Chapter 145
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Gu Nianzhi bit her lower lip as she stared at the number on her phone screen—she had waited for this call for so long . She accepted the call with trembling fingers .
Her eyes were red, but she fought back the tears . She put the phone to her ear and waited .
She had been in America for more than a month, but Huo Shaoheng had not called her on the phone, not even once .
She had last stolen a peek at him through the video call with Zhao Liangze .
That was when she had seen him smile at another woman . It had made her angry and miserable, and driven her to vent her pent-up frustrations in a free-for-all with Xin Xinggao and the Indian softball women's team .
That was how she had ended up in her current mess…
Gu Nianzhi suddenly felt that the world had been terribly unfair to her .
Huo Shaoheng, who had raised her and backed her up whenever she needed him, was moving farther and farther away from her .
Was this the price of growing up?
Huo Shaoheng heard someone pick up the phone . He waited for a long moment, but did not hear Gu Nianzhi speak . A thought suddenly occurred to him, and he reflexively checked the number on his phone . His occupational habits kicked in: he begin to wonder whether someone else had gotten their hands on Gu Nianzhi's mobile phone…
Now that Gu Nianzhi was in the United States, he had to be extra vigilant; he had to be careful not to let anyone to know he was Gu Nianzh's true guardian .
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He was just about to hang up when he heard Gu Nianzhi speak, her voice full of panic . "…Uncle Huo? Is that you, Uncle Huo?"
Huo Shaoheng was relieved . He responded with a low "Yeah," and walked over to the window with his phone to his ear, his free hand in his trouser pocket .
Outside the window, the sun had just emerged from beneath the horizon . The sky was still a faint shade of purple, and the forest was full of morning fog . It was the start of another day at the military base .
He had not slept a wink . Even so, he was not tired .
Gu Nianzhi slowly let out a long breath . It was a frustrated sigh, one she had kept bottled within her ever since the summons had been delivered to her yesterday . Once it was all out, she relaxed, and sat on the floor before the window sill . She retreated into a corner and hugged her knees .
She had subconsciously taken on a fetal position; it was a manifestation of her feelings of self-doubt and insecurity .
Huo Shaoheng could hear Gu Nianzhi breathing softly over the phone .
He did not say anything . He waited until her breathing had evened out, before gently saying, "Nianzhi, what happened? Tell me everything that happened . "
Gu Nianzhi hesitated, but only briefly . She did not dare lie to Huo Shaoheng; she bowed her head and traced the lines on the floor as she mentally organized everything that had happened to her in the past few days . Once she was ready, she gave Huo Shaoheng a proper report, leaving nothing out . When she was done, she whispered in a low, nasally voice: "Uncle Huo, did I mess up? Am I making things difficult for you?"
Gu Nianzhi was now a lot calmer after giving her account of the events .
She released her knees, and steadied herself on the wall as she stood up . She walked over to her bed and sat on it .
Huo Shaoheng had deliberately made her go over the events again, out loud, so that she would be able to unload her misery and calm her nerves . It was an important step towards having someone open up, commonly employed in psychotherapy .
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Huo Shaoheng had studied psychology under Chen Lie when the military had first entrusted Gu Nianzhi to him; he had known it would be necessary if he was to be a good guardian…
He noted the change in Gu Nianzhi's voice and tone, and guessed that she was feeling better . He said, "It's not a big deal . You did nothing wrong, so don't be afraid . "
His deep, alluring voice was neither accusing nor callous; it was sincerely concerned, without being patronizing, and full of unconcealed praise .
"Really?!" Gu Nianzhi was immediately cheered by the thought . Her eyes were now startlingly bright . "Do you really mean that? I did hit her, you know…"
She was actually deathly afraid that Huo Shaoheng would be angry at her for getting into a brawl . She had always been a well-behaved, sweet-natured girl in front of him, after all .
And yet, as soon as she had left him, every single flaw in her personality had wormed its way to the surface and erupted all at once . She had gotten into a fight, and now had to appear in court to defend herself against a lawsuit .
She did not want Huo Shaoheng to be disappointed with her . That was the one thing she feared most .
