Chapter 32 Honey has never tasted such sweetness before.
Saturday.
Unfortunately, the weather turned bad; it was cloudy and gloomy from early morning, and a light drizzle began to fall.
Although the invitation from the bar that night was very rushed, coincidentally, everyone was free on the weekend, and Liang Yizhi didn't have any performances scheduled.
Gu Yinyan was right.
It's truly an unbelievable coincidence that several people who usually have such difficulty aligning their schedules could all find time this weekend.
Tongzhen, the town they were going to, wasn't big; it was just a small county town in the surrounding area. Surrounded by natural mountains and rivers, it boasted beautiful scenery and had become a newly popular tourist destination in recent years.
The drive takes about two or three hours, making it convenient enough to travel there and back by car.
He Xintu hosted the event, saying that he would arrange all the food, accommodation, and transportation. He booked a detached villa and rented a five-seater SUV to drive everyone around.
The group lived quite a distance apart, so to save time, they decided to meet at Liang Yizhi's house, where He Xintu would drive over to pick them up.
Early in the morning, Gu Yinyan was the first to ring Liang Yizhi's doorbell.
He arrived at her building about half an hour early.
Liang Yizhi opened the door for him, said, "Come on up," and then went back to her room to get her things.
Gu Yinyan closed his umbrella and took the elevator upstairs. When he saw Liang Yizhi's door wide open, he frowned slightly, went inside, and closed the door.
He called out Liang Yizhi's name, and a response came from inside the room.
Gu Yinyan walked outside the door: "Aren't you ready yet?"
"Almost done. Soon, soon."
Liang Yizhi responded, holding something in her hand, and jogged over to him, asking, "Which of these two earrings do you think suits me better?"
She swept her hair behind her ears, held up two earrings, and placed them on her earlobes, one on each side, for him to compare.
Gu Yinyan glanced at it, didn't think much of it, and pointed to the left: "This one."
"Why?"
"The other one is too flashy."
"This one then." After choosing the earrings, Liang Yizhi returned to the full-length mirror and put on the more elegant and delicate earring on the left.
Gu Yinyan approached, leaned against the doorway, and looked her up and down: "Is this all you're wearing?"
Liang Yizhi wore a long purple dress, the hem of which reached her ankles. The light fabric swayed gently with her movements, revealing her fair and bony ankles.
Liang Yizhi looked down at herself: "Is it strange?"
It's raining outside.
Gu Yinyan offered no comment, only a reminder.
Liang Yizhi spent a long time choosing her clothes for this trip, and this long dress was the first time she had ever worn it. She hesitated for a long time before leaving home in the morning, worried that the color was too flashy and would make her look like she was trying too hard.
She was easily swayed by others, and after being prompted by someone else, she immediately decided to change her pants.
It's not very convenient if the skirt gets wet.
"Then I'll change into something else, you can go out first." Liang Yizhi walked over and nudged Gu Yinyan.
Gu Yinyan turned his back: "Where's breakfast?"
"It's too late, isn't it?"
The door closed, and Liang Yizhi's voice echoed muffledly from behind it.
Gu Yinyan added, "I asked Aunt Jiang to make sandwiches. We'll come out and eat some later."
Given Liang Yizhi's tendency to dawdle, it will probably be quite a while before she leaves the house.
Gu Yinyan simply sat down on the sofa, looked around, picked up a book from the coffee table, and started reading.
To kill time, he ran his fingers along the edge of the book, randomly flipped to a page, and began to read.
At first glance, the cover title made me think it was just some niche novel, but the more I read, the stranger it became.
The writing is bold, and the plot is thrilling.
Gu Yinyan suddenly remembered a day long ago when he was slacking off while practicing the piano at Liang Yizhi's house.
She pulled him aside and showed him photos of stray cats in her album, saying she found them at the school gate. They were tiny kittens, only one or two months old, and looked so pitiful that she wanted to take them home.
Liang Yizhi showed him the photos, and with a swipe of her finger, the next one appeared to be a picture of a male celebrity's abs.
They were both taken aback.
Liang Yizhi hurriedly tried to cover it up, but with another swipe of her finger, the next image was a high-definition picture of the same person from a different angle.
Gu Yinyan remembered that he had deliberately teased her at the time: "Is this the 'stray cat' you collected online?"
Knowing she couldn't hide it any longer, Liang Yizhi blushed slightly and pretended to be serious as she said, "...This is my collection of 'living Buddhas'."
To save face, she even deliberately feigned an inquiring expression, raising an eyebrow and looking down: "What... do you have the ability?"
