Gu Kai looked at Gu Yan in astonishnt. "Dad, how did you know I went to find her?"
"Just now, Tongtong quietly told ." Gu Yan proudly raised his eyebrow and glanced at Tongtong beside him. Tongtong imdiately said, "Daddy, find Mommy."
Gu Kai’s lips twitched. "Tongtong, didn’t I tell you not to tell Grandpa? When did you tell him?"
"When you went into the kitchen, Tongtong ca over and whispered to ." Gu Yan said as he pulled the chair Tongtong was sitting on closer to him. He turned to Gu Kai and said, "Ah Kai, I don’t oppose you being with Bai Yiyi. Even though Bai Yuqin hated your mom and hurt Ranran, as long as you truly like her, I’m willing to accept her as the daughter-in-law of the Gu Family."
"Dad."
"Listen to first."
Gu Yan’s eyebrows carried a hint of seriousness. "I don’t oppose you being with Bai Yiyi. However, the matter with Fang Zhiwei, you need to address it. Her father, Professor Fang’s death, no matter how you see it, has so connection to Bai Yiyi. At the very least, that’s how she sees it."
Seeing Gu Kai frown unhappily, Gu Yan deliberately intensified his tone.
No matter how others view it, that’s what Fang Zhiwei believes.
"Her jump from the building last night has already sparked discussion online. I consulted the principal of T University. She had already taken leave beforehand and won’t be returning to teach at the school anyti soon. If your relationship with Bai Yiyi drives Fang Zhiwei to her death, whether or not it’s your responsibility, public opinion will always side with the weaker party."
Gu Yan spoke each word with seriousness and composure. It was neither a harsh demand on his son nor an indication of his lack of acceptance of Bai Yiyi.
He simply wanted Gu Kai to think it through.
If things truly co to that point, it wouldn’t be good for him or Bai Yiyi.
Gu Kai’s face darkened slightly. "Dad, I understand. I’ll handle the matter with Fang Zhiwei."
***
In the end, Gu Kai didn’t bring Tongtong to find Bai Yiyi. After breakfast, just as he and Tongtong were about to leave, Gu Yan received a call about a traffic accident on a certain road.
Gu Kai ended up spending the first day of the New Year at the hospital.
Whether on break or busy with work, ti flies quickly. In the blink of an eye, it was the fourth day of the New Year.
That night, after Gu Kai bathed Tongtong, before bed, Tongtong wanted to call her mom.
Gu Kai sat on the edge of the bed, listening to Tongtong speak on the phone with Bai Yiyi. After Tongtong finished, he exchanged a few words with Bai Yiyi, "I’ll be back tomorrow. It’s been hard on you these past few days taking care of Tongtong."
"I’ve been so busy these past few days, I haven’t spent much ti with Tongtong. Tomorrow, Tongtong and I will co to pick you up."
Because Gu Kai had broken his promise to Tongtong on New Year’s Day, he thought of bringing Tongtong along to pick Bai Yiyi up on the fifth day.
Hence, he had planned out his ti for tomorrow.
"No, I’ll just take the bus back to G City myself. The roads are too congested. By the ti you get here, it’ll probably be evening already, and Tongtong will be anxious."
Being rejected, Gu Kai suddenly fell silent.
What Bai Yiyi said was true.
During the Spring Festival, the roads were indeed congested. He had thought of this issue as well. That’s precisely why he wanted to pick her up, not wanting her to be stuck in a bus with strangers on a jamd road for hours.
"Yiyi, is that Ah Kai? Can I say a few words to him?"
The voice of Bai Yuqin ca through from the phone.
Hearing this, Gu Kai’s gaze slightly changed.
On the phone, there was a brief silence. Then, Bai Yiyi’s voice softly sought his opinion, "My mom wants to say a few words to you. If you’re not comfortable with it, don’t force yourself."
Gu Kai lightly furrowed his brow, the words Bai Yuqin had said last ti at Ranran’s house echoing in his ears.
A montary pause.
Just when Bai Yiyi thought he wouldn’t agree, Gu Kai suddenly spoke, his voice low and tinged with rigidity, "Give the phone to Aunt Bai."
Even though Bai Yiyi couldn’t see his expression over the phone, at that mont, she could clearly sense the internal conflict and struggle in his heart.
Unexpectedly, her chest felt like it was gripped by an invisible hand, a pain hard to put into words spreading outward.
Turning her gaze to Bai Yuqin, who stood beside her patiently waiting, Bai Yiyi pressed her lips together and handed the phone to her.
Seeing Bai Yiyi pass the phone over, a flicker of emotion flashed in Bai Yuqin’s eyes. She took the phone with a firm grip and softly started speaking, "Ah Kai, Happy New Year."
Bai Yiyi’s lips twitched slightly, then she walked to the wardrobe, fetched her pajamas, and prepared to shower.
Hearing Bai Yuqin’s "Happy New Year," Gu Kai’s emotions were complicated.
The hatred he felt toward Bai Yuqin hadn’t dissipated. If he had a choice, he wouldn’t want to see Bai Yuqin again or hear her voice.
Back then, if it weren’t for Bai Yuqin’s resentnt and jealousy, perhaps her sister wouldn’t have been lost for so many years, and his mother wouldn’t have passed away so early.
Thinking about his mother always triggered uncontrollable emotions within Gu Kai.
"Hmm."
He didn’t return the polite courtesy of wishing her a ’Happy New Year,’ rely responding with an indifferent "Hmm," indicating he hadn’t forgiven Bai Yuqin.
Bai Yuqin had already been cautious when speaking to him, and hearing his cold response, she was instantly at a loss for words.
The atmosphere turned silent and stiff, even over the phone.
After about half a minute, Bai Yuqin’s voice resurfaced, "Ah Kai, Yiyi will be returning to G City tomorrow."
"Hmm."
Gu Kai had no idea what Bai Yuqin wanted to say. To him, everything she said felt like unnecessary words.
A coughing sound ca from Bai Yuqin, and Gu Kai’s handso brows furrowed once again. After hesitating briefly, he finally spoke a sentence of concern, "Are you sick?"
"It’s just a cold—lingering a bit. Yiyi decided to co ho and spend the New Year with because of it."
"Take care of yourself," he said.
Though Gu Kai’s tone remained stiff, his words still carried concern.
However, this concern was solely for Bai Yiyi’s sake. If not for his feelings toward Bai Yiyi, he surely would have wished for Bai Yuqin and Fu Jingyi to suffer their karma and perish soon.
"Ah Kai, I’m fine. I just hope you’ll look after Yiyi and Tongtong—she’s working and raising a child all on her own; it’s tough."
Bai Yuqin spoke while coughing intermittently.
"I know. You’re sick, so go rest. I’ll hang up now."
Gu Kai glanced at Tongtong, who had already drifted off to sleep in just two minutes. He pressed the end call button and didn’t say anything further to Bai Yiyi.
Setting his phone aside, he tucked the blanket around Tongtong and bent down to plant a tender kiss on her forehead, whispering softly, "Tongtong, Daddy is going to bring your mommy back now. Hopefully, when you wake up tomorrow morning, you’ll see Mommy right away."
In her sleep, Tongtong seed to hear Gu Kai’s words; her little mouth widened with a giggle before she continued her sweet dreams.
At four in the morning, Bai Yiyi was startled awake by her ringing phone. Groggily, she reached for the phone and, without opening her eyes, pressed the answer button and held it to her ear. She barely managed a "hello" before a deep voice resonated from the other end: "Bai Yiyi, open the door."
User Comments
0 comments from readers