Forbidden to Flirt and Run 9

Chapter 9

As their eyes met, Xu Qingtang wished she could find a hole to crawl into.

Tang Gui was right; that “Master” was indeed a talented voice actress. Her emotions, even her gasps, were perfectly executed, making one’s face flush and heart race—provided one was alone.

Right now, not only was Xu Qingtang’s face not flushing, but her heart had almost stopped beating.

She hastily cut off the sound.

Gu Yizhi’s gaze lingered on the tablet for a few seconds before she sat down again, saying meaningfully, “I thought you were joking with me before.”

Xu Qingtang: …

A few seconds later, she maintained her usual composure, deciding to go all in since the situation was already a mess. “That’s right. Not only do I like tying people up, but I also like locking them in a little black room. It’s a pity I have no one to practice with, so I can only express my feelings through pictures.”

After speaking, she looked up to gauge Gu Yizhi’s expression.

Gu Yizhi had no expression. She was so calm it was as if Xu Qingtang had just mentioned something as trivial as what to have for dinner. She even picked up her water glass and took a sip.

“The art is mediocre. Can you express yourself to your heart’s content?” Gu Yizhi asked Xu Qingtang.

Xu Qingtang felt she couldn’t quite follow Gu Yizhi’s train of thought. How did the topic shift to the artist’s skill?

She thought back and retorted, “This is mediocre?”

Gu Yizhi: “Very mediocre.”

“I think it’s alright,” Xu Qingtang said. “It’s hard to find works like this nowadays. It’s good enough to have something to look at.”

In truth, Xu Qingtang had no idea if that was the case; she was just bluffing.

Her knowledge in this area came entirely from Tang Gui. She would occasionally hear Tang Gui complain about the lack of “content,” so what she said should be correct.

“What if there is?”

Xu Qingtang put on an experienced air. “If there is, of course, I’d watch it under the covers.”

After speaking, she looked at Gu Yizhi rather strangely. “Why are you asking so many questions? You’re not interested in watching it too, are you?”

Gu Yizhi smiled. “What if I am?”

Xu Qingtang was stunned. “Huh?”

Gu Yizhi’s smile widened. “You believe that?”

Xu Qingtang was relieved. She smiled back at Gu Yizhi and said, “Don’t worry, next time I have some, I’ll definitely share it with you.”

The takeout arrived half an hour later. Xu Qingtang cooked two bowls of noodles with two soft-boiled eggs. During that time, Teacher Qi called, and the mother and daughter chatted for a few minutes before hanging up.

Gu Yizhi was the first to break the silence. “When will Teacher Qi be discharged?”

Xu Qingtang said, “Another half a month.”

Gu Yizhi: “She’ll be fine.”

Xu Qingtang hummed in agreement and silently lowered her head to eat a few mouthfuls of noodles. The taste was bland. After a moment’s thought, she looked up at Gu Yizhi. “Is there anywhere in Lin City you’d particularly like to go?”

Gu Yizhi rested her chin on her hand and tilted her head slightly. “That sounds like you’re trying to get rid of me.”

Xu Qingtang thought this person was excessively clever.

She said bluntly, “I want to have a drink.”

Gu Yizhi asked noncommittally, “Do you have any at home?”

Xu Qingtang paused for a few seconds. “Yes.”

Gu Yizhi said, “Then drink.”

Xu Qingtang took two bottles of liquor from the fridge. She looked at the calmly seated Gu Yizhi and really wanted to say that she wanted to drink alone, and if she had nothing else to do, she could go wash up and go to bed.

“You’re cuter when you’ve been drinking.”

Xu Qingtang was incredulous. “Cute?”

Gu Yizhi repeated, “Cute.”

Xu Qingtang mulled over the word and laughed out loud. “I thought you’d find me ill-tempered.”

Gu Yizhi tilted her head as if thinking about something, then smiled. “You were a bit rough when we kissed.”

