LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 21 - You only broke two legs
Su Mengyao stood outside the master bedroom, taking a deep breath. The thought of what she might see next made her heart feel as if it were being squeezed.
She knocked on the door, and only after hearing Wen Zhao lazily say “Come in,” did she dare to push the door open.
Inside the master bedroom, next to the large bed against the wall, there was a hospital bed where Gu Xianting lay, his legs encased in plaster casts.
She restrained herself from looking in his direction. She had never worked as a maid before and, upon entering the room, didn’t know what to do, so she stood there helplessly.
Seeing her enter, Gu Xianting wanted to say something to her, but he was afraid that Wen Zhao would go crazy and take it out on her.
“Didn’t the butler tell you?” Wen Zhao’s tone was leisurely, his eyes never leaving the tablet in her hands. “I’m going to rest now.”
“Okay, sure.” Su Mengyao walked to the bed, unfolded the neatly folded blanket, and spread it out. After that, she was at a loss again.
“Move my husband to the bed,” Wen Zhao said.
Su Mengyao’s face changed instantly. “But… but Mr. Xianting’s legs are still injured.”
“Oh, so what?” Wen Zhao finally looked up from his tablet and glanced at her.
“Nothing, I’ll just get someone to come in…” She swallowed her words when she saw Wen Zhao’s gaze, not daring to continue.
“Do you not understand human speech?” Wen Zhao interrupted her. “I said, move my husband to the bed.”
Su Mengyao couldn’t believe what she was hearing. She wanted to say that there was no way she could move Gu Xianting, but Wen Zhao was entirely impervious.
“Is there a problem?” Wen Zhao asked.
“Wen Zhao, you’re making things difficult for her,” Gu Xianting couldn’t hold back anymore. With both his legs in casts, he couldn’t move at all! Su Mengyao was so frail; how could she possibly move him from the hospital bed to the bed?
“I think it’s fine for me to sleep on the hospital bed,” he said. “That way, I won’t disturb you.”
“Did I say you could speak?” Wen Zhao’s gaze slowly moved to his face. “What, are you feeling sorry for her?”
“I’ll move him right away!” Su Mengyao didn’t want him to argue with Wen Zhao for her sake. She was just enduring a bit of hardship; it was no big deal. He was already in such a bad state; she needed to protect him!
Gu Xianting wanted to say something else, but Su Mengyao frantically signaled him with her eyes, shaking her head, so hehad to stay silent.
She walked to the hospital bed. She reached out, fumbled around for a while, not knowing where to start.
Wen Zhao sat on the sofa, in a prime spot to watch the show, as Su Mengyao helped Gu Xianting sit up.
Afraid that her contact with Gu Xianting might anger Wen Zhao, She quickly glanced at Wen Zhao. Seeing no sign of anger on his face, she sighed in relief.
“Mr. Xianting, sit up, and I’ll carry you over.” She couldn’t possibly lift him with her small frame, so the only option seemed to be carrying him on her back.
“Okay.” He cooperated by pushing himself up with his hands, sitting up.
She gently moved his plaster-encased legs down. His posture quickly changed to sitting on the edge of the hospital bed with his legs hanging down.
She bent slightly in front of him, and he placed his hands on her shoulders. She held his hands.
As their hands clasped, both of them were momentarily stunned, overwhelmed by a mix of sorrow, pain, and bittersweet joy.
His arms wrapped around her neck, and her hands reached behind to support his legs as she stood up with all her might.
So heavy!
Su Mengyao felt as if she were lifting a mountain. She gritted her teeth, telling herself she could do it. She was Gu Xianting’s pillar of support now; she couldn’t collapse!
Gu Xianting could feel her trembling with effort as she carried him. He tightened his arms around her neck a bit, hoping to convey his feelings this way.
Drawing strength from his support, she managed to take two steps forward.
Seeing a glimmer of success, she relaxed slightly, but after two more steps, she stumbled and fell to the floor with him.
