Sheng Qianchi personally drove Gu Jiayin back to Lu Xiya’s place.
Neither of them spoke along the way.
She wanted silence, so he gave her space and room.
Underneath the apartnt building, he parked the car, got out, walked around the front, and opened the car door for her with gentlemanly grace, assisting her out.
They stood facing each other under the dim streetlight.
He was tall and upright; she was slender and graceful, the perfect height difference making the scene pleasing to the eye.
The night was hazy, and the evening breeze blew gently.
Her long hair fell softly against her fair face.
He raised his hand and gently tucked it behind her ear, leaned down and kissed her lips, a deep kiss that didn’t linger for long before he pulled away.
He gazed at her with deep affection in his eyes, his voice hoarse yet pleasant, like a gentle stream flowing over her heart, "Tomorrow night at eight, return to Shuiyunjian and have dinner with , alright?"
Gu Jiayin lowered her eyes, remaining silent.
He had given her a deadline.
Previously, he had set a rule that she must return to Shuiyunjian by eight, and without his permission, she could not stay out for long. This ti, he did the sa, wanting her back by eight.
He wanted her to beco his Mrs. Sheng.
She continued to keep silent, and he didn’t say much more, gently stroking her hair, "Go on up, good night."
Gu Jiayin glanced at him hurriedly, turned away and walked into the apartnt. Although she didn’t look back, she knew he was watching her the whole ti.
Back in the apartnt, Lu Xiya wasn’t there. She was currently working as a comic artist at a publishing house, rushing to finish manuscripts for publication, sotis working overti.
Gu Jiayin entered the living room without turning on the lights, instead walking to the floor-to-ceiling window, peering down through a gap in the curtains.
Sure enough, as expected, the man was still there.
He leaned against the car door, a cigarette between his fingers, occasionally glancing up at her window.
The dim streetlight stretched his solitary shadow, the smoke he exhaled trailing in the night breeze, flowing like thin silk.
She knew he was waiting for the light to co on in her window.
Such a man, inherently compelling, she was also a woman who couldn’t sotis resist such allure. If not for the many ties in her life, she might have nodded and agreed back at Shuiyunjian.
However...
Life doesn’t entertain ’if.’
Her life was entangled with too many burdens, and love was not the most important part.
She couldn’t afford the kindness he offered.
Even if she stayed by his side temporarily to gain Twilight Manor, or under his persistent pressure beca his Mrs. Sheng, one day she would still have to leave.
When the ti cos to leave, what’s the point of marrying first then divorcing?
She walked over slowly, pressed the switch, and the room instantly brightened.
Returning to the floor-to-ceiling window, the man was looking up at her window; upon seeing her, his handso face broke into a smile under the streetlight.
He waved to her, his lips forming the words "good night."
He was uniquely insightful, having long known the importance of Twilight Manor to her, so he felt assured she would return to him. Giving her this day to think was rely to adjust her mood.
She waved back, bidding him farewell.
He snuffed out the cigarette with a smile, tossed it into the roadside trash bin, opened the car door, and drove off into the distance.
The area under the streetlight beca desolate.
She stood there for a long ti, gazing without moving.
...
Lu Xiya returned at midnight, finding Gu Jiayin sitting on the living room sofa waiting.
"Why aren’t you asleep yet?" Lu Xiya asked.
Gu Jiayin turned and smiled faintly, "Waiting for you."
Lu Xiya walked over to pour a glass of water, gulping down half, then joined her on the sofa, observing for a few seconds, "Jiayin, you have sothing to tell ."
There were no secrets between them, and Gu Jiayin truly concealed nothing.
"Yes." Gu Jiayin nodded, "I might be moving out of here tomorrow."
"Why?" Lu Xiya abruptly halted her drinking, "Where are you going?"
"Possibly..." Gu Jiayin lowered her head, playing with a small plush bear, "back to Shuiyunjian."
She might also soon beco Mrs. Sheng, but she didn’t want to say that just yet.
"Huh?" Lu Xiya looked at Gu Jiayin with deep confusion, "Why? Didn’t you say you and Sheng Qianchi had ended things clearly?"
Gu Jiayin gave a light smile, too faint to reach her eyes, "Twilight Manor is in Sheng Qianchi’s hands."
Lu Xiya blinked her big eyes a few tis, already understanding the reason.
Everything Gu Jiayin had done recently was to take back Twilight Manor from Qin Yiheng; she had always known this, but never thought it would end up in Sheng Qianchi’s hands.
"Is he using Twilight Manor to force you back?"
Gu Jiayin lowered her head, tacitly agreeing.
Lu Xiya pressed her lips in contemplation for a while, "Jiayin, is that garden so important to you? So important that you would trade your body for it?"
Gu Jiayin silently nodded.
What’s important wasn’t the garden itself, but what might be hidden there, sothing she must find at all costs.
However, she couldn’t tell Lu Xiya.
Lu Xiya carefully observed Gu Jiayin’s expression, "What about Brother Nianchen? He doesn’t seem like he’d easily give up on you."
Gu Jiayin said nothing more.
Indeed, Pei Nianchen was using the threat of death to coerce her, what could she do about that?
...
The following day, the sky was overcast, layers of dark clouds gathering above the city, threatening to rain at any mont.
Gu Jiayin hadn’t slept well all night and woke up early in the morning.
Pulling open the curtains, she saw a black SUV parked by the roadside, and standing beside it, a tall man.
Pei Nianchen.
His hair was short and stiff, each strand standing straight, as stern and upright as he was.
He was initially leaning against the car door, but upon inadvertently looking up and seeing her, he imdiately stood up straight, gazing up at her.
She watched as he took out his phone and dialed a number with practiced ease, and soon her own phone rang.
She walked to the bedside and sure enough, saw his na flashing on her screen. She answered, "Brother Nianchen."
"Jiayin, co down, I’m waiting for you."
"Alright."
There were so things she needed to clarify with him early.
She quickly washed up, changed her clothes, and prepared to go downstairs. Passing through the living room, she found Lu Xiya making breakfast, so she paused, "Xiya."
Lu Xiya turned and smiled at her, "Jiayin, I’m not going to the office today; let’s go out and have so fun?"
Gu Jiayin sighed, "Not today, Brother Nianchen is waiting downstairs."
Lu Xiya’s smile froze on her face, and she imdiately set down the utensils, ran to the floor-to-ceiling window for a quick peek, then frowned, "Jiayin, what do you plan to do?"
"I’m going to tell him the truth."
Having said that, Gu Jiayin turned and headed for the door, casting one last glance at Lu Xiya, she opened the door and went out, her figure resolute yet tinged with fragility.
Lu Xiya stared at the closed door in silence for a long ti.
Pei Nianchen and Gu Jiayin were both very important to her, and she would feel the pain of either one getting hurt.
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