Chapter 158: Su Jin × Gu Chen Taking Care of Him

Su Jin practically fled in a panic, and even the blind date that followed was done with a distracted mind, finished in a hasty manner.

Mother Su called several times to ask about the blind date, and she brushed them off with "not a match" or "no spark." When the other party sighed on the other end of the line, she could only pretend not to hear.

"Your Aunt Wang said that young man had a very good impression of you; why wasn't it a match?"

"It just wasn't a match."

"Then what kind do you actually like?"

Su Jin was silent for a moment, feeling that if she didn't have an explanation, she wouldn't be able to get past this, so she simply threw caution to the wind and began to list her requirements in detail.

"High school at Jingda High School, university at Jingda, studied science—physics or computer science are both fine. Height over 1.85 meters, decent appearance."

Mother Su was silent for a moment: "Anything else?"

Su Jin continued without changing her expression: "It would be best if he had also won a gold medal in the National Physics Olympiad."

Mother Su was silent for another moment; these requirements sounded strange no matter how she heard them. But if you reversed the gender, aside from the height, didn't her own daughter perfectly fit these requirements?

Thinking about it this way, she felt that her proposing these things actually seemed quite reasonable.

But where was she supposed to find such an excellent blind date candidate for her?

Mother Su chose to escape: "Your father is calling me, Mom is hanging up first."

Looking at the suddenly disconnected call, Su Jin didn't know whether to laugh or cry. But it was fine; at least she could have some peace for a while.

She turned her attention back to the draft; she had already revised the interview draft three times and was currently doing the final proofreading.

An hour later, she sent the file to the email address of Gu Chen's assistant and let out a long sigh of relief.

She only needed to wait for the other party to confirm, and she probably wouldn't have any more opportunities to deal with Gu Chen.

She sighed, unable to tell if she felt happy or regretful.

However, the actual situation did not develop as she had anticipated. Half an hour later, the assistant replied to the message.

【Reporter Su, President Gu says there are a few places that need to be confirmed in person.】

【Are you free to come over now?】

Confirmed in person?

Su Jin stared at the screen, took a deep breath, and then took another deep breath.

It's just work, she told herself.

Afterwards, she resignedly began to pack her things.

Forty minutes later, Su Jin arrived at the top floor of the Gu Corporation Building. The top-floor corridor was as quiet as another world, and her high heels made not a single sound as they stepped on the carpet.

She stood still in front of Gu Chen's office door, gathered all her mental preparation, and then raised her hand.

Just as she was about to knock, the door was suddenly pulled open from the inside.

Gu Chen stood at the doorway, a full head taller than her. He had his hands in his pockets, looked at her hand held in mid-air, and the corners of his lips curved.

"How long were you planning to stand at the door?"

Su Jin's face turned red instantly: "I wasn't..."

"Hm?" He raised an eyebrow, waiting for her to continue.

She opened her mouth, wanting to say something to make up for it, but her mind was a complete blank. She just held her hand there, frozen in place, wishing she could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.

The smile in Gu Chen's eyes deepened a little, but he didn't say anything else; he just stepped aside to clear the doorway, his tone shifting back to strictly professional.

"Come in, there are a few places in the draft that need to be checked."

Su Jin felt as if she had been granted amnesty; she lowered her head and walked in quickly, sat down opposite him, and fished her laptop out of her bag.

Gu Chen pushed the printed manuscript in front of her: "The data in the third paragraph, and the citation in the seventh paragraph, need to be verified again."

Su Jin looked down and saw that he had made marks on it in elegant handwriting. She steadied herself, opened her computer, and began to revise.

The office became quiet, with only the sound of keyboard tapping.

He would occasionally offer a revision suggestion, she would respond, and sometimes the two would discuss a few points.

Without realizing it, the sky outside the window had darkened.

Su Jin saved the final version and looked up, only to be startled that the city lights were already beginning to twinkle outside the window.

Gu Chen was leaning back in his chair, looking at her: "Finished revising?"

She nodded: "President Gu, please take another look."

He took the manuscript, flipped through it, and set it aside: "Thank you for your hard work."

Su Jin stood up to pack her things: "Then I'll be going."

"I'll take you."

Su Jin was stunned for a moment and hurriedly shook her head: "No need, no need, I can just hail a taxi myself."

"It's the evening rush hour; it's hard to get a taxi." He had already stood up and picked up the coat hanging on the rack.

Su Jin still wanted to refuse.

He said: "I was also at fault for what happened that day."

Su Jin: "..."

It would have been fine if he hadn't mentioned it, but now that he had, she felt even more restless.

"I knew you had gone to the wrong room, but I didn't remind you, which made you embarrassed." Gu Chen draped his coat over his arm, his tone earnest, "I apologize."

