Chapter 31 Gun and Kiss
Realizing this, Zhou Jiyue subconsciously loosened her grip.
"despair."
The doll fell to the ground, its comical face making intimate contact with the earth.
The air froze for a moment.
Realizing something was wrong, Pei Ze quickly picked up the doll, his eyes practically spitting fire, "Zhou Jiyue, what are you doing?!"
"You can't just throw it away if you don't like it."
I didn't throw it away.
Zhou Jiyue's lips moved, but she ultimately didn't say anything.
Pei Ze carefully patted the dust off the doll. "It really is so beautiful! It's already a miracle that my sister gave it to you. Even if you don't want it, you shouldn't throw it on the ground!"
"Give it to me if you don't want it!!"
Pei Ze became increasingly angry and shoved Zhou Jiyue hard.
Zhou Jiyue took a few steps back and snatched the doll from Pei Ze's hand.
"Hey!!" Pei Ze's eyes widened.
Zhou Jiyue, having retrieved the doll, looked at Pei Ci.
What should we do at this time?
Should we apologize?
Unfortunately, Pei Ci didn't even glance at him, but instead handed all the rings to Pei Ze.
"Sis, are we not playing anymore?" Pei Ze was about to fight Zhou Jiyue, so he didn't even have time to be angry with her. He looked at Pei Ci nervously.
"You guys have fun, I'm going to rest for a bit," Pei Ci said.
"Then I won't play anymore. I'll rest with you. There's nothing fun about this!"
He was about to put the rings back when he said that.
“No,” Pei Ci said. “Pei Ze, I want all the prizes for the third prize.”
Pei Ze was too energetic; she didn't want him to follow her. Fortunately, she had a pretty good grasp of Pei Ze's personality. He seemed impulsive, but he was more obedient than any of the boys around her.
Sure enough, after hearing her request, Pei Ze gripped the ring toss tightly in his hand, "Not only the third prize, but I can also get you the first prize!!"
Pei Ze rolled up his sleeves and got busy playing the ring toss game.
Pei Ci planned to find a public bench to rest so she could get through the garden party as quickly as possible. She actually regretted coming here; it wasn't helping her condition much, and she'd rather think about how to complete her mission or check on Ye Qingyu.
She walked aimlessly, thinking this to herself.
Zhou Jiyue followed silently to the side.
He was holding that comical doll in his hand.
Without the lively Pei Ze, the two finally revealed their true, icy nature.
Two ice cubes, barring any unforeseen circumstances, will remain two silent accidents, no matter how long they stay.
But Zhou Jiyue, this seemingly icy person, has clearly undergone a change that even he himself hasn't noticed.
"Why did you give me a doll?" Zhou Jiyue looked down at the girl's fair profile and asked.
"Why can't I give it to you?" Pei Ci retorted.
She had come to her senses by now and realized that forcibly giving Zhou Jiyue the doll was somewhat driven by resentment.
This was her doctor, and Pei Ci didn't want to cause a scene, so she held out her hand and said seriously, "Give it to me."
Zhou Jiyue was taken aback.
He hadn't expected there to be a possibility of taking it back.
If he gives it to Pei Ci now, he won't have to let such trivial matters affect his emotions anymore, and everything will go back to normal.
He was just her doctor, nothing more.
but……
Zhou Jiyue's dark blue eyes darkened slightly as she blocked Pei Ci's path.
They were now beneath a tree bursting with pink and green blossoms, its branches adorned with pale pink and red ribbons. Sunlight filtered through the flowers and twigs, casting dappled patterns of light onto the two of them.
Your heart is racing, your blood is flowing backward, or your dopamine and other hormones are surging wildly.
While rationally analyzing his physical condition, Zhou Jiyue called out Pei Ci's name. Pei Ci looked up and calmly looked at him.
He seemed to suddenly understand why those people were so eager for her gaze, because he felt the same way at that moment.
So he looked at her and asked softly, "Are you sure you want to give it to me?"
But what he really wanted to say was, "Do you really want to change me? To make me chaotic and confused, to turn me from an observer into a player?" He wasn't that foolish woman who held onto her sincere heart only to have it cruelly trampled in this pointless game of love.
What he wants is to get it.
Can you really bear the consequences of changing me?
Zhou Jiyue only thought these words in his heart; he wouldn't say them aloud because this wasn't a question, nor was it asking Pei Ci to make a choice. He didn't want an answer or agreement.
He simply watched coldly as he fell.
No matter what he becomes, Pei Ci should take responsibility.
