Chapter 108: Atmosphere (Part 1)

  With a snap, a drop of tears fell on the purple cherry blossom kimono and was absorbed. Sanluo Yun raised her head, still smiling. Hearing the deliberately heavy footsteps coming from behind, she said lightly, "Huanli, I made my choice, didn't I?"

  "At least, no need to escape anymore." Gu Huanli stood beside her, accompanying her in gazing up at the pink sky.

  The smile on San Luo Yun's face disappeared. It seemed like she had reached her limit of patience, and even her face was twisted. She bit her lip tightly,

  Tears fell ceaselessly from her pale face.

  "I know we're still under the same sky, but now there's no way to meet again." After a while, Sanluoyun said with a choked voice, "Now, I've really lost him."

  "Losing you will be the greatest regret of his life." Gu Huanli looked very serious, and after being troubled for half a day, she suddenly slammed her hand. "Let's go, we'll appreciate the cherry blossoms while drinking today, and not return until we're drunk."

  "I'm not drowning my sorrows in drink."

  "I know."

  "I just want to let him go and also set myself free."

  "I understand."

  "You don't understand at all, sigh, it's really pitiful for a senior student like you."

  "Huh...?" Gu Huan Lian looked at Sang Luo Yun in confusion, why was it related to the senior again?

  Gu Tianxi stood not far away, his gaze unchanged, just quietly and coldly watching everything. He didn't get closer or speak, he just kept...kept guarding until the night curtain completely enveloped, and the neon lights on the street lit up in a colorful array.

  The bodyguard sent the drunk Sanluoyun back to the hotel room, while Gu Tianxi gently picked up the slightly drunk Gu Huanli and carried her horizontally in his arms, as if he was holding a rare treasure.

  Walking up to the black sports car with enigmatic CCR markings parked by the roadside, he opened the door and carefully placed Gu Huanlin in the passenger seat.

  "Brother." The slightly flushed Gu Huanli opened her dazed and drunken eyes, smiling brightly as she gazed up at him.

  She couldn't help but put her hand on her forehead and sigh, Gu Tianxi carefully fastened her seatbelt for her, "What's wrong?"

  Gu Huanli lowered her head, seemingly deep in thought. After a long while, she lifted it again, and with a coquettish expression that was just like the eight-year-old girl who had clung to her brother in the garden, said: "When I grow up, I'll be Brother's bride."

  Looking at her long eyelashes fluttering restlessly, a hint of a smile played on Gu Tianxi's lips. "Why do you want to be my bride?"

  A crystal tear overflowed from the corner of her eye, like a transparent cherry blossom petal, seeping into the fabric and disappearing. "This way we can be together forever," Gu Huanli said softly, with a faint blush on her face, slightly flushed.

  "Alright, silly girl." Gu Tianxi pinched her nose, with a loving expression.

  Then, the black sports car sped away.

  Only leaving behind a tree full of cherry blossoms drifting away with the wind, like a shower of pale pink rain...

  The crescent moon hung high in the night sky, accompanied by twinkling starlight, at the second-floor VIP suite of HeYuan Hot Spring Hotel - DanDing Pavilion. Inside, Gu TianXi supported Gu HuanLi as she slowly lay down, "You obviously can't hold your liquor, yet you still insist on showing off."

  "Sorry." She apologized out of habit, but the heat that had been simmering in her stomach was rapidly spreading to her limbs.

  Although the alcohol content of sake is only 16, similar to that of wine, strong sake often makes people drunk without realizing it, so when drinking, shallow flat bowls or small ceramic cups are usually used.

  Gu Tianxi's face was still icy, but in his heart, he was extremely regretful. He really shouldn't have let this girl named Sang Luoyun get close to Gu Huanliu. Rather than saying she was the only friend, it would be better to say that she was a bad influence. Otherwise, what should have been a precious brother-sister vacation had turned into the current situation.

