Blissful Days After Widowhood - Chapter 383

Gu Yin thought for a moment and said, “They might say that you don’t want to make progress, and that you appear unfriendly?” The two of them conversed across a small table in the carriage, and since there were no outsiders present, they paid less attention to their manners, gradually leaning closer as they spoke.

Before going outside, Gu Yin had combed her bangs and tied her black hair into a bun, making her appear more mature and closer in age to Mrs. Lu and other female guests. However, during the bumpy carriage ride, her soft bangs fell onto her forehead in a somewhat unruly manner.

Wu Qingyi noticed the stray hair falling onto her forehead and had the urge to reach out and brush it aside, but he hesitated, finding the action somewhat abrupt, which left him feeling a bit distracted.

Seeing him suddenly stop speaking, Gu Yin looked at him with a puzzled expression. Blushing, she lowered her gaze and asked, “Is it because I don’t look good like this?”

Wu Qingyi immediately shook his head, responding, “No, it’s just that your hair…”

While speaking, he finally extended his hand to gently push the stray strands of hair behind Gu Yin’s ear. His fingers, warm and slightly rough, brushed against her forehead before settling behind her ear.

Gu Yin had her ears pierced after arriving in the capital due to Mrs. Wang’s insistence on the abundance of gold and silver jewelry. Though she wasn’t fond of hanging earrings, she created her own earrings using the pearls she found in the storage.

The white, round pearls adorned her plump earlobes, giving her an enchanting look. Wu Qingyi subconsciously lost his strength, knocking the pearl slightly off balance. Without realizing it, he began to touch it again. Once he snapped out of it, his fingertips were already caressing it.

Gu Yin’s earlobes were soft and warm, while Wu Qingyi felt that they were almost as delicate as clouds in the sky, delicate enough to break at the slightest pressure.

His fingertips grew warmer, and Gu Yin sensed the increasing heat on her earlobes. Her cheeks flushed, and her voice, which was normally clear, became soft and sultry. “I’ll do it myself,” she mumbled.

Wu Qingyi was reluctant to release her earlobes. In fact, he inched even closer, his voice dropping, “There’s no need; I can do it for you.”

Gu Yin’s pearl earrings were finally restored to their original position on his fingertips. Her earlobes were now tinged with a hint of redness. She wasn’t sure if it was because he had toyed with her or because she felt embarrassed.

When the carriage came to a stop, Gu Yin didn’t require his assistance. She quickly stepped out and made her way to her restaurant, her head slightly lowered. Wu Qingyi promptly followed her.

Upon arriving at her restaurant, Gu Yin quickly ascended to the fifth floor as if she were being chased.

Seeing Xiao Feng and his troupe rehearsing, her blushing subsided somewhat. During their rehearsal, they had grasped the fundamentals, and a few others had been designated as stagehands for the performance.

Gu Yin gave them instructions for the stage effects, and everyone was promptly set into motion. Xiao Feng and the others returned backstage, while Gu Yin seated herself in front of the stage. The workers lowered the curtains in front of the window to create a dimly lit environment, and only the stand lights placed along the stage edge provided illumination.

The performance began, and apart from the actors’ lines, the room was so silent that one could hear a pin drop.

In this tranquil and dim atmosphere, Wu Qingyi entered from outside. It took him a moment to adjust to the surroundings before he could see clearly. He found Gu Yin’s location, made his way to her side, and sat down.

His rich, deep voice sounded, “Why did you run off? I won’t bite.” Since they weren’t alone, Gu Yin was no longer afraid of him, and she didn’t attempt to conceal herself. However, the image from their recent carriage encounter came to her mind—the man’s young, handsome face was so close that he fixedly gazed at her ear, his eyes deep and tinged with red.

Did he mean he wouldn’t bite? He looked like he was practically devouring her! Gu Yin cursed him under her breath, but Wu Qingyi didn’t seem to notice. He believed she was engrossed in watching the rehearsal. She didn’t appear to hear his words, so he leaned closer to her ear.

“Huh?” He lazily queried, the heat washing over Gu Yin’s ear. Although he hadn’t done anything, a sensation of tingling warmth quickly enveloped her ears.

Gu Yin shivered involuntarily. “This isn’t right!” She abruptly stood up and proceeded to the stage, her voice trembling as she declared, “It doesn’t feel right here. Let’s do it again.”