Lin Xiao Tian ultimately stayed.
After all, the group from earlier were clearly not upright people. If they came looking for Guo Lin Qing's trouble that night, as a young woman, she would be utterly helpless.
"You sit down, I'll cook you some dishes," Lin Xiao Tian said, and went into the kitchen to busy himself.
Guo Lin Qing had wanted to help, but her cooking skills were truly terrible, and she often ended up creating more problems. In the end, Lin Xiao Tian tactfully asked her to leave the kitchen.
Before long, Lin Xiao Tian brought the food to the table.
Due to limited ingredients, Lin Xiao Tian only made egg fried rice and stir-fried greens, plus a portion of braised pork.
Although the dishes were simple, they tasted excellent.
Looking at the meal Lin Xiao Tian had prepared for her, a warmth bloomed in Guo Lin Qing's heart.
"Xiao Tian, thank you."
"This is the second time you've said thank you. I'm tired of hearing it. Don't thank me anymore. I already know your feelings," Lin Xiao Tian said indifferently, waving his hand.
"Oh, right, Xiao Tian, why did you suddenly come to my place? Is there something urgent you needed me for?" As she said this, Guo Lin Qing couldn't help but feel a flicker of anticipation.
At this hour, Lin Xiao Tian showing up near her rented room, could he be wanting to ask her out?
"There's nothing urgent. I was just heading home from work when I reached the entrance, and I saw those two following you sneakily. I wondered if Cao Yun Tian was getting revenge on you, so I followed."
"Oh… is that so…" Hearing this answer, Guo Lin Qing couldn't help but feel a little disappointed.
"By the way, did those people of Dong Lin's do anything to you today?" Guo Lin Qing asked.
"They didn't do anything. Everything is fine," Lin Xiao Tian smiled faintly.
Seeing Lin Xiao Tian's calm expression, Guo Lin Qing also became interested. After all, to escape from Dong Lin's grasp, the events that transpired must have been no small matter.
Seeing the admiration in Guo Lin Qing's eyes, Lin Xiao Tian could only patiently recount the day's events to her.
Lin Xiao Tian spoke very simply, summarizing matters in just a few brief sentences, but Guo Lin Qing listened with growing alarm.
"What?"
"Dong Lin even sent people to cause trouble?"
"That's truly shameless! For him to be a medical professional and still do such things. The Dong family has truly raised a scoundrel. I heard he's also pursuing Qing Ling! Qing Ling can't marry someone like that!"
Guo Lin Qing said indignantly from the side.
Lin Xiao Tian smiled helplessly.
If one were to speak of the cause of this matter, Xia Qing Ling was the fuse. He originally had no intention of getting involved in this mess.
They chatted for a while longer. Seeing that Guo Lin Qing's emotions had calmed considerably, Lin Xiao Tian prepared to leave. After all, he couldn't possibly stay the night at her place, could he?
But just as he was about to leave, a call came through to Guo Lin Qing's phone.
"Hello?"
Guo Lin Qing answered the phone.
But soon, the expression that had just calmed down immediately turned sour.
"I'm telling you, Guo Xu is the one who owes the money. You should look for Guo Xu, not me or my parents."
"If you dare to trouble my parents, I will call the police!"
Guo Lin Qing said loudly.
But clearly, the other party was not intimidated.
"Miss Guo, threatening us is meaningless. We have our ways. If you truly care about your parents, then pay your brother's debt. Otherwise, we may have to disturb your family."
"Miss Guo, think it over carefully!"
"You…" Guo Lin Qing wanted to continue speaking, but the other party quickly hung up.
She tried to call back, but at the same moment, another call came through.
"Hello, Mom!"
"Xiao Qing, ah! You know about your brother's situation, right? You must save your brother! They told me, as long as you're willing to pay the money, they'll let your brother go. Otherwise, they… they'll make your brother forfeit a kidney to settle the debt. We only have your brother left in our old Guo family. You can't ignore this!"
The pleading voice of her stepmother could be heard incessantly from the phone.
Over the years, how many times had she heard such a voice?
Following that, an aged voice came through the phone.
"Xiao Qing, it's Dad!"
Guo Lin Qing did not reply.
"Consider this Dad begging you. For your brother, can you help out one more time?"
"I know I've failed you too much over the years, but Xiao Qing, Xiao Xu is our family! Dad hopes you can lend a hand."
Hearing the familiar voice on the phone, Guo Lin Qing could no longer hold back.
Lend a hand?
Ever since she started working, she had helped Guo Xu countless times.
But what had she received in return?
Her parents still unconditionally favored Guo Xu, and Guo Xu not only didn't appreciate it but even demanded more from her.
They were all family, yet why did she live like an outsider?
In the past, the best was always given to her brother.
Now that she had grown up, they wouldn't even consider her own happiness, still thinking of giving the best to her brother.
This was her family!
"Dad! Do you know that in the evening, those people followed me all the way to my rented apartment and cornered me at my door?"
"Ah! This… are you alright?" Father Guo asked.
"I'm fine. Someone saved me."
"That's good!"
Seeing her father calmly utter those three words, Guo Lin Qing's tears began to flow uncontrollably.
"Do you know? It was Xiao Xu who revealed my workplace to them."
"Impossible! Xiao Xu might be a bit playful, but he would never do something like this. You must have been deceived," Father Guo said decisively.
"Yes, Xiao Qing, you must believe your brother. He's not that kind of person." Her stepmother's voice also chimed in.
"Xiao Qing, I know I haven't paid enough attention to you over the years, but you can't wrongly accuse your brother!"
Hearing the cold voices on the phone, Guo Lin Qing directly hung up.
"Why?"
"Why do I have such a family?"
Guo Lin Qing burst into tears.
Lin Xiao Tian had intended to leave, but seeing Guo Lin Qing in such a state, he couldn't bear it and stayed.
During this time, Lin Xiao Tian served as a full-fledged listener, and through this, he learned about Guo Lin Qing's family situation.
Unknowingly, it was already midnight.
Seeing how late it was, and at Guo Lin Qing's insistence, Lin Xiao Tian stayed.
As there were no spare rooms, Lin Xiao Tian made do with sleeping in the living room.
The night deepened.
Lin Xiao Tian was sleeping soundly.
In a drowsy state, he felt something approaching.
Although Lin Xiao Tian was asleep, his body's defenses against the outside world remained active, and he woke up immediately.
When he saw the scene before his eyes, Lin Xiao Tian was stunned…