Gao Hongyi stood in the center of the walk-in closet, barefoot on the thick wool carpet, her fingertips lightly brushing over row after row of hangers.
Today was the day of Gu Yebai’s interview.
She hadn’t gone with him.
Dad said the principal only interviews one person at a time, so there wasn’t much need to worry about that wildcat Bai Xialin tagging along.
“Ah, Bai Shu…”
“Everything… is finally moving in the right direction.”
“Hehe.”
She murmured softly, her voice as soft as freshly melted marshmallow, carrying an unwavering certainty.
Her mind was already filled with images of the future: waking up in the same bed, eating breakfast together, going to school together, and even studying abroad in the same place.
School really is a wonderful stage.
Usually, Bai Shu had no idea that she was actually very popular at school.
Many boys went out of their way to curry favor with her.
If Bai Shu saw that, maybe he’d feel a sense of crisis, realize her worth, and cherish her more.
She closed her eyes.
Imagining Gu Yebai standing in front of her, glaring at some boy with hostility and saying, “She’s my girlfriend,” made Gao Hongyi so excited she couldn’t help stomping her feet.
She looked at the evening gowns on the hangers.
One of them was a wine-red velvet evening gown with a train that swept the floor, like melted red wine.
When the light hit it, it gave off a muted, thick luster.
She had worn that evening gown and earned the nickname “Piano Princess.”
Only, this princess had always been alone, without a prince.
But soon, she would have a prince.
She pressed the dress against her body and spun around.
The hem brushed against the carpet, making a faint rustling sound, like someone whispering “I love you.”
Suddenly, Gao Hongyi became alert.
‘Oh my god, this girl is way too pretty!’
‘What if she tries to seduce Bai Shu?’
Her heart skipped a beat.
She instinctively hugged the dress tighter, as if holding onto a treasure about to be snatched away.
But the next second, she realized—the girl in the mirror was herself.
‘So stupid…’
She couldn’t help but laugh at her own reaction, her shoulders shaking.
“Later, at the school dance, I’ll dance cheek to cheek with Bai Shu…” Imagining that scene.
The auditorium of St. George’s International School, crystal chandeliers blindingly bright, a string quartet playing Schubert’s Trout Quintet in the corner.
She would be wearing this wine-red evening gown, holding Gu Yebai’s arm as they walked in.
He would be wearing a custom black suit.
Maybe his bow tie would be a little crooked, because he wasn’t good at that sort of thing.
She would stand on tiptoe, help him straighten it bit by bit, then lean close to his ear and whisper softly: “Bai Shu looks so handsome today… but you can only let me see you like this, okay?”
Then he would blush, lower his head, and give a small “mm,” like a big dumb dog being petted.
The dance music would start.
She would pull him onto the dance floor, put her hand on his waist, and slowly turn in circles.
He’d definitely be clumsy at dancing, his steps all over the place.
She would laugh, press close to his chest, listen to his heart thumping wildly, and then whisper gently in his ear: “It’s okay, I’ll teach you… We have all the time in the world. A lifetime is definitely enough to finish teaching you.”
Thinking of this, Gao Hongyi couldn’t help burying her face in the velvet of the evening gown and taking a deep breath.
The fabric had a faint perfume scent—Diptyque’s rose and fruit notes, sickeningly sweet, as if wanting to swallow you whole.
Bai Shu wasn’t home right now.
Suddenly, Gao Hongyi grabbed a suit jacket that Gu Yebai had worn, hugged it to her chest, and began to dance gracefully around the closet…
She draped the suit sleeves over her shoulders, as if Gu Yebai was embracing her from behind.
She brought the collar close to her nose, deeply inhaling the lingering scent—a faint laundry detergent mixed with his body temperature, like a dream from which she would never wake.
“Sleep in the same bed every day, go to school together every day, brush our teeth together, and at school, become an enviable couple…”
“At the school cafeteria, we absolutely have to feed each other.”
“On the tree-lined paths, we have to hold hands, fingers intertwined, the whole time.”
The more she thought about it, the happier she became.
She couldn’t help humming a tuneless little song, spinning around barefoot in the closet, like a cat that had finally waited for its owner to come home, even its tail raising up in joy.
Ah—
Bai Shu had left home about five minutes ago.
Where was he now?
She opened her phone and tapped on the dedicated app.
Since the ruby pendant around Gu Yebai’s neck had a hidden GPS tracker inside, she could check Bai Shu’s location anytime…
“He hasn’t left yet…”
“I wonder how long this interview will take.”
