Accidentally Marked My Ex’s Crush, the Ice-Cold Goddess O - Chapter 50: Knowing She Deleted the Data

Chapter 50: Knowing She Deleted the Data

Both of them fell silent and started packing quickly. Earlier, Gu Feiran had already stuffed the clothes Jiang Ci was supposed to wear that morning back into the wardrobe.

Looking around, there wasn’t much left to pack. The only thing that needed to be hidden now was Jiang Ci.

Gu Feiran said, “Go hide in the bathroom.”

Jiang Ci grabbed her phone and started walking. Halfway, she suddenly stopped, turned around, and asked in confusion, “Why not the closet?”

Gu Feiran walked over and pulled her by the hand. “Because the bathroom is the safest. My mom might come into the bedroom.”

Before leaving, she added, “Remember to put your phone on silent and turn off the alarm.”

Then, she tightly closed the bathroom door.

Jiang Ci barely had time to react before the frosted glass sliding door was shut tightly from the outside.

Jiang Ci pursed her lips, walked further inside, and followed Dr. Gu’s instructions right away. She put her phone on silent, turned off the alarm, and lowered the volume to the minimum. Hiding herself was one thing, but why was Dr. Gu’s first reaction also to make her hide?

Click. Gu Feiran opened the door and saw the person standing there. She softly called out, “Mom.”

Gu Mushi walked in with a smile, opened her arms, and hugged Gu Feiran, rubbing her cheek against her head. “Sorry for disturbing you so early. I just missed you so much.”

Gu Feiran gently patted her shoulder and said, “It’s fine. You flew for over ten hours. You must be tired. Want to take a shower and rest, maybe nap for a bit?”

“Okay,” Gu Mushi replied.

She agreed but kept holding onto Gu Feiran without letting go.

“I miss our Xiao Ran so much,” she said.

The mother and daughter hugged at the entrance. Aunt Liu came out after hearing the noise, thinking it was Miss Jiang leaving. Instead, she saw Madam had returned. She greeted, “Madam, you’re back.”

“Yes, I’m back. Sorry for disturbing your rest,” Gu Mushi said, finally letting go of Gu Feiran and turning to bring in her luggage.

Aunt Liu said, “It’s fine. I’ll go prepare the guest bedroom for you.”

Gu Mushi waved her hand. “No need to trouble yourself. I’ll sleep in Xiao Ran’s room. She’s going to work soon anyway, and setting up a guest bedroom is too much hassle.”

Aunt Liu instinctively looked at Miss Gu. “This…”

Miss Jiang was in the bedroom.

Gu Feiran noticed Aunt Liu’s glance and slightly frowned. She quickly found an excuse. “My room’s pretty messy, Mom. You should sleep in the guest bedroom. It’s cleaner.”

When Jiang Ci first came to the house, Gu Feiran had told Aunt Liu that no one should know about her visits, especially not her sister, mom, or grandma. Aunt Liu remembered the instruction and knew Jiang Ci had come back with her last night.

“No need. That’s too much trouble,” Gu Mushi said.

She waved her hand and stretched as she walked inside. “I’ll take a shower in the guest bedroom. Xiao Ran, you go sleep. By the time I’m done showering, you’ll need to get ready for work.”

Gu Mushi added, “I was going to shower at the airport after landing, but I thought it’d be better to come home and do it.”

Gu Feiran looked at Aunt Liu. “Aunt Liu, please prepare some toiletries for her.”

Aunt Liu understood. “Alright, I’ll do it now.”

Aunt Liu went with Mom to the guest bedroom. Gu Feiran heard the door open, immediately turned back to the bedroom, grabbed Jiang Ci’s clothes from the closet, and went to the bathroom.

Jiang Ci was sitting on a chair, ears perked up, listening for any sounds.

When she saw Gu Feiran come in, she stood up.

Gu Feiran handed her the clothes. “My mom isn’t coming here now. Put these on and leave. She’ll sleep here later.”

“Okay,” Jiang Ci said.

Following Dr. Gu’s instructions, she took off her pajamas. While changing, Gu Feiran turned around, not looking.

“Shirt,” Jiang Ci said.

She took off her top, placed it on the chair, and asked for the next piece. Gu Feiran handed it over without turning.

Jiang Ci changed one piece at a time, putting on well-fitted trousers and pulling them up to her waist. She tucked in the shirt, adjusted it slightly, and said to Gu Feiran, who was still facing away, “I’m done changing. Should I leave now?”

Why did it feel like she was sneaking around like a thief?

“Hmm,” Gu Feiran said, turning around. Her eyes lit up slightly when she saw Jiang Ci fully dressed.

