Volume One, Chapter 8: Eyes That Are Not Innocent
Page (1/3)
He had overestimated his willpower where she was concerned. The moment she retreated even slightly, dark and violent thoughts began to spread through his mind. He wanted to press her into his very bones.
That way, she would never push him away again.
Her crimson lips were captured in a kiss, and a fine, tingling sensation swept through all her senses.
All she could feel was the possessive heat of the palm at her waist and the soft lips pressed against hers. What had begun as a gentle, tentative exploration gradually grew heavier, their lips and teeth meeting with forceful insistence. Her face flushed scarlet, and she could not help resisting him.
A vague sound slipped through the gap between their lips. “Gu—Gu Qichuan!”
Only then did he seem to regain his senses. His movements softened as he soothingly stroked the skin at the back of her neck.
———
Long, flowing music filled the restaurant, easing the mind and lifting the spirits. The warm-toned lighting created an especially romantic atmosphere. Two people sat near the floor-to-ceiling windows.
Zhou Xianyu took a deliberate sip of wine from her glass. Her gaze settled on the neon lights outside, looking everywhere but at Gu Qichuan.
Gu Qichuan, however, was in an excellent mood. As his fingertips brushed against his finger pads, he could almost recall the delicate sensation of her skin.
His gaze remained fixed on her. Seeing her lower her little face to drink her wine, he parted his thin lips and said, “Too much alcohol is bad for your stomach. Drink a little less, all right?”
Zhou Xianyu naturally did not dare drink much. Her stomach was weak, and she usually avoided drinking too much of anything that might irritate her system.
She nodded.
Back when Zhou Yizhi loved drinking, the Zhou household had kept a great deal of alcohol. Their father enjoyed it as well, so the living room was often filled with the rich, mellow fragrance of liquor.
Zhou Xianyu had also enjoyed drinking during her adolescence. Once, she had skipped school with Zhou Yizhi to drink, and ended up damaging her stomach.
After that, Zhou Yizhi and their father began keeping an eye on her and forbidding her from drinking too much. Even the bottles in the household cabinets gradually became fewer.
But after Zhou Qianqian learned what had happened, she told her parents that her heart felt unwell and she could not eat. Only the rich fragrance of liquor could whet her appetite.
Naturally, the alcohol returned to the living room. Standing on the stairs, Zhou Xianyu watched as the family of four drank together, laughing and chatting.
Zhou Yizhi would snatch Zhou Qianqian’s glass away and say with a laugh, “Just have a taste. Don’t drink so much. Don’t end up ruining your stomach like Zhou Xianyu did.”
But Zhou Yizhi—her beloved older brother—had he forgotten that the reason she had ruined her stomach was because she had helped him and his friends compete in a drinking match?
Page (1/3)
Page (2/3)
Young people had strong pride. Zhou Yizhi’s initial guilt gradually faded after Zhou Qianqian arrived.
He was Zhou Qianqian’s brother, but he was no longer hers.
Every dish on the table was something Zhou Xianyu liked. It seemed that, without her realizing it, Gu Qichuan had already learned all her preferences.
The man before her had striking, deeply defined features, a high, straight nose, and an innate air of heroism between his brows and eyes. His tall figure was exceptionally distinguished.
Looking at the young woman before him, Gu Qichuan naturally raised his hand and poured her some juice. His long, fair fingers rested against the glass.
He pretended to ask casually, “Has Jiang Wenhua called you again?”
In truth, his long, dark eyes were fixed intently on her reaction. His expression was as still as a tranquil yet unfathomable pool, without the slightest ripple.
Zhou Xianyu said, “No. I blocked all his contact information, didn’t I? Calls from unknown numbers can’t get through.”
She wiped the corner of her lips, glanced around, and said to Gu Qichuan, “I’m going to the restroom. Wait for me.”
“All right.”
