Chapter 17: Where the Heart Finds Peace

After Dugu Muqing and his wife agreed to the marriage between Dugu Yi and Gu Xinyao, they did not keep the two of them for long. The couple had no intention of lingering at the Dugu household either; after all, it was a family where it was quite difficult to remain cheerful.

With the approval of Dugu Yi’s parents, Gu Xinyao had long since begun to feel elated. She had forgotten the cautious thoughts she entertained during the car ride, where she told herself not to harbor too many illusions. Now, walking along the path, her heart could hardly remain calm.

Leaving the Dugu residence, they chose not to take the family’s private car but decided to walk instead. Though later they realized this decision was somewhat foolish, at the outset, it felt a little romantic.

The Dugu mansion was not located in the city center; a car ride would take at least an hour to reach downtown, and their walk extended that time by more than double.

Even so, Gu Xinyao savored the sweetness of the moment. Her thoughts were simple: she would have more time alone with him.

“Um, Yi, may I call you that?” Gu Xinyao asked timidly, her heart brimming with joy but still hesitant to be too forward, testing his tolerance.

As they strolled at a leisurely pace, Dugu Yi’s mind kept replaying his father’s every move and was perplexed by his parents’ agreement.

“Hm? Hmm, a name is made to be called. If you like calling me that, then go ahead,” Dugu Yi replied, snapping out of his deep thought. Hearing her say his name made his heart feel warm and gentle.

When alone together, Dugu Yi was easygoing, to the point that Gu Xinyao felt he was hardly aloof at all.

His affirmative response bolstered Gu Xinyao’s confidence.

She grasped his hand, halting his forward steps. They stood beside a small grove. Since this was part of the Dugu family estate, no outsiders would come in or care what they were doing.

Glancing around to ensure they were alone, she turned back to him.

Dugu Yi, seeing her furtive gestures, grew curious but said nothing, waiting for her to speak.

“Well, I’m just so happy. Can I… kiss you?” She stammered, struggling to express herself clearly. The overwhelming joy inside her sought someone to share it with, and the best person was right before her. From now on, they were bound as one; if not with him, then to whom else could she confide her feelings?

Dugu Yi heard her request and was unsure whether to laugh or be angry.

Gu Xinyao rubbed her hands together and looked at him innocently. She truly wanted to kiss him—not as a joke, not in jest, but from the heart, to be close to him.

After a moment of silence from him, her enthusiasm began to cool. Was he still unwilling to accept her closeness?

She forced a smile and said, “It’s okay. I can wait.”

She waved her hand and was about to step forward.

Before she could, he grabbed her hand. Turning to look at him, she saw a slight flush on his face, though his expression lacked the expected embarrassment or coldness.

“You ask a question and don’t give anyone time to think before deciding how others feel?” His tone was somewhat teasing, with a hint of complaint.

Gu Xinyao blinked. He wasn’t opposing her; he was just pondering whether to agree.

His hesitation lasted longer than she expected. She dared not speak her thoughts aloud, anxiously waiting for his answer.

“Well, if you want to kiss, then quickly—this is outside, after all, not quite proper…” Before he finished speaking, Gu Xinyao’s lips had already pressed onto his. It was the second time she had kissed him since they met, the first being at the end of last year when their paths first crossed.

His lips were soft and cool, hers warm and tender. They seemed to be two halves of a missing whole, finding each other at last, sealing their hearts together with a kiss.

They stood beneath a tree blossoming with pink cherry flowers. A gentle breeze stirred, causing petals to fall like a delicate shower.

Bathed in the cascade of cherry blossoms, it felt like a unique wedding—sealing their hearts with a kiss, a pact of the soul.

Just then, a sharp sound of clapping shattered the moment.

Reluctantly breaking from Dugu Yi’s lips, Gu Xinyao opened her eyes to find his face flushed crimson. Such a sight was beautiful to her—though describing a man as beautiful might seem odd, she found him breathtaking in his emotion.

She sighed inwardly, realizing that good things often encounter obstacles; this moment was a testament to that saying.

She instinctively positioned Dugu Yi behind her, even though such a gesture was hardly effective.

Seeing who had ruined their mood, she felt powerless.

Standing about a tree’s distance away was Dugu Nan, accompanied by the boy who must be Dugu Ning.

“Big brother, you really are something. After all that’s happened, you just hide behind a woman. Duan Mu Feng settled everything, and you chose to marry such an ordinary woman. I guess you picked her because she’s easy to handle. If it were Duan Mu Feng, you’d probably be a full-time house-husband by now. Mom and the others are so good to you—not only do they not blame you, but they want you to take over Fengrui. I don’t understand their thinking. I’m the eldest daughter of the Dugu family, yet you…” Dugu Nan’s words poured out in a torrent.

At first, Gu Xinyao didn’t understand what was happening, but as she listened, the truth became clear: it was all about power and wealth.

