Chapter 39: Love for Sale (Part 1)

The Zhou Xiaoru of today is long past being the Zhou Xiaoru from two years ago...

To grow, a person must have experiences; only by going through certain things can one mature.

Zhou Xiaoru is someone who learns a lesson from every mistake.

Thinking back on her wholehearted devotion in the past, it all feels like a joke now.

She even thinks of how Zhou Ding, Yu Li, and the others watched her make sushi almost every day, waiting downstairs at their men's dormitory building.

And then, after the food was taken inside, it was eaten by them...

Those few must have mocked her behind her back for being an idiot!

People like them, with their polished exteriors, are just like princes living in castles; how could they ever take notice of common folk?

Zhou Xiaoru feels that not only was she overestimating her own capabilities, but she was also stupid to the point of death!

If you like the sun, must you go and chase it!

Kuafu chased it, but his final end was miserable.

So, when faced with Gu Liyan's words, "Give me a chance to get to know you again."

A certain Xiaoru felt only brief surprise, not a flutter of the heart.

In her view, this Gu fellow has eaten too many delicacies lately and occasionally wants to try some wild game to satisfy a craving.

It's just that for Zhou Xiaoru to compare herself to wild game, well, that's something else...

But a person like Gu Liyan either doesn't take things to heart easily, or once he does, he is serious.

That first love is the best example...

It cannot be ruled out that the shadow of Fang Qingkong still lingers in his heart, but now Zhou Xiaoru's unintentional intrusion has broken everything once again.

The so-called "one may plant flowers with intent, yet they fail to bloom, while one may plant a willow without intent, and it grows into a shade"!

That is the logic.

When you no longer hold any hope or fantasy for certain things, or certain people.

God, at this very moment, quietly comes over and knocks on your window...

Facing Zhou Xiaoru's righteous indignation did not scare off the man.

In the dark night, the faint light in the man's eyes became increasingly eerie.

Holding her small hand in his palm, he applied a gentle force, and a certain Xiaoru was pulled directly against him again.

Gu Liyan even took her hand and stretched it behind her, wrapping it around her waist!

Zhou Xiaoru's hands and arms were thus passively pulled behind her by this person, unable to move at all.

She looked up in astonishment at the tall man.

"What do you want to do again!"

This person couldn't be a violent maniac, could he! Why is he so impulsive!

What kind of pose is this now! Are we twisting into a pretzel? Or is this human bondage!

The man, however, was all smiles, saying something that made Zhou Xiaoru want to spit blood.

"I told you long ago, if you doubt my sexual orientation again, I will kiss you!"

As he spoke, his thin lips pressed down, scaring a certain Xiaoru into widening her eyes like a cow's, and she hurriedly threw her face to the side.

This kiss landed firmly on her left cheek!

Her little heart was thumping non-stop at this moment, and she was panting heavily.

Zhou Xiaoru felt that this man must be crazy!

She was so anxious she was covered in sweat! She even started talking nonsense.

"Gu Liyan! I just ate garlic, don't you find it stinky!"

While speaking, she struggled hard, but the two hands bound behind her back remained completely motionless!

The great strength she had always been proud of was simply vulnerable in front of this person!

But, at a time like this, was it appropriate for her to say such things...

Clearly, whenever she encounters the handsome Gu, a certain Xiaoru's body and language both go off the rails...

Gu Liyan slowly moved away from her cheek and leaned down, pressing his head against hers.

He said in a low voice, "As long as you don't resign, I will let you go."

A certain Xiaoru turned her face sharply, angry and letting out a barrage of words.

"What is wrong with you? So what if I resign! If you're afraid of what Aunt Xiaofang might say, I'll just call her and explain! I absolutely won't make things difficult for you!"

(Aunt Xiaofang, Gu Xiaofang, Gu Liyan's paternal aunt)

Gu Xiaofang lives in the county town of Zhou Xiaoru's hometown, in the same residential complex and the same building as her family.

The two families have a very good relationship and visit each other often.

Every year when Zhou Xiaoru returns home for the holidays, Gu Xiaofang always takes her out to eat, go shopping, and buy clothes.

Gu Xiaofang has no children and has always looked at Zhou Xiaoru as if she were her own child.

She even introduced Gu Liyan, who was visiting relatives at the time, to Zhou Xiaoru.

As the saying goes, once you see Zhou Lang, your life is ruined.

That summer when she was sixteen, after a brief intersection, the person Gu Liyan was deeply planted in the bottom of a certain Xiaoru's heart.

Zhou Xiaoru thinks that if it weren't for the sake of Aunt Xiaofang's face, she would really be too lazy to pay attention to this person.

Gu Liyan was indeed originally thinking that he shouldn't make things too awkward with Zhou Xiaoru because of Gu Xiaofang's nagging.

But today is different from the past; now, everything he does is not interfered with by anyone, he is just following his own feelings.

He freed one hand, traced the face of the indignant person, and threatened.

"If you dare to resign... I will make a note in your electronic file saying that you are a dishonest employee of Tengyuan Company!"

Hearing him say this, Zhou Xiaoru's head instantly buzzed!

If this were marked on her electronic file, it would be a huge trouble for her future job hunting!

Which enterprise would hire a person with a bad credit record! Isn't this threatening her in a roundabout way!

It made her so angry she was gasping for breath! She could only glare at the man with blazing fury.

