Chapter 76: Luminous Moon (Part 1)

  The sun, which had appeared outside the window at some unknown time, shone warmly in the center of the sky, casting a golden glow over the snowy ground. The snow that had been falling sparsely earlier had stopped at some point, and the overcast sky had cleared up, revealing a blue-gray color. Gu Huanli withdrew her gaze, realizing it was already noon.

  She slowly raised her hand, but found that there was something extra on her wrist. The dense and pure purple color flowed with a soft glow, Gu Huanli smiled warmly, this should be the Christmas gift her brother gave her. Without even waiting for her to unwrap it herself, he had already put it on her wrist in such a domineering manner, probably she would never take it off for the rest of her life.

  Thinking of this, Gu Huanli immediately jumped out of bed, washed up simply, and ran out of the bedroom wearing a plush chest hair slippers.

  In the living room on the second floor, Gu Tianxi's legs were elegantly crossed, with a thick copy of "The Grass Leaf Collection" spread out on her knees. Her slender fingers slowly turned over a page. In her other hand, she held a cup of Darjeeling tea, and the faint white mist rose gently, outlining the tranquility and harmony of the entire space.

  The corridor suddenly transmitted the sound of a door closing, not too heavy, but in this afternoon it was particularly clear. Gu Tianxi did not lift his head, still focusing on the poetry collection on his knees, his quiet and elegant sitting posture was so elegant. However, on his lips, he slightly raised a hint of a smile. His fingers slowly turned over another page, as if all the tranquility had never been disturbed by any sound.

  "Brother?" Gu Huanli lightly knocked on the door, then carefully pushed it open. Her hair, which fell to her shoulders, was still disheveled and showed signs of sleepiness. She wore a light green pajama that was loose and wrinkled. Her face clearly showed confusion and grievance, obviously just waking up from a dream, but she realized that the most important person was gone.

  As she slowly approached, she secretly took off her slippers, and her small feet, as white and smooth as jade, came into direct contact with the white sheepskin rug laid around the sofa. The soft wool gently caressed the soles of her feet, stroking the shy toes with each step, moving silently like a little cat's footsteps.

  Lying lazily on the pure white leather sofa, her head carefully resting on her brother's knee, Gu Huanli secretly gazed at Gu Tianxi who was engrossed in his Whitman poetry collection. After a while, she picked up Tagore's "New Moon" beside him and quietly sighed, "Where did I come from? Where did you pick me up?" Her voice had a spoiled tone, which was really endearing.

  Gu Tianxi finally put down his coffee, closed the book "Grass Leaf Collection" in his hand, and sat up straight. He gently hugged his lovely sister, who was as delicate as a porcelain doll, and buried his head in her shoulder, taking a deep breath. Gu Huanli's face, which was as gentle and elegant as melting spring water, contorted slightly. "You were once my heart's desire, hidden deep within me. You existed in the mud dolls I played with during my childhood; every morning, I would mold and remold you out of clay, creating and recreating you. You lived in all my hopes and loves, in my very life. Afraid of losing you, I held you tightly to my chest. What magic brought this treasure of the world into these slender arms of mine?" (Excerpt from "New Moon Collection - Beginning")

  Gu Huanli's lips pouted in dissatisfaction, "Brother doesn't like the Christmas gift I gave him at all. It was a waste that I spent so much effort thinking of ways to squeeze out time and secretly make it." The soft little mouth exhaled with a gentle fragrance, emitting an innocent temptation.

  Gu Tianxi smiled softly and took out a peace symbol from his shirt pocket, waving it in front of Gu Huanli before putting it back. "Satisfied?"

  Gu Huanli finally shed her melancholic expression and smiled innocently, "Brother, I like you the most."

  Gu Tianxi was taken aback. The eyes that had been fixed on the person in his arms without wavering suddenly flashed, and he spoke calmly, "Xiao Li, I love you."

