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"Everyone has arrived, I am beyond flattered!" Gu Xiaoxi said calmly as she stepped forward, the atmosphere at the scene was quite oppressive.

Clearly, these people weren’t here to liven up the mood but to just show face.

"It’s been a long time since I’ve seen you, so you wouldn’t mind if I asked for a bit of happiness at your birthday party, right?" Tang Youling said with a smile, handing a gift to Gu Xiaoxi, "For you, happy birthday."

Gu Xiaoxi gave a faint smile, "Everyone is too polite."

Afterward, everyone successively presented Gu Xiaoxi with birthday gifts.

She didn’t have to think too hard to know that these guys were here because of Bai Yaxuan – it really wasn’t necessary.

Her relationship with Bai Yaxuan wasn’t even good.

Gu Xiaoxi had a few drinks with everyone and invited some beautiful women to sing, managing to get the atmosphere passable.

Luo Yiyan didn’t show up, nor did Chen Zhi from the group of privileged young men.

Considering that Chen Zhi’s younger sister, Chen Lu, was involved in a car accident, he probably didn’t have time to hate her!

"Gu Xiaoxi, let’s shake the dice!" said Tang Youling cheerily, bringing the dice cup over to Gu Xiaoxi. It was clear that among these people, he was the one without any burdens.

"Sure! Losers drink!" Gu Xiaoxi responded with a smile. It’s a birthday, after all, the point is to be happy – don’t stop until drunk!

"No way!"

The moment Gu Xiaoxi’s words fell, Bai Yu firmly grabbed the dice cup, saying, "You have an injury on your head, drinking alcohol will leave scars!"

Gu Xiaoxi gave her a glance and snatched back the dice cup, "Nonsense, what’s a little injury? I’m happy today. With so many people celebrating my birthday with me, I must drink to my heart’s content."

Bai Yu could see it now.

Gu Xiaoxi’s academic achievements, just like her alcohol tolerance, had improved very quickly.

In just one year, she finished all her junior year courses, and her tolerance went from teetotal to being unfazed by a thousand drinks.

Just as the mood was becoming more lively from the alcohol, the door to the private room was pushed open again.

Everyone stopped what they were doing and looked toward the door.

It was unusual for Bai Yaxuan to wear a light blue suit, his pure and icy temperament now even more unignorable than before.

He was like a dazzling pearl, purifying the air of all its filth with his arrival.

Following Bai Yaxuan into the room was Mi Xi.

Although she had told Mi Xi not to tell Bai Yaxuan about her car accident, with his capabilities, he probably already knew.

It wasn’t her fault, but with Chen Lu’s severe injury, would it cause trouble for him?

Gu Xiaoxi quietly clenched her fingers. It wasn’t the trouble she feared, but rather troubling him because of her.

She didn’t want to owe him anything!

As Bai Yaxuan’s gaze swept the room, everyone on the sofas quickly stood up to greet him with respect.

After exchanging greetings, everyone instinctively scattered, leaving the space next to Gu Xiaoxi open for him.

Bai Yaxuan moved forward imperceptibly, looking at the drink in Gu Xiaoxi’s hand, he furrowed his brow and then noticed the black hat she was wearing.

They said she had an injury on her forehead, and a patch of hair had been shaved off... she had received four stitches...

Was this woman truly not aware of pain? If it were another woman, she would need to lie in bed for at least ten days.

Yet here she was, still holding a drink.

The first thing Bai Yaxuan did was take the drink out of her hand, his tone serious, "Didn’t the doctor tell you not to eat stimulating foods?"

"Alcohol isn’t food, and today is my birthday, I’m happy." Gu Xiaoxi tried to reach for another cup, but Bai Yaxuan grabbed her soft hand.

Gu Xiaoxi reflexively pulled her hand back.

With Bai Yaxuan around, she was bound to be under his control, so she might as well not drink at all.

"Go get the cake!" Gu Xiaoxi commanded the waiter directly. Let’s disperse after eating the cake. She had planned to get thoroughly drunk with Bai Yu, but it seemed that was no longer possible.

Soon, a beautifully crafted six-layer cake was wheeled in, adorned with twenty-one candles symbolizing that she had grown another year older.

Thinking carefully, she realized she had already spent a year and a half in this world. Although her life wasn’t very rich, it wasn’t too bad either.

When it was time to blow out the candles, Bai Yu told her to make a wish.

Gu Xiaoxi looked at the wedding ring on her finger that simply wouldn’t come off and silently wished it would disappear by the next morning.

After blowing out the candles, everyone symbolically ate a bit of cake, and then the first to leave were Dongfang Le and Dongfang Lin.

The siblings had been silent all evening, not saying a word.

After Dongfang Le left, no one else seemed inclined to go.

