Qi Xi felt a strange, indescribable emotion welling up within her. To shake off this unfamiliar feeling, she lowered her head, deciding to change the subject and offer her sincere gratitude. “Gu Yan, thank you.”
“Don't mention it.” Gu Yan, on the other hand, seemed a little uncomfortable. He replied succinctly, “I'm just glad you're alright.”
“It’s all thanks to you.” Qi Xi expressed her gratitude again. “Now that I'm fine, shouldn't you hurry back and finish cutting your hair?”
Gu Yan hummed in agreement and turned to leave.
Just then, Zhao Yiran came over and gave Qi Xi another hug. “You scared me to death, girl! It's a good thing you're okay. But we might need to find a new place. That thug knows this address. What if he comes back for revenge after he's released? It's too risky. I'll start looking for a new place right away, but it might take some time. It's hard to find a place these days, especially on short notice. We'll have to find somewhere else to stay for a few days. My aunt lives nearby, we should be able to stay with her for a bit. What about you? You're from Rong City, right? Shouldn't you go back home?”
The mention of home made Qi Xi frown. Her attitude was firm. “I'm not going home. I moved out to show my dad that I can be independent. I don't need his money. I can support myself with my own job. If I go back now, he'll just think I failed and crawled back to him for help. He'll think he can control my life again and start arranging blind dates for me.”
Zhao Yiran looked worried. “Then where will you stay?”
After the shock and turmoil of the day, Qi Xi was still a little dazed and hadn't given much thought to these practical matters. “I'll ask around. Maybe one of our other classmates can take me in for a while.”
With that, Qi Xi took out her phone, intending to contact a few of her closer college friends. However, before she could even begin typing, Gu Yan, who was about to leave, called out to her.
“Don’t bother.”
Qi Xi looked up at Gu Yan curiously. “Why not?”
“My sister has a spare room. You can stay there.” Gu Yan cleared his throat, his tone casual. “She lives alone and travels for work a lot, so she’s rarely there. She was actually looking for someone to keep an eye on the place, collect packages, and do a bit of cleaning. If you don't mind, you could stay there until you and Zhao Yiran find a new place. It’s just for a short while, so she won't charge you rent.”
Gu Yan paused, adding, “It’s not like my sister needs the money.”
Qi Xi confirmed again and again that Gu Xuehan truly didn't mind and that she was indeed looking for someone to look after her empty apartment. Naturally, Qi Xi felt it was an offer she couldn’t refuse. “Then I should give Attorney Gu a call to thank her and confirm…”
Before she could finish, Gu Yan interrupted her. “No need, I’ll call her.”
With that, he took out his phone and dialed a number.
Gu Yan walked a short distance away to make the call, so Qi Xi couldn't hear what Gu Xuehan was saying on the other end. She could only hear Gu Yan’s side of the conversation.
He spoke as soon as the call connected. “Hey sis, aren’t you going to be traveling for work and not staying at the Chenping Road apartment? You mentioned wanting to find someone to stay there temporarily and keep an eye on the place, right? Well, Qi Xi needs a place to stay for a bit, so I told her she could stay at your place tonight. You don’t need to rush back to collect your delivery, just find a hotel for tonight. Okay, that’s settled. Bye.”
It was the first time Qi Xi had heard Gu Yan speak so much in one go. At this speed, he hadn't even given Gu Xuehan a chance to speak. It seemed he hadn't given her the opportunity to get a word in edgewise.
After hanging up, Gu Yan turned to Qi Xi. “Okay, so my sister said it's great timing. She wasn't planning on going home tonight anyway and needed someone to collect a package. She welcomes you to stay there. She won’t be back for a while.”
In such a short time, Gu Xuehan really had time to reply?
Perhaps the doubt in Qi Xi’s eyes was too obvious. Gu Yan cleared his throat and added, “Oh, she speaks very fast. You know, as a lawyer, she's used to making every second count. For non-work-related calls, especially if they’re free, she prefers to get them over with as quickly as possible.”
