The Mighty Mage
Chapter 355: Gu Jihu Aka James

Chapter 355: Chapter 355: Gu Jihu Aka James

She reached into the kitchen and pulled out a tray of food she had kept warm for him.

"You’re such a handful," she muttered, setting the tray in front of him.

Gu Jihu grinned as he sat down. "Thanks, Mom. You’re the best."

Gu Jin, who had been watching the scene quietly, froze. Complex emotions flashed in her eyes.

After lunch, Gu Jin excused herself and went to her room.

She sat by the window, gazing out at the garden as she tried to sort through her thoughts.

A light knock on the door pulled her from her reverie. "Come in," she said softly.

The door opened, and Jihu stepped inside. He had a curious expression on his face, his hands shoved into his pockets.

"You wanted to see me?"

Gu Jin nodded, motioning for him to take a seat on the small sofa by the window.

Jihu sat down, leaning back comfortably as he waited for her to speak.

For a moment, Gu Jin didn’t say anything. She just looked at him, her sharp eyes studying his calm demeanor.

Finally, she spoke, her voice quieter than usual.

"Brother Jihu...are you not resentful?"

"Resentful?" Gu Jihu was confused. "What should I be resentful about?"

Gu Jin lowered her gaze to the floor and silently answered,

"You know...in our previous life, you had to stay in the shadows and die protecting me. Now you found me and brought me back to my family...have you thought about your...true mother too?"

Gu Jihu froze, his body stiffening as Gu Jin’s words hung in the air.

"I... I didn’t think about her," he admitted finally, his voice softer than usual.

There was a trace of helplessness in his tone as if he was unsure how to even begin explaining.

Gu Jin remained silent, giving him the space to continue.

She could see the emotions flickering in his eyes—pain, anger, and a hint of sadness.

Jihu let out a slow breath, leaning forward with his elbows resting on his knees.

"In my past life," he began, his words coming out carefully, "my mother was... let’s just say she wasn’t a good person. She—"

He hesitated, looking at Gu Jin as if gauging whether he should go on. Her steady gaze urged him to continue.

"She was obsessed with your father. She drugged him, Jin. She drugged him because she knew he’d never willingly..."

He paused, swallowing hard before continuing, "...be with her. When she realized he still wouldn’t accept her, she went behind his back. She stole his... his sperm and used it to have me. A doctor helped her."

Gu Jin’s eyes widened slightly, though her face remained composed.

Inside, however, a storm of emotions was brewing.

"She thought," Jihu continued, his voice bitter now, "that having me would make him accept her. She was so smug about it, too. But when she brought me to the Gu Mansion when I was five, thinking your father would take her in, he threw us both out without a second thought."

He laughed, but it was a hollow sound.

"She hated me after that. She said I was useless, just a reminder of her failure. She... she tortured me, Jin. Physically, emotionally, every way you can think of. And I couldn’t do anything about it."

Gu Jin’s hands tightened into fists. Her chest ached as she imagined the small, innocent boy enduring such pain.

"Your father found out," Jihu said, his tone softening.

"He didn’t bring me into the family, but he helped me escape from her. He sponsored me and gave me a chance to live without her. That’s when I started to... grow, I guess. Become my own person."

Gu Jin’s voice broke the silence.

"Why didn’t you resent him?"

Jihu’s lips twitched into a faint smile, though it didn’t reach his eyes.

"At first, I did. I hated him for not acknowledging me, for leaving me with her for so long. And I hated you," he admitted, meeting her gaze.

"You had everything I thought I deserved. A mother who loved you, a father who adored you, a place in the family. It was hard not to be jealous."

Gu Jin’s breath caught, but she didn’t interrupt. She needed to hear this.

"But then... I saw what your life was really like. After your parents died, you were just a kid, Jin. And you had to fight those... those old foxes in the organization.

You weren’t just their heir; you were their prey. Watching you struggle, watching you fight to survive every day, changed how I felt.

You weren’t just some spoiled princess. You were strong, and you cared. You started treating me like a brother, and for the first time in my life, I felt like I had a family."

Gu Jin’s throat tightened. She hadn’t realized how much her actions had affected him.

"When I died in that life," Jihu continued, his voice steady but heavy with emotion,

"I was okay with it. I didn’t have regrets because I knew I’d done my part. I’d protected you, just like you protected me.

And when I woke up in this life, with Mrs. Gu as my mother, it felt like I was given another chance. A real chance."

He leaned back, running a hand through his hair.

"Mrs. Gu... she’s everything my old life was missing. She loves me, Jin. I’ve never felt anything like it before. And I’m thankful.

Thankful that I died, because it gave me this life, this family. And you. None of it would’ve been possible without you."

"Jihu," Gu Jin said, her voice trembling slightly, "you deserve this. You deserve happiness. And I’m... I’m sorry for everything you went through."

Jihu shook his head, a small smile playing on his lips.

"You don’t have to be sorry, Jin. If anything, I’m grateful. In this life, I have everything I could ever want.

A mother who loves me, a father who’s strict but fair, and a sister who’s always there for me. What more could I ask for?"

Gu Jin finally let a small smile cross her lips. For the first time in a long while, she felt a weight lift from her chest.

They weren’t just siblings by blood in this life; they were family in every sense of the word.

"Thank you, Jihu," she said softly. "For everything."

Jihu chuckled, standing up and ruffling her hair playfully.

"Don’t get all mushy on me now. I’m still your annoying older brother, remember?"

Gu Jin swatted his hand away, but her smile remained.

"Yeah, yeah. Go away now. You’ve ruined my mood."

Jihu laughed as he walked toward the door.

"Goodnight, Jin. Don’t stay up too late overthinking, okay?"

She nodded, watching as he left the room. When the door clicked shut behind him, Gu Jin let out a long breath.

The memories of their past life still lingered, but for the first time, they didn’t feel as heavy.

Life is truly mysterious, just when she thought her will to live in the magic world was dying, she found another reason to live here.

Only...

She wished she could find her grandfather too.

If all of her family members of the past life were here...then her grandfather should be here too, right?

Gu Jin felt as if she was being ungrateful and greedy but she truly couldn’t bring herself to not wish for more.

She leaned her head against the cool glass, closing her eyes.

"Grandfather..." she murmured, her voice barely audible.

A soft knock on the door startled her from her thoughts.

"Come in," she called, trying to mask the crack in her voice.

Mrs. Gu stepped inside, carrying a blanket. Her expression was gentle, but her eyes were sharp, as though she could sense the storm brewing within her daughter.

"Still awake, Jin?" Mrs. Gu asked, draping the blanket over Gu Jin’s shoulders.

Gu Jin smiled faintly. "Just thinking, Mom."

Mrs. Gu sat down on the edge of the bed, patting the space beside her. Gu Jin hesitated before moving to sit next to her mother, leaning into the warmth of her presence.

"You’ve had a lot on your mind lately," Mrs. Gu said, brushing a strand of hair from Gu Jin’s face.

"Jin I don’t know how you have lived the past 21 years of your life. But...I hope, that going forward, I can make good memories with you.

I am sorry for not being there for you. But I promise to be there for you in the upcoming years. And if you want anything...anything...I will make that wish of yours come true."

Gu Jin turned to her mother, her eyes wide and hopeful.

"Mom... do you really mean it? Anything I want?"

Mrs. Gu smiled softly and nodded without hesitation.

"Of course, Jin. As long as it’s in my power, I’ll do it for you."

Gu Jin hesitated for a moment, then spoke stiffly.

"Then... can you sleep with me tonight?"