The ones who understand their family the most are the family themselves.
Gu Shiyan knew that if her brother went to jail, his nyctophobia might trigger at any moment. Even with all the resources of the Gu Family and their maternal family, they couldn’t handle all the problems inside the prison.
If it triggered once and wasn’t treated in time, he might end up dead.
However, if he didn’t go to jail and Sheng Tang gave him a letter of forgiveness, she would never stay by his side again. Without Sheng Tang, he might also end up dead.
Gu Shiyan still remembered how miserable Gu Shiting was in the months before he met Sheng Tang.
His final act of attempting suicide wasn’t unexpected.
Now, Sheng Tang was going to leave him again.
"Mom, is there any way to keep Tangtang?" Gu Shiyan anxiously asked.
Mrs. Gu sighed deeply, "How can I even ask? Asking her for a letter of forgiveness was already selfish enough. Would I push her to death as well?"
Gu Shiyan couldn’t say a word.
Gu Shiting wasn’t stupid either.
He vaguely understood what Sheng Tang wanted to say.
The small rain outside was about to stop, leaving only a few drizzles floating in the air.
Sheng Tang and he shared a small blue umbrella, with soft light falling on her face. Her eyes looked a bit cold.
They walked for about five minutes, out of the sight of the Gu Family Villa, and Sheng Tang stopped.
"Ting, I came to say something to you today." Sheng Tang lifted her eyes to look at him.
Gu Shiting wanted to hold her hand.
Sheng Tang dodged, but her wrist was still caught by Gu Shiting. His fingers slowly tightened, causing Sheng Tang some pain.
"Let’s break up," Sheng Tang said, "I’m sorry, Ting. I can’t be with you anymore."
Gu Shiting’s fingers gripped her wrist like an iron clamp, almost crushing her slender wrist.
He spoke, his voice distorted and completely changed tone.
He might have tried to laugh and take it as a joke, but his voice came out with a hint of crying, "Tangtang, I know I was wrong. I didn’t mean it. You know I didn’t mean it. I will go to jail.
As long as it makes you happy, I will do anything. I’m willing to pay money, to take legal responsibility. Besides dying with grandma, I’ll do anything.
Just tell me, tell me one condition, and I will do it. Please, Tangtang, give me a chance to atone. Just tell me."
Sheng Tang’s eyes stung badly.
She thought she would cry, but she held it back with effort.
Her voice also carried some tremble, "I’ve already said my request."
I’ve already said it...
She didn’t want anything, just to leave him.
Gu Shiting’s grip tightened, "Don’t be like this. You said you wouldn’t leave me. Tangtang, it was an unintended mistake. You know me; it was unintentional."
Sheng Tang looked into his eyes, "Ting, an unintended mistake is still a mistake. My grandma can never come back."
Gu Shiting cried.
He didn’t care about any manly image, crying his eyes out in front of Sheng Tang.
He refused to let go, gripping Sheng Tang’s bones so tight they ached.
His crying shifted from sobbing to wailing.
He didn’t cry in a heart-wrenching way but like a child, crying out his heart and lungs, in utter despair.
He even fell to his knees with a thud in front of Sheng Tang.
Madam Gu and Mr. Gu heard the noise from a distance and hurried over.
Eventually, they pried Gu Shiting away and sent Sheng Tang home.
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The first volume ends here. The next will be the second volume, set five years later.