Therefore, regardless of Pei Ci's answer, he withdrew his hand, his slender fingers pressing down on the blue doll, his sharp brows suppressing his heavy emotions, and his dark blue pupils reflecting the girl's image.
He calmly declared, "This is mine."
The sunlight was hidden behind the clouds, making the flowers and trees appear dim. A gentle breeze blew through her hair, and Pei Ci frowned.
Something seems off.
But it's just a doll, it's not a big deal.
"I'd like to find a place to sit," Pei Ci said, choosing to skip the topic.
Zhou Jiyue then stepped aside, and the two continued walking side by side toward the pavilion.
As they walked through a long street, more than twenty humanoid dolls suddenly appeared in the middle of the road. These dolls were the same as the ones Pei Ci had given to Zhou Jiyue—large patches of blue with adorably ugly faces. They formed two loose lines, one doll holding a speaker and playing fast-paced music, and the other scattering coins.
This immediately attracted a large crowd of onlookers.
Pei Ci wasn't used to the overly lively and crowded atmosphere. Her pale face flushed slightly, her brows furrowed, and she clutched Zhou Jiyue's clothes, wanting Zhou Jiyue to take her away quickly.
However, the next second—
"Stealing a phone!"
Someone is stealing your phone!
Suddenly someone shouted something, and because the "you" was ambiguous, even Pei Ci subconsciously reached for her pocket. In those few seconds, several dolls jostled each other, and by the time Pei Ci came to her senses, she was already scattered in the crowd, with a huge blue-black head in front of her.
Pei Ci remembered that this was the tallest of the two rows of puppets.
So now I've gotten separated from Zhou Jiyue.
Pei Cixiu frowned, took out her phone. Her phone only had Zhou Jiyue's contact information, but when she called, it showed no answer.
As she did all this, the huge blue mascot beside her watched silently. After she clearly showed impatience, he took out the prepared paper and pen from the pocket of the mascot costume and stiffly controlled his hand under the costume to write crooked words.
He handed the paper to Pei Ci, on which was written:
I'll take you to a place to rest.
Pei Ci stared at the word for a second, then looked at the doll beside her. She could feel someone half-supporting her and leading her away from the center of the chaos. She had initially thought it was Zhou Jiyue, but now it seemed…
"Did you take me away?"
The doll paused, but under Pei Ci's gaze, it wrote a single word on the paper.
--Um.
"Why?"
—I'll take you to a quiet place.
Why do this?
This question seemed difficult to answer. The doll wrote on a piece of paper, then tore it up. It took out a new piece, scribbled on it, and finally wrote:
I won't hurt you.
This sentence...
Pei Ci stared at the sentence in silence for a few seconds, then suddenly raised her hand and poked the doll's face.
The mascot costume was thick and heavy, so it didn't poke anything. But the person seemed to be startled and suddenly took two steps back before stopping.
Pei Ci noticed that there should be a watch on the wrist inside the leather case.
She pressed her lips down slightly, her thick, long eyelashes obscuring the emotions in her eyes. But in the end, she gave a soft "hmm."
After receiving her consent, the doll subconsciously reached out to hold Pei Ci's hand, but immediately pulled back just before touching her, instead pointing Pei Ci in a direction.
As they walked, they arrived at the center of the garden party.
This is a big stage; a party is supposed to be held here tonight. The staff are adjusting the equipment and setting up the venue.
The moment Pei Ci and the doll arrived, they immediately attracted everyone's attention.
"Is this the celebrity who's coming tonight?"
"It's so pretty, but it looks so small."
"Why did that ugly doll come along?"
The crowd was whispering, but the manager's arrival immediately silenced them.
The manager was a bespectacled, well-dressed elite. He walked over, nodded to the doll, bowed politely to Pei Ci, and then gestured for them to look at a room.
"Please come this way."
Pei Ci and the doll followed her inside. It was an elegant private room, specially tidied up. Fruit and candy were laid out on the table, and tea was brewing, its steam carrying a faint aroma. The chairs were upholstered with soft cushions. The curtains of the floor-to-ceiling windows were drawn back; this was the top floor of the building, offering a panoramic view of the entire garden party.
Pei Ci sat in the chair.
Undeniably, she preferred the quiet environment to the noisy atmosphere below.
She looked at the doll next to her, which stood there blankly, showing no intention of taking off its headgear.
Pei Ci wanted to see how long he could keep up the act.
"It's a bit cold," Pei Ci said casually, holding her water glass.
The doll on the other side immediately went to adjust the air conditioner.
Pei Ci has a naturally cool constitution and is more resistant to heat than most people. Looking at her expressionless face on the shiny tabletop, she calmly added, "Turn it up to 33 degrees."
