Chapter 37: Date

Yun Muxi was even more flustered by his gaze. She said hurriedly, "I'll just stick on a band-aid."

Mou Yichen let go of her finger and placed both hands on her shoulders. He looked at her seriously and said, "Xiao Xi, let me take care of the both of you, okay?"

Yun Muxi pretended to misinterpret his intention. She laughed, "Haha, you've always been taking care of us! You've already done more than enough for us!"

Then, she gently pushed away his hands, walked to the coffee table and began to search for a band-aid.

Mou Yichen knew that Yun Muxi understood what he meant but chose to deliberately deny it and pretend to not understand. However, this unintentional rejection hurt his heart even more. He looked at Yun Muxi wrap her wound with a faint sorrowful face. For so many years, although he had a good relationship with Yun Muxi, it remained there. He had never managed to walk into her heart.

Mou Yichen smiled. It was a sorrowful one, as if he was laughing at himself. The disappointment on his handsome face portrayed him as a Prince of Sorrow. If other women were to see this, they would probably throw themselves onto him and never let go of him. Only Yun Muxi could so coldly treat his heart for her like air.

Yun Muxi was not cold-hearted. She was well aware of how well he treated her and have remembered all that he had done. But nobody could change who she loved or not. She had already told Mou Yichen long ago that she did not want to owe him anything, she could not afford to return this relationship debt. It must be returned with one's heart, that which she had already sealed up. However, Mou Yichen insisted that he did not care whether she owed him anything. He continued to be around her. Eventually, Yun Muxi gave up and let him be.

The atmosphere became awkward. Mou Yichen did not stay for long, he returned home soon after. However, Yun Muxi had a hard time composing herself. She was troubled over Mou Yichen's affection for her and Niannian being bullied.

Yun Muxi's heart ached so much, she could not breathe. Since she had chosen this path, she knew she had to face these problems sooner or later. But now that they're happening, she felt so overwhelmed! Niannian was innocent but had to face so much unnecessary pain at such a young age. Was she really wrong? Yun Muxi told herself, she did not regret keeping Niannian.

...

...

At City Central Square.

On the second day, Gong Yu arrived at Central Square on time. To avoid unnecessary trouble, he changed his style of dressing. He wore a black hoodie and black sweatpants, paired with a black sports shoe and a black baseball cap, which he had lowered. He topped it off with a pair of black sunglasses that managed to cover half his face.

While he was mysterious, he stood out even more at Central Square. His mysteriousness incurred curiosity. He was dressed as a sunny boy, which would complement a lively sunny boy's handsome features. Instead, he had an icy cold expression, which would only lead to disappointment. He was a handsome young man, but why did he look so emotionless? The clothes did not match him at all!

Gong Yu saw the female standing by the water fountain at a great distance. Although she was not wearing her nurse uniform, he still managed to remember her from that night, thanks to his super strong memory.

She was wearing a rose-red long dress, her wavy long hair falling naturally and reaching her waist. She was holding on to a black purse from Chanel's newest spring limited edition collection. She paired her outfit with a pair of black heels and it was obvious that she put in effort into her makeup; she looked beautiful.

She stood there quietly, checking the time on her watch occasionally.

Gong Yu took big strides towards her and said in a cold voice, "I'm here!"

Startled, she turned head and saw him standing right in front of her. His appearance indeed caused her to fail to recognize him at the first glance. She only confirmed that it was him through his pleasant voice.

She smiled brightly. "You're here! So punctual!"

He did not make a fuss out of it. He said coldly, "Let's start!"

She did not think too much about his cold attitude and was still sinking in her own happiness. She happily introduced herself, "I am Jiang Xiao Nuan, I'm 23 years old, single, and a nurse."

Gong Yu answered directly in a cold voice, "It doesn't matter, I don't care."

Jiang Xiao Nuan was a little disappointed but her smile came back on quickly. She put her arms around his affectionately and tried to pull him along. Gong Yu did not move. He furrowed his brows slightly and the atmosphere became cold. He said in a serious voice, "Let go of your hand!"

Jiang Xiao Nuan felt wronged. "We agreed that this is a date! Which couple do not walk arm in arm, arm over shoulder or hand on the waist? What's wrong with this? I'm not asking you to kiss me or go to bed together! Must you really go to this extent? You're like an innocent boy."

Gong Yu did not bother. He continued to warn her coldly, "I asked you to let go!"