Mi Xi had prepared a new gift for her, saying that he had someone deliver it to her dormitory.

"Everyone keep having fun, I’m going to take Xiao Xi to the hospital," Bai Yaxuan said without elaboration, as the birthday party was nearly over.

With that, he pulled Gu Xiaoxi out of the door.

Not only did Bai Yaxuan forcefully take Gu Xiaoxi to the Military Region Hospital for treatment, but he also made her stay in the hospital until her injuries were healed before allowing her discharge.

She couldn’t refuse Bai Yaxuan’s orders.

Gu Xiaoxi lay restlessly in bed, unable to sleep; too many things had happened today, and she had almost forgotten the pain from the four stitches in her forehead.

When she calmed down, confronted with the stark white of the hospital room and the scent of disinfectant in her nose, she realized the wound felt like countless iron needles jabbing repeatedly, causing pain.

It wasn’t particularly deep, yet it endlessly tore at her heart, slowly seeping the pain into her very soul.

"Get up and take the painkiller, it’s what the doctor prescribed for you," Bai Yaxuan said as he walked in and sat by her bed. The woman in front of him was slightly pale due to the pain, inducing pity when she was obedient, but he felt helpless when she wasn’t.

"Leave it there, I’ll take it in a bit."

Bai Yaxuan was silent for a moment, "Regardless, you don’t take good care of yourself. I think it’s better to have the driver pick you up and stay at home at night. Staying at the school, you’re always led astray by Bai Yu."

Bai Yaxuan placed the medication on the nightstand by the bed. Gu Xiaoxi, holding her phone and playing a game, hoped to distract herself from the pain.

"I’m quite comfortable living at school, and now it’s very late. You should go back and rest!" Gu Xiaoxi said while playing her game.

Bai Yaxuan watched her cold profile for a long while before standing up and instructing, "I’ll have Qiao Wan come to keep you company. Don’t run around before your wound heals. I’ll come to see you tomorrow at noon."

"If you’re busy, there’s no need! I’ll have Bai Yu come keep me company tomorrow."

Bai Yaxuan fell silent, his expression darkening as he said, "Hang out with her less. Girls should know to respect and love themselves."

Upon hearing this, Gu Xiaoxi suddenly put down her phone and glared at Bai Yaxuan, "You’re the last person who should be saying this.

Luo Yiyan is your man; you know his temperament better than anyone.

Have you ever cared about Bai Yu’s situation?

What gives you the right to say she doesn’t respect and love herself? "

She was angry!

In this world, perhaps only love was the most humble, and Bai Yu, obviously a strong yet gentle person, repeatedly tolerated and indulged the scumbag Luo Yiyan in the face of love!

As her own brother, not only did he not help his sister, but he spoke like this!

"If you don’t understand anything, don’t jump to conclusions," Bai Yaxuan spoke with his typical indifferent gaze, "I’m just reminding you not to follow her lead in smoking and drinking."

Afterward, he declared with certainty, "I know you are prejudiced against me, and I’ve thought about it.

I’ll give you three more years, until you graduate from college.

Then we’ll properly discuss our situation.

During this time, I’ll give you ten chances, if you cause trouble again, you will have to come home every night. "

After all, he couldn’t rest easy with her running wild outside; even with the best precautions, the world outside always had gaps.

After Bai Yaxuan left, Gu Xiaoxi put down her phone and took the medication.

In the elevator afterward, Bai Yaxuan ran into Quan Shaoqing.

Obviously, it was an unexpected encounter, and both were briefly startled.

"A year has passed, and you haven’t changed a bit!" Quan Shaoqing said, his hand casually in his pocket, with a cold smile.

Bai Yaxuan, unfazed, responded, "The same goes for you! But congratulations on your upcoming marriage."

Quan Shaoqing smiled faintly, "Are you really sincere with that? Aren’t you afraid I’ll join forces with the Chen Family and take everything from you?"

"Oh! If you have the ability, then go ahead and try. If you can take it, then that’s your capability!" Bai Yaxuan said, seemingly uncaring.

Quan Shaoqing closed the elevator door and pressed the button for the first floor. Then, he spoke indifferently, "What about her? Do you think I could take her away?"

As his words fell, the atmosphere immediately hushed, even the air seemed to still and congeal.

Only the faint sound of the elevator sliding could be heard.

Bai Yaxuan clenched his fingers, they say when you love someone, your heart becomes sensitive.

He felt the same way, sensing Gu Xiaoxi’s resistance towards him. He could sense that, even though she had minimal contact with Quan Shaoqing, there was an indescribable closeness between them that made him want to destroy everything about Quan Shaoqing every time he thought of it.

"I won’t give you the chance!" Bai Yaxuan spoke with an equally imposing air, not at all inferior to him.