The doll's hand paused.
Finally, the temperature in the room gradually climbed towards the temperature Pei Ci requested.
After adjusting the temperature, the doll turned on the music switch and played the light music that Pei Ci usually played.
After doing all this, the doll obediently sat back down in the corner. It seemed to have truly become a lifeless, inanimate object.
The air conditioner was excellent at heating. Soon, the entire room turned into a steam room. Because of the temperature, a faint pink appeared on Pei Ci's fingers. She didn't care, but instead observed the doll that had brought her there.
Sure enough, there was a reaction; the person started frequently touching the headgear with their fingers.
However, he seemed to be hesitant about something and eventually withdrew his hand.
The people inside must be being roasted by the flames right now.
Pei Ci took a sip of water and made a new request.
"Aren't there any games or entertainment?"
This sound awakened the blue doll once again. Unlike before, this time his steps were slightly unsteady, and he walked shakily to Pei Ci, wrote something on a piece of paper, and handed it to her.
What do you want to play?
The paper felt damp.
Do you have a gun?
Pei Ci tilted her head and asked.
While playing the ring toss game, she noticed a game of shooting balloons with an air gun nearby.
The doll naturally granted Pei Ci's every request, but this request took a little longer. About half an hour later, the doll came in carrying an iron box.
Pei Ci opened the box.
It was definitely a gun.
Real guns.
Pei Ci: "..."
Pei Ci is the eldest daughter of the Pei family, a world-leading arms dealer. From a young age, her older brother exposed her to various firearms. When her illness was less pronounced, Pei Chi intended to groom her as the heir to the Pei family.
“Ah Ci, you’re better suited to holding a gun than a bouquet of flowers.” Her brother handed her the gun. “From now on, you’ll stand with your brother.”
However, her condition worsened, and she fell behind in her studies.
This gun is the lightest model available, with low recoil, but it is still a deadly weapon.
Pei Ci casually picked up the gun. There was a beautiful fruit platter on the table. She took out a brightly colored apple from it and put it in the doll's hand.
But this was definitely not a reward, because Pei Ci then added, "Stand ten meters away from me and put the apple on your head."
Pei Ci's purpose was obvious from these words.
She wanted to make him her target.
Ten meters—this distance is neither close nor far, but when it comes to life, any distance becomes terrifying.
The girl simply watched him quietly.
She didn't urge them or suggest ending this dangerous game; instead, she casually shifted all the pressure onto the other party.
How far can you go for me?
Pei Ci cradled one side of her face in her palm, resembling a statue testing the piety of believers.
"Knock knock knock".
Sensing danger, a knock came at the door from outside, pleading for help.
After a long silence, the doll moved, carrying an apple towards the door. Just as Pei Ci thought he was going to open the door, the doll decisively locked it from the inside. He turned off the soothing music, leaned against the door, his exceptionally well-proportioned body stretching out like a wildly growing giant tree.
And this tree places its heart on its head.
Then, he beckoned to Pei Ci.
In the stifling heat, Pei Ci felt inexplicably provoked. Her pale index finger rubbed the trigger, the dark muzzle not aimed at Apple, but at his head.
“My marksmanship has never been good,” Pei Ci said calmly.
The doll's head tilted slightly, but its owner quickly pressed it back down, and its body straightened even more, the comical headgear seemingly mocking Pei Ci's hesitation.
Pei Ci's expression turned cold.
"Bang--"
A gunshot rang out.
The pierced apple rolled to the ground.
Despite her reservations, she ultimately moved the gun up slightly.
At that moment, Pei Ci threw the smoking gun on the ground, her slender body curled up on the back of the chair, her black hair gleaming with a pale white light.
"It's boring."
This is really boring.
Some people have the life to live but want to die.
Some people want to live but don't have the life to live.
On what grounds?
Pei Ci bit her lip, her clenched fingers almost digging into her flesh.
She also wanted to live.
The doll, having narrowly escaped death, hadn't even had time to feel lucky before it was startled by the girl's unusual behavior, jumping up and down in fright. He rushed to Pei Ci, his tall frame crouching before her knees. Even in his extreme anxiety, he didn't forget to tightly fasten his protective suit. He hastily scribbled a few lines on the paper:
What's wrong.
What exactly happened?
Now, can you point your gun at my heart?
Can I stand right in front of you?
You can do whatever you want.
His hairy hands tried to touch the girl's hair, but because he was wrapped in a mascot costume, he only made her hair messy.
Pei Ci was so bothered that she kicked him in the lower abdomen.
