The reporters exchanged glances and instantly broke into obsequious grins.
“Since Mr.
Gu has spoken, we shall obey.”
The crowd left quickly, not daring even to hide in the shadows and snap secret photos.
Who was Gu Huaijin?
No one who crossed him could remain safe standing on this land.
Once the reporters were gone, the air turned deathly still and cold.
Watching Xia Xing held in another man’s arms, Gu Huaijin’s eyes darkened, frigid chill radiating off him.
He parted his thin lips and uttered two icy words.
“Get down.”
Being held by a stranger already made Xia Xing uncomfortable.
With her scandal trending wildly online, she did not want Shen Yeming dragged down because of her.
Xia Xing murmured, “Put me down.”
Shen Yeming ignored Gu Huaijin’s terrifying, stormy gaze.
“No.
You’ve sprained your ankle.
We need to get you to a hospital right away.”
Gu Huaijin’s gaze locked steadily on Xia Xing’s face.
His deep eyes seemed frozen solid, wispy coldness rolling off them.
He spoke slowly, each word sharp and heavy.
“Xia Xing, I told you to get down.”
Gu Huaijin rarely let his emotions show; Xia Xing had barely ever seen him lose his composure.
Now his eyes were dark and frigid.
The way he stared at the two of them was as if he was looking at something he utterly loathed.
Seeing she did not move, Gu Huaijin’s expression grew even more menacing.
He stepped forward slowly until he stood right in front of them.
Gu Huaijin reached out, intending to yank Xia Xing out of his arms.
Shen Yeming blocked him with one arm, but holding Xia Xing restricted his movement, and he failed to stop Gu Huaijin.
Xia Xing was pulled roughly out of Shen Yeming’s embrace.
Gu Huaijin clamped his hand tight around Xia Xing’s wrist and turned to leave.
Her feet hit the ground, and the throbbing pain in her sprained ankle flared sharply.
Suddenly, someone caught her other hand.
Gu Huaijin halted and looked at Shen Yeming, his voice low, cold and full of revulsion.
“Let go of her.”
A careless smile played on Shen Yeming’s thin lips.
“I should be the one saying that.”
Gu Huaijin’s brows lifted in arrogant disdain.
“Do you even deserve to?”
Shen Yeming chuckled softly.
“Whether I deserve it is not for you to decide.
What matters… is what Xiaoxing thinks.”
Shen Yeming shifted his gaze to Xia Xing, his tone gentle.
“Xiaoxing, do you want to go with him?”
Xia Xing knew Shen Yeming called her that on purpose, just to get under Gu Huaijin’s skin. Read this novel at g.com for the best experience.
Her gaze drifted to Lin Su-su standing nearby.
Gu Huaijin and Lin Su-su had come out of this restaurant together.
They must have just finished dinner here.
No doubt he’d come to tell Lin Su-su about her detention, to win his beloved’s favour.
Xia Xing’s expression flattened.
She did not look at Gu Huaijin, but turned toward Shen Yeming instead.
“I’ve twisted my ankle.
Could you take me to the hospital, Mr.
Shen?”
The smile in Shen Yeming’s eyes deepened.
“Between us, there is no trouble to speak of.”
Disbelief flickered across Gu Huaijin’s eyes.
He snapped coldly, “Xia Xing, don’t tell me you’ve hooked up with this man again.”
Xia Xing frowned with distaste.
“How amusing you are, Mr.
Gu.
First, there is no news linking me and Mr.
Shen.
Second, we are not entangled in any messy affair.
We merely had a meal by chance, and he helped me when I was in trouble… In your mind, does that mean I’m sleeping with another man?”
She shot a glance at Lin Su-su, her features impassive.
“Does merely speaking to a man mean I’m having an improper relationship with him… Are you judging me by your own standards?”
Shen Yeming wore an amused, half-smile.
“Mr.
Gu, when Xiaoxing was surrounded and attacked just now, you did not rush over to rescue her.
Now are you trying to claim the credit?”
Gu Huaijin’s eyes darkened, rendered speechless.
Lin Su-su spoke up beside him to defend Gu Huaijin.
“A-Jin only arrived a moment ago.
It’s not that he didn’t want to save Miss Xia…”
Shen Yeming’s lips curled upward.
“The reporters went to interview Miss Lin, and Mr.
Gu reprimanded them.
Yet when those journalists slandered and fabricated lies about Xiaoxing, not a single word of defence for his wife crossed his lips.”
Lin Su-su could not bear to listen any longer and frowned.
“Some things were admitted by Miss Xia herself; they are not fabrications.
If Mr.
Shen doubts it, you may ask Miss Xia.”
Shen Yeming ignored Lin Su-su entirely and kept his eyes on Gu Huaijin.
“Mr.
Gu, do you believe that too?”
Gu Huaijin’s gaze was profound, yet his eyes rested on Xia Xing.
“Are you coming with me or not?”
She said quietly, “Mr.
Shen, take me to the hospital first.”
Shen Yeming smiled gently.
“At your service, Xiaoxing.”
Shen Yeming lifted Xia Xing into his arms and walked past Gu Huaijin, stirring a gust of cool air.
…
At the hospital, the doctor examined Xia Xing’s injured foot.
It was only superficial wounds; no bones had been broken.
Shen Yeming stepped outside to take a phone call.
Leaning back in the chair, Xia Xing gradually drifted off to sleep.
She dreamed many bizarre, twisted dreams.
One moment she saw Lin Su-su’s vicious sneering face; the next, scenes of Gu Huaijin and Gu Ziting shoving her into the abyss flashed before her eyes.
Xia Xing jolted awake with a start.
She panted rapidly, a thin layer of cold sweat coating her forehead.
“Nightmare?” A low, cool voice came from beside her, followed by a few clean tissues held out toward her.
Xia Xing took them and instinctively thanked him.
“Thank you.”
Wiping the sweat from her brow, she turned her head and froze at the sight of a tall, familiar figure.
Her movement halted for a brief second, surprise crossing her face before she frowned.
“What are you doing here?”
Seeing her expression turn icy, Gu Huaijin let out a scoff.
“What?
Disappointed not to see the person you hoped for?”
Xia Xing replied indifferently, “I don’t care if I don’t see who I want.
But seeing someone I detest is truly nauseating.”
Gu Huaijin stared at her and said suddenly, “If you apologize, I will issue a public statement clarifying this was all a misunderstanding.”
Apologize?
Xia Xing nearly laughed out loud.
“I haven’t done anything wrong.
Why should I apologize?”
Gu Huaijin had not expected her to still be so stubborn after all this time.
His voice turned frigid instantly.
“Xia Xing, even now, you still think you’ve done nothing wrong?”
Xia Xing clenched her fists tightly until her knuckles blanched under the strain.
She had been driven nearly insane by all the online abuse, and Gu Huaijin still expected her to admit fault?
It was utterly ridiculous.
She said coldly, “The biggest mistake of my life was marrying you!”
Gu Huaijin’s handsome face darkened.
“Xia Xing, enough.”
Xia Xing let out a bitter laugh.
“I have had enough.
You can choose to turn a blind eye and favour Lin Su-su, but I refuse to keep being the foolish woman who yields at every turn.”
Gu Huaijin’s eyes were deep and unfathomable.
“You simply want too much.”