---

However, I didn’t rush to explain myself to Gu Yan. He’s the main lead, after all. He’ll always side with the heroine, so why would he help a side character like me?

I mentally prepared myself, waiting for Gu Yan to stand up for the heroine. But instead, he suddenly grabbed my hand, looked me up and down, and frowned.

“Why are you wearing this outfit?”

“What’s wrong with it?” I looked down at myself.

“Didn’t you say this sweater was uncomfortable?”

“Huh?” I blinked, suddenly remembering something. I think, at some point, Gu Yan had angered me, and to get back at him, I deliberately complained about this sweater in front of him because he personally picked it out for me.

That was a long time ago… How did he even remember that?

Is he holding a grudge?

“Go change,” Gu Yan said, dragging me upstairs. I could feel how tightly he was gripping my hand, his brow furrowed as if he was holding something back.

What surprised me most was that he hadn’t looked at Su Jin even once.

As I was pulled upstairs, I glanced back and met Su Jin’s gaze, filled with hatred.

What… is going on?

---

When I came back downstairs after changing, Su Jin was already gone.

I glanced at Gu Yan, wanting to ask something, but the words stuck in my throat. No matter how Gu Yan treats Su Jin, they’re still the male and female leads. Getting involved with them is certain death for someone like me, a disposable side character.

Still, a part of me hoped Gu Yan might say something about it. But instead, he just told Wu Ma to serve dinner, as if nothing had happened with Su Jin.

After all that, I was indeed hungry. Plus, I really love Wu Ma’s cooking. I hadn’t had it in three months and had been craving it, so I didn’t hesitate to dig in.

Gu Yan sat across from me, not eating, just watching me. After a while, he suddenly said, “You’ve lost weight.”

“Really?” I responded, stuffing another bite of chicken into my mouth.

Gu Yan quietly observed me again without saying anything.

Ever since Gu Yan brought me back, I’d been waiting for him to ask about what happened during the three months I was gone, but he hadn’t said a word about it.

Is it that he doesn’t care, or is he planning something big…?

Either way, I ate my fill, fully satisfied with the meal.

Afterward, I felt sleepy. I slumped on the couch, my head bobbing as I dozed off.

Half-asleep, I caught a faint scent of sandalwood and felt my head resting on something. A large hand pulled me closer, and I adjusted into a more comfortable position, falling into a deep sleep.

---

When I woke up, the sun was already streaming into the room.

I sat up with a start, suddenly realizing I had slept through the night.

I quickly got out of bed and rushed to the door. Just as I opened it, a maid greeted me.

“Good morning, Young Master Ye. Second Master said to go to the company after you wake up.”

Hearing that I had to see Gu Yan, my instinct was to refuse. But then I realized this might be my chance to leave the estate, and my heart surged with excitement.

Just because Gu Yan caught me doesn’t mean I have to accept my fate. I don’t want to be some tragic, forgotten side character. I need to get out.

---

On the way to Gu’s company, halfway there, I suddenly clutched my stomach and cried out in pain.

The driver, Zhao Shu, panicked and pulled out his phone to call Gu Yan.

“Uncle Zhao, I’m in so much pain, and you’re thinking about calling him? Shouldn’t you be taking me to the hospital?”

Uncle Zhao hesitated but eventually gave in to my words.

Relieved, I watched him put his phone away.

Half an hour later, Zhao Shu dropped me off at the city’s Second People’s Hospital.

While he parked, I told him I’d go ahead to register.

The moment I slipped out of his sight, I left the hospital and flagged down a taxi, heading straight to the police station.

I had come to Yun City to transfer my household registration. If everything went well, I could leave immediately.

But just as I got out of the car, several vehicles screeched to a halt in front of me, surrounding me.

Gu Yan stepped out of one of those familiar cars.

The moment I saw him, my heart trembled with fear.

Run!

That was the only thought in my mind.

Without hesitation, I turned and bolted to the left. But after just a few steps, a large hand grabbed the hood of my sweatshirt from behind.

Gu Yan’s cold, eerie voice came from behind me.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

“I… I…”

I tried to think of something to say, but my brain had gone blank from panic. I couldn’t form any words.

Am I going to die here?

No, I don’t want to die.

Perhaps it was my strong will to survive, but I suddenly turned around and hugged Gu Yan tightly.

“I was wrong, I was wrong.”

My voice was soft, submissive, completely unlike my usual self.

Because I knew Gu Yan liked it when I acted obedient.

Sure enough, his grip on my hoodie loosened.

“Wrong about what?” he asked coldly.

“I shouldn’t have run off. But I wasn’t trying to escape. I just didn’t want to go to the company, so I thought I’d wander around for a bit. After being away for three months, I missed Yun City.”

“Just Yun City?”

Quickly catching on, I added, “I missed you too.”

Gu Yan stared at me for a few seconds.

His gaze made me feel guilty, and I quickly lowered my head.

Then I heard his voice again.

“Let’s go.”

He took my hand.

“Huh?” I looked at him, confused.

“Didn’t you say you wanted to wander around?”

My eyes widened. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.

Gu Yan was going to take me out for a stroll?

As clever as he is, there’s no way he couldn’t see through my lie. But instead of calling me out on it, he’s going along with it?

I felt more and more like I couldn’t figure Gu Yan out.