The Unusual Luoliang

Nighttime, the wind on the road was gentle and cool.

Like a pair of tender hands, it lightly brushed across his face, bringing a sense of comfort, making his whole body feel at ease.

Gu Feng had originally been quite excited, thinking that during tonight’s walk, he could create an opportunity for Gu Luo and Luo Shuning to have some alone time, to help nurture their developing feelings.

Luckily, he had learned the real situation from Luo Shuhe beforehand; otherwise, it would have been quite embarrassing, making assumptions about their relationship.

However, he still felt a little uneasy in his heart, sensing that something wasn’t quite right between Gu Luo and Luo Shuning.

Could it be that Gu Luo was playing both sides?

Haha, impossible, absolutely impossible.

He knew his son well—he, as the father, understood him best.

Gu Luo would never do something so ridiculous.

He just didn’t expect the relationship between Gu Luo and Luo Shuhe to progress so quickly.

With that, Gu Feng slightly quickened his pace, walking ahead by a step or two, occasionally turning around to chat with the two behind him.

Meanwhile, Gu Luo and Luo Shuning walked side by side behind him, the moonlight stretching their shadows long.

Every now and then, their shoulders would lightly touch before quickly pulling apart, and the air seemed to be filled with a subtle, different kind of sentiment.

The three of them chatted and laughed all the way, unaware that they had wandered deep into the park, eventually sitting on a wooden bench to rest.

"Shuning..."

After sitting down, Gu Feng’s expression suddenly became more serious. He slightly turned to face Luo Shuning, his tone gentle as he asked,

"Shuning, what do you think of your mother?"

Hearing this, Luo Shuning was stunned for a moment, caught off guard by the question, and didn’t know how to respond at first.

What did she think of her mother?

In her memories, her mother was always extremely busy, like a machine wound too tight, with no time to spend with her three daughters.

It had always been this way, from childhood until now.

Although she had the title of mother, throughout her upbringing, she had felt little of her mother’s care or love.

Gu Luo, keenly aware of Luo Shuning’s reaction, quickly interrupted,

"Dad… why are you suddenly asking this?"

Gu Feng ignored Gu Luo and continued,

"Shuning, actually, there are many things your mother can’t control, but she really, really loves you all."

"Liang, you know, she’s a tough person. Deep down, she really wants to be close to you and have good conversations with you, but she just can’t bring herself to do it. She feels like she owes you too much, and that guilt has weighed on her heart."

"Especially toward you, Shuning."

At this, Gu Feng stressed the point, "Liang has told me more than once that she feels most guilty about you."

"She’s the one who made you go through such a childhood alone."

Hearing this, Luo Shuning bit her lip, her teeth lightly sinking into her lower lip. Her eyes were full of complicated emotions, but she remained silent, seemingly processing what Gu Feng had just said.

Seeing this, Gu Feng patiently continued, "Liang, at her core, is quite proud."

"Before, she would often ask me in private if Gu Luo could take good care of you all. I reassured her again and again, but she was still worried."

"It wasn’t until the first meeting, when Shuling was late, that Gu Luo stood up and spoke up for her under pressure, which made Liang trust him."

"That’s why Liang was so eager to have Gu Luo move into the apartment. She really hoped someone would look after you properly. You see, she may seem cold on the outside, but inside, she’s burning with passion."

Upon hearing this, Gu Luo blinked and recalled the scene from their first meeting. At the time, he had actually thought that Liang was getting back at him in some way.

But on second thought, if it had been revenge, she wouldn’t have sent someone to carefully pack all his things at Caizhou Academy.

At this moment, Luo Shuning’s eyes brightened, like stars that had just been lit up.

She had never imagined that her mother, who usually seemed so indifferent and strict, harbored such thoughts in her heart.

Gu Feng now leaned back comfortably on the bench, stretched lazily, feeling the cool breeze of the night, and slowly spoke again,

"There are many things you can’t judge just by appearances."

"Take Shuling being late as an example. You might think Liang made a big deal out of nothing, being too rigid and harsh."

"But in reality, she’s a woman on her own, holding up a company for so many years. In the fiercely competitive business world, if she didn’t demand strict discipline and use tough methods, she would’ve been eaten alive by competitors."

"Also, besides attending the Caizhou Charity Gala every year, Liang also anonymously donates to various foundations. She always does these good deeds quietly without seeking recognition."

"That’s Liang…"

It seemed as though Gu Feng had opened the floodgates and spoke everything that had been on his mind regarding Luo Liang—those hidden sacrifices, the softness behind her stern exterior, all revealed before Luo Shuning.

"Shuning, even though Liang may have neglected you all in the past, when she found out that that fool of a father tried to secretly take you abroad, she immediately chose to divorce him and did everything she could to make up for what she owed you."

"So… Shuning, could you at least call her 'mom' for my sake, just this once?"

...

"Mom."

Luo Liang, who was enjoying a massage from Luo Shuling, was momentarily stunned. The book in her hand nearly slipped, and she looked at Luo Shuning, who had just arrived home, in disbelief.

But soon, her expression returned to normal, and she gently nodded.

"Brother, you’re back!"

Luo Shuling said, stretching her arms like a lazy cat, then smiling at Luo Shuning,

"Shuning, I’m a bit tired now. It’s your turn to massage Mom."

"Okay."

Luo Shuning nodded and walked over to take her place.

She gently placed her hands on Luo Liang’s temples and began to massage.

Seeing this, Luo Shuling, as if nothing was out of the ordinary, casually walked over and hooked her arms through Gu Luo and Gu Feng’s, laughing mischievously,

"Brother, Uncle, come play a round of games with me."

"Go go go!"

That night, no one knew what Luo Shuning and Luo Liang had talked about.

Perhaps they reminisced about those forgotten moments of warmth, or perhaps they confided in each other, sharing their long-held feelings of longing and grievances. Or maybe they simply enjoyed the rare opportunity to be close to one another.

Meanwhile, Gu Luo finally understood why his clingy father had been so successful in life.

Two words—true heart.

It was worth mentioning that two new questions had appeared in his younger sister's diary that night—

"Why did Shuning’s real father try to secretly take her abroad?"

"Why did she have to spend such a lonely childhood?"

Does this mean the three sisters didn’t grow up together?

Once the school anniversary celebrations were over and everything was settled, he would make sure to find out.

Time will tell. He would definitely protect his sisters no matter what.

...

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