He instinctively tried to catch her, but he was unable to protect himself. His legs slammed into the floor, and he cried out in pain. The sudden agony brought beads of cold sweat to his forehead.
“I’m sorry… Mr. Xianting, are you okay?” Su Mengyao, her face pale with fright, felt her heart ache seeing him in such pain.
He wanted to comfort Su Mengyao but was in too much pain to speak.
“Ha!” Wen Zhao laughed without restraint. Watching the two of them sprawled on the floor, she said, “You two really look like a pair of dogs.”
“How can you say that?” Su Mengyao’s eyes reddened. “Mr. Xianting must have hurt his legs. He needs a doctor!”
“But it was you who caused his injury, not me,” she said, standing up and walking to a spot two meters away from them, looking down at their pathetic state.
Indeed, it was always satisfying to see people she despised suffer.
“It’s my fault. I was useless and made Mr. Xianting fall. He’s in so much pain; he must have hurt his bones!” Su Mengyao was anxious. She endured all this to protect his legs.
“I’m his wife. If I’m not worried, why are you?” Wen Zhao’s face showed a sarcastic expression. “Oh right, you two are in true love.”
“Wen Zhao…” Gu Xianting, recovering slightly from the initial pain, looked up at her. He knew she was doing this on purpose to humiliate him and torment Su Mengyao.
“Did I ever say I don’t like you looking at me like that?” She said coldly. “You fell because your true love didn’t carry you properly. Why do you act like I’ve done something awful?”
“You only broke two legs,” Wen Zhao said, her gaze shifting from him to Su Mengyao, filled with malice. “I lost love.”
“Here’s the deal. I’m not that heartless. If you can move him to the bed, I’ll call a doctor.” She stepped back, her expression sincere as if she were being very generous.
Both Su Mengyao and Gu Xianting felt a surge of anger, but they knew they were at her mercy.
Wen Zhao watched coldly as they tried various ways to move. She checked her watch. “I need to rest. I’ll give you ten more minutes. If you can’t do it by then, go outside and cool off.”
Su Mengyao’s mind raced. If they were thrown out, they could meet up with Gu Ruoxian’s people at three in the morning and take Gu Xianting away!
Unfortunately, Gu Xianting didn’t understand her thoughts. To avoid her being thrown out, he got down on his hands and knees, intending to crawl to the bed.
Seeing this, Su Mengyao quickly moved forward, carefully lifting his legs. Thus, he crawled while she knelt, moving with him.
Wen Zhao couldn’t help but laugh out loud. Ignoring their pained expressions, their movements were indeed comical!
Su Mengyao’s face turned red, either from anger or exertion.
“Five minutes left,” Wen Zhao added fuel to the fire.
The distance between the hospital bed and the bed was only about five or six meters, but Su Mengyao felt a surge of resentment towards wealth. Why did the room have to be so big!
“Indeed…” Wen Zhao stared coldly at Gu Xianting, who was crawling on the ground, her gaze as icy as the depths of winter. “A dog should act like a dog.”
He was drenched in sweat, his clothes nearly soaked from the cold perspiration of pain and exertion. In the past, he would never have allowed himself to be so degraded.
When they reached the bed, Su Mengyao moved in front of him and pulled on his arms to drag him up. By the time he was on the bed, he had no strength left.
Initially, the thought of holding Su Mengyao’s hand had brought him a small, secret joy. But now, he felt nothing.
“We made it under ten minutes! You said you would call the doctor for him,” Su Mengyao pleaded anxiously, looking at his pale face.
“Yes, I did say that. But now I’m in a bad mood, and I don’t feel like it,” Wen Zhao flipped her stance immediately. “You two were exchanging glances and playing little tricks right in front of me, did you think I wouldn’t notice?”
“I wasn’t…” Su Mengyao tried to argue, but her voice lacked conviction.
Wen Zhao ignored her and called for the butler, instructing him to bring disinfectant alcohol and cloth.
Su Mengyao felt a brief relief, thinking Wen Zhao intended to treat his wounds.
