What are you looking at? You're the female lead too!

"I hate you!"

At this moment, inside the Gu family mansion, Gu Jiangyi faced Madam Gu and once again replicated the actions she had taken in the dream.

Saying it's a replica isn't quite accurate, because the current Gu Jiangyi is cursing much harsher than in the dream. Maybe it's because she's caught up in it, or maybe it's because she wants something different.

In short, Gu Jiangyi officially began to say goodbye to her terrible past.

If Gu Jiangyi doesn't formally return to her former home and sever ties with her former mother, she will remain a wanderer, and her actions will only be an act of escapism.

So, she came.

Confront the source of your life's tragedy.

"If you're going to ignore me, then keep ignoring me. I won't come back, and I won't see you again. There's no place for you in my life anymore."

As Gu Jiangyi spoke, she deftly took out all her belongings from the villa: her previous award certificates, her handicraft class works, gifts she hadn't been able to give away... and the family photo taken a long time ago.

Gu Jiangyi stared blankly at the photo.

Although Grandpa Gu was single-mindedly focused on making money, to be fair, he treated his two daughters very well. He would remember their preferences and bring them gifts when he came home from get off work late at night.

Under his protection, Gu Jiangyi did indeed have a very good childhood.

A fleeting and fragile beauty.

Gu Jiangyi's lips curled into a self-deprecating smile.

"Indeed, the only one who can truly be considered my family is my father."

After saying that, she no longer hesitated. In front of Madam Gu, she forcefully tore off her part of the photo, clutched the tattered but beautiful picture, picked up a small suitcase, and walked out as a victor.

Throughout the entire process, Madam Gu simply watched... no, she didn't even give Gu Jiangyi a proper look, but only secretly watched her out of the corner of her eye.

Only after Gu Jiangyi actually stormed out with her small belongings did she raise her eyes to look at Gu Jiangyi's back, her hand hovering a few centimeters.

But he quickly let it go.

No one knows what she was thinking, nor what her feelings are right now—regret? sadness? joy? relief?

same.

Nobody would want to know.

"call……"

Stepping outside the villa, Gu Jiangyi took a deep breath of fresh air, as if she wanted to expel all the air belonging to the villa from her lungs.

"Is it all done?"

Ye Wen leaned against the vegetable rack outside the villa, munching on a small cucumber grown by Gu Jiangyi's sister: "Now that we're done, let's go."

"Senior, why are you eating?"

Seeing Ye Wen happily eating cucumbers, Gu Jiangyi couldn't resist either. She swallowed hard, broke off a cucumber, rinsed it with water, and put it in her mouth to chew.

Hey, I have to say, it's actually pretty delicious.

Gu Jiangyi decided to take a few more cucumbers with her before leaving.

Anyway, her younger sister hardly ever talks to her, so she probably doesn't have any objections.

After Ye Wen had finished eating, the two slowly walked out of the villa, leaving Gu Jiangyi's former home.

She will never come back.

"Hey, senior, is what you're saying... true?"

Gu Jiangyi has learned the truth about what happened back then from Ye Wen. Madam Gu was not her biological mother, and her birth was quite dramatic.

While resolving many of Gu Jiangyi's doubts, the truth also raised a new question.

That is, how did her birth mother view her?

"She probably doesn't like me, right?"

Gu Jiangyi pursed her lips: "After all, my birth was not her wish; I was just a stranger who was forced into this world by various constraints."

"Otherwise, she wouldn't have gone so many years without coming to see me, right?"

"Not necessarily."

Ye Wen typed on his phone, slightly raising his head: "Maybe she feels like a burden to you."

Gu Jiangyi's expression froze slightly.

"Although you may not feel anything yourself and really want to escape this home, the truth is that the Gu family is one of the richest in our area."

"Following the normal path, you would receive the best education at Gujia, enjoy a princess-like life, and live a happy life that ordinary people wouldn't even dare to dream of."

"Her appearance would disrupt such a wonderful life and fill your life with troubles, so it's better that she hasn't appeared at all."

Just like that classic question of who the child's mother is.

A true mother is one who lets go for the sake of her child's well-being.

Gu Jiangyi lowered her head, seemingly lost in thought.

Looking at her expression, Ye Wen smiled slightly: "Of course, what I said is just speculation. You'll have to find out the specifics yourself."

"so."

"Shall we go and meet him?"

"Huh?" Gu Jiangyi looked up abruptly: "To...to meet?"

"Senior, do you know where she is right now?"

Ye Wen nodded.

This morning, Mu Xingyuan brought good news: although Gu Jiangyi's biological mother left Tianyu more than ten years ago, she still managed to find her location after much effort.

This should have been a joyous piece of good news.

If Mu Xingyuan wasn't lying naked in her bed.

