Ais’s last words were unclear and easily misunderstood.
But he had done it on purpose.
Gu Yao seemed to have also caught some of the meaning behind Ais’s words, and instantly felt a surge of anxiety within her.
He wouldn’t have feelings for her...
For the amnesiac Gu Yao, she was still a girl who hadn’t even held hands with a boy, and although she had been bold in pursuing Shangguan Yu before, in reality, she had no idea how to handle a relationship.
Confronted with this sudden situation, Gu Yao didn’t feel any joy or pride in being liked by someone else; all she felt was embarrassment and fear.
Why fear? Because she was afraid she might hurt him, just as Shangguan Yu had hurt her.
She didn’t want anyone else to suffer the pain of a heart being stabbed by a knife because of her.
"I, I have something else to do, I should go now."
She didn’t know how to reject someone, especially after experiencing her own romantic failure, which had led her to develop a fear of all kinds of romantic involvement, completely devoid of the happiness and anticipation others might have towards love.
She simply wanted to flee on instinct.
"Gu Yao," Ais called out to her as she was about to leave. ᴛʜɪs ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʙʏ novel{f}ire.net
Out of politeness and upbringing, Gu Yao stopped in her tracks, yet she did not turn around.
"Gu Yao, if, and I’m just saying if, I want you to stay, could you not leave?" Ais said, watching Gu Yao’s retreating back.
Gu Yao’s hands nervously clutched the bag she was holding.
"I, I’ve already booked my flight, and my luggage is packed, I... Take care."
Gu Yao didn’t want to prolong her stay any further; after saying this, she quickly left.
Yet she couldn’t help but glance again in the direction Shangguan Yu had left...
Shangguan Yu, how I wish the person asking me to stay were you.
Ais felt so annoyed he was tempted to kick the car next to him, but ultimately, he controlled himself and retracted his foot, internally seething.
"Boss, did they have a fight?" asked a voice.
Standing by the window on the second floor of the mall opposite them were two figures.
The aide-de-camp, watching the vexed Ais, ventured uncertainly.
Next to him, Shangguan Yu remained silent, his gaze fixed on Gu Yao as she hurried away, until her figure disappeared from view.
At night, Gu Yao lay in bed restless, glancing at her phone from time to time.
Watching time slip away, she eventually sat up and got out of bed.
Throwing on a casual jacket, she left her room and wandered around her home, looking at the place she had lived for over twenty years, feeling an immense reluctance to leave.
If possible, she did not want to leave her parents and family to go to a completely unfamiliar place alone.
Climbing a few stairs, Gu Yao entered a pavilion beside the artificial lake.
As she sat down on the stone bench inside, she stared blankly at the water’s surface.
The thought of leaving in just a few hours filled Gu Yao with an indescribable discomfort.
Remembering Ais’s words from a few hours ago about not leaving, she felt even more irritated.
"Yaoyao?" a pleasant voice called out.
Turning her head, Gu Yao looked at the approaching figure and stood up, calling out, "Big brother."
"Why are you sitting here?" Gu Li entered the pavilion and reached to turn the light on.
"It’s pitch-dark without the light," he commented.
"I couldn’t sleep, so I decided to take a walk," she replied.
Seeing that Gu Yao was upset, Gu Li smiled and said, "Then big brother will keep you company for a while."
As he spoke, Gu Li sat down beside her.
"Okay," Gu Yao smiled back and sat down alongside him.