However—
“Disinfect him for me, clean him up,” Wen Zhao ordered, her eyes filled with undisguised disgust and malice. “He’s been touched by another woman; it’s disgusting.”
Gu Xianting froze, staring at Wen Zhao in disbelief. What did she take him for? A toy?
Su Mengyao stood there, pale and cold. Though Wen Zhao hadn’t directly insulted her, her words turned her into something filthy and repulsive.
Wen Zhao wanted her to stand there and witness everything, unable to leave.
The butler executed her orders meticulously, wiping Gu Xianting’s hands with the alcohol-soaked cloth, then stripping off his outer clothes.
Su Mengyao’s eyes widened as she saw multiple bruises on Gu Xianting’s body. What had Wen Zhao done to him?
The butler efficiently changed him into fresh pajamas after cleaning him. Then, he packed up and left.
Wen Zhao finally approached the bed, looking down at him coldly. “Husband, it’s time to sleep. Don’t you think you should give me a goodnight kiss?”
His face turned ashen. This woman, who despised and tormented him, was now demanding a goodnight kiss?
He instinctively turned to look at Su Mengyao standing by the door, but his head was yanked back with force.
“Husband, what are you doing?” Her dark eyes bored into him, a predatory excitement flickering within them.
“Nothing.” He forced a smile. “Isn’t it time to sleep? Shouldn’t irrelevant people leave?”
Irrelevant people? Su Mengyao knew Gu Xianting was trying to protect her. The gesture filled her with both sweetness and bitterness.
“Am I being too lenient?” Wen Zhao’s smile was gentle, almost loving. “I said, right now, give me a proper goodnight kiss.”
Gu Xianting’s hands clenched the sheets. Wen Zhao had kissed him before to disgust him, but now she was demanding it in front of Su Mengyao!
They had just been through so much together, and their love was stronger than ever. Being forced to kiss another woman in front of her was torture.
Wen Zhao leaned closer, the smell of disinfectant strong. She was pleased with the butler’s thorough job. She hooked her arm around his neck.
Su Mengyao stood at the entrance, watching her move closer to him.
They were so close, Wen Zhao’s beautiful, extravagant face next to Gu Xianting’s handsome one. They looked unnervingly harmonious together.
In the past, people would gossip behind Su Mengyao’s back, saying he was blind to choose her over Wen Zhao.
At that time, Su Mengyao hadn’t cared much. She was the victor after all.
But now, this striking image—husband and wife in bed, the wife demanding a goodnight kiss—was too painful.
Her heart ached. She couldn’t stay any longer, rationality be damned. Even knowing it was all a farce, she couldn’t bear to watch.
She turned to leave but was stopped by the butler.
“Miss Su, the boss hasn’t dismissed you. I suggest you stay.” The butler reminded her. “The master’s legs…”
She took a deep breath and reluctantly returned to the bedroom.
“Husband, our little maid seems tired,” Wen Zhao’s voice carried an open, unhidden threat. The implication was clear: If you don’t kiss me, she will suffer.
Gu Xianting’s breath grew heavier. He leaned in and gave Wen Zhao a fleeting peck on the cheek.
“Husband, how can you be so perfunctory?” Her voice was flat, emotionless. She grabbed Gu Xianting by the collar and whispered coldly in his ear, “I told you, even if you’re pretending, you need to act like a proper husband in front of me!”
“If you won’t give it to me, I’ll take it myself.” She yanked his hair and kissed him.
It was supposed to be a simple goodnight kiss, but she held it for a long time, her eyes locked on Su Mengyao.
Su Mengyao trembled, struggling to contain her emotions.
Endure it, she told herself. The more disgusting this was, the more satisfying it would be to see them suffer later.
Wen Zhao finally released him. Su Mengyao couldn’t hold back her tears and fled the room when Wen Zhao dismissed her with a casual “You can go now.”
Gu Xianting was equally tormented. His lips, just healed, were once again bleeding from her bite.
“Why do this?” Wen Zhao sneered. “It was supposed to be a simple goodnight kiss. You refused, so I had to add interest.”
