Chapter 63: Family

The spicy pink pepper of the top note faded. The elusive, rich rose of the heart note made hearts flutter. The blackcurrant scent lingered throughout, lingering and passionate, just like the woman before her—sexy, mesmerizing.

Gu Yu closed her eyes, trying to resist the temptation, but it was barely effective. The moment a soft fingertip touched her cheek, she crumbled instantly.

She turned her face away and spoke with difficulty, “No seducing me.”

“Xunxun,” Jiang Bomu sighed, a sexy, breathy quality to her voice, “I only touched your face. Real seduction is like this…”

The last syllable melted between lips and teeth.

The base notes of Si Passione were vanilla and cedarwood, like mist wrapped in a layer of moisture, gently brushing past, slightly damp, yet irresistibly intoxicating, making one lose themselves in it.

Gu Yu couldn’t help but cup her face, leaning forward. The car seat suddenly reclined, and she toppled off balance, the soft curve beneath her driving her wild.

This perfume suited Jiang Bomu perfectly, Gu Yu thought distractedly. The perfect sweetness without being cloying.

When the long kiss ended, Gu Yu slowly pushed herself up. A thread of silver stretched between them, pulling ambiguously under the sunlight. The woman beneath her lightly pursed her lips, which glistened with moisture, stirring Gu Yu’s heart.

Suppressing the desire to kiss her again, Gu Yu sat back in the passenger seat and said flatly, “We’ve reciprocated now. I’m leaving.”

Jiang Bomu watched her hand land on the door latch and said, her voice tinged with loneliness, “You have nothing to say to me?”

She’d exhausted every method she could think of. Could she really not win her back?

“I do.”

A spark of hope flickered in Jiang Bomu’s eyes.

“Travel safely.”

The light in her eyes dimmed instantly. She whispered, “Thank you.”

“I mean it,” Gu Yu said, looking at her earnestly. “Don’t let your mind wander on the road. Drive carefully. I don’t want to see you on the social news. As for other matters…”

Gu Yu bit her lip, then finally said, “I’ll think about it some more.”

To say she could give up easily was a lie. No amount of harsh words could cover up the fact that she couldn’t leave Jiang Bomu behind in the short term. When Jiang Bomu came to her on her own initiative, she felt only joy, not a trace of annoyance or impatience. She even wanted to be stuck to her side every day, just like before.

But the things Jiang Bomu had done still made her sad and hurt. If she forgave her just like that, it would be too easy.

“Alright, I’ll wait for you.” Jiang Bomu tucked her hair behind her ear. “Whatever you want to know, as long as you ask, I’ll tell you everything. No more hiding from you.”

Gu Yu couldn’t help but sneer, “If you’d figured this out sooner, we’d have been together long ago.”

She pulled the car door open.

“It was my fault.” Jiang Bomu lowered her voice. “But a little later doesn’t matter either, as long as it’s you in the end.”

Gu Yu’s hand tightened on the handle, but in the end, she didn’t hesitate, closing the car door firmly and waving goodbye.

The car drove smoothly out of her sight. Gu Yu stood under the sun for a long time, until she was drenched in sweat, before finally leaving.

Arriving home, Wan An came running over, meowing. Gu Yu smiled and crouched down, about to pet its little head, but Wan An sniffed her hand and instantly jumped away.

Puzzled, Gu Yu smelled her hand.

The Si Passione had exceptional longevity. The scent was still strong and lingering.

She hurriedly took a shower, and finally Wan An allowed her to hold it, purring loudly in her arms. Gu Yu lay on the sofa, lost in thought, the Armani shopping bag right beside her. The scent of Si Passione seeped in from all directions, and in her mind, that out-of-control kiss still played, so deeply affectionate and tender.

They had never kissed for that long before; it was always interrupted for various reasons. This time, completely immersed, it was a wholly different feeling.

The enclosed car cabin, the cool breeze, the sweet scent, the soft lips and teeth… every scene was impossibly beautiful.

Gu Yu traced her own lips, reliving the moment over and over, when her phone suddenly rang. She glanced at it casually—it was a voice call from Jiang Bomu.

Such synchronicity.

Even though she wanted to answer, Gu Yu was afraid of distracting her driving and didn’t pick up. But Jiang Bomu persistently called three times, and she finally answered.

