The Gentle, Sickly Beauty Is Won Over By The Loyal Big Shot - Chapter 31

“Gu Han, you don’t need to be so nervous,” Yu Shen said. “One thing to note is that this female employee’s home was also near the Special District Center. Dying in such a remote place clearly suggests she was invited there. As long as you stay in crowded areas and don’t accept invitations to the fringe areas of Litian, you’ll definitely be fine. Although the killer is at large, he surely wouldn’t dare strike in the Special District Center. As long as you don’t take shortcuts or remote paths, you’ll be safe.”

“Shen, that’s the outskirts of the Special District, not the countryside. You absolutely cannot go to the outskirts,” Gu Han asked Yu Shen. “Have you forgotten what happened ten years ago?”

Yu Shen shook his head. “I haven’t forgotten. That’s why I’m afraid you’ll forget. Now that you have a wife and a family, you can’t take risks anymore.”

The Litian Special District was a peculiar place. The center, where the Jianchen Park and other real estate groups were located was exceptionally prosperous. All the big name businesses were there, along with three internationally ranked prestigious schools. The business major Qi Ran attended was one of them. The center was a 24-hour city of soaring skyscrapers, high housing prices, and expensive living costs, ranking among the best in the world.

However, once you left the center, using the intercity highway Gu Han often traveled as the boundary, the further you went toward the edge of Litian, the more desolate it became. There were only a few scattered buildings, at the fringes, most people still lived in earthen houses. The social atmosphere was corrupt, and surveillance was underdeveloped. Let alone going at night, even going during the day would make one’s skin crawl.

It was now 2025, and public security had reached a new high. As long as the Litian outskirts weren’t mentioned, everyone felt safe. But ten years ago, when Gu Han was starting his business, the peripheral areas were a den of death that people spoke of with terror, a mass grave where homicides were frequent. Even someone like Yu Shen, who had once spent time in Hong Kong, was daunted and didn’t dare set foot there.

“What happened?”

Qi Ran was curious and touched Gu Han’s hand. “President Gu, what are you talking about?”

Gu Han pulled Qi Ran into his arms and said softly, “I’ll tell Ranran slowly once we get home, okay?”

Qi Ran was very obedient. He leaned into Gu Han’s chest and nodded gently. “Mhm.”

“That’s about it. Gu Han, Qi Ran just finished surgery, go back and rest quickly. If this matter weren’t so serious, I wouldn’t have insisted on Qi Ran coming here,” Yu Shen said, sitting back at his desk. “The rest is easy to handle, we just need to cooperate with the police investigation. The cycle will be a bit long. When it’s over, I’ll write a report and hand it to President Gu personally.”

“Manager Yu,” Qi Ran stood up and walked to Yu Shen’s desk. “I’m sorry. Last time, I didn’t mean to bring up emotional matters. I… I didn’t know. I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay, Secretary Qi,” Yu Shen said politely. “That was more than ten years ago. It’s all in the past. You don’t need to feel sorry for it.”

“Okay,” Qi Ran nodded. “Thank you for your tolerance.”

Yu Shen smiled but said nothing.

Over ten years had passed, and the Litian Special District and Hong Kong changed with each passing day. Only Yu Shen remained ten years in the past, stuck at the moment he held his dying lover.

“Ranran, let’s go back.”

Gu Han took Qi Ran’s hand. “You haven’t taken today’s medicine yet.”

Qi Ran nodded. “Okay.”

As they were leaving, Gu Han looked back at the busy Yu Shen. “Shen, don’t overwork yourself. Rest more. You can delegate some work to me; just WeChat me whatever you need me to do.”

“Hmm?” Yu Shen laughed. “A general manager assigning work to the chairman? Is that Chinese? It sounds so foreign.”

“I wanted to promote you to Vice Chairman, but you refused. Whether you want a promotion or not, we’ve always been equals,” Gu Han said. “Assign whatever work you want to me, as long as you can rest more.”

