Chapter 27: Mr. Gu Is So Considerate

Chapter 27: Mr. Gu Is So Thoughtful

When Zhao Yu got home, Gu Hansheng was still not there. The housekeeper had prepared many light dishes. Zhao Yu asked, "Auntie, where's that bottle of wine on the table?"

The housekeeper said, "Mr. Gu had me get rid of it, along with everything in the wine cabinet. Oh my, I didn't even know what to do with it all—such expensive wine, and in the end I just gave it away to the neighbors and the property office as a favor. Oh right, when Mr. Gu left this morning, he also asked me to remind you not to drink anymore."

The housekeeper phrased it gently, but Zhao Yu could guess Gu Hansheng's tone—definitely like a dictator, telling him that if he touched a single drop of alcohol again, he could deal with the consequences himself.

Such expensive wine, and Gu Hansheng discarded it without a second thought. It hurt just thinking about it. He ate his meal without much appetite when he suddenly heard a car pull up outside. He thought it was Gu Hansheng returning, but it was a doctor who walked in.

"Mr. Zhao, hello. My surname is Han, I'm Mr. Gu's private doctor." He smiled politely and said, "I've already gone over your medical records. Over the next few days, I'll be keeping an eye on your condition, managing your meds, and helping you recover."

Zhao Yu said, "Thanks, but I'm already better."

"Yeah, I've heard that. However, I've also heard you're someone who tends to 'act recklessly,' so my main job is to nip any problems in the bud."

"Dr. Han, just say it directly. I don't get beating around the bush."

"In other words, what you can and can't eat is all up to me. I've also heard you have a drinking problem—that's absolutely off the table. What time you get up, what time you go to bed, how much exercise you do each day—I'll set all of that up based on your physical condition."

"You're going to control what time I go to bed too?"

"Yes."

"What if I can't fall asleep?"

"Don't worry, that won't be a problem." Dr. Han pulled a schedule from his bag. "This is a daily schedule my team put together for you."

Zhao Yu barely glanced at the chart before his face went green. There were only twenty-four hours in a day, and they'd practically divided it into forty-eight segments, even breaking it down by sleep stages.

"Isn't this overkill? It's like being in jail," Zhao Yu said.

"Mr. Gu has already approved this." Dr. Han gave a practiced smile. Meaning, even if it was prison, Gu Hansheng was the one calling the shots—everyone knew who was in charge.

One drunk fight and one drunk fever had earned Zhao Yu a reputation for "acting recklessly" and "heavy drinking," and had really pissed off Gu Hansheng. Forcing his way into things he didn't approve of was Gu Hansheng's way of punishing Zhao Yu for having zero self-control.

Dr. Han pulled out a wristband and set it on the table. "Please wear this. Don't take it off except to shower, so we can keep track of your heart rate and other stats."

Zhao Yu asked, "Doesn't this look like an electronic handcuff?"

Dr. Han smiled. "Yeah. But it won't shock you."

...

At 9:30 PM, Dr. Han glanced at his tablet and said to Zhao Yu, "Time for you to rest."

The evening TV drama hadn't even finished airing. Zhao Yu said, "Isn't it too early? I thought the schedule said bedtime was around 10:30."

"Your resting heart rate is up right now—your body's still fighting some inflammation. I'd suggest resting now."

"How am I supposed to sleep? Can you give me some sleeping pills?"

Just then, the front door swung open. Gu Hansheng was home.

Zhao Yu shot up from the sofa where he'd been lounging and called out, "Mr. Gu."

Gu Hansheng didn't even look at him.

Dr. Han gave Gu Hansheng a nod, then told Zhao Yu, "If you really can't sleep, try some calming music. I wouldn't recommend sleeping pills."

Gu Hansheng stopped on the stairs and shot Zhao Yu a look that was anything but friendly.

Zhao Yu's face flipped like a switch: "I can sleep. No need for pills."

