After Redeeming the Paranoid Villain [Transmigration] - Chapter 13

After returning home, Su Yu used the excuse of being tired to retreat to his room, hoping to avoid Gu Chen. Gu Chen watched Su Yu’s panicked departure, sensing that he was hiding something. However, unable to press for answers, he could only watch as Su Yu’s figure vanished down the hall.

Once out of Gu Chen’s sight, Su Yu let out a subconscious sigh of relief. Although he was not keeping any malicious secrets, he felt the guilt of a thief. He did not want Gu Chen to know the reason behind the fight, fearing that the foul insults and dirty rumors would hurt Gu Chen’s feelings.

Back in his own room, Gu Chen sat brooding over Su Yu’s behavior. When they had met at the police station earlier, it was obvious that Su Yu had been wronged, yet when asked, Su Yu had refused to say a word.

Su Yu does not want to tell me.

The realization sparked a wave of irritation in Gu Chen’s heart. He could not distinguish whether he was frustrated because Su Yu was hurt or because Su Yu was keeping things from him.

While Gu Chen’s emotions were in turmoil, his phone rang. He glanced at the device on the desk. Ever since his accident, the once-constant stream of calls had suddenly dried up, leaving only a few genuine friends. The caller ID showed it was indeed one of them.

“Qi Bai, why are you calling?” Gu Chen asked, his tone stiff.

A burst of laughter came from the other end. “Gu Chen, can you not try to smile? I can hear your gloominess through the phone. No one likes a person who acts like that.”

Gu Chen knew Qi Bai’s playful nature but was in no mood for banter. “If you want to see people smiling, go to ‘The Night Banquet.’ The staff there will guarantee you see enough smiles to last a lifetime.”

“You still have absolutely no sense of humor,” Qi Bai teased.

“Get to the point, or I am hanging up.”

As Gu Chen made a move to end the call, Qi Bai shouted, “Wait, wait, wait! Master Gu, let me finish. I am calling specifically about your wife.”

Gu Chen frowned. “Wife? What wife?”

“Are you playing dumb? You injured your legs, not your brain. How do you not know your own wife?”

Qi Bai was a natural chatterbox. Once he started, the words flowed like an endless stream. Sensing Gu Chen’s silence, he added dismissively, “No way. Do you really not know who your wife is? It is Su Yu.”

Although Gu Chen was well aware of his relationship with Su Yu, hearing someone else refer to Su Yu as his “wife” made his long-frozen heart skip a beat. He suppressed his emotions and replied calmly, “Of course I know. Why are you bringing him up?”

“I heard that fellow Su Yu took a wine bottle and got into a brawl. He even ended up at the police station. Truly impressive,” Qi Bai said, before adding, “You did not know, did you?”

“I knew.”

Gu Chen replied shortly. He usually found Qi Bai’s constant chattering annoying, but today, upon hearing about Su Yu, he instinctively did not want to hang up. He leaned back against his wheelchair, looking as though he were ready to listen to Qi Bai’s long-winded nonsense.

However, just as Gu Chen prepared to listen, Qi Bai changed his tune. “Oh, you already knew? I thought Su Yu would have hidden it from you. Since you know, never mind. I was going to tell it as a funny story—letting you see the wild side of that little follower who usually stays behind you like a good boy. I thought you might even be moved to tears if you knew why he fought. But since you know, it is no fun. Goodbye.”

Gu Chen sensed that Qi Bai knew more than he was letting on. He quickly stopped him from hanging up. “What was the reason for the fight?”

Qi Bai, hearing the confusion in Gu Chen’s voice, chuckled, feeling useful again. He spoke mysteriously, “You do not know, do you? Su Yu got into a fight with those rich playboys in a private lounge specifically for you.”

Gu Chen’s throat suddenly felt dry, and his mind went blank for a moment. “What did you say?”

“I only heard it from others. Our circle is small; any bit of news travels fast, especially something involving the police.”

Qi Bai started to drift off-topic again, forcing Gu Chen to remind him to get to the point. Qi Bai quickly brought it back. “A buddy of mine was in that group. He said someone was badmouthing you, and Su Yu got so angry he grabbed a bottle and tried to beat them like a madman.”

