Actually, Gu Ruoyun had somewhat expected that Dongfang Shaoze and her parents’ relationship had not been as simple as mere friendship. Nevertheless, she had never imagined that her own mother was from the Dongfang family!

　　Astonishment flashed through her bright eyes fleetingly.

　　“My Mother was the daughter of the Dongfang family? Why had I never heard of that before? Also, if she was from the Dongfang family, why had they not protected her?”

　　Gu Ruoyun was extremely calm at this moment. She was so calm that Dongfang Shaoze could not help but feel a flash of guilt in his heart.

　　“Yun’er, my apologies. I had not been able to protect your mother. That year, when I got to know of your mother’s death, I had rushed over and wanted to investigate the truth behind her death. However, while I was on the way, I was intercepted and brought back by my father who was also your grandfather. You should know about the existence of the Three Great Authorities. My father had done that… because he was afraid that the Dongfang family would be destroyed. However, I do not disregard what he had done.”

　　How could one, as a father, not be heartbroken over his daughter’s death? Even though his father had admired Gu Tian, in the end, he had still been unwilling to let the two of them be together; he was unwilling to let this issue compromise the position of the Dongfang family…

　　Gu Ruoyun smiled a smile that caused Dongfang Shaoze’s heart to ache.

　　“The Dongfang family… Haha, he was afraid of the Three Great Authorities so he had let his own innocent daughter die in vain. Furthermore, after all these years, there had never been anyone from the Dongfang family who had come to look for me. Even though I had been beaten to death by the Gu family, no one has ever stood up for me. If it wasn’t for my good luck, perhaps… I would already be dead.”

　　To be honest, she was not fond of the Dongfang family at all. After all, she believed that the Dongfang family could not have been ignorant of how she had been living all these years. Yet they had never sent anyone to stand up for her, ever!

　　If someone had come, even if it was just to retort a single sentence for her sake, the Gu family would not have dared to treat her so cruelly.

　　“Yun’er.”

　　Dongfang Shaoze’s heart ached and he raised his hands to pull Gu Ruoyun into his embrace. Hugging the frail young girl in his arms tightly, he lowered his head and said: “I’m so sorry, Yun’er. Your Uncle has come too late and has caused you to endure so much pain…”

　　The warm embrace melted Gu Ruoyun’s heart. No matter how the Dongfang family had neglected her, the man before her eyes was blameless in all the help he had rendered to her.

　　She would forever remember this debt of gratitude.

　　“I have no fondness for the Dongfang family. Only you will always be my Uncle! Always and never changing.”

　　The young girl lifted her head and her beautiful face was full of determination.

　　At that moment, a surge of warmth filled Dongfang Shaoze’s heart. He lifted his hand to caress Gu Ruoyun’s head as his eyes filled with a smile that one could drown in.

　　“Yun’er, perhaps your grandfather had his concerns and was unable to do what he wanted to do, but he really loved your mother. Also, remember that no matter what happens in the future, even if the Dongfang family cannot stand by your side, your Uncle will always be there for you.”

　　Gu Ruoyun shrugged and blinked as she asked, “That’s right, Uncle, you had come to visit me not only because of that, correct? Has something happened to the Dongfang family?”

　　Dongfang Shaoze’s heart sank. As he recalled the recent incident, he could not help but let out a deep sigh.