The Mighty Mage
Chapter 341: Mrs. Gu

Chapter 341: Chapter 341: Mrs. Gu

Gu Jihu’s hand dropped to her shoulder, his grip firm but comforting.

His mind raced, trying to understand what was happening. This wasn’t normal.

"Gu Jin," he said softly, his voice steady despite the worry gnawing at him.

"It’s okay if you don’t cry. But I need you to talk to me. Tell me how you’re feeling."

She hesitated, her brow furrowing slightly.

"I... don’t know," she admitted, her voice so quiet it was almost a whisper. "It’s like... there’s a wall inside me. I feel like I want to cry, but something is stopping me."

Gu Jihu’s chest tightened.

He had seen people shut down like this before—people who had been through too much, who had learned to suppress their emotions just to survive.

Was that what had happened to Gu Jin?

He gently squeezed her shoulder, his voice softer than before.

"You’ve been through a lot, haven’t you?" he asked, though he already knew the answer.

Gu Jin didn’t respond.

She just stared at him, her eyes empty and distant. It was as if she wasn’t fully present, as if part of her was still stuck in whatever pain she had endured.

Gu Jihu felt a surge of guilt and determination.

He hadn’t been able to protect her in their past life, but this time, he wouldn’t fail her.

This time, he would do whatever it took to help her heal.

"It’s okay," he said again, his voice firm but gentle.

"You don’t have to face this alone anymore. I’m here, and I’m not going anywhere."

Gu Jihu let out a slow breath, his hand moving back to rub her shoulder. He didn’t push her to talk anymore.

He just stayed there, offering her silent support.

Deep down, he vowed to find out what had caused her to shut down like this.

The room’s tense silence was broken by the sound of the door opening.

Gu Jichun stepped inside, her heels clicking against the polished floor.

Her sharp gaze immediately fell on Gu Jihu, who was still sitting close to Gu Jin, his hand resting on her shoulder.

Her expression hardened the moment she saw him.

"Second Brother, what are you doing?" Gu Jichun’s voice was stern as she marched over.

Without waiting for an answer, she shoved Gu Jihu aside, her movements swift and protective.

She then wrapped her arms tightly around Gu Jin, pulling her into a warm hug.

"Gu Jin!" she exclaimed, her voice softening. "You’re awake! I was so worried about you."

Gu Jin stiffened at first, but the warmth in Gu Jichun’s embrace slowly eased her nerves.

"I’m so happy you’re okay," Gu Jichun continued, her voice trembling slightly with emotion.

"You have no idea how long I’ve waited to have you as my sister."

Gu Jin blinked in surprise.

The genuine affection in Gu Jichun’s voice was unexpected, and for the first time in a long while, she felt something close to comfort.

Slowly, she lifted her hands and returned the hug, her movements hesitant but sincere.

"I... I’m happy too," she said softly, her voice just above a whisper.

Gu Jichun pulled back, her eyes glistening with unshed tears, though her smile was bright.

"Now that you’re awake, there’s no time to waste. You should come home with me, to the Gu family mansion," she said eagerly.

"Our parents need to see you. They’ve waited so long for this moment."

The mention of the Gu family made Gu Jin’s smile falter.

Her grip on Gu Jichun’s arm loosened, and she cast her gaze downward.

She wanted to spend more time with Gu Jichun and even Gu Jihu, but the thought of meeting strangers who were supposed to be her parents made her uneasy.

She wasn’t ready for that—wasn’t ready to call anyone "Mom" or "Dad."

Sensing her reluctance, Gu Jihu stepped forward, his tone calm and reassuring.

"Gu Jin," he said, drawing her attention.

"I know this is a lot to take in. But I think you should see Mrs. Gu and Mr. Gu, at least once, before you make any decisions."

Gu Jin’s eyes met his, her gaze filled with doubt.

"I don’t know," she murmured. "It just feels... strange. They might be my biological parents, but I don’t know them."

Gu Jihu nodded, understanding her hesitation.

"That’s fair," he said gently.

"But this is your choice, and no one will force you to stay if you’re not comfortable. Just take it one step at a time."

