The Protagonist 'Gong' Became my Wife - Chapter 6

Chapter 6: Trajectory

Still… They were still leaning so close to each other.

Gu Xiao looked at the two of them with deep suspicion.

Behind them, Assistant Zhou brought the car to a steady halt and stepped out. Witnessing the scene, he silently swallowed the words “President Jiang” that were on the tip of his tongue.

Jiang Yanning squeezed his eyes shut tightly, then withdrew the hand resting on Gu Zhuo as if nothing had happened.

“We heard a crying sound just now and came over to check in case of an emergency. Do you know what’s going on?”

Gu Xiao awkwardly wiped the corners of his eyes.

“You both heard that? I’m sorry. It’s just… some things happened at home, so… I didn’t mean to scare you.”

“I see.”

Realization dawned on Jiang Yanning. Then, he turned and prepared to leave.

System 77: ??

Host, stop him quickly!

Gu Zhuo instinctively reached out and grabbed Jiang Yanning’s wrist.

Jiang Yanning turned back good-naturedly, questioning him with a look.

“You… aren’t you going to ask what happened at his house?”

Gu Xiao was startled and rushed over to pull Gu Zhuo away.

“President Jiang, it’s nothing serious! Zhuo Zhuo is just joking! If you have business, please go ahead.”

77 was jumping up and down in anxiety.

Host, how could you ask so directly?

But unexpectedly, Jiang Yanning actually stopped, seemingly waiting for Gu Xiao to tell him.

With Gu Zhuo’s encouragement, Gu Xiao’s face flushed with shame and helplessness. Yet, he knew this was his only chance.

It turned out that Gu Xiao’s father was a strong man who did various odd jobs to earn money, sometimes even taking work in the neighboring village.

This time, Gu’s father had been busy helping renovate a house in the next village until very late. He was rushing home on his motorcycle through a rainstorm at midnight. Just as he was about to turn onto a main road, he was hit by a car.

Fortunately, he was wearing a helmet, which saved his life. However, he had broken several bones, and if he didn’t undergo surgery immediately, he might lose his leg.

The family’s only motorcycle was smashed to pieces. After hearing the news, Gu Xiao’s mother’s hair had turned grey from worry.

The most difficult part was that the perpetrator had been drinking. Not only did he fail to report the accident or seek medical help immediately, but he also threatened Gu’s father, demanding compensation because his luxury car’s front end had been scratched.

Gu Xiao’s voice carried a hint of a sob: “But we have no money at all. He said if we don’t pay up, he’ll stop the doctors from operating on my dad. My dad’s leg… I’m afraid it really won’t be saved!”

Gu Zhuo patted his shoulder. “Who is the perpetrator? What’s his background? How dare he ignore the law like this!”

“I think his name is Liu Bin. I don’t know who he is, but my dad’s surgery was indeed canceled. No nearby hospital will take the case.”

“No, Liu Bin is just a small fry. His family is at most ‘well-off’.”

At some point, Assistant Zhou had walked over and handed a tablet to Gu Xiao.

“Based on what you just said, we found that the real person backing Liu Bin is the young master of the Li family, Li Chuan.”

A few years ago, the most famous four families in F City were the Jiang, Li, Wen, and Ji families. The heirs of these four families grew up together and were quite close.

Later, after Jiang Yanning’s mother passed away, his father seized the company, and the business declined. Consequently, the Jiang family fell from status, and a different Li family rose to take their place in the “New Four Families.”

Furthermore, due to an incident three years ago, the Li family (黎) had completely broken ties with the Jiang family. Every time Li Chuan saw Jiang Yanning, he would snap at him like a mad dog. Therefore, if Jiang Yanning intervened personally, things would become much more complicated.

Jiang Yanning pondered for a moment, then pulled a business card from his pocket.

“It’s inconvenient for me to step in directly. But I know someone who can help you. If you need it, contact me, and I’ll give you his contact information. As for the money, don’t worry I’ll transfer whatever amount you need to you first.”

The moment Gu Xiao took the card, 77 signaled that the task was complete.

“Thank you, President Jiang. I… I don’t even know how to thank you. I will pay the money back. It might take a long time, but I definitely will!”

“No need to thank me. It’s late; I’ll be going now.”

Jiang Yanning glanced at Gu Zhuo, who had his head lowered the whole time, and then turned to leave with Assistant Zhou.

Once they were gone, Gu Zhuo stood alone in the dark as 77 circled around him.

Host! Something is wrong with you! Very wrong! You told me to scare Jiang Yanning just to set him up so you could act pitiful in front of him, right? Host, you’ve changed!

How so?

You must have fallen for the Male Lead! You’re going to fall in love with him, live in this world for a lifetime, and decide not to do the missions anymore, right?

The more 77 spoke, the more it believed it. Many senior systems’ manuals had stories like this: it had encountered a “runaway host” on its very first mission!

Host, you’re a heartbreaker!

Gu Zhuo let out a laugh, showing no guilt for being “caught.”

77, what are you talking about? When did I say I liked him?

This… There are traces everywhere! It’s no use playing coy.

No, I won’t. 77, I will complete the mission and return to my original world. Don’t worry.

Because in that original world, Gu Zhuo still had one last, very important thing to do.

He spoke with such certainty that 77 obediently shut its mouth.

