Accidentally Marked My Ex’s Crush, the Ice-Cold Goddess O - Chapter 45: Elevator Hug

Chapter 45: Elevator Hug

Tonight, Gu Feiran worked until early morning, visibly exhausted, with bloodshot eyes.

Jiang Ci waited outside the office. Even when Gu Feiran returned, she stayed outside, not entering.

When Gu Feiran came out after changing, Jiang Ci slowly followed by her side.

As they neared the elevator, they ran into Xu Zhen.

He wasn’t wearing a white coat, just casual clothes.

Gu Feiran and Jiang Ci stopped at the same time.

Jiang Ci deliberately stepped aside, keeping distance.

Gu Feiran said, “Dr. Xu.”

Xu Zhen first glanced at Jiang Ci. She was Dr. Jiang’s niece, so it made sense she’d visit Dr. Jiang, but why was she always near Dr. Gu’s office? He’d heard people in the hospital talk about it.

Looking at Gu Feiran, Xu Zhen said, “I heard you worked late today, so I came to check.”

Gu Feiran politely replied, “I’m done for the day.”

Ignoring Jiang Ci, Xu Zhen directly offered, “It’s late. Let me drive you home.”

Though always rejected, it didn’t matter. If he kept asking, one day Dr. Gu might agree.

Gu Feiran said, “No need, someone’s driving me.”

She gestured toward Jiang Ci beside her.

Jiang Ci nodded lightly, “Hello.”

Xu Zhen wanted to ignore Jiang Ci, but in front of Dr. Gu, he couldn’t act rude. “You seem to pick up Dr. Gu a lot, but I’ve never seen you pick up Dr. Jiang.”

His words carried a sarcastic tone.

Gu Feiran suddenly recalled Jiang Ci’s earlier words, realizing why they felt off—same sarcastic tone.

Jiang Ci replied, “Little Aunt finished early today and went home. Dr. Gu and I are on the same route, so I’m picking her up.”

Xu Zhen pressed, “Waiting two hours for someone on the same route?”

The tension between them grew thick, warming the hospital’s cold evening corridor.

Jiang Ci responded logically, “To pick someone up, you naturally wait until they’re ready.”

Xu Zhen asked, “Do you like Dr. Gu?”

Gu Feiran looked at Xu Zhen, surprised he’d ask such a question so abruptly.

Without hesitation, Jiang Ci replied, “No, just on the same route. If you’re on the way, I can drive you too, if you don’t mind.”

“You!” Xu Zhen was angered by her words.

Gu Feiran, wanting only to go home and sleep, interrupted, “Dr. Xu, you worked late too, so don’t trouble yourself. Be safe on your way home. I’m leaving.”

She walked past him, straight to the elevator, and pressed the down button.

Jiang Ci didn’t glance at him, following her.

They took the elevator down. Gu Feiran stood by the road, waiting for Jiang Ci to pull up. She opened the passenger door and got in.

It was a short drive home.

Gu Feiran thought, no matter how tired, she’d stay awake until they got home. But after the Bluetooth connected and music played, within half a minute, sleepiness overtook her. She didn’t even know when she fell asleep.

The car soon arrived, turning into the neighborhood, parking, and stopping.

Jiang Ci unbuckled her seatbelt, leaned back, and didn’t wake the sleeping person tilted in the passenger seat. She turned off the overhead light, plunging them into darkness. Her eyes, dark and unreadable, stared into the void, lost in thought.

After half an hour, with no sign of Gu Feiran waking, Jiang Ci unbuckled the passenger seatbelt, got out, walked around to the passenger side, and opened the door.

She gently opened it, resting her left hand on the seatback, leaning in to release the seatbelt.

She adjusted the seat’s position and reclined it, making it more comfortable for sleeping.

“No need, I’m awake,” Gu Feiran said softly.

Jiang Ci paused, then looked up. Gu Feiran’s eyes were half-closed, long lashes framing a gentle, calm gaze.

In the dim car, lit only by the parking lot’s overhead lights, the moment felt just right.

Gu Feiran blinked lightly, her bloodshot eyes unchanged. “I thought I was dreaming. It’s rare to see you so gentle.”