“Why, Wen Zhao?” He was bewildered. “You know this is all fake. I can’t be a good husband to you. I don’t love you.”
“It doesn’t matter.” She replied. “Whether you love me or not is irrelevant because I don’t need your love. You better not fall for me; that would disgust me.”
“Impossible. I will never love you,” he declared firmly.
“Good.” After all, the protagonist must love the heroine!
“I don’t need a loving husband. I just want to see you suffer, longing for each other but unable to be together.”
“Think about it. She loves you so much, but she has to watch you fulfill your husband’s duties to another woman.”
“And you love her, but you have to show care and warmth to someone else right in front of her.”
Her smile grew broader. “Isn’t that a beautiful scene?”
He stared at her, realizing she was a madwoman, utterly insane and heartless.
“Of course, you don’t have to cooperate.”her smile faded. “But then, the audience won’t need to exist, will they?”
He didn’t understand at first. When he did, his face went pale. “Wen Zhao, murder means the death penalty!”
“Yes, but who would know?” She was indifferent. “An accidental death at sea, perhaps a rogue wave pulled her under. Or maybe she got crushed by a rock and sank with it. Or she simply slipped and fell into the ocean. It doesn’t matter. You can choose.”
He took a deep breath. “You can’t keep us trapped forever.”
“It doesn’t matter. When we’re discovered, I’ll just take you all to hell with me,” she said casually.
Gu Xianting, however, saw through her nonchalance and realized she was serious. His heart sank further and further; she was prepared to stake her life to keep them here.
Suddenly, he felt uncertain. He had thought that once she vented enough, she would let them go. But now it seemed that she had no such intention!
She genuinely wanted to drag this out with them for a lifetime, stubbornly refusing to let any of them back out!
He stopped speaking, closed his eyes, and a scene of Su Mengyao running out in tears flashed before him. Mengyao would definitely realize Wen Zhao was doing this on purpose, and she would figure it out.
But even with this thought, he felt no relief. He could rationalize it for now, but what about over time?
Did he and Su Mengyao really have a future together?
As soon as he began to doubt, he became alert. He told himself that as long as Su Mengyao was still striving for him, he couldn’t give up easily!
Meanwhile, back in the servants’ quarters, Su Mengyao had cried for a long time with her knees hugged to her chest.
The system remained utterly silent, not daring to make a sound. Wen Zhao, the vicious supporting female lead, was simply too formidable. She was different from other women. She could attack indiscriminately, being ruthless to others and even more ruthless to herself!
Could the system really rescue the male lead from such a lunatic?
Why did they all have to be so crazy? Why couldn’t they just accept their fate?
Clearly, if they just accepted it, everything in this world had already been predetermined. Even with one or two changes, things would eventually be corrected, and everything would return to its proper course.
The system was now deeply regretful, truly regretful. It should never have made that deal with that person in the first place. Otherwise, things wouldn’t have turned out this way.
At that time, it seemed there was no other way but to make that deal with that person.
“System, think of a way,” Su Mengyao’s voice was very soft, no longer carrying the impatience and anger it used to have when speaking with the system. Instead, there was a hint of pleading.
“I can’t take it. I really can’t take it. This is only the first day.”
She didn’t know how long this would last. She didn’t know when Wen Zhao would let them go. Often, people aren’t afraid of hardship. They’re afraid of not knowing where the boundary and the end lie.
She wasn’t crying for herself; she was sad for Gu Xianting. His whole body was injured, and now even his heart was suffering torment.
【Don’t worry, you are the female lead. Victory belongs to you. The current suffering is just to make your love stronger.】 The system dryly offered her some comfort.
There was no choice. It had no energy left to give the host a golden finger. Its energy had long been nearly exhausted.
【Host, don’t be discouraged. Haven’t you noticed? The male lead loves you even more now. I took a look; your feelings for each other are almost unbreakable, just one step away from being inseparable through life and death!】
The system’s words made her feel a bit better. The system was right. She could feel it. In the past, Gu Xianting had wavered between her and Wen Zhao. But now, his heart and eyes were full of her, Su Mengyao.
