Redemption from the Abyss: The School Beauty Insists on Pulling Me Out of the Mire

"Slow down, don't put all your weight on one foot."

Su Qinghe supported Xie Wang's arm and helped him step by step from the entrance hall to the sofa in the living room.

Although Xie Wang's ankle was swollen like a steamed bun, he was clearly in an excessively good mood.

He casually leaned down on the soft Shiba Inu cushion, stretching out his long legs, but his gaze remained fixed on Su Qinghe, who was busy running around.

Su Qinghe went to the restroom to wash his hands and then brought back a first-aid kit.

She moved a small stool to sit in front of the sofa, carefully lifted Xie Wang's injured foot, and placed it on her knee.

"Bear with it."

She poured some safflower oil into her palm, rubbed it to warm it, and then applied it to the swollen, bluish-purple area.

Although the movement was very light, Xie Wang still subconsciously tensed his calf muscles the moment he pressed down.

Su Qinghe's fingers paused for a moment, and he raised his head, his usually cold eyes now filled with worry:

"Does it hurt a lot? Or... should I be gentler?"

"It doesn't hurt."

Xie Wang suddenly reached out, both hands simultaneously reaching for Su Qinghe's cheeks.

Then, like kneading dough, he squeezed her face towards the center with a little force.

Su Qinghe's originally delicate oval face was instantly squeezed into a pouty mouth, and her phoenix eyes were also squeezed into a slight squint, making her look both comical and...incredibly cute.

"Hmm...?" Su Qinghe was forced to pout, making a muffled questioning sound.

"Teacher Su, you're so adorable!"

Xie Wang released his grip, his fingertips rubbing against the soft mounds of flesh on her face, a smug smile spreading across his face:

"You were like a tiger when you were yelling at Zhao Qiang on the playground, but now you're like a little rabbit when you're applying medicine to me."

"I can hardly tell which one is the real you anymore."

Su Qinghe slapped his hand away, rubbed her slightly flushed cheeks, and glared at him, but her gaze wasn't really that intimidating.

"Don't move around, the medicated oil hasn't dried yet."

After treating his wounds, Xie Wang leaned back on the sofa, tugged at his sweat-soaked sports T-shirt that was sticking to his body, and frowned.

"It hurts."

He sniffed himself with disgust. "I'm covered in sweat and dust from the playground. I want to take a shower."

Su Qinghe was packing his first-aid kit and didn't even turn his head when he heard this:

"The doctor said that I can't get it wet or exposed to heat for the next two days, otherwise the blood vessels will dilate and the swelling will get worse."

"But I can't let it rot."

Xie Wang sat up straight, looking at her with a roguish expression, a malicious glint in his peach blossom eyes:

"Could...Ms. Su help me?"

Su Qinghe froze, turned around, and looked at him warily: "...Help with what?"

Xie Wang pointed to the bathroom, then to his own legs, a wicked smile playing on his lips:

"My legs aren't very strong, and if I slip and fall in the bathroom, it would be a second injury. Could you help me in? And while you're at it... could you scrub my back?"

"Of course, if Teacher Su is shy, I don't mind closing my eyes."

"rogue!"

Su Qinghe's face instantly turned bright red, the color spreading all the way to the roots of her neck. She grabbed a cushion from the sofa and threw it hard into his arms, her tone a mixture of embarrassment and annoyance:

"Xie Wang! Can't you put something serious in your head?!"

Xie Wang caught the pillow, laughing so hard his chest was shaking:

"Just kidding, look how scared you are."

Su Qinghe bit her lip, her heart pounding in her chest.

Although she verbally scolded him for being indecent, for a moment just now, certain images uncontrollably flashed through her mind, making her so ashamed that she wanted to find a crack in the ground to crawl into.

She took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the burning sensation in her heart, and turned to walk towards the kitchen:

"Wait here, I'll go get some plastic wrap."

"Plastic wrap?" Xie Wang was taken aback.

"Wrap up that pig's trotter of yours," Su Qinghe said without turning his head, his voice regaining its calmness. "Then go inside and wash it yourself. I'll stand guard at the door. If you need anything, just call."

