After Redeeming the Paranoid Villain [Transmigration] - Chapter 16

When Su Yu arrived home, Gu Chen was not in his room as usual. Instead, in a rare turn of events, he was sitting in the living room staring at his computer. Seeing Gu Chen’s focused expression, Su Yu did not want to disturb him and intended to tip-toe back to his own room. However, despite his concentration, Gu Chen noticed his movements. A light cough rang out, and Su Yu instinctively froze in his tracks.

Gu Chen closed his laptop and looked toward Su Yu, asking with feigned indifference, “Why are you just now getting back?”

Su Yu glanced at Gu Chen. Seeing no signs of anger, he answered boldly, “My mother asked me to go home for a visit.”

Gu Chen gave a non-committal hum at Su Yu’s words before asking, “Have you eaten?”

“I have,” Su Yu replied.

After these few brief lines of dialogue, a wave of silence settled over the room.

Looking at the quiet space, Gu Chen instinctively wanted to speak more with Su Yu, but unable to find a topic on short notice, he could only manage a very stiff remark. “Do not come back so late next time.”

Gu Chen was a man of few words. Usually, he only spoke when asked, and even then, his replies were extremely curt. Consequently, while he actually meant to show concern for Su Yu, his lack of social grace made his opening remark sound somewhat harsh.

Seeing that Su Yu remained silent, Gu Chen awkwardly turned his head away. “If you come back this late again, no one will leave the door unlocked for you.”

Hearing the stiffness in Gu Chen’s voice, Su Yu assumed he was angry. He blinked and said cautiously, “Then, if I am going to be late next time, I will just go back and sleep at my own house.”

A sharp crack rang out. Gu Chen had actually squeezed the fragile tablet on his lap hard enough to make a sound.

Gu Chen’s irritation came out of nowhere, but hearing Su Yu say that sparked a flare of frustration in his heart. He blurted out, “This is your home.”

Su Yu looked aggrievedly at the carved wall clock in the living room, which was already pointing to midnight. He grumbled internally, Did you not just say you would not leave the door open for me? I am not even mad, so what are you mad about?

Su Yu thought this, but he did not dare say it aloud. He could only look at the face of that “wicked little capitalist” in the wheelchair with suppressed indignation.

“What did you and Madam Su talk about for so long?” Gu Chen asked, looking at Su Yu.

Su Yu quickly replied, “My mother heard about me going to the police station. She was worried, so she called me over to ask what happened.”

Gu Chen’s hand on the computer stiffened. After a long pause, he said gloomily, “It is my fault.”

Su Yu was baffled by this sudden comment and let out a hesitant, “What?”

Gu Chen looked at Su Yu. His usually indifferent eyes now held a look of profound seriousness. “Madam Su entrusted you to me, yet such a major incident happened while you were in my care. It is my responsibility. I will pay her a visit another day to apologize in person.”

Su Yu thought Gu Chen was joking, but upon seeing his stern expression, he realized Gu Chen was completely serious. He quickly tried to shut down that dangerous idea. “There is really no need. I have already talked it out with my mother, and she does not blame you. I am the one who provoked the situation. The world is a big place; there will always be moments you cannot account for. I cannot expect you to protect me forever.”

Su Yu meant the words as a lighthearted remark, but they caused Gu Chen to lower his eyes. He stared at his own legs and remained silent for a long time.

What Su Yu said was a harsh reality. The world was vast, and there would always be things beyond his reach, especially now in his crippled state.

Gu Chen silently turned his wheelchair and brushed past Su Yu. He did not say another word until he entered the elevator.

Watching the numbers slowly climb on the elevator display, Su Yu wondered which specific sentence had offended Gu Chen and upset this “Living Yama.”

The butler had witnessed every move of their interaction. A sigh escaped him, prompting Su Yu to turn toward him. “Uncle Wang, what is wrong?”

“Young Master Su, you said the wrong thing.” As the person who understood Gu Chen best, Butler Wang could easily guess why he was unhappy.

“Said the wrong thing? What did I say?” Su Yu’s brain could not quite make the connection.

“Young Master Su, it was not a coincidence that the Master was sitting in the living room,” the butler said cryptically. Seeing that Su Yu had not caught the subtext, he added helplessly, “According to the Master’s usual schedule, he would already be resting in his room. He stayed in the hall specifically to wait for you because he saw you were not back yet.”

Su Yu’s eyes widened in surprise. “You are saying Gu Chen was waiting for me specifically? No way.”

“He was indeed waiting for you. Do not be fooled by him staring at the computer; he was actually watching the time. He was just afraid that if he looked at the wall clock too obviously, everyone would know he was waiting for you,” Butler Wang explained.