That made sense. It was understandable. But…
“But if I remember correctly, Attorney Gu doesn't seem to have any business trips scheduled recently? And doesn't she live with you? That's why you couldn't bring back the desserts last time, because you said she was on a diet and would scold you if she saw them?”
Qi Xi's question stunned Gu Yan for a moment. But he quickly recovered and explained in a calm and natural tone, “She added a last-minute business trip to her schedule. She probably hasn't had a chance to update you yet. As for her living situation, we live close by, but not together. She often comes over to my place.”
So that was it.
Reassured by Gu Xuehan’s supposed agreement, Qi Xi's mood brightened. “Then thank you, Gu Yan, and thank you to Attorney Gu as well.”
She was genuinely grateful and decided to thank Gu Xuehan in person next time she saw her.
Without further ado, Qi Xi packed some daily necessities and a few clothes, then took a taxi with Gu Yan to Gu Xuehan's vacant apartment.
Gu Yan unlocked the door with a code, informed Qi Xi of the password, and briefly introduced the apartment's layout. “Get some rest, try to sleep early.”
He turned to leave, but as he was opening the door, he stopped and called out to Qi Xi, his gaze lowered slightly towards the ground. “Oh, I forgot to mention, there are two apartments on each floor. I live next door.”
Qi Xi had heard Gu Yan mention living close to Gu Xuehan before, but she hadn't realized it was this close. The siblings lived next door to each other, close enough to look out for one another, yet still maintaining their own spaces. It seemed like a comfortable arrangement. Qi Xi couldn't help but sigh internally, “It’s good to be rich.”
Just then, Gu Yan spoke again.
“You can change the password on the door lock yourself. You can change it to something you can remember easily and then change it back before you move out.”
Qi Xi was taken aback, surprised and confused by this sudden change of topic. Why was he suddenly talking about changing the password?
She responded absentmindedly, “There’s no need. I have a good memory. I can remember this password.”
However, after she spoke, Gu Yan looked at her with an exasperated expression that spoke volumes.
He sighed. “Sometimes I don’t know if you're smart or naive.”
“?”
Gu Yan didn't say anything more. As if not completely at ease, he led Qi Xi to the door. “Now, change the password yourself. Don't let me see while you're doing it.”
Due to Gu Yan’s insistence, Qi Xi had no choice but to change the electronic lock’s password.
Only after she finished did Gu Yan seem to relax. He glanced at Qi Xi. “I’m going to get my haircut. Call me if you need anything.”
Qi Xi felt a pang of sympathy for Gu Yan. For a campus heartthrob like him to endure half a day with such a ridiculous hairstyle…
After sending Gu Yan off, Qi Xi finally calmed down and began to examine Gu Xuehan's apartment. It wasn’t dirty, just a little cluttered with belongings, especially the bookshelf.
However, Gu Yan was right. It seemed Gu Xuehan barely lived here. After a quick look around, Qi Xi noticed a distinct lack of personal belongings. There were hardly any signs of a woman living here. It was less Gu Xuehan’s apartment and more like Gu Yan’s “spare storage room.” There were quite a few of his things piled up here, including study materials from when he was preparing for the bar exam.
It seemed that Gu Yan, taking advantage of his sister’s frequent absences, had expanded his territory to Gu Xuehan’s apartment, using her space to store his books and off-season clothes and bedding.
Since she was staying here, Qi Xi wanted to contribute. She couldn’t fall asleep right away after the day’s events. Instead of just lying in bed, she decided to help tidy up Gu Xuehan's bookshelf.
It was only halfway through organizing that Qi Xi suddenly understood the deeper meaning behind Gu Yan's insistence on her changing the password.
Could it be that he…
Qi Xi felt a flush creep up her neck. Unable to hold back, she grabbed her phone and called Gu Yan.
Gu Yan answered quickly. “Hello? What’s wrong?”
He had the nerve to ask what was wrong!
Qi Xi fumed, “Gu Yan, what kind of ungrateful person do you take me for?”
There was a clear pause on the other end of the line.
