Chapter 80: Probe (Part 1)

  The New Year's gift sent to Gu Huan Lian was a handmade piano by Bendrfr. This piano, named "Swarovski Crystal Piano", is inlaid with 9,000 crystals including the world's two largest crystals. Its exquisite materials, precise craftsmanship and pure tone have attracted worldwide attention. At the same time, it is one of Bendrfr's most luxurious and unique top-grade treasures. It was once bought by a mysterious Japanese buyer at an exhibition, after several twists and turns, it finally appeared in front of Gu Huan Lian.

  When Gu Huan saw Ye at night, she was lazily curled up on the sofa, her head hung low, and her soft black long hair cascaded down like a dark waterfall. Her face was as pale as paper, and with that black hair, it made her look even more pitiful.

  "Kitty." At night, he reached out and pinched her chin, making her delicate little face look straight at him. "You picked a good toy for me, but even so, I won't relax my training on you."

  Gu Huan's head was throbbing, she didn't say a word, only coldly smiling, the kind of disdainful and contemptuous smile that made Ye have the urge to strangle her neck in an instant. His hand moved to her neck. The skin there was smooth, icy, and tender like rose petals, if his fingers just applied a little force, her trachea would be crushed by him, bone fragments directly piercing into the airway...

  "Big brother." Gu Huanli's lips turned purple due to lack of oxygen, but she smiled, a fearless smile. Ye felt that her fearlessness was not directed at him, but at death itself. "You who view others as playthings, aren't you also just a puppet in the hands of fate?"

  At the moment when Ye Shuo loosened his grip, Gu Huanli collapsed onto the sofa, covering her chest and taking deep breaths. Her slender hands were weak and boneless, not at all like the hand that had just been imbued with a hint of coldness and sharpness, and also lacked a few points of seductive charm. "What is that woman to the Gu family?"

  Gu Huanli raised an eyebrow and curled up the corner of her mouth, saying slowly, "My most trusted friend."

  "Little wild cat, I should have known that I've already investigated her and was certain that I wouldn't find anything, so I spoke recklessly." At night, thinking about the woman named Liumei, with red lips slightly parted in the darkness, whispering like a gentle breeze, "A?ebsp;me??mn?mn." With her black hair, white skin, and red dress, she was seductive and enchanting, as if she were a flower blooming on the banks of the Yellow Springs.

  "Ling Yue wasn't often in the country to begin with." Gu Huan Li smiled slyly at Ye, her eyes gleaming with a cold, mocking light. "But, uncle forced Ling Yue to be his lover as soon as they met, oh my, this kind of restricted topic is better left unsaid. After all, I'm still an adorable little kid."

  "Kitty, remember, if it's something you like, grab it the moment you see it." Ye Man smiled carelessly and stretched out his hand to pick up Gu Huanli, holding him in his arms. "Have you been taking your medicine properly lately?"

  "Uncle, this trick of giving a slap and then rewarding with two sweet dates doesn't work." Gu Huanli was really angry in her heart, not just for what happened earlier, but also for what happened yesterday. More importantly, she had been scolded by Cassidy's nagging all night until dawn, when he finally showed mercy and let her off.

  "Is that so?" answered Yelan lazily, picking up the warm red tea and taking a sip before continuing, "A 50 million dollar red envelope, Xiao Ye, if you need anything in the future, just come to me directly, no need to have your financial advisor make a scene at my place."

  "Ah, you're talking about Mr. Elrond?" Gu Huanli looked at Ye's calm face and suddenly smiled sweetly, "He's one of the people that Rong Yue trusts the most, it's still too early to say if he's my financial advisor or not. I wonder if Uncle thinks that Barbie dolls also have investment value? I knew it, with Uncle's weird taste in collecting rare things, it's possible that he secretly collects the world's most valuable and one-of-a-kind Barbie doll."

  "Little wild cat, how many times did you call incorrectly just now?" Ye looked at Gu Huanlin quietly, a hint of teasing smile flashed across his icy eyes quickly, but his voice was still calm and indifferent, "From time to time, once got punished and forgot again?"

  "Don't" Gu Huanli was so scared that she immediately jumped up, but Ye caught her back. As for this kind of fear, Ye was not satisfied at all. In an instant, his eyes added a bit of coldness, "This winter vacation, you only have seven days off during the Spring Festival, and for the rest of the time, I will find someone to train you well to distinguish poisonous products."

  "Really?" Gu Huan Lian's scalp was numb this time, she grabbed a corner of the coat on her body and twisted it anxiously, looking up at Ye with unease, "Can I refuse?"

  "America is the world's largest hub for all sorts of drugs, and new ones keep popping up. Most of them originated from there." Yè answered Gù Huàn Lí's question faintly, "Little wild cat, you're a smart person, so you should know what it means to prepare for the rainy day. I don't want you to be framed by others, nor do I want you to spend a lot of time on rehab in the future."

  Gu Huanli raised an eyebrow and said in a low voice, "Night, I have no interest in those things at all."

  "If some people have ulterior motives and deliberately lead you to addiction, then even if you're not interested, you'll be unable to extricate yourself." Ye's hands rested on her shoulders, his thin lips almost touching the earlobe, his faint breath making Gu Huan's ears itch. "This isn't a discussion, it's an order, do you understand?"

