Chapter 202: Once Kidnapped

Gu Zhaohan entered, a white shirt crisp against his black shoulder bag. The setting sun cast long shadows outside the auditorium. He moved with a cool, almost languid grace, the remaining light illuminating his path. Several girls gasped, whispering, "He's so handsome."

Xia Yangyang's heart skipped a beat. "You're here," she said.

Gu Zhaohan replied coldly, "Didn't you say the rehearsal starts today?"

The rehearsal began. Clad in ancient costumes, they emerged, eliciting another wave of admiring murmurs. Gu Zhaohan, in period attire, was breathtaking. The rehearsal proceeded smoothly, their familiarity with the script a testament to previous preparations.

Near the end, Hua Qingqing stepped off stage, raised her SLR camera, and snapped a photo.

Gu Zhaohan reacted violently. He doubled over, clutching his head, a low growl escaping him. "Stop taking pictures!"

Everyone was stunned. Hua Qingqing, frightened and unsure what to do, froze.

Xia Yangyang, however, remembered a previous conversation with Gu Qichen. She'd asked why there were no childhood photos of Gu Zhaohan. He'd mentioned a camera phobia. At the time, she hadn't pursued it, dismissing it as odd. Now, the truth was starkly apparent.

After regaining his composure, Gu Zhaohan apologized. "Please, don't take pictures next time."

Hua Qingqing protested, "But there will be many photos taken at the campus festival. If you can't handle this, how will you perform?"

Walking home, Gu Zhaohan and Xia Yangyang fell into step, he ahead, pushing his bicycle. The Gu mansion was a half-hour walk from school; Xia Yangyang had planned to take a taxi, but seeing his unridden bicycle, she quietly followed. Hua Qingqing's words clearly weighed heavily on him.

Later, over dinner, Xia Yangyang pulled Gu Qichen aside. "What's the story with Gu Zhaohan's camera phobia?"

Gu Qichen frowned. "He was kidnapped as a child. The kidnappers took many photos to threaten the Xi family. That's where the phobia began."

Xia Yangyang gasped. "So he really is the son of Xi Jiachen, Asia's richest man?"

Rumors about Gu Zhaohan's parentage had swirled for years. The most persistent claim linked him to Xi Jiachen and Gu Mingzhu. Xi Jiachen, a notorious womanizer, had been married three times. His marriage to Gu Mingzhu had been discreet, largely unknown. Now, Xia Yangyang knew Gu Mingzhu was Xi Jiachen's second wife, making Gu Zhaohan the legitimate third son of the Xi family. It was said Xi Jiachen had wanted to reclaim Gu Zhaohan, but Gu Mingzhu had vehemently opposed it.

"Isn't there a solution for his phobia?" Xia Yangyang asked.

Gu Qichen sighed. "We've tried countless times, even involving psychologists. The trauma is too deep. Xiao Han's cold and withdrawn personality is partly a result of that incident." A look of deep regret clouded his face. "I was thirteen, Xiao Han was six. I took him to an amusement park that day, and then…"

Xia Yangyang took his hand. "Don't blame yourself. You were a child too."