Gu Chusheng was jolted by the shout, his gaze slowly returning to Wei Yun's face. Items were scattered across the floor, and when he spotted the hairpin, he reached out to grab it.
Wei Yun pressed his face into the ground with a loud "thud," his voice icy. "Are you mute?"
"Lord Gu, whatever the Marquis asks, just answer him."
Hearing Wei Yun's words, Wei Xia knew things were bad. Wei Yun's temper was never mild—if he was shouting, he was angry. But if his voice turned cold, it meant he harbored killing intent. So Wei Xia quickly stepped in to mediate, certain that if Gu Chusheng said anything else offensive, Wei Yun would tear out his tongue.
Listening to Wei Xia, the confusion in Gu Chusheng's eyes gradually faded, replaced by calm. He met Wei Yun's gaze steadily. "Let me go first."
Wei Yun stared at him, and Gu Chusheng didn't back down. After a long moment, Wei Yun slowly released him. Gu Chusheng struggled to sit up, reaching again for the hairpin.
It was a wooden hairpin inlaid with red agate—anyone familiar with Chu Yu would recognize it as her favorite before she turned fifteen.
On the night Chu Yu resolved to elope with Gu Chusheng, she had sent this hairpin to the Gu residence as a token. Gu Chusheng had it returned overnight, but Chu Yu refused to take it back, so he threw it into the courtyard pond.
When the Gu Chusheng who had lived a lifetime returned, he searched the pond for a long time before finally retrieving it. He had thought it would be a token of a fresh start with Chu Yu, the first gift she ever gave him. Only now did he realize it might also be the last.
Wiping away the blood from Wei Yun's blows, he clutched the hairpin, carefully cleaning it with a handkerchief.
Wei Yun noticed the hairpin. Gu Chusheng's expression was too tender, laced with an indescribable bitterness that made him seem pitiable.
Wei Yun's anger slowly subsided. Gu Chusheng tucked the hairpin close to his chest before looking up at Wei Yun. "Is she... alright?"
"Not well."
Wei Yun's voice was frigid. "I've never seen my sister-in-law so heartbroken."
Gu Chusheng gave a bitter smile.
He understood Chu Yu's sorrow. Anyone who had lived through such a lifetime would feel the same.
He didn't even know how he could have been so despicable back then. Ultimately, human nature has a vile tendency to keep pushing boundaries. Being good to someone is like lending money—lend a hundred coppers, and the other person remembers it for a long time; lend a hundred gold, and it becomes routine, something they think you owe them. Stop giving, and resentment festers.
Chu Yu had been too good to him, so good he grew accustomed to it. In the end, he took her kindness for granted, thinking it required no special attention.
Looking back now, who in this world owes anyone anything? Kindness is a gift, not an obligation. To trample on someone's kindness as if it were duty—that made him worse than a beast. Even a dog knows gratitude when fed. How could a man not?
Gu Chusheng took a deep breath and met Wei Yun's gaze. "I told the Madam some things about the past."
Wei Yun said nothing, kneeling opposite him with eyes like blades."However, this matter is settled now. Please rest assured, Marquis." Gu Chusheng smiled bitterly. "From now on, I won't trouble the Madam anymore."
Until the day he had atoned for his sins.
"Why was she crying?"
Having gotten the answer he sought, Wei Yun asked about what concerned him most. Gu Chusheng remained silent, lowering his gaze. After a long pause, he finally said, "I failed her."
As soon as the words left his mouth, Wei Yun's Sleeve Blade suddenly embedded itself into the wall behind Gu Chusheng. Wei Yun leaned down to glare at him, his eyes filled with warning.
The blade's wind cut Gu Chusheng's cheek, drawing blood, yet he didn't move an inch—not even lifting his eyelids—as if life and death no longer mattered to him here.
"Since you're gone, don't come back," Wei Yun said coldly, ignoring his death-seeking demeanor. "Otherwise, I'll make you regret ever being born."
With that, Wei Yun withdrew his Sleeve Blade and turned to leave.
