Yu Yuanshen was deep in thought until he saw Gu Zixuan turn over in her sleep, rubbing her small face against the pillow unconsciously, a smile flickering at the corners of his lips, his gaze returning to a soft focus. He pushed her messy hair behind her ear, pondering for a moment. Though he felt it was inappropriate, he couldn’t resist leaning in to give her face a light peck. The warm, soft touch seemed to make Gu Zixuan aware of something, a color appeared on her face. Yu Yuanshen watched her, chuckled, then got up and walked out. He closed the door, and the bedroom was left in darkness. In her sleep, Gu Zixuan was having a chaotic dream. In the dream, she seemed to return to eight years ago, or maybe ten years ago, or even back to her childhood. Too many people and events buzzed around her. It was as if many people were talking to her, but she couldn’t see clearly who they were. Until suddenly, a warm kiss approached her face. When she looked at it in shock, she clearly saw Feng Chengjin’s face, and his smiling lips, with a low, husky voice, "What’s wrong?" You say what’s wrong! Gu Zixuan woke trembling from the dream, opened her eyes, and found her cheeks were burning hot again, and her heart was pounding uncontrollably. Thinking about that embarrassing dream, Gu Zixuan rubbed her cheeks speechlessly and frustrated, not understanding why she would think of Feng Chengjin to this extent. Could it be that she really likes him to the point of infiltrating every corner of her life? Unable to figure it out, and embarrassed by the heat of her cheeks, she couldn’t help but grab her phone, wanting to see if the bastard who was disturbing her mind had sent a message. Official source is NovєlFіre.net As it turned out, upon checking her phone, there was indeed a message. Feng Chengjin: [Are you feeling better today?] Gu Zixuan pursed her lips in annoyance. But she held her fingers over the phone screen, wanting to ask: Do you like me? Yet, she felt she couldn’t send it. Would it show her lack of emotional intelligence? Gu Zixuan was torn, and finally, she sulkily replied, [What did you mean last night?] At the Boao Economic Forum meeting, Feng Chengjin was listening to a Central department minister’s speech, when he felt a vibration in his pocket and took out his phone. Lowering his eyes, he glanced at it, his dark eyes instantly curving into a smile. Under the table, he swiftly typed with one finger, replying: [What do you mean? What are you talking about?] Immediately, Gu Zixuan was infuriated, sitting up from her bed, she quickly tapped her fingers, [Feng Chengjin, you can’t be this shameless.] Feng Chengjin frowned. That’s really not a nice adjective... Replied: [What did I do?] "..." Instantly, Gu Zixuan was speechless, fiddling with her hair. After a long while, she replied, I think you like me, pretending otherwise isn’t right either. Reply I don’t want to guess if you like me, can you just tell me, also isn’t right. Finally, not knowing what to say, Gu Zixuan replied, [I’m not going tomorrow.] Then, click, she turned off her phone. Gu Zixuan sulkily continued to sleep, last night’s insomnia had completely messed up her biological clock. Thinking of Feng Chengjin who even bothered her in her dreams, not letting her rest well, she pursed her lips and cursed him with a whole zoo in her heart before drifting back to sleep... At the venue, Feng Chengjin frowned at the message, momentarily tuning out the minister’s speech. His lips curved into a smile, with a hint of indulgent helplessness. This woman, she’s even angry now... Gu Zixuan woke up again just in time for dinner. Luckily, the visit from her aunt saved her from Brother Yu’s suspicion over her excessively long nap. Blushing, she joined in serving the meal. Beside her, Yu Wei couldn’t quite understand why Gu Zixuan also showed this expression when seeing her brother. However, during Zixuan’s most difficult times, whoever helped her the most, she would naturally lean towards that person, which was normal. Liking is not the same as marriage, and having experienced a failed marriage, Zixuan understood this very well. So after weighing all the factors, Yu Wei didn’t think her brother would lose out. And having never witnessed two handsome men competing for a woman, Yu Wei decided to gleefully watch the unfolding drama from the sidelines. During dinner, perhaps it was because Yu Wei was smiling too mischievously and didn’t hide it. Yu Yuanshen, while serving chicken soup with red dates and wolfberries to Gu Zixuan, couldn’t help but frown, "Feeling a bit crazy, need some medicine?" "Pfft." Beside him, Gu Zixuan, who had been stared at uncomfortably, couldn’t help but burst into laughter. Yu Wei was taken aback and rolled her eyes dramatically. No wonder she never liked this brother since childhood, truly, the warmth of his nature never seemed to extend to her. She pursed her lips and tapped the edge of her bowl, "Can I get some equal