Gu Minmin gave him nothing but the cold attitude one would reserve for a stranger.

This left Qiu Qianghai feeling quite uneasy.

Thinking back to their first meeting, Gu Minmin’s shy smile and the endearing way she called him Brother Hai was so bashful and sweet.

Upon meeting again, she was drunk and her behavior became bold, clinging to him tightly without letting go.

Every meeting after that, the girl would greet him with a bright and sweet smile, her attitude was even more affectionate.

It was precisely that sweet smile and her dependent behavior that steadily drew him in, almost allowing him to cross the line.

Because of the age difference, he constantly reminded himself not to be a beast.

What could a child understand about love and affection?

It wasn’t that he didn’t notice Gu Minmin’s innocent feelings toward him.

But how long would these vague feelings last at the dawn of a child’s affection?

Even if her feelings were sincere, once she experiences new things and meets more handsome boys, could she withstand the temptations of the outside world?

As an adult, he had to consider many factors; his thoughts couldn’t be as simple and straightforward as a child’s.

This year, Gu Minmin was eighteen.

In two more years, she would be twenty; would she then understand the ways of the world?

When it comes to relationships and discussing marriage, this age is quite suitable; it’s when a woman gradually matures.

He would use these two years to wait for Gu Minmin to grow up.

If by then she is as she always was, he would leave her no room for regret, and would stop at nothing to bring her into his domain, leaving her no avenue for retreat.

If things turned out differently, and Gu Minmin realized what she truly wanted, he would protect her too.

To be frank, it was a little embarrassing.

For the first time, Young Master Qiu liked someone so purely, liking her so much that even if he couldn’t have her, he still wanted to protect her.

Over decades of romance, he had to admit, this time, he fell.

As for how much he fell, ever since discovering his interest in Gu Minmin, he found his body had learned to "stay pure as jade."

If his "wild friends" found out, they’d probably laugh themselves to death.

Qiu Qianghai raised the wine glass in his hand and gently tapped it against the glass window.

The glass made a crisp sound.

"Girl, you win!"

He conceded.

No matter the outcome in two years, he was already resigned to it.

The night had grown deep.

The neon lights outside the window were shining brightly, a beautiful characteristic of a city late in the night.

The usual Young Master Qiu loved the nighttime diversions and entertainment, but now, he could only drink to relieve his worries.

After finishing the wine, he casually placed the glass on the table beside him and turned towards the bedroom.

His silhouette was lonely and desolate, yet also held an expectation for the future.

What could be more heartening than hoping for the girl you like to grow slowly?

...

The next day.

Gu Jin and An Mingji got up early.

After having the delicious breakfast prepared by Kasi, they each went to school.

Today at Shengshi Academy, an explosive piece of news was spreading everywhere, known by almost everyone.

One of the school’s prominent figures, the school beauty Yin Xiangyu, was going to drop out.

At first, not many believed the news, as Yin Xiangyu’s status was evident, after all, she was the little princess of the Yin family.

However, after multiple inquiries, it was confirmed that the news was true.

Yin Xiangyu was getting married! And moving abroad!

This news left everyone dumbfounded.

More explosively, the person she was marrying was a politician who had been dealing with the Yin family for years. The man was much older, had multiple marriages, and was already over fifty.

This age was enough for him to be Yin Xiangyu’s father.