Becoming the Caged Canary of a Forced Love - Chapter 42

Gu Nian felt much better after wiping his torso and changing into a clean shirt. Although he had spare pants, the current conditions weren’t ideal for a full change. He cupped some water in his hands and lowered his head to wash his face.

As the bloodstains were washed away, his pale skin was revealed. Lin Nuo’s complexion was different from Gu Nian’s original skin tone; likely because he rarely went outdoors, his skin was exceptionally pallid. Of course, it could also be genetics; Gu Nian had never been able to tan either—after years of harsh conditions, his original skin had only ever reached a slight wheatish hue.

“Who did it?” Gu Nian asked suddenly.

“It was Li Yong. Our people pushed him too hard, and he fled Black Crow with his subordinates. Somehow, he got word of your location and planned this assassination,” Zhou Yi reported nervously.

“Zhou Yi.” Gu Nian was clearly unsatisfied with that answer. The way he called the man’s name was as soft as a sigh. He lifted his head, his pitch-black eyes meeting Zhou Yi’s through the mirror. “You’re treating me like a fool.”

Gu Nian spoke in a low, haunting voice as he turned and walked toward Zhou Yi. Zhou Yi’s throat seemed to be gripped by an invisible force, robbing him of his voice. He felt a flash of guilt, but it was quickly masked.

Gu Nian reached out and slowly stroked Zhou Yi’s cheek. His hand landed on the scar at the corner of Zhou Yi’s eye; the scar had faded significantly, but the memories of its creation remained etched in their souls. Despite the gentle touch, Zhou Yi tensed his body and clenched his teeth, for he knew Gu Nian all too well.

Sure enough, a second later, Gu Nian’s hand came down hard. A resounding slap landed on Zhou Yi’s other cheek. Zhou Yi’s head snapped to the side. He took a few heavy breaths, but internally, he felt a strange sense of relief.

“I want Li Yong kneeling at my feet before dawn. If you can’t manage that, then your subordinates can follow him into the afterlife.”

Gu Nian threw the damp towel forcefully against Zhou Yi’s chest before walking toward the door. He placed his hand on the handle but paused. Gu Nian glanced back slightly, his expression cold. “And don’t think I don’t know what you’re plotting. Pei Jichuan cannot die. He is going to stay alive, with me.”

With that, he opened the door and left. Zhou Yi picked up the towel and gripped it tightly in his palm, his golden hair falling forward to hide his expression.

The surgery was a success. The bullet had grazed his vital organs; a fraction closer and he would have been beyond saving.

Gu Nian sat quietly by the bed. Across the room, the assistant sat in silence, reporting the situation back to the headquarters in Country Z. Bodyguards stood watch at the door and beneath the window; not even a fly would be allowed inside.

The anesthesia hadn’t worn off yet, and combined with the massive blood loss, Pei Jichuan wasn’t expected to wake until dawn. A ventilator was strapped to his face, and stray hairs were scattered across his forehead. He lay there deathly pale and silent, the only sound in the room being the rhythmic beep-beep of the heart monitor.

Gu Nian used a fruit knife to carefully peel an apple. The result was lumpy and uneven, lacking any aesthetic appeal. Gu Nian lifted the misshapen apple to his lips and took a small bite. It was sweet, but to him, it tasted like wax; he didn’t even have the desire to swallow, so he simply chewed slowly.

On his second day in this body, Gu Nian had eaten an apple that Pei Jichuan had peeled for him. Pei Jichuan had peeled it perfectly—not a sliver of fruit wasted, the skin coming off in one long, unbroken spiral. Gu Nian considered himself an expert with a blade; when his knife entered a body, it was swift, precise, and usually fatal. Yet, a small apple had defeated him.

He spat out the fruit and tossed the misshapen apple into the trash. Feeling a surge of irritability, he shook his head and leaned over the hospital bed, lightly tapping Pei Jichuan’s lips through the breathing mask. A trace of blood remained on the man’s lips; the vivid red against his pale skin possessed a certain sickly beauty.

His phone vibrated twice. Gu Nian checked it; the miniature device was still plugged in. The assistant had already gone out to the hallway to make reports.

Pei Jichuan’s injury was a beacon for countless eyes. Gu Nian knew that those wishing for his death far outnumbered those wishing for his recovery. He opened the Black Crow icon to find a message from Zhou Yi:

‘Li Yong has been captured. The person who leaked the information to him has also been caught.’

Only a single desk lamp was lit in the room. The reflected light from the screen illuminated Gu Nian’s face, making his deep, black eyes look even more mysterious and unfathomable. This was the scene the assistant walked into after finishing his calls—Pei老爺子 had given him a thorough tongue-lashing over the phone.

The assistant closed the door cautiously and returned to his seat. He had many messages to reply to on his laptop and hurried to handle them. Suddenly, the weak light from the lamp seemed to be blocked. The assistant looked up to find Gu Nian standing in front of him, staring at him silently.

The assistant jumped in fright, tightening his throat muscles to prevent a scream from escaping. He had known “Young Master Lin” before, but since a certain point, the boy had changed. Two years ago, he was a fragile, melancholic little prince; now… he was like a ghost, drifting silently.

“Give me the car keys. I’m going out. I’ll be back before dawn.”

Gu Nian wasn’t consulting him; his tone was cold and purely informational. The assistant hesitated; the first rule of employee training was never to let “Young Master Lin” wander off. After all, he had attempted to run away numerous times—and though he was caught every time, he remained persistent.

“This… Young Master Lin…”

Before the assistant could refuse, Gu Nian had already swiped the keys from the desk and headed for the door. The assistant stood up in a panic to give chase, reaching out to grab Gu Nian’s arm.

Gu Nian suddenly pivoted and delivered a sharp elbow strike. The assistant collapsed to the floor instantly, unable to move. He clutched his abdomen, veins popping on his forehead from the pain.

Gu Nian’s face remained devoid of emotion. He leaned down slightly and commanded: “I’ll be back before dawn. Take care of Pei Jichuan.”

With that, he left. The bodyguards outside were confused but didn’t move to stop him. Gu Nian reached the garage without incident and started the car. He adjusted his equipment and dialed Zhou Yi. The phone was answered after three rings.

“Address,” Gu Nian said, steering the car out of the garage. After Zhou Yi gave the address, Gu Nian hung up.

He slammed on the accelerator, the car speeding through the dark streets like a bolt of lightning, the roar of the engine piercing the night. At 2:00 AM, the streets were deserted. He reached his destination without obstruction.

It was an abandoned sewage treatment office, the exterior dilapidated and crumbling. Zhou Yi was waiting outside with several subordinates. The black sedan drifted to a sharp halt, and Gu Nian stepped out, walking toward the man who had been waiting for him.