Chapter 32 The Golden Boy and Jade Girl Gu Qingyan was extremely depressed, and suddenly moved...
Thinking of this, Lin Yuwei subconsciously glanced in Gu Qingyan's direction, only to see him intently picking up a piece of green vegetable with his chopsticks, his expression indifferent, as if he hadn't noticed the commotion around him at all.
But just as he raised his hand to pick up some food, Lin Yuwei keenly noticed something amiss. His movement was a beat slower than usual; the tip of his chopsticks paused for a moment at the edge of the plate before he put the piece of green vegetable to his lips. He chewed very slowly, his jaw moved slightly, and the lines of his profile looked somewhat stiff under the light.
She had known him for twenty years and was very familiar with these little gestures of his. They were his subconscious reactions when he was suppressing his emotions; the calmer his exterior, the more turbulent the undercurrents.
"Director Liu, please don't joke with me," Lin Yuwei quickly said with a smile, trying to smooth things over. "President Zhou is so outstanding, the women who pursue him could probably line up all the way to the village entrance!" As she spoke, she raised her teacup and naturally changed the subject. "Let's toast the village chief with tea instead of wine, to thank the village committee for such a lavish hospitality, and to wish Longquan Village a bountiful harvest next year, and that the cultural corridor project will bring more development opportunities to Longquan Village."
Everyone raised their glasses, and the atmosphere became lively again. However, Lin Yuwei noticed that throughout the entire process, Gu Qingyan never looked up. He just stared intently at the bowl and plate in front of him, eating slowly and deliberately. His movements were still elegant and proper, but his tense jawline and overly straight back betrayed his current emotions.
When he finally looked up and spoke to the person next to him, his face was expressionless, but his eyes were a little cold and indifferent. Especially when his gaze inadvertently swept over Zhou Xubai, who was chatting and laughing, a very faint coldness seemed to flash under his eyes.
Lin Yuwei's heart sank slightly. Sure enough, when Zhou Xubai began to humorously introduce the next dish, she saw Gu Qingyan tighten her grip on the chopsticks slightly, and then suddenly pick up the rice wine on the table and drink it all in one gulp.
The village chief enthusiastically offered to refill his glass, but he gently covered the rim of the glass, his voice lower than usual: "Thank you, that's enough." He drank the wine too quickly, unlike his usual composed self. He wasn't savoring the wine; he was clearly trying to suppress some emotion.
She realized that the cultural corridor project had only just begun, and there were countless other aspects that required close collaboration. The cooperation between Shiguang Technology and Qichen Culture was crucial, and it was essential not to let any personal issues cause any complications that could affect the progress of the project. Perhaps she should do something to eliminate Gu Qingyan's dissatisfaction and estrangement.
After lunch, the village's open space was bustling with people, and the atmosphere of the Muyun Festival grew stronger. The next important part was about to begin, which required a man and a woman to complete together, symbolizing the harmony of yin and yang and a bountiful harvest. The village chief smiled and took out two bright red ribbons, preparing to explain the rules to everyone and invite volunteers on the spot.
Just then, Director Liu, with her sharp eyes, immediately interrupted with a loud laugh, pushing Zhou Xubai and Lin Yuwei out of the crowd without further ado: "Oh, village chief, what are you still choosing for! The perfect couple is right here!" As she spoke, she pushed the two to the center of the field: "Let's have Xiao Zhou and Xiao Lin! They are the most suitable! A handsome man and a beautiful woman, they look like a perfect match. With them representing our Longquan Village to complete this ceremony, next year will surely bring good weather and a bountiful harvest!"
Lin Yuwei was caught off guard by this sudden recommendation. She subconsciously wanted to wave her hand to refuse, and her eyes even involuntarily glanced quickly in Gu Qingyan's direction, with a hint of barely perceptible tension.
However, the enthusiastic smiles and expectant gazes of the surrounding villagers, along with Director Liu's undeniable enthusiasm, acted like an invisible net, blocking her from making the refusal that was on the tip of her tongue. In such a joyous and peaceful occasion, a hasty refusal would only seem inappropriate and spoil everyone's fun. Lin Yuwei sighed and decided that this was just one step, and she would find another reason to refuse later.
She finally suppressed her unease, forced a slightly strained smile, and said in a low voice, "Director Liu, you really are..." Her tone was tinged with helpless reproach, but it was also a tacit agreement. She braced herself and accepted the red silk handed to her by the village chief. She felt that the smooth silk was actually a little hot in her hand.
Unlike Lin Yuwei's worries, Director Liu's words struck Zhou Xubai's heart like a cheerful drumbeat. Although he showed a helpless smile on his face, as if he was just complying with the elder's arrangement, a clear sense of joy flashed in his eyes.
He turned his head and his gaze fell gently on Lin Yuwei, who looked a little awkward beside him. The afternoon sunlight filtered through the leaves and cast dappled light on her slightly flushed cheeks and the moon-white hem of her dress. In his eyes, she was breathtakingly beautiful.
However, this scene, especially Lin Yuwei's final refusal, was not missed by Gu Qingyan, who was standing on the outskirts of the crowd. He had been standing quietly, his dark blue wide-sleeved robes appearing particularly serene in the light and shadow, like a sculpture far removed from the noise. But when he saw Lin Yuwei being pushed into the center of the field, receiving the red silk, and standing side by side with Zhou Xubai, his deep eyes darkened almost imperceptibly, and the usual indifferent curve of his lips tightened slightly, forming a cold, hard line.
