The CEO is domineering, the devil Boss is addicted to pampering

Chapter 1421 Yunrui's Sincere Intention: Marriage Should Be Arranged as Soon as Possible

Gu Yunqian stood in the corridor for a full ten minutes, until the coolness of his fingertips seeped into his skin through the cuffs of his suit before finally raising his hand to knock on his parents' door. It was already eleven o'clock at night, and only one light was still on in the old Gu family house. The warm yellow light leaked out from the crack in the door, but it could not warm the heaviness in his heart.

"Come in." Gu Mingcheng's voice was slightly hoarse from being woken up. When Gu Yunqian pushed the door open, he saw his father sitting on the mahogany bed reading the newspaper, while his mother, Ye Muxue, sat on the sofa next to him, holding a glass of warm milk, her eyes full of worry—coming to see them at this hour must mean something serious had happened.

Gu Yunqian closed the door behind him, placed the report containing the photos on the desk, and said in a low voice as if a stone was pressing down on it: "Dad, Mom, there's something I want to discuss with you about Yunxi."

Ye Muxue put down her milk glass, her gaze falling on the photo, her expression instantly changing: "This is... Yunxi with whom? What's wrong with this child?" She picked up the photo, her fingers gently stroking Gu Yunxi's profile, her tone full of heartache, "This child, she hasn't had a proper rest since returning from the Golden Triangle last time, why is she wandering around outside in the middle of the night?"

“His name is Cangying, and he’s an undercover police officer in the anti-drug squad.” Gu Yunqian’s words made the air in the study freeze instantly. “Yunxi was kidnapped in Heiyan Village a while ago, and he was the one who rescued her. They’ve been getting very close lately. Yunxi not only went out to eat noodles with him alone, but also took him into her lab. I guess it’s because of Lin Xu’s case.”

Gu Mingcheng turned a page of the newspaper, took a deep breath, and the unfolded paper obscured the emotions in his eyes. The four words "undercover police officer" were like a sharp needle, pricking his temples and making them throb.

Having spent decades navigating the business world, he knows best what this profession means—endless enemies, precarious safety, and the risk of being dragged into the abyss at any moment.

"Is this what you're worried about?" He looked at Gu Yunqian, his tone calm yet carrying an undeniable authority.

“It’s not just worry, it’s fear.” Gu Yunqian’s voice trembled slightly. “Dad, have you forgotten what Yunxi looked like in the Golden Triangle last time? She was covered in injuries, unconscious for three days and three nights. Every time the heart monitor’s curve flattened even slightly, my heart would jump into my throat. Cangying did save her, but his identity is a ticking time bomb! Undercover police officers have enemies everywhere. What wouldn’t those drug lords and gangsters do? Yunxi getting close to him is tantamount to writing his name and her own name on a death warrant!”

He became more and more agitated as he spoke, his chest heaving violently: "I tried to talk to Yunxi, but she wouldn't listen at all, and even accused me of spying on her!"

"Son, please don't do this..."

“You know the company’s current situation better than I do. Shen Chengyu’s affair has caused quite a stir, the stock price has dropped by 30%, several major clients are watching and waiting, and the banks are pressing for loan repayments. The Li family from the west of the city has taken the initiative to approach us, saying that as long as Yunxi is willing to marry their son, they are not only willing to invest 500 million yuan, but also help us open up the supply chain in Southeast Asia.”

He took out a letter of intent for cooperation from his briefcase and placed it on the table: "This is the Li family's sincerity. Five hundred million yuan can give the Gu family a breather and also allow Yunxi to completely sever ties with Cangying. I have investigated the Li family's young master. He is a PhD who returned from studying abroad. He has a calm personality and no bad habits. It is better than following an undercover policeman and living in fear."

"So you planned this all along?!" Ye Muxue suddenly stood up, her voice filled with anger. "You wanted to get rid of your sister as a burden, didn't you?!" Before Gu Mingcheng could speak, Ye Muxue jumped up. Why did Gu Yunxi have to arrange a marriage now, of all times, after all these things...?

Ye Muxue looked at her precious son with a blank expression. The Li family's young master, a PhD, worth five hundred million...

Gu Yunqian's face paled. He turned his head away, not daring to look Ye Muxue in the eye. She knew all too well that if Gu Yunxi went to a marriage alliance now, he would only be outcast by other families. But he really had no other choice!

The atmosphere in the study plummeted to freezing point. Gu Mingcheng remained silent until their argument subsided slightly, at which point he slowly spoke, his voice hoarse yet powerful: "Yunqian, have you ever considered what will happen to Yunshu if Yunxi is to marry into the family?"

These words were like a bucket of cold water poured over Gu Yunqian's head. He suddenly looked up, his eyes filled with astonishment—he was so caught up in his emotions that he had forgotten about Gu Yunshu at home.

"Yunshu is also a daughter of the Gu family." Gu Mingcheng stubbed out his cigar in the ashtray, looking sharply at Gu Yunqian. "If the happiness of one daughter is to be sacrificed for the sake of the company's interests, then shouldn't the other one also make the same sacrifice? The Li family has a son, and when other families turn around, won't they be eyeing Yunshu? At that time, will you also push Yunshu out for a marriage alliance?"

Gu Yunqian opened his mouth, but couldn't utter a word. Compared to Gu Yunxi, Gu Yunshu was gentle and obedient, and had always regarded him, her older brother, as a role model. He had never thought of sacrificing Yunshu, but his father's words were like a hammer, waking him up—once the marriage alliance started, it would be impossible to stop.

Are all the daughters of the Gu family destined to become sacrifices for the family's interests?

"Dad, I..." Gu Yunqian's voice was tinged with panic, "I never intended to sacrifice Yunshu, I just felt that Yunxi's situation was special..."

“There’s nothing special about them,” Gu Mingcheng interrupted him. “They are all children of the Gu family and deserve to be protected. When I took over the Gu family, it wasn’t to make my descendants tools for exchanging benefits, but to allow them to live the lives they want in peace and stability.”

He looked at Ye Muxue, his eyes softening considerably. "Haven't you thought about helping your sister find the answer? As long as she can rely on her own people, she doesn't need to ask outsiders for help."

These words, like a pebble thrown into a deep pool, echoed repeatedly in Gu Yunqian's mind, lingering for a long time...

Although the argument between the three had come to an end, Ye Muxue's heart was still pounding with anxiety. She took a deep breath, opened the door, and looked outside, sensing that something was amiss.

"Yunxi?" Ye Muxue's voice suddenly rang out behind her, startling Gu Yunxi. She turned around abruptly and saw her mother standing at the top of the stairs, her eyes filled with worry.

Gu Yunxi hurriedly wiped her eyes and forced a calm smile: "I just came down to get a glass of water."

Ye Muxue walked over and gently took her hand. The warmth of her palm instantly broke down Gu Yunxi's tense emotions.

"Silly child, if something's on your mind, just say it. Don't bear it all alone." Ye Muxue's voice was soft, yet it flowed into her heart like a warm current. "You heard us arguing with your brother, right? Don't worry, we've already scolded him for you... Don't cry, don't cry, your eyes will be swollen and you won't look good. Tomorrow morning we'll give your brother a good talking-to!"

Gu Yunxi leaned on Ye Muxue's shoulder, tears finally streaming down her face. She thought of the rain in Cambridge and the figure disappearing into the shadows at the street corner.

She wasn't necessarily seeking answers; she simply wanted to know one thing—an answer about life and death, about obsessions, and about the past...