The Mighty Mage
Chapter 501: For The Family

Chapter 501: Chapter 501: For The Family

Gu Jin lowered her chopsticks and, to everyone’s shock, let out a small laugh.

It was soft, just a little puff of air at first.

But then she giggled.

The room lit up like someone had turned on a hundred lanterns.

And for a moment, just a moment, everything felt right again.

After dinner, the family lingered around the table, not quite ready to let go of the warm moment they had just shared. For the first time in days, laughter had returned to the house—even if only briefly.

Mr. Gu cleared his throat, trying to sound casual.

"Jin’er," he said, "tomorrow I’d like you to meet a friend of mine. Just for a short while."

Gu Jin paused, her expression shifting just slightly. "I’m busy," she replied calmly, reaching for her cup of tea.

Mrs. Gu looked up quickly. "Sweetheart, it won’t take long. Just one meeting."

Gu Jin set down her cup with a quiet clink, her eyes narrowing.

"You want me to meet a psychiatrist," she said flatly. "Right?"

The table went silent.

Mrs. Gu opened her mouth, but Gu Jin cut her off, her voice sharper than usual.

"I don’t need a psychiatrist. I’m fine."

There was a pause.

Before anyone could say a word, Gu Jin stood up.

"I’m going to bed."

She turned to leave, but Long Yifan was faster. He reached out and grabbed her wrist—not harshly, but firmly enough to stop her.

"Let go," Gu Jin said, her voice cold. "Now."

Long Yifan didn’t move. His grip didn’t loosen.

"No," he said, voice low.

Gu Jin frowned. "I said let go."

She tugged again, but he held on, eyes locking with hers. His were slightly red now, his jaw tight.

"You don’t get to say no this time."

Gu Jin’s expression froze. "What?"

"I said," Long Yifan said, voice trembling but steady, "you don’t get to say no. Not about this."

Her eyes narrowed, growing colder.

"This is my family. My life. Don’t interfere, or I’ll end the engagement."

A stunned silence followed.

Gu Jichun gasped. Mrs. Gu’s hand flew to her mouth. Even Mr. Gu looked taken aback.

But Long Yifan didn’t flinch.

"Then end it," he said quietly. "If that’s what it takes, fine. Break off the engagement. Hate me. But you’re still going to see the doctor."

Gu Jin’s lips parted, shocked. He stepped closer.

"Do you think we didn’t notice?" he asked, his voice shaking.

"You smiled, you laughed at dinner—and we were happy. But Jin’er, you were empty before that. You sat there like a doll. Like your heart had gone missing. And that scared us."

Mrs. Gu started to cry, her shoulders trembling.

Gu Jichun’s eyes filled with tears, her hands gripping the edge of the table.

Even Gu Jihu looked away, blinking fast, while Mr. Gu’s eyes turned glassy.

Long Yifan took a breath and continued, softer this time.

"You think you’re hiding it, but you’re not. We all feel it. You’re slipping away from us, bit by bit. And I—" his voice broke,

"I’m scared. I’m scared one day, you’ll wake up and not feel anything at all. Not even for us. Not even for yourself."

He stepped closer, slowly, carefully—then pulled her into a hug.

Gu Jin stiffened.

"Please," Long Yifan whispered. "Just this once. Get help. For us. For you."

Gu Jin didn’t move. For a long moment, the room was silent except for the quiet sound of Mrs. Gu’s sniffles.

Then, Gu Jin spoke.

"You’re so dramatic," she muttered into his shoulder.

Long Yifan froze. "...Huh?"

"Crying like I’m already dead," she said, her voice muffled.

"I didn’t cry," he said quickly, pulling back.

Gu Jin looked up at him, deadpan. "Your eyes were red."

"Dust. It was dust." He nodded seriously. "Very emotional dust."

Gu Jihu snorted. "Yeah? Want me to bring a broom, future son-in-law?"

That finally did it.

Gu Jin’s shoulders shook. A small laugh escaped. Then another.

It wasn’t loud, but it was clear. Warm.

Long Yifan grinned like an idiot.

Gu Jin rolled her eyes, still chuckling. "Fine. I’ll go."

Mrs. Gu wiped her eyes. "Really?"

Gu Jin nodded. "But if they make me lie on a couch and talk about my feelings, I’m out."

"We’ll bring snacks," Gu Jichun said brightly, grabbing a tissue. "The therapist won’t know what hit them."

