Last night, he thought she had left. But the moment he opened the door, he saw her body curled up by the wall, and heard the pleasant chime of his heart's bell swaying gently in the breeze.
She hadn't left. In that instant, he understood her meaning. Every exhausted cell in his body, tormented by the medicine, suddenly yearned to embrace her. He was glad he hadn't pulled back the barrier of the door that separated them, hadn't succumbed to the inner demon and rushed out to throw her down. When the medicine fully took effect, he almost lost control, only able to desperately bang his injured shoulder against the wall, severely pinching his arm to stay conscious. He had one belief: he would rather die than touch her in that state.
To love her, he first had to respect her.
Originally, he had been worried that she no longer had any feelings for him, but hearing Nian Yiheng say she had guarded him all day, while heartbroken for her, he also felt at ease. It turned out she still cared for him.
As long as it wasn't just his one-sided love, everything else could be resolved slowly. He would confess everything to Yingran, compensating her as much as he could, but he could no longer let his love waver. The only person he wanted was the angel sleeping soundly before him. As long as she came back with him and they started anew, he would solve all other difficulties.
Gong Youqi stared at the sleeping Yu Xi for a long time. Finally, he got into bed under the silk quilt, embraced her from the front, slowly straightened her curled body, brushed aside her hair, and gently touched her smooth, tender cheek. The familiar fragrance, the familiar feeling—God, how long had it been since he held her like this! Only when he held her did he understand how deep his longing was, and why he felt nothing for other women. His embrace, it turned out, could only perfectly fit one body, and she was that unique one.
"Xiao Xi," he softly called her name with his heart, not many words, just repeatedly whispering her name. All his deep affection flowed through those two words from his lips, like a murmuring stream.
Because it was her, he had truly fallen in love.
She was dreaming again. Yu Xi stared at a face so beautiful it seemed otherworldly, harshly despising herself for always letting her imagination run wild lately. But this dream was very detailed, so detailed that she could hear his breathing. She raised her hand, wanting to touch his face, wondering if it would have a temperature. With a touch, oh my, the temperature was much higher than hers. His eyes also suddenly opened, those dark eyes exactly as she had imagined them in her mind.
"What am I going to do if you keep showing up in my dreams?" she sighed, feeling it was better to wake up. Spring dreams leave no trace, and too many could harm one's body.
"Am I always there?" His dark eyes filled with a smile.
She closed her eyes and yawned: "You can disappear, I'm about to wake up." She still prepared herself for a moment as usual, then opened her eyes, and he was still smiling. She confirmed she was awake, but this... She silently watched him for a few seconds, then lay on her back, staring blankly at the air for a while, before suddenly turning and roaring fiercely: "Why are you in my bed?!"
He promptly caught her hand that was trying to push him away, and his long legs pinned her legs. He smiled faintly: "Didn't you guard me all day yesterday? So tonight, I came to guard you."
"Did I guard you in your bed?" The thought of him being unconscious with a high fever yesterday still made her shudder. Luckily, Nian Yiheng found a brilliant old doctor who guaranteed his fever would break after a day's sleep, and looking at him now, he seemed fine. As for that night, since he saw her when he came out later, he must have guessed her thoughts. He didn't bring it up, and she decided it was best to feign ignorance.
"Xiao Xi, thank you," he said softly and slowly.
Yu Xi felt awkward all over, very unaccustomed to hearing his gentle tone. They had always acted, one a servant, one a master, either overly sentimental or sarcastic. Now that things had suddenly become normal, she didn't know how to face him.
She struggled hard to break free from his embrace, then pulled off the covers and sat up. Only when she saw him frown did she realize she had touched a swollen spot on his shoulder. She looked at him uncomfortably: "You got into my bed without permission." The thought of having slept in the same bed as him again last night left her unsure whether to feel regret or joy.
He adjusted his clothes and got out of bed, checked the time, guessing that Ding Yang would arrive soon to look for him. He bent down and looked at her: "Come with me today." His tone was gentle yet exceptionally firm.
She lowered her head and thought for a while: "You won't give up if I don't go back, will you?"
Gong Youqi remained silent.
"Okay, I'll go back with you." She moved her lips: "But you also have to promise me one thing."
"You say it first."
"You promise first." He raised an eyebrow, looking at her, and said softly: "Okay."
"My return doesn't mean I want to start over with you." She looked at him resolutely: "If you force me again, I'll still leave, and next time I'll escape to a place where you can never find me."
"Xiao Xi..."
"You have your responsibilities and obligations, and so do I. Gong Youqi, I believe you love me, and I admit I have feelings for you, but so what? My life isn't sold to you, and I don't owe you anything anymore."
