Chapter 79: Forced to Stay Overnight
Time slowly passed, and the night gradually became darker.
The wooden door of the study room was gently pushed open again. The person entering was Gu Zhiren.
“Mu—”
When he saw Mu Yi asleep on the desk, Gu Zhiren subconsciously stopped himself halfway through speaking.
The girl was resting her head on her arm, facing the door. Most of her face was covered by the red scarf, her small hands hidden inside the sleeves of the sweater, and her expression looked very peaceful.
Usually, she was noisy and lively, but her sleeping posture was extremely well-behaved.
She looked just like a sleepy little kitten.
Not wanting to disturb the girl’s peaceful sleep, Gu Zhiren unconsciously slowed his footsteps. He stopped beside the desk, slowly crouched down, and rested his head against his fist.
After watching her for a while, he could not help reaching out carefully and using one finger to brush aside the hair on her forehead.
So cute...
Just as that thought appeared in his mind.
Her eyelashes suddenly trembled slightly, making Gu Zhiren’s heart jump in shock.
He quickly wanted to pull his hand back, but she only rubbed her face lightly against the red scarf. Then her entire face was exposed, and her soft, glossy lips moved slightly in her sleep, making them especially eye-catching.
Gu Zhiren’s pupils suddenly shrank. His finger slid downward almost uncontrollably and lightly pressed against the girl’s lower lip.
A soft and smooth feeling spread across his fingertip. Her lip changed shape slightly under the pressure, revealing a faint glimpse of white teeth and even the small tongue inside her mouth.
“Mmm...”
At that moment, Mu Yi let out a soft sleepy sound, causing a smile to appear on Gu Zhiren’s lips.
A sudden wave of happiness rose deep inside him, crashing hard against his mind.
He even felt an impulse to lean closer and secretly taste those lips. Even if Mu Yi woke up in the middle of it, he felt like he would not care.
But then Mu Yi moved again, this time opening her eyes slowly.
Gu Zhiren instantly stood up and pulled back his hand. He turned his head away and unconsciously licked his slightly dry lips, his emotions becoming a little complicated.
“Eh? You’re back... why didn’t you wake me up...”
Mu Yi sat up sleepily with narrowed eyes. She covered her mouth with one hand, stretched lazily, then rubbed her eyes with the backs of both hands while letting out a comfortable sleepy sound.
“Because—”
Gu Zhiren’s lips twitched slightly. He calmly glanced at her.
“You looked very cute while sleeping, so I didn’t really want to wake you.”
“Huh?”
Mu Yi instantly became fully awake.
“Get ready. We’re going downstairs to eat.”
Gu Zhiren casually rubbed his hands together, but he still swallowed guiltily. Deep inside, he also felt a little regret.
………………
Mu Yi originally thought that rich people’s birthdays would definitely involve a huge party with many guests, alcohol, a swimming pool, music, and dancing.
She had even prepared herself to stay quiet the whole time and act like she could not speak.
However, Gu Zhiren’s birthday celebration was very simple. It was just a family meal together.
Sadly, “bishoujo” could not attend because she was still lying in the hospital.
As the only outsider at the dinner table, Mu Yi felt like a giant light bulb.
Bright and shining!
Otherwise, why would Gu Zhiren’s parents keep glancing at her from time to time?
Was her way of eating too different from everyone else’s? Or was there an invisible sign hanging around her neck saying, ‘Please keep looking at me.’
But Mu Yi was not someone easy to bully. She did not avoid their gazes at all and directly looked back at them.
Maybe because they got caught too many times, they slowly stopped looking at her and instead started talking about Gu Anran in the hospital and Gu Zhiren sitting at the table.
Including Gu Anran’s favorite little author.
Which was actually Mu Yi herself.
In their eyes, Mu Yi was only an ordinary light novel writer.
It was just that Mu Yi lacked self-control.
But thanks to their precious son’s efforts, her condition was slowly getting better step by step.
Naturally, they started asking her about that little author, curious about why “he” did not come today. They even said they really wanted to meet “him”.
Hearing this, Mu Yi was still thinking about how to answer.
But Gu Zhiren directly took over the conversation and seriously started talking about the earlier car accident.
And he heavily praised one person, Mu Yi.
He vividly described how Mu Yi saved him, giving her extremely high praise and seriously saying that he would properly repay her in the future.
Gu Zhiren’s parents completely agreed with him and kept nodding.
They clearly wanted to meet that little author even more now.
Because of that, even the way they looked at the author’s “younger sister” became more full of fondness and admiration.
The sudden pressure made Mu Yi’s hand holding the chopsticks tremble slightly.
At that moment, she could not help secretly kicking Gu Zhiren under the table.
And so—
“Zhiren, what’s wrong?”
Xu Lan noticed that something seemed strange with her son’s expression and asked with concern and confusion.
“I’m fine, Mom.”
Gu Zhiren smiled lightly, took a bite of food, then secretly glanced at the girl beside him.
Did she really need to kick that hard?
Meanwhile, Mu Yi lowered her eyes and silently sent him a look.
It was as if she were saying, ‘You brought this on yourself!’
After receiving that look, Gu Zhiren frowned helplessly, but the corners of his mouth still lifted slightly upward as he happily continued eating.
He kind of wanted to put food into her bowl, but after thinking about it, he still did not dare.
Neither of them realized that this exchange of looks had been completely noticed by Mr. and Mrs. Gu.
Xu Lan and Gu Chengye looked at each other, their expressions changing slightly as certain thoughts formed in their minds.
“Child, it’s already very late. Why not just stay at Uncle and Auntie’s house tonight? We have extra rooms for you to rest in. What do you think?”
Gu Chengye looked at Mu Yi and spoke with a kind smile.
“That’s right. The weather is already very cold, and it gets even colder at night. Besides, going out so late isn’t safe.”
Continuing from her husband’s words, Xu Lan added,
“If you insist on going home, then let Zhiren take you back. But for your safety—”
“Zhiren, work a little harder and walk a few extra steps to make sure Mu Shuang gets all the way to her front door.”
Gu Zhiren smiled without saying anything. He had already planned to do that anyway, so he happily accepted.
Meanwhile, Mu Yi smiled awkwardly but politely and pressed her lips together.
Their intentions were way too obvious.
Oh no... it seemed like her relationship with him had been misunderstood. No, more accurately...
His parents seemed to be trying to matchmake the two of them.
How could this be okay?! This was way too ridiculous! She could not accept it, absolutely not!
Thinking this, Mu Yi politely refused Mr. and Mrs. Gu’s kindness and insisted on going home.
After dinner ended.
She said goodbye to Mr. and Mrs. Gu and once again walked side by side with Gu Zhiren toward the door.
But before they had even taken five steps outside.
A few drops of water suddenly landed on her cheeks with soft pattering sounds.
Her face felt slightly cold and a little itchy.
“Hm?”
Mu Yi touched her face in confusion.
Before she could react, heavy rain suddenly poured down from the sky.
In the blink of an eye, both people outside were completely soaked.