Chapter 5 — The Three-Person Trip

Without a word, he turned on his heel and walked into the storage room, carrying out a solid wood room divider to block the draft. Once everything was settled, he let out a soft huff and teased with a faint smile, "You really lose yourself in your writing."

"The wind was scattering your manuscript pages all over the place without you even noticing. If those drafts had been blown out into the ocean, all your crying wouldn't bring them back."

I lowered my head to look at the neat stack of manuscript pages no longer fluttering wildly, and murmured a quiet thank you. He merely waved a hand dismissively and carried his camera downstairs to pack away his equipment. My old stomachache, triggered by the chill and dampness of the seaside, began to act up again. Late one night, curled up under the heavy blankets, I could not suppress a soft cough. Before long, a gentle knock sounded at the door. The voice of Gu Xingci drifted through the wooden panel, carrying a deliberate, casual nonchalance:

"The landlady brewed way too much ginger tea with brown sugar. I happened to bring a cup for you, come drink it while it is still warm."

The sweet, spicy warmth of the ginger tea flooded my stomach, slowly melting away the piercing, bone-deep ache. A long-absent warmth began to bloom in my chest. A torrential downpour suddenly swept over the small town, the fierce raindrops drumming frantically against the roof through the night. Water seeped down along the window frames, wetting the pile of manuscripts stacked in the corner of the desk. As I scrambled to wipe away the moisture, Gu Xingci knocked on my door, holding a box of repair tools. Without a second word, he climbed up the wooden ladder and stepped out into the pouring rain to mend the roof. By the time he finished, he was completely soaked, droplets of water sliding down the damp strands of hair plastered against his forehead. I hurriedly grabbed a clean towel and handed it to him, then took the initiative to head to the kitchen to cook two bowls of hot noodle soup. In the cramped room lit only by a warm, yellow lamp, the two of us quietly bowed our heads to eat. It was a profound peace I had never experienced before. Late at night, after the heavy rain had stopped, the night breeze on the rooftop felt slightly chilly. We pulled our chairs close together and chatted. He casually asked why I had come to the courtyard all by myself to clear my mind. I was silent for a moment, simply mentioning the endless, exhausting dynamic of the three of us in my previous relationship. Gu Xingci turned his head, his voice steady and resolute:

"A person who truly cares about you will proactively shield you from every single person and situation that makes you uncomfortable."

"From the very beginning, they would never let you fall into such an awkward predicament, let alone force you to compromise and yield over and over again."

That single, concise sentence struck deep at the grievances I had bottled up for so long. The small town was hosting a fireworks festival by the coast, and the tide of people surged relentlessly forward. Gu Xingci instinctively shifted his stance to stand before me, his broad back forming a barrier against the jostling crowd. Brilliant fireworks burst across the night sky, their dazzling lights reflecting deeply within our eyes. I instinctively looked up, catching his gaze, and we both hurriedly looked away in a panic. An unbidden, rapid heartbeat thudded intensely within our chests. In the blink of an eye, I had already spent twenty full days at the Seaside Courtyard. During dinner, the landlady playfully teased Gu Xingci and me, saying that the two of us looked exceptionally well-matched. The tips of Gu Xingci's ears instantly turned a faint shade of red.

After the meal, he used organizing his camera on the rooftop as an excuse and stayed upstairs by himself. From afar, I could see him sitting on the wooden chair, quietly lifting his camera. He aimed the lens right at me as I sat by the window with my head bowed over my manuscripts, and pressed the shutter. The early morning sea breeze carried a faint fragrance of gardenias, and I gently cradled a small bouquet of white lisianthus in my arms. Gu Xingci walked beside me, carrying the other bouquet, his steps unhurried. The moment we turned the corner of the wooden gate, my steps suddenly faltered. Standing straight beside the ornate iron-mesh gate of the courtyard was a thin, haggard figure. It was Fu Qianheng. Having not seen him for just over twenty days, he looked as though all his vitality had been drained away. His bloodshot eyes were heavily webbed with red, and a messy dark stubble shadowed his jaw. One could tell at a glance that he had driven thousands of miles through the night just to get here. Gu Xingci acutely sensed my hesitation and instinctively stepped half a step closer to shield me. He asked in a low voice, "Do you know him?" I gave a faint nod, merely casting a cold, sideways glance as I prepared to walk past Fu Qianheng straight into the courtyard. But seeing my evasive movement, Fu Qianheng immediately lunged forward and grabbed hold of me. His eyes were filled with frantic pleading, his voice hoarse beyond recognition:

"You An, do not avoid me. I beg you, just listen to what I have to say."

I exerted a little force to pull away, but he only gripped my wrist tighter.

"Ever since the morning you vanished, my whole world fell apart. I finally managed to track you down to Yun City using the homestay's check-in records."

His breathing came in ragged gasps, the rims of his eyes rapidly turning red.

"I have already taken He Yi back to her home and explained everything clearly to her."

"Can we please go back? I will listen to you about everything, and there will never be a third person to bother us again."

Before the words fully faded, Gu Xingci stepped forward. With firm fingers, he unclasped Fu Qianheng's hand from my wrist, gently pulling me behind his back to protect me.

"She does not want to see you right now. Please leave."

Seeing the protective stance Gu Xingci took, Fu Qianheng's eyes instantly flared with an uncontrolled rage:

"Hua You An, how long has it been since you left me? Do you already have someone else by your side?"