Yu Shen gave an “OK” gesture. “Haven’t written a document in a long time, right? Write a few this time. I’m really tired of looking at them every day.”

Gu Han also laughed. “It has been a long time. You can give me any work, just WeChat me the specifics.”

After saying goodbye, Gu Han took Qi Ran to the private vault, passed through layers of security, and drove the Cullinan out. On the way, Qi Ran recalled Yu Shen’s appearance and said, “Manager Yu said it was ten years ago, but I don’t think he ever moved on.”

“Of course it’s impossible to move on,” Gu Han said. “If I lost you, I wouldn’t be able to move on for the rest of my life. Losing a true love is like your heart turning to ash. If a business fails, it can rise again, but if a person breaks, their spirit dissipates. Ranran, you might not know why Yu Shen is willing to throw himself into work all day. He never takes a day off because the moment he stops, he misses his deceased fiancée, and he would only want to seek death.”

Qi Ran sighed softly. “That’s so painful. The regrets in one’s heart are ten thousand times more painful than a long-term illness.”

“Yes, Yu Shen has been in a lot of pain all these years, even though he is polite and kind on the surface.” Gu Han drove to a crossroad, pulled the handbrake while waiting for a red light, and continued, “I saved him once. When Jianchen Park was just completed, the two of us, the original shareholders, and the staff went out to eat to celebrate our soaring success. We drank until the afternoon. I said we should take a break, but he wouldn’t go home. He insisted on going to the top floor of Jianchen to see the view, saying he wanted to see the empire we built. I felt something was off, so I secretly followed him. He was just about to climb over the railing when I pulled him back. He completely broke down and lay on the ground crying all afternoon. That day, I found out he had a deceased fiancée. Since then, he promised me he wouldn’t try suicide again and would live well for the sake of Jianchen and his late wife’s wishes. But all these years, I’ve never dared to relax. Someone who has been heartbroken and bravely faced death is likely to try a second time.”

“I understand. That’s why Hubby said Manager Yu must stay busy,” Qi Ran said thoughtfully. “So that he temporarily forgets to miss his late wife.”

“Yes. He can still hold on because Jianchen needs him right now. Being needed gives him a reason to live. So, no matter how big a mistake he makes in Jianchen, I will forgive him. Yu Shen, and you, are the people I will never fire.”

Gu Han said, “Yu Shen is my brother. He has sacrificed so much for Jianchen and for me, and he’s had such a hard time all these years. How can I watch him die? The foundation of Jianchen is very stable now; it’s time for me to repay him.”

“Since the loyalty and brotherhood between Hubby and Manager Yu, which theoretically only exists in ideals rather than reality, actually exists,” Qi Ran said softly, “I’ll forgive this terrible world for five minutes.”

Gu Han curled his lips. “The terrible world doesn’t deserve to be forgiven. Can we change it to my wife loving me for five more minutes instead?”

“Only five minutes?” Qi Ran kissed him while Gu Han waited for the next red light. “Gu Han, I want to love you for a hundred years.”

Gu Han rubbed Qi Ran’s head. “I knew it, my wife loves me the most. I love you too, wifey. I want to love you for a hundred years, too.”

When Gu Han and Qi Ran returned home, the puppy came running at the sound of the door, carrying its golden food bowl to the side of the oven, its tongue hanging out in anticipation.

“Is Hamburger hungry?”

Gu Han helped Qi Ran sit in a chair by the dining table before putting on gloves to open the oven, speaking warmly to the dog: “Daddy left in too much of a hurry and forgot to prepare Hamburger’s dinner. Sorry about that.”

Gu Han first took out the dried fish jerky for Qi Ran and placed it on the table. “Try it, wifey. You need to chew it for a while the fish is a bit tough and hard to digest. This is my first time making something with such complex steps. Taste it. If it’s not good, I’ll order some from my friend who runs a restaurant for you.”

