His Lie

Gu Yuechen had no reason to turn down a free ride. Yu Yaochen had offered to take him home on his own—why should he refuse?

He was not stupid enough to pass up a spacious luxury car and run through the rain to catch a bus.

Besides, he had never been here before and had no idea whether the buses would arrive on time. Sometimes the bus data shown by the app was inaccurate, and he had already been fooled by it several times.

After getting into Yu Yaochen's car, Gu Yuechen did not say a single word. He kept a cold expression as he looked at the scenery beyond the windshield.

Yu Yaochen secretly observed Gu Yuechen from the corner of his eye. While waiting at a red light, he could not help speaking.

"Sorry. I made you unhappy today." Yu Yaochen stared at Gu Yuechen's profile, carefully considering his words. "That restaurant really was mediocre. I'll treat you to somewhere better next time, or you can choose the restaurant."

Yu Yaochen and Gu Yuechen were neither relatives nor friends. He really did not need to go that far.

But the good upbringing ingrained in him since childhood would not allow him to knowingly make a mistake without trying to make amends.

Back at the restaurant, it had indeed been his fault that Gu Yuechen had been embarrassed.

When Gu Yuechen remained silent, Yu Yaochen asked softly, "What do you think?"

Gu Yuechen glanced at him, then quickly looked away again. "We'll talk about it later."

He was still riding in Yu Yaochen's car, and the rain outside was getting heavier. Gu Yuechen was not foolish enough to offend Yu Yaochen now.

Yu Yaochen wanted to say something else, but the light changed, so he could only look ahead and continue driving.

After an unknown amount of time, it was Yu Yaochen who broke the silence in the car again.

"Have we met before?" Yu Yaochen said. "You look a little familiar."

Gu Yuechen sneered inwardly. If he wanted to make conversation, he should have found a better topic.

Or was Yu Yaochen subtly mocking him for having such a common face?

Ever since learning that Yu Yaochen had used Pei Huanyi, Gu Yuechen could not help viewing everything about him in the darkest possible light.

His dislike for Yu Yaochen deepened even further.

"I never studied abroad. You must have mistaken me for someone else."

Yu Yaochen kept his eyes on the road and failed to notice the disgust on Gu Yuechen's face.

He smiled slightly. "I went to university in China. Maybe we really did run into each other before."

Yu Yaochen had never taken the initiative to strike up a conversation with anyone. The people who approached him were either wealthy or powerful, and they would never speak to him so directly. Naturally, he did not realize that what he had just said sounded like a pickup line—and an extremely clichéd one at that.

He truly did find Gu Yuechen familiar. He just could not remember where they had met.

Gu Yuechen glanced at Yu Yaochen and answered perfunctorily, "Maybe we did."

He could not be bothered to correct Yu Yaochen. It was pointless anyway. If they had met, then they had met. Admitting it would not cost him anything.

After getting to know Xie Wangchi, Gu Yuechen had come to understand that these rich young masters were all arrogantly self-centered at heart. They did not care about other people's answers and insisted on believing whatever they had already decided.

Only Pei Huanyi did not carry the same arrogant, indifferent air. At work, he was considerate and gentle with Gu Yuechen.

Especially when Gu Yuechen had been barely clinging to life by the roadside, waiting for death, Pei Huanyi had arrived before the Grim Reaper and pulled him back from death's door.

For that alone, Gu Yuechen was willing to follow him like a shadow for the rest of his life.

Yu Yaochen was not someone who actively sought out topics of conversation. After they fell silent again, he did not speak anymore.

The car finally arrived at the upscale apartment complex Gu Yuechen had mentioned.

Gu Yuechen unfastened his seat belt and forced a smile. "I'm here. Thanks for bringing me back."

Yu Yaochen looked outside the window. "You live here?"

"Yeah."

Gu Yuechen did not want to spend another second with Yu Yaochen. After nodding, he turned and opened the car door.

Just as he was about to pretend to head into the apartment building, Yu Yaochen got out of the car as well and walked over to him.

Gu Yuechen looked at him in confusion. "Is there something else?"

