CHAPTER 456: CHAPTER 456: CAN YOU FORGET IT?

"What’s wrong with me? Am I not living perfectly fine? On the contrary, it’s you who seems like you can’t go on anymore." Ji Yu sometimes really wanted to ask him what he truly thought.

"I just want to ask if you could forget me." Gu Qixiao stared intently at her, desperately wanting an answer.

"I know deep down you probably hope for me to live well, but have you asked yourself? Do you want me to live, or do you want me to remember you?"

Every time he thought about this question, a wave of pain surged in his heart.

Luckily, the situation before them wasn’t that tangled.

"Gu Qixiao, you really have a way of making me uncomfortable inside. I won’t answer this question. You should just go back; this place isn’t suitable for you; it’s dangerous here."

Ji Yu ultimately avoided the question.

In truth, she understood better than anyone; she didn’t want to face this predicament either.

But some things had already become inevitable, things that couldn’t be resolved.

Rather than that, wouldn’t it be better if everyone could just be happy? Isn’t that better than anything else?

"Gu Qixiao, go back. You should also give me some time to properly think about how this should be handled. I know outright avoidance isn’t a good solution."

At least for now, this seemed to be the best option.

"Yu, you wouldn’t be willing to forget me. But since you’ve asked me to leave first, I’ll go for now."

He didn’t persist this time, simply leaving behind this remark as he turned and walked away.

Ji Yu wasn’t sure what she was feeling inside—she only knew everything before her felt unbearably painful.

"Gu Qixiao, why are you like this?"

If only he’d been decisive back then, she wouldn’t have to remember him.

But he stubbornly clung on, unwilling to let go of their past.

The current situation was merely a helpless act.

Ji Yu returned to the company, somewhat distraught.

Lin Zhao noticed her state and couldn’t help but feel worried.

"President Ji, if you’re upset, you can tell me anything. Just treat me as his replacement." He never felt being a stand-in was something shameful; at least he could gain things he hadn’t been able to before.

"There’s no need to go to such lengths. I know what you mean." Ji Yu rubbed her temples, clearly not intending to use him as an outlet for her emotions.

Their relationship wasn’t close enough for that.

"I just don’t want to see you frown. I know President Ji might not need me, but as long as you’re willing, you’ll always find me by your side."

As he said this, his expression was deeply affectionate, and with that face of his, Ji Yu momentarily felt dazed.

But it was only for an instant.

She quickly remembered that the person before her was not the one in her heart but merely a welcome substitute.

He was like a flower in the mirror, a moon reflected on water.

Thus, Ji Yu harbored no heightened emotions—she simply felt that everything seemed so unfamiliar.

She began to feel nostalgic for the warm, peaceful moments she shared with someone she once knew.

"President Ji, you must deeply care for Mr. Gu; otherwise, you wouldn’t have gone to such lengths."

Clearly, she had so many other options to make things easier for herself.

Yet everything before her was in such disarray.

She still couldn’t entertain the thought of letting go of that person.

"The matters between him and me don’t require anyone’s judgment. The two of us being this way is just fine."

Neither had forgotten the other; neither could truly let go, and yet they couldn’t be together.

"Perhaps Mr. Gu doesn’t think that way deep down. He might be willing to endure such pain rather than separate from you." Lin Zhao, recalling scenes he’d witnessed before, speculated on the matter.

Their situation was indeed bewildering.

But upon reflection, it became clear—they both wished to protect each other from hurt.

This must be the essence of the love between them.

"But even so, I can’t let him remember those past events—it would only hurt him. For me, that would be utterly unbearable." Ji Yu gazed at him, her eyes turning slightly cold.

"You’d better not act on your own. If you dare tell him everything, don’t blame me for being ruthless." Ji Yu never held back against people like him.

His expression faltered slightly upon hearing these words.

"President Ji, I only want to help you. How could you treat me this way? But to be honest, the way you speak and act does make one feel a little intimidated."

His tone reflected helplessness as he said this.

He knew the current situation was already quite advantageous, yet he still couldn’t manage to stay calm.

With his striking resemblance, he should have had plenty of opportunities.

Yet because of the emotions between them, he couldn’t take it further.

"President Ji, sometimes it’s better not to be so stubborn. That way, you could enjoy a perfect life. Why not take pleasure in some of your inner desires?" His words carried a clear hint of temptation.

With that face of his, speaking such seductive words, Ji Yu should have been deeply attracted.

But her rationality remained sharp.

"Just based on what you’ve said, you’ll never be him. He would never say such things."

Ji Yu was entirely certain about this.

"I love him, so I deeply understand his character. I know exactly what he would do."

Lin Zhao smiled lightly, "I know President Ji must have idealized him to some extent, but such things can’t be perfected merely by romanticizing."

Perhaps it was because the person in one’s memories always captivated one’s attention.

"You have countless things you could pursue, but you can’t replace his significance to me. I’d never opt for a stand-in to take his place." Ji Yu remained firm and clear-headed—no one could substitute the one she loved.

Even though the two resembled each other greatly, they were, in the end, two entirely separate individuals. What they said was worlds apart.

"President Ji, you really are a resolute person. But I wonder how long you can stay this strong."