With a “bang,” Chu Ningwu slammed the door shut and collapsed against the shoe cabinet at the entrance, her entire body going weak.
Wenwen had already left for work and was packing in her room when she heard the noise and rushed out.
The moment she saw Chu Ningwu’s face drained of color, her teeth clenched, her whole body trembling as if enduring great pain, she quickly helped her to the sofa.
“Xiao Ning, what happened to you? Didn’t you say you went to a friend’s place? How did you end up back here again?”
“I’m fine, I just accidentally sprained my ankle.”
Chu Ningwu avoided the second question. Wenwen did not press further.
“Is it serious? Do you want me to take you to the hospital?”
Chu Ningwu lifted her pant leg and looked. Her slender ankle was already visibly swollen. Even a slight movement made her gasp in pain.
Under normal circumstances, she would never force herself through this kind of pain. She would have let Wenwen take her to the hospital immediately. But she had just narrowly avoided Chu Mother. She was probably still waiting outside the residential area.
“It’s… not that bad. I’ll just spray some Yunnan Baiyao. It should heal on its own.”
Chu Ningwu forced a smile and thought that if it still hurt tomorrow, she would go to the hospital herself.
Wenwen nodded and brought a bag of ice cubes from the kitchen fridge.
“I bought this in summer for cocktails. There’s still some left. You can use it for ice compresses.”
“Thank you! Wenwen, you’re seriously the best!”
Chu Ningwu hugged Wenwen’s arm sincerely, feeling warmth in her heart. True friendship really showed in times of trouble. Girls really were the best thing in the world.
Wenwen’s face turned slightly red from the sudden closeness. She almost didn’t want to move out anymore.
Chu Ningwu returned to her small room with the ice pack. She wanted to call the grandmother in her memory, but when she opened her phone, she saw two missed calls from an unknown number.
The timing was just over ten minutes ago.
She had mild social anxiety and had set her phone to silent as soon as she crossed over. She assumed it was spam or fraud and did not think of Huo Zhi Chuan at all. She casually opened her contacts and dialed.
“Hello? Grandma?”
“…Ningning? Why are you calling grandma?”
The elderly, hoarse voice came through the phone. Chu Ningwu’s nose suddenly stung.
This reaction was understandable. After the original host came to Jing City, contact with her grandmother had become less and less frequent. In the past year, they could barely even manage one call a month.
“Grandma, are you feeling okay? I heard you fell from a ladder?”
“Oh my! I told Xiaofeng not to tell you! That mouth of yours mother really… I’m fine, I’m just resting in bed for a few days. Don’t worry about grandma, I’m strong.”
Chu Ningwu immediately sensed something was off. The grandmother did not deny falling from a ladder.
In the original memory, she was raised by her grandmother in the countryside under the jurisdiction of Yancheng, while her parents worked in Jing City. They once promised to buy a house and bring her to the city when she started primary school, but she stayed in the countryside through middle school.
“Grandma, I’ll come see you in Yancheng tomorrow.”
As soon as she said that, her thoughts became clearer.
Going to Yancheng also meant escaping Chu Mother. She did not want to stay in this apartment anymore. There were too many incidents.
Maybe she should just move to the countryside and lie low.
That way she would not run into the male lead. After some time, his interest would fade and he would forget she existed.
The more she thought about it, the more reasonable it felt.
She suddenly felt her ankle stop hurting and even forgot her frustration.
No more rent, low rural expenses, no need to rush earning money.
A peaceful farming life in the countryside, she was coming.
At the Yun Ding MK underground parking area.
Huo Zhi Chuan leaned against his Rolls Royce, brows slightly furrowed. A cigarette between his fingers burned with a faint red glow.
He had already called her twice.
She did not answer.
The meaning was clear.
She had run away again.
His pride would not allow a third call.
Then his phone suddenly vibrated.
A faint curve appeared at the corner of his lips.
At least she knew what was good for her.
He checked the screen.
It was Assistant Lin.
His expression instantly cooled again as he answered.
“What is it?”
“Boss, the client from the last negotiation in Country M agreed to meet. Mr. Richard said the earliest time is tomorrow afternoon…”
“Add it to the schedule.”
“Yes, same arrangement as usual? Charter flight? With Secretary Zeng? She handled the last contact.”
“Mm.”
Assistant Lin sensed the boss was unusually silent today and quickly ended the call.
Another call came in.
Huo Zhi Chuan answered without expectation.
As expected, it was Madam Li.
“Son! Are you angry with your mother? Why didn’t you wear that Mr. K suit I bought for you?”
“It’s ugly.”
“Ugly? It’s royal blue! It suits you so well! You always wear those dark old-money suits. You look like you’re sitting at the same table as your dad!”
“Too flashy.”
“Not flashy at all! It makes you look younger!”
“I’m hanging up.”
“Hey you, listening to your mother speak a little more makes you annoyed?”
“1.”
“Tonight I will come home for dinner. I invited your Aunt Wen and others. No excuses. No meetings. No…”
“Okay.”