Chapter 12

It was close to ten o’clock.

Jiangdu City was especially enchanting under the cover of night. Just strolling along the streets, even the occasional gentle breeze would remind me of the carefree days back in school.

My phone buzzed.

I glanced down at the caller ID, a little surprised. I hadn’t expected Gu Xuchen to call me on his own initiative.

“It must be your parents.”

An Yu spoke with a smile, gesturing for me to answer quickly.

I pressed my lips together, put my phone on silent, and tossed it into my bag, smiling as I replied:

“No, it’s not. Don’t worry about it.”

An Yu nodded, a bit helpless. “There really have been a lot of telemarketing calls lately.”

I smiled without saying anything, simply turning my gaze to the vast night, watching the dim lights flicker, my heart filled with endless melancholy.

In a daze,

I remembered my school days.

Every time, I would pretend to be a passerby, carefully walking past Gu Xuchen. If I happened to look up, because of our height difference, I would always see the flickering lights first, and only then his Adam’s apple, his face.

Those days were truly wonderful.

Just seeing him once would make my dreams sweet.

The BMW stopped in the villa district. I waved goodbye to An Yu with a smile, and only after his car drove away did I take out my phone.

[Missed Calls]: 21

It was now 11:30 p.m. in Jiangdu, while Gu Xuchen’s set curfew was 10:00 p.m.

I pursed my lips, silently took out my spare key, and unlocked the door.

The living room was shrouded in darkness.

But the moonlight by the window was bright and clear, faintly illuminating the figure sitting there. Those eyes, as clear as a spring, were pure yet tinged with displeasure.

“What time is it now?”

Gu Xuchen asked in a low voice.

I had no intention of responding, just prepared to go upstairs, but he got up and quickly walked over, blocking my way.

“Why didn’t you answer the phone?”

I looked at him, then couldn’t help but avert my gaze, trying my best to stay calm:

“I didn’t want to.”

Gu Xuchen leaned down, staring at me: “Do you really have to make things like this between us over a single sentence?”

I raised my eyebrows and smiled. “I wouldn’t dare make a scene with you.”

Gu Xuchen said, “I was just upset that day.”

Just upset?

I felt numb, my voice flat: “It seems like people are most likely to speak the truth when they’re angry.”

After a few seconds,

I continued, “Why didn’t you explain a few days ago? Was it because, after weighing the pros and cons, you realized you still needed me for this fake marriage, and couldn’t find a better substitute for now, right?”

Gu Xuchen was slightly stunned, a flash of bewilderment in his eyes.

I understood at once, and walked around him, heading upstairs.

I had intended to hurry back to my room, but in my rush, I tripped and fell hard, the pain bringing tears to my eyes.