Chapter 76 Has Luo Xing Fallen for Her Again?

When Yun Cai heard Luo Xing’s return, she realized Luo Xing hadn’t run away, so she hid in the wardrobe and secretly called the police.

She stepped out now only because she was afraid the police wouldn’t arrive in time, and Luo Xing would be harmed. She deliberately raised her voice and called for the police.

The repairman was frustrated; he hadn’t really intended to do anything. Night shifts were annoying, but at least the pay was double. When he entered and saw a female university student, he simply thought she was pretty.

Until she deliberately tried to seduce him! She brought him a fan, handed him tissues to wipe his sweat. With only the two of them in a confined space, he naturally assumed she liked him—maybe she was lonely at night and wanted a fling.

He tested the waters with a comment. Who knew she’d pretend to be innocent, having clearly seduced him, then claimed she had a boyfriend. She was just stringing him along.

He saw her recently discarded underwear in the bathroom, and that’s when his thoughts turned. He knew she saw him too. There was a faint play of light and shadow by his hand, and he knew she was standing outside, watching him. He didn’t move—he wanted to see her reaction.

If she shouted or cursed at him, at worst he’d spend a night at the station. But since she didn’t stop him, wasn’t that a tacit invitation?

“I told you to let her go! I’ve already called the police—they’ll be here any minute!” Yun Cai held a knife, advancing step by step.

Luo Xing’s eyes brimmed with tears, a physiological reaction to fear. Her hands were restrained, unable to move. A small fruit knife, still dangling a key, was pressed against her neck. Small, yet sharp enough to break skin.

Yun Cai approached slowly.

Luo Xing understood her intent: she meant to force the man to release her with the knife.

Luo Xing shook her head, fearing above all that if the man seized the knife, their situation would worsen.

Yun Cai’s eyes reddened.

Luo Xing calmed her terror and spoke tremulously, “Go. She didn’t really call the police, she’s bluffing. If you let me go now and leave, I won’t report you. There’s no surveillance in the room. If you exit normally, there’ll be no evidence—you’ll be fine.”

The man hesitated.

Indeed, there was no surveillance inside. The corridor outside had cameras, but as long as he left normally, they couldn’t prove anything. He hadn’t actually assaulted them, so there’d be no accident.

“Then have your friend put the knife down,” he said.

Yun Cai gripped the knife tighter, looking at Luo Xing, her jaw clenched.

Luo Xing met her gaze, speaking calmly, “We don’t know if you’ll do anything to us. How about this: she’ll stand here with the knife, you go to the door, open it, and once you’re outside, you let me go.”

If things could be resolved peacefully, so much the better.

Luo Xing’s strategy of retreating to advance did ease the man’s vigilance.

With the knife still at Luo Xing’s neck, he led her to the door. Yet just two steps away from the door, it swung open with a bang.

Gu Shiyan looked at the scene before him.

He reacted instantly; the repairman didn’t even have time to see who was at the door. Before he could make out the newcomer’s face, Gu Shiyan’s kick sent him flying.

The small knife in his hand sliced skin; blood poured forth. It wasn’t Luo Xing’s, but Gu Shiyan’s.

As he kicked out, Gu Shiyan shielded Luo Xing’s neck with his hand. The knife cut across the back of his hand.

The pressure on Luo Xing’s hands was released.

She turned to look: the repairman had been kicked two meters away by Gu Shiyan, only stopping when his head slammed against the wall.

Gu Shiyan seemed oblivious to his own bleeding hand. Seizing the moment while the repairman was struggling to breathe through cracked ribs, Gu Shiyan stepped on the hand clutching the bloody knife.

The sound of bone breaking echoed; the man’s grip slackened, and the knife clattered to the floor.

Luo Xing’s legs trembled, yet she stepped forward to snatch the knife away, afraid he might grab it again and harm someone.

“I’ll sue you! I didn’t do anything! You attacked me on purpose!” the repairman gasped, barely able to speak, for Gu Shiyan’s kick had been merciless.

The police arrived.

