164: Since this is what you want, you will get what you desire.

Gu Xiheng's eyes flickered as if he were considering it. After thinking for a moment, he said heavily, "If Siyu doesn't choose me, I will definitely go find Ai Yue and stay by her side to protect her for the rest of my life. If... Siyu still chooses to follow me, I must take responsibility."

Mo Li patted his shoulder and remained silent for a moment, sighing inwardly. This was Gu Xiheng—always carrying responsibility on his shoulders and constantly neglecting himself.

"We've hardly closed our eyes these past few days. You should get some sleep. Once the aftershocks stop, we need to head back to Yingjin Safety Tower. I don't know what's become of our base. Even the satellite phones have been experiencing interference these days, making it impossible to get through..."

As Mo Li spoke, he drifted off to sleep on the bed.

Gu Xiheng didn't feel sleepy at all. His eyes were glazed as he stared blankly at the ceiling until dawn.

Cheng Siyu lay in the darkness, and thinking of how that man had just had his way with her, she couldn't help but retch in disgust. Her heart grew even colder, and for a time, she was completely unable to sleep.

Gong Qiuqiu's head was spinning right now. The post-disaster reconstruction work was extremely heavy, with various problems emerging one after another, causing him a great deal of distress.

Ai Yue was also not sleepy at this moment. She sat on the roof, gazing at the starry sky and wondering what was so magical about the mountain her family was living on that it could actually avoid natural disasters.

Several people in different locations were all distressed by their current circumstances.

The next day, after sitting on the roof all night, Ai Yue stretched her limbs and began her day of training as the morning sun rose.

After a night of weighing the pros and cons, Cheng Siyu still felt that the most beneficial thing for her was to marry Gu Xiheng and become a true member of the Gu Family.

As long as she married Gu Xiheng, she would be entitled to interfere in all matters concerning the Gu Family in the future. Even if she couldn't have Gu Xiheng's love, he would certainly give her respect and maintain her dignity in front of outsiders. That would be enough.

Cheng Siyu waited at Gu Xiheng's door early in the morning. She deliberately didn't wash or dress up, making herself look exceptionally haggard.

Mo Li was too exhausted and was still snoring loudly. Gu Xiheng hadn't slept all night and didn't feel sleepy even after daybreak, so he simply got up early to go out for some fresh air.

Opening the door, he was met with Cheng Siyu's pale face.

Seeing Gu Xiheng come out, Cheng Siyu's lips moved, and she forced a stiff smile, calling out softly with a look of helplessness, "Xiheng!"

A flash of discomfort crossed Gu Xiheng's face. He nodded to her and tried to step past her to leave.

Cheng Siyu hadn't expected Gu Xiheng not to even ask about her situation. She secretly gritted her teeth and spoke again, "Xiheng, let's talk."

Gu Xiheng took a deep breath and said in a low voice, "Let's talk while we walk."

Early in the morning, the base was already busy, with people everywhere clearing away the broken walls and ruins.

The two walked side by side until they reached a deserted spot and stopped.

Neither of them spoke for a while. After an unknown amount of time, Gu Xiheng's deep voice rang out: "If you have something to say, just say it!"

Cheng Siyu looked at Gu Xiheng, who was so close, with a slightly greedy gaze. This was the man she had loved since childhood, but ever since he learned of her feelings, he had always avoided her. Even when they met, he would ignore her and refuse to make eye contact.

Now, no matter what, he had to be hers!

Cheng Siyu gave a charming smile and parted her red lips. "Xiheng, look at me properly. Am I not beautiful?"

Gu Xiheng was startled and said, "Naturally, you are beautiful!"

"Then being your wife wouldn't bring you shame, would it?"

Gu Xiheng's pupils dilated instantly, and a trace of bitterness rose in his mouth. He knew what her choice was.

Though somewhat reluctant, he still said, "Naturally not!"

Cheng Siyu's smile became more sincere, making her appear even more beautiful. "Thank you, Xiheng! I don't ask whether your heart is with me or not. I only ask that from now on, only I am by your side, alright?"

Gu Xiheng's face was full of helplessness as he sighed. "Siyu, why bother? I can't give you love. Why waste your youth by my side?"

"As long as I can be by your side, I will accept it gladly!" Cheng Siyu smiled tenderly, her eyes filled with tears yet brimming with determination.

"You should know that I can give you the position of the Young Mistress of the Gu Clan, and I will give you respect and status in front of outsiders, but there won't be anything more. Even so, do you still want to be with me?"

"Yes!"

"No marital life, sleeping in separate rooms, and no children for the rest of your life—you won't change your mind?"

The pain in Cheng Siyu's heart intensified, but she still said firmly, "Yes!"

As long as they were married, the days ahead were long; what couldn't be changed? With this thought, she agreed to whatever Gu Xiheng said, as long as they could finally get married.

Gu Xiheng remained silent for a long time, while Cheng Siyu just watched him tenderly.

Finally, Gu Xiheng gave a bitter laugh. "Since you are so determined, I can only agree. Once we return to Yingjin Safety Tower, you shall have your wish."

Hearing his definitive answer, Cheng Siyu's heart was filled with both bitterness and joy. The grievances she had suffered over the past two days all erupted at once, and she couldn't help but throw herself into Gu Xiheng's arms and weep.

Gu Xiheng was like a soulless husk, letting Cheng Siyu hold him and cry without responding. His heart was incredibly calm, and he only sighed deeply, "Fine, let it be."

...In Songzhou Safety Tower, everyone was mobilized to continue the post-disaster reconstruction. At this time, someone also discovered Ming Yao's disappearance.

However, his family wasn't worried! They knew what Ming Yao was usually like; it was common for him not to come home for several days.

So, when they found that Ming Yao hadn't returned for the night, they all took it as a matter of course and no one paid it any mind.

It wasn't until three days later, when his family went to look for him, that they discovered Ming Yao's territory was a river of blood, with everyone dead as could be.

Ming Yao's death caused a massive uproar in the base. The Second-in-Command, Ming Chengde, was furious and sent out a large number of people to investigate who had done it.

Because Ming Yao usually valued his privacy too much, there was simply nothing to investigate. Even the murder weapons used to kill everyone couldn't be identified for a time.

At the Second-in-Command's home.

"Old man, Ming Yao was our only grandson. You can't let him die so unclearly like this." An elegant elderly woman pounded her chest in pain, speaking with great sorrow.

The Second-in-Command sat opposite her, his entire face extremely dark. His already graying hair turned completely white all at once upon hearing the news of Ming Yao's death.

"Hmph, in the entire base, only the Gong Family has the strength to kill so many of them so silently." A cold, aged voice rang out.

"How would they dare? Ming Yao is our grandson!" The elderly woman couldn't believe that the Gong Family would be the ones to strike at Ming Yao.

"Not dare? I think they dare quite a lot! I've known for a long time that they had intentions to deal with me, but I never expected they would use Ming Yao as their first target!"

"This is truly going too far!" The Second-in-Command slammed the table, his face full of rage.

"If... if it really was them, then what do we do?" the elderly woman said, both angry and afraid.