Volume One, Chapter 105: Confession

When Song Qingyu stepped out of the hospital ward, she saw Gu Yuandong on the phone.

“If you and Rongrong are getting along well, you should set the date this year,” the voice said.

“What date?” His tone was cold and heavy, an aura of hostility and chill radiating from him that made it impossible for anyone to approach.

“If you think it’s too soon to marry, you can get engaged first.”

Standing a little way off, Song Qingyu couldn't hear what was said on the other end. Gu Yuandong was silent for a few seconds, then hung up angrily.

Knowing that the boss was in a foul mood, Song Qingyu didn’t dare risk provoking him. But since they had come together, it felt inappropriate to leave without saying a word.

As she hesitated, Pei Jingmo caught sight of her and walked over. “Ready to head back?”

“Yes.”

“Let’s go.”

“Alright.”

They left the hospital together. Just as Song Qingyu was about to speak, Gu Yuandong unexpectedly opened the car door for her himself.

Song Qingyu didn’t feel flattered—instead, her heart thudded anxiously in her chest.

“Thank you, Mr. Gu. I’ll just take a taxi home.”

“It’s late. The roads aren’t safe. Let me see it through to the end.”

“But…”

“What’s wrong? Is my car making you uncomfortable, Miss Song?”

From his tone, Song Qingyu could sense resentment. Not daring to offend the big boss, she obediently got in.

Inside the car, the atmosphere was unusually tense. Song Qingyu kept her head down, staring at her phone, doing her best to minimize her presence.

Suddenly, the man beside her spoke.

“I don’t like Lu Rongrong.”

Realizing Mr. Gu was talking to her, Song Qingyu looked at him in surprise and answered softly, “Oh?”

“But my father insists I marry her, thinking a union between our families would be mutually beneficial.”

Pei Jingmo turned to Song Qingyu. “What do you think I should do, Miss Song?”

Song Qingyu felt a wave of discomfort.

Now she understood why Mr. Gu had been displeased when she said he and Lu Rongrong were a perfect pair—it was simply because he didn’t like her.

“You should do whatever you feel is right, Mr. Gu.”

He let out a dry laugh. “Is this your usual approach, Miss Song—always giving the safest, most generic answers whenever someone asks you anything?”

Song Qingyu’s palms grew sweaty with embarrassment.

What else could she say? Surely he wasn’t expecting her to make the decision for him.

Besides, this was Mr. Gu’s personal affair, not a work matter. For business, she could provide solutions—but for private feelings, she wouldn’t dare be so direct.

“I… I just think nothing is more important than your happiness, Mr. Gu. Especially when it comes to a lifelong commitment like marriage—it deserves careful consideration.”

Song Qingyu swore she spoke sincerely from the heart.

She didn’t know if her answer struck a chord, but she could clearly feel the tension around him ease; at least, he wasn’t as intimidating as before.

“Thank you, Miss Song. I know what I need to do.”

Song Qingyu breathed a sigh of relief. Seeing the conversation had reached this point, curiosity got the better of her and she asked, “Mr. Gu, may I ask you a question?”

“Go ahead.”

“Well… People say you’ve had a secret crush on your ‘white moonlight’ for many years. Is it true, or…”

“It’s true.”

Song Qingyu hadn’t expected such a straightforward answer; it seemed the rumors were not unfounded.

“Oh…”

It would be impolite to ask further, so Song Qingyu stopped herself.

But Gu Yuandong wasn’t ready to let the topic go. “Aren’t you curious why I never ended up with my ‘white moonlight’?”

Song Qingyu gave an awkward smile and played along. “Why is that?”

“I’m afraid she doesn’t like me.”

Afraid?

Song Qingyu could hardly associate the word “afraid” with the decisive young heir.

Suddenly, something occurred to her. “You… haven’t confessed, have you?”

“No.”

Song Qingyu was speechless.

She’d assumed Mr. Gu would be the domineering type—if he liked someone, he’d go after her forcefully. Who would have guessed, bearing the weight of his status, he was nursing an unspoken love?

Who could possibly make the heir so enamored, yet so anxious?

All at once, Song Qingyu’s expression grew peculiar. “Forgive my boldness, but is the person you like a man or a woman?”

Pei Jingmo saw the look on her face and immediately understood she’d misunderstood again.

“My orientation is perfectly normal.”

Song Qingyu nodded. If that was the case, then it wasn’t Young Master Fu.

Clearly, the act he and Young Master Fu put on was just for Lu Rongrong’s benefit.

“Do you think I should confess?”

“Of course. Happiness is something you fight for; if you like someone, you must tell her. Even if you can’t be together in the end, at least you won’t have regrets.”

Pei Jingmo smiled. “What if she’s already married?”

Song Qingyu was speechless.

So the one you like is someone’s wife!

Thankfully, they’d arrived at her complex, sparing Song Qingyu from answering such a difficult question. She hurriedly got out of the car.

“Thank you for the ride, Mr. Gu. Goodbye.”

Song Qingyu dashed home.

Pei Jingmo hadn’t returned yet. Song Qingyu placed her bag on the sofa when the doorbell rang.

It was the delivery man.

She checked her phone and saw Pei Jingmo had sent her a message earlier: “I’ll be home late. I ordered food to be delivered, you don’t have to wait for me.”

Looking at the table full of her favorite dishes, Song Qingyu picked at her food but had little appetite.

Just as she was about to ask Pei Jingmo when he’d be back, the doorbell rang again.

She ran to open it, and Pei Jingmo walked in carrying a bouquet of lilies.

“Have you eaten?”

Song Qingyu smiled, accepting the flowers. “Not yet. Let’s eat together.”

“Alright.”

Eating alone, she’d felt little urge, but with company, Song Qingyu’s appetite returned and she ate heartily.

After dinner, Pei Jingmo tidied up while Song Qingyu arranged the flowers in a vase.

The phone rang unexpectedly—it was her counselor calling.

The centennial anniversary of Beijing University was set for New Year’s Day, and the counselor invited Song Qingyu to attend as an outstanding alumna.

Back when she was a student, both the university and her counselor had helped her immensely, so she naturally wouldn’t refuse.

Time slipped by quickly.

Before she realized it, New Year’s Day had arrived.

Determined not to let her alma mater or counselor down, Song Qingyu took extra care dressing before heading to the university.

Pei Jingmo admired her radiant beauty and was reluctant to let her leave.

Before she walked out the door, Pei Jingmo took her hand to check.

Good, she was wearing her ring.

Song Qingyu was puzzled by his actions. “Is something wrong?”

“You forgot to apply hand cream.”

Pei Jingmo squeezed some cream into his palm, warmed it, then gently rubbed it onto Song Qingyu’s hands.

He did everything with meticulous care, applying the cream one finger at a time, even massaging her hands as he went.

Ten fingers are linked to the heart; when their fingers touched, Song Qingyu felt as if a feather had brushed her heart—ticklish, warm, and a little uneasy.

The atmosphere grew increasingly ambiguous. Flustered, Song Qingyu pulled her hand away, her cheeks burning.

“All… all done. I should go now.”

Her palm gradually cooled after leaving his grasp. Pei Jingmo stared at his hand, his mind filled with images of Song Qingyu’s slender, beautiful fingers wreaking havoc across his skin.

He cursed under his breath and retreated to the bathroom, left to deal with the consequences of trying to tease, only to find himself teased instead.