The spotted afterglow of the setting sun reflected on the gray-blue sky, stubbornly casting its faint light across the lake’s surface.
The evening breeze gently lifted the tips of my freshly washed hair. As I gazed at the rippling lake, my forearm was suddenly touched lightly.
Turning my head, I saw an opened packet of tissues resting in his palm.
“Here, wipe it off. Your hair’s so wet—it’ll soak into your clothes too.”
“Mhm… thank you, Gu Fan.”
Through the translucent packaging, I could see that only half the tissues remained, which meant Gu Fan had used them before.
Just thinking of that made some inappropriate images flash through my mind…
Snapping back to my senses, I hurriedly thanked him again in a soft voice, and silently cursed myself inside.
What a hopelessly perverted woman I am.
Compared to my mix of suppressed passion and boldness, Gu Fan was much more restrained.
An hour ago in the bedroom, when I leaned my upper body forward, almost pressing my chest against him, he merely narrowed his amber eyes with a calm expression.
Yet his Adam’s apple moved vividly as he swallowed, and then his hands gripped my shoulders, holding the distance between us at an ambiguously intimate point.
“Zhi Nian, you should’ve told me earlier. You look really good in this outfit today.”
That was how he replied. But my instincts told me it wasn’t his full truth, so I decided to press further.
“So, according to what you mean, Gu Fan… are you saying that all my outfits before today were so bad they weren’t even worth mentioning?”
I originally thought that what I said would provoke Gu Fan, making him rush to explain or apologize. Unexpectedly… he just put on that familiar faint smile.
“Hmm? Not at all. It’s just that Zhinian has always dressed beautifully, so I’ve long since gotten used to it. For example, right now—it feels just like before, when I used to take a few photos of Zhinian.”
Gu Fan perfectly defused all potential danger, while casually brushing off the topic I had raised.
At that moment, I immediately covered my mouth with the back of my hand. My cat ears twitched violently atop my head.
Because of my clothes, my tail couldn’t fully show my emotional reaction, but it still struggled to flick against my stomach with its tip.
I deeply realized that the gap between Gu Fan and me was far too great… I couldn’t outtalk him—instead, I ended up being teased by him so much that I wanted to meow uncontrollably.
Carefully wiping the damp ends of my hair, I gazed at the calm and peaceful little lake, lost in thought about my own matters, when suddenly the sound of a shutter clicked in my ears.
Puzzled, I turned my eyes toward Gu Fan, only to be caught in another candid shot by him.
Although Gu Fan had secretly snapped me like this many times before—according to him, photos taken in natural moments are always the most moving—I still hadn’t fully adapted to the embarrassment of being photographed without warning.
“Uwah, don’t take pictures of me! This lake is prettier than I am, so take pictures of it instead.”
Shyly, I turned my head away, wanting to avoid the lens.
I knew very well that my hair was still dripping wet; even when I tried to wipe the ends with tissues, I could clearly feel how they had clumped together into messy strands. From another person’s perspective, I must look rather strange right now.
If only Gu Fan were the only one to see me like this, then maybe there would still be a chance to recover, since people rarely remember just one specific moment.
As long as I performed well afterward, Gu Fan surely—People may slowly forget the disheveled, messy look I had.
But cameras are different — the photos they take are stored away, and Gu Fan likes to flip through the album from time to time.
I really don’t want my embarrassing moments being dragged out over and over again like that.
“This lake—I’ve come here a few times just to take photos. But right now, for me, seeing Zhi Nian seriously drying her hair by the lakeside is far more attractive. There’s a kind of pure sensuality to it.”
Perhaps because my resistance was written all over my face, Gu Fan put down the mini camera as if respecting my feelings.
I secretly glanced at him from the corner of my eye. Even though I wasn’t facing him directly, Gu Fan was still earnestly watching my profile, giving such a sincere explanation.
Ughhh… what should I do…
I remember reading online that “sincerity is the most powerful weapon.”
I think Gu Fan embodies that saying perfectly.
When he’s with me, he always expresses his thoughts and feelings seriously, letting me see them clearly, and openly asking me to respond to them.
And on top of that, I’m someone who really values looks.
Being gazed at so sincerely by such a handsome boy—with his amber eyes reflecting the shimmering waves of the lake—how could I possibly keep pretending to stay calm?
My cheeks felt hot. I didn’t know if I was blushing.
If Gu Fan asked, I’d just stubbornly claim it was the glow of the sunset shining on my face.
Pressing my lips together, I deliberately muttered softly, just loud enough for him to hear:
“Your words are always so smooth… Gu Fan must have plenty of experience.”
Taking that chance, I voiced a doubt that I had kept hidden deep inside my heart for a long time.
I didn’t hate the way Gu Fan’s words always found their way precisely to comfort me.
I was just… a little jealous.
“…Before me, were there other women who enjoyed this kind of treatment too?”
Gu Fan gave a light laugh, shrugging as if helpless. My heart sank with his casual gesture, and the unease I had been suppressing inside was suddenly released.
While I was drowning in worry, Gu Fan finally answered:
“Originally, I didn’t know how to say these things. But when I was struck by beauty, I found myself learning them naturally, without a teacher.
So really, it’s all thanks to Zhi Nian being pretty enough to inspire me to say such heart-stirring sweet words.”
Hoo~ I unconsciously let out a long sigh of relief.
Gu Fan’s reply left me feeling light and floaty, uncertain if it was happiness or confusion.
But one thing was clear—I still hadn’t shaken off the doubt in my heart. I felt as though what I truly wanted to hear wasn’t this…
“Only to me—you’re allowed to say such things only to me…” Without meaning to, I murmured my true feelings out loud.
Very quickly, I realized my slip-up, and hurriedly corrected myself:
“Ah, no, that’s not what I meant. What I meant was that I need to keep an eye on you, so you don’t go around sweet-talking and messing with other girls. Yes, that’s it.”
But as I spoke, I couldn’t stop scolding myself inwardly.
What a coward! Who in their right mind hands over the man they like to other women?!
Unusually, Gu Fan didn’t respond to my outburst. His lips pressed into a straight line, eyes cast down. His slightly long eyelashes hid the expression in his eyes.
His silence immediately caught my attention. While pretending to switch tissues to dry my hair, I stole a quick glance at him.
His fingers were tugging lightly at the hem of his shirt, as if he was deep in thought…
Could it be that my words made him uncomfortable… so much so that he needed this long just to figure out how to respond?
Thinking that I might have caused trouble for Gu Fan, I suddenly felt as if countless threads appeared in the air, wrapping around me and dragging my consciousness into the lake before me.
So disgusting… If I had known, after taking a bath I should’ve just stayed home and had dinner.
I shouldn’t have come with Gu Fan to this remote little lake in the suburbs. Now I’m hungry, and my mood is terrible.