Mr Gu's Obsession

The rain in Jincheng, Country X, fell like tiny needles against the pavement. It was already late at night, and the streets were mostly empty, save for the occasional speeding cars splashing through puddles. Su Wei pulled the collar of her thin jacket tighter around her neck. She had just finished her part-time shift at the bookstore and was walking towards the bus stop. Even in simple clothes, her natural beauty was undeniable—soft features, large expressive eyes, and long hair tied back neatly. She had a face that looked like it belonged in a painting, gentle yet striking. She wasn't rich—far from it—but she wasn't destitute either. She lived simply, worked hard, and managed to scrape together enough to pay for her brother’s medical bills and keep a small roof over their heads. She was used to being independent. But as she passed a dark, narrow alleyway, she heard voices. Rough, angry voices. "Old man, stop struggling! Just give us the password to this card, and we won't hurt you!" Curiosity and concern overriding her fear, Su Wei peeked around the corner. In the dim light, she saw an elderly man dressed in expensive, traditional silk clothing. He looked disoriented, his eyes wide with confusion and fear. Three young thugs were cornering him, grabbing his arms. The old man was muttering to himself, looking around frantically as if he didn't know where he was. "Where... where is this? I want to go home... let go of me!" "Stop playing dumb!" one of the men shouted, slamming the old man against the wall. "You think just because you act crazy we'll let you go? We know you're rich!" Su Wei’s heart hammered against her ribs. She knew she should call the police and stay hidden. She was just a girl; she couldn't fight three men. But looking at the old man’s terrified face, so lost and vulnerable, she couldn't just walk away. She noticed a large metal pipe lying on the ground nearby. She grabbed it, took a deep breath, and shouted at the top of her lungs. "Hey! Leave him alone! The police are on their way!" The three men spun around. Seeing it was just a girl, they sneered. "Where did you come from, little girl? Mind your own business!" "Let him go!" Su Wei shouted, raising the pipe. "I already called the police. If you want to run, do it now!" She was bluffing. She didn't call anyone. But her eyes were so fierce, her stance so steady, that the men hesitated. Looking at each other, they spat curses and disappeared into the rain. Su Wei let out a breath she didn't know she was holding, her legs almost giving way. She dropped the pipe and rushed to the old man. "Grandpa, are you okay? Did they hurt you?" The old man looked at her. His eyes focused slowly on her face. He saw a young woman, breathtakingly beautiful, but with eyes full of kindness and warmth. "You... you saved me?" he whispered, reaching out to hold her hand. His grip was weak. "You are... so pretty... like an angel..." "I'm just passing by," Su Wei smiled gently, helping him stand straight. "Are you hurt? Do you remember your name? Or where you live?" The old man shook his head, looking lost again. "My head... it hurts... I can't remember anything..." He clearly suffered from moments of memory loss, perhaps due to age or a minor health issue. He looked lost, like a child. "It's okay," Su Wei said soothingly. "Don't force yourself to think. It's raining and cold. Let's find a warm place to wait until you remember, or until your family comes." The old man looked at her with pure trust now. "You won't leave me?" "I won't leave you," she promised. Since he couldn't remember his address or phone number, and she was worried those men might come back, Su Wei decided to take him to her small apartment nearby. It was humble, just two bedrooms and a living room, but it was clean and warm. She made him some hot tea. She gave him a blanket. She sat with him, talking softly, trying to calm him down. Hours passed. The old man fell asleep on the sofa. Su Wei sat by the side, watching him. He looked like such a kind old man. She hoped his family was worried about him. ---------------------------------------------- The peace was shattered at exactly 4:00 AM. The door to her apartment wasn't particularly strong. It was practically kicked off its hinges with a deafening crash! Su Wei jumped up in shock. Before she could understand what was happening, a group of men in black suits rushed in, followed by a presence so overwhelming it seemed like the temperature inside the room dropped ten degrees. If Su Wei was an angel, this man was a God—or a Devil. He was tall, with broad shoulders and a frame built like a model. His features were sharp, chiseled by the finest hands, his jawline perfect, his eyes dark and deep like an endless abyss. He was dressed in a custom Italian suit, exuding power and wealth. He was the definition of male perfection, but his expression was colder than ice. She recognized him from TV. This was Gu Yichen, the CEO of the Gu Empire, the most powerful man in Country X. His gaze swept the room and landed on the old man sleeping on the sofa, then shifted to Su Wei standing there in her simple home clothes, looking startled and delicate. "Search the premises," Yichen ordered, his voice low and raspy, devoid of any emotion. Two men immediately moved to check the rooms. Yichen walked slowly towards Su Wei. He stopped right in front of her, looking down at her with eyes filled with coldness and disdain. "You are the one who has him?" he asked. His voice was soft, but it carried a threat that made her skin crawl. Su Wei swallowed hard, instinctively taking a step back. "I... I saw him being attacked on the street. I saved him and brought him here to keep him safe. I was waiting for him to remember his phone number—" "Lies!" Yichen cut her off sharply, his voice echoing in the small room. "Save your acting skills for someone else. Do you take me for a fool?" "I'm not lying!" Su Wei found her courage, lifting her chin to meet his glare. "I don't know what you mean, but I was just helping an elderly man!" "Helping?" Yichen laughed, but there was no humor in it. It was a cold, mocking sound. "My grandfather is worth billions. He has enemies everywhere. And you just happened to 'find' him? You brought him to your shabby little house instead of calling the police? What is your plan? To demand ransom? Or did you think if you kept him here long enough, you could trick him into giving you money?" "I didn't want money!" Su Wei’s cheeks flushed with anger and injustice. "I did it out of kindness!" "Kindness?" Yichen stepped closer, invading her personal space, his aura so oppressive it made it hard to breathe. "You saw an old man who was confused, perhaps a little disoriented, and you saw an opportunity. You thought you could take advantage of his state to get close to the Gu family." He took another step closer, invading her space completely. He was so handsome it was almost painful to look at, but his words were like knives. "Let me make one thing clear. You are a kidnapper. And you will pay for this. You are going to jail." "Jail?" Su Wei stared at him in shock. "I saved him! "I am not a kidnapper!" Tears of frustration stung her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. "If I wanted to hurt him, would I have made him tea? Would I have covered him with a blanket? Look at him! He is sleeping peacefully!" The bodyguards immediately grabbed Su Wei’s arms. "Let go of me! What are you doing?!" She struggled, panic rising in her chest. Su Wei struggled, but she was no match for the trained bodyguards. As she was being dragged away, she looked back at the old man sleeping peacefully, tears stinging her eyes. This is the world of the rich. Cruel. Unjust. He walked over, carefully picked up the old man, and carried him out with surprising gentleness—a stark contrast to how he treated her.