You Owe Me, My Love novel Chapter 373

Chapter 373 Why Risk Your Life

Wu Nian’s heart skipped a beat. Her breaths came in rapid, shallow bursts as she explained, “I honestly didn’t injure myself on purpose! I didn’t see someone shooting at me from the side. I’m not that foolish.”

“Then stop doing foolish things! Why did you risk your life to come back?” Gu Mingchen roared. His eyes were bloodshot from the pressure accumulating within him, threatening to explode.

Heaven only knew the fear he had just experienced. When Gu Mingchen caught sight of Wu Nian behind the wheel of the vehicle that was charging in, his mind had gone numb with terror.

Wu Nian lowered her eyes. Her long eyelashes hid whatever expression was dancing therein.

Gu Mingchen sighed inwardly. Why on earth did Wu Nian risk her life to come back?

She could easily have fled with Liu Yan!

“I…” Wu Nian began falteringly.

“I’m not interested in your explanation,” Gu Mingchen cut in with a low voice. He then stood up and looked back down at the woman.

He knew he would not be satisfied with whatever her reply was.

Coldly, he turned and walked out the door. He stood beneath the old locust tree and lit a cigarette, his hands still trembling from his earlier agitation. He inhaled deeply, then expelled a thick cloud of smoke.

I’ve finally found her after so long! After so long…

“Can I have a joint?” Stephen suddenly appeared beside Gu Mingchen, interrupting his thoughts.

Gu Mingchen passed the man a cigarette. Stephen lit it and took a deep breath, then peered at Gu Mingchen through the halo of smoke. “Do you know why I stopped painting ten years ago?” he asked.

Gu Mingchen glanced at Stephen. “You lacked inspiration? Or did you no longer need to use art to express your emotions? Did your feelings diminish with time?”

“Bingo!” Stephen exclaimed. “You know me best. You hit the nail right on the head! My life was so peaceful and uneventful that even when I racked my brains thoroughly, I still couldn’t manage to produce a single realistic painting. It was a never-ending cycle of drawing, then destroying what I’d just made. There was no point to it. However, I’ve just felt the impulse to paint again!”

“Because of what had happened?” Gu Mingchen inquired.

“I suppose that’s one of the reasons. That gunfight just now made me feel as if I’d died and resurrected. I thought I was dead for sure! But everything changed when I saw that girl’s steady gaze. She didn’t fear for her own life, only that of others,” Stephen said, reminiscing fondly.

Gu Mingchen knew in his heart that the girl Stephen was referring to was none other than Wu Nian.

At the thought of the woman’s equanimity in the face of death, Gu Mingchen’s heart lurched. However, he hardened his emotions and muttered, “Childish! Foolish!”

“We’d all be dead now if it not for her. Don’t be angry. Few others share her boldness. She could have successfully escaped with her friend, but she came back to save us! Doesn’t that prove that we, or at least one of us, are more important to her than her own life?” Stephen reasoned.

Gu Mingchen looked thoughtfully at the artist. From the corner of his eye, he saw Aaron bringing Liu Yan over. “Has the first aid kit been prepared? Has the police been notified? Get the yacht ready,” he ordered.

“Everything’s ready. You can go in and take a look at her.” Before Stephen even finished his sentence, Gu Mingchen had already pushed his way in.

Liu Yan dashed over to Wu Nian. Tears brimmed from her eyes when she saw that Wu Nian’s sleeve was drenched with blood. She flung herself on her knees beside the bed, begging, “Nian, please don’t die.”

Wu Nian had merely closed her eyes to rest. At the sound of her friend’s pleas, she opened them and said to Liu Yan assuringly, “Don’t worry. I’m not going to die. I wasn’t severely injured and only got shot in the arm. I’ll be fine once the bullet’s out. In fact, I’ll recover in a week! Don’t cry.”

“I’ll get it out right now. I recall we have anesthesia here somewhere,” Liu Yan quickly rummaged through the first aid kit and held the anesthetic up.

“It’s my right arm that’s hurt. You can use the brachial plexus block,” Wu Nian gently reminded.

The other woman nodded and injected the anesthesia in one smooth motion.

The anesthesia required a minute to take full effect. Liu Yan wept as she cut open Wu Nian’s sleeve and poured disinfectant on the wound to cleanse it.