Little Sweetheart

Gu Siyi hung up after chatting with Zheng Peipei, without revealing the details of the matter. Zheng Peipei had already been tormented enough by her own long-distance relationship woes, and Gu Siyi feared that her friend's intense emotions would cloud her judgment.

After some thought, Gu Siyi found time to call her parents. In crucial moments, her parents were still the people she trusted and relied on most.

Gu Siyi called and explained the situation. Gu Zhiyuan had put the call on speakerphone, so both he and Xu Jiahui could hear.

"Professor Xu asked me to persuade him, but I'm so conflicted… I don't want him to go abroad!" Speaking to her parents, Gu Siyi's voice grew thick with unshed tears. "We're so happy together, why should we be separated? My friend Peipei and her boyfriend are in a long-distance relationship, and she's heartbroken every single day…"

Gu Zhiyuan asked, "If you're unwilling, why are you conflicted and asking for our opinion?"

"Because I think it's a good opportunity for him. He can pursue further studies at a better institution, meet more influential people, and connect with world-class expertise. Even if he's a genius, he still needs refinement. I want him to live a more vibrant and fulfilling life."

"So you support him going abroad, but you're struggling to accept it emotionally, is that right?"

"…" Gu Siyi was silent for a few seconds, then hummed in agreement.

"Siyi, Dad is truly happy for you."

"…Huh? Why?" What was there to be happy about in such a difficult situation?

"Because you've found someone you love selflessly."

"…"

"It's love, not just infatuation. You're not clinging to present happiness, trying to hold him back. You're thinking about his future and his career. You want what's best for him, even if it means paying a price yourself."

"…" Gu Siyi listened quietly.

Gu Zhiyuan continued, "When I quit my job to start my own business, I had nothing. Your mother supported me without hesitation. If she had opposed it, I would have stayed in the system, earning a stable but mediocre income, and our family would have just drifted along. But she understood my drive and ambition, and she also understood the constraints I felt at my job. To ease my burden, she went back to work after you were born, building a safety net for our family. In the early days of my business, I traveled all over, and your mother and I were often apart. But we made it through, didn't we?"

Xu Jiahui added, "Life is a long journey. It's best not to settle for the status quo when you're young. Challenging yourself and experiencing the wider world is never a bad thing. I admire Xia Zhijun very much, but a significant part of his future development depends on his partner—that is, you."

Gu Siyi exhaled softly and said, "Yes, I understand."

After talking to her parents, her thoughts became clearer, and the obstacles and reluctance in her heart began to dissolve.

However, when she faced Xia Zhijun, he acted as if nothing was amiss and didn't even mention going abroad. Gu Siyi realized he wasn't planning to leave.

Another weekend arrived, and Gu Siyi booked a resort hotel.

After booking, she sent a screenshot to Xia Zhijun.

Gu Siyi: "[Shy][Shy]"

Xia Zhijun: "[Cute]"

Gu Siyi: "Hahahahaha…"

It was the first time she'd seen him use that emoji, and she absolutely loved it!

The aloof genius suddenly acting cute—the contrast was incredibly endearing.

They left on Friday afternoon and arrived at the hotel in the evening.

After dinner, in the quiet and elegant environment, they engaged in passionate lovemaking.

Gu Siyi wanted to indulge him completely, setting a small goal for herself: she wouldn't be the first to surrender.

They played, paused, and cuddled. Late into the night, Xia Zhijun was still full of energy and enthusiasm.

Gu Siyi couldn't hold on any longer. Mentally slapping herself for her lack of stamina, she shamelessly begged for mercy…

The next day, Gu Siyi woke up to find Xia Zhijun had gone out. She didn't even know when he left. There was a handwritten note from him on the bedside table.

As soon as she got out of bed, her legs almost gave way…

Xia Zhijun knew she hadn't slept well, so not only did he not disturb her, but he also prepared breakfast.

A sandwich and a bottle of milk. Although by the time she ate it, it was almost noon.

