Shang Yuze, recalling the words Gu Qingyue had muttered while picking the pomegranate, looked at her with gentle eyes and said,“I know,it’s Cangyun who wants to eat it.”Gu Qingyue lifted her head and followed his words, “Yes, it’s what it wants, not me.”
Cangyun: “….”
It felt a bit powerless, as if it didn’t know how to prove its innocence.“Here.” Shang Yuze placed the pomegranate in her hands and reached for more.
At 188 cm, picking the higher fruits was effortless for him. As he reached up, his sleeve rolled slightly, revealing the pale, slender bones of his wrist.
Seeing this, Gu Qingyue quickly said, “This one is enough.”“I’ll make juice for you when we get back.”
Gu Qingyue lightly bit her lip, looking down at the red pomegranate in her hands, and said softly, “Actually, I didn’t really want it that much either.”
“In your own home, what’s wrong with eating a pomegranate? If you want something, you can say it.” Shang Yuze held the freshly picked fruit in front of her, his voice warm and gentle like jade.
Gu Qingyue’s lips curved slightly as she looked up at him, her glassy eyes full of cautious inquiry.
“Really?”In the past, she had only been ignored. Whatever she wanted, the Gu family would only promise verbally but never deliver. Gradually, she stopped expecting anything and stopped asking for anything. Because even if she said it, no one would care.
Shang Yuze nodded, his eyes brimming with tenderness and adoration. “Really.”
Gu Qingyue felt her eyes warm, almost tearing up.She wasn’t a girl who cried easily, yet Shang Yuze’s gentleness, patience, and attentiveness always managed to stir her heart.Since meeting him, her life seemed to have changed completely.
Shang Yuze watched her reaction closely, a pang of pain welling in his heart.
The years of neglect had left her extremely insecure and sensitive, so careful and considerate that she didn’t even dare to ask for what she wanted.
He picked a few more pomegranates, and by the end, Gu Qingyue’s arms were full of ten or so plump, ripe pomegranates, her smile sweet and content.
Cangyun cleverly brought over a basket.Gu Qingyue placed the pomegranates inside, patting Cangyun on the head as a reward, while Shang Yuze carried the basket.
The sunset painted the sky in molten gold, clouds merging into one, and the three of them walked side by side. Cangyun trotted alongside, and the long shadows stretched on the ground. Gu Qingyue felt the scene was simple yet warm.
Back at the main villa, Shang Yuze took one pomegranate from the basket and handed the rest to the servants, instructing them to prepare a few dishes using the fruit.
He sat next to Gu Qingyue and said warmly, “Hold out your right hand.”Although she didn’t know what he was going to do, she obediently extended her right hand.
Shang Yuze placed a red string bracelet on her wrist. His fingers were warm, the slightly calloused pads brushing her delicate skin, sending a ticklish heat through her heart.
A faint, almost imperceptible smile passed over his handsome face. He tightened the strings on both sides, carefully checking that it was secure, and then reminded her, “It’s on properly. Don’t lose it.”
Gu Qingyue looked at the bracelet on her wrist. The red string accentuated the slender whiteness of her wrist.
Her mind replayed the moment Shang Yuze had placed it there. Two faint blushes spread across her fair cheeks. When he took out an identical red bracelet for her left wrist, she shyly lowered her gaze.
“Is this a pair?”Shang Yuze nodded. “Yes. I heard wearing them keeps you safe.”“You actually believe that?” Gu Qingyue asked in surprise.
Shang Yuze’s expression remained calm. “I wasn’t used to it.”But for Gu Qingyue, he chose to believe.Confused, she asked, “Then why do you believe it now?”
Shang Yuze said, “If you believe, it works. If not, it doesn’t. Just for peace of mind.”Looking at his wrist, Gu Qingyue hesitated. “You’re a CEO. Are you sure it’s okay to wear a red string bracelet?”
Other CEOs usually wore expensive watches, and this simple red string seemed out of place for Shang Yuze’s status.“It’s fine.” He didn’t mind. He picked up a pomegranate and a fruit knife from the table.
Gu Qingyue reached for the pomegranate. “I can peel it myself.”
Shang Yuze moved his hand away, speaking seriously, “The blade is sharp. Dangerous. A child shouldn’t touch it.”
Gu Qingyue couldn’t help but smile. “I’m not a child.”“In front of me, you’re not much different from one.” Shang Yuze cut a circle around the top of the pomegranate and opened it, revealing the juicy seeds inside.
Watching him peel the pomegranate for her, Gu Qingyue felt as sweet as if she had eaten honey.
Shang Yuze placed the plate of seeds beside her. “Try it. How does it taste?”She picked up a seed and bit gently. The juice burst in her mouth, tangy, sweet, and delicious. She smiled brightly. “Very sweet.”
Shang Yuze looked at her youthful, radiant smile, a charming curve forming at his lips.
Gu Qingyue brought the plate closer to him. “You try some too.”After tasting, Shang Yuze’s smile deepened. “It is sweet indeed.”
Saturday, school was off. Gu Qingyue had planned to sleep in, but at seven a.m., her mentor Jiang Yan called to wake her. After breakfast, she hurried into Shang Yuze’s car to rush to the lab.
A chip she was responsible for had a small data issue. Gu Qingyue recalculated and simulated the problematic section, confirmed the chip worked normally, and saved the data.
With some time before lunch, she wrapped up her experiment.By the time she finished, it was already eleven thirty.As she walked out of the lab, a voice called behind her.
“Gu Qingyue.”She stopped and turned around.A slender, upright young man ran toward her, with delicate features, fair skin, bright eyes, and a neat smile. Stray strands of hair fell slightly over his eyebrows.
Zhou Xuyang stood before her, looking into her clear, shimmering eyes. His ears flushed silently as his fingers unconsciously tightened. He asked, “It’s noon. Want to go eat together?”
When Gu Qingyue came out, he hadn’t finished his own work. He had asked someone else to finish it for him, then hurried to catch up.
Gu Qingyue’s lips curved faintly in silence. She refused without hesitation. “No, I have things to do.”
Zhou Xuyang’s expression darkened slightly, but he didn’t give up. “Are you going out? My dad just bought me a car. Where are you going? Do you want me to take you?”