Chapter 89: Zodiac Signs

Zhao Chiyun had many pretty clothes.

Gan Xun said she wanted to stay out for three nights, so Zhao Chiyun felt troubled over which ones to bring.

She had bought a lot of autumn outfits that day, including skirts. Gan Xun asked her which one she would wear to the birthday banquet tomorrow.

“There’s a banquet too?”

Zhao Chiyun laughed. She also knew that Gan Xun’s standards for banquets differed from hers.

After thinking for a moment, she said, “How about the skirt you wore to your last coworker gathering? Lend it to me.”

Gan Xun didn’t understand. “That’s black and already worn by you. You have so many new clothes…”

“What’s wrong with worn? When I first arrived here, I wore your clothes every day and never felt uncomfortable.”

“You even wore the assassin outfit?”

“Outdated. Black clothes are mysterious and noble.”

Zhao Chiyun, who never wore black, solemnly lectured the black clothes collector.

After lunch, the car Gan Xun called arrived at the designated spot. She slung her bag over her shoulder, dragged the suitcase with one hand, and held Zhao Chiyun’s hand with the other as they headed out.

Zhao Chiyun was dressed elegantly, her steps leisurely, like someone truly going on vacation.

After driving for half an hour, their car entered a city district Zhao Chiyun had never set foot in.

She asked Gan Xun if they were going to the high-speed rail station.

Zhao Chiyun had never taken the high-speed rail, but after living there for over four months, she was very familiar with the place. People from there would leave the city from there.

Gan Xun still wanted to keep it a surprise, but they were almost there. Seeing her eager gaze, she pointed upward.

Zhao Chiyun looked up in that direction and carefully studied the taxi’s roof, as if searching for the hint Gan Xun wanted her to see.

Her jawline was clearly visible, and the lines on her snow-white neck carried a hint of effort.

Gan Xun wanted to laugh but held it back. She said, “We’re going to the airport.”

Zhao Chiyun lowered her head and looked at her in shock, wanting to confirm if it was true. After confirming, she laughed tremulously and asked, “We’re taking an airplane?”

“Yeah.”

Gan Xun held her hand. “We’re almost there. You’ll see lots of airplanes.”

“Gan Xun, how are you so amazing?”

Transportation wasn’t an area Zhao Chiyun cared about. Gan Xun said flying was normal, and Cui Can flew back and forth often, but she still thought it was profound.

She had assumed flying required thresholds, a series of conditions and procedures—definitely not easy. So she had never asked Gan Xun for it, fearing she couldn’t arrange it.

Unexpectedly, Gan Xun had prepared everything without her knowing.

Zhao Chiyun’s emotional value was overflowing. Gan Xun, who had just bought a ticket, felt unworthy but very happy. The trip was already worth it before they even officially departed.

“Are plane tickets expensive?”

“Not as expensive as your bicycle.”

So affordable—Zhao Chiyun felt relieved.

This flight required check-in at the airport. While queuing, Gan Xun asked if she wanted a window seat. “Then you can overlook the whole city and try to spot our home’s direction from ten thousand feet up.”

Such a view would only appear in dreams. Zhao Chiyun hesitated. “What if I’m scared?”

Gan Xun saw the anxiety and irrepressible excitement in her eyes. “It’s fine. I’ll be with you. If you’re scared, just close your eyes.”

The line wasn’t long. Soon, Zhao Chiyun saw her name on the pass.

Black simplified characters, neat and square, with all the information—including the destination city name.

The city name was familiar; Zhao Chiyun seemed to have heard it before, but she knew nothing about it and wasn’t in a hurry to look it up.

Gan Xun said this was called a boarding pass.

“Boarding the throne?”

“Yeah, we’re about to ascend the throne in a bit.” Gan Xun joked.

The sensitive word was flagged red in Zhao Chiyun’s mental review.

Her expression turned very serious. “Gan Xun.”

Gan Xun felt like she had committed treason under her gaze and cut her off preemptively. “Okay, okay, I get it. I, Gan Xun, have no rebellious intentions like your Prince Qi’s Mansion.”

“It’s a boarding pass for the plane, a possession of law-abiding citizens. It has nothing to do with rebels.”

The serious-faced Zhao Chiyun suddenly burst into laughter after meeting her eyes. “Being here, I naturally know which ‘ji’ this ‘machine’ character refers to.”

“Just teasing you.”

Gan Xun: “…”

She walked off quickly.

Zhao Chiyun hurried to catch up and whispered, “Thanks for the lesson from a law-abiding citizen.”

There was really no way to deal with Zhao Chiyun.

Before security, Gan Xun gave her a heads-up. “Later, staff will check you. Just watch. The check is thorough, from top to bottom. They might touch you, so don’t get mad.”

Zhao Chiyun glanced at her, seemingly blaming her for explaining even this, underestimating her.

“For a law-abiding citizen boarding a plane, what’s a body search? Even if they ask to strip, I should cooperate. How could I not know the big picture?”

“Don’t be too accommodating to the big picture.”

Gan Xun instructed, “No matter the situation, ignore anyone who asks you to undress, except me.”

Zhao Chiyun feared being overheard. “Got it!”

As they sat in the waiting lounge, Gan Xun gradually calmed down, shifting from pride to feeling she hadn’t considered everything thoroughly.

For modern people, flying wasn’t a particularly special mode of transport.

But for an ancient person, it was probably material beyond dreams.

She could see Zhao Chiyun’s suppressed excitement flaring up. She fidgeted, constantly looking out the lounge window. The blue sky and white clouds outside the glass were clear and bright, and the tarmac held airplanes in their true form, which Zhao Chiyun had never seen.

She whispered in awe to Gan Xun, “So it’s really such a massive thing. I saw it in movies and thought it was artistic effects.”

