Chapter 273 - 120: "Elopement

Chapter 273: Chapter 120: "Elopement

Zhang Shutong hugged Gu Qiuyan.

That familiar, rich fragrance enveloped him once more.

But then, he lost control and his body pitched backward.

Zhang Shutong knew this was a bit embarrassing, but he couldn’t help it. He was completely out of strength.

Finally, Gu Qiuyan had to pull him up, allowing him to barely stay on his feet.

They looked at each other in the darkness of the night.

Gu Qiuyan’s hands were still around his neck.

And his hands were wrapped around her waist.

Gu Qiuyan’s lips parted as if she wanted to say something. But in the end, she simply reached out, as if to feel his forehead.

"It’s not warm. Let’s go."

Zhang Shutong dodged her hand and said in a low voice.

He turned and led the way. ’How could it still be warm?’ he thought. ’The night wind’s been blowing on me this whole time. Even the most burning forehead would have cooled down by now.’

He glanced toward the study but could only see it from the side. A faint light was on inside.

He hoped the villa’s soundproofing was good enough that Boss Gu hadn’t heard the commotion outside.

Thankfully, no more bodyguards came out for a smoke. Zhang Shutong checked the ground. The snow in the courtyard had already been swept clean, so they wouldn’t leave any footprints.

He silently pointed to the gate, gesturing for Gu Qiuyan to go first.

He was on high alert now. The slightest oversight could ruin everything.

He swept the sole of his shoe over the spot where they had stood, erasing the last of their tracks. On his way over, he had reminded Gu Qiuyan to draw the curtains and close the window before she left. Looking up, he saw she had done exactly as he’d asked.

The two of them then carefully crossed the courtyard to the fence. He pulled Gu Qiuyan by the hand into a blind spot and gently closed the gate.

There was another electronic chime.

It was as if it were announcing the successful conclusion of their little mission.

Only then did they feel free to speak.

"Did you bring your phone?"

"Of course..." the girl whispered.

Her decisiveness seemed to have been spent in that one moment when she jumped from the terrace. Now that they were actually walking together, she didn’t know what to say.

Zhang Shutong turned on his flashlight, lighting the path ahead, and was the first to speak:

"Are your feet cold?"

"A little. You?"

"My feet aren’t cold."

"Who asked about your feet? I was asking what your temperature is."

"I didn’t check."

"Let me check."

Gu Qiuyan tugged on the corner of his jacket.

Zhang Shutong shook his head, telling her he was fine:

"Do you want to wear my shoes?"

"No," she muttered. "I’m not a fool like you. Of course I knew to wear socks."

"I..."

"How many times do I have to tell you I’m fine? Why won’t you ever listen?"

"..."

"What are you doing running around outside at night instead of sleeping? It’s freezing! I was about to go to bed. You think I wanted to come out here with you?"

"..."

"It’s all because you were lying to me the entire day. I hate liars more than anything. You’re just the worst."

"..."

"And another thing! Ever since that day, you’ve been saying you were going to get me out of there, acting all serious about it, but whenever I asked, you wouldn’t say a thing..."

"..."

"Don’t be mad at me, okay?"

"Be mad at you for what?" Zhang Shutong was taken aback, not expecting her to say something like that all of a sudden. "Who’s mad at you?"

Gu Qiuyan didn’t reply, but instead asked:

"You weren’t lying to me this time?"

"I’m not lying. And why would I be mad at you?" Zhang Shutong turned to look her in the eyes. "If anything, I should be asking you not to be mad at me."

"I’m not mad at you either. So let’s get going," she said softly.

They soon arrived at Ring Mountain Road.

He knew Gu Qiuyan couldn’t walk fast, so he walked slowly in front.

With every step, Gu Qiuyan would step in the footprints he left behind.

Behind them, the palace-like mansion blazed with light. The night was a tide, and they moved through its thick darkness, the cold wind like an occasional splash of sea spray.

Their shoes made a CRUNCHING sound on the snow. Zhang Shutong couldn’t remember who’d told him that walking in the snow was supposed to be romantic.

He’d never believed it, and he wasn’t a convert now, but he had to admit it wasn’t so bad.

After a while, Gu Qiuyan spoke again:

"Zhiruo called me while you were on your way over."

"Who?"

"The girl with the short hair. I didn’t know she was going to add you. She said she just wanted to get a rise out of you, but she didn’t expect you to be in the hospital on an IV. If I’d known you were in the hospital, I wouldn’t have called you..."

"I would have come whether you called or not."

"I figured as much," Gu Qiuyan said softly. "You idiot."

Zhang Shutong wanted to retort that she wasn’t that smart either, but he’d recently discovered that Gu Qiuyan wasn’t stupid at all, so he held his tongue.

’But if she’s not stupid, why would she come out here with me?’

Zhang Shutong thought for a moment, then said seriously:

"Thank you for trusting me so much."

He would have been better off not saying that. The moment the words left his mouth, she pinched his side.

"Who said I trusted you?"

Gu Qiuyan finally glared at him.

"Do you really think I believed what you said? That something bad would happen if I stayed home, and that’s why I ran out here to ’take shelter’?"

"Then why else?" Zhang Shutong was dumbfounded.

’I was so moved for a second there,’ he thought. ’I even had a whole handover ceremony with your dog, promising it I’d be a good little henchman and take over its duties. And you’re telling me you didn’t believe a word of it?’

Gu Qiuyan said:

"Now I have two more scores to settle with you. First, your mom. Does she know you’re out riding your bike with a fever?"

"Uh, she’s not home..."

"So why do you think I came out here with you this late? You think I was going to let you drag me around all over the place? I came to make sure you go straight home and get to bed!"

After she finished, Gu Qiuyan stared at him, refusing to look away, as if she wouldn’t take another step until he nodded in agreement.

Zhang Shutong had no choice but to agree. He hadn’t planned on dragging her all over the place to begin with, but now it seemed like she had come out just to protect him.

He was about to ask her what the "two scores" were, but just as he opened his mouth, he caught a flash of light from down the mountain road in his peripheral vision.