Broad($(‘#

Broad shoulders, narrow waist, upright posture, pale slender neck—paired with the white shirt, she looked striking.

“Jacket,” Gu Feiran said, handing it to her.

Jiang Ci took it and put it on, unable to hold back a yawn.

The black double-breasted suit jacket had a fitted design, giving her a steady yet distant aura.

“I’m leaving,” Jiang Ci said.

Gu Feiran didn’t stop her. “Hmm.”

They walked out one after the other. Gu Feiran opened the bathroom glass door first to check the situation. Jiang Ci followed, ready to dash out at her signal.

Gu Feiran glanced back at Jiang Ci, opened the bedroom door, and stepped out. Her heart nearly stopped when she saw someone approaching.

“Xiao Ran,” Gu Mushi said, walking toward her.

Jiang Ci heard the voice, spun around, and ran back to the bathroom. In her haste, she pulled the door too quickly, missed it, and banged her forehead on the glass door with a thud. Grimacing in pain, she didn’t have time to rub her head and quickly pulled the door open again to hide inside.

Just as Jiang Ci got in, Gu Mushi reached Gu Feiran, craning her neck to look. “What was that noise?”

Gu Feiran stayed calm. “Oh, I opened the door too fast. Something probably fell. What’s up?”

Gu Mushi looked again, half-convinced, but didn’t dwell on it. “Nothing. I just wanted to ask if you’re coming home for lunch today since you’re working.”

“No, I won’t be back. Maybe not tomorrow either,” Gu Feiran said. She had to leave tonight for a business trip and wouldn’t be back until noon the day after.

Gu Mushi touched her head. “Alright. Work hard.”

“It’s fine,” Gu Feiran said.

She thought her mom would leave, but Gu Mushi walked into the bedroom. “Have you used the pheromone detector lately?”

“I have,” Gu Feiran said.

Gu Mushi said, “The detector gets a free check-up once a year, and it’s almost time. I’ll check it for you so you don’t have to send it in. You’re an S-class omega, so you need to make sure your pheromone levels are normal. If they suddenly spike or drop, you should go to the gland department at the hospital, got it?”

“Got it,” Gu Feiran said.

The detector was on the bookshelf. Gu Mushi took it down, placed it on the desk, and opened it. She checked both detectors, found no issues, and put them down. Then she unlocked the display and checked the software.

The software was non-removable and highly secure. If data was copied, it would lock automatically, requiring the buyer to send it to the factory for restoration or have a technician fix it.

Gu Mushi checked the software and found no signs of copying. But when she looked at the pheromone level records, she frowned slowly. “Xiao Ran, have you ever deleted any records from this display?”

“Deleted records? No,” Gu Feiran said, shaking her head.

Hidden in the bathroom, Jiang Ci’s back went cold at those words. She had deleted all the records and backups. Why were there still traces?

Gu Mushi asked, “Have you lent this to anyone?”

“No,” Gu Feiran denied.

Then she quickly added, “Wait, I remember now. I let a colleague at the hospital use it to test. I was worried it might mess up my pheromone data analysis, so I deleted that test record.”

“I see,” Gu Mushi said.

She eased her concerns and explained to Xiao Ran, “When you buy this detector, professionals explain its detailed use and software functions. When I gave it to you, I only told you the basics and didn’t mention the hidden data.”

Gu Mushi continued, “The display has two sets of records: one in the main log and one in the backup. If both are deleted, the record count in the top right corner drops by one. See, you’ve tested seventy-nine times, but it shows 78/79, meaning one record was deleted.”

Gu Feiran nodded. “I understand.”

Gu Mushi said, “Since you deleted it yourself, it’s fine. If the detector has issues later, message me, and I’ll have someone pick it up for repairs.”

“Okay,” Gu Feiran said.

Gu Mushi closed the detector and put it back. “I’m going to shower. If you’re in a hurry for work, don’t wait for me. Just tell Aunt Liu to let me know.”

“Got it,” Gu Feiran said.

“Okay, go back to sleep,” Gu Mushi said.

Gu Mushi went to the guest bedroom to shower. Gu Feiran walked her to the door, let out a slow breath, closed the door, and went to the bathroom. She stood for a moment before opening the door.

Jiang Ci was leaning against the wall by the door, silently groaning and rubbing her head. Seeing Dr. Gu, she said, “Good thing your glass door is sturdy. If it broke, I wouldn’t know how to explain it.”

Gu Feiran gave her a cold look. “That’s because you’re clumsy.”

Jiang Ci rubbed her head lightly, hesitated, and said, “I was just trying to hide from your mom.”

Gu Feiran held her breath, stepped forward, and moved Jiang Ci’s hand to check the bruise on her forehead. It was, by chance, the same spot where she had been hit before. It didn’t look bad, but to prevent bruising, it was better to ice it early.

