Chapter 22: Are You Concerned About Me?

She put the bracelet on her wrist, put the other items back in the box, and didn't dare to look at the letter inside, fearing she'd cry again if she did.

She had cried enough today and didn't want to cry anymore.

"Let's go."

Cheng Li and Liuli walked ahead, with Gu Die following behind them.

At this moment, Gu Die felt superfluous, his tall figure about to merge with the darkness.

After returning to the Gu Family home, Aunt Lin had already prepared a meal and was waiting for them.

At the dinner table, the two still hadn't exchanged a word.

In the room, he waited for her to finish bathing before he went to wash himself.

Liuli took the opportunity while he was bathing to open the letter written by her grandmother.

Her grandmother's handwriting was ugly and crooked; recalling how she used to teach her grandmother to write, seeing her grandmother wearing glasses and concentrating, she laughed.

After all these days, it was still the first time she had laughed.

Liuli, when you open this letter I may already be gone. Little Liuli, when I first met you you were only six; everyone said you were a rag I picked up, and that's true, but you are the angel I picked up. That day I was scavenging and happened to see you in the old parking lot, you had a high fever and were unconscious, so I braved the rain and took you to the hospital. When you woke up you remembered nothing, but as soon as you saw me you called me 'grandma', and I felt you were a little angel sent from heaven just for me. Grandma is poor; these years I haven't let you have a single good day, and I've even become a burden to you. This child, Cheng Li, is our benefactor; without him we probably couldn't have gotten by. Grandma knows you also want to know who your parents are, but you never asked because you didn't want to hurt me. Grandma is also rather useless—I have no trace of your parents' whereabouts. Grandma also fears someone might come looking for you, fearing you'll leave me. Grandma knows you can do fine on your own; seeing you happy one day, I fear I won't live to see it, but I will watch over you from heaven and see your happiness. The things in this box should be important to you; I feared losing them, so I kept them in the box. The only thing I can leave you is this bracelet—it's my most precious possession. Now I give it to you; I'm going to heaven to see your grandfather. I miss him……

Liuli was now sobbing uncontrollably, tears dropping one by one onto the paper; she carefully folded the letter, afraid that her tears would blur the ink and make it unreadable.

Grandfather passed away early; without Liuli's arrival, Grandma would not have been able to go on—Liuli gave her the hope to live.

After washing up, Gu Die came out and saw her state, his eyes also reddened; he didn't want to see her upset.

He sat beside her in silent companionship; she looked out the window at the stars and saw the brightest one.

"Do people become stars when they die?"

She asked.

"Yes."

He replied.

They sat like that all night; at some point she leaned on his shoulder and fell asleep, while he stayed awake the whole night, afraid to move lest he wake her.

In the morning, his sleepless night left him with panda eyes, while her dark circles were from crying.

She hadn't expected to fall asleep leaning on his shoulder all night.

She didn't go back to work at the coffee shop; the last time had already caused a scene, and going back would only invite gossip.

In the morning they ate in silence; she had been adjusting her emotions these past days, thinking that from today onward she would live earnestly.

Gu Die saw that her appetite was still decent and relaxed.

He never expected that, despite his reputation for being ruthless, cold-blooded, and icy, he would actually care so much about her feelings.

As she ate, she kept thinking about what had happened at the coffee shop.

She finally remembered that she had actually hit Gu Die in public, yet he seemed not to be angry at all?!

Gu Die was merely worried that Liuli might be angry with him; because of the phone incident he truly felt guilty, so it was already good enough if she didn't hold it against him.

At his age, being struck by someone—this was the first time even for the Gu family's eldest young master.

For her sake, laying hands on another person was also his first time.

He also didn't know why he couldn't get angry with her, unless he saw her with another guy.

"You……"

"You……"

They spoke at the same time.

"You go first."

Gu Die scratched his head.

"Does it still hurt?"

This woman—only now did she think to care about him.

"No, it doesn't hurt anymore."

"Oh."

Liuli nodded and continued eating.

"Sorry about yesterday; I've already had someone fix the phone."

Aunt Lin, listening on the side, thought it surprising to hear such words come from the young master's mouth—was he apologizing to her?!

"Thank you."

"You're not angry anymore, right?" he asked, handing her the phone.

His cold brown eyes were full of careful caution.

He couldn't understand why he was so careful with her, concerned about her emotions.

Aunt Lin felt somewhat relieved seeing this; the young master, at his age, had never treated anyone like this before—it was like coaxing a child.

It seems he has met the person of his life.

She scrolled through the photos on her phone, all memories; glad the phone was fixed, otherwise she truly wouldn't know how long her grandmother's face would linger in her memory, or whether it would grow ever more blurred.

"How could I dare to be angry with you?" she said, lifting her gaze to him, her slightly curled long hair hanging down to her waist, looking lazy; she hadn't bothered to comb her hair that morning.

