Chapter 23: Seven Seven

"Brother." Gu Wennuan hurriedly grabbed Gu Yu’s arm, shaking her head at him with tears in her eyes, while little Feng wailed beside them.

Gu Yu’s hesitation and struggle caused the faint glimmer of light in Tang Xi’s eyes to fade away, turning into ashes.

"Gu Yu, you once said that three strikes and you’re out, but you broke your word." Tang Xi felt only a sense of daze in her heart. "I will never forgive you again."

"Wife..." Gu Yu’s expression froze. He felt a sudden void in his heart, as if something precious was slipping away.

"I entrusted my daughter to you, and this is how you treat her?" Tang Jili stepped forward and slapped Gu Yu hard across the face. "You have disappointed me so much. You would rather believe a woman and child with whom you share no blood relation than your own wedded wife. Gu Yu, you are truly blind in both eyes and heart."

He Guilan and Gu Yu’s father could not stand by while their son was struck, and the group erupted into a chaotic argument.

Tang Xi said nothing more. She did not cast another glance at Gu Yu and turned to leave.

Gu Yu tried to follow, but he was held back tightly by Gu Wennuan and little Feng.

Rain lashed against her face, bringing a biting chill. Tang Xi looked up at the sky, seeing only the dense, fine threads of rain. Her head throbbed, and her fever seemed to have worsened. Despite the searing heat in her body, she felt waves of shivering. The icy rain falling on her deepened the cold, forcing her to pull her coat tighter around herself. Yet, the physical chill was nothing compared to the frost in her heart; it felt as if her very bones had been frozen solid. In the distance, the beams of headlights cut through the gloom, but she felt lightheaded and unsteady, each step feeling as though she were walking on cotton.

She hoped it wasn't anyone she knew; she did not want to be seen in such a disheveled state.

The car slowed to a stop beside her, and the rear door opened, revealing a tall, slender figure.

Tang Xi felt her luck today was abysmal. She had actually run into Zhou Jingchuan.

The moment she saw him, her body lost control and tipped backward. There was no hard, wet ground to catch her; instead, a warm, broad embrace steadied her. The driver hurriedly scrambled from the car to hold an umbrella over Zhou Jingchuan’s head.

Zhou Jingchuan carried her into the car and told the driver to turn on the heat.

"Cold, so cold." Tang Xi trembled uncontrollably, unable to stop herself from leaning into Zhou Jingchuan.

Zhou Jingchuan took off his own coat to drape over her and found a thin blanket to wrap her in, but she continued to shake. He placed his hand against her forehead; it was alarmingly hot.

"Notify the doctor," Zhou Jingchuan commanded the driver.

The car pulled slowly into the curtain of rain, which grew heavier, snaking down the windows. Tang Xi, drifting in and out of consciousness, felt a faint scent of sandalwood lingering around her. It was pleasant and calming, allowing her to finally drop her guard and drift into a deep sleep.

"Qiqi, Qiqi."

Who was calling her?

"Qiqi, Qiqi." The young man’s voice carried a playful tone, yet sounded as soft as the breeze when listened to closely.

"Everyone else calls me Xixi. Why do you call me Qiqi?"

"Xi and Qi have similar pronunciations, and since you were born on the seventh day of the seventh month, Qiqi will be my exclusive name for you—one of a kind." The boy’s voice carried a hint of overbearing pride.

"Then I want an exclusive name too," the girl said, blinking mischievously. "How about Jingjing?"

"Ugh," the boy groaned in disgust. "Too mushy."

"Then I’ll just call you Brother Jing. After all, no one else would call you that anyway."

"Brother Jing!" Tang Xi opened her eyes, feeling as if her head were splitting and her entire body had been crushed by a train.

The face of the boy in her memories was blurred, but the face before her was stunningly refined and bright—a masterpiece of God’s creation.

"Mr. Zhou?"