Because Qin Xueyao is a huge celebrity and often collaborates with the media, she secretly leaked information, exaggerating the truth, directly demonizing Gu Jiayin. For a period, Gu Jiayin became the object of public scorn as a shameless woman.
Some say she is enactting a drama of a fallen socialite's revenge, but more people criticize her for having poor morals, being extremely low, even bringing up negative remarks about her mother again.
However, Gu Jiayin doesn't let these comments affect her, she sat on the sofa, flipped through the news, and then turned off her phone, "Brother Nianchen, I should go."
It was already close to dusk.
Pei Nianchen glanced outside the hotel at the journalists through the gap in the curtains, "Go through the back door, I'll take you back to the Qin Mansion."
"Okay." Gu Jiayin accepted straightforwardly.
Since everyone was accusing her of snatching her brother-in-law, why should she shy away?
She couldn't wait to see how Qin Xueyao would feel utterly miserable when she and Pei Nianchen returned to the Qin Mansion together. The pain the Qin Family inflicted on her, she wanted to return it all.
Upon leaving the hotel room, Gu Jiayin feared Sheng Qianchi might come harassing again, but surprisingly, he wasn't there, she finally relaxed.
Escorted by the bodyguards, she exited through the hotel's back door and got into Pei Nianchen's car, driving onward in the rain.
Pei Nianchen drove with intense focus, wearing an army green trench coat unbuttoned, revealing a military-green shirt inside, exuding a soldierly demeanor, making him appear even more spirited.
Compared to his youth, his features were sharper, with a few streaks of fierce intensity locked within his brows and eyes.
Gu Jiayin leaned against the car window, silently watching the man's profile.
Whether in the past or now, he remains handsome, still able to provide her with a sense of trust. The only difference is they are no longer like before; although back together now, there's always a sense that the pure innocence of youth is missing.
Sensing Gu Jiayin's gaze, Pei Nianchen turned to look at her, their eyes met, both understanding many things had long changed.
Pei Nianchen knew very well that because of Qin Xueyao, there's a thorn buried in her heart.
A deep sigh spilled out from the depths of his soul.
He knew well that he had become tainted, unworthy of her purity, yet he still refused to let go, hoping time could wash away the filth.
"Don't worry about the news, I'll handle it." Pei Nianchen's voice broke the silence in the car, magnetic, hoarse, and pleasant.
Gu Jiayin remained serene, those news hadn't stirred even a ripple in her heart, "Never mind, they're not wrong, I indeed took away the brother-in-law and affected the brother-in-law."
Pei Nianchen's grip on the steering wheel tightened suddenly, his knuckles noticeably pale, even his back was stiffening visibly, "Why were you with Sheng Qianchi?"
"Accidental encounter last night." Recalling last night, Gu Jiayin didn't know how to tell Pei Nianchen, the mistake she didn't want to mention.
Pei Nianchen's tense nerves finally relaxed, "He canceled the engagement for you."
"I was surprised too."
Pei Nianchen suddenly sighed, turned to look at Gu Jiayin, and spoke slowly in a low voice, "Jiayin, I know, I got involved with Qin Xueyao, making you feel tainted, I'll make efforts to clear all ties with her. You need to give me some time."
He earnestly requested, "So, don't choose Sheng Qianchi, please?"
Gu Jiayin lowered her head, her voice steady but resolute, "I never thought of choosing him."
She lifted her head, noting Pei Nianchen's guilty and self-reproachful gaze, finally thinking it should be fairer, so she pursed her lips and spoke again, "Although Qin Xueyao truly disgusts me, you don't have to feel overly guilty; throughout these years, I've had my share of men too."
Yes, she wasn't pure anymore either.
Pei Nianchen's hand on the steering wheel tightened suddenly, the string in his heart snapped suddenly, pain, spreading from the heart to the entire body.
Recalling their past together, no one could come between them, but now…
He took a deep breath, controlling his emotions, "Do you love that person?"
"No love, it was an accident, just once."
Like him, it was an accident, only once.
Gu Jiayin gazed calmly at Pei Nianchen's tense profile, "If you mind, you can let me off the car now."
Over seven years, adversity taught her to pick up and let go, even still having feelings for Pei Nianchen, if he didn't want her, she wouldn't linger for another second.
Screech—
Pei Nianchen suddenly braked, stopping abruptly on the rain-soaked road.
Outside the window was still misty rain, the wind gently swept sideways.
In Gu Jiayin's silence, he suddenly pulled her into his arms, his voice choking, "Don't say such foolish things, what qualifications do I have to mind? I just feel heartache for you, it's all my fault; I'm useless, haven't been by your side all these years, couldn't protect you."
In the midst of bullets and flames, this steel-hearted man, at this moment, tears like broken beads, fell in large drops, wetting the hair of the woman in his arms.
The space fell into silence once again.
When love becomes seasoned, it's accompanied by an indescribable pain.
Still loving one another, yet feeling there's an unwanted distance between them.
Upon reuniting, their silent moments seemed much more frequent than before. It wasn't like this back then. She would nestle playfully by his side, listening to his jokes, with endless conversation topics.
...
As the car was about to enter the villa zone, Pei Nianchen spoke again, "Jiayin, for anything, come to me. I once promised Yachen that I would take good care of you for a lifetime."
Yachen, Gu Yachen, her brother.
Hearing her brother's name, Gu Jiayin felt a surge of pain in her heart, spreading like a wave to every part of her body, "Don't mention my brother again."
Her voice suddenly choked fiercely.
Her tears fell on his heart, sparking countless ripples.
Pei Nianchen taking her hand tenderly, "From now on, I am Pei Nianchen, and also Gu Yachen."
That's a promise.
Gu Jiayin thought she should be moved, after enduring seven years of hardship, upon returning to this city of pain, warmth awaited her, but she wouldn't accept such integration, because no one could replace Gu Yachen.
In terms of how much Gu Yachen doted on his sister, no one knew better than her.
...
The car stopped in front of the Qin Family villa, two hundred meters ahead, in a similar style villa, was the Pei Family.
At this moment, the Qin Mansion was brightly lit.
Pei Nianchen took a rain umbrella from the back seat of the car, opened the door and got out, walked around to the passenger seat, and opened the door to bring Gu Jiayin out.
The two shared an umbrella and entered the Qin Mansion.
Under the eaves of the villa entrance, Pei Nianchen put away the umbrella, "Jiayin, you go in alone, I don't want to see Qin Xueyao today."
"Okay." Gu Jiayin did not hesitate much, turned and walked away.
"Jiayin."
"Hmm?" Gu Jiayin paused and looked back at Pei Nianchen.
"If anything happens, call me."
"Okay." Gu Jiayin nodded, "Go back, be careful on the road."
Watching Gu Jiayin enter the villa, Pei Nianchen then opened the umbrella again and walked away from the Qin Mansion.
Just entering the foyer, Qin Xueyao ran out like the wind, calling anxiously, "Nianchen, Nianchen!"