Chapter 132: A Grand and Absurd Confession

Gu Lin actually gave it some serious thought: what value did he have?

He thought for a long time, but couldn't come up with anything.

But he did figure out one principle.

Since Shen Yanhui was such a big shot, he just needed to cling tightly to his thigh. Even if he didn't get to eat the meat, he could at least manage a few sips of the soup, right?

The next day, he volunteered to become Gu Yan's personal driver.

The reason was that Gu Yan's work as a judge required frequent trips to the Jingzhou Academy of Fine Arts.

The competition had entered the re-evaluation stage, and the entries had changed from online submissions to physical works; the judges had to go to the academy's review room to look at and grade the original works one by one.

Gu Yan had to make the trip every few days, sometimes staying for the better part of a day.

Gu Lin patted his chest and took on the task of picking her up and dropping her off: "Don't you worry, Yanyan, your brother guarantees punctuality, rain or shine!"

Gu Yan looked at him suspiciously: "Since when have you been so diligent?"

Gu Lin looked righteous: "A brother caring for his sister is only natural."

Gu Yan couldn't be bothered to expose him; it was nice to have someone to drive her anyway.

What she didn't know was that every time she entered the academy building, Gu Lin would take out his phone and send a message to Shen Yanhui.

Gu Lin: 【Brother-in-law, Yanyan is inside. Jiang Yu met her at the entrance and even handed her a cup of coffee.】

Gu Lin: 【Brother-in-law, they are walking toward the second-floor review room. Jiang Yu is walking next to Yanyan, standing quite close.】

Gu Lin: 【Brother-in-law, I've asked around, the review will take three hours today.】

……

Shen Yanhui's reply was always just one word: 【Understood.】

But from this one "Understood," Gu Lin could discern countless meanings.

By the final round of the re-evaluation, Gu Yan had spent four hours in the review room, and it was almost dark by the time she came out.

Jiang Yu accompanied her downstairs, holding a stack of documents in his hand.

"These are the lists of works that made it to the final evaluation; take them back and have a look. There's a discussion meeting next week, and I'll send you the time once it's set."

Gu Yan took the documents and nodded.

Walking to the entrance of the building, she suddenly stopped.

The huge installation art in the corner of the lobby was particularly eye-catching in the evening light.

Amidst the lush green plants were dotted several small white flowers; the petals were as thin as cicada wings, their edges slightly curled, glowing with a soft light in the twilight.

She walked over and leaned in to look: "These flowers are so unique, what are they called?"

Jiang Yu followed and stood still by her side.

"Moonlight Beauty," he said. "A new variety cultivated by the Horticulture Department that only blooms in the evening. The flowering period is very short; they bloom after the sun sets and wither by midnight."

Gu Yan stared at the flowers and took a deep sniff: "The fragrance of these flowers... I feel like I've smelled it somewhere before."

Jiang Yu smiled: "Does it smell a bit like cedar mixed with a hint of citrus?"

Gu Yan was taken aback and sniffed carefully.

It really did.

It was clear and cold, carrying a touch of distant gentleness.

A person suddenly flashed through her mind.

The scent on that person was just like this.

She was a little distracted.

"Wait for me a moment," Jiang Yu suddenly said, then turned and walked to the side.

Gu Yan came back to her senses and saw him walk into an office nearby, coming out again shortly after with a small clay pot in his hand.

In the pot was a tiny plant with tender green leaves, topped with a flower bud.

He handed the clay pot over: "This is for you."

Gu Yan was stunned for a moment and didn't take it: "This... wouldn't that be inappropriate?"

Jiang Yu smiled: "Nothing inappropriate about it. You've worked hard as a judge for so long; it's just a pot of flowers, consider it your compensation."

Gu Yan looked down at the small pot of flowers.

The bud was tiny and tightly closed; she didn't know when it would bloom.

She suddenly felt a bit moved.

"Then I'll accept it," she curled her lips into a smile, "thank you."

Jiang Yu shook his head: "Small matter. Remember to water it at night, and it will bloom in a few days."

Gu Yan cradled the small pot of flowers, already starting to plan in her heart.

She would take it back and give it to Shen Yanhui.

The scent on him was so similar to the fragrance of these flowers.

If he received this pot of flowers, would he, like her, smell the fragrance and think of her?

As she thought about it, the corners of her mouth curled upward.

——

After arriving home, Gu Lin walked away quickly and disappeared in a flash. Gu Yan had long been used to her second brother's nonsense and walked slowly behind, cradling the flowers.

She passed through the entryway, and as soon as she looked up, she froze.

The living room was filled with flowers.

The whole room was full of them.

White ones, pink ones, pale purple ones...

Roses, tulips, irises, hydrangeas...

There were many more whose names she couldn't even call out, just piled up everywhere like this. The air was permeated with a rich fragrance, so sweet it made her feel a little dizzy.

Shen Yanhui stood in the center of the sea of flowers, holding a bunch in his hand, in the middle of placing them into a vase.

Hearing the movement, he looked up. Then he put down the flowers and walked toward her.

His gaze fell on the small potted flower in her hand, and he paused: "What is this?"

