Chapter 14
1181 Words
Youyan suddenly smiled, her eyes and lips curving gently.
Gu Ye Bai swirled his wine glass, where the deep red liquid reflected the image of the woman with her curved brows and smiling lips. It was on a rainy day years ago when he first met her. She held an umbrella tilted towards him, protecting his final exam art pieces from the rain, the raindrops sliding off her shoulder onto the ground. Despite the cold making her shiver, she still smiled slightly.
He downed the remaining liquid in his glass.
That smile, the one from their first encounter. How could she still smile like that? As if she had never left, as if he hadn't gone mad with longing, hadn't cut his arms dozens of times in the throes of missing her.
This smile made him want to destroy her, ruthlessly, without regard.
Youyan said softly, "Senior Lin Ziyan, can I choose anyone?"
"Of course. Isn't that right, everyone?" Lin Ziyan laughed heartily, then whispered in her ear, "Yan, just call me Senior, drop the 'Little'."
Youyan nodded, looking at Gu Ye Bai again, her gaze tender and cautious.
The table, which was not narrow, covered with a checkered tablecloth, seemed to become crowded at that moment.
People who were spread out earlier now gathered around this table.
A cliché dare game, yet with interesting players.
The former lover who returned after straying, now facing the billionaire society president who was once her equal.
"Shameless!" one of the juniors standing behind Huaian spoke out in anger, it was the curly-haired junior who had been drenched by Lin Ziyan earlier.
Her companion tried to pull her back, but she shook off the hand, sneering, "I will speak! How can someone like her exist? When Senior Gu wasn't the president of the art society, why didn't she stay? Don't you feel indignant for Senior Huaian? Chu Ke, what do you say?"
Chu Ke smiled, raising an eyebrow, "Some hope this little dare is called 'Reliving the Love Dream.'"
Laughter erupted from the crowd. Those who didn't understand asked, and those in the know whispered explanations.
Several of Youyan's former classmates from her course stood up and moved to the periphery, afraid of being tainted by the scandal.
Huaian turned around, her face slightly annoyed, and said to the curly-haired girl, "Junior, you're drunk."
The girl stomped her foot, grabbing Huaian's arm, "Senior, you're too tolerant! People are bullying you right at your door!"
Huaian glanced at Gu Ye Bai, who was sipping his drink with an inscrutable look in his deep eyes.
She squeezed the girl's hand, her tone stern, "If you say one more word, I won't like it."
The whispers around the table were bold and unrestrained.
The laughter was cruel.
Seeing Youyan's hand on her chest, her face pale under the light, Lin Ziyan wished he could knock his head against a block of tofu.
Xu Qing glared at him fiercely.
The laughter was still cruel, the gazes still bold. It was like this was the c****x of a dramatic play.
Gu Ye Bai flipped the wine glass in his hand, then with a flick of his wrist, "Ding," the glass hung upside down on the neck of the liquor bottle, the delicate sound silencing the uproar.
"Is it that funny? Can someone tell me why this is so amusing?"
One sentence silenced the room.
Gu Ye Bai gave everyone a light glance and said no more. Among these people, many were connected to him through business or work, and none wanted to lose his favor.
He was known for his cold demeanor and few words, yet he was a formidable figure. Among the numerous descendants of the Gu family, he was the only one favored by his grandfather, taking charge of the family business not just because of his extraordinary artistic talent.
The atmosphere grew tense.
Gu Ye Bai subtly narrowed his eyes, knowing his point had been made, and then turned to Lin Ziyan, "Ziyan, do we continue this game or not?"
Lin Ziyan felt his heart race under Gu Ye Bai's gaze and quickly laughed, "Yes, sir, of course we continue. Everyone, don't just stand there. Let's get on with this."
Everyone's hanging hearts settled a bit.
Huaian felt a bitter taste in her mouth and sighed lightly. An uncertain irritation rose in her heart.
Ye Bai, you still can't bear to see her in pain, can you?
She subconsciously wanted to see Chu Ke's expression, which must be interesting. She knew something of the relationship between Gu Ye Bai and Chu Ke, but she dared not ask directly. This was not the independent Huaian everyone saw. In love, she couldn't control her own fate.
She knew she loved him more than he loved her. Even, she couldn't be sure if he loved her at all.
It's said the greatest distance in the world is when I stand in front of you, but you don't know I love you.
But isn't the greatest distance also when I stand before you, you know I love you, but I don't know if you love me?
They had been officially together for two years, yet in that time, she still couldn't fathom his thoughts.
Much like his current paintings, those hateful abstract works, having abandoned concrete images and objectivity, leaving only the essence. Like Hamlet seen by a thousand eyes, each interpretation is different, how can one measure?
Lin Ziyan's voice calling Youyan was now in her ear.
Lu Youyan, if you came back to win him back, I will do everything I can!
Huaian heard the sound of petals falling in her heart.
At this moment, Youyan's hand trembled in her pocket. He had come to her rescue. Could she think of it that way?
Lin Ziyan, seeing himself completely ignored, had no choice but to step in front of Youyan again, calling out, "Youyan, Youyan."
Youyan was startled, lifted her eyes, and gave a faint smile.
Lin Ziyan beamed, "Who did you choose?"
"Senior, if anyone is fine, then—" Youyan couldn't help but glance at Gu Ye Bai.
The hearts that had just been quelled started to beat faster again.
Lin Ziyan craned his neck.
Youyan wrinkled her nose and suddenly said, "Senior, then it's you, okay?"
Silence fell once more. A deep silence. Not a sound was heard.
Lin Ziyan's mouth dropped open, enveloped in a sense of tragic heroism.
Someone chuckled, it was Xu Qing. Gu Ye Bai glanced at Xu Qing, who boldly met his gaze, lifting her chin. Gu Ye Bai's lips curved into a faint smile.
The scene was filled with surprise at this twist, and the excitement returned. Youyan, however, was lost in thought, a silent pain rolling through her heart.
It was that year. The autumn evening.
Leaving Gu Ye Bai's dormitory, she swung her arms, ran joyfully, anticipating their library study date. Gu Ye Bai stood behind, watching her with an amused expression.
Remembering she'd left something behind, she turned back, only to see the unexpected, unbearable sight.
- Writer