Xu Qingtang was choked by her sudden remark. She caught her breath and, for the first time, brought up that night’s events with Gu Yizhi directly. “I’m very sorry about that night.”

Gu Yizhi: “It’s alright.”

Xu Qingtang felt a pang of guilt for no reason. “I’m not into…”

Gu Yizhi: “I don’t mind.”

At that moment, Xu Qingtang felt that the smile on Gu Yizhi’s face was very gentle, and even felt that the person herself had become gentle and beautiful. But Gu Yizhi quickly shattered this notion with her own hands.

Gu Yizhi: “You’re a fast learner.”

Xu Qingtang: “Huh?”

Gu Yizhi: “When I told you to be gentle, you were gentle.”

Xu Qingtang: …

That wasn’t what she had meant to talk about, but she didn’t know why she had been led astray by Gu Yizhi. What surprised her even more was that after they finished the two bottles of liquor, Gu Yizhi actually took the initiative to say she was leaving.

Xu Qingtang wasn’t a very good drinker. At this point, she was already a bit unsteady on her feet. As she saw Gu Yizhi to the door, her legs gave way, and she stumbled straight towards the doorframe, only to land in a soft embrace.

Gu Yizhi steadied her, amused. “Can you stand on your own?”

“Yes.”

Xu Qingtang stood up straight, took two steps with Gu Yizhi, and said softly, “Thank you.”

Gu Yizhi’s lips curled into a slight smile again. “So insincere.”

Xu Qingtang: “…”

She was completely speechless.

Heaven knows why someone would climb up the ladder of pleasantries.

So, Xu Qingtang said even more insincerely, “Then I’ll treat you to dinner next time.”

Gu Yizhi: “When is next time?”

This person was quite persistent.

Xu Qingtang finally understood.

She had no choice but to say, “When I’m free.”

“Forget it,” Gu Yizhi walked to the door, her exquisitely drawn eyebrows raised slightly. “Just answer a question for me.”

Xu Qingtang felt her head start to spin. “What?”

“Why did you treat me to dinner today?”

Uh…

Xu Qingtang was taken aback, her eyes searching Gu Yizhi’s face, wondering if she genuinely didn’t know or was just pretending to be clueless.

As she was pondering, Gu Yizhi spoke again. “The troupe leader asked you to, and it would be rude not to, right?”

Xu Qingtang didn’t know whether to agree or not.

Gu Yizhi didn’t wait for her answer and continued with her questions. “Do you do whatever your troupe leader tells you to do?”

Of course not.

As Xu Qingtang inhaled, she could smell the alcohol on herself, which made her eyes start to feel dizzy. “I don’t quite understand what you mean.”

Gu Yizhi’s expression was like a smile, yet not a smile. Her emotions were faint, and her voice was faint as well. “Would you have treated me to dinner if it weren’t for your troupe leader?”

Of course not.

Xu Qingtang smiled faintly. “I would have.”

Gu Yizhi smiled again. “So drinking not only makes you cute, but it also makes you a liar.”

Xu Qingtang: …

Bang.

The door closed softly.

Xu Qingtang stood where she was, her mind spinning. She didn’t know what she was thinking, but she placed her hand on the doorknob, clicked it open, and walked out of her apartment to the elevator.

When her eyes met Gu Yizhi’s, Xu Qingtang felt her scalp tingle with embarrassment.

What am I doing out here?

Xu Qingtang didn’t know either. She could only attribute this incomprehensible behavior to being drunk.

Gu Yizhi was puzzled. “Are you going to see me off?”

“No,” Xu Qingtang shook her head. Hearing Gu Yizhi’s confused “Hm?”, she felt even more awkward and tried to cover it up. “I’m going upstairs to see a neighbor. You can go down first.”

Gu Yizhi nodded. “I see.”

Xu Qingtang breathed a sigh of relief and nodded as well. “Yes.”

Gu Yizhi’s gaze swept over her face, and the corners of her lips slowly curled up. “But don’t you live on the top floor?”

Xu Qingtang: …

Careless.