Chapter 144 - Chapter 144: Lu Zhiyuan Is Jealous
Chapter 144: Lu Zhiyuan Is Jealous
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
Gu Ci’s firm and confident demeanor, along with the consistent stance from both Lu Zhiyuan and the bodyguard team, seemed quite outlandish. However, the investigator couldn’t explain why Gu Ci held the unscathed reasoning for jumping off the building while holding Gu Ziyu.
Chen Liangdong said, “Let’s not confuse priorities here. They are the victims, not the perpetrators. What you should investigate is Lu Shijie’s abduction of Gu Ziyu and the attempted murder.”
“Yes, Director!” The investigator left after completing the record.
Chen Liangdong said, “Ziyu, take good care of yourself. This matter will be explained to you.”
“Is he dead?”
“Alive,” Chen Liangdong said. “We’ve saved a life. The evidence is solid. Lu Shijie will face multiple charges, and we’ll sentence him according to the law.”
Gu Ci initially wanted Lu Shijie to suffer while alive. Judging by Chen Liangdong’s attitude, it was likely he would face the death penalty. Exiting this life sooner might not be a bad thing.
It was a pity, though. He couldn’t gradually torment him.
Chen Liangdong felt sorry for the innocent suffering of Gu Ziyu. Adult conflicts had nothing to do with children. Lu Shijie not dying was also a good thing. Chen didn’t want Ziyu burdened with taking a life.
“His wretched life isn’t worth you carrying.”
No matter how precocious Gu Ziyu was or how solitary and indifferent he seemed, in Chen Liangdong’s eyes, he was a six-year-old child. Carrying the weight of a life was always a burden.
Chen Liangdong was constantly busy and couldn’t stay at the hospital for long. After he left, Gu Ziyu said, “Mom, you should go back home and get some sleep. Your eyes are bloodshot.”
Gu Ci didn’t want to go home to sleep. She decided to rest in the adjacent ward instead.
Originally, Li Jiang was going to bring a nutritious meal, but upon hearing the news, the Jiang family mobilized. By noon, they were all gathered in the hospital room. Gu Ci was sound asleep, unaware. Jiang Junlin closed the door tightly to avoid disturbing her.
Upon seeing Ziyu’s wound, Lin Chunli and the old lady felt both distressed and angry. The old lady couldn’t help but curse Lu Shijie for lacking any sense of decency. “He should be locked up for twenty years.”
“Even twenty years would be too lenient for him,” the old master added angrily. As they grew older, they felt even more empathetic toward the younger generation. Hearing from the doctor that the liver was injured only made matters worse.
Gu Ziyu responded to others’ kindness with compliance. He ate whatever was given to him and reassured them that he didn’t feel any pain at all, which further endeared him to the elders.
A child who had been stabbed still consoled them.
Gu Ziyu had truly grown accustomed to pain. Aside from the discomfort upon waking up, he gradually got used to it.
“Is Cici hurt?” Jiang Junlin asked.
Gu Ziyu replied, “Just a slight abrasion on the arm.”
Upon hearing that it was nothing serious, Jiang Junlin felt relieved. He turned to look out the window, lost in thought. He had never paid much attention to Lu Shijie, considering him nothing more than a failure. It never crossed his mind that he was a rabid dog, trying to drag someone down with him in his dying moments.
Chen Rushi treated him as a discarded pawn. Lu Shijie had run out of options and was acting recklessly. Instead of seeking a mutual end with Lu Zhiyuan, he had gone after Gu Ci and Ziyu. Jiang Junlin sneered; he truly knew how to court death!
The sun was shining brightly, and the sky was clear. Jiang Junlin mused to himself, “He won’t have the chance to see this blue sky again.”
Gu Ci woke up in the afternoon, belatedly realizing that Lu Zhiyuan hadn’t come to the hospital. She furrowed her brows and asked Li Jiang, “Where’s Third Young Master from your family?”
“He’s out racing.” Li Jiang had a splitting headache, not sure why. Third Young Master had been racing all day today, ignoring the fact that he had injured Gu Ziyu and Gu Ci. He had warned Lu Shijie about it, but it seemed like he didn’t care.
