Back Then, I Adored You

Whether past or present, he could only fall in love with her. The only girl he could not wait to marry was also her. If he ever had to compromise in his life, he would do so only for her, Qin Zhi’ai.

Qin Zhi’ai’s heart softened when she saw Gu Yusheng’s perfectly sculpted face framed by the lights around the plaza. She reached her hands out to hug him and ended up throwing herself into his arms. He had raised his hands up, too, without any hesitation and hugged her tightly.

Their embrace made Qin Zhi’ai feel weak. Something about his closeness and his scent made her want to tell her secrets that she had never told anyone else.

“Yusheng, do you know I never thought about giving up on you even after you stood me up twice. I waited for you even after you’d forgotten about me all those years later. I still chose to wait for you. You have no idea how happy I was when Liang Doukou asked me to help her.”

Gu Yusheng’s body shook slightly as he held Qin Zhi’ai in his arms. He looked down and locked his eyes with hers, inviting her to tell him more.

“Yes, my father’s debt was part of the reason why I agreed to be her body double, but you were the most important reason, and…”

This was the first time she had ever opened up to him. She had been in love with him for so many years and had hidden her secrets from him all that time. She had never dared to tell him how she had fantasized about being with him, so she became shy as she compulsively began sharing her feelings.

Qin Zhi’ai looked down and plucked her courage to continue, saying gently, “I would still have found ways to be near you even if Liang Doukou had not asked me to be her body double.”

It was because I had only loved one person in this world, and I could not think of my life without you.

And it was because I like you—really, really like you. You are my never-ending story.

She couldn’t verbalize her thoughts, because Gu Yusheng was slowly moving his mouth across her skin before lifting her face up and deeply kissing her.

As the wind blew through the plaza, her long hair was dancing with it. As if she might blow away, he held her even tighter and kissed her more deeply. And he did not let her go for a long time. He enjoyed watching her blush, as if she were the only girl left in the world. He lowered his head and kissed her again. At that moment, Qin Zhi’ai consumed his mind.

…

Gu Yusheng and Qin Zhi’ai walked back to Xidan hand in hand. As they passed Joy City, Qin Zhi’ai said softly, “Yusheng, I still feel like I’m in a dream.”

I was so sad not long ago. How did I manage to be with him now and be so happy?

Thinking of this, Qin Zhi’ai turned around and bit hard on Gu Yusheng’s arm. The pain made him frown, and Qin Zhi’ai giggled. “If you’re hurt, then I am not a dream.”

When did Qin Zhi’ai learn to play like this?

Ignoring the pain and the other people in the plaza, Gu Yusheng pulled her into his arms and looked down to kiss her. He did not stop until he was almost out of breath. After taking a deep breath, he said, “It’s okay. You can dream like this for the rest of your life.”

Qin Zhi’ai was touched. As she looked up to kiss him again, she saw two familiar figures walking toward them out of the corner of her eye.