Reborn to outshine My Ex and His White Moonlight
Chapter 178 Lin Zhiyi, You’re Really Capable

Chapter 178: Chapter 178 Lin Zhiyi, You’re Really Capable

Lin Zhiyi clutched Xiao Jie’s hand tightly as he sank.

His little face was already scared white.

"Don’t be afraid, I’ve got you."

Lin Zhiyi comforted him while supporting his chin with her hand.

The child was only six or seven years old, but he wasn’t light, especially with waterlogged clothes, making it hard even for an adult like her.

Luckily, she wasn’t wearing much herself, and her arms were free to move.

It was cold, but she bit her teeth and managed to push through.

Lin Zhiyi finally managed to drag the child to the shore where his sister reached out, crying, to pull her in.

"Miss, give me your hand, quick!"

"Pull the child up first."

Lin Zhiyi could feel her strength fading and didn’t know how much longer she could hold the child.

The sister kept saying thank you as she dragged the frozen child onto the bank.

Just as she reached out to pull Lin Zhiyi in, a thick branch from upstream suddenly floated down and struck Lin Zhiyi on the shoulder.

She let out a muffled groan, her arm went numb, and she lost her grip on the sister’s hand, the branch knocking her back into the flow.

"Miss! Miss!" the sister shouted from the shore, "Someone help!"

Lin Zhiyi struggled in the water a few times, then her body uncontrollably began to sink.

The feeling of suffocation gradually enveloped her, and her consciousness started to fade.

Through the ripples of the water, she vaguely saw a figure approaching her...

...

Hospital.

Lin Zhiyi woke up weakly, her vision blurred for a moment before slowly clearing.

She moved her body and felt as if something was restraining her.

Lifting the covers, she saw a strong arm across her waist, a blood-red ring on the man’s finger emitting a dangerous glint.

Then, by her ear, the man’s breathing hitched, and his hoarse voice slowly rose.

"Awake?"

"Mm," Lin Zhiyi replied, reaching to pull at the arm around her waist.

But as soon as she pried the man’s hand loose, he became even more presumptuous.

His palm pinched her waist, turning her over.

Before Lin Zhiyi could cry out in surprise, she was face to face with an enlarged handsome visage, her heart fluttered, and she instinctively leaned back.

The man was close against her lower back, firmly pulling her into his arms.

Lin Zhiyi struggled feebly a few times but soon found it hard to breathe.

"Uncle, what are you doing?"

At that moment, Gong Chen had his eyes closed and his brow slightly furrowed, seemingly not quite satisfied with her resistance.

His palm, however, gently stroked her back, smoothing out her breathing.

"Lie still, don’t move."

Although Lin Zhiyi didn’t want to admit it, his smoothing strokes did indeed make her feel much better.

She pursed her lips, eyed the close body, and still felt uncomfortable, trying to create some distance between them.

Who knew, the hand on her back fidgeted, gripping the back of her neck.

Her body tensed up, meeting Gong Chen’s slowly opening dark eyes.

Perhaps it was an illusion, but as she got closer, she noticed that his face seemed a bit pale.

For some reason, an unusual feeling arose in the bottom of her heart.

Lin Zhiyi suppressed the feeling and calmly said, "The child..."

"He’s fine."

"That’s good." She breathed a sigh of relief.

"That’s it?" Gong Chen furrowed his brow.

"What else?"

Lin Zhiyi found him a bit inexplicable.

In an instant, Gong Chen shifted on the pillow, their foreheads touching, and his gaze intently fixed on the woman in front of him feigning composure.

"So, I’m less than even a stranger child? Is this how you treat me?"

Upon hearing this, Lin Zhiyi looked at him incredulously, unable to decipher his tone for a moment.

She thought for a moment and then spoke politely, "Uncle, are you alright?"

Gong Chen almost laughed in irritation.

Their eyes locked, his gaze gradually deepening into darkness.

At first, considering her frail state, he didn’t want to do anything.

But looking into her eyes, he found it difficult to control himself.

Even the strands of hair tickling his nose were tantalizing his heart.

Before Lin Zhiyi could react, the man before her gently brushed his lips against hers, light as a dragonfly skimming water.

But in an instant, the hand at the back of her neck cradled her head, possessively deepening the kiss.

It wasn’t long, however, before the hand that was clenched into a fist was right by Lin Zhiyi’s ear—she could even hear the sound of restrained tension.

Gong Chen stared at her, "Lin Zhiyi, you really have some nerve."

Lin Zhiyi didn’t understand.

He didn’t give her a chance to ask and pulled her under the covers.

"Sleep a bit more."

Lin Zhiyi struggled a bit, but seeing that she couldn’t move him, she gave up and closed her eyes.

Outside the door.

Song Wanqiu was clenching the doorknob tightly, trembling with rage as she looked at the two of them intertwined in sleep.

But she dared not push open the door, instead, she turned around with a stomach full of fire.

As she reached the elevator, a hand covered her mouth from behind and dragged her into the stairwell.

After a moment of confusion, the man breathed heavily and fiercely kissed her lips.

Not until she frowned in pain did he let her go.

Upon recognizing him, Song Wanqiu angrily pushed him away.

"Li He, get the hell away from me!"

Li He, unperturbed, reached out to cup her face, kissed her forehead, then her nose.

"There, don’t be angry. Did you sleep with Gong Chen yesterday?"

"What sleep? Is that all you think about? You can’t even handle a simple task properly; how can you say you’ve given me your life?"

Song Wanqiu turned her back to him.

Li He embraced her from behind, burying his cheek in the nape of her neck, kissing it a few times.

"Don’t worry, I said I’d help you, and soon Lin Zhiyi won’t be in this world any longer."

Hearing this, Song Wanqiu’s eyes shifted, and she turned, hooking her arms around Li He’s neck.

"Really?"

"Of course," Li He raised an eyebrow.

Song Wanqiu responded with a passionate kiss.

After Lin Zhiyi fell asleep, Gong Chen left the hospital ward.

Once in the car, he lit a cigarette.

Just as the first puff of smoke left his lips, he turned to Chen Jin, "We’re being followed."

Chen Jin glanced at the rearview mirror and noticed a van that had been following them since the hospital.

He nodded to Gong Chen in the mirror, then quickly overtook and changed direction.

Smoking leisurely, Gong Chen spoke with a heavy voice, "Such close surveillance means someone must have tipped them off."

Chen Jin wasn’t just Gong Chen’s assistant but also a professionally trained bodyguard, shaking off the tail was a trivial task for him.

In less than five minutes, the van chasing them was lost from view.

Gong Chen thought for a moment before extinguishing the cigarette and making a call.

"Li Huan, where’s your brother?"

"Li He? He’s taken sick leave. You know, aside from being a bit playful, his abilities have always been top-notch. His tutor dotes on him too; let him go home to rest after seeing his injury."

Mentioning Li He, Li Huan’s tone was filled with pride.

With Mr. Li’s abrupt departure, Li Huan, despite appearing cheerful every day, carried a heavy burden.

He had to manage not only the family affairs but also take care of his mother and brother.

Gong Chen was silent for a moment, then said in a gentle voice, "Li Huan, come to Shan City."

Li Huan hesitated for a few seconds, "You better not scare me! You speaking to me in that tone—has your niece gotten into trouble again?"

"Yes. So I need you to come over," Gong Chen said calmly.

"Alright, alright, as it happens, I’m free now, might as well take it as the New Year’s holiday."

Li Huan readily agreed.