C25 Ask You To Return The Favor

"If you don't offend me, then I won't offend you." Gu Tianqi shrugged. "In your situation, if she hadn't done anything like this, then you wouldn't have any need for revenge. She's the one who's asking for trouble–not you."

Du Xiaoxiao chewed on her bottom lip. While he really was a little harsh, that didn't mean that he wasn't making any sense. In fact, he couldn't help but agree with him a little.

If he wasn't here today, then she really was going to suffer her entire life.

"I can't let this matter go easily," she finally said with a frown. "But what you said–it still wouldn't do the trick, you know? I don't...I just don't feel comfortable doing that to her, even if she was a bitch."

Gu Tianqi stared at her for a long time. He couldn't help but think that he had never really meant someone like her.

She was different from all the people he had met. While others would be hostile, doing everything they could to exact their revenge, she was calm and comprehensive. She thought everything over before enacting her true feelings.

Just talking to her felt like hearing warm water rippling down the stream. It felt calming and renewing speaking to her as if he was a changed man.

Du Xiaoxiao wasn't stunning, and she certainly wasn't charming. She wasn't a young lady from a rich family, and she certainly wasn't poor either. Yet, she was the type of woman that could make even the evilest man change his mind in a split second.

The mere thought made him feel weird.

Had he ever met someone that made him feel comfortable like her? Not really. This was the first time he had ever felt so comfortable with someone for a long time. Talking to her, eating her food...it somehow reminded him of home.

He didn't say another word as he drove Du Xiaoxiao back to her home. The place she lived in was in an ordinary neighborhood. The houses were quite small and cozy compared to the huge mansion he had lived in. The views were different from the tall buildings standing from his windowpane.

However, he could tell that she wasn't the slightest bit embarrassed by where she had come from. When he finally stopped at her gate, she stepped out and bowed her head. "Thank you for sending me back, and for the clothes," she said sincerely. "I'll be heading up now."

"You're leaving just like that?"

She blinked. "What do you want me to do?"

Gu Tianqi frowned. He had been helping her this entire night, yet she still remained so cold. Shouldn't she be kissing his cheek with a shy smile? Shouldn't she say 'see you next time'?

In all the books he had read and movies he had watched, the beautiful heroine always thanked the hero. Couldn't she have learned a thing or two from them?

Seeing how she was averting her gaze, Gu Tianqi slowly swallowed his pride. He turned away, not wanting to blame her for being so uncomfortable around him.

Besides, he wasn't a bully. He wasn't going to force a woman to kiss him goodbye if she really didn't want to. He'd just wait for next time. After all, she probably had a long day today.

"I don't need your thanks," he said. "I'll just ask you to return the favor some other day."

Without another word, he turned around and left.

"He's really calculative, that man," she murmured, mostly to herself, as she watched his retreating figure. But after all the things they've gone through, she wasn't the slightest bit surprised.

Shaking her head, Du Xioaxiao turned around and went up the steps. She had just reached the corner of the staircase when she saw a man waiting for her on the upper floor. Her eyes widened, and she almost fell to the ground. It was only when she looked closely did she see that the man was none other than Du Hengyu.

She heaved a sigh of relief. "What are you standing around there for? You gave me a fright." She faked a laugh. "I thought you weren't coming back tonight."

Instead of smiling and hugging her like he usually did, he frowned and took a step back.

"You told me that you were out working, but why is there a man driving you back?" He narrowed his eyes at her dress. "And the clothes you're wearing–they aren't the same ones you wore this morning."

"I..." The sound of the wind whooshing across them was the only sound she heard. Silence settled between them, and she could feel her fingers twitching in her sides.

This was bad...she didn't expect him to be here! How was she going to explain this? Should she even tell him?

No, she mustn't tell him. She could just make up a story.

"Why don't we go home and talk? It's not convenient to talk here."

Du Hengyu nodded. When the two of them had returned home, Du Xiaoxiao poured him a cup of tea and sat down on the opposite chair. "I'm going to tell you the full story, but you shouldn't panic okay?"

His heart skipped a beat.

What did that mean? Was the man...Was he her boyfriend?

Was he?

While he couldn't see the man inside the car, he could tell that the vehicle was expensive. Not only that, but the clothes she was wearing were obviously from a popular brand. No matter how he thought about it, she couldn't have bought it herself.

His heart sank afrom the thought.

Du Xiaoxiao took a sip from her tea. She had actually lied a lot to her brother when she was much younger, so this was like a walk in the park.

"I've been assigned to two tables at work today. Since I was new, my clothes didn't really fit well, so they're slightly larger around the color. One of the drunk customers would deliberately throw the spoon onto the ground just to get me to pick it up and take advantage of me," she slowly said. "The other man from the table caught it, and they got into a bit of a scuffle, which ended up with my clothes being drenched in wine. The drunk customer didn't think that was enough, still looking for trouble. Another customer helped me and sent me back."

Du Xiaoxiao decided to remove all the violent things in her story. If Du Hengyu knew the truth, he'd likely throw a fit.

She didn't even bother to say what Gu Tianqi did.

Just as she had thought, Du Hengyu slammed his fist onto the table. "That damn pervert!" he snarled. "What does he look like? I'll kill him!"

"It's nothing, I've already handled it." She waved it off.

Du Hengyu gazed at her for a long time. His forehead was creased as he grabbed a hold of her hand. "Really? If there's anything else, you can tell me, you know," he said slowly.

While she was older than her, he was still worried about her.

"I'm fine, really." she insisted. "Look, I'm in perfect condition, aren't I? Besides, I'm older than you, aren't I? Should I be the one worrying about you right now?"

"Still," he argued. Reaching out, he pulled her into his arms, tightening his hold around her. One of his hands stroked down her hair. "I'm just worried for you, that's all."

Guilt stirred in her heart.

'I'm sorry I have to lie to you, but there are just a few things you shouldn't know,' she thought.

Reaching out, she buried her head into his chest. "I'm fine, okay?" she comforted. "I'll be fine."

He pursed his lips for a while. "But that man just now...he isn't interested in you, is he?"

"Please, don't talk nonsense," she hurriedly rejected the idea. "He was just kind enough to send me back. I'm sure he didn't mean anything about that. Besides, I don't even know his name."

"You didn't leave your number?"

"No!"

Gu Tianqi didn't have her number, and she didn't have his.

At least that was the truth.

As soon as Du Hengyu heard this, he finally calmed down.

He couldn't help but reach out and stroke the sides of her hair. "You shouldn't really hide anything from me in the future, okay?" A small smile slipped into his lips. "Like you've said, I'm already all grown up."

"All grown up, huh? But why do you still look like a kid?" she teased.

"Sis, I'm being serious," he protested.