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第5章："你愿意为我放弃吗？"

"Would you give up for me?" Xia Weiwei asked softly, the night breeze gently tousling her hair. Gu Ziqian held her hand tightly, as if trying to protect something precious. At this moment, they stood on the street outside the nightclub, the neon lights casting shifting colors on their faces, reflecting a mix of emotions.

Gu Ziqian was momentarily surprised by her question, but quickly regained his composure. He remained silent for a while, as if weighing the meaning behind her words. Finally, he loosened his grip slightly but still didn't let go.

"Give up what?" he asked in a low voice, his tone cautious, as if waiting for Xia Weiwei to elaborate.

Xia Weiwei turned her head, meeting Gu Ziqian's gaze. She knew she needed a clear answer to this question. She wanted to know her place in Gu Ziqian's heart—was she merely an ally, a pawn, or something more?

"Give up this dangerous game, give up your revenge, even give up your hatred for the He family," Xia Weiwei said, her tone resolute as she looked him straight in the eye. "If I asked you to give it all up for me, what would you choose?"

Gu Ziqian's gaze deepened, as if searching for something in her words that he couldn't ignore. He knew that her question wasn't just a test of him, but also a probe into their relationship. He had never imagined someone would ask him to give up his hatred, to give up the truth he had been chasing, especially at such a crucial moment.

"Weiwei, you know I can't do that," Gu Ziqian's voice was low and steady, filled with an unshakable resolve. "Hatred is what drives me to keep going; it's the reason for my existence. Without it, I would lose everything."

Xia Weiwei felt a sharp pang in her heart. She had anticipated this answer, but hearing it still brought a wave of indescribable disappointment. She knew that Gu Ziqian couldn't easily let go of his hatred; after all, it was the only thing that had sustained him up to this point. Yet, she still held out hope, hoping that Gu Ziqian might make a compromise for her.

"But have you considered that this path might destroy you?" Xia Weiwei's voice trembled slightly, her eyes filled with a pain she couldn't hide. "You might lose everything, even... lose us."

Gu Ziqian looked at her, a flicker of struggle in his eyes. He understood Xia Weiwei's concerns—she feared that this quest for revenge would drag him into an abyss, turning him into someone beyond redemption. But he also knew that he had come too far to turn back.

"I can't stop, Weiwei," Gu Ziqian shook his head gently, his tone filled with both helplessness and determination. "This isn't just about me; it's for my family who have passed, for those who once trusted me. I can't let their sacrifices be in vain."

Xia Weiwei fell silent. She knew that Gu Ziqian's mind was made up, and she couldn't sway his resolve. She also understood that behind this hatred lay immense pain and responsibility, which he couldn't simply put down. Yet, she couldn't shake a deep sense of helplessness, as if an invisible wall stood between them, impossible to breach.

"And what about me?" Xia Weiwei's voice was almost a whisper, tinged with a vulnerability she rarely showed. "Have you thought about the harm this game might do to me? Have you considered that if one day, I lose you to this hatred, what would I do?"

Gu Ziqian's heart tightened suddenly. He had never seen Xia Weiwei so fragile. He knew that she had always appeared strong, never showing fear no matter how much danger they faced. But now, her eyes revealed a sorrow and fear that she could no longer hide—a fear of loss, a fear of him leaving her.

"Weiwei..." Gu Ziqian called her name softly, his voice filled with pain. He reached out and pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly as if trying to erase the fear in her heart.