Song Qinian's eyes widened abruptly. She never imagined that a trip to the restroom could lead her to such a massive scandal, and one involving her own mother-in-law, no less.
In the next second, she heard Gu Zhiyan's trembling voice, "I didn't!"
"Fine! You didn't! Then let me tell you! I like you! Damn it, I like you! I've liked you since the first time I saw you. Back then, you were married, and I never bothered you. Watching you be so unhappy, I really wanted to snatch you away from that loser Shen Zhenghao!"
Xie Luofeng's hardcore confession indeed startled Song Qinian. She had thought Xie Luofeng's gaze towards Gu Zhiyan was unusual, but she never expected he had liked Gu Zhiyan for so many years.
Now, she didn't know whether to leave or stay, standing frozen in awkwardness.
"But you explicitly said you wouldn't divorce Shen Zhenghao on your own. It's fine, I can wait. I've already waited for over a decade, what's another decade? When you divorce Shen Zhenghao, I'll be the happiest. I thought I could finally pursue you, but you're still as cold-hearted as ever."
Gu Zhiyan's face was ashen. Looking at Xie Luofeng, whose face was etched with sorrow, she felt a pang of bitterness.
"Just when I thought I saw a glimmer of hope, you'd rather flirt with other men than give me a pleasant look. Gu Zhiyan, my heart is made of flesh too; it aches."
Let alone Gu Zhiyan, even Song Qinian, an observer, could feel Xie Luofeng's pain from his words.
"Gu Zhiyan, I'll ask you one question: do you like me or not? It's been twenty years, and I'm tired. If you have no feelings for me at all, then..."
Xie Luofeng took a deep breath, as if giving himself one last chance, or perhaps issuing his final ultimatum. "Then I won't like you anymore! You can go eat, work out, and watch movies with whomever you want, I won't care about you anymore!"
Silence fell outside. Song Qinian's heart pounded in her chest.
Time ticked by, and an invisible tension enveloped the air.
Xie Luofeng stared intently at Gu Zhiyan. In the endless silence, he gradually faltered. He nodded, without saying a word, and slowly stepped back.
Watching Xie Luofeng's lonely figure turn and leave, Gu Zhiyan's uncomfortable heart ached immeasurably. That's right, she had always known Xie Luofeng liked her.
The reason she hadn't divorced Shen Zhenghao back then wasn't because she loved Shen Zhenghao deeply, but because the old madam had saved her family. Moreover, she had a son.
Later, after the divorce, she had never dared to try a new relationship because she had been too scarred by that marriage. She and Xie Luofeng were confidantes, and Xie Luofeng had a debt of gratitude towards her.
If they remained friends, their relationship would never change. But if they became lovers or a couple, it might lead to an end.
She wasn't afraid of paparazzi photographing her with others because she was indifferent and didn't care. However, she was terrified that her reputation would affect Xie Luofeng.
Now that Xie Luofeng had so crudely torn down the precarious veil between them, what should she do?
Before Gu Zhiyan could figure things out, Xie Luofeng suddenly doubled back, with a cold, handsome face. He rushed over, hugged Gu Zhiyan, and then kissed her deeply.
Gu Zhiyan was only stunned for a few seconds. In those moments, her mind seemed to make a significant decision. She stood on tiptoe, wrapped her arms around Xie Luofeng's neck, and reciprocated his kiss.
Xie Luofeng never expected Gu Zhiyan to respond so actively. He had been too hurt just now and felt he couldn't just let it go.
He knew Gu Zhiyan well. Directly breaking down the barrier between them meant either being together or never speaking again.
The thought that he would no longer be able to hug her or be good to her as a friend made him unwilling to give up. So, he had rushed back, wanting her to remember him firmly.
What was happening now?
Had she accepted him? Or was she just pitying him?
Of course, these thoughts were far less important than the kiss. The person he had loved for over twenty years, he didn't want to overthink for even a second; he just wanted to kiss her properly.
They kissed for a long time, so long that Song Qinian's toes were practically digging holes in the floor.
Song Qinian felt regret. She wished she hadn't gone to the restroom at that particular time. Now she didn't know what to do.
"Clatter..."
It wasn't until the sound of an object falling to the ground that the two slowly parted. Xie Luofeng's eyes were fixated on Gu Zhiyan, completely oblivious to the world around them.
Gu Zhiyan instinctively looked back and saw Shen Keqin with his mouth agape, looking astonished and clueless.
"Um... I... coffee... ah... it fell on the ground..."
Shen Keqin's mind went blank, and he spoke incoherently, not even knowing what he was saying.
Song Qinian hadn't expected Shen Keqin to witness this scene either. She touched her forehead, then walked out, greeted Xie Luofeng and Gu Zhiyan, and dragged the stiff, wooden Shen Keqin away.
Gu Zhiyan: "..."
Gu Zhiyan felt she had never been so embarrassed in her life. Yet, Xie Luofeng still held her tightly. "I knew you liked me! Ay Yan, I love you, I really, really love you..."
Gu Zhiyan took a deep breath and raised her hand, pinching Xie Luofeng's waist fiercely. "Love you, you big idiot! Let go of me!"
"No, I won't let go. You kissed me, so I'll assume you accepted my confession!"
"Xie! Luo! Feng!"
Every word Gu Zhiyan spoke was squeezed through her teeth. Xie Luofeng knew Gu Zhiyan was angry, but he still let go of her timidly, looking aggrieved. "You can't just kiss me and not take responsibility!"
Gu Zhiyan snorted. "I've kissed so many male celebrities; do I have to be responsible for all of them?"
Xie Luofeng: "..."
Gu Zhiyan walked a few steps forward and then stopped. "Xie Luofeng, you're truly the stupidest person I've ever met, and there's no one else."
On the other side, Shen Keqin hadn't recovered from the scene. He kept holding Song Qinian's hand and asking, "What do we do?"
To be honest, Song Qinian didn't know what to do either.
Just then, Gu Zhiyan arrived.
As soon as Gu Zhiyan entered, Song Qinian and Shen Keqin stood up like students caught doing something wrong by their teacher.
"Third... Third Aunt..."
"Mom..."
Gu Zhiyan nodded, sat on the sofa, took out a cigarette, lit it, and then said calmly to them, "Sit down. Ask whatever you want to ask."
She showed no embarrassment or guilt; she was completely composed.
Shen Keqin glanced at Song Qinian, signaling her with his eyes to ask. Song Qinian felt utterly mortified. After all, she was Gu Zhiyan's daughter-in-law; how could she ask such a thing?
Seeing Song Qinian shake her head, Shen Keqin took a deep breath, puffed out his chest as if going into battle, and nervously asked, "Third Aunt, what's going on between you and Director Xie...?"