Chapter 20
Chapter 20
Gray Tail's words echoed in her mind, and her expression grew increasingly indifferent.
Gu Wen stopped in his tracks and was silent for a second before slowly lowering his gaze to look at her.
Shang Xi directly averted her eyes.
"I'm sorry," Gu Wen said in his low voice. "Shang Xi, this is my oversight."
He set her down on the ground and wearily pressed his fingertips to his brow, explaining in a low voice, "When Gray Tail was a cub, he was locked up by pure humans and abused like a dog. He harbors hostility towards pure humans. I didn't expect he would dare attack you."
Shang Xi was taken aback for a moment. Locked up and abused like a dog?
From what she had seen so far, the Wolf Clan were just as intelligent as humans. To be collared in a filthy and chaotic environment, abused...that must have been agonizing.
And as a cub, no less.
No wonder Gray Tail had been looking at her with disgust this past week. She still didn't understand what she had done to offend him.
She almost instantly forgave him, feeling that Gray Tail was pitiable...
As if!
A surge of anger welled up in Shang Xi's heart.
"So he dislikes all pure humans just because of that? Condemning everyone for one person's faults. He wasn't even harmed by me! Yes, he has suffered, but what wrong have I committed?"
She pointed to the wound on her forehead, "Can you tell me if there's anyone else here who harbors hostility towards us pure humans? I'm truly afraid there might be a next time and I'll lose my life."
When she finished speaking, her gaze towards Gu Wen changed slightly.
Speaking of which, other than Gray Tail's dislike of pure humans, wasn't the one standing before her the same?
The tall man stood to the side, and his sharp eyes seemed to detect the look in her eyes. His brow furrowed, "What's with that look? Do you think I would attack you?"
Shang Xi retreated a step, her eyes darting around, "Who can guarantee otherwise..."
"Shang Xi!!"
Gu Wen's eyes flashed with a hint of disbelief before seeming deeply offended. "Are you insulting me? You're the mother of my cub!"
"Oh."
Shang Xi lightly nodded, still appearing uncertain whether she believed him or not.
For the past six months, her son had needed the cold spring, and the only supply was from Gu Wen. Her idea of moving back into her new room was dashed.
"There won't be a next time for something like this," Gu Wen said, his handsome face full of gravity.
"Oh," Shang Xi still responded absentmindedly.
She stood in the hospital corridor with a small piece of cloth wrapped around her head. Her arms and legs were covered in medication, the pungent smell of medicine all over her body.
The hospital was very quiet at 2 AM. The doors of the wards were closed one by one, and the occasional beep of a machine could be heard from inside the rooms.
"Six months," she said softly.
"What?"
"I said, endure for six more months," Shang Xi turned to look at him, her gaze fixed unwaveringly on him. "After six months, I'm taking my son and leaving. We won't be in your sight bothering you anymore."
A hint of astonishment flashed through Gu Wen's eyes.
Shang Xi clenched her fists. "I won't let you have my child, not even if I die."
Gu Wen's eyebrows furrowed deeply. "No one is chasing you away. The wolf pack has already accepted you. Gray Tail's words aren't worth taking to heart."
He paused, then averted his gaze. "As the mother who gave birth to a wolf cub, I have no right to make you leave either."
Shang Xi pressed her lips together. "What are you talking about? I have my own place. I have my own family too."
His words about chasing her away made her think of the experience in her childhood when she had to rely on others. Her relatives all treated her like a freeloader, a burden. They said right to her face that it was time she went to the next family.
Back then, she had twisted her clothes in her fists. The kind of mortification and confusion that welled up within her.
At this moment...she seemed to casually tug at her clothes again, her tone surprisingly gentle, "Speaking of which, I mainly came to Nanfeng Courtyard for Baby Shang's illness. Now that he's cured, I'll be taking him back home with me."
"So endure for six more months, okay?" When she finished speaking, she turned and left. "My injuries are just external, I don't need to be hospitalized. Let's go back."
Gu Wen's frown deepened as he watched the woman's retreating figure.
Although she was speaking of staying away from him, for some reason, he didn't feel happy at all hearing those words from her.
He truly didn't like Shang Xi, but he also hadn't reached the point of loathing her. This wasn't the result he wanted in this situation.
Listening to the woman's words, Gu Wen's expression was somewhat ugly. Six months, she kept emphasizing six months.
When the elevator arrived, the two entered one after the other.
He stared at the woman's back, opening his mouth coldly, "What exactly did Gray Tail say to you?"
A cold gust of wind blew at the deserted hospital entrance at 2 AM. Shang Xi was only wearing thin pajamas and felt a little cold.
She stopped, not turning back. Her tone feigned casualness, "Oh, I almost forgot. He just said something about how my existence has brought you some trouble."
Gu Wen was silent for a second. He didn't nod or deny it. "In our wolf clan, the mother is the nurturer of life and holds an absolute position. A mother who has given birth to a cub is entitled to utilize all the resources of the cub's father."
In other words, his personal opinions and feelings were unimportant.
Shang Xi was the mother of his cub. No matter whether he was willing or not, if she wanted something, he had to prepare it for her.
"What if I don't need anything? Why would you force yourself?" She had her own place and job, it wasn't like she couldn't support herself and her son.
When she was little, she had no choice but to rely on others and suffer a lot. Now that she finally lived a life of her own, did she still have to go bother others?
Gray Tail's words made her re-examine their relationship. She now just wanted the six months to pass, her son's illness to get better, and to move back into her new place.
Gu Wen's expression completely sank. "Shang Xi! That is my most fundamental responsibility."
"Forget it. Just treat Baby Shang well, I can see he quite likes you."
Gu Wen was silent for a while, seeming to think of something. His eyes flashed peculiarly, "Are you throwing a tantrum? Wanting me to coax you?"
He had seen that when human females got angry, they wanted their partner to soothe them before feeling better. This point was the same for the females of his wolf clan.
Somehow, his thoughts headed in that direction.
Shang Xi: "......"
She opened and closed her mouth, falling silent.
She was a little speechless, the corner of her mouth twitching. "Where I'm from, throwing a tantrum represents an intimate relationship between two people. Mr. Gu Wen, you and I are no different from strangers, right?"
Gu Wen coaxing her? The mere thought made goosebumps rise on her skin.
"I don't dislike you. I'm not asking anything of you now either. I respect your prejudices against pure humans and your various opinions of me."
"Let's not mention those things. For the next six months, let's just interact normally, especially in front of the child. Alright?"
The woman clearly wasn't angry. Her expression was peaceful and her gaze at him very calm. She seemed to be sincerely suggesting this.
But for some reason, he felt extremely unhappy.
Gu Wen pressed his lips tightly together. For a time, his temper flared.
He truly hadn't expected the woman to react so intensely, completely changing from her previous gentle demeanor.
Not only was there no sign of goodwill, her not hating him was already good enough. This drastic change, was it because of Gray Tail? Because she learned of his dislike towards her?
Being rejected over and over, he grew angry as well.
His lips pulled tautly as he responded coldly, "Fine, as you wish."
If she didn't want it, then so be it. Why would he demean himself begging?
She wasn't his mate anyway.
Now that she was clearly defining the boundaries between them, he was overjoyed.
He hadn't liked her from the start anyway.
This was perfect!
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