More terrible news

I staggered back a few steps, barely keeping my balance.

In that instant, it felt as though all the strength had been drained from me. My chest felt tight and ached.

I didn't understand why heaven insisted on tormenting me like this.

Ever since my family went bankrupt, every day of being alive had felt like clearing another trial.

And at that moment, an utterly dark thought suddenly arose in me...

If only the world would just explode, all the pain, debt, and humiliation could vanish along with it.

My mother sobbed as though her heart were being torn apart, clutching my hand between sobs.

"Hanhan, since Gu Hansheng can help us repay our debts and is willing to give us living expenses, that means he has you in his heart. While he's still willing to spare you a second glance, please beg him, all right?"

"Without that ten million, they'll really cut off my legs! Those loan sharks aren't human. There's nothing they wouldn't do!"

My mother was trembling all over as she cried, her hands as cold as a dead person's.

My father threw down the mop handle then and dropped into a chair, his whole body slumping.

He let out a quiet sigh, his voice heavy with exhaustion. "At a time like this, you're still making things hard for our daughter. She only just begged for that money to help us repay our debts, and now you want her to ask for more? If this keeps up, Hansheng will only think our family is a bottomless pit. How do you expect Hanhan to ever hold her head up in front of him again?"

I froze.

I had thought that life had long since worn away all his sharp edges after the bankruptcy. I hadn't expected him to still be able to think of me at a time like this.

But my mother seemed unable to take any of it in, and her cries grew louder.

"Yu Han! I raised you all these years. Can you really bear to watch someone cut off your mother's legs? When Gu Hansheng married you, he didn't give us a single cent in bride price. Now that he has money, what's wrong with asking him to spend some on you? Haven't you been sleeping with him too?"

I stared blankly at my mother, rooted to the spot.

I had never imagined that words like those would come out of her mouth.

Poverty really could change people beyond recognition.

In that instant, I gained a new understanding of the word "despair."

The house was still in chaos when the door opened and Yu Hui walked in.

He had probably already heard about the debt. This time, he actually took my side.

"Mom, stop making a scene."

His tone was calm, but it held a firmness I had never heard before. "I'll find a way to deal with the loan sharks. Stop making things hard for my sister. She already has it hard enough at Gu Hansheng's side. Every extra cent she begs for means another measure of humiliation she has to endure."

I stared at him, my eyes stinging.

Over the years, I had long since grown unaccustomed to shedding tears in front of my family.

But at that moment, the tears slid down uncontrollably anyway.

Yu Hui took my hand and led me outside, saying softly, "Sis, you've already done enough for this family. I know I'm not very capable, but I can't let you keep shouldering everything alone. Stay out of this. I'll definitely find a way."

I looked up at him, warmth filling my heart, but I couldn't help warning him, "Gu Hansheng isn't easy to deal with, and Gu Mingze may have his own selfish interests too. Don't trust people too easily."

He nodded, his voice low. "I know, Sis. Don't worry."

I said nothing more.

Because I knew he had no way out at all.

The only person Yu Hui could count on was Gu Mingze.

But I had already turned Gu Mingze down myself. No one could say for certain whether he would still help us in the future.

I no longer dared to trust people's hearts.

Behind every apparent kindness, there might be interest waiting to be collected.

When I returned to Gu Hansheng's villa, I felt as though I had been hollowed out.

Without even taking off my shoes, I collapsed straight onto the bed.

I didn't know whether I fell asleep or passed out. By the time I opened my eyes again, it was already dark.

The room was pitch-black, the curtains tightly closed.

The darkness of night spread through the air like an oppressive layer of fog.

The silence was so complete that even my own heartbeat seemed jarring.

I propped myself up, wanting to take a shower.

But the moment I got up, I was startled-there was someone on the sofa.

Gu Hansheng.

He sat there with his back straight, his white shirt giving off a cold glow in the dimness.

He held a computer in his hands and wore earphones.

His head was lowered, his expression indistinct. He seemed to be listening to a recording.

In that instant, my heart inexplicably softened.

He hadn't turned on the lights, probably because he was afraid of disturbing me.

"When did you get back?" I turned on the lights and asked softly, "Have you eaten?"

Gu Hansheng raised his eyes, his gaze like a pool of deep water, cold and intent.

"You look pale," he said flatly. "Go to the hospital if you're not feeling well."

I smiled, pretending to be at ease. "I'm fine... If you're not going out tonight, let's have dinner together."

In truth, I hadn't intended to ask him for help, nor did I want to tell him about my family.

I simply, suddenly, didn't want to eat alone.

Gu Hansheng didn't refuse.

I went to shower. When I came out, the housekeeper had already prepared the meal.

The entire table was filled with dishes I loved.

I paused, a hint of tenderness stirring in my heart.

Gu Hansheng must have arranged this... Maybe I still have a little place in his heart.

Dinner was unusually quiet.

Gu Hansheng was handsome, and even the way he ate was captivating, every movement elegant.

How had I never noticed how handsome he was when we were together before?

People only learned to cherish things after losing them.

After dinner, I leaned back on the sofa, drowsy.

Suddenly, a weight settled on my shoulder.

Gu Hansheng reached out and pulled me into his arms.

His embrace was broad and warm, carrying a faint scent of tobacco.

That scent slipped from my nose into my heart, mingling with his body heat and leaving me inexplicably at ease.

I thought the night would pass just like that.

But his hand paused briefly against my back, then began to wander.

"What, didn't get your fill with your white moonlight?" I couldn't help teasing.