Chapter 501 340: "A New Love Surpasses the Old

"Get out," Gu Muxue whispered, her voice trembling.

She was gripping Lin Ruoxi's wrist, stopping her from pulling the shirt completely over her head. Her face was burning hot…

Gu Muxue's heart hammered in her chest as she finally processed what had just happened: Lin Ruoxi had hugged her.

And it had been a hug while she was still undressed…

'Even Xue Rui knew some boundaries when he was being fresh, but Lin Ruoxi, just because she was a girl, had no scruples at all!'

'No one had ever helped her put on her bra before, even if it was another girl…'

'But… this was too much!'

"I'll help you brush your hair. Time to get up for class."

Lin Ruoxi said gently. Gu Muxue was so fragile right now. The image of her curled up in that dark corner earlier had made Lin Ruoxi's heart ache.

"Lin Ruoxi, get out! This is my house!"

"I'm not so helpless that I need someone to dress me," Gu Muxue said coldly.

Right now, Gu Muxue was a mess of shame and anger. To her, Lin Ruoxi was a shameless rogue with no sense of personal space.

"O-Okay," Lin Ruoxi said meekly. She knew full well that Gu Muxue didn't like her.

Lin Ruoxi knew Gu Muxue didn't want her illness exposed. She was trying to cover up the mistake Lin Ruoxi and Xue Rui had made, swallowing it all on her own.

'But Gu Muxue shouldn't have to bear all this alone…'

Lin Ruoxi wouldn't blame Xue Rui. Even if it was his fault, she intended to atone for it all.

"I'll be waiting for you downstairs." With that, Lin Ruoxi gently closed the door.

Once Gu Muxue heard the door close, she cautiously pulled the shirt down past her eyes, her own wide eyes stealing a glance at the now-shut door.

Gu Muxue let out a sigh of relief.

Lin Ruoxi had forced her way into her life. Her wounds, her privacy—everything was laid bare before her.

'She couldn't quite put a name to what she was feeling right now…'

Pressing a hand to her forehead, Gu Muxue stumbled into the master bathroom. She found that Lin Ruoxi had already been inside—things were tidied up, and toothpaste had even been squeezed onto her toothbrush...

'Wait,' she suddenly remembered, 'she'd eaten the dinner Lin Ruoxi made last night, but she hadn't washed the plate!'

She hurried back out to look. The small table was completely empty...

'The kitchen?' Gu Muxue rushed to the kitchen to check.

The kitchen, too, had been tidied by Lin Ruoxi. On the dining table sat a freshly made breakfast.

'Last night she'd said she wouldn't eat it, but she'd ended up secretly eating it anyway…'

Gu Muxue was suddenly hit with the mortifying feeling of being caught sneaking food. She had planned to lie, to tell Lin Ruoxi she'd thrown the food out, just to get rid of her...

'Now Lin Ruoxi knew everything. The plan was a bust.'

Gu Muxue quickly washed up, downed the millet congee, and grabbed her bag, rushing downstairs.

Downstairs, she saw Lin Ruoxi's black Land Rover and instinctively lowered her head, starting to walk around it.

"Gu Muxue, I have your medicine," Lin Ruoxi called out. Afraid that Gu Muxue wouldn't get in her car, she had taken the medicine with her before leaving.

This was a lesson she'd learned from the last time she'd accidentally taken the wrong phone: as long as she had one of Gu Muxue's necessities, Gu Muxue would definitely come to her.

Gu Muxue stopped in her tracks, her hand tightening on her backpack strap…

'Who taught her to do that?'

'It must have been Xue Rui!'

'Bastard!' Gu Muxue fumed, turning on her heel and stalking toward the passenger side of the car with her head down.

Lin Ruoxi started the car. Looking at the road ahead, she said softly, "Yeah, I'm a bastard. Go ahead and curse me out if you want. As long as it makes you feel a little better."

"I wasn't talking about you... And... thank you for last night," Gu Muxue said, looking out the window, her voice barely a whisper.

Lin Ruoxi didn't quite catch that. She blinked and asked, "Thanks for what?"

"The dinner you made... was really good," Gu Muxue stammered out.

'Lin Ruoxi was only doing all this out of guilt, but she really didn't want her to.'

'But Lin Ruoxi had already done it, and she had already eaten it.'

'She'd tried to drive Lin Ruoxi away just before, and she'd feel awful if she didn't at least say thank you.'

"You don't have to thank me. I'll make it for you every day from now on," Lin Ruoxi said quickly, looking a little overwhelmed by the compliment.

Gu Muxue's fingernails dug into her palms. 'She knew she shouldn't have given Lin Ruoxi any positive reinforcement, but she couldn't help herself…'

'Lin Ruoxi was promising to cook for her every day?'

'No wonder…'

'How many guys could resist that kind of tenderness?'

"Where's my medicine?" Gu Muxue's tone turned icy.

Hearing the change in Gu Muxue's tone, Lin Ruoxi swallowed nervously.

'Xue Rui was right. Girls really can turn on a dime…'

With one hand, Lin Ruoxi passed Gu Muxue a pill organizer. "This is today's dose. I've already sorted them for morning, noon, and night."

She'd bought it at the pharmacy last night. Gu Muxue had torn the labels off her pill bottles, and it would be easy to mix them up if one wasn't careful.

Gu Muxue stared blankly for a moment, then frowned and glared at Lin Ruoxi before snatching the small box from her hand.

The pill organizer was small and delicate, divided into three compartments labeled "Morning," "Noon," and "Night." A pile of assorted white pills rested quietly inside.

'Lin Ruoxi had only given her a single day's worth…'

'Psychiatric medications are prescription-only. You can't get them without one.'

'What was Lin Ruoxi trying to do?'

'Did she confiscate my medicine so I'd have to ask her for it every single day?'

'Lin Ruoxi's thoughtfulness seemed to come with a hint of control…'

"Give them all to me," Gu Muxue said coldly. She hated the feeling of being at someone else's mercy.

"I... I'll give them to you every day," Lin Ruoxi said meekly. "Please don't be angry."

Gu Muxue's hand gradually relaxed. She opened the car window, resting her cheek on her hand as she watched the scenery fly by.

A sense of powerlessness washed over her.

'Lin Ruoxi knew her weak spot. She wanted to keep her illness a secret, and now she had no choice but to cooperate with Lin Ruoxi.'