After working out in the hotel gym, Xia Zhijun returned to the room, refreshed. He found Gu Siyi curled up, leaning back in the chair on the balcony, lazily eating. She looked as if she hadn't fully woken up yet, exuding a languid charm.

He walked onto the balcony, ruffled her hair, sat down opposite her, and looked at her with a smile.

Gu Siyi looked at him quizzically. "What are you smiling about?"

Xia Zhijun smiled back. "Was I smiling?"

Gu Siyi: "Should I get you a mirror so you can see for yourself?"

Xia Zhijun chuckled, sat beside her, pulled her onto his lap, and gently pinched her cheek. "Who made you so adorable, hmm?"

Gu Siyi turned her face away, feigning annoyance. "…You're losing your aloof demeanor, spouting sweet nothings so easily."

Xia Zhijun tilted her face back, but she saw the smile dimpling his cheeks and crinkling his eyes… Meeting his playful gaze, she obediently hugged him and said with a beaming smile, "But I love hearing it! I absolutely love it!"

Xia Zhijun lowered his head and kissed her, the taste of milk still lingering on her lips.

Gu Siyi felt the atmosphere was perfect, with no one else around to interrupt, so she decided to discuss the serious matter.

Leaving Xia Zhijun's embrace, she sat up straight and said, "There's something I want to talk to you about…"

"Are you in trouble?" Xia Zhijun asked, glancing at her.

"…No. I just want to talk to you about you going abroad."

"Me going abroad?" Xia Zhijun looked at her, puzzled. "Who said I was going abroad?"

"Your professor talked to me… Also, I've always thought that with your achievements and talent, and your major, you would definitely go abroad for further studies."

Xia Zhijun smiled faintly. "That's not necessarily true."

"But if it weren't for me, you definitely would go abroad. Right?" Gu Siyi looked at him intently.

Xia Zhijun paused, considered the possibility, and nodded. "Yes."

Before she could speak, he continued, "But the reality is that I have you now. Making that hypothetical assumption is meaningless."

"Which proves that I'm indeed a hindrance to your progress." Gu Siyi's voice was tinged with dejection.

Xia Zhijun frowned slightly. "Who told you that?"

"Does someone need to tell me? Isn't it obvious?"

His face darkened. "Nonsense."

Gu Siyi took a deep breath and, despite his displeasure, said, "I truly hope you'll go abroad for further studies…"

"Why?" He stared directly at her. "Isn't it good the way things are now?"

"Our lives are still long. I want you to see more of the world and learn more while you're young." Gu Siyi met his gaze without flinching. "I want you to become an even better version of yourself, not to be held back by me."

Gu Siyi paused, then continued, "I'll really be okay. You don't have to worry about me. I promise I'll stay here and wait for you to come back."

After she poured out her thoughts, silence fell. Then Xia Zhijun spoke. "I understand what you're thinking. Now, will you listen to what I have to say?"

"Oh… Go ahead."

"I do care," he said, looking at her, his voice deep. "I just don't want to leave. Can you understand that?"

"…"

"I listened to you once before. This time, can you listen to me?"

"But…"

"No buts. I know myself better than you do. I'll make my own decisions."

"…"

Xia Zhijun stood up, hands in his pockets, and walked to the railing, gazing into the distance. He didn't speak again.

Because of this discussion, the atmosphere became tense. His face was grim, his tall figure like an iceberg, radiating a chilly aura.

Gu Siyi felt a little overwhelmed.

After a while, she quietly walked behind him and slowly reached out, wrapping her arms around him.

Resting her head against his back, she said softly, "Don't be angry…"

"I'm not."

"Yes, you are… Don't lie…"

"…"

"So fierce! You're scaring your baby to death."

"…"

He turned around, and she looked into his eyes, her expression pleading. "I'll kiss you, and then you won't be angry anymore, okay?"

Xia Zhijun didn't respond, but Gu Siyi stood on tiptoe and kissed his cheek.

She smiled brightly. "Okay, that's over now. You're not allowed to be angry anymore!"

"…" Her smile did indeed dispel the frustration in his heart like smoke.

