Chapter 95: Almost Kissed

Zi Xiaoyin's heart pounded wildly, her face flushed crimson with excitement.

Could it be... had she really found him?

Huang Ying noticed her change in expression and quickly asked, "Xiaoyin, what's wrong?"

Zi Xiaoyin held her phone out to Huang Ying.

The two exchanged a glance, then nearly screamed at the same time, drawing the attention of everyone in the cafeteria.

"Xiaoyin, quick, accept the request!" Huang Ying urged.

Zi Xiaoyin's trembling finger tapped the screen.

With a soft "ding," a message popped up:

[You have passed the friend verification request. You can now start chatting.]

The other party sent a message first:

[Hello, are you the one who posted online looking for your brother?]

Zi Xiaoyin replied:

[Yes, my brother and I were separated at the orphanage many years ago. Could you describe your situation? If the details match up, we can consider meeting.]

The other party sent a block of text:

[Fifteen years ago, my younger sister and I were separated at the orphanage. She was adopted by a couple. My sister was crying and screaming, not wanting to be separated from me.]

Zi Xiaoyin read this and felt everything was lining up. The other party continued sending messages.

[Six months after my sister was adopted, I was adopted by a foreign couple and taken to Fusang.]

That matched too!

[This snuff bottle originally stayed with me. After my sister left, the orphanage was burglarized, and the thief stole it. It was the only keepsake my sister and I had for recognizing each other.]

All the information matched perfectly. Zi Xiaoyin burst into tears.

Seeing her cry, Huang Ying quickly moved closer, gently patting her back and comforting her, "Don't cry, Xiaoyin. If it's not him, we'll keep searching."

Zi Xiaoyin said between sobs, "Sister Huang, it's... it's him. He should be my brother."

Huang Ying looked at her in surprise. "Then what are you waiting for? Arrange a time to meet right away!"

Zi Xiaoyin suppressed her excitement and arranged a meeting time with the other party.

She had assumed her brother would fly in from Fusang, but unexpectedly learned he was already in China.

The two agreed to meet the next day at noon at the Jiangning Hotel.

After everything was settled, Zi Xiaoyin began to feel a hint of unease.

She knew she was strikingly beautiful.

She was often harassed by men.

This man who might be her brother was still a stranger to her.

What if he wasn't her real brother? What if he was a bad person? What if...

Zi Xiaoyin was a well-behaved girl who had never done anything out of line.

The thought of going to meet him alone made her anxious.

"Sister Huang, would you come with me?" she invited Huang Ying.

Huang Ying agreed readily.

After finishing their meal, Zi Xiaoyin returned to class.

The teacher was lecturing at the podium, but her mind had already wandered ten thousand miles away.

Even though Huang Ying had agreed to accompany her, she still felt uneasy.

Both she and Huang Ying were women, and the other party was a man.

If anything really went wrong, neither of them would stand a chance against him.

Better to ask Gu Xiangnan to come along.

Zi Xiaoyin had witnessed Gu Xiangnan's abilities with her own eyes that night.

His act of stopping the car for her mother had given her a deep impression of his strength.

After class, she sent Gu Xiangnan a text message:

[Professor Gu, could I ask you a favor? I've found my brother and we're meeting for lunch tomorrow at noon. Would you be able to come with me?]

After a hearty midday meal.

Zhang Baolian patted her round, full belly and asked happily, "Xiaonan, where to next?"

Gu Xiangnan watched her act all silly and clueless on her livestream, without managing to sell a single talisman.

Poor thing.

Well then, he might as well let her tag along and enjoy herself.

He turned to Wang Ke and said, "Xiao Ke, got any recommendations?"

Wang Ke looked Zhang Baolian up and down, taking in her clothes... honestly...

They really didn't fit in at all.

"Nan Ge, how about buying Seventh Sister a few nice outfits?"

Zhang Baolian rolled her eyes. "What? You think I'm ugly? Then I'll just leave?"

"Seventh Sister, don't misunderstand, that's not what I meant!" Wang Ke rushed to explain.

