Chapter 5: Chapter 5 Leaving the Gong Family Chapter 5: Chapter 5 Leaving the Gong Family The hall was spacious, but the air around Gong Chen was cold to the extre, suffocating everyone present.
He remained silent.
But everyone knew he was angry.
He took out a cigarette case and lit a cigarette.
He exhaled a white mist that shrouded his face, and through the hazy fog, he looked at Lin Zhiyi with an indiscernible expression on his face.
“Get out.”
Following that, Old Mr. Gong also waved his hand displeasedly.
Liu He helped Lin Zhiyi up.
Lin Zhiyi pulled away her hand, standing upright in the middle of the hall, and spoke with force, “Since my presence here is inconvenient, I will move out imdiately. Old Master, thank you for your years of care.”
She intended to leave with dignity, decisively.
She would never again be as cautious and frightened as she had been in her past life.
After finishing, Lin Zhiyi turned and left.
The gazes that fell on her back were dangerous and stern.
…
Stepping out of the hall, the reaction from the multiple birth control pills swept over, causing her to feel dizzy and nauseous.
Lin Zhiyi hadn’t walked far when she fainted.
When Lin Zhiyi woke up, Liu He was sitting by her bed, her eyes sowhat red.
Seeing her awake, Liu He slapped her – not hard, more like a tickle.
“You wanted to scare to death, didn’t you? Are those pills sothing to be taken recklessly?”
“Mom, it’s pointless; I can’t escape the Gong Family in this lifeti,” Lin Zhiyi said weakly.
“You… it’s a hard life! I told you to mingle with the children of rich families earlier. If you had married well, you could have had a peaceful life,” Liu He advised.
“Like you?”
What kind of peaceful life was that?
Liu He stopped herself from saying more.
Just then, the door opened, and Gong Shiyan ca in with a bowl of porridge.
“Zhiyi, you’re awake, have a few sips of porridge to feel better.”
Lin Zhiyi was about to say thanks when she noticed Gong Shiyan’s ear was torn, seemingly hit by sothing sharp.
It must have been Old Mr. Gong.
He had never favored their household, displeased with his second son who was foolish and insisting on marrying a woman with a child.
“I’m sorry, Uncle, for the trouble. I will leave as soon as possible,” Lin Zhiyi apologized.
“Don’t talk nonsense!” Liu He was displeased.
Gong Shiyan gently patted her shoulder, “The doctor said Zhiyi has to take dicine after waking up; go get a cup of warm water.”
Liu He imdiately stood up and left.
Gong Shiyan sat beside the bed, sighing faintly, “Zhiyi, do you really have to go?”
“Uncle, staying here will cause trouble for you and mom. I’m grown now; I can take care of myself.”
“It’s my fault for being incapable.” Gong Shiyan pulled out a card and stuffed it under Lin Zhiyi’s pillow, “Don’t refuse. As a girl, you’ll have plenty of places to spend money outside. The pin is your birthday. Be careful out there. Call or your mom if you need anything.”
“Thank you, Uncle,” Lin Zhiyi said gratefully.
Gong Shiyan looked at Lin Zhiyi and suddenly remarked, “Lao San was really strange today, too out of character.”
“What happened?” Lin Zhiyi asked, puzzled.
“When your mom yelled that you fainted, Lao San actually dashed out and carried you away. If Old Master hadn’t called people to bring you back, you’d still be lying in his courtyard.”
“What?” Lin Zhiyi clenched her blanket in shock.
“Don’t worry, Lao San said he was afraid you’d die in the Gong Family, risking gossip.”
“Hmm.”
That was just like Gong Chen, Lin Zhiyi thought bitterly.
Everything from the night before seed like a dream.
After taking her dicine and resting for a while, Lin Zhiyi got up and packed a bag.
When leaving, she avoided Liu He, as she would surely have been crying.
Walking out of Gong Mansion, all the servants lowered their heads, as if afraid to make eye contact.
She stood under the porch, watching the skies gradually darken.
The day was finally coming to an end.
Autumn arrived early in Jing City, the wind in the evening was rustling and chilly.
Lin Zhiyi held her bag strap tightly and quickened her pace as she left.
