Gu Ling angrily kicked a pile of grass by the roadside:
"It turns out we already checked that cave. Ah Gou, along with all the things we left for him, was gone. He's a man with a broken leg—could he have flown away?"
"It must have been Su Qiao who took him away. They might even be nearly home by now, while the rest of us are still running around searching everywhere like idiots."
Gu Han glanced at the others, who had fallen silent, then gritted his teeth. "If you're not looking, I'll look."
Gu Ling shot to her feet in anger. "Brother, why don't you understand?"
"Su Qiao secretly went back for Ah Gou. That alone proves he holds a significant place in her heart."
"Ah Gou has been by her side for five years. He followed her everywhere every day—even to school, where they were in the same class.
"They grew up together. Maybe they pledged themselves to each other long ago. You..."
"Shut up."
Gu Han had already been in a foul mood after failing to find Ah Gou in the cave.
During all these days of searching, he had constantly heard remarks like that. They instantly ignited the fury in his heart.
At that moment, not a trace of his former sunny cheerfulness remained between his brows. Only gloom and malice were left.
"Ah Gou is nothing but a servant of the Su family. How could he possibly be worthy of Su Qiao? And how could Su Qiao ever take a liking to him?"
"If you don't want to search anymore, then don't. But don't you dare say any more of that nonsense and slander Su Qiao, ruining her reputation."
"You...?"
Looking at her stubborn brother, who was as bullheaded as an ox, Gu Ling was