As Yan Luqing had already expected, this couple indeed agreed readily.
In fact, Yan Luqing felt the atmosphere of the Yan family’s conversation wasn’t bad at all—or perhaps it was that, fearing to touch the bottom line of her as a so-called mental patient, no one dared put their inner thoughts openly into words.
She didn’t know what kind of person the other one who wanted to see her, the so-called grandfather of hers, would be.
When Yan Luqing was about to leave, Yan Mother accompanied her to the door, instructing her: “The day after tomorrow there’s a banquet to attend. You should also tell Gu Ci. I’ll send a car to pick you both up.”
Yan Luqing nodded: “Mm.” Then casually asked, “Whose family is it?”
“Old Master Zhang’s seventieth birthday, it’s very grand.” Yan Mother patted her hand, saying, “This time, almost everyone of status will be there. It’s also a good opportunity for Gu Ci to make an appearance. He doesn’t need to do anything, but he must let those waiting to laugh at the Gu family see that he’s still well… so you two must go.”
Yan Luqing had originally listened to the latter half of Yan Mother’s words with a serious face, but not until she got into the car going home did she realize her earlier words were: “Old Master Zhang.”
…Wait, Zhang again???
The day she received the news was Friday.
On Saturday, the whole day, Yan Luqing was finally undisturbed as she followed the old grandpa to learn for several hours. But since it was the first day, she only listened to the old man’s explanations over video—teaching her the various methods, their meanings, explaining to what extent hypnosis and fortune-telling could be done. Although Yan Luqing listened with great interest, she did not actually learn any real practical demonstrations.
By Sunday, it was already the day of Old Master Zhang’s grand birthday celebration.
Aside from notifying Gu Ci about attending the banquet, in those two days Yan Luqing hardly spoke with him. They usually ate in their own rooms, handled bodily needs in their own rooms, and except for Yan Luqing going downstairs to play with the dog, they basically never crossed paths.
On one hand, it was because the substitute gift package brought by Zhang-some was too thunderous, too embarrassing. If Gu Ci didn’t come find her, she certainly wouldn’t go looking for embarrassment herself.
On the other hand, the main reason was that the more she looked at that chat record from that day, the more awkward she felt. She had sent five or six long messages in a row, and Gu Ci had only coolly replied: Mm, okay.
—She was practically like some scummy man desperately explaining to his girlfriend that he and some green tea girl had nothing between them. And the girlfriend, knowing perfectly well what he had done, still chose to understand and forgive him because of her aloof and tranquil persona.
The feeling was too subtle. When all was said and done, it was all that dogshit Zhang substitute’s fault.
By afternoon, the familiar makeup artist once again came to the villa. While getting her makeup done, Yan Luqing couldn’t help sneaking glances to the side—
Gu Ci was, as usual, faster than her, already dressed and ready, holding a little stick to tease Wolf.
Last time, his suit had been all black. This time, it was pure white, the same color scheme of white as the dress Yan Luqing was about to wear. It looked exceedingly high-class and elegant, with hidden dark patterns that seemed to shimmer faintly under the light.
The cut was proper, making his figure appear tall and upright, while the white softened the severity of the suit, preserving a trace of youthful air. Gu Ci looked even more stunning than last time.
All the clothes were sent by Yan Mother, and in her heart Yan Luqing praised this lady’s excellent taste.
She was just admiring the princess playing with the dog, when the princess suddenly turned his gaze back to her.
Yan Luqing froze, then reacted quickly and spoke: “By the way, Gu Ci, how’s your back?”
Gu Ci looked at her for a few seconds, then lightly replied: “It’s nothing, the bandage has already been removed.”
“Oh.” Yan Luqing thought for a moment, then forced out a dry sentence: “That’s good then.”
After these words, Gu Ci withdrew his gaze and continued playing with Wolf.
It was always said that border collies must “herd” something in order to feel comfortable. Since Wolf had arrived at the villa, everyone else was herded by it, except for Gu Ci and Yan Luqing—this gave Yan Luqing a trace of comfort in this world where everyone else treated her like a mental patient.
Once Yan Luqing was finished getting ready, the timing was just right to set out.
She and Gu Ci sat together in the back seat. As the car drove steadily onto the main road, Yan Luqing, as if performing a magic trick, opened her hand in front of Gu Ci.
Gu Ci had only glanced casually at first, but his gaze settled on her palm.
In the delicate and fair palm lay a small white flower with branch and leaves attached.
Yan Luqing pushed her hand forward a little more. “A flower for you.”
Gu Ci accepted it, his eyelashes lowered as he looked at it for a long while. “Where did it come from?”
“Picked it from the yard.”
Yan Luqing had asked Makka Pakka for help and learned that this was one of the flowers Gu Ci liked as mentioned in the original book. Since there happened to be one in the yard, she had picked it.
“Why give me a flower?” Gu Ci asked.
Yan Luqing, however, answered beside the point: “Gu Ci, this time we’re going to attend Old Master Zhang’s banquet. I don’t know if we’ll run into that Zhang… that Zhang-some from last time.” She paused, then probed, “You didn’t really misunderstand, did you?”