“Drive properly,” Gu Yu said first, before she could speak. “I’m hanging up.”

“No, I want to hear your voice.”

Perhaps she had inhaled too much Si Passione, but Gu Yu felt that Jiang Bomu’s familiar cool, clear voice had gained a few hints of sweetness now, transmitting through the current, unreal like an AI voice.

Gu Yu sat upright. Her refusal turned into a half-hearted “Fine.”

Jiang Bomu asked, “Xunxun, do you know what I was just thinking?”

Gu Yu absently twirled a strand of hair around her finger and snorted softly, “I don’t want to know.”

“I was thinking, will our next kiss be when we’re officially together?”

Gu Yu’s heart melted into a puddle of water, but she stubbornly said, “I never said anything about getting together with you.”

“Mm, it was me thinking it,” Jiang Bomu sighed softly. “Xunxun is so hard to coax.”

“Hmph, then don’t try.”

Gu Yu was acting cute without thinking, and then she suddenly paused. It felt exactly like they were already dating. She silently recited “Beauty is a curse” three times in her head and finally regained some normalcy.

“That won’t do. What if someone else snatches you away?”

Jiang Bomu thought of Xia Li, like a ticking time bomb ready to explode any day, and she wasn’t by Gu Yu’s side. What if…

“Who? Ah, Sister Xia Li?”

Speak of the devil. Jiang Bomu’s face darkened slightly, and she listened intently to their conversation.

“Has Miss Jiang gone back?” Xia Li placed the shopping bag on the coffee table. “Why didn’t she stay a few more days?”

Gu Yu smiled, “Her movie starts shooting soon, she couldn’t stay here too long. You’re not at work today?”

“I just had a business meeting nearby and remembered you don’t have class right now, so I came by to give you a little cake.”

“Thanks, Sister Xia Li!”

Jiang Bomu pressed her lips tightly together. Xia Li knew Gu Yu’s class schedule, but she didn’t.

When Xia Li left, she spoke immediately, “Xunxun.”

Gu Yu remembered the call was still ongoing then. She placed the little cake in the fridge and asked, “What’s up?”

“Is your junior year course load heavy?”

Why the sudden interest in her studies? Confused, Gu Yu explained, “It’s okay. Monday through Wednesday are heavier.”

“What do you study?”

“Just theory paired with practice, like most art students,” Gu Yu said, casually sending her class schedule. “Take a look when you have time.”

Jiang Bomu glanced at the chat interface, the corner of her lips curving up.

By the time she arrived back in Yuning City, it was already three in the afternoon. The call had lasted three hours as well. Jiang Bomu listened to the faint sounds of a lecture and soft breathing coming from the phone, feeling only at peace.

She knew Gu Yu was wearing earphones, but she still whispered, “I’m home.”

She heard an almost imperceptible “Mm” from Gu Yu.

“Then I’ll hang up. Pay attention in class.”

Gu Yu was utterly relieved. The best news was that she had arrived home safely. It seemed Jiang Bomu’s driving skills weren’t bad after all.

She finally began to focus on her lesson. In the evening, she held a meeting with the Drama Club members to prepare for their performance.

A new broom sweeps clean. Gu Yu decided to participate in the National Day and new student welcome gala. Although there were only half a month to prepare, they had a script. As long as they found time to rehearse each day, it was completely doable.

She was swamped until ten o’clock before coming home, wanting nothing more than to collapse in bed and sleep forever. Her phone’s vibration jolted her awake, and she opened WeChat.

Jiang Bomu: [Xunxun, why are you ignoring me?]

It was only then she noticed Jiang Bomu had sent her a WeChat message two hours ago, but she’d forgotten to reply. Gu Yu felt a pang of guilt mixed with relief. So what if she made Jiang Bomu wait a bit?

She replied airily: [What’s up?]

She held on for a minute, but Jiang Bomu didn’t reply. Unable to fight off the sleepiness, she fell asleep.

Over the next few days, Gu Yu remained so busy she didn’t have a moment to breathe, and she constantly forgot to reply to Jiang Bomu.

Simultaneously, filming for the movie “Sleepless” began. Jiang Bomu flew to Jinling to shoot, but her thoughts were always with Gu Yu, far away in Yiqing.

