Chapter 18. Eye Scale's cold eyes locked onto her amidst the still life. ...
Liang Yizhi was stunned.
Under the moonlight, she looked up at him and could see a simple, bright moon hanging in the night sky behind him.
Without nebulae as companions, without sharp hooks, it simply blends into the night background. Dimly lit, it's as hazy as viewing flowers through mist.
In an instant, Liang Yizhi's mind flashed through all her interactions and time with Gu Yinyan over the past few days. She was trying to recall if she had done anything to make him think about her, or even to make him feel upset.
Like a focus shift in a movie, the moon gradually blurred, and Gu Yinyan's face slowly became clearer.
My gaze fell on the ends of his dark hair, and then down to his pitch-black pupils.
Gu Yinyan's eyes were bright. Even in such a dark environment, they seemed to have been soaked in lake water, gleaming with a cold luster.
That reminded Liang Yizhi of a certain animal.
Long ago, she had read in a book that snakes' eyes are covered with a layer of transparent scales. They do not have eyelids, so they can only rely on this thin barrier to protect themselves from external impurities.
Protected by the eye scales, their eyes appear even colder and clearer.
Snakes generally have poor eyesight and are not sensitive to stationary objects, but they are extremely aware of the trajectory of moving objects. They can use their pit organs to sense the surrounding heat and pinpoint their location precisely.
So when it stares intently at you, it always sends chills down your spine; its shrewd gaze seems to be plotting something.
This strange association made Liang Yizhi feel inexplicably flustered.
Those eyes remained focused on her face as he asked, "What are you thinking about?"
Liang Yizhi stammered, “I miss you… uh, I mean I’m thinking about us… Have I done anything wrong lately?”
What is she saying?
Gu Yinyan looked away, relieved from the sharp gaze, and suddenly felt a little lighter in her heart.
Gu Yinyan brushed it off casually: "I was thinking, I'm going home now, are you sure you want to keep following me?"
The illusion vanished instantly, and Gu Yinyan returned to his usual self.
He left her behind and walked on by himself.
Liang Yizhi breathed a sigh of relief.
Why are you saying things that are hard to understand? You made her nervous for nothing.
Liang Yizhi always felt that she and Gu Yinyan were perhaps too familiar with each other, so much so that when she said something ambiguous to him or did something that was not in line with their relationship, it would always give her an indescribable feeling.
She glanced at the moon in the distance again.
It still had that same somber hue.
Not far ahead was the Gu family's house. The villa was dark, and it was obvious without even looking that it was deserted.
She quickened her pace to catch up: "You're going home already? Aren't you going to say goodbye to my parents?"
"Isn't it you I have?"
Gu Yinyan arrived at the gate and pushed open the iron gate.
Liang Yizhi followed him inside, and Gu Yinyan didn't say much.
After opening the door, Gu Yinyan turned on the switch, and the entire villa instantly lit up.
The living room was lavishly decorated, with a crystal chandelier overhead and neatly arranged wall lamps that stung Liang Yizhi's eyes.
She narrowed her eyes slightly: "This must be the gleam of money..."
The entire living room is decorated in an old-money style, with brown leather sofas with brass rivets, dark walnut solid wood furniture, and antique artworks, all exuding understated luxury.
In Liang Yizhi's eyes, the Gu family home was like a magnificent museum. The living room, courtyard, and corridors were filled with objects that exuded the smell of money, so much so that even a thief wouldn't know where to start.
But there wasn't a single thing related to people.
There are no family photos, no plants that need careful care, and no trinkets left outside that were forgotten to be brought back inside.
Every item was meticulously placed in its original spot, unmoving, devoid of any human touch.
Unlike Liang Yizhi's home, which is filled with photos, handmade decorations of modest value, a chessboard with unfinished games, and a black and white piano that is wiped clean every day.
In comparison, this place is so deserted.
She asked Gu Yinyan, "Even the nanny isn't here? Don't your parents know you're coming back?"
“I didn’t say,” Gu Yinyan replied. “Anyway, I’ll only be here for a few days before leaving.”
He then asked, "Or do you want to see them?"
