Chapter Thirty-Five: Concerning

When Yusheng and the others returned home, Wei Yabai had already arrived.

“What were you two up to? Out playing so late?” Wei Yabai muttered as she swept the floor. “Your father came home today, and if I hadn’t tidied up, he would have had words with me. He said he’d help me clean since he was off today, but in the end, he didn’t do a thing and disappeared somewhere!” She continued to grumble as she tidied up.

Yusheng and Yuchen didn’t say a word after entering the house. After greeting Wei Yabai, each retreated to their own room.

Yusheng lay down on her bed as soon as she got to her room, while Yuchen was still reeling from the shocking news he had just received.

Yusheng had just told him that the person taken away in the ambulance was Brother Gu Yan!

But as Yuchen collected his thoughts and considered Yusheng’s string of odd behaviors, he too began to believe her.

Shen Henyun messaged him to ask what was going on, but Yuchen didn’t confide in him.

Yuchen replied, “It’s nothing, just something to do with my dad.”

Shen Henyun wrote back, “Alright then, I won’t meddle in your family affairs. Get some rest—goodnight!”

After replying goodnight to Shen Henyun, Yuchen sat in silence in his unlit room, staring blankly at the ceiling.

Yusheng hadn’t turned on the light either; she simply lay quietly on her bed, waiting for Yudong to return and tell her what had happened.

When Gu Yan was brought to the hospital, he was already unconscious. Yudong had followed the ambulance and was now waiting anxiously outside the operating room.

Yang Mu and the colleagues from the tech department still hadn’t contacted him, making Yudong increasingly anxious. If they failed to catch the perpetrator this time, it would be a total loss.

Yang Mu, on his end, was desperately watching everyone in the office, his eyes feeling dry from staring so intently, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Everyone went about their business as usual. In fact, it felt as if idle Yang Mu himself looked more suspicious than anyone else.

Unable to hold back any longer, Yang Mu called Yudong.

“Any movement?” Yudong asked impatiently the moment he answered.

Yang Mu hesitated, embarrassed. “Um, boss, nothing yet.”

“...If there’s nothing, then why are you calling me? Do you realize how serious things are right now?”

Yang Mu gulped. “Boss, I’ve hardly blinked, my eyes are practically dried out from staring, but no one is acting strange.”

Yudong sighed. “Any leads from the tech department?”

Yang Mu shook his head. “Nothing yet. Maybe they’re still looking. Whoever leaked the information must be deeply hidden, so it’s going to be tough.”

Yudong nodded. “Alright, keep watching. I’ll have those two come back to help you.”

Yang Mu was only too eager to agree and nodded quickly. He’d been longing for a bathroom break—the pressure on his bladder was unbearable, but he hadn’t dared to leave his post. “Yes, yes, boss, send them back soon so I can at least take a bathroom break.”

Yudong almost wanted to whack him. “Alright, I’m hanging up now!”

After ending the call, Yudong sent the two officers who’d been busy back to help Yang Mu, leaving himself and a few colleagues from the sub-bureau to wait outside the operating room.

Yang Mu, after hanging up, glanced at his bustling colleagues and sighed.

Yudong waited outside the operating room for over an hour before the light above the door finally went out.

“How is he, doctor? Is the boy alright?” Yudong rushed forward the moment the doctor emerged.

The doctor took off his mask unhurriedly. “Fortunately, he was brought in on time. He’s not in any immediate danger, but we’ll need to keep him under observation.”

Yudong let out a breath and nodded, just as Gu Yan was wheeled out.

“He probably won’t wake up until tomorrow. You should keep an eye on him and monitor his condition,” the doctor advised.

Yudong nodded, thanked the doctor, and followed them to the ward.

Remembering that Yusheng and Yuchen might be waiting for news at home, he hurriedly called Yusheng.

“Hello, Shengsheng, are you asleep?”

“No, Dad, I’m not. How is Gu Yan?” Yusheng was wide awake—how could she sleep with Gu Yan still in the operating room?

“He’s alright. But I probably won’t be home tonight—I need to look after him. Tell your mother, but don’t mention that Gu Yan is in the hospital. Just say he’s home now so she doesn’t worry.”

Hearing that Gu Yan was safe, Yusheng finally relaxed. “Alright, Dad. Do you need me to come over?”

Yudong shook his head. “It’s late. Get some sleep. You can visit him tomorrow.”

Yusheng agreed, and after hanging up, sent Yuchen a message letting him know Gu Yan was safe. Then she relayed her father’s words to Wei Yabai and went to bed.

She hoped tomorrow would come quickly so she could see Gu Yan. It had only been a day since she’d seen him, but it felt as though several days had passed—so long, as if she couldn’t wait any longer to see him.

The next day, Gu Yan didn’t come to school. Several classmates went to ask the homeroom teacher, and during math class, the class representative informed everyone that Gu Yan had taken leave for family reasons and told the students not to ask further, but to focus on their studies.

Lin Ning listened to the explanation, unconvinced, and poked Yusheng. “So what happened to Gu Yan, really?”

The class teacher must have been tipped off by Yudong, Yusheng thought.

Yusheng shook her head. “I don’t know. Probably just something at home. I’m not sure about his family matters.”

