Reborn to outshine My Ex and His White Moonlight
Chapter 228 This is Your Responsibility

Chapter 228: Chapter 228 This is Your Responsibility

Gong Chen sat lifelessly through the night.

In the morning, Sang Ran slowly awoke, seeing the man still by her side, she felt both joy and heartache.

She weakly began, "Third Young Master, I’m sorry for making you stay with me all night."

Gong Chen snapped back to reality, standing up slowly, "I’m going to find a doctor."

As he turned, Sang Ran grasped his hand.

"Third Young Master, I like you. Can we be together? Of course, you can also refuse me."

Gong Chen looked down at her, calmly peeling her hand away, "Let’s have the doctor come check on you first."

Watching the man’s retreating figure, Sang Ran bit her pale lip, her eyes welling up.

After the doctor checked her and confirmed Sang Ran was out of danger, she was moved to a regular ward.

Gong Chen helped Sang Ran lie down, saying in a deep voice, "Your brother is on his way."

Sang Ran immediately clutched his arm, somewhat anxiously saying, "Third Young Master, are you leaving now?"

"There’s news from home, asking me to return."

Gong Chen’s dark eyes were deep, yet devoid of any emotion, like the ice-cold world outside.

*Everything was buried and frozen, as if no one could see through him if he so wished.*

Sang Ran froze for a moment, but soon her face returned to normal, even letting out a light laugh.

"You actually explained it to me?"

"Hehe, everyone says you’re difficult to get along with, but I insisted you weren’t like that."

"Be careful on the road."

Gong Chen murmured a sound of acknowledgment, getting up and heading for the door.

Sang Ran waved at him with a smile, even if there was no response.

As he left the room, Gong Chen came face to face with Sang Li.

Sang Li’s expression wasn’t good; obviously, he had heard his sister’s unrequited confession in the ward.

Gong Chen nodded faintly, exuding a cold and intimidating aura that instantly subdued Sang Li.

Only after Gong Chen passed did Sang Li regain his composure.

He frowned slightly, turning to call out to Gong Chen, "Third Young Master, I hope you seriously consider what I said before."

Gong Chen ignored him, leaving directly.

...

Gong Mansion.

As the end of the year approached, the maids were changing decorations.

After entering, Gong Chen handed his coat to a maid and turned towards the study.

Old Mr. Gong was sitting by the window, brewing tea comfortably by the stove.

"You’re here, have a taste of the tea from the tea estate."

"Mm."

Gong Chen undid the buttons of his suit, just about to sit when the old man’s seemingly casual voice drifted over again.

"How is Xiao Ran doing?"

Gong Chen paused, a flicker of coldness flashing through his dark eyes, but he quickly picked up the cup in front of him as if nothing had happened.

"She’s fine."

The icy tone turned what seemed like an ordinary conversation between father and son into something more businesslike.

The old man discontentedly set down his cup, fully aware of the underlying meaning.

"Are you upset that I had people watch over you? I’m just worried you’d get carried away. Xiao Ran is such a good girl, she became like this because of you! Don’t you have any responsibility?"

"In what way is she good?" Gong Chen asked calmly.

The old man replied firmly, "In all ways. Far better than those dubious people outside."

Gong Chen let out a cold laugh, leisurely adding tea, "Since you know everything, no need for constant reminders."

"Gong Chen!" the old man shouted angrily, "Are you saying I can’t control you?"

The steaming tea between them suddenly made the atmosphere dense with frost.

Gong Chen didn’t reply, simply pouring spring water into the teapot. Even as the water overflowed, he didn’t stop.

Until the hearth was extinguished.

Seeing this, the old man clenched his teeth, his keen eyes heavily lined, feeling a chilling sweat on his back.

Gong Chen was warning him.

Gong Chen, someone he had meticulously raised, now invoked fear even within his father.

Gong Chen’s voice remained cool and deliberate, "Dad, drink less tea, the doctor advised you to rest well."

"What do you mean? I’m not too old to run this family!"

The old man was most unwilling to admit aging and feared it most.

Gong Chen remained unflappable, "Your health is the priority."

The old man stiffened in his seat, his face turning blue.

Yet, having managed the vast Gong Family, he quickly composed himself.

He took out two documents, placing them before Gong Chen, shifting the subject, "Take a look at the list for the New Year’s ritual."

Gong Chen opened the list.

It was nearly identical to previous years’ personnel, except... Liu He.

The old man said coldly, "She is, after all, your second sister-in-law, no matter what is part of the Gong Family. Now that Chen Sulan is gone, she should start doing something for the family too."

"Is that so?"

Gong Chen met the old man’s gaze directly.

The old man pointed to another document below, his eyes sharp, "Your mother’s share transfer document."

"Gong Chen, I know about you and Song Wanqiu. It’s just an act for me, isn’t it? You just want to protect someone, right?"

"I can give you everything you want, as long as you marry Sang Ran. That’s your responsibility to the Gong Family and to Sang Ran."

The old man called for the butler to reignite the hearth.

As the flames flickered, Gong Chen’s face, however, remained exceptionally cold.

...

Lin Zhiyi originally wanted perfect attendance before the end of the year, but she caught a chill coming back last night.

She burned with confusion throughout the night.

Slept straight through to midday the next day before answering Xue Man’s three or four calls.

"I almost called the police. How are you?" Xue Man asked anxiously.

"Fever, just took my temperature, it’s 104 degrees," Lin Zhiyi said weakly.

"104 degrees! Alright, cut the crap and get to a hospital."

"Mm..."

Lin Zhiyi muttered unconsciously, popping a pill into her mouth before falling back asleep.

She didn’t know how long passed, but she began sweating all over, her eyes feeling glued shut, everything in front of her blurry.

Yet, parched and her throat aching, she could only struggle to fetch some water.

As she stood up from the bed, her world spun.

She even felt like she was walking on the ceiling, a sensation of falling overtaking her whole being.

Managing to get out of the room, in the shadowy distance, she saw the silver thermos on the table.

"Water, water..."

She quickened her pace, only to crash into the coffee table, her body uncontrollably falling.

Suddenly, a dark figure approached, catching her in its arms.

Lin Zhiyi found herself pressed against a solid chest, the coldness from outside still lingering on his body, making the temperature exceptionally comforting for someone with a fever.

She nuzzled against him, burying her face into his chest.

The next moment, she felt herself being lightly placed on the sofa, a dry and comforting hand pressing against her forehead.

With each breath, Lin Zhiyi felt someone watching her.

The person’s presence gradually approached, familiar yet cloaked with chill.

Just as she felt she was about to touch him, he stopped a few centimeters away.

She weakly opened a slit in her eyes, trying hard to see, yet only managing to discern a pair of eyes.

The dark eyes seemed to want to express something, but in a blink, they disappeared, along with the surrounding presence.

For some reason, she felt as if something inside her was being forcefully torn away.

Struggling to get up, she accidentally fell off the sofa.

A hand grabbed her waist, pulling her back up.

The breath in front of her was rapid, and Lin Zhiyi knew he was there.

Lifting her hand, he captured it, gently stroking it, hesitating for a few seconds before embracing her.

His embrace was light, as if it might vanish at any moment.