Gong Mansion, a standalone garden-style mansion located in Jing City’s best district, was secluded due to the Gong Family’s early purchase of the surrounding grounds as well.
They built a private park around it, occasionally open to the public for events.
But there was no subway, no bus, and even taxis were scarce.
Lin Zhiyi would still need to walk twenty minutes to reach the nearest platform.
She braved the wind under the streetlights and had walked for a few minutes when a car horn sounded from behind.
She subconsciously moved to the side.
Unexpectedly, the car stopped next to her.
“Miss Lin, please get in the car.”
The window rolled down, revealing a face that was sowhat familiar.
It was Gong Chen’s assistant, Chen Jin.
Lin Zhiyi paused for a mont, her eyes involuntarily glancing at the back seat where a hand wearing a red jadeite ring tapped lightly on a knee, seemingly impatient.
Gong Chen.
Lin Zhiyi wanted no further entanglent with him and shook her head, “No need, young uncle, take your ti.”
She adjusted her backpack and continued forward.
Behind her, Chen Jin quickly got out of the car and blocked Lin Zhiyi’s path.
He held a politely appropriate smile and gently said, “Miss Lin, please get in the car, it’s for your own good. Third Young Master said it wouldn’t look good for you to be seen walking off with your luggage like this. If you refuse, I’ll have to resort to my own thods to get you into the car.”
Lin Zhiyi clenched her backpack tighter and looked toward the back seat window, which was pitch black and revealed nothing.
But she knew, Gong Chen was watching her.
Gong Chen’s tactics were infamously ruthless in Jing City, and in her past life, she had experienced them.
If it ca down to a direct confrontation, it was clear what he would do.
Lin Zhiyi suddenly felt a chill, her body void of warmth.
She had been reborn and did not want to challenge Gong Chen’s anger again.
Lin Zhiyi nodded and walked towards the passenger side.
However, Chen Jin pushed her into the back seat.
As soon as she settled in, she slled alcohol in the car.
Looking suspiciously, she saw Gong Chen’s tall fra leaning against the seat back, his eyes half-closed. In the dim light, most of his face was hidden in the shadows.
Dangerous and stern.
Gong Chen slightly opened his eyes and said flatly, “Are we going?”
His voice was emotionless, but it weighed on Lin Zhiyi as if sothing was stuck in her throat.
After a while, she recognized this feeling.
It was eerily similar to the tone he used in her previous life when he punished her with the words, “Want to leave? It won’t be that easy.”
Suppressing her resentnt, Lin Zhiyi shifted her position and was about to reply when her phone rang.
It was Liu He.
Lin Zhiyi did not want to answer, fearing Liu He would complain again about her not seizing opportunities.
But Gong Chen’s gaze had already fallen on her, his brows furrowed.
Lin Zhiyi had no choice but to answer.
“Lin Zhiyi! Are you trying to kill ? Have I ever mistreated you that you need to run away from ho?”
Liu He’s voice was choked, each word full of helpless resignation.
She knew she couldn’t protect her daughter.
“Mom, I’ll take care of myself.”
“You… be careful,” sighed Liu He, still reluctantly compromising, “Zhiyi, maybe… I should ask your uncle to arrange a blind date for you. It’s better to have a man to rely on than be alone outside. Your uncle will definitely find soone suitable for you.”
Liu He started her usual preaching.
Lin Zhiyi’s eyes fleetingly glanced at Gong Chen. Unable to discern his expression, her nerves tinged with urgency, she hurriedly said goodbye.
Liu He was uncharacteristically assertive, “Don’t brush off, I am doing this for your own good. That’s settled then, you’ll go on the blind date in a few days…”
“Mom! Goodbye.”
Lin Zhiyi hung up the phone.
In her past life, Liu He had also set up blind dates, but they had fallen through after her incident with Gong Chen.
Speaking of Gong Chen, he mustn’t have heard.
Even if he did, it wouldn’t matter to him.
But suddenly, the car felt as if it had been vacuum-sealed, with a palpable silence.
Streetlights filtered through branches, casting a mottled light through the car window, sliding over Gong Chen’s deep-set features.
Sitting on pins and needles, Lin Zhiyi gripped her hands tightly.
Then, a soft snort.
“A blind date?”
“Lin Zhiyi, was there even a single true word you said last night?”
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