The accounts of the Ministry of Revenue.
Shen Jintang lowered his eyes, a hint of darkness flashing in them.
Inside Baichuan Academy.
Gu Zhixing lay on the table, sunlight streaming through the window and falling on his face, gilding his features with a soft golden edge.
His brows were slightly furrowed, and his eyes were somewhat vacant, as if he were thinking about something, or as if he wasn't thinking about anything at all.
The sunlight cast dappled shadows on his face, half bright and half shadow, just like his mood at that moment.
What are you thinking about?
Gu Yanqing saw that Gu Zhixing was lying on the table, staring blankly at the door, like a stone statue that had lost its soul.
He casually picked up a book and threw it at him, snapping him out of his daze.
Gu Zhixing mechanically raised his hand to catch the book, but still couldn't muster any interest, his face filled with melancholy.
Ye Qingzhou chimed in, complaining, "Boss, I bought those crickets days ago, and you still haven't taken me to see them! The weather's nice today, why don't we go see the crickets?"
Gu Zhixing was in a bad mood, so he slapped Ye Qingzhou aside and said irritably, "Don't block my way!"
Ye Qingzhou stumbled and almost lost his balance. He rubbed his shoulder and muttered, "Boss, is it really necessary? It's just looking at crickets, I didn't say anything else."
Looking at Gu Zhixing's lost and dejected appearance, Gu Yanqing shook his head helplessly and asked, "What are you thinking about? You've been like a lost soul since this morning."
Gu Zhixing withdrew his gaze from the doorway, sighed, and said, "I wasn't thinking about anything, I'm just a little annoyed."
A hint of mockery flashed in Gu Yanqing's eyes, as if he had seen through something, and he teased, "Are you annoyed, or annoyed that the girl isn't coming to see you?"
"A girl?" Upon hearing this, Ye Qingzhou's eyes darted around, and he suddenly leaned close to Gu Zhixing, saying mysteriously, "Boss, wanting a girl is easy! I heard that Baixiang Pavilion has recently received a lot of pretty girls, why don't we go check them out tonight?"
Bai Xiang Lou.
That is, a brothel.
Gu Zhixing frowned, instantly understanding Ye Qingzhou's meaning. He raised his hand and slapped him on the head again, scolding, "What nonsense are you talking about! Do I look like that kind of person?"
Ye Qingzhou scratched her head, looking aggrieved, and said, "Then tell me what you've been thinking? From just now until now, you've been acting like someone owes you money."
Gu Yanqing also looked at Gu Zhixing, waiting for his answer.
Gu Zhixing was silent for a while before speaking, "I'm just annoyed."
"What's bothering you?" Gu Yanqing continued to ask.
Gu Zhixing was already feeling depressed and wanted to confide in someone. Now that things had come to this point, he naturally didn't hold back anymore and said, "It's just..."
Gu Zhixing noticed that Shen Jintang had been leaving early and returning late these past few days, and he had barely exchanged two words with her all day.
Every time he came back in the evening, Shen Jintang was exhausted from the day, and he was too embarrassed to talk to her.
When I got up in the morning, Shen Jintang had already left.
During this busy period, she didn't even ask about his studies.
I used to care a lot about his studies.
This made him feel abandoned.
It seemed as if Shen Jintang's gentle words to him before were merely a means to exploit him.
Now that we've used him up, he's no longer of any use, so we'll just leave him aside.
Gu Zhixing poured out all his confusion, and at the end, he added, "Tell me, what's wrong with me? I feel like I'm sick."
The mockery in Gu Yanqing's eyes intensified as she looked at him with a half-smile, as if she were plotting something wicked.
Ye Qingzhou scratched his head, looking puzzled and innocent, and shrugged, saying, "I've never experienced anything like this before, I really don't know what to do."
"What are you laughing at?" Gu Zhixing noticed Gu Yanqing's suppressed laughter and gave him a punch in annoyance.
That punch really got Gu Yanqing laughing out loud, instantly attracting the attention of everyone around him.
"I don't think you're sick; you're clearly lovesick!" Gu Yanqing looked at Gu Zhixing with great interest, his eyes full of mockery.
"Lovesickness?" Gu Zhixing did not immediately refute, but frowned slightly and fell into deep thought.
Longing?
Could it be that I have those kinds of feelings for Shen Jintang?
"Why do you think I'm lovesick?" he asked, his eyes full of seriousness and inquiry.
Gu Yanqing sat up straight and said in a serious tone, "When you're around Shen Jintang, does your heart beat faster involuntarily, and do your eyes always wander towards her?"
Gu Zhixing nodded subconsciously.
"When she's not around, do you find yourself constantly thinking about her and unable to stop thinking about her?" Gu Yanqing continued to press.
Gu Zhixing nodded again, but then retorted, "My heart races when I'm fighting crickets, and I miss them when I can't see them. Do you think I'm lovesick for crickets?"
Gu Yanqing burst into laughter upon hearing this.
Gu Zhixing grew anxious and pressed, "Tell me quickly!"
Gu Yanqing could only suppress her emotions and patiently explain to him, "I'm asking you, what do you plan to do when you can't beat the crickets?"
“Just go!” Gu Zhixing said directly.
"But when you can't see Shen Jintang, do you dare to go directly to her and ask her like you're catching a cricket?" Gu Yanqing asked again.
Upon hearing this, Gu Zhixing was immediately speechless.
Seeing that Gu Zhixing remained silent, Gu Yanqing's smile deepened, and he said with a touch of emotion, "When you fall in love, you become timid and insecure."
"You talk like you have a lot of experience," Ye Qingzhou suddenly poked her head out and said.
Gu Yanqing's smile froze for a moment, but quickly returned to normal, as if nothing had happened.
Even after returning to the Princess's residence, Gu Zhixing's mind was still filled with this matter.
Longing?
Do I like Shen Jintang?
He pondered this question repeatedly, to the point that he couldn't concentrate on reading a single word of his favorite detective novels.
"His Royal Highness?"
Suddenly, Shen Jintang's voice rang in my ears, breaking the silence of the room.
Gu Zhixing was leaning back on the couch, playing with a few books in his hand.
Upon hearing the noise, he instinctively hid the books behind his back, like a child who had done something wrong.
But in the end, it was too late; Shen Jintang had already seen it.
"You...why are you back so early?"
Gu Zhixing looked up at Shen Jintang, his eyes instantly lighting up as if stars had been lit.
She hadn't spoken to him so proactively in a long time.
I came back earlier than usual today.
Shen Jintang did not answer Gu Zhixing's question, but instead asked, "What is Your Highness hiding?"
Shen Jintang narrowed her eyes slightly, looking with great interest in the direction where Gu Zhixing had hidden the book.
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