He listened quietly, and after a long time, spoke again: "I know you resent me for not resolving things with Yingran. I won't force you; I just want you closer to me. Once I've handled everything, I'll pursue you again." He turned to look out the window, speaking softly, as if to himself or confiding: "I made a mistake once two years ago. This time, I will never wait idly and miss out again."
Although Yu Xi agreed to return to Shanghai, it had to be three days later. She knew Gong Youqi wouldn't leave first, but at least she forced him to go back to his own guesthouse to recover. He had many minor injuries, and both his arms were still swollen. When Ding Yang saw him, his eyes were terribly grim; if Gong Youqi hadn't stopped him, he would have almost led people to fight the Blue Gang.
During these three days, she visited Yu Chen once more. Her brother's injuries were mostly healed, and Big Brother Lan had kept his promise, quietly guarding him. Yu Xi had talked with Big Brother Lan, hoping he would let Yu Chen return to school to finish his studies. Big Brother Lan finally agreed, and was even prepared to follow him to Australia. She felt that this taciturn big guy actually had a very delicate heart, but she still firmly refused to let Yu Chen's future be ruined by him. She and her brother optimistically thought that perhaps with gradual effort, Yu Chen would eventually break free from that absurd circle.
Early on the fourth day, Gong Youqi was already waiting at the entrance. Yu Xi had just gotten off the plane that morning, dark circles under her eyes. Before she and Nian the Foxy Man could even enter the Blue Gang's gates, she was whisked away into a car by Gong Youqi. She rolled down the window to say goodbye to Nian the Foxy Man, genuinely thanking him for his care these past few days. She knew that although this man could sometimes be perverse, he definitely had unknown corners in his heart. In some ways, he and she were alike; she couldn't see through him, but she could feel a thick darkness in his heart.
Who had darkened him, and who would later bring sunshine into his life? She believed that person would eventually come.
The foxy man smiled, leaning close to the car window, and handed her two small gift boxes: "Have a good journey. These are small gifts from the Blue Gang for you and Young Master Gong. Welcome to visit again next time. The brothers of the Blue Gang are very much looking forward to sparring with Young Master Gong again."
Gong Youqi also thanked him politely and said goodbye, then ordered the driver to start the car.
Yu Xi, curious, first opened the gift box for Gong Youqi. It was a jadeite, entirely emerald green, obviously very valuable. But what she noticed wasn't the quality, but the shape... it was clearly a finely carved king of beasts. She immediately burst into laughter, assuming Gong Youqi didn't understand the implication, and stole glances at him, secretly amused.
Another glance, and she saw Gong Youqi opening her gift. Inside was a blood-red stone, half the size of the jadeite, exceptionally vibrant in color and exquisitely carved. However, however, she recognized the shape at first glance—it was also a...
"Very fitting, isn't it?" Now it was his turn to smile contentedly. Yu Xi looked at the exquisitely carved chicken-blood stone tiger. Paired with the jadeite tiger, it was clearly one large and one small, one male and one female. Damn Nian Yiheng, was he implying she was a tigress? She sat by herself, feeling depressed for a while, then her hands were suddenly gently clasped. His voice came closer: "I'm sorry." She looked at him puzzled, pulled her hand away, and moved slightly to the side: "Young Master Gong, 'I'm sorry' is almost becoming your catchphrase lately. I can't take that."
He looked at the distance between them and calmly explained: "About those jewels."
She looked out the window, smiling casually: "I really didn't expect that you'd win against Xue Han because of that. I feel very guilty towards him." He said nothing more, silently watching her profile.
She hadn't slept well these two days from all the rushing around. Before long, Yu Xi drifted off to sleep on the way to the airport. A long arm slowly crept onto her shoulder. After a moment, finding no resistance, his body boldly leaned closer to her. Then Gong Youqi's lips curled into a smile, and he embraced the constantly swaying Yu Xi.
It was dusk when they left the airport, and the air was suddenly chilly. Yu Xi remembered that it was November in Shanghai, and winter was approaching. The grip around her waist tightened abruptly. She knew what Gong Youqi was worried about, but she still looked up at him.
"I'm going back to Xinyue."
He looked at her quietly, with a faint sadness in his eyes: "Are you sure?"
Yu Xi nodded stubbornly: "Absolutely."
He loosened his hand, gave a gentle nod, and walked beside her, his steps tinged with a hint of helplessness. She suddenly felt that as soon as they returned, an invisible force immediately pulled them apart. They both knew that some things had to be faced eventually.
Yu Xi greeted the young women she met along the way, giggling, pinching, and hugging them, returning to her former self as one of Xinyue's beloved "Twin Beauties." Finding Xin Yue in the hall, she rushed up and hugged her tightly, pouting like a child to her mother: "Aunt Xin, I missed you so, so much."
Xin Yue gently stroked her hair: "I thought you had gone missing like Xiao Chen."
