Chapter 225 - 99: A Fish’s Memory

Chapter 225: Chapter 99: A Fish’s Memory

The only home remedy Zhang Shutong knew was to apply toothpaste.

But it was hard to say if that kind of remedy actually worked. It was one thing to use it on himself, but he was too embarrassed to suggest it to Gu Qiuyan.

’She must have a first-aid kit at home.’

He swallowed his words. He was about to tell her she could... But then again, what were you supposed to do with a blister like that anyway?

’Pop it with a needle? Or put a bandage on it?’

He watched as Gu Qiuyan turned on the cold water, rinsed her finger, then brought it to her lips and blew on it.

She didn’t even think to shake her hand, and water droplets slid down her finger, quickly soaking the cuff of her sleeve.

Zhang Shutong handed her a towel. Only then did she dry her hand, without so much as a word of thanks.

"You still remember where the towels are?" she retorted.

"I have a good memory."

"Oh," she said coolly. "Your memory must be *too* good, then. I thought you were a fish, with only seven seconds of memory."

’Looks like I shouldn’t have said that. It just made her even angrier.’

Zhang Shuyu could only put the towel back on the rack and head to the dining table.

The dining table, several meters long, was finally serving its purpose, packed with eight people around it. The housekeeper saw how crowded it was and didn’t plan to join them, but the others unanimously protested and persuaded her to sit down.

Gu Qiuyan sat at the head of the table.

This time, Zhang Shutong sat next to Lu Qinglian.

He asked in a low voice:

"I’m planning to stay for a bit after dinner. Do you have any other plans?"

Lu Qinglian was nibbling on a piece of vegetable, her eyes narrowing out of habit.

She swallowed the food in her mouth, then said with a frown:

"Not at the moment. But why haven’t you told her about the footprints yet?"

"I haven’t found a chance to talk to her."

"Any other leads?"

"None."

"Do you think she’ll come back?"

"It’s possible. Counting this morning, that was the second time. I’m not sure if there’ll be a third."

"Then we’ll wait a while longer." Lu Qinglian picked up some scrambled eggs with her chopsticks. "Is the movie theater you mentioned in the basement?"

Zhang Shutong wanted to say it wasn’t a movie theater, but he couldn’t be bothered to correct her wording. Who knew what Lu Qinglian had pictured in her mind.

"Yes, on the first basement level."

"I’ll wait for you all upstairs." She thought for a moment. "That way, if someone comes, I can detect them immediately."

"I’ll stay upstairs too."

"No need." She shook her head gently. "Forgive me for being blunt, but that chase earlier proved you wouldn’t be able to catch them even if you did spot something. Besides, I’d like some quiet time alone."

It was a little embarrassing, but Zhang Shutong knew she was offering to be his bodyguard. "I’ll leave it to you, then."

"I’ve accepted this meal, so I owe a debt. This is only right," she said casually. "And you don’t need to feel like you owe me anything. I’m not helping you; I’m helping myself. Our goals just happen to align. But this is all based on the premise that you really did see that figure."

Zhang Shutong nodded. He thought their conversation was over, but then Lu Qinglian asked another question:

"What is this?"

She picked up a slice of king oyster mushroom and placed it on her saucer.

Her tone was calm, but she was asking a question that showed a lack of common knowledge.

’It was kind of amusing.’

"King oyster mushroom. It’s a type of fungus."

He thought they were pretty common, but then it occurred to him that she had probably never seen any ingredients that weren’t produced on her island.

"Have you ever had hot pot?" Zhang Shutong couldn’t help but ask.

"Don’t take me for an idiot," Lu Qinglian said, looking at him expressionlessly.

Despite her words, Zhang Shutong noticed that she started picking up the king oyster mushrooms much more frequently after that.

In fact, she sampled every dish, but she wasn’t greedy. She would take a small bite and stop, ultimately returning to silently eating her rice with a side of stir-fried greens.

"Not to your liking?"

"A taste is enough."

’She’s like a Puritan.’

’I wonder if it has anything to do with being a so-called ’Temple Priestess’?’