【And, have you forgotten? You have an appointment with Gu Ruoxian at three o’clock. You’re not fighting alone!】 the system reminded her.
Only then did she remember that she had contacted Gu Ruoxian earlier. At three in the morning, someone would come to find her!
Yes, there was no need to be discouraged or desperate. If the future was bright, what did it matter if the present was rough?
【Host, rest for a while. I’ll wake you when it’s time. You need rest now.】
But she shook her head. She couldn’t sleep at all, worrying about how Gu Xianting was doing and whether Wen Zhao had called a doctor for him.
The system didn’t try to persuade her anymore and just stayed with her, enduring until the appointed time.
The system used its energy to activate the monitoring view and then guided her to avoid the cameras, making her way to the beach.
On the beach, a person was already standing there. However, it wasn’t Gu Ruoxian but her trusted aide, Amy.
When Amy saw Su Mengyao, she handed over a black bag she had been holding.
“Where’s Ruoxian? Didn’t she come? Why are you alone? There are many bodyguards on this island,” she looked around but only saw a small inflatable boat by the water. The yacht wasn’t nearby, likely to avoid drawing attention.
“Don’t mention it. The sea area near here is patrolled. I took the chance to sneak over in the inflatable boat,” Amy explained. “President Gu couldn’t come. She was called back to the company, but she entrusted the matter to me.”
“How could this be!” Su Mengyao had placed all her hopes on Gu Ruoxian and now couldn’t accept this turn of events. “I had an agreement with her. If I was discovered, she would come to save me!”
“Don’t worry. President Gu won’t abandon you. But right now, Wen Zhao is building an image of her and President Gu as a loving couple on the internet. Many people believe they are truly in love. In this situation, revealing the truth rashly wouldn’t be believed.”
“What should we do then?” Su Mengyao was agitated.
“The black bag contains a miniature video recorder. On the island, record interactions between the young master and Wen Zhao. Once we have concrete evidence, we can shatter the false image she has created.
Then, whether due to public pressure or using the footage as evidence, we can take action against her.”
Looking at the bag in her hand, Su Mengyao realized that if this had been before she came to the island, she would have tried everything to escape with Amy. But now…
Gritting her teeth, she agreed, “Okay, I’ll do it. But how do I send the footage out?”
“Speaking of that,” Amy’s expression became serious, “I just found out that once phones enter the island, they lose signal. They must be using a signal jammer.”
Su Mengyao’s face changed, “In that case, how do I contact you?”
“I’ll come back in half a month. We’ll meet here at the same time, and you can give me the footage,” Amy said.
After thinking for a moment, Su Mengyao agreed.
She watched Amy board the inflatable boat and disappear into the night.
【Host, you’ve grown.】
The system remembered when it first bonded with her and asked her to save the male lead, but she waited for him to save her instead.
It had always believed that the female lead wasn’t so weak!
Clutching the item, she, with the system’s help, returned to the servants’ quarters.
When she was woken up again, it was only seven in the morning. She had slept for less than four hours.
“Mr. Butler, is there something you need me to do?” Perhaps because she had a goal now, she was noticeably calmer today.
“Take breakfast to the master and Boss,” the butler pointed to the tray that had been prepared.
The breakfast was a well-cooked white rice porridge with some side dishes and snacks—simple but very appetizing.
She breathed a sigh of relief; this was suitable for a patient.
Carrying the breakfast to the main villa’s bedroom, she found Wen Zhao was not in the room.
Gu Xianting seemed still asleep. Her heart began to race as she confirmed Wen Zhao was indeed absent!
She put down the tray and quickly walked to the bedside, looking at his face. Just looking at him, it felt like all her efforts were worth it.
As if there was a tacit understanding between lovers, this time, Gu Xianting opened his eyes. The first person he saw was Su Mengyao, giving him a sense of unreality.
“You’re awake. How are you? Does your leg still hurt? Did the doctor come to see you later?” She asked hastily.
