Chapter 10: Taking It to Heart The grand hall felt eerily empty, splattered with blossoms of blood, the atmosphere chillingly cold. Su Nian's face was pale; her fingers slowly loosened until the phone slipped from her grasp and fell to the floor. On the screen glowed a string of digits—a number Su Nian had dialed unintentionally in her final moments.

"You suddenly calling me—does that mean you're in a bad mood again?"

The call connected, and a youth's sweet, cloying voice came through, brimming with cheerfulness. Shen Yuhuan lay sprawled on the sofa, a faint smile playing on his lips, lazy yet undeniably sexy.

"How about we go hiking? We could watch the sunset from the mountaintop."

"Or maybe hit the amusement park and try some extreme sports?"

Shen Yuhuan asked a couple more questions, but Su Nian remained silent.

"Are you teasing me?"

His tone slowed deliberately, each of the three syllables drawn out with affected tenderness.

"Little Nian-Nian?"

Shen Yuhuan furrowed his brow, hung up, and redialed immediately. This time, no one answered.

"Uncle Wang, prepare the small aircraft."

With an agile flip, he rose to his feet, moving with urgent yet orderly strides as he placed another call.

"Xi, are you free? Little Nian-Nian seems to be in trouble. Help me locate her phone number."

Within five minutes, Shen Yuxi replied: "Louyue Bay Villa Community."

※ "Wanrou, give me the phone."

Gu Yichen's voice deepened slightly. Only Su Nian knew his private number without having it saved under a contact name. Coming so soon after their argument, her call must concern something important.

"Yichen, the other party has already hung up."

Shen Wanrou, dressed in an elegant white gown, held the phone gracefully, a hint of helplessness on her delicate features. Her eyelashes fluttered, and the corners of her mouth curved ever so slightly. Gu Yichen wiped the grime from his palms, took the phone, and glanced at the number. Indeed, it was Su Nian's. He promptly dialed back.

"Sorry, the number you have dialed…"

But the line remained busy. Gu Yichen frowned slightly, hung up, and tried again. Still unable to get through, an inexplicable unease began to creep into his heart.

"Is it a very important client?" Shen Wanrou asked considerately.

Gu Yichen shook his head.

"It's Su Nian."

Su Nian had called him countless times before; he had long memorized her number.

Gu Ziyan, with a mouthful of cake, blinked her round eyes and froze for a moment. She remembered that a long time ago, when Su Nian had called her, Shen Wanrou happened to overhear and casually reminded her, "Ziyan, Nian-Nian is looking for you."

In Shen Wanrou's contacts, there was no entry for Su Nian, yet she somehow knew that unlisted number belonged to Su Nian. But today? How could Shen Wanrou not recognize that the caller was Su Nian? Gu Ziyan wrestled with these thoughts, her willow-leaf brows knitted tightly together. After hanging up for the third time, Gu Yichen dialed the villa's housekeeper, Cheng. He sensed movement beside him and turned his head to see Gu Ziyan edging closer.

"Brother, has Su Nian changed her phone number within the past two years?"

Gu Ziyan asked cautiously, keeping her voice soft even as her pulse quickened.

"No," Gu Yichen replied simply and directly.

His mind was elsewhere, oblivious to Gu Ziyan's unusual behavior. Gu Ziyan stood stunned, her thoughts a chaotic whirl, and silently retreated. Perhaps she was overthinking it. After all, so much time had passed; maybe Shen Wanrou had simply forgotten Su Nian's number by now.

"Ziyan, what's wrong?"

Shen Wanrou asked with genuine concern, her tone as gentle and pure as always.

Gu Ziyan flinched, her large eyes fluttering, but said nothing more. The phone receiver emitted a steady dial tone, and a trace of impatience flickered across Gu Yichen's brow. Once Housekeeper Cheng answered, he issued his order without hesitation: "Go check on Su Nian immediately. Don't hang up; I'll wait for your update."

Something has happened to Su Nian!

"The young mistress is lying in a pool of blood. There's blood on her face and hands. Her eyes are closed, and she isn't moving. I dare not move her recklessly…"

Hearing Housekeeper Cheng's slightly panicked description, a deafening roar erupted in Gu Yichen's mind.

"Wh…what?"

"Gu Yichen's voice sounded mechanical, his entire being seemingly frozen. He struggled to form a coherent thought. "

Is Su Nian… alive?

