Page 378

Gu Xiaoxi’s car had just stopped in front of her house when she was blocked by someone.

Standing in front of her was a person she thought she was familiar with, but in reality, they were as strange as passersby.

"Miss Gu, can we talk?" Fu Qiuyi’s palms were sweating, an unprecedented nervousness washing over him as he blocked Gu Xiaoxi’s car, with only one thing on his mind—to clarify the truth to her.

"I don’t know you, what is there to talk about?" Gu Xiaoxi looked up, her gaze cold as it fell upon the man’s face. She had to admit, she did resemble him somewhat, especially those eyes—deep, bright, sparkling, pleasing to look at, but also carrying a hint of ruthlessness.

"Perhaps after hearing my explanation, you will recognize me." Fu Qiuyi felt that in the business world, he could be decisive and ruthless, but when facing his daughter, all his pride turned into deep guilt.

"I don’t have time to listen to your explanations! Sorry, please make way, this is my home." Gu Xiaoxi was unapologetic. She closed the car door, tossed the keys to the butler who was already waiting by her side, and started for the door.

Fu Qiuyi quickly stepped forward, holding onto her hand with a pleading tone, "Gu Xiaoxi, if I say that I am your biological father, would you still act like this? Don’t you miss your parents at all?"

His urgent voice pierced through the night, dispersing at the beautiful entrance of the estate, a breeze blowing past as he saw Gu Xiaoxi’s delicate face stiffen slightly.

The next moment, Gu Xiaoxi looked up and suddenly laughed, her pale face filled with mockery, "Is there a biological father who abandons his daughter and then marries another woman to have children?"

Her indifferent words were razor-sharp, each piercing with bone-deep hatred.

Yes, she hated him! When she needed him the most, he abandoned her. She would rather have never had such a father.

Fu Qiuyi stood numbly, as if struck by thunder.

From Gu Xiaoxi’s tone, could it mean that she had always known he was her father, that she still remembered things from her childhood?

He didn’t know what kind of shadow these misunderstandings had cast in her young heart.

But he could be certain that her rejection of him had reached an irreparable extent.

"Xiao Xi, listen to me. I can explain; I didn’t abandon you. I had an accident, and by the time I went back to look for you, you had disappeared... You are my daughter, how could I possibly not want you..." Fu Qiuyi explained a lot, even repeating the entire incident that happened that year.

Gu Xiaoxi stood there, coldly watching him, her gaze icy from start to finish, waiting for him to finish speaking.

Without hesitation, she violently withdrew her hand and turned to walk toward Jinhua Garden, "I have no parents! You don’t need to explain, it has nothing to do with me anymore."

Moments later, she left him with nothing but a cold and merciless backdrop.

Fu Qiuyi’s complexion turned grim; obviously, it wasn’t that she believed his explanation, but that she had absolutely no feelings for him; it seemed to her that having or not having parents made no difference.

He stood at the entrance, his tall and commanding figure suddenly looking worn, his large eyes filled with helplessness and regret.

What more could he say?

He had imagined thousands of scenarios for reuniting with his daughter but never expected it to be like this.

There was no disbelief, no excessive words, only a chill, as if winter had suddenly descended, dropping the temperature of their relationship from freezing to sub-zero.

"Chairman, Miss Gu might not be able to understand for the time being. We should take a long-term view on this matter. As long as she knows that you are relatives, that’s enough," the secretary consoled Fu Qiuyi as he noticed his desolate appearance.

However, Fu Qiuyi, looking toward Jinhua Garden, was silent for a moment before his gaze became even more resolute, "No matter what, I cannot simply give up. After all, she truly is my daughter. If she feels she doesn’t need me, then I’ll wait until she does."

"Chairman, why bother? You already have three children now; why the obsession with her? Whether she acknowledges you or not doesn’t matter!" The secretary offered his perspective as an outsider.

Fu Qiuyi raised his head with an angry glare, rebuking sharply, "Such words are not to be said in the future.

Xiao Xi is my first child; she had no mother to look after her from birth.

I took great care of her for three years; even though we were poor, I loved her deeply.

.. Losing her was my fault. I owe her more than anyone else. "

"I’m sorry, I don’t understand. Maybe it’s because I don’t have children yet," the secretary immediately admitted his mistake.

...

Gu Xiaoxi stood at the entrance of the villa, slowing her steps as she listened to the voices outside the gate.

Moments later, as she turned back to look at the gate, Fu Qiuyi had already gotten into his car and disappeared from sight.

Even if he had a hundred reasons, she could no longer call him father.

