Listening to Mu Jinyu's desolate laugh that sounded like a lone wolf howling at the moon, Gu Xiyan suddenly felt a pang of heartache.
Then, she shifted her position on the staircase steps closer to Mu Jinyu, reached out to wrap her arms around his waist, and snuggled against him, as if to offer him a bit of warmth.
Mu Jinyu didn't embrace her, nor did he push her away. His thoughts were still lingering in the past, and with a numb expression, he shook his head and laughed,
"Who knew that there were far more ungrateful people than just these, the students who had been supported by my father through college. They had all made it big, owning assets worth hundreds of millions, even billions. Yet, when they heard about my dad's troubles, not only did they not offer a helping hand, they didn't even make a phone call to show concern..."
"My father supported their education without expecting anything in return. Although their indifference was disappointing to him, he didn't blame them. After realizing he had no power to reverse his fate, he gave up on the hope of getting better to wait for his wife to return for a family reunion. He took the initiative to call those students and bid them farewell..."
"Hahaha..." Mu Jinyu suddenly burst into laughter again, laughing so maniacally that he even laughed out tears, "When he made those calls, that group of students, if they didn't ignore the call, they dismissed him with a few perfunctory words and hung up quickly. They were so stingy that they wouldn't even offer fake words of concern to my dad! Hahaha..."
Gu Xiyan suddenly hugged Mu Jinyu tightly, her head resting on his chest. With a voice choked with sobs, she cried out, "Stop it, I don't want to hear anymore... Wuuu..."
Mu Jinyu paid no attention to her and didn't push her away, letting Gu Xiyan cry her eyes out, her tears and snot staining his shirt, as he continued to laugh,
"My dad spent his life healing people, did so many good deeds, yet in the end, it was because of money that he met such an end, dying in depression..."
"Since then, I've vowed not to live such a pathetic life like his. I only want money, I only like money, even if people criticize me, calling me money-hungry and lacking medical ethics, I don't care!"
Mu Jinyu's eyes suddenly sharpened, the bloodshot orbs seemingly emitting a chilling frost.
"So, after that, I changed my name to Mu Jinyu. Originally, I planned to name myself after 'Mu Qian' (desire for money), but that felt too crass, so I went with 'Mu Jinyu' instead, the 'Jinyu' from Jinyu Mantang (a home filled with gold and jade)..."
When he mentioned Jinyu Mantang, Mu Jinyu's eyes suddenly softened, and his expression relaxed and became natural, free from the earlier coldness and hatred.
With a tranquil smile, he gently patted Gu Xiyan's back and said with a chuckle, "I chose this name as a reminder to myself that I must make a fortune. When I treat people, I will surely charge them. I'll treat them only if they pay; if not, they can bugger off! I won't let anyone owe me money; I refuse to be a good-hearted person like my dad who ends up poor and dies destitute without his family!"
Gu Xiyan, lying in Mu Jinyu's arms and listening to all he said, finally understood his miserliness and greed.
Before knowing him, her impressions and labels for him were marked by disdain and contempt.
But now, all that remained in her heart was pity and sympathy for Mu Jinyu.
Gu Xiyan suddenly felt that the pain and suffocation of being betrayed by her entire family didn't seem so painful anymore, after all, compared to Mu Jinyu's experience, at least her own parents were still alive. At least her parents, when it came to being pressured by her grandfather to marry for the family's gain, were also helpless and unable to speak out.
Images of her parents avoiding her gaze and sighing helplessly when her grandfather forced her swelled up in her mind.
If they had had the means, how could they have allowed her grandfather to pressure her like that? But there was nothing they could do; within the family, they had no status and couldn't speak for her. Even if they did, no one would listen!
At this thought, Gu Xiyan's tears circled again within her eyes, soaking the front of Mu Jinyu's clothes.
Mu Jinyu, however, continued to express the frustration that had been pent up in his heart for many years, "People always think that doctors should save lives and heal—the more without charge, the better. Then they can casually toss out a few cost-free praises. But what's the use of a widely admired reputation in the medical community? Does selfless dedication pay off? Blind compassion only ends up moving oneself. To live with dignity in this world, only money is the real eternal foundation!"
"Stop talking!"
Gu Xiyan abruptly lifted her head from Mu Jinyu's embrace, her tears drenching her face. Her beautiful black eyes, blurred by tears, resembled a smudged ink and color painting suffused with the sorrow of falling rain.
Mu Jinyu wanted to say more, but Gu Xiyan suddenly threw herself on him, sealing his lips!
"Wu wu wu..."
Mu Jinyu's eyes widened as he found Gu Xiyan's face close to his, his mouth blocked, unable to speak, and could only make muffled noises.
Feeling somewhat breathless, Gu Xiyan finally let go of Mu Jinyu.
"Phew!"
After releasing Mu Jinyu, Gu Xiyan's face flushed red with her bold action. She breathed lightly, her eyes darting away, not daring to meet Mu Jinyu's gaze, but inside, she felt no regret for her impulse.
She sat back down next to Mu Jinyu, glanced at the streetlight beside her, and said softly, "You're being too extreme. Not everyone is like those you've encountered. There are still many people who remember and honor my uncle's goodness. At least I admire him a lot."
Because of Gu Xiyan's spontaneous act, the hatred and frustration that had surged through Mu Jinyu after his previous confession dissipated quite a bit.
The events had already passed so many years ago. Although Mu Jinyu couldn't completely let go, he had come to terms with them to a certain extent.
Hearing Gu Xiyan's words, Mu Jinyu chuckled softly. His expression was not as scary as before, "What's the use of admiration? The man is long gone. Plus, I'm not telling you this because I want your comfort, but rather to show you that, despite all the hardship and torment you're currently facing, feeling insurmountable, when time passes and you look back, everything will seem much lighter."
Upon hearing this, Gu Xiyan abruptly turned to look at Mu Jinyu, her beautiful eyes shimmering with an indescribable luster, enchanting and captivating.
Mu Jinyu also turned to meet her gaze, saying with a calm and serene smile, "Just like me now, haven't I also seen through those things? My heart no longer dwells on them as before. I once thought that speaking of them would reopen the wounds, turning it all bloody, yet now I face it with equanimity."