Forced To Take Care Of The Protagonist, She Can't Leave [Transmigration Novel] - Chapter 18

Time passed quickly, and the end of the year approached. Gu Qingshi was surprised to find that 996 had stopped sending him plot notifications. In other words, Huo Chen had begun to take the initiative in his social life. Gu felt slightly relieved, but he frowned when he noticed the boy frequently staying out overnight. He wondered if he should intervene.

996 had assured him that the protagonist would be fine. Gu Qingshi had no reason to doubt the system, but since it was almost Chinese New Year, he figured there would be no harm in heading home a little early.

“The protagonist is making great progress, so you need not worry, Host,” 996 reminded him.

Gu Qingshi felt things were going almost too smoothly, which sparked a sense of unease. Aside from the orphanage case at the very beginning, he had not had to exert much effort. Everything since then had been surprisingly easy. It was so easy that Gu Qingshi found it suspicious.

As if sensing his thoughts, 996 remarked, “Host, the protagonist’s early accumulation of resources required investment. The money you earned from working without days off has basically been spent; there is very little left. The mission is not actually that simple.”

Besides, who knew if things would continue to go smoothly? This world was inherently chaotic. 996 left those thoughts unsaid and simply continued to comfort him.

“I know.”

Still, Gu Qingshi felt that staying out overnight was problematic. He drove home that day without telling anyone. The nanny was surprised to see him and whispered, “He has not come back yet.”

Gu Qingshi checked the time; it was already 2:00 AM. He nodded slightly and went upstairs. He reached out to turn the doorknob of Huo Chen’s room, but it was locked. Gu judged that the boy must have some plans, as he knew to lock his door, but it was still quite late. He picked up his phone and made a call. After a while, it connected.

“Who is this?” A girl’s voice, very sweet, sounded on the other end.

Gu Qingshi curled his fingers against his palm and asked steadily, “Where is Huo Chen? I am his family guardian.” He still found the phrase “adoptive father” too awkward to say.

The girl seemed confused but went to find him, followed by a flurry of chaotic noise.

“Gu Qingshi,” Huo Chen asked anxiously.

“Come home early.”

Gu Qingshi hung up immediately after saying this. He frowned, wondering if he was being too controlling. Yet, staying out overnight was inappropriate, and as his guardian, he had to take responsibility. Forget it, a reminder was enough.

Coming home did not really serve much purpose; he spent more time in hotels than here. But truthfully, Gu Qingshi felt that this house in Jiangwanlin was beginning to feel like a home. It was filled with traces of Huo Chen.

He returned to his room with a calm expression, ready to change and read for a while, but a hurried knocking soon sounded at his door.

“Gu Qingshi, are you there? Huff, huff,” Huo Chen whispered from outside.

Gu Qingshi thought, You knocked so loudly, yet you whisper; if I had been asleep, you would have woken me anyway.

“Come in.”

He had not even turned a page. It was 2:30 AM; the boy had run back in thirty minutes. Huo Chen pushed the door open, his face flushed, and walked over to Gu. He scanned the man’s face, thinking only one thing: Why is he wearing glasses?

“Is something the matter?” Gu asked, looking up.

Huo Chen was momentarily speechless. He had rushed back because Gu Qingshi was home, instinctively wanting to explain why he had not been back earlier. However, the man did not seem to care.

“No,” Huo Chen admitted honestly, for he was still just a child. “Nothing is wrong. I was at a gathering with my classmates; they stayed out late.”

Gu Qingshi thought that staying out overnight was indeed unsafe and felt a pang of worry, but he did not know how to express it because he was the one who had suggested socializing in the first place.

“I am not blaming you,” Gu explained, his slender fingers tapping the cover of his book. “I just happened to come back to see you.”

Huo Chen’s mood instantly brightened. He grabbed a small stool and sat by the bed, his eyes gleaming. “I missed you, too.”

Gu Qingshi’s fingers paused, and his brow furrowed instinctively as he felt a sense of discomfort. He wanted to throw Huo Chen out.

“Do not say such things.” He opened the book, the pages rustling.

Huo Chen was stunned for a moment, but observing the man’s expression, he realized he was not joking.

“Ah?”

“Do not say those things. I do not like hearing them.” Gu Qingshi suddenly felt irritable. He found the head leaning against his bed annoying and distracting.

Huo Chen looked confused but promised, “I will not say it again.” He did not know why, but he agreed anyway.

“Mm.” Gu Qingshi calmed down slightly. Seeing how late it was, he looked at the person by the bed. “Go to sleep.”

Huo Chen instinctively did not want to leave. “But I am not sleepy.” He quickly added, “I finished my winter break homework, and the tutor already covered the next semester’s curriculum. I have already taken my exams. I have nothing to do tomorrow, so I can sleep all day. Are you leaving again tomorrow?”

A barrage of questions followed, accompanied by a pair of cautious puppy eyes.