“You just made me change the password because you’re worried that since you live next door and know the password, I’d be scared you’d sneak in with ill intentions in the middle of the night?!” Qi Xi’s voice was laced with indignation. “Is that the kind of person I am? Would I think that of you? Would I distrust your character so much that I'd be constantly on guard? If that were the case, I wouldn't even dream of staying at Attorney Gu’s place!”
Gu Yan probably didn't expect Qi Xi to bring this up. His tone was a little helpless. “Someone slipped you a love letter, and you called me out during your graduation speech. How can I not be extra careful to avoid any misunderstandings?”
He continued, a hint of exasperation in his voice, “Aren't you supposed to be a top student? You were eloquent and logical when you were scolding me, so why are you so clueless when it comes to other things? Can you at least have a little bit of vigilance towards the opposite sex?”
Qi Xi thought her words had indirectly praised Gu Yan’s character and expressed her trust in him. She hadn’t expected to flatter him only to have it backfire. Not only was he not pleased, but he was now lecturing her.
“Just because you think someone is a certain way doesn't mean they are. You think I’m a good person, so I must be incapable of using the password to unlock your door and sneak in in the middle of the night?”
“You wouldn’t!” Qi Xi affirmed without hesitation. “You definitely wouldn’t. Because you have a girl you like! You like her so much, how could you possibly have improper thoughts about someone else? You have such great qualities, if you weren't firm in your affections, with so many girls chasing after you, you would have moved on long ago.”
Gu Yan was stunned, clearly not expecting this answer. He pursed his lips and fell silent for a moment before saying, “Of course I wouldn't do such a thing if I was in my right mind. But have you considered what might happen if I was drunk?”
Qi Xi blinked. “If the person living in this apartment was the girl you like, you might do something irrational if you were drunk.”
“Right.”
Rarely had Gu Yan agreed with Qi Xi in such a complicated tone. After his single word reply, he fell silent again. Qi Xi waited, but Gu Yan didn’t say anything more. Instead, she heard the call disconnect.
What is with this guy?
Just as Qi Xi was puzzled, a knock sounded on the door, accompanied by Gu Yan's voice.
“Open the door, it’s me.”
Qi Xi opened the door to see Gu Yan standing outside, looking at her with an expression of disapproval. “No need to call.” He held something in one hand, the other tucked into his pocket. “We’re just next door, no need to waste my phone bill.”
Gu Yan had finished his haircut. Dressed casually, he seemed relaxed, perhaps due to being right outside his own apartment. There was a hint of laziness and nonchalance about him, but also an innate air of nobility. He looked less like a lawyer and more like a rich young master, leaning against the doorframe as he looked at Qi Xi.
Qi Xi didn’t know why, but she often felt a little guilty when facing Gu Yan's gaze. Almost instinctively, she averted her eyes. Unsure of what to say, she chuckled awkwardly and continued their previous conversation. “Why are you putting yourself down? I trust your character. Besides, we’re practically comrades, bound by the unbreakable bonds of our revolutionary friendship! It’s not like you’d sneak into my room in the middle of the night. Gu Yan, have a little faith in yourself.”
Gu Yan walked into the apartment, his voice nonchalant and a little distant. “You have more faith in me than I have in myself.”
He placed the bag he was carrying on the table.
Only then did Qi Xi realize that Gu Yan had brought takeout.
“I was just about to have dinner, so I brought you some,” he said casually.
Qi Xi felt a little embarrassed. “Thank you so much for the trouble, but I could have just found something in the fridge to make do.”
Gu Yan opened the refrigerator, his expression unreadable. “Don’t even think about it. It’s empty.”
“...”
Looking at the completely bare refrigerator, Qi Xi was speechless. This place truly lacked any trace of Gu Xuehan’s presence. It really was more like Gu Yan’s storage unit.
However, although she hadn't felt particularly hungry before, the aroma of the takeout suddenly made her stomach rumble. She decided not to stand in the ceremony and unpacked the food, ready to dig in.
