Chapter 28: "Without you, she will only be better."

"Star!" Shen Que ran toward Luo Xing, pulling her away from Gu Shiyan, positioning himself firmly between them. He completely shielded Luo Xing behind him, not allowing Gu Shiyan a single glance at her.

Gu Shiyan’s lips curled into a faint, mocking smile; his obsidian eyes glinted with a trace of insolence. “The knight in shining armor has arrived.”

“Since you two have broken up, I must ask that you keep your distance from her in the future,” Shen Que met his gaze without a hint of fear. “She’ll only do better without you.”

Gu Shiyan watched as their figures disappeared into the distance, then turned his eyes aside. The phone screen lay shattered into fragments, mutely resting on a pile of fallen leaves, carrying with it a strange defiance.

…

Grandmother, knowing Luo Xing would be exhausted after her exams, had already packed up and come to stay with her for the night.

On the blue and white checkered bed, Luo Xing lay beside a teddy bear as large as herself. One hand clung to the bear, the other to her grandmother. “I’m already so happy.”

Grandmother’s loving gaze settled on Luo Xing’s face. “Star, did the exam not go well?”

Luo Xing knew her grandmother had noticed her low spirits that day. She forced a smile. “No, nothing like that. How could a little exam possibly stump a genius girl like me?”

She wrapped her arms around her grandmother. “Grandma, is your brother easy to get along with? What if his family isn’t happy when we move in? Why don’t we just stay at a hotel?”

“This time, I’m only going to keep him company. He’s a stubborn old man—sick for so long and never breathed a word of it. Now he’s alone with an old dog in that huge house, and none of his children or grandchildren bother to visit.”

“Why won’t they see him?”

“They’re heartless, all of them. Once they knew he’d donated his entire inheritance, they gave up on him—fed their consciences to the dogs.”

Luo Xing felt a chill for the old man.

It was nearly ten o’clock. Luo Xing clung to her grandmother. “Ah, I don’t want you to leave.”

“Then I’ll stay tonight and sleep with you?”

Luo Xing was just about to agree happily.

Outside, Mrs. Jiang’s voice called, “Mother, that won’t do. Luo Xing thrashes about in her sleep as if fighting ghosts. If she kicks you, these old bones won’t withstand it.”

“Mom! You were eavesdropping on me and Grandma!”

Mrs. Jiang entered with two cups of warm milk, sticking a straw in Luo Xing’s cup.

“Eavesdropping? I told you to close the door out of habit. It’s been over a decade and you still haven’t learned.”

“I trust you and Dad. Why should I close the door in my own home?” Luo Xing grumbled around the straw. “Mom, I hate you.”

“Trust, huh? Sounds like an excuse to me.”

Their house had four bedrooms, and though her brother and grandmother rarely stayed, they always kept their rooms ready. The housekeeper would tidy up those rooms regularly.

Luo Xing watched her grandmother leave, then hugged the teddy bear and lay down.

...

Beijing International Airport.

Luo Xing held her grandmother’s hand as they exited the arrivals hall.

Two men in suits approached. If not for their imposing stature and lack of welcoming smiles, Luo Xing might have mistaken them for insurance salesmen.

“Are you Ms. Gu Yunzhi?” one asked.

Grandmother nodded. The two men took their luggage and ushered them to a car.

Through the ceaseless traffic they drove, from endless streams of vehicles to an empty asphalt road.

—Heavenly Residence.

Luo Xing vaguely recalled hearing that this was the top-ranked luxury estate in Beijing.

“Grandma, you must have loved Grandpa very much,” Luo Xing couldn’t help but remark.

To have lived in such a place, only to move to Beicheng and settle in an ordinary apartment—though outsiders would say it was hardly suffering, the contrast from such a palatial home to a small flat was stark.

“Star,” her grandmother’s gentle voice filled the car. The old woman’s words carried a tranquil wisdom, “Bigger isn’t always better when it comes to houses…”

A few more minutes passed before they arrived.

Luo Xing and her grandmother entered the house.

It was nothing like the opulent mansions Luo Xing had imagined, with crystal chandeliers and lavish decorations. Everywhere was understated and refined, echoing the charm of a century-old residence.

An old man sat in a wheelchair, a large brown dog crouched at his side.

Luo Xing was surprised. In such a wealthy family, she had expected some rare breed, but it was only an ordinary mutt.

Beside the old man’s solitary figure stood a silver-haired man in a perfectly tailored suit, every hair in place, slightly bent at the waist. “Young master’s flight is delayed; he’ll arrive after midnight.”

A housekeeper led Luo Xing and her grandmother inside. “Mr. Gu, Assistant Song, the guests have arrived.”

Luo Xing noticed the old man’s posture stiffen for a moment, while Assistant Song straightened and looked over. Then he broke into a smile—though aged, his eyes shone with light. “Miss Second.”

Grandmother squeezed Luo Xing’s hand and smiled. “I didn’t expect you to still be working here. Decades have passed, yet you recognized me at a glance.”

Yet the old man in the wheelchair never turned around.

Led by her grandmother, Luo Xing approached him. Even seated, the old man exuded vigor. His eyes were bright, his features steady and mature.

Luo Xing was curious. Why did they call her grandmother “Miss Second,” while addressing the old man as “Mr. Gu”? It sounded as if they belonged to different generations.

He didn’t so much as glance at Gu Yunzhi; instead, his gaze settled on Luo Xing. “And this is?”

Luo Xing obediently waited for her grandmother to introduce her before greeting the old man.

“My granddaughter, Luo Xing.”

Luo Xing could hear the quiver in her grandmother’s usually calm voice.

She hesitated, glanced at her grandmother, and squeezed her hand tighter.

“Hello, Grandfather, my name is Luo Xing. I was worried for Grandma, so I’ve come to keep her company. I hope we won’t be too much trouble for you.” Faced with the dignified old man, Luo Xing was a little nervous. She pursed her lips and gave a small bow before looking up at his face.

“Luo Xing.” The old man in the wheelchair nodded with a polite, distant smile.

Luo Xing was momentarily dazed.

For some reason, Gu Shiyan’s image flashed through her mind.

First year of high school, their first meeting.

She had arrived early and the homeroom teacher had entrusted her with recording the names of classmates as they came in. Luo Xing had already noted down everyone present. Holding the list, she told the teacher that one person was still missing.

He arrived late, standing in the doorway, tall enough to block out the light. His elongated shadow stretched back, casting across Luo Xing.

She turned to look at the door.

“Gu Shiyan.”

His voice, cool and languid, seemed to whisper intimately in her ear.

Luo Xing’s heart raced uncontrollably as she stared blankly at him. His strong brow, deep eyes, and the hint of playful affection in his gaze were impossible to ignore.

The teacher told him to help Luo Xing move books.

On the way, she quietly told him her name.

Usually, when she introduced herself, everyone—young or old, male or female—would smile and call her “Star,” praising her lovely name.

But he only gave a faint “mm.”

Softly, she clarified, “Luo with the water radical, and Xing as in star.”

He glanced at her, a lazy smile tugging at his lips, and carelessly repeated, “Luo Xing.”

The words coming from his throat sounded ambiguous and seductive.

Luo Xing’s ears reddened as her heart pounded hotter than the sun.

She thought, if only one day she could hear him call her “Star.”

But that utterance of “Luo Xing” from him was so distant and indifferent, it made him feel unreachable—like he might forget her name the moment he turned away.