Forbidden to Flirt and Run 36

Chapter 36

The screen showed the video call duration as 1:23.

Xu Qingtang felt as if time had stood still. It wasn’t until she heard Gu Yizhi’s clear laugh that she took a deep breath, also put on a smiling face, and faced the screen, pretending to be natural. “Good evening~”

Unlike the phone contact, Gu Yizhi hadn’t given her aunt a nickname on WeChat. As Xu Qingtang was greeting her, she saw a line of words—”Mommy of my dear big bull.”

It wasn’t that she was discriminating against the name, but they were of the same generation. How could the name be so different from Gu Yizhi’s? Could it be a nickname?

Gu Yizhi’s aunt was gentler than she had imagined. There was also a husky running around beside her, attracting her attention, but Xu Qingtang’s embarrassment could not be alleviated by this. The cars in front finally started to move, so Gu Yizhi hung up the video call. Xu Qingtang secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Looking at her quiet appearance, Gu Yizhi said, “Xu Tangtang, why are you so cute?”

Xu Qingtang chuckled. “Cute? I traded my face for it.”

To be embarrassed in front of her partner’s elder, there was really no one else like her.

Speaking of elders, Xu Qingtang suddenly remembered something. She looked at Gu Yizhi’s side profile and asked, “Are you and your aunt related by blood?”

Gu Yizhi: “Yes.”

“Uh… why does your aunt’s accent sound like she speaks Cantonese often?”

Gu Yizhi explained, “We’re not from Lin City. We just settled here.”

Ever since she had known that Gu Yizhi was Teacher Qi’s student, Xu Qingtang had assumed she was from Lin City… She paused for a moment, then recalled the stumbling rendition of “The Love of Glass” that Gu Yizhi had sung. “Then why can’t you speak Cantonese?”

Gu Yizhi: “I can.”

Xu Qingtang was puzzled. “Then why did you…”

Gu Yizhi guessed what she was thinking and said softly, “I knew you were unhappy that night and wanted to make you laugh.”

Xu Qingtang’s mood had indeed been terrible that night, a world apart from her current state. Because of Gu Yizhi’s words, the corners of her lips couldn’t be suppressed on the way back.

Entering the city, the two of them didn’t rush back to the hotel. It was already past eight in the evening, and Xu Qingtang was a little hungry, so they chose a nearby restaurant with a nice environment.

While ordering, a clap of thunder was suddenly heard outside the window. Xu Qingtang turned to look at the street, a little worried. “Will it rain on our way back…”

As she spoke, her gaze returned to the front, but when she saw a certain place, she suddenly stopped, and her voice also dropped, melting into the soothing piano music of the restaurant.

The world was truly small. Xu Qingtang never would have thought she would see Su Mengyu here.

Su Mengyu had obviously seen Xu Qingtang too. She just glanced at her with a complicated expression, then picked up her bag and hurried away. Then, Lin Huaijia appeared in her line of sight.

Their eyes met.

Lin Huaijia had a very ordinary round face, and her features were all very plain. The good thing was that they were quite regular, and her usual taste in clothes was good, giving her a durable and delicate look. But at this moment, her face was full of fatigue, with heavy dark circles under her eyes. She looked very haggard and a little lost.

After not seeing each other for a long time, Xu Qingtang felt that this glance was no different from looking at a stranger. It didn’t stir any ripples in her heart.

Lin Huaijia, on the other hand, stared at Xu Qingtang in a daze, especially when she saw Gu Yizhi sitting opposite her, and saw Gu Yizhi reach out to hold Xu Qingtang’s hand, and then Xu Qingtang smiled back at her. She almost cried out in alarm.

At this moment, she didn’t know which of them to resent.

*

On the other end, Xu Qingtang looked at the lost and soulless Lin Huaijia leaving and couldn’t help but feel a little strange. According to Lin Huaijia’s personality, she would probably have rushed over and caused a scene by now.

She had already prepared for a slap, but she hadn’t expected this trash to be so sensible today.

“Didn’t you notice?”

Hearing Gu Yizhi’s voice, Xu Qingtang turned back. “Notice what?”

Gu Yizhi: “I’m wearing a light gray outfit just like you.”

Xu Qingtang was pleasantly surprised. “You’re right!”

“So you only just noticed,” Gu Yizhi propped her face on her hand, her tone faint. “Was it because you didn’t pay attention, or because you were looking at someone else?”

Gu Yizhi was even unwilling to call Lin Huaijia her ex.

