Chapter 46: So This Is “Not Eating or Drinking”?

As Aunt Zhao spoke, she sounded like she was about to cry.

Wen Zhixian couldn’t help but feel even more annoyed with Gu Yuchen—he created a mess and dragged others into his misery.

When she didn’t respond, Aunt Zhao’s tone grew more anxious. “I know it’s all Yuchen’s fault, and you don’t want to see him. Can you just treat it as visiting a patient, please?”

Wen Zhixian sighed inwardly. She’d never heard Aunt Zhao speak in such a pleading tone before.

“Zhixian, if it weren’t for something like this, I’d never ask you to see someone you dislike. Please, just help Auntie this once.”

The words of refusal caught in her throat.

“Alright, Aunt Zhao, I’ll go.” She silently cursed Gu Yuchen in her heart.

Aunt Zhao immediately expressed her gratitude and added, “I’ll head back to prepare lunch. See you at the hospital later.”

Wen Zhixian agreed and hung up the call.

She sent Qin Zhaoli a message: “Aunt Zhao just called me.”

Qin Zhaoli: “She wants you to visit Gu Yuchen?”

She replied: “Mm.”

Qin Zhaoli thought about it, guessing Gu Yuchen must be acting so dramatically that Aunt Zhao had no choice but to call Wen Zhixian. It was hard to refuse such a situation: “Why don’t you go with Qi Yanjing?”

Wen Zhixian already had that in mind: “That’s what I was thinking.”

She glanced at the time—11 a.m. She wasn’t sure if Qi Yanjing was in class, but she decided to call him anyway.

To her surprise, he answered.

“Zhixian, have you eaten yet?”

Hearing his soft, low voice made her feel a little lightheaded.

“Not yet.” She held her phone with one hand, propping her chin with the other. “Do you have time later?”

“Hmm? Do you want to have lunch with me?”

Wen Zhixian murmured, “Not exactly. Kairui sent him to the hospital this morning, said he wasn’t eating or drinking. Aunt Zhao called me and asked me to visit him.”

She sighed again. “I don’t want to see Gu Yuchen.”

Gu Yuchen in the hospital? Ha.

Qi Yanjing’s voice lightened with amusement. “Want me to come with you?”

“Of course,” she said in a soft, playful tone, propping her chin on her hand. “Visiting an ex requires telling you first, or what if you get mad and leave? I’d be at such a loss.”

A low laugh came from the other end of the call. “I’m not going anywhere.”

Then he added, “Let’s go. I’ll come with you.”

To see how miserable her ex was.

“When will you—” Wen Zhixian started to ask, glancing out the window, but her words caught in her throat as she smiled.

Qi Yanjing stood by his car, waving at her through the glass.

She grabbed her bag, said a quick goodbye to her staff, and ran out.

Yue Qi, who had been watching the scene for a while, clicked his tongue and commented to Lili beside him, “This is way too sweet.”

Lili agreed. “The boss is obviously so much happier now compared to when she was with Gu Yuchen.”

Back then, she’d been happy to see Gu Yuchen, but their time together was limited, and her smiles were far fewer. This—this was real love.

…

Wen Zhixian got into the car. “Why are you so early today?”

“No classes today. I went to the university this morning to submit a report. Didn’t want you to get mad at me, so I came back early to have lunch with you.”

“What would I even—oh, no, don’t you dare say it!”

As Wen Zhixian recalled the events of the previous night, her face grew warm.

Qi Yanjing chuckled softly, keeping his eyes on the road as he drove to the hospital.

When they arrived, Wen Zhixian followed the room number Aunt Zhao had provided and pressed the elevator button for the fifth floor.

Stepping out, she searched for the corresponding room. It seemed Aunt Zhao hadn’t returned yet.

She knocked on the door and then pushed it open. She was curious to see just how pitiful Gu Yuchen looked now.

But as the door opened, laughter greeted her.

Inside the room, besides Gu Yuchen, was another woman.

Wen Zhixian recognized her immediately—Li Chaomu.

Back when she was with Gu Yuchen, he often brought Li Chaomu around, forcing Wen Zhixian to tolerate her presence. Back then, it made her want to find any excuse to escape. Now, though, it just made her feel disgusted.

Oh, so this is the “not eating or drinking” Aunt Zhao mentioned?

What was all that food on the table for? What were those chopsticks in his hand for? And what exactly was he eating?

Although he looked pale, he seemed to be enjoying himself.

Ridiculous. What a waste of time.

Gu Yuchen froze for a moment when he saw Wen Zhixian standing at the door. For a split second, he was happy she had come to visit. But then Qi Yanjing appeared behind her, and Gu Yuchen’s smile stiffened. His eyes turned cold as he stared at him.

“Zhixian, you’re here.” Gu Yuchen masked his emotions and greeted her with a smile.

Li Chaomu chimed in, “Zhixian, it’s been a long time.”

Qi Yanjing raised an eyebrow at the scene. So this is “not eating or drinking”?

Wen Zhixian maintained her composure and replied politely, “It has been a while.”

Just as she spoke, a voice called out from behind her, “Zhixian.”

She turned to see Song Kairui, Qin Zhaoli, and Aunt Zhao walking down the corridor toward the room.

Before they even entered, Song Kairui quipped, “Let me see how fragile my good brother has become…”

His words trailed off when he saw the scene inside. After a brief, awkward laugh, he had nothing more to say.

Qin Zhaoli blinked in surprise. Li Chaomu?

Aunt Zhao, standing at the door, immediately frowned.

“Why are you all standing there? Come in and have a seat,” Gu Yuchen said, though his gaze was fixed on Qi Yanjing. “But I don’t like strangers intruding.”

Wen Zhixian let out a cold laugh and turned to Aunt Zhao. “Aunt Zhao, which part of this matches what you described? Don’t call me again about Gu Yuchen. Even if he dies, it’s none of my business.”

To make Qi Yanjing endure this awkward situation? Absolutely not.

Wasting even a second on Gu Yuchen was a waste of her life.

“Since Mr. Gu dislikes it, we won’t disturb you,” Qi Yanjing said, smiling as he took Wen Zhixian’s hand in front of Gu Yuchen.

That smile was particularly offensive in Gu Yuchen’s eyes—a direct provocation.

Yes, it was.

Wen Zhixian softly said to Song Kairui and Qin Zhaoli, “We’re leaving.”

With that, the two of them walked out hand in hand, right in front of Gu Yuchen.

“Zhixian!” Gu Yuchen tried to get out of bed in a panic, but Li Chaomu held him back. “Yuchen, you just got over a fever. Rest a bit more.”

Aunt Zhao threw the food container she’d brought into the trash. Her face was livid. “Gu Yuchen, when I left, you looked like you were on the verge of death. I swallowed my pride to beg Zhixian to visit you out of respect for me, and this is how you repay me? You claim to care about Zhixian, yet you pull this nonsense?”

Her son was making a fool of her.

“Aunt Zhao, Yuchen is still sick. Can you not scold him right now?” Li Chaomu pleaded.

Aunt Zhao was seething. “Didn’t you already break up with Gu Yuchen? Why can’t you stay away from him? Gu Yuchen gave you money for your treatment and wanted to visit you, even though he had a girlfriend at the time. I stopped him from seeing you, and he took it out on Zhixian. Young lady, you’ve changed a long time ago.”

“Mom, stop talking!” Gu Yuchen growled.