After Redeeming the Paranoid Villain [Transmigration] - Chapter 9

Su Yu thought of Gu Chen in his wheelchair and the miserable death he suffered in the original novel. His hands slowly clenched into fists, and he bit his lip so hard it turned a deep crimson, though he did not even notice the pain. A lingering ache in his chest made him feel as if he were suffocating. He could not bear to see Gu Chen hurt.

After a long silence, Su Yu finally looked up, having composed his emotions. He firmly believed that he had come to this world to save Gu Chen. He refused to let Gu Chen face the same end as in the book, dying in disgrace behind bars. In his heart, Gu Chen should be a man of high standing, looking down upon the world from a position of power rather than being trampled and bullied.

Now that he knew someone intended to frame Gu Chen through his own hands, he was determined to gather as much information as possible. He would do everything in his power to protect him. With newfound resolve, Su Yu’s gaze hardened. He tidied his appearance in the bathroom and headed downstairs.

Gu Chen was nowhere to be found in the dining room. Su Yu looked at the empty table and turned to the butler. “Where is Gu Chen?” he asked habitually.

“The Young Master is still in his room,” the butler answered truthfully.

Su Yu set down his cutlery and looked at the man. “Has he still not eaten breakfast?”

The butler remained silent, but his wordless confirmation gave Su Yu the answer he needed.

“Do you not even call him to eat when he is like this?” Su Yu blurted out instinctively.

Immediately after speaking, Su Yu realized his mistake. The butler and the staff would certainly have brought meals to Gu Chen’s room. If he had not eaten, there was only one possibility: Gu Chen himself refused to eat.

The thought made Su Yu’s irritation flare. “He is not a child anymore,” he muttered to himself. “Why is his temper so stubborn? He has no idea how to take care of his own body.”

Standing behind him, the butler caught Su Yu’s grumbling. A flicker of amusement passed through his eyes behind his glasses. It seemed the Young Master’s breakfast routine was finally about to be resolved.

Unaware of the butler’s thoughts, Su Yu sighed at his own fate of being a natural-born worrier. He resignedly picked up the breakfast tray.

The butler watched Su Yu’s movements and asked, knowing the answer full well, “Young Master Su, where are you going?”

Su Yu looked toward the third floor with a complaining expression. “I am going to see if a certain someone who refuses to eat has starved to death in his bedroom.”

“Very well. I shall lend you the elevator card,” the butler replied.

As he watched Su Yu’s retreating back, the butler’s smile did not fade. He could feel the house beginning to regain a sense of life and vitality because of Su Yu’s presence.

Su Yu stood outside Gu Chen’s door for a long time, trying to build up his courage. Despite his grand talk of saving Gu Chen, he was still somewhat afraid of the man. Gu Chen possessed a naturally cold, unapproachable aura that made Su Yu instinctively nervous.

After much hesitation, he finally knocked. He planned to speak to Gu Chen from the hallway. If Gu Chen invited him in, he would enter; if Gu Chen shouted at him, he would drop the tray and run.

Bolstered by this plan, he knocked louder. There was no answer. Su Yu gathered his courage and called out Gu Chen’s name, but there was still no response.

Just as he was about to give up and leave, a heavy thud sounded from inside the room, followed by a muffled groan. Su Yu’s pupils dilated. He pounded on the door, panic rising in his voice. “Gu Chen! Are you alright? Can I come in?”

When no answer came, Su Yu reached for the handle. The sound of the knob turning must have reached Gu Chen, for his voice rang out, cold and harsh. “Get out.”

Su Yu’s hand trembled on the doorknob, and he froze in place. Gu Chen’s voice was even colder than usual, yet Su Yu sensed a hidden fragility and a slight tremor beneath the icy exterior.

Su Yu gritted his teeth. Although he had told himself he would leave if yelled at, he found he could not move. His intuition told him that, at this moment, Gu Chen needed someone by his side.

Gu Chen heard Su Yu lingering outside the door. His voice grew even sharper. “Su Yu, did you not hear my command? Get out now. Leave my doorstep.”

Before he could finish, the sound of the door opening cut him off. A sliver of light spilled into the dim room, illuminating Gu Chen. He was collapsed on the floor, leaning against the bed in a desperate, failed attempt to stand up.

The proud, formidable version of Gu Chen was gone. His usually pristine, ironed shirt was disheveled and wrinkled from his struggle. The messy folds of fabric seemed to broadcast his shame and helplessness to the intruder.

