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Gu Xiaoxi bit her lip and bashfully nodded.

Only then did Quan Shaoqing lower his head and lightly kiss her forehead.

After that, he looked at the hotel and asked, "Are you having dinner here?"

"Yeah! Do you want to join?" Gu Xiaoxi asked.

"No, thank you!" He looked at her red, plump cheeks and kissed her rosy lips, "My affairs should not be known to others. Remember to contact me if you need anything."

"Are you going back?" Gu Xiaoxi clasped his fingers, but even if he came only to leave again, it was understandable.

He was busy with so many official duties.

"Can’t bear to part with me?" Quan Shaoqing lightly teased her nose and tenderly curved his lips, "I’ll come over when you have a break."

"What?" Gu Xiaoxi didn’t understand the meaning behind his words.

Quan Shaoqing released her hand and flashed her a charming smile.

The next second, he had vanished from sight.

Gu Xiaoxi stood there, only recovering her senses after a long while, her cheeks suddenly burning red.

She hoped his meaning wasn’t what she was thinking.

After dinner, Gu Xiaoxi and Su San, along with others, returned to the hotel.

Jing Haoran, seeing Gu Xiaoxi’s radiant, blissful expression like a joyous little bird, was very curious, "Gu Xiaoxi, are you in heat?"

At these words, Gu Xiaoxi’s face immediately turned pitch black.

She punched him on the forehead, angrily retorted, "Get lost, want to bet I’ll kick you flying out?"

That’s when Su San also came over and looked at Gu Xiaoxi’s flushed cheeks, "It’s not Jing Haoran calling you out, but your expression really looks the part."

Biting her lip, Gu Xiaoxi glared at Su San, unable to help but indignantly say, "Stop fooling around, everyone go to your rooms to sleep. We need to find Mr. Naji early tomorrow."

Saying this, she strode into her own room and closed the door.

Gu Xiaoxi immediately ran to the mirror to inspect her reflection.

Indeed, her cheeks were flushed red, even her earnest attempt to look stern couldn’t hide her blossoming joy.

Gu Xiaoxi glanced at her phone and felt it was getting late.

She took a shower, put on a bathrobe, and lay down on the clean, spacious bed.

Her mind was filled with images of Quan Shaoqing.

His face glowing with energy and overwhelming charisma.

His deep and narrow phoenix eyes.

His thin lips slightly curled in cool detachment...

Gu Xiaoxi immediately covered her face, feeling her brain must be broken.

She hugged her pillow, forcing herself to sleep.

But it was as if someone had lit a fire in her heart, burning incessantly.

Warm, and it made her heart uncontrollably ripple with strange pleasure.

Gu Xiaoxi thought she was going crazy.

If in the past, she merely liked Quan Shaoqing.

Now, that fondness had become an uncontrollable love.

Even, because of a single remark from him, she would inexplicably wait for him.

Hoping he would come to her side, to accompany her.

An hour passed.

Two hours passed.

He didn’t come.

Gu Xiaoxi, troubled and frustrated, rubbed her tousled hair.

Damnit, she was actually suffering from insomnia.

The moment she closed her eyes, her mind, her heart were overwhelmed with his image.

Until the third hour, she got up, grabbed the red wine from the table, and downed it in one go.

After that, she dozed off on the sofa in a daze.

Gu Xiaoxi had a dream that night.

In the dream, Quan Shaoqing came, lifted her from the sofa to the bed.

She clung to him tightly, then kissed him, telling him.

She was growing to like him more and more.

He pinched her nose, indulgently stroked her forehead, and told her to stop fooling around.

...

Gu Xiaoxi suddenly woke up, and by then, daylight had already broken.

Perhaps she had drunk a bit too much the previous night, her head still felt heavy and foggy.

Her memory was a bit hazy.

Gu Xiaoxi covered her head with her hands and slapped her forehead hard.

Thinking back to that dream, her ears turned beet red.

It’s a good thing it was just a dream; otherwise, her forwardness last night would have been utterly embarrassing.

She took a deep breath, shook her head, and tried to forget that dream which made her cheeks blush and her heart race.

She threw off the covers and got out of bed.

Just then, a piece of paper floated down from the bedside.

Curious, she bent down to pick it up.

Instantly, she felt as if struck by a bolt from the blue and was petrified on the spot.

