Chapter 54: Island Life (2)

Unlike an idealized utopia, the island tends to grow quite chilly at night due to its proximity to the ocean, especially since a heavy rain had fallen just a few days prior.

Following the successful completion of a significant case by the company, the boss hosted a celebratory dinner for the entire staff at a hotel located not far from the office.

Gu Yi had also been asked to stay for dinner. Though he initially wished to decline, he ultimately gave in to Shang Ran’s persuasion and remained.

"Gu—Xiao Yi, you won't be upset with me for calling you that, will you?" Wei Wenlan asked the man beside her with a smile. When she first laid eyes on him, she had been genuinely startled, mistaking him for the most precious person in the depths of her heart. Upon closer inspection, however, she realized he was not. That person would never return, and besides, the young man beside her was of a completely different era.

Duguyi, who now went by the name Gu Yi in public, was unaccustomed to being so close to strangers—especially this woman. Although she was refined, articulate, and courteous when sober, he could not simply erase the unpleasant memory of that particular night she had brought him. Had Shang Ran not assured him that the woman was the island master’s younger sister and a partner in the art firm, nothing could have persuaded him to sit beside her.

"No, you are my superior; how could I dare to be upset?" Gu Yi replied with polite detachment. Desiring to avoid trouble did not mean he was willing to suffer in silence.

Yet, because he harbored a distaste for tonight's social obligations and remained preoccupied with whether Gu Xinyao had returned yet, his tone lacked any natural warmth. To the ears of the other three present, his response sounded somewhat stiff and distinctly reluctant.

Wei Wenlan paused slightly. Ever since her older sister had become the island master, no one had ever dared speak to her in such a manner. Now, while the young man by her side feigned respect and politeness, he had actually been subtly and continuously avoiding her ever since dinner began, precisely from the moment Shang Ran had seated him next to her. She narrowed her eyes to observe him. He possessed truly striking looks: his jade-white skin was entirely flawless, and even the most ordinary attire could not mask the innate elegance that radiated from his very being.

As the dinner drew to a close, she wondered: was he genuinely pushing her away, or was this merely a game of playing hard to get?

"Since Xiao Yi doesn't dare, then I suppose you wouldn't dare object if I offered to drive you home tonight, would you?" Wei Wenlan arched an eyebrow, waiting for him to utter another "I wouldn't dare" so she could gracefully press her advantage.

Just as they were following Shang Ran toward the exit, Gu Yi abruptly halted his steps. Aside from dressing stylishly for work, in his private life he wore nothing more than a loose pair of wide-legged trousers and a simple white shirt—an ensemble that made him look casual yet unpretentious. Standing by the doorway, he looked back at the woman lingering near the table. She had spent the entire evening seeking opportunities to converse with him. Unfortunately, he had no fondness for drawing too close to strangers or engaging in excessive social contact. Forcing himself to endure this dinner with her was already a monumental feat.

The woman named Wei Wenlan appeared to be in her forties or fifties, making her roughly the same age as his parents. Yet her striking appearance and eloquence drew countless men in the art firm like moths to a flame. Combined with her status and influence, she hardly lacked for suitable companions; her interest in him was likely nothing more than a fleeting whim.

A woman blessed with so many advantages naturally possessed a proud and aloof disposition. This woman was no exception. Did she truly believe that simply because she was the island master's sister, he was obligated to yield to her every whim? Leaving aside the fact that he had lost his aristocratic status and no longer needed to concern himself with saving face, even if he were still a member of the Dugu family, he would no longer care to maintain that hollow pretense of identity. At worst, he and Xinyao would simply leave this island once more. He refused to believe there was no place left in the world that could shelter them.

Perhaps he had felt a measure of fear earlier, but having thought it all through, the terror vanished entirely. He squared his shoulders and declared with proud defiance, "Ms. Wei, I am a married man, and I love my wife deeply. Please put aside any notions you might harbor; I do not require anyone's escort. Furthermore, my wife is coming to pick me up."

With those words, he turned and walked outside. Shang Ran, who was waiting near the exit for the two of them, wore a shifting expression upon hearing Gu Yi's declaration. Although she and Wei Wenlan were business partners, she still needed to afford the other woman a certain degree of deference. Now that Duguyi had completely stripped Wei Wenlan of her dignity, how would the woman react? Moreover, ever since her husband's death, Wei Wenlan's temperament had grown increasingly erratic, and she had toyed with more than a few men. The extraordinary patience she had shown Gu Yi could only mean she had developed a genuine interest in him. What if—

Meanwhile, Afei, standing beside Shang Ran, gave Gu Yi a silent thumbs-up. Truly audacious, he thought—daring to challenge one of the most powerful figures on the entire island was no small feat.

