Chapter Sixty-Three: Escorting Her Home

“Brother, this is my classmate, Jiang Muwen.” At last, Gu Nianxi found her voice and introduced Jiang Muwen to Gu Niancun. The icy look in her brother’s eyes made Nianxi genuinely fear that he might devour Jiang Muwen on the spot.

With the introduction done, Gu Niancun simply responded with a curt “Mm.”

Jiang Muwen studied Gu Niancun. The man before her had exquisitely chiseled features and an aura that commanded respect without a single word. Beneath his black coat, his suit was immaculate and crisp. It almost felt as though standing before them was not an elder brother, but a king.

She couldn’t help but marvel at the Gu family’s exceptional genes. If given the chance, Jiang Muwen would truly love to see what their parents looked like—what kind of celestial beauty would it take to produce such stunning children?

However... this brother seemed to be the very definition of aloof. Gu Niancun’s gaze didn’t linger on Jiang Muwen for long. Grabbing his briefcase, he turned and headed toward the bedroom.

“What would you like to eat later?” he asked, loosening the perfectly tied Windsor knot at his collar. His large, well-defined hand gave a gentle tug, and the dark tie slipped free with effortless grace.

Almost immediately, Gu Nianxi piped up, “Whatever you cook, we’ll eat.”

...

Dinner ended after seven o’clock. After playing in the room for a while, Jiang Muwen and Gu Nianxi prepared to head home.

Jiang Muwen had just slung her bag over her shoulder and walked to the door when a man’s voice stopped her. “Wait, I’ll drive you.”

Now dressed in casual loungewear, Gu Niancun seemed far less intimidating than when he first arrived in his formal suit. Even so, Jiang Muwen still felt a faint, inexplicable apprehension in his presence.

His insistence made Jiang Muwen uneasy. She had already been treated so well at Gu Nianxi’s home, and now her classmate’s brother was offering to drive her home...

“Brother, I want to go too!” Gu Nianxi emerged from her room, shuffling in her slippers.

“You stay home and rest. I’ll take her,” Gu Niancun replied, already reaching for the car keys.

Seeing Gu Niancun pick up the keys, Jiang Muwen hesitated, feeling awkward under his gaze. After a moment, she mustered the courage to say, “It’s really not necessary, I don’t want to trouble you...”

“It’s not safe for a young girl to go home alone at night. It’s no trouble—I’ll take you.”

With Gu Niancun’s insistence, Jiang Muwen couldn’t bring herself to refuse again. Truth be told, his aura was overwhelming; she was afraid of angering him.

...

Sitting in Gu Niancun’s car, Jiang Muwen felt an unexplainable tension. Perhaps his presence was simply too overpowering. Seated in the front passenger seat, she clutched her backpack tightly, scarcely daring to move, even her breathing became cautious and light.

The drive was silent, save for the soft music playing from the stereo. Occasionally, Gu Niancun would ask Jiang Muwen a question, to which she would reply briefly, never daring to say much more.

At last, they reached the entrance of Jiang Muwen’s apartment complex. As Gu Niancun prepared to drive further inside, Jiang Muwen quickly stopped him. “Brother...”

She hesitated after calling him this. It felt unnatural, but she didn’t know his name, and calling him “Gu Nianxi’s brother” would have been even stranger. With no better option, she managed to address him as “Brother,” though it felt awkward. “You can stop here. I’ll go in by myself.”

Gu Niancun complied, pulling the car over. “Alright.”

He unlocked the doors as he spoke. “Once you’re home, remember to let Gu Nianxi know so I won’t worry about you.”

Jiang Muwen nodded, said her goodbyes, and got out of the car.

Unbeknownst to her, as she arrived at the entrance of her complex, Wen Yichen was returning as well. He saw her get out, say goodbye, and close the car door—all of which did not escape his notice.

As the car slowly turned around, Wen Yichen paused his steps. Through the windshield, he caught a clear glimpse of the man inside the car.

At that moment, the man in the car also looked up, locking eyes with Wen Yichen. Neither gaze flinched; the chill between them was enough to freeze the February air.

After a brief, icy stare at the man, Wen Yichen’s eyes shifted to Jiang Muwen. Hadn’t she gone to Gu Nianxi’s house? Why was a man driving her home? There were too many questions.

Wen Yichen strode forward, following Jiang Muwen.

Just as Jiang Muwen reached the elevator, she sensed someone behind her. Turning, she was startled to see Wen Yichen, but after her surprise, she was mostly delighted. “What are you doing here?”

Wen Yichen lowered his eyes and, after a moment’s silence, replied coolly, “I went out for dinner with Bai Xu.”

After speaking, he seemed to be lost in thought, his mind drifting further away.

...

During dinner, Bai Xu had urged him relentlessly to confess to Jiang Muwen, to the point where his head felt like it would explode. Now, whenever he spoke to Jiang Muwen, his mind would buzz and go completely blank.

The elevator doors slid open. Wen Yichen followed Jiang Muwen inside. He kept his head lowered, glancing sidelong at her, wanting to say so much, yet the words caught in his throat and would not come out.

“Jiang Muwen...” After a long silence, Wen Yichen finally spoke.

He desperately wanted to know—hadn’t she gone to Gu Nianxi’s house? Why did a man drive her home? What exactly was their relationship?

“Hmm?” Jiang Muwen looked up curiously. The depth in the boy’s eyes made it impossible to guess what he was thinking.

Wen Yichen parted his lips as if to speak, but all his questions vanished at the tip of his tongue.

Their eyes met, and an enigmatic silence enveloped the air.

Moments later, Wen Yichen looked away and gazed elsewhere. “It’s nothing... I just wanted to call your name.”

Jiang Muwen gazed at him in confusion. Lately, this boy had been acting strangely, his thoughts impossible to read.

Ding—the elevator doors opened soon after Wen Yichen spoke. He strode out quickly, and as they reached Jiang Muwen’s door, he finally said, “Don’t be late for tomorrow’s tutoring session at seven.”

Jiang Muwen obediently replied with an “okay.” After returning home, she took a shower, then slowly made her way from the bathroom to her bedroom. As soon as she stepped inside, she heard her phone vibrating on the desk.

Curious, she walked over, picked up the phone, and discovered a message from Wen Yichen. Her heart leapt with joy. She opened it, only to see that he had sent a long message.

But before she could even begin to read it, the message suddenly disappeared: “Wen Yichen has recalled a message.”