Jiang Ci looked away, avoiding her gaze. “I’m not a gentle person, and I can’t be one.”

Gu Feiran’s eyes followed, staring.

Jiang Ci didn’t look back, pulling away to stand by the door, holding it with her right hand.

Gu Feiran grabbed her bag, sat up, and got out.

They walked side by side to the elevator.

The elevator descended: twelfth floor, ninth, seventh, first, basement.

Ding, it arrived.

Jiang Ci stepped in first, instinctively holding the door for Gu Feiran to enter before letting go.

Gu Feiran didn’t turn, walking straight toward Jiang Ci. She nodded slightly, her messy hair falling over her ears, her forehead resting on Jiang Ci’s shoulder.

The moment she leaned in, Jiang Ci froze, body tensing, hands clenching into fists.

Her cold eyes rippled faintly.

Gu Feiran’s voice was muffled but caring. “I don’t know why you’re acting so strange today, but if it’s because of me, you can tell me.”

From the moment she saw her at the hospital, Jiang Ci’s expression had been cold, and it still was.

Gu Feiran was indeed hiding something. If Jiang Ci knew, her reaction would make sense.

Jiang Ci had no intention of asking such a humiliating question—it would seem like she cared too much. But she…

Ding, the elevator stopped at the first floor.

A family of four bustled in: two mothers and two cute little girls.

“Wife, I’m so tired. We played too late today.”

“Let’s come back earlier next time, okay?”

“Wife, wife… wif…”

They thought the elevator would be empty this late, not expecting a sweet couple embracing inside.

“Cough.”

The one called “wife” coughed softly, hiding embarrassment, her cheeks visibly red.

Gu Feiran hadn’t expected anyone either and started to pull away. But a hand slid around her waist, gently pulling her close, Jiang Ci’s chin resting in the crook of her neck, where a pleasant scent lingered.

Jiang Ci stepped back, making room for the family’s stroller, and nodded politely.

They nodded back, turning to face away, their hair practically radiating embarrassment.

Gu Feiran rested her chin on Jiang Ci’s shoulder, unmoving.

The couple swiped for the ninth floor and soon exited.

As they left, they clumsily pushed the stroller, tripping slightly.

Jiang Ci glanced at the stroller again.

The two kids slept peacefully, their chubby, fair cheeks utterly adorable.

When the elevator doors closed, Jiang Ci let go, holding Gu Feiran’s arm to help her stand, answering her earlier question. “It’s nothing. Don’t overthink it.”

She didn’t want to say.

They exited the elevator at their floor.

Usually, Gu Feiran got Jiang Ci’s slippers, but this time, Jiang Ci went first, naturally pulling out Gu Feiran’s usual slippers from the cabinet, placing them on the mat, then grabbing her own.

As Gu Feiran changed, she recalled Jiang Ci’s unhesitating move to get the slippers.

So meticulous—how could she be someone who understood nothing?

Inside, Gu Feiran closed the door softly and led Jiang Ci to the bedroom, asking, “It’s late. If you’re not busy, want to test tomorrow morning?”

She’d been busy all day, feeling like her bones would collapse. Testing now would finish her off, so tomorrow morning or later would be better. She had no energy left.

Jiang Ci nodded. “Hmm, that’s fine.”

“Good, I’m going to shower.”

Gu Feiran took her bag and headed to the closet.

Jiang Ci followed. Hearing her, Gu Feiran turned and asked, “What’s up?”

Jiang Ci touched her head, innocently saying, “I forgot my detector at home. Can I use yours tomorrow morning? I’ll bring mine next time, sorry.”

Gu Feiran said, “No problem. The detector’s in the black box on the bookshelf. You’ll see it.”

Jiang Ci replied, “Okay, thanks.”

She turned to leave, cautiously glancing обратно to drop the innocent act.

Later, Gu Feiran took pajamas and went to shower.

Hearing the water, Jiang Ci strode to the bookshelf and took the detector.

Opening the box, she saw two slots—one empty, one holding a detector. The display was embedded on the side.

She took the display, turned it on, and the screen lit up. Nervous, she worried about a password.

Luckily, there wasn’t one.

