C28 Let's Go Home

Su Kexin had no desire to argue or offer any explanations, because she understood that for those who never trusted her, no amount of justification would change their minds.

"Sorry," she said, her apology devoid of any real remorse.

Gu Yihan's expression darkened at her insincere words. He was about to respond when Lin Xiaoru gently tugged at his sleeve, her voice tinged with a feigned vulnerability, "Han, let it go. She's already apologized. Don't hold it against her."

Lin Xiaoru certainly had a way with men.

Despite her dislike for Su Kexin, she was aware that Su Kexin was Gu Yihan's first love, and that men preferred women who were not pushy but understanding and gracious. Her comments only served to highlight her own tenderness and thoughtfulness, casting Su Kexin in an even more unfavorable light.

Su Kexin was all too aware of the situation. A tightness gripped her chest, and she couldn't suppress a soft cough.

"Ouch." At the sound of the cough, Chiang Ling, who had been visibly upset, quickly distanced Lin Xiaoru from Su Kexin. "Su Kexin, you're still sick? Why come to dinner with us if you're ill? Are you trying to make us sick too?"

The absurd accusation made Su Kexin want to laugh, but looking up, she saw the trio eyeing her with suspicion.

Her heart grew colder.

Heh.

Such was the warmth of family, united in love and common cause.

Yet she was nothing more than an outsider, thoroughly and utterly.

Why bother staying where she was clearly unwelcome?

"You're right, Auntie Jiang," she responded coolly. "I'm under the weather and shouldn't be dining with you. Please, go ahead without me. I'll be on my way."

Without another glance at the three, she left the wine cellar.

Passing by Lin Xiaoru, Su Kexin paused briefly, catching the smug look on her face.

With a faint smile, she addressed her for the first time as 'sister.'

"Sister," she began, her voice rare and measured, "I wish you and Senior Gu a lifetime of happiness in your marriage."

After her words, she turned and left without a backward glance.

It was only upon leaving the Lin family's estate that she noticed the deepening darkness of the night.

Like Gu Chi's villa, the Lin family's estate was miles from any taxis or bus stops. Su Kexin reluctantly powered up her phone, about to summon a ride via an app, when it suddenly rang.

The caller ID showed Gu Chi, and Su Kexin paused, quickly answering the call.

"Hello?"

"Hello, it's me," came Gu Chi's rich, soothing voice. "Are you having dinner at your father's place?"

For some inexplicable reason, hearing Gu Chi's voice nearly brought her to tears.

"It looks like I won't be able to," she replied, striving for nonchalance. "I've caught a cold and wouldn't want to spread it."

There was a brief silence on Gu Chi's end before he asked, "Where are you now?"

"I'm at Yuehai Villa. Just... go ahead and eat. Ask Zhang Ma to save me a bowl of porridge; I'll be back soon."

The line went silent after Su Kexin's response. Frowning, she glanced at her phone and realized it had shut down due to a dead battery.

Damn it. Why did it have to die now of all times?

Annoyed, Su Kexin pressed the power button several times to no avail, feeling a sense of panic setting in.

With a dead phone, how was she supposed to get back?

She tried to remember the nearest bus stop to the Lin family's place and started walking.

As luck would have it, she was wearing high heels, and within a few steps, her heels were already aching.

The Yuehai Villa complex was expansive, and it seemed like an eternity before she could find her way out.

The night air was chilling to the bone, and Su Kexin, dressed lightly, wrapped her coat tighter around herself and pressed on.

A few steps later, the flash of headlights caught her eye.

A surge of hope rose within her, thinking it might be a taxi, but it quickly faded as she saw it was just a black private car.

It made sense, she thought. After all, why would there be a taxi in a neighborhood like this, where the residents lived in a different world from hers?

However...

Why does this car look so familiar?

Before Su Kexin had time to ponder, the car slowly pulled up in front of her and came to a halt.

The door swung open, and a ramp descended, revealing a man in a wheelchair who glided down smoothly.

Su Kexin tensed up.

The halo of the headlights illuminated the man from behind. His face was in shadow and indistinct, yet the silhouette still traced the impeccable contours of his features.

It was Gu Chi.

In that instant, Su Kexin was so astonished she found herself speechless.

Gu Chi's wheelchair came to a stop before Su Kexin, and seeing her look of bewilderment, he couldn't help but find it somewhat endearing.

A slight smirk played at the corners of his mouth as he spoke, "What's the matter? Not happy to see me?"

That snapped Su Kexin out of her daze. She instinctively shook her head, "Unhappy? No, not at all..."

In fact, she was more than just happy.

In her moment of helplessness and exhaustion, it was Gu Chi who once again appeared before her, as if he had the power to rescue her from the depths of despair.

"Really?" Gu Chi's smile widened upon hearing Su Kexin's response. "Then let's get going."

Su Kexin nodded, but as she moved to get into the car, her high heels aggravated the blisters on her heels, causing her to sharply inhale.

"What's wrong?" Gu Chi, quick to pick up on Su Kexin's discomfort, saw her grimacing at her feet.

His brow furrowed as his eyes landed on Su Kexin's ankle, spotting the bloodied heel.

"It's nothing, just the shoes rubbing. It happens to a lot of women. A band-aid will do the trick tomorrow. Oh... what are you doing? Gu Chi, you..."

Su Kexin's face turned beet red as Gu Chi leaned forward, reaching out to hold her ankle.

From his position in the wheelchair, Gu Chi was naturally lower than Su Kexin, so bending down, he easily lifted her injured left foot.

His fingers, defined and deliberate, traced over Su Kexin's wound, causing Gu Chi's handsome brows to knit together even more tightly. "You're bleeding?"

Gu Chi's hands, rough with a distinctly masculine texture, grazed the already sensitive, abraded spot on Su Kexin's foot. The touch sent a peculiar sensation coursing through her body, like electricity zapping from her ankle to every extremity.

"It's really just a minor scrape." Su Kexin's heart raced inexplicably, her words tumbling out in a fluster. Yet Gu Chi seemed oblivious to her protest, proceeding to remove her shoes without a word.

"Eh?" Su Kexin was taken aback, her mind racing as she considered the distance still separating them from the car. Was Gu Chi expecting her to hop over or proceed barefoot?

Clearly, neither option was on the table.

With her shoes off, Gu Chi took Su Kexin's hand and pulled. Caught off guard, she gasped, suddenly enveloped in Gu Chi's arms.

Seated in his wheelchair, Gu Chi became Su Kexin's impromptu chair as she perched on his lap, their proximity leaving no room for air.

"Gu Chi, what are you..." Her voice trailed off, her anxiety peaking with their close contact. But Gu Chi remained unfazed, casually wheeling them towards the car. His voice was a soft murmur, "Let's go, we're heading home."