Gu Chusheng held the warm teacup, closed his eyes, and let out a soft sigh.
Chu Yu slept fitfully through the night and didn't wake until the sun was high the next morning. She clutched her head, still throbbing from the hangover.
Wanyue brought over a special Hangover Cure Soup and, seeing Chu Yu holding her head, chuckled. "Headache?"
Chu Yu looked up at Wanyue's cheerful face and groaned. "Yeah... I haven't felt like this in ages. My alcohol tolerance isn't this bad, is it?"
"Perhaps the wine at the princess's residence was particularly strong."
Wanyue handed her the bowl of medicine. Chu Yu frowned at the dark liquid. "What's this?"
"Young Master Wei knew you'd wake up with a headache, so he specially prepared this for you. You should drink it and get up—he's been waiting for you for quite a while."
"Why is he waiting for me?"
Chu Yu gulped down the medicine. She usually disliked bitter remedies, but today's Hangover Cure Soup had a sweet aftertaste, making it surprisingly pleasant. Wei Yun must have added something to improve the flavor.
Wanyue took the empty bowl from her, barely suppressing a grin. "Young Master Wei said he prepared a grand gift for you. He brought it over early this morning, but since you were still asleep, he took it back. After reviewing some documents, he came again."
This only piqued Chu Yu's curiosity further. After freshening up, she stepped out into the courtyard.
Yesterday's heavy rain had cleared the skies, leaving behind crisp, sunny weather. It was already noon, and the sunlight was warm. Wei Yun, dressed in white, crouched with his back to her, muttering to someone—or something.
As Chu Yu approached, she finally caught his words: "Hey—don't run! I said don't run! Damn it, don't crawl into my pants—hey, hey! Don't hide under the tree roots!"
Curious, Chu Yu walked up behind him, tapped his shoulder, and crouched beside him. "What are you doing here?"
Just then, something furry brushed against her legs beneath her skirt. Startled, she jumped to her feet. When she looked down, she was met with a pair of big, watery eyes—a tiny white kitten, no more than two months old, sitting innocently on the ground. Instantly, Chu Yu was utterly defenseless.She crouched down and immediately saw another black kitten dart out from the other side of Wei Yun, overjoyed and seemingly fearless.
Chu Yu had always adored kittens, and now with two little ones by her side, she was practically green with envy.
Petting the kitten’s head, she lowered her gaze and smiled. “How did you suddenly get so many kittens?”
“Last time, sister-in-law said you wanted to raise five cats in the future.” Wei Yun scooped up the other three—orange, gray, and calico—from the side. Each of the five kittens had a different coat color, all just weaned and utterly adorable. The moment they touched the ground, they tried to scamper away. Keeping them all within a confined space was already a struggle for Wei Yun. Trying to line them up neatly for Chu Yu to admire? That was pure wishful thinking.
Chu Yu crouched beside Wei Yun, watching as he grabbed one kitten, then another. She gazed at him with amusement, thinking how boyish he still was.
“I say I want cats, and you just get me cats?” Chu Yu propped her chin on her hand, teasing him. “What about my other requests? Do you remember those?”
Unexpectedly, Wei Yun nodded earnestly. “I remember.”
Chu Yu was slightly taken aback. His hand still rested on one kitten, but his eyes were fixed on her face, as if making a solemn vow. There wasn’t a trace of insincerity in his voice as he said, “Everything sister-in-law wants, I’ve kept in mind. One day, Xiao Qi will be able to give you everything you desire.”
“Here, sister-in-law.” This time, Wei Yun had learned his lesson. He finally managed to gather all five kittens, cradling them against his chest with his arms, their tiny paws sticking out above. The kittens mewled and squirmed as he held them out toward Chu Yu, finally giving her a proper chance to admire them. Wei Yun lifted one white kitten’s paw, revealing its pink toe beans, and grinned. “I picked all these cats myself. Do you like them?”
Chu Yu swallowed hard.
The first step of her lifelong dream had finally come true.
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