Hot Search Incoming: The Yandere Heiress’s Wife-Chasing Livestream - Chapter 49

Love?

Gu Zhichou found the whole thing absurd.

A puppet, manipulated from the start, actually believed she possessed genuine feelings.

After so much time, who could tell if it was love or merely an obsession born from unattainable desires?

To Gu Zhichou, love was both a burden and an unanswerable riddle.

From childhood, everyone had told her:

Your parents love you so much.

Except Gu Zhichou herself never felt it.

She loathed hearing that word.

Now, with another person claiming to love her, Gu Zhichou clutched her stomach, feeling nauseous.

Why do these people always speak with such grand pronouncements?

The small knife in Qiao Zhiyue’s hand trembled, tears streaking her face.

Even though she was clearly terrified, she was still desperately trying to get what she wanted.

Utterly selfish.

Gu Zhichou lowered her gaze. Was this plot point deliberately crafted by the author, or had Qiao Zhiyue’s reaction been spontaneous?

Because the other woman’s behavior felt… far less contrived than before.

Even resentful.

Could it really be possible?

Gu Zhichou frowned. If the female lead were to awaken, that would be truly disastrous.

It shouldn’t come to that.

“Qiao Zhiyue, I’ve already called the police,” Ren Qingwen said, leaning against the doorway with her phone in hand, a smirk playing on her lips. “Your voice was so loud, everyone outside must have heard.”

Ren Qingwen had extensive connections. Before coming upstairs, she had already hinted to several acquaintances about the situation.

Having observed the female lead for so long, she knew that once the mind control was broken, dealing with her wouldn’t be difficult.

Fortunately, the control’s range was limited. As she retreated step by step toward the door, the influence dissipated.

Hearing about the police, Qiao Zhiyue panicked, dropping the knife to the floor.

“No… I didn’t.”

“Don’t call the police!”

Ultimately, Qiao Zhiyue was timid and careless, failing to notice that Ren Qingwen hadn’t actually made a call.

Though the mind control had been broken, Qiao Zhiyue was covered in injuries, making it difficult to explain the situation to the police.

After considering her options, Ren Qingwen decided to exploit Qiao Zhiyue’s fear.

The author wouldn’t let the female lead come to harm, which meant that calling the police would only put them at a disadvantage.

Ren Qingwen was an extremely cautious person; she wouldn’t take such a risk.

The control over Gu Zhichou had also been lifted, and she sighed in relief.

Picking up her phone from the floor, she ignored Qiao Zhiyue completely.

“Zhichou, have you ever cared about me, even a little?”

Gu Zhichou turned her head, her gaze icy.

“Those who have hurt me have no right to ask such questions.”

“Besides, whether you live or die is none of my concern.”

She used to want to lash out at this woman, but now she feared giving her the satisfaction of a good scolding. The colder her indifference, the more it tormented Qiao Zhiyue.

“I was wrong. I truly know I was wrong.”

Gu Zhichou’s phone rang again—it was Xia Zhaoxun.

She clicked her tongue and turned away, narrowing her eyes.

“More than any of that, I want to know how you got her to speak up for you.”

“This…”

Qiao Zhiyue took a half-step back, her eyes darkening as the space around them began to ripple.

Ren Qingwen reached out and pulled Gu Zhichou closer, tilting her head to gaze at the sky.

In that instant, both of them heard the sound of a page turning.

Gu Zhichou opened her eyes again, finding herself in the familiar hospital.

But this time, she wasn’t the patient.

Looking down at the bag of fruit she was carrying, she twitched her lips.

Damn author, aren’t you afraid I’ll smash this bag over Qiao Zhiyue’s head?

Ren Qingwen was gone, leaving only Gu Zhichou and Ning Yiyuan.

“Young Miss, Madam Qiao is on the seventh floor. The Madam said you must visit her.”

Her injuries didn’t seem that serious. Why would she need to be hospitalized?

Did they brainwash Zhizhi’s mother?

The author truly loves this female lead.

Gu Zhichou shrugged, though she had no desire to see that face again.

Her actions had clearly affected Qiao Zhiyue.

However, she didn’t want this to trigger the other woman’s awakening.

Imagine someone who has been showered with affection suddenly realizing they should be at the pinnacle of life.

If she awakened, how would she use her unique position to exact revenge?

Gu Zhichou hadn’t considered this before, but it was a real risk—one that could have irreversible consequences.

She needed to strip Qiao Zhiyue of her halo without causing her to turn dark.

It had to be said, Gu Zhichou was remarkably similar to Ren Qingwen in certain respects.

They both avoided high-risk deals, preferring to pursue only those that benefited themselves, even if it meant prolonging the process.

After careful consideration, Gu Zhichou realized Qiao Zhiyue might actually be able to go to the Xia Residence.

Xia Zhaoxun’s behavior had already aroused her suspicions.

Perhaps the answers lay within those walls.

But Gu Zhichou herself had no memories of the place, and venturing there alone could be dangerous.

Gu Zhichou’s maternal grandmother was also the head of the Xia Family.

Winning her favor would undoubtedly make things much easier for Gu Zhichou.

But if she failed, or worse, if Qiao Zhiyue…

Gu Zhichou shook her head. That shouldn’t happen.

That woman’s petty tricks wouldn’t even register with her grandmother.

But the same goes for me.

If her grandmother truly valued her, why had she never allowed her to return home? Or even visit her?

This sudden summons must be a test.

Or perhaps her grandmother was simply curious about her granddaughter?

Gu Zhichou took out a mirror and touched up her makeup, pressing her vividly red lips together. Her phoenix eyes narrowed with amusement.

Whether Qiao Zhiyue went or not wasn’t her decision, but Qiao Zhiyue’s alone.

Gu Zhichou had been so focused on stopping Xia Zhaoxun that she’d forgotten she could strike directly at Qiao Zhiyue.

Now, the most urgent task was to uncover the source of the malice radiating from Qiao Zhiyue.

If it was a sign of awakening, things could turn disastrous.

Gu Zhichou needed to find another way—one that would spare her from feeling stifled while also prompting Qiao Zhiyue to reflect on her own actions.

Her phone rang again.

The familiar name flashed across the screen.

Gu Zhichou sneered coldly. I’d almost forgotten she existed, she thought. Now she’s calling every day like it’s nothing.

She hung up and blocked the number.

Gu Zhichou held grudges. After Xia Zhaoxun’s treatment of her, she would never show her even a shred of kindness again.

Hey, what happened to the person who played the piano with Zhizhi last time?

It’s been a while since they were drawn. I thought the author was introducing a new character, but I guess I was wrong…

The mention of this made Gu Zhichou’s expression darken. The arrogant confidence she’d shown while sparring with Qiao Zhiyue vanished.

She still remembered the coat she’d left behind that night. Both the piano music and the person who played it had vanished without a trace.

Perhaps Gu Zhichou had truly fainted from the pain that night, completely oblivious to Shi Mi’s strange behavior.

Standing at the hospital entrance, she gazed tearfully into the distance, her throat tightening with emotion.

So many people came and went, but none of them were the one she longed to see.

I shouldn’t have forced you to stay, should I?

Gu Zhichou had naively believed that satisfying her momentary selfish desires would only require paying an equal price.

But now, looking back, everything had been too impulsive.

Shi Mi couldn’t speak, couldn’t tell this person that she had wanted it too.

It had been a mutual yearning, a shared pursuit.

Yet Gu Zhichou once again shouldered all the blame.

She wondered, back then,

if Shi Mi had also been in pain.