Accidentally Turned a Tragic Romance Plotline into a Sweet and Pampering One [Transmigration] CHAPTER 44

Chapter 44

Lin Zheng racked his brain but couldn’t figure out what he had said or done wrong.

But there was no denying that the look on Gu Lin’s face was not pleasant.

“Um… Gu Lin,” he ventured.

Gu Lin responded, but his expression remained unchanged.

Just as Lin Zheng was about to ask what was wrong, Gu Lin beat him to it. “When did you get to know that artist? And what’s your relationship with him now?”

Lin Zheng was completely baffled. So, Gu Lin’s dark mood was related to him knowing Wu Yu? But what was there to be upset about?

Though he didn’t understand the reason, Lin Zheng knew he had to explain everything that had happened that day. He told Gu Lin all the parts he didn’t know. He hadn’t said anything earlier because he felt a little sensitive about Wu Yu, but now, in Gu Lin’s arms, that sensitivity didn’t seem so necessary anymore. He could tell him everything.

“When that trainer was harassing me,” he began, “Wu Yu saw it from the side. Everyone else just watched, but he was kind enough to step in. He saw the trainer was about to hit me and couldn’t just stand by, so he came over to help poor, defenseless me.”

He said the “poor, defenseless” part with a look of utter sincerity.

Gu Lin raised an eyebrow. “And then?” he asked sternly. “What’s this about a bracelet?”

He had overheard the phone call. He was very curious as to why Wu Yu had Lin Zheng’s bracelet.

Lin Zheng leaned back against the cabinet, looking up at Gu Lin. “Gu Lin, do you remember I bought a bracelet a while ago? Never mind, you probably don’t. You didn’t even know I bought it.”

Gu Lin said nothing.

Lin Zheng continued, “I dropped it on the mountain when we were at your grandfather’s place watching the scenery. Wu Yu happened to pick it up. After he helped me at the gym, he saw I was alone and felt sorry for me, or maybe he was worried I’d get bullied again, so he invited me to lunch. That’s when I found out he had my bracelet.”

He gave Gu Lin a detailed account of his lunch with Wu Yu.

Then, he emphasized, “And you know what? The reason Wu Yu chose to paint that scene at dusk was because he found my bracelet. It’s fate!”

Gu Lin’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Fate?”

What a ‘fate’.

After he finished speaking, Lin Zheng noticed that Gu Lin’s expression had grown even darker.

A belated realization dawned on him.

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Well, damn. It would have been better if I hadn’t said anything.

Lin Zheng and Wu Yu had agreed to meet the next evening. Because Lin Zheng had mentioned he liked the ice cream there, they decided to meet at the same restaurant as the day before.

Only this time, Lin Zheng wasn’t going alone.

Lin Zheng stared at Gu Lin, who was driving him there. “…”

Wait, didn’t this guy say he was extremely busy these few days? If you’re so busy, then go be busy. Why are you insisting on coming with me?

“Gu Lin, that’s enough,” Lin Zheng pleaded. “Just drop me off. Go back, don’t come in with me.”

But Gu Lin not only ignored him but was the first one out of the car.

He looked at the restaurant’s sign and said to Lin Zheng, “Since he’s your savior, it’s only right that I thank him personally.”

From your tone, it doesn’t sound like you want to thank anyone at all, Lin Zheng thought.

He tried to persuade Gu Lin the entire way in, but Gu Lin was unmovable.

The restaurant was full, but because of the pleasant ambiance, it didn’t feel noisy.

Wu Yu was sipping coffee and flipping through a magazine provided for guests. Sensing someone approaching, he assumed it was Lin Zheng and looked up happily, only to see a distinguished-looking man.

And Lin Zheng was standing right beside him, his head only reaching the man’s shoulder, one hand tugging at the man’s arm, apparently trying to pull him away.

Seeing him, a smile quickly spread across Lin Zheng’s face as he greeted him.

The happiness on Wu Yu’s face slowly faded upon seeing the man with Lin Zheng. It was replaced by a polite smile.

Lin Zheng had tried to pull Gu Lin away, but he couldn’t budge him. Since Wu Yu had already seen them, there was no point in trying to make Gu Lin leave. Gritting his teeth, Lin Zheng started the introductions.

“Wu Yu, this is Gu Lin. You’ve met him before, he’s the one…”

Lin Zheng was about to explain that Gu Lin had also been at the art exhibition, but Gu Lin cut him off, pulling out a chair for himself and sitting down without any hesitation. “Hello,” he said to the man across from them. “My name is Gu Lin. I’m Lin Zheng’s…”

Before Gu Lin could finish, Wu Yu smiled and replied, “I know. Lin Zheng told me. You’re… very good friends.”

Hearing this, Gu Lin glanced sideways at Lin Zheng.

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Very good friends?

Lin Zheng: “!”

