Chapter 108 Greed [VIP]
Chapter Summary: "Fu Xianyin, are you jealous?"
Gu Linzhao booked a private room. There were only five of them, so the table wasn't very big, but there wasn't a huge gap between anyone.
As usual, Chen Nianke ordered the food.
Everything was exactly the same as before. Fu Xianyin watched Chen Nianke recite the names of the dishes one by one, and idly poked at her teacup.
Suddenly I heard a sentence:
"Add some stir-fried pork with chili peppers."
Fu Xianyin suddenly looked up and saw a relaxed smile on Gu Linzhao's face.
Chen Nianke was a little puzzled: "You want to eat stir-fried pork with chili peppers?"
Gu Linzhao pointed at Fu Xianyin and said, "She eats."
Fu Xianyin: ...
She knew Gu Linzhao was going to mess with her!
"I won't eat it."
She refused decisively, then gave Chen Nianke a wink. Chen Nianke understood and went to explain to the waiter.
Fu Xianyin moved her chair closer to Gu Linzhao, took a deep breath, and lowered her voice, saying, "How old are you? Aren't you childish?"
Gu Linzhao replied matter-of-factly, "Don't you love to eat it?"
Fu Xianyin: ...
She took a deep breath, glared at Gu Linzhao, and then moved the chair to the side with all her might, almost touching Cheng Zhaozhao.
Cheng Zhaozhao glanced at the vast distance between them, as if the Milky Way stretched between them, and asked softly, "Did you have a fight?"
Fu Xianyin: "No."
Although she said that, Cheng Zhaozhao clearly didn't believe her.
She tugged at Fu Xianyin's sleeve and asked, "You two, have you made up?"
Fu Xianyin paused for a moment before saying, "I'll go back on February 17th."
They neither said they made up, nor did they say they didn't.
To be honest, she didn't really know what her relationship with Gu Linzhao was now.
The two are clearly not dating.
But they also did intimate things.
Cheng Zhaozhao's gaze shifted between the two of them several times before she sighed.
She looked at Fu Xianyin and asked, "Aren't you going to explain what happened six years ago to him?"
Fu Xianyin shook her head.
Is it that they are not prepared to explain, or that they don't know whether they should explain or not?
She couldn't explain it.
Before returning to China, Fu Xianyin thought she didn't care anymore.
But the moment she bumped into him at the airport, Fu Xianyin knew that she simply couldn't be as open and honest as she thought she could be.
She still didn't want to mention that past to Gu Linzhao, and she was still not ready to face those despicable things.
She is still not ready, but subconsciously she is already on high alert.
A string called honesty.
Fu Xianyin didn't know what her mindset was right now. Her heart was conflicted, but her body had already betrayed her.
She wanted to get closer to him.
She craved this gentle haven.
The identity of being an "adult" is just a facade.
Lifting away this veil of pretense, her pale inner self is laid bare.
The food was served quickly, and Gu Linzhao casually ladled her a bowl of soup, even skimming off the layer of scallions and cilantro floating on the surface.
He was holding a bowl, and Fu Xianyin instinctively reached out to borrow it, but saw Gu Linzhao pull his hand back.
"It's hot," he said. "Don't touch it."
Fu Xianyin had no choice but to move the chair back a few steps so that Gu Linzhao would have to move less.
Gu Linzhao's lips curved into a smile.
It was an expression that said, "See, you really can't do anything with me."
Fu Xianyin pretended not to see it.
After dinner, Lin Anxu suggested going to see a movie, and Cheng Zhaozhao excitedly said, "There's one of this year's Lunar New Year films that I really want to see, let's go see this one!"
No one had any objections, and Cheng Zhaozhao excitedly bought tickets and dragged a group of people to see the movie.
When they arrived at the movie theater, Cheng Zhaozhao went to pick up the tickets, while Gu Linzhao took Fu Xianyin to buy popcorn.
The aroma of popcorn filled her nostrils. Fu Xianyin took a few deep sniffs, then said to Gu Linzhao, "I don't want popcorn. Buy me a drink instead."
Gu Linzhao said, "I bought you mango pomelo sago. I'll go out and get it later. There's more."
He turned his head to look at Fu Xianyin, a smile playing on his lips, and said, "The popcorn isn't salty, it's sweet."
"Don't you want anything sweet either?"
He asked.
Most movie popcorn in the US is salty. Fu Xianyin had been fooled several times by that aroma, and each time she bought a bucket of salty popcorn, she would feel annoyed. Over time, she stopped buying popcorn when going to the movies.
only
She opened her mouth, and a few words murmured out:
How did you know?
How do you know that American popcorn is salty? How do you know that she subconsciously said she didn't want popcorn because she didn't want to eat salty popcorn?
Gu Linzhao said, "Because I am knowledgeable in all things."
The popcorn was quickly served, and Fu Xianyin picked one and put it in her mouth.
The sweet flavor exploded in her mouth, and as she watched Gu Linzhao's departing figure, she suddenly smiled.
"The all-knowing and all-powerful Gu Banxian."
The movie is a family-friendly comedy, but it gets quite sentimental in the second half.
