Reborn to Outshine My Ex and His White Moonlight novel Chapter 173

Chapter 173: Chapter 173: Tonight, I Stay Here

Xue Man saw that Lin Zhiyi’s complexion wasn’t good, so she soothed her a few times and then let her go back to her room to sleep early.

Neither of them mentioned what had happened earlier that day.

But once back in her room, Lin Zhiyi couldn’t sleep at all.

Mark said she had been sold.

Who sold her?

Song Wanqiu had appeared and clearly knew something, though she had always been with Gong Chen.

And then, what were those chaotic fragments in her mind about?

She tried hard to recall, but neither life held those memories.

The more she thought, the more complicated it became, and eventually, she made herself hungry.

She got up and picked up the menu next to the phone—there wasn’t a single dish under four digits.

Although Gong Shiyan had given her a card, she needed to plan for her own future.

After a moment’s thought, she got up and put on her clothes.

Online it was said that the street food in Shan City was especially famous.

A casual search turned up countless guides.

Lin Zhiyi took a taxi to the nearest snack street.

Indeed, the aroma of food could lift one’s spirits; she pulled out her phone to start searching for recommended snacks.

"Hot oil noodles to the left, fried dough cakes over... this way? No, east is..."

Anyone who has used a map knows that when you open it, first, you spin around to find the arrow’s direction.

As Lin Zhiyi was turning around, she noticed three out-of-place men following behind her.

Although they wore plain black jackets and pretended to shop when she turned around, their expressions betrayed them.

Completely different from the relaxed vibe around, their expressions were almost identical, clearly those of trained professionals.

Lin Zhiyi didn’t run away immediately; instead, she pretended to continue looking for snacks while squeezing into a crowded area.

Only when she had completely hidden herself in the crowd did she start to run while crouching.

But the opponents were professionals; as soon as Lin Zhiyi entered the crowd, they dispersed to encircle her.

Lin Zhiyi looked at the people closing in from all sides, slightly panicked.

Suddenly, a hand reached out from the crowd and pulled her over, and before she could react, she was enveloped in the arms of the man ahead of her.

A gun appeared in her hands.

The man’s palms covered hers to lift the gun, his warm cheek pressed against her ear, his deep voice tinged with the smell of tobacco, "Focus."

Lin Zhiyi was somewhat dazed until the balloon in front popped—only then could she believe the man behind her was real.

It was Gong Chen.

Ten out of ten shots hit, and the stand owner came over hurriedly.

"Miss, your boyfriend is quite good, ten out of ten shots, and we give away a small toy, what would you like?"

"He’s not," Lin Zhiyi retorted.

It was as though the owner couldn’t understand, and he smiled, "Fighting, no worries, take a toy to appease."

Lin Zhiyi pointed at the man behind her, "He’s my uncle."

The owner paused, then chuckled, "Good uncle, cares a lot."

Lin Zhiyi pursed her lips, but a sound came from behind agreeing with the owner.

"Mmm. Cares a lot."

The owner tugged over a bag of toys, "What do you want? The most popular here is the Capybara, your girlfriend is upset, I’ll choose a big one for you."

Hearing this, Gong Chen frowned, "Cap-a-what..."

Lin Zhiyi almost burst out laughing.

The three of them seemed to be talking past each other, creating a comically confusing scene.

Finally, the owner handed over a Capybara pop-it bracelet to Gong Chen.

"Put it on your girlfriend."

Being a business tycoon, Gong Chen was puzzled when he received it, until the owner demonstrated it once, then he seemed to understand.

Lin Zhiyi certainly didn’t want to wear something so childish, but as she withdrew her hand, Gong Chen grabbed her wrist.

With a snap.

The toy hoop was on Lin Zhiyi’s wrist.

Gong Chen pulled out a cigarette, cupped a hand around a lighter, and lit it with a slightly tilted head. Even seated under a simple canopy, his demeanor remained noble.

Through the haziness, his eyes half-closed, he said, "Lin Zhiyi, I can hear you."

Lin Zhiyi pursed her lips, grateful that the food arrived quickly. She grabbed the chopsticks and began eating.

Neither spoke again, and Gong Chen just quietly watched her eat.

Lin Zhiyi felt his gaze, which seemed unusual, yet she couldn’t understand it.

After a while, Gong Chen stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray and said softly, "Don’t leave the hotel alone."

Thinking of being followed earlier, Lin Zhiyi felt he was right and nodded in agreement.

When she reached for a napkin, she found only an empty wrapper.

Facing oily lips and chin, she was about to stand to ask the proprietor for a napkin when Gong Chen pulled her hand back.

He pulled out a pack of tissues with cartoon patterns from his pocket.

Before Lin Zhiyi could react in surprise, he had already pinched a tissue and was wiping her lips, a tingling sensation making her freeze.

Not until people around started looking did she snap out of it, quickly grabbing the tissue to wipe herself.

After a silent few seconds, she tried to change the subject, "Uncle, I didn’t expect you to have a maidenly side, using such fancy tissues."

Gong Chen glanced at it, "They’re Chen Jin’s."

Lin Zhiyi paused and then looked up to see that the jacket on Gong Chen was slightly short at the wrists, clearly not his.

She asked suspiciously, "Where is Assistant Chen?"

Gong Chen thought for a moment, "At the gate."

Ah?

...

Worried about encountering those three men again, Lin Zhiyi followed Gong Chen back to the hotel after they finished eating.

As she was closing the door to her room, Gong Chen put his hand against the door.

"Lin Zhiyi, it’s very late."

"Yes, Uncle, good night, goodbye." Lin Zhiyi pushed hard, but the door didn’t budge.

Gong Chen stared directly at her, leaning slightly forward with undisguised turmoil in his eyes.

"Tonight, I’m staying here."