...
After dinner, Gu Yusheng and Xiaowang did not stay long before taking their leave from the Qin home.
The family escorted the two of them to the elevator, while Qin Zhi'ai's mother repeatedly nagged at them to drop by anytime, stopping only when Qin Zhi'ai told her that it was enough. Waving her hands at Gu Yusheng and Xiaowang to get on the elevator, she left her mother and brother to accompany them downstairs.
The weather in Hangzhou had been dreary for the entire day and, as they exited the apartment building, it started to drizzle. The sky was dark and, beyond the dim and green streetlights in the neighborhood, there was no other source of light.
Bearing with the rain, Xiaowang ran back to the car and retrieved a black umbrella from the trunk before dashing back to escort Gu Yusheng; however, Gu Yusheng had no intention to leave and gestured to Xiaowang to keep the umbrella for himself.
Xiaowang could tell that Gu Yusheng had something to discuss with Qin Zhi'ai. Passing the umbrella to Gu Yusheng, he said, "Master Gu, I'll wait for you at the entrance of the apartment complex."
Without waiting for Gu Yusheng's reply, he ran back to the car in the rain. Yanking open the car door, he hopped in and drove off.
After the car had completely disappeared from sight, Gu Yusheng finally pointed at the small neighborhood garden nearby and said, "Let's take a stroll."
The last few times she'd met with Gu Yusheng, they'd never been alone, and she hadn't had a chance to clarify the burning questions in her mind. As such, she accepted the proposition.
"Mm," she replied softly. Together, they walked under Gu Yusheng's umbrella toward the garden.
Walking along the winding cobblestone path, it took them 10 minutes before they reached the pavilion in the garden. Due to the drizzle, there wasn't a single soul in the park.
Casually setting the umbrella aside, Gu Yusheng walked a few more steps into the pavilion before coming to a stop.
Qin Zhi'ai stood in silence near his umbrella. After a moment, she walked over to Gu Yusheng and, right behind him, she said, "Master Gu, thank you so much for helping out with my brother's situation this afternoon."
Gu Yusheng glanced at Qin Zhi'ai without saying anything.
Qin Zhi'ai started to ask the questions that she had. "Master Gu, how did you know my brother was in trouble this afternoon?"
He was obviously prepared when he showed up at the school this afternoon, so he must have known something beforehand…
While Gu Yusheng had no intent to deceive Qin Zhi'ai, he didn't intend to give her all the details, either; he had more crucial matters he wanted to discuss with her.
"By pure coincidence, I got to know about her plans from a friend."
Even though, Gu Yusheng did not name her, Qin Zhi'ai understood that he was referring to Liang Doukou.
"Don't worry. She will never harm you or your family again," Gu Yusheng reassured her quickly.
"Oh," Qin Zhi'ai replied. Recalling the news of his marriage to Liang Doukou, she did not know what else to say to him.
The rain became increasingly heavier, and the sound of raindrops pattering throughout their surroundings was constant.
Occasionally, a gust of wind would blow, bringing with it dampness and chill.
Seeing that she was silent, Gu Yusheng turned to look at her. He recalled how he had intentionally asked Xiaowang to release the news yesterday. While he wasn't certain if she had seen it, he still asked, "Is there anything else you'd like to ask me?"