After Redeeming the Paranoid Villain [Transmigration] - Chapter 6

“How has life been at the Gu household?” the woman asked.

Su Yu looked the woman over and answered cautiously, “It has been quite good.”

“It certainly has. You have grown quite capable, not even coming home anymore. When you finally do return, it is only to steal the household register. No matter how much I tried to prevent it, I still could not stop you, could I?” The woman’s barrage of words left Su Yu completely bewildered.

He had initially guessed she might be Gu Chen’s mother or a close relative, but her attitude did not seem to fit someone from the Gu family.

Seeing that Su Yu remained silent, the woman continued, “Are you all grown up now? You will not come home when called, and you have even learned how to sneak off with the register to get married. Is being a charity case that wonderful? Does Gu Chen even care about you?”

With that sentence, Su Yu instantly realized her identity. He shrank back slightly and timidly called out, “Mom.”

The scolding from Zhou Chuyao stopped abruptly at the sound of the word “Mom,” as if she had heard something unbelievable. Her expression softened significantly. “So, you have finally settled down enough to recognize me as your mother?”

Though her words remained blunt, they carried an underlying current of maternal concern. “Tell me, what did you see in a man like Gu Chen? Take it from me; that man is far more dangerous than he appears.”

Seeing Su Yu’s lack of response, Zhou Chuyao assumed his stubborn streak was acting up again. She tried to persuade him gently. “Do not doubt me. I have lived longer than you. Even if he hides it well, I can sense the danger in him. You are so naive that he could swallow you whole without you even realizing you have been sold.”

Su Yu opened his mouth to defend him, but Zhou Chuyao cut him off. “You stole that register just to marry him, did you not? I do not care what strings the Gu family pulled to let you register with a comatose man, but I will make sure you get a divorce. Do they really think a son of the Su family is for sale?”

Su Yu coughed awkwardly. If he remembered the novel correctly, the original Su Yu had been more than willing to sell himself. The book described him as falling in love at first sight the moment he saw Gu Chen.

Seeing Su Yu’s prolonged silence, Zhou Chuyao looked at her son in shock. “You do not actually want to stay married, do you?”

Su Yu indeed did not want a divorce, but not because of a secret crush. He simply wanted to help Gu Chen through this crisis. If this were before he understood Gu Chen’s character, he would have divorced instantly. Marriage is the grave of love, and they did not even have love to begin with.

“What are you thinking?” Zhou Chuyao asked, having calmed down slightly after her venting.

“I do not really want to get a divorce yet.”

“What?” Zhou Chuyao exploded again. “What do you see in him? Aside from that face, what else is there to gain?”

“Mom, listen to me,” Su Yu explained quickly before she could lose her temper. “I just think Gu Chen is too pitiful.”

“Who is more pitiful than you? You are young, yet you are being tricked out of your money and your heart.” She looked at him suspiciously. “He has not actually taken advantage of you yet, has he?”

“No, no!” Su Yu waved his hands frantically to prove his innocence.

“Is it still that face you cannot let go of?” Zhou Chuyao looked at him with utter disdain. Su Yu knew exactly what she was thinking. She wondered how she had given birth to a son who only cared about looks.

“It is not just the face; it is him,” Su Yu said as he sat down and explained calmly. “Gu Chen’s situation is dire. He is surrounded by enemies. His grip on power was already unstable, and now Gu Yian is monopolizing everything. I want to help him, at least until he gets through this difficult period.”

“To what end?” Zhou Chuyao asked. “Do you think our family can go up against the Gu family?”

“It is not about fighting them. It is about making sure Gu Chen has enough to eat and drink and making his life a little easier.” Su Yu lowered his head, nervously twisting his fingers.

“Why do you want to help him?”

Su Yu’s long lashes veiled the emotions in his eyes. After a long silence, his voice came in a small whisper. “He is too pitiful. The feeling of falling from such a height is painful. I want to take care of him, at least for a while.”

