Chapter 131: Heteronormative Thinking

Dong Weiyi took a deep breath, his expression turning serious as he addressed Xie Qingtang, who sat beside him with a gloomy look. "Ms. Xie, I apologize for my lack of candor earlier. The reason I am confessing this to you today is that I truly wish for our relationship to develop naturally. I have a great deal of admiration for you, Ms. Xie."

Under the circumstances, however, any attempt at damage control was too late. Xie Qingtang’s expression remained as cold as the overcast sky outside. After glancing at Dong Weiyi, she replied, "The 'admiration' you speak of likely stems from your belief that I am a suitable candidate for a wife—someone who can look after your ailing daughter while also helping to expand your family's pharmaceutical business."

Dong Weiyi froze at these words, offering no rebuttal, for he knew there was no error in her assessment. Having observed her over the past period, he knew his daughter’s health was improving daily thanks to the medicine Xie Qingtang prescribed. As a practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine with superb skills, she was undoubtedly an asset to the Dong family, who had been in the medical trade for generations.

Watching the silent man, Xie Qingtang found the situation almost laughable. Even though she had descended from the mountains and felt she was living life on her own terms, she had ultimately been unable to avoid being used by others.

"Given the current situation, I believe it would be best for you to drop me off by the roadside, Mr. Dong. I have no desire for further conflict between us. You have your calculations, and I have my principles. Perhaps we were never meant to walk the same path," Xie Qingtang said indifferently, insisting on exiting the vehicle.

Dong Weiyi said nothing more. He waved to the driver to pull over. Without another word, Xie Qingtang stepped out of the car, standing alone on a crowded street corner in her exquisite, ornate evening gown.

Passersby stared at her, some with curiosity, others with envy, and some with mockery, all noting how starkly her attire contrasted with the crowd. Ignoring their gaze, Xie Qingtang walked on with a cold, detached air. Suddenly, her foot slipped, and she fell uncontrollably to the ground.

"Haha, look at her, how ridiculous! Is she a princess who escaped from a castle? Walking down the street dressed like that in such high heels—she deserves to fall," a group of passing girls sneered, their laughter ringing out.

Head bowed, Xie Qingtang paid them no mind. Compared to the taunts she had endured from other children in the mountain village during her youth, these remarks were nothing.

She stood up quietly, only to discover with a start that she had sprained her ankle; walking on the pavement in such high heels made such an injury almost inevitable. To the surprise of the onlookers, she simply took off the shoes and began walking barefoot on the cold concrete. With her head held high, she walked forward with pride, hailing a car.

Just then, a black sedan pulled up in front of her. Xie Qingtang frowned; she was looking for a taxi, not some random vehicle. As she stepped back in caution, the door opened, and Gu Xiujin emerged, dressed in a black suit.

"What a coincidence. Why are you here?" Xie Qingtang found that her wariness vanished the moment she saw him, replaced by a flicker of genuine delight.

Gu Xiujin frowned, looking her up and down, his gaze lingering on her flawless, bare feet. "How did you end up like this?"

"It’s a long story," she replied with a bitter smile. The next second, Gu Xiujin pulled her into his arms and, to the astonishment of the crowd, ushered her into the car.

Once inside, Xie Qingtang winced in pain as she realized that walking barefoot had caused her soles to be cut by small shards of gravel and debris. The sharp sensation washed over her, forcing a sharp intake of breath.

"I’ll take you home," Gu Xiujin said coldly, his gaze shifting away from her feet. Xie Qingtang nodded with a smile, "Thank you. I truly wouldn't have known what to do if I hadn't run into you."

"If you hadn't run into me, you could have just taken a taxi," he replied flatly. Xie Qingtang’s mouth twitched—what a dense, literal-minded man.

When they returned to Cunshan Hall, Xie Qingtang prepared to step out of the car, but Gu Xiujin caught her. Frowning, he said, "Do you intend to make your injuries even worse? Sit there and wait."

Without waiting for her reaction, he stepped out and retrieved his own wheelchair from the trunk. Xie Qingtang was stunned once more. In the usual narrative, wouldn't the man carry the woman out in his arms? Gu Xiujin was truly different from other men; he actually expected her to use his wheelchair.

"Why are you staring? Do you really want to walk into Cunshan Hall barefoot?" Gu Xiujin asked, his brow furrowing as he looked at her.

Xie Qingtang shook her head and sat in the chair. Zhou Jinfan rushed out to greet them, only to stop in confusion: Gu Xiujin, who should have been the one in the wheelchair, was pushing it, while Xie Qingtang, who should have been walking, was sitting in it. The reversal left Zhou Jinfan scratching his head in bewilderment. When they had left earlier, Xie Qingtang had been as proud as a princess in her fine gown; how had she returned looking like a fallen Cinderella?

"Boss, are you alright?" Zhou Jinfan rushed forward to help push the chair into the hall, looking at Xie Qingtang with concern.

Xie Qingtang shook her head and stood up from the chair. Since the floor of Cunshan Hall was marble, she no longer had to worry about sharp debris cutting her feet. Seeing her barefoot and clutching her high heels, Zhou Jinfan caught on quickly and tactfully brought over some disinfectant to treat her wounds.