Chapter 38 Completely Out of Control "Chu Yu, come here."...
July is rainy in Beijing.
The damp weather and exam week collided, and time seemed to be fast-forwarded, with everyone running at high speed on their own tracks.
After the French class ended, Gu Zeming hadn't seen Jiang Chuyu for quite some time. She had blocked and deleted all his contact information, and even Jiang Lekai said that she was busy dating Li Sen and wouldn't be coming to the apartment anymore.
His girl was so frightened by him that she started playing hide-and-seek with him.
Well, it's exam week anyway, and he never intended to do anything out of line.
The first week of July is a rest day.
The rain stopped in the latter half of the night.
There was a sticky, humid smell in the air, mixed with the smell of soil and plants. It wasn't unpleasant, but it felt heavy and stuffy.
The cemetery is even quieter after the rain; you can only hear your own footsteps as you walk along.
The distant city's outline was so blurred it looked like another world.
Gu Zeming put down the bunch of lilies in his hand; water droplets were still rolling on the petals, whether from rain or dew, he couldn't tell.
The stone tablet was cold, and the woman in the photo had a faint smile, but her eyes and brows held a hint of lingering weariness.
He stood there for a while, thinking of nothing, his mind blank and silent.
The camellia trees nearby were in full bloom, their bright red petals, plump and glistening with dew, drooping among the green leaves. Their color was so intense it seemed impossible to blend in, standing out awkwardly against the gray and white silence, looking particularly reckless.
Gu Zeming moved his legs, which had become a little stiff from standing, and prepared to leave.
Footsteps sounded behind me, neither too light nor too heavy, as they trod on the wet cement road, each step steady and deliberate.
Gu Zeming did not turn around.
The footsteps stopped a few steps behind him.
"You're here?" The voice was low and a little hoarse, as if he hadn't slept well, or as if he had been drinking and smoking for many years.
We know each other so well, we know each other so well that we don't even need to look to know who it is.
Qin is far away.
Gu Zeming turned around.
Qin Jiyuan was holding a black umbrella, his hair was neatly combed, and he also had a bouquet of flowers in his hand.
The white rose, like everyone else, exudes a nonchalant air of refinement.
His gaze lingered on Gu Zeming's face for a moment before turning to the tombstone.
"If your mother saw you like this, I don't know how she would feel."
Gu Zeming did not respond.
The air is more humid, sticking to the skin and feeling greasy.
Qin Jiyuan stepped forward, bent down, and placed the bouquet of white roses in his hands neatly in front of the monument, right next to Gu Zeming's bouquet of lilies.
He arranged them with extreme care, adjusting the angle so that the front of the bouquet faced outwards.
After arranging the stones, he did not immediately withdraw his fingers, but instead seemingly unintentionally and extremely naturally brushed over the inscriptions on the stone tablet.
"How are things going between you and that girl from the Jiang family lately?" The tone was casual.
Gu Zeming clenched his fist lightly in his pocket, his nails digging into his palm, causing a dull pain. His face remained expressionless, but his jawline tightened slightly.
"You don't need to worry about my affairs with her."
Qin Jiyuan smiled faintly, as if he had heard a joke. "You are my son. Isn't it only natural for me to care about the people around you?"
Gu Zeming stared at his hand and suddenly felt that his mother's tombstone was unclean.
Gu Qingru and Qin Jiyuan had experienced both happiness and pain during their more than ten years together, but their separation must have been filled with hatred.
She wasn't born with a mental illness, but rather suffered from mental derangement due to long-term drugging. Her husband, a powerful businessman who supposedly controlled everything in Beijing's elite circles, not only failed to care for her or help her find the perpetrator, but also had an affair while drunk, resulting in an illegitimate child.
Even after her divorce, her death from illness, and her becoming a cold tombstone, Qin Jiyuan still wouldn't let her go, harassing her here every few days.
Gu Zeming took a small step forward, his shoes crunching over the wet, slippery moss, his voice low and hoarse, completely distorted.
"I told you, you don't need to worry about it."
The two are about the same height, and when they stand together, they look like they were made from the same mold.
Qin Jiyuan didn't move, only slightly raised his eyebrows, as if he was a little surprised by his reaction, or as if he had expected it.
"Okay, let's not talk about this." He stopped looking at Gu Zeming, turned back to look at the tombstone, his gaze falling on the photo, his tone indifferent to the point of indifference: "After playing around for so long, it's time to settle down and come home. It's not that fun outside, and you can't protect anything. No matter how closely you watch over something, there will be times when you miss it."
