Chapter 266/267: Headline

Translator: 549690339

Hordes of journalists still lingered outside. Xia Yangyang knew tomorrow's headlines were already written.

Half an hour later, Shen Shichuan arrived, dust-covered and worried. "How's Xiao Bing? How is she?"

Xia Yangyang had never seen him so flustered. Usually composed, he now looked terrified, tears in his eyes. He'd had a meeting in Hong Kong that day and taken an early flight; it was only noon. He must have heard about Shen Manbing's condition immediately upon landing and rushed back.

Gu Qichen said, "She's fine, just shaken."

Shen Shichuan went into the hospital room. Gu Qichen turned to Xia Yangyang. "Let's go eat something."

Xia Yangyang had no appetite. After lunch, they went to the police station to give statements. The police had already identified the assailant: a schizophrenic loner with severe delusions. He'd watched Shen Manbing's movies daily, believing her to be his lover. His windowless house was covered in posters and photos of her. He'd planned this "proposal" long ago, prepared for rejection, and intended to die with her. The gun was smuggled; he was an extremist involved in other criminal activity. He died instantly falling from the rooftop.

By the time they left the police station, it was dark. Xia Yangyang remained silent in the car. Gu Qichen suddenly took her hand. "What I said on the rooftop—I had no choice. Don't overthink it, okay?"

Xia Yangyang was bewildered; she hadn't been thinking much at all. She didn't understand what he was explaining.

"For the past half-month, I've been reflecting," she said. "Gu Qichen, I don't think I trusted you enough. I know you did everything you could, spending two billion yuan to help me. But I selfishly thought you did it because of Shen Manbing. Although I knew you trusted me, I was angry. I kept asking myself why, but now I understand. It's because I was never part of your past. Your past with Shen Manbing is a mystery to me; it belongs to the two of you. I've tried to understand your feelings for her, like my past with Lu Haotian. Having been through it, I know it's not easy to let go. I was always afraid you'd eventually think the woman you loved for so many years was more suitable."

Finally, Xia Yangyang calmly voiced the thoughts she'd been avoiding. Gu Qichen's words had opened her heart. It wasn't because they were particularly touching, but because she understood that, for someone of his temperament, to say such things publicly, against his nature, meant something—a commitment.

Future betrayal would bring public condemnation and moral outrage, but he didn't care. He'd left no room for retreat in their marriage. If she still didn't trust him after all this, she wouldn't be worthy of his affection.

Gu Qichen gave her a strange look. "Do you think I, Gu Qichen, don't know what's best for me?"

"That's not what I meant. I just… I'm not as beautiful as Shen Manbing, not as accomplished, not…"

"All you need is me."

Xia Yangyang was moved. But a second later, Gu Qichen was unhappy again. "But what did you mean by not being able to give up on your feelings for Lu Haotian?"