Those two bright red ribbons were particularly glaring in his eyes at that moment, as if they had become an eye-catching bond that tightly connected the two of them.
The village chief chuckled and began explaining the rules: "When the drum sounds, please each of you hold one end of a red ribbon and walk around the harvest tree three times. Your steps must be in sync, and the red ribbons must be taut. This symbolizes harmony between yin and yang, and unity of purpose, so that we can bring blessings from heaven and earth to our Longquan Village and ensure a bountiful harvest next year..."
The words "harmony of yin and yang" and "working together with one heart" struck Gu Qingyan's heart like an invisible hammer. He saw Zhou Xubai lean slightly towards Lin Yuwei and whisper something to her. His posture was natural and intimate, full of protection. Lin Yuwei lowered her eyes and nodded gently, seemingly used to Zhou Xubai's closeness.
Gu Qingyan was extremely frustrated. He suddenly shifted his gaze away from the much-anticipated "golden couple" in the arena, and instead turned his attention to the mottled and broken shadows of the trees on the ground, as if they contained some extremely profound mystery. His hands, which were behind his back, unconsciously curled slightly at the knuckles, but he quickly forced himself to relax them, and his face returned to a calm and composed expression.
Only those who are extremely close and have keen observation skills might be able to perceive the oppressive aura emanating from him, colder than usual, and the complex emotions that flashed briefly in the depths of his seemingly calm eyes. There was a hint of elusive bitterness within, and a deeper, almost instinctive, intense repulsion towards the person pushed to her side who was not himself. Before the drumbeats even sounded, he seemed to already hear some unsettling noise buzzing in his heart.
****
The drums sounded, deep and rhythmic, like the heartbeat of the earth, announcing the start of the ceremony.
Zhou Xubai took the lead, looking at Lin Yuwei with a gentle yet firm gaze, and nodded slightly in acknowledgment. With a gentle tug of the red silk in his hand, a steady force came through, and Lin Yuwei took a step forward. The two of them, each holding one end of the red silk, began to walk around the lush and bountiful harvest tree.
At first, Lin Yuwei was a little reserved, her steps slightly hesitant. The red silk ribbon was taut between them, like a burning bridge, transmitting their movements. Zhou Xubai keenly noticed this and immediately adjusted his pace, maintaining a perfect distance from her, neither letting the red silk ribbon slip and fall to the ground, nor pulling it too hard on her, because if the red silk ribbon fell, it would be considered unlucky and affect the village's fortune in the coming year.
His coordination was flawless, as if he had rehearsed it countless times. "Relax, follow the drumbeats." Zhou Xubai's voice came through the not-too-noisy crowd, deep and reassuring.
Three circles, seemingly simple, yet requiring a high degree of coordination. Their footsteps trod on the soft earth, echoing the ancient drumbeats. Zhou Xubai's gait was composed and elegant, while Lin Yuwei gradually found her rhythm, her skirt swaying slightly, her steps becoming lighter and smoother. The red silk between them was no longer an awkward constraint, but rather like a rhythmic musical note, flowing smoothly between them, undulating and swaying, drawing harmonious arcs.
Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled patterns of light on them and on the vibrant red silk. He would occasionally turn his head to look at her, his gaze focused, a faint but genuine smile playing on his lips. She would occasionally look up, meeting his gentle gaze, and involuntarily return a brief, slightly shy smile. To those around them, the scene was undeniably perfect, as if the "harmony" and "abundance" prayed for in the ritual had been embodied in the two of them.
However, beyond this seemingly perfect and harmonious "dance," Gu Qingyan, standing on the edge of the crowd, calmly followed the scene. What he saw was Zhou Xubai's every perfectly timed concession, how that glaring red ribbon tightly connected the two of them, and Lin Yuwei's entire process from initial panic to gradual relaxation, even showing a smile to Zhou Xubai.
He saw Zhou Xubai turn around and very naturally use his free hand to lightly support Lin Yuwei's lower back, guiding her to avoid a small pothole on the ground. The gesture was considerate and full of protectiveness. Lin Yuwei seemed to pause slightly, but did not avoid it.
Gu Qingyan's gaze faltered slightly, then deepened into a profound stillness. His aura seemed to be separated from the surrounding hustle and bustle by an invisible barrier, making him appear exceptionally detached. For him, every second of this solemn ceremony felt both incredibly clear and incredibly long.
After three laps, the drumbeats abruptly stopped. Zhou Xubai and Lin Yuwei stopped simultaneously, standing facing each other. The red ribbon remained taut between them, trembling slightly from the previous movement, as if retaining an unfinished rhythm.
A burst of enthusiastic applause and cheers erupted from the crowd.
Zhou Xubai did not immediately release the red silk. He looked at Lin Yuwei with a deeper smile in his eyes, as if sharing a joy of success that belonged only to the two of them. Lin Yuwei was slightly out of breath, and her cheeks were flushed even more from the exercise she had just completed and the gazes of everyone. She subconsciously wanted to pull her hand back, but she maintained the gesture of holding the rope in accordance with etiquette.
As soon as the applause began, Gu Qingyan indifferently shifted his gaze again, as if he had lost the last bit of interest in the perfectly concluded ceremony. He turned slightly to the side, his gaze fixed on the distant mountains, leaving only a cold and unapproachable profile.
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