Chapter 64: Dark Green…

Gu Nanqiu curled up in the chair, hugging her legs to her chest as the hairdryer hummed in her ears. Her gaze drifted out the window, where rain and mist swirled.

The colorful LED lights pierced through the rain fog, flickering in Gu Nanqiu’s eyes, while behind her, Yue Yiyue’s hands deftly wove through her hair.

Yue Yiyue looked down at Gu Nanqiu’s melancholic expression, as if she were worrying about some grave matter.

Wait a bit, Yue Yiyue thought. She gently stroked Gu Nanqiu’s head. Soon, Gu Nanqiu would share her worries, her confusions—she just needed a little time.

For now, she only needed to accompany this sensitive, somewhat timid Gu Nanqiu and dispel her unease.

It took half an hour to blow Gu Nanqiu’s hair dry.

Yue Yiyue touched the other’s collar—it was mostly dry too.

“Nanqiu, my clothes are wet. I’m going to take a shower.”

But she didn’t move.

Gu Nanqiu tugged at her collar: “It’s already dry.”

Her voice was hoarse and thick.

Yue Yiyue looked down and realized that the small wet patch on her clothes from moments ago had vanished.

Without much doubt, Yue Yiyue chalked it up to the room’s powerful air conditioning. She set the hairdryer aside, suddenly unsure what to do next.

Gu Nanqiu crooked her finger, beckoning Yue Yiyue closer.

Yue Yiyue didn’t understand but complied anyway.

Then Gu Nanqiu pressed her cheek against Yue Yiyue’s soft abdomen, deliberately softening her voice into a pitiful plea: “Yiyue, hug me, okay?”

In that moment, Gu Nanqiu was like a drowning person who had finally grasped her one lifeline.

Yue Yiyue looked down, meeting those deep tea-colored pupils.

They reflected the city’s mottled lights and shadows, and also Yue Yiyue’s figure.

In that instant, it felt as if only the two of them existed between heaven and earth.

Yue Yiyue raised her hand and ruffled Gu Nanqiu’s hair: “Sure. Haven’t woken up yet? I’ll hold you and we can go back to bed for a bit?”

After receiving a mumbled affirmation, Yue Yiyue scooped her up and carried her toward the slightly messy bed.

“Is it because you hate the storm?”

“You were so looking forward to coming to A City back then.”

Yue Yiyue’s words carried a smile, laced with teasing.

Gu Nanqiu poked her head out and lightly bit Yue Yiyue’s neck, leaving a small tooth mark—a minor retaliation for the teasing.

“It’s not the storm, or A City. I had a nightmare.”

“A really scary dream.” Gu Nanqiu sniffled, dragging out her complaint as if Yue Yiyue’s dismissal of her fear had sparked a little tantrum.

“There was no you in the dream.”

“They were all lying to me!”

“Mm, I know.” Yue Yiyue resisted the urge to tease her further. She stroked Gu Nanqiu’s slender back: “So, I’ll hold you while you sleep. No more nightmares.”

Yue Yiyue tucked the blanket around Gu Nanqiu and pulled her into her arms, letting her rest against her broad chest to hear the reassuring heartbeat.

Finally, she patted Gu Nanqiu’s back gently: “Sleep, sleep, Nanqiu. No need to worry, no need to fear. I’m right here.”

————

The rain outside continued endlessly. Strange shapes surged up from the distant mountain peaks, only to vanish immediately.

A few passersby thought they’d seen wrong and hurried on under their umbrellas.

Atop A City’s Century Building

The man stared in horror at the boy who had appeared before him. Bloody tears streamed from his eyes. He looked at the bodyguards crushed outside the room and realized escape was impossible…….

Trembling, he knelt: “God—please forgive my sins—I’m already a sinner, burdened with blood debt. I beg your mercy…….”

After a squish squish sound, blood stained half the office.

The strikingly beautiful woman in a blue shirt and long black trench coat clapped her hands. Her attendant immediately went to the wide bookshelf.

Moments later, a long, dark secret passage appeared in the room.

The attendant peered from the doorway, then returned to the woman’s side, reporting devoutly.

The woman glanced boredly at the window glass, where some mischievous child had scrawled: “i miss you.”

The attendant noticed the writing on the glass. Her body shuddered slightly, then she lowered her head, focusing on the task at hand.

“She won’t die.” The woman’s voice was ethereal, compelling belief.

The attendant bowed even lower: “The Lord’s mercy.”

The only response was a light laugh.

The sound of leather shoes on stone echoed in the room as the woman’s figure gradually vanished into the office.

————

After a strange ringing in her ears, Yue Yiyue dazedly opened her eyes. She realized she had lain down and fallen asleep at some point.

Gu Nanqiu was still sleeping soundly in her arms, quiet and well-behaved.

No nightmares this time, for sure.

Yue Yiyue gently shifted her numb arm. The person in her embrace let out a soft whimper: “Is your arm uncomfortable?”

Gu Nanqiu murmured, lifting her head slightly.

“It’s fine.” Yue Yiyue held back a wince. “Awake now? Want something to eat?”

She walked to the window and looked out. The rain was still falling, showing no signs of stopping.

