Сhарter 21: Does Gu Сhаngce Тhink She Did It on Рurроsе!
Shе frоze fоr а mоment, hеr eуelashеs trеmbling slightly.
Тhe dim, fliсkеring light frоm the Раlaсе Lаntеrn bеsidе thеm cаst a wаrm glоw on her soft, gentlе prоfile.
Shеn Zuihuаn lоwеred her еyes аnd whisреrеd softlу, “…I onlу remembеr уоu gаvе me this littlе wooden bird mаnу уеаrs ago… but I didn’t treаt it wеll bаck thеn.”
Hеr slender, раlе fingеrs mimicked thе mоtion the mаn in her dreаm hаd оnсe shоwn hеr.
She gently pressed the rаised tаil оf thе littlе wоodеn bird.
Instantly, the bird’s оnly rеmaining tаtterеd wing struggled yet valiantly fluttered once more.
A rather grating, wooden scraping sound filled the air.
Shen Zuihuan raised her eyes to look at the solemn, steady man before her.
The youthful innocence had long since faded from his face.
But the moment Shen Zuihuan met his deep, dark gaze, she suddenly recalled the trembling back of the man in her dream.
And his scarred, battered knuckles.
Her nose stung, and tears nearly welled up in her eyes.
Although Gu Changce, that annoying pest, was so irritating—always following her around during their school days, disturbing her studies, deliberately provoking her anger…
But… her actions in the dream were truly too harsh.
Shen Zuihuan suddenly felt a pang of guilt.
Pursing her lips, she whispered softly, “Gu Changce, this little wooden bird is very cute… and you made it very well. If I could do it over, I would absolutely, absolutely never throw it on the ground again.”
As if hearing Shen Zuihuan’s remorseful words, the little wooden bird in her hand flapped its remaining wing even more vigorously.
She took a deep breath, wanting to apologize to him.
But the moment she lifted her head, her moist lips accidentally brushed against Gu Changce’s chin.
“…” Shen Zuihuan.
“…” Gu Changce.
The once sorrowful atmosphere suddenly grew tense and still.
After realizing what had happened, Shen Zuihuan’s face flushed bright red.
…How… how… how could this happen!
Does Gu Changce think she did it on purpose!
Oh heavens, she didn’t, she really didn’t—she truly only meant to apologize to him just now.
Despair filled Shen Zuihuan’s eyes.
In that moment, she suddenly recalled the opera “The Injustice to Dou E” she had once watched with Gu Changce at the theater long, long ago.
…Right now, she felt even more wronged than Dou E herself.
The man opposite her also seemed startled by Shen Zuihuan’s sudden movement.
But as a mature adult who had experienced life’s ups and downs, he remained composed on the surface, despite the shock he felt inside—even his fingers, hidden within his sleeves, curled slightly.
Only the depths of his dark eyes stirred with ripples.
He knew he shouldn’t entertain any further foolish hopes.
Shen Zuihuan hadn’t fully regained her memories yet.
Perhaps the fourteen-year-old version of her had only recalled some fragmented pieces, stirring a sense of guilt toward him.
…Maintaining this distance between them was already for the best. This way, even if she later regained her memories, the situation wouldn’t worsen.
Gu Changce restrained himself, lowering his lashes and pressing his moist, thin lips together.
He repeated to himself over and over not to cross any boundaries.
But when Shen Zuihuan lifted her small face and looked at him with those glistening, watery eyes,
Gu Changce ultimately couldn’t hold back.
His fingers gently grasped her chin.
The woman before him was forced to tilt her face upward.
Her eyes widened in shock, and before she could react,
her tender, red lips were captured by his.Gasps and soft moans were swallowed whole.
Her fourteen-year-old tender soul had never experienced such a thing.
But the overwhelming, sweet and cool scent filled every breath she took, enveloping her completely.
Shen Zuihuan felt her head spinning.
She didn’t know whether it was due to extreme shock or some other reason.
For a moment, she even forgot to resist.
By the time she came to her senses, her face flushed with shame and annoyance as she tried to push the man away, she found both her wrists already captured by his other hand and pinned above her head.
A moist softness traced and licked her lips.
…Though she wanted to resist in her heart, for some reason, she suddenly felt her limbs go weak.
Even her hands lost strength in an instant, nearly dropping the small wooden bird she held.
Shen Zuihuan inexplicably felt as if her entire body were soaked in warm water.
Involuntarily, she closed her eyes.
Gu Changce’s dark eyes deepened as he saw her slipping into a daze.
The hand that had been gripping her wrist slowly slid down to her waist, caressing gently.
Shen Zuihuan instantly went limp, leaning into his embrace.
He guided her toward the bed, and together they tumbled onto the redwood-carved square couch.
His palm cushioned the back of her head just in time.
But the moment they fell, Shen Zuihuan jolted awake.
Her eyes glazed with desire, she turned her head away, panting heavily.
The young girl had never done anything so bold and improper.
Her pale pupils trembled slightly.
Stammering, she searched for an excuse.
Looking at the small wooden bird still clutched in her hand,
she buried her head deeply, almost into her chest.
In a hesitant tone, she changed the subject, trying to ease her embarrassment: “This… this little wooden bird, it’s such a pity, only one… one wing left.”
As she lowered her hand,
the man’s moist, thin lips missed their mark, brushing against the corner of her mouth.
He restrained his ragged breaths.
Suddenly, he buried his head deeply in the tender curve of her neck.
His heavy, ragged breaths circled around her neck, like a tiny feather tickling her incessantly.
Shen Zuihuan felt a tingling, numbing itch shoot from the top of her head all the way down her spine.
Unable to control herself, she shrank her neck slightly.
But in the movement, her soft chest rubbed against his firm one.
A crimson flush spread through Gu Changce’s eyes.
His voice was low and restrained: “…Huanhuan, don’t move.”
Shen Zuihuan felt something hard pressing against her leg.
Her movements froze for an instant, and she dared not move recklessly again.
After a long silence,
she suddenly heard the man take a deep breath and whisper softly in her ear: “It’s alright.”
He said in a calm tone: “…If you like it, I’ll make you a new one later.”
The corners of the man’s eyes were tinged with a damp redness, driven by desire.
The grown-up Gu Changce, having spent years on the battlefield, carried a fierce aura.
Shen Zuihuan felt a little afraid seeing him like this.
Timidly, she called his name.
Hearing this, Gu Changce closed his dark eyes.
When he opened them again, some clarity had returned.
In the end, he only brushed the stray strands of hair at her temple behind her ear.
In Shen Zuihuan’s still somewhat dazed gaze, he whispered softly: “…Sleep.”