Gu Qingcheng restrained himself, pulling the blankets over to cover her up. However, he sat on Yun Liuli's bed, not leaving even after a long time.
It had been quite a while since they met, and Yun Liuli was growing more and more beautiful, having a faint hint of feminine charm.
It could be that Gu Qingcheng would only dare to look directly at this young lady when she was asleep like this.
Gu Qingcheng had always gotten people to take care of Yun Liuli in secret. He knew how cold Yun Liuli was toward others and how resolute she treated people who were wooing her.
However, toward him… she was like the blooming peach blossoms in spring, thinking of every way she could to make him notice her beauty. Every day, she would use all sorts of methods to tell him that she had already grown up.
However, she was so precious, so why would he taint her? If he did, how would he face her father in the other world in the future?
He would just watch over her like this, then let go when she met the person that she really liked…
Gu Qingcheng let out a long breath, bending over to plant a kiss on Yun Liuli's forehead. It was heartfelt, with the deepest feelings of endearment.
In this lifetime, Gu Qingcheng had placed Yun Liuli in the most important spot in his heart.
Quite a while later, Gu Qingcheng got up, closed the curtains for Yun Liuli, and then gently closed the door behind him.
After some time, Yun Liuli's lashes shook gently, and tears trickled from the corners of her eyes, down to her nose.
She knew it… She knew it! Gu Qingcheng cared about her!
The reason he refused to accept her must be because he couldn't cross that hurdle in his heart!
In the past, Yun Liuli had only guessed that Gu Qingcheng liked her. She would still feel doubtful even if Gu Qingcheng were to admit it himself. However, from what Gu Qingcheng had done when he thought that she was asleep, she could be certain.
It was great…
Really great!
It wasn't that he didn't like her! It wasn't that he didn't love her!
It was just that… there was a knot in his heart!
This was fine! This was fine!
There was nothing that Yun Liuli was scared of, except that Gu Qingcheng didn't like her. If he didn't like her, given his heart of stone, she had no idea how much effort she would have had to put in to move him!
The kiss that Gu Qingcheng had given her tonight had left behind a great amount of courage in Yun Liuli's heart. She had the strong urge to dash to his room and hug him tightly.
However, Yun Liuli held it in. She had to take gradual steps…
The corners of Yun Liuli's lips curled up, and she had a peaceful sleep that night.
…
Opening the fridge, Yun Liuli saw the cup noodles she bought yesterday. Her stomach was growling, so she made cup noodles for herself. She then checked with her phone to see if there were any hotels nearby that would deliver food.
When Gu Qingcheng washed up and came out, he smelled the scent of cup noodles in the living room.
Gu Qingcheng frowned and headed toward the dining room. He saw Yun Liuli holding chopsticks and slurping the cup noodles while checking her phone.
"You're eating cup noodles early in the morning? Is this how you take care of yourself when I'm not around?" Gu Qingcheng asked.
Yun Liuli was about to deny that, but on second thought, she wanted Gu Qingcheng to feel sorry for her. Therefore, she said, "I don't know how to cook to begin with. Cup noodles can still fill up my stomach…"
Yun Liuli's words really did make Gu Qingcheng frown even more.
"Moreover…" Yun Liuli smiled at Gu Qingcheng. "Cup noodles are cheap and convenient!"
Gu Qingcheng's heart clenched up. "I didn't give you enough money?"
Yun Liuli drew a tissue and wiped her mouth. "That's still your money, after all, and I'm in no position to spend it. I have to spend it consciously… I keep track of all my spending. I'll return it to you later on!"
Those words were like stabbing a knife into Gu Qingcheng's heart.
As expected, Yun Liuli saw Gu Qingcheng's thin lips purse tightly together as he put his hands into his pockets.
"Don't worry about spending money. I promised your father to take care of you, so I'll treat you as my own child! There's no need to worry about money!" Gu Qingcheng then headed for the kitchen.
Yun Liuli watched as Gu Qingcheng unbuttoned the buttons on his sleeves and rolled them up to reveal his muscular arms, seeming as if he was going to cook.
Yun Liuli suppressed her lips, which were about to curl up, feeling that it could be good for her to change her train of thought. Her culinary skills were horrible, but she could let Gu Qingcheng conquer her stomach!
Since he doted on her so much, then he would have to come back and stay by her side if she was hungry but couldn't accept the food that other people cooked.
Yun Liuli lowered her head and looked at the steaming cup noodles in front of her, saying, "But.. you've already brought me up to 18 years old because of my father. You've done enough! I can't continue to be so shameless! Moreover, isn't there a saying that others will be thankful for small amounts of help, but if it persists, and if the help isn't given for a reason, then the other party will hate you for it? What happens if I become someone who sponges off of you?"
Gu Qingcheng seemed to have heard some kind of joke. He didn't stop rolling up his sleeves as he threw a glance at Yun Liuli with his composed eyes, bearing a shadow of a smile. He then turned and put the pot onto the stove.
"All of my assets are yours, let alone a little bit of help!" Gu Qingcheng turned and looked at Yun Liuli. This was the first time he had spoken so solemnly to Yun Liuli. "Understand?"
"Why?" Yun Liuli suppressed her thumping heart and asked.
To tell her that all of his assets belonged to her… Why did this sound so much like a marriage proposal…
"It's because I treat you like my own child! You might be the only child I have in this lifetime!" Gu Qingcheng spoke softly. "Xiao Liuli, I'd be very happy if you sponge off me. At the very least, you'll be able to have a happy life!"
Yun Liuli's eyes turned red as she listened to what Gu Qingcheng said…
He loved her so much, so why did he have to push her so far away?
"Other than your child, can't… I be someone else? Someone who can also have all of your assets!" Yun Liuli's voice was very soft, as if she was probing, but also as if she was just mumbling to herself.
Yun Liuli controlled her volume very well, so Gu Qingcheng would definitely hear her. However, if Gu Qingcheng didn't wish to reply to her, he could just pretend that he didn't hear anything.
Yun Liuli looked at Gu Qingcheng's back view, watching as he smoothly switched on the kitchen hood, poured water into the pot, and then switched on the flames…
This was him pretending that he hadn't heard anything.
Gu Qingcheng didn't say anything. That was his attitude…
When Gu Qingcheng heard what Yun Liuli said, he felt both sweet and sour inside, but then, he also felt as if he wouldn't be able to face Yun Shoushan and his wife.
Gu Qingcheng closed his eyes, then turned to look toward Yun Liuli. The young lady seemed to have sensed it, and she also looked up toward him.
In the time it took for the water to boil, Gu Qingcheng said to Yun Liuli, "I chatted with your father about this in the past. Your father said that… his greatest wish in the future was that after he grew old and retired, together with your stepmother, he'd be able to watch you get married and have children. They would then help you take care of your children…"