Chapter 395: Chapter 394: Gu Kai Zhi and Daya (5)

Just like usual, the two of them reached the entrance to the alley. This time, however, Gu Kai Zhi took Daya’s hand.

Daya’s face instantly turned red, and she tried to pull her hand back.

Gu Kai Zhi didn’t let go. Instead, he asked, "Can you take a day off tomorrow?"

Daya mumbled, "I can, but... is there something we need to do?"

"Mhm. I’ve been here for three days, but I only get to see you for this little bit of time in the evening. It’s too short. Can I borrow you for a day tomorrow?"

Daya pursed her lips and lowered her head. "Okay, I’ll go back and tell my uncle."

Seeing her agree, Gu Kai Zhi smiled and patted her head. "Good girl."

Daya’s face was beet red. "I’m... I’m going back now."

"Alright. Go on, I’ll watch you."

The scene was undeniably like a couple in the throes of new love. Daya was a little slow when it came to romance, but Gu Kai Zhi was a smooth operator, gently pushing her toward what felt like a tacit acceptance of their relationship.

Once she was inside the courtyard, she fanned her burning cheeks with her hand. When she looked up, she saw her aunt watching her from across the yard with a teasing expression.

"Auntie... you haven’t gone to bed yet?"

Xue Yue smiled and walked toward her. Daya’s eyes darted around nervously.

Xue Yue glanced outside and asked in a low voice, "Did Mr. Gu walk you home?"

Daya nodded.

"What did you two do?"

"We saw a movie and had dinner."

"And?"

Daya said softly, "That’s all."

Xue Yue laughed. "Just a movie and dinner? Then why are you blushing? Go look in the mirror. Your face is so red you could fry an egg on it."

Daya shyly hung her head.

Xue Yue put an arm around her shoulder. "What’s there to be shy about? Your auntie has been around the block. Tell me, did Mr. Gu confess his feelings to you?"

Daya slowly let out a soft "mhm."

Xue Yue raised an eyebrow. "Oh? That was fast. So you said yes?"

"He said he wants to pursue me, and I agreed to let him."

Xue Yue nodded. "That’s a pretty good approach. What do you think of him?"

"He’s very nice."

Xue Yue looked at her. "Nice in what way?"

Daya thought for a moment. "I can’t really put my finger on it. Everything about him is nice."

’That makes sense,’ Xue Yue thought. ’It’s too early to talk about strengths and weaknesses. That’s how it is between men and women. When you first meet, you both put your best foot forward. You only discover the other things after you’ve been together for a while.’

"Let me tell you something, dear. Even though we’re girls, we need to be confident in what we say and do. Don’t be afraid. When it comes to what men say, you need to use your own judgment. You can’t just dismiss it, but you can’t believe it all, either. Being in love is a wonderful thing, so enjoy it for now. But don’t be in a hurry to settle down. You have to test him a little. If he gets you too easily, what if he doesn’t cherish you later? Of course, I’m just talking about some cases; not everyone is like that."

Daya said, "But he asked me to go out with him tomorrow. He wants me to take the day off."

Xue Yue thought that was perfectly normal. "Go. I’ll talk to your uncle for you. You can take as many days as you want. But there’s one rule: you have to be home before eight o’clock at night." 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

"Okay."

After Xue Yue went back to her room and told He Lang, he twitched the corner of his mouth. He looked like he wanted to say something, but after seeing the look in Xue Yue’s eyes, he fell silent.

Xue Yue sighed. "Watching them reminds me of our own early days. It makes me feel a little regretful. You never even pursued me; I just sort of muddled my way into marrying you."

He Lang snorted. "That’s what *you* think."

Xue Yue looked at him curiously. "Oh? You had other plans?"

"Of course! I was so nice to you because I had ulterior motives. Did you think I’d just accept any wife my mother shoved at me? If you weren’t so good-looking, do you think I would have agreed so easily?"

Xue Yue said in surprise, "So you were just smitten by my looks!"

He Lang chuckled. "Don’t make it sound so bad. How is that being ’smitten by your looks’? You’re already my wife. Everything I do is perfectly normal."

Xue Yue pouted. "Tsk. You men are all the same, only caring about looks. You say all these high-and-mighty things, but who knew you were so shallow deep down."

"Hey, that’s not how it is. It’s called ’everyone appreciates beauty.’ You have to be attracted to the outside first before you want to get to know the inside."

As he spoke, he looked at Xue Yue and asked, "I don’t believe you. If I had been big and burly and really ugly back then, wouldn’t you have had regrets? Would you have just accepted it?"

Xue Yue’s eyes darted around. "What else could I do? My family already took your money. Could I really have backed out?"

He Lang didn’t believe her for a second. He stared at Xue Yue until she couldn’t help but burst out laughing.

He Lang pouted. "See? That’s a confession. You were smitten by my looks too. We’re six of one, half a dozen of the other."

Xue Yue laughed. She had to admit, she really had fallen for He Lang’s face.

The next day, Daya didn’t go to work. Gu Kai Zhi arrived after everyone else had left.

Daya was wearing a long woolen coat over a turtleneck sweater and jeans.

Gu Kai Zhi looked at Daya and said, "You look beautiful."

Daya shyly tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

"Where are we going?"

Gu Kai Zhi said, "I heard there’s a temple in the North Suburb. Do you want to go see it?"

"Sure." Daya had never been to a temple and was a little curious.

They locked the door and left the house. Not far away was a bus stop.

Standing together, the handsome man and beautiful woman made a striking pair. Passersby couldn’t help but take a second look.

Gu Kai Zhi shifted a little closer to Daya. As if sensing it, she glanced at him.

They got on the bus. They had missed the morning rush hour, so it wasn’t too crowded. The two of them sat down in the very back.

Daya turned her head to look out the window. Gu Kai Zhi glanced around at the other people on the bus, then let his gaze rest on Daya’s profile.

Daya was undeniably beautiful. She had a high-bridged nose and bright eyes, their pupils a clean, clear black and white. Her face was round, with a hint of a double chin, and she exuded a sense of innocence.

Sensing his stare, Daya turned and met Gu Kai Zhi’s gaze.

His eyes held a trace of doting affection, warm and gentle. For a moment, Daya was flustered and quickly looked down.

Seeing this, a smile touched Gu Kai Zhi’s eyes.

The bus reached the foot of a mountain, and they got off.

She looked up. "It’s on the mountain?" Daya was a little taken aback.

It was Gu Kai Zhi’s first time here as well, so he hadn’t known. He asked Daya, "Climbing the mountain will be a bit tiring. Do you still want to go up?"

Daya nodded. "Let’s go. We’re already here. We can just think of it as exercise."

"Alright. Let me know if you get too tired."

"Okay."

The path up was difficult to walk, full of rocks. By the time they were halfway up the mountain, Daya couldn’t go on.

As expected of a soldier, Gu Kai Zhi hadn’t even broken a sweat after walking so far.

Daya was panting heavily. She looked at Gu Kai Zhi and said, "Aren’t you tired?"

Gu Kai Zhi smiled. "Not tired. How about I pull you along? It might make it a little easier for you."

Daya looked up again. They still had so far to go, so she agreed.

Gu Kai Zhi’s hand was large, with calluses on the palm. It was dry and warm. He took Daya’s hand in his and slowly tightened his grip.

"Let’s go."