He added, "Feng Mian is a professional lawyer, accountant, and a golden investor... It seems he holds professional licenses for everything finance-related."
Gu Anxi turned her head to look at him and asked softly, "And you, Dr. Bo?"
He leaned comfortably against the back of his chair and smiled. "I also have another identity: Gu Anxi’s boyfriend."
"I haven’t agreed to that." Gu Anxi deliberately put on a cold expression for him. She had never been before; it was only after Bo Xichen appeared that she had developed this ’deliberate’ way of acting.
He casually tugged at her hair, his voice very gentle. "Focus on driving."
Gu Anxi said no more. She focused on the road ahead. Half an hour later, their car pulled into the villa.
Everything was the same.
It seemed special arrangements had been made. The villa still had a birthday atmosphere: strings of star-shaped lights adorned the courtyard, pink balloons floated in the living room, and a small dessert cart in the dining room held a little cake.
Gu Anxi’s fingers clenched. "Bo Xichen, thank you."
He smiled and took her hand. "I’m still courting you, so I must try harder."
They walked over together and lit the candles.
This birthday was just for the two of them—not particularly lively, but incredibly warm. He had promised to give her a home. Now that he had bought back the house, he hoped to give her even more in the future...
That night, they spent it in the villa. On a bench in the yard, she shared her childhood stories with him. Her father, who was stern with outsiders, was especially doting towards her mother and her at home. When she was little, he would always hug her and playfully toss her in the air. Her mother, she said, often sounded strict but had her soft moments too...
As she talked, she grew sleepy; his presence was so warm.
Late in the night, Gu Anxi curled up in Bo Xichen’s arms like a little cat. He looked down at her, a slight smile curving his lips as he whispered, "Happy birthday, my little one."
The night was not calm. As soon as the Qin family returned home, they held a small group meeting with Wang Keru at the center, supported by Qin Han and Qin Siyuan, with Qin Siling handling logistics. They were determined to invite Gu Anxi back to live with them, primarily to sound her out and see if some mysterious bigshot was backing her. If she wasn’t happy living there, she could always move out again.
The priority was to get firsthand information. Elder Qin had put it this way: "We need to utilize our advantages. If someone else gets there first, then you lot are good for nothing!"
The words were harsh, but Qin Han thought they made sense. That night, he was even more gentle and considerate to his wife, making her very happy.
Wang Keru had been on an emotional roller coaster all evening and didn’t sleep well that night. Whenever she closed her eyes, the scene at the Zhenyuan Hotel replayed in her mind. It would be a lie to say she didn’t regret it, but she couldn’t bring herself to swallow her pride and curry favor with Anxi now. After she discussed it with Qin Han, he, in turn, put considerable effort into comforting his wife.
Early the next morning, a Sunday, Gu Anxi went to the hospital. Gu Anxi had initially suggested letting the nurses manage her grandmother’s care, but Old Mrs. Chen insisted that staying in the hospital was quite nice. The nurses were kind and sweet, and Old Mrs. Chen vowed she would only stay for one more month!
Gu Anxi could only agree, feeling both amused and exasperated.
On Sunday, Old Mr. He came to visit Gu Yuntian. Seeing Gu Yuntian lying there intubated, Old Mr. He couldn’t help but feel a pang of sadness. He patted Gu Anxi’s shoulder. "With Xichen here, your father, Yuntian, will be back on his feet one day."
After saying that, he smiled again. "Didn’t you say you have an Old Mrs. Chen here too? If you’ve hit it off with her, I’d like to meet her."