Quick Travel to the Clouds

Chapter 406 Yun Xiaqing 13

Half a year passed by bit by bit amid the busy sound of business telegrams from Yonghui Company and Gu Yanzhe's persistent and cautious "nibbling" of the company.

The wall of Yun Xiaqing's heart, which had been cracked, finally collapsed completely, and was replaced by a door that opened quietly.

On that drizzling Friday evening, when Gu Yanzhe drove her home again and stopped in front of a familiar residential building, Yun Xiaqing did not push the door and get out immediately as usual.

A soft old English song played on the radio. She took a deep breath, her fingers unconsciously twisting the strap of her briefcase. She tilted her head, and the dim light of the street lamp filtered through the car window, casting a faint glow in her clear eyes.

"...Tomorrow," her voice was very soft, like a feather falling on the tranquil water, "Tomorrow...are you free?"

Gu Yanzhe's fingers gripping the steering wheel tightened imperceptibly, and his heart skipped a beat.

He had been turned down countless times over the past six months, and he was already used to her saying "no." But he didn't answer immediately. He just listened quietly, his eyes brimming with anticipation.

"Hmm?" He responded in a low voice, his tone steady but with a restrained exploration.

"...I want to watch Forrest Gump," Yun Xiaqing said, not looking at him. Her gaze fell on the rain-soaked branches outside the car window. "The newspaper said...it's showing at the New Southland Cinema in Xiangmi Lake these next couple of days." After a pause, as if she had exhausted all her strength, she added, "...together?"

The air seemed to freeze at that moment.

Gu Yanzhe turned his head and looked at her deeply. This was no longer a work encounter, no longer a casual expression of concern in the tea room; it was a clear and unmistakable invitation to cross a crucial boundary.

He could see a faint blush on Yun Xiaqing's fair ears.

A huge, almost weightless ecstasy instantly swept over him. But he did not lose his composure. Instead, he immediately revealed an extremely warm smile. That smile reached his eyes, containing the light of the certainty accumulated over countless days and nights finally coming true.

"Of course I'm free." His voice was unusually soft, as if he wasn't afraid to disturb anything. "I'd be happy to. What time? I'll pick you up."

"Around 5pm tomorrow."

"it is good."

At 16:30 PM the next day, Gu Yanzhe arrived at the Yunxiaqing building early. He didn't wait in the car as usual, but stood tall and straight at the door of the old apartment building, like a jade tree in the wind.

The door creaked open and Yun Xiaqing walked out.

Gu Yanzhe's gaze froze almost instantly.

Yun Xiaqing is no longer the business backbone who wears stereotyped professional attire.

She wore a dark green velvet long dress - a fabric that had just become popular at the time. The cut was simple and elegant, with only a circle of fine lace of the same color embellished on the small V-neckline, which made her skin look whiter than snow and her neck look slender. Her black hair was naturally draped like clouds, with only a small pearl hairpin pinned behind her ear.

She wore minimal makeup, with lips painted a soft, bean-paste-colored hue. This outfit made her appear less aggressive at work and more gentle and tranquil, like a spring night.

Gu Yanzhe felt his throat go dry. He took a deep breath of the cool, rainy air, trying his best to maintain composure. He took a step forward and moved naturally to her left, a movement so familiar that it seemed like he had done it a thousand times.

"You are..." He looked at her, paused, and finally uttered only a few words in a low and serious voice, "...very beautiful."

Yun Xiaqing's cheeks heated up slightly. She raised her eyes to meet his undisguised admiring gaze. Without avoiding it, she simply nodded slightly: "Thank you."

For the first time, we were no longer alone as "colleagues", and the atmosphere was subtly suspended in a middle ground between familiarity and just getting to know each other.

There was no longer only radio music in the car. Gu Yanzhe took out a tape of Teresa Teng from somewhere (he knew Yun Xiaqing liked it).

The soft and sweet singing voice flowed out, slightly diluting the tension. He carefully asked her if the air-conditioning temperature was suitable and told her to have dinner before the movie started.

The destination was the newly opened Jingdu Revolving Restaurant in Luohu, renowned for its ambiance and exquisite cuisine. It was located on the top floor of a high-end hotel. This was clearly beyond the scope of a typical date, just to see a movie.

The elevator rose steadily, and through the huge glass curtain wall, the bright and prosperous lights of Shenzhen spread out under our feet like a galaxy.

Yun Xiaqing was somewhat surprised by the grand ceremony: "Actually... it doesn't have to be so troublesome."

Gu Yanzhe stood beside her, overlooking the night view of the city together, his expression gentle and calm: "Xia Qing, this is my first official date that I have been waiting for half a year. I don't want it to be 'ordinary'."

Gu Yanzhe turned his head and looked at Yun Xiaqing deeply, "You deserve the best." He said these six words solemnly, without any exaggeration, like a promise that had been made for a long time.

The revolving restaurant is softly lit, with delicate rose vases on each table and the faint sound of piano music playing in the background.

Gu Yanzhe was obviously a regular here, and he led the way with ease. He didn't sit across from her, but chose a seat next to her, an angle that was convenient for conversation without seeming too oppressive.

The topic during the dinner did not involve work too much (which made them secretly relieved), but Gu Yanzhe shared some interesting experiences when he was studying abroad, and occasionally guided Yun Xiaqing to talk about her hobbies during her student days.

Gu Yanzhe's conversation is humorous and witty, and he knows how to keep his distance. He displays his knowledge appropriately without showing off.

Yun Xiaqing gradually relaxed, occasionally revealing a faint smile. She discovered that Gu Yanzhe, who had lost his initial aggressiveness, was actually a very attentive listener.

When the waiter brought the dessert—two servings of tiramisu—Yun Xiaqing looked at the delicate decoration and rich coffee powder on the plate, her eyes brightening: "It looks good."

"Try it?" Gu Yanzhe pushed his portion forward. "I think theirs is very authentic."

Gu Yanzhe naturally picked up the spoon, scooped a small spoonful from the untouched edge of his plate, and handed it to her lips very naturally. This action was abrupt and intimate, full of tentativeness.

Yun Xiaqing was stunned.

The surroundings are quiet and elegant, with low sounds of conversation and laughter coming from the neighboring table.

She looked at the silver spoon hovering in front of her, filled with a tan dessert, then at Gu Yanzhe's smiling, encouraging gaze. She could see the flash of anticipation and cautious nervousness in his eyes. This wasn't just handing over documents in the office.

Her heartbeat quickened, and a long-lost, young-looking shyness washed over her. Her eyelashes fluttered, and time seemed to slow down.

Finally, instead of pushing him away, she leaned forward slightly, opened her lips, and took the small piece of tiramisu into her mouth.

The action was gentle, yet it felt like completing a momentous ritual. The delicate taste melted on the tip of the tongue, with the subtle bitterness of coffee and the sweetness of cocoa, a complex flavor.

Gu Yanzhe's fingers even trembled slightly, a warmth instantly filling his chest. He said nothing, simply retracting the spoon. He didn't taste the dessert himself, but looked at her with a smile, the tenderness in his eyes almost overflowing: "...Is it sweet?"

Yun Xiaqing lowered her head and gently pressed the corners of her mouth with a tissue. The tips of her ears were red as if bleeding, and her voice was as thin as a mosquito's: "Hmm...it's quite delicious." An indescribable intimacy and tacit understanding spread silently between the two of them, replacing all words.

After dinner, the two went to the cinema.

The film played on the giant screen of the Nan Guo Cinema. Forrest Gump's running figure, set against a grand historical backdrop, was both sincere and moving. We sat side by side in the relatively dim environment.