“Oh, right. He also said Su Yu’s eyes were red as if he were about to cry, but the ferocity with which he swung that bottle was terrifying. Many people tried to hold him back and barely succeeded. If the security had not stopped him, that bottle would have cracked open the head of the guy insulting you.”

Gu Chen had not expected the fight to be because of him. His voice was hoarse as he asked, “What did those people say about me?”

Qi Bai sounded awkward. “They just said some nasty things… regarding your legs.”

Gu Chen sat frozen in his wheelchair. He never imagined Su Yu would fight others over something like that. The timid Su Yu who trembled at a glance and stammered when he was nervous, looking like a frightened rabbit had fought others over words that Gu Chen had long ago forced himself to ignore.

Gu Chen touched his chest, feeling that unfamiliar sour ache fill his heart again. It was so intense it made it hard to breathe. He had always been the one standing strong at the front, but he never expected to unintentionally become someone else’s object of protection.

“Hey, Gu Chen? Are you okay? Why are you silent?” Qi Bai asked worriedly from the other end.

“I am fine. I am hanging up now.” Gu Chen’s voice was incredibly raspy. In that moment, he felt a desperate, driving need to see Su Yu.

Gu Chen acted on that impulse, but when he reached Su Yu’s door, he hesitated. Su Yu had said he was going to sleep; would entering now disturb him?

The usually decisive and powerful businessman was now frozen at the door, debating whether to enter. He remained paralyzed for a long time until a sound from inside proved Su Yu was still awake. Only then did Gu Chen find the courage to knock.

“Who is it?” Su Yu’s voice came from inside.

Gu Chen’s mind had gone blank the moment he heard the voice. He could only manage a dry “It is me.” Only after speaking did he realize he had not identified himself, but Su Yu had already opened the door.

Gu Chen, sitting in his wheelchair, was about to speak when he looked up. Su Yu was wearing an unbuttoned white shirt and holding a towel to dry his hair. The shirt was damp, clearly thrown on hastily after a shower.

Gu Chen’s hands tightened on the armrests.

Su Yu’s body was covered in blue and purple bruises from the fight. Because his skin was so fair, the injuries looked even more shocking, yet they carried a sense of fragile beauty that made one’s mind wander. Gu Chen’s gaze darkened, and his Adam’s apple bobbed slightly, but he said nothing.

Su Yu, completely unaware of Gu Chen’s shifting emotions, stepped aside to make room for Gu Chen to enter. He gripped his towel nervously and stammered, “Why… why did you suddenly come to my room? Is something wrong?”

Gu Chen looked at him. All the words he had prepared seemed to vanish. He could only ask lamely, “Have you applied medicine to your injuries?”

The bruises were only superficial and did not hurt much, so Su Yu had completely ignored them. It was only when Gu Chen asked that he became aware of them again. Now that the question had been asked, the pain he had suppressed suddenly flared up, and his expression soured.

Gu Chen moved forward quickly. “Did you not apply any medicine?”

Su Yu shook his head.

Gu Chen scolded him, “How can you be so careless with your own body? You can bring me breakfast when I refuse to eat, but you do not pay any attention to yourself.”

Su Yu replied sheepishly, “I forgot.”

“Forgot? How can you forget something like this? With so many injuries, do you want the bruises to stay there forever?”

Gu Chen had never been good at comforting people. Even though he was worried, his tone remained harsh and stiff. Combined with his characteristically stern face, he looked like a fearsome judge.

Looking at Gu Chen’s scowl, Su Yu lowered his eyes aggrievedly. His voice was tiny. “Can you please not be so mean to me?”

“So, you know how to be afraid?” Gu Chen was about to lecture him further when he looked up and saw Su Yu’s eyes were turning red. He instantly panicked.

He had come here to show concern, so how did he end up making the boy cry?

Gu Chen was filled with self-reproach. He could have used a gentler tone, but long-standing habits had made him forget how to show tenderness.

“Su Yu, do not cry,” Gu Chen said, feeling utterly lost as he looked at Su Yu’s reddened eyes. “I was wrong. Please, do not cry.”