But as she opened the containers, she couldn't help but frown at the sight. “Gu Yan, do you think I’m a pig? Why is there so much food?! This is such a waste of money!”
Gu Yan remained calm. “I didn’t know how much you could eat, so I estimated based on my own appetite. It’s always better to have too much food than too little. What if you woke up hungry in the middle of the night and came knocking on my door for food, disturbing my sleep? This is me paying for peace of mind.”
Qi Xi was speechless, wanting nothing more than to roll her eyes at him. But the food was innocent. Gu Yan had good taste. Although the takeout containers didn't even have the name or logo of the restaurant, making it seem a little sketchy, the food itself was absolutely delicious.
However…
“Why is there a box of chocolate and milk candy along with the food?”
“Oh, they were free.”
What kind of takeout place gave away such things?
Qi Xi looked at Gu Yan, puzzled. “Aren’t you going to eat any? Don’t you love sweets?”
“You eat it.” Gu Yan glanced at Qi Xi. “If there’s nothing else, I’ll be going.”
Just then, Qi Xi suddenly remembered something. “Wait! Last time, you said you lived with your parents, and you couldn’t bring durian home because they hated the smell. But don't you live alone now? Your sister is just next door…”
Gu Yan froze for a second before replying calmly, “Oh, my parents just moved out. I did live with them, but they just moved out. It’s quite a coincidence, actually.”
Qi Xi’s eyes lit up. “So now you can finally enjoy durian to your heart’s…”
Before she could finish, Gu Yan interrupted her, almost desperately. “No, I can’t.” He didn’t even give her a chance to finish her sentence before continuing, “I still can’t eat durian by myself because my parents might drop by occasionally. So please don’t buy me any durian. My mom is allergic to durian, my dad is allergic to durian, and my sister is allergic to durian too. They’re the type who get psychosomatic reactions just from seeing it.”
He emphasized again, as if afraid Qi Xi wouldn’t remember, “Don’t buy durian.”
Alright then…
Qi Xi almost felt sorry for Gu Yan. To think he loved durian so much, but his parents and sister were all allergic. How tragic.
“Okay, okay, I won’t buy it. We’ll go out to eat it together next time. I saw a place that serves durian hotpot the other day!”
A look of genuine surprise crossed Gu Yan’s face. “Durian hotpot?!” He looked at her with a complicated expression. “There’s such a… such a novel type of hotpot?”
“Yeah!” Qi Xi said, taking out her phone. “Why wait? Let’s have that for supper tonight!”
“No, thank you!” Gu Yan stopped her almost immediately. As if realizing his tone was a little too forceful, he cleared his throat and said calmly, “You should save your money. You probably had to compensate the previous landlord for breaking the lease, and you’ll need to pay a deposit for the new place. You have a lot of expenses coming up, don’t waste money.”
He was right!
“By the way, when is Attorney Gu’s package arriving? Didn’t you say you needed me to receive it tonight?”
Gu Yan froze for a moment before replying calmly, “Oh, about that package… the delivery guy tripped and fell.”
Qi Xi nodded. “Being a delivery person is tough these days. It’ll probably arrive in a few days, then?”
“Probably not,” Gu Yan said calmly. “The delivery guy fell into a river. The package was ruined, so my sister got a refund.”
“…” Was there such a thing as a cursed package? Qi Xi felt a pang of sympathy for Gu Xuehan. It seemed her luck hadn’t been very good lately.
“Don’t forget to eat the sweets.” Gu Yan glanced at Qi Xi before averting his gaze. “Sweets are good for calming the nerves and helping you sleep. Eat them. I’m really leaving this time.”
Calming the nerves? What nerves?
With that, Gu Yan opened the door and left.
It wasn’t until she heard the door close that Qi Xi finally understood.
Calming the nerves, right.
She had been through quite the roller coaster of emotions today. She had indeed been quite shaken. However, for some reason, now that she had a place to stay at Gu Xuehan’s apartment, had eaten a hearty meal, and with Gu Yan just next door, Qi Xi didn’t feel as afraid anymore.
