Deadly Trap.

Chapter 70. Love

Unaware of Su Li's barely perceptible pause in breathing and trembling palms, Lulu continued:

"Clearly, he was at the very core of the power struggle, and that person didn't even have time to protect himself."

"But in a life-or-death situation, he still used his personal connections to escort my son and me back to China in secret, and then took us to visit the grave late at night, allowing me to secretly take Yuchuan's ashes away."

"In the end, it was him who enabled our family to have a not-too-bad reunion."

“At that time, I had nothing. After Yuchuan left, I lost my source of income; my property was also embezzled by the Tianxing Gang. What’s more, the Tianxing Gang also carried out a major purge of Yuchuan’s former associates.”

"On the surface, it was precisely because I was just a mistress that I escaped death."

"Even so, I still had to hide with my child. In just a few nights, we became like rats crossing the street in Minzhou. I was truly at my wit's end."

After speaking, Lulu gave a bitter smile: she had witnessed the prosperity of Minzhou, and also its decline. She couldn't help but clutch her handbag tightly. Inside, Gu Mufeng's concise will was almost burning hot.

Su Li, Su Li, you know nothing. Someone has already planned everything for you, even until after you've passed away.

How could she and Su Li possibly be "in the same boat"?

But to repay the debt of gratitude, Lulu had no choice but to play dumb. As if nothing had happened, she added, "Just when I was at my wit's end..."

She gently continued:
"It was that man again, who secretly took in my son and me. Even though he was also blackmailed by the whole city at the time."

"Later, everything returned to dust. I didn't understand the power struggles and murders, and I didn't know how he ultimately managed to get things done. It wasn't until he invested heavily in building Cloud Pavilion and directly appointed me as the front man."

"Su Li, can you understand? To me, this assignment is a hundred times more precious than sending charcoal in snowy weather."

"From then on, my son and I were able to support ourselves and were no longer just someone's dependents. He gave me another reason to stay in Minzhou and to see the ideal of Yuchuan gradually take shape."

"Actually, I know that my son and I have no use to him. But that's precisely why his unwavering loyalty to people is so precious."

"He's always been a man of few words. He always gives his all, yet nobody understands him. In the end, he's so devoted to taking care of others, but to himself—"

The thought of the leaderless situation on Pear Island, with the Boss severely injured and locked in his apartment, seemingly beyond saving, made it clear that no one could get close to him.

Lulu shook her head helplessly: "You probably already know this person's name, Su Li."

Silently, Su Li didn't speak. Between her lips and teeth, she savored Lulu's madeleine, experiencing the tartness of the cherry on her tongue.

Even now, that name still pierces her heart. She doesn't want to mention it.

But when Lulu casually reminisced about the past; when his figure began to naturally weave through those memories…

In just a few days, Su Li had come to understand firsthand why universities were called ivory towers. Within this beautiful tower, the real world she and Gu Mufeng lived in was worlds apart.

And their past relationship was nothing more than him trying his best to shelter her from the wind and rain, maintaining an ivory tower for her.

At this moment, silently listening to the choices he had made and hearing about the thorny path he had walked alone seemed to bring Su Li endless joy. Even more strangely, she felt grateful to Lulu for bringing up these past events.

Despite Su Li's clear-headedness, it was true that Gu Mufeng had deliberately plotted and deceived her to get close to her, and then unilaterally dismissed her.

She's not weak; she just doesn't forget so quickly.

Lulu sipped her bitter coffee with her head down, but her gaze swept over Su Li with a knowing look. The latter was nonchalantly enjoying her madeleines and didn't forget to praise her: "Wow, Sister Lulu, your skills are impeccable."

Lulu suddenly realized.

She had been involved in the world of fame and fortune in Minzhou since childhood, and had met countless people. But now, she was beginning to understand why her unfathomable boss would give Su Li such a loving and reluctant evaluation.

Su Li's composed handling of the situation and her equally cautious approach were truly impressive.

However, at least Su Li didn't mind hearing him. Lulu still had room to elaborate. She casually spoke again:
"If you look at it that way, I really got to know him after Yuchuan left."

"I once thought he was cold-hearted and aloof; I've seen plenty of people like that. Accustomed to power struggles, he naturally has to make sacrifices; a warm face but a cold heart is nothing special."

"However, his care for each person, while temporarily winning people's hearts, never led the entire group to make the wrong choice in seven years. These are fundamentally different from the social skills he deliberately put on for others."

"Perhaps," Lulu considered.
He saw himself as a pawn, using him at will; but he never considered using anyone else as a pawn. He couldn't be that kind of person.

"All I can see is that he has buried his true self very deep and wrapped it in layers of shells."