Jiang Ci sighed in relief and searched for the data storage.

There weren’t many programs—only two or three. The names made it easy to find the data storage.

She opened it.

There were two datasets, A and B, likely for the two detectors.

She opened A first. The latest data, from a few days ago, showed a pheromone concentration of 94.

That was Gu Feiran’s detector.

Jiang Ci exited and opened B. The latest data, from yesterday, was 99.

That was hers.

She deleted yesterday’s ten-minute test data with one tap.

Worried about backups, she searched the display and found one, which she also deleted.

All data gone, Jiang Ci sat, staring at the detector. No matter her relationship with Qi Yusi, this data couldn’t be known.

After a few quiet minutes, still paranoid about other backups, she checked again but found none.

So, she grabbed her phone and searched online if the device had multiple backups.

She froze when she read the results.

The device, called the A Pheromone Concentration Detector, was released last year, with only twenty units worldwide.

One unit cost 8.94 million.

The display was 940,000, the two detectors 8 million—one detector at 4 million.

Jiang Ci: “…”

Four million. So when Dr. Gu called it high-tech, she wasn’t joking—it was real.

Jiang Ci held her head, processing for minutes, then scrolled further. Seeing the developer’s name, her mouth dropped open in shock.

Gu. Gu Mushi. Teacher Gu. Her surname was Gu.

Dr. Gu was also surnamed Gu. Could they be…

Jiang Ci was stunned: “…”

Gu Mushi’s name was all too familiar. A top researcher in the highest department, a nationally renowned science figure.

Jiang Group and the Fu family were working on AI, often dealing with top researchers. In the tech world, Gu Mushi’s name echoed loudly.

At her teens, she invented a technology, winning a science award and hundreds of thousands in prizes.

Over decades, her inventions were countless, earning her the title of genius in the invention world.

Her wealth was immeasurable.

The A Pheromone Concentration Detector was developed by her personal lab, owned by her, with all profits going to her.

After ten years, it would be donated for free.

One unit was 8.94 million. Twenty units meant…

178.8 million.

Jiang Ci: “…”

Jiang Ci: “…”

—

Click. Gu Feiran came out in pajamas, drying her half-wet hair, heading to the closet for skincare.

Passing by, she saw Jiang Ci sitting dazed in a chair and walked over.

Gu Feiran called, “Jiang Ci.”

No response.

Frowning, Gu Feiran approached, touching her shoulder. “Jiang Ci?”

“Huh?” Jiang Ci looked up instinctively.

It was Dr. Gu.

Gu Feiran, concerned, asked, “What’s wrong? You look lost. Is the detector broken?”

The detector sat open in front of her.

Jiang Ci looked down, avoiding Dr. Gu’s eyes. “No, it’s fine. I was just thinking.”

Gu Feiran lowered her hand. “It’s two a.m., very late. Go wash up. The bathroom’s ready. Grab pajamas and sleep soon.”

Jiang Ci said, “Okay, I got it.”

“Hmm.” Gu Feiran turned and left.

After Dr. Gu left, Jiang Ci carefully put the detector back in its place.

Then she grabbed pajamas and went to shower.

When she came out, Dr. Gu was already in bed.

Wrapped in blankets on the left, the right side held the neatly placed quilt Jiang Ci had pulled out and returned last time.

That quilt, she’d looked up, cost over 300,000.

Gu Mushi. Gu Feiran.

Suddenly, Jiang Ci thought, even if Dr. Gu had something with Qi Yusi, it was Qi Yusi reaching up.

She’d only seen them standing together.

And that day Dr. Gu asked if she knew someone surnamed Qi from a research project—maybe Dr. Gu only saw her as useful.

To Dr. Gu, she was nothing.

—

Last night was late, so Gu Feiran woke late. Opening her eyes, she glanced at the side.

The quilt was untouched, just as it was last night.

Not surprised, she closed her eyes, dozed a bit, then got up. She saw the pajamas neatly folded on the sofa, but Jiang Ci was gone.

She was getting better at slipping away.

It was nice out. Gu Feiran ate breakfast at home, then drove to the horse ranch.

She’d planned to ride with her sister and grandma.

