<h4>Chapter 204: Chapter 204: The Course of Events</h4>


    Ji Yu didn’t understand why he was so fixated on this matter, but since they had alreadyid everything out clearly, this issue probably wouldn’t crop up so easily again.


    "Yu, get some rest."


    It was the first time he realized that some things could actually make a person feel afraid. Before, someone like Gu Qixiao would never have hesitated about such matters.


    But now, for Ji Yu, he truly didn’t dare to tell the truth.


    This situation troubled him deeply, to the point where even Ji Yu felt that something about him seemed a bit off.


    "Why do I feel like you’ve been avoiding metely? Is there something you’re not telling me?"


    "No, it’s just that work has been particrly busytely," he answered without the slightest hesitation.


    Although Ji Yu remained somewhat skeptical, seeing how his expression genuinely reflected some stress, she chose not to press further by the end.


    Butter, while having a meal with Feng Qinqin, she brought it up, "I don’t know if it’s just my imagination, but I feel like Gu Qixiao has been acting a little strangetely. Yet, I can’t seem to pinpoint exactly what’s off."


    It was something that required further thought.


    Feng Qinqin was startled, but she knew this was absolutely not something Ji Yu could find out about. "You’re overthinking it. You know he’s been busy handling things for you recently. How could he possibly be hiding anything from you?"


    She understood perfectly that everything Gu Qixiao had been doing was for Ji Yu. Sometimes, such matters needed to be covered up with well-intentioned lies.


    "Really?" Ji Yu was already certain they were hiding something from her.


    When others lied, she might not always notice, but her friendship with Feng Qinqin ran so deep—how could she not see through her habits?


    Feng Qinqin’s guilty demeanor only confirmed that this matter couldn’t be brushed aside.


    Still, Ji Yu was sure it wasn’t something that would harm her. Otherwise, Feng Qinqin wouldn’t have helped keep it a secret.


    "Qinqin, have a lot of things happened while I’ve been away?" she asked, her tone betraying no emotion. But Feng Qinqin could tell how hard it was to keep lying.


    "Not much, really. Don’t overthink it," she said, trying to downy the matter and keep Ji Yu from dwelling on it.


    If Ji Yu dwelled on it too much, who knew what direction things would take.


    But how could Ji Yu possibly not care?


    She had a strong feeling that this wasn’t something she wanted to face. Since it had already reached this point, she felt it was time to consider other approaches.


    "Yuyu, I know you’re already suspicious of me, but I truly can’t talk about this. From an outsider’s perspective, it might seem right, but you might not think so."


    That was all she could say.


    The things Ji Yu had encountered were truly rming.


    It wasn’t easy for her to be where she was now.


    All Feng Qinqin wished for was that there wouldn’t be any issues between Ji Yu and Gu Qixiao.


    Ji Yu just looked at her, seeming not angry but filled with understanding.


    "Qinqin, I don’t like the feeling of being kept in the dark. Even if it’s something terrible, I want to know the truth, instead of being deceived or unable to see the full picture." She did not like this feeling.


    Especially when everyone else knew about it.


    She felt excluded.


    This thought darkened Ji Yu’s mood considerably.


    "Yuyu, you need to understand, the reason everyone isn’t telling you is to spare you the worry. No matter what else, you should at least think about the baby you’re carrying."


    Feng Qinqin looked at Ji Yu helplessly as she said this.


    Ji Yu raised an eyebrow. She didn’t have strong feelings about the baby, "I will definitely protect this child, but the secrecy between Gu Qixiao and me is wrong."


    Some matters needed to be resolved sooner rather thanter.


    She had thought about it many times before: nothing between her and Gu Qixiao should be obstructed by hidden agendas. But why did it feel like the problem in their rtionship now was themselves?


    "No matter what, this should be exined clearly." If left unresolved, it would only leave both of them feeling unhappy.


    Continuing to harbor such suspicions might lead her to do things even she couldn’t predict, so it was best to settle the issue now.


    "You should know my personality by now." Ji Yu and Feng Qinqin had been friends for so long, they knew each other inside out.


    Feng Qinqin understood why Ji Yu thought the way she did. "You always have to be so persistent. But I really can’t tell you about this. You’ll have to ask Gu Qixiao yourself."


    They really needed to look into what was going on here.


    When Ji Yu returned home, she got straight to the point.


    Looking at Gu Qixiao’s tense expression, how could she not see through it?


    "Gu Qixiao, if there’s something you’re hiding from me, just tell me directly." She tried to appear calm, even hoping to resolve things with him properly.


    They had worked so hard to be together; there was no need for unnecessary drama.


    She wanted them toe to an understanding. If not honesty, then at least rity—this was the mindset she felt they should embrace now.


    Gu Qixiao knew that Ji Yu would eventually find out, so he had already prepared himself for this day.


    He just didn’t expect it toe so quickly.


    "Yu, if I tell you, you won’t leave me—right?" That was what he had been worried about all along.


    But Ji Yu didn’t respond, merely looking at him quietly, trying to figure out what was so significant that it made him act this way.


    "Yu, if you don’t give me your word, I refuse to say anything." He was remarkably stubborn about this.


    As long as she didn’t promise not to leave, he would hold his ground.


    Ji Yu looked at everything before her and could only feel a sense of helplessness. "Tell me, and I’ll consider it. You can’t just force my hand like this."


    But that’s precisely what he wanted—to force her.


    In his eyes, Ji Yu belonged to him alone. Even if he told her the truth, she couldn’t simply walk away.


    "You promised me before that you wouldn’t leave." He wanted Ji Yu to understand this.


    He wouldn’t leave, nor did he want her to abandon him.


    "What I mean is, as long as what you say isn’t beyond my boundaries, we won’t separate."


    But after saying this, Gu Qixiao still showed no intention of speaking.


    His continued silence made the truth abundantly clear: whatever this was, it had already crossed Ji Yu’s boundaries.