He lifted her chin. "You think that's enough?"

"…Then what else do you want?"

"At least some compensation." He scooped her up into his arms and carried her towards the bedroom.

Gu Siyi kicked her legs playfully. "No, no… I haven't recovered yet…"

Xia Zhijun snorted. "I think you're too full of energy to be having these wild thoughts."

"No… Really… I'm not… I can't… Mmm… I'm really going to die…"

But no matter how much she protested, the fact that she'd even entertained the thought of him leaving made him want to thoroughly subdue her.

He watched her writhe beneath him, feeling their bodies merge again and again, and the panic and insecurity that had welled up inside him finally began to subside.

It wasn't just women who needed reassurance; men did too. And he, especially, needed it.

…

After her attempt at persuasion failed, Gu Siyi wisely didn't bring up the topic again.

At least not until a better opportunity or a better approach presented itself. She needed time to process everything.

But the issue continued to gnaw at her. It was like a heavy stone on her heart, impossible to lift or move, weighing her down day after day.

As final exams approached, she found herself distracted and unable to focus on her studies. Coupled with the numerous student council responsibilities, the time she had for quiet revision was pitifully small.

Of course, when Xia Zhijun asked, she still confidently declared that she had everything under control.

Finals arrived as scheduled.

Gu Siyi muddled through the exam week.

Afterward, she had no confidence at all… She could only silently pray for divine intervention.

Xia Zhijun had a research project at the university over the summer, so he had to stay for a while. Gu Siyi stayed with him.

Xia Zhijun specifically booked a suite at the hotel for their convenience.

Shortly after the exams, the grades started to come out.

One evening, after having dinner and returning to the hotel, Xia Zhijun asked Gu Siyi, "How did your exams go?"

"I don't know…"

"Haven't you checked?"

"I haven't had time…" She couldn't exactly admit that she was burying her head in the sand, avoiding the inevitable.

Once in their room, Xia Zhijun opened his laptop, logged into the university's academic system, and pulled Gu Siyi over, prompting her to log in.

Gu Siyi had no choice but to face the music. Amitabha Buddha, maybe she'd get lucky like last semester and scrape through?

However… reality was cruel!

She had failed two courses, and barely passed several others.

This was far worse than she had imagined. She had thought, at worst, she would fail only one…

Gu Siyi's composure crumbled instantly. "Oh my god, how could I be so terrible!"

Xia Zhijun: "…" He was also a little surprised.

"I'm so bad, I won't be able to find a good job… If I can't find a good job, I won't be able to support myself…" Gu Siyi lamented, on the verge of tears.

Xia Zhijun was amused by her dramatic reaction. Playing with her delicate earlobe, he said with a gentle smile, "I'll take care of you."

Gu Siyi's wailing had been mostly for dramatic effect, but Xia Zhijun's words caught her off guard.

Her heart swelled with warmth and happiness…

Gu Siyi turned to look at him pitifully, burying her face in his chest and hugging him. "Waaah, Big Boss, I'm counting on you…"

"However, if you only barely pass every course for four years, you won't have enough credits to graduate and won't receive your degree."

Gu Siyi was stunned. "That bad?"

"So, I'll supervise your studying for future finals and make sure you get some good grades."

Gu Siyi nestled in his arms. "I'm just your burden, dragging you down from high school to university…"

Xia Zhijun chuckled softly. "Being dragged down for a lifetime wouldn't be so bad."

Xia Zhijun spent his days busy in the lab and his evenings checking Gu Siyi's revision, after which they could be intimate… He found this life of living together even better than he had imagined. He almost didn't want the project to end. It was only during holidays that she would stay with him like this.

One evening, Gu Siyi waited for Xia Zhijun to return from the lab and, taking his hand, said, "I found an interesting place. Come with me."

She led him to a secluded path behind the university.

Turning a corner, they were plunged into darkness, with no streetlights to illuminate the way.

Gu Siyi took Xia Zhijun's hand. "Let's walk through here. There's a surprise."

