Chapter 127: The night before the interview

Gao Hongzhi was truly a seasoned old hand.

When tutoring Gu Yebai, his English was very authentic, but the key point was that he never mentioned that Gu Yebai was actually supposed to attend the principal interview together with Bai Xialin.

He concealed it flawlessly, without a single leak.

Even when Gao Hongyi tilted her head and asked in a sweet, knife-hidden tone.

“Dad, speaking of which, when you first mentioned Bai Xialin, didn’t you say she would interview together with Bai Shu?”

“Is she also going for an interview the day after tomorrow?”

Gao Hongzhi just smiled, picked up his teacup and took a sip, the steam fogging his glasses.

“The principal’s interview seems to only receive one person at a time. If it’s an interview, it should be separate.”

“Bai Xialin might have already finished her interview today, or maybe she’ll go by herself tomorrow during the day. I’m not sure of the exact time. I’m friends with Bai Xialin’s father, but I actually know very little about Bai Xialin’s affairs.”

“Anyway, they probably won’t run into each other. It all depends on the principal’s specific arrangements.”

Ambiguous and watertight.

Gao Hongyi let out an “Oh,” then propped her chin on her hand, her red hair slipping over her shoulder, her eyes curving into crescents like a well-behaved kitten, smiling extremely obediently.

But her fingers were lightly drawing circles on Gu Yebai’s back, as if silently signaling: I trust you~ But you’d better not disappoint me either.

Gu Yebai lowered his head, swallowed, and said nothing.

‘Sometimes I still think it’s pretty ridiculous.’

‘If this were a typical web novel, Gao Hongyi should have turned dark by now, right?’

‘She should be hostile toward this suddenly intruding “outsider,” feeling that he had stolen her father’s attention and the pampering that originally belonged to her.’

But in reality, Gao Hongyi’s possessiveness was never directed at Gao Hongzhi.

Her eyes, from beginning to end, were only fixed on Gu Yebai.

Even when Gao Hongzhi was teaching him liaison and helping him break free from the Chinese English mindset, she always hugged Gu Yebai’s neck from behind, her arms twining like vines, her chin resting in his shoulder hollow, her red hair brushing against his earlobe, tickling until it went numb.

Every time Gu Yebai got a sentence right, Gao Hongyi would lean in and lightly peck his cheek.

“Awesome, Bai Shu.”

Her voice was as soft as cotton candy, but carried a certainty that brooked no refusal.

“Keep going~”

The rewards came too frequently, the kisses too natural.

Gao Hongzhi’s expression gradually became complicated.

After forty minutes, Gao Hongyi finally spoke, her voice still sweet but with a hint of impatient coquettishness.

“Dad, isn’t your work important?”

“I can take care of tutoring Bai Shu… not just English, but French and Japanese too. So Dad, you go ahead and be busy.”

Gao Hongzhi’s gaze fell on his daughter.

Under the light, her pale skin showed a faint rosiness, the strap of her nightgown had slipped a little, revealing the shallow blue vein on her collarbone, as if silently declaring: This place is already our territory.

Gao Hongzhi suddenly realized.

He seemed to have become the extra person.

The outsider disturbing their “time alone.”

He was a bit displeased, his brows slightly furrowing.

“Hongyi, although you might not like what I’m about to say, your dad still has to say it—” Before he finished, his phone suddenly rang.

On the other end of the call came an urgent “President Gao,” work matters that were urgent.

Gao Hongzhi paused, looked at Gu Yebai, his gaze complex, as if he had a thousand words, but in the end it turned into a low, earnest instruction.

“Xiao Gu, keep it up.”

“Dad will be your strongest backing.”

“Remember, a person must have their own career. You write novels, you work hard, your life won’t be lost. Absolutely do not place all your hopes on another person.”

“Your life should be placed on something more meaningful.”

He patted Gu Yebai’s shoulder heavily.

The force was not light, but carried a silent affection.

Picking up his briefcase, Gao Hongzhi turned and left.

The moment the door closed.

In the living room, only Gu Yebai and Gao Hongyi remained.

