I raised stunning young ladies, but they all wanted to possess me.

Gu Yan was holding her coffee cup to her lips when she heard this, and her hand trembled so violently that she almost spilled the coffee.

He choked on the coffee he swallowed, coughing several times until his face turned red.

"No...it's not appropriate, absolutely impossible, don't talk nonsense." His voice was urgent and harsh.

Fu Wanqing squinted at him, her smile carrying an indescribable quality.

"Really? But how could any man not be attracted to my sister? She's so beautiful and so capable."

"Countless men in the entire Great Xia Dynasty want to marry her. I don't believe you're not tempted."

Gu Yan put down her coffee cup and looked at her, her expression serious, without a hint of joking.

"That's someone else, not me. If I say it's impossible, then it's impossible. Don't ask that kind of question anymore."

His tone was firm and resolute, not like he was just being perfunctory, but because he genuinely had never even considered it.

Fu Wanqing stared at him for several seconds, a glint of something flashing in her amber eyes, which quickly disappeared.

"Okay, I believe you. If you say it's impossible, then it's impossible."

She stood up and stretched, her slender waist outlining a beautiful curve under the light.

"If you don't want treatment, let's leave. Don't force yourself. I've had enough of this place anyway."

Her tone returned to its light and cheerful manner, as if she were talking about something very simple.

"I'm going to chat with Grandpa, so don't worry about him. Get some rest."

She turned and walked out, but when she reached the door, she turned back and smiled at him. The smile was bright and genuine.

"Goodnight, Master Gu. See you tomorrow. Don't forget to make me coffee; I want sugar and milk."

The door closed, the footsteps faded into the distance, and the corridor returned to silence.

Gu Yan sat in the chair, staring at the closed door, her uneasy feeling growing stronger.

Gu Yan sat in the chair, feeling that Fu Wanqing was acting strangely tonight, like a slice of lemon had been secretly put into a cup of sweet tea. The taste was not quite right, but it just wasn't right.

Why did she suddenly mention Fu Shiwei? Whether she's the female lead or the villain, he doesn't want to have anything to do with that woman. That kind of S-level woman is too dangerous; once you get involved, you can't get rid of her.

He shook his head, trying to stop thinking about Fu Wanqing. His mind started to focus on Cecilia's illness, which was the real problem, like a stone pressing on his chest, making it hard to breathe.

What should I do? Saving her would cost me my life, but not saving her might mean my own death. I was caught in a dilemma, like being roasted on a fire. The fire wasn't big, but it kept burning, and the pain was so intense that I wanted to escape but couldn't.

After thinking it over carefully, he gritted his teeth and decided not to save him. What if Bai Zikong could come back and correct the plot? Why should he risk his life? The original male lead should be of some use, right?

Looking at Cecilia, I've never seen her smile since the day I met her. Her lips are always pursed, and her icy blue eyes are devoid of emotion, like a stagnant pool.

She rarely speaks much. If someone asks her three questions, she's lucky if she answers one. Most of the time, she just nods or shakes her head slightly, as silent as a snow-capped mountain.

The only time he had physical contact with her was when they were riding the Ferris wheel at the amusement park. Chen Sinian asked him to take Cecilia out for a walk to relax, saying it was on the doctor's advice.

When the Ferris wheel reaches its highest point, the lights of the entire city unfold beneath your feet, like a flowing galaxy, so beautiful it seems unreal.

Cecilia peered out the window for a while, then turned to look at Gu Yan. Her icy blue eyes showed neither fear nor discomfort; she simply gazed at him quietly.

She reached out her hand, her fingers long and slender, and gently placed it on his arm without saying a word.

Gu Yan paused for a moment and asked her if she wanted to go down. She nodded without saying anything.

When the Ferris wheel stopped, the door opened. Cecilia didn't push the wheelchair; she just turned to look at Gu Yan, her icy blue eyes as calm as a still lake.

Her eyes made it clear that she was waiting for him to carry her down, not because she was uncomfortable, but because she wanted him to carry her.

Without thinking much, Gu Yan bent down, supported her back with one hand and put the other hand under her knees to lift her up from the wheelchair.

The girl's body was very light, as light as a weightless feather, making him wonder if she had been eating properly.

Her white hair brushed against his chin, cool and smooth, with a faint, pleasant fragrance that he couldn't quite describe.

She nestled in his arms, motionless, without struggling, thanking him, or even glancing at him. She simply stayed there quietly, like a cat that had finally found its home.

Her body was very soft and supple, like a ball of cotton that had been dried in the sun, or a cloud that had just been picked, so soft that one dared not use force for fear of breaking it.

Gu Yan carried her a few steps and could feel her heartbeat through the thin fabric of her clothes. It was slow and steady, just like her personality.

As he put her back in the wheelchair, her fingers pressed lightly against his arm again, with more force than before, as if confirming something.

Then she lowered her head, her white hair falling down to cover half her face, and said nothing, not even thank you.

When Gu Yan pushed her out of the amusement park, she asked her what else she wanted to do. She shook her head and never mentioned that incident again.

But Gu Yan remembered it all—the weight of her body, the feel of her hair, the cool fragrance, and the temperature of her fingers on her arm.

Now she lies in bed, too weak to even open her eyes, her breathing so light and weak, the porcelain doll that can neither speak nor laugh is about to shatter.

Gu Yan closed his eyes to try and banish those images from his mind, but the more he tried, the more they flooded back like a tidal wave, overwhelming him and making it hard to breathe.

He suddenly remembered that he had Bai Zikong's phone number; he had added him as a friend before and still had the number saved. He found it after a few searches.

He took out his phone, found the number, tapped it, and dialed. The dial tone went off several times, each ring like a hammer blow to his heart.

The call connected, and Bai Zikong's voice came through the receiver. He sounded very energetic and had no idea what was happening on the other end.

"Master Gu, what brings you here so late? Is there some task you want to give me? Please tell me."

Gu Yan took a deep breath, trying to make his voice sound calm so that the other person wouldn't detect his hesitation.

"Zikong, Miss Chen is sick, very seriously ill. She has been unconscious for several days. Are you aware of this?"

There was a two-second silence on the other end of the phone, then Bai Zikong's voice came through again, without much surprise in his tone.

"Of course I know. Boss Chen is looking for people everywhere. He's made such a big fuss that the whole of Shanghai knows about it. How could I not know?"

Gu Yan was stunned for a moment. Since you know why you didn't come back, that's an important character in your original work. Isn't it only natural for you to come and save her?

He considered his words, and the implied meaning was already quite clear; he was just short of saying "Come and save her" outright.