Xie Yizhou stood motionless on the spot, appearing as though he were ready to accept any punishment or verbal abuse. With his head lowered, he looked incredibly and unexpectedly well-behaved. Gu Yulan found himself completely at a loss for how to handle him. He let out a frustrated sigh, lowered his clenched fists, and turned away with a dark expression to leave.
[Well, he is gone. You can stop pretending now. Let us wrap this up.]
0377 stretched its virtual limbs and let out a long yawn. It had not expected Xie Yizhou to be so daring. Seeing that Gu Yulan had departed, Xie Yizhou slowly raised his head. He held the hearing aid in his hand and was just about to put it back on.
Suddenly, he sensed danger approaching from behind. He turned around quickly just as a force gripped the back of his neck. In the next second, a strong arm encircled his throat, and a wave of warmth pressed against his back. He was completely pulled into a firm embrace.
Xie Yizhou’s heart leaped. He turned his head and met a pair of gloomy eyes, his own face flashing with a trace of startled shock.
Gu Yulan said fiercely, “Do not think for a second that I will let you off that easily.”
Because he was not wearing his hearing aid and his body was physically restrained, Xie Yizhou had no idea what the other man was saying. He could only sense the anger in Gu Yulan’s emotions and feel the sharp heat of his breath against his neck, which felt like it was burning his skin. He instinctively raised a hand to touch that strangely sensitive patch of skin.
However, as he tried to break free, the grip only tightened. Even his chin was seized and forced to the side.
Gu Yulan said with a fake smile, “Rest assured, I will never fall into the same trap twice.”
He deliberately slowed down his speech to ensure the youth could read his lips clearly. Xie Yizhou’s body stiffened. Realizing that all resistance was currently futile, he relaxed and allowed the other man to have his way, ceasing all struggle. If this would make Gu Yulan feel better, he did not mind being a little submissive for a moment.
Gu Yulan felt the weight in his arms suddenly increase as a warm body leaned into him. His palm supported a heavy chin, and his fingertips accidentally brushed against something wet and soft. A sensation like an electric shock shot through his finger, causing him to freeze.
Gu Yulan snapped back to his senses. Like a startled hedgehog, he let go instantly. Xie Yizhou looked at him with a confused and surprised gaze. A flash of awkwardness crossed Gu Yulan’s face. He immediately flared up and glared back.
“Why were you moving around like that?”
Xie Yizhou looked back with an innocent expression, clearly confused. The two stared at each other in silence for a few seconds until Gu Yulan finally gave in.
“Forget it. I will not argue with you. Meeting you is just my bad luck. Get in the car.”
Xie Yizhou followed him and sat quietly in the vehicle. Although he did not say a single word from beginning to end, Gu Yulan drove in silence with an unpleasant expression. A knot of frustration sat in his chest with nowhere to go.
0377 spoke with lingering fear: [I did not know he would double back like that. Judging by the direction, he is driving toward the Gu residence. It seems he will not bury you in the outskirts in a fit of rage after all.]
Hearing the system’s joke, Xie Yizhou slowly closed his eyes and shook his head silently. 0377 wondered if it had said something wrong.
At that moment, the phone vibrated. Gu Yulan checked the contact, and his face instantly darkened. He hung up the call. The red sports car suddenly swerved and headed in a completely different direction. The sharp turn caused the car to sway, and Xie Yizhou leaned to one side due to inertia, reaching out to steady himself.
[Where is Gu Yulan planning to go?]
Xie Yizhou kept his eyes closed and spoke softly, “The company.”
[The company?]
0377 was puzzled. It did not remember this sequence in the original plot. Xie Yizhou sighed inwardly. Indeed, this part was not described in detail in the original text. From the perspective of the protagonist, it was only mentioned in passing. After the chaotic scene, Zhou Yichen had sent Su Jianyang home and then received a call from the company.
In the office, Zhou Yichen had brushed past a disheveled and violent Gu Yulan. Not long after that, news broke that Gu Yulan had gotten into a fight and was taken to the police station. A car accident later left him with a crippled leg, and his status as an heir was publicly revoked. Misfortune seemed to descend upon him piece by piece. After that, Gu Yulan disappeared from the story for a long time.
Soon, the car stopped in front of a skyscraper. Xie Yizhou snapped out of his thoughts to see Gu Yulan getting out of the car. Gu Yulan left behind a sharp, decisive silhouette, seemingly forgetting there was another person in the vehicle.
Just as Xie Yizhou thought he had been left behind, the figure outside stopped. Gu Yulan turned around with a dark face, walked back, and opened the car door.
“Get out.”
Xie Yizhou obediently stepped out of the car. Gu Yulan stared at the boy’s calm face and said, “Follow me.” He turned and entered the building. Xie Yizhou followed closely, but as soon as he entered, his wrist was grabbed.
“Why are you so slow?”
Gu Yulan pulled the youth to the client waiting area. He pressed down on Xie Yizhou’s shoulders, forcing him into a nearby chair. When Xie Yizhou looked up, he met a pair of sharp eyes. Gu Yulan leaned down, bracing his arms on the chair. His cold face approached rapidly, his eyes narrowing with a strong sense of aggression.
At this moment, the thin youth was almost entirely shrouded in the shadow of the tall man. It felt like being prey cornered by a wild beast with no chance of escape. Xie Yizhou found the sensation novel. He looked back with curiosity, staring unblinkingly into those cold eyes. The scent of mint began to seep into his senses.
One second, two seconds, three seconds passed. Perhaps the eye contact was too strange, as Gu Yulan felt a surge of nameless irritability. He knit his brows and abruptly looked away. Seeing this, Xie Yizhou slowly lowered his gaze as well.
When Gu Yulan looked back, he saw the youth sitting there quietly. Only his long eyelashes trembled slightly, making him look exceptionally well-behaved.
He finally spoke, “I am going to handle some business. Wait here obediently. Do not follow me. If you are not obedient, there will be consequences.”
The unfinished sentence was full of threat. Xie Yizhou understood and nodded. Gu Yulan stood up. Looking at the boy’s compliant manner, he narrowed his eyes. This was more like it. He asked the receptionist to bring the youth some snacks before heading toward the elevator. He looked back halfway and saw the boy still sitting there properly, which allowed him to enter the elevator with peace of mind.
Once inside, Gu Yulan finally let out a long breath. He prepared himself mentally for the scene he was about to face and slowly closed his eyes as the elevator rose.
As soon as the elevator doors closed and Gu Yulan was gone, Xie Yizhou stood up.
[Did you not promise Gu Yulan you would stay?]
Xie Yizhou glanced at 0377 and said expressionlessly, “Just because I promised does not mean I cannot change my mind.”
0377 was speechless. It seemed it was the only honest one here.