Gao Hongyi hugged him tightly from behind, her chin resting in his shoulder hollow, her red hair falling down like a blood-colored curtain, isolating him from the entire world.

She murmured lowly, her hot breath spraying on Gu Yebai’s earlobe.

“Dad is gone.”

“Now… it’s just the two of us.”

Her fingers slid down the chain of his collar, giving a light tug.

The chain went taut, and a chill instantly crept over his skin.

“Bai Shu…”

“Shall we continue practicing English?”

She paused, her smile deepening, with a hint of unrefusable flavor.

“For the interview the day after tomorrow, I can teach you, no need for Dad.”

“But before that, let me teach you a French phrase. Come on, say it to me.”

She leaned close to his ear, her hot breath spraying.

“Je t’aime pour toujours!”

Gu Yebai was stunned for a moment, then imitated her pronunciation, his tongue a bit clumsy.

“Je t’aime pour toujours.”

“Good boy.”

She took his hand, her fingertips intertwining with his fingers, circling round and round, as if to wind his whole being into her palm.

“What does it mean?”

“It means I love you forever.”

Gao Hongyi pulled Gu Yebai’s hand.

“And don’t worry too much about the interview stuff. Dad has definitely already paid the tuition, and back when I enrolled, Dad paid a construction fee.”

“So, your admission is a done deal. We’ve finished eating, do you want to watch a movie together?”

“But I’d rather write a novel…”

“Write a novel, huh.”

Gao Hongyi took out her phone, opened an app, and glanced at his update history.

Three chapters today already.

She smiled with eyes curved, but with a barely perceptible gloom.

“I’m happy that Bai Shu writes novels…”

“But you don’t need to work too hard.”

“And I hate it when Bai Shu uses writing as an excuse to avoid me. Am I a bother to you?”

“Bai Shu, can I sit on your lap and watch you type?”

“Bai Shu, can I help you relieve stress under the table?”

“Bai Shu, I can also give you a massage…”

Gu Yebai’s breathing became ragged, his fingertips curling involuntarily.

“Forget it…”

“Let’s watch a movie for a while.”

He gave in after all.

‘Actually, Gao Hongyi was right. Writing novels is indeed a temporary escape.’

‘Gao Hongyi’s love is sometimes really suffocating.’

‘Like a pair of gentle hands slowly tightening his breathing space, leaving not even a sliver of free air.’

“Great!”

“I’ll have the butler make some caramel-flavored popcorn and a big cup of cola! Let’s watch a movie together!”

“Actually, during class, I was thinking that when I get home, I need to keep Bai Shu tied to me, and watch the longest movie in history to fill the void in my heart. But never mind.”

“Tonight, let’s watch Your Name and Suzume~ Actually, I didn’t used to like romance movies.”

“But now it’s different. Now, I really love watching them!”

Gao Hongyi smiled, hooked his arm, forcibly dragged him to the sofa, snuggled into the hollow of his shoulder, turned on the TV, and hummed a tuneless French song.

Then, she turned off all the lights.

The six-hundred-square-meter space instantly plunged into darkness, leaving only the cold light of the TV screen and the neon lights of the Bund outside the floor-to-ceiling windows.

Gu Yebai wanted to say that he had the principal’s interview the day after tomorrow and staying up late wasn’t good, but seeing Gao Hongyi’s enthusiasm, he ultimately didn’t speak.

‘It’s okay to keep her company…’

‘Maybe, with more companionship, this extraordinary love will lessen a bit.’

She grabbed his hand and forcibly pressed it onto her thigh.

The touch of her stockings was smooth and cool, yet carried the residual warmth of her body heat.

As if she wanted him to touch her more, to feel her more.

Gu Yebai sighed.

‘Hope the interview goes smoothly…’

He forced his attention onto the movie.

On the screen, a meteor streaked across the night sky.

Gao Hongyi suddenly spoke softly, her voice low, as if seeping out of the darkness.

“Kuchikamizake…”

“Bai Shu, do you want to drink it?”

She paused, leaning her head closer, her lips almost touching his earlobe.

“If you simply don’t want to drink…”

“That’s fine too.”

“Bai Shu, hehe, I’m really satisfied right now!”

“I will never let you be alone again.”