Unable to fall asleep, Qi Xi picked up a book on legal analysis from the bookshelf. Before she could even start reading, a piece of paper slipped out from between the pages.
Qi Xi had no intention of snooping. She didn’t even know what was on the paper, assuming it was just a random bookmark.
But when she bent down to pick it up, she realized it was something else entirely.
This was…
This was an unsent love letter from Gu Yan.
Qi Xi didn’t want to read it, but the paper wasn't folded. The moment she picked it up, Gu Yan’s strong, forceful handwriting came into view.
“You’re reading in the library again. I’m sitting behind you, but you’ll never know, never turn around. Sometimes I wonder when you’ll finally notice me.”
It was clearly an unfinished letter, with no salutation or signature.
But Qi Xi knew it was written by Gu Yan.
After the misunderstanding at the graduation ceremony, she had gone to find a sample of Gu Yan’s handwriting for comparison. His handwriting was beautiful, and she wouldn't mistake it for anyone else’s.
Her heart raced. Without even thinking, she quickly tucked the paper back into the book.
Even though Gu Yan wasn’t there, Qi Xi felt a surge of guilt, as if she had been caught red-handed doing something wrong.
In addition to guilt and panic, there was also a subtle mix of other complex emotions stirring within her.
If he was referring to the library, then the girl Gu Yan liked was from their university. He had even secretly followed her to the library, harboring a silent crush on her from a distance…
It didn’t seem like something Gu Yan would do.
But this contrast, while surprising, also made Qi Xi a little unhappy.
So, those few times she had heard about Gu Yan going to the library, he wasn’t actually there to study? He was there to steal glances at the girl he liked?
Qi Xi felt perfectly justified in her displeasure. It turned out that Gu Yan had it easy compared to her. She had been busting her butt studying in the library, while he had been busy trying to woo someone else.
How was that fair?
She didn’t know why, but a wave of sourness washed over her, like she had just eaten an unripe plum. On a whim, she dialed Gu Yan’s number.
But as soon as she heard the ringing tone, she came to her senses.
Why was she calling Gu Yan at this hour? It was so late.
Was she looking for trouble?
As reason returned, Qi Xi frantically tried to hang up.
But Gu Yan always seemed to be one step ahead of her. Before she could disconnect the call, he had already answered.
“I, I just wanted to ask if Attorney Gu has any… any…”
In her haste, Qi Xi felt like her tongue was tied. She stammered for a while, unable to come up with a believable excuse.
As expected, Gu Yan’s voice rose slightly in question. “Any what?”
Qi Xi panicked and blurted out the first thing that came to mind. “Incense! Incense!”
A hint of amusement colored Gu Yan’s voice. “You’re not asleep yet? Planning to light incense in the middle of the night?”
“I’m already in bed, but I can’t seem to fall asleep.” Qi Xi steadied her voice, continuing her charade. “So I was thinking, maybe I should light some incense to help me sleep…”
“It’s not safe to leave incense burning all night. Don’t light it.” Gu Yan paused before continuing, “Is it because you’re not used to the new environment? Or are you still a little shaken up from what happened today?”
Showing vulnerability and weakness wasn't something Qi Xi was good at or comfortable with. However, perhaps it was the gentle moonlight, or perhaps it was the way Gu Yan’s voice seemed to take on an unusual softness, Qi Xi found herself succumbing to the moment.
She sniffed softly and replied, her voice small, “Yeah.” She wasn’t even that scared anymore, but somehow, that was the sound that escaped her lips.
And then, almost as if possessed, she heard herself make an even more brazen request.
“Gu Yan, could you… could you keep talking to me… until I fall asleep?”
The words were out of her mouth before she realized how inconsiderate her request was. Not only was everyone’s time precious, but even if Gu Yan was willing, she had no idea how long it would take her to fall asleep. To ask someone to keep her company until she drifted off was incredibly selfish.
Realizing her mistake, Qi Xi immediately tried to backpedal.
But before she could utter a word, she heard Gu Yan’s reply.
He said, “Okay.”