After Redeeming the Paranoid Villain [Transmigration] - Chapter 27

After Su Yu returned to his room, he recalled Gu Chen’s flustered and exasperated face, and a smile touched his lips. Previously, his impression of Gu Chen had been solely that of the villainous boss from the book, the type who killed without blinking. Consequently, he had instinctively carried a sense of fear. However, seeing Gu Chen so worked up just now changed his perspective. Su Yu laughed softly to himself, thinking that Gu Chen was actually quite cute.

His uncharacteristic teasing of Gu Chen was not just because he no longer felt any hostility from the man, but more because he had sensed a sudden flash of loneliness in him. As the eldest son of the Gu family, Gu Chen should have been the next person in power. However, when he was very young, Gu Feng had sent him abroad under the pretext of further studies. Gu Chen had only returned in recent years.

Upon his return, he had used ruthless and decisive methods to seize control of the Gu Group, leaving Gu Yian defeated in one confrontation after another. Gu Chen’s cold and resolute nature sent shivers down the spines of anyone who crossed him. He fought for the Gu Group as if his life depended on it, as though the company had done something to drive him to such desperation.

Yet, no matter how cold he seemed, he was still human and possessed human emotions. Perhaps it was because of Gu Feng’s birthday, or perhaps he was simply moved by the setting, but Su Yu could feel that Gu Chen’s subtle sadness stemmed from that invitation. Su Yu realized then that he had been here for a long time without ever asking when Gu Chen’s birthday was. In his mind, he had imagined Gu Chen to be invincible, forgetting that he was an ordinary person who felt pain and could shed tears.

Su Yu pursed his lips and took out his phone to check. Since Gu Chen was a prominent figure, his birthday was easily found online. It was listed as June eighteenth. However, for some reason, Su Yu felt that this was not Gu Chen’s real birthday. He recalled a description of the day Gu Chen was born from the original story. He could not remember the details clearly, but one line stood out: “The snow fell heavily that day, and the north wind blew as if it meant to tear the soul from one’s body. Cold-hearted Gu Chen was born into this world amidst ice and bitter cold.”

June was certainly not a time for snow, so he guessed that Gu Chen’s true birthday was not as simple as the date listed online. Su Yu sighed, deciding he would have to find an opportunity to ask Gu Chen himself.

Su Yu was naturally easy-going. Even with worries on his mind, he could fall asleep instantly. Gu Chen, however, was different. First, the photo of Su Yu with Gu Yian had left him unsettled. Although that matter had technically been settled, a sensitive person like Gu Chen could not help but dwell on it. Furthermore, Su Yu had seemed to be in a bad mood when he first returned today.

Gu Chen picked up his phone and dialed a number.

“Who is it?” a groggy voice answered on the other end.

“It is I, Gu Chen.”

Gu Chen’s cold, toneless voice startled the sleeping Li Wen so much that he sat bolt upright in bed. “Boss! What are your instructions?”

Ever since meeting Gu Chen, Li Wen’s intuition told him the man was not to be trifled with. He preferred to avoid him, but he could not stop the boss from seeking him out. In that moment, he felt like he wanted to die.

“It is nothing. I just wanted to ask if anything happened to Su Yu at the company recently,” Gu Chen said. His hand tightened on the phone, and his voice was dry. “I do not mean anything by it. I am just asking.”

Gu Chen’s attempt at a cover-up was immediately obvious to Li Wen. It was a status check. It made sense. Su Yu was so handsome that even someone as aloof as Gu Chen would worry about leaving him out in the world. Li Wen nodded understandingly and responded like a paparazzo. “Rest assured, Boss. Su Yu’s schedule was very steady today. Nothing unusual happened.”

Gu Chen realized this clever manager was already drawing his own conclusions. He felt both amused and exasperated, but he voiced his concern anyway. “Su Yu seemed unhappy when he returned today. Did someone at the company upset him?”

“At the company? No,” Li Wen began, but before he could finish, Chi Wenjing’s face flashed through his mind. That split second of hesitation was caught by Gu Chen’s sharp senses. “What is it?”

Li Wen stammered, “There is something, though I do not know if I should say it.”

Gu Chen’s eyes grew sharp, like a predator suddenly waking from a slumber. “Speak.”

“Our boss, President Chi, seems to treat Su Yu a bit differently,” Li Wen said, sharing his thoughts. “President Chi usually keeps a clear line between public and private matters, but I have never seen him pay as much attention to another artist as he does to Su Yu.”

