Chapter 9: What Are You Doing?

Everything happened suddenly. Gu Yao lowered her head, letting him tousle her hair. Though she wanted to ask what was going on, she restrained herself.

At that moment, a commotion broke out ahead. It seemed someone was arguing, and nearby car owners came out to watch, the area growing noisy.

Su Yu leaned over and pushed open the car door for her. “It’s fine now. Get out.”

After stepping down, Gu Yao finally looked up. It turned out Su Yu’s bodyguards had a conflict with the owner of a car ahead; the argument was intense.

“Let’s go to the back,” Su Yu said as he got out too, using the crowd as cover to pull her a few steps away. They got into an unassuming black car.

“Now, you’re going to tell me what’s really going on, right?” Gu Yao asked as soon as the door shut.

“Can it wait a moment?” Su Yu turned his head, hesitating. “After we leave here.”

Gu Yao said no more. She hated being kept in the dark but understood the importance of timing.

The quarrel ahead had calmed down. Su Yu answered a call, listening for a few moments before saying calmly, “Come back. If we can’t get answers, then forget it. We’re being followed by more than one.”

After waiting nearly ten more minutes, traffic finally began to move slowly. Su Yu found a hat from the back seat and placed it on Gu Yao’s head before starting the engine. The car they had originally ridden in also started, driving ostentatiously for a while before turning off.

Following Gu Yao’s directions, the car drove until it stopped beneath the apartment building where she lived. Su Yu turned off the engine. They sat silently in the dark.

Gu Yao waited patiently. Since he had promised to tell her the truth later, he must keep his word.

“Actually, it’s not much of a secret anymore. Many people know that Hangsheng Group is currently divided into two factions,” Su Yu’s voice sounded low and calm in the confined space, his face hidden in shadow.

Unlike the gloom of the sanatorium, his voice was steady, as if recounting someone else’s story.

“One faction is under my control, and the other listens to my uncle, Su Xingshui. Three years ago, when my father fell into the sea, my uncle was also on the cruise ship.”

“You mean…” Gu Yao frowned, already guessing. “Is there any proof your uncle pushed your father into the sea?”

“That place was remote, no surveillance. It happened late at night, so no evidence was left. My father disappeared then. Three days later, he was found lying on a shore of an island, with blunt force trauma to the back of his head. Meanwhile, Su Xingshui had already rushed back to China and quickly changed personnel within the company.”

“Was that fall spot the same place where I found the scarf last time?” Gu Yao suddenly asked.

“Yes. That’s why I lost my temper then. I apologize to you,” he said, rubbing his brow and lowering the window slightly.

“Alright, I accept.” Gu Yao spoke decisively, unaffected emotionally. Then she asked, “So you think your uncle will interfere with your father’s surgery this time? Because he’s afraid your father will regain consciousness, remember, and reveal the truth?”

“Exactly. And that’s what he has been doing. Over the past three years, he’s repeatedly warned my father, which is why I arranged so many people to protect him. I’m sorry this involves you this time. If he finds out you’re the lead surgeon, it will definitely be bad for you.”

“So what should I do?” Gu Yao sighed deeply, suddenly realizing she might be caught up in a serious case.

Su Yu answered quickly, “I’ll spread the word that you’re just my girlfriend. But because of your profession, this will be difficult, so you must be careful. I’ll have people protect you.”

“Okay,” Gu Yao nodded. For now, that was all she could do. Could she just quit her job and run away from Y City? Impossible.

After she got out of the car, just as she was about to leave, she heard a car door click behind her and turned around.

The man rested one hand casually on the roof. His eyes were deep and dark in the night. “Don’t be afraid. No matter what happens, I won’t let you get hurt.”

Though it sounded sentimental, Gu Yao thought to herself, What eye did he see that I was scared?

Feeling annoyed, she raised an eyebrow. “I never get scared by baseless suspicions. If trouble comes, I’ll find a way to fight back.”

Though she said this, once inside, she quickly checked all the doors and windows. She bought a security chain and an alarm online, and to be safe, she also purchased a handy stun baton.

Only after all this did she feel somewhat at ease. Changing clothes, she went to the bathroom for a shower, then made herself a bowl of noodles, eating it hot and finishing the soup clean.

Usually at this time she would lie in bed playing with her phone before sleeping, but today she felt inexplicably restless and played some soothing music.

After a while, she remembered something, drew back the curtain, and glanced outside. Several black cars were parked discreetly—definitely not her neighbors’ vehicles, but similar to the security convoy she saw earlier with Su Yu. Only then did she feel a little safer and fell asleep under the covers.

The next day when she went out, she noticed two strong men trailing her from a distance. Both wore plain clothes and blended well into the crowd. Had she not seen them the day before, she might have been deceived.

Her car had been left at the hospital overnight, so she took the subway. The two men followed closely even in crowded places without losing her.

She worked her shift at the hospital as usual. At noon, while eating in the cafeteria, Gu Yao received a call from her mother.

“Speak. You haven’t been home for months,” her mother said immediately upon answering.

Gu Yao thought for a moment. “About three months?”

“Have you got the nerve to say that? You live in the same city but never show your face. People might think you’ve gone abroad!” Qin Manfeng’s tone was obviously displeased and commanding. “Tomorrow we’re having a barbecue at the villa near Nanshan with your uncle and the others. You’re coming.”

She hung up without waiting for Gu Yao’s reply.

At that moment, Cen Xi walked over carrying a tray, teasing, “Hey, there are two handsome guys staring at you over there. Do you think they like you?”

Gu Yao glanced over. The two men, pretending to be patients, immediately lowered their heads and stuffed food into their mouths.

Cen Xi teased a little more, then leaned in to whisper, “Guess what I saw last night during my shift?”

Before Gu Yao could ask, she answered herself, “A mysterious patient arrived! They were quietly brought in around midnight to the top-floor VIP room, guarded by many bodyguards. The entire floor was sealed off. Quite the spectacle.”

“Oh, I know. I just went upstairs,” Gu Yao nodded calmly, then warned, “Since you saw it, don’t talk about it. That person isn’t ordinary. Be careful not to get involved.”

“Really?” Cen Xi’s mouth dropped open, genuinely a little scared.

That afternoon, the usual meeting was held with far fewer attendees, under strict confidentiality. Hangsheng had released news only saying the former president had been flown to a renowned private hospital in the United States for treatment.

When the shift ended, Gu Yao overheard whispers outside. The young female nurses seemed especially excited.

Probably some celebrity visiting the hospital.

She paid little attention and went outside to pick up a delivery. Her focus was on the package, which she tore open while walking. Because the seller was local, the self-defense stun baton she ordered yesterday arrived very quickly.

Upon stepping out of the hospital building, she immediately spotted a conspicuous black Mercedes G-Class.

In front of the car stood a tall man, leaning casually, dressed sharply in a suit, wearing large sunglasses. His striking appearance was made even more noticeable by the large bouquet of roses in his hand.

What is he up to? Gu Yao frowned, wanting to walk around him, but her car was parked nearby, so she had to pass by. She took a few steps, intending to brush past him.

Suddenly, the man grabbed her arm and pulled her over.

“What are you doing?” she whispered in irritation.

“To put on a show, you have to go all the way,” he replied lowly, opening the car door and pushing her inside in one motion.

“Let go!” Gu Yao struggled, realizing how weak she was. Before she knew it, the front passenger door was firmly shut.

Su Yu sat down, tossed his sunglasses and flowers into the back seat, then grabbed her wrist and pried the stun baton from her hand. “When will you stop beating people up like this?”