Song Zhen's eyes seemed to possess a magical power to see through one's heart.
Gu Xinzhou met his gaze for a moment before she averted her eyes.
For some reason, since her return to the country, all her troubles seemed almost transparent before him.
Song Zhen glanced up at her from below, appearing very satisfied with a certain outcome, "Right. But today, she wants you ruined. If you buy out these news stories, you are actually saving her."
Gu Xinzhou remained standing there.
The air was filled with the scent of shower gel and Song Zhen's own fragrance.
She was extremely uncomfortable.
Her rigid back betrayed her nervousness.
To ease her own pressure, she tried to lift her hand to tidy her hair by the ear, speaking gently, "Family scandals should not be publicized.
My retaliation today was purely for self-protection.
Her initial intention was indeed to see me ruined, but my intention was to avoid trouble.
I don't wish to see anyone from the Gu Family ruined.
I... I was born out of wedlock, and my and my mother's presence is indeed a shame and pain for them.
So I can understand those who hate me, those who can't tolerate me.
Anyone in their situation wouldn't happily accept a child born from their husband's affair."
This was the first time Gu Xinzhou had admitted so openly in front of Song Zhen that she was a child born out of wedlock.
If she had been able to admit that so freely when she met him in the attic at the age of eight...
Song Zhen furrowed his brows.
He believed he would have missed her!
Because his state of mind then was different from now.
Now, he was a grown man who had seen the world and could analyze issues comprehensively.
Back then, he was just a rebellious youth.
Already hating his stepmother, detesting how quickly his father betrayed his mother, how could he have accepted the food offered by the frail hands of a child born out of wedlock?
His disposition to refuse charity might have completely destroyed this relationship and his own life!
Song Zhen looked at Gu Xinzhou, his emotions complex.
It was thanks to her initial lie that gave him the motivation to strive harder.
And in this process, the only one to blame was himself!
It was his own poor vision that he hadn't recognized his little angel right away.
Song Zhen quietly observed her.
After a long while, he spoke, "Come here."
Gu Xinzhou shook her head, "Will you help?"
Song Zhen sighed softly, rose from the bay window, and took steps toward her, "Uncle Gu has received the news and is already handling it.
With Uncle Gu's capabilities, he can certainly take care of those reporters.
Zhouzhou, I hope you remain innocent forever, but this world is not so simple.
I understand that you don't want any of the Gu Family ruined because you don't want Uncle Gu to be heartbroken.
However..."
However, many things are not as you know them.
For example, the origins of Gu Xinfei...
For example, the life or death of Fang Lingwei...
Song Zhen suddenly fell silent.
He remembered his subordinates were still investigating Lan Baozhen and Zhuang Xiuya.
If his guess was right, the reason there was no death certificate for Gu Xinzhou's mother, nor had her household registration been canceled, was likely because she hadn't died at all!
Song Zhen reached out his hand, gently taking Gu Xinzhou's.
In his eyes were stars and oceans.
His palm was the cosmic sky.
And in his palm, she was his little Earth.
As if he had made a certain decision, Song Zhen smiled resignedly and declared firmly, "Zhouzhou, no matter how complex this world is, I will do everything I can to protect your innocence!"