Since Yudong didn’t want the classmates to know, Yusheng felt she couldn’t tell Lin Ning either, especially as she didn’t know the full story herself—only that he was in the hospital now.

Lin Ning pouted regretfully. “Alright, if you don’t know, never mind.”

Yusheng smiled. “I’m not him—of course I don’t know.”

Lin Ning grinned. “But don’t you two live close by? And aren’t you on good terms?”

Yusheng paused in surprise—was that how everyone saw them?

“No, it’s just that we live nearby, that’s all.”

Lin Ning looked at Yusheng with a mock-disappointed expression. “You know, you’re great at everything except this—you’re a bit slow on the uptake.”

“In what way?” Yusheng asked, puzzled.

“In that way! Can’t you tell Gu Yan likes you? Even I can see it.”

Lin Ning had noticed? Yusheng was shocked.

“Don’t look at me like that. I bet half the class can see it.”

Yusheng really hadn’t expected that—she thought they’d hidden it well.

“But I can’t believe Gu Yan is such a coward—he hasn’t even confessed yet?” Lin Ning muttered.

Yusheng forced a laugh. What would Lin Ning think if she knew she’d already rejected Gu Yan?

“This Gu Yan…,” Lin Ning began again, but Yusheng quietly interrupted her. “Actually, he has confessed to me, but I turned him down.”

Yusheng’s words struck Lin Ning like a thunderclap. Her eyes went wide. “No way, why? Don’t you like him?”

Did she like him? Before, Yusheng might have answered that she didn’t know. But after everything that had happened, she realized she cared for Gu Yan more than she’d imagined.

“I turned him down before, because I thought he was too good—I felt I wasn’t good enough for him.”

Lin Ning looked incredulous. “No way, girl, that’s not like you at all.”

Yusheng thought about it. It was true—before she met Gu Yan, she just followed the path of life, going through each day as it came. But after meeting him, he became like a force pulling her forward, motivating her to become better, to one day stand proudly by his side, unafraid of gossip, with everyone approving of them.

“Maybe so. I used to doubt whether Gu Yan really liked me,” she admitted.

Lin Ning, looking profound, stroked her chin. “You know, I feel like writing an essay about you. Do you know what I’d call it?”

Yusheng shook her head. “What?”

“‘On Being a Tomboy on the Outside but Deeply Insecure on the Inside, So Afraid of Liking Anyone and Unwilling to Believe Anyone Likes Me.’”

“It’s not that bad. I do dare to like someone—just secretly, I suppose.”

But as she thought about it, Yusheng realized Lin Ning had a point. When faced with Gu Yan’s affection, she had been insecure.

Why did Gu Yan like her, anyway? She didn’t have any remarkable qualities, and they hadn’t even known each other that long. Why was he so persistent about her?

At noon, Yudong finally came home. He called Wei Yabai into the bedroom, closed the door, and told her something—though Yusheng could guess what it was, as Wei Yabai came out with red-rimmed eyes.

The atmosphere at lunch was heavy. Yusheng wanted to ask about Gu Yan, but Yudong’s furrowed brow made her hesitate.

After the meal, Yudong finally spoke.

“You already know—Gu Yan is in the hospital. I stayed with him last night. The doctor says his condition is stable now and he can be moved to a regular ward.”

“So, Dad, was Gu Yan really kidnapped?” Yuchen asked.

Yudong nodded gravely. “It was my fault—I was too careless.”

“Gu Yan mentioned before that someone had been following him, but he said he’d be fine,” Yusheng added.

Hearing this, Yudong’s expression darkened. “Someone was following him? Why didn’t I know? Why didn’t you tell me?”

Yusheng hadn’t expected such a reaction. “Gu Yan said you already knew, that it was a secret operation between you two, wasn’t it?”

That boy—what was he thinking, trying to handle this on his own? Why didn’t he trust the adults?

Yudong sighed, and Wei Yabai patted his shoulder. “Have you contacted Gu Yan’s parents?”

Yudong nodded. “I got in touch with them this morning. I’ve let them know he’s safe, but they can’t make it here right away.”

“I’ll go take care of him from now on,” said Wei Yabai.

Yudong nodded. “We’ll take turns. I don’t want you to get too tired.”

“We can help too!” Yusheng said. “I want to visit him this afternoon. Is he safe alone there?”

“The people who kidnapped Gu Yan haven’t been caught yet, so we have plainclothes officers posted at the ward. You don’t need to worry about his safety. As for Gu Yan, he still needs rest, so don’t disturb him for now.”

Gu Yan had just woken up and was still very weak, so Yudong didn’t want him to get too emotional. If the two of them went, it would be too noisy.

Yusheng pouted. Hmph, as if she’d listen—if they wouldn’t tell her the ward number, she’d just find it herself!

Yuchen caught her expression and understood immediately. He nudged her with his elbow, indicating he was in too.

Yusheng rolled her eyes and mouthed, “No—you’re too noisy and will disturb Gu Yan’s rest.”

Yuchen’s mouth twitched. As if you’re not noisy—why am I the only one being blamed? Fine, you go by yourself today. I bet Gu Yan only wants to see you anyway. If I go, I’ll just be a third wheel. I’ll go hang out with Shen Henyun instead, he thought.