Campus Ace Girl-Chapter 475 - 476: It seems like no one is at fault!

He paused, then turned around and said solemnly, "Think about this carefully. If you choose to be with me, you might not be forgiven for a long time. You also won’t be able to enjoy the warmth of your family as you did before."

Chu Yan’s eyes were filled with tears, and the delicate, pale fingers clutching his clothes slowly loosened...

Chu Ci gave a slight smile. "What if I ask you to stay?"

She was stunned for a moment.

Chu Ci’s smile faded slightly. "I won’t force you."

He gently untangled her fingers, opened the car door, and got in. After settling into his seat, he turned his head and whispered, "I thought you understood, Yan Yan. Haven’t you ever thought about it, never considered it? Or am I not worth you sacrificing everything for?"

Yes, she was raised by his parents. But starting from her early teens, about five or six years ago, Chu Ci had been the one taking care of her.

He had meticulously arranged everything for her, from her food to her daily necessities.

But when she learned the truth, her first thought was to maintain harmony, without considering any risks.

He let out a long breath, preparing to start the car.

But the small figure stubbornly reached out and grabbed his arm—

He turned his head.

Chu Yan’s voice was soft and tinged with bitterness. "I can’t... I’d feel like I’m betraying her."

Chu Ci gave a faint smile. "As for betrayal, I’ve betrayed her long ago."

Starting from the moment I fell for a certain young girl!

Chu Yan looked at him hopelessly.

She really had never thought about it. In her heart, he had always been...

But she dared not say it, fearing his rage.

Perhaps Chu Ci had calmed down a bit. He opened the car door to get out, only to be hugged tightly the moment he stepped out.

He wanted to push her away, but when he tried, she only hugged him tighter.

Chu Ci lowered his head. "What exactly do you want, hmm?"

She shook her head desperately, unable to utter a single word.

Chu Ci’s voice was slightly hoarse. "Yan Yan, I wish you would never know."

If she never knew, then he could always be with her.

He wouldn’t marry. And she... she wouldn’t marry either, would she? That way, they could always be together, and he wouldn’t have to see her crying so spinelessly like now.

He didn’t try to comfort her much, but said with a hint of exasperation, "If you don’t have the courage, what’s the point of crying?"

As if having made a decision, he said, "Stay for one night. I’ll take you home tomorrow, and we’ll pretend none of this ever happened."

With one arm around her, he took out his phone with his other hand and dialed Chu Changhe. In a subdued voice, he said, "Yan Yan is staying with me tonight."

Chu Changhe had already been notified by Guan Xi and sensed that Chu Yan must have found out something. He had thought the two youngsters would cause a big ruckus, but he hadn’t expected things to be so calm.

Chu Ci knew what his father was thinking. He paused, then said in a low, heavy voice, "I don’t want Yan Yan to be hurt, and I don’t want to hurt Mother either."

A pang struck Chu Changhe’s heart, a sour, astringent feeling welling up—

How could he ever let go? After all, Chu Yan was an innocent child, one he had raised with his own hands. And his own wife had been truly magnanimous... helping to raise this child. How could he and Chu Ci treat her so cruelly?

In the end, Chu Changhe sighed lightly. "Alright, Chu Ci. Take good care of Yan Yan."

Chu Ci put down the phone and lowered his head. "Let’s go inside. Tomorrow evening, after school, I’ll take you home."

Chu Yan hung her small head, silent.

After a long pause, she looked up at him. "In the future, we..."

He smiled, a warm and gentle smile, yet she could see there was no real mirth in his eyes.

Chu Ci gently rubbed her small head and whispered, "Don’t think about it. Let’s just pretend none of this happened, hmm?"

But Chu Yan knew; everything was different now. Even if her mother didn’t know that *she* knew, *she* knew. She finally understood that her mother didn’t just dislike her—she hated her! She and Chu Ci could never go back to how they used to be. If she insisted on being with him, she might... literally anger her mother to death.

Chu Yan lacked the courage and couldn’t bring herself to be ruthless enough to hurt an innocent woman in such a way, so... she could only let Chu Ci down.

He knew. That’s why he was angry. Yet, he had no outlet for that anger, no one to blame. Because everyone’s choices... seemed to be without fault...