The waiter served the red wine first. Xu Qingtang raised her glass, took a sip, and then swirled it. “This wine… is so sour. You’re not jealous, are you?”

Gu Yizhi had always been frank. “Yes, I’m jealous.”

Xu Qingtang blinked. “Ah, I just glanced at her.” She held up a finger and emphasized, “One glance.”

Gu Yizhi: “Not even one glance.”

Xu Qingtang really loved her strong and domineering look right now and nodded. “Alright, alright. No, no. It won’t happen again.”

Xu Qingtang thought the trial was over, but who knew Gu Yizhi would stare at her and ask again, “Xu Tangtang, you don’t usually look at other girls, do you?”

This Xu Qingtang could guarantee. “Absolutely not.”

To show her sincerity, Xu Qingtang even gave an example. “You’re so beautiful. I didn’t even pay much attention to you before I liked you…”

Oops.

The moment the words left her mouth, Xu Qingtang knew she was in deep trouble.

Sure enough, the smile on Gu Yizhi’s face faded, and her tone was lukewarm. “Oh, Miss Xu. You’re so loyal.”

Xu Qingtang reached under the table, trying to make up for it by pulling Gu Yizhi’s hand. Gu Yizhi pulled away. She then touched Gu Yizhi’s calf. Gu Yizhi still heartlessly pulled away.

Left with no choice, Xu Qingtang had to act cute. “Zhizhi~”

This trick usually worked well, but today it failed. Gu Yizhi was not buying it. “What ‘Zhizhi’? There’s no such person.”

Xu Qingtang was not discouraged and continued, “Then, wifey~”

The ice that Gu Yizhi had deliberately put up finally melted, and she couldn’t help but laugh. “Alright, ‘wifey’ is here. Xu Tangtang, you’re getting better and better at flirting.”

Xu Qingtang gave Gu Yizhi a triumphant look. “I’ve always been good at it. You just lacked an eye for beauty before.”

Gu Yizhi had a sudden realization. “Always been good at it? Always? And will be in the future?”

Xu Qingtang nodded. “Of course.”

Gu Yizhi smiled. “Then will you be good at it tonight?”

Xu Qingtang immediately understood what she meant. Her face grew a little hot. She felt that Gu Yizhi was really bad, digging a pit for her to jump into again.

“Of course, of course.”

At this point, she couldn’t say no.

Xu Qingtang drank several glasses of red wine in a row. When Gu Yizhi advised her against it, she had a good reason. “I can drink a thousand glasses without getting drunk.”

After dinner, the alcohol kicked in. She held onto Gu Yizhi’s hand, and with her support, she could walk without swaying.

Gu Yizhi’s hotel was nearby.

Neither of them planned to sleep in separate rooms tonight.

After entering the elevator, Xu Qingtang was almost pressed against Gu Yizhi, her chin resting on her shoulder, her eyes fixed on the earring on her ear that was sparkling with a fine light. X…

Xu Qingtang thought of the fireworks Gu Yizhi had set off for her at the television station that night.

Then she remembered that not long after they had met, Gu Yizhi’s earring had fallen off and happened to land outside her door.

Xu Qingtang’s imagination immediately ran wild. “X, Xu. You haven’t liked me for a long time, have you? Love at first sight?”

As she spoke, she had a faint smell of alcohol on her breath, and her fair face was flushed. Gu Yizhi held her shoulder and hummed in agreement. “Yes, it was love at first sight. I’ve liked you for a long time. You’re so slow, Miss Xu.”

So, Gu Yizhi had fallen in love with her at first sight on the night she had come to her door?

Xu Qingtang thought it was very possible. Otherwise, why would she have let her in?

But Xu Qingtang felt that this was not her problem. Gu Yizhi swiped the card, and after the two of them entered the room, Xu Qingtang sat down on the sofa and said seriously, “It’s not that I’m slow. It’s that I didn’t dare to think about it.”

“You have to say you love me more, you know?”

“Look at you, you always wearing that teasing smirk. It’s hard for me to believe you’re serious. And, you’ve never said you love me or like me. How could I be so presumptuous?”

The way they had met was really important. Not to mention thinking that Gu Yizhi liked her, at that time, Xu Qingtang had only thought that she just wanted to have fun with her.

By the time she realized it was different, she had run into the matter of Teacher Qi forcing her into a marriage.

She had almost, almost missed it.

Perhaps it was because of the alcohol, but Xu Qingtang was full of energy and excitement. She poured out all the words that had been buried in her heart. But in the end, she was a little tired, so when Gu Yizhi walked over to her and seemed to say something, she only felt her head spin, and she didn’t hear anything.