For her brother's matter, Yu Xi made up other excuses to avoid worrying Aunt Xin. Anyway, since he was found, nothing else mattered. She lingered in that maternal embrace. Every time she faced Xin Yue's perpetually gentle and serene smile, a part of her heart ached with suppressed pain. Who could know how much pain this proud woman carried within her?
Eight years ago, on her sixteenth birthday, Yu Xi decided to become a carefree socialite, willingly falling into a life of worldly indulgence. Everything stemmed from a nightmare she saw in her childhood. At that time, she was still in elementary school. After school, clutching her report card with two perfect scores, she didn't even put down her backpack, but ran barefoot to the front hall to give Xin Yue the good news. It was still early, and the dance hall hadn't opened yet. The deserted lobby was surrounded by thick curtains, making the light dim.
At this time, Aunt Xin usually sat in a corner, passing the evening with a cocktail. Yu Xi quietly snuck in, wanting to surprise Aunt Xin, but heard a sound as she passed the stage.
Yu Xi had been clever and precocious since childhood. She quietly pulled back a corner of the curtain to peek, but what she saw was a nightmare she would never forget. She saw the elegant and refined woman she knew, the proud and self-respecting woman, now disheveled, pressed down by a tall man, struggling with her head turned, silently enduring the violence.
She heard the man laugh lowly while doing dirty things: "Only willing to yield for those two brats. Old Liang should be touched even in the underworld knowing this. I spent a lot of effort for you."
"...Don't worry, I won't expose them. However, you better be obedient. I didn't become a lawyer for nothing. Since I could help her take Liangji initially, I can certainly help you protect them."
"...Growing up in such a vulgar place, do you still expect them to become decent later?"
"Your efforts are wasted on them; you might as well listen to my arrangements..."
It was a very long time later that Yu Xi slowly came to her senses and ran out from backstage, running very far, very far in one breath. In her mind, there was only Aunt Xin's pale, lip-bitten face, those empty eyes that continued to appear in Yu Xi's dreams for a long, long time afterward.
She only knew that Aunt Xin did it for her and Yu Chen. She didn't know if Aunt Xin had endured such humiliation before and after. But she remembered that man's face, and she even swore that when she grew up, she would seek revenge on that man, who seemed decent on the outside but was foul and ugly on the inside.
Yu Xi knew Xin Yue's expectations for them but didn't want this woman, who had sacrificed so much for them, to continue worrying. She willingly indulged herself, learning tricks in social circles like the other women in the dance hall. She would rather live the vulgar life of a 'vase girl' than have Xin Yue silently bow her proud head to others for their sake.
Aunt Xin was more important than her biological mother. She had protected the siblings for twenty years. In the future, it would be her turn to be the protector.
Yu Xi had just finished dancing the early show, mixed in with a group of dancers for a late-arriving junior. She sat in a corner, resting with a glass of ice water. It had been a long time since she felt so comfortable, so lazy and at ease. Her big eyes scanned the few remaining guests on the floor. Aside from the weekend masquerade balls, people who usually came here were more nostalgic, men and women who ordered old songs, watched old Shanghai dances, reminiscing about bygone days.
She had barely left the house recently. She had told her advisor she would resume classes after the New Year and had just finished a thesis.
She knew she was heartless; even though those dark eyes often appeared in her dreams, she had never actively contacted him.
Gong Youqi was the same. Perhaps the company had too much accumulated work for him to handle, or perhaps he was busy entangled with the beautiful Ms. Su, or perhaps he wanted to give her enough time to think. In any case, he didn't bother her, and Yu Xi was happy to be free. She had no expectations about any future development with him. There were too many uncontrollable things in this world, and her time was not to be spent in sorrow and empty waiting. There were so many things she hadn't done yet that she could try. Life should be more open-minded. She couldn't be a woman who withered away guarding her lovesickness.
The guests gradually increased. She occasionally filled in as a server. After finishing her water, she was about to help at the bar when she saw two people enter the doorway: Lu Renjie and Xue Han.
She remembered she hadn't told the passerby (Lu Renjie) that she was back. She walked slowly to the bar, grabbed two glasses of water, and then stood behind them, speaking in a soft, robotic voice: "Gentlemen, congratulations, your table number has been chosen as tonight's lucky number. You receive two complimentary glasses of iced water. Please enjoy."
Xue Han was the first to turn around. Seeing Yu Xi, he froze. Yu Xi smiled and nodded hello to him. The lights were dim. Lu Renjie tilted his head without looking, tapping the table and laughing: "Why is the prize so stingy?" Yu Xi continued to act like a robot: "Because you two gentlemen are too unlucky, afraid of getting drunk and being molested."
Lu Renjie chuckled, then turned around to see which server was so entertaining. A delicate and pretty face was smiling at him.