Stepping outside, Gu Yi caught the contrasting expressions of the two women. He allowed his lips to curve into a faint smile before instantly pressing them flat again. He was afraid, yes, but having worked outside for these past few days, he had also learned a few truths. Though he had not fully recovered his former state, he vaguely understood that certain things could not be compromised. Give an inch, and they would take a mile; if he didn't draw the line now, it would only become harder to refuse her later.

"Shang Ran, don't worry. I'll take full responsibility for whatever happens; I won't drag you down with me," Gu Yi said earnestly, finding a measure of reassurance when he noticed Shang Ran's thoroughly troubled expression.

Shang Ran looked even more distressed, retorting with a touch of petulance, "Take full responsibility by yourself? Just like that? You aren't even thinking about the consequences! That woman—sigh! The job Xinyao has was arranged through her in the first place. Honestly, you can be so utterly willful."

Now it was Gu Yi's turn to freeze. How could he have possibly anticipated that Wei Wenlan was the one who had secured Gu Xinyao's employment? Might this reckless move cost Xinyao her job? Stricken with panic, he stood awkwardly by the doorway, unsure whether to advance or retreat.

Fortunately, Wei Wenlan did not linger inside for long. The evening had already grown late, and by the time they finished dinner, the sky was completely pitch black. Though she had initially considered visiting other establishments, Afei's physical condition prohibited it, so they simply decided to return to the company office instead. Originally, she had hoped to spend more time with the man called Gu Yi, but it was clear he had no desire for her company.

"Am I truly that terrifying? Enough to make you scare him off with such a loud voice?" Wei Wenlan walked over to the three of them, her face devoid of any trace of anger, wearing instead a faint smile as she glanced briefly at Gu Yi before turning her gaze to Shang Ran with gentle amusement.

Shang Ran's expression shifted as she slipped back into her usual nonchalant demeanor. "Who's trying to scare him? I was merely giving him a solemn and earnest reminder not to underestimate our formidable Second Sister Wei!"

With that, she raised both her arms in a mock demonstration of superhuman strength.

Her antics provoked a burst of hearty laughter from Wei Wenlan. Once her laughter subsided, she waved a hand dismissively and said, "Oh, stop it. Aren't you simply afraid I'll give them a hard time? I'm not that petty. Come along—since Xiao Yi doesn't wish for me to escort him alone, the three of you can accompany me as we walk him home."

With nothing better to do, and finding the prospect far more entertaining than spending the evening tucked away in the Peacocks' Nest, the alternative seemed rather pleasant.

Shang Ran opened her mouth to speak, while Afei readily welcomed the chance for a walk. He was returning to an empty home anyway, and that fellow Shang Yu had vanished to goodness knows where.

Unsure how to refuse without further offending Wei Wenlan, and seeing that she had invited Shang Ran and the others to accompany them, Gu Yi had no choice but to fall into step alongside them.

As the evening breeze swept past, he shivered slightly. Having never stayed out quite this late before, he was rarely exposed to the biting chill of the night.

Wei Wenlan took note of his slight movement. Slipping off her own trench coat, she draped it over Gu Yi's shoulders and said, "The island nights are quite brisk. You should remember to bring an extra layer in the future to avoid catching a chill."

Just as Gu Yi was beginning to feel cold, a wave of warmth accompanied by a faint, delicate jasmine fragrance enveloped him. He turned his head to look at Wei Wenlan. She was gazing straight ahead, her refined and delicate profile lending her an aura of warmth and dependability.

He pulled his gaze away, removed the trench coat, and held it out toward her. Though his voice remained cool, it carried an undeniable firmness: "Thank you, but I'm not cold!"

Wei Wenlan turned back, looking with surprise at the man who was clearly shivering yet stubbornly insisted on returning her garment. Her expression flickered before she finally accepted the coat with a smile, merely draping it over her right arm rather than putting it back on.

Feeling as though he might have overreacted, Gu Yi kept silent and resumed walking.

Emerging from the company's office sector and passing through a quiet resting garden, the main gates of the compound came into view.

Gu Yi's mind was entirely consumed with thoughts of how to shake off Wei Wenlan, leaving him oblivious to the scene unfolding at the entrance.

"Hey! Ah Yi, look who's at the gate!" Afei, unbothered by the subtle undercurrents swirling among the group, pointed toward the entrance and called out to Gu Yi.

