Naughty Puppy Will Be Eaten by a Bad Woman - Chapter 22

Yet Lu Zhao seemed completely oblivious to Gu Xianyue’s ‘intentions,’ waving goodbye to Lingxi with a cheerful smile.

Lingxi pressed a hand to her forehead, deciding it was best to leave immediately.

Any longer, and she might become a thorn in Gu Xianyue’s side.

Back in the car, Gu Xianyue glanced at Lu Zhao, who was obediently fastening her seatbelt in the passenger seat. Her mood brightened considerably.

In such high spirits, she decided to play some Chopin—music she didn’t particularly enjoy, but someone else adored.

This time, Lu Zhao didn’t fall asleep. Her fingertips tapped lightly against her pants in time with the melody.

Gu Xianyue drove with focused concentration, occasionally glancing at Lu Zhao during red lights and noticing her movements.

“Do you play the piano?” Gu Xianyue asked.

Lu Zhao chuckled softly, shaking her head. “No, but I’m very familiar with it. I can anticipate the next phrase.”

“How familiar?”

Lu Zhao paused, a hint of embarrassment in her voice. “This might sound strange, but it’s like… the first time I heard it at the orphanage, I already knew what the next note and phrase would be.”

“Is this your most familiar piece?” Gu Xianyue switched to another song.

“Mmm, yes, Chopin’s First Ballade. How did you know?” Lu Zhao was genuinely surprised, her voice betraying her astonishment.

How does Gu Xianyue know everything? she wondered. It’s like she’s known me for ages.

Gu Xianyue’s smile deepened, her eyes sparkling with amusement.

“I guessed. After all, this piece is… quite famous.”

Not a guess, Gu Xianyue thought. I practiced this piece more than any other when I was a child.

The restaurant wasn’t far from Lu Zhao’s apartment. Even with Gu Xianyue deliberately driving slowly, they soon arrived at Lu Zhao’s residential complex.

“Thank you for driving me home,” Lu Zhao said, unbuckling her seatbelt and preparing to get out.

“Wait,” Gu Xianyue called out.

Lu Zhao paused, withdrawing her hand from the door handle and turning to look at Gu Xianyue. Even in the dim night, her peach blossom eyes shone brightly.

“I have something for you,” Gu Xianyue said, gesturing toward the back seat. “It’s in the trunk.”

Gu Xianyue opened the car door, signaling for Lu Zhao to join her.

Lu Zhao followed Gu Xianyue to the spacious back seat.

Gu Xianyue switched on the overhead light and opened a box. Inside, carefully wrapped in dust-proof cloth and sealed bags, lay a brand-new prosthetic leg.

“I’ve seen your previous prosthesis. The materials were solid, but it was rather bulky and likely caused you unnecessary strain. This model is made from specially customized lightweight materials that are also highly durable, making it perfect for you.”

Lu Zhao took the prosthesis and unwrapped it, examining it in her hand. The design was sleek and modern, with clean, flowing lines.

She was somewhat flattered. “…Is this a new product?”

Gu Xianyue nodded, a slight smile playing on her lips. “Yes. It’s scheduled for release soon. This time, there won’t be any false advertising.”

Lu Zhao offered a grateful smile. “Thank you.”

Gu Xianyue tilted her chin slightly. “You can change into it here.”

Lu Zhao paused, surprised. Here?

She glanced around. The SUV was spacious, and the back seat seemed even wider than the one from their previous encounter, providing ample room for her to change prostheses.

Moreover, there was no driver in the front, making it feasible to change here.

In the private and spacious interior, with only Gu Xianyue and herself present—and given that Gu Xianyue had seen her prosthesis before—the conditions were ideal. Lu Zhao nodded, rolled up her pant leg, and began to change. “Alright.”

Lu Zhao skillfully loosened the socket, removed her old prosthesis, and Gu Xianyue noticed the stump was now severely inflamed and swollen, even worse than before.

Lu Zhao felt a little embarrassed, recalling their last unpleasant parting. She hurried to put on her new prosthetic leg.