"Gradually, this noisy and chaotic world, this city where life and death are intertwined, made his outer shell more and more complete. He almost forgot his true self."

“If I said it was you,” Lulu glanced at Su Li subtly, pausing for a moment, “who brought another ray of light into his heart, then…” his feelings for you might not have been entirely an act. I wouldn't lie to you. Some things are simply too much for those involved to see clearly. For you, and for him, it's the same.”

Lulu lowered her head, carefully considering when to take out the will so that Su Li could fully understand Gu Mufeng's intentions. Her words took an unexpected turn:

"However, I'm not here to advise you today. I know that no matter what his reasons are, whether you forgive him or not is your decision. I also know that you don't need anyone to heal your wounds."

"He is the one who needs this relationship."

"But he neither shows it nor has much of a choice. When people wield power, they are naturally bound by it. This golden rule remains unchanged throughout history."

"And I, I just want to tell you the whole story. At least in the end, neither of us will have any resentment or regret."

With her hand already touching the edge of the will, Lulu glanced at Su Li again, as if to confirm her words.

Su Li remained unmoved. She seemed indifferent, making her inscrutable. But Lulu suddenly sensed that Su Li didn't want to listen anymore. What remained was no longer within her purview.

Startled, Lulu abruptly removed her hand from the will.

To repay the kindness shown to her back then, Lulu sighed inwardly: Boss, I've really worried myself sick over you.

With a gentle and graceful demeanor, Lulu changed her posture and chatted with Su Li about the design of the entryway. Seeing that the other party answered her questions calmly and didn't seem to mind, Lulu felt relieved and got up to take her leave.

Su Li saw Lulu to the door. As they parted, her face regained its usual gentle glow.

But when the door finally closed and she collapsed heavily against it, Su Li cried.

Tears streamed down her face, like a floodgate opening and then closing, an endless, persistent drizzle. Su Li slid down to the floor. Silently, she wept uncontrollably.

Actually, when she saw Lulu appear at the door, she guessed what the other woman meant. However, she saw the other woman's kindness and didn't expose her. But she didn't expect that Lulu wouldn't try to persuade her or explain, but would instead tell her personal story in detail.

Lulu meticulously sketched the figure that was pressing against Su Li's heart, making it even more vivid and detailed.

But Lulu didn't understand.

Gu Mufeng, what kind of person is he at heart? Su Li... she already knew him completely when she hugged him and wailed in the middle of the night in the dormitory.

But what she truly couldn't forgive was his assumption that he had the right to dictate her choices and that he arbitrarily decided on her behalf, taking her self-respect and love for her.

When he was straightforward and deliberately confronted her, intentionally threatening her self-esteem, he told her that he had never used her or deliberately approached her.

Gu Mufeng transformed everything he said, everything he did, the way he looked at her, and the unparalleled intimacy and tacit understanding between them into his calculations and plans, and into his superb acting skills after he had everything under control.

Su Li wept bitterly. Everything had become an illusion.

Did he never consider that she would rather face any risk than stand by his side?
Su Li's love and self-respect had been crushed to dust by his own hands. How could she possibly piece together her past feelings and memories?
She could only erase him from her heart completely.

Without a doubt, Su Li thought, Gu Mufeng... must have done this a long time ago.

Head bowed and silent, only her shoulders trembling, Su Li wept bitterly for a long time until all her impulses and emotions had dried from her eyes. Finally, she stood up, leaning against the wall, and silently wiped away her tears.

After washing her face with clean water, she patiently applied a light layer of makeup in front of the mirror, drawing her eyebrows in the shape of distant mountains. From her once again simple wardrobe, she carefully selected a sufficiently dignified black dress.

In front of the mirror, Su Li carefully examined her appearance in mourning.

Her mother's life will be inseparable from her existence; entangled in an inextricable mix of hatred and love, it will ultimately transform into a pale remembrance before her tombstone.

Su Li walked out the door with an extremely heavy heart.

The sun was shining brightly on campus. At one o'clock, she had an appointment with a law firm: she had to investigate her mother's death and deal with the inheritance left to her by her mother, Su Yan.

>>>>>
Next chapter: His Self (Is Gu Mufeng finally going to confess his feelings???)
[Author's Note | Chapter Seventy]

Lulu finished recounting Gu Mufeng's past, but Su Li's tears were heartbreaking.

Su Li had already understood Gu Mufeng's character long before she fell in love. Can you, dear readers, understand Mr. Gu's complex feelings?

Where will Su Li's love life lead?
In the next chapter, Gu Mufeng finally confesses his feelings to her face-to-face—

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(End of this chapter)