Hearing until this point, Murong Ye frowned and turned to look at Gong Yu.

Gong Yu looked back at him and chuckled, as if he was mocking himself.

"My oldest brother became prince. He became more powerful than me since I was an abandoned duke."

"Also, perhaps Xiao Xi was too attractive. My eldest brother actually became interested in her. After a few interactions, she still did not look him in the eyes once. Afterward, he formed an alliance with General Huangfu's daughter, Huangfu Yuqing. She had feelings for me."

"I then learned that the two of them had a deal. I sent people to find out what their plan was and what they were going to do. I was afraid that they would hurt Xiao Xi. I knew my eldest brother really well, who was willing to do anything."

"My people found that he could be asking Father to a.s.sign a marriage to him. However, since Xiao Xi was a n.o.body there, she had to go through a series of background search in order to be married to a prince. Hence, I guessed that they would be doing something bigger than that."

"During that time, Huangfu Yuqing may have felt that things were going as planned, so she interacted with me more frequently. She pursued me very seriously and I did not reject her. I thought that if I let her think that she had succeeded, I would gain her trust and be able to sieve out more information."

"On that day, I went to find Huangfu Yuqing. She deliberately seduced me and I did not reject her. She asked if I like her, and I said yes. She asked what I felt towards Xiao Xi, and I replied that Xiao Xi had no one to rely on and was pitiful. However, other than her beauty, Xiao Xi was worthless to me. I have to make careful decisions about my future, and Xiao Xi would definitely not be of any help."

"Afterwards, we talked a lot. I said all the things she loved to hear. She even took the initiative to kiss me, and I did not reject her. Never did I expect Xiao Xi to witness everything. She must have heard the entire conversation, which was why she ran away broken-hearted. When I caught up with her, she made the firm decision to leave, to leave me forever."

"This incident must have hurt her. She would not forgive me until today. Indeed, what I said on that day was really cruel. Besides, Xiao Xi had given up the life she had to be with me. We were deeply in love, but I betrayed this love that was all she cared. It must have hurt her very deeply. Isn't there a saying that says the bigger the expectation, the bigger the disappointment? I know that I was a jerk; I don't blame Xiao Xi for leaving me."

"After Xiao Xi left, I was very heartbroken. I had nothing to hang onto over there, so I came here to look for her. I finally found her after four years. However, the cut was buried so deep in her heart that she has yet to forgive me."

Murong Ye listened quietly as Gong Yu narrated his past. Seeing Gong Yu's depressed expression, he could not help but interrupt him, "You've never thought of telling her the truth?"

Gong Yu laughed as if he was mocking himself. He shook his head. "The truth? The truth is that I had hurt her. Whatever I say will just be me finding an excuse for myself. I also know how those things have made her life difficult these few years. There is no point in saying them now. The pain from the past four years cannot be erased, so why not focus on making the remaining days better?"

Murong Ye patted Gong Yu's shoulder gently, telling Gong Yu that he understood him, as a man.

Gong Yu chuckled again, "I really have to work hard for the upcoming days. I do owe her this. I have to repay her."

Murong Ye turned to look at him. It was unusual that the coldness was absent in his gaze. "If you need anything, just let me know."

Gong Yu nodded. "Let's go, let's head back!"

Both of them turned and walked towards the ward.

"I finally know where Xiao Xi went that year."

Gong Yu chuckled and did not say anything.

At the house of Murong Xu.

Murong Xu and Gu Yuxuan were sitting on the sofa watching television.

"Xuanxuan, Xiao Xi is pregnant."

"What? How? Is it a scandal?"

"Of course it's real. She is the prime and focus of our family, how can this news be fake?"

"Is your family really going to accept Xiao Xi? She's only 23, giving birth out of wedlock is a disgrace to big families for sure."

"That's not important. I bet Uncle would not even let her roam outside. He had been searching for her for so many years. He will definitely bring her back now that he has found her. Besides, the Murong Family already knows of her existence. It is not safe for her to be outside too."

"Not safe? What do you mean?"

"Haha... this... is not something you should know."

"Oh, got it! I'm just your girlfriend; I'm not in the position to know."

"Xuanxuan, what are you talking about? You know I don't mean that."

"It doesn't matter what you meant. I don't care!"

"Xuanxuan, don't be like this! If you want, I can register our marriage tomorrow."

"I'm not forcing you to marry me. We've just started, and I don't want to think about marriage so soon."

"So you're not in for the long run?"

"Of course not, I certainly agreed to be with you with the idea of marriage in mind. I just feel that I'm still young. This is my first relations.h.i.+p. I want to enjoy it more. Marriage can wait."