Zhang Shutong felt she clearly enjoyed the food. She approached every dish with a sense of novelty—after all, she had relished even saltwater-soaked apples—but she was deliberately restraining herself.

Zhang Shutong didn’t know what to say. Everyone had their own principles.

Besides, he wasn’t the host here; it would be strange for him to urge her to eat more.

The meal ended quickly.

A few of them helped clear the table, and for a moment the dining room was a bustle of activity. As planned, the group headed down to watch a movie.

Zhang Shutong actually wanted to stay upstairs, but he remembered what happened with the movie last night. If he acted unsociable again, Gu Qiuyan would probably have a huge problem with it. He figured he might as well go down.

They took the elevator down to the first basement level. Du Kang and Qingyi were overwhelmed the entire way, especially Du Kang, who subconsciously lowered his voice.

Gu Qiuyan asked what everyone wanted to watch, but they all deferred to each other, and for a while, no decision was made. Finally, Zhang Shutong suggested:

"How about a Zhou Xingchi movie? They’re lively. I recommend *Tricky Brains*." He knew Gu Qiuyan wanted to watch it.

But the great Miss Gu, just to be contrary, chose *Journey to the West* instead.

He had been to the downstairs media room once before. This time, Zhang Shutong observed it more carefully. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call it a small movie theater. The walls were fitted with special sound-absorbing panels, two large speakers flanked the screen, and colored spotlights, the kind used for karaoke, were installed on the ceiling to enhance the atmosphere.

A long sofa faced the screen. Gu Qiuyan sat on the far left, and no one volunteered to sit next to her. The only candidate was Zhang Shutong, so he sat down beside her. Qingyi was on his other side. The movie began, and the lights went out.

In the total darkness, Zhang Shutong once again caught that familiar, fragrant scent.

It was just the scent, because the sofa was so long that sitting together didn’t mean they were close enough to touch.

"What’s wrong with you today?" Zhang Shutong asked, keeping his voice down.

But there was no response. He suspected the movie was too loud for Gu Qiuyan to hear him, so he scooted a little closer to her.

Zhang Shutong asked again, and this time she heard him clearly.

"What do you mean, ’what’s wrong’?" Gu Qiuyan said, her eyes fixed on the screen.

"Weren’t you perfectly fine on the phone?"

"Who said I was ’fine’ with you?"

’"Perfectly fine" is a colloquial expression. It means your attitude on the phone was relatively normal.’

’But it’s not normal now.’

’It doesn’t mean that we were on good terms on the phone, and now we aren’t.’

Zhang Shutong figured she had misunderstood him.

"I have two scores to settle with you right now."

Zhang Shutong was all ears.

"First, what did you promise me last night?"

"That I wouldn’t hide things from you anymore, especially things concerning your safety."

"And what did you do?"

"You ran up the mountain by yourself."

"Did you think I wouldn’t find out? Teacher Song alone called me several times, telling me to be careful upstairs." She must have been holding it in, because the words came rushing out in a long stream.

Zhang Shutong wanted to explain that he hadn’t been sure of Lu Qinglian’s stance back then, which was why he didn’t dare bring her to the Cyan Snake Temple.

"Then what’s the second one?"

"Isn’t the first one enough?"

"It’s enough, it’s enough," he sighed. "My bad."

"Why didn’t you answer when I called you?"

’Did she?’

Zhang Shutong froze.

"I was on the mountain then, right? Maybe there was no signal?"

She scoffed and resumed her aloof demeanor.

"So what’s the second score to settle?"

Zhang Shutong had a rough idea about the first one, but he really couldn’t figure out the second.

"I don’t want to tell you. You’re interrupting the movie."

Zhang Shutong was taken aback again.

"Shhh." She placed a finger to her lips, making it clear she wasn’t going to talk to him anymore.

Zhang Shutong was left speechless.

’Time to watch the movie.’

*Journey to the West* was probably one of the most well-known films of all time. The most memorable line was:

"Once you put on this golden fillet, you will no longer be a mortal. You can no longer be tainted by the passions and desires of the human world. If your heart is ever moved, this fillet will tighten around your head, causing you unbearable pain."

