Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
“What did you come downstairs for? It’s already so late, but you still haven’t slept.” Huo Shaoheng quietly said this with a softly admonishing tone. Straightening his body, he smoothly threw the cigarette butt in into a garbage can nearby. He turned around. “Go back inside, I’m leaving now.”
He waved at her with his back turned.
Gu Nianzhi stood motionless on the steps of the dorm building, her hands inside her coat pockets. She watched Huo Shaoheng quietly, just like that.
Under the street lamps, Huo Shaoheng’s features didn’t have the same iron-blooded masculinity that soaked him to the bone during the daytime. His entire person was softened by the dim yellow streetlamps, leaving only an incredibly handsome face that fascinated people at first glance.
Years before, as soon as he raised his hand or walked, it would’ve been enough to make her lovesick to the bone.
He’d once been her “male god”…
She’d forcibly changed him from her “male god” into “her man.” And now, less than a year later, they were nearly strangers.
After their break up, she had finally been awakened from a state of deep, obsessive love.
When she recalled her past foolish, lovesick behavior, she wasn’t embarrassed or ashamed.
The truth was, she still missed the days when she could completely lose herself and focus on being lovesick.
At that time, life had been much simpler.
The happiest thing she experienced every day was waking up to see Huo Shaoheng in the morning. Even if it meant that she would be urged to do morning exercises as soon as she saw him…
Unfortunately, everyone had to grow up eventually.
Huo Shaoheng opened the car door and got inside. He fastened his seatbelt, started the car, and prepared to leave. But from the corner of his eye, he could still spy Gu Nianzhi standing on the steps and looking at him.
She only wore a thin coat and hadn’t even changed the shoes on her feet. She was wearing the furry slippers that she wore in her room.
Although they appeared warm, they weren’t insulated at all when worn outside.
Huo Shaoheng pursed his lips and finally shut off the car. He removed the key.
Getting out of the car, he strode towards Gu Nianzhi and grabbed her by the arm. “Let’s go, I’ll walk you upstairs.”
He was so strong that Gu Nianzhi couldn’t push him away even after trying a few times.
She was dragged the entire way, being half supported and half carried into the elevator.
Gu Niaznhi composed herself and was unhappy. “…Don’t be like this. Did I agree to let you come upstairs? You only talk to yourself, so I shouldn’t have been soft-hearted towards you..”
Huo Shaoheng looked down at her, his eyes so dark they appeared bottomless. “You were being soft-hearted towards me? Why didn’t I notice?”
“…Fine then, I haven’t been soft-hearted.” Gu Nianzhi stubbornly turned away. “I must be so nosy for running downstairs in the middle of the night.”
Huo Shaoheng rubbed her head and didn’t say anything more. He walked her all the way to the door of her dorm room and watched her take out her keys to open the door. He went inside with her and closed the door behind him.
The living room lights weren’t on, but there was a bit of the streetlamp’s glow coming in from Gu Nianzhi’s room where she’d left the door ajar.
After passing through the multiple filters, the light was so faint it was barely there. Only a layer of dim yellow-shadow vaguely allowed them to see the furniture in the room.
“I’m leaving. Last time I told you that I can’t see you again until after your lawsuit concludes, but I had no choice but to come over to take a look today because of Ye Xuan’s incident. You’ll have to depend on yourself from now on.” Huo Shaoheng patted her head and stood there with no intention of stepping forward.
Behind him was the door. Although it was already shut, he kept his hand on the handle so he could open it at any time.
Was it because he wouldn’t be able to see her again for some time after they separated that he’d refused to leave earlier?
Gu Nianzhi couldn’t help imagining things, but she also felt that Huo Shaoheng wasn’t a sentimental or romantic person like that.
It was more likely that he hadn’t left because he didn’t have anything to do when he got home anyway, so he’d decided to stay back and think about things…
Of course, Gu Nianzhi thought that this possibility was very small.
It was such a cold day after all. Who would be willing to think about things outside?
At that moment, she couldn’t figure out Huo Shaoheng’s thoughts.
Huo Shaoheng took her hand to squeeze it, interlocking their fingers. Gu Nianzhi could feel that his hand was very cold like a block of ice.
This was the result of smoking outside in the winter.
“Just wait…” As Gu Nianzhi said this, she hurriedly went to her room to bring out a pair of cashmere-lined leather gloves she had bought in the past. “Put these on so your hands won’t get cold when you smoke outside.”
Huo Shaoheng accepted them and smiled. “I thought you’d persuade me to quit smoking.”
Gu Nianzhi frowned. “That’s your personal hobby. I won’t interfere.”
Unless he wanted to quit smoking himself, people would only earn his ire if they spoke too much about it.
Gu Nianzhi looked at the pair of gloves Huo Shaoheng was wearing and felt that he appeared even more handsome. She was very pleased with her taste.
When she’d purchased these gloves, she’d planned to give them to Huo Shaoheng for Christmas…
But now there was no need to give them to him.
“Hurry up and go to bed. Don’t work overnight anymore.” Huo Shaoheng didn’t know about these little thoughts swirling inside Gu Nianzhi’s head a hundred times, so he lifted a gloved hand toward her. “Aren’t you going to give me a goodbye kiss?”
Gu Nianzhi couldn’t respond.
“If you won’t give it to me, then I’ll give it.” Huo Shaoheng smiled as he said this, his voice seeming to emanate from his chest. It carried a pleasant ending note as he subtly bent down to slowly press towards Gu Nainzhi’s lips.
Because he was worried about Gu Nianzhi’s disgust, Huo Shaoheng didn’t kiss her deeply as he had before. He kissed her lightly, his lips gently sweeping over her lips and stopping for a second before reluctantly turning twice and retreating.
Short as it was, Gu Nianzhi had been so intoxicated by the kiss that she almost couldn’t catch her breath.
It was an intersection of lips against lips. It was like a gentle breeze blowing over the lake’s surface as it begins to thaw in early spring. There was still the coolness of ice, but it created faint ripples. It was also like newly grown willow branches hanging down and gently brushing against the lake’s surface, ever so gently. It was firm but not forceful.
It had only been a split second long, gentle kiss. Even so, Gu Nianzhi felt a bit dizzy.
She didn’t know why, but this faint kiss had shocked her more than the previous more passionate kisses. She couldn’t help trembling from the bottom of her heart. Even her legs started to turn to jelly.
This kind of kiss gave her a warm feeling of being treasured. She felt important and loved like she was something precious.
She was still feeling a bit dizzy when she inclined her head to look up at Huo Shaoheng.
This was the first time she’d looked at him so emotionally since she’d returned from Germany.
When Huo Shaoheng noticed the altered mood Gu Nianzhi was exhibiting, his heart trembled slightly.
Her glazed eyes were flickering with allure at him. Her plump and lusciously curvy lips were pouting slightly. She was still posed in a position that was suitable for kissing.
He couldn’t help but want to deepen this kiss. However, when he saw Gu Nianzhi’s flushed cheeks and recalled her lack of sleep, he curbed himself.
He only looked down to press his forehead against hers. “Hurry up and go to sleep. You can barely keep your eyes open.”
Gu Niaznhi agreed obediently and looked up at Huo Shaoheng’s lips. She wanted even more but stopped herself when she recalled the beauty of that faint kiss they’d just shared.
How could she bear to destroy such a beautiful memory?
Huo Shaoheng read her mind and slowly reached out to embrace her. He snuggled against her and said quietly, “…Want more? Hmm?”
