She smelled a strong scent of alcohol on him, was he drinking again?
He has a stomach condition, how can he not know to limit himself?
Gu Qili found it odd that, while being held by him, her first instinct was to worry about his health, without feeling that their current posture was too intimate.
She had just taken a bath, carrying a faint fragrance of lavender, which mingled with the scent of alcohol on him to form a unique aroma, intoxicating to smell.
He just held her tightly, as if to embed her into his flesh and blood. Through the fabric of their clothes, she could hear his powerful heartbeat, like a particularly strong hand, thumping against her heart.
Gu Qili’s hands, which had been hanging by her side, slowly lifted, as if after a long hesitation, she uncurled her fingers, first touching the placket of his shirt, then his firm muscles, before finally clinging tightly to his waistline.
The room was so quiet that not a single sound could be heard, time seemed to stop in its tracks; in this moment, her mind was a blank slate.
After a while, she suddenly heard his repressed, magnetic voice swirling around her ear. He said, "Xiaoyu."
Her delicate body trembled, she lifted her eyes to look at him; the light was too dim, she could only see his pupils shining like brilliant stars. He was looking at her too, with a trace of indifferent coolness, and his hands that held her loosened.
Who is Xiaoyu? Who does he think she is?
"I’ve drunk too much." With that sentence, he pushed her to a distance beyond safety, with an invisible line between them, standing at opposing ends.
Gu Qili lowered her head, gently uttering an "Oh" and said, "Then I’ll go back to sleep now."
He did not respond, implicitly consenting.
Upon closing the door, Gu Qili felt drained of all strength, slowly squatting down on the carpet, hugging her knees, her eyes filled with panic and confusion.
What should she do? Why did she care so much about this Xiaoyu? Who is she, the woman Mu Shuoqian is fond of?
What similarities does she share with her, that made Mu Shuoqian mistake her for Xiaoyu?
That night, Gu Qili suffered from insomnia.
The following day was another rainy one, with the smell of dampness all around, and the low air pressure making it feel oppressive. She usually liked rainy days, but today was exceptionally irritating.
Yuan Yi appeared at her doorstep early in the morning, eagerly inviting her to join him on the pretext of having errands to run, since it was on the way.
Naturally, Gu Qili did not truly believe it was on the way; without Mu Shuoqian’s permission, he would not allow anyone to ride in his most beloved Maybach.
Ever since that night when Guan Zhe dragged her into the grove, Yuan Yi has been picking her up and dropping her off daily using various "on the way" excuses. Gu Qili of course knew whose orders he was following. Since he wouldn’t say, she also wouldn’t point it out, feigning ignorance and enjoying the convenience of a private chauffeur service.
Almost at the school, Gu Qili finally couldn’t resist the questions bubbling inside her: "Yuan Bro, can I ask you something?"
Yuan Yi was several years her senior; out of respect, it wasn’t appropriate for her to call him by his name directly.
This address of "Bro" made Yuan Yi slam on the brakes as if they were the accelerator, almost crashing into the landscaping. It took him a while to steady the car, and he glanced at the rearview mirror somewhat helplessly. Gu Qili rested her hands on her knees, her face full of worries. Her pitiful look instantly filled him with compassion.
She was always so lively and cheerful.
"Madam, please just speak your mind," he said.
Gu Qili lifted her clear, black and white eyes, leaning forward, her hands gripping the back seat, probably feeling embarrassed to ask. After thinking for a bit, she asked in a low voice, "Who is Xiaoyu?"