Irresistibly Drawn (Love After Marriage) - Chapter 8 - She's My Fiancée

Initially, when footsteps echoed at the courtyard gate, Jiang Qingyu thought it was another guest arriving. She moved aside to make way, but the tall, dark figure seemed to be heading straight for her, bypassing the reception or any private room.

“Gu-Ge?”

The night air was damp, casting a coolness over the man as he approached her. His long legs brought him close, and his gaze, deeper than the night itself, settled on her.

Under the dim lights, she was enveloped in a soft, indistinct glow. Her profile was gently illuminated by the candlelight, and the man’s narrow eyes narrowed slightly, a complex emotion flickering in his usually calm and serene eyes.

The dress Jiang Qingyu wore had been suitable during the day, but with the sudden chill of the night breeze, it now seemed a bit too thin.

With a soft “hmm,” Gu Yunyi draped his coat over her shoulders. Having carried it from the teahouse, it bore traces of his warmth and the scent of tea.

“You didn’t leave?”

Jiang Qingyu was surprised by Gu Yunyi’s presence. She had assumed he would head back after dropping her off, or perhaps explore this quaint Jiangnan town. She hadn’t expected him to stay.

The lit-up teahouse beside them, with its wide-open windows, suddenly explained the lingering tea scent on him. He had been waiting there all along. Why hadn’t he left? Wasn’t he bored?

In Jiang Qingyu’s mind: Gu Yunyi’s good-natured score just went up by one.

“I took a walk around, but there wasn’t much to do, so I came back. The scenery here is quite nice.”

Jiang Qingyu raised an eyebrow slightly. This was so typical of Gu Yunyi, treating her like a child who would believe such words.

She lowered her head, noticing the new sprouts by the path. Her silence made the atmosphere a bit awkward.

For the daughter of an old family friend, Gu Yunyi was being overly considerate. But the most dangerous part was that this slightly off-track tenderness was rapidly becoming addictive in her life.

Song Yuran hadn’t come out yet. The courtyard was beautifully arranged, with some flowers already budding and willows gently swaying by her side.

A private room door opened, but it wasn’t theirs. A few tipsy individuals staggered out, their alcohol-laden breath making Jiang Qingyu’s head ache. Seeing her frown, Gu Yunyi silently stepped to her side.

An arm wrapped around her, as if holding her but not quite, yet she was securely shielded in his embrace until the alcohol fumes dissipated.

“Gu-Ge.”

The posture was a bit too intimate, and she reminded him that the people had left.

“Hmm.”

But Gu Yunyi didn’t release her. His heartbeat was rapid, not typical for someone nearing thirty unless it was due to her proximity.

“What’s wrong?”

Gu Yunyi’s voice was slightly hoarse, not as clear and composed as usual.

“Nothing, nothing.”

Jiang Qingyu suddenly didn’t know if she should speak. Lingering in this moment felt like a fatal mistake, yet she couldn’t push him away.

What was she worried about? Was she afraid of regretting it later?

“Gu-”

She looked up just as Gu Yunyi lowered his head, surprise flashing in both their eyes.

Her lips brushed against the corner of his mouth, making it seem like she had initiated it.

Two blushes bloomed on Jiang Qingyu’s cheeks. She struggled slightly, and the darkness in Gu Yunyi’s eyes faded as he finally let go.

He gently pinched the edges of the coat, fastening the buttons for her one by one.

“It’s cold, don’t move around, okay?”

The slightly drawn-out tone created a gentle current in her ear.

“Okay.” Jiang Qingyu widened her eyes, daring only to stare at the ground.

At that moment, a light flickered on in the corner of the corridor, and the door opened, casting a beam of light that brightened their eyes.

Jiang Qingyu, inexperienced in dealing with such emotions, thought her savior had arrived. But the person who emerged wasn’t Song Yuran; it was Zheng Yan in a gray sports jacket.

“Qingyu?”

Zheng Yan stepped into the corridor, his gaze darkening as he recognized the man in front of her.

The man had bright, shining eyes, undiminished even in the night. Sixth sense wasn’t exclusive to women; men had their own sensitivity, especially concerning things or people they cared about.

Moreover, Jiang Qingyu’s flushed face made it hard to believe nothing had happened between them.

When Jiang Qingyu inquired about Song Yuran, the man’s gaze shifted slightly, revealing an inscrutable glimmer.

“Ji Guanting was worried she’d get lost, so he’s accompanying her out.”

It was a joke, of course, but it did sound like something Ji Guanting would say.

“And this is?”

Jiang Qingyu positioned herself between the two. “This is my high school classmate, Zheng Yan. We’re in the same major. This is the son of my parents’ friends. You can call him Gu-Ge.”

“Gu-Ge.”

Gu Yunyi smiled and nodded. Zheng Yan, though young, couldn’t hide his disappointment, which was evident when Jiang Qingyu wasn’t looking.

At least, that’s how it seemed to him.

The man slightly curled his lips, seeing through the young man’s thoughts. But he said nothing. Standing by Jiang Qingyu’s side, with her draped in his coat, he was the rightful guardian of this territory.

Zheng Yan understood well enough. He looked at the two of them with a touch of loneliness. They were a perfect match-this man appeared both elegant and gentle.

A moment later.

“Qingyu.” Zheng Yan forced a smile.

“If you ever visit Jing City, come find me.”

Zheng Yan returned to the private room, glancing back at the two of them at the door.

“How did it go?”

Ji Guanting placed a hand on his shoulder. Zheng Yan recalled the man’s gaze.

“I didn’t say anything. Just friends, it’s fine.”

Ji Guanting’s mouth twitched, saying nothing more, internally frustrated. Two minutes later, Jiang Qingyu returned. There seemed to be a vague shadow in the corridor, but he only glanced at it, paying no mind.

Zhou Ke checked the time, noting it was getting late, and Song Yuran felt a bit tired too, so they decided to call it a night and head home.

“Wait, I’ll settle the bill.”

Ji Guanting asked Song Yuran to wait inside while he went to the front desk. The shadow he had noticed earlier was gone, making him wonder if it had been a figment of his imagination.

As he approached the front desk, he saw a man standing at the corner, his silhouette and back familiar.

He found it hard to believe. This was Nan City, after all, but the resemblance was uncanny. Such an ethereal presence was rare.

Ji Guanting approached cautiously, calling out tentatively, “Mr. Gu?”

Gu Yunyi turned, mildly surprised to encounter him here.

Ji Guanting’s family had some connections with his, and after graduation, he had joined his family’s company. Gu Yunyi had a favorable impression of the young man, but what was Ji Guanting doing here?

“High school reunion.”

The private room door opened, and the girls emerged, bags in hand, ready to leave.

“You and Qingyu are classmates?”

Ji Guanting nodded, “You know her?”

With everyone gathered, Gu Yunyi scanned the group, and Zheng Yan avoided his gaze.

Jiang Qingyu’s silhouette was enveloped by a taller, broader one. As he drew closer, the warmth of tea and his presence became more pronounced.

“She’s my fiancée.”