Chapter 4: Destiny

Upon seeing this, Gu Zhiyuan’s eyes flickered with a trace of disappointment.

Perhaps it was the butterfly effect caused by his rebirth that led Weiwei to make different choices than in her previous life.

However, this life was still long ahead, and he was willing to spend time step by step to win back his Weiwei.

Just like in the last life, Weiwei had always been waiting for him.

Qiao Weiwei couldn’t spare any attention for him. She vaguely remembered that this whole mess was quite complicated and that it would take at least half a year before she could return.

Thinking of this, she silently gave Gu Huaijin a thumbs-up.

Without seeing the scumbag for a while, the air felt noticeably fresher.

However, Gu Zhiyuan somehow found out her phone number and called every day to ask after her.

She immediately blocked the number and busied herself with studying.

To ensure she wouldn’t fall behind, Gu Huaijin had hired teachers from various subjects to come to the hospital to teach her.

Previously, the words were only to coax Gu Huaijin into letting her stay. In reality, her grades were merely average. In her past life, spoiled by Gu Zhiyuan and influenced by Lin Zhiyi, her performance was terrible. Coupled with three years in the sanatorium, her mind was often unfocused, and attending classes felt like listening to an alien language.

But Haikou’s reputation had already been spread. After discharge, the entrance exam for the second year of high school was imminent. She had to muster every ounce of energy to cram the curriculum, lest she be exposed.

One day, under a clear sky, sunlight streamed through the window.

Yet, the room echoed with bursts of wailing.

“Oh my god, statistics probabilities are killing me.”

“I’ve read this question four or five times and honestly don’t recognize a thing.”

“May the world be free of math!”

Qiao Weiwei, sporting a messy bedhead, stared at the last big question for an hour.

Finally, she threw her head back and shouted at the ceiling.

The next moment, the door was pushed open.

It was Gu Huaijin!

Damn it!

She hurriedly unfolded the crumpled test paper and pretended to be earnestly writing and doodling on scrap paper.

No way.

Wasn’t the young uncle supposed to return only tomorrow?

Looking again at the red crosses on the paper, if the young uncle saw this, he would probably kick her out immediately.

She felt like dying even more.

“Uncle, you came back early?”

Qiao Weiwei propped her chin up, blinking innocently.

From afar, Gu Huaijin heard the girl’s harsh curses. His peripheral vision caught sight of the test paper tightly pressed under her arm, and he raised an eyebrow.

“Top of the grade?”

He pointed to the blank back of the test paper, his voice low and tinged with amusement.

Qiao Weiwei scratched the back of her head guiltily. “Well… I can explain.”

Suddenly inspired, she added, “Ah, my head hurts so much.”

“It must be an injury. That’s why you suddenly forgot so much and can’t even do such simple problems.”

Gu Huaijin leaned back in the chair, his cold gaze fixed on her as if scrutinizing a mischievous kitten.

Her acting was clumsy, and the seasoned businessman saw right through it at a glance.

Yet, a faint, almost imperceptible curve appeared at the corner of his mouth.

He didn’t expose her. “Since you’re not feeling well, put the test aside for now.”

Escaping disaster, Qiao Weiwei breathed a silent sigh of relief.

“Also…”

Gu Huaijin paused, carefully choosing his words. “The police have completed their investigation into the car accident. It was deemed an accident. Tomorrow is your parents’ funeral.”

Qiao Weiwei’s eyelashes trembled. Even after so many years, the moment of her parents’ death remained vividly clear.

The car lost control, crashing into the roadside barrier, then caught fire and exploded.

In the final moments, her parents shielded her desperately, saving her life.

In her previous life, due to external trauma, she remained in a haze and occasionally lost her mind, missing the funeral.

Still, she harbored some doubts—her father had always been meticulous, checking the car before leaving.

A thought flashed through her mind, fleeting and elusive.

Her eyes reddened. “Alright, thank you, Uncle, for taking care of me during this time.”

Her father was an orphan, and her mother had cut ties with her family years ago to resist a forced marriage.

Without Gu Huaijin’s help, there might not have even been a funeral.

Gu Huaijin’s expression stiffened. The younger generation of the Gu family never dared approach him, much less cry in front of him.

He truly… was not good at comforting others.

He pulled a gray silk handkerchief from his coat pocket and handed it over.

On it was embroidered a single English word: Destiny.

It carried a faint scent of green wood, distant and cold.

Qiao Weiwei sniffed and forced a smile. “I know. I’ll live better than anyone else.”

Her smile was more pitiable than tears.

Gu Huaijin furrowed his brow slightly, catching the moisture in her eyes, and swallowed his words.

Changing the subject, he asked, “Are the teachers’ styles acceptable?”

It was his first time raising a child; unsure of what kind of tutors to hire, he could only let the little girl choose.

Qiao Weiwei felt a warmth grow inside at his words.

“They’re all very good and patient.”

“Mm.”

The two fell silent, and an awkward atmosphere gradually arose.

Qiao Weiwei buried her head in her math problems, silently complaining.

Wasn’t Gu Huaijin such a big shot always swamped with business? Why was he lingering in the hospital?

The next morning, Gu Huaijin accompanied her to the funeral.

When her father was a lawyer, he had handled many public interest cases, so many came to pay their respects.

The other half were students her mother had sponsored, who had rushed from various places upon hearing the news.

Qiao Weiwei suddenly remembered something her parents had said.

“Between people, the flow of the wind is needed to pass warmth to others. This way, one leaves their mark in the world.”

Though her parents were gone, they would always be remembered; thus, they still lived on in this world.

“Mom, Dad, I will take good care of myself. You don’t have to worry.”

She looked at the smiling faces in the portrait, and all the grievances of two lives surged forth uncontrollably. Tears streamed down her face.

Gu Huaijin, dressed in a black suit, stood nearby, noble and dignified, attracting the eyes of passersby.

Seeing the figure curled up in the mourning hall, a certain part of his heart was touched.

He glanced down at the lollipop in his hand and was about to step forward when someone else beat him to it.

“Weiwei, if you keep this up, Uncle and Aunt will be worried,” Gu Zhiyuan crouched beside her, full of concern. “From now on, I’m your support.”

Behind them, Gu Huaijin halted, his brow furrowed tightly, fingers gripping the lollipop.

“Mr. Gu has been pulling all-nighters for a month straight and only managed to squeeze out two days to return home.”

Assistant Chen Li, sensing his boss’s displeasure and suspecting Gu Zhiyuan of neglecting duty, hastily explained, “He handled everything decisively and perfectly, with no delay in work.”

The only response was a cold “Hmm.”

Clearly displeased.

Chen Li understood. Gu Zhiyuan was to take over the Gu Corporation, and Qiao Weiwei’s background truly didn’t match.

What began as deep affection and sweetness might later turn into piercing poison, possibly causing an uproar.