Given Third Young Master’s concern for Miss Gu Ci, this was definitely abnormal.
Gu Ci also had an uneasy feeling. With Jiang Minghua and Lin Chunli taking care of Ziyu in the hospital, and seeing that his condition had stabilized, Gu Ci decided to find Lu Zhiyuan. As Ziyu watched her retreating figure, he couldn’t help but think of last night’s leap.
Mom said, “Lu Zhiyuan, save me.”
The next second, Dad arrived.
Mom had known Dad’s secret for a long time. Why didn’t she tell him?
Upon returning to the Global Sports Center, Gu Ci found Lu Zhiyuan still racing. He had a habit: when he was in a bad mood, he liked to race. When his emotions were turbulent, he liked to race as well.
Li Jiang said, “Miss Gu Ci, he’s been racing for five hours straight.”
He had been racing since he woke up!
“I know.”
Even though the instructors had told him to stop, he didn’t. It wasn’t formal training; the instructors were quite helpless. Gu Ci stood by the track’s edge, and Lu Zhiyuan noticed her.
The racing car roared past, as if he hadn’t seen her.
Gu Ci waved at him, and he roared past her again. Without hesitation, she stood in the middle of the track. Lu Zhiyuan saw her from a distance and hit the brakes. His speed was too high, and sudden braking could have hurt her.
With intense concentration, he had been racing. He was drenched in sweat when he took off his helmet; his hair was almost soaked. Lu Zhiyuan remained in the car, watching as Gu Ci slowly approached.
A drop of sweat from his hair fell into his eyes, the slightly salty sweat causing his eyes to redden slightly. Lu Zhiyuan got out of the car, walked forward angrily, and just as Gu Ci grabbed his wrist, he pulled it away.
“All…” Gu Ci was pushed away and fell onto the track.
Lu Zhiyuan was taken aback and hurried to help. The palm of Gu Ci’s hand was red from the friction against the track. She looked at Lu Zhiyuan with a sense of injustice, “Are you… violent?”
Seeing that she was okay, he started to walk away with a cold expression. However, Gu Ci grabbed his wrist, “Why are you angry?”
He averted his gaze, not looking at her, his body tense and rigid.
“Third Brother…”
“You knew about my split personality, didn’t you?” Lu Zhiyuan stared at her with a pained look, “I’ve kept this secret for over a decade. When did you find out?”
Gu Ci’s heart sank, “I…”
“I hate lies the most!” Lu Zhiyuan suppressed his anger, “Gu Ci, don’t lie to me, I’m begging you.”
“While we were at the Lavis Racing event, I confirmed it.” Gu Ci no longer tried to deceive him or avoid the truth.
“So, the person you like is him!” Lu Zhiyuan looked at her intensely, “Every time something happens, he appears in your world like a heroic figure. Naturally, you’d like him. In Haicheng, you knew it was him, not me. You declared to the whole world that you like him, Gu Ci. In your eyes, am I a fool or a substitute?”
“Third Brother…”
“Don’t call me that!” Lu Zhiyuan roared, once again pushing her away. He stood up and looked down at her from a higher position. Gu Ci saw the redness in his eyes, and it tore at her heart.
Lu Zhiyuan arrogantly said, “I, Lu Zhiyuan, am not a pathetic substitute. I will never be anyone’s substitute!”
He turned around and left in big strides. The autumn wind blew onto Gu Ci’s face, freezing cold. She could only watch as Lu Zhiyuan resolutely walked away. Gritting her teeth, Gu Ci stood up, chased after him, and blocked his way.
“Lu Zhiyuan, are you a substitute?” Gu Ci’s eyes sparkled with determination, “You’re so proud, a true elite. Who would treat you as a substitute? 1… in my heart, you both are one person.”
“One person!” Lu Zhiyuan burst into laughter. “Gu Ci, how could he and I be the same person? We are two souls in one body. Either he dies or I perish—it’s fated for us to kill each other. If only one of us can survive, whom would you choose to die?”
Gu Ci was speechless..