SGEIRS -Chapter 357 Love Her More Than You

Inside a private room of the teahouse.

Once they both sat down, Du Sizhe instinctively began studying Gu Jingxi carefully.

The man didn’t look like he was thirty; at most, he appeared twenty-five. His face was picture-perfect, with sharp yet gentle features—soft, approachable, and non-threatening. Just that extraordinarily handsome face alone could make young ladies swoon. No wonder his cousin, even knowing about his hidden ailment, could remain devoted to him.

He was not only striking in appearance but also exuded an elegant, refined aura. There was a gentleness in his brows and eyes, like the first warm rays of morning sunlight, seeming very approachable. Yet beneath that warmth hid an unassailable aura of strength.

This man was no ordinary person. He seemed mild and harmless, but in reality, he was deeply calculating. Yet that was normal—how many people in high positions were simple?

Gu Jingxi, in turn, studied the young man in front of him. Around eighteen or nineteen years old, he was handsome and refined, no different from an ordinary young noble from an official household, and nothing particularly outstanding.

After a moment, Gu Jingxi withdrew his gaze and asked calmly, “Lord Du, what is it you wish to say to me?”

Caught off guard by the question, Du Sizhe came back to his senses. He saw Gu Jingxi pour tea with a composed expression, placing the freshly poured cup in front of him, and immediately his mind went blank. By rank, since Gu Jingxi had married his cousin, he was technically an elder cousin, but in reality, their social statuses were worlds apart. He wouldn’t dare let Gu Jingxi call him “cousin,” much less pour tea for him.

Gu Jingxi poured himself a cup as well and said, “Lord Du, have some tea and speak at your leisure.”

The more casual Gu Jingxi’s demeanor, the more unsettled Du Sizhe felt. There was a subtle pressure in the room. He took a sip of tea to steady his nerves, considered his words carefully, and finally spoke bluntly:

“Marquis Gu, my cousin A-Yao has never experienced a father’s love. You are so much older than her, and she felt cared for by you. Naturally, she mistook that affection for romantic love.”

Hearing this, Gu Jingxi found it amusing. He maintained a composed expression and asked, “So, Lord Du means that my feelings for her were paternal, but she misunderstood them as romantic? And you wish to advise me not to bind her for life, to divorce her and give her freedom?”

Du Sizhe nodded and spoke plainly: “Yes. Marquis Gu, you know your own situation—you cannot give her happiness. And her marriage to you was also out of helplessness. Why should you bind her for life through marriage? If not for your Gu family raising a reckless scoundrel like Gu Xiuming, she should have had her own happiness, rather than being tied to you and wasting her life.”

Gu Jingxi was not offended and countered: “Lord Du, you are not me, so how do you know I cannot give her happiness? You are not her, so how do you know she is unhappy being with me?”

Du Sizhe felt that Gu Jingxi was a cunning, experienced man—he couldn’t have his wife, so he seized his cousin instead. His expression darkened, and he said indignantly: “Marquis Gu, do you truly think you can give my cousin happiness? Do you understand her? Do you know what she wants? She has never expressed her thoughts clearly. Even if something happened, she would only report good news, swallow her suffering silently.”

“Is that so?”

Gu Jingxi smiled dismissively: “If that were true, then the A-Yao you speak of is entirely different from the A-Yao I know. In front of me, she shares everything—whether it’s the truth about Chengyu’s death or her mother’s death in childbirth. Did she ever tell you these things?”

Du Sizhe was stunned and found it hard to believe. His cousin had never shared such matters with him, but she confided them to Gu Jingxi?

After a moment, Du Sizhe spoke sharply: “Then did she tell you she likes children? She could have had a full family, children and grandchildren, but because of you, all that became impossible.”

Gu Jingxi smiled: “That’s why we plan to have a child next year. No need for Lord Du to trouble himself over this.”

Du Sizhe, thinking of adoption, sneered: “So Marquis Gu intends to find a child for her to stabilize her? They say Marquis Gu is noble in character, yet you use such a selfish method to trap a young lady. If you treat her this way, it seems there is little sincerity in your heart.”

Gu Jingxi slightly lowered his eyes, his gaze deep, and asked in a calm, low voice: “Lord Du, you love her, but in all those years when she was in suffering, did you ever rescue her?”

Du Sizhe: “I…”

Gu Jingxi interrupted: “You didn’t. But you thought about it, didn’t you? You just lacked the ability. You couldn’t save her from the fire; you could only watch her struggle. So why act righteous in front of me?”

Du Sizhe was immediately speechless.

Gu Jingxi continued: “What you cannot do, I can. Who then is truly incapable of giving her happiness? You watched her struggle in the Meng household for so many years. Now that she has leapt from the fire, what meaning is there in your concern?”

Du Sizhe shook his head repeatedly: “I didn’t—I…”

Gu Jingxi cut him off again: “Don’t tell me you were limited by age and ability. Waiting until you grow stronger to save her? How many years would that take? You have no ability to protect her now. Should she continue to suffer, waiting for you to grow strong, not letting anyone else help her? Is that how you love her?”

Du Sizhe was struck hard by these words, his face flushing instantly. He hurriedly said: “Don’t talk nonsense! I have no improper intentions toward her.”

Gu Jingxi pressed his lips, smiling faintly: “Lord Du, do you yourself believe that? It’s undeniable that your initial intention was for her good, not wanting her to waste her life with me, but truly—do you have no personal motives?”

Du Sizhe fell silent. He did have personal motives. If his cousin divorced Gu Jingxi, he would pursue her. If she were willing to marry him, he would marry her. If not, at least she could leave Gu Jingxi and marry a healthy man, have children and grandchildren, rather than living as she does now, as if married to a eunuch.

“Since you don’t even have the ability to protect her, then put those thoughts away and remain her cousin,” Gu Jingxi said, withdrawing his smile. His eyes held a warning as he stared at Du Sizhe, voice deep: “There aren’t many people who are good to her. Besides Chengzhang, you are one of them. She cherishes everyone who treats her well. I don’t want her to suffer. Do you understand?”

Du Sizhe met his gaze. His pupils constricted sharply, and he understood the meaning. After a moment of silence, he asked, “Marquis Gu… do you have romantic feelings for her?”

Gu Jingxi smiled lightly: “After all that has been said, can’t you tell?”

Du Sizhe was stunned.

Gu Jingxi looked at him once more and continued: “When it comes to loving her, I love her more than you.”

Du Sizhe stubbornly asked: “Paternal love?”

At this, Gu Jingxi’s expression paused slightly. He replied: “If she needs it, it’s not impossible to add that too.”