chapter 50
The crowd had dispersed, leaving the doorway empty.
Gu Che turned around and looked at the girl opposite him, meeting her cold, dark eyes. He froze for a moment.
His usually quick tongue suddenly stumbled. “Uh… well…”
Gu Qingning didn’t reply. Barefoot, she walked across the carpet and bent down to pick up the blanket that had fallen on the floor.
Watching the back of her head, a wave of frustration surged in him.
Gu Che ruffled his short brown hair, suddenly beginning to understand the helpless tone Ah Zhao had on the phone.
He took a step forward and followed her, his wild demeanor completely subdued, and meekly said, “Yao’er, Second Brother just wanted to see you earlier. I’m sorry for scaring you.”
Gu Qingning still didn’t speak. Gu Che helped pick up the table lamp and the throw pillows on the floor. “Go sit down. Second Brother will help you tidy up.”
Gu Qingning straightened up and sized up her second brother.
Sharp brows, phoenix-like eyes, handsome features, a white T-shirt, black pants, and a black sports jacket over it, making him look both cool and impressive.
Only the dark bruise on the corner of his mouth stood out.
Her eyes flickered slightly. She opened a drawer, grabbed a clean towel, and then stepped toward the exit.
Thinking she was angry, Gu Che panicked and hurried after her downstairs.
“Yao’er, Second Brother really didn’t mean to barge into your room. It’s late at night; it’s not safe for a girl to be out alone.”
He had completely forgotten about his earlier words about scolding her and establishing his authority as an older brother, and now he trailed after Gu Qingning like an eager puppy.
When Gu Qingning entered the kitchen, Gu Che behind her froze.
“Yao’er, are you hungry? Want me to cook you some noodles?”
Besides making noodles, all he could cook was fried rice. Anything else was beyond him.
Gu Qingning opened the fridge, her voice softening slightly. “I’m not hungry.”
She reached into the freezer, grabbed a handful of ice cubes, and wrapped them in the towel.
Gu Che watched in astonishment.
“Yao’er, what are you—”
She cut him off and handed him the towel. “Hold this on it.”
Gu Che came back to his senses. His features softened into a grin, almost stretching from ear to ear.
He took the towel and pressed it against the bruise on his mouth.
The ice in the towel spread its chill across his skin, easing the sting of the bruise.
Although he had gotten a beating, it now seemed entirely worth it.
Gu Qingning closed the fridge and spoke lightly, “Don’t barge into my room again.”
Gu Che nodded with a smile and held up three fingers. “Of course. Second Brother promises.”
He had already learned his lesson the hard way and wouldn’t make the same foolish mistake again.
He truly hadn’t expected her to be so skilled.
“Second Brother, when did you come back?”
Attracted by the light from the kitchen, Gu Zhao appeared. Seeing Gu Che there, he looked surprised.
Gu Che turned to him, and their eyes met. “Just now.”
“Where did you go so late?”
At critical moments, he couldn’t even rely on him; not a trace of him in sight.
“Meeting Xi Nai and the others.” Gu Zhao noticed the towel in his hand and asked in confusion, “What happened to your mouth?”
Bringing up that topic at the wrong time, Gu Che’s face flickered with embarrassment.
“Uh…”
Gu Qingning spoke for him, revealing the truth. “I hit him.”
“Ah?”
Gu Zhao froze.
He suddenly remembered what Gu Che had said over the phone last time, and his thoughts took a mischievous turn. “Second Brother, speak properly. How could you lay a hand on Ning’er?”
Even when establishing brotherly authority, you can’t lay a hand, especially when Ning’er is a girl.
Gu Che was speechless.
He was actually being seen as such a savage in their eyes?
Gu Qingning explained succinctly, “He snuck into my room. I didn’t know it was him, so I defended myself.”
Hearing this, Gu Zhao gave Gu Che an even stranger look. “Second Brother, why were you sneaking into Ning’er’s room so late?”
No wonder he got beaten—this time, he had no complaints.
“I originally came to find you, but you weren’t there. I just wanted to see what Yao’er was like… but…” Gu Che trailed off awkwardly.
He hadn’t expected to get beaten the moment he approached. Truly unlucky.
He shifted the towel in his hand, and Gu Zhao finally saw the bruise on the corner of his mouth.
He couldn’t help but laugh maliciously. “Puhahaha.”
Gu Qingning’s lips curved slightly, a faint smile forming.
Gu Che’s handsome face darkened. He stretched out a long arm and grabbed Gu Zhao in a chokehold.
“Disrespectful! Look at how miserable I am, and you still have the nerve to laugh?”
Gu Zhao, caught by the neck, had to bend over, but his face was full of gloating laughter.
“Second Brother, a gentleman uses words, not hands.”
Gu Che snorted. “Nonsense.”
On the other side, Gu Qingning watched the brothers wrestling, and the coldness in her eyes gradually faded, replaced by a faint warmth.
Not wanting to interrupt, she turned and prepared to leave.
“Ning’er,” Gu Zhao called, stopping the roughhousing, “where are you going?”
“Back to my room,” she said.
“Yao’er, you’re already awake. Why sleep so early?” Gu Che grabbed her and teased, “I rushed back all night and only had a bread all day. How about a midnight snack?”
“I don’t—”
Before she could finish, Gu Che dragged her upstairs, giving Gu Zhao a knowing look. “Ah Zhao, you know the rules.”
Gu Zhao smiled knowingly, his worries eased.
It seemed Ning’er and Second Brother got along quite well.