Gu Yan looked down at the clay pot in her hand, then looked at the room full of flowers, and suddenly understood something.

He took the small potted flower and looked at it: "Moonlight Beauty?"

She nodded.

He set the small flower aside and looked down at her.

"Did he give it to you?"

Gu Yan nodded, a flash of slyness in her eyes: "Yes, I heard it's a newly cultivated variety, especially precious."

Shen Yanhui: "Hmm."

So indifferent?

She tilted her head and asked: "What, are you jealous again?"

Shen Yanhui did not speak.

Gu Yan pinched a freesia nearby and lowered her head to smell it; the cool, clear fragrance rushed to her nose, refreshing her heart and spirit.

She held up the flower in her hand and asked: "Shen Yanhui, is this room full of flowers for me?"

Shen Yanhui finally spoke, but it was not to answer her question.

Instead, he asked: "Is the one he gave you better-looking, or the ones I gave you?"

Gu Yan curled her lips into a smile, took a step back, looked at the sea of flowers filling the room, then looked at the small potted plant that had been ruthlessly set aside, and deliberately drew out her voice.

"Hmm... the one he gave me, I suppose..."

Shen Yanhui's eyes narrowed.

Gu Yan continued: "After all, what he gave was a gesture of sincerity, while what you gave is..."

"Is what?"

"Is a guilty conscience."

Shen Yanhui looked at her sly smile and gave a low laugh: "What do I have a guilty conscience about?"

Gu Yan leaned in a little closer, staring into his eyes: "What do you think?" She paused, then continued, "It was Gu Lin who told you again, right?"

Shen Yanhui: "Hmm."

He admitted it frankly, without the slightest sense of guilt for betraying a teammate.

Gu Yan thought as expected; she gave a light huff, preparing to settle the score with Gu Lin tomorrow.

But for now...

She put down the freesia, picked up the potted flower again, and held it up in front of the man: "Big vinegar jar, this flower isn't for me."

The young girl smiled until her brows and eyes curved; Shen Yanhui understood her meaning almost the instant her voice fell.

He raised an eyebrow.

Gu Yan held the flower and shoved it into his arms: "It's for you."

Shen Yanhui: "For me?"

"That's right, I smelled its fragrance and thought it was very much like you, so I wanted to bring it back to give to you."

She paused, and said with quite a bit of disdain: "Who knew you would go to such great lengths."

Shen Yanhui did not move.

Gu Yan looked up at him; he stood right there, and the sea of flowers behind him was like a grand and absurd confession.

The man's gaze was very deep, his expression still calm.

But only Shen Yanhui himself knew that every cell in his body was clamoring, wanting to possess her immediately, wanting to knead her into his own body.

"Gu Yan, I like it very much."

Gu Yan laughed and reached out to wrap her arms around his waist.

——

At the corner of the stairs, three heads were stacked together. Gu Lin was sprawled at the very bottom, his eyes wide as saucers.

"Dad, don't crowd me."

Gu Fanglin lowered his voice: "Who's crowding you? You're the one sprawled so low."

Yang Bing stood at the very top, one hand resting on the railing, her posture as elegant as if she were watching a play.

"Can you two be quiet? You're making it so I can't hear."

Gu Lin muttered in a low voice: "Mom, you can already see it, what are you listening for?"

Yang Bing shot him a sidelong glance: "Is seeing the same as hearing?"

Gu Fanglin looked at the two figures in the living room; his daughter was nestled in her husband's arms, and the husband was looking down at her, the two of them surrounded by a sea of flowers.

He huffed: "Flowery fists and embroidered legs."

Yang Bing looked back at him: "What?"

Gu Fanglin stood with his hands behind his back, his tone stiff: "Going to all this trouble with flowers, isn't it just to trick a young girl? That girl Yanyan, she hasn't seen much of the world, and she's being led around by the nose by these flashy things."

Yang Bing raised an eyebrow: "Then when you were pursuing me back then, did you give me any fewer roses?"

Gu Fanglin choked.

Yang Bing continued: "I remember one time you rented out an entire flower shop, had it delivered to the bottom of my dormitory building, and filled the whole courtyard."

Gu Fanglin coughed: "That's different."

"How is it different?"

Gu Fanglin stopped speaking.

Gu Lin held back his laughter, his shoulders shaking from the effort.

Gu Fanglin glared at him: "What are you laughing at?"

Gu Lin hurriedly shook his head: "Nothing... not laughing."

Yang Bing withdrew her gaze and looked toward the living room again.

Those two were still embracing, surrounded by a sea of flowers, like a painting.

She curled the corners of her lips.

"Alright, let's go. Stop looking." She turned around, adjusted her shawl, and walked toward the bedroom.

Gu Fanglin followed with his hands behind his back; after taking two steps, he stopped again: "Tomorrow, go move that pot of small flowers to my study."

Gu Lin was stunned for a moment: "Dad, that's brother-in-law's flower."

Gu Fanglin did not look back: "How many days can it live if it stays with him? I'll raise it for him."

Gu Lin: "..."

So his dad wanted it himself but wouldn't ask for it, making him the scapegoat?