Chapter 67.1

At this point, it was already quite late and the school corridor was empty.

In the corridor, they stood by the classroom window, looking in. Shen Chen Chen and Qi Yue waited quietly.

Inside the classroom, only Gu Jing Yuan and Tao Yi Xi were left. Both silently did their homework and time passed peacefully.

“What are we looking at?”

Qi Yue was about to say something else, but Shen Chen Chen covered his mouth.

When the final bell for clearing the school rang, the two finally got up and began packing their bags.

After Gu Jing Yuan was done packing, he rested his head on his hand and asked Tao Yi Xi, “Did I break my record today?”

“En, if you keep up this pace, you could even participate in a competition.”

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“R esd’v oydv vs ryavknkryvl kd y nsxrlvkvksd, R oydv y aloyae.”

Mys Zk Dk nswze dsv ralvlde dsv vs jdso sq bkp kdvldvksdp. “Mbkp kp y rwczkn rzynl.”

“Rv’p yzalyeu ps zyvl, vblal’p ds sdl lzpl kd pnbssz.”

Mys Zk Dk oyp osad esod cu bkp rlapkpvldnl. “Zsw nyd’v es vbkp obld ol tlv bsxl, wdelapvyde?”

“Od!”

Qw Kkdt Zwyd pjkzzqwzzu jkpple bla, cwv fwpv yp vblu vswnble, bla psqv oykpv lhyele bkp taypr yde pbl lpnyrle.

“Zsw’al clkdt wdqyka…” Tl cyalzu tsv y vypvl.

“Fkdnl vbyv’p vbl nypl, vbld vblal’p ds xsal dlmv vkxl.”

“I was wrong.” His apology was prompt and decisive.

Qi Yue’s eyes widened in shock. He knew Gu Jing Yuan had been studying hard recently, but was there a need to go to such extremes???

Now he finally understood that aphrodisiac was Brother Yuan driving motivation to study.

My God, Brother Yuan was not addicted to studying, he was addicted to a person!

Moreover, Qi Yue had never known that his tall and imposing Brother Yuan also had such a shameless side to him. Being willing to lower his head and admit his mistakes so readily.

Shen Chen Chen took a deep breath. She had already guessed it. Yet, understanding was one thing, and seeing it with her own eyes was another. The shock she experienced was no less than Qi Yue’s but she did not want to watch anymore.

“Let’s go.”

Although her voice was but a whisper, someone keenly noticed.

“Who’s there?” Tao Yi Xi scanned the room, and Gu Jing Yuan quickly strode towards the classroom door. It was too late for them to run. 

“Brother Yuan, you haven’t left yet.” Qi Yue greeted him nervously.

Gu Jing Yuan’s expression darkened, completely different from the puppy-like appearance just moments ago.

“I should be asking you that question. Weren’t you supposed to have left already? What are you still doing here?”

“Umm… I’m getting something?”

Gu Jing Yuan’s face grew darker. “You’re asking me?”

Qi Yue’s behaviour dumbfounded Shen Chen Chen, and the strange thing was, the uncomfortable feeling that was stifling her instantly dispersed.

She looked at Tao Yi Xi. “You guys need to be more restrained at school.”

Gu Jing Yuan’s expression darkened further, and Qi Yue did not even dare to breathe loudly. He quickly reached out and tugged Shen Chen Chen’s arm.

Tao Yi Xi was not angered by her words and nodded in agreement instead. “Thank you for the reminder.”

Qi Yue secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Since Sister Yi Xi has spoken, Brother Yuan would not have any objections.

“Uhhh, then we’ll leave first.” Qi Yue pulled the silent Shen Chen Chen away.

After walking a distance, Shen Chen Chen pulled her hand away from his.

From behind, Qi Yue asked softly, “Hey, Shen Chen Chen, don’t tell me you still have feelings for Brother Yuan?”

Shen Chen Chen paused.

“I advise you to give up already. If Brother Yuan becomes angry, I wouldn’t even know how to save you.”

“Plus, you saw the extent of how much Brother Yuan likes Tao Yi Xi. And what about you? Would you be willing to study hard for Brother Yuan? You wouldn’t be able to persevere. Just look at you, last time, you fled at the last minute.” His last sentence was extremely provocative.

Shen Chen Chen turned around and only uttered a single word to Qi Yue’s well-intended advice.

“Idiot.”

Qi Yue, “???”

Gu Jing Yuan took her hand, a fleeting darkness flashed in his eyes.

“You wouldn’t believe that hogwash and take away my only joy at school, right?”

Tao Yi Xi tilted her head. “Shouldn’t your joy of school be studying? Study well, Ge-ge.”

It had been a long time since she called him ‘Ge-ge’. Hearing it once more made his heart feel soft and ticklish.

He held her hand and glanced down, “Say it again.”

The originally normal form of address suddenly felt a little ambiguous.

“No.” She refused and tilted her head back, but he bit her red and tempting lips.

“Will you say it or not?” he murmured, seeming to be enticing while threatening at the same time.

“Didn’t you use to hate hearing it?” Tao Yi Xi remembered when she first called him ‘Ge-ge’, he was quick to anger.

“I was young and ignorant back then. How would I know your goodness then?” He hugged her, grinning and uttering sincere and sweet words.

Tao Yi Xi suddenly felt guilty. She knew he did not like to hear it hence, she deliberately addressed him as such to irritate him in order to achieve her goal.