Jiang Xiao Nuan was full of dissatisfaction but still let go of his arm unwillingly. She turned and headed for the shopping mall. Gong Yu followed behind her, taking big steps and maintaining a distance from her.

Jiang Xiao Nuan was looking forward to this date, so she had came early to wait. She even bought the movie tickets and planned the whole day.

Today was a weekday and it was morning, so there were not many people at the cinema. Jiang Xiao Nuan bought drinks and popcorn. She smiled as she handed a cup of coke to Gong Yu. He did not receive it. Instead, he said in a faint voice, "I don't drink sweet drinks."

Jiang Xiao Nuan then immediately asked, "Oh, then what do you drink? I'll go and buy!"

He answered impatiently, "I don't drink anything. Let's go in, aren't we watching a movie?"

He did not wait for her and headed for the door himself. Jiang Xiao Nuan stomped her foot out of frustration and quickly followed along.

It was a love film, very romantic and sweet. There was love in the air, but from beginning to end, Jiang Xiao Nuan felt Gong Yu's coldness towards her. He did not speak a single word and stared directly at the screen with no facial expression. She tried to strike a conversation several times, but he only answered her with cold silence.

After the movie, Jiang Xiao Nuan continued relentlessly to strike up a conversation. She brought Gong Yu to a romantic Japanese restaurant.

They sat face to face in the booth. Gong Yu continued to speak not a single word. No matter what she was saying, his answer was his silence.

Jiang Xiao Nuan could not tolerate any further. Frustrated, she proclaimed, "Hey! Ice Cube Gong, can't you say something? What kind of a date is this? Am I on a date with an ice cube? I would rather hug my fridge at home! At least it can give me food and drinks!"

Gong Yu finally stirred. He replied coldly, "This is who I am, you're the one who wanted this."

Jiang Xiao Nuan was so angry, she became speechless. Her eyes started to become misty and she cried helplessly, "I just want to go on a date with you, and you agreed! Can't you show me some respect? I am trying to be in the mood of what us girls would call a perfect date, what about you! This might be my one and only chance in life, I don't want it to be like this..."

There was finally some expression on his face. Raising his brow, he looked at her and listened to her complaint.

"I am actually what others would call a rich girl. My family is very wealthy but I am the only child, so my parents put all their expectations on me. But I don't like this lifestyle at all. From young, I have to learn how to act like a princess. I have to always be elegant. When other kids are playing, I have to attend all sorts of classes. I have to learn my etiquettes, piano, dance, calligraphy, and painting. When I grew older, I even have to learn wine-tasting, business management, socializing and all kinds of languages. After much difficulty, my father finally agreed to let me do what I want before I turn 24. This is how I manage to become a nurse, to become an ordinary girl leading a normal life. However, I still have no say over my own relationship. This was the only condition that my dad brought up. He said that I cannot date other boys, I must accept the man whom he had decided I shall marry."

Jiang Xiao Nuan stopped talking for a while. The vibrant smiles on her face were replaced with faint sorrow. Looking outside the window, she finally started talking again.

"I longed for the chance to fall in love like an ordinary girl and date like there's no tomorrow. Even if the relationship does not last, at least I loved because I want to. However, in my father's eyes, I can't even think about this. Actually, I wasn't expecting much, until that day when I met you. I was faltered, I imagined if I could fall in love with a man I like, even if it's just for a day. That day I saw a news article that seemed to be talking about you. Truthfully, I already knew it was you, judging by your back view. However, I accidentally refreshed the page and lost the photo! Then I lost control of myself and posted that photo. I never thought that your manager will contact me. When he did, I hesitated, but eventually, I still decided to try just this once. Even if it's unsuccessful, I won't do anything to you. But I didn't think that your manager would agree! I was so excited back then. I couldn't sleep the whole night, I was looking forward to the day when I can have a perfect date, my one and only chance at dating someone I like."

Jiang Xiao Nuan turned back and fixed her eyes on Gong Yu. "But I've never thought that my dream was as empty as a bubble. All I got was your coldness and impatience. Perhaps I'm too naive! I must be stupid, I'm already 23, how can I still have a fairytale dream? I'm sorry for troubling you today."

After speaking, Jiang Xiao Nuan stood up and got ready to leave.

Before she reached the door, Gong Yu's low voice was heard, "Let's continue with our date!"