Chapter 67 All Posts About Luo Xing Have Been Deleted

"You've already booked your tickets?" Gu Shiyan asked.

Luo Xing replied naturally, "Yes, we booked them a week ago."

Gu Shiyan tugged at the corner of his mouth. "That's quick. I haven't yet. I need to stay a few more days—Gu Liang asked me to take care of some things."

Luo Xing pressed her lips together. She didn't quite understand why Gu Shiyan was explaining this to her, but recalling the peace between them these past days, she nodded in response.

"Registration is on the 31st. You might be late."

"So be it," he replied indifferently.

Ding—

The elevator doors opened.

Luo Xing gripped the handles of her two suitcases, ready to step out. The suitcase beside her was picked up by Gu Shiyan. He said nothing, only accompanying her to the door.

His eyes curved gently as he looked at Gu Yunzhi, who was already waiting by the side. "Grandma, come visit again when you have time. Thank you and Xingxing for all your help these days."

Luo Xing hesitated, her thoughts caught on the way "Xingxing" slipped so naturally and easily from his lips.

Gu Yunzhi smiled at Gu Shiyan. "It's no trouble. We'll go ahead—you spend more time with your grandfather."

Gu Shiyan nodded.

The driver beside Luo Xing took their luggage and loaded it into the trunk.

"Xingxing, let's go," Gu Yunzhi called.

Luo Xing nodded and followed, not glancing back.

Yet as she settled into the back seat, she caught sight of Gu Shiyan in the rearview mirror, standing at the door, raising his hand in a wave.

Luo Xing pressed her lips together.

She opened her phone—Gu Shiyan had already added her back, but there were no ambiguous messages between them.

Simply, he asked Luo Xing about Gu Taihua, or she inquired about Grandfather Gu's health.

August 22, 12:42 PM

Gu Shiyan: Ask the old man if he wants any fruit. I'll bring some.

Luo Xing: Sure, buy some.

August 26, 9:26 AM

Gu Shiyan: Where are you?

Luo Xing: Grandma is taking Grandpa Gu for a stroll in the garden. Bring the thermos if you're coming.

Every message carried a strange mix of unfamiliarity and familiarity.

Peking Central Hospital.

Gu Shiyan was climbing the stairs, answering a call.

"I heard you."

Gu Liang's voice came through, "Finish this task and I'll unfreeze your card and return your cars."

"Heh, is this your midlife crisis or have you found true love and decided to become a lapdog?" Gu Shiyan hung up before Gu Liang could respond.

No doubt, Gu Liang was fuming on the other end.

Thinking of this, Gu Shiyan smiled, feeling in high spirits.

He arrived at the hospital room number Gu Liang had sent him.

He saw Su Mo waiting outside and walked in. "Are all the other procedures done?"

Su Mo rubbed her eyes. "Yes. Thank you, and thanks to Uncle Gu as well."

Gu Shiyan didn't reply.

He was only here to help on Gu Liang's behalf. After replying to a message on his phone, he settled into the sofa and said nothing more.

Su Mo was reminded of the first time she met him—just like this, curled up on the sofa, glued to his phone, not sparing her a glance.

"Were you the one who got those forum posts deleted?" Su Mo sat on a wooden chair by the hospital bed, peeling an apple as she spoke.

Gu Shiyan raised his eyebrows—a tacit confirmation.

Su Mo smiled. "You haven't gotten over Luo Xing, have you? Still not ready to let go?"

His finger paused on the phone. "Patients need quiet," he said.

In other words, he was telling her to be quiet.

Su Mo wasn't bothered. The apple peeled, she handed it to Gu Shiyan. "Really, thank you. I know you were just following Uncle Gu's instructions, but if you hadn't found someone to help me that night, things might have..."

Her eyes reddened as she spoke.

The cost and requirements for hospitalization in Peking were exorbitant. After her grandmother's surgery, a few weeks passed before the doctor explained that the room had to be vacated for those in more urgent need. Her grandmother only needed observation and rest from then on.

Su Mo rented a place near the hospital. One night, she returned to find her grandmother had relapsed—collapsed on the floor, foaming at the mouth, muscles convulsing. She was terrified, on the verge of breakdown.

Mind blank, she instinctively called her mother.

But it was Gu Liang who answered. Hearing her sobs, he simply told her that Gu Shiyan would come.

That night, outside the hospital room, Su Mo explained everything to Gu Shiyan.

The last time she had stopped him was to borrow money—her grandmother's illness was draining all their resources.

She recounted her situation. She hadn't seen Su Wan in years. For her grandmother's sake, she had contacted her, but Su Wan was initially unwilling to acknowledge her as her daughter.

Su Wan just wanted to live the life of a wealthy wife. Later, it was only under Gu Liang's persuasion that she reluctantly took Su Mo back, but refused to pay for the grandmother's medical expenses.

After all, her father was dead, and Su Wan had remarried. She had no obligation to support her former mother-in-law.

Gu Shiyan leaned against the hospital wall, smoking as he listened to her story.

He said nothing.

He simply went and paid her grandmother's medical bills.

With a thud, the apple in his hand was tossed into the trash.

Su Mo went to wash the paring knife. When she returned, Gu Shiyan had already gone to see the attending physician.

...

On the first day of the new semester, Luo Xing and her friends gathered for a meal.

While waiting for the food, they all, by some unspoken agreement, stared at their phones.

"Hey, that's odd," Yun Cai said, peering at her screen.

Luo Xing's phone still displayed last year's physics competition winning entries. She glanced briefly at Yun Cai, then back at her own screen. "What's wrong?"

"I can't find any of the posts about you anymore," Yun Cai refreshed the page.

Yao Xiangming looked up at Luo Xing. "Did you know all the posts about you on the forum have been taken down? None of them are searchable now, and a lot of people's accounts have been hacked."

Yun Cai was still refreshing the page and, hearing this, asked in confusion, "How do you know so many accounts got hacked?"

Yao Xiangming snorted, "Of course I know. That's not the point. The point is, who did this?"

Luo Xing kept her eyes on her phone screen.

Shen Que spoke up. "Was it Gu Shiyan?"

Luo Xing shook her head. "I don't know."

"Hey, Xingxing, did he really have a change of heart and come back to pursue you?" Yun Cai nudged her elbow, asking, "So will you say yes?"

Luo Xing frowned. "He hasn't pursued me. Besides, we're really over now."

"That's good. You should focus on preparing for the competition," Shen Que said.

Ming An, eyes downcast, glanced at Luo Xing. "Are you really going to the competition with Shen Que? You used to hate these troublesome and boring things the most."

Luo Xing nodded. "I still don't like them, but one can't only do what they like in life."

"Did you know there's a small group chat in our class, just for the boys?" Yun Cai asked.

Luo Xing shook her head. "Didn't know. Isn't that normal? We have our own small group too."

"No, but Gu Shiyan is in that group," Yun Cai blinked.