Gu Qingshi was silent for a long time. “I leave at 7:00 AM.” I only came to check on him. I should have known better than to come.

Huo Chen seemed to have glue on the soles of his shoes, refusing to leave. “I am not sleepy. Can I read a book here? I will leave when you fall asleep.” He pointed to a small wooden desk nearby.

Gu Qingshi did not respond. Huo Chen’s hands dropped, and he looked dejected, acting self-deprecatingly. “Are you annoyed by me? But I have no other family. Am I too clingy? I will not be loud, I—”

“Stop, go ahead.”

Gu Qingshi interrupted, clearly unable to handle the emotional tactics. He took off his glasses and rubbed his temples. Where does this kid learn these tricks?

The boy did not stop, leaning in closer. “Do you have a headache? Let me massage it for you.”

“No, go read your book.”

The small hand reached out halfway and withdrew. Gu Qingshi tossed the book at him and waved him away. Huo Chen knew when to quit; he took the book, swiped Gu’s glasses, and sat down at the desk. He started reading seriously.

Child Psychology.

Huo Chen: “…” Why is he reading this?

Time ticked by. Gu Qingshi left the bedside lamp on, and Huo Chen used the desk lamp. How could anyone sleep with someone else there? Even if he was just a child. Whenever Gu thought of Huo Chen saying “I have no family,” his fingers curled instinctively. Forget it.

Huo Chen waited from 2:30 AM to 3:00, then 4:00, then 5:00. The man finally fell asleep. His sleep quality was so poor. Huo Chen had only flipped through ten pages of Child Psychology. The rest of the time, he spent observing. There were no cameras in the house, yet this man could always accurately guess his secret thoughts, even when Huo Chen was being contrary.

Huo Chen stepped lightly and could not help but walk over to Gu. Gu Qingshi. He crouched down cautiously and watched him for a long time, looking confused. What is your ultimate goal?

The next morning, Huo Chen pretended to be asleep at the desk. Someone approached, picked him up, placed him on the bed, and tucked him in. Gu Qingshi’s footsteps moved away, and the door closed quietly. Huo Chen waited a while before opening his eyes, sitting up and clutching the silk duvet. He smiled, then buried his head in the covers, wriggling childishly.

Gu Qingshi had actually researched what elementary school students did together. When he realized the girl on the phone was Chu Xian, he understood. She was the “white moonlight” of the primary school phase that 996 had mentioned. They were likely fond of each other; the girl’s father was the mayor of a southern city and was planning to transfer here soon.

Gu Qingshi knew he should not interfere; this was the plot’s trajectory. But he suspected he had forgotten something. In the car, he searched around, and Li Xu asked, “Brother, did you forget something? Should I drive back?”

“No need.”

He had left Child Psychology at home. Gu Qingshi felt suffocated just thinking about the book he had tossed at the boy. He had made a child read Child Psychology. He had been too focused on getting him out of the way to notice what he was giving him.

Just then, his phone buzzed. He almost wanted to hang up, but he remembered he had allowed three calls.

“Did you leave?” A muffled child’s voice came through.

“Mm, have you eaten?” A conversation with no substance, he thought.

Huo Chen whispered, “The nanny is making it for me.” His tone was clingy.

“Good.” Gu Qingshi was always at a loss for words in reality.

Huo Chen decided not to ask when he would return, as the man had come back last night. He needed a new strategy. “My birthday is coming soon,” the child said dejectedly.

Gu Qingshi was stunned. He realized he truly did not know Huo Chen’s birthday. A hint of unease crossed his cold face.

“I will return. I will come back.” He promised repeatedly.

Huo Chen looked at the glasses on the desk, his lips curving upward. He held his own ID card, which he had retrieved early that morning. His heart fluttered. It was worth it. He checked it carefully and whispered, “Did you forget? It is January 24th.”

After the call ended, Huo Chen saved the recording, feeling elated. The nanny knocked outside. “Little Huo? Dinner is ready!”

“Coming!” Huo Chen put his things away and ran out of the bedroom. The moment he closed the door, he thought, As long as I am clingy enough, I can sleep here.

Gu Qingshi was distracted at work, feeling dizzy in the dressing room, when his phone buzzed. He thought it was Huo Chen again, but it was not.

If I do not contact you, will you never contact me? Sender: Fu Lian.

Gu Qingshi frowned. He had hoped to cut ties with this man, but Fu Lian had not reached out in a while. He felt a bit of peace, but why was he sending messages like this again?

996 watched openly. “Host, in this context, should you reply ‘yes’ or ‘no’?” It had been studying human knowledge, trying to sound more “human.”

Gu Qingshi was not in a good mood. He had planned to break off the relationship from the start, but Fu Lian felt strangely familiar, though he could not place why. Furthermore, this man knew too much.

Gu Qingshi typed: “No, what—”

He had not finished typing the word “matter” when Fu Lian sent another message.

“I told you that child is not honest, and you did not believe me. Do you know what he has been doing?”

Gu Qingshi paused.