Deep Fog Kiss

The man did not get up or turn to look at her. His cold face was expressionless, but his eyes were chillingly cold.

Yu Wanqing clenched her hands. Even when Gu Zhishen was angry, he only showed it to Jiang Li.

Jiang Li tilted her head back and drank the red wine in her glass in one gulp.

She suddenly leaned forward, her long hair brushing against the man's profile, a faint fragrance wafting over.

Gu Zhishen stiffened as he saw her bend down and pick up the decanter from the table.

Jiang Li's wrist was suddenly pressed down, and she gasped for breath.

That hand with its distinct knuckles gripped her wrist tightly.

I used so much force that it hurt her.

She turned her head and met the man's deep, ocean-like eyes.

"If you can't drink, then don't drink. Why show off?"

Gu Zhishen's voice was cold, and his face was expressionless.

Jiang Li smiled, "How can I not drink for such a joyous occasion as my uncle's wedding?"

She secretly pulled her hand away and poured herself another glass of wine.

This cup should be offered to Yu Wanqing.

She straightened up, raised her glass, and looked at Yu Wanqing.

The other person looked at her with a smile, but their eyes held a murderous glint.

Jiang Li smiled faintly, "This glass of wine..."

Yu Wanqing looked at her smugly, waiting for the moment she would hear her call her "little aunt" so she could slap her face hard.

"Respect, little one..."

Before she could even utter the word "aunt," Jiang Li suddenly smiled, the meaning of which was ambiguous.

The next second, the wine glass in her hand tilted, and red wine splashed onto Yu Wanqing's expensive clothes. Yu Wanqing exclaimed and took two steps back.

In an instant, the crisp sound of a glass shattering echoed through the large restaurant.

Jiang Li's body went limp and she collapsed.

"Ginger Pear!"

"Xiao Li!"

"Sister Pear!"

The moment Jiang Li collapsed, she finally heard the man call her name.

As she closed her eyes and fell into darkness, she finally found herself in that warm and broad embrace.

A crisp, refreshing aroma, a familiar temperature.

The rhythm and sound of my heartbeat were incredibly familiar.

......

"Miss Li fainted because she was already chilled, had a high fever and was too weak, and then suffered from unbearable lower abdominal pain."

Outside the room, the private doctor spoke softly, "The alcohol has only exacerbated her pain."

"It's my fault. I was the one who made Xiaoli offer the toast." The old lady looked worried. "That child is really something. Why didn't she say anything when she wasn't feeling well? She's had a fever all day and didn't say a word. How long was she planning to tough it out?"

She asked with concern, "When will she wake up?"

"It's hard to say," the doctor said. "She's quite weak right now, so we should let her rest more."

"Mom, let me take you back to your room to rest first," Feng Suqin said gently. "I'll tell you when Xiaoli wakes up."

The old lady turned to look at Yu Wanqing, who was standing at the door, staring intently at the closed door.

"Wanqing," the old lady called to her, "you were frightened just now too, weren't you?"

Yu Wanqing snapped out of her reverie and smiled gently, "Little Pear's illness came on quite suddenly."

She had no choice but to fall ill just when she was discussing marriage with Gu Zhishen.

She really underestimated Jiang Li; she has so many tricks up her sleeve!

"This child has always been like this since she was little. She likes to bear her illnesses on her own, but when she can't bear it anymore, she just collapses." The old lady sighed with heartache and looked at the red wine stains on Yu Wanqing's clothes. "Wanqing, I'll have someone take you to change into some clean clothes."

"No need, Grandma Wang." Yu Wanqing glanced at the doorway. "I'm worried about Zhishen watching over her alone in the room. He's a grown man and doesn't understand anything. I'll stay here and watch over Little Pear."

The old lady smiled and waved her hand, took her hand, and led her away. "You don't know, when Xiaoli was sick before, it was always Ashen who took care of her by himself. He's used to it and doesn't like having another person around."

Yu Wanqing was somewhat surprised, "Did Zhishen always guard it himself before?"

The old lady's voice faded into the distance, "He was truly devoted to taking care of Xiaoli. He'll be a good father to you both when you get married and have children..."

......

Inside, blackout curtains blocked the glaring sunlight from outside, making the room somewhat dim.

The man sat on the sofa by the bed, his gaze fixed on the person lying quietly on the bed.

Even when she was asleep, she seemed uncomfortable; her eyebrows were slightly furrowed, her breathing was somewhat rapid, and an unusual flush appeared on her pale face.

The man frowned slightly, raised his hand, and gently touched the other person's cheek with the back of his hand; it was still hot.

"dad......"

The person on the bed suddenly let out a soft moan, "Dad..."

Gu Zhishen looked at her moving lips, leaned forward, and asked, "Jiang Li?"

"Daddy..." Jiang Li slept restlessly, her brows furrowed, repeatedly calling out, "No..."

"do not leave Me......"

"Ginger and Pear".

Gu Zhishen lowered his voice, his deep eyes fixed on her tightly closed eyes.

"grandmother......"

Jiang Li seemed unable to hear his voice, lost in a dream, her voice trembling with tears, "Grandma, don't send me away..."

Her hands were flailing about, as if she were trying to grasp something.

Gu Zhishen quickly took her hand and gently comforted her, "Jiang Li, I'm here."

Jiang Li immediately gripped his hand tightly, her fingertips squeezing his palm hard, "Don't leave me, don't leave A-Li..."

She sobbed with her eyes closed, "...I'll be good, I'll be obedient, please don't abandon Ah Li."

She cried pitifully, tears streaming down her face and soaking into her pillow.

Gu Zhishen sighed softly, raised his hand to wipe away the tears from the corner of her eyes, and gently stroked the back of her hand with his fingertips. "No one wants to see you off."

"Don't leave me..." She sobbed, clutching his hands tightly to her chest, "Don't leave Ah Li..."

Looking at her vulnerable appearance, Gu Zhishen gently stroked her hair and said in a tender tone, "I won't abandon you."

As if she had heard a promise, Jiang Li finally calmed down, still holding onto Gu Zhishen tightly, but tears kept streaming down her face.

Her tears seemed endless, and Gu Zhishen raised his hand to wipe them away, his fingertips damp with tears.

"Still such a crybaby."

He let her hold his right hand and gently tucked the blanket around her.

......

Six years ago, at the Gu residence.

The girl stepped out of the car. Her pure white shirt made her fair skin look like porcelain. The hem of the shirt was tucked into a blue pleated skirt, outlining her slender waistline. Below the skirt, her two long legs were straight and thin.

Her long hair was tied into a high ponytail, and a sweet smile graced her delicate and charming face.

She ran briskly into the courtyard of the house, facing the sunlight.

"Oh, you seem to be having a great time today?"

Just as they arrived at the front yard, Yuan Wei's voice came from the pavilion not far away.

Jiang Li stopped and respectfully greeted her, "Hello, Auntie."

"I heard from Gu Rou that you won the gold medal in the International Business Challenge at school today, and you came back to tell your uncle the good news, right?" Yuan Wei smiled and looked at the girl. "But it's a pity that your uncle didn't come home from get off work today, so he probably didn't have time to see what award you won."

Jiang Li didn't understand what Yuan Wei meant. Today was Friday, and as usual, her uncle would come home from get off work on time every Friday and take her out to eat on the weekend.

She was also planning to share the news of winning the award today with her uncle.

"Didn't he tell you? He has a dinner party tonight." Yuan Wei sipped her tea leisurely. "It's with the heiress of the Su Group. Miss Su is going to Australia, and it seems she wants Zhi Shen to go with her."