You Ran still had countless doubts in her heart, but they were all melted away by the warmth of Qu Yun's fingertips. She was like a madwoman, following Qu Yun: "I swear, I will never leave you. Even if I leave for a while, I will eventually come back."
"Good girl." Qu Yun smiled, making the air in the room feel softer.
You Ran admitted that Qu Yun's move was very effective, because at this moment she was as if she had been given a drug, and was in a daze, not knowing anything.
"After you finish eating, pack your things. We need to get ready to leave." Qu Yun tore open a tomato packet, dipped some fries in it, and fed it to You Ran.
While chewing, You Ran asked, "Why are you leaving so soon? Didn't we agree to stay a few more days?"
"I want to take you to Fenghuang Ancient Town to see the snow scenery," Qu Yun said. "It's more fun there."
Upon hearing that there was something fun to do, You Ran ate faster, while Qu Yun tidied up their things.
Qu Yun was very organized and quickly packed her luggage neatly.
As soon as You Ran finished eating the last French fry, Qu Yun dragged her out of the room and down to the lobby to pay the bill.
Having just finished eating, You Ran felt sleepy again, so she rested her head on Qu Yun's back.
Qu Yun spoke these words softly to the shop assistant. The sound produced a slight vibration within her body, which traveled to You Ran's cheeks, causing a tingling, pleasant sensation.
Although there were still some tourists sitting in the hall, You Ran made the intimate gesture very natural.
Because now she is relying on her own people, people who belong only to her.
The hotel was quite efficient; the formalities were completed in no time. Qu Yun turned around, naturally made a circle in the air with his long arm, put his arm around You Ran's shoulder, and led her out.
But just then, You Ran heard a voice: "Qu Yun, wait."
You Ran wanted to stop, but she couldn't, because Qu Yun beside her seemed not to hear her and continued to lead her along.
But You Ran knew very well that Qu Yun had heard her, because he had tightened his grip on her and was moving much faster, as if he were trying to avoid something.
Even after they left the hotel, the man didn't give up and kept chasing them.
You Ran wanted to turn around, but Qu Yun wouldn't allow it. He held her head with his hand, and at that moment, his hand felt unfamiliar to You Ran.
Because it's very cold.
Qu Yun reached out and flagged down a taxi. He opened the back door and helped You Ran in. Just as he was about to get in himself, the people who had been chasing them arrived and grabbed the door.
It was You Lin, that tall, thin man.
Actually, You Ran still had some affection for him because of his comforting words back then.
Although it seemed ordinary, You Ran felt that You Lin was a gentle person.
"Let go," Qu Yun commanded, his voice as warm as the snow on the ground.
You Lin glanced at You Ran inside the car and said softly, "Qu Yun, you can't treat her like this."
Yuran's heart became heavy because of Yulin's words, and even more so because of his compassionate glance.
“You know nothing, and none of this concerns you.” Qu Yun’s eyes froze instantly.
"You Ran, I have something to tell you." Seeing that Qu Yun wouldn't listen, You Lin turned to You Ran.
Before You Ran could answer, Qu Yun said sternly, "You Lin, if you don't let go, I'm going to close the door."
Yu Lin ignored him and continued to look at You Ran.
Qu Yun got into the car and slammed the door shut behind him.
Such a clamp could cause bruising at best and fractures at worst, but You Lin showed no signs of backing down. He looked at You Ran, and a kind of determination appeared on his otherwise ordinary features.
Just as the door was about to close, Qu Yunsheng abruptly stopped—because You Ran had placed her hand on the door frame.
"Why not let him speak?" You Ran looked at Qu Yun.
A cloud of emotion flickered in Qu Yun's eyes. After a long while, he turned to You Lin and said, "May I speak to you in private?"
You Lin nodded, and Qu Yun got out of the car, but after taking only a few steps, he stopped, opened the car door, and said to You Ran, "Wait for me obediently."
You Ran just looked at him without answering.
Qu Yun was stubborn; he remained silent and refused to leave.
The wind, mixed with snow, blew in and hit my face, feeling cool and icy.
As he had done countless times before, he gave in leisurely: "Fine, I'll wait for you."
Qu Yun quickly took out all the cash from her wallet and handed it to the driver: "Sir, could you please keep an eye on her for a bit?"
After making all the necessary preparations, he and You Lin walked to a spot about ten meters away from the car.
You Ran couldn't hear what the two were saying, but she knew that this matter was closely related to her.
While trying to observe the facial expressions of the two people through the falling snowflakes, You Ran suddenly felt a cool fragrance coming from beside her.
Turning her head, she saw a stunning splash of red.
It was Tang Yongzi; she opened the car door.
"We meet again," she said, her voice low but pleasant to hear.
Sitting leisurely in the car, he was momentarily at a loss for words.
"Are you interested in talking to me?" Tang Yongzi asked.
After a long pause, You Ran replied, "I promised Qu Yun that I would wait for him here."
"What an adorable doll." Tang Yongzi's charming, slender eyes held a hint of mockery. "But what I want to talk to you about is Qu Yun."