"Xi Xi..." It took him a while to stand up, his surprise undisguised in his eyes: "When did you come back?"
Yu Xi put down the water and sat beside them, smiling: "Just these past two days."
Lu Renjie feigned anger: "Who said they'd contact me as soon as they came back?"
Yu Xi handed him the ice water: "This humble woman begs your forgiveness."
"Do you think a glass of plain water can atone for your sin?" He laughed and leaned closer, whispering: "I'm not that easy to appease."
Xue Han, beside them, coughed uncomfortably: "You two chat, I'll head back first."
"Why the rush, CEO Xue? Meeting here is fate. This time, you don't have to be afraid if you get drunk; this is my territory, there's a place for you to sleep." She really missed the scholar's blushing face.
Xue Han indeed looked more uncomfortable. Lu Renjie raised an eyebrow, tapped her: "Little girl, you're flirting with my boss right in front of me?"
Yu Xi chuckled, dodging his 'demon claws,' letting him flick her nose twice before being let off. Remembering Lu Renjie's many past pranks, she moved closer to Xue Han, made a face at the fox's displeased look, then seriously asked: "What are you two men doing here? Nostalgic for old Shanghai?"
"Men, sometimes they just want to find a random place to have a drink, and they just happened to find this place," Lu Renjie explained simply, then exchanged glances with Yu Xi, looking at Xue Han, then touching his own heart, implying Xue Han was in a bad mood and that's why he called him, and then made a helpless expression to show he didn't know what was wrong.
Yu Xi nodded knowingly, patted Xue Han's shoulder: "CEO Xue, since you're here, why not order a song? Our old songs at Xinyue are very flavorful."
Xue Han, who had kept his gaze down, slowly turned to Yu Xi, who wore a carefree and lovely smile, and looked at her for a few seconds. Then he shifted his gaze to the hazy candlelight on the table and said calmly: "Don't you know? They're getting married early next month."
Yu Xi's smile froze on her face for a few seconds. Her heart felt a prick, and her breathing hitched for two beats, as if a small part of her body had been gouged out. There was no bleeding, but the pain reached her bone marrow.
Then her smile widened again. She picked up the ice water in front of Xue Han and gulped down two mouthfuls, saying softly: "Okay, get married then."
Yu Xi thought she wouldn't feel pain, but she couldn't pinpoint when her heart had begun to waver for Gong Youqi. She also didn't realize how sudden her pain would be.
This was a pain without comparison, just a dull ache. It hurt so much that she would inexplicably shed tears while drinking water, and even with the air conditioning set to thirty degrees at night, she still felt cold.
Although she had never held any hope, she couldn't remain calm from the night he came out of the bathroom and collapsed on her. She could be heartless and not contact him, not inquire about him, but she couldn't stop her heart from missing him. She had long anticipated such an outcome, but at least she thought Gong Youqi would come to her in person, being the first to tell her that due to helplessness, he still had to be with Su Yingran.
She had never called him, but her phone was always on 24/7; he hadn't contacted her.
She slowly fell asleep in the early morning, had a long sleep, and woke up in the afternoon. Her phone had over a dozen calls from Lu Renjia. Several text messages with the same content: "Xiao Xi, call me back."
She held the quilt for a while, then called him back. The ringtone had just sounded when it was answered: "Where are you?"
"Senior, I stayed up all night watching movies," she giggled: "I'm still in bed now."
Lu Renjie was silent for a while, then sighed softly: "Good that you're okay. I'll come find you after work."
"Anyway, I'm fine. Why don't I come to your company instead?" She said cheerfully, then hung up.
She jumped out of bed and into the bathroom, pinching her face to lift it, made a few smiling expressions, then stared blankly at the mirror for a while. She put on light makeup, found a beige trench coat, a short skirt, and long boots. Standing in front of the large mirror, a graceful and beautiful woman was smiling charmingly.
She was accustomed to facing things with a smile. As soon as she stepped into the sunlight, she would force herself to tightly lock all sadness in a jar that no one could open, and then throw it into the abyss of her heart.
After turning a few streets, her mood had already adjusted. She stood outside the cinema, holding a fragrant milk tea, Browse a large promotional poster. Hmm, she had already watched this recent blockbuster online. The reviews were pretty good, and most importantly, the male lead's acting was good and he was handsome enough.
"One of the charms of the past is that it's already past." She looked at the incredibly handsome male lead on the poster, reminiscing as she softly murmured the classic line from the movie.
"Then our development?" A gracefully dressed middle-aged beautiful woman beside her suddenly turned and picked up her dialogue.
"All I see is decay." She froze for a moment, then quickly continued.
"What about religious faith?"
"Fashion has replaced faith."
"Art?"
"It's a disease."
"Love?"
"It's an illusion."
