I hadn’t crossed paths with Xie Guanyan much since growing up.
But even with just a fleeting glimpse of his back, Gu Jingchuan recognized him instantly!
The man was dressed in a pristine white suit, looking every bit the picture of elegance.
But to Gu Jingchuan, no matter how well he disguised himself as some pure, untouchable figure, his insides were nothing but filth!
Here he was again, looking for Lin Mo—like a stubborn piece of gum that just wouldn’t come off!
There was no way Lin Mo could ever like him. No way!
The door to the neighboring hospital room clicked shut carelessly.
Gu Jingchuan strode forward, about to push the door open himself, when a hand suddenly seized his wrist.
He turned and saw a lanky teenager with a backpack, his long bangs covering his eyes but failing to hide the cold glint in them.
Gu Jingchuan frowned but forced a smile. "Xiao An, you’re back from school?"
Shen Ji’an didn’t let go of his hand, his voice icy. "I told you to stay away from my sister!"
Sometimes, Gu Jingchuan truly couldn’t understand what he’d done to earn the dislike of Lin Mo’s three brothers.
None of them approved of him.
What more could they want? He was a household-name celebrity—shouldn’t they be thrilled to have him as their brother-in-law?
Despite his irritation, Gu Jingchuan kept his temper in check. "There’s just a misunderstanding between me and your sister. You wouldn’t understand, kid."
As he spoke, his eyes flicked toward the small window in the door, peering inside.
"Have a seat for now. My youngest brother hasn’t gotten back from school yet. We’ll leave once he’s here," Lin Mo said, taking the nutritional supplements from Xie Guanyan with a bright smile.
She hadn’t expected Xie Guanyan to arrive so early—before seven o’clock.
Nor had she anticipated him bringing gifts. He really was a man of impeccable manners.
Xie Guanyan nodded, offering a gentle smile to the middle-aged woman on the hospital bed. "Hello, Auntie. I’m a friend of Lin Mo’s."
Auntie Zhen’s eyes lit up. "You’re so handsome!"
Lin Mo blinked.
She had to admit, Xie Guanyan’s looks were beyond reproach.
Anyone who saw him would marvel at how someone could be so flawlessly attractive.
And that tea-colored mole on the tip of his nose? The cherry on top.
Xie Guanyan’s eyes crinkled with amusement. "Thank you. You’re quite beautiful yourself, Auntie."
Suddenly, a chill ran down his neck, as if someone was staring daggers into his back.
The caretaker, noticing the guest, brought over a plate of cut fruit.
"Come, sit down and have some."
Xie Guanyan walked toward the sofa, subtly glancing at the door from the corner of his eye.
Through the small window, Gu Jingchuan’s furious gaze burned into the room.
Xie Guanyan’s brow twitched, a flash of disgust crossing his eyes.
He’d already chosen someone else—so why was he still lurking around, watching Lin Mo?
Did he think he could have both?
Lin Mo, oblivious to the tension outside—the door’s soundproofing was excellent—picked up a piece of watermelon with a fork.
Her thoughts drifted to Xie Guanyan’s hand.
She glanced at him as he settled onto the sofa, then set down her fork and reached for his right hand.
Xie Guanyan stiffened instantly, his gaze dropping to her face, his lashes fluttering faintly.
She was holding his hand again!
She must have seen Gu Jingchuan outside.
Was she using him to get back at Gu Jingchuan?
It didn’t matter. He was willing to be used.
The warmth and softness of her touch sent his pulse racing, but he forced his breathing to stay even, his expression neutral.
"Has your hand healed?" Lin Mo asked, pulling his hand closer for inspection.
His fingers were long and elegant, his knuckles defined, nails neatly trimmed and faintly pink.
A very… useful kind of hand.
The moment that thought crossed her mind, Lin Mo nearly facepalmed.
Go home, child. How did your brain even go there?!
Okay, fine. She’d admit it—back in high school, when the pressure got too much, she’d read some… spicy novels to unwind.
It was her secret stress-relief method. Not something she’d ever confess to anyone!
"It’s fine now," came Xie Guanyan’s smooth, pleasant voice from above her.