Gu Ci’s fingers played with the flower stem, white and deep green intertwined, looking most pleasing to the eye.
“Whether I misunderstood or not—does it matter that much?”
“Of course.” Yan Luqing said earnestly, “We are friends. I must let you know that I truly didn’t do something like that—you also know that I… well, I have some memories that aren’t too clear, but I think before, at most I just helped him out of pity.”
She really didn’t like substitute literature! This blame was too dark!
“Mm.” Gu Ci gave a faint response, then returned to his initial question. “So, why give me a flower?”
“Wanted to coax you…” Yan Luqing’s tone relaxed, the knot in her chest finally untied. She once again found the feeling of being with Gu Ci at Dieye Mountain a few days ago. “Are you coaxed well now?”
Gu Ci answered with another “Mm.”
Yan Luqing completely set down her worries, smiling brightly as she praised the princess holding a flower: “Gu Ci, you look very good today.”
Gu Ci finally raised his eyes.
He looked at the girl’s smiling face, met those almond eyes curved like crescent moons, and with a smile opened his mouth.
“Miss Yan too.”
The beautiful Miss Yan, together with her beautiful Princess Ci, entered the grand birthday banquet. The moment they stepped inside, they immediately attracted countless gazes.
Many eyes drifted toward the two of them, yet not many people came forward to speak. Likely, many wanted to probe Gu Ci, but were apprehensive because of Yan Luqing at his side—after all, Yan Luqing’s loudly proclaimed “recently stable condition” was quite well-known.
Yan Luqing ate a small round and wanted to drink a small round as well, but was stopped by Gu Ci.
Shortly after, Father Yan and Mother Yan arrived and had someone summon Yan Luqing over. Gu Ci then no longer remained in the center, instead walking to the other side, to the relatively quiet rest area.
Gu Ci was standing beside a pillar at the corridor connecting the rest area and the banquet hall, leaning slightly. Even though his posture was casual, from any angle he looked as if he could be photographed straight into a painting.
He was just lowering his head, deep in thought, when a voice suddenly intruded.
“Young Master Gu, we meet again.” It was that Zhang-someone who had gone to Yan Luqing’s villa that day.
Today he was also wearing a white suit, and had deliberately come over to find Gu Ci—when the two of them stood together, not even speaking of faces, just looking at the clothes, whether in texture or overall effect, it vividly demonstrated what “counterfeit” meant.
“Truly didn’t expect to meet you here.” The substitute surnamed Zhang sized up Gu Ci as he spoke, his tone unconsciously turning as sour as though he had eaten several lemons.
Gu Ci first turned his head slowly to glance at him. With the advantage of height, his lids hung faintly, giving him a natural edge.
Then he straightened, and addressed the substitute surnamed Zhang with half a question: “You are Zhang…?”
The substitute surnamed Zhang nearly rolled his eyes in anger. Still, he gritted his teeth and unwillingly spit out his full name: “Zhang Nian.” He paused, then tried to gild his own face, “Today’s seventieth birthday celebrant is my grandfather. By blood.”
Gu Ci nodded: “Mr. Zhang Nian, do you have some matter with me?”
“Nothing much, just some things I don’t quite understand, so I came to ask you.” Zhang Nian smiled as he said, “Young Master Gu, what identity are you here under now? Could it be you’re Miss Yan’s boyfriend…?”
Zhang Nian deliberately clicked his tongue twice in mock astonishment, believing himself exceedingly sarcastic as he said: “Never thought of it—after all, you were once a young master admired by all in our circle, and now you’re truly willing to eat this soft rice?”
He thought Gu Ci would be angry.
Would be enraged.
If Gu Ci were to strike him, that would be even better—in a place like this, whoever threw the first punch would be the one to lose face.
But no.
Nothing.
Gu Ci only looked at him faintly, his expression not shifting in the least. There was even an added trace of mirth in his eyes. “You make it sound like you don’t want to eat it.”
“???”
This young master, accused of eating soft rice, actually responded like this? Fuck, what’s wrong with this guy!
Zhang Nian felt as though a snake of his had been struck at the seventh inch, and instantly found his breathing off balance.
“…The way you say that,” Zhang Nian forced himself to maintain the sarcastic expression he had carefully prepared on his face, yet little did he know that the sour lemon in his tone had just been turned up another notch, “Even if I did want to eat it, I wouldn’t directly live in Miss Yan’s house and eat, right? Don’t you agree? Not like you. I couldn’t compare.”
He thought this would surely hit home, that this once-young master’s fragile pride would definitely be stung—
Yet Gu Ci, as though hearing something funny, actually wore a smile on his face. “Ah… I know what you mean now.”
Zhang Nian: “?”
Gu Ci swirled the goblet in his hand, that flawless jade-like face under the light strangely taking on a hint of demonic allure. The ends of his eyes opened like fans, and just like that he looked at Zhang Nian and said:
“Mr. Zhang Nian, is it that you can’t get a taste of this soft rice, so you’re jealous that I get to eat plenty?”