Luo Xing was tending to Gu Shiyan’s wounded hand, cleaning the blood, applying medicine, and bandaging it.

Throughout, Gu Shiyan’s gaze never left her; Luo Xing dared not look up.

Gu Shiyan raised his wrist, his fingers gently brushing away tears from her cheek, murmuring soothingly, “It’s alright.”

Luo Xing nodded silently.

Gu Shiyan, as ever, was terrible at comforting people.

All three had to give statements at the police station.

Things progressed even faster than Luo Xing expected—the repairman had a prior record. Years ago, he’d been a private driver but was fired for verbally harassing his employer’s daughter. Then he became a repairman.

He protested loudly at the station, insisting Luo Xing had seduced him, and that he’d done nothing wrong.

The police were impatient: “You’re delusional, aren’t you? A young girl seducing you—for what, your big belly, greasy hair, or your thirty-three hundred salary at your age?”

Luo Xing felt as though she’d been put through a trial by fire; once everything was settled, she only wanted to collapse into bed and sleep.

Gu Shiyan escorted them home.

Luo Xing felt bad sending him away without even offering a drink, so she looked up and asked, “Do you want some water before you go?”

Gu Shiyan shook his head gently, the wounded hand brushing Luo Xing’s hair, his voice hoarse and weary, “Don’t ever let any man in at night again.”

His hand lingered only briefly, his fingers gently ruffling her hair before letting go.

Yun Cai, sensing the ambiguous atmosphere between them, quickly slipped inside and left the space to the two of them.

Luo Xing watched him—it was still the same Gu Shiyan as before.

Why, then, did her heart once again beat with such vigor?

Her mind was a muddled mess. Her brother, her parents, her grandmother, Yun Cai, and Shen Que all touched her like that.

Why was it only Gu Shiyan who could stir such tremors in her heart?

Luo Xing’s thoughts were in chaos, her body exhausted. She kept her head down, unable to meet Gu Shiyan’s gaze.

“You… How did you know to come?” Only now did she think to ask, her voice a low whisper.

Gu Shiyan chuckled softly, “Repairmen are usually men. I wasn’t comfortable letting you handle it alone, so I came.”

Luo Xing listened to his words, almost a confession.

Her tongue traced her teeth, the rough friction grounding her.

“Thank you,” she said.

Gu Shiyan shrugged, “Remember to change your password.”

He waved to her, indicating he was leaving.

Luo Xing lowered her head and returned to her room.

“Wow,”

A sudden voice startled Luo Xing, her body tensing again. Seeing Yun Cai’s teasing face, Luo Xing slapped her, “Are you trying to scare me to death? Why are you eavesdropping here?”

“Oh my god, was that Gu Shiyan outside?”

Luo Xing shot her a look, “No, it was a ghost.”

Yun Cai hooked her arm around Luo Xing’s neck, “Did you notice a hint of tea in the air?”

“What?”

“You’re still too naïve. I’m afraid Gu Shiyan will devour you, bones and all.”

Yun Cai flashed a knowing smile, “Isn’t it obvious? He’s using retreat to advance, just so you’ll feel sorry for him.”

She began to analyze for Luo Xing, “Why did he use his injured hand to touch your head?”

“It’s so you’d notice his wound and feel pity.”

“Ah, this man’s injury is because of me!”

“You invited him in for water and he refused, then told you never to let men in again. He not only blocked his rivals but made you care about him even more!”

Yun Cai pinched Luo Xing’s cheek, “Weren’t you thinking, ‘Ah, this man not only respects women but cares for me too. What a move, retreat to advance.’”

Luo Xing: ……

“Drama queen, get out of my house,” Luo Xing said, expressionless.

Yun Cai blocked her way, bracing a hand against the door and wall, trapping Luo Xing, and even tilted her chin up.

Luo Xing rolled her eyes, “What are you doing, you pervert?”

Yun Cai smirked, “How did your ex-boyfriend just happen to show up? And just happen to save you? This plot—it’s so clichéd, but so addictive.”

She raised her brows at Luo Xing, tapping her chest, “Tell me, is your heart fluttering again?”