After their dialogue, they smiled at each other. The middle-aged beauty smiled and said, "It's not good for young people to see through this world so quickly." Yu Xi nodded, her lips curving mischievously as she replied, "Luckily, I can still pretend to be ignorant."
She politely said goodbye and continued to stroll in the chilly wind. The square felt a bit desolate, but her mood suddenly brightened. Thinking of the lines from earlier, she felt truly naive to take illusory love so seriously. No one stipulated that the outcome of love must be togetherness.
Sitting cross-legged on the tatami, the steaming Japanese hot pot warmed the small private room. She watched the man, beautiful as a god, meticulously debone the fish for her, then place it on her plate.
She stared blankly, her eyes misting with steam. The bones in food could be carefully removed, but how could the one stuck in her heart be pulled out?
"Waiting for me to feed you?" His sexy lips curled upwards. She smiled, slowly picked up the food, and ate each bite very seriously.
"It was Yingran who proactively suggested the wedding." Lu Renjie carefully observed her reaction. "They plan to hold it privately in England and won't disclose it to the media. Only family members from both sides will attend, even Xue Han and I aren't on the invitation list." Yu Xi paused for only a second, then continued to battle her food, finding time to reply: "How economical."
"Don't you think this is very problematic?" He didn't believe she didn't care at all.
"If there are problems, they're theirs, what does it have to do with me?"
"Oh." He raised an eyebrow, looking at her meaningfully: "Then let's talk about something that concerns you." Seeing her raise her head, waiting for the rest, he grinned: "I want to take you to meet my parents next week."
Yu Xi looked at his smiling face, full of anticipation and joy. Her heart conflicted, and after a moment of hesitation, she smiled and said: "Okay." What had to be faced would be faced sooner or later.
"These two days, I'll mention you first to them so they're prepared." His eyes were full of tenderness, with beautiful aspirations for the future. Last night, when Xue Han mentioned Gong Youqi and Su Yingran's wedding, he clearly saw the instantaneous pain on her face. He knew she hadn't slept all night, knew she was pretending not to care, but the more she did, the more his heart ached for her. He wanted to look at her every day from now on; he wanted her to be a happy little woman protected by him.
After dinner, they strolled along the riverside. He subtly took her hand, squeezing it with a firmness that slightly pained her. Yu Xi's fingers stiffened, then gently squeezed his back.
Actually, there was nothing wrong with such a simple and warm life. If only he and she could be together. If only her heart wasn't already occupied.
She wasn't someone who dwelled on trivialities, but she couldn't love two people at once. As for Gong Youqi, those feelings were like strands of rope twisted together; by the time she was willing to face them, they were so solid they were unbreakable. Such accumulated feelings were the most difficult to bear, only to be slowly unraveled thread by thread, unsure how long it would take to sever this emotional knot.
She even knew that she had been deceiving herself when she said she would give Renjie a chance. From beginning to end, he was just an innocent victim, yet she still had to be the executioner. Many things, even knowing they cause harm, had to be done.
She suddenly wondered if Gong Youqi's agreement to marry Su Yingran was also a similar helplessness. She stared at the flickering lights reflecting on the Huangpu River, feeling she had instantly forgiven him. But what good was forgiveness? We must be responsible for our actions, even if they are beyond our control.
While Lu Renjie went to get the car from another street, she stood by the bustling pedestrian street, gazing idly. The signboard of the jewelry store ahead made her freeze. "Liangji"? A new branch? It seemed Liang Qingshan was doing quite well. And the couple along the counter, picking out jewelry in the display window, made her heart clench; she sarcastically thought that God must have read too many melodramatic novels.
He followed behind Su Yingran, his expression calm as he watched the beautiful Ms. Su try on various rings one after another. When asked for his opinion, he merely smiled and nodded. And they said they weren't planning to go public? Yu Xi scoffed; choosing wedding rings together so brazenly, did they think the paparazzi were imbeciles and blind?
Not wanting to watch any longer, she pulled up her collar, lowered her head, and hurried, deciding to bypass the store. But in her haste, she wasn't careful and was bumped twice by two children chasing each other. Her five-inch thin heels lost balance, and she stumbled onto the steps nearby, her palm hitting the ground with a stinging pain.
The children vanished in an instant. She slowly got up from the ground like a clumsy fool, frowned, muttering to herself about her bad luck. She opened her left hand; the palm, where it had rubbed against the rough stone bricks, had a large patch of skin scraped off, and the scratched areas were bleeding.
Blowing on it, she realized it wasn't a good place to linger right at the entrance of a jewelry store. Subconsciously, she turned her head and came face-to-face with the two people who had just stepped out.
