Deadly Trap.

Chapter 30. More, even more

For the rest of the afternoon, they walked slowly together through the gardens, past the fountains, through the shade of the trees, and past the palace.

As they walked, Su Li would stop and describe whatever caught her eye, seizing any opportunity that interested her. Gu Mufeng followed silently behind her.

He remained expressionless, trying his best to remain calm and observe from the sidelines.

If he didn't understand something, he would ask frankly; and whenever he asked, Su Li would answer sincerely with all her knowledge.

As the sun began to set and the vast palace complex closed, they had only seen less than half of it, stopping and starting as they went.

Holding a full set of sketchbooks, Su Li felt a sense of peace she had never experienced before, even though her feet ached so badly she could barely walk.

As they left the gates of the Alhambra and walked down the winding mountain path bathed in the glow of the setting sun, Suli felt a sense of disorientation. It was as if she had fallen off a cliff from a beautiful dream. Her heart suddenly sank.

Subconsciously, she turned back for one last, wistful look.

The ancient city wall stood silently, as if everything she had just experienced with Gu Mufeng was merely wishful thinking on her part.

Was everything that just happened in the palace real?

Looking down, Su Li watched as their shadows resembled two small boats on the ocean, gradually merging and then being pushed apart by the waves. A strange sense of unease rose in her heart, as if this beautiful scene at the ends of the earth could vanish at any moment.

Perhaps it was true, simply because she was too tired from walking alone.

Holding the ticket to the departing ship, Su Li was determined to make sure she hadn't boarded the wrong vessel. She couldn't be sure what such verification would bring, or even if it would capsize her little boat.

However, as if by some strange twist of fate, her fingertips quietly caught up with him, and gently, they touched his clothes first.

Slowly, she took Gu Mufei's arm, which was hanging down naturally.

He seemed to pause for a moment.

The night sky was pale purple, like an oil painting, with a new moon painted on it.

"...Mu Fei."

At this moment, the setting sun cast its last rays. They were stranded overseas, overwhelmed by their own insecurities. Finally, Su Li voiced the question that had been nagging at her heart:

"...Can you tell me: why...do you want to take me in?"

For a moment, he froze. Hearing Su Li pose that question, Gu Mufeng felt like a sailboat caught in a sudden crosswind. He knew the answer all too well.

But then, as if abandoning or escaping, his heart began to swell with renewed vigor.

He simply replied, "Life is short, do what you want to do."

The answer was perfunctory, almost hasty.

But Su Li sighed softly, "Actually, overseas isn't bad either."

She truly felt his presence, her palm resting on his arm.

Su Li's heart was heavy: "In that case, you don't even need to bring bodyguards..."

For a moment, Gu Mufeng was caught off guard and lost in thought. Was she worried about him? Or was she testing him again?

He struggled to resist the urge to turn and see through her. He wanted to see through Su Li's tactics of testing him from beginning to end.

"I can't run away." His voice was soft, more like an answer to himself.

He longed to speak again, at least this time, to cross the line and tell each other the truth.

But at that moment, Gu Mufeng's phone vibrated urgently. A surge of anger, like a blade suddenly drawn from its sheath, welled up within him, and he clenched his fist. Even if they were at the ends of the earth!
Su Li mentally estimated that this time would be midnight in China. It could only be an urgent official matter.

Anyway, he'll definitely leave her far behind again.

Before Su Li could even pull her hand out of his arm, or any faster, Gu Mufeng had already picked up his phone. Right in front of Su Li, he decisively pressed the answer button.

He held the phone to their ears: "Dai Ze."

His tone changed instantly. From the gentle, tender response he had given Su Li, to his current cold and indifferent tone, even bordering on anger and sharpness.

"Mu Fei. The hostage situation has been settled. But..." "Speak." Suppressing the sharp edge in his heart, Gu Mu Fei pressed on impatiently.

“Vain said… he’s quitting. He’s leaving Minzhou for good.”

Hearing this clearly, Su Li thought to herself: In the end, he still couldn't keep her.

Gently releasing Su Li's hand, Gu Mufeng strode away, leaving her behind once again. He walked to the other side of the mountain path, towards the other side of the city.

The mountain path was winding and not very wide; only a short distance separated her and him. Every now and then, pedestrians would pass by.

Su Li stared fixedly at his retreating figure, a futile tremor running through her heart. The setting sun grew deeper and deeper, the golden crow sinking below the horizon; the dense shadows of the trees blurred his silhouette. Everything was utterly beyond her grasp.

Su Li knew that Gu Mufeng always concealed a switchblade in the cuff of his right sleeve for self-defense. That was just the kind of person he was.

If not, he had held her tightly in his arms, kissed her with an irresistible, fiery passion, and indulged her endlessly.

Is she special?

Just then, not far away, Gu Mufeng calmly put his phone back into his suit pocket. He strode back to her almost immediately.

Su Li lowered her eyes, her long eyelashes trembling slightly, almost afraid to look at Gu Mufeng's face. He was so intelligent. Su Li was afraid that he would see through her panic.

But the next second, she stubbornly mustered her courage again: "Are we going back to Minzhou ahead of schedule?"

“…Yes. Now.” Gu Mufeng stopped in his tracks under Su Li’s gaze.

Interesting. This woman actually read his mind.

A barely perceptible smile appeared on Gu Mufeng's lips.

"Mu Fei, thank you."

Holding her breath, Su Li suddenly spoke: "Today is extraordinary for me."

Her admission trembled slightly, but she gritted her teeth and tried to downplay it: "I know you're busy. I didn't necessarily want to go anywhere..."

Hearing her say "thank you," Gu Mufeng's brow furrowed instinctively. He willingly allowed himself to be at her beck and call; it was only right.

But then, looking back into her clear eyes, knowing that her gratitude was entirely genuine, he quickly relaxed:
"You're overthinking it." He softened his tone, giving himself a reason to look into her eyes. "Su Li, to answer your question: Yes, it was me who wanted to."

He paused, then, as if reluctantly admitting something, his voice even lower, said, "So, you don't need to be so clever..."

Words are hard to say. Having achieved absolute control and suppressed even his tender feelings, Gu Mufeng raised his elbow and presented it directly to Su Li:
"Hold on tight."

She is special.

Gu Mufeng's Adam's apple bobbed, his voice firm, leaving no room for retreat: "Don't keep me waiting too long."

Su Li stepped forward gently.

Once again, she took his arm. They walked together downhill. Between the ancient loess and the eternal sky, they walked in silence, saying nothing more.

This world can be big or small.

He will let her know. Su Li will understand him. Just as Su Li already knows how to master a silent building. If only he would give her a little more, just a little more.

At least, so that when Su Li looks back on him someday, she will have more genuine memories and less hypocritical testing.

>>>>>
Next chapter: Provocation and Invitation
[Author's Note | Chapter 30]

Thank you for following along this far. I hope today's love story brought you some sweetness!

Su Li finally mustered the courage to ask that ultimate question. And did you find Gu Mufeng's answer convincing?

Feel free to share your thoughts!

Don't forget to add the author to your favorites, follow the story, and vote!

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(End of this chapter)