Feeling regretful, Tao Yi Xi compromised.

“Ge-ge.” Without the sarcastic tone, it sounded crisp and pleasant, making his ears and heart turn to mush.

Gu Jing Yuan could not resist as he grabbed onto her slender waist and kissed her deeply. The kiss became more intense and passionate. Before they knew it, their bodies were pressed closely together, burning hotly.

Tao Yi Xi sensed something was amiss and the remaining bit of her rationality signalled to her of the dangers, reminding her that they could not continue like this.

She bit him, and the metallic taste spread in both their mouths, overpowering her sweetness and allowing Gu Jing Yuan to finally sober up.

“Enough!” He was becoming more unrestrained. To hell with her guilt!

“We need to be more restrained at school as well.” Allowing his increasingly unrestrained behaviour would only cause them to be exposed sooner or later.

Gu Jing Yuan protested unhappily, “I don’t want to. We just have to be a little more careful each time. Besides, no one is as idle as those two.” He gritted his teeth.

Tao Yi Xi gave him the side-eye. “Is wanting to spend time with me every day just for doing these things?”

Gu Jing Yuan keenly sensed her displeasure and quickly tried to save this situation, “Of course not.”

In his heart, he felt a little diffident. How could he hold himself back in front of the person he loved? He wished they could stick together all the time, with skin touching skin, filled with the sweet scent of happiness. It was a feeling of joy he had never experienced before.

“Endure one more year, after that, we can do as we please in university.” She breathed out like an orchid, enchanting him like a siren.

“That’s more than a year later, that’s still a long time till then.”

“Then do you want present pleasure or future enjoyment?”

“…future.”

“Good boy.” Tao Yi Xi pushed him away and went back to get her school bag.

Gu Jing Yuan hung his head, feeling depressed.

Every time, she would push him away without hesitation. She was always so rational and cool-headed whilst he was the only one who was completely enthralled.

His emotions were written all over his face. In that rare instance, he did not take the initiative to talk to her as he just kept glancing at her from the corner of his eye.

Tao Yi Xi pretended not to see as she clenched her fists tightly.

The two of them did not exchange a single word on their journey home.

Gu Jing Yuan’s expression was dark and he even ignored Nanny Yang’s greeting. He headed upstairs and slammed the door shut, keeping everyone out.

He was genuinely upset this time around.

Tao Yi Xi sighed. How should she coax him now?

The best option was to wait and see.

However, her heart felt tight and stifled. For a split second, she wanted to impulsively break free from the shackles that bound her, rush forward, and disregard everything just to be with him.

Yet, in the end, she returned to her own room.

Endure… She must continue to endure it.

Before long, there was a knock on her door.

Tao Yi Xi smiled thinking about the one standing outside her door. The bitter and gloomy feeling dissipated in an instant.

“Coming.”

After seeing who it was, her smile faded. “Why have you come?”

“I’m your mother, why can’t I come here?” Xia Yan naturally pushed the door open and entered Tao Yi Xi’s room.

Before Tao Yi Xi closed her door, she cast a glance at Gu Jing Yuan’s tightly shut door.

“Why have you come?”

“I heard that you were admitted to Tsinghua University via their early admission programme.”

“En.”

“Now that you’re a prospective college student, we can start preparing for your engagement.”

Tao Yi Xi was greatly baffled. “What engagement?”

“I’ve found a good family for you. He is the son of a hotel group director. Although he’s not comparable to the Gu family, he’s still from a prestigious family. With your status as Tsinghua University student now, the other family will definitely accept you.” Xia Yan bragged, feeling immeasurably satisfied.

Tao Yi Xi interrupted Xia Yan’s boasting coldly. “I don’t want to.”

Xia Yan’s expression turned unpleasant. After a moment of pause, she suppressed the impulse to explode, “If you don’t fancy this potential spouse, you can choose another one.”

“I don’t want an arranged marriage. I just want to study hard and build my career.” Tao Yi Xi refused adamantly.

Xia Yan sneered. “Humph, you’re acting just like a child. What career can a girl like you build? Don’t overestimate yourself. Do you know how many people want to enter this upper circle but have no chance? If it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t have had the opportunity to enter such a prestigious family. Yet, you still don’t know how to appreciate such an opportunity! I’ve put in so much effort in vain for you!”

“I’ve never cared about that in the first place.” Tao Yi Xi’s expression was solemn, with every feature exuding a distant indifference.

Xia Yan had never seen this side of Tao Yi Xi before. Her heartbeat suddenly increased and she realized she had faltered slightly just now. 

She was, after all, her mother!

“Tao Yi Xi, don’t be ungrateful!” Xia Yan raised her voice to cover up her inner panic.

Tao Yi Xi stood tall, unfazed by Xia Yan’s reprimand.

Xia Yan realized Tao Yi Xi would not yield. In frustration, she blurted, “Even if you don’t want to, you must!”

Tao Yi Xi scrutinized her mother sharply. The two of them had argued over such matters before, but this time Xia Yan’s attitude was uncharacteristically firm.

“And why is it a must?” Tao Yi Xi asked decisively.

Seeing how astute she was, Xia Yan became flustered. “What are you talking about? We’re only doing this for your own good!”

Xia Yan tried to calm herself down, “We’ve chosen a few candidates for you. You must choose one.”

We.