After her initial surprise, Su Yingran fell silent, looking at her with an obvious cold aversion, quite unlike the reserved lady who used to carry only a hint of melancholy and resentment. Gong Youqi's momentary surprise was also followed by silence. His dark eyes tried to maintain calm, but when he saw her clutching her left hand, he became confused: "What happened to your hand?"
She quickly put her hand back to her side, still having a faint hope that her earlier stumble hadn't been fully seen. She forced a smile: "What a coincidence, you two are also out shopping." What a hell of a coincidence.
"Is Miss Yu also here to buy jewelry? Since we're all acquaintances, I can ask my cousin to give you a discount." Su Yingran also smiled, returning to her elegant and poised demeanor as a well-bred young lady.
Yu Xi glanced at the opulent interior of the shop, curving her lips with a hint of disdain: "I didn't fancy anything in the entire 'Liangji' store." She naturally knew she had given up on "Liangji" herself earlier.
"Indeed, Miss Yu's carefree spirit is truly admirable. Last time, you said you went to America with Xue Han, and in a blink of an eye, we met again in Hong Kong."
Hmph, trying to imply she was acting with Xue Han before? Anyway, everyone knew it. Want to argue with her? Bring it on.
"As for Mr. Xue and me, while it was love at first sight, it was but a fleeting spark, and we ultimately found that being friends suited us best. Miss Su also understands that a forced melon isn't sweet. Even if someone likes Mr. Xue very much, you can't force them, can you?" At the end, she added a pathetic, self-pitying air, but unfortunately, she accidentally touched her wound, wincing in pain.
Su Yingran's face immediately flushed red. She clearly understood that Yu Xi was hinting at her. She rarely engaged in verbal arguments and for a moment couldn't find a retort, only biting her lip in silence.
Yu Xi's gaze swept over Gong Youqi, seeing him frowning intensely at her. Ha, so he's unhappy and pities the beautiful Ms. Su now? Fine, she's done with her sarcasm, time to make an exit and give him time to comfort his beloved. She pulled at her collar: "You two continue your shopping. Miss Su, there are so many jewelry stores on this street, surely one will suit you. I have things to do, so I won't delay you two."
Just as she lifted her foot, a low voice called out: "Wait."
What, was he going to defend his beloved? She didn't stop walking, pretending not to hear. Her arm was suddenly grabbed by Gong Youqi. She turned back, looking at him coldly: "Young Master Gong, what are you doing?"
"Yingran, you go ahead and shop. I'll be back in a moment." With that, he pulled Yu Xi and walked off, leaving Su Yingran watching them quickly turn a corner and disappear from sight, her eyes wet with bitterness.
As soon as they turned the corner, Gong Youqi stopped abruptly, pulled her into a tight embrace with force, and his low voice sounded above her head: "Xiao Xi, Xiao Xi, Xiao Xi..."
Yu Xi listened as he repeated her name again and again, his tone filled with so much longing and helplessness. Her anger gradually subsided with each repetition, until finally, all words were swallowed, and she sighed silently, resting obediently in his embrace. How could she not know that he must have acted out of helplessness? She was just bothered by his overestimation of her magnanimity. When it came to love, how many women could truly be magnanimous?
Even if love was an illusion, he and she were still so unhesitating.
Finally, the strange looks from passersby made her feel awkward. She pushed Gong Youqi: "Stop acting in the street; no one bought tickets."
He pulled at his lips faintly, released her, then, as if remembering something, pulled up her left wrist. Seeing the injured area, his brows furrowed even tighter: "How did this happen?"
She paused slightly. Was he frowning and looking grim just now because of her injury too? Her thoughts stirred, and she looked up at him, smiling: "I just passed by 'Liangji' and was accidentally overwhelmed by the perfect match of you and the beautiful Ms. Su, so talented and beautiful." She then remembered his injuries; they should have healed by now.
"Your talent for sarcasm is so strong, how could Yingran be a match for you?" His tone was a little helpless as he bent down to brush away tiny stone fragments from her wound.
She abruptly pulled her hand back and laughed generously: "Thank you for the compliment, Young Master Gong. Didn't I just create an opportunity for you to comfort your beauty? Miss Su is still waiting, you should go quickly."
Gong Youqi's eyes dimmed then brightened. He firmly held her wrist, leaned in, pretending to sniff her, and smiled: "How do I smell the sourness of vinegar?"
"Your sense of smell is truly comparable to a certain animal's, I'm impressed." Unexpectedly, she nodded with admiration, admitting: "I did indeed drink a few sips of old vinegar tonight. A fishbone got stuck in my throat, so I had no choice but to be jealous."
Gong Youqi was speechless. He sighed, told her to wait, and went into a nearby convenience store, only to find cotton swabs and band-aids. He returned, pulled her to a long bench in a roadside corner, and continued to clean her wound. He carefully wiped away the blood, asking softly: "Does it hurt?"