After leaving the restroom, Zhou Xianyu washed her hands and adjusted her dress in front of the mirror. She did not expect to look up and see someone she had never wanted to encounter.
Zhou Qianqian, entering through the restroom door, had not expected to run into her either. After sizing her up, the corners of her lips quickly lifted into a smile.
“Sister? I never expected to see you here. Who did you come with? Young Master Gu?”
“You know, Brother Wenhua called me yesterday and sounded so heartbroken. How could you block him?”
Zhou Qianqian appeared gentle and tender, her brows furrowed as she spoke softly, as though she were concerned for Zhou Xianyu’s sake.
Zhou Xianyu looked at her coldly. Seeing her again, she could almost recall the pain and terror of the knife piercing her body, the way her blood and vitality had slowly drained away.
She sneered, “What the hell does it have to do with you?”
Zhou Qianqian’s expression stiffened. She seemed not to have expected the sister who had always yielded to her to speak that way. Her face turned ugly, and she put on an injured expression.
“Sister, I was only concerned about you. Why are you treating me like this?”
Zhou Xianyu had never possessed a particularly good temper. She merely showed her gentlest side to her family. Now she gave a mocking laugh.
“There’s no one else here. Zhou Qianqian, who are you pretending for?”
Page (2/3)
Page (3/3)
“This is the first time I’ve realized how good you are at acting. You spend every day pretending to be pitiful. Aren’t you tired?”
Zhou Qianqian’s eyes darkened. She had not expected Zhou Xianyu to suddenly tear away the facade between them. What had happened?
Was it because of Jiang Wenhua? Had she decided to throw caution to the wind?
Zhou Qianqian said, “Sister, if you’re blaming me because of Brother Wenhua, then you’ve truly misunderstood me… Besides, Brother Wenhua likes you…”
Zhou Xianyu gave her an indescribable look and sized her up from head to toe.
“I used to have terrible judgment and fell for that piece of trash Jiang Wenhua. But now that I think about it, he isn’t even worthy of one strand of Gu Qichuan’s hair. The two of you are well suited. If you like him, then take him.”
As Zhou Xianyu passed by her, a chilling, mesmerizing light gleamed in her beautiful eyes.
“After all, you’ve always loved picking up what I didn’t want anymore… haven’t you?”
Zhou Qianqian bit her lip. With no one else around, she could barely maintain her gentle facade. She nearly lost control and called after Zhou Xianyu.
“Sister… you haven’t fallen for Gu Qichuan, have you?”
Her words came hurriedly, one after another.
“Have you forgotten what kind of person he is? Someone so ruthless and unpredictable—if you stay with him, he’ll gnaw you down until not even your bones remain!”
“We’re family! Would I ever harm you?”
Zhou Xianyu turned back coldly.
“Zhou Qianqian, I know what kind of person he is far better than you do. And I doubt you’d want to know how Gu Qichuan would react if he heard what you just said.”
Her words caused Zhou Qianqian’s face to turn deathly pale. The words she had blurted out in a moment of panic could not be taken back. At the thought of Gu Qichuan’s vicious nature, her lips began to tremble.
“I—I didn’t mean it that way…”
She watched helplessly as Zhou Xianyu looked at her as though she were garbage, then walked away.
Zhou Qianqian’s face nearly twisted apart with rage. She clenched her fists so tightly that her nails almost pierced her palms.
Why? Why?
Zhou Xianyu could not fall in love with Gu Qichuan!
Even when Zhou Xianyu had not loved Gu Qichuan, Zhou Qianqian had possessed little chance of winning. If the two of them fell in love with each other, how could she ever gain Gu Qichuan’s attention?
The viciousness in her eyes gradually deepened.
Why did Zhou Xianyu get every advantage?
When they were children, their parents’ and brother’s affection had belonged to her. The reputation of the Zhou family’s eldest daughter had belonged to her. So had her health—and even a man as outstanding as Gu Qichuan!
Page (3/3)