When acting, she could immerse herself in the role, but back in the hotel, her mind would inevitably wander. Why wasn’t Xunxun talking to her? Did she not like her anymore? Or had Xia Li perhaps confessed? Had Xunxun agreed?

She never dared ask Gu Yu what she was busy with, afraid of hearing the answer she least wanted to hear.

Xia Li could see Gu Yu every day, could easily cultivate a relationship, but she herself couldn’t even chat easily, let alone meet.

She hadn’t treasured it before, and now this was her retribution.

As National Day approached, Jiang Bomu deliberately chose a morning when Gu Yu had no class to call her.

“Hello?”

She seemed to have just woken up, her voice still hoarse. From the sound, she even stretched, as innocent and bewildered as a fawn.

Jiang Bomu found her unbelievably cute and spoke with a smile, “Xunxun, it’s me.”

“Mhm, I know.”

Such a flat response. Jiang Bomu’s heart sank a little. She listened to Gu Yu’s slightly heavy breathing without speaking.

“What’s up?” Gu Yu sniffled heavily, and her voice finally returned to normal. “Aren’t you filming? Why are you calling me all of a sudden?”

“Afternoon shoot.”

Pausing, she answered the second question, “I miss you a little.”

Being teased by Jiang Bomu first thing in the morning, Gu Yu covered her burning face and deliberately said coldly, “Oh, only a little.”

“Very, very much,” Jiang Bomu hurriedly explained. “I miss you every day.”

“You really have zero sense of humor,” Gu Yu laughed despite herself. “You could have said, ‘Yi’ as in ‘a hundred million light-years’ worth.'”

Jiang Bomu indicated she’d learned and immediately applied it, “I also like you a hundred million times.”

Gu Yu couldn’t suppress her grin. She cleared her throat and replied seriously, “The student is worthy of teaching.”

She always thought Jiang Bomu had an old-fashioned style and couldn’t say things like that, but she hadn’t expected her to be able to make her legs go weak with a few sweet words. Gu Yu covered the speaker and rolled around on the bed, stifling a shriek that nearly burst from her throat.

The atmosphere lightened. Jiang Bomu subtly probed the matter worrying her most, “How has Miss Xia been lately?”

They were in the middle of flirting, and she suddenly asked about someone else. Gu Yu felt a bit annoyed and said, tone impatient, “She’s fine.”

Jiang Bomu bit her lip, then asked, “Have you been in contact with her much lately?”

Gu Yu was silent for a while, then finally said evenly, “If you want her WeChat, just say so.”

Jiang Bomu: “…That’s not what I meant.”

Just as she was unsure how to explain, Gu Yu suddenly remembered the drunken ramblings from the other day. Although it seemed a bit absurd, she still asked, “You wouldn’t happen to think Sister Xia Li likes me, would you?”

Jiang Bomu was a little surprised, “How do you know?”

This time, it was Gu Yu’s turn to be speechless. “You said it when you were drunk. I didn’t take it seriously at all. You’re overthinking it. Sister Xia Li would never like someone like me.”

Jiang Bomu sighed inwardly. Just how innocent was Xunxun?

But since Gu Yu had no such intentions, half her heart settled. The other half, however, remained suspended, keeping her on edge.

But pushing further would just be counterproductive. She changed the subject: “What have you been busy with lately?”

“Club stuff! With National Day and the welcome event coming up, there’s a performance,” Gu Yu poured out her complaints. “I get home at ten every night and fall asleep the moment my head hits the pillow, exhausted.”

So that was it. Jiang Bomu asked, “Are you acting in it?”

“Of course! Although I’m not the lead, the role I’m playing is still very important,” Gu Yu said proudly. “Besides, I’m the president of the Drama Club. The world can’t turn without me.”

Jiang Bomu was again thoroughly charmed by her, smiling softly. Words spilled out before she could think: “Can I come watch the performance as… family?”

A boom echoed in Gu Yu’s ears, and she felt her right ear had gone deaf. She asked reflexively, “What did you say?”

Since the words were already out, Jiang Bomu exhaled quietly, tightened her grip on her phone, and spoke deliberately.

“I’m saying, Xunxun, let’s be together.”