Chapter 260: None of It Matters Anymore

“What’s wrong?”

Watching Gu Yang’s constantly shifting expressions, Su Yan realized something was amiss.

Gu Yang paused for a few seconds, but he still couldn't bring himself to say it.

“I dreamed that I lost you, and no matter what I did, I couldn't find you.”

It wasn't a lie, but it wasn't the whole truth either.

Su Yan hadn't expected this, and her expression turned complex.

Once a person inhaled that kind of scented powder, the emotions in the depths of their heart would be infinitely magnified; so, in his heart, he was actually terrified of losing her.

“It was just a dream.”

That was the only comfort she could offer.

Gu Yang’s chest felt terribly heavy. If it truly were just a dream, that would be fine, but Kong Nian had already appeared.

“Yan Yan, do you remember anything from our childhood?”

He asked cautiously, hoping for a positive answer from her, even if it was just a tiny bit.

Su Yan hadn't expected him to ask so suddenly; after a moment of hesitation, she shook her head.

“Do you really not remember anything at all?” Gu Yang’s emotions grew agitated.

He didn't understand why this was happening—she remembered nothing, yet that other girl had spoken of things they had experienced together.

“Mm, I don't remember a single thing,” Su Yan answered quite firmly.

She had also tried to see if she could awaken her past memories, but that part of her memory seemed to have vanished completely; no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't find it.

Gu Yang’s tightly clenched hands loosened powerlessly. At this moment, he didn't even know how to describe his feelings.

“Brother Gu, are you really alright?”

Su Yan felt that he was far too suppressed right now; it definitely wasn't just because of a dream.

Gu Yang gave a bitter smile, not wanting her to worry.

“I'm really fine. On the contrary, how did you get in?”

He proactively changed the subject. He remembered very clearly that he had locked the bedroom door from the inside before going to sleep.

Su Yan said, “When I came, the door was left ajar.”

“Ajar?” Gu Yang frowned deeply.

His memory wouldn't be wrong. After the previous time when Liu Yiyi had entered while he wasn't around, he had even specifically checked the door lock before getting into bed.

Looking at his expression, Su Yan immediately reacted, “Someone was here?”

Her tone was one of absolute certainty.

Gu Yang pulled back the covers and, under her gaze, walked to the door to seriously inspect the security of the lock.

He used a door bolt; it was impossible to open from the outside unless it was opened from the inside, and the bolt was currently intact.

“The lock is fine.”

Su Yan’s breath hitched as she realized the gravity of the situation.

“Let me see.”

As she spoke, she proactively moved to Gu Yang’s side, leaning down to examine it closely.

Ordinary means indeed wouldn't be able to open the lock, but if it were extraordinary means...

Looking at Su Yan, who was so close, Gu Yang’s heart began to throb.

So, the girl had actually been caring and concerned about him all along.

At this moment, nothing else seemed to matter.

By the time he reacted, he had already grasped Su Yan’s wrist.

Unprepared, Su Yan thought he had discovered something and looked up at him.

“Brother Gu, what is it?”

Gu Yang didn't speak; he only looked at her with a gaze that was deep and suppressed.

Su Yan’s heart trembled as she sensed his abnormality.

His hand was so cold, and with a slight tremor, it brushed against her cheek, as if he were confirming something, yet also fearing something.

Under normal circumstances, Su Yan would have refused his touch without hesitation, but the current Gu Yang was so out of character that she didn't know for a moment how best to handle it.

A numbing sensation spread from her cheek to her entire body.

For a moment, Su Yan wanted to push him away, but Gu Yang had no intention of giving her the time or the chance.

His face gradually grew larger in her pupils until it was right before her eyes.

Soft lips covered her mouth, trembling in a tentative probe.

Su Yan’s brain went *buzz*, and in an instant, everything else vanished.

Having not been rejected, Gu Yang was even more unable to think; the blood in his body boiled, and his instinct drove him to want more, more...

What began as a cautious, testing kiss became frantic under Su Yan's tacit permission.

After an unknown amount of time had passed, Su Yan seemed to hear a sigh from the depths of her heart.

In the end, they had reached this step.

By the time the two of them regained their senses from the immersion of emotion, an unknown amount of time had passed.

Gu Yang panted heavily, feeling as though he were about to suffocate.

All the worries, anxieties, and confusion had become unimportant.

No matter who she actually was, it didn't matter anymore.

For the rest of his life, the meaning of his existence was only her...

***

Morning.

Su Yan was awakened by a knocking sound.

“Su Yan, are you awake?”

Ma Chulan’s inquiry came from the doorway.

Su Yan let out a yawn and, with sleepy eyes, got out of bed to open the door.

When the door opened, Ma Chulan entered the room excitedly, only to find herself caught between laughter and tears at Su Yan's disheveled, half-asleep appearance.

Even when she and her eldest brother were out these past few nights, they hadn't been as exhausted as this.

“Did you not rest well last night?”

Looking at her like this, it was as if she hadn't slept at all through the night.

Su Yan didn't answer, instead lounging lazily on the long bench.

“Is there any progress?”

Just as Ma Chulan was about to answer, a pair of round, large eyes stared intently at her face.

“Why is the corner of your mouth torn?”

And it looked quite serious.

Su Yan froze for a moment, then gave a dry cough.

“Maybe it's just some internal heat.”

Ma Chulan understood implicitly. “Are you also worried about the disappearance cases? It is strange; so many people have been active in the city these past few days, yet not a single clue has been found.”

Su Yan forced herself to focus. “Has no one else gone missing since then?”

“The people in the city are terrified. Once night falls, they don't even dare to step out of their houses; there's almost no one staying out late.” Ma Chulan spoke of this with a look of helplessness.

“Big Brother was just picked up by the Zhou family; they said they were going to discuss countermeasures. I don't know if they can come up with a solution.”

The longer this matter dragged on, the greater the public pressure would be, and the more factors would be involved, making it more troublesome. It needed to be resolved as soon as possible.

Su Yan fell silent, her eyes flickering slightly.

Seeing her like this, Ma Chulan cautiously tested, “Su Yan, do you have any ideas?”

Su Yan said unhurriedly, “It’s actually quite simple. Since it can be confirmed to be the work of an evil spirit, we just need to lure the snake out of its hole.”

Ma Chulan’s breath hitched. “How do we lure the snake out?”

Su Yan explained patiently, “The target of the evil spirit is young, healthy adults. So, we find two young adults to lure it out.”

Ma Chulan blinked, understanding her meaning, and became excited.

“Su Yan, you are truly too smart! Such a simple method—how did I not think of it?!”

They both had a head on their shoulders, so why was her intelligence so much lower than Su Yan's?

Su Yan’s expression was not as relaxed as hers. The method sounded simple, but in actual practice, it would still require careful planning.

For instance, choosing the people to lure the snake out would not be easy.

As she thought, she had no idea that the plan she proposed was perfectly in sync with Gu Yang's.

(End of Chapter)