The two sat on the bustling plaza steps, the dim streetlights casting their shadows long and distant, giving them a somewhat lonely appearance, yet clearly entwined with each other.
In contrast, not far from them on the plaza, aunties were lively dancing to square dances, filled with laughter and excitement.
The happiness and laughter on the plaza seemed to belong to someone else, but they weren't alone. At least at this moment, their hearts were very close.
"Thank you." Gu Xiyan leaned close to Mu Jinyu, staring into the autumn brilliance of Mu Jinyu's beautiful eyes, then with a graceful smile, she expressed her gratitude.
Mu Jinyu shifted his gaze away, no longer meeting Gu Xiyan's eyes, thinking about the moment she had just smiled. What was it he had forgotten?
Oh, right...
His heart had skipped a few beats and forgotten to start beating again.
With this thought, Mu Jinyu took out a packet of tissues from his pocket and tossed it to Gu Xiyan, saying indifferently, "Take this and wipe off your tears and snot. You've cried yourself into a little tabby cat, everyone is laughing at you, and you're dragging me down with you!"
"You're so annoying!" Gu Xiyan glowered at Mu Jinyu after hearing his words, then lightly punched him, feeling that he was really spoiling the mood.
However, Mu Jinyu's reminder made Gu Xiyan aware of how unsightly she must look.
Fortunately, she always wore light makeup, so even though she had cried a lot, her makeup wasn't ruined. That would have been truly hideous.
Taking the tissues Mu Jinyu threw her, Gu Xiyan didn't want to embarrass herself further in front of Mu Jinyu and hastily wiped the tear stains from her face.
After that, the two continued to sit on the steps, drinking beer and chatting.
When they had finished a can of beer, Gu Xiyan, having cried earlier and talked with Mu Jinyu, managed to vent her pent-up feelings completely.
Gu Xiyan tossed the empty can away, clapped her hands, stood up, and with a sweet smile, said to Mu Jinyu, "Thank you for your consolation, I feel much better now."
Mu Jinyu checked his phone for the time and realized it was already ten o'clock, guessing that Wen Rou must still be waiting for him at home.
However, leaving Gu Xiyan behind didn't seem right. After all, she had just mentioned that she was currently without a place to live. After thinking it over, Mu Jinyu said, "You probably don't have anywhere to go right now, right? Do you want to stay at my place for a while?"
"Stay at your place? Live with you?" Upon hearing this, Gu Xiyan's eyes became wary as she looked at Mu Jinyu.
Mu Jinyu said exasperatedly, "What's that look for? Please, I'm kindly offering to shelter you, do you think I'm planning something bad? If I really wanted to do something bad to you, I could have just not let you sober up and dragged you straight from the bar to my home, couldn't I?"
"That's true," Gu Xiyan said, nodding thoughtfully.
She didn't think Mu Jinyu would do anything to her, but her modesty and shyness still made it hard for her to immediately agree.
Mu Jinyu saw Gu Xiyan hesitating and thought she didn't want to, which immediately gave him the frustrating feeling that his kindness was being taken for granted.
After all, he had wasted so much time helping her and even offered her a place to stay, and yet she thought he had ulterior motives. He shouldn't have let his compassion get the better of him.
With a slight shake of his head, Mu Jinyu spoke, his tone much colder, "If you don't want to go, forget it. Find yourself a place to stay. You probably have plenty of friends and don't really need me. I was just being presumptuous. I'll be going back now."
Having said this, Mu Jinyu got up, patted the dust off his pants, and prepared to leave.
Gu Xiyan, hearing his much colder voice, felt somewhat taken aback.
She was only being a little reserved, and he suddenly blew up—what an unromantic jerk. As if she wanted to go!
She turned her head away, no longer wanting to speak with Mu Jinyu.
Seeing this, Mu Jinyu sighed softly to himself, began to gather his things, and made to step away.
As he took a step, he felt something tugging at him from behind.
Mu Jinyu looked back, puzzled.
Gu Xiyan was still sitting on the steps, her expression distant as she turned her head to look at the street lamp beside her and reached out her right hand to fiddle with the corner of her own clothes.
Mu Jinyu's brows furrowed slightly as he reached out to pry her hand away.
It wouldn't budge, and if he truly exerted force to pry open Gu Xiyan's hand, he would surely hurt her.
With a sigh of resignation, Mu Jinyu said, "What exactly do you mean?"
"Nothing much," Gu Xiyan replied dismissively, remaining seated.
Mu Jinyu was at a loss with her, thinking that Gu Xiyan wanted him to keep her company outside for the entire night.
Furrowing his brows, he persuaded, "I need to go home and sleep."
"Then go back," Gu Xiyan said, turning her head to look at the street lamp indifferently, "I'm not stopping you."
Mu Jinyu stared at her small hand gripping the corner of her clothes. How could she say she wasn't holding him back?!
This woman was truly unreasonable!
"Then let go," Mu Jinyu said with an exasperated sigh.
This time, Gu Xiyan pursed her lips and remained silent.
Mu Jinyu saw something like tears rolling in her eyes and felt a stir in his heart, vaguely guessing her thoughts.
So, he tentatively said, "I'm leaving now, if you want to follow, then follow."
Having said that, he turned around once more and slowly began to descend the steps.
This time, he wasn't held back by Gu Xiyan tugging at the corner of his clothes.
Because as he turned leisurely, Gu Xiyan quietly stood up, silently clutched the corner of his clothes, and followed him down.
Mu Jinyu couldn't help but glance back at her. Gu Xiyan was still looking away, refusing to look at him.
Letting out a soft sigh, Mu Jinyu didn't want to say anything more. He walked to the side of the road, hailed a taxi, then opened the door and got in.
Gu Xiyan naturally followed him into the taxi and then closed the door.
After Mu Jinyu gave the address, he looked down at Gu Xiyan's hand.
Her little hand was still stubbornly clinging to the corner of his clothes, as if fearing he might suddenly abandon her and run off.
Mu Jinyu sighed in resignation and said, "We're already in the car; you can let go now, right? I won't leave you behind."
"That's not for sure," Gu Xiyan spoke, her head facing the car window to watch the scenery, not looking at Mu Jinyu, but she finally spoke another sentence.
The cab driver, seeing this scene in the rearview mirror, couldn't help but chuckle, "Are the young couple having a quarrel?"
"Who's his significant other?"
"Who's her significant other?"
After saying the same sentence in unison, they glanced at each other and snorted, then turned their heads away.
The taxi driver saw Gu Xiyan's hand still clutching Mu Jinyu's clothes corner from the rearview mirror, displayed an envious smile, and then fell silent, focusing on driving.