  "Sorry." Gu Huan Lian Dai's eyebrows slightly furrowed, she looked at her brother who was scolding her while busy taking care of her, the remaining bit of rationality reminding herself to behave and listen to every word her brother said.

  Gu Tianxi's palm gently stroked her soft and delicate forehead, "Does your head still hurt?"

  Gu Huanli shook her head, "I didn't drink as much as Luo Yun."

  "He hasn't even drunk much and he's already talking nonsense, who knows what kind of state he'll be in if he drinks more?" Gu Tianxi sighed, "Brother didn't tell you that emotional reactions can't solve problems."

  Gu Huanli gazed up at her brother's face, a feeling that made people dizzy and infatuated, her mind was empty, unwilling to think of anything, but many thoughts emerged involuntarily.

  "Luoyun is my only friend. Apart from my brother, she's the only one in school who dares to get close to me."

  "Brother, I don't understand why two people who obviously love each other would push each other away."

  "Brother, if love is really so bitter, why are there still so many people flocking to it?"

  "Brother... even in places I can't see, there are many people who love you and are sad for you?"

  "It was selfish of me to tie my brother down and deprive him of his freedom."

  "In a corner I don't know about, there must be many people who dislike me and curse me."

  "I just want to stay by my brother's side."

  "If I also make brother and Luo Yun suffer like this, then it's better for me to disappear..."

  ……

  The anxiety and confusion that had been pent up for too long poured out like a flood, she held on for a month, so tired, so powerless, finally someone could hold her and cry.

  Listening to the fragmented murmurs pouring out of her pale, transparent lips, a certain place in his heart was touched by her weakness and helplessness. Gu Tianxi kissed her forehead, speaking softly, his words barely audible. "I won't let you disappear. Because I'm your brother, I'll take good care of you, protect you for the rest of my life..."

  It seemed that with this promise, Gu Huanli gradually fell asleep in his arms, but the tears on her face still lingered, filled with sorrow.

  Gu Tianxi pulled the quilt over her and carefully covered her, his warm palm stroking her tightly furrowed brow and cold sweat-drenched forehead. As if comforted, her originally restless body gradually calmed down under his gentle caress.

  As Gu Huanlin's eyebrows relaxed, he slightly moved away from her and found that the corner of his clothes was still tightly grasped by her in a daze. Gu Tianxi looked at her silently smiled, leaned forward slightly, picked up the phone on the bedside table, dialed a number, and gave some instructions before getting into bed fully clothed beside her. Perhaps it was the warmth that satisfied her, Gu Huanlin let out a soft, comfortable hum, rubbed against his chest unconsciously, and fell asleep quietly again.

  Perhaps it was because he had gotten drunk once, or perhaps it was because he had finally spoken his harsh words and left no room for retreat. San Luo Yun's heavy heart suddenly felt lighter. He often teased Gu Huan Li, if she had such a good brother, all the men in the world would probably be intimidated by her.

  Looking at the smile that returned to her face, Gu Huanli also smiled, a gentle, relieved and peaceful smile. No one can instantly strip away love and hate, only time is the best medicine. However, if the heart lets go, the pain will dissipate, it's just a matter of time. Besides, a good girl like Sang Luoyun deserves to be loved and cherished by an even better person.

  However, Jo Yoon-oh still chased after her to Japan. When he appeared in front of Gao Huan-li, he was almost frantic and wanted to kill her. He knew his girlfriend had a good friend like this at school, but what he didn't expect was that this little girl, who was only fifteen or sixteen years old, actually had such great courage and persuasive power.

  Qiao Yin Hao didn't mind Sang Luo Yun, he just hoped she could hide behind him and be willing to wash his hands and make soup for him. In his opinion, he was now "on top of the world", although entering the entertainment industry was originally just a playful interest, but the fans' support and applause made him feel like he was on cloud nine. So, during the filming breaks, he took her to play in Europe, and even took her to attend the most grand ball in Paris's social circle.

