Unexpected Clues

The space was filled with thumping music.

Gu Jiu rested one hand on her forehead, her other index finger hooked onto the man's lapel.

"I'm drunk. It's not safe here alone." She looked at the man opposite her, her eyes hazy with alcohol, yet exceptionally bright when she looked at him.

A second later, Cheng Yu Zhu leaned in close to her.

His breath was within an inch, his strong physique hidden beneath a black shirt. This man had a body that made others' blood surge. The first time Gu Jiu saw him, she had calmly appreciated his entire process of getting dressed.

But now, Cheng Yu Zhu lowered his head, close to her ear, his thin lips seemingly about to touch her cheek.

Gu Jiu suddenly felt her heart rate skyrocket, the rapid pounding in her ears making it impossible to count.

"If I stay, it might be even more dangerous." In her daze, it seemed as if he gently kissed her cheek.

As if it were all just an illusion.

*

Gu Jiu suddenly opened her eyes wide. She sat up, leaning lazily against the headboard.

Another chaotic dream.

She sat silently for a few seconds, then irritably scratched her hair, taking a cigarette and lighter from the bedside table.

When the red ember in her hand flickered, Gu Jiu took a deep drag. Her lungs felt reunited with an old friend, and her entire body was strangely refreshed.

She couldn't resist.

The cigarette wasn't even finished before she extinguished it.

Not long after, the vexation in her heart resurfaced, and Gu Jiu lit another.

The moment she exhaled smoke, Gu Jiu suddenly remembered Gu Jing Yang recently telling her to quit smoking.

Just one more cigarette, then she'd deal with it.

Gu Jiu told herself, then put out the cigarette and lay back down to sleep.

The next morning, Gu Jiu woke up very early. Before leaving, she looked at her tired face in the mirror, went back to her room, and casually applied a lipstick to her pale lips.

On the way, Gu Jiu sent a message to Chu Zi Wan. Learning that she was still at the hospital, she changed direction and drove straight there.

When Gu Jiu arrived, it was still early. There weren't many people in the hospital; only nurses occasionally walked through the corridor.

"That girl yesterday was so pitiful. I heard her husband went missing on their wedding day, and there were bloodstains at the scene. I wonder what happened..."

"Don't even mention it. Her mother-in-law, you could tell at a glance she's not easy to deal with. Oh right, yesterday I accidentally overheard her on the phone. She seemed a bit wary of others. I vaguely heard her say she was pregnant. If her husband is really gone, her life will probably be difficult. Think about it, with something like that happening, her mother-in-law will surely feel she brings bad luck. How could she treat her well after that..."

Gu Jiu looked at the two receding figures ahead, stopping in her tracks.

Having overly keen hearing wasn't necessarily a good thing; everything, both what she should and shouldn't hear, entered her ears. And her ears had no sound-filtering function.

A moment later, she continued walking, gently knocked on the door in front of her, and pushed it open.

The hospital room was empty, with only Chu Zi Wan inside.

"You're here." Hearing the sound, Chu Zi Wan looked up at the door. "Lu Kai... any news of him?"

She looked directly at Gu Jiu, her eyes bloodshot, a stark contrast to her pale complexion.

Gu Jiu's gaze swept around the room. Beside the bed was a pair of slippers, and not far from that, a pair of high heels.

Those high heels weren't the ones she wore yesterday.

She remembered the words she had just overheard; Chu Zi Wan seemed to be pregnant.

"No news yet," Gu Jiu gently shifted her gaze, shaking her head.

After she spoke, she remained silent, her eyes fixed on the empty floor, deeply engrossed, though it was unclear what she was looking at.

Chu Zi Wan frowned, wanting to break the silence, but truly had nothing to say. Her relationship with Gu Jiu was limited to polite nods. Colleagues at the hospital all knew Gu Jiu was cold-natured, not much of a talker, and not easily approachable.

It was a bit strange for someone with Gu Jiu's personality to choose this profession; it was said to be related to her deceased mother.

For a moment, the atmosphere was a bit heavy, but fortunately, it didn't last long, as the room door opened again.

"Miss Chu, we're here today because we have some questions for you." Ruan Xia stood at the door, lightly stroking her short hair.

Yu Nan quietly stood behind Ruan Xia, his gaze fixed on Gu Jiu.

Soon, only Chu Zi Wan and Ruan Xia remained in the room.

Gu Jiu was about to leave the hospital room, preparing to walk past Yu Nan, when she suddenly stopped and turned to look at him.

Her red lips parted slightly, but before she could speak, she heard the young man's voice.

"Didn't bring any."

"Then never mind." She glanced at the bulging small square box in his pants pocket, the corner of her mouth curving slightly, pretending to leave.

A second later, something was tucked into her palm; it was a soft square box. In that instant, Gu Jiu felt his warm fingers brush against her wrist, then quickly withdraw.

"This is the last time."

When Yu Nan spoke, his eyes were a little hazy, and his handsome face showed an unnatural expression.

Gu Jiu gripped the item in her hand. Yu Nan didn't smoke; that pack of cigarettes was her usual brand.

She held the pack of cigarettes, as if deep in thought, her eyes still fixed on Yu Nan's face.

"Your addiction wasn't this serious before," Yu Nan was flustered by her gaze, quickly lowering his eyes. "Are you in a bad mood lately?"

Gu Jiu silently pulled out a cigarette, skillfully clamping it between her fingers, then realized she was in a hospital. She frowned, putting the cigarette back into the pack.

She didn't intend to answer Yu Nan's question, only giving a single instruction: "Oh, right, don't let my brother know."

Seeing her actually leave, Yu Nan blurted out, "You know Cheng Yu Zhu?"

After taking two steps, Gu Jiu's body stiffened. A second later, she slowly turned around, facing Yu Nan's clear, vibrant eyes. She looked for a long time, as if searching for something, but still didn't speak.

"Don't trust Cheng Yu Zhu's words," Gu Jiu paused, then continued, "Also, Chu Zi Wan... seems to be pregnant but doesn't want others to know."

She said softly, glancing into the hospital room, just catching Chu Zi Wan's anxious and uneasy demeanor.

*

In the hospital room, Ruan Xia heard footsteps, knowing for sure that Gu Jiu had left and Yu Nan had entered.

Chu Zi Wan's face was pale. Throughout their brief conversation, her anxiety for Lu Kai was palpable. Regardless, Ruan Xia couldn't associate such a weak, anxious wife with the image of a murderer.

"Miss Chu hasn't been feeling well these past few days. Perhaps you should ask your family to bring a pair of flat shoes here; they'll be more comfortable to wear." Yu Nan approached Chu Zi Wan, his low voice echoing in the quiet hospital room.

Chu Zi Wan's lips parted slightly upon hearing this, but quickly pressed together, revealing a faint smile: "That's right. These past two days, I've only been worried about Lu Kai. I almost forgot about these things..."