“It’s delicious, Hubby.” After Qi Ran tasted it, he wanted to get up to give Gu Han a taste. However, he rose too quickly and didn’t notice how close the chair was to the table. His stomach slammed into the edge of the dining table.

The pain made Qi Ran bend over. He clutched his stomach with one hand while the other propped him up on the table. His snow-white fingers pressed against the tabletop, trembling slightly. Qi Ran endured the pain silently, waiting for the wave to pass.

“Wifey, what’s wrong?”

Gu Han, who had just set down the fish for the dog, turned around and saw Qi Ran in discomfort. He rushed to his side, holding him and rubbing his stomach. “Is your stomach hurting again?”

“No, I hit the table,” Qi Ran said. “It’s okay, don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine in a moment.”

“Did it hit too hard? Did it hit the surgical wound?” Gu Han was frantic. “Wifey, let’s go to the hospital, okay? I’m worried about you.”

“No need,” Qi Ran leaned into Gu Han’s arms. “Hubby, just carry me to lie down for a bit. I should be fine after resting.”

Qi Ran hated hospitals, he didn’t even like going to Xu Rongxuan’s nursing home, which didn’t look like a hospital at all. Gu Han knew this. Despite Qi Ran’s resistance, Gu Han was still worried, so he decided to carry Qi Ran to the bedroom first. As he walked, he negotiated softly: “Wifey, we’ll lie down for a while. If it doesn’t get better, we have to go to the hospital, okay?”

“Okay. If it really hurts, I’ll let Hubby take me,” Qi Ran clutched his stomach and shifted in Gu Han’s arms, pulling his body closer to his chest. “Hubby’s arms are so soft and warm. Hold me a bit longer, okay?”

“Of course, wifey.” Gu Han sat on the bed holding Qi Ran like an infant in swaddling clothes. He held him steadily while massaging his lower back, asking softly, “Is this okay?”

Qi Ran nodded. “Hubby, you are super good.”

“Am I super good? I don’t feel that way because I always fail to take good care of you, Ranran,” Gu Han said. “Most of the time, I feel very guilty. You might have heard rumors that I like boys with poor health. Actually, I do a little, but seeing you in pain so often and fainting from stomachaches makes my heart ache. Ranran, I want your health to get better.”

“Hubby, my stomach illness has been around for too long. It’s hard to fully recover. Doctors always say the best things, but I know my own body. Let’s not hold onto unrealistic wishes.”

Qi Ran’s expression was playful as he coaxed Gu Han: “Why don’t you just enjoy liking me with my bad health? I’ve already agreed, so what psychological burden do you have? For the first time, I feel like being sickly is actually useful for comforting my husband.”

Gu Han’s expression was somewhat helpless. “Ranran.”

“What’s wrong?” Qi Ran smiled. “Getting sick often is nothing. I will still live a long time and love Gu Han for a hundred years.”

“Okay.” Gu Han’s eyes were full of tenderness as he lightly kissed Qi Ran’s lips. “Gu Han will also love Qi Ran for a hundred years.”

After Gu Han held Qi Ran for a while, Qi Ran mentioned his back was aching and he wanted to lie down. Gu Han carefully placed him flat on the bed, but as soon as Qi Ran’s body touched the mattress, he curled up like a kitten and pulled Gu Han down with him. The two of them snuggled under the quilt.

“Hubby is soft and smells good,” Qi Ran’s lips lightly brushed against the moving Adam’s apple on Gu Han’s neck. “I like it best when Hubby holds me.”

“I like holding Ranran too.” Gu Han felt Qi Ran’s stomach. “Does it still hurt?”

“It hurts,” Qi Ran said somewhat aggrievedly, burrowing into the crook of Gu Han’s arm, chest to chest. “Hubby, I hit my stomach with so much force.”

“It’s all the fault of that bad table,” Gu Han held Qi Ran tighter, coaxing him softly. “Tomorrow I’ll cover the table with anti-collision strips. My wife is so precious, next time you bump into it, it can’t be this serious.”

