Run, feet trembling beneath...
Qiu Xue, in her performance high heels, limped into the crowd, urgently seeking a figure—Gu Tong!
All the doubts pressed against her chest, making even breathing difficult for her.
She must never find out; it had become her sole conviction.
Not knowing how far she had gone, Qiu Xue finally saw the familiar silhouette leaning under the birch tree. The cascade of black hair, the graceful figure—just from the back, Qiu Xue could recognize her.
A clear, hurried voice echoed, with the ’click-clack’ of high heels resonating behind Gu Tong.
No matter what, Gu Tong would recognize Qiu Xue’s voice. She didn’t need to turn around to know who it was. Leaning lazily against the birch tree, she seemed to be napping.
"Gu Tong, how come you’re sleeping here..." Qiu Xue forcefully controlled the rise and fall of her chest, trying to maintain composure.
She knew very well that she must not let Gu Tong notice anything strange; otherwise, everything would be for naught.
Gu Tong opened her eyes, seemingly startled. She turned back to look at Qiu Xue and said with lingering fear, "Even when I’m napping, you catch me. You’re incredible..."
A tone that was amiable and friendly, the kind of playful reproach one would expect from close friends, without any change in demeanor.
This slightly calmed Qiu Xue’s initially trembling heart, and she said, "I’ve been looking for you in the auditorium for ages. Never thought you’d slip away here..."
In a way, she was indirectly asking a question, wanting to know why Gu Tong wasn’t in the auditorium. However, she couldn’t make the inquiry too obvious, lest it cause trouble.
"You know I have no artistic sensibility and can’t understand that highbrow stuff. Staying inside makes me drowsy, so I came out for a stroll."
Gu Tong stretched with a roguish air and said, "Ended up finding this sunlit spot, the perfect place for a nap."
Qiu Xue chuckled at Gu Tong’s playful demeanor and said, "Gu Tong, you’re just the same as always, utterly charming and unchanged."
Beneath the surface of her affection-laden words, she continued to speculate internally.
Unsure of Gu Tong’s attitude and uncertain if it was all an act, she said, "I thought Auntie Feng came, and you went out to accompany her, but didn’t expect you’d sneak off here."
"Auntie came by? When did that happen?" Gu Tong raised her eyebrows, clearly surprised.
"Yeah, came to cast roles and even took a young girl from the troupe. Gu Tong, didn’t you know?" Qiu Xue finally voiced this question, which she longed to ask the most.
Though Gu Tong’s demeanor was normal and flawless, without any slip, Qiu Xue’s heart remained uneasy. This might be what they call a guilty conscience, fearing she’d discover anything amiss.
"My aunt’s always running around, who knows about her. Maybe she came for business and just took someone along by chance, killing two birds with one stone." Gu Tong joked without further explanation.
She knew that Feng Sixiu’s appearance would surely raise Qiu Xue’s suspicions and test her, as was expected. But Gu Tong had already thought of a way to deal with it, deciding not to overreact. Only this reasoned attitude could entirely dispel Qiu Xue’s concerns.
After all, they had known each other for many years and understood each other well.