Chapter 333: Can't I Not Go?

Zhou Ye walked to an empty lot behind the hospital and then came to a halt.

Kong Nian looked at the completely unfamiliar man before her; clearly, she could have simply ignored him.

"Who exactly are you? Do you have business with me?"

"Is Kong Shan Kui doing well?" Zhou Ye did not answer her question, but instead inquired about someone else.

Kong Nian's heart trembled, and her gaze wavered violently.

Kong Shan Kui was the current patriarch of the Kong family, her paternal uncle.

So, was this man a friend of her uncle?

"My uncle is doing quite well."

Zhou Ye's cold gaze fell upon her, as if it could pierce through her exterior to see into her heart.

Facing his scrutiny, Kong Nian felt immense pressure. However, she was currently representing the entire Kong family, so she naturally could not allow herself to be looked down upon.

"Senior, what is your honorable name?"

This was the third time she had pressed him for his identity.

The corners of Zhou Ye's mouth twitched. "I presume you have never heard my name. Once you return, tell Kong Shan Kui that an old acquaintance surnamed Zhou will be coming to see him."

Since Su Yan wanted to figure out exactly what had happened thirteen years ago, he, as her master, would naturally lend a hand to his disciple.

Kong Nian did not dare show the slightest bit of dissatisfaction. "This junior will certainly convey your message."

Her obedient and well-behaved manner was a complete departure from her usual self.

"Lift your head," Zhou Ye commanded.

Although Kong Nian did not know what he intended to do, she followed the command subconsciously.

Zhou Ye stared into her pupils, seemingly investigating something.

This prolonged eye contact made Kong Nian feel as though she didn't even dare to breathe heavily.

A mere ten seconds felt as long as several hours.

Zhou Ye frowned slightly. "So that's how it is."

The confusion in Kong Nian's heart reached its peak. "Senior, is there something wrong with this junior?"

"I am asking you—did a surge of energy reside within your eyes before?"

Though it was a question, Zhou Ye's tone was one of domineering certainty.

Kong Nian's nerves suddenly tightened. Although she had already anticipated that the man before her was no ordinary person, she had not expected that he could discover the secret of her eyes just by looking at her a few times.

"Yes, but it is gone now."

Since the other party possessed such profound cultivation, could he perhaps find a way to help her reabsorb that energy?

At this thought, Kong Nian's eyes brightened instantly.

However, Zhou Ye's next sentence crushed all her hopes completely.

"It was merely a temporary vessel to begin with. Things that do not belong to the vessel naturally cannot be kept."

Kong Nian's head buzzed, and she was completely unable to think clearly.

Having obtained the answer he wanted, Zhou Ye placed his hands behind his back and walked away with an air of indifference.

By the time Kong Nian regained her senses, his figure had completely vanished from her sight.

Her hands trembling, she touched the corners of her eyes as Zhou Ye's words continued to echo in her ears.

Was it truly impossible for her to return to how she was before?

And even that man just now knew that the energy did not originally belong to her?

But on what grounds could the energy she had nurtured for thirteen years be so easily taken back by Su Yan?

A flame of rage burned within her. She stood rooted to the spot until her legs felt numb before she finally took another step.

***

In the hospital ward.

"Gu Yang, what exactly is going on between you and your sister-in-law? Don't give me that nonsense; I'm not blind. Something is definitely not right between you two."

Su Yan had left under Gu Yang's urging; she was set to depart tomorrow, and Gu Yang only hoped she could get some good rest today.

As soon as Su Yan left, Lu Feng could not contain his impatience and began to press for answers.

Gu Yang was exhausted, so he chose to close his eyes in the face of his friend's questioning.

Seeing him like this, Lu Feng became even more certain of his suspicions. "Has your sister-in-law fallen for someone else? That teacher of hers just now seemed very unusual. Are they..."

"No." Gu Yang truly could not listen to his nonsense any longer. He denied it with a sharp voice. "There is nothing between Yan Yan and me. It's just that I'm worried since she's going away."

"Then don't let her go!" Lu Feng was genuinely anxious for him.

Was this still the decisive and confident Editor-in-Chief Gu he knew?

Why did he become so indecisive, procrastinating, and timid whenever it came to that girl?

Gu Yang let out a bitter laugh.

"Look at you, why are you acting like this again? I'm asking you, do you actually like your sister-in-law or not? I really don't understand you two. You're already engaged; what is there that can't be said openly?" Lu Feng felt frustrated by his friend's lack of backbone.

"Lu Feng, I am truly tired. Just let me rest, alright?" Gu Yang was almost pleading.

If not stopped, Lu Feng could definitely nag here for an entire day.

Lu Feng's eyebrows knitted together like a twisted braid. Just as he was about to continue his persuasion, the ward door opened.

"Brother Gu Yang, I've come to see you."

Before Kong Nian even entered, her intimate words reached the ward first.

Upon hearing that specific address, Gu Yang's heart instinctively felt a sense of resistance and annoyance.

The moment Lu Feng saw Kong Nian, his emotions became extremely complicated.

After all, she was a girl whose pursuit of him had ended in failure; seeing her being so warm toward his best friend naturally made him uncomfortable.

Especially since Gu Yang had a fiancée.

Kong Nian did not realize Lu Feng was there; after a brief moment of surprise, she returned to normal.

"Brother Lu is here as well."

Lu Feng's lips twitched, revealing a rather awkward smile.

"Hello, Miss Kong. I didn't expect that after only a few days apart, you would become so close with Gu Yang?"

It was a remark filled with hidden meaning.

Kong Nian did not care about his thoughts at all. "Why, didn't Brother Gu Yang tell you? Actually, we knew each other before, but he just never recognized me."

Lu Feng was stunned into silence, turning his head to look at Gu Yang on the hospital bed.

Gu Yang's expression was dark. They had clearly agreed not to tell anyone about their childhood.

"Gu Yang, is what Miss Kong saying true? You knew each other before?"

Facing Lu Feng's interrogation, Gu Yang had no room to argue.

"It's nothing major. I forgot to tell you."

Hearing this answer, Lu Feng's heart was filled with mixed emotions. So that was it.

"Did you come here for something?" Gu Yang's attitude toward Kong Nian was extremely cold.

"I will be heading out to handle some business with the Zhou family tomorrow. This trip will take ten days at the earliest and half a month at the latest. I am worried about you." Kong Nian indeed thought this way.

He was the first person she had ever felt this much concern for.

Hearing that she would also be participating in that matter involving the Zhou family, a crease formed between Gu Yang's brows.

Wouldn't that mean she would run into Su Yan?

The thing he least wanted to happen right now was for Su Yan and Kong Nian to meet.

However, his expression actually brought a hint of joy to Kong Nian.

So, he was worried about her upcoming trip?

"Can you not go?"

As expected, Gu Yang's attempt to stop her made Kong Nian exceptionally happy.

(End of Chapter)