Chapter 20 Kiss
The Gu family mansion was brightly lit, its vast, opulent main hall illuminated as if it were daylight. The air was thick with the scent of champagne, cigars, and expensive perfume. Elegantly dressed people were present, toasts clinking. What Gu had described as a "small, private party" had become a gathering of high society. Political and business figures, scions of aristocratic families, fashionable socialites... all kinds of people gathered there, chatting quietly, exchanging business cards, and glancing at each other.
When Chu Yan stepped into this swirling vortex of light and color, Gu Xu was standing at the main hall entrance, greeting several elderly guests. He seemed to sense something, and the moment Chu Yan appeared, he raised his head, his gaze piercing the crowd, meeting Chu Yan's gaze in mid-air.
Chu Yan was wearing a perfectly tailored black dress, which both blended in and out of place with the flashy surroundings.
A flash of surprise flashed in Gu Xu's eyes. He ended his conversation with the guest and quickly walked over to greet him.
"Mr. Chu, welcome." Gu Xu's smile was more genuine and warmer than when he was facing other people. He naturally extended his hand.
Chu Yan shook his hand gently, breaking away immediately after the touch. At the same time, he handed over the beautifully wrapped dark blue velvet gift box in his hand: "Mr. Gu, happy birthday."
"Thank you." Gu Xu took the gift box, his fingertips running across the smooth velvet surface, but his eyes always stayed on Chu Yan's face, "Your coming is the best gift." His voice was a little low, with a hint that only the two of them could understand.
Accompanied by Gu Xu, Chu Yan entered the heart of the main hall. His presence immediately attracted a number of inquiring glances. How could a young, unfamiliar face command such courtesy, even personal accompaniment from the Gu family's highly sought-after heir? Curiosity, scrutiny, speculation... all sorts of gazes entwined around him like invisible threads.
However, those who could enter this circle were not foolish; no one would rashly approach or ask questions. Chu Yan's innate aloofness and nobility were themselves a silent warning. He simply stood quietly beside Gu Xu, casually picking up a glass of whiskey from the waiter's tray, his posture calm, as if this bustling world of fame and fortune was just a backdrop for his leisurely stroll.
As the star of the day, Gu Xu naturally had plenty of socializing to do. He mingled with the guests, chatting and laughing with ease. Chu Yan quietly served as a perfect foil, occasionally nodding in greeting when Gu Xu introduced them, a flawless smile playing on his lips. He only added a few words when necessary, neither stealing the spotlight nor seeming too silent.
Finally, Gu Xu led Chu Yan to the core area of the main hall. A vigorous old man in a dark Tang suit was surrounded by a crowd. It was none other than the current patriarch of the Gu family, Old Man Gu. Though over seventy, his eyes were sharp and his demeanor was calm, imposing without even anger.
"Grandpa." Gu Xu called out respectfully, then stepped aside to introduce, "This is Chu Yan, the distinguished guest I specially invited tonight."
Old Master Gu's gaze fell on Chu Yan like a hawk, with the scrutiny of a long-time superior and a subtle hint of inquiry. He didn't immediately respond to Gu Yan's introduction. Instead, he spoke slowly, his voice loud and clear, with a hint of tentativeness: "The Chu family in City A?"
This seemingly casual question was like a stone thrown into a calm lake, causing the eyes of several guests who were listening attentively to flicker slightly.
Chu Yan met Mr. Gu's gaze, his face devoid of any sign of offense or alarm, remaining calm and composed. He didn't directly answer yes or no, but simply bowed slightly, a subtle, graceful curve at the corner of his lips. "Mr. Gu has good judgment. He's just a junior in the family, not worth mentioning."
It was ambiguous, but it was enough to make Old Master Gu's eyes flash, and a smile of understanding and deeper inquiry appeared on his face: "So it's the Qilin child of the Chu family, no wonder he has such an extraordinary demeanor. I'm sorry for the neglect."
"Mr. Gu, you are too kind." Chu Yan was humble and kept his composure.
Gu Xu stood aside, listening to every word of his grandfather's conversation with Chu Yan. His gaze on Chu Yan became even more profound and unfathomable. The Chu family of City A truly stood at the pinnacle of the pyramid, a behemoth that even the Gu family had to look up to. Chu Yan... a collateral branch? The main family? Either way, it implied power and background far beyond his initial expectations. Chu Yan's deliberate low profile only made his depth all the more unfathomable.
The party was halfway through, but the bustle continued. Chu Yan, holding his barely touched glass of whiskey, quietly retreated to the glass door leading to the open-air balcony on the side of the main hall. He pushed the door open, and a cool night breeze, bringing fresh air, instantly rushed in, blowing away the suffocating smell of perfume and alcohol.
He leaned on the white marble railing, looking at the bright lights of the city in the distance, gently shaking the ice in the cup, making a crisp clinking sound.
