Cecilia Gu turned to look at Max Mo. That familiar face left a gentle mark in her heart, like a faint brushstroke in a watercolor painting.
I'm sorry, Max. We can only be family now.
You can't leave a vivid color in my heart anymore, because my world only shines because of Charles Yin.
But you are still someone I could never hurt.
Today, let's finally untangle this knot in our hearts.
Max Mo knew that Cecilia Gu was here, actually waiting for him.
He was the one who came late, so he had nothing to say.
Cecilia Gu invited Max Mo onto the boat. It was quiet enough, yet private enough—the perfect place to talk about secrets.
The boat floated on the sea, and as the waves gently lapped against the hull, both of their hearts found a rare peace.
"Max," Cecilia Gu spoke first. "I'm sorry. I know you don't want to hear those words, but I have to say them. I owe you so much, and I can't repay it in this lifetime."
Faced with Cecilia's honesty, Max Mo gave a bitter smile, turning to look at the endless sea with his back to her. "Why say these things now? You've always known what you wanted. Always."
You were like this in our past life, and I never thought you'd be the same in this one.
Cecilia Gu lowered her gaze. "I can't be so selfish and hold you back. I..."
Cecilia couldn't finish her sentence.
Was what she said too melodramatic?
How was she supposed to say it?
Should she say, Max, you have so much going for you, you could have any beautiful woman you want?
Or should she say, Max, don't hang yourself on this crooked tree—there's a whole forest waiting for you?
She'd loved deeply before, so she understood how, in the eyes of a lover, every beloved is a beauty.
If she said something that heartless now, she'd really be a jerk.
So, Cecilia Gu couldn't go on after that one sentence.
"I just want to know, why did you choose him and not me?" Max Mo gently closed his eyes. "It was like this in our past life, and it's the same now. Why?"
Cecilia Gu was stunned. Past life...?
But Cecilia quickly answered, "One man's poison is another man's honey. That's just how feelings are—it's about whether we're right for each other, not about right or wrong. I did meet Charles first, and only later got to know you. When I met you, things between Charles and me were still tense. But Max, even hatred is a kind of feeling. Maybe when I hated him, I'd already fallen for him, without even knowing. When did I fall in love with him? Was it when he awkwardly tried to show me he cared, when he complained about my cooking but still ate every bite, when he risked his life to rescue me from the wolf's den? No, maybe even earlier."
"Charles and I have been through so much—things you can't explain in a few words. With you, it's always been a friendship as gentle as water. We respect each other, feelings kept within bounds. Ours was more a meeting of minds, but with Charles, it was a clash of souls. With you, I'm calm and at peace. With him, every day is colorful and dazzling. There's responsibility, burdens, frustration, and heartbreak. But that's what makes love happen!"
"You're both outstanding—truly outstanding. In this world, people better than you two are rare as phoenix feathers. I can't even pick out a flaw in you because you're too perfect! You have impeccable looks, family, background, ability, and your strategic mind is like a chasm I can't cross. But Max, love never changes because of those things. It's like how I love the clouds in the sky, but I won't fall in love with them—they're too far away, I can only watch from afar, never touch. But Charles is different. He's real, someone I can actually reach."
"Maybe what I'm saying sounds irresponsible, like I'm making excuses. But I have to tell you—we're just not from the same world. Like those two in 'The Smiling, Proud Wanderer,' good and evil can't mix. Aside from playing one song together as soulmates, they could never truly be part of each other's lives. You and I are the same. We can play that song together, but I can't enter your world, and you can't enter mine. Forcing it would only hurt us both."
Cecilia Gu turned to look at Max Mo, her expression serious. "But if there are people in this world I could never hurt, you're one of them."
Hearing Cecilia's explanation, Max Mo gave a bitter smile.
"You really went out of your way to convince yourself and me," Max said, his blue eyes full of resignation. "But I'd rather be convinced by you, even if it's just self-deception. Cici, I won't force you to do anything, but I won't easily change my mind, either. Honestly, being single isn't so bad."
A look of helplessness flashed in Cecilia's eyes. "But you're the heir of the Mo family."
"So what? For hundreds of years, what is the Mo family really?" Max Mo gave a self-deprecating smile. "No one lasts forever. Qin Shi Huang, Emperor Wu of Han—did they pass on their legacy for a thousand years? The Mo family still has Zixuan, so it won't end with me."
