You Owe Me, My Love

Chapter 393 Are You Still Mad At Me

“Do you think it was done by a single person or a duo?” Gu Mingchen asked.

"At least two people were involved. One person wouldn't have been able to render Ai Wei'er unconscious and keep the oil lamp from smashing to the ground. Plus, the person who locked the door didn't enter through the main entrance as the door was locked from the outside. If that person has truly gained entry, then there are other passages in this castle.” Wu Nian walked toward the fireplace and looked at the ashes there. “Take a look, Gu Mingchen.”

Striding over, Gu Mingchen spotted another drag mark on the ground. “I'll go up and take a look.” He crawled in, only to swiftly back out in the next moment as oil poured down from above, followed by a dozen logs that were lit.

The moment the logs came into contact with the oil, a blazing fire flared to life.

Taking Wu Nian’s hand, Gu Mingchen took three steps back.

“I'll break the door.” As he said that, he snagged a chair and stalked out before smashing it against the door.

He hit it once, twice, thrice... On the sixth time, the door finally broke.

They were then greeted by the sight of Slack sprawled over the steering wheel with a knife protruding from his neck and blood pooling on the ground.

Wu Nian placed her hand under his nose, only to find that he was no longer breathing. Thus, she shook her head at Gu Mingchen.

“Run ahead and call Mo Xue when there's a signal. Ask her to keep the front gate closed and get the surveillance footage at once,” Gu Mingchen ordered.

Subsequently, he climbed onto the car and swept his gaze around. “I spot them. There are three men, so I'll give chase!”

Leaping down from the car, he sprinted toward the northern gate at full tilt.

When Wu Nian had gotten a signal, she immediately phoned Mo Xue. “Mo Xue, an issue came up. Someone kidnapped Ai Wei“er. Send men to the northern gate at once.”

After saying that, she hung up and ran toward the northern gate as well.

When Gu Mingchen saw the three men stuffing Ai Wei'er into the van, he grabbed the door immediately.

“Be careful, Gu Mingchen!” Wu Nian shouted anxiously.

Jumping up, Gu Mingchen slipped into the van, and in the next instance, a man was kicked out the opposite door.

As soon as the man’s partners in crime saw that their buddy had been attacked, they instantly got out of the van with knives in their hands. “Keep your nose out of this!" one of them threatened viciously.

Gu Mingchen merely stared at the two men who had masks on. Then, he swiftly charged. He moved so fast that before they could even react, he'd already restrained one of the masked men’s hands, whereupon his knife clattered onto the ground.

While the other man was still contemplating how he could help, Gu Mingchen had already grasped his wrist and pinned him against the car door.

At this time, the man on the ground scrambled up while clutching his stomach. The moment he saw Mo Xue's men heading over, he promptly took off.

“Catch him!” Mo Xue demanded sharply.

Half the bodyguards chased after the man who was making his escape, and the other half helped Gu Mingchen restrain the two men.

“Where's Ai Wei'er?” Mo Xue asked Wu Nian.

“In the van,” Wu Nian replied.

The butler opened the car door and carried Ai Wei'er out. “Ms. Ai is unconscious,” he reported to Mo Xue.

Livid, Mo Xue ripped the mask off one of the men. “It's you?” she exclaimed in surprise.

The masked man dipped his head in panic.

“You know him?” Stephen questioned.

"He's my nephew — a good-for-nothing who only knows how to eat, drink, carouse, and gamble. He asked me for a loan of two million last week, but I rebuffed him. Never had I thought that he'd do such a crazy thing!” Mo Xue growled, incensed.

"What's the big deal about giving me two million when you're so rich, Aunt Xue? I'm going to lose my hands if I don't pay them back next week.”

“That's your problem. I won't give you any money. Take him to the police station,” Mo Xue instructed coldly.

“Looks like you're in a bad mood today, so I'll excuse myself. I'll come back tomorrow and continue painting you,” Stephen drawled

At this, Mo Xue rolled her eyes at him. “My money doesn't grow on trees either, yet everyone is trying to dupe me!”

