Chapter 18

After ending this awkward blind date, all I wanted was to hurry home and collapse on my bed.

I walked through the long street.

Looking back at the cars on that road, I sighed, speeding up towards home, when suddenly the rain came pouring down.

I thought I’d have to walk home drenched, but unexpectedly, a hand raised an umbrella above me, shielding me from the rain.

Mist and rain mingled in my breath.

“Let me walk you home.”

Gu Xuchen stood before me, his face pale, tilting the umbrella towards me.

I glanced at his hospital gown, anger rising in my chest: “Are you crazy? Running out like this?”

With that, I started running toward home, not intending to stop, but Gu Xuchen followed me all the way.

The rain grew heavier and heavier.

It was like a giant ink painting, gray and hazy, but it couldn’t compare to the paleness of Gu Xuchen’s face.

Raindrops slid down his jaw.

Gu Xuchen held the umbrella, lowering his eyes to look at me. “Take this umbrella.”

I frowned slightly, seeing his clothes already soaked through: “You should use it on your way back.”

Gu Xuchen kept his eyes down, silent.

I felt a bit helpless: “You just had surgery not long ago. Don’t be reckless.”

Gu Xuchen simply stood there, saying nothing, insisting on leaving the umbrella for me.

I sighed and said quietly:

“Come upstairs with me.”

“Really?”

Gu Xuchen looked up at me, a flash of joy in his eyes.

I glanced at him and walked straight into the building: “No.”

Stepping into my home.

Gu Xuchen looked around my apartment, a bit at a loss.

I glanced at him and said coolly, “Too small for you?”

Gu Xuchen looked at me and replied in a low voice, “Not as big as our wedding house.”

Me: …

I didn’t know what to say. Back then, it was in this small apartment that I went from sharing a room to renting alone, from carefully budgeting for a yearly lease to recklessly switching to monthly rent.

If I had gotten into Gu Corporation back then, half of this pain would have been spared.

“We’re already divorced.”

I spoke solemnly.

Gu Xuchen silently looked at me, directly avoiding the topic: “I’m a little cold.”

The sound of running water came from the bathroom.

I checked the time, dug out a large bathrobe from the bottom of the cabinet, and was about to leave it at the bathroom door when I realized Gu Xuchen hadn’t closed the door.

Me: …

Honestly.

I suspected he did it on purpose. Back then, he guarded against me like a wolf; he would never have made such a rookie mistake.

“Ye Min-do you have a bathrobe?”

Gu Xuchen asked in a low voice.

I took the clothes-drying rod and hung the bathrobe inside: “Don’t let water touch your wound.”

“Mm.”

Gu Xuchen replied obediently.

I looked at the rain pouring down outside, helplessly closed the doors and windows, turned up the air conditioning, and went to the kitchen to make ginger tea.