Below, red and orange taillights flashed continuously.

Something had caused a traffic jam.

The world outside was foggy. Yue Yiyue glanced at the time: 8:10.

She turned on the hotel’s large projector and had the smart robot activate soft lighting.

She pulled two long robes from the cabinet and tossed one to Gu Nanqiu, then padded into the bathroom in her slippers to change into the fluffy robe she’d been raving about for days.

Moments later, a fluffy Yue Yiyue emerged. Gu Nanqiu had already changed. She pointed at the high-end speaker nearby: “Listen to some music?”

Then, from some corner, she produced a bottle of wine, eyes sparkling as she looked at Gu Nanqiu: “Drink?”

Her excited tone was like she’d found treasure.

Gu Nanqiu’s heart skipped a beat. Yue Yiyue had no idea how captivating she was right now—eyes gleaming with curiosity for novelties, hair a bit messy but brimming with vitality and energy.

The fluffy robe she’d chosen so carefully made her look like a big dog.

Gu Nanqiu thought dazedly that there was no need to get a new pet at home—this one was right here.

She climbed off the bed, her pale feet sinking into the wool carpet. The red thread at her ankle swayed, catching Yue Yiyue’s eye.

“When did you put this on?” Yue Yiyue’s attention shifted instantly. She eyed the well-maintained red thread on the pale ankle, her tone tinged with inexplicable puzzlement.

“After the shower, I just slipped it on.” Gu Nanqiu brushed off the red thread’s existence vaguely.

“Yiyue, why aren’t you complimenting how pretty I am?” Gu Nanqiu tilted her head with a smiling gaze at her friend, adjusting her clothes and flicking her hair.

Gu Nanqiu was already tall; the dark green robe made her face even fairer, yet vibrant. The perfect crossover at the chest revealed the mole on her collarbone, utterly captivating.

Her jet-black hair draped over her shoulders. Standing there quietly, Nanqiu exuded nobility—like a revered monarch from a movie or a noble goddess descended to earth.

But what drew Yue Yiyue’s attention most was still the red thread on Gu Nanqiu’s ankle.

Fragments of memory flashed in her mind.

Once, she had earnestly warmed that segment in her palm, then tied on this short length of red thread.

“Safe and sound, healthy and strong—”

Snapping back from the broken memory, Yue Yiyue subconsciously shook her head.

What was she thinking?

But seeing the thread made her hands itch to touch it.

She startled herself with the thought, her ear tips quietly reddening.

She awkwardly touched her ear tip and averted her gaze.

Then, mimicking Gu Nanqiu, she kicked off her shoes, savoring the plush feel underfoot.

“Nanqiu, this room is amazing! You really know how to pick, since we’ll be spending some time here.” Yue Yiyue couldn’t hold back. She shoved the red wine into Gu Nanqiu’s arms and bounced around the room, touching the coffee machine by the door.

She poked curiously at the buttons’ lights.

She’d been wondering about the water flow lights since they arrived—now that Gu Nanqiu was awake!

She pressed one, and the room darkened instantly. Then star-like points fell from the walls, gathering into lights like a waterfall.

“Wow!” Yue Yiyue let out an uncultured exclamation, then realized her gaffe. She coughed dryly and feigned maturity: “Pretty nice, huh?”

“Mm, pretty.” Gu Nanqiu pretended not to have seen Yiyue’s earlier reaction: “The starlight one next to it looks good too—want to try?”

“Exactly what I was thinking.” Yue Yiyue nodded and pressed the starlight button.

Soon, twinkling stars dotted the walls.

Like the vast starry sky.

Yue Yiyue vaguely made out the Big Dipper’s position based on her knowledge.

Gu Nanqiu stood with arms crossed on the other side, watching Yiyue’s curious demeanor. The smile at her lips never faded.

“Nanqiu, do you see it?”

“Mm, I see it.”

————

Half an hour later, Yue Yiyue had pretty much explored the room. She pointed at the speaker: “This is great. I’ll check the price later—I declare my scholarship this year will buy one of this brand!”

“And that coffee machine at the door! We’ll get one when we go back, and I’ll learn to brew coffee for you!”

She paused, then shook her head: “Wait, I don’t drink coffee, and neither do you.”

Yue Yiyue thought about it and laughed first: “Whenever I see something good, I always want to share it with you.”

“Even if you can’t use it, I still want to bring it back.”

Yue Yiyue didn’t know when she’d formed this habit.

Most things on Gu Nanqiu came from her passing by, spotting, and buying them.

Including these two pieces—she’d suddenly seen them while chatting with her mother.

Under her mother’s few words of persuasion, Yue Yiyue had acquired two sets of expensive but incredibly comfortable sleep robes and given them to the person she thought most suited them.

“You’re always thinking of me, no matter when.” Gu Nanqiu kept her smiling expression, though a hint of loneliness flickered in her eyes, well-hidden.

The nearby speaker played melodious music at just the right moment. Gu Nanqiu shook her phone in one hand and raised the bottle of dark red liquid in the other: “Didn’t someone just say they wanted to drink?”

“Please—”

She stepped aside, revealing two highball glasses behind her. Gu Nanqiu bent slightly in invitation—