Chapter 21: Turmoil Resurfaces (Revised)

If someone were to ask Gu Xinyao, "What is your greatest accomplishment in life?" she would answer: "Being able to apply what I have learned." If someone were to ask, "What is your greatest happiness in life?" she would reply: "That my persistence has kept the person I love by my side."

Gu Xinyao woke up early to find that Dugu Yi was not beside her. She soon found him busy at the computer in the suite's study. Not wanting to disturb him, she quietly turned back to the room to wash up. After finishing, she thought he probably hadn't eaten breakfast yet, so she called room service.

By the time the breakfast arrived, Dugu Yi was still busy. She knocked lightly on the door and, without waiting for a response, pushed it open and walked in. Before she could reach his side, he nimbly closed the computer.

As she stood next to him, the screen was already dark. She felt a bit puzzled—why would he shut it down? Was there something he needed to keep from her? The excitement she had felt moments ago was now clouded by a hint of gloom. Although her mood was not as bright as before, she reminded herself that it was their first day of marriage; she wanted to welcome the day with a cheerful heart.

Suppressing her melancholy, she smiled and said, "Yi, I’ve ordered breakfast. Shall we eat in the living room?"

Dugu Yi wore a gentle smile, though it seemed somewhat forced. She noticed his hair was a bit messy, as if he hadn't washed up yet. Why, then, had he been online so early?

"Oh, right. You go ahead. I... I have a thesis topic I need to work on—my graduation thesis. I suddenly had a good idea and was afraid I’d forget it, so I came here to jot it down. Once I’ve finalized it, I’ll come join you."

Gu Xinyao did not spend much time with Dugu Yi, but she knew he was not a man who offered many explanations. The fact that he had explained so much made her feel that something was amiss.

She reached out to straighten his collar, which had become disheveled from his hasty rising. Smiling, she said, "It’s fine, I’ll wait for you. Remember, whatever decision you make, I support you."

She patted his shoulder, her lips almost brushing his cheek, but she pulled back just as he subconsciously flinched away. He seemed to realize that his instinctual reaction had been hurtful, though he didn't know how to explain it. He lowered his eyes and nodded.

Gu Xinyao saw his reflection on the computer screen. Whether it was the lighting or just her imagination, his face looked gloomy. The aloofness that once defined him was being replaced by something akin to exhaustion and defeat. She clenched her fists but said nothing.

She left the study. Inside, the sound of typing resumed—crisp and decisive, yet it felt like a rhythmic pounding against her own heart. She returned to the living room in silence. The food, which had been steaming earlier, had started to cool. She sat on the sofa, staring blankly at the meal, unable to recapture her earlier joy or appetite.

Before long, the study door opened. Dugu Yi’s footsteps sounded heavy. Gu Xinyao offered a bitter smile; perhaps this was how he always walked, but her poor mood made it sound different today.

"So much food? It must be delicious," he said, his voice sounding light and cheerful, though she could faintly detect the forced relaxation in his tone.

She had to admit she wasn't particularly good at reading people, but sometimes she was lucky enough to stumble upon things others tried desperately to hide. His current behavior was a clear sign that he was concealing something.

He sat beside her and picked up his chopsticks to take a bite of a crystal dumpling, but he immediately noticed her silence. He set the chopsticks down and turned to look at her, his face filled with confusion and worry.

"Xin... Xinyao, are you not feeling well? Are you sick?" he asked tentatively, hesitating as if unsure whether to reach out and touch her forehead.

Watching his clumsy, helpless expression, the gloom in her heart slowly dissipated. He was, in fact, a clumsy person who buried everything deep inside.

She pulled his hand toward her forehead and said, "I'm not feeling well, but I'm not sick. Feel for yourself." His palm was cool, and there were thin calluses between his fingers—likely from long-term operation of some device.

After confirming her temperature was normal, he relaxed, and the look of concern faded. "That's good. Then why aren't you eating?" He moved to pull his hand back, but she held onto it, refusing to let go. He let her be.

"I... oh, I was just daydreaming. Didn't you notice?" She swallowed the question that had been on the tip of her tongue and asked something else instead.

He blinked, seemingly surprised by her answer. After a long pause, he said, "Daydreaming? Ah, I see. Let’s eat then. After we’re done, would you like to go for a walk?"

Gu Xinyao raised an eyebrow. It was rare for him to suggest going anywhere; she certainly wouldn't miss this opportunity. "Sure! Since I arrived here, I’ve only been to a few set locations. If you don't mind the trouble, would you take me around?"

Dugu Yi’s lips pressed into a thin line, clearly surprised by her tone, but he nodded. "Mm, alright. After we eat, we’ll go out."

Hearing his agreement, Gu Xinyao felt as if her heart might take flight. She pulled on his hand, urging him to eat quickly. Helpless, Dugu Yi ate with one hand while she held the other. She was so reluctant to let go that she stopped eating herself; in the end, Dugu Yi had to feed her.

As he fed her, Dugu Yi thought that she must rarely go out, which explained her excitement. In a sense, Dugu Yi was indeed much more mature than Gu Xinyao. This was not only due to his age but also his family background. He had been independent from a young age, while Gu Xinyao, though she had also lived alone early on, had come from a simple, happy, and straightforward life. Her path had been relatively smooth, so she often acted like a young girl, while Dugu Yi was like an elder, leading her forward.

After the meal, they changed into simple casual clothes and headed out. The scenery in Utopia was beautiful, but since Dugu Yi rarely had time to stroll, they relied on a miniature map to navigate.

