Back Then, I Adored You

Qin Zhi’ai noticed large patches of dried blood on Gu Yusheng’s back after applying the medicine for him.

Qin Zhi’ai looked up at Gu Yusheng. She noticed that he was looking out of the window with a peaceful look. She didn’t want to interrupt him, so she quietly put the medicine bottle on the coffee table and tested the water temperature in the basin. She noticed the water was a little cold. She quietly carried the basin to the bathroom and added some hot water in it. After she walked out of the bathroom, Gu Yusheng had turned around to face her.

Qin Zhi’ai stopped and unconsciously gripped the basin’s edges harder.

Gu Yusheng looked at the basin in her hands first, then laid his eyes on her face. Even though he didn’t say anything, he looked like he had questions for her.

Qin Zhi’ai pressed her lips together and explained to him in a low voice. “I haven’t finished cleaning your back.”

She sounded calm, but her pale knuckles gave her away. She gripped the basin so hard that it revealed her nervousness and anxiety.

Why is she so nervous when she talks to me? Gu Yusheng thought to himself.

Gu Yusheng didn’t feel good about it. That feeling made him unsure of how to respond to her.

Qin Zhi’ai saw Gu Yusheng’s silence, so she wasn’t sure what was on his mind. She was afraid the idea of cleaning his back would make him mad. She scratched the edge of the basin and asked again in a quiet voice, “I-I’ll ask the housekeeper over to help—”

Gu Yusheng felt a lump in his throat. He responded to her before she even finished talking. His response was short, but sounded so gentle that he couldn’t believe it came out of his own mouth. “You can do it.”

After he said it, he moved his eyes to look at the mirror in front of him. He could clearly see the look on her face in the mirror. She looked like she had just escaped something life threatening. She heaved a sigh with her eyes closed. She looked up and secretly watched him for a while before she walked over with the basin. It seemed that she was going to check if he was really not angry with her.

She put the basin on the far end of the coffee table. She slowly and gently dried the towel, then walked behind him and carefully wiped the towel on his back to help him get clean.

Her gentle and slow wipes showed her cautiousness and carefulness, which made Gu Yusheng’s eyes water.

This uncomfortable feeling soon changed into a slight and dull pain. It was subtle, but he clearly felt it. The pain made him lose his breath for a second. He was lost in thought as he watched her in the mirror.

After she cleaned his back, she carried the basin to the bathroom without lingering any longer.

He came back from his daydream with the sound of the water pouring into the sink. He heard the water splashing but didn’t hear her walking out of the bathroom after a while.

She didn’t walk close to him. Instead, she stood a distance away from him and only said, “Well.”

She pointed at the master bedroom across the hallway when he turned to look at her. She said quickly, “I’m going over there.” She turned around and walked away before he could say anything to her.

She walked so fast that she looked like she was running away from him.

Watching her run away made Gu Yusheng feel even worse. That bad feeling grew stronger and stronger.

As she reached her hand out to push the master bedroom door open, he couldn’t help opening his mouth. The words were just on the tip of his tongue when he realized what he was trying to do.