Gao Wu: I'll enjoy the benefits, but you'll bear the side effects.

Gao Jie stood firmly in place like a cold, aloof statue, showing no intention of dodging.

His deep, sharp eyes stared intently at Xu Wenfeng like cold stars, as if trying to see through the other's very soul.

Their gazes clashed fiercely in the air, and for a moment, the surrounding air seemed to be ignited by the intense confrontation, as if they both had a strong feeling of wanting to devour each other alive.

The contest in their eyes was more breathtaking than any clash of swords, as if a silent war was quietly unfolding.

Faced with Gao Jie's unyielding and tough attitude, Xu Wenfeng's anger surged like a raging tide, but he was speechless for a moment, not knowing where to begin.

His lips trembled slightly, as if something was stuck in his throat, but his eyes revealed an expression more terrifying than pure anger—a complex look mixed with helplessness, resentment, and deep hatred.

He knew that Gao Jie was not someone who could be easily intimidated or subdued, and that no matter how much anger he vented, it would seem powerless at this moment.

However, Xu Wenfeng was also very clear in his heart that he was facing Gao Jie, a person who was always stubborn and decisive in his eyes.

Even if he lets his anger burn wildly within him, it will likely be difficult to change the current situation, and it will not be of any real help in finding his daughter.

He clenched his teeth so tightly it seemed he would break them. After a painful internal struggle, he simply gave up on this pointless emotional outburst.

Because he understood that even if this emotion spread throughout his body like a surging wave, what benefit could it bring him other than making him lose his mind and fall into a more passive situation?

At this moment, Gao Jie slightly raised his chin and said coldly.

"I've made myself clear about what I should have told you, and I've also made myself clear about what I shouldn't have told you. If you keep pressing me, don't blame me for being ruthless."

His voice cut through the tense air like an ice scalpel, cold and sharp.

"I don't care what you're plotting in your heart, or what schemes you're scheming, my past entanglements with Xu Rourou are completely severed, and all ties with you are severed from this point forward. As for what happens to Xu Rourou afterward, that's none of my business. Do you understand?"

Xu Wenfeng was so angry that his face turned red and the veins on his forehead bulged.

He glared fiercely at Gao Jie, then angrily waved his hand and turned to leave with his men.

His departing figure carried a deep sense of resentment and indignation, as if telling of his helplessness and humiliation.

After Xu Wenfeng left, Sister Wen frowned slightly, a hint of worry in her eyes, and looked at Gao Jie.

"You really shouldn't have said those things. You angered him so much. Given his vindictive nature, he definitely won't let you off easily. If things really escalate to that point, you'll be in big trouble."

Gao Jie simply shrugged, a nonchalant expression on his face, and calmly said...

"It's alright. Even without today's incident, he wouldn't have let me go. Considering all the past grievances, the conflict between us is already deeply rooted. So what do I have to fear?"

He paused slightly, a thoughtful look flashing in his eyes.

"Furthermore, Xu Wenfeng is no longer in charge of Jincheng City. He must have offended some powerful figure and is now in a precarious situation. So I don't need to worry too much about him causing harm to my parents."

Gao Jie crossed his arms, tilted his head slightly back, and his eyes revealed a hint of determination.

"Moreover, I am certain that Xu Wenfeng would not do something as despicable as harming my parents. On the one hand, although he has a strong personality, he is not the kind of person who would stop at nothing or be heartless; on the other hand, Xu Wenfeng obviously has more urgent matters to deal with right now, otherwise why would he be in such a hurry to find Xu Rourou? There must be a more complicated reason behind this, and he simply has no time to think about revenge against me."

Therefore, considering all these circumstances and inferences, Xu Wenfeng is now clearly in a predicament that is more severe and difficult than any life crisis he has ever experienced.

As for the specifics of this crisis, Gao Jie had no desire to investigate; he was only focused on his current situation and how to deal with it.

At that moment, Xu Wenfeng, who was in a daze, stumbled as he got into the car and almost fell to the ground in a sorry state.

This unexpected situation filled him with even more anger and resentment towards the place that had brought him so much trouble and humiliation.

He slowly turned his head and looked at the house behind him. A complex feeling, hard to describe, welled up in his heart.

It was a feeling mixed with doubt, resentment, and a vague unease, yet he had no idea how to express this inner turmoil and confusion in words.

Xu Wenfeng stared blankly at the dark house without any lights, his mind racing with thoughts. He seemed to be racking his brains trying to figure out how to explain things to the Qin family in a clever way so as to avoid suffering more severe retaliation and harassment.

He was well aware of the Qin family's power and methods, and knew that if he did not handle things properly, he would be doomed.

After a very long time, he seemed to finally come out of a long and painful reverie. He sighed helplessly, feeling deep down that he had probably exhausted all his ideas and could no longer think of any effective solutions.

So, disheartened, he strode away and hurriedly left this place that filled him with sorrow.

He never expected that his daughter, whom he longed for day and night and tried every means to get back, was actually hiding safely in the building behind him.

However, Xu Rourou has her own firm beliefs and pursuits. She does not want to become a victim of her father's balancing of interests, so she would never do anything for her father against her own will.

In her mind, her life should be in her own hands, not controlled by others.

So, this matter ends here. Xu Rourou decided to stop considering so many complicated factors and didn't want to observe the various changes and conflicts around her that were irrelevant to her.

As for other issues, those are things that others could never have imagined or could hardly have imagined. She just wanted to maintain her inner peace and freedom in this little world that belonged to her.

Just then, the door was gently pushed open, and Gao Jie walked in, carrying two bottles of water steadily in both hands.