"Why not?"

"Not daring is just not daring—what reason is there?"

"Isn't this you being angry?"

"I'm not."

"All right, hurry up and eat." He patted her head.

She really couldn't figure out this man before her—how he could be fine one moment and awful the next.

Clearly he had said he couldn't love her, was calling another's name and being with another woman, yet he now stroked her head with such indulgence.

She couldn't tell which one was the real him, and she didn't want to guess.

I've finished eating.

She casually took two bites and then stopped eating.

Have some soup.

I can't drink any more.

"Be good." He said, as if coaxing a child.

I said I don't want to drink.

Just a little.

He scooped soup with a spoon, blew on it, and brought it to her lips.

"I'm not a child." She shoved him away, the spoon fell to the ground and shattered.

Lín āyí hurriedly went to clean up.

He saw that she hadn't been eating properly these past few days, so he specially had Lín āyí stew some soup for her to nourish her body.

Lín āyí felt her heart ache seeing the Young Master's sincerity treated like this.

She went straight to the cloakroom without looking back.

"Lín āyí, let me do it."

"Young Master, you mustn't."

He picked up the shards and held them in his hand, his hand was pricked and bled.

"Young Master..."

Lín āyí hurried to get the medical kit.

"Lín āyí, it's not needed."

He didn't feel pain in his hand, just an unseen spot that ached.

Lín āyí knew his temper, so she didn't get it.

Soon, Liuli had changed her clothes; she was wearing sportswear because she had to go help Uncle.

She had finished changing, but Gu Die was still sitting at the dining table.

She didn't want to wait for him, so she wanted to go out, but Lín āyí couldn't help calling her back.

"Young Mistress, please go see the Young Master."

What's wrong with him again?! Liuli only felt annoyed.

But seeing Lín āyí's humble demeanor, she couldn't bring herself to refuse.

She had no choice but to go see him, and all she saw was blood dripping from his palm.

She didn't know why, but she suddenly panicked.

"Lín āyí, do you have a medical kit?"

She crouched beside him, lifted his hand, her eyes full of concern.

He lowered his head and saw her lovely face.

Lín āyí ran to fetch the medical kit; seeing Gu Die say nothing, she finally relaxed.

She said nothing, applied medicine to him, and simply bandaged it.

Her movements were very careful, afraid to touch his wound.

"How can you be so careless?" She lifted her eyes to him, her light-black eyes filled with worry for him, "Does it still hurt?"

Was she showing concern for him?!

Liuli couldn't understand why she still worried about him!

Seeing he didn't respond, she felt a bit embarrassed and wanted to leave.

But a pair of strong hands grabbed her; in full view, he carried her upstairs.

As soon as the door closed, he began to kiss her.

She didn't push him away; she liked his kiss.

Does it still hurt here?

She glanced at the corner of his mouth and asked softly.

The corner of his mouth was still a bit red and swollen, from his fight with Ze Yan last night.

Are you concerned about me?

He gently bit her lip.

No……

Really not?

I still have things to do, I need to go out first.

She flusteredly pushed him away and ran out the door.

If she stayed another second, she'd be seen through by him.

Seeing her rabbit-like appearance, the corner of his mouth couldn't help but lift.

Then, as if remembering something important, he took out his phone and dialed a number.

"You busy person, why did you suddenly think to call me?"

On the other end of the line was a sweet, clear female voice.

"I have something; I'd like to ask you for a favor."

"What favor?"

"I want you to come back to the country for a trip."

Since you've already spoken up, I'll head back! But you can't just brush it off by saying you miss me?

The girl flicked her long golden curls, dissatisfied, she said, but what came back was the sound of the phone hanging up.

"This person really is!!" The girl angrily threw her phone to one side.

"Book a return ticket home."

The girl said to the assistant beside her.

Liuli left the Gu Family and then took a taxi herself to Uncle's shop.

"Liuli, how did you come?" Uncle, seeing Liuli arrive, was also very curious.

Also worried, not knowing if she had gotten over the feeling of losing her relatives.

"Uncle, I've come to help you."

Looking at her spirit, she wasn't that sad anymore, but her dark circles were as heavy as a panda's.

"I don't need help, Liuli, you haven't rested, have you? Your dark circles are so heavy, quickly sit down and rest!"

Uncle brought over a stool for her.

"Uncle, from today onward I'll come every day to help you, but you have to provide my meals!"

She pulled Uncle to sit in front of the stool.

"If you don't help me, I'll still provide your meals every day, as long as you come!"

"That's settled then; if I do a poor job, you're not allowed to chase me away!"

"Good, I'd actually love for you to come every day to keep me company! Just come over to play, I won't let you do anything—I'll even make you something tasty!"

Liuli had things to do in her eyes; in a moment she started busying herself, and Uncle couldn't hold her back even if he tried.