Gu Ziqian rushed forward in one swift motion, catching Fang Mian’s collapsing body just in time.
Gu Tingye’s outstretched hands recoiled as if shocked, quickly tucking them behind his back.
“Uncle, hurry and drive her to the hospital.”
Gu Tingye: “Me?”
Gu Ziqian lifted Fang Mian’s body, urging anxiously, “Why are you just standing there? Hurry up! You worked her so hard she fainted!”
Is her body made of paper?
How could she faint from just a little work?
Gu Tingye reluctantly picked up the car keys.
In the hospital VIP ward.
Gu Ziqian first instructed the female nurse to change her sanitary pad.
Then, he placed a warm patch on Fang Mian’s lower abdomen.
Next, he attached a heater to the IV tube.
Finally, he placed Fang Mian’s icy feet on his own stomach to warm them.
Watching this series of actions, Gu Tingye was utterly baffled.
Gu Ziqian spoke with the air of an experienced person: “Judging by your shocked expression, this must be the first time you’ve seen something like this, Uncle.”
“Not to overstep as a junior, but what good is your exceptional ability to make money if you don’t even have a woman by your side? Let alone understand the hardship of a woman’s period.”
Gu Tingye shot him a cold glance, his eyes filled with disdain: “Weren’t you drowning your sorrows in alcohol last night? How come you’re clinging to her again now?”
At this mention, Gu Ziqian pursed his lips and smiled: “If I hadn’t run into Auntie buying sanitary pads at the supermarket, I wouldn’t have known my baby was on her period.”
“No wonder she suddenly changed her temper and said so many hurtful things to me. It was all just her mood swings during her period.”
“Although I was indeed down for a long time last night, I’ve bounced back now! Hahaha… Once her period is over, we’ll make up and be as good as before!”
Gu Tingye couldn’t be bothered to listen to his rambling any longer: “I have a meeting this afternoon, so I’ll head back to the company first.”
“Wait a moment, Uncle.”
Gu Ziqian gestured for him to come closer: “I need to use the restroom and will be away for a bit. Come over and keep her feet warm on your stomach.”
Gu Tingye’s mouth twitched, finding it hard to believe.
“What are you spacing out for? Hurry up! My baby was born in winter, so she’s more sensitive to the cold than most people. If her feet don’t warm up, her whole body will feel cold.”
“Besides, aren’t both of us your juniors? Family should love and care for each other—what’s there to be fussy about? Come on.”
Gu Tingye was extremely reluctant.
“Why are you dawdling, Uncle? If you hadn’t assigned her such heavy work, would she have fainted from exhaustion? As the one responsible, don’t you feel even a little guilty?”
Recalling how pale Fang Mian had looked while reporting her work earlier…
Gu Tingye composed himself and slowly walked over.
Gu Ziqian placed Fang Mian’s calves on him: “I’ll use the public restroom outside so the noise won’t embarrass you.”
After the door closed.
Only Gu Tingye and Fang Mian remained in the ward.
Staring at the pair of small female feet, Gu Tingye felt deeply troubled.
Although the ankles were slender and the shape elegant…
How could Gu Ziqian act so naturally when warming a woman’s feet…
Gu Tingye casually touched them.
Soft, smooth, and quite pleasant to the touch.
The next moment, the foot in his hand trembled slightly.
Gu Tingye immediately dropped the troublesome foot and stood up with a strange expression on his face.
Fang Mian’s instant was knocked against the steel bed frame, producing a loud sound.
She let out a pained “Ah!”
This sound was weak and feeble, yet utterly captivating.
It stirred something in Gu Tingye’s heart.
Memories of that night flooded back…
His face immediately darkened with anger. “Was it necessary for you to moan like that?”
Fang Mian was stunned for a moment before she suddenly understood.
Her face flushed red with anger. “President Gu, your own mind is filthy, yet you blame my voice?”
Gu Tingye retorted without backing down. “I don’t think Assistant Fang is any more virtuous. You’ve been awake for a while, haven’t you? You were just pretending to sleep.”
Otherwise, why would she have moved the moment he touched her?
Fang Mian: “I’ve been working nonstop for you all morning. Is it too much for me to rest a little during my lunch break?”
Gu Tingye: “Are you implying that I’m the one being unreasonable?”
Fang Mian glared at him. “Not implying—it’s the truth!”
The door opened.
“What’s going on? Why are you suddenly arguing?”
Without hesitation, Gu Ziqian began scolding Gu Tingye. “Uncle, as a grown man, why do you always pick on a woman? And my baby is still a patient right now. Being so harsh like this—no wonder you’re still single at your age!”
“Don’t be angry, baby. I’ve already scolded him for you. Here, this is the warm womb tea Auntie specially brewed for you. Drink it, and your stomach won’t hurt anymore.”
Watching the young couple—one feeding, the other drinking—
Gu Tingye’s face remained completely expressionless.
In his dark, pure eyes, a faint, almost imperceptible red flame flickered.
Finally, without a word of farewell, he turned and strode away.
After Gu Tingye left, Fang Mian took the spoon. “I’ll do it myself.”
Gu Ziqian’s hand was left empty.
He deeply realized that an insurmountable distance had already formed between them.
For the moment, he couldn’t quite grasp Fang Mian’s mood.
So he could only silently stay by her side.
Until the IV drip was finished.
Gu Ziqian asked with concern, “Should I ask Uncle for leave on your behalf? So you can rest a little longer?”
Fang Mian politely declined. “No need, I’m feeling much better now.”
Gu Ziqian: “Let me ask anyway. Uncle isn’t an outsider. I’ll call him—”
“Gu Ziqian, I don’t need you making decisions for me all the time!”
The distance and sharpness in Fang Mian’s tone shattered Gu Ziqian’s expression.
He was stunned for a long moment before barely piecing together his broken heart.
With great difficulty, he forced a faint smile onto his face. “Alright, I understand. Then let me drive you to the company.”
Fang Mian didn’t respond.
Gu Ziqian’s chest ached. “Are you going to reject even such a small request?”
But what answered him was still boundless suffocation and indifference.
A few bitter, sorrowful chuckles suddenly escaped his throat. “Fang Mian, do you really have the heart to treat me like this?”
Fang Mian looked calmly into his eyes, which were filled with sorrow.
In his clear gaze, the pain of suffering flickered.
If she gave him even the slightest hope again, he would only end up hurt in the end!
Rather than indecisively letting him suffer heartbreak over and over,
It was better to be ruthless now and let him hurt completely once and for all.
Then… he would slowly forget this pain and be reborn anew!
Fang Mian lowered her gaze. “Gu Ziqian, I’m very grateful for your kindness to me! But let’s just end it here! You and I… we’re truly not suited for each other!”
Gu Ziqian’s pupils trembled. “We’re not suited? Then tell me, who are you suited for?”
Fang Mian fell silent.
“Say it! If we, who have been together for five years, aren’t suited, then who do you think you’re most suited for?”
“I…”