He paused, as if issuing an ultimatum.
"Don't wait until something bad happens before you regret it."
Gu Zeming stared at him, then suddenly let out a cold laugh, a laugh filled with utter sarcasm: "I've said it before, threats don't work on me."
"Is that so?" Qin Jiyuan lowered his head, gently kissed the tombstone, and chuckled softly, "Wife, our son is being disobedient. What do you think I should do to punish him? Or, how about giving his dearest girl away as a gift?"
Gu Zeming's gaze darkened, and he looked at him coldly: "Everyone says my mother is crazy, but I think you are the one who should be locked up in a mental hospital."
"Why are you saying such useless things?" Qin Jiyuan straightened up, handed the umbrella to his assistant, and lit a cigar. "If you want to lock me up in a mental hospital and get rid of those who hurt your mother, you should come back to the Qin family."
"Only by returning to the Qin family can you get everything you want, including that girl from the Jiang family."
Gu Zeming didn't utter a sound.
Qin Jiyuan took a deep drag of his cigarette, inhaled it deeply, turned his head, and looked him up and down with a cold gaze: "I know what you're worried about. You're afraid that if you go back to the Qin family and that girl is with you, she'll end up like your mother."
“I understand your concerns, but we can’t be such a coward as our son. Now I can tell you very clearly that if she marries someone else, her final fate will only be worse than your mother’s.”
Gu Zeming frowned, and his throat suddenly tightened.
The sun came out, and it was so bright it made people dizzy.
Qin Jiyuan raised his hand and slowly brushed away the dust that wasn't even on the tombstone photo, his movements as gentle as if he were treating a lover, a stark contrast to the vicious words he uttered.
"If you want her, come back to the Qin family and get rid of all the people and things you don't like."
"You can do it."
After saying that, he turned around and, with the same unhurried pace he had taken, walked down the wet path until he disappeared from sight.
*
Perhaps because everyone was busy during exam week, Gu Zeming, who always stared at her like a ghost, hadn't appeared for a long time, and Jiang Chuyu resumed her life of quietude, like a living dead.
Every day after waking up, I would run back and forth between the dormitory, the exam room, the cafeteria, and the library. Occasionally, I would chat with Li Sen on the phone to relieve stress.
Li Sen is an excellent boyfriend and listener. He is gentle and knows when to advance and retreat. He will give her appropriate comfort and advice. Jiang Chuyu always feels enlightened after chatting with him.
The last gate is on the afternoon of the 12th.
As soon as the bell rang, Jiang Chuyu felt as if her bones had been removed, and she slumped down and followed the crowd out.
The afternoon sun in summer was a bit dazzling.
The phone in my bag buzzed, and when I took it out, I saw it was Qin Shengya.
Jiang Shan had previously told her to cultivate good relationships with the wealthy second-generation heirs in Beijing's elite circles and make more friends, especially those from the Qin family.
Therefore, at the last birthday party, Jiang Chuyu and Qin Shengya exchanged contact information and chatted occasionally, or played games together. Over time, they gradually became familiar with each other.
On the other end of the phone, Qin Shengya's voice was rapid-fire, as always: "Honey! You're free now, right? I'm flying to the capitalist heartland next week! It's the last hurrah, come wait for me at the school gate! Shopping! Eating! Hurry, hurry, hurry!"
Her voice was so loud that Jiang Chuyu had to move her phone further away, but she couldn't help but smile: "Are you exploiting surplus labor? You just finished your exams, your brain is all muddled."
"What are you scrambling for? Shopping doesn't require your brain, it's all about your wallet! Hurry up!"
After hanging up the phone, Jiang Chuyu slowly walked towards the school gate.
Before long, Qin Shengya pulled up on the side of the road in her flashy sports car.
"Chu taro!"
Qin Shengya stuck her head out of the car window and waved to her.
Sunglasses, hat, fully armed, at first glance you might mistake her for a female celebrity out on the street.
Jiang Chuyu walked over and got into the car.
Twenty minutes later, they arrived at a nearby shopping mall.
Qin Shengya grabbed her arm with terrifying strength: "Let's go! I'm going to go on a killing spree today!"
The mall was nicely air-conditioned, and they browsed through each store. Qin Shengya treated trying on clothes like a battle, grabbing a pile of dresses and shoving them at her: "Go on, try them all on! This one, this one, and that one—no saying no!"