After a while, Xu Qingtang looked up. She was sitting cross-legged on the sofa. Gu Yizhi slowly bent down to be at eye level with her. When their eyes met in the air, Gu Yizhi raised her hand and touched her cheek. “You wanted me to say I love you. Why are you blushing yourself?”

Xu Qingtang ignored her own heart that was beating a little fast and retorted righteously, “It’s from drinking!”

Gu Yizhi smiled. “A thousand glasses without getting drunk?”

“…” Xu Qingtang’s reasoning was not straight, but her spirit was strong. She directly twisted the meaning of the words. “It wasn’t a thousand glasses, so it’s normal to be drunk.”

Then, she moved her calf and reached out to hook Gu Yizhi’s chin, blinking innocently. “I have no energy. Can you carry me?”

Gu Yizhi: “No.”

Xu Qingtang: “Why?”

Gu Yizhi: “The vinegar hasn’t digested yet.”

Xu Qingtang really wanted to give herself a big slap. She withdrew her hand and stopped clinging to Gu Yizhi. At this point, she suddenly remembered a very important thing.

She asked Gu Yizhi, “By the way, why haven’t you told me about your family situation? Hmm… does your aunt know about us? Will your parents not agree?”

After drinking, she was afraid of the cold. After Xu Qingtang finished speaking, she shivered.

“They won’t,” Gu Yizhi stood up and put a soft blanket over her. “They’re not here anymore. Hmm, seven or eight years ago.”

Xu Qingtang was a little surprised. “I’m sorry, I didn’t know.”

“It’s normal. Why do you always say those three words?” Gu Yizhi sat down beside her. “What’s wrong? Xu Tangtang, do you want to give me a home?”

Such a beautiful night, such a great atmosphere. Xu Qingtang blurted out, “Ah? You really want me to play your mom?”

Gu Yizhi pursed her lips and smiled. “Xu Qingtang, you have a very professional spirit as an opera actor.”

That beautiful smile seemed gentle, but it was actually hiding a murderous intent. Xu Qingtang regretted it and immediately wanted to run away, but she was pressed down on the sofa by Gu Yizhi, who still asked in a gentle and soft tone, “What are you running for? Didn’t you want to be my mom? Is this all the courage you have?”

“No, no, I was just talking nonsense…”

“Is that so? Then what did you originally want to say?”

Xu Qingtang tried to make up for it. “I wanted to say you’re my girlfriend.” Then, she rubbed against Gu Yizhi’s neck. “I was too anxious, so I said the wrong thing.”

“Is that so?”

Facing Gu Yizhi’s question, Xu Qingtang nodded sincerely. “Of course.”

“So good.” Gu Yizhi kissed Xu Qingtang’s nose.

“Then, let me up?”

Gu Yizhi held Xu Qingtang’s face, the two of them face to face, breathing each other’s breath. She didn’t answer but asked instead, “Miss Xu, will you do it on the sofa?”

Xu Qingtang blinked.

Even without an answer, there was only one answer tonight.

But, the next second, Gu Yizhi stood up and walked towards the table on the side, as if she were looking for something. Xu Qingtang also sat up and happened to see her come back, holding a pen in her hand.

Xu Qingtang was puzzled. “What are you getting a pen for?”

Gu Yizhi: “To strengthen my memory.”

What the hell?

At first, Xu Qingtang didn’t understand. It wasn’t until a line of “Gu Yizhi’s girlfriend” was written on her shoulder, back, leg, and even her abs that she finally understood what Gu Yizhi meant, her face flushed with shame.

Not to be outdone, she snatched the pen and, in the same way, left the words “Xu Qingtang’s girlfriend” on Gu Yizhi’s body.

A cold rain began to rage in the city in the latter half of the night. Xu Qingtang listened to the sound of the rain outside, poked her head out from under the blanket, and yawned. The vinegar belatedly began to brew. “No, wait… where did you learn all this?”

The more she thought about it, the more it didn’t seem right. Xu Qingtang sat up and deliberately put on a stern face. “Gu Zhizhi, you’re not usually exchanging experiences with other girls, are you?”

Gu Yizhi had just finished washing up and was wearing a thin bathrobe. Her long, slender legs came over. “This doesn’t seem to be a difficult matter. It doesn’t require consulting others.”

With that, she looked at Xu Qingtang. “Doesn’t Miss Xu understand?” She smiled again. “Then I can enlighten you.”