“But why?” Su Yu asked.

The butler seemed to recall something as he said, “Ever since the Master was framed, he has not dared to reveal his true thoughts or actions to others. There are simply too many eyes watching him.”

“Then why did he suddenly get angry? I do not recall saying anything to make him unhappy,” Su Yu said.

Butler Wang looked toward Gu Chen’s room upstairs. “The Master is only angry at himself.”

“Himself?” Su Yu asked.

The butler continued, “Do you remember when you said, ‘The world is a big place; there will always be moments you cannot account for’?”

Su Yu nodded.

“The Master has always been a proud man with strong self-esteem. But after the car accident, the string of blows that followed nearly broke him. In the beginning, he even locked himself in his room, refusing to eat or drink. To him, you are his spouse. While outsiders may see your marriage as a joke, in the Master’s heart, he has already included you within the scope of his protection.”

The butler hesitated for a moment before continuing, “But that sentence you just said reminded the Master that his current self can hardly protect you anymore, and that you seemingly do not need him. It is like a male beast that has lost its claws and teeth being told by its mate that he is no longer needed.”

“The Master is not actually angry with you. He is blaming himself. He is angry at his own current powerlessness.”

The butler looked at Su Yu and asked carefully, “Do you understand now?”

Su Yu nodded slowly, biting his lip. He had not realized that such an offhand remark would hurt Gu Chen so deeply. He wanted to make amends but did not know how.

Late that night, a knock sounded at Gu Chen’s bedroom door. Gu Chen was a light sleeper. Upon hearing the noise, his eyes snapped open, flashing with a hint of danger. However, realizing the person outside was likely Su Yu, the coldness in his gaze gradually faded.

In this house, only Su Yu would dare knock on his bedroom door regardless of the time or place.

He propped himself up against the headboard and said, “Come in.”

Outside the door, Su Yu had been feeling guilty for his impulsiveness, thinking that if Gu Chen were asleep, he would just leave. But when Gu Chen’s voice drifted from the room, he had no choice but to brace himself and enter.

This was the third time Su Yu had entered Gu Chen’s room. It was as dim as ever, causing Su Yu to move with extreme caution, terrified of bumping into the expensive ornaments scattered throughout the space.

Having spent so much time in darkness, Gu Chen’s eyes had long since adjusted to the gloom. Seeing Su Yu’s hesitant, shuffling steps, he reached out and switched on the bedside lamp.

As the light came on, Su Yu’s footsteps halted. He looked at Gu Chen, who was leaning against the headboard under the warm yellow glow, and bit his lip, unsure of what to say.

Gu Chen was the first to speak. “What are you looking for me for?”

Su Yu stood nervously before Gu Chen. His opening line was a stiff and awkward topic. “Have you eaten?”

The moment the words left his mouth, Su Yu wanted to slap himself. He was truly an idiot. It was one o’clock in the morning. How could he start with such a ridiculous question?

Gu Chen was stunned for a moment, then a soft chuckle escaped him. He looked at Su Yu, the corners of his mouth curling slightly. “Su Yu, is ‘eating’ the only topic you know? Every one of the three times you have come into my room has been about food.”

With a trace of a smile, Gu Chen’s deep voice followed. “Are you a rice vat?”

Su Yu was speechless.

There is a limit to what one can endure. Su Yu had never felt such a grievance. He flared up and retorted, “I am not a rice vat!”

“Right. A rice bucket, then.”

Even when Gu Chen joked, he maintained a deadpan expression. The contrast was so unexpected that Su Yu, despite his aggrieved face, could not help but burst out laughing.

“What are you laughing at?” Gu Chen asked, bewildered by Su Yu’s sudden laughter.

“Gu Chen, I just realized… how can you be so cute?” Su Yu said, wiping away the tears of laughter from the corners of his eyes.

Seeing that Gu Chen was not angry at all, Su Yu stopped worrying. He said boldly, “You are much braver than when I first met you. You are not afraid of me anymore? Who gave you the courage to speak to me like this?”

Su Yu saw that Gu Chen truly was not upset, so he replied cheekily, “You did.”

Gu Chen’s heart skipped a beat. He awkwardly turned his head away, trying his best to avoid eye contact. On the surface, he looked calm, but only he knew that his heart was racing uncontrollably. He shifted his body, attempting to move further away from Su Yu, fearing that if he stayed too close, Su Yu would hear the absurdly loud thumping in his chest.

“So, what did you come here for? Surely not just to ask me to eat?” Gu Chen asked, clumsily changing the subject.