Gu Feiran lowered her hand. “I’ll get you an ice pack. If you’re not in a hurry, wait downstairs. I’ll change and take you to the hospital for some medicine.”

“I haven’t washed up yet,” Jiang Ci said.

Gu Feiran said in a low voice, “Then wash up first.”

“Okay,” Jiang Ci said.

She pointed at the door. “I won’t be washing and your mom walks in, will I?”

Gu Feiran said, “I’ll wash up with you here. If my mom comes in, hide by the bathtub.”

“Okay, I got it,” Jiang Ci said, feeling guilty.

Jiang Ci walked past Dr. Gu to the sink. Gu Feiran turned away, not following, thinking about what her mom said.

She hadn’t deleted that record from the detector. Her sister and Aunt Liu wouldn’t touch it. The only one who could have was Jiang Ci.

Her pheromone levels were always zero, so there was no need to delete them. Why did she do it?

Could it be…

Since Jiang Ci came here so often and stayed overnight almost every time, Aunt Liu had replaced her disposable toiletries with permanent ones.

Jiang Ci took off her suit jacket, hung it on the rack, and went to the sink to brush her teeth with her toothbrush and cup.

Gu Feiran washed up at another sink.

To leave before Gu Mushi finished showering, Jiang Ci quickly brushed her teeth, washed her face, and went to the closet to put on some light makeup with Dr. Gu’s cosmetics. Then she quietly grabbed her bag, phone, and car keys and slipped out.

Gu Feiran went to the living room first to check the situation.

If her mom suddenly appeared and they ran into each other, she wouldn’t know how to explain it.

Gu Feiran passed the living room and glanced at the guest bedroom. The door was closed; her mom was probably showering.

Gu Feiran passed the kitchen, where Aunt Liu was wearing an apron, preparing breakfast. She said, “Aunt Liu, don’t make anything. We’re not eating at home this morning. When Mom comes out, ask if she wants to eat. If she does, make something.”

Aunt Liu put the ingredients back. “Okay, I got it, Miss Gu.”

Gu Feiran trusted Aunt Liu but reminded her again, “Please keep our matters private. Don’t tell anyone.”

Aunt Liu smiled. “I know.”

“Thanks,” Gu Feiran said.

Gu Feiran grabbed two ice packs, put them in a bag, and crushed one for Jiang Ci to use. “Give me the car keys. I’ll drive.”

Jiang Ci took the keys from her bag and handed them over. “Thanks, Dr. Gu.”

They took the elevator down together. From the moment they got in the car, neither spoke. One focused on driving, the other was lost in thought.

It was early, and there were few people at the hospital entrance.

Gu Feiran parked in the ground lot, unbuckled her seatbelt, but didn’t get out. Her gaze rested on the steering wheel.

Jiang Ci held the ice pack to her forehead, her eyelashes trembling slightly, her expression worried.

Gu Feiran looked ahead. “You know what I want to ask. Are you going to tell me, or should I ask?”

Dr. Gu was asking about the deleted data.

In the bedroom, when Dr. Gu lied to Gu Mushi, Jiang Ci knew she had figured out it was her who deleted it.

Jiang Ci slowly lowered the ice pack, holding it in her hand. “I deleted the data in the detector. Sorry.”

Gu Feiran said, “Why?”

She had already guessed it. She wanted to know the reason.

Jiang Ci had thought about it the whole way but couldn’t come up with a lie. With Dr. Gu’s intelligence, if she found out about the lie, she might message Gu Mushi to restore the data, and it wouldn’t just be about lying then.

Jiang Ci told the truth. “Once, when I came to pick you up, I saw you talking happily with Qi Yusi from the Qi family at the hospital entrance. She even gave you flowers. I thought you two were close, so I deleted the record.”

Qi Yusi had only been to the hospital once, so Gu Feiran remembered it quickly. No wonder Jiang Ci was acting strange that day.

Gu Feiran’s face grew cold. “Qi Yusi and the Qi family study glands. You thought I was close to her and would tell her about your gland mutation?”

Jiang Ci said, “…Yes.”

Gu Feiran asked, “You deleted the data that day?”

“Yes,” Jiang Ci said.

Gu Feiran’s chest tightened, her brows furrowing. “So, this whole time, you thought I was testing you and trying to mark you to provide data to Qi Yusi for her research?”

“No, that’s not what I meant, Dr. Gu,” Jiang Ci said.

She quickly explained, “That was just what I thought before. I don’t think that now. I know you and Qi Yusi aren’t that close, and you wouldn’t give her data. Sorry, I misunderstood.”

