"Gu Yin!" Nanyin pushed open Gu Yin's door without ceremony. Gu Yin, clad in white, was as elegant as jade, a peerless gentleman, both aloof and gentle. He was in his study, brush in hand, painting the one he admired in his heart.
Upon seeing Nanyin enter, Gu Yin's lips curved into a faint smile. He calmly put down the brush and discreetly covered the unfinished painting on his desk.
"Accompany me for a ride!" Nanyin was full of excitement. She was nearing her Jiji ceremony, standing tall and graceful, a fiery and dazzling sight in her red dress.
"Okay," Gu Yin's voice was gentle and doting. Nanyin blushed slightly upon hearing his tone, "Speak nicely to me..."
"Hm?" Gu Yin's voice was rich with a nasal tone.
"...No," Nanyin turned her head away.
However, Gu Yin smiled at Nanyin's reaction, "I always speak like this, don't I?" Gu Yin said.
Nanyin was a little unnatural, "...Let's go, let's go ride horses..." After saying this, Nanyin ran out in a bit of a hurry. Gu Yin watched Nanyin's reaction and was momentarily stunned, then let out a low laugh. His laughter was so stunning it could enchant time, like the most beautiful, most tender thing in this world.
When Gu Yin went out, Nanyin was already standing by the horses. She saw Gu Yin, who was arriving fashionably late.
"Why are you so slow?" Nanyin complained, looking at him.
"As soon as you called, I came, didn't I?" Gu Yin said with a smile.
"Hmph, let's go." Nanyin mounted her horse with a brisk movement. Gu Yin rode the horse behind her and followed. They weren't heading to the equestrian center, but to the outskirts of the capital. For Nanyin, the equestrian center was too small; the outside world offered more freedom and fewer constraints.
"Giddy up!" After mounting her horse, Nanyin had quite the demeanor of Nan Xiao Ming, exuding an aura of dominance and majesty.
Gu Yin followed behind Nanyin, watching her ride a horse in her red attire. Gu Yin suddenly thought, how wonderful it would be if it could always be like this... She was meant to be so free-spirited.
They rode for an unknown duration before finally stopping. Nanyin dismounted. Here, there was a lake, quite beautiful. Gu Yin followed closely.
"You're still too slow," Nanyin said with a hint of dissatisfaction, glancing at Gu Yin.
Gu Yin chuckled softly, "My equestrian skills are naturally inferior to yours, Yin'er."
Nanyin didn't know what was happening to her; whenever Gu Yin spoke to her like this, she would inexplicably blush and feel shy.
"Here, have some wine," Nanyin took two bottles of wine from her horse.
"You want to drink again? Be careful not to get drunk," Gu Yin said with a hint of helplessness.
"Why are you so talkative? Just say yes or no, are you drinking or not?" Nanyin was a little feisty. She had always enjoyed drinking.
Gu Yin really had no choice but to take the wine.
"We still have to ride back later, don't drink too much," Gu Yin still reminded her.
"Alright, alright, I know. Why are you being so long-winded?" Nanyin said impatiently, and then sat down on the spot. Gu Yin walked over and sat beside her.
"Gu Yin, I'll be eighteen in two months," Nanyin suddenly said.
"Mhm, Yin'er is a young lady now," Gu Yin complied.
"Tsk, you're clearly younger than me, yet you always speak like an adult and are so mature? If you get even older, what will happen?" Nanyin gave him a look of "contempt."
Gu Yin lowered his head and smiled gently, not taking offense. He opened a bottle of wine and drank it down in one gulp. Nanyin watched him; the sunlight fell upon him. As the clear wine went down his throat, his Adam's apple moved slightly... Nanyin was captivated. Gu Yin... seemed a little alluring. But it had to be said, he was truly, truly handsome.
"What is it?" Gu Yin, after taking a sip of wine, noticed a burning gaze fixed upon him. He looked over and saw Nanyin staring at him intently...
Caught red-handed, Nanyin felt embarrassed and quickly averted her gaze, "Ahem, it's nothing. I was just checking if you could really drink." Nanyin found an excuse.
"Heh..." Gu Yin chuckled, his chest vibrating slightly. The gentle undulation made the soft laughter even clearer.
Nanyin's face instantly burned. She pretended to be calm and looked at Gu Yin, "What are you laughing at? What's so funny?" Nanyin snapped fiercely.
To her surprise, Gu Yin laughed even harder seeing Nanyin like this. Nanyin bit her lip gently. It was so embarrassing. In a fit of desperation, she reached out and grabbed Gu Yin, "You're not allowed to laugh, not allowed to laugh at me. Why are you so annoying?! Gu Yin!!!" Nanyin's face was already incredibly red.
"Yin'er hasn't even had any wine yet, why is her face so flushed?" Gu Yin was intentionally trying to make Nanyin "look foolish" today, and was now deliberately "exposing her shortcomings."
Nanyin's small face puffed up indignantly, "You're not allowed to laugh anymore, or I'll get angry! It's your fault for having such a pretty face! And now you're deliberately mocking me, you're too annoying!" Nanyin shouted.
Gu Yin looked at Nanyin, who was lashing out at him, and his heart softened. He knew he couldn't really anger her, so he held Nanyin's hands and stopped his laughter, "Alright, it's my fault. I shouldn't have laughed at you, okay?"
"Hmph, I'm not talking to you anymore." Nanyin turned her face away and withdrew her hand.
"Alright, it's my fault. Don't be like this. Come on, don't you want to drink?" Gu Yin knew he must have pushed the little girl too far just now.
"Hmph," Nanyin opened the wine and drank it down. Gu Yin drank with her. The wine tasted good and didn't have a strong after-effect, so it was fine to let her drink a little.
"You mentioned you'll be eighteen soon. Is there any Jiji gift you want?" Gu Yin softened his tone.
Nanyin looked at him, "Can you give me whatever I want?"
"Tell me," Gu Yin raised his eyebrows slightly. What you want... I will offer it with both hands, even at the cost of everything.
"Hmph, what's the fun if I ask for it myself? Don't you know the importance of surprises? So, you have to prepare it yourself. The gift must be there, and you can't let me know in advance, or it won't be interesting. Why would you directly ask someone what gift they want? You don't understand girls at all... Gu Yin, be careful you won't be able to get a wife later," Nanyin said.
"What's wrong with that?" The person I want to marry is right in front of me. But... Gu Yin suddenly thought of something, and the light in his eyes suddenly dimmed.
Seeing Gu Yin's expression gradually change, Nanyin also toned down her earlier demeanor. Had she said something wrong?
"Gu Yin... What's wrong? I was just joking, don't take it seriously..." Nanyin said.
"Mhm, I know..." Gu Yin looked at the person before him, and the emptiness in his heart was gradually filled.