Before anyone could react, Gu Qingyan had already walked out.
He walked heavily towards the restroom. His back looked lonely and desolate under the light, as if he were carrying the sorrow of the whole world.
The manor offers a lot of privacy, although it's usually open to the public. But today is a weekday, so there weren't many people around.
Pushing open the door, Gu Qingyan entered the bathroom, closed the door, and leaned against the cold door panel. He covered his face with his hands, burying them deeply in his palms, trying to shut himself off from everything outside.
He slowly walked to the mirror, tears welling in his eyes, his face deathly pale. Today's events reminded him of her smile, her voice, everything about her.
Before coming, he had mentally prepared himself. But he never expected that there would be a woman there who looked so much like Xiao Wanqing.
He closed his eyes, letting the tears stream down his face. He felt his heart bleeding, each drop representing his longing and guilt for Xiao Wanqing. He hated himself for not realizing her feelings sooner, for not giving her a happy future.
A somber atmosphere permeated the restroom, as if even the air itself had frozen.
After an unknown amount of time, Gu Qingyan took a deep breath and splashed cold water hard on his face, forcing himself to break free from that painful memory. He closed his eyes tightly, letting the cold water slide down his handsome face, flow over his tense Adam's apple, and soak into his collar.
A moment later, he opened his eyes, a resolute light flashing in his pupils. He shook his head vigorously, as if trying to shake all the unpleasant thoughts out of his mind. He tidied his slightly damp hair, gently wiped the water droplets from his face with his fingers, then took a deep breath, pushed open the door, and stepped out.
The corridor was quiet, with only a faint light flickering in the darkness. Gu Qingyan had just stepped out of the restroom when she ran into Xiao Wanrou, who was also coming in.
"Brother Qingyan, are you alright?" Xiao Wanrou asked with concern, noticing that Gu Qingyan's face was a little pale. She frowned, looked at him earnestly with her watery eyes.
"It's nothing, I just had a bit of a headache." Gu Qingyan pursed his lips, lied, and without looking at her any longer, prepared to walk forward.
“Brother Qingyan,” she suddenly reached out her slender arm and tugged at his sleeve, “Brother Qingyan, this place is too big and the lighting is a bit dim. I don’t know the way. Could you come with me to the restroom?”
Gu Qingyan was about to shake off her hand, but when he looked down, he met her pitiful face.
His hardened heart softened instantly, and his throat tightened slightly.
"Okay." He didn't even know how he agreed. By the time he realized it, he was already standing at the bathroom door.
"Brother Qingyan, let's go." Xiao Wanrou came out of the bathroom after washing her hands. She gently twisted the hem of her clothes with her hands, looking both nervous and expectant.
Gu Qingyan turned around, looked at her clear eyes and slightly flushed cheeks, nodded, and gestured for her to follow him. The two walked one after the other, Gu Qingyan's steps were still somewhat heavy, and his thoughts were somewhat chaotic.
They walked down the corridor to the door of the private room. Pushing open the door, Bai Xin was looking expectantly in the direction of the entrance. Seeing Gu Qingyan and Xiao Wanrou walk in together, a joyful smile immediately appeared on her face.
"Qingyan, you're finally back!" Bai Xin greeted Gu Qingyan warmly, while also secretly casting an approving glance at Xiao Wanrou.
Gu Qingyan smiled apologetically, "Aunt Bai, Uncle Xiao, I'm sorry, I had a bit of a headache just now." He walked over and sat down opposite him, gently rubbing his temples as if trying to relieve the headache.
"Are you feeling better now?" Xiao Chun frowned slightly, asking with concern in an elder's tone. His eyes revealed his worry and care for Gu Qingyan.
Just then, Bai Xin suddenly had a brilliant idea. A sly glint flashed in her eyes, and she beckoned to Xiao Wanrou, "Come here, Wanrou, give your Qingyan brother a massage. You've even learned how to do it, so this is perfect!" Her words were urging and expectant, as if this were a golden opportunity. At the same time, she quickly gave Xiao Wanrou a wink, signaling her not to miss this chance to show off.
Upon hearing Bai Xin's words, Xiao Wanrou's face showed a hint of shyness and nervousness. Her cheeks flushed slightly, and her eyes flickered uncertainly, clearly feeling somewhat overwhelmed by this sudden task. She hesitated for a moment, but still mustered her courage and walked to Gu Qingyan's side. Her hands were clasped tightly together, somewhat embarrassed.
However, just as she was about to put her hand on Gu Qingyan's shoulder, Gu Qingyan suddenly turned around and grabbed her wrist, his voice somewhat cold: "No need, I'm much better now." Unlike his gentleness just now, his eyes revealed a kind of rejection and indifference.
Xiao Wanrou was startled by Gu Qingyan's actions. She looked up at Gu Qingyan's face and saw that he glanced at her indifferently. Xiao Wanrou pursed her lips and gently pulled her arm away.
Gu Qingyan glanced at the two people opposite him, and even if he wasn't very perceptive, he understood Bai Xin and Xiao Chun's intentions.
They've brought him a replacement today.
"Let's eat first, the food will get cold soon." Xiao Chun saw through Gu Qingyan's thoughts and immediately smoothed things over.
Xiao Wanrou's fingers gently gripped the chopsticks, her movements so subtle they were almost imperceptible. She sat beside Gu Qingyan, leaning slightly forward as if trying to minimize her presence, her head almost buried in her bowl, her eyes darting around, as she ate her rice by poking at it with her chopsticks.
Her cautious demeanor stirred a pang of pity and guilt in Gu Qingyan's eyes. Looking at her frail figure, he seemed to see Xiao Wanqing's loneliness and helplessness after his departure. His heart suddenly felt heavy, as if a stone was pressing on his chest, making it hard to breathe.
He couldn't tell if he felt guilty because she resembled Xiao Wanqing, or because he wanted to impose Xiao Wanqing's compensation on her. But he just couldn't bear it. Looking at her lowered head and trembling eyelashes, a strong protective instinct welled up inside him.
"Don't just eat rice. I'm not going to eat people, so don't be afraid." Gu Qingyan's voice was gentle and kind, as if it could melt away all the ice. He reached out and picked up a slice of beef for her, placing it in her bowl. "The beef here is very delicious, tender and flavorful. Try it."
"Thank you, Brother Qingyan," Xiao Wanrou said softly, looking up in surprise.
While Gu Qingyan was distracted, Bai Xin secretly sprinkled something into his wine glass.
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