Li Wen paused before summarizing, “He seems to be excessively focused on Su Yu.”

“Chi Wenjing? I understand.”

Gu Chen’s deep voice traveled through the phone to Li Wen’s ears. Although his tone did not change, Li Wen felt an inexplicable sense of danger.

“Please let me know if anything happens to Su Yu in the future. He tends to keep his thoughts to himself. I am not by his side while he works, so I must ask you to look after him.”

Li Wen hurriedly agreed. Only after Gu Chen hung up did he finally breathe a sigh of relief. For some reason, even though Gu Chen had done nothing strange, he felt more terrifying than the snake-like boss at the company. As Li Wen thought about how to face Gu Chen in the future, his phone chimed with a notification. He looked at the message and was nearly frightened to death. One million dollars had been deposited into his bank account. The sender’s name was Gu Chen.

Li Wen tremblingly prepared to call him back, but a text message from Gu Chen arrived a second later. It was brief and in his usual style. It contained only one sentence: “This is the salary I am giving you.”

Li Wen did not know whether to accept it or not. After weighing his options, he decided to take the money with tears in his eyes. After all, watching over Su Yu was part of his job anyway. Under the temptation of such a salary, the usually upright Li Wen bowed his head, suddenly deciding that Gu Chen was actually a very good person and completely forgetting his previous assessment.

After breakfast the next morning, Su Yu said his usual goodbye to Gu Chen. For some reason, he felt as though Gu Chen, who was elegantly using his cutlery at the table, froze for a moment. But before Su Yu could investigate, Gu Chen spoke naturally. “Be careful while you are out.”

Gu Chen’s voice was calm, but the look in his eyes was as deep as the night. The moment Su Yu turned his back, Gu Chen’s expression became sharp. He had sent his person out into the world, and now others were coveting what was his. The thought filled him with a violence that contradicted his usual demeanor. Just then, his phone on the table rang. He glanced at it, and a contemptuous smile appeared on his lips. The violence in his eyes receded, replaced by a playful, mocking look, like a cat cornering a mouse.

“Gu Yian,” Gu Chen said softly. “What do you want now?”

On the other end of the line, Gu Yian had not expected Gu Chen to answer so calmly. After a silence, he huffed and said, “You certainly know how to act. Can you really stay this calm even at this stage?”

“Why should I not be calm?” Gu Chen’s lips curled slightly. “After all, I still hold that critical one percent of the shares.”

“Gu Chen, I am never in a hurry for that one percent. Besides, how much longer do you think you can hold out in your current state?” Gu Yian laughed, as if everything were going according to his plan.

“If you are not in a hurry, Gu Yian, then why is your voice trembling?” Gu Chen’s smile widened. “Is it because you have already deployed your plan? Have you figured out how to get those shares? Should I congratulate you on achieving absolute control?”

Gu Chen answered with total composure, his fingers tapping lightly on the armrest of his wheelchair. Though he spoke these words, his face wore the smirk of someone playing a game. He was like a hunter who had planned everything, waiting for the overconfident prey to fall into the trap. If any of Gu Chen’s past rivals saw his expression now, they would recognize it as the look he wore just before winning a negotiation. It was a look that had caused many losers to wake up in a cold sweat in the middle of the night.

The vulnerability and helplessness he had shown after the accident were merely a simple, yet effective method of deceiving his enemies. It was clear that Gu Chen’s strategy was working. Gu Yian, who could never outmatch Gu Chen, was easily fooled by the facade. Even now, he believed Gu Chen was merely a crippled man lingering at home and that the one percent of shares was nothing more than the final life-saving talisman of a beast without teeth.

Gu Yian thought of Su Yu, whom he had placed by Gu Chen’s side. He thought of that man who acted like a lunatic, and a wicked grin appeared on his face. “Gu Chen, it is not yet clear who will win or lose.”

“I am not competing with you,” Gu Chen said with a light scoff. “You are simply not worthy.”

A dial tone followed as the call ended. Gu Chen looked at his phone with disdain. His younger brother’s temper was the same as it had been three years ago, which meant he was still easy to read and even easier to control.

Gu Chen was a master of calculation. He was like a wild beast crouching in the tall grass, waiting for the moment of greatest vulnerability to deliver a fatal strike. This was his style. It was cruel and ruthless. Before Su Yu appeared, the only time Gu Chen felt his heart truly come alive was when he witnessed the suffering of others.