Volume One, Chapter 20: Her Relatives Have Left

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Zhou Qianqian anxiously waited, but after half an hour had passed without any news, the phone rang again. The voice on the other end hesitated, then through gritted teeth said, “Second Miss, it’s no use. This post just won’t crack. The other side’s skills are way better than mine. I’ve been at it for a long time and haven’t found a single way in…”

“Useless!” Zhou Qianqian snapped, throwing her phone down in frustration.

———

While the internet was engulfed in chaos and turmoil, Zhou Xianyu and Gu Qichuan were peacefully watching a movie at home.

In the dimly lit room, a deliberate eerie atmosphere was created. The curtains were tightly drawn, and the chilling ambiance of the film was truly frightening—the protagonist was venturing alone into a terrifying basement.

Zhou Xianyu and Gu Qichuan sat on the sofa; she had a thin blanket draped over her legs and wore a delicate spaghetti-strap home dress, partially shielding her eyes as she watched the horror movie.

It was a classic case of someone who both loves and is terrible at watching scary films.

Gu Qichuan beside her lounged lazily, his facial features obscured by the darkness, showing no sign of fear from the eerie atmosphere.

At the scariest moment, Zhou Xianyu, who had initially kept a fist’s distance from Gu Qichuan, gradually inched closer because of her fear.

Suddenly, a horrifying ghost face filled the screen.

Startled, Zhou Xianyu dove behind Gu Qichuan’s shoulder, her throat tightening so much that she could not utter a sound. Clutching his clothes tightly, she whispered, “Did the ghost… did it come past?”

Gu Qichuan’s lips curled slightly as his deep eyes rested on her shyly hidden head. “No,” he said calmly.

In truth, the frightening image had only flashed by briefly.

Zhou Xianyu complained, “The sound effects are terrifying—it made my heart skip a beat.”

Gu Qichuan scooped up the girl hiding behind him and pulled her into his arms. Zhou Xianyu sat dazedly on his lap, her ears flushed red, barely visible in the darkness.

“What are you doing?”

“Watching like this, you won’t be scared,” Gu Qichuan replied leisurely.

Zhou Xianyu genuinely felt safer this way, with the blanket over her legs and his broad, solid chest behind her. Nestled in his embrace, she continued watching.

The plot progressed, but Gu Qichuan’s attention slowly drifted away from the film. His half-lowered eyes gazed lazily, his sharp features softened by the dim light, with a tender and familiar look fixed on her delicate face.

She remained engrossed in the movie, the sharp, terrifying sound effects filling the room as if dragging one into an endless abyss, where sharpened teeth would slowly devour one’s flesh until nothing but a blurred mass of blood and tissue remained.

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That was precisely how the movie described it.

As the film neared its end, Zhou Xianyu murmured, “I bet the ending will just be the protagonist’s dream…”

Most horror movie endings were similar.

Seeing Gu Qichuan silent, she turned to look at him in confusion, only to find his gaze fixed intensely on her. In the cramped, dim corner, his eyes burned with heat.

The film was wrapping up, tender music playing softly. The faint light from the screen vanished suddenly at the very end, leaving only their breathing.

His hand, which had been resting on her waist, suddenly tightened. She was forced forward, and in the next moment, a gentle kiss was placed on the corner of her lips.

Like a glistening petal, tender and glossy, unable to cling to its stem, reluctantly absorbed of its sole nourishment, it drooped like a tiny flower petal at morning’s dew.

His kiss was just like him: gentle and tentative on the surface but with a strong possessiveness underneath. If she showed any resistance, he would overwhelm her with relentless, passionate kisses.

From the kiss, Zhou Xianyu vaguely sensed the unease hidden beneath his dominance. She opened her eyes, mist lingering at the corners.

“…Not watching the movie anymore?”

He lowered his eyes to her flushed cheeks, like a soft and sweet little cake. Her white neck looked especially beautiful and alluring in the faint light.

He didn’t like overly sweet things and seldom ate small cakes or celebrated birthdays.

But Zhou Xianyu loved cakes. Eating a sweet little cake lifted her mood for the entire day.

“Let’s watch it next time.”

With a childlike gesture, he scooped her up in his arms, carrying her as he opened the door and headed back to the bedroom.

Zhou Xianyu panicked, burying her face in his neck and whispered nervously, “Put me down! I can walk myself…”

What would Madam Chen think if she saw this?!

Fortunately, Madam Chen was downstairs at this hour and wouldn’t come up. She bit Gu Qichuan’s shoulder in frustration, but his muscles were so hard that even after biting until her teeth ached, he didn’t make a sound.

Back in the master bedroom, Zhou Xianyu collapsed onto the soft quilt, stealing glances at him. Then she hugged her cute pillow lying on the bed, burying her flushed face in it, her eyelashes trembling.

Her earlier courage had vanished; now, calmness brought a wave of nervous retreat.

He smiled with warmth in his eyes: “What’s wrong?”

His rough finger gently brushed the stray hairs framing her face.

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She slowly parted her reddened lips, her large eyes misty and unclear: “I… it’s inconvenient…”

Suddenly, Zhou Xianyu remembered that her relatives had already left.

Gu Qichuan immediately sensed her lie. He chuckled softly, his narrow black eyes fixed intently on her.

Then he pressed another kiss upon her.

Just as Zhou Xianyu thought he might lose control, Gu Qichuan quickly rose, seemingly heading to the bathroom.

She lay on the bed, bewildered, grabbing his arm.

“Gu Qichuan…”

His dark eyes hidden in the shadows made it impossible to read his emotions. “It’s too stuffy in here. I’m going to shower. You should go to sleep.”

Her earlier excuse of “inconvenient” was partly because she wasn’t quite ready, but mostly out of shyness. So she hadn’t struggled much when he kissed her again.

Seeing him restrain himself and get up, Zhou Xianyu stared at him silently with her clear, beautiful eyes, her fingertips trembling slightly.

Gu Qichuan turned to her, his fingers tracing her cheek: “What’s the matter?”

His eyes sparkled with playful curiosity as he looked at her, a faint smile playing at the corners of his lips, eager to hear what she would say.

Zhou Xianyu’s ears burned hot, like the sweltering heat of summer, her whole body filled with an uncomfortable warmth that made it impossible to speak plainly.

She could only raise her brow, look at him coyly, withdraw her arm, and mutter something softly.

Her voice faltered as she saw the smile on his lips fade, his gaze darken and grow dangerous, an obscure yet unhidden look fixed upon her.

In the next moment, a cold breath suddenly pressed down on her. Zhou Xianyu’s body stiffened slightly. He bent down, staring into her moist eyes, his voice gentle yet perilous: “Baby, what did you say?”

“…”

Zhou Xianyu felt as if a fog had enveloped her vision, blurring everything. Time seemed to slow, hanging still.

In such stifling heat, summer was surely approaching. She hated summer the most. When it was unbearably hot, beads of sweat dotted her forehead, and she longed to retreat into an air-conditioned room, not stepping outside all summer long.