The Heiress's Game

On the way back to the main building of the villa, Bai Junze carried a small bucket of crayfish in one hand and held Gu Yunjin's hand tightly with the other.

His hands were dry and warm, with distinct knuckles.

Gu Yunjin was wearing a flower wreath on her head. It was made by Bai Junze, who had been squatting on the grass by the waterwheel, using white daisies he had picked from the stream and a few soft willow twigs, and had clumsily woven it.

Although neither of them caught any fish, the kitchen used freshly caught bighead carp from the fishpond behind the mountain to make a big pot of sauerkraut fish. The golden soup base was filled with snow-white fish slices, and the aroma of sauerkraut and the numbing flavor of Sichuan peppercorns were mixed together, making it very appetizing just to smell it.

The crayfish were caught by the two of them. Although it was less than half a bucket, they were very fresh. The bright red crayfish were piled up on a white porcelain plate, and their shells were coated with glistening red oil and minced garlic.

Dinner was served on the open-air terrace of the resort. The evening breeze from the mountains carried the cool scent of grass and trees. Bai Junze took off his suit jacket and draped it over the back of the chair, rolled up his shirt sleeves, and focused intently on peeling shrimp.

He twisted off the shrimp head, peeled off the shrimp shell segment by segment, and gently pulled off the tail to get a whole piece of shrimp meat. Then he dipped it in the soup and put it into Gu Yunjin's bowl.

After peeling the shrimp, she picked up the serving chopsticks, took a piece of the tenderest fish belly meat from the sauerkraut fish, carefully picked out the peppercorns from the edge of the bowl, and put it into her bowl as well.

Gu Yunjin picked up a piece of fish and put it in her mouth. The fish was so tender that it hardly needed to be chewed. The fresh and sweet flavor was accompanied by the rich and tangy aroma of fermented sauerkraut, which stimulated her taste buds just right.

She picked up the shrimp tail meat again; the shrimp meat was firm and bouncy, and it was covered with the aroma of minced garlic and chili oil.

Then she put down her chopsticks, said nothing, and rested her chin on her hand, watching Bai Junze struggle with the lobster shell with bright eyes.

"What are you looking at?"

"It's so nice to have someone peel shrimp for me. I don't have to lift a finger or get my hands dirty. All I have to do is open my mouth and eat. I used to only dream about this kind of treatment."

Gu Yunjin's tone carried a hint of teasing.

Bai Junze placed the third peeled shrimp into her dish, took a tissue to wipe his fingers, and then looked up at her.

"I'll peel them for you every day from now on."

Gu Yunjin's smile faltered for a moment.

It wasn't because of the sentence itself—she had heard sweeter words and seen more extravagant promises; deep down, she didn't really believe in sweet talk.

It was already completely dark when the car entered the city of Yunjing.

The streetlights on both sides of the airport expressway form two golden ribbons, leaving long trails of light in the night.

When they arrived at the departure hall, Bai Junze's hand was still on the steering wheel. His knuckles unconsciously tightened twice before he relaxed and turned to look at Gu Yunjin in the passenger seat.

"Can you stay tonight?"

Gu Yunjin looked at him intently, then gently shook her head.

"I've already stayed an extra day, Bai Junze. There's a ton of stuff piling up in Dahai City waiting for me to deal with."

She smiled, her tone gentle yet clear, as if she were coaxing a large, unhappy dog.

"And we're getting engaged in a few days, so we'll be able to see each other again then."

Bai Junze didn't speak, he just looked at her quietly.

He knew she was right—the engagement ceremony was next week, the invitations had been sent out, all the preparations were underway, and they would see each other again soon.

He knew these principles; each one was sound and irrefutable.

But reason is reason, and feelings are feelings.

Gu Yunjin gently touched the corner of his lips.

Bai Junze released the steering wheel, got out of the car, walked around to the passenger side, and opened the car door for her.

He lifted the suitcase handle with one hand and naturally took her hand with the other, walking with her towards the departure hall.

They stopped at the same time in front of the security checkpoint.

"I'm very happy today," Gu Yunjin looked up at him, her beautiful eyes sparkling under the airport's fluorescent lights.

"I haven't been this happy in many years."

Bai Junze tightened his grip on her hand. He wanted to say something, but he found that his language skills suddenly became a bit rusty at that moment.

All those business phrases that used to flow effortlessly, those sentences that could precisely express any demand, are now stuck in my throat.

"Let me know when you arrive," he said finally.

Gu Yunjin nodded, withdrew her hand, and took the suitcase.

After taking two steps, she turned back and glanced at him again.

Then she turned and walked into the security checkpoint without looking back.

Bai Junze stood there, watching the tall, slender figure pass through the security gate and disappear into the crowd.

He suddenly discovered a physiological reaction in his body that he had never experienced before—a dull, slowly spreading soreness in his chest.

He used to travel abroad on business trips for half a month at a time, and he would never say goodbye to anyone for more than three seconds.

Gu Yunjin is just returning to Dahai City, and they will meet again in a few days, but his chest feels heavy.

He leaned back in his seat, and then he realized the name of that dull ache he had just felt—it was longing.

This is different from my previous two relationships.

He had his first love when he was eighteen, and he almost forgot what she looked like. When they broke up, he only remembered that the weather was very hot.

They dated for a longer period during college, but they were too far apart and grew up in their own directions. When they broke up, he couldn't even remember her phone number.

But this time was different. Someone walked into his life, making him feel that without her, the air felt thinner.

He always thought that feelings were a low priority, but Gu Yunjin was different; she was the only person he wanted to peel shrimp for every day.

This feeling was unfamiliar, but he didn't want to resist it.

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