She wasn't very strong, and the doll didn't react at first, then clumsily fell over in a comical manner. Seeing that Pei Ci didn't react, it could only miserably get up from the ground, squat down to the side, and write on the paper again:
Did I make you angry?
Pei Ci didn't say anything, she just crumpled the paper into pieces.
The indoor temperature was extremely high, but the body wrapped in the doll was like a fireball. The intense heat even made Pei Ci, who was next to him, feel uncomfortable.
Pei Ci was fed up with this foolish game and said, unable to contain herself any longer:
"Lu Ran, how much longer are you going to pretend?"
These words completely froze the person inside the doll, and Pei Ci seized the opportunity to remove his headgear with both hands. The empty, large headgear was thrown on the ground, and Pei Ci first felt the scalding steam mixed with the scent of hormones. After the heat subsided, Pei Ci saw Lu Ran's face.
This is a face that the author painstakingly sculpted.
High-arched eyebrows, deep-set eyes, a straight nose, dark and deep black pupils, and a sharp jawline. This face is impeccably handsome, noble and beautiful. It's like a character drawn with pen and paper, yet it doesn't have the slightest trace of artificiality.
At this moment, his face, from his brow bone to his chin, was covered with fine water droplets. His dark, straight eyelashes were stuck together in several strands, and his sharply defined eyes and cheekbones were flushed with a faint red. His thin lips were slightly parted, and his face was full of astonishment.
After a few seconds of confusion, Pei Ci lowered her eyes and said in a cold, questioning tone, "Lu Ran, what exactly do you want to do?"
Lu Ran blinked slowly.
He remembered what Pei Ci had said last night.
She didn't want to see him.
And now, he's messed up again.
A bead of sweat fell into his eye.
"I..." Lu Ran suppressed the agitation in his heart, "Do I always make you angry?"
"No, I won't do it again." Lu Ran murmured, then suddenly took off the mascot costume on his own.
The mascot costume was completely soaked. His black t-shirt clung tightly to his chest and abdomen, outlining his firm and smooth muscle lines, while his wet hands completely enveloped Pei Ci's palms.
“Ah Ci, I’m sick. I’m leaving soon to go abroad for treatment. The doctor said I have a 30% chance of recovery.”
"If I can come back, I won't go crazy for you anymore, and you won't fall into a coma because of me."
“If I don’t come back, I’ll have Jinglin take care of you. He’s a cowardly and vicious dog; he won’t dare do anything to you. You can use him however you want.”
This is a plan that Lu Ran made after careful consideration last night while the cold wind was blowing.
The 30% probability seemed slim, but at the same time, he thought that this was just a way to prove whether the voice he heard in his mind was just his own imagination.
If he were the male protagonist, then all of this would be a test leading to the ending. Even with only a 30% chance of recovery, he would still be a 30% miracle, reuniting with his female protagonist.
All of this should have been done quietly.
But the thought of not being able to see her after going abroad made him greedy.
With only a few days left, he wanted to spend time with her.
It's fine even if you don't show your face.
However, this angered her again.
Lu Ran lowered his eyelids and spoke in a light tone, his words heavy, "Now, your feelings for me have plummeted to rock bottom, haven't they?"
silence.
A deathly silence.
That's for sure.
Lu Ran's breath reeked of blood. Damn it, he'd rather die by her gun.
Otherwise, things wouldn't have come to this point, with people giving up and harboring malicious thoughts.
How do male and female leads in movies and TV dramas act out their roles? Whether they're going to the front lines or participating in life-or-death trials, when they say goodbye to the female lead, do they always...?
Countless similar movie and TV show clips flashed through his mind. The chaotic and confusing images made him blink in a daze. His eyes, like those of a dying wolf, stared straight at the girl he was half-embracing.
She is beautiful, pretty, and quiet; she is like a quietly growing orchid.
Anyway, I'm already this bad.
His damp hand loosened its grip on hers, which had been clenched until it was red. Each knuckle of his loosened hand trembled as he gently placed it against the girl's neck.
"Ah Ci, this is the last time," he said.
These words brought Pei Ci back to her senses. Lu Ran was going abroad for medical treatment? How could that be? How could she let Lu Ran leave? She still needed him to complete her mission.
She has to stop him!
Pei Ci was unusually flustered, her fingers pressing against the boy's pounding chest, her pursed lips parting, "Lu Ran, you..."
Suddenly, a hand gripped her head, and everything went black. Then, her lips touched something burning hot.
Pei Ci's pupils suddenly contracted.
-----------------------
Author's Note: F4, Ye, Da Zhou, one at a time, take your time [doge emoji]
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