Gu Yangjin's hand flew to her mouth in horror as she watched her father and cousins, bloodied and humiliated, grovel like worms at her feet. Her eyes brimmed with tears again, but this time it wasn't from pain. It was disbelief. Shock. Relief.
"Say it," Qiao Zhi ordered coldly.
"Forgive us, Xing'er…" they croaked out, one by one, the shame in their voices thick and bitter. "We were wrong… Please… we'll never touch you again…"
Qiao Zhi waited until they finished, then turned to Gu Yangjin and gently took her hand, her voice softening. "It's over. Let's go back inside."
Gu Yangjin, dazed, nodded.
The hotel staff had arrived by now, hovering nervously at the doorway. "Miss… Miss Xin, what's going on here?"
Qiao Zhi turned to them with a polite smile, but her eyes were razor-sharp. "These people broke into my room and assaulted me. Please keep an eye on them. None of them are to leave."
"Yes, ma'am!" The staff immediately straightened up.
Qiao Zhi led Gu Yangjin back into the suite, settled her gently on the bed, then turned and stepped out onto the balcony to make a call.
"I just had to deal with some trash. Come to Room 236, Yuancong Hotel. Seven of them. I don't need compensation. I want charges pressed. Drag it out. Make it painful."
When she returned inside, Gu Yangjin was sitting there, looking small and confused.
"I didn't expect you to…" Her voice trembled. "To do all that… for me."
Qiao Zhi crouched in front of her, cupping her bruised cheek with infinite care. "They made you cry. That's reason enough for me to make them crawl."
Gu Yangjin's lip quivered. "You… You're insane."
Qiao Zhi gave her a slow, wicked smile. "Maybe. But I'm your insane."
She pulled Gu Yangjin into her arms, and for a moment, they just breathed together. Heartbeats slowing. The door outside remained closed. Behind it, the once-proud family of Gu Yangjin now lay crushed, silenced, and soon-to-be forgotten.
But here, in this room, Qiao Zhi gently pressed her forehead to Gu Yangjin's and whispered, "No one hurts you again. Ever."
Gu Yangjin nodded against her. "Okay."
"Do you feel something different about all these?" Qiao hi suddenly asked to which Gu Yangjin looked a little confused before answering a little hesitantly,
"No.."
Qiao Zhi nodded before she again asked,
"What's your name, Gu'er.."
Gu Yangjin looked even more confused before saying,
"Xing Huanming… I am the daughter of Xing Jiancai, though I wish to not be, but it is what it is. And my mother is… dead… My father remarried right after my mother's death. In this world, probably only my mother truly loved me."
Gu Yangjin answered Qiao Zhi's question and even said more than she asked because she thought that Qiao Zhi wanted to know more about herself.
Qiao Zhi listened to her words and nodded in understanding but was also heartbroken by her sad expression, so she just quickly kissed her forehead tenderly which immediately dispelled her sadness and then said,
"Then, do you know my name?"
This time, Gu Yangjin looked truly confused but she suddenly had an idea and immediately said,
"Are you asking this because you think I forgot what you said to me that day when you confessed your feelings? Don't worry, I remember everything and I don't fear you just because you are a being from another world. I know that in this life, you are in the body of Ah Xin, the second daughter of the xin family, the Xin conglomerate. I remember all of them. I also remember your real name, Qiao Zhi." Gu Yangjin said quickly with a sweet smile on her face as she leaned towards Qiao Zhi and got into her warm embrace. She must have thought that Qiao Zhi was still feeling a little insecure about their different identities so she again said those to make her feel secure.
Hearing her words, Qiao Zhi simply caressed her back with a smile as she had a certain understanding of how much memories Gu Yangjin retained. In their first life, she had confessed about her true identity to Gu'er in a vague way and it seems that her memories have somewhat changed themselves in a way to adapt to this new world. Her Gu'er must have done it when she had awakened.
Qiao Zhi smiled as she couldn't help but think how smart her Gu'er was.
"Then, one last question, Why do I call you Gu'er but not Xing'er?"
Gu Yangjin heard her question and was silent for a while before she suddenly seemed to remember something and immediately said,
"Ahh!! I remember, You said that in your world, the word Gu'er is used by people who love their lover and want to marry them in the future."
Qiao Zhi was quite stunned by her words and couldn't help but laugh out loud. It seemed that her Gu'er really filled in some weird information within her memories. She never said these things to Gu'er. In fact, in their first life, Gu'er's name was Gu Yangjin, unlike Xing Huanming in this world. But it's good that Gu'er doesn't have any gaps in her memories, otherwise, it would be hard for her to live without a perfect memory no matter whether some of it is made up or not.
After having some light talks, Qiao Zhi called the hotel front desk and asked them to send breakfast for them.
That evening, Qiao Zhi drove them to the heart of the city's financial district, where the Xin Conglomerate's gleaming skyscraper pierced the clouds. "Alright, Gu'er," she said, using the nickname Gu Yangjin found so endearing, "it's time you met my family."
They arrived at a private entrance and were greeted by a discreet doorman who ushered them into a high-speed elevator. As the doors closed, Gu Yangjin stole a glance at Qiao Zhi's profile—so confident, so in control.
On the twenty-fifth floor, the elevator opened into a spacious reception hall decorated in muted shades of silver and plum. Behind a marble desk stood Madam Xin, Qiao Zhi's mother, in a tailored silk blouse. At her side was Mr. Xin, her father, in a dark suit, reviewing documents on a tablet.
"Mother, Father," Qiao Zhi announced with a nod. "This is Gu Yangjin."
Madam Xin's eyes lit up. She swept around, embracing Gu Yangjin with surprising warmth. "Darling, welcome! Qiao Zhi speaks of you constantly."
Mr. Xin lowered his tablet and offered a firm handshake. "A pleasure, Miss Gu. We've heard of your talent—and your courage."
Gu Yangjin blushed. "I—I'm honored to meet you both."
Madam Xin beamed. "I trust our daughter's judgment entirely. You two will make headlines."
Mr. Xin simply smiled and raised an eyebrow. "So, when shall we celebrate?"
Qiao Zhi glanced at Gu Yangjin, whose heart skipped. "Perhaps… soon?"
Madam Xin clapped her hands delightedly. "Excellent! Our executive suite is free next Saturday—we'll host an engagement dinner right here."
Mr. Xin tapped his tablet. "I'll notify the board—and reserve the rooftop terrace. We must have the city lights behind us."
Gu Yangjin exchanged dazzled looks with Qiao Zhi. "Mother, Father… this is all so sudden."
Madam Xin waved her hand. "Nonsense. True love waits for no one. Oh, and I must speak to Xin Luo—she'll be thrilled to refine the guest list."
Qiao Zhi grinned. "Bring her down."
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Thanks for reading.
Stay tuned for more.