Gu Yi raised his eyes toward the gate. The moment he recognized the figure standing there, his eyes lit up. Disregarding all notions of composure or image, he broke away from the others and ran with quick, eager steps toward the entrance.

When Wei Wenlan saw the person waiting by the gate and observed Gu Yi's reaction, a flash of dark hostility crossed her eyes, though it vanished almost instantly, replaced by her usual composed, slight smile.

"It appears we won't be needed as knights escorting a fair maiden tonight after all," she remarked smoothly as she walked forward.

Yet Shang Ran detected a faint trace of gunpowder in those smiling eyes. Glancing over at Gu Yi, who had already reached Gu Xinyao's side, Shang Ran felt a headache coming on. Just what kind of tangled mess was this?

Gu Xinyao watched the person rushing eagerly toward her. The suffocating tightness in her chest instantly melted away, and her clenched fists slowly relaxed.

She caught Gu Yi as he barreled straight into her with too much momentum to stop, wrapping her arms around his waist and teasing with a smile, "Couldn't wait?"

Cradled in her embrace, the rush of his forward momentum finally subsiding, Gu Yi felt his cheeks flush faintly. He poked out the tip of his tongue and murmured with endearing bashfulness, "I missed you!"

Ever since he had lost everything from his past, he had grown softer and far more willing to express his innermost thoughts. Thus, even when she was merely joking, he would always offer her his absolute truth.

Gu Xinyao caught the faint scent of wine lingering on him. It seemed tonight's gathering had indeed been nothing more than a routine social obligation; her Yi had not changed for the worse.

Turning her head slightly, she pressed a kiss to his cheek before yielding to an irresistible impulse: she captured his lips and kissed him deeply. The lingering, mellow sweetness of red wine still lingered on his tongue, alongside his soft, delicate mouth—an intoxicating combination.

"Ahem! If you two are quite finished, why not take this intimacy home? Are you trying to make a lonely person like me burn with jealousy?" An untimely cough interrupted their shared moment of sweetness.

Gu Xinyao pulled back from Gu Yi's lips and glanced to the side. Shang Ran was standing there making exaggerated facial expressions, while Wei Wenlan and Afei stood a short distance away.

Wei Wenlan merely offered a polite nod before averting her gaze, whereas Afei looked on as if thoroughly entertained by a good show.

Gu Xinyao felt a warm flush spread across her cheeks. In truth, she had simply been worried and anxious to prove that Yi belonged to her, never expecting that they would end up walking back together.

"Ahem! I saw that Yi still hadn't returned at this late hour and grew worried, which is why I waited here," Gu Xinyao explained, pulling Duguyi to turn and face Shang Ran.

Shang Ran waved a hand dismissively. "Oh, save it. We all know how much you cherish your husband. Hurry up and take him home."

Gu Xinyao glanced between her and Wei Wenlan before giving a slight nod.

Shang Ran shook her head inwardly. She was beginning to regret dragging Gu Yi into this circle. Looking at the harmonious couple before her, she felt a complex mixture of envy and apprehension.

Once the couple had departed, Wei Wenlan stepped closer to Shang Ran and asked with a meaningful undertone, "Well now? Are you saying you'd rather I didn't touch him?"

Shang Ran turned around, her expression unusually solemn. "Second Sister, take my advice and put an end to this nonsense. No matter how wildly you carry on, Brother-in-law is not coming back to life."

Despite the disparity in their status, they had been friends for many years, and she truly loathed watching a man reduce her friend to such an unrecognizable state.

Wei Wenlan gazed into the ink-black expanse of the distant night and fell silent. After a long pause, she spoke with a hint of hard-earned realization, "Indeed, everything you say is true. Had I known how to cherish what I had back then, neither of them would have slipped away."

She turned her face back, her expression settling into that familiar, faint, gentle smile. "Rest assured! I have no intention of laying a hand on him. Seeing how deeply his wife protects him, I wouldn't dream of it! Your Second Sister isn't quite that monstrous. It's just that..."

As for what "just that" meant, even she could not clearly articulate it. Was she drawn to that face, or was it the detached and indifferent temperament? By now, she could no longer tell whether she was merely longing for the original owner of those features, or yearning for the one who had once been willing to ruin his own face simply to please her.

The evening wind rose, fluttering their stray locks of hair. The breeze had finally arrived, yet alas, the companion who had once walked by her side through wind and storm was no longer around. She shivered involuntarily; the silent night was truly piercingly cold.

Author's note: I myself find it rather difficult to determine whether this chapter can truly be considered sweet or not. What do you all think? o(n_n)o~