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C18 Put It Down!

In the heart of S City's Financial District, atop the Chiyao Group skyscraper, Gu Chi was perched at his desk, fingers flying over the keyboard as images and figures danced across the screen.

The sharp ring of the phone sliced through the room's quiet. With a nonchalant press, Gu Chi answered, and Yang Zuo's voice emerged from the receiver.

"Mr. Gu, Young Master Lin has arrived."

"Send him in."

The door swung open promptly, and in strutted a man with striking features, clad in a flamboyant pink shirt.

"Gu Chi, still buried in work?" he exclaimed with a touch of drama upon seeing Gu Chi. "I thought after finally tying the knot, even without a wedding, you'd at least steal away for a honeymoon."

Gu Chi's gaze remained tethered to his monitor as he responded tersely, "No time."

The visitor settled onto Gu Chi's desk, unfazed by the cold reception, his eyes crinkling into a playful smile. "Poor sister-in-law, married to a man devoid of romance."

It was only then that Gu Chi shifted his attention to his guest, his face a blank slate. "Lin Ze, get to the point."

Lin Ze's eyes twinkled mischievously. "Just bored, hoping to catch a glimpse of the new sister-in-law."

"Forget about it," Gu Chi dismissed flatly. "You're well aware of my reasons for marrying her."

Lin Ze's smirk faded as he pursed his lips. "Regardless, you're a married man now. It's time to let go of the past."

At Lin Ze's words, Gu Chi's grip on the keyboard tightened imperceptibly.

"There's nothing to let go of," he finally said after a pause. "The dead do not return."

Lin Ze studied Gu Chi, words teetering on the edge of his lips, but they retreated unspoken.

"And the little girl from back then?" Lin Ze pressed. "Any leads?"

"We've got some leads," Gu Chi replied succinctly.

"Well, that's good news." Lin Ze's smile returned. "I've been wondering how you plan to repay her. I was half-expecting you to pledge yourself to her, but it turns out you've already auctioned off your bachelorhood."

Gu Chi paid no mind to Lin Ze's brazen jests.

Embarrassed by his own antics, Lin Ze's face reddened, yet his eyes betrayed a flicker of concern when they landed on the wheelchair beneath Gu Chi. "That... Gu Chi, have you told your sister-in-law about your leg?"

Gu Chi, who had been perusing the newly submitted financial reports from the Finance Department, paused his scrolling at the question.

"No," he murmured after a beat.

Lin Ze's brow furrowed slightly. "Gu Chi, I'm not trying to lecture you, but regardless of your reasons for marrying, now that you're husband and wife, do you plan to keep this a secret forever? Maybe..."

He hesitated, then with a clenched jaw, pressed on, "Maybe you should give it a shot, see if you can open up to this new sister-in-law. You can't let the past overshadow your whole life."

He understood Gu Chi all too well. Despite claiming he married to appease the family patriarch, Gu Chi would never have agreed to marriage and living together if he didn't harbor some affection for his partner.

Without responding to Lin Ze, Gu Chi finished scanning the report and then spoke softly.

"Once the sea, now hard to be water."

Lin Ze froze.

Gazing at Gu Chi's detached expression, a flicker of pity crossed his eyes.

That car accident a decade ago was a nightmare for all of them.

Everyone believed that Gu Chi had lost his legs in that crash.

But they were all mistaken.

What Gu Chi lost in that accident wasn't his legs; it was his heart.

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