Chapter 23: A Child Falls from the Sky

After Yu Sheng rejected Gu Yan, he had originally wanted to tell Song He about it, but after a moment’s thought, he realized this was such an embarrassing thing that if he told Song He, the only outcome would be Song He laughing himself to death—so he’d better keep it to himself.

Still, Yu Sheng—why did she turn him down this time around?

After being rejected, Gu Yan instead took to heart Song He’s advice to be shameless. He continued seeing Yu Sheng every day. Although Yu Sheng seemed a bit embarrassed whenever she saw him because of what happened, Gu Yan didn’t mind at all. In fact, the more embarrassed Yu Sheng became, the more brazen he grew.

Today, he’d toss her a few bottles of milk; tomorrow, he’d bring her some snacks—always in front of the whole class, as if publicly announcing something between them.

Finally, Yu Sheng couldn’t take it anymore and pulled Gu Yan into an empty classroom.

“What’s gotten into you these days? Stop bringing me food. Or, at the very least, stop doing it in front of everyone. Now they’re all gossiping about us.”

Gu Yan didn’t care in the slightest. He casually sat on the empty desk next to her. He was already more than a head taller than Yu Sheng, and sitting like this made him tower over her even more. Yu Sheng had to look up to meet his gaze.

Gu Yan leaned down, looking at Yu Sheng, and suddenly felt an urge to poke her puffed-up cheeks.

“I give you what I want to give. What does it matter to them? Let them talk all they want.”

And, acting on impulse, Gu Yan really did reach out and poke Yu Sheng’s cheek.

“You... What are you doing?” Yu Sheng clutched her face, flustered and indignant. “Did Song He put you up to this again? Why... why have you changed?”

Gu Yan stifled a laugh, jumping down from the desk. “He didn’t say anything. I’ve wanted to do that for ages, and today I just happened to do it.”

Yu Sheng wanted to say more, but the bell rang for class.

The two of them returned to the classroom, one after the other.

“Yu Sheng, why is your face so red?” Lin Ning covered her mouth, smirking. “Did you two just... hmm hmm hmm...”

Yu Sheng hadn’t noticed before, but when she touched her cheek, it was indeed burning hot. No wonder their classmates had looked at them so strangely when they came out—why hadn’t Gu Yan warned her?

Great, now even if she jumped into the Yellow River, she wouldn’t be able to clear her name.

“We didn’t do anything. I just told him to stop buying me snacks.”

“Oh, is that so? Do you think I believe that?” Lin Ning grinned mischievously.

Yu Sheng sighed, giving up on arguing.

“So, have you two made it official yet?” Lin Ning pressed.

“We’re just classmates. It’s not like that.”

Hearing this, Lin Ning’s face clouded with disappointment. “Gu Yan is hopeless. After all this time, he still hasn’t made a move. I gave him so many hints, and he’s still as dense as you.”

Yu Sheng listened to her muttering. “What hints?”

Lin Ning quickly shook her head. “Nothing, nothing. You’d better pay attention to the lesson.”

After school on Friday, Gu Yan immediately noticed a flashy black Bentley Mulsanne parked boldly in front of Yu Sheng’s apartment building.

He didn’t know why, but even though he’d never seen this car before, a vein throbbed at his temple, as if something bad was about to happen.

Sure enough, the car he’d just noticed rolled down its window, revealing a cascade of chestnut-brown curls. When the window was fully lowered, Gu Yan recognized the face.

Most of her face was hidden by oversized sunglasses, but beneath them were smiling red lips—charming and alluring.

“Auntie?” Gu Yan felt a headache coming on.

After all, running into his aunt here could only mean trouble.

Gu Yan’s aunt was the editor-in-chief of a fashion magazine in S City. Though she was in her thirties, she lived as exquisitely as someone in her twenties—a veritable fashion diva.

When Han Lu saw Gu Yan recognize her, she took off her sunglasses and got out of the car with a smile. “Gu Yan, how’s life living here on your own?”

Yu Sheng, realizing this was Gu Yan’s aunt, nudged him. “I’ll head upstairs, then?”

Gu Yan nodded.

Once Yu Sheng had gone, Han Lu looked between the two with a teasing expression. “Well, well, my nephew already has a little girlfriend.”

Gu Yan’s face flushed. “Auntie, please don’t say things like that. She hasn’t even agreed yet.”

Han Lu chuckled softly. “Alright, I’ll stop teasing you. Actually, I’m here to ask you a favor.”

His right eyelid twitched.

“A favor? Auntie, should we go inside? My place is just upstairs.”

Han Lu shook her head and put her sunglasses back on. “I have things to do, so I won’t come up this time. I came to ask you to look after this little one for a few days.” She inclined her head toward the car window, and only then did Gu Yan notice a small head peeking at him from below the glass.

“Come out, Yi Yi. This is your big brother.”

Prompted by her mother, the little girl opened the car door herself and clambered down from the back seat.

“Mama!” The child, with two pigtails, clung to Han Lu’s leg.

Han Lu picked her up. “This is your big brother. For the next few days, you’ll be staying with him, alright?”

The little girl wrapped her arms around Han Lu’s neck and nodded timidly. “Hello, big brother. My name is Yi Yi.”

Gu Yan’s mouth twitched as he looked at his little cousin, feeling a mix of emotions.

“Auntie, you... you’re serious?”

Han Lu set the child down. “Be good, go to your brother.”

Obediently, the little girl ran over and hugged Gu Yan’s leg.

“I’m serious. I’m just asking you to watch her for a few days. You’re on break anyway, so I brought her over on Friday on purpose.” Han Lu winked, then got back into the car.

“Wait, Auntie, what are you up to these days? Can’t you leave her with Grandma?”

Han Lu flashed a wicked smile. “Your uncle and I are going on a road trip. Of course Grandma can’t know.” Without giving Gu Yan a chance to protest, she drove off, leaving him holding Yi Yi in the exhaust fumes.

As soon as her mother left, Yi Yi’s eyes reddened and her lip trembled, as if she’d burst into tears at any moment.

Gu Yan, suddenly like a novice father, was at a complete loss. “Yi Yi, don’t cry. Big brother will take you home.”

Yi Yi was only four or five, and since their families lived in different cities, Gu Yan didn’t see her much except during the New Year.

What kind of mother does this? Gu Yan sighed helplessly.

“Yi Yi won’t cry. Yi Yi promised Mama that if I’m good and stay with my brother, Mama will come back safe.” Yi Yi wiped her tears, her voice trembling.

What had his aunt said to make this child so worried? Some parents...

“Alright, good girl. If you behave, big brother will buy you candy.”

So, coaxing her, Gu Yan carried her upstairs. Just as they reached the door, he saw Yu Sheng waiting outside, as if she’d been waiting for him.

“Yu Sheng? Were you waiting for me?”

Yu Sheng was clearly startled to see him holding a little girl and didn’t respond.

“Is... is she yours?” Yu Sheng asked, looking conflicted.

“No, no, not at all. This is my aunt’s child, Yi Yi. Her mom and dad went on a trip, and they asked me to look after her for a few days.”

Yu Sheng was instantly smitten by the adorable girl and reached out to touch her chubby little hand.

“Hello, big sister.” Yi Yi greeted Yu Sheng sweetly, not at all fussy.

“She’s so cute!” Yu Sheng’s eyes sparkled. “Oh, I came to call you for dinner. Bring her with you!”

“Alright. Yi Yi, can you walk by yourself?”

Yi Yi nodded obediently and let Yu Sheng lead her upstairs, her little shoes patterin