Chapter 77

Chapter 77: How Can I Make You Turn Around and Look at Me? (New) After taking photos, Jiang Shixu and Chu Tang also built a snowman in the courtyard. Chu Tang made an adorable big snowman, about half her height. She put a red scarf and a little red hat on the snowman, and even applied a peachy oolong tea-colored lipstick as blush on its cheeks. Jiang Shixu teased her: "That little rosy face is so cute, just like you." Chu Tang smiled and said, "Of course, this is my precious daughter." After finishing the snowman, Chu Tang patted the snowflakes off her gloves and looked at the snowman in front of her, saying, "Let's give it a name." "Sure." The corners of Jiang Shixu's lips lifted slightly. "Let's call it Tangbao. Tang as in candy, homophonous with Tangbao, similar to your name, Tangtang." Chu Tang's eyes lit up. "That's a great name. Let's go with Tangbao." "Let's take a family photo." A gentle smile lingered at the corners of Jiang Shixu's lips. "Okay." She took the DSLR camera. "I'll go find someone to take the photo for us." Chu Tang walked over to the young couple who had just been building a snowman and said to the girl, "Hi, could you help us take a photo?" "Sure." The girl took the camera. "But I'm not very familiar with this." Chu Tang leaned in to teach her. "The settings are already adjusted. All you need to do is press this button when the time comes." "Oh, okay." "Thank you for your help." "No problem." The girl whispered to Chu Tang, "Sister, you and your boyfriend are both so good-looking, such a perfect match. Are you influencer couple bloggers?" Chu Tang shook her head, her eyes curving into crescents. "No, we're not. Thank you. You're very pretty too." After taking the photos, Chu Tang and Jiang Shixu went to a famous photo spot nearby. It was an antique-style inn. When the carved wooden window on the third floor was pushed open, one could just see the snow-capped mountains in the distance, quite capturing the artistic conception of Du Fu's line, "From my window the snow-crowned western hills are seen." Most tourists visiting the ancient town would come here to check in and take photos. The town had gone viral online for a while before, and Chu Tang had really wanted to visit. Back then, she had prepared a travel guide, and this inn was on her itinerary. But at that time, Gu Zechuan was unwilling to accompany her. It had to be said that Gu Zechuan never disappointed when it came to ruining the mood. "Isn't it just standing by the window looking at snow-capped mountains? What's there to photograph? I'll take you to Switzerland later—the snow mountains there are much more beautiful." Chu Tang's enthusiasm was dampened, her passion for visiting the ancient town doused with cold water. Later, work got busy and she never found the time, so she simply forgot about it. Until now—more than two years had passed, and she had finally come. Except this time, she came with Jiang Shixu. A gust of cold wind blew past, and Chu Tang suddenly sneezed. "Are you cold?" Jiang Shixu pulled up the hood of Chu Tang's down jacket and placed it over her head. "Keep the hood on to block the wind." "I still need to take photos later. It won't look good with the hood on." "Take it off when it's time for photos. The wind is strong now—be good." "Fine." Chu Tang looked at Jiang Shixu. "Are you cold?" Jiang Shixu smiled. "I won't be cold if you give me a kiss." "Then you're not cold." "Even if I'm not cold, I still want a kiss." Chu Tang couldn't do anything about him. This man usually seemed cold and aloof, but when he was with her, he would always act coy in subtle ways. Like right now—judging by his stance, he wouldn't move unless she kissed him. Chu Tang smiled helplessly, stood on her tiptoes, and leaned in to kiss him. Jiang Shixu was nearly 1.9 meters tall, standing more than a head taller than Chu Tang. Even on her tiptoes, she couldn't reach him. "Bend down." The girl pouted. "I can't reach you." Jiang Shixu obediently lowered his head, bringing his lips to Chu Tang's, offering himself up for her to kiss. The young master who was usually aloof and arrogant, looking down on everyone, had never bowed his head to anyone before. Only Ruan Chutang could make him willingly lower his head. Chu Tang wrapped her arms around Jiang Shixu's neck and kissed him. With people coming and going, Chu Tang felt too shy to kiss deeply. She only brushed her lips against his like a dragonfly skimming the water before pulling away. Jiang Shixu suddenly reached out and pressed his hand against the back of her head, deepening the kiss. Once she realized what was happening, Chu Tang struggled to break free from his hold, her face flushing bright red in an instant. Chu Tang coughed twice as a tactical move to cover her embarrassment. "Ahem, ahem." "There are too many people here. We'll kiss again when we get back." Jiang Shixu was in a great mood, his features soft and a smile rippling at the corners of his lips. "Alright." Chu Tang turned her head, her face still red. Suddenly, her expression froze, and the smile at the corners of her lips vanished in an instant. A biting cold wind swept past, and snow began to fall from the sky once again. Gu Zechuan stood at the entrance of the inn, watching her from afar through the swirling snowflakes. Jiang Shixu also saw Gu Zechuan. The smile in his eyes disappeared, replaced by bone-chilling coldness. Jiang Shixu took Ruan Chutang's hand and walked toward Gu Zechuan. Gu Zechuan stood motionless at the inn's entrance, watching the man and woman walk toward him hand in hand. Snowflakes drifted down from the sky, landing on his khaki coat before melting away. It was as if the scene had frozen, time had stopped. Everything was suspended in this winter afternoon. Something was becoming increasingly clear in his mind. The girl smiled as she linked her arm through his, coaxing him to take her to the ancient town, her heart set on the snow-capped mountains and the quaint, old-fashioned inns there. What had he said back then? He couldn't remember. All he recalled was making an excuse to refuse, and the smile fading from her face, her disappointment plain to see. He knew everything in his heart, but he simply didn't want to soothe her, nor did he want to compromise. He felt it unnecessary—just a casual fling, after all. There was no future with her anyway. Now he had come, but she was no longer by his side. Gu Zechuan's lips pressed into a tight line, his heart aching in sharp, stabbing pulses, his chest constricting until it was nearly suffocating. The two of them walked over and stopped before him. A mocking smile curled at the corner of Jiang Shixu's lips. "What a coincidence. We run into each other wherever we go." Gu Zechuan's lips went rigid, his jaw tight. He ignored Jiang Shixu entirely, his gaze fixed on Chu Tang with a pleading light in his eyes. "Tangtang, I've come to keep our appointment." Chu Tang's expression was cold. "What appointment? I never made one with you." A flicker of pain crossed Gu Zechuan's eyes. "Two years ago, you said you wanted to come here. I didn't have time then, but now I'm here." "Belated affection is cheaper than grass." Chu Tang's tone was unhurried, her expression calm and seemingly polite, but her words were anything but. "And those who fake it are even cheaper." "Tangtang..." Gu Zechuan's eyes were a tangle of regret and anguish. "Can you give me one more chance? I can make it up to you." "Ha." Jiang Shixu laughed, his eyes brimming with derision. "You? Worthy?" Chu Tang's brows were cold. "Gu Zechuan, if you keep pestering me like this, you'll only make me despise you more." Gu Zechuan humbled himself to the dust, his voice trembling. "Then what must I do to make you look at me again?" Chu Tang stared at him, speaking each word slowly and deliberately. "Never. Not in a million years."