The corner of Gu Xiangnan's mouth curved upward. "I recall someone who, as a child, wanted to wear a princess dress. Today I can make that wish come true!"

He understood Seventh Sister better than anyone.

"Let's go!" Zhang Baolian dragged the two of them out the door.

Wada Plaza.

It was a comprehensive mall, with clothing, food, a supermarket, and leisure entertainment—everything you could want.

The three strolled from the first floor to the second.

Zhang Baolian flitted between the shops like a little bee.

Whenever she saw a pretty dress, she would look at Gu Xiangnan with pitiful eyes.

Then dig through her empty pockets.

Gu Xiangnan would smile and swipe his card to buy it for her.

"I'm not taking advantage of you, you know. When I have money, I'll pay you back." Zhang Baolian would say this every time.

At the entrance of one shop, she couldn't move a step. She stared at the poster image.

Gu Xiangnan walked ahead for a bit, turned back, and realized she hadn't followed. He walked back to her.

The sign had only two words on it: "Haunted House."

The illustration on the poster was absolutely terrifying.

"I want to do this." Zhang Baolian pointed at the shop entrance, saying excitedly to Gu Xiangnan.

Gu Xiangnan frowned. "Are you sure?"

Wang Ke tried to dissuade her from the side: "Seventh Sister, this place is really scary. I wouldn't dare go in."

"I'm going in, mmm~"

Gu Xiangnan couldn't resist her coaxing and decided to go in with her.

Wang Ke chose to stay outside and wait.

Inside the haunted house, sounds of fighting could be heard from time to time—"hng, ha, hoo!"

Soon, Gu Xiangnan walked out holding Zhang Baolian's hand.

Trailing behind them was a line of NPC actors who played ghosts in the haunted house.

Each one had a talisman stuck to their forehead.

All of them were fuming: "You treated us like real ghosts and attacked us? You're not welcome here."

"Not welcome."

"Permanently banned."

Gu Xiangnan awkwardly shook hands with them to apologize, bowing and explaining, "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. It's an occupational habit of hers. Please forgive us."

After apologizing, the three of them made an awkward escape.

The third floor had a movie theater.

"Let's go see a movie!" Zhang Baolian suggested. "A movie can't get us into trouble!"

She picked a 3D film.

The three of them had seats together.

Putting on the 3D glasses, Zhang Baolian was amazed.

She had never experienced such realistic movie effects. The characters on screen looked like they were about to step out of the screen.

Her curiosity grew, and she kept putting them on and taking them off. Taking them off and putting them on.

Repeatedly comparing the visual difference.

When she put the 3D glasses back on, a ghost happened to appear on the screen.

The ghost's hand reached out from the screen, almost grabbing at the audience's necks.

Zhang Baolian was so frightened that her face went pale, and she clung to Gu Xiangnan dramatically.

"You're an exorcist who catches ghosts, and you're afraid of ghosts?" Gu Xiangnan leaned close to her ear and whispered.

Zhang Baolian hurriedly turned her head to explain.

But Gu Xiangnan's face was still turned toward her.

And so the two of them...

Their lips touched!

In the darkness, Gu Xiangnan's breath was scorching hot as he locked eyes with Zhang Baolian.

Everything around them seemed to freeze.

The terrifying images on the screen, the surrounding audience—all vanished in an instant.

Only the two of them remained.

They were so close they could hear each other's racing heartbeats.

Gu Xiangnan slowly leaned in again, wanting to continue the kiss.

Zhang Baolian didn't pull away. She waited quietly, her eyes closed.

Suddenly, Gu Xiangnan's phone rang.

Everyone in the theater turned to look at him.

Gu Xiangnan hastily pulled the phone out of his bag. It was a message from Zi Xiaoyin.

[Professor Gu, could I ask you a favor? I've found my brother and we're meeting for lunch tomorrow at noon. Would you be able to come with me?]

Gu Xiangnan thought for a moment, then replied:

[Okay.]