“Come home early, Bai Shu…”
“Next Monday, we’ll be going to school together.”
…
Meanwhile, in the underground garage.
Gu Yebai followed behind Gao Hongzhi, walking with his head down.
For some reason, he felt like he looked ridiculous in a suit—like a clumsy imitation.
The stiff fabric wrapped around his thin frame, making him look even more scrawny.
“Dad, am I going to be okay?”
Gao Hongzhi looked back at him, his voice low but carrying an unquestioning gentleness: “You’ll be fine.”
“Have confidence, son. You can do it. I told you, with the great results you achieved at Linchuan Fifth High School, coming to St. George’s International School will definitely give you even more wings.”
He paused, then suddenly slowed his pace, lowering his voice even more:”By the way, son, Dad wants to tell you: don’t think that just because of family matters, you’re destined to marry Hongyi in the future. Feelings can’t be forced.”
“And you shouldn’t treat being with Hongyi as your preordained duty. Remember, Dad brought you here not to be a live-in son-in-law, but for you to live a good life.”
“If you feel like you’re being bullied at home, tell Dad. I’ll stand up for you.”
“If you meet the girl of your destiny, go after her boldly. Dad will cover for you.”
Gu Yebai’s footsteps faltered.
His Adam’s apple bobbed.
He kept his head down, not daring to respond.
Dad’s words were like a needle, precisely piercing the softest part of his heart.
He remembered this morning, when Gao Hongyi hugged him in the entrance hall and whispered softly, only for his ears: “Remember… don’t let anyone get close to you.”
“Especially girls.”
He remembered when she hooked her finger around the thin chain of his collar and gave a gentle tug, the blood-red luster of the ruby in the morning light, and couldn’t help feeling a little oppressed.
Garage.
A Maybach pulled up in front of Gu Yebai.
“Sit in the back, son.”
Gu Yebai nodded.
He opened the door.
Huh?
In the back seat space sat an unexpected person… Bai Xialin patted the empty seat beside her.
“Hey hey, Little Gu~”
Her voice was as cheerful and lively as ever, without a trace of gloom.
But Gu Yebai clearly remembered that on WeChat, he had already rejected her explicitly.
—I love Gao Hongyi.
—I don’t want to do anything to betray her.
—There’s nothing between us.
—Wishing you well.
Yet, faced with these words, Bai Xialin was still greeting him with that relaxed smile.
“Dad, didn’t the principal say he only interviews one person at a time?”
“Adults tell lies too. I’m no exception.”
“You and Bai Xialin will attend the interview together.”
Gao Hongzhi sat in the driver’s seat.
“Also, I don’t oppose you making friends with anyone. You’re completely free.”
“Don’t worry, Dad will keep it a secret that you’re meeting with Bai Xialin.”
“And as I said, don’t wrong yourself.”
The engine roar masked his heartbeat.
Gu Yebai stared at his hands on his knees, fingers interlaced, knuckles white.
“What, you won’t even say a proper hello to me?”
“Little Gu, who so callously dumped me?”
Bai Xialin leaned a little closer.
Ah, today she had changed her perfume.
Not the sporty lemon spray, but a white musk scent…
Milky and gentle, with a strong transparency, like melted vanilla syrup.
When she got close, it carried a hint of intoxicating ambiguous warmth, drilling into his nose and wrapping around the tip of his heart.
Today, she was wearing a purple evening gown and silver high heels.
So beautiful.
Even in her athletic style, she could be this elegant and charming, full of allure.
But…
Gu Yebai turned his head away, refusing to look at her.
He couldn’t be unfaithful anymore.
To remain loyal to Gao Hongyi, he absolutely could not look at her, nor could he maintain any ambiguity.
Otherwise, it would not only be irresponsible to her, but also betray Hongyi’s feelings for him.
“At least say ‘good evening’ to me, okay?”
“Uh…”
“Good evening, Miss Bai.”
“I told you, call me Xiaolin.”
“Good evening, Xiaolin.”
“Hehe~”
Bai Xialin leaned her whole body closer to Gu Yebai.
Even though the back seat of the Maybach wasn’t crowded, she seemed to deliberately squeeze herself next to him.
“You look really handsome today~”
“Thanks, you too…”
“Beautiful.”
Bai Xialin’s eyes curved into crescents as she smiled, her shoulder lightly bumping his arm.
The fragrance grew stronger.
Milky sweetness wrapped in white musk, like a soft cloud, yet carrying a faint stickiness that clung to the skin and lingered for a long time.