With that, he shut off the TV and ducked into the bedroom.

Gu Hansheng ignoring him was actually a mercy—like sparing his life. If he actually opened his mouth, it probably wouldn't be anything nice. So Zhao Yu was now very good at reading the room.

At 7:00 AM, Dr. Han woke Zhao Yu. The housekeeper had breakfast ready, and Gu Hansheng was just heading downstairs.

Zhao Yu sat down in the seat kitty-corner from Gu Hansheng. After quietly eating half a bowl of congee, and seeing that Gu Hansheng didn't look too upset, he said, "Mr. Gu, thank you for taking me to the hospital. That night... you must have had a rough time too. I really thought my injury was already healed and that a little drink wouldn't hurt. I didn't mean to act up. I know Dr. Han's rules are all for my own good. I'll do what he says."

"Don't flatter yourself." Gu Hansheng put down his chopsticks, unhurriedly wiped his mouth, and sneered, "This is the second time you've screwed yourself up right when I need you. If you can't meet my needs, you're useless. So you'd better know your place and what you should and shouldn't do."

Zhao Yu lowered his head, unable to swallow the rest of his congee. He didn't need Gu Hansheng to spell it out—he knew all this. He'd just fooled himself into thinking he could have a normal talk with Gu Hansheng.

Dr. Han had Zhao Yu doing exercise and meditation during the day. He brought in a fitness trainer and a meditation coach, and with the housekeeper making healthy meals, there were four people all hovering around Zhao Yu.

Zhao Yu knew he was just a tool for Gu Hansheng to satisfy his physical desires. But it was weird that a tool needed four people to take care of it.

As Zhao Yu tried to meditate, his mind kept going back to what the nurse at the hospital said—that Gu Hansheng had stayed by his side all night.

If Gu Hansheng wanted revenge and wanted to use him for release, he should've done whatever he wanted, no matter if Zhao Yu was healed or not—even using it to torture him.

But Gu Hansheng's words didn't match his actions. He was cold, arrogant, and ruthless, yet time and again he showed mercy to the person he hated most.

There was a lot Zhao Yu couldn't figure out, and Gu Hansheng was the one he understood the least.

After a week of that structured routine, Zhao Yu's injury had not only fully healed, but he was in even better shape than before. He felt like a brand new person.

At 10:00 PM, he got into bed on schedule to start winding down. Falling asleep at 10:30 had become second nature, so getting up at 7:00 to jog wouldn't leave him sleepy.

But he'd barely closed his eyes when the door swung open. Gu Hansheng didn't bother with the lights and walked straight to the bed.

Before Zhao Yu could sit up, he was shoved face-down on the mattress and his pants were ripped off. Caught off guard, Zhao Yu reached back to shove him, but his arm got twisted behind his back. He winced: "Ow... my arm..."

Hearing those words that always annoyed him, Gu Hansheng paused and said in a low voice, "Shut up."

He couldn't even say his arm hurt?

Zhao Yu grumbled to himself, but felt his arm get released. This man had actually listened to him again. Suddenly, a rebellious idea hit him, and he said, "Mr. Gu, it's my bedtime."

"What?"

"I'm strictly following the schedule and definitely not 'acting up,' so when it's bedtime, I have to sleep."

Gu Hansheng was so stunned he went quiet, probably wondering how Zhao Yu had the nerve to say that.

Zhao Yu looked back, curious what kind of face Gu Hansheng was making. Too bad the lights were off, so he couldn't see a thing. But he quickly lost his curiosity, because Gu Hansheng ignored him completely and kept going, even harder.

Zhao Yu bit the pillowcase in pain, with only one thought left—why the hell did I provoke him?!

The sleep music was still playing—rain, ocean waves, and crackling fire all mixed together, making Zhao Yu feel like he was somewhere else entirely. He reached for the speaker to turn it off, but barely moved an inch before he was yanked back by the leg.

...