When Jiang Chuyu came out of the fitting room, Qin Shengya stroked her chin and commented, "Hmm, this one's alright, I'll buy it!"
Jiang Chuyu looked at herself in the mirror at the light blue dress. The waistline was perfectly cinched, making her skin look very fair.
It's actually pretty good.
Jiang Chuyu smiled and nodded: "Okay, I'll listen to you."
Qin Shengya's shopping spree continued throughout the afternoon, as she swept through several stores and soon her hands were full of paper bags. However, she would frequently look down at her phone and frantically tap on it, a strange smile playing on her lips.
"Who should I report my itinerary to?" Jiang Chuyu raised an eyebrow.
Qin Shengya immediately slammed her phone screen down and grinned, "Nobody, just... asking my brother what he wanted for his birthday, to give him some suggestions. Come on, I'm exhausted, let's find somewhere to eat."
The two randomly chose a small restaurant not far from the school gate. The restaurant wasn't big, but it was quite crowded and noisy at this time of day.
After ordering two bowls of the signature beef noodles, Qin Shengya fiddled with her phone and suddenly spoke up seemingly casually, "Hey Chuyu, I have a question for you."
Jiang Chuyu, biting on the straw of her lemonade, nodded: "Go ahead and ask."
"Do you think that in this day and age, there's really no chance for a relationship between people from unequal social classes?"
Jiang Chuyu was taken aback for a moment upon hearing this, then laughed: "What, you're already thinking about interracial marriage before you've even gone abroad?"
"Be serious!" Qin Shengya tapped her hand with her chopsticks. The phone under the table was on speakerphone, and Gu Zeming was on the other end. "Just chatting, isn't that how it's portrayed in so many TV dramas and novels?"
Jiang Chuyu put down her cup and thought for a moment: "Art comes from life, but it is also higher than life. Anyway, as for me... I probably can't do it."
"Why? Can't true love conquer all?"
"Where do you find so much invincible true love?" Jiang Chuyu smiled slightly, her tone a bit indifferent. "Poverty really can change a person. Life is so hard, with daily necessities, trivial matters, and the constant wear and tear. What kind of feelings can't be worn down? Instead of wasting your energy accompanying a man's growth, gambling on his potential that may or may not materialize, it's better to invest in yourself. At least you're guaranteed to win." She shrugged. "Maybe I'm a bit selfish."
Qin Shengya scoffed and pointed at her: "Come on, all this talk boils down to one thing: not loving enough! When you actually meet someone you like, why would you care about all these pros and cons?"
"Maybe..." Jiang Chuyu had only said a few words when a pungent smell of smoke suddenly wafted past her nose.
Immediately afterwards, a scream came from the direction of the kitchen, followed by the ear-piercing sound of dishes shattering.
"Fire! Run!"
Thick smoke billowed out almost instantly, engulfing everything in sight. The once orderly small restaurant suddenly erupted into chaos, with the clatter of overturned tables and chairs, terrified cries, and the owner's hoarse commands all coming together in a frenzy.
The crowd surged towards the door like headless flies.
Jiang Chuyu was suddenly shoved and almost fell, but luckily Qin Shengya held her tightly. "Chuyu, over here!"
But the crowd was too fierce, and in one collision, their tightly clasped hands were forcibly torn apart.
"Cough cough..." The thick smoke stung her throat, causing a burning pain. Jiang Chuyu's eyes watered from the smoke, making it impossible for her to see anything.
"Sheng Ya! Sheng Ya!" Jiang Chuyu called out in a panic, reaching out to grab the person next to her, but she grabbed nothing.
The lights went out completely, leaving only the flickering orange flames in the distance, illuminating the panicked, running shadows.
A wave of heat hit us, and the air was scorching hot.
"Run! Run!" someone shoved her.
Jiang Chuyu was swept along by the crowd and stumbled a few steps before tripping over something and falling hard to the ground, her knees throbbing with pain.
Thick smoke completely obscured their vision, making it increasingly difficult to breathe. Qin Shengya's voice was long gone.
It's over.
The thought flashed through my mind, and fear poured over me like ice water, freezing my limbs.
My consciousness was gradually drained away by the thick smoke and high temperature, and my body went limp.
Just before I was plunged into complete darkness, I seemed to hear a terrified, tearing scream, as if it came from a great distance, yet also as if it were right next to my ear.
