Gu Yanxi answered honestly, "The former."
Hua Zhi was silent for a moment. "I'm actually worried that you'll be disappointed, because even if I agree to your request, I still have to take care of the Hua family and do everything I can to ensure their survival. I can't be like other women who regard their men as the most important thing and even sacrifice the interests of their families for them. You should know that I can't do that."
"I know, it doesn't matter." Gu Yanxi's words were dry. He felt that victory was just around the corner but he didn't dare to be happy, for fear that Azhi would say "but".
"And we can't arrange a marriage for the time being. I can't, and neither can you."
"I can handle..."
Hua Zhi shook her head. "Unless the result of your solution is that my grandfather and father all come back, then it is not a solution. The matchmaker and the bridegroom must also have an elder who can make the decision. My mother cannot be included. Besides, I am still in mourning. I will not get married within three years."
"It's okay. I'm willing to wait."
The two looked at each other for a moment, and Hua Zhi smiled with some helplessness, "We are just like discussing a business deal. Fortunately, both the buyer and the seller are very happy."
Sometimes she also envied those who would do anything for love. They were so brave, running towards the person they thought was right like moths to a flame. Maybe the result was not satisfactory, but they were loyal to themselves.
But even in her previous life, when she was really young, she had never experienced such a moment. It's not that she didn't regret it, but she had no choice due to her personality. She also wanted to experience what it was like to be like a little rabbit running around in panic. Unfortunately, she had never had a time when her emotions overwhelmed her reason.
Hua Zhi looked at the man with flashing eyes. His joy was so obvious, so obvious that she felt she was sorry for his sincerity.
Gu Yanxi, whose IQ had returned to normal, caught her self-loathing. He stood up and squatted in front of Azhi, looking at her from bottom to top. "We are not talking about a business, but our lifelong event. Azhi, you have this thought because you feel guilty."
Guilt... What? Hua Zhi looked confused.
Gu Yanxi gently tucked her hair behind her ears. "You have always been strong and resolute in your actions, but you have never been able to firmly refuse this matter. Because from the beginning you felt guilty. You felt that you took advantage of me and that your heart was not pure enough, so you felt guilty."
Hua Zhi bit her lip lightly, not wanting to admit that it seemed to be true.
Gu Yanxi smiled, "I'm actually glad that you feel guilty. If you didn't feel guilty, we wouldn't be where we are now."
"Don't you feel that your feelings are not treated well?"
"I'm not selling my feelings by the pound, so why should I pursue equality? I'm willing to do all this. I'm happy to do anything for you. As long as it's for you, I'm willing to do it. For me, that's enough. Isn't there a saying that goes "One is willing to fight and the other is willing to be beaten"? I'm the one who's willing to be beaten."
Hua Zhi was not comforted at all. Instead, she felt that this feeling was too heavy. She didn't want to owe anyone anything in her entire life, but she owed Gu Yanxi the only one and was emotionally involved with her. She couldn't even clearly explain what she was thinking more.
"Azhi, you're not as bad to me as you think. You've actually done a lot for me. Don't say those things are insignificant. Many of them are very important. Don't you know that?"
"But those have nothing to do with feelings..."
“Will you tell anyone else?”
No, she only tells others those things because she has nothing better to do.
Gu Yanxi smiled, "You trust me. You let me get close to you even though you knew my identity. You even asked me to meet you late at night. This shows that you trust me. To me, this is more important than any nice words you say. This is what the Gu family lacks the most."
"But this has nothing to do with feelings..."
"It's about that, Azhi. Don't you know how hard it is to gain your trust? And you gave it to me. How can you think that this has nothing to do with feelings?"
Hua Zhi knew herself. It was indeed very difficult for her to trust anyone. After so many years in the Hua family, even her biological parents didn't know what she was really like. The only person she trusted was her grandfather. Although her fourth uncle knew something, she was still reserved. When she thought about it carefully, it turned out that her trust in Gu Yanxi had long exceeded the scope of ordinary people.
When did it start? Hua Zhi couldn't quite remember.
Gu Yanxi continued, "If you agree to it, you don't need to change anything. Just follow your own heart. I won't make things difficult for you, nor will I force you to change. I just hope that you can classify me as one of your own. Ah Zhi, I hope you can protect me, just like you protect Xiaoliu, Shaoyao, and Bolin, and protect me as well."
This request was not high, and could even be called humble. Hua Zhi didn't know how insecure he felt in his heart. She only knew that at this moment, she felt a little distressed.
Reaching out and touching the scar on his face, Hua Zhi nodded, "Okay."
Gu Yanxi put his hand on Hua Zhi's hand, smiling from the bottom of his heart, and his heart finally settled down slowly. He knew that Hua Zhi's response to this was a response to everything. She was a person who valued her promises. Unless he did something to let her down in the future, she would never take the initiative to stay away from him. All he asked for now was just this.
As long as Azhi remembers this promise, even if he dies in an accident one day, Azhi will only remember him. She will no longer care about anyone else. No matter alive or dead, Azhi can only be his!
"Mr. Zheng is only a master of the Hua family. He is not interested in the court, nor is his heart in the capital. He will leave after fulfilling his promise. This small capital cannot restrain him."
Gu Yanxi looked away in embarrassment, showing a rare look of surprise.
Touching the protruding scar on his face with her fingers, Hua Zhi asked softly, "Will you ask me to stay away from him on the grounds that men and women should not touch each other?"
"No, I was worried before you said yes to me. After all, he is very outstanding, but I never thought of stopping you from being with him, and I won't do that now. I will never use the standards of a woman in the inner house to ask you at any time. It's good like this now. Do whatever you want. I will follow your instructions."
Hua Zhi smiled. She was so lucky to meet such a person. Even in her previous world, such a person was a rare thing. She never knew that the words "according to you" could have such great power, making her feel that "this is the one".
She thought that she liked Gu Yanxi a little bit, even more than a little bit.
Hua Zhi squatted down and looked at the man at eye level, with a hint of tenderness in her eyes, "If you don't let me down in this life, I will never let you down."
Gu Yanxi suddenly understood what it felt like to be overjoyed. At this moment, a hundred flowers bloomed in his heart.