"What is it?" You Ran asked.
“For example, why did he want to be with you?” Tang Yongzi said.
Her voice was soft because she knew that no matter how softly she spoke, the words would still hammer into You Ran's ears like nails.
It was as if a cold hand had suddenly touched You Ran's warm back, and a chilling shiver spread throughout her body.
"If you want to hear it, get in the car." Tang Yongzi pointed to the private car next to him.
Yo Ran knew that Qu Yun was a person with secrets. She had always known this. At first, she tried every means to find out, but later she stopped asking about those secrets.
Because loving someone means being willing to be blind to their desires.
At this moment, You Ran also wanted to cover her eyes and ears as she used to, but she couldn't do it anymore.
Because of what Tang Yongzi said.
You Ran broke her vow and involuntarily followed Tang Yongzi into the car.
The driver, having accepted money, tried to stop him, but Tang Yongzi quickly pulled out ten large bills and threw them on the driver's seat.
The driver closed the car door again.
People are always selfish.
Tang Yongzi drove recklessly; with a tap of the accelerator, the wheels crushed the snow, propelling him forward like an arrow.
"Where are we going?" You Ran asked.
"I'm not going anywhere, just wandering around this area, and I'll tell you a few things while I'm at it," Tang Yongzi said.
You Ran took a deep breath. The car's heater, mixed with Tang Yongzi's perfume, made her feel a little tightness in her chest: "What did you mean by what you just said?"
“Qu Yun is an excellent man,” Tang Yongzi suddenly said.
“I know.” You Ran lowered her eyebrows.
“Any outstanding person has the right to choose outstanding peers,” Tang Yongzi continued.
"I'm listening," You Ran said, patiently enduring Tang Yongzi's cryptic words.
"Excuse my bluntness, but you're not Qu Yun's type," Tang Yongzi said.
Upon hearing this, You Ran's face instantly turned red. She felt as if she had been stripped naked, humiliated beyond measure.
“I’m sorry, I’m being blunt.” Tang Yongzi noticed You Ran’s strange expression in the rearview mirror: “But what I’m saying is true. When Qu Yun was pursuing me, I asked him why he wanted to be with me, and his answer was: Because you are beautiful.”
Upon hearing this, You Ran's breath caught in her throat.
It turns out that Tang Yongzi and Qu Yun... also had such a relationship.
"I later found out that Qu Yun's girlfriends since junior high school were all among the prettiest in the school." Tang Yongzi turned his head and glanced at You Ran. That subtle glance killed You Ran invisibly: "And you are not his type. You never have been."
You Ran's personality is very complex. In front of the person she likes, she can disregard her image and willingly become a cat. But in front of her enemies, she can be a bloodthirsty tiger and refuse to be bullied.
At that moment, You Ran sneered, "But Qu Yun still dumped you and started dating me. This shows that people's taste can improve."
Looking back, You Ran couldn't help but feel that her and Tang Yongzi's posture at the time was really ugly, but when two women are fighting over the same man, the atmosphere will not be harmonious.
Tang Yongzi smiled gently: "Who told you that he dumped me?"
"If you dumped him, why are you acting all jealous?" You Ran retorted.
Even if You Ran is not the best, she is still a woman. She has a woman's sixth sense. She can tell that Tang Yongzi looks at her as if she is an enemy who has stolen her doll.
"Everyone gets dumped a few times in their life, there's nothing shameful about it. I, Tang Yongzi, have been dumped before too. But back then, I did betray Qu Yun, so I had no reason to lie to you." Tang Yongzi's tone calmed down.
"Could it be related to Gu Chengyuan?" You Ran connected the cause and effect of the matter and came to this conclusion.
"Yes, I betrayed Qu Yun because of Gu Chengyuan." This answer came from Tang Yongzi's lips, which were adorned with exquisite lip gloss.
The truth continues to be revealed.
“When Qu Yun was studying at military academy, I was his girlfriend and Gu Chengyuan and I were being intimate in bed when he caught us.”
"The next day, he hit Gu Chengyuan in front of the leaders."
"Because this incident had a great impact, Qu Yun was forced to drop out of school."
"Everyone knows that he hates Gu Chengyuan."
"However, I did not expect that he would hate someone so much that he would not hesitate to use others to hurt Gu Chengyuan."
"And you, unfortunately, became the victim. Qu Yun's relationship with you was only to avenge Gu Chengyuan... not because he liked you."
This is the truth of the matter, You Ran thought. This is the source of all of Qu Yun's secrets.
It's like a play, with Gu Chengyuan, Tang Yongzi, and Qu Yun as the main characters, while You Ran is merely a tool to drive the plot forward.
She never had a place on the stage; she was so insignificant.
“I think you hate me, don’t you?” Tang Yongzi said. “Back then, I didn’t know about your relationship with Gu Chengyuan… and to this day, I still don’t understand his thoughts.”
“Even if we knew, it wouldn’t change anything. Besides,” he said slowly, “it’s no longer important.”