After taking a photo to commemorate their visit to the beautiful Saint Ann Lake, they hurried to the Louisance Cathedral. Inside, Gu Xinyao prayed devoutly, hoping the gods would bless them to remain happy forever. Dugu Yi, kneeling beside her, also closed his eyes with a look of piety, though she couldn't tell if he was praying or simply following her lead.

After touring the sacred cathedral, they visited the Utopia Museum. On the bio-energy display monitors, they could see the history of Utopia over the past few centuries. This gave Gu Xinyao a deeper understanding of how important the Dugu family’s status was in Utopia. She turned to look at the man who had been silently following her, and a sense of admiration inevitably stirred in her heart.

"What's wrong? Are you not feeling well?" He noticed the strange look she was giving him and checked himself, finding nothing amiss. He looked at her again, asking with concern.

Gu Xinyao’s expression became peculiar. Though this man had a brilliant mind, he was sometimes incredibly thick-headed—why did he always assume she was unwell? Her previous thoughts of him being arrogant and cold were completely shattered at this moment.

"I'm perfectly fine. I just realized how much I love you." Seeing his blank look, her heart fluttered. She couldn't help but wrap her arms around his waist and give him a big kiss on the lips.

Fortunately, there were few people in the museum, so their intimate gesture did not draw much attention. Dugu Yi, taken aback by this bold display, turned bright red. He was held in her embrace, yet he felt none of the revulsion he usually felt when touched by others.

"This... this is in public," he said, trying to stop her, but because she insisted on kissing him, he gave up, offering only a mild warning before letting her have her way.

Gu Xinyao felt full of happiness. She was happy, truly happy. Her lover possessed the steady, reserved nature of a mature man, yet also had a tolerant heart and a boyish shyness. Even if he hadn't fallen in love with her yet, it didn't affect their happy life together; perhaps continuing like this wouldn't be so bad.

But things are often unpredictable. Fate enjoys adding little plot twists just when people are at their happiest.

Shangguan Lu was walking into the museum with an elderly woman with white hair who appeared to be someone of status. Gu Xinyao and Dugu Yi were standing in the main hall, right by the first display stand to the right of the entrance.

"Auntie Fang, please wait a moment. I’ve spotted a friend; I’ll go greet them and be right back," Shangguan Lu said politely to the elderly woman upon seeing Dugu Yi near the display stand. With the woman’s nod, she strode toward them.

At that moment, Gu Xinyao and Dugu Yi had not yet realized Shangguan Lu was approaching.

"Hi! What a rare sight to see you two here!" Shangguan Lu raised her voice deliberately when she was two steps away.

Gu Xinyao, still immersed in sweetness, turned around instinctively. Upon seeing Shangguan Lu, her entire body went on high alert. Dugu Yi, upon spotting her, also stiffened, and beyond that tension, Gu Xinyao felt his body trembling slightly.

She didn't understand what was wrong with him, but she felt a deep, instinctive need to protect him. She released her arms from his waist and stepped in front of him.

"Tsk! So it’s true, married people really are different," Shangguan Lu said with her usual swagger, her eyes darting toward Dugu Yi, though she stared mostly at Gu Xinyao with obvious malice.

"Miss Shangguan, do you have something to say?" Gu Xinyao was no stranger to Shangguan Lu. Their previous confrontation had stemmed from Shangguan Lu’s schemes, and they had become enemies. Because Gu Xinyao had lacked a legal registry at the time, Shangguan Lu couldn't find her even if she wanted revenge. Gu Xinyao had assumed Shangguan Lu saw her as a nobody and didn't bother with retaliation. It seemed, however, that Shangguan Lu hadn't forgotten her—she just hadn't found the time yet.

"Say? Hahahaha, I wouldn't dare. Not after you held a pair of scissors to my throat last time, would I?" Shangguan Lu’s expression shifted, turning cold and cruel. "Dugu Yi, I thought you were a man of such integrity and pride. Turns out, you’re just a cheap slut who looks righteous on the outside but is loose on the inside. Pfft, and to think I wanted to marry you. I remember everything you let Duanmu Feng do to me. Don't think that just because my family has fallen, you can bully us as you please. Hmph! Dugu Yi, you’ve seen those spectacular photos, haven't you? My photography skills aren't half bad, are they?"

Gu Xinyao could no longer hear the rest of Shangguan Lu’s words clearly; she only remembered something about photos. Behind her, Dugu Yi’s hand, which she was holding, felt icy, as if the blood had stopped flowing. Shangguan Lu’s voice wasn't loud enough to attract others, but Gu Xinyao felt as if countless eyes were fixed upon them.

"...You think that by marrying some ordinary person, you can get rid of me? Keep dreaming. I said I wouldn't let you go. You’d better come to my apartment every Sunday, or I’ll let the entire upper class admire your *..."

"Enough!" Dugu Yi could no longer stand it and shouted. His voice was so loud that it drew the attention of everyone else in the museum.

Gu Xinyao held his hand, preventing him from stepping past her to confront Shangguan Lu.

"Miss Shangguan, don't you think your demands are excessive? We won't agree to them. Why Yi and I married has nothing to do with you. As for the photos you mentioned, we will report this to the police immediately. Just wait for your subpoena."

Gu Xinyao’s face hardened. She was not a submissive wife, nor was she a lover who couldn't tell right from wrong. Since she had chosen to trust him, she would never harbor any doubts about him. As for a shameless villain like Shangguan Lu, she would not let her off easily.

"I didn't expect you to have such backbone. Fine, I’ll wait for your subpoena," Shangguan Lu said with a痞-like smirk, brushing her bangs as she watched Gu Xinyao lead Dugu Yi toward the museum exit.

Gu Xinyao did not stop to say anything more; she simply pulled Dugu Yi all the way out of the museum.