Chapter 23 (1/2)
t.i.tle: A New Task
Gu s.h.i.+ Tong's driver sent Jiu Jie back to his hotel while he stayed at the office.
He walked through the door and saw Gu s.h.i.+ Chen looking through a medical record.
”Thanks for today,” Gu s.h.i.+ Tong said.
”Don't be so formal,” Gu s.h.i.+ Chen didn't even lift her head and replied.
Gu s.h.i.+ Tong walked to the desk and found a chair to sit in before asking, ”What do you think of Jiu Jie?”
”What are you referring to?”
”Everything matters; appearance, temperament, character, skill level, and conversational ability.”
”Why are you asking?”
Gu s.h.i.+ Tong smiled. ”When you were just born, Ming Shan and I joked about betrothing you two to each other. Haha, what do you think of your future husband?”
”Old Gu!” Gu s.h.i.+ Chen turned around and glared at him.
”Haha, it's just a joke.” Gu s.h.i.+ Tong held up his hands. ”Seriously though, what do you think of him?”
”His appearance is mediocre, temperament is restrained, his character is above average, skill level is average and his conversational abilities…crude and straightforward.” Gu s.h.i.+ Chen said coldly.
”Do you approve of him being a Watchman though?”
”I don't.” Gu s.h.i.+ Chen shook her head and replied.
”Why?” Gu s.h.i.+ Tong asked. ”I have never seen anyone else with a stronger Li Bi Duo. He's even stronger than you. If we give him the right guidance, in the future, his control over dreamland will be unparalleled.”
”You're right. His Li Bi Duo is very strong. Even I cannot estimate what his strength will be like in the future, but that isn't the problem.”
”What’s the problem then?”
”With his temperament,” Gu s.h.i.+ Chen started, ”With what I have observed so far, he's severely repressing himself. On the surface, he's like a knight in a dream seriously following the seven virtues. These rules though, in the deepest parts of his heart, he exists in conflict. He's a rebel and his unconsciousness hides a deep hatred. Even though he's able to control his temper, if he doesn't fix it, his personality will get worse and worse. If it worsens to such a certain degree, the consequences will be unimaginable.”
Gu s.h.i.+ Tong inclined his head slightly and said, ”Not bad, that's how it is. So, that's why I said that at the beginning, Old Luo's thinking is immature. He wishes to reform him, while using the virtues to expel the hate inside him. He didn't realize though that hate will not disappear in time. It's like a knot, it grows tighter and tighter.”
”Then, what do we do next? Do we still help him?”
Gu s.h.i.+ Tong nodded. ”Of course. This is only the beginning. Also, when we help him, we also help ourselves.”
”But when things are over, he's going to leave. What excuse can we give to keep him here?”
Gu s.h.i.+ Tong smiled. ”This case isn't over, he won't go back yet.. Even if he does go back, I have a plan to lure him back out.”
Gu s.h.i.+ Chen glanced at her watch and said, ”That's good. Later, if you need me to do anything, just ask. If there's nothing else, let's end it here. I have a patient coming at three pm.”
”Then, I won't bother you. Go do your thing.”
Gu s.h.i.+ Tong stood up and gave Gu s.h.i.+ Chen a onceover, his eyes filled with deep emotion, and his heart moved. ”If she were still here today and managed to see our daughter now, how great would that be!”
Gu s.h.i.+ Chen looked at Gu s.h.i.+ Tong's unmoving form and met his emotional gaze. She was dazed for a moment before asking, ”Do you still have business left?”
Gu s.h.i.+ Tong was jerked out of his thoughts, and forced a smile. ”Nothing. You busy yourself, I'm leaving.”
”You thought of her, right?” Gu s.h.i.+ Chen sounded cold and calm, but her words drew blood.
Gu s.h.i.+ Tong smiled bitterly with nothing to say.
Gu s.h.i.+ Chen sat up straight and firmly asked, ”So, many years have pa.s.sed and you still have nothing to say to me regarding that case?”
”Sorry, s.h.i.+ Chen. The time isn't right yet, I still cannot say anything.”
”Do you have any secret troubles? Anything you want to explain to me?”
Gu s.h.i.+ Tong was silent for a moment, his expression pained, before he faintly replied, ”s.h.i.+ Chen, I could only save one of the two, I'm sorry.”
”That's all?”
Gu s.h.i.+ Tong nodded his head with difficulty.
Gu s.h.i.+ Chen looked down in disappointment, and started to silently refocus on the medical record she was holding. Gu s.h.i.+ Tong helplessly shook his head, glanced at her, then turned around and left.
When he reached the door, Gu s.h.i.+ Chen's cold voice could be heard. ”Dad, it's cold today. You need to keep warm, especially your old leg. Now is the easiest time to catch a cold, so you need to be careful.”
Gu s.h.i.+ Tong trembled as he heard that, and rigidly stood there. He could scarcely believe his ears. The word 'Dad' put a spell on him, making him lose his ability to move. He couldn't remember the last time s.h.i.+ Chen called him 'Dad'.
Gu s.h.i.+ Tong's mood surged, his nose turned sour, and his vision unexpectedly became fuzzy. He struggled to compose himself and lightly replied, ”En, I understand.”
That forcefully controlled tone still carried a hint of carefully choked back sobs. Gu s.h.i.+ Tong pushed open the door and left the room after he was finished.