She and he had missed out on seventeen years of affection. Now she was twenty, and he had his own family and his own daughters.

Whether in his life or hers, the presence of the other was superfluous.

After so many years without a father, why add more trouble to each other’s life?

But her heartless rejection, keeping her biological father outside her door, did not bring any relief; instead, she felt a heavy pain in her chest.

His explanations seemed reasonable, like those of a good father.

Still, she couldn’t forgive him without reservations.

"Wife, what are you still doing? You’re at the door but not coming in." Quan Shaoqing’s voice suddenly rang in her ear, and the next second, she was lifted high up in his arms.

She hastily grabbed his arm to steady her mind and explained, "I just saw Mr. Fu."

Hearing this, Quan Shaoqing looked down and saw the sadness on her face. He carried her back to the living room and sat on the couch. Then, lifting her chin, he asked seriously, "What did he say to you?"

"He said he’s my father and that the incident back then was a misunderstanding," Gu Xiaoxi said, locking eyes with Quan Shaoqing, her tone somewhat resigned.

Seeing the hurt in her eyes, Quan Shaoqing tenderly cradled her face, gently kissed her lips, and comforted her, "If it truly was a misunderstanding all those years ago, wouldn’t you consider acknowledging him again?"

One thing Quan Shaoqing was certain of was that Fu Qiuyi wasn’t lying, and he had investigated the medical records from seventeen years ago, the details of his injuries, and the evidence of Fu Qiuyi looking for his daughter—all of it was true.

Gu Xiaoxi’s gaze flickered; she reached out and hugged Quan Shaoqing’s neck, leaning on his shoulder, feeling that having him was enough.

Being with him, she was neither lonely nor alone. Everyone else was of no importance anymore.

"Even if it’s all true, what difference does it make? Even if I were to acknowledge my father, I’d still only be the child of his former wife, unrelated to his current family."

At this moment, she could hate him a little less in her heart. But she really couldn’t bring herself to rush up and call him "father" without any reservations.

Quan Shaoqing felt her reliance, and his heart warmed. Holding her tightly, he gently patted her back, hoping to give her courage.

He could feel her longing for family, but her father had let her down. Even though she believed he loved her, nothing could make up for the seventeen years of lost affection.

*

The next morning, Gu Xiaoxi was ready to go to the Military Department with Quan Shaoqing to see her old master. There was nothing else to keep her in City A, and it seemed better to return and focus on the selection of special forces.

But just as she was about to board the helicopter with Quan Shaoqing to leave, trouble broke out in City A.

The butler rushed to inform Quan Shaoqing, "Young Master, there’s trouble. A family annihilation occurred last night in City A; it was the Liu Family."

Upon hearing this, Gu Xiaoxi’s heart skipped a beat, and she stared at the butler, asking urgently, "Is it Old Master Liu Yishou from Xicheng District?"

"Yes!" the butler nodded.

Gu Xiaoxi’s face paled, and without any hesitation, she pulled out her phone to search for recent news reports.

"In the early hours of last night, a tragedy struck Old Master Liu’s home.

After police investigation, the old master and six servants were all murdered.

Only one very precious Jade Watermelon was missing from Treasure Pavilion.

The police have now sealed off the scene, gathering evidence, hoping to apprehend the killer soon. .."

Gu Xiaoxi’s hand trembled, and her phone fell to the ground. Without a second thought, she said, "No, I have to see my master."

It was too suspicious; just yesterday he had mentioned donating the Jade Watermelon to the orphanage, and today he was murdered.

Seeing such an important event unfold, Quan Shaoqing had no time to visit the Military Department. He called Lin Mi to postpone all his affairs.

He ordered someone to drive and accompanied Gu Xiaoxi to the Liu Family.

At that moment, the luxurious and austere Liu Family courtyard was surrounded by police, with yellow police tape strung all around.

Quan Shaoqing had to reveal his identity to the police before he could take Gu Xiaoxi inside.

Since the incident had only been discovered that morning, the bodies had not yet been dealt with.

Upon entering the villa’s gate, they were met with bloodstains everywhere.

Police and detectives were gathering evidence from bodies at the entrance. Seeing the terrified expression of the deceased servants, Gu Xiaoxi felt a chilling spread throughout her chest. "Master!"

She murmured, her eyes already reddening as she rushed into the living room, searching frantically, hoping to find a trace of the old man.

Knowing she was distraught with grief, Quan Shaoqing immediately grabbed Gu Xiaoxi’s hand and asked the police who were on the scene, "Where can we find Old Master Liu?"