  Gu Huanli's eyes curved slightly as she smiled adorably, "I know."

  Gu Tianxi lowered his head and gently kissed the mischievous dimple, "It's not about knowing, but about remembering, just like a mark engraved on one's heart."

  "Yes." Gu Huanli gazed at him, and for a moment, she seemed to be lost in his eyes. The original amber color, under the sunlight, had an added hint of transparency and depth, like fine jade.

  "You." Gu Tianxi stretched out his hand and rubbed her hair. "Always..."

  Just then, there was another knock at the door.

  Gu Tianxi's expression on his face immediately became serious, and he said lightly, "Come in."

  He Muyang, dressed in a black suit, walked in and first offered a formal Christmas greeting to the Gu siblings before leaning down to whisper something in Gu Tianhui's ear.

  "Is this really happening?" Gu Tianxi's tone was clearly displeased and disappointed. After a moment, his thin lips slightly curled up, as if sighing, "Are the plane tickets ready?"

  "Yes. I've booked a 5:00 flight."

  "I know, you go down first." Gu Tianxi's slender fingers pinched his chin, seemingly thinking about something, until He Muyang gently closed the door, he slowly said, "Xiao Li, I'm going to Shanghai for a few days, do you want to stay at home or go to Shan Jian City?"

  "I'll wait for my brother to come home here." Gu Huanli said quickly, thinking in her heart: kidding, just back from the demon cave, going and coming back what's that, forget it.

  "Good." A warm arm gently wrapped around her, Gu Huanli felt his long fingers weaving through the hair on her shoulders, and she heard his low murmur, "Little Li..."

  "I call my brother every day." Gu Huanli felt a sour feeling in her heart, she had never been used to separation.

  "Xiao Li." Gu Tianxi wiped away her tears one by one, his movements so gentle that a soft curve appeared on the edge of his lips. "Remember, except for Cassidy, don't go with anyone else who comes to school to pick you up. If Cassidy has an unexpected meeting, go to his office and wait for him."

  "Yes." Gu Huanli buried his face in his arms, and a dazed voice came out, "He alone occupied such a large office, it was indeed arranged by brother long ago."

  The next day, Gu Huanli sat in Cassidy's car and went to school, then rushed into the classroom like she was escaping. Recently, Gu Lianyou hasn't been attending classes, it is said that she has several scripts in her hands now, as for what plays to perform or not, it's all up to her aunt.

  However, without Gu Lianyou, the world is indeed much quieter.

  "Huh? We're having a faculty meeting today? And I have to give a year-end summary speech?" Gu Huanli nearly spat out the water in her mouth when she received Cassidy's text message. Although Cassidy's Chinese was good, she really hadn't expected that he would be skilled at writing such grandiose and empty articles, ahahah, indeed the great Saint Angel.

  She hastily replied.

  Then you'd better make an effort to speak out, and read from the script. (Li)

  It's tolerable when written, but it's really too embarrassing to read aloud. (Kā)

  Ah, I know that feeling. (Ling)

  Are you coming to my office for a bit or going to the piano club? (Card)

  Hey, you're my private tutor, taking care of me is your responsibility. (Ling)

  Cute classmate Gu Huanli, don't forget, I'm also your art teacher. (Card)

  Hsi (Li)

  The thing embroidered with great effort, has the young master accepted it? (card)

  Hey, you used the wrong classifier (le)

  Really? It seems that the young lady doesn't speak German yet. Looks like your elite class needs to add another subject. (Card)

  Ahh ahh? Xiao Ka, please, I'm about to die from exhaustion, don't ah (Li)

  Don't give me weird nicknames. Thanks. (Card)

  I was thinking of calling you Kaka, but I'm afraid of copyright infringement. (Li)

  Call me Great Cassady. (C)

  Hey, hey, a person's value lies in having self-awareness (Li)

  Why don't we take a break at noon? Or come to my office for a nap? (Card)

  Absolutely not. (Ling)

  - Reason (Card)

  I still want to live and see tonight's moon. (Ling)

  Is someone bullying you? (Ka)

  Nothing for now, but if I get too close to the great Collins-sensei, who is the campus idol, I'll be dead and gone. (Ruri)

  Exaggeration is okay, but please don't think wildly, miss... And... (card)

  Anything else?

