Back Then, I Adored You

Qin Zhi’ai was stunned. She looked through the courtyard beyond the front door and also saw that another room’s door was open inside. A warm yellow light on the front porch illuminated some of the interior, but only vaguely. The light was off in the courtyard, and no one was around.

The entire neighborhood was very silent.

Qin Zhi’ai stood at the gate for a long time, waiting for someone to close the door. She began to frown.

Isn’t the housekeeper at home? If she is, why is the front door still wide open at midnight?

He drank so much. Is he really alone right now, and is that okay?

Qin Zhi’ai’s hands hanging down slowly clenched into fists. She wanted to enter the courtyard but wasn’t brave enough. Bewildered, she finally closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and summoned her courage. She lifted her foot and gently walked into the courtyard of Gu Yusheng’s villa.

She didn’t stop until the light over the porch covered her entirely.

She stared through the doorway for a long time and tried to take a step forward. Every time her foot touched the step, she retracted it.

After some time, a whistling wind with a sharp chillness invigorated her. She pursed her lips hard, looked down, and turned around to leave. Just then, she heard a bang coming out of the house. It sounded like something exploded, followed by a cracking sound of glass falling to the ground.

Qin Zhi’ai froze in place, then slowly turned around, raised her head, and looked through the doorway again.

Within two seconds, another bang came from the house, followed by a familiar muffled “hum.”

Although the sound was barely audible, it was enough to make Qin Zhi’ai rush into the house.

Gu Yusheng was not in the living room. She frowned slightly, and then heard a rustle coming from the dining room.

The door to the dining room was also open, and she rushed toward it. As soon as she reached the doorway, she saw Gu Yusheng sitting on the ground in a mess. He was struggling to get up with his hands on the ground, but he had no strength because he was so drunk. He had managed to stand up several times but each time collapsed back on the ground.

In his left hand, he held the remains of a broken glass with water splashed all over.

Qin Zhi’ai looked up and saw that the lid of the kettle was missing and hot steam was rising from the spout.

Was he trying to pour hot water into a crystal glass? And the glass burst?

Then Qin Zhi’ai noticed that Gu Yusheng’s hand was pressing on the glass fragments on the ground.

“Master Gu!” Qin Zhi’ai rushed over in a hurry, grabbed his hand, and lifted it off the fragments.

Gu Yusheng hadn’t seemed to have heard her, and he continued struggling to stand up.

He’s so drunk and confused, he doesn’t even feel me grabbing his hand…

“Master Gu, stay still. These fragments on the ground are going to cut your hand. Let me help you up.”

Qin Zhi’ai spoke to him softly for a while, worried about how confused he was.

He’s not even aware that I’m talking to him.

Qin Zhi’ai frowned and then forcefully took his arms and helped him up from the ground.