Gu Xianyue asked, “Have you been following the doctor’s instructions to massage it yourself?”

Lu Zhao felt guilty but admitted, “Not recently…”

She had been busy, but subconsciously, she had also been neglecting her maintenance. Her busy schedule had become the perfect excuse, allowing her to comfortably play truant.

Yet facing Gu Xianyue’s question, she suddenly couldn’t come up with any excuses.

It was as if all her pretenses would dissolve under those deep, penetrating eyes.

The atmosphere grew subtly tense again. Lu Zhao’s heart pounded with anxiety, fearing that if she handled this poorly, she and Gu Xianyue would end up parting on bad terms once more.

Just as she was strategizing, a soothing warmth spread through her residual limb.

The expected argument never came. Gu Xianyue remained silent, her head bowed as she massaged Lu Zhao’s limb with skilled, gentle hands, precisely targeting the stiff, painful areas.

“Mmm…” Lu Zhao couldn’t help but sigh softly in contentment.

Gu Xianyue’s hand unconsciously tightened its grip, drawn in by the lingering note of Lu Zhao’s sigh.

Lu Zhao trembled slightly, then quickly adjusted to Gu Xianyue’s touch.

Under Gu Xianyue’s gentle pressure, Lu Zhao’s nerves began to relax. The warmth radiating from Gu Xianyue’s palm spread through her body, melting away the tension and leaving her feeling much more comfortable.

Gu Xianyue gazed at Lu Zhao’s profile. The soft overhead light cast a pale glow on her hair, yet the cool white light seemed to warm the contours of her face. In this unguarded moment, Lu Zhao resembled a vulnerable little hedgehog, its belly exposed—surprisingly soft beneath its prickly exterior.

Lu Zhao didn’t flinch as Gu Xianyue’s hand gradually moved upward, massaging from the end of her prosthetic limb to the uneven, scarred flesh of her burn.

“May I… touch it?” Gu Xianyue asked softly, her voice unusually cautious.

The massaging motion brought them so close that Gu Xianyue could inhale the delicate floral-fruity scent emanating from Lu Zhao’s skin.

Lu Zhao, in turn, caught the cool, crisp fragrance radiating from Gu Xianyue’s collar, mingling with the deeper, richer scent rising from her skin—a paradoxical yet harmonious blend.

She loved this scent. It was unique, making her feel… cherished and at peace.

Lu Zhao lowered her gaze and murmured, “You may.”

Hearing this, Gu Xianyue lowered her head, her fingertips tracing the faint, jagged red scars.

Lu Zhao’s skin remained cool, making Gu Xianyue’s touch feel intensely hot. The burned skin was particularly fragile and sensitive, and the warmth transferred completely to Lu Zhao, making her feel as if she might be burned herself.

For a moment, Lu Zhao seemed to feel the ridges of Gu Xianyue’s fingertips. Her movements were so light that they almost tickled.

Lu Zhao took a soft breath, remaining perfectly still as she tried to calm her heart, which had inexplicably begun to race and pound.

She reached up and switched on another overhead light, allowing Gu Xianyue to see more clearly.

“What have you decided about what I mentioned last time?” Gu Xianyue suddenly asked, making Lu Zhao’s heart skip a beat.

Last time? Lu Zhao tilted her head, trying to recall.

Oh, Gu Xianyue wanted her to see a psychiatrist.

The thought still stirred some resistance in Lu Zhao’s heart. As she pondered how to evade the topic, she noticed Gu Xianyue’s hand, which had been cautiously touching her, gradually tightened, encompassing both her prosthetic limb and the burn scars.

Unlike their first polite, tentative touch, this time Gu Xianyue’s palm pressed firmly against Lu Zhao’s limb, leaving no gap between them, even exerting a subtle pressure.

With one hand gripping Lu Zhao’s limb and the other braced against her waist, Gu Xianyue’s gaze remained fixed on her, dark and unwavering. Though their eyes were level, Lu Zhao inexplicably felt as if she were being looked down upon.

