Chapter 69 (Seeking Gu Yun'an)
After leaving the ancestral hall, Ruan Xingzhu seemed to be shrouded in an invisible gloom, her heart heavy as if burdened by a thousand-pound weight.
Her gaze unconsciously drifted toward the direction of Huaiju, her eyes filled with a complex mix of hesitation and entanglement.
If she really went to Huaiju, she would have to face Gu Yun'an. Just thinking about facing Gu Yun'an made her feel a strange sense of panic and shyness.
Ever since her ambiguous entanglement with Gu Yun'an, she blushed with embarrassment whenever she thought about it, and she really didn't want to face his deep, all-seeing gaze.
Recalling her complicated and ambiguous relationship with Gu Yun'an, Ruan Xingzhu felt her cheeks burning, as if a fire was burning in her heart, making her uneasy and even more afraid to see him easily.
If she didn't go, she really couldn't break her promise to Gu Qingxu. After all, she had promised Gu Qingxu.
Moreover, Gu Qingxu was imprisoned before she was allowed to go. After a struggle with herself, she took a deep breath, made up her mind, and slowly moved towards Huaiju.
Unlike her usual joyful trips to Huaiju, this time her steps were heavy, her heart filled with heavy thoughts.
Each step felt like it was treading on my own troubled heart.
Upon arriving at Huaiju, Ruan Xingzhu subconsciously looked around but did not see Gu Yun'an.
Thus, she could only wait anxiously in the courtyard, where time seemed to slow down in this torment.
She slowly strolled to the edge of the pond, staring blankly at the fish swimming quietly in the water. Her thoughts were somewhat scattered; she couldn't even remember the last time she had come to Huaiju to catch fish.
Since her entanglement with Gu Yun'an, she has deliberately distanced herself from Huaiju, even avoiding Gu Yun'an's face whenever possible, as if by avoiding him, she could throw away all those complicated emotions.
Just then, a slight sound came from the courtyard gate, like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, instantly breaking the silence.
Ruan Xingzhu's heart skipped a beat, and her eyelashes fluttered rapidly. She knew that Gu Yun'an had returned; after all, outsiders rarely set foot in Huaiju.
She hurriedly averted her gaze, turned around, and watched the familiar figure approaching from afar. She bowed slightly, her voice tinged with nervousness and respect, and softly called out, "Fourth Brother."
Because she had come to ask him for a favor, she suppressed her shyness and tried her best not to avoid looking at him.
As the tall figure approached, upon seeing that it was indeed her, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes, followed by deep suspicion.
After all, ever since that day he took her, she had always avoided him. Even when she occasionally came to Huaiju, it was mostly under his constant coercion and threats. It was truly a strange thing that she had come here on her own initiative.
Under the shadows, Gu Yun'an's already possessive figure appeared even more imposing, accentuated by his black robe.
Like a cheetah poised to pounce, he took a steady step forward. He narrowed his eyes, a hint of mockery flashing within them, and his voice carried a touch of teasing.
"Didn't Xingzhu not want to come to Huaiju?"
His cool gaze went straight into her watery eyes, as if trying to uncover all the secrets in her heart.
His aggressive approach struck Ruan Xingzhu like a bolt of lightning, causing her to instinctively take a few steps back, her expression as flustered as a lost lamb.
Startled by the sudden movement, her lips trembled slightly, and she subconsciously licked her dry lips, unsure how to answer the question posed by the person in front of her.
Seeing her obvious retreat, Gu Yun'an's smiling eyes gradually turned cold.
Looking at her slender figure and the way she seemed afraid of him approaching, he couldn't help but scoff. He felt a surge of anger and stopped moving forward.
His gaze swept coldly over her, then he turned and went into the house without looking back.
Since she came here on her own initiative, she must have something to ask of me, so why should I go out of my way to please her?
His broad figure stirred up a gentle breeze, lightly brushing against Ruan Xingzhu's face. Ruan Xingzhu stared blankly at Gu Yun'an's retreating figure, a sudden anxiety rising in her heart.
On a whim, she quickly jogged after him.
Hearing her hurried footsteps behind him, a triumphant smile appeared on Gu Yun'an's cold face.
Ruan Xingzhu was only focused on chasing him, thinking only of not letting him get away, and didn't notice that the person in front of her had slowed down. So much so that before she could react, she bumped into his hard, iron-like back.
"Waaah..."
A slight pain shot through her forehead, and she couldn't help but let out a soft cry. Her eyes, filled with tears, instinctively turned to Gu Yun'an.
Gu Yun'an had already turned around. Seeing her like this, he couldn't help but shake his head helplessly, thinking to himself, how could she be so stupid as to run into this situation?
"Fourth brother."
Ruan Xingzhu spoke weakly, her voice filled with endless grievances, like a child who had done something wrong, looking at him pitifully.
