Gu Ciyuan’s expression was truly terrifying.
He advanced step by step, forcing Su Wantang to stumble backward in panic.
“I’m Su Wantang, Brother Ciyuan, I’m Tangtang.Under Gu Ciyuan’s devouring gaze, Su Wantang panicked and uttered these words.
“Wantang?”
The person he had been searching for half a month was right before his eyes. Gu Ciyuan instantly calmed down.
But then he remembered her earlier words. Before his joyful expression could even appear, his face darkened again. “Did you come to plead your sister’s case?”
Su Wantang bit her lip and looked at him, wanting to hear his thoughts about that night.
To Gu Ciyuan, this expression meant he had guessed correctly.
This ungrateful little thing!
Su Ye had schemed against him, didn’t dare come herself, and now she was sending someone to plead her case.
He had wasted his effort going to Nan Province specifically to look for her after learning Old Su hadn’t taken her along, all because he was worried she might be suffering.
But since she had come to Jingdu… “Where is Su Ye? Did she come to Jingdu too?”
Su Wantang instinctively nodded, then shook her head.
Gu Ciyuan was so angry he laughed. “Whether Su Ye came or not, give her a message for me: she’d better never appear before me in this lifetime, or I’ll skin her alive!”
Su Wantang stumbled, nearly frightened into collapsing on the ground.
Gu Ciyuan’s vicious tone didn’t sound like he was joking at all!
Fortunately, Gu Ciyuan was right beside her. With one swift motion of his large hand, he pulled her into his embrace, then immediately released her.
“Falling on flat ground? How did you become even clumsier than when you were little?”
She seemed much more dull-witted too, completely lacking the spark she had as a child.
Though her features had grown even more handsome—no wonder she attracted admirers wherever she went.
Truly worthy of being the girl he, Gu Ciyuan, had carried growing up—exceptional indeed.
That old fool Jiang Hongqi still dared to covet her? He should look at his own age. Next time they met, he’d have to give him a proper warning.
His little sister deserved better.
Just like in the old days, he lifted his hand with affectionate indulgence and flicked her forehead.
But Su Wantang didn’t dare act spoiled and impudent with him like she did as a child.
“By the way, how long have you been in Jingdu? How did you get involved with Li Mingxin? And where are you staying now?”
Su Wantang told him everything—about going to the Gu residence to look for him, and how Li Cuiping wanted to matchmake her with Li Mingxin but she didn’t dare refuse, so she could only play along while waiting for his return.
Gu Ciyuan laughed heartily. “That’s my girl—so clever, already learning to handle people.”
After confirming she was Su Wantang, Gu Ciyuan became noticeably more affectionate toward her, no longer keeping a cold expression.
If he had been like this earlier, Su Wantang would have directly confessed she was the one from that night. But his cold demeanor had frightened her, so she didn’t dare speak up.
Now that he threatened to skin Su Ye alive, she was even more afraid to tell him, worried the skinning target might switch to her.
“Since I’m back now, I won’t let you suffer anymore. You’ll live with me from now on. That Old Su abandoned his own daughter when he ran off—no need to look for a father like that. And your sister has questionable character too—you should keep your distance from her to avoid being influenced badly.”
In just a few words, he had Su Wantang’s future all arranged.
Pouting, Su Wantang let him pull her toward the Gu residence to retrieve her luggage, from now on she would live here with him.
On the road, Gu Ciyuan unexpectedly became more talkative, while Su Wantang remained silent like a dull duck. This made Gu Ciyuan sigh inwardly—time truly was a butcher’s knife, turning his once lively and cheerful little sister into a reticent mute.
He stopped irritably and turned to look at her. “Su Wantang, tell me the truth—has someone bullied you? Spit it out, and I’ll twist their head off to use as a football!”
Su Wantang shook her head, her silent demeanor only adding to his frustration.
Gu Ciyuan had imagined countless scenarios of reuniting with Su Wantang—her rushing into his arms like she did as a child, calling him “brother,” or the little girl being unreasonable and stubborn. The one possibility he never considered was her being so timid and fearful, even of him.
Gu Ciyuan was left speechless.
Only then did Su Wantang tentatively ask, “Brother Ciyuan, if my sister were pregnant with your child, what would you do?”