Free Web NovelChapter 1045: Chapter 22: Gu Yan, Brother, Do You Maybe Like Me Just a Little?
It was nearly half past midnight when she returned to the apartment.
Nie Xiaoxing went straight back to her room without turning on the light, leaning her back against the door, and gently caressing her lips with her hand.
It was as if she could still feel the force, the warmth, of his lips on hers.
His lips were also soft and warm, yet when he kissed her, he was so forceful, as if he wanted to swallow her whole.
She was panicked, and even... her heart raced!
Just the mere memory made Nie Xiaoxing feel as if her cheeks were on fire, the heat searing directly into her heart, leaving her at a loss.
Buzz buzz—
The phone vibrated in her palm.
The fingertips that had been caressing her lips trembled slightly. She took a deep breath and picked up the phone.
The light from the flashing phone screen was reflected on Nie Xiaoxing’s face, making her face blush beautifully, and her bright eyes twinkled gently along with the light.
She bit her lower lip lightly with her pearly teeth.
Nie Xiaoxing brought the phone to her ear and held her breath slightly.
"Little Xing’er, have you arrived?" The man’s slightly hoarse magnetic voice brushed into her ear, softly sweeping through her cochlea like a feather.
The blush on Nie Xiaoxing’s cheeks deepened, and she pinched her thigh secretly, her voice steady, "Mm."
"Arrived? Then why is the light in your room still off? Are you lying to me?" Gu Yan scoffed.
Nie Xiaoxing, "..."
She quickly walked to the window, drawing the curtain to look down.
She saw that the young master had parked the car by the back door of the apartment, looking up and waving his phone at her dashingly, then placed the phone to his ear and said, "Can you see me?"
"...I see you." Nie Xiaoxing placed her hand on the windowpane, watching him intently, "Why aren’t you leaving yet?"
"I’ll leave once I know you’ve reached home safely." Gu Yan leaned against the car, looking up at Nie Xiaoxing as well, "It’s late, wash up and go to sleep."
A trace of sweetness swept over Nie Xiaoxing’s heart, her lips curling up uncontrollably, "You should go back now."
"I know, stop nagging!" Gu Yan grumbled softly.
Nie Xiaoxing smirked, "I’m going to take a shower."
"...What are you telling me for? Trying to seduce me?"
Nie Xiaoxing could still hear the sound of Gu Yan grinding his teeth through the phone.
Nie Xiaoxing laughed silently, "Gu Yan, you really are an incorrigible rogue!"
After speaking, Nie Xiaoxing hung up the phone.
But she didn’t leave the window, looking down at the young master.
The young master lowered his head for a few seconds, then looked up at the window again, waving at Nie Xiaoxing before turning around, opening the car door, and getting in.
Nie Xiaoxing opened the window, letting in the summer breeze, thick with warmth, making everything, including her heart, feel hot and humid.
Nie Xiaoxing leaned her head out the window, placing her hands on the windowsill, resting her chin on the back of her hands, watching as Gu Yan’s car slowly started, then sped away like a rocket.
Nie Xiaoxing’s clear eyes watched the direction in which Gu Yan drove away, murmuring to herself: Gu Yan brother, is it possible you have a bit of affection for me?
Otherwise.
Nie Xiaoxing couldn’t find a reason, couldn’t find a reason for his kiss, couldn’t find a reason for his irritation when Lu Zhiquan showed her kindness and confessed to her, couldn’t find... a reason for him suddenly changing his mind and agreeing to get a certificate with her!
But.
Nie Xiaoxing knew the answer in her heart.
If he truly changed his mind because of affection, even if it’s just a slight fondness.
Then, she was... willing!
So... is that the case?
...
Nie Xiaoxing slept very late that night, barely falling asleep around four in the morning.
But after she fell asleep, she was plagued by continuous nightmares.
Waking from a nightmare at six in the morning, Nie Xiaoxing didn’t go back to sleep, instead, she got up and went to the bathroom.
Standing in the shower, Nie Xiaoxing turned the water temperature up quite high, standing bare under the spray, allowing the somewhat scalding water to stream from head to toe.
Her skin felt like it was about to blister, yet her heart felt as cold and hard as a block of ice.
Suddenly.
Nie Xiaoxing crouched down, wrapping her thin arms tightly around her knees, her entire body shaking violently, as if she were freezing.
The wet hair veiled her small face, and apart from the trembling lashes, her features were hardly discernible.
Amidst the sound of running water.
The tremulous voice of the girl could vaguely be heard.
"I’m sorry, I can’t help you, I’m sorry, I failed you..."
...
