Chapter 313 - 269: Love? Even a Dog Wouldn’t Want It

He wasn’t overly worried, because worrying wouldn’t help. He and Gu Qingshan were the men of their families; they had to handle things and stay calm in a crisis.

He had originally wanted to ask someone to look for him, but Gu Qingshan said he was already on it.

He trusted his childhood friend to handle it. Xue Rui would likely be found soon.

Xue Yao tilted her head and sighed in resignation.

With her brother gone, all the heat was on her now. Her only shield was Gu Muxue, so she chose to sit beside her.

"Sister Muxue, my brother’s only been gone for a day. It’s not a big deal," Xue Yao said with a sigh. She felt Gu Muxue was worrying too much.

She sometimes messaged her brother and he wouldn’t get back to her for a week. And look at her, she was perfectly fine, wasn’t she?

Gu Muxue shook her head and murmured, "Yaoyao, once you have someone you love, you’ll understand how I feel."

Xue Rui, on the other end of the line, heard everything clearly. He put himself in Gu Muxue’s shoes...

’I didn’t reply last night, so she must have thought I went to bed early. When I didn’t reply this morning, she could have chalked it up to me waking up late...’

’But then the whole day went by without a word, and my phone was off.’

’If Gu Muxue or Lin Ruoxi disappeared for a day and a night like this, I’d go crazy with worry, too...’

’When someone you’re with day in and day out suddenly vanishes, even for just a day, who wouldn’t be worried?’

Xue Yao tilted her head, still unable to understand Gu Muxue’s feelings.

Seeing how sad and upset Gu Muxue looked, Xue Yao thought she was quite pitiful.

Suddenly, she felt something furry brush against her leg. It was Da Huang, who had sidled up to her.

’People in love are so miserable,’ Xue Yao thought. ’It’s like you’re living for someone else, your emotions constantly at their mercy... I get furious enough at my teammates just playing a game. If being in love would make me like this, the very thought is terrifying.’

She lifted Da Huang’s two front paws, ruffled the fur on his head, and whispered to him, "Love? Even a dog knows better than to get involved."

’People who fall in love are so pitiful and pathetic...’

Gu Muxue reached out and petted Da Huang’s head. "Xue Rui brought me to play with you once."

Seeing Da Huang, she remembered the afternoon she and Xue Rui had walked him. ’But isn’t this dog from one of Xue Rui’s friends?’

’Why is it being kept here with Xue Yao...?’

Gu Qingshan’s brow twitched as he listened. It was all because of that brat Xue Rui that his daughter was in this state.

To be honest, he was also worried about Xue Rui’s safety, but right now he was fuming and didn’t know where to direct his anger!

His gaze shifted and landed on Xue Jianfeng. ’The father pays for the son’s debts!’

He silently walked over to Xue Jianfeng, offered him a cigarette, then swiftly put him in a headlock. Squeezing tightly, he growled, "Some son you raised, pulling a disappearing act without a word!"

Xue Jianfeng instantly felt a sharp pain in his neck. In his mind, he cursed Xue Rui to hell and back.

’You little bastard! If you don’t show up soon, your old man is going to be strangled to death!’

Gu Muxue watched the scene unfold in a daze. Her father and Xue Rui’s father were good friends, and now they had their arms slung around each other’s shoulders, looking like a pair of close schoolboys...

Xue Jianfeng grimaced in pain. He wanted to retaliate, but he had no ground to stand on, all because of his son.

He didn’t breathe a sigh of relief until Gu Qingshan’s phone rang. He then twisted his stiff neck.

When they heard Gu Qingshan answer the phone, everyone held their breath, their eyes fixed on him as he made small talk with the person on the other end.

"Old Li, sorry to bother you so late."

"A friend’s kid."

"Haha, yes, yes, of course. We’ll have to get a meal together sometime..."

Listening to Gu Qingshan’s one-sided conversation, everyone’s hearts were in their throats.

After Gu Qingshan hung up, he noticed everyone staring at him. He sighed and announced, "Xiaorui is on a train back to Hedong. He’s safe."

"Really? Thank you, Dad!" Gu Muxue’s eyes instantly lit up.

"Let’s go. Time to go home for dinner," Gu Qingshan said, tugging at Gu Muxue’s arm.

That afternoon, his daughter had begged him to find out where Xue Rui was.

It was the first time his daughter had ever asked him for something like this, so he had to come through for her.

Gu Muxue didn’t move. She quickly searched for train schedules from Shencheng to Hedong. If it was true, Xue Rui would be back in another hour.

Gu Qingshan’s answer eased her worries about Xue Rui’s physical safety, but why was his phone still off?

"Yaoyao, I’m going to stay with you tonight," Gu Muxue said, hugging Xue Yao’s arm and sinking deeper into the sofa.

Xue Yao had invited her over before, but Old Gu never allowed it. Today, she wanted to stay and wait for Xue Rui to come back so she could see him.

Ren Qunfang finally breathed a sigh of relief, knowing her son was safe.

She and Xue Jianfeng both knew Gu Qingshan’s character. He never made guarantees; if he said something, you could be sure it was fully confirmed.

Now that her mind was at ease, her mood improved considerably. She said to Gu Qingshan, "Old Gu, it’s so late. If Muxue doesn’t want to leave, let her stay. She can sleep with Yaoyao."

"Okay. Thank you, Auntie," Gu Muxue said with a smile, looking much better than before.

Gu Qingshan didn’t want his daughter to stay the night. ’What if Xue Rui comes back tonight?’

’But it seems no one here is on my side...’

’Besides, I know how stubborn my daughter can be...’

’Forget it. The elders are here, anyway. It’s not like Xue Rui would dare to try anything.’

He sighed. "Fangfang, make sure Muxue eats something. We’re leaving now."

Before he left, he shot another glare at Xue Jianfeng.