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

"Cough cough..."

Chen Sinian bent down to pick up the crumpled paper and carefully asked, "Daughter, what's wrong?"

Are you unhappy or frustrated with your drawing?

As he approached, he noticed a faint blush on Cecilia's fair earlobes and felt something was amiss.

"Is there something you need, Father?"

Cecilia looked up at him, her tone calm. But she noticed Chen Sinian's somewhat hesitant, unsure of what to say.

She understood immediately.

Something's definitely up, and it's probably related to Gu Yan.

"Daughter, look how nice the weather is lately."

"Would you like to go on a trip to relax?"

Chen Sinian rubbed his hands together, a smile spreading across his face.

"Where to?" Cecilia asked directly.

"South Africa!"

Chen Sinian immediately chimed in, his tone almost enthusiastically sales-like, "Things are great over there now!"

"Many top beaches and nature reserves have been developed, and the scenery is superb."

"Moreover, the security level is now very high, making it extremely safe, especially suitable for rest and relaxation..."

"Is Gu Yan going?"

Cecilia pursed her lips, her icy blue eyes fixed on her father.

Chen Sinian was taken aback, then gave a thumbs up: "My daughter is so smart! A brilliant strategist! Nothing escapes your notice!"

But Cecilia waved her hand, her delicate eyebrows furrowing slightly.

She doesn't understand.

If Gu Yan wanted better medical care, why would he go to South Africa, which has world-class medical resources, when Shanghai has them?

If it's for travel and relaxation...

Of course, that's possible.

But Cecilia felt something was off; an inexplicable intuition lingered in her mind.

"Daughter, now that you know..."

"Then I won't disturb your drawing any longer, will I?"

Seeing that his daughter was silent, Chen Sinian felt a little uneasy and cautiously probed.

He turned to slip away.

"etc."

Cecilia's cool voice rang out.

Chen Sinian paused, his heart tightening.

"Mr. Gu...would you agree to let me come along?"

Cecilia turned her wheelchair around to face him, her icy blue eyes devoid of emotion, her voice steady.

Sensing something was amiss, Chen Sinian quickly patted his chest and assured him, "I agree!"

"Of course I agree! Master Gu is overjoyed, saying that with Miss Cecilia traveling with us, the journey will definitely be even more enjoyable!"

Cecilia didn't speak, but just looked at him quietly with a cold gaze.

Chen Sinian felt a little uneasy under their gaze.

What storms hasn't he weathered in his life?

He was never afraid to face the ancient family of Ilona with its millennia-old heritage for Cecilia's mother, or to deal with those ruthless crocodiles in the business world.

But only in front of his daughter did he feel that his thoughts were completely exposed, as if they had been seen through.

"Father, are you...?"

"Did you tell Mr. Gu about what happened to me in Iloilo?"

Cecilia was silent for a moment, then suddenly spoke, her voice lower than before.

She paused, her long eyelashes drooping, concealing the fleeting sadness in her eyes.

"That's why he's always tried to distance himself from me, and that's why he's in such a hurry to go to South Africa, which is so far away."

"Actually, it's because after knowing those things, I felt..."

"You find it troublesome, or you dislike it, right?"

She didn't say the last word of disdain aloud; it just passed through her mind, yet it brought a subtle, persistent pain.

There was even a hint of inferiority that she herself was unaware of.

If Gu Yan really found out.

So today at the amusement park, his deliberate avoidance and his eagerness to distance himself from the situation...

Even his hasty departure at the end can be explained.

Does he think that being close to someone like her would be exhausting?

Is it too troublesome?

Or even think that you are unclean?

Upon hearing this, Chen Sinian quickly waved his hand, "How could that be!"

"How could I have told Master Gu those things!"

"That's your privacy, Dad would never tell anyone!"

"What can't you do?"

Cecilia looked up at him, her voice trembling slightly with suppressed emotion, "Otherwise, why would Bai Zikong be with him..."

"So similar?"

She took a deep breath, her icy blue eyes churning with complex emotions. She tried her best to suppress her sadness and anger, but the surrounding air had already begun to tremble slightly. The glowing leaves in the bamboo forest moved without wind, making a soft rustling sound.

"Father, do you take me for a fool?"

"Daughter, don't get agitated!"

"Don't get excited!"

"That Bai Zikong."

"Bai Zikong is actually quite outstanding; it's probably just a coincidence that we look a bit alike..."

Chen Sinian sensed the change in the invisible magnetic field and panicked, quickly trying to calm himself down.

"Don't mention him to me."

Cecilia interrupted him, her voice turning cold, "If you like him so much, why don't you marry him yourself?"

Chen Sinian was so speechless that his face turned red, and he opened his mouth but couldn't say a word.

Cecilia realized she was genuinely a little angry.

But seeing the childlike expression of guilt and helplessness on her father's face, the nameless anger in her heart slowly subsided.

This is her father, who has always loved and protected her in his own clumsy way.

She shouldn't have lost her temper with him like that.

She exhaled softly, and the subtle magnetic field fluctuations around her gradually subsided.

The bamboo grove returned to quiet.

"I'm sorry, Father."

Cecilia lowered her head. "I'm a little excited."

"Let me be alone."

Chen Sinian nodded quickly, looking at his daughter with heartache: "Okay, okay, calm down."

"Don't overthink it, daughter."

"The person you like, even if Dad..."

"Even if it means resorting to any means necessary, I will definitely keep you by my side."

After saying that, he dared not linger any longer and slowly turned and left the Crystal Bamboo Sea.

Cecilia was left alone in the garden again.

She sat quietly in her wheelchair, raised her wrist, and looked at the pink diamond bracelet that shimmered in the dim light of the bamboo leaves.

A complex emotion lingered deep within his icy blue eyes.

The sharp, stabbing pain in her heart made her breathing rapid.

Why did Gu leave?

Is it really... that you despise yourself?

......

The next day arrived quickly.

Gu Yan woke up naturally, rubbing his eyes groggily as he walked out of the bedroom. He vaguely heard noises coming from the living room.

When I came out, I saw that Shen Youyao had already gotten up and was busy at the dining table wearing a small apron.

A simple breakfast has been prepared.

Golden-fried eggs, crispy toast, and warm milk.

"Youyao, you don't have to get up so early, you can sleep a little longer."

As Gu Yan spoke, she pulled out a chair and sat down. Without even brushing her teeth, she picked up a slice of toast and took a bite. "Thank you for your hard work."

"It's not hard work, Brother Gu Yan."

Shen Youyao quickly waved her hand and whispered.

She secretly glanced at Gu Yan.

Gu Yan had just gotten up, wearing loose light gray pajamas with the neckline slightly open, revealing her clear and beautiful collarbone lines and a small patch of fair skin.

Shen Youyao's heart skipped a beat, and she felt her cheeks getting hot. She quickly looked down at her toes.

She felt something was off about herself; why was she always paying attention to these things?

Just then, a knocking sound came from the door, interrupting Shen Youyao's wandering thoughts.

She silently cursed herself for being shameless.

Gu Yan was enjoying her meal.

To be honest, Shen Youyao's cooking skills are quite good. The fried eggs were cooked to perfection, and the toast was also toasted to a crispy perfection.

In addition, he was really tired yesterday, so he has a big appetite now.

"Youyao, go open the door."

He spoke indistinctly, his mouth full of food.

"Okay, Brother Gu Yan."

Shen Youyao jogged over and opened the door.

Standing outside the door was a middle-aged man she didn't recognize, dressed in a sharp dark suit, with a calm and capable demeanor.