Yu Yaochen explained patiently, "One of my university professors lives here. I've been busy with the engagement since returning to the country and haven't had time to visit him. Since I'm already here, I'll stop by and see him."

Gu Yuechen's heart nearly stopped, and his scalp went numb.

How could he dare go in with Yu Yaochen? What if Yu Yaochen discovered that he did not live here at all?

Gu Yuechen did not think Yu Yaochen would keep his secret for him.

Maybe, like Xie Wangchi, he would seize on Gu Yuechen's weakness and force him to leave. Or perhaps he would expose his lie in front of everyone and make him crawl out of the pet hospital in humiliation.

What was he supposed to do?

He did not want Pei Huanyi to discover that he was a filthy, sinister liar.

Gu Yuechen had not lied on purpose. He only wanted to approach Pei Huanyi as the best version of himself.

He was an orphan despised by his parents. How could he possibly have had the money for an education, such a perfect résumé, and this job?

He did not want his coworkers to look down on him, nor did he want to lose even the chance to get close to Pei Huanyi.

While Gu Yuechen was lost in wild thoughts, Yu Yaochen noticed that he looked pale and asked with concern, "Are you okay? Are you still feeling unwell?"

He remembered what Gu Yuechen had said when leaving the restaurant and wondered whether he should buy him some medicine.

"I... I'm fine..." Gu Yuechen forced himself to stay calm, hiding his trembling hands behind his back. He tugged at the corners of his mouth. "What a coincidence. Which floor does your professor live on?"

"The sixth floor."

"Wouldn't it disturb him if you went up now?" Gu Yuechen wanted to persuade Yu Yaochen to leave.

Yu Yaochen's eyes curved slightly, amusement appearing in them. "No. He got divorced a year ago and lives alone now."

Gu Yuechen had no reason to keep persuading him. After responding, he walked inside.

When they reached the glass doors, Gu Yuechen stood there for a long time, wondering why they did not open automatically like the ones at the pet hospital.

He had come here once before, and only once.

At the time, he had seen that Pei Huanyi was still working overtime, so he deliberately stayed behind to keep him company. Not long after, Xie Wangchi came to invite Pei Huanyi out for drinks, and Pei Huanyi offered to drop Gu Yuechen off on the way.

He did not know whether Xie Wangchi had deliberately been testing him, but after they arrived, the car lingered without leaving.

Gu Yuechen had no choice but to force himself toward the apartment building. Someone happened to come out, and the glass doors opened automatically. He hurried inside and took the elevator, staying in it for more than ten minutes before coming back out.

But why were the glass doors not opening automatically now? Was there some kind of button?

Gu Yuechen hurriedly searched around with his eyes for a switch or something similar.

Yu Yaochen glanced at Gu Yuechen. After a moment, he took out his phone and made a call.

"Professor, are you home?" Yu Yaochen smiled faintly. "I'm downstairs from your apartment building. I need you to open the door."

At those words, a thin layer of sweat formed on Gu Yuechen's back.

He quickly shoved his hand into his pocket and pretended to look for his keys.

After pretending to be busy for a while, the glass doors in front of them opened.

"Let's go in." Yu Yaochen ended the call, the smile still lingering on his face. "Did you forget your access key?"

Gu Yuechen did not dare look up at Yu Yaochen. He gave a muffled "Mm."

The two entered the elevator, and Gu Yuechen hurriedly pressed his floor first.

The twenty-second floor.

It was far from the sixth floor. That professor should not be able to tell Yu Yaochen anything about him.

For the first time, Gu Yuechen felt time pass so slowly. Every second in the narrow elevator made it hard for him to breathe.

What terrible luck.

He never should have agreed to get into Yu Yaochen's car.

If he had known this would happen, he would rather have walked a kilometer through the rain than ride in Yu Yaochen's luxury car.

When they reached the sixth floor, Yu Yaochen stepped out of the elevator and turned to look at Gu Yuechen.

"It's late. Be careful."

Gu Yuechen had long since been scared out of his wits. He nodded vaguely and hurriedly pressed the close-door button.

Once the elevator doors fully shut, he collapsed against the wall and slowly crouched down.

He needed to find an excuse to "move."