Zhou Chuyao looked at her son as if seeing him for the first time. After a long silence, she finally gave in. “Fine. Have it your way.”

Su Yu’s eyes lit up. “Thanks, Mom!”

“But what about later?” she asked. “After he recovers and takes back what belongs to him, will you divorce him then?”

Su Yu smiled, and his expression was incredibly pure. “Do not worry, Mom. This status is just a safeguard so I can protect him. Once he has recovered and has his life back, I will leave naturally. Trust me.”

Zhou Chuyao sighed. “What do you get out of this? You still love him, do you not?”

“It is not love.” Su Yu turned to look out the window. He did not know how he had ended up in this world, but since he was here, he wanted to stay true to his initial intent to protect Gu Chen. “Let us just call it fate,” he said meaningfully.

Walking out of his family home, Su Yu felt a sense of unreality. He looked at his phone and saw a notification for a six-figure bank transfer. The world of the wealthy was truly something else; even pocket money was this extravagant.

The Maybach drove smoothly back to the villa. Su Yu walked inside with excitement, ready to speak to Gu Chen. But before the smile could fully form on his face, he froze. Standing by the sofa was Gu Chen.

Su Yu stared in disbelief at this medical miracle. He had not realized Gu Chen would recover so quickly. He walked over, instinctively reaching out to touch the man’s face to ensure he was not dreaming. In the original book, it took Gu Chen two years to walk again. Had his arrival changed the timeline that much?

“What are you doing?”

A cold, familiar voice drifted from nearby. Su Yu followed the sound and saw the elevator doors opening. The real Gu Chen was sitting in his wheelchair, watching Su Yu with an icy expression. Su Yu’s hand was still frozen in mid-air, looking as if he were about to caress the man standing in front of him.

Gu Chen’s eyes darkened.

In that moment of stunned silence, a description from the original book flashed through Su Yu’s mind. Outsiders said the two Gu brothers looked like twins, carved from the same mold.

Su Yu looked at the man in front of him, Gu Yian, and then at Gu Chen. They were indeed nearly identical, but Su Yu found them easy to tell apart. Gu Yian’s eyes were sinister and always calculating, while Gu Chen’s eyes were cold. Yet beneath that coldness, Su Yu could see a trace of warmth. It was like the first snowflake of early winter catching a glimmer of morning sun,透着 a faint but undeniable warmth.

Gu Yian smirked at Su Yu’s dazed state, his eyes filled with mockery. Gu Chen moved his wheelchair closer, his handsome brows furrowing slightly, though he said nothing to Su Yu.

“What are you doing here?” Gu Chen asked Gu Yian, his voice dripping with undisguised contempt.

Despite Gu Chen being in a wheelchair and technically lower than him, Gu Yian felt an inexplicable surge of fear. Gu Chen seemed born to hold a position of power. Gu Yian’s hands tightened at his sides, and his gaze turned even darker.

“Brother, long time no see,” Gu Yian said with a fake smile. “I heard your leg injury was severe, so I specifically invited an expert from America to treat you. But you sent them away without even a glance. It breaks my heart. You only have one body, brother. You should be more responsible.”

The hypocritical words earned only a scornful laugh from Gu Chen. “Treating my legs? Do you even believe your own lies?”

Gu Chen’s voice was calm, and it was terrifyingly calm.

Gu Yian glared at him. He hated that even though Gu Chen had been dragged into the dust and stepped on, he still maintained that high and mighty posture.

“Seen enough? Then get out.” Gu Chen tapped his finger on the armrest of his wheelchair and spoke indifferently. He then turned his wheelchair and left.

Gu Yian’s purpose was clear. He had come to gloat and humiliate Gu Chen in his moment of weakness. But Gu Chen would never give him that satisfaction.

Gu Yian watched Gu Chen’s back, and his eyes burned with hatred. Gu Chen, you have always been so arrogant, thinking the world belongs beneath your feet. One day, you will pay for that pride. I will make sure you fall into the abyss and rot in the mud, never to rise again.