Chapter 479: Already Drawn into His Circle of Protection (3)

He’d been disappointed countless times over the years. But as long as there was a sliver of hope, a glimmer of possibility, they would never be willing to miss it.

Although Shen Nian’s profile didn’t match up in any way, and she didn’t look much like his aunt or uncle, her very presence, Fanfan’s affection for her—all these things made Gu Hengzhi unwilling to give up on the possibility she represented.

It seemed he would have to thoroughly investigate Shen Nian’s past, even if it would only lead to disappointment yet again.

But those involved are often the last to see. If someone who knew Gu Hengzhi well had been there, they would surely have been surprised.

After all, what kind of person was Gu Hengzhi? Aside from the Gu Family and Gong Family, no one had ever managed to get close to him.

Although he maintained a polite facade with Shen Nian, he had already shown her far more attention than usual. He simply hadn’t realized it himself yet.

"You need to be more careful after what happened today. Those men didn’t succeed, but the person behind them probably won’t give up so easily."

Gu Hengzhi didn’t name the person behind the men, not wanting to put too much pressure on Shen Nian, but he still wanted to warn her to be more careful in the future.

After all, he wouldn’t always be around to help if something like this happened again.

And while Shen Nian was a decent fighter, there was no telling what kind of unexpected things could happen.

However, just because Gu Hengzhi didn’t say it didn’t mean Shen Nian couldn’t figure it out on her own.

"Those three men were from the Qin family, weren’t they?"

"You knew?"

Another hint of surprise colored Gu Hengzhi’s gaze as he looked at Shen Nian. The men hadn’t identified themselves. It was perfectly normal for him to recognize them, but he hadn’t expected Shen Nian to be able to do so as well.

"It was easy enough to guess. They were after me, but they also recognized you on sight. It’s not so surprising that I could put two and two together, is it?"

"That’s true."

He recalled seeing Shen Nian in the neighborhood the other day; she had been near the Chu Family’s home. Gu Hengzhi nodded, a look of understanding on his face.

"Actually, there’s something I don’t quite understand."

"What is it?"

"Are the Qin family really that shameless?"

"..."

If Gu Hengzhi weren’t always so composed, he might have laughed out loud at her words. Surely, no one had ever dared to describe the Qin Family so bluntly before!

Shen Nian was absolutely the first! And if her words ever reached the ears of the Qin Family, they would probably be enraged.

Still, in his heart, Gu Hengzhi completely agreed with what she said.

’The Qin Family really is that shameless!’

Back when his Gu family ran into trouble and had to adopt a low-key, patient stance, the Qin family had been the first to pounce, seizing the Gu family’s external influence. Their wolfish ambition—if that wasn’t shameless, what was?

"The Meng Family only has themselves to blame for their downfall! But the Qin family, oh, they lose their pawn, the Meng Family, and decide to blame someone else for it! And of course, because of the Chu Family, they don’t dare to cause trouble for them, nor do they dare to go directly after my husband. So they come after me instead. If that isn’t shameless, what is!"

Shen Nian didn’t try to hide her relationship with Lu Cheng from Gu Hengzhi. After all, with his status, it wouldn’t be difficult for him to find out about it.

Besides, for all she knew, Gu Hengzhi had already investigated her.

"Your husband?"

"Oh? You didn’t know?"

Shen Nian could see that Gu Hengzhi’s reaction wasn’t fake. ’Could it be,’ she wondered, ’that he really hasn’t investigated me?’

’I guess not everyone is as shameless as the Qin Family!’