He did not even have to voice his displeasure; a single look of disappointment from him would be enough to break Gu Nianzhi's heart . She would race to the top of the highest building and throw herself out the window, smashing herself into a thousand pieces on the pavement below . The wind would then sweep every piece of her far, far away—she would willingly do it, if it meant never having to embarrass herself in front of him again .
Huo Shaoheng was a cold, stoic man, and comforting people had never been his forte . He said indifferently, "She betrayed her country, she should be thankful she wasn't beaten to death…" He changed the subject . "…Why aren't you eating? Big Xiong said that you've shut yourself up in your room for an entire day now . "
Gu Nianzhi pouted . Her fingers toyed with the fringe on her pillow as she said, "I'm not hungry, I don't want to eat . "
"What's this? Being difficult again?" Huo Shaoheng turned and leaned against the window sill, his free hand folded across his chest . "Be a good girl and eat . Professor He has been waiting for you the whole night, hasn't he?"
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Gu Nianzhi's pouty lips opened in surprise . She managed a faint "oh" after a long moment of silence . "…Uncle Huo, how did you know Professor He has been here the entire night?"
"Big Xiong told me," Huo Shaoheng said nonchalantly . He did not hesitate to sell Yin Shixiong out . "He also said that Professor He brought a gift and wanted to apologize to you . "
Gu Nianzhi: "!!!"
Brother Xiong, you traitor! We're going to have a good, long talk later!
"Well? Say something . " Huo Shaoheng urged her, his eyebrows slightly drawn together . "Or did Big Xiong lie to me?"
"No… no . " Gu Nianzhi lowered her shoulders in defeat . "Brother Xiong did not lie to you . "
She should have seen this coming .
Yin Shixiong was Huo Shaoheng's subordinate . It was an unforgivable felony for a soldier to deceive and disobey their superiors .
"I thought so . " Huo Shaoheng extracted a cigarette from his trouser pocket but did not light it . He toyed with the cigarette as he said, "So what did he do? Why did he apologize to you?"
"Brother Xiong didn't tell you?"
"He did, but I want to hear it from you . " Huo Shaoheng's voice was still unhurried, but there was now an undercurrent of anger . It was subtle—only those who knew him well were able to pick up on it .
Gu Nianzhi was one of those people . She immediately said, "Professor He threw me out of his house that day, and he didn't even get a cab for me . I walked alone for more than an hour, it was so exhausting, I thought I was going to die…"
Huo Shaoheng finally took out his lighter and lit the cigarette in his hand . He lowered his head and took a drag . "No more childish tantrums, okay? I don't remember raising you to behave like this . You have to show Professor He respect—he's your teacher, and you have to respect him like you would respect your own father . If he does something inappropriate or wrong, don't confront him . Just walk away, keep your distance, and inform Little Ze or me . If justice is on your side, we'll help you put him in his place . Got that?"
Gu Nianzhi nodded vigorously . She did not feel like she had been lectured . Instead, her face brightened—she was more than happy to have Huo Shaoheng admonish her .
"Got it, Uncle Huo… Hey, did you say Brother Ze? Shouldn't it be Brother Xiong?" Gu Nianzhi had caught the implication in Huo Shaoheng's words .
"I'll be transferring Big Xiong back here . Little Ze will go to America to take care of you instead," said Huo Shaoheng casually . "Any objections?"
"Nope, none whatsoever . " Gu Nianzhi paused . "Did Brother Xiong do something wrong? He's been nice to me, he's very thoughtful and considerate . "
"No, it has nothing to do with you . I need him for something else . " The oppressive weight in Huo Shaoheng's voice had vanished .
Gu Nianzhi breathed a sigh of relief .
She was glad it wasn't because of her .
She was fine with Brother Ze taking Brother Xiong's place . She would probably have more opportunities to call Uncle Huo with Brother Ze around…
Now that Gu Nianzhi was in a good mood, her appetite returned, and she began to feel hungry . Her stomach immediately rumbled .
The rumbling was so loud Huo Shaoheng was able to hear it over the phone .
He smiled . "You should get something to eat . " He paused briefly, before reminding her: "Go out and apologize to Professor He, and remember to thank him for helping you with the lawsuit . "