“Don’t wrap it in strips, it’s ugly,” Qi Ran acted spoiled. “Hubby, I won’t hit it a second time. Am I that stupid?”

“How could my Ranran be stupid?” Gu Han pinched Qi Ran’s soft waist, speaking gently. “Wifey, do you want to change into pajamas? I just had the property manager buy a lot of fresh food, and business is done. We won’t be going out today.”

“Change,” Qi Ran hugged Gu Han’s arm. “Hubby change too. I want to lie with Hubby and watch videos.”

After settling Qi Ran, Gu Han went to get the two sets of dried little bear pajamas. When helping Qi Ran change, Gu Han always blushed. He wanted to look at Qi Ran’s snowy skin but felt shy, so he pursed his lips with a red face while helping Qi Ran dress.

Gu Han picked up his own clothes, intending to change in another room, but Qi Ran stopped him: “Don’t go. Change right here.”

Gu Han unbuttoned his pale pink shirt, his abdominal muscles revealing themselves inch by inch. “Didn’t Ranran say you were shy before? Are you okay now?”

“Hubby,” Qi Ran smiled and reached out a snowy white hand. “I want to touch your stomach. Your muscles are so beautiful.”

Gu Han tossed the shirt onto the end of the bed, leaned over, and slowly approached Qi Ran, letting the cool, soft hand stroke his abdomen.

“I won’t touch anymore.” Qi Ran withdrew his hand and opened his cute puppy eyes, asking Gu Han, “My hands are so cold, will your stomach hurt if I touch it for too long?”

“No, my health is very good.” Gu Han grabbed Qi Ran’s hand and pressed it against his side. “Wifey’s hands are cold. I’ll warm them for you.”

For the third time today, Qi Ran pulled Gu Han down beside him, throwing himself willfully into his arms to share an embrace and a kiss.

“Wifey, do you want to eat some more fish?” Gu Han had finished changing. “I’ll go get some for you.”

“I want to,” Qi Ran held Gu Han’s hand and said softly, “Hubby, my stomach hurts. I can’t eat.”

“Is it still no good?”

Gu Han leaned down, his warm palm pressing lightly against Qi Ran’s stomach, gently rubbing in a clockwise motion. “Let’s go to the hospital. I’m worried about you.”

“Hubby, I actually caught a bit of a chill. It would have hurt even if I hadn’t hit it,” Qi Ran said. “The air conditioning at Jianchen was a bit cold. While the three of us were talking, I was already uncomfortable, but I didn’t say anything. Don’t blame me, and don’t blame yourself. Hubby, I was afraid of distracting you while talking about work, and I was afraid you’d worry. It hurt more after I hit my stomach. It became a bit unbearable, so I decided to tell you.”

“It really is a bit cold. The weather has been abnormal lately, it started getting hot before March, so the central AC at Jianchen is set low. Plus, there are few people on the 19th floor, so there’s no body heat, just the cold air from the AC. It’s my fault for not considering it. I should have kept your stomach warm. You just had surgery, your intestines and stomach are fragile, how could you let them get cold?”

Gu Han rubbed his hands together and reached under Qi Ran’s top, his heated palms covering his stomach. After warming it for a while, Gu Han felt Qi Ran’s stomach still having waves of spasms, though they weren’t severe. Gu Han frowned. “Ranran, do you have stomach spasms every day?”

“Yes,” Qi Ran nodded. “Many times a day. If it doesn’t hurt, I don’t even bother to notice them.”

Gu Han’s face was clouded with worry. “Wifey, I’m so worried about you.”

“I’m fine,” Qi Ran kissed the hand Gu Han reached out to touch his cheek. “Hubby, rub it for me again. Every time Hubby helps me rub it, the spasms ease a little.”

Gu Han curled his fingertips, pressing against the place where Qi Ran’s abdomen was twitching. “Wifey, I’m going to start rubbing now.”