Chapter 74: Gu Zhiren’s Punishment
Inside the music hall, the lingering sound of the piano echoed through the air. A gentle breeze slowly moved the large red curtains on both sides of the stage and lightly brushed the white-haired girl’s smooth, silk-like hair.
Tiny shining tears appeared in her clear eyes that looked like a spring of water, sparkling like stars hanging in the night sky.
Her soft and glossy lips pressed together lightly. Her reddened face showed hesitation and a little fear. She parted her cherry-colored lips once more, wanting to speak.
But before the words came out, her lips pressed into a thin line again.
She wanted to speak, yet stopped herself. She stopped herself, yet wanted to speak again.
Looking at her, Gu Zhiren unconsciously lowered his gaze. It felt as if a feather lightly brushed across his heart, creating ripples in the calm sea inside him.
His heart was truly shaken at this moment.
It was only a simple question, only a face so familiar to him.
Yet suddenly, he found it difficult to control his feelings.
An especially bold thought even appeared in his mind.
He wanted to give her a long vacation.
And since she also liked vacations, wouldn’t that be double happiness?
Mm...
The only problem was that this did not really sound like punishment.
“Yes.”
Gu Zhiren still followed his heart and nodded with a smile.
“Th-then… how are you planning to punish me?”
Mu Yi bit her teeth hard and carefully asked.
“First tell me whether you’re actually going to write or not. Then I’ll answer that question.”
Gu Zhiren turned back to the piano and casually played a few notes with a playful look in his eyes.
“……”
Seeing that Gu Zhiren did not fall for her trick, Mu Yi felt a little disappointed.
She originally wanted to hear the punishment first, then decide whether she would write depending on how serious it sounded.
But he refused to cooperate.
Still, now that they had recognized each other, and he had looked quite guilty earlier too!
She felt that even if she openly gave up, he probably would not go too far.
And if the worst happened, then...
Mu Yi would save herself.
Even though this huge music hall really seemed like the kind of place where screaming for help would be useless, she believed heaven always left a path open. As long as she did not give up, despair could still turn into hope.
Mm! I can do this! No problem!
Hoo~
“You already know about what happened at the hospital, right? I’ve already decided to move away from this city.”
As she spoke, Mu Yi closed her eyes and puffed up her cheeks. She sighed sadly, then shook her head while speaking casually.
“Moving takes a lot of time and energy, okay? It’s not that I don’t want to write. I just really don’t have time.”
“You’ll understand, right? I think readers and my editor will definitely understand me.”
Her bright eyes blinked twice, and a small smile appeared on her pink lips as she cutely tilted her head.
Gu Zhiren stayed silent.
It felt as though three knives suddenly stabbed deeply into his heart. The pain that spread through him instantly suppressed the impulsive thoughts he had earlier, forcing him to face reality.
He was always telling others not to rush, yet at such an important moment, he himself had become impatient too.
Frowning slightly, Gu Zhiren quietly calmed himself for a moment. The gentle smile returned to his handsome face. Tilting his head, he thought for a while and nodded.
“Mm, I’ll understand.”
But before a smile could appear on Mu Yi’s face, Gu Zhiren paused thoughtfully, then changed his tone and continued,
“But one thing is one thing. The punishment should still happen. Those ten thousand words were something you personally promised me. How can you break your promise?”
Knowing she was somewhat in the wrong, Mu Yi nervously swallowed and gathered her courage to ask,
“So what exactly are you planning to do?”
Gu Zhiren smiled without answering. One hand lazily continued pressing random piano keys while he quietly watched the changes in the girl’s expression beside him.
Very soon, she could not help opening her mouth again.
“Since we’re already here, play the piano with me for a while.”
After saying that, Gu Zhiren slightly turned his body and smiled lightly while making an inviting gesture toward Mu Yi.
“Hah?”
Mu Yi bit her teeth and pouted. Unable to hold back, she glared at the hand Gu Zhiren extended toward her. Then she raised her chin and snorted confidently.
“I already told you, I don’t know how to play anymore. My hands can only write books now!”
“It’s fine. Even if you forgot how to play, that’s okay.” Gu Zhiren narrowed his eyes slightly and gently pulled one of Mu Yi’s hands closer to the piano. “I can teach you.”
Her slender hand was soft like it had no bones, with skin as smooth as cream, and slightly cool to the touch.
The soft and smooth feeling made ripples rise in his heart, and he unconsciously held her hand a little tighter.
But the moment her hand touched the piano keys, it suddenly trembled hard, and her fingers tightly curled up.
Feeling her resistance, Gu Zhiren looked up at Mu Yi in confusion.
He saw her staring with wide eyes in nervousness, her chest rising and falling quickly with her rapid breathing. She tried to pull her hand back, and her pretty brows slightly frowned.
Gu Zhiren wanted to say something, his lips moving faintly, but in the end he did not say a single word.
“Can you let go of my hand first?”
She stared at the piano while speaking in a calm and emotionless tone.
“Mm.”
Gu Zhiren immediately released her hand.
“I can play, but I probably won’t play very well anymore. If you dare laugh at me…”
“I won’t laugh.”
“Mhm.”
Mu Yi glanced at Gu Zhiren, pressed her lips together, and took a deep breath to adjust her mood.
“I’ll only guide you a little, just like how you guided me before.”
Gu Zhiren placed both hands on the piano and smiled at Mu Yi from the side.
“I’ve always wanted to play together with you. Come on, let’s begin.”
Hearing that, Mu Yi still hesitated for two or three seconds before finally nodding.
Soon, the two of them started playing together somewhat awkwardly. Familiar skill and rusty movements mixed together, making the melody sound slightly messy at first.
But slowly, that messiness disappeared.
The two played together in perfect understanding, and the gentle sound of the piano echoed throughout the entire music hall.
For a moment, it felt as if both of them had returned to that summer long ago.
A white piano. Two children. The sound of piano music and cicadas. Banana trees swaying in the wind. The sunset on the hillside. Villagers chatting outside the house.
The memories slowly came together again.
Without even noticing the smile blooming on her face, the white-haired girl continued playing together with the man beside her.
As they played, her shoulder accidentally brushed against Gu Zhiren’s shoulder.
Mu Yi did not notice it at all. She was still completely immersed in this long-lost happiness.
Meanwhile, Gu Zhiren’s lips twitched slightly from the touch.
After playing for a little longer, Mu Yi secretly turned her head to glance at Gu Zhiren before calmly looking away again.
“By the way, when did you recognize me? You were so determined to supervise me. Don’t tell me… you recognized me from the very beginning? But why were you so persistent about it?”
She muttered to herself while frowning in confusion.
“The thing you care about most is the last question, right? So today, I’ll only answer that one.”
Gu Zhiren secretly glanced at Mu Yi too, tilting his head happily.
“Ah? Can’t you answer them all together?”
Mu Yi unhappily questioned him directly.
“No.”
“Mhm…”
Mu Yi puffed up her cheeks and sideways glanced at Gu Zhiren.
He slowly turned his head toward her, a smile appearing on his lips.
“Why was I so persistent? Because I wanted to see you live a happier and better life. When a friend starts walking down the wrong path, of course I have to pull her back.”