Volume One, Chapter 14: Confessions of Devoted Hearts

Feng Xi had slept the entire day through and only slowly woke up the next afternoon. Her body ached terribly, the wounds were swollen and throbbed faintly.

She opened her eyes to clear light; the blue tint had faded. Feeling extremely thirsty, she struggled to sit up and grabbed the cup of water on the table, drinking it all at once. The warm water slid down her throat into her stomach, and only then did she realize the water was warm—just the right temperature. Had someone just placed it there?

Slipping on her slippers and enduring the pain in her calves, Feng Xi pushed open the door of the ward. Outside was another room; her ward was a suite. On the sofa outside, Gu Qingchen and Ding Wen simultaneously turned their heads.

Feng Xi froze in place.

Gu Qingchen slowly stood up, his cane tapping lightly on the floor as he supported himself step by step towards Feng Xi. His legs were long and strong; each step was firm and steady, like an elegant traveler moving through the world—not hurried, not slow, but emanating an undeniable strength.

When he stopped before her, he reached out and touched her forehead—it was no longer feverish.

Still dazed, Feng Xi was nudged gently by Gu Qingchen, who softly called, “Feng Xi?”

Coming to her senses, she could hardly believe he was already able to walk with a cane. “You… can walk… now?”

Gu Qingchen tilted his body slightly; Feng Xi could barely reach his chin, and at eye level she saw only his thin lips. They moved slightly.

“Thanks to the little miracle doctor, a miracle has happened.”

Gu Qingchen stared into Feng Xi’s tea-colored eyes just as she looked up; within her clear gaze, tiny sparks of light gradually appeared.

Feng Xi felt a slight sting at her nose, her eyes trembling with a joy born of hardship overcome. “That’s wonderful.”

Gu Qingchen stroked her soft hair gently and said warmly, “You deserve the most credit.”

Ding Wen sank deeper into the sofa, wishing he could disappear into a crack in the floor. Gu Qingchen, so uncharacteristically gentle, made him suspect that the eternal ice cube had been replaced by someone else.

He cleared his throat lightly. Having one patient was already difficult enough; now with two openly sick people standing there, and the New Year approaching, it was truly vexing!

Feng Xi also found Gu Qingchen’s demeanor a bit too… gentle. Though he usually had a mild temper when looked at directly, he rarely showed interest in anything, often cold and distant.

Today, his warmth felt unusual.

“Cough, Feng Xi, you must be hungry. Come, let’s eat together,” Ding Wen said.

Gu Qingchen stepped back a pace, making space. “Let’s eat.”

Counting carefully, Feng Xi realized she hadn’t eaten for several days. Her stomach was empty, but she was so used to hunger that she had forgotten the feeling.

The three ate together, just as before, without speaking—only the clinking of bowls and chopsticks filled the silence.

Gu Qingchen always ate deliberately and unhurriedly, each bite savored slowly, as if time itself had deliberately slowed down in that moment—neither proud nor impatient.

Feng Xi secretly glanced at the chopsticks between Gu Qingchen’s slender fingers. The name “Qingchen” echoed and separated in her mind.

The atmosphere today felt strange. Ding Wen, usually quick-witted and talkative, had fallen silent, burying his head in his bowl, focusing solely on eating—very odd.

Gu Qingchen, too, occasionally picked a dish for her; though his face wore little expression, it somehow felt very warm.

Could this be a blessing in disguise?

The kidnapping this time was likely exposed when Lin Dong went to the bank to withdraw money, which alerted Gu Qingchen. Feng Xi was probably rescued by Gu Qingchen himself and now stayed in such a high-end ward.

Especially today, Gu Qingchen was unusually gentle, and Feng Xi couldn’t help but wonder—but quickly dismissed the thought.

Maybe she was kept by Gu Qingchen because she resembled his former beloved fiancée. For someone as wealthy and powerful as Gu Qingchen, taking care of her like this wouldn’t be impossible.

