Back Then, I Adored You

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio  Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

She had taken some time to write the letter and, by the time she was done, she realized that it was already dark outside. Wanting to call for the nurse to bring their meal, she asked, “Master Gu, what do you want to eat?”

Keeping a straight face, Gu Yusheng replied, “Something bland.”

“Okay.”

As Qin Zhi’ai pressed the bell to page for the nurse, she noticed that Gu Yusheng was trying to get out of bed, so she hurried over to assist him.

After Gu Yusheng had entered the bathroom, she called for the nurse to send in their meal.

…

When Gu Yusheng came out, Qin Zhi’ai had already arranged the meal on the table.

After he had sat down, she immediately passed him chopsticks and a bowl.

When they finished their dinner, Qin Zhi’ai helped Gu Yusheng brush his teeth and then get into bed before giving him his medication.

Xiaowang had visited him earlier in the afternoon to deliver a pile of documents. Having slept throughout the day, on top of two days’ worth of rest, Gu Yusheng was energized and in good spirits, so he sat up in bed and began to read through the documents.

Qin Zhi’ai sat on the sofa with her phone and quietly read her novel, careful not to disturb Gu Yusheng.

The room was completely silent with the two engrossed in their own worlds.

As Gu Yusheng was shifting his position after he had finished reading two documents, his gaze inadvertently swept over Qin Zhi’ai sitting on the sofa.

She wore a low-collar, knitted sweater and, with her head bent over while reading, her smooth, fair, and delicate neck was exposed.

She was fully engrossed in her phone. The room lighting lit her long eyelashes on her delicate face as if she was an exquisite porcelain doll.

He continued staring at her for a while before continuing his work; however, his focus was now distracted, as he continued to take sneak peeks at her from time to time.

Although he had tried hard not to be influenced by her, whenever he saw her, he was always uncontrollably attracted to her.

Gu Yusheng tightly clutched his documents and turned his head to look up at the dark night sky outside. As if he had made up his mind about something, he said, “You applied for me to be discharged from the hospital today?”

Gu Yusheng’s abrupt question startled Qin Zhi’ai. She looked up from her novel and stared blankly for a moment before looking at him and saying, “Yes, Master Gu, I applied this afternoon.”

Gu Yusheng took another look at the dark sky before replying lightly, “It’s already very late.”

Although he hadn’t said it directly, Qin Zhi’ai could tell that he was hinting for her to leave.

She had been prepared to stay the night in his room but, given that their relationship was officially a professional one, she understood that they were not close enough that she would be expected to keep vigil at his bedside.

He had been injured because of her, and this made her feel uneasy about leaving him like this but, because he was chasing her way, she had no choice but to leave.

Squeezing her cellphone hard, she said, “Nuannuan won’t be home till 11, and I forgot my house key.”

Pausing, she glanced at her phone screen to see it was still only nine o’clock. She continued lying, “I already called for a taxi. It’ll pick me up at 10:30 p.m.”

Gu Yusheng didn’t try to convince her to leave sooner. Without speaking, he looked down and continued to read his documents.

Taking his silence as consent, Qin Zhi’ai continued to read her novel.

She felt hurt that he had asked her to go. Although she had been engrossed in her novel before, she now found it hard to focus.