As she spoke, a plane took off formally. She stared unblinkingly and said, “So it gets smaller once it flies up.”

Zhao Chiyun’s physical condition was pretty good. After being there so long, she hadn’t caused Gan Xun any worry.

But she had never had a check-up or intense exercise, so Gan Xun wasn’t sure if she could adapt to the process.

Zhao Chiyun’s use of “artistic effects” was very professional. Gan Xun laughed along with her, but in her heart, influenced by too many sci-fi movies, wild worries began to emerge.

The sky was always unpredictable. Zhao Chiyun had descended from it, and Gan Xun feared she might suddenly leave again during this trip.

It had no theoretical basis or scientific reason.

But it didn’t stop Gan Xun from being afraid, so she gripped Zhao Chiyun’s hand tighter and tighter.

Zhao Chiyun briefly shifted her attention from the scenery and asked, “Are you cold? Your hand is cooler than mine.”

Gan Xun said, “A bit cold.”

Zhao Chiyun pulled her hand away, zipped up Gan Xun’s jacket, straightened her collar, and then warmed both of her hands in hers.

Zhao Chiyun’s new favorite perfume had a rich but not overpowering scent, gently enveloping Gan Xun, whom she cared about so much.

It calmed Gan Xun’s heart. She realized that even if this trip was their last meeting, it would be worth it.

She wanted to do everything couples did—date, live together, travel—instead of living in constant uncertain fear every day.

Over-worrying about the future was a meaningless waste of the present moment.

Her mood improved, and she began watching the view outside with Zhao Chiyun, cherishing her freshness.

People’s thresholds kept rising.

When Zhao Chiyun first arrived, she was amazed at Gan Xun using her phone. Later, she lived calmly in the huge city, going to work and shopping alone, unfazed by everything.

Sometimes she even thought Gan Xun was overreacting.

Before boarding, Gan Xun went to the bathroom first.

On the way between the lounge and bathroom, there was a coffee shop, so Gan Xun stopped at the entrance and made a call.

“Chiyun, do you want coffee?”

Zhao Chiyun said no; it wasn’t early, and she wasn’t sleepy.

Gan Xun said okay and hung up. She noticed the person next to her staring at her, seemingly for a while.

When Gan Xun looked clearly, she thought it was such a coincidence—she had run into this woman again.

“Is there something?” she asked.

Gan Xun thought she wanted to catch up, but instead she asked, “Who were you talking to just now? What two characters is the name?”

The question baffled her. They weren’t close, right? Gan Xun didn’t really want to answer and was about to brush it off. “My frie…”

Before she finished, what seemed to be an assistant anxiously reminded her, “President Li, we’re short on time.”

The woman frowned, glanced at her expensive watch, and said to the uncooperative Gan Xun, “How about this: let’s exchange contacts first. I’ll reach out when I have time.”

Gan Xun thought she was crazy. No matter how pretty you are, this isn’t how you ask for contacts.

“I have a girlfriend. I’m not obligated to tell you her name.”

Gan Xun left right after.

When she returned, Zhao Chiyun said, “I thought you went to buy coffee for yourself. You took so long.”

“No, I just ran into that stranger I mentioned to you before—the one smoking on the terrace at the dinner gathering. We just exchanged a few words.”

Zhao Chiyun’s expression changed abruptly. “She didn’t ask for your contact, did she?”

“Yeah, and she asked…”

“You didn’t give it?”

“I even said I have a girlfriend!”

Zhao Chiyun nodded. “That’s good.”

“I don’t double-standard. I won’t let you add anyone, and I won’t either.”

Still, Gan Xun found it strange—why did she care about Zhao Chiyun’s name?

Her expression during eye contact hadn’t seemed like flirting; it was more like neurotic tension.

Come to think of it, both times Gan Xun saw her, she seemed off—not very tired and aloof, or inexplicably weird like today.

But Gan Xun didn’t bother analyzing others.

When she saw many people lining up to board, Zhao Chiyun guessed the seats on the plane wouldn’t be spacious.

After sitting down, it confirmed it. “This cramped?”

Gan Xun admitted frankly, “Yeah, this is economy class. Business class is much roomier, but also a lot more expensive—not great value.”

“A Xun, are you a Taurus?”

Zhao Chiyun’s question shut Gan Xun up. She then asked, “Getting into zodiac signs again?”

She explained candidly, “It’s not that I’m stingy. Ask around—people in front, back, left, right, all kinds of signs. Financial means determine living standards, you know.”

Zhao Chiyun linked arms with her and laughed. “I just suddenly thought of zodiac traits and asked. I know you’re not deliberately skimping on me.”

After spending so much time with Gan Xun, Zhao Chiyun knew what cost-performance ratio meant and that Gan Xun had given her all she had.

If she had money, she would definitely choose more comfort.

Not choosing meant no budget. This trip out must cost quite a bit.

She gazed at her affectionately. “Cramped is fine; it’s easier to talk. I like being squeezed together with you.”

Gan Xun couldn’t help but chuckle, pretending to be just placated. “Good save. Fine, I admit it worked.”

Zhao Chiyun said, “It’s not a save. I know the score. You taking leave to travel with me is the greatest sincerity. Even if you made me stand for two hours, I’d be willing.”

Gan Xun held back the urge to kiss her cheek and softly promised, “Don’t worry. When I have money later, I’ll give you the best of everything.”

The plane taxied for a while. Zhao Chiyun waited by the window. “Is this the speed?”

Gan Xun leaned over, her tone not too serious. “Don’t rush. Foreplay, you know? Be patient; it’ll get faster and faster later.”

“Why aren’t you talking to me?”

Zhao Chiyun: “Wondering which zodiac sign loves dirty talk.”