Seeing her like this, Gu Yun'an felt an urge to pull her into his arms and comfort her, but he restrained himself, took a deep breath, said nothing, and strode back into the house.
Seeing that Gu Yun'an had ignored her for the second time, Ruan Xingzhu felt an unprecedented sense of loss.
Before she arrived, she had imagined countless possible scenarios, but she never expected that Gu Yun'an would treat her so coldly.
It felt like something had stabbed her in the heart, and a strange sour feeling rose up. She didn't know if it was because Gu Yun'an was ignoring her.
Seeing that he had already entered the house, Ruan Xingzhu gritted her teeth and hurriedly followed him in. However, once inside, she felt like an outsider who had intruded into unfamiliar territory, and became completely at a loss.
Gu Yun'an acted as if she didn't exist, leisurely taking a sip of tea without even glancing at her.
If it were in the past, Ruan Xingzhu would have run over to him like a happy little bird, snuggled up to him affectionately, and even playfully complained to Gu Yun'an for ignoring her.
But now, after what she's been through, she really doesn't dare to be so reckless anymore.
Gu Yun'an saw that Ruan Xingzhu remained standing still after the person came in, and simply sipped his tea. After all, only by sitting still can you catch a big fish. He wanted to see how long Ruan Xingzhu could keep up her coyness.
Ruan Xingzhu's gaze never left him. Seeing that the tea in his cup was gradually running low, she hurriedly stepped forward and carefully refilled it for him.
She picked up the teacup with both hands and handed it to him, her face showing a hint of flattery and a desire for credit, and timidly called out, "Fourth Brother."
A faint smile appeared on the man's lips, but it vanished in an instant. His gaze lingered on her for only a few seconds before he casually took the teacup, still ignoring her.
A hint of loneliness instantly welled up in Ruan Xingzhu's eyes. It felt as if a sharp needle had pierced her heart, filling her with a sour feeling. Her chest felt heavy and tight, and she felt extremely uncomfortable.
She longed to throw herself into his arms and whine to him why he was being so cold to her, but she knew she couldn't do that, and she understood the real reason for his coldness.
Finally, after Ruan Xingzhu had served him tea for what seemed like the umpteenth time, Gu Yun'an couldn't hold back any longer and asked, "What exactly are you doing here?"
Ruan Xingzhu's slightly relaxed mood instantly became tense again. She hesitated for a moment, her voice trembling slightly.
"Fourth brother, I came here today because I want to..."
She paused, then mustered her courage to look into his eyes.
"I'd like to ask you to help Fifth Sister."
After speaking haltingly, Ruan Xingzhu didn't dare to breathe, her heart pounding in her throat, fearing that Gu Yun'an would reject her outright because she had displeased him.
Seeing Ruan Xingzhu's troubled expression, Gu Yun'an guessed that Gu Qingsu had probably sent her to beg him.
He never expected that Gu Qingxu, who was always carefree and unrestrained, would fall in love with someone.
However, the women of the Gu family seem to be lacking in luck, missing that one thread of love. Otherwise, why would they repeatedly fail to get what they want in matters of the heart? Now, even someone like Gu Qingxu is trapped in this web of love.
Seeing that Gu Yun'an had not given a response for a long time, Ruan Xingzhu became increasingly uneasy. She couldn't help but ask cautiously, "Fourth brother, is it okay?"
Gu Yun'an's thoughts were pulled back by her soft words, and his dark eyes looked at the treetops outside the house that were still swaying in the breeze.
Actually, if Gu Qingxu had come to him directly, he would have helped her out of consideration for their past relationship.
But since Ruan Xingzhu has come, how could he not make the most of this hard-won opportunity?
He slightly curved his thin lips into a meaningful smile, his gaze slowly falling on her, his tone leisurely and seductive.
"Xingzhu knows what I want, right?"
That seductive voice, like a ghostly whisper, accompanied each word clearly reaching Ruan Xingzhu's ears.
Her face, which had been relatively calm, instantly flushed with a hot blush, and her eyes began to dart away, unable to look him in the eye.
Gu Yun'an noticed her unusual expression, but his smile only intensified instead of fading. He leaned back lazily in his chair, looking confident and waiting for her answer with great interest.
A gentle breeze drifted into the room, softly lifting a few strands of hair near Ruan Xingzhu's ear. The strands of hair danced in the air like silk threads, just like the turmoil in her heart at that moment, chaotic and difficult to calm.
The conflicted look in her eyes grew stronger, like a fog that lingered for a long time, which is why she hesitated to express her opinion.
Gu Yun'an was naturally not in a hurry. He was relaxed, as if everything in the world was under his control.
The slender man picked up the tea that Ruan Xingzhu had prepared for him again. As he sipped the tea, his gaze swept over Ruan Xingzhu with a subtle, almost imperceptible intensity, as if he were examining a precious object or waiting for his prey to fall into his trap.
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