There were soft footsteps behind him. Gu Xu also came out and stood beside him, looking at the night view with him.
"I like the gift very much." Gu Xu's voice sounded particularly low in the night wind. He was referring to the exquisite gift box given by Chu Yan, but his eyes were fixed on the side of Chu Yan's face. "However, I want a gift given by you personally."
Chu Yan turned his head and met Gu Xu's undisguised, aggressive and possessive gaze. The corners of his lips slowly curled up, and that smile was no longer a gentle mask, but instead carried a wild, bewitching charm, like a poppy quietly blooming in the dark night.
"Haven't I already given you the gift?" Chu Yan's voice was a little lazy and hoarse. "Boss Gu, the party is so boring."
Gu Xu raised his eyebrows, with a look of inquiry and approval in his eyes.
Chu Yan leaned slightly closer to Gu Xu, locking his eyes with his, inviting him with a hidden meaning: "So, do you want to escape with me?"
Gu Xu's heart skipped a beat. He was the star of the night, the centerpiece of this grand banquet. Countless eyes were focused on him, countless interests were tied to him. Escape? That was madness.
However, looking at Chu Yan's eyes, startlingly bright in the night, at the cynical yet alluring smile on his lips, the string of restraint in Gu Xu's heart suddenly snapped. A long-lost youthful impulsiveness and adventurous spirit broke through his carefully constructed elite shell.
His eyes darkened, and he reached out his hand without hesitation and firmly grasped Chu Yan's wrist.
The roar of an engine ripped through the night's stillness. A small helicopter circled and landed on an empty private landing pad near the Gu family's old house. The strong airflow made Gu's hair and clothes rustle.
Chu Yan pulled Gu Xu along, nimbly boarding the plane amidst the gust of wind whipped up by the propellers. The hatch closed, isolating them from the outside world. The helicopter climbed rapidly, and the brilliantly lit banquet hall beneath them gradually receded.
"Where are we going?" Gu Xu looked at the city lights and shadows passing by quickly outside the window, his heart beating faster due to this sudden excitement.
Chu Yan didn't answer, but just gestured for him to look down.
Gu Xu followed Chu Yan's gaze, his pupils suddenly shrinking. Below him was the secret mountaintop base he was so familiar with. Looking down from the helicopter, the grassy area looked like a piece of jade embedded in the inky mountain forest. And even more shocking was—
Above the vast sky, a boundless sea of stars unfolded. The Milky Way was clearly visible, its billions of stars like crushed diamonds spread across a sea of deep blue velvet, a breathtaking magnificence. The city's light pollution was completely cut off at this moment, and the vastness and mystery of the universe unfolded before our eyes without reservation.
In this ultimate tranquility and grandeur——
"Bang! Bang! Bang—"
Countless brilliant lights suddenly exploded in the distant sky, and the gorgeous fireworks were like the most gorgeous fireworks, instantly lighting up most of the night sky.
The dazzling light was clearly reflected in Gu's suddenly wide eyes, and he stared blankly. This extreme romance and shock was incomparable to even one ten-thousandth of any expensive gift.
He turned his head and looked at Chu Yan beside him.
Chu Yan, however, seemed oblivious to the stunning scenery. He was intently organizing his parachuting gear. His movements were skillful and precise, his expression as calm as if he were conducting a precise experiment. He picked up a set and gestured for Gu to turn around.
"Put it on." Chu Yan's voice was still clear amid the roar of the engine and the explosion of fireworks.
Gu Xi obediently opened his arms, allowing Chu Yan to buckle the heavy suspenders around him. Chu Yan's fingers deftly moved between the buckles, his movements steady and powerful, with a reassuring sense of control.
"Are you scared?" Chu Yan's voice sounded close to Gu Xu's ear, with a warm breath.
Gu Xu looked at the distant, miniature-like mountains and cities beneath his feet, then looked up at the deep, all-consuming starry sky. A crisscrossing sense of dread and indescribable excitement assaulted his nerves. He took a deep breath, nodded, then shook his head vigorously, his eyes gleaming with a light he had never seen before: "With you here, I'm not afraid."
Chu Yan smiled, a smile that was particularly dazzling under the flashing lights of the instrument panel in the cabin. He checked Gu and his own equipment and opened the cabin door.
A fierce gust of wind blew in instantly.
"Let's go!" Chu Yan shouted softly, put his arm around Gu Xu's waist, and without hesitation took him with him, leaping into the boundless night sky where brilliance and darkness were intertwined.
The fear of weightlessness instantly gripped Gu Xu's heart, making him scream in surprise. His body fell rapidly like a kite with a broken string. The wind whistled terribly in his ears, and the earth enlarged wildly in front of his eyes.
However, the next second, a steady, warm chest pressed firmly against his back. Chu Yan's powerful arms wrapped around him tightly, holding him in place. The familiar warmth, tinged with the faint scent of tobacco and a chill, filtered through the thin clothing, like a solid barrier, instantly dispelling all fear.
