When they returned home that evening, Gu Anxi felt hot after dinner and took a shower. Dressed in one of his shirts, she was lounging on the couch playing games when Bo Xichen returned after handling some matters. Seeing her sprawled out, he patted her lightly. "Sit up while you play. That’s not good for your body."

Gu Anxi casually shifted closer, snuggling up beside him. She rested her head against his leg, her voice soft. "Uncle, how do you still smell so good after a whole day of work?"

With that, like a curious puppy, she nuzzled his neck, sniffing. Amused and a little exasperated, he patted her. "What are you searching for?"

She hugged his neck. "Checking if there’s the smell of another woman’s perfume."

He gave her a lazy pat, a playful punishment, then suddenly remembered. "The gift?"

The little sweetheart played dumb. "What gift?"

Professor Bo’s voice turned abruptly menacing. "The gift from Young Master Qin. Forgotten it already?"

"Oh..." she dragged out the sound deliberately. "I left it at the company."

Bo Xichen watched her for a long moment before commenting, "Smart move."

Then he added, "You didn’t leave it at the company to cherish secretly, did you?"

"Absolutely not," the little sweetheart said obsequiously. "I just felt that item was more suited for the office, not for our personal space."

He pinched her small cheek, still feeling a little resentful.

He wasn’t a perfectionist, but he felt a slight pang of regret that he wasn’t the first person to capture her heart. Still, all he could do was lament silently. What else was there to do? Dwelling on the past wasn’t something a real man did.

He was also tired after a long day. He leaned back against the sofa. She was still playing her game, but she was leaning against him, which felt comfortable. He stroked her small head, his voice husky. "Anxi, starting today, I’m quitting smoking."

Before she could fully grasp his meaning, he snatched her phone, tossed it aside, and pulled her over. He whispered a few words into her ear, making her cheeks flush slightly. She mumbled, embarrassed, "You didn’t have to tell me specifically..."

Professor Bo pinched her small face again, saying seriously, "I believe this calls for a sense of ceremony." 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

With that, he went to take a shower.

Gu Anxi called after him, "Quitting smoking counts as having a sense of ceremony? You were drinking just a few days ago!"

"I’m quitting that too," his voice came from the bathroom.

Gu Anxi muttered something under her breath. Bo Xichen chuckled softly. "Me taking a shower first, does that count as ceremonial enough?"

She made a face.

He was getting more and more shameless!

That night, just as Gu Anxi was about to fall asleep, Bo Xichen’s voice softly drifted into her ears. "Someone told me today to take good care of you."

She had been extremely tired and on the verge of sleep, but his words jolted her fully awake. A fine sheen of sweat broke out on her back.

She lay with her eyes wide open for a long while before finally asking, "Was it her?"

Bo Xichen hummed an affirmation, gently patting her in a comforting gesture.

Nestled in his arms, Gu Anxi seemed small and vulnerable. After a long silence, she said, "Only if Gu Mingzhu gets better will *she* probably be willing to say a word or two to me. But I... I don’t want it, and I don’t care anyway."

In the darkness, Bo Xichen sighed softly. He knew his little girl’s stubbornness all too well. It was simply because of the past that she was unwilling to admit... that she still harbored a sliver of kindness towards Tang Yuan. It wasn’t a longing for Tang Yuan, but rather, when faced with the woman who had given birth to her, she couldn’t bring herself to be truly heartless and indifferent.

He remained silent, gently stroking her dark hair. The little sweetheart snuggled closer. "Uncle, I know you’re looking after her. Thank you."

Bo Xichen looked down at her in the darkness. "It’s nothing special. She’s a patient at the hospital. I’d do the same for any other patient."

She didn’t reply, only tightened her embrace...

As the night wore on, he coaxed and comforted her until she finally relaxed and drifted off to sleep.

Bo Xichen, however, found himself unable to sleep. He finally drifted off around four in the morning, now somewhat regretting his decision to quit smoking...

The next day, when Gu Anxi went to the hospital, she peeked into Tang Yuan’s room. Tang Yuan wasn’t there, having gone for chemotherapy, but Gu Anxi did see Gu Mingzhu.

When Gu Mingzhu saw Gu Anxi, she was antagonistic nine out of ten times. This time was no different.

"Why are you here? Come to see how Mom is dying?" she questioned Gu Anxi bluntly.

Gu Anxi couldn’t be bothered with her, even suspecting that Tang Yuan might have squeezed Gu Mingzhu’s head too hard during childbirth. Otherwise, how could she be so self-absorbed at a time like this? Did she really think the world revolved around her?

Gu Mingzhu was openly hostile, sneering, "Don’t think I don’t know. You’ve fallen out with King Jingyao, and Zhou Yunchen has been implicated too. The Bo Family is on the verge of collapse. Gu Anxi, you’re not so different from me, are you?"

Gu Anxi glanced at her, retorting lazily, "At least I still speak like a human being."

Gu Mingzhu was so furious her hackles rose. She wanted to strike out but knew she was no match for Gu Anxi, so she restrained herself. After a moment, she said, "Even if Mom isn’t around anymore, I’ll still be Min Xin’s daughter. Gu Anxi, what do you have?"

Gu Anxi felt a deep wave of sympathy for Tang Yuan. Twenty years of doting love, all fed to a dog. So, she responded coldly, "Congratulations, then. And yes, once your mom is gone, we’ll have no relationship whatsoever. If you cause trouble in the future, don’t you dare mention my name; I can’t afford that kind of embarrassment. Also, always remember one thing: Zhou Yucai is the one Min Xin truly cherishes. He might provide for you, but you’ll never be publicly acknowledged. Don’t push away the last person willing to manage you until he gives up on you completely."

Gu Mingzhu sneered. "I won’t! I’m not as skilled as you at infuriating people to that extent."

She was talking about King Jingyao.

She had barely finished speaking when Wang Jingchuan hurried over, his forehead beaded with sweat. "Anxi, good, you’re here! Mr. Wang is slightly injured. Would you go see him?"

When Gu Anxi heard it was that old bastard, she snorted dismissively. "Why not get Doctor Jiang to patch him up?"

Wang Jingchuan looked a little awkward...

He, too, was hoping to use this chance to help the old man and the young one reconcile. Mr. Wang seemed to have the same idea, offering an olive branch, even if he wouldn’t say so explicitly.