For some reason, he felt there was an indescribable meaning in the look Gu Lin gave him.

Seeing Lin Zheng still standing, Wu Yu gently invited him to sit.

To be honest, a part of Lin Zheng still felt a lingering guilt towards Wu Yu. After all, Wu Yu was the original protagonist shou, Gu Lin’s intended partner. Although Gu Lin himself didn’t see it that way and nothing had actually happened between them, Lin Zheng still felt a pang of guilt. If he really did end up with Gu Lin, he would feel as if he had stolen Wu Yu’s partner.

This was why he hadn’t wanted Gu Lin to come. He knew Gu Lin liked him, but seeing the two of them together only magnified his guilt.

If—and this was a big if—Wu Yu really did fall for Gu Lin, and Gu Lin developed feelings for him, he thought he could probably step aside.

That’s what he had been thinking before he arrived.

But now…

Lin Zheng sat between Gu Lin and Wu Yu.

He watched the sparks fly as their gazes met, and thought with a deadpan expression—to hell with feelings, it’ll be a miracle if these two don’t start a brawl in the middle of the restaurant!

He had the sudden urge to jump up and shout: Stop fighting!

Thankfully, the arrival of the waiter broke the stalemate.

Lin Zheng decided to escape the terrifying battlefield. He took the menu, ordered a main course, and a serving of ice cream.

When Lin Zheng’s water glass was empty, Wu Yu asked, “Would you like some juice before the food arrives?”

Lin Zheng smiled and shook his head. “No thanks, I need to save room for ice cream.”

Wu Yu’s lips curved into a smile. “Alright.” His already clear eyes seemed to grow even warmer.

Across the table, Gu Lin took in Wu Yu’s every move.

He stared at the man holding the menu. “I’ve already heard about how Mr. Wu helped my friend at the gym yesterday. The purpose of my visit today is to thank you for your help. Please, order whatever you like, Mr. Wu. It’s on me.”

Although Gu Lin was smiling, it was a very formal, polite kind of smile.

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Wu Yu replied slowly, “You’re too kind, Mr. Gu. I was the one who invited Lin Zheng this time, so it should be my treat. Please, order whatever you like. My income may not be high, but I can still afford to treat a friend to a meal.”

The corners of Gu Lin’s eyes crinkled. “How could I let you do that? We’re already at my restaurant. How could I possibly let Mr. Wu pay?”

At Gu Lin’s words, both Lin Zheng and Wu Yu froze.

Lin Zheng: “???”

What the hell?

What does he mean, ‘his restaurant’?

Gu Lin owns this place?!

When did this happen? He had no idea.

Gu Lin explained that a friend had recommended he open a restaurant like this. The timing was right, so he invested and bought the place, which was originally about to close down. After some renovations, it became the popular, newly opened restaurant it was today. As the investor, he wasn’t often in the store; it was mostly managed by his friend.

Wu Yu was speechless.

Gu Lin then turned to Lin Zheng, his tone softening. “The strawberry cake you took home yesterday—if you liked it, I can have the chef make a few more for you to take back later.”

Lin Zheng was still reeling from the fact that Gu Lin owned the restaurant. “Well, I’ll be damned,” he said. “You saw the logo on the cake box yesterday and you didn’t tell me then.”

Gu Lin didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. He had invested in many businesses. If he had to explain every single one to Lin Zheng, he was afraid Lin Zheng would get tired of hearing it.

Gu Lin reached out and smoothed down a stray lock of hair on Lin Zheng’s head. “In any case, from now on, if there’s anything you want to eat, you don’t have to go to the trouble of coming all the way here. Just tell me, and I’ll have the chef prepare it and send it to our home.”

Hearing the words “our home,” Lin Zheng’s face grew warm. He felt the phrase was a bit too intimate. But if he were to be technical about it, he paid rent to Gu Lin and was his roommate, legally residing in his house. So Gu Lin’s home was also his home. Calling it “our home” wasn’t exactly wrong.

Across the table, Wu Yu cleared his throat.

Lin Zheng’s thoughts were pulled back to the present.

“By the way, about the bracelet I was going to return to you…” Wu Yu said, taking out a small box and handing it to Lin Zheng. “Don’t lose your important things next time.”

Lin Zheng thanked him profusely as he took the box and opened it.

But when he looked inside, he was confused. “Huh? This isn’t my bracelet.” He looked up at Wu Yu. “Did you grab the wrong one?”

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Gu Lin also glanced into the box in Lin Zheng’s hand.

Wu Yu looked at the bracelet Lin Zheng was holding up—the color and style were completely different from Lin Zheng’s. He looked as if he had just realized his mistake. “I’m so sorry,” he said apologetically to Lin Zheng. “I must have taken the wrong one by accident. I could have sworn I put it in this box. My apologies. How about I bring it to you next time?”

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