Fu Xianyin wasn't particularly moved by this kind of family-friendly storyline. She turned her head and saw that Cheng Zhaozhao and Lin Anxu had already started wiping away tears.
Fu Xianyin was somewhat shocked.
I'm shocked that this kind of emotional appeal actually has an audience.
By the time the movie ended, Cheng Zhaozhao's eyes were red.
Her eyes were still glistening with tears, and Fu Xianyin quickly took out a tissue to wipe them away for her: "Oh, don't cry, why are you crying like this during the New Year?"
"So touching, sob sob sob sob!"
Fu Xianyin and Chen Nianke exchanged a glance, somewhat helpless.
In winter, it gets dark early. By the time we came out of the movie theater, it was already completely dark.
Cheng Zhaozhao complained that she didn't want to go home, but Chen Nianke retorted, "How old are you? Why don't you want to go home?"
Cheng Zhaozhao whispered, "I just... wanted to spend more time with you guys."
Fu Xianyin didn't expose her clumsy excuse. Just as she was about to say something, she suddenly heard Gu Linzhao say, "How about we go stargazing?"
Lin Anxu was the first to respond: "Go!"
Cheng Zhaozhao nodded vigorously.
Seeing that everyone was saying so, Fu Xianyin had no reason not to go.
She just didn't expect that Gu Linzhao's idea of stargazing meant driving out of Beichuan and going to the mountains to see the stars.
As the car entered the highway, Fu Xianyin finally sensed something was wrong.
She turned her head and asked, "Where are we going?"
Gu Linzhao looked straight ahead without turning his head: "Look at the stars."
Fu Xianyin: "Aren't we going to the Astronomical Park?"
Gu Linzhao: "Who told you we went to the Astronomical Park?"
After saying that, he chuckled as if he had thought of something funny, and teased, "You only realized we weren't going to the Astronomical Park after we were already on the highway, Fu Xianyin. I didn't realize you were so bad at directions."
Fu Xianyin argued, "I only stayed in Beichuan for half a year in total, and most of that time was spent at school. I was so tired from studying in my senior year of high school, how could I have had time to come out?"
After saying this, she inexplicably thought of Xu Aiya's words: "But I still don't know why Teacher Fu chose to go abroad back then?"
She was so focused on spitting out Xu Aiya that she completely forgot Gu Linzhao was still standing there.
Looking back now, Gu Linzhao must have heard her say, "Going abroad is my family's idea."
What would he think?
Does he think that she, too, once fought back and rebelled?
It was just a failure.
Or will you always think that she is a complete fraud?
A tingling sensation spread through her fingertips, and only then did Fu Xianyin belatedly realize a problem.
What are Gu Linzhao's feelings for her now?
For the past six years, she had always believed that Gu Linzhao hated her.
I hate that she left without saying goodbye, I hate that she didn't even leave a word.
Just like the words he murmured back then
"They didn't even say goodbye."
But if he hated her, then why did he kiss her?
He would show favoritism towards her, and would side with her in front of so many people.
Over the course of six years, she received numerous advances from men.
Gu Linzhao will certainly be no exception.
That night in the snow-capped mountains of Beijing, what she asked Gu Linzhao was the truth.
"Does Mr. Gu have a girlfriend now?"
At that moment, all she wanted was a negative answer.
But now, she has become greedy again.
She not only wanted to know about Gu Linzhao's present, but she was also desperately trying to uncover his past.
In these six years, have there been other people, have you ever thought about other people?
She wanted to know.
She wanted to know if Gu Linzhao had ever treated others the same way, and if he had ever looked at others with those helpless and forgiving eyes.
I wonder if he has ever brought anyone else along this path for stargazing.
Fu Xianyin lowered her eyes.
Gu Linzhao's hands were very steady; he drove from Beijing onto the highway without even needing navigation.
He can remember every lane change and turn during the more than one-hour journey.
Did he really...never come back a second time?
Or not just a second time, but more than that.
The third time, the fourth time...
For the umpteenth time.
Fu Xianyin felt like she was going crazy.
She didn't know why, or why her mind was suddenly filled with these thoughts.
The car has already exited the highway and entered the winding mountain road.
Fu Xianyin sat in the car, looking at the person beside her through the reflection in the car window.
She didn't dare turn her head directly to look, so she just stared at the unclear reflection, tracing his profile bit by bit with her eyes, over and over again, from his brow bone to the bridge of his nose, from the tip of his nose to his lips.
The car circled upwards, and the familiar little wooden house came into view.
Their decision to come see the stars today was impromptu, but luckily they were in good shape; the weather was clear, with no bright moon or thick clouds.
The three people in the back seat were already incredibly excited. After talking to the campsite owner, they rushed over to the telescope.
Fu Xianyin was a step too slow and followed Gu Linzhao to the parking lot.
The parking lot was in a small parking area behind the cabin. Gu Linzhao parked the car and turned off the engine. Fu Xianyin asked softly, "Do you want to rest for a bit?"
He drove all day. In the morning, he drove for almost an hour to pick them up and take them to lunch. In the afternoon, he drove again to the movies. In the evening, he drove for almost two hours at night.