"Alright, stop trying to convince me. If I were easily persuaded, do you think I'd be where I am now?" Max Mo reached out and gently rubbed the top of Cecilia's head. "Silly girl, just like before."
Cecilia felt a wave of discouragement.
"Alright, I give up," Cecilia said helplessly. "If my sister were still here, maybe she could do it?"
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Yun Nuo? Maybe so.
"By the way, how much do you know about my sister and Eric Jiang?" Cecilia couldn't help but ask Max Mo. She'd been holding this question in for a long time.
Back then, Yun Nuo gave up Eric Jiang for Max Mo!
But Yun Nuo clearly liked Eric Jiang.
Cecilia Gu didn't believe Max Mo knew nothing!
Sure enough, Max Mo gave a small laugh. "Back then, I was the winner. It's a pity—if time could go back, I'd sincerely wish him and Yun Nuo happiness together. I got the wrong person; I owe him."
Yep, he really did know everything.
"But like you said, in the war of love, there's never any room for retreat. I didn't back down then, either. Yun Nuo's choice made me happy—I was proud to be with her at the end of her life." Max Mo's eyes softened. "Yun Nuo was truly a woman worthy of respect."
Cecilia Gu nodded in agreement.
Compared to herself, Yun Nuo was more suited to be the heir of the Yun family.
She was beautiful, wise, elegant, and responsible.
No wonder so many outstanding men were drawn to her.
If she were a man, she'd probably like her too.
Seeing the complicated look in Cecilia's eyes, Max Mo reached out to smooth her hair, messed up by the sea breeze, and said seriously, "Alright, don't worry about me anymore. If you don't want to marry me, there's nothing I can do, right? I missed my chance this lifetime—can I reserve you for the next one?"
Cecilia was amused by Max Mo. "Who does that?"
"I heard Old Madam Yun's astrology is amazing—she can make people dream of the past. Is that true?" Max Mo looked at Cecilia, half-serious. "Do you want to know about your past life?"
"Past life?" Cecilia laughed. "You don't think I owe you something from a past life, do you?"
"Maybe." Max Mo's blue eyes sparkled with a strange light. "Go ahead and try."
Cecilia's eyes widened. Was Max Mo serious?
Stuff about past lives—isn't that just for jokes?
Or was there some deeper meaning?
"Alright, we should head back," Max Mo said with a smile. "We've been out too long—people will start to worry."
Cecilia looked back, and sure enough, there was a familiar figure standing on the shore.
That guy really is...
Max Mo gave a soft, helpless smile.
Back on shore, Charles Yin quietly asked, "Did you work things out?"
Cecilia Gu shot him a look. "Nope. I failed."
"Huh?!" Charles Yin was ready to roll up his sleeves and jump in. As long as Max Mo named his terms, he'd agree to anything!
Seeing Charles raise his eyebrows, Cecilia quickly pulled him back. "Enough, don't make a scene. He won't force me! As long as you get Grandpa's approval, it's fine!"
Charles finally relaxed. "Hans will bring Ethan over at eight tonight. Ethan has already accepted him as his teacher."
Cecilia was shocked. "Accepted Hans as a teacher? What could he possibly teach Ethan?"
Charles stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Teach him how to cause trouble?"
Cecilia nodded silently. That, he could definitely teach.
Ethan Yin really was a wild child!
He might act obedient at home, but outside he was wild. Good thing Cecilia was chairwoman of Saint Diana Academy—otherwise, with Ethan's school antics, who knows how many complaints she'd get.
Of course, even if people knew Ethan was causing trouble, no one dared say anything.
The school belonged to his family—who would dare say otherwise?
A kid who could dig traps and plant landmines to blow up bandits in the Paris suburbs—if that's not a wild child, what is?
Well, as long as he's only wild with others, he's still a good kid!
Come to think of it, Miles Gu is much better! That kid is just too well-behaved!
But with Ethan leading the way, even Miles has picked up some bad habits...
Cecilia was lost in thought when Assistant Xiao Wang came over with her phone. "Madam. Old Madam Yun from the Yun family called—she has something to discuss with you."
Cecilia took the call. "Grandmother?"
"Find a quiet place. I have something to tell you," Old Madam Yun said over the phone. "It's important—someone entrusted me with this."