As Su Mianmian emerged from the dormitory, dragging her bags, Gu Yizhou was leaning against his car, smoking. Perhaps because he'd had a few drinks, his long legs were casually crossed, displaying an unusual languor.
The soft moonlight bathed him, flowing along his sculpted face, as if the stars were being drawn into his eyes. Perhaps sensing Su Mianmian's presence, Gu Yizhou turned his head, and their gazes met briefly in the night sky.
Then, Su Mianmian saw Gu Yizhou exhale a deep puff of smoke, a smile playing on his lips, his eyes sparkling like a galaxy. Su Mianmian blushed and dragged her suitcase toward him. Gu Yizhou extinguished his cigarette and strode over to meet her. "Didn't I tell you to take the important things back first?" Su Mianmian said softly, "We're not coming back to live here anymore, so let's just pack everything up at once." Hearing something was off in her voice, Gu Yizhou grasped her shoulders and looked down at her. "Why are your eyes so red?" Su Mianmian's pink lips moved slightly. "I can't bear to part with Zhizhi." Gu Yizhou chuckled softly and touched her cheek. "Can't bear to part with Song Zhi? Why don't I ever see you bear to part with me?" Su Mianmian sniffed and looked up at Gu Yizhou. "That's different." "How is it different? Do you know, every time you go back to school, I'm very reluctant to part with you, just like you are now." Su Mianmian's already large eyes widened. "How could that be? I've known Zhizhi for almost three years, and you and I have only..." She didn't finish her sentence. She had known him for half a year, but they had only really been in contact for less than two months. Gu Yizhou's lips unconsciously curved upwards, his tone tender. "But Mianmian, I feel like I've known you for a long time…" Known you for a long time? Seeing Su Mianmian blinking her eyes, her expression blank and adorable, Gu Yizhou pinched her cheek. After putting Su Mianmian's luggage in the trunk, he opened the passenger door for her.
"Get in, let's go home." Get in, go home… These two words were familiar, but when Gu Yizhou said them, they suddenly carried a different meaning.
Su Mianmian felt as if a feather had lightly brushed against her heart, a strange emotion slowly rising from the depths of her soul. …Su Mianmian rarely saw Gu Yizhou drive himself. He was actually a very steady driver, just like him, giving people an unconscious sense of security.
His gaze was focused, his well-defined hands moving the steering wheel unhurriedly. His profile was truly handsome, with a high nose bridge and a perfectly curved jawline. "Is it handsome?" Gu Yizhou suddenly blurted out, then tilted his head, his eyes carrying a hint of teasing.
Caught peeking, Su Mianmian's ears flushed bright red, and she quickly looked out the window. Gu Yizhou, seeing the girl's shy face reflected in the car window, smiled more broadly. "Mianmian, I'm your husband. If you want to look, look anytime, openly and honestly, it's free."
He paused, "And, as for chest muscles and abs, your husband has those too. No need to go to great lengths to touch other people's." Su Mianmian felt her face burning hot, wishing she could disappear into a crack in the ground. "I already said, I didn't mean to touch them."
Gu Yizhou. "Hmm, I understand." Su Mianmian turned to look at him, her face still red. "What do you understand?" It was a red light. Gu Yizhou turned his head, his gaze fixed on hers.
"Mianmian, you're an adult now. It's normal to be curious about the opposite sex's anatomy. We need to face our feelings." "So, I've decided that when we get home later, I'll let you touch them properly, and then you won't find them so novel anymore." Su Mianmian:
…Yushui Bay is located in the largest villa district in the center of Jiangcheng City. The security system here is more comprehensive than in ordinary residential areas. Upon entering the villa district, Su Mianmian was amazed by the environment. Low density, quiet, without any sense of noise.
French-style detached houses with courtyards, each with its own entrance, offer excellent privacy. Although it was night, the dim streetlights along the road made the place even more noble, luxurious, and romantic. Gu Yizhou drove straight into a courtyard.
As he walked around the front of the car to open the door for Su Mianmian, Gu Yizhou gentlemanly extended a hand, his tone low and elegant. "Welcome home, my Mrs. Gu." Su Mianmian paused for a second, blushed, and gently placed her hand in Gu Yizhou's large palm.
Gu Yizhou had just taken a few steps towards the house with Su Mianmian when the door opened with a click. A capable-looking woman in her forties greeted them with a smile, "Sir, Madam is back." Gu Yizhou nodded slightly and introduced them.
"This is Aunt Zhou, she takes care of us here," Su Mianmian said obediently. Aunt Zhou nodded happily. While she went to the shoe cabinet to get slippers, Su Mianmian quietly tugged at Gu Yizhou's sleeve.
"Aunt Zhou, have you seen me before? How did you know I was your wife?" Su Mianmian's voice wasn't loud, but it still carried clearly to Aunt Zhou's ears in the quiet air. She smiled but remained silent.
Aunt Zhou placed two pairs of matching slippers beside Gu Yizhou and Su Mianmian. "More than seen, I see you almost every day, Madam. You don't know, this villa is so big, I've been looking forward to you and Sir coming back to live here." Seen? Seen every day? Su Mianmian was even more puzzled. After changing into slippers, she followed Gu Yizhou to the lobby. This place was much larger than Yuejing Tiancheng. Everywhere she looked, there was understated luxury and grandeur, showcasing the owner's exceptional taste.
"It's late, Aunt Zhou, you should go and rest first. I'll take Mianmian back to her room." Aunt Zhou smiled and nodded, then, remembering something, said, "Just a moment." She then went to the kitchen and brought out two glasses of warm milk.
"Sir and Madam, a glass of warm milk will help you sleep. You've had a long day, so please get some rest." After Aunt Zhou left, Gu Yizhou and Su Mianmian finished their milk and went upstairs.
As they passed the corner of the stairs, Su Mianmian's gaze was immediately drawn to the huge photograph on the wall. The girl in the photograph had long eyebrows, beautiful eyes, and her face was veiled below her delicate nose by gold beaded tassels. Her bright red lips, as radiant as roses, were faintly visible amidst her lively gaze.
She wore a bright, swaying dance costume, her arms wrapped in a light, sheer shawl, her bare feet adorned with gold bracelets, and her slender, exposed waist arched slightly, forming a graceful and supple curve. Su Mianmian felt even her breathing become lighter.
Her gaze was fixed on the photograph. She finally understood what Aunt Zhou meant when she said she saw her every day. The dancer in the photo was clearly her! Last year at the school anniversary celebration, the Flying Dance! "What, are you stunned by your own beautiful photo?" Gu Yizhou's deep, cello-like voice came from beside her. Su Mianmian silently turned her head to look at him. "Is this... the promotional photo you got from the school?" Gu Yizhou looked at the girl's sparkling dark eyes, a smile playing on his lips. "The school's photography skills probably aren't this good."
Su Mianmian could hear her own heart pounding. Of course, she had seen the photo the school used for promotion.
It was beautiful, but because it was a deliberately posed shot, it looked somewhat stiff. It couldn't compare to the captivating, ethereal beauty of this candid photo, where her skirt fluttered in the breeze, like a fairy descended from heaven. She was just a little incredulous. "So, you took this?"
Su Mianmian suddenly remembered what Song Zhi had said earlier—"Mianmian, Mr. Z wouldn't have taken a liking to you on the day of the school anniversary, would he?"