Gu Zhiqi naturally felt the Feather Arrow flying toward her, but seeing Yun Yi take action, she didn’t move, merely casting her eyes down slightly, glancing at Yun Yi’s hand that held her wrist, with a hint of inquiry arising in her eyes.
She wasn’t quite comfortable with being touched by someone she was not familiar with, and she had met Yun Yi only twice. Logically, she should have instinctively rejected the contact, but somehow, she hadn’t.
So, had she and Yun Yi truly known each other before?
There was only one Feather Arrow, likely triggered by inadvertently stepping on a Mechanism just now.
After ushering Gu Zhiqi out of the way, Yun Yi released Gu Zhiqi’s hand, casually threw the Feather Arrow on the ground, and, turning back to Gu Zhiqi, said, "Be careful, it’s a Formation with traps. Follow my steps; I will lead you out of the Formation."
"You understand Formations?" Gu Zhiqi asked Yun Yi, starting with this question.
Upon hearing this, Yun Yi slightly lifted her eyebrows, her smile seductive and alluring, didn’t answer Gu Zhiqi’s question, but instead asked, "Have you seen your brother’s Formations? I’m just a bit more skilled than him."
After pondering for two seconds and thinking of something, she asked, "Brother? Su Yunling?"
Listening to Gu Zhiqi’s question, Yun Yi’s beautiful eyes narrowed slightly, "Oh? Do you have other brothers?"
"Not many, just one or two."
There were also Gu Huaijin and Gu Mengyang, two brothers who gave her pocket money.
Yun Yi’s eyes narrowed a touch at these words, the smile at the corner of her mouth slightly fading, "Which two?"
Gu Zhiqi did not answer Yun Yi’s question, but looked back at her with a weary expression, "Just the two brothers from the Gu Family, why? Are you checking the household register?"
Hearing Gu Zhiqi’s reply, Yun Yi’s brow creased imperceptibly, not quite satisfied with the response.
So, after all this time, does that child merely see him as a brother?
As she pondered this, a touch of schadenfreude crossed her mind.
Yun Yi clicked her tongue secretly, the corners of her mouth curving slightly, and with an intent gaze in her almond-shaped eyes, she asked Gu Zhiqi meaningfully, "So, you regard Su Yunling as a brother?"
Gu Zhiqi, having heard this, gently shook her head.
"Actually, I’d prefer him to be my well-behaved grandson."
A grandson who was wealthy, good-looking, with a pleasant voice and who made delicious mooncakes and cupcakes—she wouldn’t mind having a dozen.
Yun Yi looked at Gu Zhiqi with a slightly complex expression, feeling a little stifled while also filled with sympathy for Su Yunling.
For the rest of the journey, Yun Yi did not speak. This unusual silence made Gu Zhiqi couldn’t help but glance sideways at her.
About ten minutes of weaving through the Forest, the two followed the Thousand Paper Cranes to a large tree.
Once the Thousand Paper Cranes reached this spot, they stopped advancing. Gu Zhiqi, standing under the tree, beckoned the Thousand Paper Cranes gently toward her.
Quickly, the Thousand Paper Cranes returned to the palm of Gu Zhiqi’s hand.
"Here?" Yun Yi looked at the spot that had nothing but plants, soil, and stones and asked.
Gu Zhiqi nodded, handing the recalled Thousand Paper Cranes to Yun Yi.
"Hmm? What are you giving it to me for?" Seeing Gu Zhiqi passing the Thousand Paper Cranes to her, Yun Yi instinctively reached to take it, but before her hand touched the Thousand Paper Cranes, she stopped, fixing her gaze on Gu Zhiqi with a questioning look.
"Don’t you want a Thousand Paper Cranes?" Gu Zhiqi spoke in a nonchalant tone, maintaining the gesture of handing over the Thousand Paper Cranes.
Upon hearing this, Yun Yi’s eyes brightened, but soon that glimmer of excitement was replaced by suspicion, "For free, without paying?"
Gu Zhiqi: "...As payment for guiding the way."
Damn it, who let slip that she loved money?