CHAPTER 238: CHAPTER 238: TWO SUGGESTIONS FROM HUO YANTING

Yan Ting shrugged his shoulders, wearing an expression that invited a punch. He said, "If heaven could bless me with a daughter, I would love her even more than I said earlier. I’d spoil her rotten and make her the happiest little angel."

"Then I really hope heaven won’t give you a daughter, so she won’t end up so spoiled that she turns into a little tyrant."

"Gu Qianxi, personal attacks aren’t allowed. I’m definitely going to have both a son and a daughter in this lifetime." Yan Ting immediately shot him a stern look.

Gu Qianxi immediately admitted his fault, "Yes, yes, I was wrong. Right now, I feel this unbearable sense of helplessness—being stuck between a rock and a hard place. I can’t let go of Keke, but I also don’t dare to take things further with her. I’d rather bury myself in work all day than deal with these damn emotions. They’re killing me."

"Qianxi, listen carefully to what I’m about to say. But after hearing my words, you must think them over seriously before making any decisions," Yan Ting looked at his friend, clearly seeing the pain in his expression, and decided to share some heartfelt advice with him.

"Go on, I’m listening." Gu Qianxi hung his head in defeat.

"First, you need to figure out what your feelings for Keke really are. If it’s truly just familial affection, then you have to take a firm approach to crush her expectations of you. For example... you could find a girlfriend, get married, and have kids."

When Gu Qianxi heard these words, he immediately raised his head to look at him, his face full of disbelief.

"Second, if you feel that your feelings for Keke go beyond familial affection, and there’s some trace of love mixed in, then you should find an opportunity to have a heart-to-heart talk with Tong Keke. She’s still young, not yet suited for a romantic relationship with you, so you’ll have to patiently wait for her for a few years. Wait until she grows up and fully understands what love means. When that time comes, you both can sit down and talk it out thoroughly. You’re not blood-related, and you’re not real family. I don’t think that her identity would pose any real obstacle between the two of you."

Yan Ting laid out two pieces of advice in one go. Now it was up to Gu Qianxi to make his choice.

"There’s no third option?" Neither of the first two choices appealed to Gu Qianxi.

"A third option? Do you think there’s some third form of emotional bond between men and women? It’s either love or the absence of love—nothing else." Yan Ting let out a mocking laugh.

"I can’t hurt Keke..." Gu Qianxi shook his head in anguish.

"Then try loving her!"

"You don’t understand. Loving her is a form of hurting her. At her age, does she even know what love truly is? I can’t do something so beastly and take it too far." Gu Qianxi was deeply tormented.

Yan Ting walked over to him, sat down beside him, and patted him on the shoulder, "Qianxi, don’t underestimate the emotional maturity of girls nowadays. I think Tong Keke may be young, but her emotional intelligence is definitely higher than yours. She’ll surely be capable of taking responsibility for her own feelings."

"I’ll think about it more. Thank you for being here with me today." Gu Qianxi’s emotions gradually calmed.

Yan Ting stood up again and grabbed the suit jacket hanging on the side. "When you’re feeling overwhelmed, remember you can always reach out to me."

"Who else would I reach out to? You’ve seen me at my worst anyway." Gu Qianxi’s tone was filled with righteousness.

Yan Ting let out a chuckle, "I’m heading out now!"

Early the next morning, Lin Banxia woke up and sat under the large banyan tree in the pear garden, eating her breakfast while lost in thought.

She had to go find a job now. The pear garden still needed funds to cover expenses, and she had promised Aunt Lan a high salary.

Although money was no longer something she would risk her life to chase after,

She was still relying on Aunt Lan to help manage this garden. If that was the case, she needed to save up enough to provide Aunt Lan with pension money for her retirement.