Chapter 5: Infatuation

There was no emotional fluctuation in Su Yan’s voice, yet the ghost shadow shuddered violently, immediately curling into a ball and wailing in terror.

“My lord, this small one was wrong.”

“Get lost.”

After Su Yan finished speaking, she closed her eyes again.

The ghost shadow instantly dissipated into the darkness, as if it had never appeared at all.

The next day.

Su Yan walked out of her room, yawning.

Su Jianguo was already dressed and ready to head out for work.

“Daughter, did you sleep well last night? Did you have any nightmares?”

Seeing her, Su Jianguo’s face immediately blossomed into a smile.

“Very well.”

“Then go wash up quickly. There’s breakfast warming on the stove for you. After you eat, go to school with your sister.”

Su Jianguo’s instructions were as gentle as could be.

Li Qiuhua, who had been serving nearby, felt a sourness in her heart. Having lived with him for over a dozen years, this was the first time she had seen him so eagerly trying to please someone who was giving him the cold shoulder.

“If you keep talking, you’re going to be late for work.”

She urged him, doing so on purpose.

Only then did Su Jianguo stop his nagging and prepare to leave.

“Dad, are you going to be at the factory all day today?” Su Yan suddenly spoke up, causing him to pause in his tracks.

“I suppose so.”

“Don’t go anywhere today. Stay at the factory. If there’s anything to do, just tell others to handle it.” Su Yan gave this instruction with great seriousness.

Su Jianguo was stunned for a moment, but Li Qiuhua let out a scoff of amusement.

“You child, you’re talking nonsense. Your father is the deputy factory director; there’s so much important work waiting for him.”

She had realized that this child’s head didn’t seem quite right, and she was taking advantage of her father’s doting to say whatever came to her mind.

Su Yan didn’t even glance at her, simply repeating herself solemnly to Su Jianguo.

“Just stay at the factory today. Don’t go anywhere, can you do that?”

Seeing that she didn’t seem to be joking, Su Jianguo, though still confused, nodded and agreed.

In any case, keeping his daughter happy was the most important thing.

No sooner had Su Jianguo left than Su Mo came dragging her feet out of her room.

Li Qiuhua urged her to eat quickly, but halfway through her sentence, she let out a gasp.

“Mo Mo, what happened to your face?”

Even though Su Mo tried her best to hide it, under Li Qiuhua’s forceful prying, the side of her cheek, swollen like a pig’s head, was revealed.

Li Qiuhua was terrified, her first reaction being to take her to a doctor.

Su Mo’s peripheral vision flickered toward Su Yan.

Su Yan was still “staring straight ahead,” as if she had no interest in her affairs whatsoever.

“Mom, don’t make such a fuss. I just accidentally fell out of bed last night, it’s nothing,” Su Mo said, gritting her teeth.

Not only had she bumped her face, but she had also had nightmares all night long.

Su Yan didn’t even wait for her to finish before heading off to wash up.

The two sisters ate breakfast and left the house together.

Su Mo deliberately walked in front, keeping her head low and using her hand to cover the side of her face.

However, she would look back at Su Yan from time to time.

She didn’t know what was going on; no matter if she walked fast or slow, Su Yan seemed to maintain the exact same distance from her.

Moreover, Su Yan was unhurried, and the blind cane that should have been used for navigation was held completely in her hand, serving no purpose at all.

So, how exactly was she finding her way?

A group of children from the courtyard came running out, chasing each other, and nearly collided with Su Mo as they passed.

Instead of making them stop, Su Mo stood her ground, her gaze following them.

Su Yan was not far ahead; with so many children rushing toward her, there was no way she could dodge them.

Just as she expected, it looked like Su Yan was about to be hit.

But at that very moment, a figure suddenly appeared beside her, grabbing Su Yan’s arm and pulling her firmly to the side.

The children’s playful shrieks flashed past.

The person’s strength was so great that Su Yan, caught completely off guard, felt as if she had bumped into a hard iron plate.

Her brows furrowed immediately.

Who was being so meddlesome?

She looked up at the face covered by the black cloth, and a handsome face entered her line of sight.

Su Mo, who had been preparing to watch the show, was dumbfounded at this moment.

Especially when she realized it was Gu Yang, she felt terrible.

While Su Mo was sizing the man up, he was also looking at her.

The next second, she took the initiative to break free from the man’s embrace.

Then, she immediately had a bad feeling.

At 1.65 meters, she wasn’t considered tall for a girl, but she wasn’t particularly short either; yet now, she had to tilt her head back to see his face.

This man was at least 1.85 meters tall, with broad shoulders, a narrow waist, and legs that were long and straight. Even the most ordinary white shirt looked excessively good on him.

His most superior features were his facial features: sword-like brows, star-bright eyes, a high-bridged nose, and thin, refined lips.

“Are you alright?” The man’s voice was also very pleasant—not too rough, nor too delicate.

It was like a piece of warm jade, making one feel comfortable.

“I’m fine.” Su Yan quickly regained her composure and replied, but she had no intention of saying thank you.

“Are you Su Yan?”

The other party had actually said her name directly.

However, Su Yan was not surprised at all; after all, from the first day she arrived at this courtyard, she had become a “celebrity” in everyone’s mouths. She guessed that by now, there wasn’t a soul in the courtyard who didn’t know that Su Jianguo had brought back his blind daughter who had been fostered in the countryside.

“I’m Gu Yang.” Gu Yang didn’t wait for her to answer, instead introducing himself.

Su Yan prepared to give a perfunctory response and leave, but she didn’t expect Gu Yang’s next sentence to make her feel somewhat bewildered.

“You… don’t recognize me?”

Gu Yang kept a close watch on her reaction. Even though most of her face was covered by the black cloth, he could still be certain that there was no emotional fluctuation when she heard his name.

“Should I recognize you?”

Su Yan’s words were full of inquiry.

She was certain she had never met this man before. Or was he some important figure she was required to know?

Gu Yang’s expression grew a bit strange, but he soon revealed a gentle smile.

“I’m a friend of your cousin, Su Yao.”

Su Yan felt speechless at this answer.

Even Su Yao, she had only met once on the day she returned.

“Brother Gu, good morning!”

Su Mo’s coquettish voice interrupted their conversation.

Although Su Yan didn’t turn to look at her, she knew exactly what kind of shy, infatuated expression she was wearing.

“Good morning.” Gu Yang greeted her as well, his gentle gaze lingering on her swollen face for a second before moving away.

Su Mo noticed his gaze and felt embarrassed and aggrieved. She had expected him to ask with concern, but she hadn’t expected him to say nothing at all.

She felt a bit disappointed.

“Brother Gu, the books I borrowed from you the other day are all finished. When you have time, can I come over and borrow a few more?”

“Of course you can. Even if I’m not there, just tell my mother.”

Gu Yang’s face was warm and sunny, making one feel like they were bathed in a spring breeze.

The other side of Su Mo’s face turned red. “Brother Gu, you’re so kind.”

Su Yan no longer wanted to listen to this vapid conversation and turned to leave.

Gu Yang watched her steady gait, his gaze deepening.

(End of chapter)