Zhang Shutong had watched it when he took a leave of absence from high school, and it had moved him deeply. Looking back now, he was too embarrassed to admit how much he had related to it back then, how his eyes had welled up. The past was like smoke; what was gone was gone.

Some movies you remember vividly. You can’t say they’re bad, but you’d never want to watch them a second time, because they stir up things buried in the deepest corners of your heart.

He stared at the screen, lost in thought, as a host of jumbled memories flashed through his mind. He couldn’t recall when they had happened, but they had definitely happened.

Zhang Shutong lowered his eyes. His memories of the time from high school to college were incomplete. It wasn’t that a piece was missing; rather, it was all shattered. Yes, fragments. These fragments drifted in the ocean of his memory, floating there forever. At first glance, it seemed like nothing was missing, but it was impossible to piece them back into a complete picture.

He had always had an excellent memory, but for this period alone, he could only remember *what* had happened, not the specific year, month, or day.

If possible, he would have preferred to watch a comedy. Was *Journey to the West* a comedy? He didn’t know. At any rate, the first half was pretty funny.

Zhang Shutong would rather have watched *Roman Holiday* again.

He had something on his mind and wanted to space out for a bit, but someone didn’t seem to want to let him. This time, Gu Qiuyan leaned closer to him.

"What’s wrong with you now?"

"What do you mean, ’what’s wrong’?"

"I say a few words to you and you get upset. Why are you so petty?" Gu Qiuyan pouted.

"I’m not upset," he said, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

"Really?"

"Really."

"Then come closer. I have something to tell you." She patted the spot next to her.

Zhang Shutong leaned his head in.

"Trai—tor."

A moist warmth brushed against his ear.

It was the air she gently breathed out as she spoke.

But Zhang Shutong didn’t understand how he had betrayed her this time.

’Was it about the chocolate with Ruoping last time?’

"What exactly was the second score you wanted to settle?"

"I just said it."

"That’s it?" Zhang Shutong couldn’t help but turn his head, his gaze meeting her sparkling eyes in the darkness.

"Isn’t that enough?" Those eyes glared at him, then glanced past his shoulder. Gu Qiuyan’s face became stern again. "Don’t sit so close to me, it’s hot. If your friends see, they’ll think we’re that close."

So Zhang Shutong moved back next to Qingyi.

"You’re back?" Qingyi asked, his eyes also on the screen.

"Yeah, I’m back," Zhang Shutong said with a sigh of resignation.

"How’d it go?"

"I don’t know."

"That’s normal. A girl’s mind is hard to figure out."

"I think so too."

"That’s why I don’t even try. It’s more relaxing to just hang out with guys."

Zhang Shutong agreed. He had barely played with girls when he was little, though of course, he hadn’t had many friends back then either. It wasn’t until middle school that he met his three best friends. In all these years, his only close female friend was Ruoping.

Halfway through the movie, he quietly yawned and was about to take out his phone to ask Song if there was anything unusual upstairs. Then again, Lu Qinglian didn’t even have a phone, which was really inconvenient. To be honest, Zhang Shutong would rather have asked her directly.

Although he knew that if she didn’t proactively have Song Nanshan contact him, it meant nothing had happened, he still wanted to confirm.

He slid his phone’s brightness to the lowest setting and had just opened a chat box to type when a sudden, muffled THUD echoed from above. Zhang Shutong froze, then immediately grabbed Gu Qiuyan’s arm.

"Don’t you go anywhere."

He moved so forcefully that he nearly pulled her into his arms. Before Gu Qiuyan could say anything, Zhang Shutong lowered his head and quickly dialed Song’s number.

The sound had come from upstairs.

Everyone was startled.

"What’s going on...?"

"It couldn’t be..."

While they were still dazed, Zhang Shutong had already turned on the lights and said calmly:

"You all wait down here. I’m going up first."

He exchanged a look with Qingyi, who nodded. But this time, before he could even get to the elevator, the call connected.

"It’s nothing, nothing," Song’s voice came through, sounding startled as well. "A picture just fell."

"What kind of picture makes a noise that loud?" Zhang Shutong asked subconsciously.

"I think it was the family portrait. It just suddenly fell..."