Su Nian’an knew that she and Gu Qingyu would have this conversation sooner or later, so she didn’t hide anything from him. She directly told him the truth that she was the Su family’s biological daughter, and that they had schemed to use her as a replacement bride to marry into the fallen Gu family.
“I’m the Su family’s biological daughter. I was just sent to live with my maternal aunt in the countryside when I was little. Life at my aunt’s place wasn’t good. When my biological parents finally came to take me back to Beijing, I never expected that it would be because they wanted me to marry you in Su Nianxi’s place.”
Gu Qingyu stared into Su Nian’an’s eyes, trying to determine whether she was lying.
But there was no reason for Su Nian’an to lie about something like this.
Even if the Gu family went to verify it with the Su family, they would find out the truth eventually. Everything Su Nian’an had said was true.
“You’re willing?” After a long silence, that was the only question Gu Qingyu asked.
Su Nian’an turned her head, then smiled at Gu Qingyu before saying, “Of course I am. Why wouldn’t I be? You’re so handsome. What exactly am I losing out on?”
As she said this, her eyes curved into a smile.
For some reason, when Gu Qingyu heard those words, he suddenly felt that his heart which had remained calm for twenty-four years had begun beating to a completely different rhythm.
He quickly looked away and then asked, “Are you sincere? The Gu family’s current situation isn’t good.”
“I am. Otherwise, why would I travel all the way here to find you?”
Su Nian’an blinked, doing her best to flirt with Gu Qingyu.
Unfortunately, the man didn’t even dare look at her right now.
And she had thought he was some kind of iceberg that could never be melted?
She had only applied a tiny bit of pressure, and he was already embarrassed.
How was he any different from an innocent young man who had never been in love before?
Although Su Nian’an hadn’t been married before crossing into this world, she had dated several times.
So when it came to romance, Su Nian’an felt that she should have a little more experience than the male lead, Gu Qingyu, who had always kept his distance from women.
Su Nian’an waited for a long while before finally hearing Gu Qingyu softly hum, “Mm.”
What did “mm” even mean?
Su Nian’an was speechless.
However, in order to secure the male lead as her backer, as well as obtain the spatial bracelet in his possession and conveniently get this handsome man for herself Su Nian’an had no intention of pretending to be a fake couple with him.
People in this era generally had a strong sense of responsibility. Once a man and woman became physically intimate as husband and wife, the man would usually take responsibility for the woman, especially a man like Gu Qingyu, whose character was so upright.
So if the two of them really ended up sleeping in the same room, Su Nian’an felt that it would be strange if nothing happened between them.
Unless Gu Qingyu was some kind of monk.
“What does ‘mm’ mean?” Su Nian’an reached out and lightly poked the man’s arm.
Who would have thought that the moment she lightly touched Gu Qingyu, he would react as though he had been electrocuted. He abruptly stood up, startling Su Nian’an.
“W-what’s wrong?” Su Nian’an asked, stumbling over her words.
Gu Qingyu’s expression looked rather unnatural. He turned his face away and replied, “Nothing. The water should be about ready. I’ll get a bucket and fill it for you so you can take a bath.”
With that, Gu Qingyu went over to the water vat, took an empty wooden bucket, brought it beside the stove, and began scooping water with a gourd dipper.
Su Nian’an simply rested her chin in her hand and silently watched him.
Gu Qingyu knew she was watching him, but by this point he had already calmed himself down. After filling the bucket, he carried it directly to the makeshift bathroom outside the backyard.
Seeing the man’s tall figure walking ahead of her, Su Nian’an hurried after him.
It was pitch-black outside.
Su Nian’an wasn’t afraid of much, but she was somewhat afraid of the dark. Yet she had somehow ended up traveling through time to an era when electric lights had not yet become widespread.
Feeling the little tail following behind him, Gu Qingyu said nothing.
After placing the water inside the temporary bathroom, which had been built out of wooden boards, Gu Qingyu finally spoke.
“It’s a little dark here. I’ll go get a kerosene lamp for you.”
He had just turned around to leave when Su Nian’an grabbed the hem of his clothes.
“Um… I’ll go with you.”
Su Nian’an’s voice was no longer as composed as it had been earlier.
Gu Qingyu instinctively sensed that something was wrong with her, but he didn’t think too much about it.
After placing the kerosene lamp inside the bathroom, Gu Qingyu said, “All right. Go ahead and take your bath. I’m going back to the room.”
What?!
Su Nian’an looked around.
Everything outside was pitch-black. The only source of light was the stars hanging in the night sky, while the surroundings remained dim.
She couldn’t help feeling a little frightened.
“Gu Qingyu!”
Su Nian’an suddenly called his name.
“What is it?”
Gu Qingyu frowned. By now, he could tell that Su Nian’an really did have something on her mind.
“Well… um…”
Su Nian’an hesitated.
Should she ask Gu Qingyu to stay and keep her company?
But this was only their first day of knowing each other. Wouldn’t such a request be too forward?
Whatever!
They were going to sleep in the same bed from now on anyway. Why should she worry about this?
Just as Su Nian’an was about to speak, Gu Qingyu spoke first.
“I thought about it. You’re unfamiliar with this place, so I’ll wait here until you finish bathing.”
Gu Qingyu had originally intended to say that he would wait in the kitchen, but he figured that Su Nian’an was genuinely quite frightened.
Maybe she was afraid of bathing in such an environment. Maybe she was afraid of the dark. Or maybe she was worried about something else.
In any case, she was clearly scared right now.
“Right! Y-you should wait for me. Then we can go back to the room together.”
Su Nian’an was only trying to hide the fact that she was timid, but she had no idea how suggestive her words sounded.
“Go take your bath.”
In the darkness, Su Nian’an didn’t notice that the man’s ears had already turned slightly red.
“Then… then wait here for me. I’ll be done very soon,” Su Nian’an hurriedly said.
“Mm. I’ll wait right here. I won’t go anywhere,” the man promised.
Holding her change of clothes, Su Nian’an quickly entered the crude bathroom.
Fortunately, they had lit the kerosene lamp. Otherwise, she really wouldn’t have been able to see anything in the darkness.
There was no room to be picky about things right now.
Su Nian’an quickly took a bath and changed her clothes. The moment she finished, she felt refreshed all over.
A person really did need to bathe. How could anyone go without bathing?
Su Nian’an opened the bathroom door and saw the man leaning against the adobe wall with his arms crossed.
At this moment, Su Nian’an held her dirty clothes in one hand and the kerosene lamp in the other.
She had already undone her two braids, allowing all her hair to fall loose around her shoulders. Her long hair, slightly wavy from having been braided, framed her pretty little face and gave her the appearance of a beautiful woman who had just stepped out after bathing.
The faint glow of the kerosene lamp illuminated Su Nian’an’s face, creating an especially captivating atmosphere.
Gu Qingyu only glanced at her once before quickly looking away.
“Finished?” he asked first.
“Mm, I’m done. Let’s go back to the room. As for these old clothes I’ll wash them tomorrow.”
“Mm.”
After answering, Gu Qingyu stepped forward and reached out to take both Su Nian’an’s dirty clothes and the kerosene lamp from her hands, but Su Nian’an avoided him.
“You take the lamp. I’ll carry my clothes.”
Her underwear was among the clothes. How embarrassing would that be?
“Okay.”
Gu Qingyu took the kerosene lamp, and the two of them walked back toward the room.
This was only their first day of knowing each other, yet their relationship had progressed at an astonishing speed.
They were already going to sleep in the same bed.