“Dugu Nan, shut up!” Dugu Yi’s clenched fist showed Gu Xinyao how intolerable Dugu Nan’s arrogance was. She had long sensed Dugu Nan’s problematic attitude toward Dugu Yi, but now she understood the root cause. If she had no connection to Dugu Yi, she might have observed quietly, but now, as his fiancée, if she didn’t stand up for him, then her claim to love him would be hollow.

Dugu Nan, caught in her zeal, was startled by Gu Xinyao’s loud rebuke and fell silent, glaring at Gu Xinyao, waving her hand but unable to speak.

Dugu Ning, watching the scene, chuckled softly and stepped forward to pat Dugu Nan.

“Sis, you’ve gone too far,” he said gently. His longer hair and delicate voice might have made one mistake him for a girl, yet his Adam’s apple betrayed his masculinity.

“Cough, cough,” Dugu Nan finally cleared her throat.

Dugu Yi probably did not expect Gu Xinyao to lose her temper so fiercely. After a moment’s surprise, he pressed lightly against her back and smiled.

“You’re a Gu, don’t think just because you share our surname you can be arrogant. You came to Dugu Yi for his background, for his wealth. Let me tell you, he’s nothing. His current arrogance is only because Mom thinks he still has value. Once he becomes useless, you’ll see what happens.” Dugu Nan’s words were full of bitterness and hatred.

Gu Xinyao had always thought Dugu Nan was a spoiled child, perhaps because she was the only daughter, but now she saw that her arrogance stemmed not only from being spoiled but also from certain expectations placed upon her by Dugu Muqing. Hidden within her words was a subtle scheme. Gu Xinyao’s grip tightened. She realized Dugu Yi knew these things, so why was he willing to be used?

“Sis, why speak that way? Big brother isn’t easy. Even if he is flawed, he’s still our brother,” Dugu Ning’s tone was not conciliatory but carried a subtle sarcasm toward Dugu Yi.

Gu Xinyao raised an eyebrow. She had felt something strange about these siblings’ arrival and now understood no good would come of it.

“Are you finished?” Gu Xinyao asked coldly.

Taken aback by her sudden chill, Dugu Ning stepped back behind Dugu Nan, seeming the quiet child.

Dugu Nan, sensing Gu Xinyao’s icy demeanor, restrained herself somewhat but clearly felt no fear given her status.

“Gu, I’m telling you, don’t get the wrong idea. Our Dugu family will never hand over its wealth to an outsider. You can like a man already played with—I don’t care—but don’t think you’ll gain anything,” Dugu Nan said with disdain, her smoky eye makeup doing little to conceal her contempt.

“I never wanted to be with Yi for the Dugu family’s wealth. To me, Yi is the best person,” Gu Xinyao stated firmly, her words ringing with conviction and shaking those present.

“Sis, let’s go,” Dugu Ning said, seeing no point in prolonging the discussion, pulling Dugu Nan away.

Dugu Nan wanted to retort, but Dugu Ning whispered something in her ear. She glanced back at Gu Xinyao and Dugu Yi, bit her lip, and followed him.

Gu Xinyao stood still, clenching her fists. She was filled with resentment—resentment at her own helplessness, at choosing to study science instead of business. Had she learned business, she would have fought for Dugu Yi. Even if she could not reclaim the Dugu family’s rightful wealth, she would ensure those who wronged them were disgraced.

“Sorry,” Dugu Yi’s voice was stiff. He hadn’t expected his brother and sister to appear now and say such things before her.

Gu Xinyao turned sharply. He was looking down at the ground; she could see the two whorls atop his head.

She tilted his face up. His expression was blank, and his once bright eyes now dim.

“I never blamed you. I don’t believe you chose me because you thought I was easy to handle,” she said. She was stubborn but not foolish; she understood exactly why he had chosen to marry her.

He met her concerned, determined gaze, and his heart began to stir. He did not believe his siblings’ words.

“What if I said I truly feel that way? What would you say?”

Her eyes fixed on his face. He avoided her gaze, reluctant to answer. No, he could not be that kind of man.

“I said I like you. I won’t give up on you. Even if you are using me, I’m willing to be used—as long as you don’t leave me, I’ll be happy to be used by you.”

These were her heartfelt words. Sometimes, being used by the one you love is a kind of happiness.

Dugu Yi wanted to laugh but felt something clogging his eyes. Finally, he said, “You’re so foolish!”

Gu Xinyao smiled brightly. To hear such a cold man say that was a joy. She embraced him more freely. Due to their height difference, a slight space remained, so she wrapped her arms around his waist and pressed her cheek to his neck.

The smooth skin against her face calmed her heart.

“I’m not trying to use you. I’m just tired. You’re a good person. If you can, please wait for me. I will try to love you,” he explained, the best effort he could make after all they had been through. He could not remain unchanged.

“All right! I’ll wait for you. Even if you never love me in return, as long as you don’t leave me, I will love you well,” she said—her first confession of love and the first time she heard such a promise. She felt unprecedented happiness. This, she thought with eyes closed, must be happiness.

Dugu Yi held her tightly, his eyes filled with infinite affection. Unaware himself, he had already been moved when she first showed concern and had begun to lower his defenses deep within his heart.