The hospital corridor smelled faintly of antiseptic and quiet unease.
Jun Meiyu's heels clicked against the polished floor as she hurried toward her father's room. Her phone had buzzed repeatedly, but she hadn't answered—she needed to get here first.
The door slid open, and a voice turned sharply.
"Meiyu…"
Her heart froze at the familiar tone.
Gu Jianhong was already there, standing by the window. The soft afternoon light outlined his figure. At the sound of the door, he pivoted, and a smile curved his lips. "There you are."
Before she could respond, he moved forward and wrapped her in a sudden hug.
Jun Meiyu froze, stunned, the weight of his body pressing gently against hers.
She caught a glimpse of his casual clothes—simple, middle-class wear, a plain buttoned shirt slightly untucked, sleeves rolled to the elbows, dark jeans. Nothing extravagant, nothing that betrayed the Gu family fortune.
The nurse at the corner of the room looked at Jun Meiyu with wide eyes, her lips pressed into a thin line. Jun Meiyu's eyes flicked toward her, nodding almost imperceptibly. The nurse stepped back, letting them be.
Gu Jianhong pulled back slightly, cupping her face in his hands, concern written across every feature. "You… you look thin. You didn't take care of yourself while I was away, did you?"
Jun Meiyu's chest tightened. She forced her shoulders to stay still, remembered Han Ruiming's words:
"Don't let anyone, especially the Gu Jianhong, know you've seen through them yet. One wrong move and the enemy will know."
"I… I'm fine," she whispered, voice trembling but soft.
"But you didn't pick up your phone. Didn't reply to my messages. Were you… angry at me?" His gaze searched hers, a mixture of hurt and worry.
She took a deep breath, hiding the bitterness that twisted in her chest. "I… I was caught up. My father… he had a sudden emergency. I couldn't leave his side. I barely had time to breathe, let alone check my phone."
He exhaled, relief flooding his expression. "I… I was worried sick. I thought—"
"Don't," Jun Meiyu interrupted softly. "I didn't want you to worry."
Gu Jianhong's hand lingered, warm and comforting on her cheek. "You shouldn't hide things from me. I care."
Her throat tightened. Her eyes blurred, but she didn't let the tears fall just yet. "I know. I… I am sorry."
His gaze softened at that, and he leaned closer again, brushing her hair back from her face. "I should have come sooner."
He pulled her gently toward the table. "Here, I got you food."
Jun Meiyu's gaze fell on the neatly packed meal, the spoon placed beside it. She could smell the faint aroma—simple, comforting.
Jun Meiyu's lips pressed into a thin line. Her heart ached. How could someone so gentle, so caring, harbor such cruelty?
Gu Jianhong watched her, feeding her small bites, talking easily. "The office has been insane. Meetings in the other city, clients pressing for updates… but I kept thinking about you. I missed you every single day."
Jun Meiyu listened, her hands shaking slightly, forcing the food down. She couldn't let him see her breaking, not yet. And yet, a single tear slipped down her cheek despite herself.
Panic flashing in his eyes, he reached out instinctively, pulling her into a hug. "Meiyu… I won't take the next trip if you miss me this much."
Jun Meiyu didn't answer. She pressed herself slightly into him, careful, restrained.
"I… I missed you," she murmured, her voice almost breaking. But no more!
Gu Jianhong's shoulders sagged, relief washing over him. He kissed her forehead, the action gentle, almost reverent.
"I missed you too. You don't have to go through anything alone. I'll stay here as long as you need me. I'll never leave you again."
Her face pressed against his chest, the steady thud of his heart loud in her ears. For a fleeting second, she almost wanted to believe him.
But then—beep… beep… The faint monitor by her father's bedside pulled her back, cutting through the illusion.
Her fingers curled into fists at her side. She didn't move, didn't answer. On the surface, she looked fragile in his arms.
Inside, she carved a vow deep into her bones—
Never again. She would not fall for his lies.