…

As the car drove away from the twilight, Jiang Yanning took off his glasses and closed his eyes to rest. Gu Xiao’s friend request arrived almost immediately.

Jiang Yanning clicked “Accept,” but his fingers detoured on the screen. He first forwarded Gu Xiao’s contact card to Wen Xiyu.

A question mark was sent back almost instantly.

Jiang Yanning explained the situation briefly, specifically instructing Wen Xiyu to seize this opportunity and bring that negative favorability score back up.

Wen Xiyu sent a series of “kneeling” emojis, paid back the money Gu Xiao had borrowed, and threw in a huge digital red packet. After that, he stopped replying.

Jiang Yanning laughed in spite of himself. He refreshed his phone interface one last time before placing it face-down on his lap and looking out the window.

Assistant Zhou coughed lightly. “President, I feel like you’re a bit… special toward Mr. Gu Zhuo?”

“Oh? How so?” Jiang Yanning asked lazily without looking up.

“It just feels different. Just now, when he pulled you to stop, you actually stopped. In the past, you rarely got involved in these things.”

Jiang Yanning replied righteously, “I was helping Wen Xiyu! Since there was an opportunity to help him gain favorability, of course, I had to help him seize it.”

“I see.”

Then why were you smiling at him so dotingly just now?

And saying he was “childish”~

Assistant Zhou rolled his eyes inwardly.

Upon returning home, Jiang Yanning took his customary bath. Just as he was ready to go to bed, a special ringtone rang.

The call was from his grandfather, who was far away in Country M.

That night, Jiang Yanning booked the earliest flight and rushed to Country M overnight.

On the plane, Jiang Yanning wrapped himself in a blanket and curled up in his seat, his exhaustion visible. But he couldn’t sleep.

The grandfather in Country M was actually his maternal grandfather. However, since Jiang Yanning’s paternal grandparents had died long ago and his father had married into the family, it didn’t matter what he called them. Jiang Yanning had called them “Grandpa and Grandma” for twenty-eight years.

After his mother passed away, his grandmother’s health declined. To take care of her, his grandfather refused to deal with the company’s mess and moved to Country M to care for her full-time.

Three years ago, when Jiang Yanning was nearly killed by his own father, his grandfather personally returned to the country to bring him to Country M. Jiang Yanning had recovered his health there and resumed his studies; those days were much better.

A year ago, his grandmother passed away. His grandfather fell seriously ill, and his spirit had weakened significantly. If it weren’t for the old man insisting he didn’t need company and the urgent matters back home, Jiang Yanning would never have left him.

Now, hearing that his grandfather was hospitalized, he was terrified of hearing bad news.

After landing, he rushed into the hospital ward. Inside, an old man in a hospital gown was twisting his body, doing exercises. His limbs were flexible, and his back was straight; he didn’t look like he had any problems at all.

Jiang Yanning breathed a heavy sigh of relief. Wiping his fogged-up glasses, he walked inside.

“Grandpa, are you okay?”

The old man turned slowly. The grandson and grandfather looked at each other. One might have expected a big hug, but instead, the old man’s face darkened.

“Why did you come back alone? Where is my granddaughter-in-law? Why didn’t you bring them?”

…

Meanwhile, back home.

Gu Zhuo and Gu Xiao finished their last class of the day and prepared to go to the hospital together. Walking down from the teaching building, they saw a familiar figure standing under a tree, seemingly waiting for them.

Gu Xiao was in a hurry and didn’t notice.

Wen Xiyu helplessly stepped forward to block their path, adjusting his glasses.

“Hello, student Gu Xiao.”

“Uh, Teacher, I have an appointment, I have to go now.”

“I know, because the person you have an appointment with is me.”

Gu Xiao’s eyes widened.

The “great guy” President Jiang recommended last night was actually this old rogue!

Not far away, Gu Zhuo stood with his arms crossed. Like 77, his expression wasn’t great.

What’s going on? The person Jiang Yanning mentioned was him? This is different from the original plot.

77 scrambled to check the progress bar on the light screen.

Except for the very beginning where the meeting between the Male Lead and Protagonist was ruined, the rest has been okay. I thought the “Stand-in” plot wouldn’t happen, but Jiang Yanning’s ‘stroke of genius’ has brought the plot back to its original trajectory.

Actually, there was one difference, Gu Zhuo thought to himself as he observed.

Because Gu Xiao went from resistance to confusion, and finally to surprise.

As they talked, the two of them actually shared an excited hug before turning together to walk toward Gu Zhuo.

77 and Gu Zhuo watched this magical development in a daze.

“Zhuo Zhuo! Let me tell you, Teacher Wen is actually that little ‘bald head’ we used to play with when we were kids!”

Wen Xiyu’s face stiffened. He adjusted his glasses and nodded toward Gu Zhuo.

Gu Zhuo pulled Gu Xiao aside. “Are you sure? How did he recognize you?”

Gu Xiao stuttered, “He just… he just suddenly recognized me.”

Understood. It seemed Wen Xiyu had already come up with a “logical” explanation for his boldness that night and had tested that Gu Xiao didn’t actually dislike him.

77 wanted to cry but had no tears.

Host, what do we do? If they just live happily ever after like this, how is the rest of the plot going to happen?

Gu Zhuo spread his hands, indicating there was nothing he could do.