Seeing Feng Xi eat slowly, Gu Qingchen was unhurried, chewing carefully, waiting patiently until she put down her chopsticks.

He pulled a bank card from his pocket and placed it on the table, pushing it toward her.

“This is your salary card.”

Feng Xi was startled. “But the month has just begun.”

Gu Qingchen chuckled. “It’s for last month. You’re smart, knowing that Lin Dong’s trip to the bank would alert me, so you let Lin Dong expose himself.”

Feng Xi took the card and found it was indeed the original one, slipping it into the pocket of her patient gown. “It wasn’t me who handed it over; I value money like life itself. He rifled through my clothes and took it. I knew his greed would make him try to withdraw the remaining money, which would alert you.”

Gu Qingchen’s eyes showed admiration. He exchanged a glance with Ding Wen.

“You guessed right. Lin Dong really tried to withdraw the rest of the money. The bank manager immediately informed Ding Wen. That’s how we caught Lin Dong. After a few punches, he confessed.”

Feng Xi frowned, displeasure flashing in her beautiful eyes. “A few punches aren’t enough. Most of my injuries were from him.”

She rolled up her sleeve and pointed to the bruises on her arm, like a child tattling. “See? He did this.”

Gu Qingchen’s eyes flickered with tenderness. He reached out and pulled down her sleeve. “Don’t worry, Lin Dong is covered in bruises now, and Lin Shengwang too. Those two won’t have it easy in the detention center.”

Feng Xi smiled faintly, then lowered her gaze with a touch of loneliness. “Actually, Lin Shengwang is my biological father, and Lin Dong is my full brother. I’m the daughter they abandoned. My grandfather took me in and raised me this far. Lin Shengwang long wanted to sell me for bride price. I escaped from home.”

Speaking those words, much of the grievance in her heart lifted.

Gu Qingchen stroked her head and glanced at Ding Wen, who immediately stood up.

“Well then, I’ll go check what Brother Wu is eating.”

Ding Wen closed the door, leaving only Feng Xi and Gu Qingchen in the ward.

Feng Xi continued, “Mr. Gu, thank you for saving me. Actually, I became your caregiver, got close to you, tried to please you—all for your money. I just wanted to leave that home, to have enough to eat. I’m sorry; I had ulterior motives from the start.”

Her eyes were red and wide like a little white rabbit’s. Gu Qingchen felt a softness stir somewhere in his heart and smiled brightly.

His curved lips smiled like a warm spring breeze, like sugar-coated cotton candy.

“I had ulterior motives too.”

Feng Xi raised her eyes to meet Gu Qingchen’s, her gaze flowing like water.

“The first time I saw you, I mistook you for someone else—my fiancée. You look so much like her. She broke off our engagement a few months ago and left the country. Because of how alike you are, I wanted you by my side to ease my loneliness.”

Gu Qingchen spoke slowly, “But I gradually realized you’re very different. You’re smart and hardworking, so you need not feel inferior. Feng Xi, you’re not at fault—it’s them. Bad people will face their due punishment. Now that you’ve escaped, you must look forward. I will be your strongest support. I will make sure you never go hungry again, and no one will ever bully you.”

Tears shimmered in Feng Xi’s eyes. “Look forward”—just as Feng Xi had once comforted Gu Qingchen, now he comforted her.

As Gu Qingchen said, Feng Xi was always timid, liked to keep her head down, avoided eye contact. The Lin family blamed her for every misfortune without distinction, as if she were just a toy to be kicked at any time.

Bright tears traced down her rosy cheeks. Gu Qingchen quickly reached out to wipe them away.

“Don’t cry, Feng Xi. If you’re willing to stay with me, I promise no one will ever bully you again.”

Feng Xi raised her trembling hand and wiped away the tears, a hint of hope shining in her eyes.

“I’m willing. I want to stay with Mr. Gu.”