You Owe Me, My Love

Chapter 389 You Should Know What I Think

“I need to wash my hands,” Gu Mingchen replied curtly.

“Oh.” Wu Nian opened the door and stood to the side.

Gu Mingchen turned on the faucet and washed his hands while watching her through the mirror. She stood there quietly with slightly downcast eyes, giving off a submissive vibe.

Recalling her obstinance, his gaze sharpened. “Why did you lock the door? Are you afraid that I'm going to eat you?”

“Um, it's just a habit,” Wu Nian explained.

Gu Mingchen turned around to look at her directly. “Have you called Aaron?”

“It was too early when I came back. And I just woke up, so I haven't had the time to call him yet.” “Is that really it, or are you having second thoughts?” Gu Mingchen questioned, his eyes locked onto her as he tried to gauge her reaction.

Wu Nian squirmed under the weight of his gaze. “Don’t you trust me?”

“I'm just afraid that you'd run away or undergo plastic surgery then come back and pretend not to know me. You're six years younger than me, so you're still in your youth. I, on the other hand, have two kids. I don't have the luxury of waiting,” Gu Mingchen said in an enigmatic tone.

Wu Nian's eyes flickered as she couldn't help but feel like he was talking about Bai Rong. Despite her nerves, she managed to keep her cool. “Even though you have two kids, you have plenty of admirers. Didn't Ai Wei“er just confess her feelings for you last night?”

“My admirers can't possibly be more than yours, can it? Su Xuyan, Aaron, and others I don't even know about. Am I the backup, or are they?” Gu Mingchen reprimanded angrily.

Backup?

He was obviously the one who forced himself onto me like the tyrant that he is.

I never even planned to get into a relationship with him. Now, he’s making it seem like everything's my fault? That I'm a promiscuous woman who plays on other people's feelings?

Wu Nian's eyes turned cold and her expression hardened. “If you think you're a backup, so be it. Since you're so certain of it, there's nothing I can do to change your mind. I need to change my clothes now. Please leave.”

Gu Mingchen grabbed her shoulders and pushed her against the wall, his eyes darkening with frustration. “Do you really not care about me? Aren't you going to at least try and explain instead of letting me think this way?”

"Since you don't trust me, no amount of explanation can change that.”

"How do you expect me to trust you?” There was a hint of accusation in Gu Mingchen's tone as he looked at her with a piercing gaze.

Wu Nian stared back at him coolly. “Since you don't trust me, there's nothing left for me to say. If you want to end this thing between us, then end it.”

Gu Mingchen studied her with his lips pressed into a thin line. His eyes flashed and his breathing gradually turned erratic, the puffs of hot air blasting her cheeks.

“End it, you said?” Gu Mingchen reiterated.

Wu Nian’s heart clenched painfully in her chest, but since she never wanted it to begin, ending it wouldn't be so difficult. Hence, she nodded in response.

"Stop dreaming. That won't ever happen. I'll wait for you outside.” Gu Mingchen went out, his figure looking slightly disheartened.

Wu Nian was lost in a daze for a moment. Finally, she heaved a sigh as tears blurred her vision. How much does one have to suffer because of the sins of their lover before finally being liberated? She wiped her tears and looked at herself in the mirror.

Wasn't undergoing plastic surgery and changing my name supposed to help me alter my fate and path in life?

Why does it feel like a vicious cycle and that I'm right back where I started?

She brushed away another stray tear from the corner of her eye and splashed cold water onto her face. After wiping her face dry, she noticed that her eyes were slightly red. She closed her eyes and took in a deep breath to calm her emotions. Once she recomposed herself, she opened her eyes, changed into some clothes, and went out.

Gu Mingchen had smoked three cigarettes and was currently on his fourth one.

Wu Nian strode over and snatched the cigarette from his hand, snubbing it out while chiding him, "Smoking is bad for your health.”

Gu Mingchen grabbed her waist and pulled her into his arms before lowering his head to capture her lips with his. It was a vicious and punishing kiss, packed with a maelstrom of emotions.

When his familiar masculine scent mixed with the smell of tobacco permeated Wu Nian's senses, all traces of resistance left her body.

According to her understanding of Gu Mingchen, if she tried to push him away, he would deepen the kiss and render her completely immobile. Hence, she had no choice but to let herself be kissed senseless.

Gu Mingchen only released her after a full five minutes. With a hint of pain peeking through his eyes, he asked, “You studied psychology. Tell me, what should I do now?”

“There two kinds of love in this world—unrequited love, and love that is lost. The truth is, once you free yourself from the shackles of your own illusion, you will find that there are many better people in the world.”

“Is that what you think? So, you're saying that I should forget about my past love even though it's already engraved on my heart? Wouldn't I have to rip out my heart, then?” Gu Mingchen questioned harshly.

“It doesn’t matter what I think. What matters is what you think,” Wu Nian said softly.

“I want to be with you and live an ordinary life together. We don't have to do much every day. I'll be happy with just having all three meals together, sharing the same bed, discussing our children’s progress, and about the mundane problems in life. Of course, I would also like to grow old together. That's all I ask for,” Gu Mingchen said earnestly with reddened eyes.

He really wasn't asking for much. He just hoped that she wouldn't make him wait forever.

Wu Nian's eyes reddened as well. The dam of emotions she had struggled to contain ruptured and tears flowed down her face.

She longed for the life that Gu Mingchen described. That was a real home, where one would want to return to no matter how far they drifted away.

Everyone started off alone, searching for someone they could love. That way, they would no longer be alone and their soul would have a sense of belonging. Hence, when they passed, they wouldn't feel that their life was in vain.

However, she was afraid that staying by his side would only lead him to his demise.

And if he perished, her entire world would crumble.

Hence, she would rather stay quietly by his side, taking care of him and Yanny on the sidelines because to her, that was more than enough.

At the sight of her tears, all his anger, complaints, and resentment morphed into heartache. He kissed away her tears and whispered, “Nian, we can make it.”

Wu Nian nodded.

Gu Mingchen kissed her again. “You must be hungry. Let's go have something to eat.”

Wu Nian shook her head. “I'll call room service. It's too risky to eat out together.”

“What do you mean by “risky’?” Gu Mingchen was perceptive as always.

“I don't want others to find out about us,” Wu Nian explained.

“Let's say someone does find out, what kind of risk will we face?” Gu Mingchen prodded.

“I don’t wanna talk about this.” Wu Nian was about to get up from his lap, but he tightened his arms around her, preventing her from moving.

“You're a coward, Wu Nian. You always retreat into your shell whenever you encounter a minor hiccup.”

“That's because you don't know what I've been through or what shaped me into the person that I am. Yes, I'm a coward, but what's so wrong with that? Those who die on the frontlines are the brave ones who didn’t know any better. This is the way I am. You can accept it, or not. Either way is fine by me."

Gu Mingchen loosened his grip on her.

She rose to her feet, but didn’t dare to look at him.

Picking up the hotel's built-in phone, she called the front desk to order room service.

In the middle of the call, a loud bang reverberated through the room. She instinctively glanced toward the door and found that Gu Mingchen had left.

Her heart sank to the pit of her stomach. After hanging up the call, she lay on the bed and stared at the white ceiling as sorrow washed over her.