And it was true.
No bandages, just two tiny scars where the scabs had fallen off.
From a distance, they were invisible, but up close, they stood out—like tiny ink stains on a masterpiece.
Lin Mo felt a pang of guilt. "It’s a shame they scarred. I got my brother some special scar cream—want me to bring you a tube?"
She remembered him saying in the car that day that he was particular about his appearance.
"Sure. Thank you."
Every breath carried the sweet scent of her perfume, and Xie Guanyan was using every ounce of self-control to keep his voice steady.
He’d almost forgotten about the eyes boring into them from the doorway.
Outside, Gu Jingchuan’s fury was practically tangible.
He couldn’t hear what was being said, but the scene before him was enough.
Oh, so that’s how Lin Mo wants to play?
He held Li Huanyu’s hand, so she held Xie Guanyan’s?
For a creep like Xie Guanyan, that was basically a reward.
Even from here, Gu Jingchuan could see how rigid his posture was, his free hand trembling slightly, unsure where to rest.
With a rough jerk, Gu Jingchuan yanked his arm free from Shen Ji’an’s grip and shoved the boy aside, lunging for the door again.
But before he could touch the handle, a fist suddenly came flying at his face.
"Misunderstanding my ass!" Shen Ji’an snarled.
He’d seen what was happening inside too.
He wasn’t happy about his sister holding some guy’s hand, but he had orders from his second brother to follow.
The punch left Gu Jingchuan’s head spinning, his vision blurring.
The pain was so sharp he nearly cried out—but then another hand clamped over his mouth.
Gu Jingchuan’s eyes widened as he turned to see a guy with bleached hair grinning at him.
What the—who the hell is this?!
The blond bared his teeth. "What’re you lookin’ at? You’re done!"
Together, the two teenagers dragged Gu Jingchuan into the stairwell.
Though Gu Jingchuan was an adult, the raw strength of two teenage boys—especially ones who’d grown up scrapping in the slums and brawling at school—was nothing to scoff at.
Meanwhile, Gu Jingchuan’s smoking and drinking habits had left him… less than fit.
In the dim stairwell, Shen Ji’an proceeded to beat the living daylights out of him.
Gu Jingchuan, unable to fight back, spat through gritted teeth, "You’re dead. I’ll call the police—you’ll go to jail!"
"Good luck proving it was me," Shen Ji’an retorted before delivering another punch to his jaw, his bangs flying.
Gu Jingchuan bit his tongue, the pain nearly making him pass out.
The blond shot him a pitying look.
His boss never left evidence. The stairwell camera? Already blocked by a balloon.
Picking a fight with Shen Ji’an was like kicking a landmine—you were done.
"My sister already has a new boyfriend. You saw it yourself—they’re serious. Stay the hell away from her," Shen Ji’an said coldly.
Another order from his second brother.
Was she really dating someone new?
The thought made him sulk.
Gu Jingchuan, still reeling from the pain, saw his chance and swung back.
Shen Ji'an turned his head to avoid the blow, but the corner of his mouth still took a hit, the metallic taste of blood spreading across his tongue.
He wiped the blood from his lips with his thumb, his sharp gaze glaring at Gu Jingchuan from beneath his long bangs. "Remember what I said!"
With that, he strode out of the stairwell.
The blond-haired kid trailing behind him was stunned. "Boss, he hit you and you didn't fight back?"
In the past, their boss would've beaten someone like that into submission!
Shen Ji'an pulled a bottle of water from his backpack and rinsed his mouth. "Let it go."
If he kept fighting, things would escalate, and his sister would end up cleaning up the mess again.
He wasn't in the slums anymore—he had to rein himself in.
Pulling out his phone, he sent a WeChat message to his second brother, Shen Yihan.
[Second Brother, mission accomplished.]
Seeing the message, a rare smile flickered across Shen Yihan's usually cold face. [How'd you manage it?]
The task he'd given his younger brother was simple: make sure Gu Jingchuan never got a chance to speak to their sister.
Shen Ji'an: [I beat him so badly he couldn't talk.]
Shen Yihan: [?]
