novelraw Chapter 171 Approaching
Chapter 171 Approaching
Gu Yanshen's finger stopped on the paper.
"It happened early this morning. The official announcement hasn't been made yet." Lin Chen handed over the phone. "He holds too many people's secrets; those people won't let him fall into the hands of the police. Someone is helping him, working together from the inside."
Gu Yanshen stared at the report, his brow furrowing deeper and deeper. "He saw Ranran."
"Yes." Lin Chen's voice deepened. "That night on the island, her mask fell off. Although it was only for a few seconds, someone like Li Fengche would remember it at a glance."
Gu Yanshen stood up and walked to the French windows.
"Finding her won't be difficult."
Lin Chen remained silent. They all knew Li Fengche's background—the kind of person who, given just one clue, could uncover a person's entire secrets.
Gu Yanshen remained silent for a long time. "Before Li Fengche is brought under control, it's safer for Ranran to stay by your side than to go to Switzerland."
Lin Chen finally spoke, "Should we tell her?"
Gu Yanshen looked out the window. He didn't want to tell her. He didn't want her to be scared, didn't want her to know that the people on that island were still chasing her, and didn't want her to feel that being by his side would be dangerous.
"Send people to protect her first," he said.
Lin Chen nodded, turned around, and went out to make the arrangements.
Gu Yanshen stood by the window, sunlight streaming in through the glass curtain wall, warming him. Yet, a chill emanated from his very bones. He remembered that night on the island, when she rushed out from behind him and stood in front of him.
He couldn't let that happen again. This time, he had to protect her.
The phone rang.
Her name flashed on the screen. He answered, but before he could speak, her voice came through the receiver, tinged with a hint of excitement and a touch of coquetry.
"Uncle, I brought you lunch! Guess what I made today? You'll never guess—"
"Ranran," he interrupted her, his voice suddenly changing, "Where are you?"
"We're in Switzerland, almost at the building. What's wrong?"
Gu Yanshen's heart sank. He strode to the observation elevator and looked down at the plaza below. The elevator was descending, the scenery outside the glass walls falling layer by layer. He saw her—she was wearing a light-colored coat, carrying an insulated bag, and walking towards the building. Not far behind her, a person dressed in black and wearing a hat followed her at a leisurely pace. The person's hands were in their pockets, and they maintained a distance that was neither too close nor too far from her.
Gu Yanshen gripped his phone tightly.
"Ranran, listen to me." His voice was very low, as low as a string stretched to its limit. "Don't look back, quicken your pace, and walk towards the building."
There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone. "...What?"
"Don't look back," he said, emphasizing each word. "Go quickly."
The sightseeing elevator is still descending. Six more floors. Five more floors. Four more floors.
He saw her quicken her pace, from walking to jogging. He saw the person behind her also quicken their pace, pulling their hand out of their pocket.
"Ranran, run!"
Her footsteps rang rapidly through the receiver, her high heels clicking on the floor, clattering like they were striking his heart.
Gu Yanshen saw her run to the building entrance, push open the door, and rush inside.
The person behind him followed closely and also pushed open the door.
His heart nearly stopped for a moment. The sightseeing elevator was still slowly descending, each second stretching out like an eternity. He saw the bodyguard rush out from the side, grab the man in black's wrist, twist it behind his back, and slam him against the glass door. The hat fell off, revealing a face wearing a mask; judging from the figure, it was a woman.
Gu Yanshen's fingers clenched tightly.
Lu Xiran ran straight into his arms.
—It wasn't running, it was lunging. She crashed into his chest, her forehead against his collarbone, her breath coming in short, ragged gasps from a frantic run. Her fingers gripped the front of his suit jacket so tightly her knuckles turned white.
"Ranran." His voice boomed from his chest, muffled. He looked down at her, cupped the back of her head with his hand, and pressed her against his chest.
She nodded in his arms, her face buried, refusing to look up.
He loosened his grip slightly and cupped her face. Her eyes were red-rimmed, her lips were tightly pressed together, her chin was pointed, and her face was completely pale. His thumb brushed across her cheekbone, wiping away a trace of moisture—whether sweat or tears—he made sure she wasn't hurt, that she was whole, alright, and still in his arms.
"Wait for me in my office." He spoke very softly, as if he were soothing a frightened child. She nodded obediently.
He watched her walk into the private elevator, watched the elevator doors close, watched the number rise floor by floor. Then he turned around.
The girl was pinned against the wall, her face pressed against it, her wrists tied behind her back, unable to move. Her hat was on the floor, her hair was disheveled, and she looked utterly pathetic. Her eyes were still darting around, still searching, still looking.
Gu Yanshen walked over and pulled off her mask. The mask straps cut across her ears, leaving red marks. Her face was exposed to the light of day—Song Kexin.
His eyes were as cold as ice, devoid of any warmth. He glanced at her, just once.
Then turn around.
"President Gu..."
Lin Chen arrived as well. Their eyes met, a single glance conveying a tacit understanding. The bodyguard immediately gagged Song Kexin and dragged her backward. The toes of her shoes scraped harshly on the ground as she struggled, uttering indistinct syllables.
"Mr. Gu!" Her voice slipped through her fingers, sharp and distorted, "I have something to tell you in person!"
Gu Yanshen didn't even glance at her.
He stepped into the elevator, and the doors closed behind him.
When Gu Yanshen arrived at the office, Lu Xiran was squatting by the coffee table setting out bowls and chopsticks. The insulated bag was open, and the lunchboxes were neatly arranged in a row. She lowered her head, placed the chopsticks on the rim of the bowl, aligned the tips, and then adjusted them.
She heard the door open and looked up. He walked over, said nothing, and pulled her into his arms. He held her tightly, his arms around her waist, pressing her against his chest. His face was buried in the top of her head, his breathing heavy and long.
"What's wrong?" Her voice was muffled in his arms, soft, with a hint of breathlessness from being held so tightly by him.
He didn't answer. He couldn't bear to let her go.
"Ranran," he called her, his voice hoarse. "From now on, don't leave me."
She paused for a moment, then looked up from his embrace. "No, that won't do." Her lips pouted slightly, a hint of stubbornness in her voice. "I want to go back to Switzerland."
He looked at her. He looked at her feigned composure, and then at the barely concealed panic in her eyes, a panic she feared he would see through. He pulled her closer to him, resting his chin on the top of her head.
"Don't go back yet."