Gu Jihu’s hand dropped to her shoulder, his grip firm but comforting.
His mind raced, trying to understand what was happening. This wasn’t normal.
"Gu Jin," he said softly, his voice steady despite the worry gnawing at him.
"It’s okay if you don’t cry. But I need you to talk to . Tell how you’re feeling."
She hesitated, her brow furrowing slightly.
"I... don’t know," she admitted, her voice so quiet it was almost a whisper. "It’s like... there’s a wall inside . I feel like I want to cry, but sothing is stopping ."
Gu Jihu’s chest tightened.
He had seen people shut down like this before—people who had been through too much, who had learned to suppress their emotions just to survive.
Was that what had happened to Gu Jin?
He gently squeezed her shoulder, his voice softer than before.
"You’ve been through a lot, haven’t you?" he asked, though he already knew the answer.
Gu Jin didn’t respond.
She just stared at him, her eyes empty and distant. It was as if she wasn’t fully present, as if part of her was still stuck in whatever pain she had endured.
Gu Jihu felt a surge of guilt and determination.
He hadn’t been able to protect her in their past life, but this ti, he wouldn’t fail her.
This ti, he would do whatever it took to help her heal.
"It’s okay," he said again, his voice firm but gentle.
"You don’t have to face this alone anymore. I’m here, and I’m not going anywhere."
Gu Jihu let out a slow breath, his hand moving back to rub her shoulder. He didn’t push her to talk anymore.
He just stayed there, offering her silent support.
Deep down, he vowed to find out what had caused her to shut down like this.
The room’s tense silence was broken by the sound of the door opening.
Gu Jichun stepped inside, her heels clicking against the polished floor.
Her sharp gaze imdiately fell on Gu Jihu, who was still sitting close to Gu Jin, his hand resting on her shoulder.
Her expression hardened the mont she saw him.
"Second Brother, what are you doing?" Gu Jichun’s voice was stern as she marched over.
Without waiting for an answer, she shoved Gu Jihu aside, her movents swift and protective.
She then wrapped her arms tightly around Gu Jin, pulling her into a warm hug.
"Gu Jin!" she exclaid, her voice softening. "You’re awake! I was so worried about you."
Gu Jin stiffened at first, but the warmth in Gu Jichun’s embrace slowly eased her nerves.
"I’m so happy you’re okay," Gu Jichun continued, her voice trembling slightly with emotion.
"You have no idea how long I’ve waited to have you as my sister."
Gu Jin blinked in surprise.
The genuine affection in Gu Jichun’s voice was unexpected, and for the first ti in a long while, she felt sothing close to comfort.
Slowly, she lifted her hands and returned the hug, her movents hesitant but sincere.
"I... I’m happy too," she said softly, her voice just above a whisper.
Gu Jichun pulled back, her eyes glistening with unshed tears, though her smile was bright.
"Now that you’re awake, there’s no ti to waste. You should co ho with , to the Gu family mansion," she said eagerly.
"Our parents need to see you. They’ve waited so long for this mont."
The ntion of the Gu family made Gu Jin’s smile falter.
Her grip on Gu Jichun’s arm loosened, and she cast her gaze downward.
She wanted to spend more ti with Gu Jichun and even Gu Jihu, but the thought of eting strangers who were supposed to be her parents made her uneasy.
She wasn’t ready for that—wasn’t ready to call anyone "Mom" or "Dad."
Sensing her reluctance, Gu Jihu stepped forward, his tone calm and reassuring.
"Gu Jin," he said, drawing her attention.
"I know this is a lot to take in. But I think you should see Mrs. Gu and Mr. Gu, at least once, before you make any decisions."
Gu Jin’s eyes t his, her gaze filled with doubt.
"I don’t know," she murmured. "It just feels... strange. They might be my biological parents, but I don’t know them."
Gu Jihu nodded, understanding her hesitation.
"That’s fair," he said gently.
"But this is your choice, and no one will force you to stay if you’re not comfortable. Just take it one step at a ti."
His words, calm and steady, gave Gu Jin a small sense of comfort.
