I Can Shoulder Your Life

Gu Xin did not notice what Toyokawa Shoko was saying.

She had her head lowered, and her voice was far too soft.

"To me, having an employee like you, Shoko, is already a great blessing."

"Boss..."

A warm current surged through the girl's heart. She looked at Gu Xin with gratitude, feeling as though her whole body had become weightless.

Seeing this, Gu Xin pressed on. He truly hoped the girl could emerge from the shadows.

"Shoko, we're actually very alike. I never had a father growing up. My mother raised me all by herself. I originally had a younger sister too, but she was abducted by human traffickers. Then, half a year ago, my mother passed away as well."

Gu Xin spoke of his own experiences, hoping to strike a chord with her.

"Boss, you..."

Toyokawa Shoko froze. She truly had not expected that.

So the boss, who looked so cheerful and kind, was now alone too?

"Ah, by most people's standards, my life has been pretty miserable," Gu Xin said frankly.

"But so what? Shoko, what doesn't defeat us only makes us stronger."

"As for me, I may have lost my family, but I still have dreams. I want to become a legendary card maker and have my name carved into history."

"I want the magic cards I create with my own hands to become symbols of power, sought after and fought over by everyone. That is my dream."

Gu Xin was brimming with spirit. This was also the first time he had revealed his ambitions to someone else.

Perhaps it seemed arrogant to others, but it did not matter.

"If it's you, Boss, then I believe in you!"

Toyokawa Shoko looked at the vibrant young man. The depth of his determination and persistence moved her.

How wonderful, Boss. Though he had also lost all his family, he still had goals and dreams.

And I...

"But... but I have nothing left."

Toyokawa Shoko murmured softly.

"Why would you have nothing?" Gu Xin tilted his head.

"Shoko, you may have lost your father, but you're still alive. And besides, you still have me. I can become your... family."

Gu Xin nearly blurted out, "I can become your father."

"!!!"

Toyokawa Shoko suddenly raised her head, her eyes blazing as she stared at the young man.

"Boss, are you saying...?"

"Since you're my employee now, I have an obligation to take responsibility for you, don't I?" Gu Xin said with a warm smile.

"Shoko, you have to understand that humans are social creatures. Relying on one another, helping one another, working together—this is the natural way to survive."

"If you feel that your life has become bleak and meaningless, and you can no longer find a goal, then rely on me."

"Our fates are so similar. The two of us can become a community bound by fate."

"Shoko, believe me. I can shoulder your life. I'll be your family."

I can shoulder your life! I'll be your family!

Those final two words from the young man echoed endlessly in the blue-haired girl's ears, over and over again.

Toyokawa Shoko's golden eyes trembled slightly, and her breathing gradually grew more rapid.

Boss... Boss, Boss, Boss, Boss!!!

An overwhelmingly powerful impulse rose within the girl. She wanted to pounce on the young man across from her, bury her face in his chest, and use all her strength to meld herself into him.

Why? Why would you say something like that to me?!

At that moment, her once-dark heart seemed to light up, because he had burst into it like the sun.

It was completely filled!

"Shoko, are you okay?"

Gu Xin could not help feeling worried as he watched the girl lower her head and gasp for breath.

No, could it be that his inspirational speech had not worked? It should have. Or was the girl too mature for it to have any effect?

Should he try another one?

But what was with that heavy breathing? Could she be having an asthma attack??

It seemed he would have to take her for a full physical examination. She might have some hidden illness.

"Shoko?"

Seeing that Toyokawa Shoko's "symptoms" still had not subsided after quite a while, Gu Xin called out to her again.

After a long time, the girl finally calmed down, and her breathing gradually steadied as well.

"Yes, I'm fine. I feel... really good right now."

The golden-eyed girl raised her head, and an unprecedentedly radiant smile bloomed across her fair, flawless, delicate face.

Like a rose in full bloom, it was beautiful—so beautiful that even Gu Xin was momentarily stunned.

Because he could tell that the trace of grayness deep in Toyokawa Shoko's eyes over the past two days had vanished.

He could see it clearly—his reflection was plainly visible in Shoko's eyes.

That was good. You've finally stepped out from the shadows of the past.

Looks like my chicken-soup-for-the-soul skills aren't bad after all, Gu Xin thought, giving himself a mental thumbs-up.

He had saved another lost girl spiritually and emotionally today. As expected of Gu Xin, the great philanthropist.

"Shoko, you really look beautiful when you smile."

Gu Xin praised Toyokawa Shoko.

"Thank you. Boss, you're really handsome too."

Toyokawa Shoko's eyes curved into crescents. Her pretty face was slightly flushed, but she still boldly replied.

Mm, she was hinting at something.

"Tell me something I don't know." Gu Xin rolled his eyes.

Toyokawa Shoko realized what he meant and could not help covering her mouth as she giggled. Her boss really was narcissistic, but... he wasn't wrong.

The girl's beautiful eyes were bright and glistening, yet her gaze never left the boy's face.

How had she never noticed before? Her boss's face was actually this handsome. She wanted to look at it for the rest of her life...

It was fine. Her boss had already said it—they would rely on each other as family from now on. They would be a community bound by fate!

So they would stay together forever. Forever...

"Shoko, let's eat. If we wait any longer, the food will get cold."

"Mm-hm."

Gu Xin enjoyed this meal immensely. First of all, Shoko's cooking really was excellent.

Second, he had untied the knot in Shoko's heart, which counted as doing another good deed.

It was just that Gu Xin kept feeling that the way Toyokawa Shoko looked at him was very different from before.

But he could not quite put his finger on what exactly had changed.

Still, he could clearly feel that Toyokawa Shoko had become much closer to him. He could sense it in her tone, expression, and movements.

Before, Toyokawa Shoko had treated him more with respect and politeness, with gratitude toward her savior. But now, that had changed into heartfelt closeness.

That was a good thing too, right?

After dinner, Shoko cleaned up the dishes while Gu Xin received a message.

Of course, he had actually heard the voice already.

"Handsome guy, handsome guy! Is my card ready? Is it real?"

Before she even arrived, Tang Yueyue's energetic and excited voice came rushing in first.

"Keep your voice down. You'll disturb the boss later," Yin Xue said helplessly.

"Tch, I can't be bothered with you. Boss, is my card ready?"

Tang Yueyue did not even spare her friend a glance as she excitedly ran into the shop, full of anticipation.

"That's right, Miss Tang. Take a look and see if you're satisfied."

Gu Xin handed her the custom card Tang Yueyue had ordered.

"Wow!! Purple!"

Tang Yueyue was utterly delighted.