Chapter 980 - 977:

Chapter 980: Chapter 977:

Le Zhengsheng realized his tone had been too harsh and eased up a little.

"Ruoya, between me and Gu Xiaoning, only the two of us know best. Compared to the mistakes she once made, I... still want to be with her more. Do you understand?"

Cui Ruoya looked like her soul had left her body, her shoulders slumping. "Then what about her? Does she feel the same way? Has she said she wants to get back together with you?"

Before Le Zhengsheng could speak, Cui Ruoya let out a cold laugh.

"Hmph! She’s really realistic, isn’t she! I’ve never seen a woman who calculates better than her! When you were that sick, she left you... now that you’re fine, she comes back to snatch you and enjoy the fruits of others’ labor?"

Le Zhengsheng’s brows knitted tightly. "Ruoya, I’m very grateful that you saved me... I’ll remember this for the rest of my life. If you ever need anything, I will..."

"Don’t say it!"

Cui Ruoya gritted her teeth, her eyes burning red. "If you really think that way, then give me a little face... don’t reject me in front of my dad, okay?"

"Ruoya." Le Zhengsheng was torn. If he didn’t make it clear, it would only give Professor Cui and his own father false impressions and expectations.

Cui Ruoya took a deep breath, tugged at the corner of her mouth. "Let me be the one to say it. My dad came here full of hope. He’s watched me wait all these years; he doesn’t feel good about it..."

She lifted her head to look at Le Zhengsheng. "Asheng, give me some time... just pretend I’m the one who dumped you, who gave up on you, okay?"

Such a small request—how could Le Zhengsheng, as a man, refuse?

He nodded. "Okay."

Cui Ruoya wiped the corners of her eyes and turned to walk forward. Suddenly, she looked back again. "Since you don’t like me, then why did you give me this Cullinan Ruby necklace? Isn’t ’Ruby Story’ supposed to mean love?"

Le Zhengsheng said nothing, his gaze falling on Cui Ruoya’s neck. He had noticed from the very beginning—the Cullinan Ruby necklace hanging around her neck.

"Ah..." Cui Ruoya covered her mouth, her eyes turning moist. "Don’t tell me... you weren’t planning to give it to me? You originally meant to give it to Gu Xiaoning?"

How could Le Zhengsheng admit that? If he admitted it, it would be too cruel.

His silence dealt just as heavy a blow to Cui Ruoya!

Cui Ruoya clutched the necklace at her throat; it suddenly felt as heavy as a thousand pounds. "Ha! I’m ridiculous, aren’t I? So full of wishful thinking!"

As she spoke, she reached up, ready to yank it off!

Le Zhengsheng hurried to stop her. "Ruoya, it’s just a necklace! Since you’re already wearing it, then keep wearing it. It looks very nice on you."

"..." Cui Ruoya couldn’t stop her tears. Wearing it like this felt worse than not wearing it at all!

Why couldn’t she ever get into Le Zhengsheng’s heart? One Yu Sangwan leaves, and then another Gu Xiaoning shows up! Huh?

Cui Ruoya forced down the urge to explode and pulled at the corner of her mouth. "Fine, then I’ll keep wearing it. It’s okay if I wear it, right?"

"It’s okay." Le Zhengsheng was afraid she’d misunderstand. "I don’t really know what ’Ruby Story’ means. To me, it’s just an ordinary necklace."

Heh... Cui Ruoya sneered inwardly. He was only saying that because she was the one wearing the necklace now, wasn’t he? If Gu Xiaoning were wearing it at this moment, would he still say that?

Le Zhengsheng, you’re ruthless, aren’t you! Why are you so cruel to me?

What exactly is wrong with her? Losing to Yu Sangwan, she could accept—that woman outshone her in every way. But this Gu Xiaoning? Cui Ruoya couldn’t accept it, truly couldn’t accept it!

...

That night when he got home, Le Zhengpeng was bursting with excitement.

"See? When it comes to marriage, you still need the elders to step in. Didn’t things go great today?"