Su Jin hadn't expected that he would not only take the initiative to mention that day's events but also apologize to her; her embarrassment was now mixed with a touch of shyness.

After all—

"It wasn't your fault either, it was mainly my mom... she remembered the room number wrong..."

"I had an obligation to inform you." He looked at her, "So, let me take you, as an act of atonement?"

Since he had put it that way, Su Jin felt it wouldn't be appropriate to continue refusing: "Then I'll trouble you, President Gu."

——

The car drove out of the underground garage; it was already dark outside, and the streetlights were lighting up one by one.

After Su Jin told Gu Chen the address, she curled up quietly in her seat.

The car fell silent, and neither of them spoke.

The space inside the car was not large at all, and the scent belonging to Gu Chen drifted into her nostrils in wisps.

It carried a slightly cool, refreshing scent; was it white tea?

Su Jin could not tell, she only felt her heartbeat starting to race unhelpfully again.

At such a close distance, this was a solitude that belonged only to the two of them.

She secretly pinched her palm; the slight pain kept her from losing her head.

When passing an intersection, an accident suddenly occurred; a child darted out from the side of the road.

Su Jin was startled, and before she could react, Gu Chen had already slammed the steering wheel. The car body swerved violently, and Su Jin fell toward his side, only to be steadily blocked by his outstretched arm.

The tires screeched as they scraped against the curb, and the car came to a stop.

Su Jin was still shaken, looking at the child who was frozen in the middle of the road in terror. Fortunately, nothing had happened.

She hurriedly looked at the man in the driver's seat: "Are you alright?"

He did not speak, only retracted the arm that had been blocking her, his movements somewhat slow.

Su Jin looked down and saw a gash on his arm, very long and deep; fresh blood was seeping out from the torn sleeve of his shirt, appearing exceptionally glaring under the dim car lights.

Her mind went blank, seeing only that patch of red growing larger and larger.

"You're hurt!" Her voice trembled slightly.

"It's fine, just a superficial wound." As he spoke, he unbuckled his seatbelt, "Don't move, I'll go down and take a look."

After saying this, he opened the car door and walked toward the mischievous child.

Su Jin saw him take the child's hand to cross the road, then crouch down to give him a few instructions. The child nodded and ran off.

His manner of speaking was as gentle as ever, his brows and eyes carrying a smile, even though the injury on his hand looked so severe.

Su Jin pursed her lips and unbuckled her seatbelt to get out of the car.

Gu Chen had already walked to the side of the car: "Why did you get out?"

Su Jin took a handkerchief from her bag and handed it to him: "Wrap it up first, I'll take you to the hospital."

Gu Chen took it and raised an eyebrow at her.

The woman's complexion was somewhat pale, but her gaze was stubborn.

He recalled the few times they had met; she had always seemed gentle and without sharp edges. But now, he suddenly felt that if he didn't agree, she would surely show her claws.

He chuckled softly: "Alright, let's go to the hospital."

Su Jin let out a sigh of relief; she wasn't actually used to such a forceful stance herself, especially in front of him.

Fortunately, he was truly a reasonable person.

The wound was indeed very deep and required stitches.

Su Jin stood to the side, watching the exposed flesh, her face turning pale.

She looked down at her own neckline again; the thin collarbone chain was still there, but the star pendant was gone.

It wasn't that it was gone, it was stuck in Gu Chen's arm...

It must have been when the emergency brake happened earlier; she leaned forward, the necklace swung out, and it was hooked by the arm he had extended to protect her.

Su Jin bit her lower lip, guilt threatening to drown her.

"Family members, don't stand so close." The doctor didn't even look up.

Su Jin stepped back in a daze, her gaze still glued to the man's injured arm, completely failing to notice the doctor's form of address for her.

Gu Chen, however, raised his eyes to look at her, but he didn't respond.

After the stitches were done, the doctor gave a few instructions on precautions, nothing more than keeping it dry and changing the dressing on time; Su Jin listened very carefully.

When it came down to it, this injury had everything to do with her...

After the doctor left, she hesitated before stepping forward, but Gu Chen spoke a step before her: "Were you scared?"

Su Jin shook her head, her voice very soft: "I'm sorry... I shouldn't have worn the necklace."

Gu Chen sighed softly; this girl really had taken all the blame upon herself. He stood up and walked to where Su Jin was, and Su Jin subconsciously took a step back.

"Just a verbal apology?" he said deliberately.

The silly girl was indeed stunned: "Then... what else do you need me to do?"

Gu Chen raised his hand: "I can't drive for the time being, will you take me home?"