She raised her chin, trying to appear nonchalant, but her thin cheeks and trembling lips easily betrayed her.
Gu Yinyan looked at her and sneered, then lightly tapped her forehead: "You wish."
It seems that after all these years, her tastes have remained unchanged.
Liang Yizhi changed into a white sweater and jeans and came out. She hadn't eaten anything last night, and after being busy all day, she suddenly felt hungry. She asked Gu Yinyan:
"Where is the sandwich?"
"At the dining table."
Liang Yizhi opened the bag, picked up a sandwich, took a bite of it, looked at Gu Yinyan, and asked vaguely, "What are you looking at?"
Gu Yinyan crossed his legs, and the thick book lay flat on his thighs, so Liang Yizhi couldn't see the cover.
"A novel." Gu Yinyan's voice was light as he turned a page, the pages clicking crisply. "It's very well written."
Which one?
Gu Yinyan didn't answer directly, but considerately selected two passages and read them aloud to her:
"...The night was pitch black, but my eyes had already adjusted to this impenetrable environment, and Lu Tinghan's [body part] was very clear in my eyes."
He turned me over, and my face sank into the soft pillow, afraid to lift it. Perhaps I sensed what was about to happen; my body became unusually sensitive, and my waist and legs felt as if they were no longer mine, completely at his mercy…
Liang Yizhi choked on a piece of bread, stood there stunned, and even forgot how to chew.
When she uttered the first sentence, she didn't realize which book it was from. But when the name "Lu Tinghan" appeared, memories suddenly flooded her mind, flashing through all the plot points of the book like a movie playing at five times the speed.
Liang Yizhi dropped her sandwich and rushed in front of Gu Yinyan just as he was about to read the climax of the book: "—Gu Yinyan! Who gave you permission to rummage through other people's things?"
She was reading this novel on the sofa in the living room last night. She fell asleep halfway through, left the book on the coffee table, and went back to her room.
Unexpectedly, Gu Yinyan picked it up and read it.
Liang Yizhi reached out to snatch it, but Gu Yinyan took the book off his lap: "How is it being flipped through? It's right here in front of me."
Liang Yizhi: "I don't care, you just can't watch it."
Gu Yinyan ignored her, as if he was determined to challenge her, and with a long arm, he moved the book far away.
Liang Yizhi still didn't give up, kneeling on one knee on the sofa trying to reach it.
Unfortunately, the sofa she chose was far too soft and lacked support. Her knees sank into the soft cushions as soon as she put them on.
She stumbled, and Gu Yinyan immediately let go of the book in his hand, grabbed her wrist, and supported her.
Liang Yizhi, being so impulsive, looked even more embarrassed.
Gu Yinyan tilted his head back and said, "Is that all the skill you have? What's the big deal?"
Liang Yizhi's profile was obscured by her long, flowing hair, and he suddenly felt an intense urge to see the look of utter dismay on her face.
Liang Yizhi remained adamant: "Who told you to read it aloud?"
"Anyway, it's not like I don't know you like watching this."
Liang Yizhi pressed her lips tightly together, unwilling to utter a sound.
Gu Yinyan stared at her tightly pursed lips and asked, "Why aren't you saying anything?"
"Yes or no?"
Ever since she started high school, she has loved reading romance novels, but these, like the merchandise for idol worship, are things her father has listed as prohibited items.
Since we're reading novels, there are bound to be some that are a bit more explicit.
Looking at classic works from both China and abroad, there are quite a few that discuss relationships between the sexes. These are literature, they are art, what's there to be ashamed of?
Liang Yizhi silently supported herself.
She raised her chin slightly: "...Anyway, it's none of your business."
Upon hearing this, Gu Yinyan raised an eyebrow and grabbed her wrist, lifting it upwards.
Liang Yizhi noticed that her left hand was suddenly raised, her arm was stretched out, and it drew a half-arc.
Gu Yinyan was like a ruler, stretching her body open, her shoulders and one arm were opened into a straight line.
Liang Yizhi's body strength was originally supported by the hand that Gu Yinyan was holding her with, but when he pulled her like that, the strength that she had been using to keep her distance from Gu Yinyan disappeared instantly.
She had to lean down even further, covering Gu Yinyan completely, getting even closer to his face and the tip of his straight nose.
Liang Yizhi smelled his fragrance, mixed with the lingering scent of rain on his clothes. Overwhelmed by inexplicable nervousness and fear, her heart pounded, and she dared not look at his face, magnified countless times.