Le Zhengsheng parted his lips, but thinking of the agreement between him and Cui Ruoya, he chose silence.

He owed Cui Ruoya his life. This favor... he would grant her.

Le Zhengpeng chattered on and on. "Professor Cui and I think you two should hurry it up. After all, Dr. Cui isn’t that young anymore. A woman having her first child at twenty-eight is already a bit late. Luckily, medical science is advanced now—you can have kids up to forty! Haha... you two should have several, little grandsons and granddaughters, all as adorable as Jiujiu!"

"Dad."

Le Zhengsheng said helplessly, "Maybe Ruoya doesn’t want that."

"Hey." Le Zhengpeng’s face stiffened. "How could she not want it? From what I see, she likes you a whole lot."

Thump, thump, thump...

Jiujiu came stumbling down from upstairs, supported by a servant.

"Grandpa." Jiujiu called out in her milky voice and threw herself at Le Zhengpeng.

Le Zhengpeng quickly scooped his little granddaughter up. "Oh dear, my good girl, why aren’t you asleep?"

Jiujiu pouted, her big eyes brimming with tears. "Wu wu, Grandpa doesn’t want Jiujiu anymore!"

"..." Le Zhengpeng froze. The little one had clearly heard what he said just now.

"Haha." Le Zhengpeng kissed the little girl’s chubby cheek. "Jiujiu, don’t be jealous. You’ll always be Grandpa’s good baby!"

"Humph!" Jiujiu turned her head away angrily and stretched her arms out toward Le Zhengsheng. "Daddy!"

Le Zhengsheng hurriedly took her. Jiujiu turned her little butt toward Le Zhengpeng, throwing a serious tantrum.

"Sigh." Le Zhengsheng sighed. "The young lady is angry. Grandfather, you’re on your own with this one."

Le Zhengpeng stared, dumbfounded. How could a one-year-old-plus little dumpling understand everything?

Le Zhengsheng carried Jiujiu upstairs. Jiujiu blinked her eyes, looking at her father. "Daddy, don’t... want... baby."

Le Zhengsheng laughed and rubbed his daughter’s head. "Don’t worry, Jiujiu. Daddy only wants you."

Of course, if it was Jiujiu’s mom giving birth, Le Zhengsheng thought, Ningning was still young—she should be able to have quite a few.

...

Later that night, lying in bed.

Le Zhengsheng fretted. Why was Ningning suddenly upset and ignoring him?

Could it really be like Yu Sangwan said—that night... he’d been too forward?

Sigh, they were an old married couple; he honestly hadn’t thought that much about it.

...

Gu Xiaoning sat alone out on the veranda, sighing.

"It’s so late, and you’re still not asleep?" Ling Yu came back very late.

"Ling Shao." Gu Xiaoning scrambled to her feet. "You’re back. The late-night snack’s been simmering; I’ll go bring it out."

Ling Yu grabbed her wrist in one motion. "You’ve been crying? Your eyes are so red."

Gu Xiaoning lowered her head and said nothing. Ling Yu frowned. "Professor Cui came by, didn’t he? You heard something?"

"..." Gu Xiaoning lifted her head; her whole face was wet. "Ling Shao, is there any medicine in this world that, if you take it, lets you forget your ex-husband? I’m so sick of myself being like this, always thinking about what shouldn’t belong to me."

Ling Yu fell silent, staring at her for a long time.

"Do you really want to forget?"

Gu Xiaoning bit down hard. "Yeah."

Ling Yu sighed. "I have a way. Do you want to try it?" Gu Xiaoning looked dazed. "What... what way?"

She had only said it offhand; she hadn’t truly thought there’d be any solution.

She just heard Ling Yu say, "Start a new relationship."

In the living room, only the wall lamp was on; the lighting wasn’t that bright.

Standing in the long corridor, there was a faint wash of moonlight...

Gu Xiaoning didn’t quite understand. What did he mean? Start a new relationship? With whom?