His warm palm cupped her fingers, his sculpted handsome face now devoid of its usual unapproachable cold nobility, replaced by an approachable intimacy. Yu Xi felt her heart once again lose its rhythm. So this man could also be so gentle, so charming when gentle. She tilted her head, watching him without blinking for a long time before finally speaking: "Young Master Gong, I'm still not used to you like this." Gong Youqi froze, looked up, and smiled: "Not used to me in what way?"
She was speechless, unable to describe it. Before, he was a high-and-mighty employer, never considering her thoughts, his tone always like giving orders. All she did was cooperate and obey. She had imagined him having such a gentle and considerate side, but that side was only for Su Yingran. Now that she had "upgraded" to enjoy such treatment, the foolish girl was momentarily overwhelmed and found it too awkward to accept.
Her phone suddenly rang. Yu Xi saw the number, instinctively glanced at Gong Youqi, then stood up and answered. Lu Renjie had parked his car at the pedestrian street entrance and was coming to find her. Yu Xi told him not to come, saying she would be there in ten minutes.
Her head was suddenly lifted. She saw a certain person's sullen face; the spring-like tenderness had returned to the coldness befitting the current season. She felt somewhat accustomed to being dominated and thought, hmm, this expression seems to be the Young Master Gong she knew.
"Xi Xi," Gong Youqi pinched her chin, his eyes flickering unsteadily as he looked at her, and possessive words slipped out: "You are mine."
That single sentence made them both think of their previous interactions, and for a moment, neither spoke.
After a while, he spoke again: "Why didn't you ask me?" He had been waiting for her to question him about his and Su Yingran's wedding. The calmer she was, the more anxious he became, finally unable to resist bringing it up himself.
Yu Xi removed his hand, her expression calm: "If you wanted to tell me, you would have already. If you don't want to, it's because it's too difficult. Why should I ask an unnecessary question?" In truth, her heart had also been waiting for him to speak first.
"But I was looking forward to your unnecessary question." He grabbed her hand instead, pulled her into his embrace, and explained softly: "I owe Yingran too much. This is her only request. She has already agreed with me that this wedding is just a formality and won't be publicized. We will divorce in three months."
She was silent for a few seconds, then snorted: "Not publicized? I somehow feel that the beautiful Ms. Su is eager for everyone to know." Just judging by their appearance in major jewelry stores tonight, next issue's business newspaper would definitely break this news.
Gong Youqi also remained silent for a few seconds, not addressing Su Yingran's actions, only focusing on her: "Will you wait for me for three months?"
"No," Yu Xi said curtly, jealous that he was protecting Su Yingran.
He leaned his forehead against hers, asking with a smile: "Are you afraid I won't be able to get out of it once I'm married?"
Her thoughts were guessed, and she glared at him fiercely, feeling... indeed, a kind of worry, thinking that once they married, it would be a done deal, and they would be together forever. Then she suddenly discovered this strange psychological state of hers—hadn't she always been willing to let them be together? So why did she have this worry? She looked at him with irritation. It was all this man; when she had gracefully exited, he kept giving her hope and fantasies, constantly declaring his feelings for her, making her unconsciously begin to harbor some extravagant hopes and expectations.
He continued to tease: "Or are you more concerned that I'll be a married man by then?"
"I am very concerned!" she retorted fiercely: "When you get married, you'll be making vows in front of both families and a priest. Even if it's an act, in others' eyes, you'll always be the original, perfect couple."
At that time, their image as a match made in heaven would already be ingrained in everyone's minds. Even if they wanted a divorce later, would their families not object at all? Plus, with the pressure of public opinion at the time, would that marriage be so easy to get out of?
A thought flashed in her mind: could this be exactly what the beautiful Ms. Su intended? To first get him into the "walled city" (marriage), whether they could get out was another question. It would be best if they just got entangled, and perhaps feelings would rekindle. And although Su Yingran said it wouldn't be publicized, it would obviously attract the attention of gossip reporters. Then, with prolonged hype from the entertainment and business circles, neither family nor friends would easily agree to their divorce. This subtle, roundabout tactic was the beautiful Ms. Su's specialty, who liked to play innocent. Remembering how she had fallen into her trap once before, this time she was even more certain of her intentions. But, as smart as Gong Youqi was, didn't he understand the logic she had figured out? However, this man's guilt towards Su Yingran was too deep; he would surely act on it even if he knew, doing it reluctantly. Then, when the beautiful Ms. Su, with teary eyes, begged, "Let's not divorce, okay?", would he soften and say "Okay" with a bowed head?
Yu Xi felt a subtle stirring in her heart. Staring at this soft-hearted man, she felt an inexplicable pang of pity. Gong Youqi didn't expect her to think so much. He only tightened his arm, smiling as he promised: "In three months, I will solve all difficulties."