On the white piece of paper was written a short, powerful poem.

Baby! Are you awake yet?

Let the morning light kiss your face for me,

and the gentle breeze say good morning in my stead.

Knowing you hold me in your heart,

makes me very happy at this moment.

Right now, I cannot say I love you,

but I allow you to reserve my future love.

Baby! Are you willing to wait?

Wait for the future, when I can give you a warm home,

wait for this life, even if we grow old together.

Finally—

Before I leave, my passionate kiss is already imprinted on your forehead.

Gu Xiaoxi held the paper in both hands, her eyes long since brimming with tears.

She felt his promise, his affection, the unspoken bitterness in his heart.

The highest realm of love is not to laugh loudly, but to have tears of happiness streaming down your face.

Gu Xiaoxi carefully folded the poem, the promise, and placed it in her bag.

She was determined to carry his promises and love with her as she ventured into the world.

In this life, even if they could not be together,

having his letter was enough for her.

She stood in front of the windowsill.

Spreading her arms, she let the morning light fall on her—the kiss he spoke of.

Closing her eyes, she let the gentle wind brush past her ear—the good morning he mentioned.

She felt it, and she heard it.

Gu Xiaoxi opened her eyes and spun around the room a few times, with tears of joy already wetting her clothes.

...

Jing Haoran was woken up early by Su San, clearly wanting to sleep in.

Suddenly, his bedroom door was pushed open.

The two men looked up at the door simultaneously.

In front of them stood a woman in a fashionable white dress.

Her jet-black hair, with a slight curl, draped over her shoulders.

Her delicate features and bright eyes radiated charisma, and her rosy lips shaped into a dazzling smile.

Even from a distance, one could feel the enchanting allure of the woman and her blissful aura.

"Gu Xiaoxi!"

Su San and Jing Haoran instantly widened their eyes, full of curiosity.

She who typically dressed in trousers, shirts, in black and white, with flat leather boots or casual white shoes, not particularly concerned about femininity, suddenly changed her style.

What had prompted her today?

She was wearing a light blue dress, revealing her fair arms, had applied light makeup, and even curled her hair just a bit.

Especially since she was naturally beautiful.

A little grooming made her stunningly breathtaking.

Jing Haoran abruptly got up from the bed, clutched at his wildly beating little heart, and rushed to Gu Xiaoxi, whispering in her ear, "Fairy Sister, I fall at the hem of your pomegranate dress once again. Will you be my girlfriend?"

"What do you think?" Gu Xiaoxi squinted with a hint of coldness in her eyes.

Jing Haoran, frightened, immediately stepped back, patting his forehead, "Sorry, I was mistaken just now. You’re not my type."

Turning around, he couldn’t help but mutter, "Only Shaoqing can handle you."

But as soon as he spoke, a chill ran down his neck, causing him to quickly cover his mouth.

Gu Xiaoxi snorted coldly; her ears were exceptionally sharp, and she could hear even the quietest sound.

However, she was in a good mood today, so she let it go.

Su San gave Gu Xiaoxi a thumbs up, "You’re in your twenties now; it’s about time you started dressing up. Look how beautiful you are now. A celestial beauty, no less!"

Gu Xiaoxi’s lips curved up, and she couldn’t deny that Su San’s flattery made her happy.

A woman in love, of course, should become more and more beautiful.

She was no longer in the military and deserved a space for herself.

*

Returning to the matter at hand.

At eight in the morning, Gu Xiaoxi, accompanied by Jing Haoran and Su San, arrived promptly at Mr. Naji’s villa.

Jing Haoran stepped forward to knock on the door.

A moment later, the door opened.

Mr. Naji, already dressed in a neat suit, was waiting for them at home.

Seeing Gu Xiaoxi, he immediately invited them in.

Gu Xiaoxi was direct in her approach and asked, "Mr. Naji, have you made up your mind?"

Upon hearing this, Mr. Naji’s gaze flickered.

After a moment’s thought, he lowered his head and said, "It took me quite an effort to persuade my wife last night, but she agreed to give you the necklace. However, we don’t want money. We only hope you could help us with a favor."

"What favor?" Gu Xiaoxi asked.

As long as they were willing to hand over the necklace, no matter how difficult the task, she would see it done.