Gu Yinyan was not intimidated at all. He was in a playful mood today and leisurely observed her trembling eyelids and fluttering eyelashes.
Her skin was flawless, so smooth that you couldn't see any pores. Her eyelashes were long and curled, but they trembled with nervousness, as if they were about to take flight.
The trembling became more and more frequent, until—
The doorbell rang.
As if waking from a dream, Liang Yizhi used all her strength to twist her wrist and break free, then punched Gu Yinyan on the shoulder.
She was sulking, her face flushed, whether from anger or embarrassment, she stomped heavily in her slippers to the entryway to open the door, not forgetting to tease him as she went:
"Gu Yinyan, I've discovered that you can be quite cunning at times!"
Gu Yinyan didn't refute it and accepted the comment with good temper.
His hand rested on the sofa, where Liang Yizhi's knees had just been, the indentation slowly springing back, and the sofa cover was disheveled.
Gu Yinyan casually stroked the sofa a couple of times, smoothing it out again.
He picked up the book he had tossed aside, glanced at the cover, silently noted the title, and put it in the drawer under the coffee table.
With everyone present and the appointed time approaching, they gathered at the entrance of the residential compound, carrying their luggage and holding umbrellas, to wait for He Xintu.
He Xintu arrived on time. Before setting off, he helped everyone put their luggage in the trunk.
He Man stood to the side, holding an umbrella for He Xintu: "Brother, you've really gone to so much trouble. We feel so bad about this!"
Jiang Huai: "You're just too embarrassed to help them out?"
He Man glared at him: "Would it kill you to say less? Didn't you see I was holding an umbrella for Boss He?"
He Xintu put the suitcase in, straightened up, and said with a smile, "You don't have much luggage, it's not heavy at all. I'll tidy up the trunk, you can get in the car first."
"Thank you for your help, Mr. He."
Everyone opened the car doors and got in. Liang Yizhi, however, didn't move and remained standing next to He Xintu.
She said, "Mr. He, thank you. I already owe you a favor, and this trip has only added to your troubles."
He Xintu understood that this was originally an agreement between the two of them, and Liang Yizhi was afraid that the sudden addition of so many of her friends would cause him inconvenience.
He smiled nonchalantly: "It's alright, it's more lively with more people."
He smiled and said in a voice only the two of them could hear, "I hope this short trip will make up for your regret."
Liang Yizhi blushed again and shook her head: "You really don't need to worry too much, my affairs are not important."
"Unfortunately, the weather isn't cooperating, and I'll feel bad if it disappoints you."
He Xintu looked up and gazed at the sky.
The rain wasn't heavy, but it poured down in a dense, persistent drizzle, pounding against the umbrella.
Gu Yinyan stood by the car, holding an umbrella. The two people talking behind the car were unaware that someone was watching them.
Gu Yinyan saw Liang Yizhi lower her head under the umbrella and touch the hair by her ear, a habitual gesture when she was nervous.
She spoke softly and slowly, her lips opening and closing only slightly, and every movement she made was gentle and reserved.
Clearly, she was a little shy in front of He Xintu.
Has he ever seen her when she's shy?
Of course I've seen it.
And just half an hour ago.
But he could clearly perceive that there was a difference between the two meanings.
On the sofa, when he pinned her down in front of him, Liang Yizhi's shyness was passive, forced upon her because her secret had been discovered and she was at a disadvantage.
But in front of that person, her shyness stemmed from reserve; she wanted to show her best side to the person she liked.
She was restrained and dignified, yet even her eyes held a fresh, sweet affection.
But he had never tasted such sweetness.
Raindrops began to fall, and they had already been whispering for quite some time. The others were already waiting in the car.
Liang Yizhi and He Xintu closed the trunk and prepared to get in the car.
He Xintu walked around to the front of the car, opened the door, and saw an unexpected, dark mass of people.
"...You want to sit in the front?" He Xintu seemed surprised, and his tone was slightly dissatisfied.
Gu Yinyan said, "It's too crowded in the back, I'm not used to sitting there."
He sat upright, leaning back in his chair with his eyelids closed, looking extremely comfortable, just like he was sitting on the sofa in his office.
He Xintu glanced behind him and saw that Liang Yizhi had already gotten into the car and was sitting next to He Man.
He Man was looking at the map on her phone: "Boss He, we need to hurry. I see it's raining today, and the roads are all red, so it'll probably be quite congested."
He Xintu pursed his lips, composed himself, and got into the car.
Step on the gas and off we go.
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