"Do you two think marriage is a game, that you can just get married and divorced whenever you want and be carefree?" She angrily struggled out of his embrace, but couldn't break free from his vice-like grip: "Gong Youqi, I didn't mean to stop your marriage, I could even offer my blessings. But I hate your childish approach. You can use your marriage as compensation for her, but can love also be used for transactions in the future?"
She was truly infuriated. If they truly still loved each other, she would applaud, throw flowers, and absolutely wouldn't intervene as a third party. But now she understood that he no longer loved Su Yingran, and yet he was going to sacrifice his marriage due to guilt, even if temporarily. She still couldn't come to terms with the sacrifice he was making for it.
"Xiao Xi, trust me." He cupped her face and looked at her gravely, his dark eyes like the boundless night sky, drawing her in irresistibly: "You and I won't miss out."
While she was dazed, a cunning glint flashed in Gong Youqi's eyes. He supported the back of her head to prevent her from resisting, lowered his head, and hit his target squarely.
His lips finally met hers as he wished, like parched land meeting long-awaited spring rain. The initial gentleness instantly turned into fierce demanding, invading her soft lips and then decisively prying open her pearly teeth, conquering all defenses unimpeded, then slowly savoring the moment. Throughout the process, Yu Xi had no room to resist. Her mind went blank for a few seconds before continuing to feel hazy, and she could only subconsciously respond.
She missed him too. Gong Youqi's heart swelled with joy. While continuing to gather sweetness, he imagined how much better it would be if they weren't on the street...
When her phone rang again, Yu Xi's face flushed as if waking from a dream. She frantically broke free from him and answered her phone.
"I'm coming... I rushed too quickly and accidentally fell... No need, no need, see you in a bit." She hung up, glanced at Gong Youqi, and without further explanation, adjusted her clothes and said softly: "I'm leaving first."
He tidied her disheveled hair, his eyes shining: "Our trust is strong enough to get us through this time, right?"
She stared at the ground for a few seconds, then said softly: "Who knows." She turned and left.
Gong Youqi watched her slender figure walk to the main street, then disappear into the crowd until she was out of sight. Only then did he clench his fists and murmur to himself, "I know. We can definitely do it."
In the past few days since he returned, he had worked several nights of overtime to clear the mountain of official duties at the company. Not contacting Yu Xi didn't mean he didn't care about her. Xinyue always had You Gang's informants, so he was always aware of her situation. He just wanted to settle things with Su Yingran first before going to her. He finally found the time to confess to Su Yingran.
Su Yingran listened calmly until he finished speaking, then said with difficulty: "We were wrong two years ago."
He didn't understand whether Su Yingran's "wrong" meant they shouldn't have met, or if they should have gone public back then. It was just that everything was irreversible now. His sense of guilt was extremely deep. If he hadn't impulsively confessed to her back then, perhaps she and Xue Han would be a happy couple now.
He thought Su Yingran would never forgive him, even if he said he was willing to compensate her as much as possible. So he didn't expect Su Yingran to come to him herself, much less that she would personally propose a three-month marriage.
After hearing Su Yingran's explanation, he couldn't refuse.
The Su family's trade business had been losing money for a quarter straight, and without a financial turnover, it likely wouldn't last much longer. And "Huan Tai" itself was actually falling apart internally, needing strong backing to dispel the ambitions of those family relatives and shareholders. Mrs. Su had also fallen ill because of this, but couldn't bear to ask her daughter to seek help through marriage. Even if they could raise money, those vying for the "Huan Tai" chairman position wouldn't give up, because only "Huan Tai" shareholders and family members had the right to interfere with the board of directors. Therefore, if Su Yingran wanted support, she could only find a husband to back her. There had already been many rumors during this period; it seemed many relatives and friends knew that she and Xue Han had dissolved their marriage, and those people, of course, wished for more chaos so they could profit from it.
She had run out of options but absolutely refused to seek help from Xue Han again. She had hurt Xue Han so deeply before, how could she put down her pride? And Gong Youqi's confession to her was an even heavier blow, but she finally had nowhere else to turn, using Gong Youqi's guilt to demand that wedding.
She wasn't without selfish motives. Yu Xi's analysis was also what she felt in her heart; giving up just like that was always unwilling, and she also wanted to fight for it again.
How could Gong Youqi not guess? But he had no standing to refuse. Aside from him, she couldn't find anyone else to turn to for help. And how could he bear to watch "Huan Tai" be destroyed in Su Yingran's hands, letting her bear the family's bad name?
Su Yingran asked him to keep the purpose of the marriage a secret, and he agreed, only hoping that this act could offset his deep apology to her.
Then, he and the woman who had already filled his heart and entered his dreams every night would have a new beginning.
His Xiao Xi.