Zhao Yu's internal clock woke him at 7:00, but he couldn't get up. Everything from the waist down ached like hell, and he was too sleepy to even open his eyes.

The housekeeper knocked. "Mr. Zhao, breakfast's ready."

Outside the door came Gu Hansheng's voice: "No need to call him." Then it went quiet.

It wasn't until 11 a.m. that Zhao Yu was woken again by the nanny: "Mr. Zhao, are you up? The headboard delivery guys are here, and they need to come in and swap it out for you."

Zhao Yu got up, one hand on his lower back, and opened the door: "What headboard?"

"It should be something Mr. Gu ordered."

Zhao Yu looked puzzled as a few workers carried in a padded headboard and swapped out the old hard one for it. He suddenly remembered how his head had thumped against the wooden board several times last night—it didn't hurt, but it made a loud thud, followed by Gu Hansheng letting out a "tsk," probably a bit annoyed.

Zhao Yu touched his head, feeling pretty innocent. After all, it wasn't just his fault.

The nanny laughed and said, "Mr. Gu is really thoughtful."

"Thoughtful?"

"Yeah, look, the new headboard is nice and soft, comfy to lean against, and you won't bump your head."

"You mean... he cares about me?"

"What else? It was changed for you!"

Zhao Yu touched his head again, a little confused.

People always said Gu Hansheng cared about him, but he felt that was just everyone else's illusion—if he actually believed it, he'd just be a joke. He wanted to stay clear-headed, but at certain moments, he fell into the same illusion as everyone else.

Gu Hansheng made him feel confused.

That evening, Meng Qi suddenly video-called Zhao Yu. Because of the time difference between them, Meng Qi had to juggle school, home, and the hospital, so they almost never had time to talk. The moment Zhao Yu answered, his heart thumped heavily, and a bad feeling crept in.

The video connected, and Meng Qi's face appeared on the screen.

"Yu-ge, you got a minute?"

"Yeah. What's up? How's Aunt Guo... doing?" Zhao Yu couldn't help but tighten his grip on his phone.

Meng Qi grinned: "She's doing great, look." He turned the camera to Guo Lin, who was in a wheelchair: "Mom, Xiao Yu-ge is here."

Zhao Yu leaned in to look. Guo Lin's face looked a bit haggard, but her eyes were bright, and she also leaned forward to stare intently at Zhao Yu, saying, "Xiao... Yu..."

Slurred speech was an aftereffect of her stroke; she struggled to get those two syllables out, and Zhao Yu's eyes instantly reddened: "Aunt Guo, I'm here."

Meng Qi said, "Mom woke up today and was looking for you, so I called you right away. Don't worry, ge, Mom's been doing well lately."

Zhao Yu's tense heart finally relaxed.

Guo Lin trembled as she struggled to raise her hand, pointing at him: "Take... care of..."

Zhao Yu smiled: "I'm fine, I'll take care of myself."

"Where... stay...?"

"Recently staying at a friend's place, don't worry, I have plenty of places to stay."

"Eat..."

"Ate, had lotus root and pork rib soup at noon, and eggplant. In the afternoon, I had stir-fried celery with pork."

"Good... good." Guo Lin nodded with relief, then said, "Money... don't... you keep..."

"Auntie, I have money. Look, even my friend's place is huge." Zhao Yu showed her the spacious living room of the villa, "The money I pay for your hospital fees is nothing."

Despite this, Guo Lin still stared at Zhao Yu, a hint of heartache in her eyes: "Thinner... you've..."

Meng Qi was simple-minded; Zhao Yu could easily fool him with a few words, but Guo Lin could tell he wasn't living as well as he claimed. Having to seek out a mother who had ignored him for over a decade and ask for money, enduring such grievances—Guo Lin could more or less guess.

She opened her mouth and said again, "If... unhappy... then come... come back... don't need... money..."

Zhao Yu's nose stung, and he hastily turned his head away from the camera, muttering, "Okay."