Gu Jihu gave Long Yifan a thumbs-up. "Nice save, Romeo."

The laughter slowly faded, replaced by a warm, quiet calm. Gu Jin, still smiling faintly, excused herself and left the room. The soft sound of her footsteps faded down the hall.

The remaining family members sat in thoughtful silence, processing what had just happened.

Mr. Gu let out a long breath and looked at Long Yifan, his expression unreadable at first. Then, a small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.

"Looks like you’ve finally earned Jin’er’s acknowledgment," he said.

Long Yifan shook his head quickly. "No... I didn’t."

Mr. Gu raised an eyebrow. "Didn’t she just agree because of you?"

Long Yifan looked down at the table, his voice quiet but firm.

"She didn’t agree because of me. She agreed because I mentioned all of you—her family. Her emotions weren’t for me. They were for you."

Mrs. Gu tilted her head, confused. "What do you mean, dear?"

Long Yifan sighed.

"I think... I think Jin’er realized that if she completely shut herself off—if she truly stopped feeling—then you would suffer. That’s the only reason she’s willing to go to therapy. Not for herself... but for the Gu family."

There was a pause.

Then Mr. Gu gave a proud nod. "That’s still something. Shows she cares. And it shows you’re observant. You read her well, Yifan. That takes heart—and courage."

Long Yifan blinked, surprised. "Thank you, Uncle Gu."

Just then, Gu Jihu stood up, arms crossed and face serious. "Hey, Long Yifan."

Long Yifan turned. "Yeah?"

"I wanna talk to you."

Mrs. Gu looked alarmed. "Jihu, don’t pick a fight now—"

"I’m not gonna fight him," Gu Jihu said with a huff. "Yet."

Long Yifan gave him a wary look but nodded. "Alright."

Gu Jihu led him to the study. It was a quiet, warm room with bookshelves, a big armchair, and the smell of old paper.

Once the door closed, Gu Jihu spun around dramatically, arms folded like a disappointed teacher.

"Look," he began, "I’m gonna say something I never thought I’d say, so you better not get a big head about it."

"I’ll try," Long Yifan said, amused.

"I respect what you did out there," Gu Jihu said, pointing a finger at him. "That was... brave. Brave and stupid. But mostly brave."

Long Yifan gave a crooked smile. "Thanks. I think."

"But," Gu Jihu added, lowering his voice a bit, "you have to be careful. You were lucky today. Jin’er listened. But if you push her too hard next time... we don’t know what she’ll do. She’s strong, but she’s also hurting."

Long Yifan nodded seriously. "I know. I won’t push her. Not too much. I just... wanted to reach her."

"Yeah, well," Gu Jihu muttered, rubbing the back of his neck, "I still don’t like you."

"Shocking," Long Yifan said dryly.

"But," Gu Jihu added, with a grudging smile, "I’m really grateful to you. For today. You said the things we couldn’t. And somehow, she listened. So... thanks."

Long Yifan blinked. "Wait. Did you just thank me?"

"Don’t make me regret it."

"I’m writing this down," Long Yifan said, pretending to pull out an invisible notebook. "Dear diary—"

"Don’t push it."

...........................

The sky was soft and gray when Gu Jin stepped out of the university gates.

The wind tugged at her coat as if trying to pull her back inside, away from whatever was waiting beyond the road.

She ignored it.

Parked by the curb was a sleek black car—her family’s. The familiar driver, Uncle Chen, stepped out and opened the back door with a polite nod.

"Miss Jin," he said, his voice gentle. "We’re going to your appointment now."

Gu Jin sighed but didn’t resist. "Yeah. I know."

She slid into the back seat and pulled the door shut. The car rolled forward smoothly, but her fingers gripped the seatbelt just a little tighter than usual.

The ride was quiet.

They left the city behind, winding through hills and into the base of the mountains.

Trees lined both sides of the narrow road.

As they climbed higher, Gu Jin noticed how everything seemed... too quiet. No birds. No wind. Just the low hum of the engine.

And then she saw it.

The mansion stood out starkly against the green and gray of the mountains.

Tall. White. Almost unnaturally clean—like it had been scrubbed of any sign of life. The air around it felt too still.

When the car stopped, Gu Jin stepped out slowly.

The cold air bit at her skin, but that wasn’t what made her shiver. A strange heaviness settled over her chest.

Her heart beat a little faster. Her right eye twitched, just once.

She blinked hard and rubbed at it.

Something didn’t feel right.

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