At that moment, my heartbeat was like a wild horse that had broken free from its cage, beating wildly and erratically in my chest, not because of the fall, but because of the person behind me. Because of the absolute sense of security that this person gave me in the midst of extreme danger.
The sound of the wind seemed to have faded away. All that remained in the world was the reassuring warmth behind me and the ever-changing starry sky and fireworks before me.
Chu Yan calmly calculated the altitude and wind speed. As he was about to reach the minimum parachute opening altitude, he decisively deployed his main parachute.
A giant umbrella suddenly blossomed in the night sky, halting their downward momentum. As if gently lifted by an invisible hand, the two began to slowly drift between heaven and earth.
The night breeze grew gentle, caressing Gu's burning cheeks. The thrilling fall had now transformed into a wondrous stroll through the clouds. The stark contrast created an almost dreamlike, ultimate experience.
Chu Yan adjusted the parachute cords, allowing it to glide smoothly toward the grassy area of the secret base. He tilted his head slightly, his chin almost brushing against Gu Xu's ear. His voice, tinged with a hint of relief after completing a feat, reached Gu Xu's ears clearly:
"Happy birthday, Gu Xu."
This simple sentence is like a drop of water thrown into boiling oil.
Gu Xu turned his head suddenly.
Their faces were so close that their noses almost touched. Chu Yan's eyes still held a lingering smile and the afterglow of his concentration while controlling the parachute, gleaming brightly under the glow of the stars, the moon, and the lingering fireworks.
An impulse and desire from the depths of his soul erupted like a volcano. The only thing left in his eyes was Chu Yan's lips, which were so close to him. He suddenly leaned forward and kissed Chu Yan with reckless determination and passion.
The kiss came suddenly and fiercely, with a predatory feel, as if the emotions that had been suppressed for too long had finally found an outlet.
Chu Yan's eyes suddenly grew dark. He didn't push her away, but after a brief pause, he immediately took the initiative. His arm wrapped tighter around Gu Xu's waist, and his other hand clasped the back of her neck, deepening the kiss.
It was no longer Gu's one-sided demand, but a forceful response and even more domineering encroachment. Their lips intertwined, their breaths blending, the crisp scent of tobacco and the rich aroma of red wine igniting a searing heat in the chilly night air. The two of them exchanged blows, neither yielding, as if vying for some invisible, soul-stirring dominance. The sound of the wind, the pounding of their hearts, and their suppressed breathing intertwined into a wild melody.
The parachute still floated silently in the night sky, carrying the couple who were kissing passionately under the sea of stars and fireworks, and slowly fell to the grass that carried the secret.
Deep in his consciousness, a cold system prompt sounded with a rare hint of confusion:
[Warning: Abnormal emotional fluctuations of key plot character Gu Xu have been detected, exceeding the threshold.]
Chu Yan's consciousness withdrew a little from the intense and suffocating kiss, and he responded calmly in his mind:
Gu Xu is like a finely tuned machine, accustomed to slowly cooking his prey with warm water and disguise, savoring the thrill of total control. But he forgets that while he cooks others, he himself is also being soaked in the same pot of warm water. He's so accustomed to disguise and restraint that once he encounters someone who completely breaks his rules and allows him to experience the ultimate loss of control, the thrill and attraction of that contrast is fatal to his ambitious yet deeply repressed soul. He doesn't love me, but the feeling that allows him to break free from his shackles and touch another dimension of life.
System: [Understood. Does the host have feelings for Gu?]
Chu Yan's consciousness wavered, a trace of cold clarity in his voice. "Love? Not really. But I do like him. I'm not opposed to a closer relationship with him, whether it's a fling or a casual affair. As long as it's beneficial to the mission, or even if I find it interesting, it's fine." His mind was filled with an almost cold balance. "But all this presupposes—he must come after the mission. The mission always takes priority."
The system was silent for a moment, then asked again: [So, does the host have feelings for the mission target, Gu Ye?]
[Gu Ye…] A very subtle ripple appeared in the depths of Chu Yan's consciousness. [He is different.]
The system expressed doubts.
The cool night breeze dispelled the burning heat between his lips and teeth. Gu Xu still clung to his arm tightly, his eyes filled with the throbbing and emotional excitement of someone who had survived a catastrophe. Meanwhile, Chu Yan, under the light of the stars and moon, regained his almost indifferent clarity.
"He's my mission target." This definition was like a solid dam, temporarily blocking the chaotic and unclear emotions in his heart. Chu Yan simply felt that the system was stupid. How could someone in their line of work possibly have such an ethereal thing as love?
He collected his thoughts and turned his attention back to the man in front of him, whose flame he had ignited with his own hands. A smile appeared on his face, which looked particularly charming under the starlight, with a hint of playfulness and control.
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