blocking her way, one last time. Knowing that she couldn't take her daughter away today no matter what, she could only turn around and leave quickly, her back view showing determination, her high heels clapping in her shoes, filled with anger and disappointment.

After settling the emotionally distraught and physically and mentally exhausted Jin Qiqi in the guest room, preparing everything for her, and talking with her for a while, Lu Xiran returned to the master bedroom.

As soon as I pushed open the door, I was pulled inside by a force, my back pressed against the cool door panel, and then I fell into a warm and firm embrace.

"Uncle~" Lu Xiran kissed his chin, then reached for the pajamas hanging on the coat rack. "I'll... go sleep with Qiqi tonight? I'm worried about her sleeping alone."

Before he could finish speaking, the arms around her waist tightened abruptly, pulling her even closer into his embrace. Gu Yanshen lowered his head, his deep eyes fixed on her in the dim light of the wall lamp, his voice low and unyielding:

"no."

Lu Xiran raised her arms to hug his neck, softening her voice: "She suffered such a big blow today, she's in a bad mood. I just want to keep her company and talk to her, okay?"

"No." Those were the same two words, spoken with unwavering certainty.

"Uncle!" Lu Xiran pouted slightly, protesting with a hint of coquettishness.

Gu Yanshen didn't speak, but just looked at her with deep eyes, which were filled with the kind of obsessive possessiveness and unyielding insistence that she was familiar with.

This is his bottom line—his bed, his embrace, can only belong to her, and she can only belong here.

Lu Xiran knew she couldn't persuade him otherwise, so she sighed, leaned in and kissed him on the lips, softening her tone: "Please? Just for one night? I promise I'll sneak back as soon as she falls asleep."

Gu Yanshen remained silent as he looked at her, but the strength in his arm did not loosen in the slightest.

Lu Xiran gave in, holding up her index finger: "Then... I'll stay with her until she falls asleep, and then I'll definitely come back. Is that alright? You can't just let me watch her be so sad and do nothing."

Gu Yanshen gazed at her for a moment, finally relenting slightly, but his tone still carried an undeniable air of control: "At most, stay with her until she falls asleep. You must come back." He lowered his head, his forehead against hers, his voice low, carrying an almost commanding expectation, "I'll wait for you."

"Okay." Lu Xiran kissed him again as a way of comforting him. "Then you go to sleep first, don't wait up too late for me."

"I'll wait for you." He repeated, his tone resolute, leaving no room for negotiation.

Lu Xiran felt helpless yet soft-hearted, and gently broke free from his embrace.

During the two days Jin Qiqi stayed at his home, Gu Yanshen's daily routine was completely disrupted. Lu Xiran focused most of her attention on her depressed friend, talking to her, coaxing her to eat, and even... taking up his arms.

Every night, Lu Xiran would wait until Jin Qiqi was completely asleep before tiptoeing back to the master bedroom. By then, it was usually late at night, and she looked visibly exhausted, her eyelids drooping as soon as her head hit the pillow. Gu Yanshen would look at her utterly exhausted appearance, and even though the burning desire within him, fueled by longing and possessiveness, was simmering, he could only forcefully suppress it, unwilling to torment her any further.

But it was the same for two nights in a row.

That feeling of seeing and touching her, yet being unable to fully possess her, unable to confirm that her entire attention was on him, was slowly eroding Gu Yanshen's rationality. Her soft embrace was taken away, her focused gaze was occupied, and even his anticipation of going home was shrouded in a layer of gray. The restlessness and dissatisfaction within him, like suppressed magma, accumulated thicker and thicker, teetering on the verge of eruption.

Gu Yanshen knew that things couldn't continue like this.

"Have you found out where that bastard is?"

"Mist Shadow Manor".

Gu Yanshen's eyes suddenly turned cold. Wuying Manor, a famous top-tier private club in Haicheng, is known for its extreme luxury and absolute privacy. It is one of the favorite haunts for those playboys to gather and squander their money.

Without saying anything more, he grabbed his suit jacket draped over the back of the chair, turned around, and walked out.

Lin Chen followed, "...The party was hosted by Song Zhihe."