Chapter 21: Xia Yangyang and Gu Qichen
After getting out of the car, Xia Yangyang ran to a nearby bus stop, where she burst into tears. Overwhelmed by a sense of injustice, despite nothing actually happening, she felt lost and didn't want to go home. Gu Qichen's suspicious gaze had wounded her deeply. She couldn't face Xia Weiwei's mockery in her current vulnerable state.
She scrolled through her phone and called Wen Xiaochu, who arrived twenty minutes later. They left together. Unseen, a black Maybach was parked nearby. Inside, Gu Qichen sat with a gloomy expression, intermittently lighting and extinguishing his cigarette, the car filling with the heavy smell of tobacco. Although he disliked the scent, it seemed to soothe him.
He regretted hurting her. He knew she was innocent and should have protected her, especially now. His rational mind told him this. Yet, the image of Xia Yangyang with Gu Zhaohan tormented him, a searing pain constricting his heart. He had overheard their conversation; Xiaohan had never shared such things with his family before, revealing a depth of burden and conflict Gu Qichen hadn't realized.
What troubled Gu Qichen most was that Xia Yangyang was the first person he'd ever truly opened up to. He understood the seriousness of the situation; Gu Zhaohan, much like himself, was intensely emotional and possessive. Xia Yangyang's attempts to defend herself, insisting "the innocent have nothing to fear," only fueled his frustration. He felt foolish; couldn't she sense his turmoil? His distrust wasn't directed at Xia Yangyang, but at himself.
He knew Gu Zhaohan well; outwardly cold, but warm-hearted. They shared similar backgrounds and interests. With Gu Qichen, Xia Yangyang was reserved; with Gu Zhaohan, she was playful and relaxed. This contrast made Gu Qichen acutely aware of his jealousy for the first time. It consumed him.
Xia Yangyang rode with Wen Xiaochu, distracted, until they arrived at Maple Villa. Wen Xiaochu exited the car, prompting Xia Yangyang to ask, "Why are we here? I didn't want to go home, that's why I asked you for help." Xia Yangyang then remembered Wen Xiaochu's cramped dorm room and regretted her choice. Wen Xiaochu replied, "Don't worry, you don't have to go home. I've moved out this semester; I live here."