“Who'd be able to dupe you when you're so smart? If you think the person I introduced you isn't trustworthy, forget about forging a collaboration. It's your choice, so stop making a mountain out of a molehill!” Stephen snapped in chagrin.

"If so, why are you suddenly painting me? Don't tell me that you have no other motive, for I won't believe that,” Mo Xue declared bitterly.

“Hah!” Stephen sneered. “You're always like this. I feel truly lucky that you're not my wife. Since you think that I have an ulterior motive, let's call an end to it, then. I won't do it anymore.”

Then, he whirled around, wanting to leave the place.

Mo Xue instantly grabbed his hand, but he didn’t even spare her a single glance.

“I spouted nonsense because I was in a bad mood. My daughter was almost kidnapped, and my subordinate was killed, so please understand my situation,” she murmured apologetically.

“Mo Xue,” Stephen called out. Then, he turned sideways and looked at her. “When I finish my painting of you, it'll also be the closing of the chapter that was us. Don't look for me anymore in the future.”

Mo Xue stared at him with pursed lips. “Have you ever loved me?”

“I love your straightforwardness, honestly, and unpretentiousness. I might have given it a try when I was in my youth, and my blood ran hot, but now that I'm old, I know what's right for me. And unfortunately... you're not it,” Stephen answered solemnly.

“In that case, there's no need for you to paint me anymore. I don't care for that!” Mo Xue huffed as she released her grip on his hand.

The moment his hand was free, Stephen strode ahead.

Upon seeing that, Mo Xue stamped her foot. “Come back!”

However, Stephen didn’t turn back. Instead, he disappeared behind the shade of a tree.

A witness to it all, Wu Nian arched an eyebrow.

Mo Xue pushed her man away with her temper tantrums. So, what about me and Gu Mingchen? She instinctively shifted her gaze to Gu Mingchen, only to realize that he was likewise staring at her. All at once, her heart jolted, and she hung her head guiltily.

“Hey, you! Ms. Wu, yes? I agree to your terms, so when do you think we can sign the contract?” Mo Xue barked irately.

“My company will send someone over to sign the contract. May I know when you'll be free?” Wu Nian murmured courteously.

At this, Mo Xue hesitated for a moment as she glanced in the direction in which Stephen had disappeared. Subsequently, she snapped, “Tomorrow, then.”

At that, Wu Nian phoned Liu Yan. Over the moon, Liu Yan then told Shen Yiyan about it, and he said he'd send someone over to sign the contract.

When they left, Mo Xue arranged a car for her and Gu Mingchen.

Throughout the entire drive, Wu Nian kept her gaze out the window, saying nary a word to Gu Mingchen.

When the driver had driven her back to the hotel, Gu Mingchen alighted from the car as well.

Then, she stepped into the elevator, and he likewise did the same.

Later, when she stepped out of the elevator, he still did the same.

Her steps abruptly came to a halt. But on second thought, perhaps he reserved a room here as well, so we're merely on the same floor, and he's not deliberately following me.

At this thought, she continued walking. After she'd unlocked her room door, she glanced over her shoulder, only to see that he was still standing behind her.

Before she could even say anything, he'd already pushed open the door and sauntered in, plopping onto the sofa nonchalantly.

Wu Nian was rendered speechless by it all.

Casting Wu Nian, who was still standing by the door, a sideways glance, Gu Mingchen asked, “Are you still mad at me?”

“No.” The moment she said that, regret swamped her. I should've thrown a tantrum instead! That would've been the right way to drive him away.

Upon hearing this, Gu Mingchen'’s gaze turned tender. “Come over here.”

The right way to drive him away would have been to snap, “why should I go over to you,” but before the words even made it out of Wu Nian’s mouth, her legs had already carried her over. She then sat down across from him.

Getting to his feet, Gu Mingchen propped his hands on both sides of me. “Accompany me to Ferropene tomorrow.”

“Huh?”

“I want to go on a vacation with you. No one knows us in Ferropene, so we have more freedom,” Gu Mingchen explained softly.