Chapter 199 - With You (4) (1/2)

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Xue Xinran’s voice was clear and sweet; it cleaved through the noise and general hubbub to reverberate loudly throughout the room.

As soon as Xue Xinran finished her sentence, Gu Nianzhi had the distinct impression that the room was suddenly dead silent.

But, it was probably just her imagination, since a second later the clinking of gla.s.ses had resumed, mingled with the beeping of the karaoke machine as Guo Huining fiddled with it.

Mrs. Cui, who was sitting on Gu Nianzhi’s other side, gave her a gentle, teasing push as she cheerfully said, “I want to know too! Little Gu, do you have a boyfriend? If you aren’t seeing anyone, I have a number of young, handsome studs to introduce to you!” She winked.

Apparently all the cultured ladies from distinguished families were fond of match-making, Gu Nianzhi realized. She did not know whether to laugh or cry at this; did she really seem so young and desperate? She stammered out, fl.u.s.tered, “W-What? A boyfriend? Um…”

She remembered when Mei Xiawen had tried to date her in college: Huo Shaoheng had calmly and sensibly told her that he did not care who she went out with.

At that time though, she had not understood why her heart had sank like a rock at his words. She understood now, but she would never be able to tell anyone about it. And, it did not matter what he felt about it—she knew she would never be able to love another.

“Tell us! Don’t be shy now.” Xue Xinran nudged her arm in a teasing manner. “You already graduated from college, right? It’s totally normal for you to have a boyfriend. But don’t feel pressured, you don’t have to tell us if you don’t want to.”

Gu Nianzhi took a deep breath, and straightened up. There was a faint blush on her face as she slowly said, “I…don’t have a boyfriend.”

“Great!” Xue Xinran snapped her fingers. “Where’s your phone? I’ll give you my younger brother’s number, he—”

Xue Xinran did not get to finish. Gu Nianzhi interrupted her with a smile: “But, I have someone I like.”

She had been careful to keep her voice low; nevertheless, unknown to her, her remark pa.s.sed through the gaps in the screen and reached Huo Shaoheng’s ears, who was sitting just behind it.

His hand momentarily stilled in the middle of clinking gla.s.ses with Bai Tianqun and Hong Ziqi, but he quickly recovered and downed his drink.

“Bravo! Huo Shao, you can still drink like a fis.h.!.+ Actually, no—you’re an even better drinker now!” Xue Jingjiang laughed heartily as he filled Huo Shaoheng’s cup once more.

“You have someone you like?” Mrs. Cui’s interest had been piqued. “But you said that you don’t have a boyfriend. Are you saying it’s a secret crush?”

“A secret crush? Is that still a thing?” Guo Huining, who was sitting on the karaoke stage, turned to smile at Gu Nianzhi. “If you like someone, tell him. I don’t think anyone would ever say no to a girl like you.”

Gu Nianzhi smiled, but said nothing. She regretted having revealed so much of herself to these women—she barely knew them!

It was none of their business who she was dating, or even who she liked. However, she just couldn’t resist the desire to confide in her heart, and so had taken the opportunity to talk about her feelings for Huo Shaoheng.

But, just as she had expected, he had not shown any reaction, at all.

He evidently did not care about who she did or did not like.

Gu Nianzhi smiled as she brusquely got up and asked Mrs. Cui, “Where’s the bathroom? I’ll be back in a minute.”

Mrs. Cui and Xue Xinran exchanged a look: they knew they had upset Gu Nianzhi by being too nosy and pushy.

“Come with me, I’ll show you the way. Go out, take a left—it’s at the end of the corridor.” Mrs. Cui stood up and extended a hand to Gu Nianzhi.

Gu Nianzhi quickly said, “That’s okay, Mrs. Cui. You stay and sing a few songs with the others, I can look for it on my own. The place isn’t that big.” She laughed lightly at their worried looks and said, “I’ll be fine, I’m not a child.” With that, she turned and left.

Mrs. Cui looked after her. It was clear that Gu Nianzhi did not want anyone to follow her, and it seemed perfectly safe to let her wander the place alone: it was still early, the sun was still out, and Xue Jingjiang, who owned the place, would never let anything happen to Huo Shaoheng’s family. Satisfied that Gu Nianzhi would be fine on her own, Mrs. Cui let her go without following her, and began to look through the karaoke song catalog with Xue Xinran and Guo Huining.

Just then, Huo Shaoheng stood from his chair and said to his four companions: “Take your time drinking. I’m going out for a smoke.” He went out.

Xue Jingjiang and the rest of the men were light-headed from all the drinking; Huo Shaoheng had drunk them all under the table. They saw Huo Shaoheng get up to leave, and could only wave vaguely in his general direction in reply. They were already seeing double, but they were too happily intoxicated to stop from pouring themselves another round.

…

Gu Nianzhi walked out of the private room, alone, and found the ladies’ bathroom. She went in and adjusted her hair and clothes in front of the mirror. When she was done, she exited the bathroom and made her way to the terrace to get some fresh air.

The private room had been too warm for her. She was wearing a high-neck cashmere sweater and sheer black tights; she could practically feel the sweat waiting to break out from under her skin.

She arrived at a terrace, and saw that it was an open-air terrace that was protected from the elements by a retractable gla.s.s ceiling in the winter. When the gla.s.s ceiling was down, the terrace was transformed into a greenhouse, warm enough for the large and verdant plants inside to flourish. There was an artificial stream somewhere; there was a soft, persistent sound of running water in the background. The winter sun shone through the transparent ceiling, warming the air to a comfortable temperature.