The ranch was open on weekends, but her sister cleared half a day for her rest.

Gu Feiran arrived at the hall, walking along the stream, seeing her sister and grandma chatting.

Gu Feiran said, “Sister, Grandma.”

Fu Ruanyi tsked, “Grandma, you cheated! I was about to get five in a row. Who plays two pieces at once?”

Fu Xianqing ignored her, tossing a chess piece on the board and waving to Gu Feiran. “Oh, Xiao Ran’s here! Grandma missed you. Come give me a hug.”

Fu Ruanyi: “…”

Fu Ruanyi said, “If you keep this up, I won’t play chess with you anymore. Play alone.”

Fu Xianqing, ignoring her, hugged Gu Feiran. “Oh, Xiao Ran, have you gotten thinner? You insist on being a general surgery doctor, always busy, barely seen, and now you’re worn thin.”

Gu Feiran hugged Grandma’s shoulders, chuckling. “Not thinner. I’ve been working out.”

Fu Ruanyi chimed in, “Old Lady Fu, did you hear me? Cheat again, and I’m done playing.”

Fu Xianqing let go, looking her over. “Working out? You’re just thin. If this keeps up, I’m worried that hospital will wear our Xiao Ran out. I won’t let them off.”

Gu Feiran said, “Really, Grandma, I’m not.”

Fu Ruanyi continued, “I don’t care. I won this round. I’m keeping score. No cheating.”

Fu Xianqing took Gu Feiran’s hand, sat her down, and kindly pushed cut fruit and juice to her. “This grape juice is fresh. Tastes good. Try it, Xiao Ran.”

Gu Feiran said, “Okay.”

Fu Ruanyi finally quieted but tilted her head, complaining, “Wow, got a little granddaughter and forgot the big one.”

Fu Xianqing smiled at Gu Feiran. “Xiao Ran, how many days off this time?”

Gu Feiran sipped the juice—pretty sweet. “One day. Back to work tomorrow.”

Fu Xianqing felt bad. “Work tomorrow? That hospital doesn’t treat you doctors right. One day off a week, sometimes none for two weeks. Xiao Ran, quit. It’s too hard.”

Fu Ruanyi: “…”

Gu Feiran smiled, passing her an orange juice before answering, “It’s fine. I’m used to it.”

Fu Xianqing sighed. “Grandma’s heart aches. Our Xiao Ran works too hard.”

Fu Ruanyi jumped in, “I work hard too.”

“Go away.” Fu Xianqing finally acknowledged her. “I’m catching up with Xiao Ran. Don’t interrupt.”

Fu Ruanyi: “Hmph.”

She put on sunglasses, sipping orange juice slowly.

Jiang Group.

Jiang Ci and Qian Ying left a meeting.

Qian Ying said, “Work’s going well. Keep it up and pay attention to the Qiao family collaboration.”

Jiang Ci replied, “Hmm, I know.”

Qian Ying waved. “You don’t need to follow. Go back to work.”

Jiang Ci stopped. “Okay.”

She worked until noon, then got a WeChat from Dr. Gu.

Dr. Gu: I’m free tonight.

Jiang Ci wanted to reply she was busy and wouldn’t go, but she had something to tell Dr. Gu.

Jiang Ci replied: I’ll come tonight.

Gu Feiran: Okay.

Jiang Ci left the company after eight, went home to grab something, then headed to Dr. Gu’s place.

It was her first time coming alone.

Ding-dong, ding-dong. Jiang Ci rang the bell.

The housekeeper opened the door. Jiang Ci, holding things in both hands, nodded. “Hello, I’m here for Miss Gu.”

The housekeeper stepped aside. “Miss Gu is home.”

Jiang Ci said, “Okay, thank you.”

Housekeeper: “You’re welcome. Come in.”

Jiang Ci slipped on slippers, looked around the living room, saw no one, and planned to wait.

The housekeeper approached. “Miss Gu is in the bedroom. You can go find her. Just knock.”

Jiang Ci said, “Oh, okay, I’ll go to the bedroom. Thanks.”

The housekeeper smiled. “No problem.”

Watching her leave, Jiang Ci took a deep breath, walked to the bedroom, and knocked.