Chapter 24

Liu Ruyan smiled, watching Gu Mingzhu's dejected retreat. It seemed her investigations were correct.

Xia Yangyang sighed in relief as she left the banquet hall. Her high heels had caused her to sprain her ankle, but luckily, a chair was nearby on the rooftop. She removed her shoes and began rubbing her foot.

"Here you are," a cold voice said. A hand appeared, offering a tube of Yunnan Baiyao ointment.

Looking up, she saw Gu Zhaohan. Surprised, she asked, "Why are you here?"

"I followed you," he explained. "This should help your sprain."

"How did you get this?" she asked, taking the ointment.

He sat beside her. "I saw you hurt your ankle and asked a staff member."

"Thank you," she murmured, unsure what to say.

She applied the ointment. Silence hung between them. Seeing him again stirred complicated emotions. Alone with him in this secluded spot, she worried that Gu Qichen might become jealous again.

Finishing the ointment, she said, "I should go."

He paused, then asked, "Are you avoiding me?"

Feeling inexplicably guilty, she replied, "Of course not. I just feel a little cold."

"Don't pretend. I've noticed you avoiding me lately, even at school. Is it because of my uncle?"

"My uncle is just…paranoid," she mumbled, immediately regretting her words. She worried he'd misinterpret her. Trying to clarify, she stammered, "I didn't mean that. Your uncle isn't suspicious of us… no, I mean, he's just overly worried, and you're not involved. It's not…"

Her brain felt scrambled. No matter how she tried, she couldn't explain herself clearly, only digging herself deeper.

His expression didn't change, and she couldn't tell if he understood. She took a deep breath. It was best to be frank. Gu Qichen had urged her to sort things out.

Finally, she said, "Perhaps we've been practicing together too long, and your uncle is a little jealous." Feeling awkward, she continued, "It must sound ridiculous that he's so petty. We've been fighting this, but I've let it go. We've been honest, and time will prove everything."

He interrupted calmly, "Yangyang, do you read Jin Yong?"

Startled, she replied, "Yes, why?"

His tone turned colder.

"In The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber, a passage struck me. Zhou Zhiruo said to Zhang Wuji, 'We were once engaged, but now my husband is at the brink of death. Besides, I spared your life today. Everyone will say that I am still fond of you. If I ask for your help again, all the heroes in the world will call me shameless, fickle as flowing water.' Zhang Wuji replied, 'As long as we are true to ourselves, why should we care about what others say?' Zhou Zhiruo, however, retorted, 'What if I feel guilty?'"

Silence descended. Xia Yangyang felt her heart sink. Then, his cold voice echoed, "Yangyang, what if I feel guilty?"