Blossom in Adversity

C176. You Have Feelings for Me.

Chapter 176: You Have Feelings for Me

Hua Zhi averted her gaze as she watched him, his expression a mix of tears and laughter. He wasn't one of the Hua family's children, and it wasn't her place to feel sorry for him.

Regardless of the position he would eventually occupy, these were pains he would have to endure as he grew up, simply because he bore the surname Gu.

Gu Yanxi, also a member of the Gu family, pretended not to notice and continued, "If you want to go back, I..."

"I won't go back," the Sixth Prince interrupted, emphasizing his words again. "I won't go back."

Gu Yanxi nodded slightly, "Is there anything you'd like me to bring for you?"

"Please, Yanxi Gege, bring the thing from the bedside in my room. My mother made it for me." The Sixth Prince bit his lip, "Please also apologize to the Empress Dowager for me. I'm afraid I won't be able to visit her for a while. Please ask her to take care of herself."

Gu Yanxi looked at the prince, whose temperament differed from the others, "I will convey your message."

The Sixth Prince kept wringing his clothes, his expression somewhat downcast. "Can I stay here for a few more days before going to your place, Yanxi Gege?"

Gu Yanxi and Hua Zhi exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with faint amusement. "Perhaps you want to stay here and wouldn't rather come back with me?"

The Sixth Prince was a clever child, immediately grasping the meaning behind his words. His bowed head lifted swiftly, happiness radiating from his face. Gu Yanxi really hadn't seen such a lively expression in the palace for a long time.

"The Hua family shouldn't attract attention. Your identity is here, and if you go in and out too much, you'll definitely be noticed. So unless it's with me or the people around me, you can't leave the mansion. Can you do that?"

"I can!" The Sixth Prince responded loudly.

"From now on, you'll be called Sun Jian. When you're at the Hua family, follow Ah Zhi's arrangements."

The Sixth Prince suddenly felt his eyes welling up, blinking several times with force to hold back the tears, nodding repeatedly.

Hua Zhi then spoke, "You no longer need to stay in the front courtyard. The Hua family has several brothers living in a courtyard. If you don't mind, you can stay with Bai Lin."

The Sixth Prince vigorously shook his head, not minding at all. He was not minding at all, so happy that it seemed like his scalp was about to explode.

"But will you attend classes at the clan school of the Hua family?"

"I will!" The Sixth Prince nodded eagerly, having thought about it for a long time.

"Alright, with all this nodding and shaking, you're going to lose your head." Hua Zhi laughed. When she wasn't smiling, she seemed unapproachable, but when she did, her smiling eyes and curved lips made her more approachable.

"There aren't many strict rules in this house. As for minor rules, just ask Bai Lin."

"Okay."

"Go find Bailin. He'll be very happy to see you can go out."

"Okay."

Each response from the Sixth Prince was crisp, and he ran off quickly, displaying the demeanor and emotions of a young man of his age. Gu Yanxi could see that Little Sixth's obedience in front of Ah Zhi was genuine, as was his excitement and joy. He was genuinely trying to become the person Ah Zhi liked and he was enjoying the process.

Watching Ah Zhi, whose smile hadn't faded from her lips, Gu Yanxi softly asked, "Will he offend the female members of the Hua family?"

"He's just a child. Where could he possibly offend?" She didn't believe in Ah Jian, but she did believe in Bai Lin. If he couldn't handle such a small matter, then she'd been teaching for all these years in vain.

Glancing at Gu Yanxi, who no longer had that cold and aloof demeanor, Hua Zhi lowered her head to make tea, "Mr. Lu is free to come and go in the front courtyard of the Hua family. I never worried that he would offend the female members of the Hua family."

"Because you're here."

Because you're here, I came. Because you're here, even if I came at the wrong time, I wouldn't offend anyone. And because it's you, those rules that have never bound you won't be able to bind me.

Hua Zhi's movements paused, unable to continue pretending. She had never been the kind of person to string someone along with hope but no result.

"If the Emperor finds out about your involvement with a criminal's daughter, I wonder what consequences my Hua family will face." Refilling their tea cups, Hua Zhi looked at the pale green tea and spoke mockingly, "He won't care whether I took the initiative or not. In his eyes, just being connected to you is my sin. Even if you were to take a liking to me, I should immediately hang myself with a white silk cord, according to him."

Gu Yanxi smiled helplessly. Ah Zhi always saw things so clearly. "He trusts me and won't send anyone to investigate my actions. Besides, the Empress Dowager is aware and hasn't stopped me."

Hua Zhi's expression changed. "The Empress Dowager knows?"

"She's known for some time now."

Fingering the edge of her teacup, Hua Zhi furrowed her brows. The Empress Dowager had a great favor to the Hua family. If she were to get involved, Hua Zhi would have to think twice. However, no matter what, the Empress Dowager wouldn't go to the extent of arranging a marriage for her grandson. After all, there was the Emperor in between, and if the Empress Dowager did such a thing, it would be a slap to the Emperor's face.

After understanding this, Hua Zhi felt relieved and her confidence surged. "Mr. Lu, you took a liking to me."

"Yes, I like you." The tenderness and affection in Gu Yanxi's eyes clung to Hua Zhi, trying to ensnare her. If the misfortunes he endured led him to this person, he accepted it. He no longer resented.

In this life, he only sought to share the same fate with this person.

Hua Zhi was not ignorant or oblivious. In fact, she was more sensitive than most people. She believed that the owner of those eyes genuinely favored her. She wasn't cold-hearted, and at this moment, her heart was beating faster, but...

She was Hua Zhi, the head of the Hua family.

With the motion of pouring tea leaves, Hua Zhi slowed the momentum and softly said, "There are people in this world who love each other but cannot be together, there are those who don't love but must be together, and of course, there are people like us. Mr. Lu, I do not favor you."

As expected, Gu Yanxi's heart plummeted even though he anticipated the rejection. It felt as if he couldn't reach the bottom, making it difficult to breathe. "The Hua family..."

"It has nothing to do with the Hua family. I simply don't want to marry and settle down."

"But you were once engaged."

"So what? A suitable match, but now, who in the future Hua family or the current one could request me to marry again?" Hua Zhi laughed. "Even if one day that really happens, I will move to another residence and live my life in seclusion. Who would dare force me?"

Gu Yanxi had heard from Shao Yao that Ah Zhi didn't plan to marry. He always thought it was because of ties to the Hua family, but at that moment, he realized it wasn't the case at all. Ah Zhi simply didn't want to marry anyone.