Chapter 10: Does That Make You Happy?

Gu Yan didn't make it back to the hospital room until dawn.

"A Que, that woman Wen Zhizhi is planning to run. She booked a nine a.m. flight to Huaicheng." Gu Yan stood by the bed, his expression complicated.

He'd watched the surveillance footage from the Dihao Club last night.

With Shen Zhique's tacit permission.

Honestly, he was starting to genuinely admire Wen Zhizhi.

She'd done something no young lady from Beicheng's elite families would dare.

Drugging the little ancestor of the Shen family of Beicheng…

That took serious guts.

He'd thought seducing his cold-faced CEO of an older brother was already enough to shatter his worldview.

Who'd have guessed she'd also dare to set her sights on the Shen family's little ancestor!

And even more unexpected—after offending the most untouchable little ancestor in all of Beicheng, she still had the nerve to run.

Truly a role model for our generation!

Shen Zhique wasn't surprised in the least.

He'd guessed it long ago.

He threw off the covers and got out of bed. "Get ready. We're going out."

Gu Yan hadn't slept all night; his head was foggy. "Going out for what?"

Shen Zhique said, "To catch her!"

Gu Yan snapped awake. "Catch her?" He tested the waters. "A Que, maybe you should let me handle this one."

If the Shen family's little ancestor personally showed up at the airport to catch someone, it'd be a miracle if it didn't trend on social media.

Sure, the one who'd poked the tiger was Wen Zhizhi.

But Wen Zhizhi was living under their Gu roof.

If word reached Old Master Shen that Wen Zhizhi had schemed against Shen Zhique, the Gu family wouldn't escape blame either.

The best move was for him to step in personally, drag Wen Zhizhi back to apologize to A Que.

That way they'd show the Gu family's stance without alerting the Shen family.

Shen Zhique shook his head. "Revenge feels best when you take it with your own hands!"

Gu Yan: "…"

Wen Zhizhi was doomed!

The sky over Beicheng was about to fall!

……

The Gu residence.

When the six-thirty alarm went off, Wen Zhizhi opened her eyes.

Up, washed, done in ten minutes. She grabbed her suitcase and headed out.

Standing at the top of the second-floor stairs, she looked down at the Gu siblings sitting face-to-face in the living room below. Her foot paused mid-step.

She'd assumed she was the earliest riser.

Someone had beaten her to it.

Gu Chen being up this early wasn't strange.

He was usually up around this time anyway.

Gu Chen's daily routine was terrifyingly regular.

Every morning: up at 6:50, out for a thirty-minute run, back upstairs to wash up, downstairs for a ten-minute breakfast, out the door for the office at precisely 8:10.

But Gu Ran…

From what she remembered, this was the first time Gu Ran had ever gotten up this early.

Gu Ran spotted her at the stairs first. She stood and waved. "Sister, come down and eat! I had Auntie Wu make your favorite xiaolongbao."

That crisp "Sister" made Wen Zhizhi pause.

It felt… warmer than last night. Noticeably so.

"Ah—coming," Wen Zhizhi answered, carrying her suitcase down the stairs.

Gu Ran trotted over, tilting her head up at Wen Zhizhi's bare face on the steps. A flicker of surprise crossed her eyes.

Ever since Wen Zhizhi arrived in Beicheng, she'd been obsessed with makeup.

Her face was never clean.

Heavy makeup, every single day.

She wouldn't even take it off to sleep.

Gu Ran had tactfully mentioned that heavy makeup didn't really suit her.

Wen Zhizhi wouldn't hear it—accused her of being jealous, with that nasty tone of hers.

Honestly…

Thinking about the past was enough to make her cry.

The current Wen Zhizhi was much easier on the eyes.

Gu Ran reached for the suitcase. "Sister, let me carry that."

Before Wen Zhizhi could refuse, the suitcase was already in Gu Ran's hands.

"Sister, why is this so light?" Gu Ran frowned at the near-weightless suitcase.

Wen Zhizhi said, "Just two changes of clothes."

Gu Ran assumed she was only going to the countryside for a few days and would be back. Thought nothing of it.

But Gu Chen, sitting on the sofa, watched Wen Zhizhi with something heavier in his gaze.

After coming back from the hospital last night, he'd been waiting for Gu Yan's call.

Dawn came. No call.

This morning, on his way downstairs for his run, he'd found Gu Ran in the living room.

His sister, who normally loved to sleep in, had suddenly gotten up early. When he asked why, he learned Wen Zhizhi was going back to the countryside.

Gu Chen's first reaction: impossible.

How could Wen Zhizhi—who couldn't be chased off just days ago—possibly leave on her own?

But Gu Ran spoke with absolute certainty. Said Wen Zhizhi had really changed for the better.

Wen Zhizhi, changed for the better?

Gu Chen didn't buy it.

No one improves overnight.

Unless…

She'd done something that forced her to behave—temporarily!

Something was off about the Gu household today.

Gu Ran was off!

Gu Chen was off too!

Looking at Gu Chen, seated directly across from her, Wen Zhizhi: "…"

At this hour, shouldn't Gu Chen be out on his morning run?

Why was he sitting in the dining room?

And why, of all places, directly across from her!

Awkward!

Damn awkward!

Had he found out about her drugging Gu Yan and come to interrogate her?

Wen Zhizhi's heart hammered.

"Sister, eat up!"

Gu Ran dropped a xiaolongbao into Wen Zhizhi's bowl.

She'd dreamed again last night.

Dreamed of Wen Zhizhi again.

Except this time, Wen Zhizhi was better in the dream.

She was the Wen Zhizhi from childhood again—the one who protected her, who fought for her.

Those memories, bit by bit eaten away by Wen Zhizhi, were slowly coming back…

"Thanks, little sister!" Wen Zhizhi thanked her politely.

Wen Zhizhi tried to ignore the oppressive stare from across the table, nibbling her baozi in small bites.

The baozi was good.

It'd be better without someone sitting across from her.

Following the principle of don't-move-until-the-enemy-moves, as long as Gu Chen didn't speak first, Wen Zhizhi planned to play dead to the very end.

Just when she thought she'd pull it off, Gu Chen spoke.

"Miss Wen, why did you go to the Dihao Club last night?"

Wen Zhizhi glanced at Gu Ran beside her.

Had Gu Ran not told Gu Chen the truth?

Gu Ran shook her head.

She still hadn't figured out how to bring it up.

Wen Zhizhi: "…"

Truly, awkwardness opening the door for awkwardness—awkwardness at home.

With Gu Ran, Wen Zhizhi could confess to drugging Gu Yan without a shred of guilt. With Gu Chen, the words wouldn't come out.

At the critical moment, Gu Ran rescued her again.

"Big Brother, Sister already told me everything about last night. If you want to know anything, just ask me. It's getting late—Sister needs to leave for the airport."

She shot Wen Zhizhi a look: go, now.

Wen Zhizhi threw her a grateful glance, stood, didn't even say goodbye, grabbed her suitcase, and bolted for the door.

The way she practically flew, you'd think a dog was chasing her.

Gu Ran: "…"

Gu Chen: "…"

Which of them was the dog, exactly?

Just as Wen Zhizhi was about to cross the threshold, Gu Chen's stern voice came from behind. "Ranran, come to the study with me."

Gu Ran whined, "Big Brother, I'm not full yet, let me just—"

The rest was cut off as the front door swung shut.