Chapter 214

"Gu Lin, stop right there!"

Gu Lin froze in his tracks, his fleeing figure coming to a halt. He could have kept running, but his mother was absolutely furious this time—it wasn't just a matter of being grounded for a week.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Shen Tu stormed up to him, her anger palpable, and without hesitation, she grabbed Gu Lin by the ear.

"Ouch, ouch, ouch!"

Shen Tu didn't loosen her grip one bit. "If it hurts, then spill it! Where on earth did your brother go?!" Gu Lin winced, his teeth clenched, but he stubbornly remained silent.

Seeing his rare moment of obstinacy, Shen Tu tightened her grip even more, but Gu Lin still didn't budge.

After all, he was her own son. Shen Tu finally let go, though not without a sarcastic remark. "You're quite the loyal friend, huh?"

Gu Lin quickly backed away, rubbing his now red ear. "Mom, Gege just didn't want you to worry." It wasn't about loyalty; Shen Huaichu truly didn't want Shen Tu to fret over this. Besides, the treatment was going smoothly anyway.

But ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‍how did his mom find out?

When did Shen Tu discover the truth?

Shen Huaichu and Gu Lin had been so seamless in their cover-up that Shen Tu initially believed Shen Huaichu was just burying himself in work to distract himself.

However, over the past few video calls, Shen Tu had started to notice something was off.

He had been very well disguised, his usual aloof demeanor intact, but Shen Tu had watched Shen Huaichu grow up. How could she not sense that something was amiss?

Shen Tu sighed, sitting down on the sofa, her expression tinged with sadness. Gu Lin, seeing her distress, hurried over to comfort her. "Mom, you can rest assured. Gege is really doing fine. I'm not lying to you!"

As far as the current treatment progress went, even the therapist had said it was going smoothly.

Shen Tu glanced at him. Was she worried about that?

Of course, she was happy that Shen Huaichu was moving in a positive direction. But the fact that she was the last to know about this—that stung.

Gu Lin hesitated. "Well, not the last, really. Almost no one knows." Shen Tu shot him another look, and Gu Lin promptly shut his mouth.

"He didn't tell Jing Yi?"

Gu Lin shook his head. "No." If anyone was the last to know, it would be Jing Yi. At least, that's what Shen Huaichu thought.

Gu Lin glanced at Shen Tu's expression, cautiously asking, "Mom, should we tell Jing Yi?" He had always felt that having Jing Yi by his brother's side would make him feel better.

At this, Shen Tu frowned. "Why tell Jing Yi? This is entirely your brother's own affair." Not to mention whether their relationship was still on, even if it was, it was still Shen Huaichu's personal matter.

Gu Lin was taken aback. Didn't his mom just seem worried about his brother? How did she suddenly side with Jing Yi?

Besides, wasn't this whole thing because of Jing Yi?

Shen Tu looked at her son, who clearly hadn't grasped the nuances of love yet, and sighed lightly. "Because of? Luckily, you're the one saying this. If your brother said it himself, I'd have to give him two slaps."

Gu Lin reflexively leaned back, putting some distance between himself and Shen Tu.

Alright, he hadn't been in love before, so it was understandable.

"Tell Jing Yi, and then have her feel guilty and burdened, staying by your brother's side? Making her give up everything for those two heavy words—'because of'? Xiao Lin, that's not love; it's shackles."

As Shen Huaichu's elder, she naturally had the responsibility to worry and care for him. But Jing Yi wasn't.

"Your brother is seeking treatment because he wants Jing Yi to be free to do whatever she wants without worrying about him. If we use this as an excuse to keep her by his side, that would be terrifying."

"Moreover, he's doing this for himself."

Gu Lin was left in a daze, unable to process so much at once. He hadn't considered any of this; he just thought that love meant walking together and facing challenges side by side.

Seeing her son's bewildered expression, Shen Tu softened her tone, gently patting his shoulder.

"You don't understand now, but someday, you'll meet someone like that. Perhaps you two aren't a perfect match, but you'll still be willing to change and move closer to the person she's meant to be."

But this change has nothing to do with anyone else, and there's no ulterior motive behind it.

Gu Lin fell into deep thought, his brows furrowed. This topic was a bit too profound for him.

Shen Tu watched him, her eyes suddenly lighting up as if she had just thought of something. She quickly asked, "So, which hospital is your brother at?"

Gu Lin was caught off guard, instinctively replying, "It's at that... Mom!" Realizing what he had done, he quickly clamped his mouth shut, his eyes expressing his displeasure.

At his age, could he not be so childish?

Shen Tu's eyes gleamed with a hint of regret. Almost got it out of him. His lips were sealed tight.

Shen Tu didn't dwell on it. If he didn't want to say, then so be it. "When are you going to see your brother?" Gu Lin eyed Shen Tu warily. Was she still not giving up?

Shen Tu widened her eyes. "What kind of look is that?! I'm asking because you need to take some things to him. Your brother is out there, and I don't know what the situation is like. Even if I can't go, I have to prepare some things for you to take, like supplements, and maybe some entertainment..."

Gu Lin's head was spinning from the barrage of items. He muttered under his breath, "What entertainment? He's there for treatment, not a vacation..."

"What did you say?"

Gu Lin quickly forced a smile. "I said he has entertainment—drawing! He's been drawing!" Shen Tu's eyes lit up, eagerly asking, "Your brother picked up the paintbrush again?"

Gu Lin nodded. Yes, everyone was happy about it, except for him, the sole 'victim.'

Shen Huaichu's painting was taught by Shen Tu, but ironically, his own son showed no talent or interest in it.

Shen Tu was so pleased that, had it not been for her brother still hoping Shen Huaichu would take over the family business, she would have definitely pushed for him to pursue art.

Alas, life is unpredictable. After that, she never saw Shen Huaichu pick up a paintbrush again.

Shen Tu's eyes glistened with emotion, a tear threatening to spill. She casually wiped at the corner of her eye, though Gu Lin still noticed.

He coughed lightly, pretending to complain. "You're happy, but do you know what kind of life I've been living? Once he's better, he really should compensate me properly!"

Shen Tu's lips curved into a smile as she started listing more items for Gu Lin to take to Shen Huaichu. The stream of words continued without pause.

Gu Lin slumped onto the sofa, feeling utterly defeated. He simply couldn't keep track of all this.

When would this ordeal finally end?