In that instant, their eyes met.

Su Yu saw a flash of coldness and murderous intent in Gu Chen’s narrowed eyes. Under that gaze, a chill ran down Su Yu’s spine. He felt as though Gu Chen were looking at a dead man. At this moment, Su Yu truly realized that Gu Chen was the cold-blooded, ruthless figure from the book who viewed human lives as mere playthings.

Gu Chen watched Su Yu take an instinctive step back. A cold, mocking curve appeared on his lips. “Are you afraid?” he asked derisively.

“Do you want to run away? That is truly a pity. I wonder who it was that tried so hard to marry me, even at their own expense? What is the matter? Does being here disappoint you?”

Gu Chen’s tongue was always merciless, but his vitriol reached a peak when his pride was wounded. Su Yu looked at him sitting on the floor and realized that this coldness was merely a forced facade of strength. Gu Chen had always been this way, refusing to let anyone see his vulnerability, even when he was utterly broken.

Under Gu Chen’s watchful gaze, Su Yu slowly stepped forward and knelt before him. Gu Chen’s body tensed instantly. He assumed a defensive posture, looking ready to strike at any moment.

“Who gave you the courage to walk over here?” Gu Chen’s hand reached out of sight toward the underside of the bed. He had hidden a knife there after being framed, fearing that his lack of mobility would leave him defenseless against further attacks.

Su Yu did not retreat; instead, he took another step forward.

Suddenly, a flash of steel caught the light. Su Yu felt a sharp sting against his neck. Gu Chen had produced the knife and held it against his throat.

“Su Yu, do not think for a second that you can kill me just because I am like this.” Gu Chen pressed the blade closer, and a thin line of blood began to form as he moved. His voice was like a chill from an endless abyss. “I am more than capable of ending your life.”

Su Yu looked at Gu Chen. The panic he felt when the knife first appeared was replaced by a strange sense of calm, followed by a wave of sorrow. Before transmigrating, his understanding of Gu Chen was limited to the text of the novel. He knew how arrogant Gu Chen was—a king who looked down upon the world. Even in his downfall, Gu Chen never showed weakness. This had misled Su Yu into thinking that Gu Chen could not be hurt, was never afraid, and had no vulnerabilities.

But now that he had met the real man, he saw that Gu Chen was a living, breathing person. He felt fear and pain; he simply never showed it. Even though Gu Chen’s eyes remained as cold and impenetrable as ever, Su Yu could feel his hand trembling as he held the knife.

Gu Chen was afraid.

Su Yu looked into Gu Chen’s eyes. This man had always been so proud, looking at others as if the whole world were beneath his feet. To fall from the pinnacle to the absolute bottom because of his paralyzed legs was a devastating blow. The rumors, the malice, the mockery, and the ridicule from the outside world were all aimed at this fallen prodigy. It would be a lie to say Gu Chen did not suffer.

Seeing that Su Yu did not move for a long time, a dangerous glint appeared in Gu Chen’s eyes. He did not know what Su Yu was planning, but he was prepared to risk everything.

Then, Su Yu moved.

As Su Yu leaned forward, the knife at his throat sank deeper. Gu Chen’s hand shook violently. He gritted his teeth and pulled the blade back just as it was about to slice into Su Yu’s carotid artery. Su Yu, seemingly oblivious to the danger, continued forward until he pulled Gu Chen into a hug.

A faint warmth transferred from Su Yu’s body to Gu Chen’s. Suddenly, Gu Chen felt his heart—cold for so many years, begin to tremble uncontrollably at the touch. A feeling of bitter sorrow spread from his heart throughout his entire body.

“Gu Chen,” Su Yu’s voice whispered in his ear. “Let me help you back onto the bed, alright?”

Gu Chen felt something warm brush against his neck. It took him a moment to realize that Su Yu was crying. He looked at the red-eyed young man in shock, completely forgetting to stop Su Yu as he was lifted back onto the bed.

In his twenty-some years, Gu Chen had seen many people cry. Some were acting; others were filled with hatred. Most of those tears were lies or expressions of spite. He was used to them and could watch people weep before him with total indifference. But Su Yu was different.

Gu Chen stared blankly at Su Yu, who was struggling to keep his tears from falling. Gu Chen was an excellent judge of character, and he could tell that Su Yu’s tears were not an act.

Su Yu was crying because of him.

As he sat on the bed, Gu Chen gripped his hands so tightly to control his emotions that he did not even realize he had wrinkled the sheets beneath him.