Blossom In Adversity - Vol. 2

398. Expressing Feelings.

Chapter 398: Expressing Feelings

It was already late in the evening when they finished dinner and headed back to the study, picking up their conversation right where they had left off.

Hua Zhi leaned back casually and asked, "If the silver they’ve earned is legit, why would they bother smelting it? I mean, it’s not like it needs to meet some premium standard to be useful. Isn’t that just extra work for no real reason?"

Gu Yanxi’s brow furrowed slightly as he replied, "For the Chao Li tribe, silver isn’t truly their silver unless it’s smelted into their official design. It’s kind of like their wolf totem—something that immediately marks their identity, yet they insist on keeping it close. It’s a peculiar sort of stubbornness, almost like a core belief for them." He paused briefly. "That said, their financial network seems to be doing exceptionally well. The profits they’re pulling in are substantial."

Hua Zhi wasn’t entirely convinced. "I doubt they smelt all of it, though. If they need to spend the silver right away, why waste time turning it into their ‘official’ version? Seems unnecessary."

The two locked eyes for a moment, then Gu Yanxi nodded thoughtfully. "Good point. I’ll have someone dig deeper into this angle."

Hua Zhi rested her cheek against her palm, her gaze fixed on him. “So, can I take charge of the business in Yuzhou?” she asked with a mix of curiosity and determination.

Gu Yanxi met her eyes calmly. “Of course. The Emperor has entrusted this matter entirely to me, and I trust you just as much.”

She hesitated for a moment, then voiced her concerns. “I can’t manage it all by myself. The local power players will need to feel like they’re gaining something too.”

Gu Yanxi leaned forward slightly, his tone steady but reassuring. “You don’t need to answer to anyone. Handle it however you see fit. Honestly, no one understands the nuances of this business better than you do.”

A faint smile tugged at her lips as his words sank in. “You’re not wrong.” Straightening up, she added, “I’ll need to give some thought to what kind of business might work best in Yuzhou.”

“Why not expand what you’re already doing?” Gu Yanxi suggested, his voice as practical as ever.

Hua Zhi let out a light sigh. “I’ve only got one Fu Dong right now—it’s barely enough to keep a Shi Zhai restaurant running smoothly. The mushroom business is slated to grow into nearby markets, starting with Yuzhou. Seafood trading is still too unpredictable, and while canned goods might work, I plan to remain just a supplier for those. Uncle Bai will handle the sales side of things. As for the eateries in Green Moss Alley and Liyun Lane…” She paused, her mind clearly on the small snack shops she’d been nurturing. Affordable, highly profitable—her kind of business. “But Yuzhou probably doesn’t have neighborhoods like those where I can replicate that success.”

“I’ll have someone look into it,” Gu Yanxi offered without hesitation. “If we find the right opportunities, we’ll move forward.”

“That’s promising,” she admitted, though her brow furrowed slightly. “But let’s be honest—this type of business feels a bit... basic. It won’t achieve the larger impact we’re after. If we want to catch them off guard, we need to aim for something more substantial.”

“Whatever you decide, I’m behind you,” Gu Yanxi replied, his voice warm and genuine. The smile on his face softened the edges of his usually composed demeanor, offering her a rare glimpse of his unguarded self.

Hua Zhi studied him for a moment, her heart unexpectedly lighter. She mused silently—if they were ever faced with issues as thorny as those involving concubine, it wouldn’t be a problem. She trusted him completely. Gu Yanxi would never let her be swept away by unnecessary drama, of that she was certain.

Taking a sip of tea, Hua Zhi raised her head, "Do you have people serving you, Yanxi?"

A smile crept onto Gu Yanxi's lips, and Hua Zhi suddenly understood. Gu Yanxi had been waiting for her to understand, waiting for her to ask about everything she wanted to know.

"I'm sorry..." Hua Zhi muttered an apology. She had been too busy, too preoccupied to think deeply about their relationship. She had merely stood waiting for him to come closer, passive in her acceptance, often bouncing back. She had shown more indifference than warmth, yet she had indeed developed feelings.

However, this time, it wasn't Yanxi who was being impulsive.

Despite the unexpected apology, Gu Yanxi immediately understood. He wanted to laugh, but his heart was filled with bitterness. Finally, she was acknowledging him, acknowledging the feelings between them.

"You never need to say sorry or thank you to me, Ah Zhi. You haven't wronged me," Gu Yanxi held her hand, gently prying open the clenched fingers.

Hua Zhi felt her heart opening up as well, making space for him, then closing back bit by bit.

"I don't need you to say you care to know that you do care. You have always shown more than you've said. If you didn't care, you wouldn't let me come so close. With your temperament, you wouldn't even give me a chance to see you. But I'm still happy now, happier than ever before," Gu Yanxi held her gaze.

Their eyes locked, and Gu Yanxi sighed, "Your heart is filled with the people of the Hua family, with one business after another. I'm squeezed into a small corner, just occupying a tiny space. Sometimes I wish I could shield your eyes and cover your ears so you wouldn't see those things. But more than this deceiving facade, I believe that one day, you will realize that I've been waiting for you."

Gu Yanxi smiled, "And now, I've waited."

"You don't just occupy a small part of my heart." Though her face was flushed and hot, and she was terribly annoyed, Hua Zhi still stubbornly held his gaze. "The business will get on track, and eventually I won't need to worry about everything. The Hua family will return one day, and slowly they won't be as important to me. At that time, most of my heart will be yours."

Gu Yanxi had never known that love could be so sweet. He couldn't help but smile widely. He pressed Hua Zhi's hand to his chest and said, "What should I do? I want to take my heart out and give it to you, so it's fair."

"Take it out to see if it's red or black before putting it back?" Hua Zhi withdrew her hand, lowering her head to avoid his gaze as she pretended to tuck her hair behind her ear. She wanted to continue their previous conversation to avoid this terribly awkward moment, but she couldn't remember where they had left off.

Right, "The business in Yuzhou..."

“I don’t have any concubines.” Hua Zhi’s attempt to speak was cut short. Her gaze instinctively shifted upward, landing on him. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t shake the impression that his faint smile was the exact kind a cat would wear after swiping a fish off the table.

Gu Yanxi, unfazed, lifted a teacup and took his time bringing it to his lips. He waited until she had taken a couple of sips herself before continuing in a measured tone, “The First Prince and a few of the older princes have made their attempts—sending women to my chambers. Each and every one of them was turned away. Whether it’s because I’m the Shizi or the head of the Seven Stars Bureau, neither title lends itself to the luxury of having someone serve me in that way.”

Hua Zhi wasn’t taken aback, as if she’d anticipated such an answer. Her expression was calm, though a spark of curiosity flickered in her eyes. “But your imperial uncle dotes on you, doesn’t he? Hasn’t he tried to make arrangements for you?”

“He’s the Emperor first, my uncle second,” Gu Yanxi replied, his voice tinged with wry amusement. “Over the past two years, he’s mentioned marriage in passing, but he never pressed the matter when I refused. The truth is, he’d prefer me unattached. A solitary leader of the Seven Stars Bureau serves the royal family’s interests far better.”

Hua Zhi reached out, her fingers curling lightly around his. A hint of empathy softened her expression. She could feel a quiet sadness for him. After all, she too had grown up knowing what it meant to lack familial warmth. Even with family present, her life had often felt like that of an orphan—surrounded, yet achingly alone.