Back in her room, Xia Xiyao stared at the dial screen on her phone, hesitating. She didn’t know what to say if she called.

Should she scold him for saying those embarrassing things? But wouldn’t that just be admitting she was embarrassed?

Or should she praise him for being so direct and honest? No, that would make her seem petty and vengeful.

She flopped onto the soft bed, burying her face in the covers like a little girl, kicking her legs in frustration.

Eventually, she mustered her courage, picked up her phone, and directly made a WeChat voice call.

The moment it rang once—beep—it was picked up. Gu Xingyi’s pleasant voice came through.

“Hello?”

Xia Xiyao still had her face buried in the blanket, her cheeks flushed bright red as she mumbled, “Hey! What are you doing right now!”

Before Gu Xingyi could reply, a burst of laughter came through the phone.

“Heh! What are you doing? Trying to suffocate yourself with a blanket?”

“Huh?” Xia Xiyao gasped in surprise and lifted her flushed little face in a panic.

She was startled—how did Gu Xingyi know what she was doing?

Then she saw the screen.

She had accidentally hit video call.

Instant social death.

Xia Xiyao stared at Gu Xingyi on the screen, mouth slightly open, frozen like a statue.

Gu Xingyi rubbed his nose. This version of Xia Xiyao… was unexpectedly cute.

The next second, Xia Xiyao let out a soft whimper and buried her face back into the blanket like an ostrich, refusing to come up.

So humiliating!

“You… you’re not allowed to laugh!”

Her voice was muffled through the covers, and Gu Xingyi finally stopped laughing out of mercy.

“Okay, okay! I won’t laugh! I was just about to head out to the apartment—want to come pick me up?”

“Wait there for me.”

Xia Xiyao finally lifted her head, her almond-shaped eyes like calm water as she stared at him on screen. Her face was still flushed, but her voice was no longer muffled.

She didn’t ask Gu Xingyi why he had posted that video. Some things… didn’t really need to be asked.

But even though she didn’t ask, Gu Xingyi brought it up anyway.

“But! There’s something I still have to say. Xia Xiyao, you were getting dragged so badly online—why didn’t you tell me? What do you take me for?”

Xia Xiyao bit her lip and fell silent. What did she take him for…?

Truthfully, she wasn’t sure either.

Do I like Gu Xingyi? she asked herself.

But the answer came quickly—Yes, I do.

She liked this version of him—the one who gently took care of her and Nainai, the way he paid attention to every little detail in life, the pain and sincerity in his eyes when he looked at her. None of that could be faked.

This Gu Xingyi was hard not to like.

But her past made her afraid to open her heart so easily.

She stayed quiet for a long time, and Gu Xingyi didn’t hear a reply. He went quiet too.

Finally, he spoke again, this time with clear disappointment in his voice.

“It’s fine if you don’t want to say anything. I’m downstairs—come pick me up.”

The call ended. Xia Xiyao snapped back to reality. Remembering the sound of his voice just now made her chest tighten, like a needle had pricked her heart.

Did I… let him down?

She jumped up from the bed. Suddenly, she couldn’t wait to see him. Her steps quickened as she rushed out the door.

Tao Lele was still wondering what Xia Xiyao had been doing in her room in the middle of the day when, all of a sudden, Xia Xiyao stumbled out and ran straight for the front door.

Tao Lele frowned.

Did Xiyao-jie… cry?

Xia Xiyao had cried. She didn’t mean to, but the tears had welled up on their own.

She was suddenly terrified—afraid that, because of her silence, Gu Xingyi might feel hurt… might leave them.

All their shared moments flashed through her mind, and that fear only grew.

He had already worked so hard to get close to her—why was she the one hesitating?

When the car pulled up in front of the hotel, Xia Xiyao spotted that tall, familiar figure standing under the sunlight.

Only then did she finally breathe a sigh of relief. Then, like trying to cheer herself up, she balled her hand into a fist and gave herself a small boost of encouragement.

She stopped the car next to Gu Xingyi. He got in without much expression, quietly looking out the window.

Xia Xiyao didn’t start the engine. Instead, she turned toward him and stared at the side of his face.

She took a few deep breaths… then finally spoke.

“Gu… Gu Xingyi, I’m sorry~”

Only then did Gu Xingyi turn his head and see the pink around her eyes. Truthfully, when she didn’t respond earlier, it had hurt him deeply.

But looking at her like this, he could only smile bitterly.

Maybe… I never truly had her heart to begin with.

“No need to apologize, Xia Xiyao. I’m not the Gu Xingyi you think I am, so you don’t need to feel guilty.”

“Are you Gu Xingyi?”

Xia Xiyao still looked him straight in the eye, her gaze calm and unwavering.

Gu Xingyi was suddenly reminded of that moment at the amusement park—when she’d asked, “Who are you?” and he had answered, “I’m Gu Xingyi.”

Now, she was asking again.

He scratched his head.

“I… I am Gu Xingyi.”

“Then you are the Gu Xingyi I was thinking of.”

Hearing Xia Xiyao’s firm reply, Gu Xingyi froze. He clenched his trembling fists tightly.

“But I’m scared… I’m afraid one day, you and Nainai won’t need me anymore, and I…”

“Gu Xingyi!”

Xia Xiyao cut him off, her heart aching at the sight of him like this.

She reached out and firmly held his trembling hand, then leaned softly against him.

“Gu Xingyi, you’re Nainai’s papa, and you’re my husband. No matter when or what happens, we won’t leave you. And listen—Nainai and I don’t want much. We admire your talents, but that’s not what matters most. What matters is you being here, with us, treating us well. That’s more than enough.”

Her delicate body in his arms, her voice gentle and full of affection—nothing could bring Gu Xingyi more peace than this.

He held her tightly and laughed. He had finally heard the words he’d been waiting for.

And that was enough.

From this moment on, aside from Xia Xiyao and Xiao Nainai, nothing else could shake his resolve.

After cuddling for a little while, Xia Xiyao shyly pulled away from his arms, her face burning hot. This was already the most she could bring herself to do for now.

Gu Xingyi didn’t push her. He just sat there grinning like a fool.

Xia Xiyao blushed even harder. She gave him a sultry glance, full of charm, then couldn’t help but giggle.

This dummy… he’s so easy to please!

The car slowly pulled away from the hotel and headed back toward the apartment.

But in this short trip, both of their hearts had already completely changed.