Chapter 111 — Anlan's Unconsciousness

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Anlan stubbornly stood before the man, her hands gripping the doorframe. Her pale pink lips were tightly pressed together, her brows slightly furrowed, and her face was somewhat ashen, giving the impression she was about to collapse.

“None of your business. You say what you want.”

Anlan was strong-willed; she had never liked others seeing her vulnerable since childhood.

“No, Anlan, don’t be irrational.”

Gu Xiao felt a surge of displeasure at her stubbornness. What was Anlan insisting on? Her appearance alone suggested discomfort to anyone watching.

Without thinking, Gu Xiao cupped her delicate face with both hands. When his fingers touched her cold skin, his heart jolted. Why was she so cold?

“Are you feeling cold?”

He lowered his head, his warm breath brushing against the damp strands of her hair.

“Oh, stop with the nonsense. Hurry and take Lanlan inside. You’re a man full of vitality, but the poor girl is wearing so little and has been soaked in seawater for so long—she’s definitely running a fever.”

Mu Lang looked at the hesitant “heartless man” Gu Xiao with disdain, utterly exasperated.

Normally, Gu Xiao was quite playful and cheerful, so why was he acting so awkward now?

Gu Xiao turned and shot a glare at the man who had spoken. “If you say so.”

He raised his hand and placed his burning palm on her exquisite, flushed forehead. “Why is it so hot?”

Anlan shook off his hand without a word and turned to leave.

Gu Xiao remained still, glancing at her retreating figure. Then he abruptly turned to Mu Ran.

“Mu Ran, I’ll come find you later. Introduce me to that bald fortune-teller; I want him to help me check my fate.”

Mu Ran curled her lips into a cold sneer, her eyes icy. A chilling aura gradually radiated from her.

She stepped in front of Gu Xiao, the curve of her mouth rising further, her gaze filled with disgust and disapproval.

“Gu Xiao, get lost. You’re going to be single forever. Look at Lanlan! Have you lost your mind? Stop dawdling!”

With that, Mu Ran pried Gu Xiao’s hand off Anlan’s wrist and shoved him hard in the chest. “Get away. You should have drowned in the water!”

“Lanlan, are your legs cramping? Here, put your hand on my shoulder; I’ll help you back to your room.”

Anlan, her lips pale, looked across at Mu Ran, whose aura was cold and fierce. Mu Ran shook her head. “Let’s go.”

“Ranran,” Gu Beicheng called softly, but the woman ignored him, shooting him a frigid glare.

“Lanlan!”

Mu Ran’s gaze had just shifted from Gu Beicheng when the woman beside her suddenly lost balance and collapsed, unconscious.

“What’s happening?”

Mu Lang hurried over to check Anlan’s condition. “Why are her legs shaking so badly? Must be cramps. Quickly take her to her room; she’s burning up.”

Mu Lang glanced at Gu Xiao, who was rubbing his chest in silent frustration, and gestured, “Xiao, come on, carry her to the room.”

Gu Xiao shot a glance at the silent Mu Ran and cautiously stepped forward. He knelt slowly and lifted Anlan’s body from the ground. “Okay, I’ll take good care of her.”

Mu Ran’s tone was dark and threatening. “Gu Xiao, this is all your fault. You better take good care of her, or I won’t go easy on you or your brother.”

Gu Beicheng strode forward and wrapped his arms around Mu Ran’s waist, his voice hoarse and tinged with grievance. “It’s Gu Xiao’s fault; what does that have to do with me?”

Mu Ran broke free from his hold, waving her small hand to disperse the fresh yet mature scent clinging to him. Her expression was impassive. “Gu Xiao is your brother. His despicable nature has a lot to do with you. From now on, if Gu Xiao messes with me or Lanlan, you’ll be held responsible too!”

Gu Beicheng didn’t dare to argue. He gently placed his warm palm on Mu Ran’s head, his soft voice filled with indulgence and affection. “As long as you’re happy.”

Mu Ran snorted coldly, her gaze sharpening into a piercing glare aimed at Gu Xiao, who was carrying Anlan.

Gu Xiao held Anlan carefully, afraid she might slip from his arms.

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If anything happened to this woman, it wouldn’t just be Mu Ran—the ruthless woman—who would go after him; his big brother, who fiercely protected and cherished his wife, would surely not let him off either.

“Ah—!”

He was at the very bottom of the food chain!

The man shook his head slightly, clutching the woman tightly.

He raised his chin slightly, his fox-like eyes vacant as they fixed on the number plate on the door.

Right!

What was Anlan’s room number again?

Gu Xiao wanted to slap himself. How could he have been intimidated by Mu Ran earlier? More importantly, he hadn’t even asked Anlan’s room number!

“Hey, Anlan, are you still conscious?”

Though Anlan was not fully unconscious, Gu Xiao had just narrowly escaped death and was weak, making it difficult to hold her.

His legs trembled, as if numb.

“Ugh—Gu Xiao, you’re such a big fool!”

Suddenly, Anlan, cradled in his arms like a princess, whimpered softly. Her hands, seemingly with a will of their own, found their way to his neck, wrapping tightly around him.

Gu Xiao: “!!!”

Was Anlan awake?

Good, good. If she was awake, she should stand up quickly!

He was almost about to give out!