Then, a tremendous force suddenly shattered the surrounding surging heat waves, and something hard protected her tightly, pulling her into a hot but firm embrace.
The jolting, the impacts, the muffled roars, and the burning sensation on my skin gradually faded... In the end, all that remained was the almost trembling confinement from that embrace.
...
The smell of disinfectant.
The first feeling upon regaining consciousness was a dry, sore throat, followed by a feeling of weakness and soreness throughout the body, as if it had been disassembled.
Jiang Chuyu struggled to open her heavy eyelids, and it took her a while to see the white ceiling above her head.
Hospital?
She turned her head blankly and saw Gu Zeming sitting on the chair by the bed.
He looked... utterly wretched. His usually impeccably pressed white shirt was wrinkled, the cuffs were smudged with black ash, and there were even some burn marks. His hair was disheveled, there were faint dark circles under his eyes, his jawline was taut, and he looked unusually disheveled.
This is completely unlike the ever-aloof, aloof, and composed Gu Zeming.
How did he end up here?
Gu Zeming noticed the movement and suddenly looked up.
Their eyes met, and the complex emotions surging in his eyes startled Jiang Chuyu. There was lingering fear, worry, and an unfathomable undercurrent that she couldn't understand.
His Adam's apple bobbed, as if he wanted to say something.
He touched her cheek with his finger and slowly leaned closer.
Just then.
"Chu taro!"
The ward door was suddenly pushed open, and Qin Shengya led Li Sen and several of her roommates in.
Time seemed to freeze in an instant.
Everyone clearly saw Gu Zeming's movements stop. Then, as if he hadn't seen the intruder at all, he leaned down and kissed Jiang Chuyu's neck and the back of her neck with extremely precious and obsessive lips. Then he gently took her skin into his mouth and sucked on it. His posture was full of possessive morbidity, which was a shocking contrast to his usual cold and aloof image.
"Ah!" Caiyan cried out in surprise, covering her mouth.
Lin Yun and Shi Qing were pale, their eyes filled with shock and disbelief.
They looked as if they had witnessed something extremely terrifying; their lips trembled slightly, and they subconsciously took a half-step back, glancing sharply at Jiang Chuyu and then at Jiang Guzeming.
Li Sen's face instantly darkened. He walked over, grabbed Gu Zeming, and said in a cold, hard voice, "Do you know what you're doing?!"
He grabbed Gu Zeming by the collar and punched him hard in the face.
Bang!
Gu Zeming's head was turned to the side by the blow, and blood immediately seeped from the corner of his mouth. He simply wiped it away slowly with his thumb, not only not fighting back, but also staring at Li Sen with a low, cold laugh, his eyes frighteningly sinister.
"As you can see, I am kissing her."
Li Sen was completely enraged, and his fist came down again.
"Stop hitting him! Li Sen! Stop!" Jiang Chuyu finally snapped out of her shock, her heart pounding.
She struggled to leap off the bed, staggering to stand between the two men, desperately trying to block them.
Li Sen was panting heavily, his chest heaving violently. Seeing Jiang Chuyu's pale face, he finally managed to stop.
"Chu Yu." He looked at Jiang Chu Yu, who was standing in front of Gu Zeming, took a deep breath, reached out his hand to her, and said in a hoarse voice, "Come here."
Jiang Chuyu was still in shock and subconsciously looked at Gu Zeming.
He was badly beaten; his cheekbones were bruised, his mouth was split, and his shirt was disheveled, yet he still stood ramrod straight.
He stared at her with an almost obsessive gaze, a look so heavy it suffocated her.
Then, he suddenly reached out, his cold fingers gripping her wrist tightly like iron clamps, the force so strong it hurt.
He wouldn't allow it.
Li Sen's gaze grew even colder.
Jiang Chuyu was caught in the middle, with Li Sen's warm palm on one side and Gu Zeming's cold and stubborn confinement on the other.
His eyes blazed with an undisguised, almost frenzied possessiveness that sent chills down one's spine with just a glance.
That clever, beautiful, clean, and arrogant cat was ultimately ruined by her.
Almost without hesitation, Jiang Chuyu forcefully shook off Gu Zeming's hand.
His fingers froze in mid-air, the light in his eyes instantly extinguished, leaving only a bottomless darkness as he stared intently at her.
Jiang Chuyu felt a sudden pang in her heart. She avoided his gaze, turned to Li Sen, and said in a trembling voice, "...Let's go."
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