His voice was still a bit hoarse, “I’m fine. Why are you here? Where’s Wen Zhao?”
Su Mengyao’s brow furrowed instinctively.
He seemed to realize what he had just said, “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it that way…”
“I know. You don’t need to explain; I understand. I won’t fall for her tricks. She wants us to distrust each other, but as long as we believe in each other, she won’t succeed,” She said, holding his hand. “I trust you, and you must trust me!”
“I just don’t want you to get hurt.” His eyes reddened upon hearing her words. “If it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t have to wear such clothes. Mengyao, we…”
【Host! Wen Zhao is back!】
The system issued an urgent warning.
Almost reflexively, Su Mengyao withdrew her hand, walked to the side, and picked up the tray as if she had just arrived.
Gu Xianting was still a bit confused, “Mengyao?”
“She’s back!” Su Mengyao whispered a reminder.
Almost as soon as she finished speaking, Wen Zhao’s footsteps echoed, and shortly after, Wen Zhao, dressed in sportswear, strode into the room.
Su Mengyao was very nervous, afraid she would make trouble. Besides that, she felt a bit guilty; she had hidden the miniature video recorder Amy had given her in her clothes.
But Wen Zhao didn’t make trouble. She even seemed in a good mood and directly told her to take care of Gu Xianting’s breakfast.
Both Su Mengyao and Gu Xianting thought this was a trap, that Wen Zhao was waiting to catch them in the act and then make trouble.
She hoped for this scenario because it would allow her to capture useful footage. But she also feared it because if Wen Zhao got angry, both she and Gu Xianting would suffer.
Wen Zhao sat on the sofa with a smile, watching her feed Gu Xianting breakfast.
The one eating breakfast was on edge, feeling tasteless, while the one feeding felt like she was sitting on pins and needles, her hand shaking like a sieve.
Despite Wen Zhao’s unexpected calm, Su Mengyao and Gu Xianting were still very uncomfortable.
Though she didn’t get the useful footage she hoped for, she didn’t remain disappointed for long. Over the next half-month, she captured many scenes proving Wen Zhao was a vicious woman who constantly abused her husband and bullied her.
The appointed day to meet Amy arrived quickly.
Lying in bed, she felt excited, clutching the miniature video recorder. As long as she handed it to Amy, who would deliver it to Gu Ruoxian, Wen Zhao’s facade would surely be shattered!
But despite her excitement, the system still felt uneasy.
After all, it had all gone too smoothly in the past half-month.
Based on the system’s understanding of Wen Zhao, she should be more cautious.
“You overthink. With your help, no one noticed when I went to see Amy, and no one discovered when I recorded the footage. I’m only this smooth because of you.”
Su Mengyao tried to reassure both the system and herself.
Half a month of watching her beloved man and another woman play house had been agonizing.
Once or twice, thrice or four times, five or six times…
She wasn’t as steadfast as she thought. She would grow resentful, but because she had invested so much already, she had to see it through to the end.
【It’s time. Host, Amy is within the surveillance range.】
She climbed out of bed, holding the video recorder with a determined look, and walked out.
Handing the recorder to Amy felt like giving away her hope of survival, “Make sure this gets to Ruoxian. Xianting and I are counting on her.”
“Don’t worry,” Amy promised.
Having handed over such an important item, Su Mengyao felt relieved. She no longer had to live in constant fear of being discovered by Wen Zhao. Now, it was over. All she needed to do was wait.
She avoided the cameras and headed back to the servants’ quarters.
【Host, host, host, host!】
The system suddenly stuttered.
“What is it?” She frowned.
She quickly understood why the system was stuttering.
Pushing open the door, she saw Wen Zhao sitting on her bed, holding a phone, humming a tune, and browsing through it.
The blood seemed to freeze in her veins at that moment.
She recognized the phone in Wen Zhao’s hand, which had a sticker on the back—one she had put on as a small mark of her own, so Gu Xianting would think of her whenever he saw it.
A previously lovely little trick that used to bring a smile now made her scalp tingle with fear.