His words, calm and steady, gave Gu Jin a small sense of comfort.

She hesitated for a moment longer, then finally nodded. "Okay," she said softly. "I’ll go. But just to meet them."

Gu Jichun clapped her hands together, her excitement barely contained.

"That’s all I ask!" she said cheerfully. "Come on, let’s get going. They’ll be so happy to see you."

The drive to the Gu mansion was quiet, with Gu Jin staring out the car window.

Her thoughts were a tangled mess as she tried to prepare herself for what was to come. When the car finally pulled up to the sprawling estate, her eyes widened.

The mansion was enormous, with tall gates, manicured gardens, and a grand entrance that screamed wealth and power.

The sheer size of it left Gu Jin speechless.

"This place..." she muttered under her breath. "They must be billionaires to own something like this."

Gu Jichun laughed lightly.

"Welcome to the Gu family," she said with a grin. "It’s a bit overwhelming at first, but you’ll get used to it."

Gu Jin, however, didn’t share her enthusiasm. Instead of excitement, she felt an uneasy pit in her stomach.

The grandeur only reminded her of the drama that came with families like this—the political marriages, the rivalries, and the constant fight for power.

She wanted no part of it.

As they stepped inside, the luxurious interior confirmed her suspicions.

Everything from the crystal chandeliers to the marble floors spoke of a life far removed from her own.

She trailed behind Gu Jichun and Gu Jihu, her reluctance growing with each step.

Suddenly, a woman’s voice echoed through the hall, sharp and confused. "Gu Aihan! What is the meaning of this?"

Gu Jin froze, her attention drawn to the commotion coming from the living room.

She glanced at Gu Jihu, who motioned for her to stay close as they moved toward the source of the noise.

When they entered the room, Gu Jin saw a middle-aged woman—elegantly dressed but visibly agitated—holding a piece of paper.

Her sharp gaze was fixed on a young woman standing across from her.

Gu Aihan.

Even without an introduction, Gu Jin knew who she was.

There was something about the smug expression on her face that made Gu Jin’s skin crawl.

"This," Mrs. Gu said, holding up the paper, "is a DNA test result. Why are you suddenly bringing this to me?"

Gu Aihan’s lips curled into a smile, but it didn’t reach her eyes.

"Mother," she began, her tone sickly sweet. "I thought it was time you knew the truth."

Gu Aihan’s smile widened as she noticed how confused Mrs. Gu looked. She casually crossed her arms, clearly enjoying the tension in the air. "Mother," she said again, her tone slightly mocking, "Second Brother found a woman recently. She’s claiming to be Father’s daughter."

Mrs. Gu raised an eyebrow at this, her lips curling into a smirk. "Is that so?" she asked, her voice dripping with disbelief.

"How many times have we heard this story before? Women coming out of nowhere, trying to claim some connection to this family? And the results are always the same—nothing but lies."

Her laughter filled the room, sharp and dismissive. She waved the paper in her hand as if it were nothing more than a joke.

But Gu Aihan’s expression turned serious, her playful smirk replaced with a grim look. "Mother," she said firmly, "this time, it’s different."

Mrs. Gu’s laughter stopped abruptly. Her sharp gaze zeroed in on Gu Aihan as if daring her to continue.

"Different? What do you mean?"

"The DNA test," Gu Aihan said slowly, her voice steady, "came back positive. The woman really is related to Father. So I wanted to prove to you that I am indeed biologically related to you."

Mrs. Gu took a deep breath, regaining her composure.

She wasn’t the type to let her emotions show for long. Her tone was cold and calculated as she asked,

"Who is she? What’s her name?"

Gu Aihan didn’t hesitate.

Her gaze flickered briefly to the door where Gu Jin was standing before returning to Mrs. Gu.

"Her name," she said clearly, "is Gu Jin."

Mrs. Gu’s expression was unreadable. For a moment, it seemed as though she hadn’t heard properly.

Then her lips pressed into a thin line, and her eyes narrowed. "Gu Jin?" she repeated as if testing how the name sounded in her mouth.

"Yes, and she is right behind you." Gu Aihan continued, her words laced with genuine worry.