024 Emotional Turmoil

Gu Yan was constantly shuttling between Hangzhou and Hengdian for the casting of her new drama. As the screenwriter, her presence was mandatory at both the preliminary rounds and the grand finale. It was no surprise that the preliminary rounds were such a resounding success.

"Cheers!" Inside the simple yet elegant private dining room sat a group of extraordinary individuals.

"I have to propose a separate toast to our most accomplished Gu-ren. Drink up!" Cai Mei said boldly, raising her glass.

"To our reunion," Gu Yan replied, gesturing with her glass before downing the drink in one go.

Sitting to the side, Li Min studied Gu Yan with a thoughtful expression. He had never imagined that the "Gu-ren" Cai Mei spoke of would be the playwright Alisa. Although the woman before him wore a smiling face, she emanated an aura of cold, detached pride.

"Cai Mei, I would like to toast you as well. May all lovers find their way to each other!" Cai Mei’s gaze flickered between Zheng Yingqi and Gu Yan before she smiled and finished her drink. The "welcome banquet" went smoothly. Throughout the evening, Gu Yan only spoke two words to Li Min: "Cherish blessings."

The next day, Gu Yan took Cai Mei back to Hengdian. Before leaving, she promised that Li Min would definitely be the male lead. One could hardly blame Gu Yan for such favoritism; this was simply reality. Connections were always a crucial part of one's strength.

Upon returning to their familiar hometown, Cai Mei chose to visit the hospital first.

The room was silent, save for the rhythmic beeping of an ECG monitor. Having not seen her for several days, Gu Yan felt the girl on the hospital bed looked even thinner. Cai Mei’s lips trembled with sorrow, and tears streamed down her face.

"Daxian... Daxian... Choumei is here... Daxian... Choumei doesn’t want Li Min anymore; Choumei is back. Gu-ren is the same; she doesn't want Shen Hong anymore. Please, wake up. It’s been so many years—don't let Jiang Yunkai torture you any longer. Don't make us look down on you. I know you can hear me. Wake up, please wake up..."

Unable to bear watching Cai Mei sob, Gu Yan turned away, a single tear sliding down her cheek. Yet, what Gu Yan did not see was that at the very moment she turned, a clear tear also escaped from the corner of the girl’s eye on the bed.

In the end, Cai Mei decided to stay at the hospital. "Xiao Yan," she said, "I have no home to go back to, just like you. Let me stay and look after Daxian." Returning to the hotel, Gu Yan collapsed into bed and fell fast asleep. She had been so busy lately without a moment’s rest that it was no wonder she was so exhausted.

"You stubborn woman, you come back from Hangzhou and don't even come to see me. Do you have any idea how much I’ve missed you?" Wei Hao said as he walked in. Upon entering the room and seeing the sleeping Gu Yan, his voice noticeably softened and lost its edge. "Fine, I’ll forgive you this once." As he spoke, he gently stroked her face.

"Dad... Mom..." A tear slipped from the corner of the woman’s eye.

Sitting at the bedside, Wei Hao felt as if his heart had been struck. He had seen Gu Yan wild and unreasonable, talented and brilliant, cold and aloof, and even sobbing loudly, but he had never seen her looking so fragile and helpless. In that moment, he suddenly realized that after three years together, he had never truly understood her. He should have realized it sooner: upon returning to the hometown where she grew up, she had visited her friends, but she had avoided the very people she was closest to—her family.

Wei Hao felt a sudden surge of heartache for this woman a few years his senior, wondering how much suffering and heartbreak she had truly endured.