  As for investment matters, Miss, if you have leisure time, please come over once. (Card)

  *Sigh* I know. (Ling)

  After lunch, Gu Huanli slowly and leisurely avoided people she knew and made her way to the art office.

  "Report."

  "Come in."

  Gu Huanli slipped in and quickly closed the door, looking around cautiously before asking, "No one came to talk to you today?"

  "Please leave them alone."

  "Huh?"

  "What?"

  "Nothing, just admiring Mr. Collins' charm and charisma."

  "Oh? Is this Miss's feeling?"

  "Not everyone says that."

  "Hehe."

  "Alright, what's going on with the investment that you need me to come over right now?"

  "The young master said, if the young lady didn't sleep well at night, she should make up for it by sleeping for at least an hour during the day."

  "Huh?"

  "And also, your class's head teacher is truly extremely eloquent."

  Could it be that on the great Holy Angel, a tortuous and strange, cross-racial, transcending life and death, lingering and affectionate love affair would occur?

  Gu Huanli smiled lightly, "Have you read 'Dream of the Red Chamber'? Actually, Jia Baoyu also said that girls are made of water. A married woman is like muddy water, neither mud nor water, really detestable."

  "Yeah, it's something like that."

  "So..."

  "So?"

  "A man as erudite as Mr. Collins would surely not be able to tolerate a person who remains silent, or even after hearing you speak, has no reaction."

  "That's what they say, but it's also inevitable what you do at what age."

  "Hey? Ah, Mr. Collins, you're still young and promising, with a bright future ahead of you, waving at you. This, this, this, traveling with friends, the scenery is even more beautiful."

  "Your meaning is brothers like hands and feet, women like clothes?"

  "What? Talking nonsense like this is even worse than clothes, it's just an old lady's foot wrapping cloth"

  "You say Liu Bei is a wrapping cloth?"

  "Uh, what I mean is that love and friendship are both very important. But some people may not necessarily know which one is more important..."

  "I don't understand."

  "Ugh, my head hurts, I'm going to lie down for a bit." It's really infuriating that Cassidy wouldn't understand, Yu Rong felt stifled and lay down on the sofa behind the bookshelf. Don't ask her how she knew there would be this kind of thing here, ever since the art office was taken over by someone and no one dared to complain, she knew Cassidy wouldn't have snatched such a large office just for quiet.

  "Very sleepy?" Cassidy also followed her and hid behind the bookshelf.

  "Uh-huh, wake me up when it's time."

  "Good."

  Gu Huanli suddenly opened her eyes and said, "I didn't provoke you, did I?"

  "It should be."

  "So, don't even think about deceiving me, or if I'm late for anything, I'll be scolded to death by the math teacher."

  "Good."

  Gu Huanli turned over, vaguely feeling a warm hand gently stroking the top of her head. She murmured drowsily, "Xiao Ka, I want to eat sugar and vinegar ribs tonight."

  "Good." Cassidy gazed at Gu Huanlin's sleeping face, a warm smile spreading across his lips, "My lovely miss, sweet dreams."

  "Hmm..." Gu Huan Lian unconsciously grasped Cassidy's hem, even in deep sleep, she never let go.

  At the same time, in the depths of "night", someone's tense fingers tapped on the dark brown sandalwood table one by one, eyes staring at the middle-aged woman in front of him who was trembling with fear. The eyes were pitch black and deep, with a cold glow flashing. Suddenly, the fingers stopped, he whispered a few words, as if giving orders to the man behind him with a cold expression.