Driving can be tiring, at least that's how it is for Fu Xianyin herself.
Sometimes when she travels to a long distance and arrives at her destination, she will sit in the car for a while to recover before getting out.
But Gu Linzhao didn't seem to have such concerns.
He glanced at her and said, "Okay."
He started the car again, turned on the heater, and asked, "Tired of sitting?"
Fu Xianyin pursed her lips and said, "No, I'm fine. I was asking if you... you've been working all day, do you want to take a break?"
The interior lights were off.
In the pitch black, Fu Xianyin heard a very soft laugh.
Gu Linzhao said, "It's rare that you still think about worrying about me."
He was actually prepared to be retorted by Fu Xianyin, albeit lightly.
After all, Fu Xianyin in high school was like that, her true feelings were wrapped in thorns, and once you touched that true feeling, you would inevitably get pricked first.
To his surprise, Fu Xianyin gave a soft "hmm" and then said, "You've been driving all day."
Her words were devoid of intonation, as if she were simply narrating something peaceful.
But Gu Linzhao felt as if his heart had melted into a puddle of water.
It was in that instant that he suddenly realized
In these six years, Fu Xianyin has changed a lot.
Unlike before, it's not awkward or twisted anymore. The soft words I want to say are no longer wrapped in a bunch of sharp thorns, but can be said directly to him.
One moment after another told him that she was no longer the Fu Xianyin she used to be.
She has grown up and matured. Topics that were once taboo to mention can now be discussed with him casually.
He turned to look at Fu Xianyin. Her head was lowered, her long eyelashes drooped, and her lips were slightly pursed, revealing only a sliver of rosy color.
She held her scarf and coat in her hands, her long hair was loosely tied back with a hair tie, and a few shorter strands of hair hung down on both sides of her face.
Her jawline was almost skin and bone, and her face was only the size of a palm; Gu Linzhao could cover it with one hand.
How can you be so thin?
Gu Linzhao thought.
She didn't like to eat when she was in high school. Back then, he would bring her food and watch her eat. It would take a long time before she could gain a little weight on her thin face. But once she sat at a different table and no one was watching her eat, she would lose weight again in a few days.
All these years, she's been alone, and no one's been watching her eat. Will she still be the same?
When I'm busy, I skip meals and work through the night without sleeping.
Or is it...?
Gu Linzhao's eyes dimmed for a moment.
Or perhaps, someone can replace him in his role.
I reminded her to eat and to make her life more regular.
Gu Linzhao thought he was very resistant to this answer.
But when faced with this possibility, he suddenly felt that it would be nice if there were such a person.
At least.
At least Fu Xianyin's six years shouldn't have been too difficult.
It's about having someone to accompany you, instead of living alone in a distant foreign land.
An unexpected cell phone notification sound rang out inside the car.
The phone screen provided some light inside the car.
Gu Linzhao said, "Lin Anxu asked us where we were."
Fu Xianyin said, "Then let's go out."
She wrapped a thick scarf around her neck, put on her coat, and for some reason, even took out her hair tie and retied her hair, which had been rumpled a bit.
After the headlights went out, the whole world seemed to go dark, with only the small wooden house ahead still twinkling with light.
In the pitch black, Fu Xianyin boldly turned her head to look at him.
Once her eyes adjusted to the darkness, she could see people clearly, and she used the dim light to greedily gaze at him.
The mountain path was covered with gravel, and Fu Xianyin tripped over it without paying attention.
His body lurched forward uncontrollably, but his wrist was suddenly grabbed.
"Watch where you're going."
Gu Linzhao's voice came from beside him, with a lazy smile: "Aren't you watching where you're going? What are you so busy looking at?"
Look at you.
Fu Xianyin answered silently in her heart.
The pressure on her wrist didn't loosen until she regained her footing.
The warmth spread little by little along her slightly cool wrist bones.
Fu Xianyin suddenly flipped her wrist and broke free from his hand.
The next second, she placed her hand in his palm.
The fingers were quickly enveloped.
He held on tightly, as if he would never let go.
Despite feeling grounded, Fu Xianyin suddenly felt her eyes sting with tears.
Her heart was pounding faster and faster. She opened her mouth, but it took her a long time to make a sound.
She asked:
Do you come here often?
Gu Linzhao said, "I've been here a few times."
Fu Xianyin took a soft breath, her voice trembling almost imperceptibly:
“What about Xu Aiya…”
After saying those three names, Fu Xianyin paused.
However, she then continued, "Have you brought her here before?"
Her voice was so soft, it seemed as if it would dissipate with a breath.
But Gu Linzhao still heard it.
Just a second ago he was lost in a jumble of thoughts, but the next second, upon hearing those words, Gu Linzhao felt his heart being lifted up by soft clouds.
He felt like he was going crazy, and he felt like he was sick.
But joy cannot be hidden no matter what.
His tone carried a hint of laughter, the kind of joy that, no matter how hard you try to hide it, will inevitably seep out with your voice.
He said:
"Fu Xianyin, are you jealous?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com