The house was well-stocked with all kinds of daily necessities, including fresh vegetables, freeze-dried vegetables for emergencies, a wide variety of cold drinks and snacks, fresh and tempting fruits, and even some delicious canned fruits.

Gao Jie made such meticulous preparations because he was worried that if he couldn't get here in time due to some unforeseen circumstances, the girl wouldn't be left in a state of hunger and distress.

"Thank you, Gao Jie."

Xu Rourou said softly, her eyes revealing a hint of gratitude and warmth. In this somewhat difficult situation, Gao Jie's meticulous care and silent dedication made her feel a long-lost sense of peace and comfort.

"I treated you so badly before, I never expected you to help me like this now, I'm really touched, can you forgive me? I did so many things I shouldn't have done before."

Upon hearing Xu Rourou's words of gratitude, Gao Jie's face broke into a gentle smile, a smile that conveyed sincerity and composure.

"I didn't take it to heart at all. Besides, if it weren't for you, I probably wouldn't be in this situation now."

Gao Jie shook his head slightly, lost in his memories, and slowly said.

"Coming to Nanjing to study was something I never imagined in my life. It used to seem like an unattainable dream. But now it has come true, and I really have to thank you."

His eyes held a hint of emotion, as if all the difficult yet opportunistic experiences of the past were flashing before his eyes.

The two exchanged a smile, a smile that held a unique understanding and warmth, and then sat down together.

Gao Jie's smile faded, his expression turned serious, and he recounted in detail the entire incident of Xu Wenfeng causing trouble here.

"It seems your dad is facing some kind of crisis, and judging from his attitude, he's desperate to take you away. He probably has some unspeakable difficulties. Fortunately, Sister Wen helped out; her words calmed the situation and prevented him from successfully taking you away."

Gao Jie frowned, recalling and analyzing as he went.

"Moreover, I suspect that this matter has a lot to do with you. After Sister Wen brought up the Qin family, he immediately backed down. I think it's because he was afraid that the Qin family would find out something. Maybe there are complicated interests involved and secrets he doesn't want the Qin family to know."

As Xu Rourou listened to Gao Jie's words, she slowly stood up. Her movements were heavy, as if she were carrying a heavy burden.

She slowly walked to the windowsill, which was completely covered by thick curtains, making the whole room somewhat dark. From here, she couldn't see the outside scenery at all, just like her current uncertain future, which was devoid of any light.

Xu Rourou also sighed helplessly, her sigh filled with heartache and pain. Faced with Gao Jie's questions, she knew she could no longer hide it and had to tell the truth.

"Actually, I didn't want to hide this from you. It's nothing special, but since things have come to this, I might as well tell you the truth."

Xu Rourou's voice was choked with sobs, and her eyes were slightly red.

"Actually, my dad has already married me off to that stupid son of the Qin family. My life hasn't even begun, and it's already destined to be a tragedy. Do you know what kind of life I'm living now? It's a life of endless pain and despair every day. I'm completely on the verge of collapse every day. I've imagined many different future lives, but I never imagined it would turn out like this. What do you call this? This is the biggest collapse ever!"

Her body trembled slightly, as if just talking about it would plunge her back into that terrible, painful emotion.

"So I don't want to accept my fate. I know I still have a chance to fight, but if I really miss this chance, I'll never have another one. Do you understand?"

Xu Rourou raised her head, her eyes revealing a hint of stubbornness and determination, and looked at Gao Jie.

"Actually, I'm quite grateful to you. Without you, I wouldn't be where I am now. Without you, I wouldn't have given up. I'm truly thankful to you."

Upon hearing this, Gao Jie was taken aback at first. Then, he inexplicably felt that the other party's words didn't seem like gratitude, but rather a warning, and vaguely implied that all the blame was being placed on him. He frowned slightly, a look of doubt on his face.

Xu Rourou seemed to sense Gao Jie's thoughts, smiled, and gently shook her head to indicate that she didn't mean anything by it.

She slowly approached Gao Jie and gently pressed her face against his shoulder, as if seeking comfort, or as if conveying her inner trust and reliance.

"Don't overthink it. I didn't mean anything by it. I just want to treat you like an older brother. My biggest wish in this life is to have an older brother who will help me no matter what happens."

Xu Rourou's voice was very soft and gentle, carrying a hint of longing, yet also revealing endless sorrow.

"But things are different now. I don't know how to continue down this path anymore. I even feel like I'm facing a breakdown, a breakdown that could kill me, you know?"

Looking at Xu Rourou, who was so fragile and helpless, Gao Jie felt a pang of pity. He nodded to indicate that he knew everything.

Then he gently reached out and tenderly gathered the poor man's hair, as if comforting an injured child.

I just hope this young man will be luckier than me, that he won't be controlled by his parents, that he can break free from the shackles of fate, and pursue his own happy life.

Xu Rourou was still immersed in her grief, recalling the bewildered look in her father's eyes. That look seemed to contain helplessness, yet also a resolute determination. All sorts of complex emotions intertwined, making her heart ache even more.

She didn't even know what to say. She felt a wave of collapse rising from her heart, a feeling of collapse that overwhelmed her like a tidal wave, making it almost impossible for her to breathe.

The matter seemed to have come to an end, but the heavy atmosphere still lingered in the room for a long time.

After a long while, Gao Jie quietly withdrew from the room, his heart heavy.

At that moment, Huang Xu was sitting on a chair outside, intently looking at something, when he suddenly shouted in frustration.

"Ugh, this is so annoying!"

The irritating sound seemed particularly jarring in the somewhat oppressive environment.

It seemed to be venting the complex and frustrating atmosphere of the moment.