His legs shook violently, his hands weakening, about to release the woman whose eyes were still closed but whose arms clung to him tightly.

“Anlan, I know you saved me, and I’m really grateful, but I have no strength left. If you’re awake, can you come down? I’m afraid...”

Gu Xiao gritted his teeth, staring down at the delicate doll-like woman in his arms.

In that moment, his heart involuntarily trembled.

How had he never noticed before how beautiful Anlan was when her eyes were closed?

It wasn’t that Anlan was ugly when her eyes were open—she was usually wild and boisterous, far too noisy.

Now, lying quietly in his arms, she looked utterly endearing.

Suddenly, Gu Xiao felt a surge of strength fill him. He hugged the motionless woman tightly, who still clung to his neck.

He even leaned in, his nose nearly touching her soft cheek.

“Anlan, is there someone you like?”

As he spoke, a mischievous smile flickered in his devilish eyes.

His aura of wickedness enveloped the frowning woman.

“Hmm? Lanlan?”

Catching the change in her expression, his eyes darkened with mischief. He raised his arms, their faces only a few centimeters apart.

His lips curled in a sly smile, motionless, waiting for her unconscious murmurs.

Sure enough, a few seconds later, the woman in his arms shifted slightly, seemingly irritated by his warm breath. She turned her face away, her eyes still closed, long thick lashes casting shadows.

Anlan’s complexion gradually flushed, and her spasming legs eased.

She parted her pale lips and murmured without awareness, “Gu Xiao! You’re a bad man! I’ll never like you again!”

“What?!”

Gu Xiao’s heart skipped a beat. His playful expression instantly turned serious. He moved his face closer to hers, his ear near her lips. “Anlan, say that again. Who... who do you like?”

His heart pounded like a drum, slow but powerful.

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He couldn’t believe it—had Anlan just confessed she liked him?

But they were just ordinary friends, barely in contact on their own accord.

“Anlan, do you like me?”

Gu Xiao whispered gently to the sleeping woman, but she gave no response.

No matter how much he called, she remained silent.

“Xiao! What are you doing standing there? Ah! Sorry for interrupting!”

Mu Jingrong, the second son of the Mu family, stood at the end of the corridor on the second floor, calling out to the unmoving Gu Xiao.

When he saw the woman in Gu Xiao’s arms with her back to him, he smirked slyly and turned to leave.

Mu Jingrong had suspected there was some romantic tension between Anlan and Gu Xiao.

“Stop! Brother Mu, where are you headed?”

Gu Xiao held Anlan and turned to face Mu Jingrong.

A mischievous smile curled Gu Xiao’s lips as his meaningful gaze flicked between Mu Jingrong and the little girl he held.

Wasn’t that little girl a newly signed artist with SY?

If she were an ordinary newcomer, Gu Xiao wouldn’t even notice.

But this little girl was the famous director Chen’s daughter.

Mu Jingrong, the “scoundrel,” wouldn’t dare harbor improper intentions toward her...

“What’s it to you?”

Mu Jingrong calmly positioned himself in front of Chen Xiaoyi, his eyes deep, silently warning the other not to meddle.

“Brother Mu, you’re too sensitive. I’m too busy with my own affairs to care about you and your little girlfriend.”

An unspoken understanding passed between the two men.

“I’m not his girlfriend!”

Chen Xiaoyi poked her head out and pushed Mu Jingrong’s back. “I’m not Teacher Mu’s girlfriend!”

The girl shot a fierce glare at the devilishly charming man nearby, raised her foot, and mercilessly stepped on Mu Jingrong’s shoes. “Teacher Mu! Explain yourself!”

Mu Jingrong lowered his eyelids, a flicker of surprise passing through his calm eyes. He squinted at Chen Xiaoyi’s pouty face, his gaze warming, causing a blush to bloom on her cheeks.

Chen Xiaoyi wobbled slightly, her bright eyes fixed on the shoe bearing her footprint. “Sorry, got carried away.”

“Hey, Brother Mu, do you know Anlan’s room number?”

Mu Jingrong glanced at Gu Xiao’s hair lazily and raised a hand, pointing to the room behind him. “The one right behind you, but...”

“Thanks.”

Gu Xiao casually flicked his hair. As he moved, a stream of black liquid slid from his forehead down his face. He lowered his eyelids, squinting at the dark liquid. “Damn, is it fading again?”

Without greeting Mu Jingrong properly, Gu Xiao strode forward briskly, hurriedly reaching the door. He grabbed Anlan’s hand, scanned his fingerprint, opened the door, entered, and closed it—each action smooth yet rushed.

“Teacher Mu, that woman in Director Gu Xiao’s arms looks like our SY’s President An. Are they...?”

Though Chen Xiaoyi hadn’t attended university, she had endured a painful and bleak final year of high school, during which her eyesight worsened to the point that without glasses, she couldn’t distinguish people from animals at ten meters.

“You’re mistaken.”

Mu Jingrong pinched the soft cheeks of the girl without hesitation. He leaned down slightly, his clear, deep black eyes meeting her innocent gaze.

A faint smile graced his lips, making his handsome and noble face even more radiant and charming.

“Is that so? But that dress... President An and Director Gu must be a couple. I even saw President An’s phone wallpaper—it was a man’s silhouette, and that silhouette was clearly Gu Xiao...”