It was just a simple statement, but after saying it, Shen Yihan's palms broke out in a fine layer of sweat.
On one hand, he didn’t want to spread rumors about his sister. She was only eighteen—living with a man wouldn’t sound good if word got out.
On the other hand, he didn’t want to spread rumors about Xie Guanyan either.
He was such a dignified, gentle, and courteous man.
But right now, this was the only thing he could say, hoping it would make Gu Jingchuan back off and never disturb his sister again.
However, Gu Jingchuan on the other end of the call didn’t believe a word of it.
"Impossible! Your sister would never like Xie Guanyan—she only likes me!"
Though it was the truth, Shen Yihan found it incredibly irritating.
He replied coldly, "If you don’t have a mirror at home, at least you’ve got piss, right?"
Gu Jingchuan: "…"
Beep—beep—beep—
The call was abruptly hung up again.
The veins on Gu Jingchuan’s neck bulged as he took one last deep drag of his cigarette before throwing it to the ground and crushing it under his heel.
He refused to believe Shen Yihan’s nonsense.
Shen Yihan had always harbored deep hostility toward him. He even suspected that Shen Yihan had pursued Li Huanyu just to spite him.
The evening breeze was cool against Gu Jingchuan’s face as he ran a hand through his hair, pushing it back.
Countless questions swirled in his mind.
How had Lin Mo suddenly appeared out of nowhere?
Before seeing her in the video, he had speculated that she might not have died in the first place—that Xie Guanyan, that freak, had saved her.
Then secretly kept her imprisoned somewhere all these years, only recently allowing her to move freely.
But that theory fell apart the moment he saw Lin Mo’s appearance.
She was too young.
Eleven whole years had passed, yet time had left no trace on her face.
Even if she had been locked away with no contact with the outside world, growing eleven years older would inevitably leave some mark.
Especially her eyes—they were exactly the same as back then.
Luminous, pure, sparkling with life.
These weren’t the eyes of a woman nearing thirty.
They were unmistakably the eyes of an eighteen-year-old girl!
Another thing—eleven years ago, Xie Guanyan had been nothing but a broke student.
With nothing to his name, how could he have saved Lin Mo, let alone supported her all these years?
And if Lin Mo’s mind was still intact, someone as proud as her would never willingly submit to imprisonment.
How could Xie Guanyan dare to reveal his twisted, dark side so openly in front of her?
Given all this, he strongly suspected that Lin Mo’s real age right now was eighteen!
He had once starred in a movie about a man who time-traveled after a car accident, arriving in the future where his family was shocked to see him unchanged.
In that state, he pursued and married his long-lost dream lover.
So, one possibility was that Lin Mo had time-traveled from the car crash eleven years ago!
The thought made Gu Jingchuan’s heart race.
He pulled out another cigarette from his pocket, lit it, and took a deep drag.
If that were the case, there was no way Lin Mo could like Xie Guanyan.
In her memory, she and Gu Jingchuan were still a couple.
That would also explain why she was so reluctant to acknowledge him now.
She was only eighteen—still emotional, still needing to be coaxed.
Standing in the evening wind, his hairline slightly exposed, Gu Jingchuan flicked the ash off his cigarette with a single finger.
No matter what, he had to meet Lin Mo face to face!
Ding!
Just as Xie Guanyan stepped through the villa’s front door, his phone buzzed with a message.
[Boss, should we continue protecting Miss Lin tomorrow?]
He had been trying hard not to pry into what might happen between her and Gu Jingchuan.
Xie Guanyan had withdrawn the bodyguards who had been shadowing Lin Mo in secret.
But it left him unbearably restless—he couldn’t focus on anything.
He wanted complete control over her every move, to ensure her safety at all times.
Having gotten her back after losing her once, he couldn’t bear the thought of anything happening to her again.
He had seen the footage of that car crash.
If a heavy-duty vehicle had been there to block her car, she might not have plunged into the river.
His gaze lifted to the slender figure of the girl ascending the stairs.
Xie Guanyan adjusted his glasses with one hand, his fingertips whitening as they gripped the phone.
Should he keep protecting her or not?
Should he know the details of her meeting with Gu Jingchuan?
"Lin Mo, do you want supper tonight?"
Xie Guanyan spoke with some difficulty, his deep voice carrying a hint of caution.
He didn’t know when she and Gu Jingchuan had eaten dinner, so he wasn’t sure if she was still hungry.
The girl paused mid-step, turning back with sparkling peach-blossom eyes. "Yes, yes, yes!"
She’d had a mediocre bowl of Suzhou-style noodles for dinner and hadn’t eaten since—she was starving!
A faint smile warmed Xie Guanyan’s obsidian-dark eyes. "Spicy noodles? Malatang? Fried rice?"
At least she still needed him.
Lin Mo tapped her chin thoughtfully. "Malatang, extra spicy and extra numbing!"
Xie Guanyan tightened his grip on the phone. "Alright, go shower first."
He didn’t like the smell of smoke either.
Especially Gu Jingchuan’s smoke!
His long legs carried him into the kitchen, the bamboo-patterned gold bracelet on his wrist glinting faintly under the light.
The strikingly handsome man lowered his gaze, thinking for a few seconds before typing a reply.
[Continue protection.]
He would restrain himself from asking for details—just keep her safe from a distance.
The smell of smoke really was unpleasant, which was why Lin Mo had wanted to shower the moment she got home.
After her shower, she slipped into a yellow cartoon-patterned pajama set, her hair still damp, and hurried downstairs.
"Mr. Xie, is the takeout here yet?"
She asked the moment she reached the bottom step.
But then she heard movement from the kitchen.
Lin Mo’s peach-blossom eyes widened in surprise as she peeked inside. "Mr. Xie, no way—you can make malatang too?"
What billionaire CEO made his own malatang at home?
She had assumed he’d order delivery!
Xie Guanyan turned to look at her. The girl stood there, her hair half-dry and cascading over her shoulders, looking utterly adorable.
His Adam’s apple bobbed slightly as he replied in a soft voice, "It’s not hard. There are tutorials online."
Lin Mo blinked, genuinely impressed. "You really are a genius—you can learn anything in a snap! Your future wife is gonna get spoiled and chubby!"
Xie Guanyan gave her a once-over, smiling faintly. "You haven’t gained any weight."
The girl was slender, with not an ounce of excess fat, no matter how much he fed her morning and night.
The topic suddenly circled back to her, and Lin Mo’s eyes flickered for a second.
Then she arched a brow. "I’ve only been living with you for a few days. Your wife will be with you for a lifetime."
"Then stay with me longer and see for yourself."
Xie Guanyan replied smoothly, his gaze shifting back to the pot.
Inside, the broth bubbled fiercely, the rich aroma of spices filling the kitchen.
Cabbage, instant noodles, potatoes, and assorted meatballs simmered together.
Lin Mo pouted. "Xie Guanyan, are you using me as a guinea pig?"
Xie Guanyan: "…"
The malatang was served at the dining table, with Lin Mo stirring in a generous spoonful of sesame paste, making the broth thick and creamy.
Lin Mo took a bite, then looked at Xie Guanyan, making a phone gesture with one hand. "Hello, Mr. Xie, I’m a staff member from the livestock farm. According to our delivery personnel, your phone seems to be unreachable. It’s nothing urgent, really—I just came to personally inform you: Your bull has arrived!"
Xie Guanyan laughed, the tea-colored mole on the tip of his nose quivering slightly, vivid and charming.
His voice was warm and pleasant, almost coaxing in tone.
"That’s hardly anything special, Lin Mo. You shouldn’t set your standards so low."