At eight o’clock, Nie Xiaoxing came out of the room fully dressed. Except for slightly bloodshot eyes, her face was colder, but otherwise she looked no different from usual.
"Xiao Xing, Mom has made breakfast, come have breakfast." Fu Ruyi’s voice was full of joy.
Nie Xiaoxing glanced up, looked indifferently at Fu Ruyi and Nie Fangsheng, who were already seated at the dining table, and said, "I’m not hungry, you can eat."
Nie Xiaoxing walked to the sofa, picked up the backpack lying on it, and was about to head for the door.
"Xiao Xing." Fu Ruyi put down the small bowl of porridge and quickly walked over, taking Nie Xiaoxing’s hand.
Nie Xiaoxing’s hands were cold all year round, her palm suddenly chilled, Fu Ruyi paused for a moment, but casually held tighter, looking at her with concern, "Are you feeling unwell?"
Nie Xiaoxing lowered her eyelashes and pulled her hand out from Fu Ruyi’s grasp, "I’m fine."
Nie Xiaoxing said, then moved toward the door again.
"Xiao Xing."
Fu Ruyi pulled Nie Xiaoxing back again.
Nie Xiaoxing stopped, her pale forehead slightly wrinkled, and looked up at Fu Ruyi.
Only then did Fu Ruyi notice the bloodshot eyes, and she let out a quiet breath, "Didn’t sleep well last night?"
Fu Ruyi reached out to feel Nie Xiaoxing’s forehead, then felt her own, pressing her lips, "Your temperature is normal."
"Is there something wrong? If not, I’m heading out," Nie Xiaoxing said, her eyes remaining calm as she looked at Fu Ruyi.
Fu Ruyi gazed at Nie Xiaoxing, "Xiao Xing, today is the day you and Gu Yan are getting your marriage certificate, didn’t forget, right?"
Nie Xiaoxing quietly stared at Fu Ruyi, not uttering a sound.
"... Your Aunt Yuan just called, saying Gu Yan will come to pick you up soon to go to the civil affairs bureau." Fu Ruyi’s smile grew wider.
Nie Xiaoxing saw it, but her brow furrowed more tightly; she gently swept away Fu Ruyi’s hand, "I know."
Nie Xiaoxing walked toward the door.
Fu Ruyi clasped her hands tightly, joy overflowing from her eyes, "Xiao Xing, after breakfast, your dad and I will go to Aunt Yuan’s. Once you’ve got the certificate with Gu Yan, come over, okay?"
Nie Xiaoxing changed her shoes at the entryway, saying nothing.
Knowing Nie Xiaoxing’s character, Fu Ruyi felt something was amiss when she remained silent, but she smiled as she went back to the table to continue serving porridge, "Once this certificate is done, the heavy stone weighing on my heart can be completely lifted."
Nie Xiaoxing changed her shoes and left the house without any hesitation.
...
Downstairs, Nie Xiaoxing walked to the flower bed outside the apartment building, waiting for Gu Yan.
After half an hour passed, Gu Yan hadn’t arrived.
Nie Xiaoxing tightened her lips, took her phone out from the bag, opened it, and scrolled to the contact list, with Gu Yan’s name at the top.
Without hesitation, Nie Xiaoxing’s finger pressed down, dialing the number.
Two to three seconds later.
The call connected, and Nie Xiaoxing held her breath.
The mechanical female voice coming from the phone made Nie Xiaoxing’s heart sink instantly.
"Sorry, the number you dialed is switched off, please try again later..."
Nie Xiaoxing’s black eyes flickered a few times, as she took the phone away from her ear.
Her hands unconsciously gripped the phone, lightly pushing at the phone case.
After more than ten minutes, Nie Xiaoxing picked up the phone again, her eyes fixed on Gu Yan’s number on the phone screen; when she dialed again, it was not as decisive as before.
She hesitated for more than ten seconds before pressing her finger down.
"Sorry, the number you dialed is switched off, please try again later..."
Nie Xiaoxing couldn’t help but go pale as she removed the phone from her ear.
She stood up from the flower bed and stared blankly at the entrance to the apartment building.
Another hour passed.
Nie Xiaoxing raised her phone; this time, she took three minutes to dial Gu Yan’s number again.
Slowly she placed the phone to her ear.
A few seconds later.
Nie Xiaoxing’s eyes welled with tears.
Gradually, her eyes reddened, while her face quickly turned pale.
"Sorry, the number you dialed is switched off, please try again later..."
Nie Xiaoxing took a deep breath, before the icy threads can completely envelop her heart, she pressed her pale lips tightly, decisively removed the phone from her ear, tucked it back in her bag, and strode towards the apartment building exit.