  Gradually, Gu Huanli's heart calmed down. The touch of the night, the breath of the night, and the voice of the night all gave her a sense of tranquility that was almost hypnotic. This feeling, different from her brother's, made her feel bewildered and fearful. She looked up at Ye, her pale face showing a childlike confusion and innocence, "Ye, am I thinking everything too simply?"

  He gazed at her in the night, and after a long time, he gently but firmly pulled her into his arms, pampering and doting on her with all his might. "No one can predict everything that will happen, only by making oneself stronger can one have the chance to strangle those hurts in their cradle."

  "Make myself stronger..." Gu Huan Lian Qiao pouted her cute mouth, suddenly lowered her head, and let out a somewhat melancholic sigh. "Ye, does my behavior count as cowardly retreat?"

  The smile in his eyes deepened, he raised his finger and touched her lips, teasingly saying, "Although the film hasn't been edited yet, but after watching the sample clip, I came to a conclusion - you have a natural talent for acting."

  "Really?" Gu Huanli's eyes sparkled with intoxicating radiance, and a shy blush flew up on her pale face. "This is the first time I've been praised by someone other than for my piano skills, thank you, thank you."

  "Why should I thank you?" He pinched Gu Huan's nose gently and sat her down on his lap, his expression soft and doting, a stark contrast to the harshness of just moments before. "Don't worry, I'm just humoring you."

  "It's not necessary." Gu Huanli leaned against the night, like a small baby, muttering to herself, "Reality is far more cruel than lies. Although it hurts, it won't make one's heart turn to ashes. Besides, what's the point of using those embellished words on me?"

  At night, he held Gu Huanli in his arms, but his mind wandered to that woman. Her voice also had a faint melancholy and desolation, which made him feel inexplicably sorrowful. He gently patted Gu Huanli's back as if soothing a baby to sleep, his body swaying slightly. Gu Huanli gradually fell asleep in this gentle rocking motion...

  When she woke up again, the sky was already dark. Gu Huanli opened her eyes and stared directly at the scar on Ye's face. It wasn't until then that she realized she was still sleeping in Ye's arms, and suddenly felt her cheeks burning hot all the way to the roots of her ears. She struggled to escape from Ye's arms but was gently held back by him. All she could do was ask softly, "Aren't you tired?"

  "Your Highness, you're not only not gaining weight, but you've lost a lot. How is it that Gu Tian Xi hasn't been taking good care of you? Do you want to come back with me to Shanjian City?"

  "Spare me." Gu Huanli hastily waved her hand, jokingly. Just escaped from the demon cave and go back again? Is she out of her mind? A hint of cunning flashed in her eyes, Gu Huanli said seriously, "I'm about to have my final exams soon, and I've already promised my brother that after beating America, I'll skip several grades directly to attend seventh grade. So, except for practicing my skills, all my time is spent on studying."

  He laughed wildly at night, gently pinching Gu Huanli's chin, with a few hints of coldness in his eyes. "Little wild cat, I'm afraid seventh grade is still condescending to you."

  Listening to his cold and unpredictable words, Gu Huanli's head hung low, seemingly with a hint of shyness. Her jet-black hair framed her snow-white profile, and she said softly, "I like doing things step by step. Besides, childhood only comes once, and I don't want to be ruined by the so-called 'genius' title."

  "If my 'charm' wasn't a genius, what's the point of staying in Xianli Tian?" Ye's voice was somewhat indifferent, but his hand slowly stroked Gu Huanli's hair, "Don't forget, the promise you made with me."

  Gu Huanli lowered her eyes, and the long eyelashes cast an arc-shaped shadow on her tender face, outlining a desolate expression that tugged at one's heartstrings. She smiled faintly, with a subtle bitterness that couldn't be put into words. "Night, I remember that promise, but please don't use my brother as a bargaining chip. His life, his fate should be decided by himself."

  "As long as you have something of equivalent value to exchange for it, nothing is impossible."

  "So, in your eyes, what is equivalent?"

  "I'm curious, in your eyes, what is equivalent to your most beloved brother?"

  "There isn't." Gu Huanli's voice was light and airy, like a sigh of despair. In this life, she had given up on love to live for family ties alone, so there wasn't anything or anyone more important than her brother in the world.

  "It seems that woman is also valuable to you." Ye smiled lowly, his lips quickly brushing against Gu Huan's cheek, close to her earlobe. "Tell me about her value, I'm very interested in making this exchange."

  "Lingyue is equivalent to me, so if someone wants my life, what will you use as an exchange?" Gu Huanli threw the question back at Ye, knowing that Ye wouldn't discover Lingyue's secret.

  Besides, last night, Cassidy had said to her, "Miss, I'll always be by your side."

  I will always be by your side...

  I will always be by your side...

  At night, when the darkness was just beginning to clear, Gu Huanli had taken a medicinal bath and was leaning tiredly into Cassidy's arms, her soft cheek pressed against his chest. She knew that this heartbeat was only the pulse of his physical body, but he stood with her forever on the same front line.

  Not afraid, not afraid, with him around, nothing is feared...

  She must be able to challenge the night before she is eighteen years old, she will protect her brother, definitely.