Liang Yizhi shook her head like a rattle: "I think I need to make an appointment to see them, so I'll reschedule for another day."
Gu Yinyan's parents put too much pressure on her, and she didn't really like seeing them.
She recalled the first day she met Gu Yinyan's parents; she had come to the Gu family home as a guest with her father.
Across from them, Gu Yinyan's parents sat upright, one like a principal and the other like a dean of students. Liang Yizhi, sitting opposite them, felt like a student undergoing an on-site assessment.
This is completely contrary to her father's approachable image.
Liang Yizhi didn't stay at Gu Yinyan's house for long before going home.
On her first night back home, she slept soundly and comfortably, as if she had sunk into a custom-made, soft bed that fit her body perfectly.
However, this comfort did not last long.
When Liang Yizhi woke up, she felt a slight discomfort in her throat, which was dry and sore.
She sat up and realized that the window had been left open all night, and a chilly wind was seeping in through the cracks, which explained why she was so cold.
Liang Yizhi got up, poured herself a glass of water, and went to close the window.
It's just past six in the morning; the sun is up, and the warmth hasn't yet spread. Outside, the crisp chirping of birds fills the air, one call after another.
After admiring the scenery for a few minutes, Liang Yizhi spotted a familiar figure in her field of vision.
Gu Yinyan was jogging downstairs in the morning.
He was wearing a windbreaker with the collar turned up, paired with athletic shorts that revealed his lean and muscular calves.
The Achilles tendon is very long, and the shape and muscle lines of the back of the calf are extremely smooth, giving it a natural healthy beauty.
He passed by her house.
Gu Yinyan ran fast, and Liang Yizhi hurriedly stood at the window and waved to him, but didn't want to call out to him and disturb her parents.
Just when she thought Gu Yinyan was about to miss her, the man downstairs slowed down.
He took two steps to slow down, turned around and walked backwards, took off one of his Bluetooth earphones, and looked up at the windowsill.
His bangs were slightly messy, and his stray hairs were damp with sweat. Gu Yinyan looked as refreshing as the morning air, and his whole body was still a little cool with a hint of dampness.
Liang Yizhi was rather frivolous. She had just gotten up, hadn't combed her hair, and had a lot of it, so her head was all frizzy and sticky, like a golden lion.
She hurriedly put down the cup, picked up her phone, typed a few words, and mouthed to the person downstairs to check the message.
Gu Yinyan narrowed his eyes and took out his phone to look at it.
Good morning, Young Master Gu!
[If you're going that way, could you please bring me a jianbing guozi (Chinese crepe) with an egg and sausage?]
Gu Yinyan lowered his head and did not reply to her.
Liang Yizhi's finger was still tapping on the screen:
Don't ring the doorbell when you come; sending a text message is best, then I'll open the door for you!
【I am extremely grateful!】
She sent out four exclamation marks in a row. When she looked up again, Gu Yinyan had already put away his phone and continued his morning run.
The slender figure in her field of vision gradually shrank, and Liang Yizhi didn't know whether he would bring it to her or not.
Her throat was dry and sore, and she couldn't sleep well even after lying in bed for a while, so she simply washed up and went downstairs.
Liang Yizhi rummaged through the kitchen, trying to find something to fill her stomach.
They had only found half of it when the doorbell rang urgently.
Liang Yizhi's heart skipped a beat, and she quickly ran to open the door for the person.
Gu Yinyan was still dressed in the same neat outfit, standing outside the door carrying a large bag of things.
"Don't ring the doorbell, my parents aren't up yet." Liang Yizhi pulled him in; it seemed he hadn't seen the two messages she sent later.
The first thing she noticed when she entered was his hand. She smelled that familiar scent and tried to check through the plastic bag to see if it was what she wanted.
Gu Yinyan gave her the things.
“This is it,” Liang Yizhi said contentedly, “It’s the taste of this uncle.”
She made a startling remark, which Gu Yinyan scoffed at, saying, "Can you please stop talking nonsense?"
Ignoring everything else, Liang Yizhi placed the bags on the living room table, saying, "I was worried you'd bought the wrong thing."
“You won’t buy the wrong one,” Gu Yinyan said. “Just find the dirtiest stall outside.”