This person just couldn’t talk to her properly. Xu Qingtang argued, “What do you mean, I don’t understand? Weren’t you quite satisfied just now? Is this called not understanding???”

“Hmm~” Gu Yizhi leaned closer to Xu Qingtang. “Alright. Then I’m not satisfied now. What should I do?”

Xu Qingtang was seduced by her soft hum. “Continue?”

Gu Yizhi: “Alright.”

The consequence of continuing was that she couldn’t wake up the next morning. When Xu Qingtang groggily opened her eyes, Gu Yizhi had already changed her clothes. She was wearing a smoky gray suit, her long hair slightly curly, her makeup already done, her eyebrows and lips exquisite and beautiful.

“So early…”

“I have to work. Your flight is tomorrow, right?” Gu Yizhi said to her softly. “Stay with me, okay? Or I can go to your place.”

“Hmm, okay, alright.”

“I’ll take the room card first. Don’t worry about your luggage. I’ll bring it over for you in the afternoon. You can wear my clothes for now. Go to sleep.”

Listening to her instructions, Xu Qingtang fell asleep again.

When she woke up, it was already one in the afternoon. Xu Qingtang washed up and sat in the living room in a daze for a while.

Gu Yizhi was staying in a suite, which looked no different from a home. Xu Qingtang went to the closet, thought about Gu Yizhi’s outfit today, and took out a similar-colored outfit and pants from inside.

After changing, Xu Qingtang saw a message from Gu Yizhi on her phone. It was sent earlier, telling her to remember to eat when she woke up. Xu Qingtang rummaged through her stock of emojis and found a very cute one to reply with.

Just as she was about to type, a video call from Tang Gui suddenly popped up on the screen.

Her friend’s face appeared on the big screen. She said, “I have another afternoon, and then I can go to City C~ Little Qingtang, you’ll come and pick me up, right?”

Xu Qingtang asked with a smile, “What time is your flight?”

“In the evening…” Tang Gui’s words suddenly stopped. She suddenly narrowed her eyes and said, “This outfit… is not right. Oh, right, I’ve seen Gu Yizhi wear it. Oh~ Little Qingtang, this is what you call not being in a relationship? Tsk, tsk, the city is full of tricks. I’m going back to the countryside.”

Xu Qingtang: …

She immediately switched the video to a voice call and said, “We just started dating…”

“Alright, alright. Thinking about it, I’m not so afraid of seeing Gu Yizhi at the company anymore.”

Xu Qingtang was a little envious. “Do you see her often at the company?”

“No, basically not at all.”

Xu Qingtang: …

The two of them chatted for a while, discussing where to eat at night. Suddenly, the doorbell and a knock on the door sounded outside. Xu Qingtang said to her phone, “Someone is here. I’m hanging up. Let’s chat on WeChat.”

Then she stood up, went to the door, and looked through the peephole. Outside was a woman in her forties, dressed in luxurious and expensive clothes, and looking a little demanding.

After opening the door, Xu Qingtang remembered. Oh, right, this was Gu Yizhi’s aunt.

The aunt was holding the husky from last night’s video in her right hand, and a boy of about seven or eight in her left. The moment she saw Xu Qingtang, she was slightly stunned and asked, “Is Yizhi not here?”

Xu Qingtang shook her head. “She’s busy.”

“Oh, then Little Tang, do you mind if I come in and sit for a while?”

“Of course not.”

Without a mediator to liven up the atmosphere, the two of them were a little awkward after a brief exchange of pleasantries. Xu Qingtang felt that she had been too embarrassing last night and couldn’t let the atmosphere continue like this. But they had no common topics…

Xu Qingtang looked at the little boy and suddenly had an idea.

Last night, she had heard Gu Yizhi say that her aunt had a seven or eight-year-old child. This time, she had come to City C to see an old friend and, incidentally, to listen to some Peking Opera.

To use a child’s name for a WeChat ID, she could probably chat with her about the child.

A smile appeared on Xu Qingtang’s face. She looked at the little boy. “Ah, this must be Da Niu, right? He’s so tall and looks so healthy. He looks a lot like you.”

“Those dimples are just like yours, carved from the same mold.”

Xu Qingtang rarely interacted with children, so she directly borrowed the words of a neighbor who had visited their home.

After hearing this, the little boy looked as if he was about to cry.

The aunt was stunned for a moment, then picked up the husky beside her and couldn’t help but laugh. “Little Tang, Da Niu is my dog.”

Xu Qingtang was suddenly silent.

Help…