The Fake Heiress's Inner Thoughts Were Heard by Her Entire Family

When Gu Lin arrived at Shen Huaichu's place, the house was once again shrouded in darkness. A faint light seeped through the narrow gap in the curtains, but it was of little help in the pitch-black room.

He had just checked on Shen Qi An's situation.

Over the past few days, he had intercepted numerous pleas for help from both Shen Qi An and Shen Tu. He wasn't entirely unaware of Shen Huaichu's actions.

Gu Lin had known Shen Qi An when the latter was still a carefree young master, especially in contrast to Shen Huaichu.

It had been a long time since they last met, and Gu Lin could hardly recognize him now.

It was impossible for him to remain completely unmoved. After all, he had known Shen Qi An for a long time. In name, like Shen Huaichu, he was also his cousin.

But Gu Lin wasn't naive enough to think that Shen Huaichu and Shen Qi An would ever reconcile.

Now, it seemed like just a reversal of the past scenario. The one lying on the ground had switched from Shen Huaichu to Shen Qi An.

Shen Huaichu lay on the sofa, his eyes closed, his brows slightly furrowed, showing no concern for the person who had just entered.

Gu Lin walked over silently and sat down beside him.

The living room fell into a quiet silence.

Shen Huaichu broke the silence first, asking, "Why are you here?"

Gu Lin stared at the out-of-place potted landscape decoration on the coffee table, gradually losing himself in thought.

He didn't answer Shen Huaichu's question. "I intercepted the news about Shen Qi An," he said instead. Shen Huaichu remained silent for a moment, then slightly turned his head and stopped speaking.

Gu Lin swallowed hard, trying to lighten the mood. "I heard Jing Yi and the others went out to play? That's great. It's nice to be able to go on family trips. Brother, you should work hard and try to make it onto the list next time, huh?"

Shen Huaichu slowly opened his eyes, sat up, and tossed aside the empty wine bottle in his hand, staring directly at the decoration on the coffee table.

"Jing Zeyou noticed she's been in a bad mood lately and took her out to relax."

Normally, Gu Lin might have started asking why she was in a bad mood, but looking at Shen Huaichu's state, his intuition told him it probably had something to do with Shen Huaichu.

Shen Huaichu's hands clenched tightly on his knees, his voice hoarse. "Xiao Lin, Shen Qi An was right. I really am a coward."

Gu Lin's eyelids fluttered, and he forced a smile. "Brother, Shen Qi An has always been at odds with you. How can you believe what he says?"

Shen Huaichu's lips curved in a bitter smile. "Her voice sounded so happy, but it wasn't because of me. All I brought her was... was hindrance."

So Jing Zeyou was right.

It was him who was afraid, afraid of everything, and that fear had affected Jing Yi.

Gu Lin couldn't bear to see him like this. "Brother, don't be like this, okay?"

"From now on, don't block the news about Shen Qi An anymore..."

How could he not be a coward? He didn't even have the courage to tell his aunt the truth. How could he not be a coward?

Gu Lin snatched the wine bottle from Shen Huaichu. "Shen Huaichu! It's just a few words! He treated you so badly back then, and it didn't do anything to you. How can just a few words make you like this?"n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Shen Huaichu slumped his shoulders, muttering, "How could it be just a few words? Those are the things I've been desperately hiding."

Jing Yi was right. His aunt was a very warm person. She knew about his revenge plan all along but had always hoped he could become a 'good person'—a 'good person' who would turn to the light after seeking revenge.

How could that be possible? If he were a good person, what was the point of these past ten years?

Gu Lin hesitated, wanting to say something but stopping himself. Shen Huaichu gave a self-deprecating laugh. He knew what his brother wanted to say. "Xiao Lin, you're not unclear about this either, are you? Otherwise, you wouldn't have helped me block the news."

Shen Huaichu had never told Shen Tu about Shen Qi An's situation. On one hand, he didn't want Shen Tu to worry about these matters, and on the other, Shen Qi An was also Shen Tu's nephew. Shen Huaichu couldn't be sure that Shen Tu would always side with him.

Gu Lin lowered his eyes, hiding the sadness in them. He wanted to tell Shen Huaichu that his mother wouldn't do that, but he couldn't bring himself to say it.

If he was so certain, he wouldn't have helped Shen Huaichu block the news about Shen Qi An. Wasn't that just because he was afraid Shen Tu would plead for Shen Qi An?

Shen Huaichu took back the wine bottle from Gu Lin and took a big gulp, leaning back on the sofa, his eyes blurred as he stared at the ceiling, the corners of his eyes slightly red.

Shen Qi An had said he was afraid. Yes, he was very afraid. Afraid that Jing Yi would get into an accident at the racetrack, afraid that Jing Yi wouldn't need him at all, and even more afraid of becoming a hindrance to Jing Yi.

The more he was afraid, the more obvious it became.

His hand hanging by his side uncontrollably lifted, moving closer to the pink peach bixi, but stopped just before it touched it.

He muttered to himself, "She's different from me. She looks like a fully armored porcupine, but her heart is the kindest."

...

"Xiao Lin, what are you spacing out about?"

Shen Tu looked at Gu Lin, who was mechanically picking at the rice grains with his chopsticks, puzzled.

Gu Lin came to his senses and hid the thoughts in his eyes, smiling. "Nothing, just thinking about work."

Shen Tu knew that Gu Lin was interning at Huarui Group under Shen Huaichu. She was happy about this and didn't expect Gu Lin to become another Shen Huaichu. If he could learn even a fraction of his skills, she would be delighted.

"If you don't understand something, ask your father or your brother," Shen Tu suggested. Then, thinking further, she added, "Or you can listen to both and consider a compromise."

Gu Jin chuckled. "Madam, it seems like all the benefits are going to our son, huh?" Shen Tu shot him a look. "Are you really going to quibble with your own son over this?"

She just thought they shouldn't waste such good resources. It would be best to absorb all the good qualities.

Besides, it was his son, yet he had to leave him to her nephew. Who was really at fault here?

Knowing he was in the wrong, Gu Jin smiled obsequiously and started serving Shen Tu some dishes.

Gu Lin smiled faintly, stirring the rice grains with his chopsticks, and asked uncomfortably, "Mom, have you been in touch with... Shen Qi An recently?"

Shen Tu paused her chopstick movements. She hadn't heard that name in a long time and was momentarily dazed.

In her memory, that little nephew had gone from being cute to spoiled, and then to being overbearing.

"No, why?"

Gu Jin frowned, glancing over, curious why his son suddenly mentioned that person.

Gu Lin forced a smile, avoiding the couple's gaze. "Nothing, it's just that it's been a long time since I last saw him, and I suddenly thought of him."

Shen Tu sighed. "I heard he occasionally visits those two. It's good that he still has some conscience. It seems his life is not too bad..." She added, "You can ask me about this, but don't mention it in front of your brother. It's not good to anger him."

Deep down, Shen Tu was relieved that Shen Huaichu hadn't gone after Shen Qi An. After all, he was someone who had always called her aunt.

If things had really come to a point of no return, she wouldn't have known what to do.

"She has her own considerations, and in the end, the choice she makes won't always be me."