Chapter 5
“Hello… Mr. Gu?”
The anger in Gu Bochuan’s voice startled me.
But I gripped my phone and hurried on. “I’m Fang Yun’s friend. She’s in the hospital, and it’s bad. Can you get here quickly?”
He was silent on the other end.
Then he said, “What is she playing at now?”
I sounded even more frantic. “What are you talking about? She’s just been in a car accident. She’s in critical condition…”
“Enough,” he said coldly. “She’s pulled this stunt plenty of times.
“Whenever she does something wrong, she either pretends to be ill or hurts herself so I’ll feel sorry for her.
“Has she realized she’s gone too far this time? Is that why she’s escalated to a car accident?
“Tell her to see a doctor if she’s injured. I’m not one.”
“Gu Bochuan!” I shouted.
It was no use.
He’d hung up.
Gu Bochuan
Gu Bochuan tossed his phone aside and sat in silence for a long time.
Ever considerate, Shen Mianmian asked, “Has something happened to your wife? Why don’t you go see her first? I’m all right.”
He rubbed irritably between his brows. “Ignore her.”
Shen Mianmian bit her lip. “She must be very frightened right now.
“She only wants to see you. You’re husband and wife. Surely you can work things out…”
The more she pleaded, the colder his expression became.
“Don’t worry, Mianmian,” he said. “I won’t take her side just because she’s my wife.
“I’ll make sure you get justice.”
Tears clung to Shen Mianmian’s lashes, poised to fall. “You’re so good to me, Mr. Gu.”
…
“Renhui Hospital, sir?” the driver asked.
Renhui was a private hospital jointly funded by the Gu and Fang families.
“No,” Gu Bochuan said coolly. “The municipal hospital.”
Shen Mianmian could tell he was avoiding Fang Yun. His wife was at Renhui, and he’d rather change hospitals than stop in to see her.
She lowered her head and smiled silently.
…
Gu Bochuan took Shen Mianmian to the municipal hospital.
After examining her, the doctor said there was nothing seriously wrong apart from a few external injuries.
Psychologically, however, she seemed badly shaken. She would sleep briefly, then wake up crying out.
Through her tears, she told him, “Go take care of your work, Mr. Gu. Don’t worry about me.”
Gu Bochuan had been wavering over whether to check on Fang Yun. Seeing how utterly pitiful Shen Mianmian looked, he decided to stay.
Two days passed before she finally settled down.
When he left the hospital, Gu Bochuan finally switched on his personal phone.
He expected dozens of messages and missed calls from Fang Yun.
This time, there was nothing.
An unfamiliar unease rose in him for no apparent reason.
He’d never felt anything like it.
He tried to shake it off.
But after sitting in his office for a long time, he couldn’t help calling me.
“Where’s Fang Yun?” he asked coldly. “Put her on.”
I was quiet for a very, very long time.
“I know you’re her friend,” he said, already impatient. “Tell Fang Yun to come see me immediately—”
“Fang Yun is dead,” I said softly.
A long silence followed.
Then I heard him scoff.
“Stop playing these games.”
His voice turned stern.
“Tell her I’ve calmed Mianmian down. She’s agreed not to call the police or tell anyone what happened.
“There’s no need for Fang Yun to keep hiding. Tell her to come see me!”
I said nothing else. I simply gave him an address, slowly.
“If you want to see her so badly, come find her here.”