Chapter 86 Part 2

“Okay.” Chi Nuan looked at her, and Gu Ningzi leaned down to kiss her forehead.

Chi Nuan went to the walk-in closet, removed the necklace, and stored it in Gu Ningzi’s jewelry cabinet. She opened the wardrobe door and, eyes closed, picked out a set of her own loungewear.

After removing her makeup, showering, and blow-drying her hair, Chi Nuan knocked on Gu Ningzi’s bedroom door.

Gu Ningzi sat on the floor in front of the bed, her back to the door.

Chi Nuan gripped the doorknob and poked her head in: “Want to read?”

Gu Ningzi turned back and raised the wine glass in her hand: “Have a drink before bed?”

Chi Nuan walked into the room, circled around the bed, and sat beside Gu Ningzi. The curtains were all open, and the window was only half-closed. From this angle, tonight’s moon looked like it had been framed in the window, its glow bright and beautiful.

Gu Ningzi picked up an empty wine glass nearby and poured Chi Nuan a small half-glass of red wine: “Drink just a little, to settle your nerves.”

Chi Nuan went along with her: “Then should you drink more? You got the bigger scare.”

Gu Ningzi: “Yes, I should drink more.”

She handed the glass to Chi Nuan, her gaze behind the lenses filled with layers of smiling warmth.

“…” Chi Nuan smiled too and clinked glasses with her. The two leaned against the bed and drank.

The small half-glass was emptied in a few sips. Chi Nuan set down her glass, propped her chin, tilted her head, and looked at Gu Ningzi with bright, sparkling eyes.

Gu Ningzi noticed her gaze and placed her palm on Chi Nuan’s head, then slid her fingers along her dark hair to the nape of her neck.

Her fingertips hooked the collar of the sleepwear and slowly pulled it down.

Chi Nuan’s heart skipped a beat.

Gu Ningzi: “What happened here?”

Huh??…

Chi Nuan said: “Tang Siru yanked at the necklace I was wearing.”

Chi Nuan’s skin was snow-white, and though the chafed mark wasn’t deep, it was clearly visible.

Gu Ningzi’s fingertip brushed over the red mark, sending a tingling itch. Chi Nuan couldn’t help but shrug her shoulders: “…Gu Ningzi, it doesn’t hurt anymore.”

Gu Ningzi withdrew her hand. Just as Chi Nuan’s racing heart began to steady, Gu Ningzi suddenly leaned in again and blew gently on her nape.

Chi Nuan: “…”

Gu Ningzi silently kissed the spot where the necklace had chafed her skin.

The trace of alcohol worked its magic in her body, making Chi Nuan far more sensitive than usual. Perhaps it was this ambiguous atmosphere, but the electric-like sensation shot straight to her brain.

Gu Ningzi’s kisses continued one after another. Chi Nuan went numb all over; she braced against the floor, bit her teeth together, and held back any strange sounds.

The night breeze blew in through the window, but it couldn’t cool Chi Nuan’s heated body.

After the dense kisses on her nape ended, Gu Ningzi leaned against Chi Nuan’s shoulder, her voice slightly husky: “I know you weren’t joking.”

Chi Nuan: “…Huh?”

Gu Ningzi looked up: “What you once said—that you’re my girlfriend.”

The tingling faded from her body. In that instant, Chi Nuan’s emotions surged. She studied Gu Ningzi’s face, trying to read her expression, and carefully asked: “You remembered?”

“No.” Gu Ningzi shook her head.

—What had Tang Siru said to make Gu Ningzi confirm this?

Gu Ningzi: “That day at your house, the morning the door was broken, you weren’t awake yet. Little Wutong took me to your room, opened the safe, and showed me your Candy Wrapper Album… In the safe, I found the Necklace Box. It was a memento from my mother—I remember that.”

Chi Nuan felt stunned and confused. Gu Ningzi had known since that early on? Then why…

Gu Ningzi: “At that time, I thought maybe you saying you were my girlfriend wasn’t a joke, but I couldn’t be sure, so I had He Zhen go find Secretary Su… Even Secretary Su herself was someone I gradually recalled after reuniting with you.”

Chi Nuan followed up: “Did you meet Secretary Su?”

Gu Ningzi said: “Right before New Year’s. I was planning to return to the country, and Secretary Su asked to meet, so I changed my schedule last minute to see her. After meeting her, I was completely certain.”

“She kept many of my paintings, and the person in every one was you.”

Chi Nuan thought of that night when Secretary Su had told her all the paintings were destroyed. Her eyes stung as she said: “…But she told me she destroyed all your paintings.”

“No.” Gu Ningzi said: “Those paintings are in the art studio upstairs now.”

The aftereffects of the sweet wine hit, turning Chi Nuan’s eyes and brows red. She sniffled, wanting to ask why Gu Ningzi had kept it from her for so long, why she had questioned her high school romance if she knew, why she showed no sign even though she remembered the necklace…

Gu Ningzi leaned down slightly and looked straight into Chi Nuan’s teary eyes: “I’m sorry. I forgot a lot. I don’t remember how we started or what our relationship was like… I always thought those forgotten things didn’t affect our current relationship. Maybe one day I’d recall them, and I could tell you then. But today… I realized I was wrong. I should have told you, as soon as possible. No matter how many regrets you hold because of it, I’ll smooth them away bit by bit in the time to come.”

“I promise you.”

This was the most Gu Ningzi—the usually terse one—had said since their reunion. Chi Nuan felt moved to tears and laughter.

Gu Ningzi’s shy dimples appeared on her cheeks, exactly as in her memories.

Chi Nuan wiped away her tears, wrapped her arms around Gu Ningzi’s neck, and kissed the soft lips that had spoken those touching words.