treatment?" Unexpectedly, this action made Yu Yuanshen furrow his brows, his voice gentle as he said, "Don’t tap the utensils while eating." Alright! Yu Wei really thought she might as well take a trip to the mental hospital. In the end, it was Gu Zixuan who couldn’t help but take Yu Wei’s bowl and serve her some soup, and that was that. Yet this didn’t escape Yu Yuanshen’s displeased purse of the lips, "She’s not feeling well, can’t you do it yourself?" Truly wild, truly wild! Recalling that time with Feng Chengyue, seeing how Feng Chengjin negotiated with his sister in a gentle manner, almost pampering her entirely, accompanying her in whatever she did. Yu Wei truly felt that there’s a reason why he could attract girls, why women liked him. Trained from a young age! Then look at her own brother... Sipping her soup gloomily, she decided on the matter of Yu Yuanshen pursuing Gu Zixuan, she would not help at all. Let him not take bean buns as dry food, not take enoki mushrooms as guns! After dinner, it was at night when Gu Zixuan received a call from Liang Xi. Listening to Liang Xi’s unexplained invitation, Gu Zixuan really wanted to say no. But thinking about these ten years, understanding He Qimo’s character... Silence, her pupils narrowed slightly, "He’s already too afraid to call me directly to speak?" On the other end of the line, Liang Xi gave a bitter laugh, his voice quite desolate, "Does the husband call only to end up with the wife answering..." "..." Gu Zixuan chuckled softly and pursed her lips. Indeed, she wouldn’t answer. But... at least it would be a stance, and now he doesn’t even have the courage for a stance? With a pale smile, she walked to the window, overlooking the dazzling lights of Rong City adorned in autumn’s garb. For a long time, scenes from the past ten years seemed to float through her mind, finally landing on her family, which was already shattered on one side and precarious on the other. Pausing for a moment, she said, "Okay." The night was deep and long. After hanging up the phone, Gu Zixuan leaned on the glass, lost in thought for a long time. The song "You’re Beautiful" by James Blunt was playing. It was a hit in 2006 and the song she was listening to when she saw He Qimo for the second time on her university campus in New York. He Qimo, working while studying and wearing a white shirt, looked really handsome standing in front of the teaching building, helping many with their luggage. Perhaps because he was the vice president of the student council, or maybe because, being so far from home in the United States, his homesickness was strong and, seeing Chinese international students, he helped whenever he could. He spoke very little, and didn’t seem fond of smiling, but it was clear he was well-mannered. With the music playing in her earphones, when she looked at him through the dormitory window, he was pointing out directions to a Chinese student about where to buy things and where the library was. Moved in that moment, to be honest, she had never been moved by any boy before, and suddenly thought his tall, upright figure was very attractive. Glancing at the bottled water purchased in the dorm, she picked one up and went downstairs. Partly to thank him for helping her last time, partly to truly get to know him. But when He Qimo glanced at the brand of her bottled water, extending his hand to her with a, "Hello, my name is Gu Zixuan, we’re both from Rong City, we met a few days ago." Then, maintaining a polite but distant demeanor, he said lightly, "Oh, no need, I’m not thirsty, it was nothing." Gu Zixuan thought he forgot about her, which is why he acted this way. Until the third time, when she forgot to bring an umbrella and stood with a book outside the teaching building, watching the pouring rain, unsure of what to do. When he passed by, Mo Tong glanced at her, didn’t say a word, handed her his umbrella, then called another guy he was with, sharing an umbrella as they left, her heart was slightly shaken. He was tall, and two guys sharing one umbrella couldn’t really shield them, rain soaking half of his shoulder, also drenched the feeling she had never known before. After that, she got his phone number from Yu Wei and started frequently seeking him out. Following him to meals, to the library, on the bus, until everyone in his dorm knew she liked him, and everyone in his department too. Even the homeroom teacher couldn’t help but tease, "HEY, Your/girlfriend/coming!" Then, he looked back, frowning as he spotted her secretly attending their class again, hoping no one saw her. The whole class burst out laughing. After class, he pulled her to a secluded corner, asking, "Why do you keep following me every day?" Her face blushed with shyness, saying the impulsive words of a girl in love for the first time, "Do you have a girlfriend?" He Qimo was momentarily stunned, pursed his lips, and said nothing. After a pause, she looked up and said, "If not, can I be your girlfriend?"