novelraw Chapter 187 You Promised Me
Chapter 187 You Promised Me
Lu Xiran felt thirsty in the middle of the night, so she groped for her cane by the bedside and used it to walk towards the living room. She wasn't used to using it yet, so she took each step carefully, and the cane head made a thumping sound on the floor, which was particularly clear in the quiet night.
As she passed the coffee table, her cane slipped, and her body lurched forward—she instinctively closed her eyes, waiting to fall.
It didn't fall.
A pair of hands caught her steadily. Warm and strong, they wrapped around her from behind, pulling her into an embrace. Her back bumped against a chest, and through the thin nightgown, she could feel its warmth and heartbeat. Her heart skipped a beat.
Gu Yanshen didn't go back. He slept on the sofa in the living room all night. He woke up the moment he heard the noise and rushed over almost instinctively. Only the small nightlight in the corner of the living room was on, casting a dim yellow light, so she didn't notice him at all.
"Want some water?" His voice came from above, hoarse from just waking up.
Lu Xiran didn't speak. She struggled slightly, but he didn't let go. He picked her up again, gently placed her on the sofa, and then turned to pour water. She watched his back as he poured water; he was wearing yesterday's shirt, wrinkled and disheveled, his hair messy, looking completely unlike himself.
A glass of water was handed to her. She hesitated for a moment, then took it and took a sip.
"What are you doing here?" Her voice was cold.
"I was afraid you'd be thirsty."
Lu Xiran rolled her eyes inwardly.
Who's he trying to fool with this act of deep affection? That's just how he is; he always does things and says things that make her misunderstand. She used to believe him, thinking he truly loved her. Now she knows it was all a lie.
She didn't want to talk to him. She picked up her cane to leave. Before she could even steady herself with the cane, he swept her up in his arms. His arms were wrapped tightly around her waist, and although she struggled a few times, she couldn't budge him.
"Let me go!" she whispered, afraid of waking Lin Chen.
"Keep your voice down." His voice was very low, almost as if it were being ground from his chest. "Don't disturb your uncle. He doesn't sleep well."
He carried her into her room and placed her on the bed. She thought he would turn around and leave, but instead of leaving, he walked to the door and closed it.
She heard the locking mechanism click, and her heart leaped into her throat.
"You!" She glared at him angrily, her eyes burning like two flames in the darkness. "What are you going to do?"
"I'll take care of you." His tone was so natural, as if he were saying something that was taken for granted.
He walked to the bedside and reached out to unbutton his shirt. One, two, three. The shirt slipped off his shoulders, revealing lean shoulder blades and a taut waist. Then came his trousers, the metal buttons clicking softly as the fabric slid down his long legs. He stood there before her, clad only in the thinnest layer of clothing, like a sculpture cast in moonlight. Below his collarbone, the lines of his muscles were smooth and powerful, each muscle perfectly proportioned from his chest to his abdomen—not the kind deliberately sculpted in a gym, but the mark of years of self-discipline and restraint.
Male allure. Too much. Lu Xiran cursed inwardly and turned her head away. But the image was already imprinted in her mind, and she couldn't shake it off.
Gu Yanshen pulled the blanket over and carefully tucked her in.
Lu Xiran felt wronged.
This feeling of grievance wasn't anger; it was something indescribable, something stuck in my chest, about to explode.
What right did he have? What right did he have to bother her again when she decided to leave? What right did he have to reappear in front of her when she was about to forget him? What right did he have to do these things that made her misunderstand when he clearly didn't love her?
"Gu Yanshen, get out!" She turned her head away, not wanting to look at him.
He didn't move. He turned to look at her. The light was dim, with only a small, yellowish glow from the headboard, casting a small fan-shaped shadow on her face and her eyelashes. Her lips were tightly pressed together, and her chin was slightly raised, like a cat with its fur standing on end. She was clearly angry, yet even her angry expression made him unable to look away.
He moved closer to her. "You still owe me a week." His voice was soft, as if he were reminding her of something trivial. "I can't sleep."
Lu Xiran was stunned for a moment.
She moved a little further away, creating some distance.
He reached out and took her hand. Not grasping, but pulling. The force wasn't strong, but it made her tumble over and roll into his arms. His arms encircled her, holding her tightly, his chin resting on the top of her head.
"You promised me." His voice was muffled above her head, a little hoarse, a little tired, and something else she couldn't quite place.
She struggled for a moment, but he held her even tighter. She struggled again, and he almost wanted to meld her into his very bones. She stopped moving. Not that she didn't want to move, but that she couldn't. He held her tightly in his arms, like a bound little animal, unable to move. Her face was pressed against his chest, and she could hear his heartbeat, heavy and steady, like some ancient timer counting how much longer she could stay in his arms.
She wanted to turn over, to turn her back to him, so she wouldn't have to face his heartbeat. He sensed her movement, stopped resisting, and loosened his grip slightly to let her turn over. As soon as she turned over, his arms wrapped around her again, embracing her from behind, his palms pressed against her lower abdomen, his whole body like a net, tightly enveloping her.
"Goodnight." His voice came from behind her ear, and his warm breath tickled her neck.
She lay there with her eyes open, staring at the dark wall. She didn't say goodnight. She just lay there, listening to his breathing change from rapid to even, from even to long. He was asleep. He fell asleep beside her after she said she was leaving and deleted all his contact information.
She closed her eyes.
In the darkness, his hand was still on her waist, not letting go.
When Lu Xiran woke up, it was already past ten o'clock. Sunlight streamed in through the gaps in the curtains, falling warmly on the foot of the bed. The room was empty beside her; Gu Yanshen had left sometime earlier, and Lin Chen had gone to work. The room was quiet, save for the ticking of the clock on the wall and her own breathing.
She leaned on her crutch and sat down at the desk. After hesitating for a moment, she turned on the computer. The screen was still on the same interface as last night—her senior's design draft. She had looked at those lines countless times, memorizing every single one. But looking at it now, an indescribable feeling welled up inside her.
What exactly were her feelings for her senior? She had pondered this question before meeting Gu Yanshen. Was it admiration? Or unrequited love?
She couldn't tell the difference.