  She didn't lose face to him, however, since they returned home, Sanluoyun's attitude towards him had cooled down. Plus he was busy with two dramas at the same time and didn't have time to coax her. Who knew that when he suddenly wanted to eat Sanluoyun's handmade peanut pig trotter soup, only then did he realize his girlfriend was missing.

  Their dealings were a secret, so San Luo Yun's family was completely unaware and would not have allowed him to casually go and ask about his daughter's whereabouts. Qiao Yin Bo had no choice but to use the power of his family. As a result, his subordinates told him that someone did not want him to find out San Luo Yun's whereabouts, and if he really wanted to contact him, it would have to be through Qiao Yin Bo's agent, Xiao Zhen Yu.

  This was something that Qiao Yin had never encountered before, and it was unbelievable that someone in the country dared not to give him face as a noble son of the entertainment circle. When he complained about this to Xiao Zhenyu, Xiao Zhenyu sighed and replied, "There are people outside of people, and there is heaven beyond heaven. Yin, let me handle this matter. Besides, Luo Yun has been growing up with me since childhood, and we are like siblings."

  Unexpectedly, the message that Zuo Zhenyu brought back was actually a breakup. That stupid woman actually told him to break up. Qiao Yinyin was furious and immediately took five days off from the crew. He was determined to tie her down, even if he had to bind her back.

  This time, he easily found the correct location of Sanluoyun. After getting off the plane, he rushed to the restaurant in his car. He accurately stopped the car at the parking space in front of the restaurant door and saw Sanluoyun sitting by the window, trembling all over but pretending to be calm, with her chin up and a stern gaze that dared not to be deceived.

  A smile spread across Cho Yoon-oh's face.

  Yes, that's right. He likes her pure and strong appearance. Compared to those pretentious rich girls and the worldly girls in the entertainment industry, simple Sanluo Yun is simply a gift from heaven for him.

  However, Jo Yoon-oh forgot that what was in front of him wasn't just a simple fairy tale called Cinderella. How could someone who had been so clever at playing the role of the evil dragon possibly let his good friend fall back into the clutches of the devil and be trampled again?

  So, Qiao Yinhao grabbed Sang Luoyun and only said three words when Gu Huanli suddenly snatched Sang Luoyun's hand from his hand with a clever move, and innocently asked, "Sister Luo Yun, is this Mr. Qiao's behavior the same as the TV drama's strong grab of civilians? Even if we are in Japan, we should call the police!"

  Abducting civilians? A bead of cold sweat appeared on San Luo Yun's forehead.

  Alert? Three black lines appeared on Jiao Yin's forehead.

  Gu Huanli continued to say with a look of disdain, "How can Uncle be together with Sister? This is incest!"

  "Poof!" San Luo Yun couldn't help but burst out laughing.

  "Damn it, uncle! I'm only 28, how can I be an uncle?! And do you even understand what's meant by 'incest'?! You American-returnee little girl, if your Chinese isn't good then don't use it randomly!" Qiao Yinhan's forehead bulged with a blue vein as he roared.

  "Did I use the wrong title?" Gu Huanli looked at Qiao Yinyan with a bewildered expression, "But I'm already sixteen and calling you 'grandfather'... doesn't seem quite right"

  "Qiao Yin glared with wide eyes, pointing at Gu Huanli, unable to utter a complete sentence."

  "But, this venerable uncle insists on making me call him grandpa... Alas, who made me so understanding of respecting the elderly and loving the young?" Gu Huanli's expression changed to one of complacency, and she sweetly smiled, "Luo Yun jie, let's call him grandpa together. This way, Grandpa's glass heart won't shatter."

  At first, it was a bit of a generation gap, but now they're from different generations. Qiao Yin Hao finally took a serious look at Gu Huan Li, like a prince preparing to fight a dragon, and said with righteousness, "Luo Yun, this is your good friend? Really too rude! You usually hang out with people like this, how can you improve your taste?"