Gu Feiran said, “No need to apologize. It’s understandable. After all, the Qi family was involved in taking you for research. You know the hospital registration process. Just book general surgery or neurosurgery. I have work at the hospital, so I won’t go with you.”

With that, Gu Feiran opened the car door and left.

Jiang Ci didn’t chase her. She sat in the car and let out a long sigh.

—

That evening, Jiang Ci finished work and rushed to the hospital to pick up Dr. Gu, but the nurse told her Dr. Gu was on a business trip for a meeting and wouldn’t be back until noon the next day.

Jiang Ci left the hospital and sent Dr. Gu a message. The message went through—she wasn’t blocked or deleted—but there was no reply. She didn’t want to send too many and bother her.

On the weekend, Jiang Ci spent the whole day at school revising her paper.

Teacher Shi looked at her revised paper and said, “Hmm, it’s almost done. Most students in your major come from families with businesses to inherit. You study this to help with the family business after graduation. But textbooks are just theory, not real experience. You need to learn from your family to make real progress.”

Jiang Ci said, “My grandma said the same thing.”

Teacher Shi adjusted her glasses and looked at the paper. “Your grandma, Qian Ying?”

Jiang Ci nodded. “You know her?”

Teacher Shi pursed her lips and turned a page. “Know her? Your grandma was my student.”

“What?” Jiang Ci thought she misheard.

A student? That’s impossible.

Teacher Shi was in her fifties or sixties, and Grandma was in her sixties or seventies. The age gap was too big for them to be teacher and student.

Jiang Ci didn’t believe it. “Teacher Shi, that can’t be right.”

Teacher Shi explained, “Before your Grandma Jiang passed away, she ran the Jiang Group. Over ten years ago, when she got sick and died, your Grandma Qian took over. But she knew nothing about managing a company. To learn, she enrolled in classes here, and I was one of her teachers.”

Teacher Shi looked up, recalling. “Let me think. She was in her fifties or sixties then. A middle-aged woman with graying hair studying at school was unusual. At first, people talked about it after class, but it faded. After she got the hang of running the Jiang Group, she stopped coming. But she’d occasionally message me to ask for book recommendations. I’d suggest the latest ones, and she’d send thousands of words of thanks after reading them.”

Jiang Ci had no idea about this. She thought quietly and said, “I thought Grandma learned to manage the company by watching Grandma Jiang over the years. I didn’t know about this.”

Teacher Shi smiled. “Haven’t you heard? It’s easy to build a kingdom, hard to keep it. Your Jiang family’s elders made a fortune in their prime. With generations of effort, they reached the top. After your Grandma Jiang died, it passed to your Grandma Qian, your mom, and your generation. The Jiang family isn’t what it used to be. But you’re doing well. Your paper is solid and could be published in SCI. As for the company, you need to learn and practice.”

Jiang Ci said, “I understand.”

Teacher Shi closed the paper and patted her shoulder. “Alright, your paper’s approved. Publish it on the website. By the way, your grandma got you a leave for the summer. Focus on work.”

Jiang Ci was still thinking about Teacher Shi’s words. “Hmm.”

She left Teacher Shi’s office, slung her bag over her shoulder, and walked to her car without noticing.

That evening, Jiang Ci went home for a rare visit.

Jiang Lan always came back to stay with Qian Ying during breaks. She came out of the kitchen, saw Jiang Ci, and said in surprise, “Well, look who’s here without being called. The sun must’ve risen in the west. What’s up, Miss Jiang?”

Jiang Ci changed her shoes, took off her backpack, and put it on the sofa. “Nothing.”

Jiang Lan clicked her tongue. “Coming back for no reason? That’s suspicious.”

She leaned close to Jiang Ci’s ear and whispered, “Is it because Dr. Gu’s on a business trip and can’t keep you company, so you came back?”

That reminded Jiang Ci that Dr. Gu was away and wouldn’t be back until tomorrow.

Jiang Ci said, “No, Little Aunt.”

Jiang Lan nudged her shoulder. “Sure, sure. No need to hide it. By the way, you and Dr. Gu have been so close lately. Have you two done any tests? How’d they go?”

Jiang Ci frowned slightly and denied it. “No, Dr. Gu’s an S-class omega. Why would she do that with me? No, no, Little Aunt, don’t overthink it.”

Jiang Lan said, “True. She’s an S-class omega, after all. It wouldn’t make sense.”

She added, “As long as you haven’t had a relapse, you’re fine.”

Jiang Ci nodded in agreement. “Right, no relapse.”

Then she asked, “Little Aunt, where’s Grandma?”

Jiang Lan carried a glass of milk toward the elevator. “She’s in the study reading. At her age, staying up late reading. She won’t listen.”

Jiang Ci listened and quietly lowered her head.