QG Chapter64

The late autumn night was deeply cool, yet it didn’t diminish the city’s bustling prosperity. I had never felt two days pass so quickly; every minute and every second felt like a countdown, casting a shadow over my breathing.

 

As for the agreed-upon departure, we both implicitly avoided mentioning it.

 

Shen Jianqing seemed to have gained some understanding and fondness for this world he had never encountered, and I decided to strike while the iron was hot.

 

The TV was playing a lively variety show, with several hosts strenuously telling jokes that weren’t actually funny. I don’t really like watching TV; I only kept one to fill the silent emptiness when I was alone.

 

But at this moment, Shen Jianqing sat properly on the sofa, his eyes fixed on the screen, a faint smile on his face, seemingly genuinely amused.

 

I sat down not too far from him and called his name, “Shen Jianqing.”

 

Shen Jianqing shifted his gaze. “What’s wrong?”

 

I took a deep breath, staring at his face, not missing a single one of his expressions. “How’s the outside world?”

 

“Very magical.”

 

“Then do you want to come with me to see Qiu Lu and Xu Zirong?”

 

As my words fell, the expression on Shen Jianqing’s face froze, and he watched me in silence.

 

I met his gaze, it was calm and firm.

 

Even the most advanced medical equipment couldn’t identify the pathogen, only treating it as “parasites.” The Gu poison of the Miao Ethnic might be even more extraordinary.

 

As the future chief of the Shidi Miao village, if even Shen Jianqing couldn’t find a solution, I couldn’t imagine what else could help Qiu Lu and the others. They were different from me; I was all alone, so it didn’t matter what happened to me. But they had families, loved ones. They were supposed to have bright and promising futures.

 

“Don’t worry, I’ll persuade them not to reveal anything about the Unassimilated Miao…”

 

“It doesn’t matter,” Shen Jianqing countered. “So you agreed to let me stay just for this? You brought me to understand your world and brought me to meet your… roommates just because of this?”

 

Was it just for Qiu Lu and Xu Zirong? Deep down, I already knew my answer.

 

No, it wasn’t.

 

When Shen Jianqing traveled across mountains and rivers, overcoming countless dangers to stand before me, at that moment of frantic stirring in my heart, like weeds breaking through the soil with the spring breeze, how could I possibly deceive myself again?

 

Never before had anyone chosen me with such unwavering determination. My parents hadn’t, nor had those who claimed to like me, like Zhao Rugu, even if they had persevered for just one more second.

 

Neither before Shen Jianqing appeared nor after.

 

Those restless, sleepless nights. Those nights of sinking into dreams, waking up with a shout. I avoided him countless times, yet countless times, I involuntarily thought of him.

 

Each time I thought of him, his image became more deeply etched in my mind. The way he smiled brightly at me, the way he intimately tied the scented sachet for me, the way he humbly pleaded for me to stay… Circling back, it was when we first met, he walked through my camera lens, and I happened to press the wrong shutter.

 

It turned out I had never forgotten any of it.

 

I thought, regardless of whether Shen Jianqing had cast a Gu on me or not, I was under his spell.

 

One cannot always deceive oneself; I should have recognized my true feelings long ago.

 

“No. You shouldn’t have let Hong Hong bite Zhang Xu. There’s nothing between him and me. And ‘roommate’ isn’t what you think it is.”

 

Shen Jianqing froze, and a small red shadow emerged from his sleeve.

 

“Letting you stay…” I paused.

 

Shen Jianqing urgently pressed, “Why are you letting me stay? Tell me, Yuze Ah-ge!”

 

I mustered all my courage: “Letting you stay isn’t just for them; I have my own selfish reasons too.”

 

Shen Jianqing’s eyebrows twitched slightly, seemingly surprised by my sudden honesty. He asked, “What is it?”

 

I looked at his handsome face.

 

Shen Jianqing clutched my hand, almost pleadingly, his palm cold. “Tell me, Yuze Ah-ge. I can remove the Gu, of course I can… Just tell me first, your answer.”

 

“Shen Jianqing.”

 

This name had made me hate, but in truth, he had long since entered my heart; I had just been slow to admit it.

 

“I think I’ve fallen for you.”

 

Before the words fully left my lips, warm tears dripped onto the back of my hand.

 

Before I could react, I was suddenly pulled into a warm embrace. Shen Jianqing’s hands tightly encircled my arms, holding me captive in his embrace.

 

His muffled, rapid breaths pressed against my collarbone, Shen Jianqing’s face buried in my neck, and I felt a wetness.

 

His voice was full of disbelief: “You’re not lying to me, are you?”

 

Before I could answer, Shen Jianqing quickly added, “It’s okay, even if you’re lying to me, it’s okay. Even if you’re just trying to trick me into removing the Gu by saying a few nice words, it’s okay. I’m really happy, Yuze Ah-ge.”

 

I rarely had such tender moments and felt a bit awkward. “I, I’m not lying to you.”

 

Shen Jianqing lifted his head, tear stains still on his cheeks.

 

“You don’t blame me anymore? All those things I did before… you really don’t blame me anymore?”

 

I knew that some words, if not spoken tonight, might be difficult to say later.

 

Since I had already decided to face my true feelings, I might as well say everything. At least when I look back, I won’t have any regrets.

 

“I hate you,” I said, and Shen Jianqing’s face paled. I then continued, “But I can’t stop thinking about you.”

 

This was probably the most out-of-line, most mushy thing I had ever said in my life. As soon as I finished, I felt my cheeks flush.

 

Everything Shen Jianqing had done, the harm he had brought to me and my companions—I didn’t know if I had the right to forgive him. But I just thought, just for tonight, just for tonight.

 

Let me briefly reconcile with him.

 

Shen Jianqing’s eyes gleamed terrifyingly. He said, “I don’t believe it. Unless, unless you kiss me.”

 

I sighed, steeled myself, and pressed my lips against his rosy ones.

 

I had intended to just have a taste and then pull away, but just as I was about to lift my head, Shen Jianqing suddenly pressed down on the back of my head.

 

His breath mingled with mine, exploding dully in my ear.

 

The sound of the TV nearby gradually faded, the city’s clamor downstairs slowly receded, and everything blurred and became an unimportant background.

 

Shen Jianqing’s hand roamed over my body; I naturally knew what he wanted to do. I wasn’t really interested in these things, but I would let him have his way just this once, tonight.

 

“Go inside…” I gasped in a break between breaths.

 

Shen Jianqing immediately embraced me and stood up.

 

Before entering the room, he suddenly paused for a second. I heard the crisp snap of a fingernail flicking against a hand, and out of the corner of my eye, I caught a glimpse of a tiny red shadow being flicked away, landing in some unknown corner of the room.

 

“Hong Hong?”

 

“Don’t worry about it…”

 

Shen Jianqing pulled me down onto the bed.

 

I heard his sticky voice, softly blowing through the ambiguous air: “Yuze Ah-ge, can I stay in this room tonight?”

 

My mind was blank. I forgot whether I nodded or shook my head.