Chapter 17: No Way to Explain to This Little Girl

Yue Xiaoqing stared in disbelief. Brother Zheng isn’t seriously planning to mess with me, is he?

Sure, Su Zheng had joked around with her before, but nothing this extreme—nothing that involved actual bloodshed. And since when had Su Zheng, who was only ever adept at wielding a paintbrush, gained the skills to handle a scalpel?

“Are you scared?” Gu Li asked nonchalantly, her gaze cool and unwavering.

“No! Go ahead! I trust you!” Yue Xiaoqing’s momentary hesitation disappeared, replaced by a determined glint in her eyes.

Gu Li grabbed her arm and handed her a pillow. “If it hurts, bite this. I’ve got some anesthetic, but the dosage is a bit light, so you’ll have to endure it.”

The first aid kit was something her aunt had sent her before leaving for the capital. Since it couldn’t be carried on a plane, it had been delivered with the hope it might prove useful one day. And now, it seemed it finally had.

Yue Xiaoqing bit her lip hard and nodded, bracing herself.

Even with the anesthetic dulling the sensation, the scalpel slicing into her skin was agony. Tears welled up in her eyes as she clenched the pillow in her teeth, her knuckles white from the strain. 

Gu Li’s expression remained eerily calm, her movements precise and steady, as if she were a seasoned surgeon. Her focus was intense, the clinical detachment in her demeanor unnerving. 

“Luckily, the chip isn’t embedded too deeply,” Gu Li said, extracting the small device with a pair of tweezers. 

Yue Xiaoqing’s breath hitched at the sudden release of pressure. The ordeal seemed over—until Gu Li reached for a needle and thread.

“Brother Zheng, do you… do you even know how to sew properly?” she stammered, watching in alarm as Gu Li prepared to stitch the wound.

“What are you afraid of? I’ll stitch it up neatly. There won’t even be a scar. Trust me,” Gu Li replied, her tone so calm it left no room for argument.

Those three words—trust me—always made Yue Xiaoqing uneasy, but she nodded anyway, her reluctance written all over her face.

Twenty painstaking minutes later, Gu Li finally finished, washing her hands meticulously. “Avoid water for a week,” she instructed. “Come back to me to have the stitches removed. Don’t try to do it yourself or let anyone else do it. If you end up with a scar, you’ll only have yourself to blame.”

Gu Li punctuated her stern advice with a wink—a quick, playful gesture that caught Yue Xiaoqing completely off guard.

Flustered, Yue Xiaoqing swallowed hard, her intended retort dying in her throat. Instead, she gave a meek nod. “Okay.”

“Good. Let’s grab some food. My treat,” Gu Li said casually, drying her hands as if nothing unusual had just happened. She clapped her hands lightly, ready to head out.

“No, I should go back,” Yue Xiaoqing replied, her pale smile betraying her discomfort. “Zhang Jingsi is waiting for me downstairs.”

Gu Li frowned, her expression darkening, but after a moment, she nodded. “Fine. I’ll take you. But listen carefully—if that lunatic asks, just tell her I’m not reconsidering. The engagement is off, and under no circumstances should you mention I removed the chip. Understood?”

“Got it,” Yue Xiaoqing muttered, biting her lower lip. She turned stubbornly toward the door, clearly intent on leaving on her own.

Gu Li followed her silently to the doorway, intending to say something, but before she could, Yue Xiaoqing spun around and wrapped her arms around her in a sudden embrace.

Gu Li froze.

The sensation was strange. Her physique was almost identical to her brother’s, her features softened only slightly by her femininity. The embrace stirred an uncomfortable mix of emotions. 

After a beat, Gu Li gently placed her hands on Yue Xiaoqing’s shoulders and eased her back, creating a small but firm distance between them.

“Come on, I’ll walk you out,” Gu Li said quietly, her tone softer now.

Looking at the girl’s pitiful expression, Gu Li sighed inwardly. There were so many things she couldn’t explain—especially about her brother. 

After ensuring Yue Xiaoqing got back safely, Gu Li returned to her apartment. She immediately turned on her phone, her mind already at work. 

Sitting at her desk, she retrieved the chip she had submerged in disinfectant and held it up to the light. The tiny device gleamed ominously in her hand as she dialed a familiar number.

The call connected on the second ring. “Little Pear?” The voice on the other end was calm and steady. 

“Big Brother,” Gu Li said, twirling the chip between her fingers. Her tone was casual, but her sharp gaze betrayed the intensity of her thoughts. “Can you check a chip model for me?”

“Sure,” came the easy reply. “Send me the details, and I’ll have someone look into it.”

Gu Li stared at the chip, her eyes narrowing. “Alright. I’ll send them over.”

(End of Chapter 17)

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