Ye Wen: "..."

His lower back was aching slightly. Although it wasn't the first time, this was really going to be dangerous.

No, he'll have to get his revenge next time.

"Now?" Gu Jiangyi rubbed her fingers. "Isn't it a bit inappropriate for us to bother them so suddenly? Should we leave a text message first? Uh, I think we should..."

The next second, a black sedan drifted and came to a smooth stop in front of Ye Wen and Gu Jiangyi. The window rolled down, revealing Shen Caichun's face.

She pouted, and Ye Wen skillfully opened the car door. Looking at Gu Jiangyi, who was still standing there, he raised an eyebrow and said, "What are you standing there for? Get in the car."

"If we go over there now, we might be able to get a free dinner."

"Senior, you... Ugh, okay."

Gu Jiangyi wouldn't refuse Ye Wen; she herself also wanted to see her birth mother. So, with a mix of trepidation and excitement, she boarded the car and began this short yet long journey.

Two and a half hours later.

The car stopped in front of a cake shop on the street.

"This is it."

Ye Wen looked at the cake shop's signboard: "Madam Gu gave her a sum of money and kicked her out of Tianyu. Later, she used that money to open a cake shop in an unfamiliar city, and over the years, the business has been quite good."

"If you want to see it, come in and have a look."

"Okay." Gu Jiangyi nodded, got out of the car, took a few steps, then turned back and asked, "Senior, aren't you coming with me?"

"What am I supposed to do there?"

Ye Wen leaned back in his seat and closed his eyes: "My mother is at the cemetery."

Gu Jiangyi: "...Uh, okay."

"I'll go by myself."

She walked into the cake shop, where the shelves were filled with a dazzling array of cakes, and the air was filled with the sweet aroma of cream.

Gu Jiangyi: "..."

The first thing she saw was a little boy, about seven or eight years old, sitting by the counter doing his homework, and a bitter feeling welled up in her heart.

So, she already has her own family.

That makes sense; that's how it should be.

Let's meet once, buy a few cakes, and then leave.

As Gu Jiangyi thought this, she walked to the shelf and began to choose a cake. A few seconds later, a gentle and peaceful voice came from beside her.

"Are you a new customer? Then I recommend you try the selection here, it's cheap and good..."

The proprietress stopped speaking because Gu Jiangyi turned around blankly after hearing the voice, revealing a face with brows and features very similar to hers.

Both of them were stunned and speechless.

Perhaps there are many people who look alike, and the shop owner sees many every day, but sometimes, the connection between blood relatives is something that can never be erased.

Even though they had never met in person.

I understood a lot just by looking into your eyes.

Everything is understood without words.

After a dozen seconds, the proprietress hesitated before asking, "May I ask... your name?"

"Gu Jiangyi".

My name is Gu Jiangyi.

"Gu... Jiang Yi." The proprietress repeated her name several times, then, remembering something, hurriedly wiped her hands on her apron: "What kind of cake do you like?"

"I have many kinds here: fruit, chocolate, chiffon, macarons, mousse..."

After rattling off a list of dishes, she suddenly remembered and added, "Um... yes, you're our 100th customer today, so all the cakes are free, take as many as you want!"

Her words and actions carried a hint of awkward flattery.

Even though he's an adult, he acts like an immature child.

Gu Jiangyi's heart suddenly calmed down.

She smiled and said to the proprietress, "May I try some?"

"Yes, yes, come this way."

The proprietress pulled up a chair and gestured for Gu Jiangyi to sit down. She then quickly ran back to the kitchen and returned in less than a minute with a plate full of cakes.

Her movements were so hurried, as if the girl would disappear before her eyes if she slowed down.

"These are all available for tasting. See if there's anything you like?"

The proprietress placed the plate in front of Gu Jiangyi.

The cakes inside were all very fresh and beautiful, and looked very appetizing. Gu Jiangyi hesitated for a few seconds before finally choosing a Black Forest cake to try.

The cake entered my mouth.

It smells very good, it's very sweet, and it tastes delicious.

Gu Jiangyi ate the cake in silence, faster and faster, until her mouth was bulging. The proprietress's expression softened as she watched Gu Jiangyi eat.

She asked softly, "These past few years...?"

"How are you doing?"

Gu Jiangyi looked up and saw a pair of pure eyes.

I just want to know if I'm doing well.

I just want to care about myself.

I simply feel guilty about my actions.

Gu Jiangyi felt a lump in her throat.

But she didn't cry.

Because she had received so much happiness from her senior, it would be impolite for her to cry now.

She should be smiling.

For the present, and for the future.

And so, at that moment, Gu Jiangyi smiled and raised her face, her smile bright and captivating.

"As you can see," she said.

"I've grown up healthy!"