Liang Yizhi was speechless: "...I'm going to report you to the uncle!"
Her favorite breakfast is the jianbing guozi sold by the uncle with the cart at the entrance of the community. When she was in school, she would try it and buy it to share with her friends.
Later, after eating there once, Liang Yizhi had abdominal pain and diarrhea. Her mother believed it was caused by the unsanitary stall and forbade her from buying from it again. After that, she rarely ate there anymore.
The parents upstairs were also woken up by the doorbell. The mother came downstairs and asked, "Who is it?"
"Mom, it's Gu Yinyan. He brought us breakfast."
Liang Yizhi hid the pancakes in several other bags, trying to take advantage of the situation.
Mother Liang exclaimed in surprise, "Yinyan, so early?"
Leung Yik-chi: "He is a robot, he has a programmed sequence, he is different from us."
Gu Yinyan glanced at him sideways.
Mother Liang stepped forward; the bag contained steamed buns, dumplings, soy milk, and fried dough sticks—everything one could want.
"So much delicious food? Yinyan, you've gone to so much trouble."
Gu Yinyan: "It's no trouble for Auntie, it's mainly to buy for Liang Yizhi—"
"Mom! The weather's nice today... Gu Yinyan and I are going out for a walk to get some exercise." Liang Yizhi nudged Gu Yinyan with her elbow, hitting him right in the ribs, and he groaned.
Liang Yizhi, carrying the stolen goods, grabbed Gu Yinyan and hurriedly fled the scene.
Once outdoors, Liang Yizhi felt a great sense of relief and said to Gu Yinyan, "Don't try to frame me."
The morning air was damp, and the wind was chilly. Liang Yizhi went out in her pajamas, eating small bites of pancake on the way.
Gu Yinyan followed beside her.
The houses are spaced far apart, the road is straight, and the rising sun shines at the end.
Bathed in sunlight, the scene seemed to transport viewers back in time, transforming the girl in pajamas into a high school girl with a high ponytail and wearing a school uniform.
Many years ago, Gu Yinyan did the same, following half a meter behind her. He watched her walk ahead, holding a pancake in her hand, and slowed his pace to accompany her so they could finish eating before entering the school gate.
Behind her rounded head, her long, pointed ponytail swayed lightly with her steps, like leaves trembling in the wind, occasionally slipping into her school uniform collar and resting on her fair and slender nape.
The ends of her hair trembled, poking at the back of her neck, looking both itchy and unbearable.
He longed to reach out and part the fabric to reveal her soft, white skin.
He had wanted to do that for a long time.
Gu Yinyan took two steps to catch up with the person in front of him, reached out and placed his hand close to the back of her neck.
Just as his fingers touched her skin, a breeze swept by, causing Liang Yizhi's hair to curl in the wind, with a few strands winding around his slender fingers.
It slipped through my fingers again.
Gu Yinyan's palm was cupped there.
Then.
He patted Liang Yizhi on the back of the head.
"Hey..." Liang Yizhi, who was eating a pancake, was caught off guard by the attack. She touched her head and looked over angrily.
He appeared relaxed; his legs were long, his steps were quick, and his silhouette was dashing. He had already taken several steps ahead of her and walked ahead.
After being exposed to the wind when she went out in the morning, Liang Yizhi's throat discomfort worsened in the afternoon.
During lunch, her mother also told her, "Your dad and I are going on a trip the day after tomorrow. Will you be okay by yourself?"
Liang Yizhi asked in surprise, "Why didn't you tell me beforehand?"
"Anyway, you'll only be back for a few days. You'll probably have to go back soon after we leave," Liang's mother said dismissively. "Your dad has some rare free time lately, so if he doesn't take advantage of it, he won't have another chance to travel far."
Although Liang Yizhi was unhappy, she had no choice but to accept the fact.
Two days later, she saw her parents off.
Before parting, Liang Yizhi deliberately blew her nose repeatedly with a tissue, pretending to be sickly.
Mr. Liang was very worried: "Is it serious? Are you sure you can handle it? Should we not go?"
"No, let's go. It's a rare treat for the two of you. Have fun." Liang Yizhi waved her hand and sniffed as she spoke.