——

Su Jin thought Gu Chen would return to some high-end apartment or the Gu Family old residence, but he ended up giving an address she had never heard of before.

The car turned into a quiet alley and stopped in front of an old-fashioned small building.

"You live here?" Su Jin was somewhat surprised.

"Occasionally." He pushed open the car door, "It's quiet."

She accompanied him upstairs; the lights in the stairwell were voice-activated, lighting up floor by floor.

He walked in front, and she followed behind, watching his bandaged arm, her heart suddenly giving a tug.

Reaching the doorway, he opened the door and turned to look at her: "Come in and sit for a while?"

Su Jin bit her lip and shook her head: "No, you should rest early."

"Then be careful on your way."

She nodded and turned to go downstairs. When she reached the stairwell, she stopped again and looked back at him. He was still standing at the door, not having gone inside.

One of the lights in the hallway went out, and his face was half-lit and half-shadowed, making his expression difficult to see clearly.

He was injured, and he was all alone...

"President Gu."

"Hmm?"

Su Jin took a deep breath: "You're alone tonight, isn't it inconvenient?"

He didn't speak.

She told herself she was just worried about a patient.

"How about... I stay and take care of you? It's the weekend tomorrow anyway."

Gu Chen looked at her, and after a long moment, the corners of his mouth curled up: "Okay."

Su Jin walked back in, squeezed past him into the doorway, and pretended not to see the hint of a smile at the corners of his mouth. The door closed behind her; in the small entryway, the two of them stood very close.

She heard her own heartbeat, impossibly fast.

"You sit on the sofa and rest, I'll go boil some water." She lowered her head to change her shoes, not daring to look at him.

He didn't move, just watched her like that.

She felt completely uncomfortable under his gaze and was just about to speak when the doorbell suddenly rang.

Su Jin froze for a moment and looked up. Gu Chen frowned slightly, seemingly not expecting anyone to come at this hour either. She hesitated for a moment, then turned to open the door.

Standing outside the door was a young woman with long hair draped over her shoulders and a touch of spoiled brightness in her brows and eyes.

Seeing that it was Su Jin who opened the door, she froze for a moment and blinked.

Su Jin was equally stunned.

She recognized those eyes; many years ago, on the Jingda campus, she was the girl who had thrown herself into Gu Chen's arms.

So many years had passed, and she was even more beautiful.

Su Jin's body stiffened, and a feeling called embarrassment instantly swept over her. She must have lost her mind; how could she have said something like staying to take care of him?

What right did she have?

Another light in the hallway went out, and she stepped aside at a loss: "You... I..."

In the panic, Gu Chen reached around her shoulder and pulled her to the side.

Su Jin was startled, and his hand quickly retracted as he looked toward the door: "Why did you come over so late?"

Gu Yan's gaze shifted back and forth between the two of them, her curiosity undisguised.

"Did I interrupt you two?"

Su Jin hurriedly waved her hands: "Don't misunderstand, President Gu is injured, and I was worried... but since you're here, I'll head back first."

As she spoke, she turned to go get her bag.

Her wrist was gripped by someone.

"Go sit on the sofa for a while," Gu Chen said gently.

Su Jin froze.

Gu Yan's expression changed when she heard about the injury, but looking at her brother's agile movements, it didn't seem like anything major.

It was more curious that a woman had appeared by her brother's side.

"Did I come at a bad time?" she asked slyly.

"Yes," Gu Chen said in a flat tone.

Su Jin: "?"

"No, don't listen to him—"

Before she could finish, Gu Yan had already tactfully taken a step back: "Then you two continue, I'll come back another day."

"Wait a moment," Su Jin said anxiously, "It's not what you think..."

"What do I think?" Gu Yan tilted her head, smiling like a cunning little fox.

Su Jin was stumped by her question.

Gu Yan smiled and waved at her: "Goodbye, sister-in-law."

Su Jin stiffened completely. Sis, sister-in-law?

So she was Gu Chen's sister? Not his girlfriend?

Gu Chen gave Gu Yan a warning look: "Don't talk nonsense."

"Oh, got it, future sister-in-law." After saying that, she turned and slipped away before Gu Chen could lose his temper: "I'm off, you two get some good rest."

The door closed, and the sound of footsteps faded away briskly.

Su Jin stood where she was, her head buzzing. She lowered her eyes; Gu Chen's hand was still gripping her wrist.

Her face flushed red, and she pulled her hand back.

Gu Chen looked at the top of her head and chuckled softly: "That was my sister, Gu Yan, just now. She's a bit mischievous, don't take what she said to heart."

How could Su Jin dare to take it to heart? She waved her hands repeatedly: "Not at all, not at all..."

"That's good."

She inexplicably felt that Gu Chen's voice was somewhat deep.