Chapter 42: A Bitter Smile and a Sudden Encounter

“Ah… this…”

This sudden, incisive question instantly pierced Gu Xue’s heart. Her old friend was gone. After a long moment, she could only manage an awkward, bitter smile, then hastily explained:

“He… he’s quite busy.”

“What? How could that be? Didn’t that boy Ruoyu used to drop everything, no matter how much work he had, the moment you, Miss Gu, called for him, just to rush to your side and take care of you? What’s gotten into him now? Oh dear… look, Xiao Xue, your face is so haggard… If he saw you like this, he’d be heartbroken!”

Her friend continued to chatter cheerfully, but Gu Xue was no longer in the mood to listen. She suddenly shook her head, then, unable to control her emotions, burst out:

“No… don’t say anymore! If this continues, Ruoyu will only find me troublesome, he’ll only resent me! I…”

Mid-wail, Gu Xue suddenly snapped back to reality. Her friends beside her were all staring at her with shocked expressions. Gu Xue’s face slowly paled.

After a long moment, she guiltily shook her head, then utterly dejected, murmured:

“I… I’m sorry, I lost my composure.”

“Xiao Xue, what on earth is going on with you? Did you… did you argue with Zhou Ruoyu?”

Her friend finally sensed that something was amiss and awkwardly ventured the question. Gu Xue could only force a bitter smile, then gently shook her head, stubbornly maintaining:

“No… just a small matter…”

A small matter… yes, that’s right, just a small matter.

It was merely someone meddling; once it was cleared up, everything would be fine. As long as she talked things through with Ruoyu, he would return to her side and take care of her again.

Yes, that’s right, Ruoyu hadn’t left, he hadn’t…

Despite this, for a brief moment, Gu Xue still felt a profound sense of loneliness, as if she were utterly alone. Even though her hospital room held several people, Gu Xue knew very well that they were merely friends making a perfunctory visit.

Not a single one among them would truly stay with her until she recovered.

Would no one ever again stay by her side day and night when she was ill? Would no one ever again be willing to coax her, play with her, and endure her various little tantrums when she was weak?

No… please, no. She… she didn’t want that. Why… why wasn’t Ruoyu here? Why…

*Sob…*

After a long while, sensing that the atmosphere in the room had grown rather strange, Gu Xue’s friends began to murmur amongst themselves. They dared not ask any more about Gu Xue and Zhou Ruoyu, only vaguely perceiving that something was seriously wrong.

Talking about sharing a meal was out of the question.

Finally, her friends set down their gifts, then rose to bid farewell. After urging Gu Xue to take good care of herself, they left the hospital room together. Gu Xue kept her head bowed, not even saying goodbye to them.

Long after they had gone, a few tears fell onto the hospital bedsheets.

*Take good care of yourself…*

Yes, now, she could only take care of herself, couldn’t she?

****

*Hiss—*

After overhearing the conversation in the hospital room, Zhou Ruoyu’s mood… was naturally excellent!

Pfft, hahaha! It seemed his reputation among Gu Xue’s girlfriends wasn’t so bad after all! His ex-girlfriend used to pester him with tales of what her friends said about him, but now… he hadn’t seen them scolding him alongside Gu Xue, had he?

Tsk, tsk. Ha! What a massive relief!

Zhou Ruoyu couldn’t help but shake his head. Feeling refreshed, he estimated that the spot for a fever shot was probably free by now, and prepared to make his escape.

However, just as the young man was about to take a step, a figure suddenly appeared in the corridor not far away, making Zhou Ruoyu instantly halt. He then couldn’t help but gasp.

Gu… Gu Jiachen?!

Upon seeing his archenemy, President Gu, Zhou Ruoyu was immediately flustered. Ever since being teased by him at home yesterday, the young man was genuinely a little afraid of this guy now.

The main thing was, the black-haired loli had truly not expected to run into him again in such a place. This wouldn’t do! He had thought his next ordeal would be at least next week; why were they meeting again so soon?

Ugh, he couldn’t take it, he really hadn’t recovered! Dealing with his archenemy, the president, for two consecutive days was too much to ask. At least let him recuperate for a couple of days. Being ‘trained’ by a perverted president every day would be terrifying!

No, no, he had to hide again, quickly!

Thinking this, the black-haired loli immediately crouched back into the corner where he had been hiding. He cautiously peeked out his head, nervously observing Gu Jiachen’s movements. After watching for a short while, as Gu Jiachen drew closer, another possibility suddenly surfaced in the young man’s mind…

*Hiss—*

Wait a minute, this guy… why was this guy at the hospital?

Could it be… could it be that…

The perverted president wasn’t here for him, was he? Did he… did he track and follow him?

*Hiss—*

The young man’s vivid imagination made him gasp a second time right there and then. No, this… this was taking things too far!

Ugh, no, Big Brother Gu, if you’re going to keep me, then keep me. If you’re going to train me, then train me. If it comes down to it, I won’t resist, okay? Just don’t make it so terrifying, ugh~

As his archenemy drew closer, the oppressive presence akin to a horror movie boss, the black-haired loli was so scared he didn’t dare breathe. But what was the point? The trembling young man felt as though he could already see his fate: his archenemy would immediately snatch him from the corner, then grope him all over, and he’d end up in the hospital’s obstetrics and gynecology department, and then…

*Ugh…*

*Eh?*

Just as the black-haired loli was imagining himself tearfully getting an abortion, absolutely refusing to leave behind such an ill-fated seed—but then suddenly realized this script didn’t quite fit his manly style and began to fantasize about biting off something rather than yield to death—Gu Jiachen, whom he had thought was coming for him, suddenly stopped not far away. Then, the president, dressed in a suit, adjusted his tie and slowly walked into a hospital room.

Zhou Ruoyu, realizing he hadn’t been caught, was utterly bewildered. Discovering that things weren’t playing out as he’d imagined, he fell into confusion.

What was going on… was that guy here to… see a doctor? Did he get the flu too? Or was he here to… visit a patient…

*Eh, no, wait a minute!*

After a moment, Zhou Ruoyu suddenly realized, and his eyes widened.

That hospital room… wasn’t that Gu Xue’s room?!

Yes, that was right. Those girls earlier had also gone there. This… then could this Gu Jiachen fellow, could he be here to…

Visit Gu Xue?!