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

"How could that be! Absolutely not! Of course Daddy's on your side!"

"Grasp!"

"They must be arrested!"

"Dad will arrange it right away!"

"I'll definitely bring Gu Yan back to you!"

Chen Sinian wiped non-existent sweat from his forehead, inwardly groaning, but forced to put on an angry and resolute expression.

Having said that, he turned and left the courtyard almost simultaneously, his mind reeling with despair:

Master Gu Yan, oh Master Gu Yan!

I'm so sorry!

This time... I'm afraid you'll have to suffer again!

My daughter...

Why are you becoming more and more difficult to understand?!

Seeing her father leave the courtyard in a hurry, Cecilia's icy blue eyes looked again at the carefully tended flower garden in the distance.

The flowers are in full bloom under the sunlight, their colors vibrant and full of life.

She had already guessed it.

This so-called charity auction.

From the father's unusual behavior, to the deliberate coincidences and discussions, and then to Bai Zikong's timely appearance and gift of the painting...

The person behind all of this is most likely Gu Yan, the empire's number one psychologist.

twice.

On the verge of complete collapse and self-destruction, it was that seemingly pale and sickly boy who, in a way that bordered on self-harm, forcefully pulled her back.

The Empire's Number One Psychologist...

Well-deserved name.

Cecilia had to admit that despite her experience interacting with Gu Yan...

Especially the unspeakable touching and hiding in the auction house's private rooms.

It made her so ashamed and angry that she almost lost control, but looking back, apart from that shame and indignation, she felt...

Surprisingly, I didn't dislike it at all, in fact...

Overall, it wasn't bad.

The negative emotions and cold despair that had plagued her for years were indeed dispelled considerably after those two encounters, and the heavy burden on her heart was also lightened.

As for Bai Zikong...

Cecilia closed her eyes.

Gu Yan must have specifically sought her out after learning about her past with Lin Yan, right?

They found a lookalike to be a stand-in, arranged a chance encounter and a rescue, and wanted her to fall in love with this stand-in in order to heal her.

He thought... she might rekindle her feelings for that face?

Did he think... she was that cheap?

He really underestimates her that much?!

Cecilia felt an indescribable anger welling up inside her, but even more so, a cold, clear-headedness.

She began to ask herself softly.

Was it really love for Lin Yan?

Now that I've calmed down and thought about it carefully, maybe it's not like that.

She was so lonely back then.

Confined to a wheelchair, trapped under the halo and pressure of being the perfect heir, his heart was already suffocating.

Lin Yan's appearance was like a piece of driftwood that a drowning person grabbed onto; she didn't love that piece of driftwood.

She was just too eager for warmth and support, so much so that she mistook gratitude and dependence for love, which led her to be taken advantage of by such a scoundrel.

Fortunately... I didn't lose anything precious to me.

One should not be too attached to people who only appear briefly.

Perhaps... I really should try to start a new, truly healthy relationship.

We cannot live in the shadow of betrayal forever.

However, that person was definitely not Bai Zikong.

A clear-headed and rational Cecilia Chan doesn't need a body double, nor does she need to prove anything by falling in love with a body double.

What she needs is someone who truly understands her and accepts her completely, someone who allows her to relax and be herself.

Suddenly, images of the auction house's private room flashed uncontrollably through her mind.

The boy's warm breath, the electric-like sensation of his head accidentally brushing against the skin beneath his buttocks, and his later feigned composure while his eyes were actually filled with guilt and evasion...

"Snapped!"

Cecilia clenched her fist and slammed it on the armrest of her wheelchair. Her face, which had just regained its composure, flushed red again.

Her icy blue eyes were filled with a mixture of shame and anger.

They'll touch anything!

After they touched it, they acted like nothing happened!

Do you want to just pack up and run away, without taking any responsibility?

There's no such thing as a free lunch!

"Achoo!"

Gu Yan suddenly sneezed, rubbed her itchy nose, and muttered softly, "Who's talking about me?"

He was standing in the sunlight, carrying a small suitcase.

The warm afternoon sunlight felt wonderful on my skin.

He chuckled softly and shook his head: "I guess I'm overthinking it. I'm just too sensitive."

"No one talks about me anymore."

He looked up at the residential area in front of him.

This is an old-fashioned residential area that looks quite old, with a faded sign hanging above the gate.

"Mingguang Garden".

The building isn't very tall, and the exterior walls are somewhat weathered, but the landscaping is excellent, with dense shade from the trees, making it feel very quiet.

This was the discreet accommodation that Chen Sinian had arranged for him, not far from the amusement park, the next planned battleground.

Gu Yan looked at the three characters "Mingguangyuan" and felt that they looked familiar, as if she had heard them somewhere before.

However, he quickly blinked and put the question out of his mind.

Whether you know them well or not doesn't matter, as long as you have a place to stay, that's fine. Quietness and keeping a low profile are the most important things.

He picked up his suitcase and walked into the residential area according to the address sent by Chen Sinian.

A celebrity like him, who became famous throughout the empire at the age of ten and made the news several times, should theoretically wear sunglasses to conceal himself when he goes out.

However, that was when he was just over ten years old. Now he's eighteen, and he's grown up quite a bit. He's changed a lot, and I doubt many people would recognize him at a glance.

He was too lazy to bother with that.

The neighborhood was quiet, with only the occasional elderly person taking a leisurely stroll. Gu Yan followed the navigation on her phone and walked towards one of the buildings.

Just as he turned a corner—

"Master Gu Yan?! Is it Master Gu Yan?!"

An excited yet somewhat uncertain voice suddenly came from the side.

Gu Yan paused, turning her head in confusion.

A boy in a blue and white school uniform, with a clean and handsome appearance, was standing not far away, his eyes wide open, looking at him with surprise.

The boy was holding several books, apparently on his way home from school.

Gu Yan quickly searched her memory and confirmed that she did not recognize the boy.

It seems... they were fans before?

I never expected that after so many years, I would still be recognized in this old neighborhood.

"It really is you!"

After confirming, the boy was so excited that his face turned red, and he immediately ran over.

"Master Gu Yan! Could...could you please sign your autograph?"

"I...I admire you immensely! You are the bulwark of our Great Xia Empire!"

"He is an idol for all students of psychology!"

He frantically pulled a hard-covered notebook and a pen from his bag and handed them to Gu Yan with both hands, his voice trembling with excitement.

The Wall of the Empire?

Gu Yan's lips twitched almost imperceptibly when she heard this address.

This title... is so cringeworthy! Who came up with it?

He took the notebook and pen, bowed his head to sign it, and said politely, "No, no, you flatter me. I'm not that good."

"What's your name? Are you still in school?"

After signing his name, he handed the notebook back.