After saying that, Gu Yuxuan wrapped her arms around Murong Xu's waist and rubbed her small head against his shoulder cutely.

Murong Xu rubbed her hair affectionately and spoke gently, "Xuanxuan, I'm not telling you certain things because I want to protect you. It isn't a good thing for you to know too much! I only hope that you'll continue to have an innocent smile and live your desired life happily. I don't want you to worry about those things."

Gu Yuxuan nodded.

They remained silent for a while before she finally asked, "Then... is Xiao Xi gonna be in trouble? Will she be in danger?"

"I can't say for sure, but I believe that Murong Ye will do everything to protect her. And let's not look down on Murong Qingtian."

Gu Yuxuan suddenly thought of something and exclaimed, "Ah! Could the baby's father be Gong Yu?"

"Yup."

"This can't do. I'll go to visit Xiao Xi tomorrow. I haven't seen her for a few days. Back when we were schooling, we were together almost every single day. This is all your fault. You've taken up too much of my time."

"Xuanxuan, you have to know that as you grow older, you meet more people and also lose more, including the time spent with your friends. You will all have other things to do and start to neglect each other."

"Umm, Xu, you're like a wise older brother who knows what I'm thinking! I'm already an adult but you're still comforting me like a child."

"Oh? You're an adult? Then we should do some adult things."

Gu Yuxuan's cheeks turned red immediately. Embarra.s.sed, she poked his cheeks. "You're really thick-skinned. You only think about these dirty things every day."

Murong Xu turned to look at Gu Yuxuan and pinched her red cheeks. "Oh? Am I thinking of dirty things? If you didn't, why are you blus.h.i.+ng?"

"Am... am I! You only know how to bully me!"

"How can I dare to bully you? I don't even have enough time to love you!"

After finis.h.i.+ng his sentence, Murong Xu planted a kiss upon Gu Yuxuan's lips that were about to form an argument.

Gu Yuxuan's lips were sealed before she could say anything. That gentle kiss started roaming around her lips and she responded shyly... The room was gradually filled with love in the air.

"Xiao Xi, being pregnant is such a big deal, how can you not tell me!" Gu Yuxuan was sitting beside Yun Muxi's bed, peeling off apple skin with a fruit knife while interrogating her.

"Come on, I only found out yesterday after the accident. I didn't know I was pregnant before that. I didn't have the chance to tell you afterward. But you're now here anyway."

"Then what are your plans?"

"Plans? I have no plan."

"You don't plan on having your wedding soon?"

"Why do I need a wedding?"

"What? You're not getting married to Gong Yu?"

"I obviously don't plan on doing that."

"Then did he agree?"

"Whether he agrees or not, that has nothing to do with me. This is my child; I will take full responsibility."

"Xiao Xi, it's not that I want to nag at you, but what are you holding on to? Gong Yu treats you so well and he loves you so much. Even if what he did in the past had hurt you, you shouldn't harp on it forever. Humans aren't saints; we make mistakes. Once a mistake has been corrected, you can still start over. Besides, Gong Yu loves you so much. Have you ever thought that there might be a misunderstanding between the two of you?"

"Haha, there are some mistakes that you can't correct. If you killed someone, will the judge let you go because you say you've changed? The judge will still keep you in jail and might even make you pay with your life."

"Xiao Xi, can you not be so stubborn! We can all see how Gong Yu's feelings for you are real! Can't you feel it?"

"Xuanxuan, are you here as his spokesperson?"

"Come on, you're always like this. By the way, we're graduating soon. What are your plans after graduation?"

"Niannian is still small, she needs to be looked after. I plan to continue writing at home. I had been preparing a book. I can continue writing since the filming has ended. Director Zhao said that he will still be willing to cooperate with me if there are good plots in the future. So if possible, I'll continue being a writer and screenwriter. Now that I'm pregnant, it's not suitable for me to go out and work."

"Yup, that sounds good! Anyways, you have Murong Family as your strong support. It doesn't matter even if you don't work."

"Xuanxuan, I don't want to rely on the Murong Family. I have hands and feet, so I can keep myself alive. I was able to raise Niannian all by myself, then I'll be able to raise this little guy too."

As she spoke, Yun Muxi placed her hands on her lower abdomen. Even until now, she still found it incredible. There was actually a small baby growing in her stomach. She did not feel anything at all.

"Xiao Xi, I know that you're independent and strong. But I still wish that you'll return to the Murong Family. No matter what, you'll have a family to rely on. Besides, it will be safer for you."

"Safer? What do you mean?"