“I…” Lu Zhao paused, feeling enveloped by Gu Xianyue’s presence, her will to resist dissolving.

“I’ll go,” she sighed, surrendering.

“Good,” Gu Xianyue said, satisfied, releasing her leg.

Several faint finger marks remained on Lu Zhao’s sensitive skin, making her feel self-conscious. She quickly put on the new prosthetic Gu Xianyue had given her and lowered her pant leg to cover it.

Gu Xianyue watched her flushed ear tips, a barely perceptible smile curving her lips.

“I’ll introduce you to a renowned psychiatrist,” Gu Xianyue said. “Don’t worry about the fees.”

“No need,” Lu Zhao replied. “I can cover them myself.” Her heart was still racing, and to make matters worse, she realized she felt a pang of disappointment when Gu Xianyue abruptly released her.

…Looks like I need a good massage.

Gu Xianyue nodded, not pressing the matter, and simply sent Lu Zhao a contact card via her phone.

“Remember to reach out. By the way, when are you planning to go?”

Since she was going, they needed to finalize the arrangements and schedule.

Lu Zhao thought carefully. “After I… get my driver’s license?”

She had been genuinely swamped lately.

Gu Xianyue nodded. “Psychotherapy sessions are only once a week. You can arrange the time yourself.”

“Okay,” Lu Zhao replied. After a pause, she added, “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” Gu Xianyue said.

Lu Zhao packed up the packaging, reattached her original prosthetic leg, and prepared to take everything with her.

But Gu Xianyue stopped her hand. “Why are you taking that too?”

Lu Zhao looked puzzled. “Huh?”

Of course I’m taking it. Why would I leave it in the car taking up space?

Besides, if the prosthetic broke, she could always replace it. Custom-made prosthetics took time to order, and it would be a hassle if she suddenly needed one and couldn’t use it.

Gu Xianyue glanced at her, her tone firm and unwavering. “Put it down. I’ll throw it away for you. From now on, just get new prosthetics from Yunqing if yours break.”

She added, “Your original prosthetic company is overseas. It would be inconvenient to replace it if any problems arise.”

Lu Zhao lowered her head in thought for a moment, realizing Gu Xianyue had a point. She smiled, her peach blossom eyes curving into crescents. “Oh~ okay! Let’s support domestic products and Yunqing!”

Gu Xianyue chuckled, her usually stern face softening into a radiant smile, like melting ice and snow.

Lu Zhao rarely saw Gu Xianyue smile so vividly. She sincerely complimented, “Gu Xianyue, you look so beautiful when you smile.”

Lu Zhao got out of the car, closed the door, and waved goodbye through the window.

After watching Lu Zhao enter the building, Gu Xianyue retrieved the neatly wrapped prosthetic.

The old prosthetic was sturdy, bearing several scratches and signs of wear, clearly showing its extensive use. If she wasn’t mistaken, Lu Zhao had been using this prosthetic ever since her amputation.

In other words, this prosthetic leg had supported Lu Zhao’s body almost constantly, except when she was sleeping or bathing, and had long since become an integral part of her.

Gu Xianyue held it, this most intimate part of Lu Zhao now in her hands, and a secret sense of satisfaction rose within her.

She lowered her gaze, her fingertips slowly caressing the surface as if Lu Zhao’s body heat still lingered there.

The socket was impeccably clean, yet Gu Xianyue could vividly imagine the bloodstains left by Lu Zhao’s residual limb rubbing against it, and the frustrated look on her face as she wiped away sweat from the silicone liner.

Gu Xianyue brought the prosthetic leg closer.

Then, with restrained curiosity, she inhaled deeply.

Beneath the cold, hard shell of plastic and carbon fiber, she detected a secret scent only she could perceive: the faint, salty tang of skin friction, the lingering sweat from the residual limb socket, the lingering warmth of Lu Zhao’s body masked by disinfectant… These mingled scents formed the most intimate part of Lu Zhao, now hers alone to savor.

She buried her face in it and inhaled deeply.