C29 Investigating Her First Love

Heading home?

Su Kexin, who had been struggling to rise, froze at Gu Chi's words.

Home?

Did she even have a home anymore?

Though she had moved into Gu Chi's villa, she had always regarded it as nothing more than a newly rented space, not a home.

Gazing into Gu Chi's striking face, so close to her own, Su Kexin felt a warmth seep into her once icy heart.

Their marriage had begun on rather absurd terms, but now, Su Kexin entertained the thought that having a husband might not be such a bad thing after all.

This realization allowed her to unwind slightly, and her arms found their way around Gu Chi's neck.

Gu Chi, with the unchanged stoic expression on his face, couldn't conceal the flicker of amusement in his dark eyes as he felt her embrace.

They settled into the car, and the driver promptly pulled away from Yuehai Villa.

As they departed, a solitary figure emerged from the shadows.

Gu Yihan watched the black Bentley disappear, his eyes betraying his astonishment.

After Su Kexin had left the Lin family, Gu Yihan hadn't followed her immediately. The night had fallen, and the villa was secluded from the main road. Concerned for her safety, he had excused himself from the Lin family.

He had found Su Kexin without much delay but lacked the courage to offer her a ride home, opting instead to trail behind her.

That was until the man in the wheelchair appeared.

Despite the distance, Gu Yihan recognized the distinctive car and wheelchair.

His hands involuntarily clenched.

Why... Why was Su Kexin entangled with another man despite being married?

And why, of all people, was it him?

"Han?"

Caught in his indignation, Gu Yihan was jolted by a tentative voice.

He turned to find Lin Xiaoru standing behind him, her eyes wide and innocent.

"Xiaoru, what brings you here?" Gu Yihan quickly approached and took her cold hands into his, concern etching his features. "You're dressed so lightly. Go back inside."

Lin Xiaoru's gaze flickered as she looked up at Gu Yihan. She didn't question his presence, only murmured softly, "I... I had meant to see you off, but when I saw your car still in the garage, I got worried and came out to check..."

Gu Yihan found himself momentarily spellbound by Lin Xiaoru's charming and delicate features.

There was indeed a resemblance, particularly around the eyebrows and eyes. Though not born of the same mother, they were undoubtedly biological sisters.

Yet, in contrast to Lin Xiaoru's fragility, she seemed to possess a bit more stubbornness, didn't she?

"Han?" Lin Xiaoru's voice, tinged with confusion, snapped Gu Yihan out of his reverie.

Regaining his composure, Gu Yihan quickly shed his coat and placed it over Lin Xiaoru's shoulders. "It's quite chilly. Let me take you home."

After escorting Lin Xiaoru back to the Lin family's residence, Gu Yihan promptly excused himself. Lin Xiaoru stood at the doorway, her gaze turning increasingly icy as he departed.

She had witnessed everything earlier.

From the arrival of Su Kexin's companion to Gu Yihan's jealous meltdown, Lin Xiaoru had seen it all.

Her hands involuntarily clenched, a surge of bitterness in her eyes.

Why!

That woman was supposed to be out of the picture, so why was she still affecting Han so deeply?

Lips pressed firmly together, Lin Xiaoru's face twisted with spite.

Su Kexin, if you have any sense, you'll keep your distance from Han! Otherwise, what I hold will surely ruin you completely!

...

Returning home, Su Kexin sneezed several times, likely a sign that the evening breeze had exacerbated her lingering cold.

After a quick hot shower, Su Kexin emerged with damp hair to find Gu Chi had already bathed in another bathroom and was drying his hair.

Upon noticing her, he switched off the hairdryer and offered, "Come, let me dry your hair for you."

"No need," Su Kexin demurred, feeling a bit lazy. "It'll dry on its own soon enough."

Intent on doing laundry, she was stopped by Gu Chi's firm grip on her wrist.

"You're already under the weather. Not drying your hair could make it worse." Despite being seated in a wheelchair, Gu Chi's grip was strong. He pulled Su Kexin to the stool in front of the vanity, positioned his wheelchair behind her, and began to blow-dry her hair.

Su Kexin sat rigidly in the chair, the warm air blowing over her head and Gu Chi's large hand occasionally brushing through her hair, tickling her cheeks. She couldn't hold back a sneeze.

"Has your cold gotten worse?" Gu Chi, standing behind her, furrowed his brow slightly. "You're grown up; why do you still act like a child, not knowing how to take care of yourself?"

Su Kexin paused, taken aback. It had been so long since anyone had spoken to her in that tone.

Maybe it was the day's hardships, but Su Kexin felt an uncontrollable wave of melancholy. Gazing at Gu Chi's handsome, profound reflection in the mirror, she blurted out, "Gu Chi, may I ask you something?"

"Go ahead."

"If... I mean, if you discovered I had once done something terrible, would you despise me for it?" Su Kexin's voice wavered as she bit her lip.

Gu Chi's hand, resting in Su Kexin's hair, froze momentarily. He looked up at her reflection. Her face was pale, her eyes wide and uncertain, like a deer caught in headlights.

Gu Chi was well aware of the "terrible thing" she referred to. He had done some digging but never delved too deeply, never expecting she would bring it up herself.

Perhaps this was a sign that she was opening up to him, even if just a little?

The thought unexpectedly lifted his spirits. "Whatever happened in the past, you are my wife now, and that won't change."

The words, though spoken calmly, carried the weight of the world, sinking deeply into Su Kexin's heart, heavy yet comforting.

Her eyelashes fluttered as she looked down, her voice choked with emotion when she spoke again. "Thank you, Gu Chi."

Thank you for marrying me at my lowest point.

Thank you for rescuing me when I needed you most.

Thank you for giving me a home when I felt utterly alone.

After drying her hair, Su Kexin succumbed to sleep, the day's exhaustion ensuring she drifted off as soon as her head hit the pillow.

Yet Gu Chi remained seated at the bedside, quietly observing her serene slumber.

For reasons unknown, the image of her lost and vulnerable at Yuehai Villa earlier that day had lodged itself in his heart like a persistent thorn, causing him discomfort.

What was happening to him?

Wasn't Su Kexin merely a means to appease his grandfather? Why then did he find himself so concerned about her?

Disturbed by these unexplained emotions, Gu Chi wrestled with his thoughts for a long while before finally pulling out his phone and calling Yang Zuo.

"Yang Zuo, I need you to look into Su Kexin's history," he said, his tone deep and unreadable. "Yes, I want the details about her first love, and this time, I want them thorough."