Xia Zhijun, afraid of the dark, instinctively resisted. "No, I don't want to."

"Come on, come on, just indulge me. Would you be comfortable with me walking this path alone at night?"

Gu Siyi held Xia Zhijun's hand tightly, and they slowly moved forward.

The moon was obscured by tall buildings and vegetation. This path was completely devoid of light, pitch black.

The dark path seemed endless, stretching into infinity…

When she had accompanied him up the stairs of the teaching building late at night, there had been at least a few stars and the light from her phone.

This time, there was nothing. This path was unfamiliar and long.

Darkness was a breeding ground for nightmares…

He had once been blindfolded, imprisoned in darkness, beaten and abused… He didn't know if he would die the next second, and he almost wished for death, but it didn't come. All that awaited him was endless torment… He didn't even know who his tormentors were… There was only darkness, inescapable darkness…

After he was finally rescued, he received psychological counseling and remained withdrawn for a long time before recovering. But the fear of the dark had become a deep-seated phobia.

Those memories surfaced uncontrollably. The more he tried not to think about them, the more they intruded, and Xia Zhijun began to break out in a cold sweat…

Gu Siyi sensed Xia Zhijun's unease. She snuggled close to him, wrapping her arms around his waist. Xia Zhijun gripped her arm.

Gu Siyi said, "I'm here."

Xia Zhijun: "Mm."

They continued to walk slowly through the darkness.

He knew she was beside him, and his fear subsided, his mind gradually calming.

As they walked, his grip on her arm loosened slightly. Gu Siyi sensed his relaxation and felt a surge of happiness.

Xia Zhijun: "Are you laughing?"

Gu Siyi: "Mm-hmm."

Xia Zhijun: "Why?"

Gu Siyi: "Because you're talking to me!"

Xia Zhijun: "What's so funny about that?"

Gu Siyi laughed again.

As he relaxed, they unknowingly reached the end of the path.

A faint light appeared ahead, and as they continued, they were suddenly bathed in a dazzling, multicolored glow.

Gu Siyi had arranged for someone to hang colorful lanterns in the trees.

Moonlight filtered down on them, and the surrounding lanterns twinkled.

The scene was even more romantic than she had imagined.

Gu Siyi hugged Xia Zhijun, stood on tiptoe, and kissed him.

He cupped her head in his hands, returning a deep, passionate kiss.

When the kiss ended, Gu Siyi said, "See? It wasn't so bad, was it?"

"Mm," Xia Zhijun replied.

"Going abroad is the same," Gu Siyi said, smiling at him. "Even if we're temporarily separated, I'll still be by your side. Even if we can't see each other, it's like being in the dark, but I'm still there."

Xia Zhijun: "…"

Gu Siyi's eyes sparkled like stars as she looked at him. "I want to be with you every step of the way. Whether we're together physically or pursuing our dreams. Whether it's a smooth path or a dark and muddy one, I'll be by your side, and I won't leave."

Xia Zhijun looked at her for a long moment, then sighed softly, a mixture of exasperation and affection in his voice. "You…"

"Oh, you don't believe me?"

"That's not it."

"With the internet being so convenient, we can communicate every day. How about this, we'll agree to see each other once a month. I'll visit you once, and you'll visit me once. Okay? If I don't come, you can come back and punish me severely!" She looked at him intently.

Xia Zhijun's feelings were complex. He didn't understand what was happening to him. He had always been a strong-willed person with a strong sense of territory, someone whose decisions weren't easily swayed by others. But Gu Siyi, time and time again…

He pulled her into his arms. After a long silence, he murmured, "Do you have some kind of Buddha's Palm holding me captive?"

"…What?"

"Otherwise, how can you control me and make me listen to you?"

"…" Gu Siyi pondered his words for a few seconds, then realized what he meant. Her face lit up with joy as she looked at him, her eyes shining. "Does this mean you agree?"

Xia Zhijun appeared resigned, yet his resignation was laced with indulgence. "Listening to my wife is a good habit." He paused, then added, "Congratulations, you've successfully trained me."

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