She hesitated for a mont longer, then finally nodded. "Okay," she said softly. "I’ll go. But just to et them."
Gu Jichun clapped her hands together, her excitent barely contained.
"That’s all I ask!" she said cheerfully. "Co on, let’s get going. They’ll be so happy to see you."
The drive to the Gu mansion was quiet, with Gu Jin staring out the car window.
Her thoughts were a tangled ss as she tried to prepare herself for what was to co. When the car finally pulled up to the sprawling estate, her eyes widened.
The mansion was enormous, with tall gates, manicured gardens, and a grand entrance that scread wealth and power.
The sheer size of it left Gu Jin speechless.
"This place..." she muttered under her breath. "They must be billionaires to own sothing like this."
Gu Jichun laughed lightly.
"Welco to the Gu family," she said with a grin. "It’s a bit overwhelming at first, but you’ll get used to it."
Gu Jin, however, didn’t share her enthusiasm. Instead of excitent, she felt an uneasy pit in her stomach.
The grandeur only reminded her of the drama that ca with families like this—the political marriages, the rivalries, and the constant fight for power.
She wanted no part of it.
As they stepped inside, the luxurious interior confird her suspicions.
Everything from the crystal chandeliers to the marble floors spoke of a life far removed from her own.
She trailed behind Gu Jichun and Gu Jihu, her reluctance growing with each step.
Suddenly, a woman’s voice echoed through the hall, sharp and confused. "Gu Aihan! What is the aning of this?"
Gu Jin froze, her attention drawn to the commotion coming from the living room.
She glanced at Gu Jihu, who motioned for her to stay close as they moved toward the source of the noise.
When they entered the room, Gu Jin saw a middle-aged woman—elegantly dressed but visibly agitated—holding a piece of paper.
Her sharp gaze was fixed on a young woman standing across from her.
Gu Aihan.
Even without an introduction, Gu Jin knew who she was.
There was sothing about the smug expression on her face that made Gu Jin’s skin crawl.
"This," Mrs. Gu said, holding up the paper, "is a DNA test result. Why are you suddenly bringing this to ?"
Gu Aihan’s lips curled into a smile, but it didn’t reach her eyes.
"Mother," she began, her tone sickly sweet. "I thought it was ti you knew the truth."
Gu Aihan’s smile widened as she noticed how confused Mrs. Gu looked. She casually crossed her arms, clearly enjoying the tension in the air. "Mother," she said again, her tone slightly mocking, "Second Brother found a woman recently. She’s claiming to be Father’s daughter."
Mrs. Gu raised an eyebrow at this, her lips curling into a smirk. "Is that so?" she asked, her voice dripping with disbelief.
"How many tis have we heard this story before? Won coming out of nowhere, trying to claim so connection to this family? And the results are always the sa—nothing but lies."
Her laughter filled the room, sharp and dismissive. She waved the paper in her hand as if it were nothing more than a joke.
But Gu Aihan’s expression turned serious, her playful smirk replaced with a grim look. "Mother," she said firmly, "this ti, it’s different."
Mrs. Gu’s laughter stopped abruptly. Her sharp gaze zeroed in on Gu Aihan as if daring her to continue.
"Different? What do you an?"
"The DNA test," Gu Aihan said slowly, her voice steady, "ca back positive. The woman really is related to Father. So I wanted to prove to you that I am indeed biologically related to you."
Mrs. Gu took a deep breath, regaining her composure.
She wasn’t the type to let her emotions show for long. Her tone was cold and calculated as she asked,
"Who is she? What’s her na?"
Gu Aihan didn’t hesitate.
Her gaze flickered briefly to the door where Gu Jin was standing before returning to Mrs. Gu.
"Her na," she said clearly, "is Gu Jin."
Mrs. Gu’s expression was unreadable. For a mont, it seed as though she hadn’t heard properly.
Then her lips pressed into a thin line, and her eyes narrowed. "Gu Jin?" she repeated as if testing how the na sounded in her mouth.
"Yes, and she is right behind you." Gu Aihan continued, her words laced with genuine worry.
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