Even if she wasn't feeling particularly bad, she had to pretend that something terrible had happened so that her parents would keep worrying about her.
Mrs. Liang sighed, "Then remember to take your medicine on time, and if you feel unwell, you must go to the hospital."
They gave them repeated instructions before leaving.
Liang Yizhi went home, took her medicine, and started practicing the piano. She hadn't been feeling well these past few days and had been quite lethargic. She had slacked off several times, and sometimes she would end up practicing on the bed instead.
Liang Yizhi was determined to practice for at least two hours this afternoon before resting.
She calmed herself down. Although Liang Yizhi was mostly lively and active, when she was focused and entered a state of flow, she would not be easily disturbed by anyone.
Before she knew it, evening had fallen. Liang Yizhi's muscles ached all over. She looked up to stretch her neck and shoulders and saw that the sky outside the window had turned a gradient of blue and purple.
Liang Yizhi put the piano away and placed it in the humidity control cabinet.
Finally able to rest, she climbed into bed and fell into a deep sleep, utterly exhausted.
Liang Yizhi slept very uncomfortable. In her dream, she felt cold all over, and it seemed like she was sweating. The hair on her forehead was wet and stuck to her skin.
She was awakened by a knock on the door.
Liang Yizhi mumbled a reply from under the covers. It turned out that her aunt had prepared dinner and, seeing that she hadn't come down to eat, had come up to call her.
"Aunt Liu... I don't have an appetite right now, I'll eat later."
"Okay, I'll keep the food warm for you. Just take it out when you're hungry." Aunt Liu poked her head in from outside the door. "If there's nothing else, I'll head back now."
"good."
Aunt Liu is not a live-in nanny; she only comes to the house when she cooks and cleans, and usually leaves after dinner.
Liang Yizhi stretched her hand out from under the covers and glanced at the time. It was only a little past seven o'clock; she hadn't slept for long at all.
She felt like she had a fever, and her body felt very sticky. She wanted to take a shower no matter what.
The hot water rinsed over her body, and the steam made Liang Yizhi's throat and nasal cavity feel more comfortable.
But misfortune never comes singly. She had just lathered herself with soap when the water began to cool. The cold water made Liang Yizhi shiver.
She quickly turned off the shower and readjusted the water temperature.
However, no matter what I did, the water spraying from the showerhead was still extremely cold.
Frustrated, Liang Yizhi picked up her phone from the bathroom and, ignoring her wet hands, vented in her friends' group chat:
What an unlucky life I have!!
[I have a cold and there's still no hot water for showering, I'm freezing to death TTTTT]
She pressed three crying emojis in a row.
Liang Yizhi was freezing, and because of the cold, her head became increasingly dizzy.
She thought she'd rinse off the foam with cold water first, then go to another bathroom and shower again. She used a towel dampened with cold water, enduring the chill, to wipe away the remaining foam from her body.
Liang Yizhi wrapped a bath towel around her chest, opened the door, and went out.
Water droplets clung to her cheeks and hair, glistening with tiny sparkles. A few strands of wet hair hung down, water droplets spreading and dripping down, disappearing into the dry towel at her chest.
Liang Yizhi was only covered by a bath towel, with her straight and plump legs exposed. She wore a pair of rabbit slippers and took her change of clothes as she went out.
Another bathroom was only ten meters away from her.
I had only taken a few steps when I heard the doorbell ring downstairs.
Liang Yizhi paused in her steps.
Logically, no one should be coming to visit at this time. It's probably because Aunt Zhang, who just left, forgot something and came back to get it. Aunt Zhang is over sixty years old and her memory isn't very good; she's often forgetful in the past.
Liang Yizhi arrived at the entrance, opened the door for the person, and then turned around and went back into the house, saying weakly, "Aunt Liu, I was just taking a shower. Did you forget something again?"
She clutched her chest and her wet hair, and took quick little steps into the house.
A soft, clear voice came from behind me.
His cold eyes locked onto the slender white figure moving among the still objects in the room, and he replied:
"It's me."
A chill ran through Liang Yizhi's body after the cold water shower, and she froze.
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