" It felt as though an eternity had passed; Gu Yichen's breathing grew rapid. "

Rest assured, sir, the young lady is still breathing.

" Butler Cheng visibly relaxed, a hint of a smile touching his lips. " I've already called Dr. Bai.

The young lady will be fine.

" Gu Yichen's heart gave a sudden tremor, then began pounding violently. A fleeting illusion of having survived a catastrophe washed over him. "

Yichen?

" Shen Wanrou stared in astonishment at Gu Yichen, who was already hurrying out the door. This was the first time he had completely ignored her, as if she didn't exist. Gu Yichen drove home at breakneck speed. He had never liked speeding; the feeling was uncontrollable, and he was accustomed to controlling everything. Yet, life had thrown him many unexpected twists. All those surprises were tied to Su Nian. But no matter how slowly a plane flew, it could never match the speed of a reckless drive. When Gu Yichen arrived at the villa, Butler Cheng rushed to meet him, his face etched with worry. "

Sir, Mr. Shen Yuhuan is in the young lady's room.

" Regarding Shen Yuhuan entering Su Nian's bedroom, Butler Cheng had wanted to stop him, both professionally and personally, but… Recalling the look in Shen Yuhuan's eyes, a chill crept into Butler Cheng's heart once more. "

Who gave him permission?

" Gu Yichen's gaze turned sharp. But that wasn't the main concern. With a cold expression and quickened strides, he asked, "

How is Su Nian?

" "

The young lady's condition has stabilized, and the bleeding has stopped, " Butler Cheng replied. Then, as if suddenly remembering something, he added hastily, "

Sir, your mother has also been informed and is on her way here.

" Gu Yichen nodded. During his reckless drive home, his phone had rung several times, all calls from Xu Qing. He hadn't answered, knowing full well that Xu Qing would only reproach him. Gu Yichen pushed open the door and immediately spotted Su Nian lying on the bed. Her head was wrapped in gauze, her small face pale, looking fragile and evoking pity. "

Get out!

" Gu Yichen's cold gaze shot toward the figure beside the bed. His wife lay there, yet another man kept vigil by her side. Shen Yuhuan sat on the chair before the bed, flipping through a photo album. "

Shh…

" He raised a finger to his lips, an unreadable smile playing on his face. "

Little Nian needs rest. Please maintain quiet, Mr. Gu.

" Little Nian? Gu Yichen's eyes instantly sharpened. "

Show some respect. Su Nian is my wife; do not address her so casually.

" His voice was cold and deep, yet he lightened his steps and lowered his volume. "

Mr. Shen Yuhuan, please conduct yourself with dignity!

" Shen Yuhuan tilted his head, asking with a bright smile, "

But didn't Mr. Gu say you wouldn't care if Little Nian found other men outside? Has something captured your attention now? Do you care enough to intervene?

" He casually turned a page, his tone lazy and teasing. The new page revealed a childhood photo of Su Nian. She held a lollipop, her eyes curved into crescents, smiling happily and sweetly. Shen Yuhuan's hand froze. He abruptly looked at Su Nian, his dark pupils reflecting a faint, mysterious light. "

How could I possibly care about Su Nian?

" Gu Yichen felt a shock ripple through his heart and denied it without hesitation. Precisely at that moment, Su Nian's eyelashes fluttered slightly, and she slowly opened her eyes. Author's Note: Recommending a friend's new contemporary romance novel, "

Coax Me a Little " by Tian Nuo. The team of Changshi's most eligible bachelors discovered that one of their members, Meng Chenquan, who had always been the most ascetic and avoided women like the plague, had recently undergone a dramatic transformation. For instance, his phone wallpaper had changed to a selfie of a beautiful woman, and even his previously stern phone was now encased in a pink cover. Furthermore, he consistently made excuses to avoid gatherings, and when he did attend, he would slip away after just a few minutes. Additionally, someone overheard President Meng on the phone in the restroom, speaking with unparalleled tenderness to coax a woman, calling her "

Jiaojiao " repeatedly, nearly making the eavesdropper believe President Meng was possessed by a ghost. After unanimous deliberation, the remaining four team members decided to raid Meng's residence, determined to uncover the reason behind President Meng's supposed "

A few people launched a surprise attack, opening the door only to find a pretty young beauty, blushing and smiling, rising from President Meng's lap.

Meanwhile, their usually ascetic President Meng was covered in kiss marks… Didn't we agree that whoever found love first would be called a dog? Yet here you are, secretly keeping a beauty for yourself?