Chapter 478: Already Drawn Into His Circle of Protection (Part 2)

"Oh, I see."

Shen Nian nodded, understanding what Gu Hengzhi meant.

"Miss Shen..."

"Mr. Gu, to be honest, I would have been happy to spend time with Fanfan even if you hadn’t asked. It’s not just that he likes me—I felt an instant connection with him the moment I saw him. It’s a strange feeling, but... I just adore him!"

As Shen Nian spoke, she recalled the first time she met Gu Zifan and couldn’t help but smile. This wasn’t her usual polite, social smile; it was a genuine, warm smile that came straight from the heart.

Seeing that smile on Shen Nian’s face, Gu Hengzhi found himself momentarily dazed.

’That smile... it looks so familiar. Just like...’

Gu Hengzhi closed his eyes, trying to grasp the fleeting thought in his mind. But the notion vanished in an instant, and he was left with nothing.

"Mr. Gu, what’s wrong?"

"Nothing." Gu Hengzhi shook his head. When he looked at Shen Nian again, his gaze had become more probing.

"Miss Shen, may I ask you a few personal questions?"

"Hm?"

"When were you born? Where are you from? And who is in your family?"

Gu Hengzhi’s questions were indeed a bit forward for someone she had only just met. However, considering the Gu family’s situation, Shen Nian quickly understood why he was asking.

’Could it be? Because Fanfan likes me, now even Gu Hengzhi suspects I have some connection to the Gu family’s missing daughter?’

’But that’s completely impossible! I’m not an orphan! My parents, my older brother, my younger brother... they all treat me so well!’

"I was born in June, and I just turned eighteen this year. I’m from L County in H Province. At home, I have my parents, an older brother, and a younger brother."

None of this was a secret, so Shen Nian didn’t mind sharing the details to dispel his absurd notion.

’Eighteen... June... H Province...’

Gu Hengzhi mumbled Shen Nian’s words to himself. A flicker of hope, a soft sigh, and then, finally, a profound sense of disappointment.

’Ke’er is also eighteen... but she was born in May.’

For a fleeting moment, Gu Hengzhi had actually wondered if Shen Nian could be Ke’er. However, her answer extinguished that hope.

’The birth month is wrong, and so is the location. Over the years, they had pieced together many clues from that time. The path of Ke’er’s disappearance led in a completely different direction from H Province.’

’Most importantly, Shen Nian has parents, a family.’

’It’s not her.’

The hope that had suddenly flared up was extinguished just as quickly, replaced by disappointment.

’Where in the world is Ke’er? When will we ever find her? Will we *ever* find her?’

Seeing the pained expression on Gu Hengzhi’s face, Shen Nian sighed softly. The Gu family was so close-knit and full of love. A family like that didn’t deserve to suffer such a cruel fate.

’I hope they can find that girl, the one who’s my age. I hope their family can finally escape this sea of misery.’

"Mr. Gu, I’ll be starting at B University soon. If Fanfan wants to see me, you can bring him to find me anytime."

This was the only thing Shen Nian felt she could do for the family.

’If she could help it, she didn’t want to disappoint them or cause them any more sadness.’

"Okay, I’ll thank you on Fanfan’s behalf!"

"Don’t mention it. I’m fond of Fanfan, and spending time with him makes me very happy, too."

As Shen Nian spoke, she glanced over to where Gu Zifan was playing. Just then, Gu Zifan looked up at her, and the two shared a smile.

Watching the smiles exchanged between the woman and the child, Gu Hengzhi felt the thought he had so decisively dismissed moments ago begin to stir restlessly once more.