Xie Wang watched her retreating figure, a slight smile playing on his lips.

……

[At the same time, Beijing Capital International Airport]

As night deepened, the early autumn in the capital city already carried a noticeable chill.

A Gulfstream private jet, which had flown in from across the ocean, slowly landed on the tarmac.

The hatch opened, and a blast of cold air rushed in.

A tall, slender young man stepped down.

He wore a well-tailored dark gray cashmere coat, gold-rimmed glasses, and his hair was neatly combed back.

His features were exceptionally handsome, but the gentle smile that was always on his face gave off an aura of coldness that made people feel nothing.

Gu Nan.

The eldest son of the chairman of Tianlong Group, the heir to whom the Gu family is truly placed high hopes, and a "genius" who is pursuing dual doctoral degrees in finance and computer science overseas.

"Young Master."

The driver, who had been waiting for a long time, respectfully opened the car door.

Gu Nan nodded slightly, got into the extended Rolls-Royce, took off his gloves, and spoke in a gentle, warm voice:

"Go directly to the group."

"Yes."

……

[Tianlong Group Headquarters - Top Floor Chairman's Office]

The clock hand points to 10 p.m.

Gu Tianlong was sitting behind a large desk, his brows furrowed as he looked at a pile of financial statements in front of him.

Since the money laundering case of Hongyuan Trading was exposed, the group's stock price has been hitting the daily limit down for several consecutive days, the hole in the financial chain is getting bigger and bigger, and the investigation team from above is pressing harder and harder.

"How come this score still can't be settled?!"

Frustrated, Gu Tianlong slammed the documents on the table and yelled at the finance director in front of him.

Just then, the heavy mahogany door to the office was pushed open from the outside.

There was no knocking.

Gu Tianlong looked up angrily: "Who let you in...?"

Before he could finish speaking, he froze.

Gu Nan stood at the door, carrying a black briefcase, a smile on his face:

"Dad, are you still working overtime so late? Take care of your health. High blood pressure is a big no-no for the elderly."

Looking at his eldest son who had suddenly appeared, Gu Tianlong's face showed little joy, but rather a hint of apprehension and displeasure.

He knew his son too well; Gu Nan appeared gentle and refined, but was actually extremely dangerous.

"Why did you come back?"

Gu Tianlong, his face grim, waved for the CFO to leave and coldly asked:

"Weren't you still pursuing your PhD? Why are you coming back now? Do you think your house isn't messy enough already?"

Gu Nan didn't care about his father's indifference.

He walked over to the sofa and sat down, crossed his legs, and elegantly poured himself a glass of water, his movements slow and deliberate, as if this were his own territory.

"If I don't come back soon, the Gu family's meager fortune will probably be burned to ashes."

Gu Nan took a sip of water, looked at Gu Tianlong through his gold-rimmed glasses, and spoke with a hint of nonchalant sarcasm:

"Dad, I've heard about it. They've been driven crazy by a hacker, and even their core money laundering channels have been exposed and posted online..."

He clicked his tongue softly and shook his head:

"After all these decades in the underworld, have you been going downhill?"

"presumptuous!"

Gu Tianlong slammed his hand on the table, his face turning ashen: "Are you lecturing me?!"

"I wouldn't dare."

Gu Nan put down his water glass, his smile remaining gentle, but his eyes sharpened.

"I just feel ashamed."

"I heard that Gu Yan, that good-for-nothing, can't even win a national gold medal?"

Mentioning Gu Yan, a flash of undisguised disgust crossed Gu Nan's eyes:

"That kind of incompetent fool, who only knows how to waste money and cause trouble, is nothing more than a nuisance to the family. You actually expect him to take over the business?"

Gu Tianlong was hit where it hurt, his chest heaving violently, but he couldn't refute it.

Because what Gu Nan said was true.

"Then what good will it do you to come back?" Gu Tianlong asked through gritted teeth.

Gu Nan stood up, walked to the huge floor-to-ceiling window, and looked down at the myriad lights of the capital city below.

His refined and handsome face, yet with a chilling aura, was reflected in the glass window.

"This game has only just begun."