"Despicable!"

The man smiled again, "A man must be ruthless to be successful."

Zhou Xiaoru immediately spat in disdain, "Pah! This is coercion! Intimidation! Threats! Perverted behavior!"

Right! He wasn't just mentally abnormal anymore; he was a pervert! A psychological pervert!

Gu Liyan wasn't angry either; it seemed that whenever he saw that flushed little face, he couldn't help but want to tease her.

Finally, that large palm finally did something it had wanted to do for a long time.

He affectionately pinched her cheeks, which were puffed up from anger.

Sometimes, people are just so strange; clearly the same person, after changing into a different personality, expression, and way of expression.

It turns into another situation....

If Zhou Xiaoru hadn't suppressed her true nature two years ago, but instead just been herself, perhaps the result today wouldn't be like this.

But some people only know what they truly want after experiencing the baptism of time.

And some things lost and regained are often more precious than their beginning.

Fate sometimes arrives at an inconvenient time, but sometimes, it arrives just right...

No one would have thought that the two who didn't look like lovers would turn into enemies two years later.

If Gu Xiaofang knew they were like this in A City, she would wake up laughing in her dreams.

Because as early as when Zhou Xiaoru was in high school, Gu Xiaofang had already expressed her intention to play matchmaker for these two.

Unexpectedly, after coming full circle, the person who was once ignored and even dismissed has now become the proactive one.

All of this is Gu Xiaofang's credit.

If it weren't for her nagging, how would Gu Liyan have paid attention to Zhou Xiaoru again, and there wouldn't be this brand-new situation after their reunion today.

At this moment, one is laughing, one is angry...

It looks like a warm and sweet scene...

And just at this moment, the phone in Zhou Xiaoru's pocket rang.

But as this ringtone started, the man's expression also turned foul.

Just because this ringtone was too demonic! And too fitting for the situation!

"In the beginning, you were the one who wanted to break up, break up then break up, now you want to use true love to coax me back, love is not something you can sell just because you want to sell or buy, let me break free, let me understand, let go of your love..."

Now, neither of them was struggling with the resignation matter anymore, but rather both seemed to be listening carefully to these lyrics!

Love Trade!

The internet hit song that swept across the country!

This was the ringtone Zhou Xiaoru had just changed to today; she had originally wanted to recommend Gu Xiaozha to listen to it, but now...

It really is a case of "speak of the devil"!

In this time and place, isn't this song the true portrayal of them right now!

Zhou Xiaoru couldn't help but secretly admire her own little wit in her heart!

Why should she waste her breath explaining when a song can make it clear!

And she estimated that this guy, just like her, was savoring these lyrics!

As the ringtone continued to ring, the warm and sweet atmosphere from three minutes ago instantly cooled down again.

Zhou Xiaoru spoke up to remind him, "Can you let me go now, I need to answer the phone."

The man remained calm and didn't speak, but his hand didn't stop moving either; he reached directly into that coat pocket and took out the phone.

Upon seeing the caller ID on the screen, the man's face didn't just turn foul, it turned black.

Seeing this, Zhou Xiaoru urged anxiously.

"Hurry and answer it for me..."

She thought it was Jiang Bufan and the others calling, but then she thought it wasn't; this person's expression was like a palette, changing every second...

Thinking carefully, could it be Du Feng?

Just then, the arm wrapped behind her finally loosened.

Zhou Xiaoru felt as if she had been granted a general amnesty!

Being held by this person, she was almost unable to breathe.

She snatched the phone, rubbed her somewhat numb arm with one hand, and looked at the phone...

It really was Du Feng...

She answered the phone, "Hello..."

A worried voice immediately came from the other end of the line, "Why did it take so long to answer? Haven't you returned to the dormitory yet?"

Du Feng had already boarded the last bus to return to his place; just now he had followed Gu Liyan all the way to the road opposite the cafeteria.

After seeing that scene, he tactfully chose to leave first.

But until he got on the bus, he couldn't stop worrying, and he didn't know if Gu Liyan had done anything to Zhou Xiaoru afterward, so he called to ask.

However, his worry was not wrong!

In the hour after this, wall-pinning, hugging, forced kissing!

The handsome Gu had done everything he could possibly do!

He was just one step away from carrying her straight home!

But how could Zhou Xiaoru tell him all this? She only replied with polite pleasantries.

"Not yet, I'll be back in a bit. You've reached home, right?"

"I'm in the car, almost there. It's just... I'm a bit worried about you..."

She gave a dry laugh, "Hehe... I'm at school, what is there to worry about..."

Sigh, Du Feng is still the reliable one; unlike that bunch of idiots she calls friends, who haven't even given her a single call until now!

On the other end of the phone, there was a moment of silence, then he asked.

"Is President Gu... still there..."

Zhou Xiaoru subconsciously glanced at the man who was standing to the side with his arms crossed, glaring at her like a tiger watching its prey.

She casually made something up, "Him? He left a long time ago, went back crying."

On the other end of the conversation, there was another brief silence, and after a while.

"Crying? You mean President Gu?"

She continued to fabricate, "Yeah! He begged me not to resign, he cried so miserably!"

As the words fell, a chilling gust of wind drifted by, and after Zhou Xiaoru shivered, an arm reached over her head, and then the phone in her hand vanished...