A Cold and Aloof Top Student Is Relied Upon - Chapter 68.2

Chapter 68.2: Chance Encounter

◎Hospital◎

Bai Tan carefully closed the door, a relaxed, task-completed smile on her face. She was just about to leave and report her findings to Chen Xuelian—that her good friend was doing well and would be discharged in a few days—when someone called out to her.

“Miss Bai.”

Hearing her last name, Bai Tan instinctively looked in the direction of the voice. For a moment, it was as if she had been hit by a club, leaving her stunned and her smile frozen.

She truly never expected to see Gu Zhu’s mother here. When she left, she had only told Gu Zhu that she was going to visit an elder, not realizing the world could be so small and so coincidental.

Sometimes she felt like fate was teasing them. When she wanted to see someone, they were nowhere to be found, but when she didn’t want to see them, she was forced to run into them.

Bai Tan naturally knew that Gu Baozhi was in the hospital. She just hadn’t thought to ask. It was a kind of unspoken agreement—neither of them had ever actively brought up the past or Gu Baozhi.

She wouldn’t force Gu Zhu to solve this problem. When she and Gu Zhu got back together, she had already decided that even if she had to be Gu Zhu’s secret lover for the rest of her life, living in the shadows, she would accept it.

Bai Tan only wanted Gu Zhu, never anything else.

But people can’t always control how things unfold. After Gu Baozhi called out to her, Bai Tan couldn’t pretend she hadn’t heard. She composed herself and greeted her sincerely. “Hello, Auntie. It’s been a long time. I apologize, I didn’t notice you just now.”

Gu Baozhi looked her over for a few seconds. She had to admit, Bai Tan was indeed beautiful and came from a good family. She was a woman anyone would praise for her looks. It was this very woman who had captivated Gu Zhu’s heart. At this moment, she felt a little amused and a little sad. The world had moved on so fast that she had only ever known to guard against punk boys and hadn’t realized she should also guard against pretty girls.

She raised her hand to stroke the side of her hair, and it was only when she felt the soft material of her hat that she remembered she had no hair. A touch of inexplicable melancholy made her sigh. Seeing that Bai Tan was still standing in front of her, Gu Baozhi patted the seat beside her. “Do you have time? Could you sit and talk with me for a bit?”

Bai Tan nodded and sat down, but Gu Baozhi didn’t speak for a long time, and the space fell into a brief silence.

After a while, having seemingly prepared herself mentally, Gu Baozhi started the conversation. “Are you two in contact now?”

Bai Tan didn’t know how to answer. She thought that Gu Zhu probably hadn’t revealed their relationship yet. If she said yes, would it disrupt Gu Zhu’s plan? Would it upset Gu Baozhi? If she said no, would Gu Baozhi think she was lying and dislike her even more?

Seeing her suddenly fall silent, Gu Baozhi knew the answer. To her surprise, she didn’t feel angry or sad. Perhaps she had read too much related information online over the years, which had made her immune to it. Now, she could finally look at the matter calmly.

But the most unpredictable thing about life was that just as she was willing to reconcile, her own life was nearing its end. Gu Baozhi had a vague premonition. From the moment the cancer recurred, she knew her time wasn’t long. Perhaps it was because of this that she wanted to see Gu Zhu happy in the end.

If that person had to be Bai Tan, she would accept it.

“Don’t be nervous. Actually, I should be the one apologizing to you. I forgot that you were only eighteen at the time, and you had to take your college entrance exams. I forced you to leave and transfer schools. I’m truly sorry.”

Bai Tan looked up at her in surprise. Gu Baozhi’s emotional outburst back then had startled her, followed by a sense of guilt she couldn’t explain. At that moment, she truly felt it was her fault that Gu Baozhi had been so broken and pained.

She had even thought at the time that if she hadn’t appeared, maybe one day Gu Zhu would have met a boy and, as society wished, formed a family that everyone would be happy with and envy.

Gu Zhu would have a smooth life, and Gu Baozhi would have the joy of a harmonious family. They all seemed to be able to have a good outcome.

But later, Bai Tan thought her idea was ridiculous. She thought, why is my love so unforgivable when all love is love?

Why should we be the ones to compromise with society instead of the world changing for us?

She held a silent rage, wanting to prove that their love wasn’t wrong. They would become their best selves because of it. Their love wasn’t a temporary impulse but a gift from fate. It was fate that brought them together and destined them to love each other forever.

“It’s in the past, Auntie,” Bai Tan could only shake her head, afraid that if she said, “It’s okay,” in the next second, Gu Baozhi would tell her, “I need you to leave again.”

Gu Baozhi didn’t seem to care whether she accepted it or not. She just smiled again. In the hospital, people came and went every day. The noise of adults and children sometimes made it feel like the world was a disorganized show. Some people performed, and others quit. In any case, every life’s play eventually came to an end.

Since it was all so absurd, she might as well make herself happy. She sighed again. “How many people can truly grow old together? It’s getting late. Could you please help me back to my room?”

Bai Tan quickly stood up and carefully helped her up. Gu Baozhi’s room was just a few meters away. She helped her to the bed, meticulously placed a pillow behind her back, shook the thermos, and poured her a cup of water. “Auntie, have some water. Are you hungry? Do you need me to order you a meal?”

Gu Baozhi took the water and waved her hand. “You can go back. Thank you for today. The nursing assistant will bring me food.” As Bai Tan said okay and was about to leave, she stopped her again and said, “Don’t tell Zhu-zi about today. And you don’t need to go out of your way to visit me again in the future.”

Bai Tan stood there and looked at her for a long time. Gu Baozhi had indeed aged a lot. Her back was hunched and she was thin and frail. If it weren’t for her face, it would be almost impossible to connect her back to the person who had rushed into her home that year.

In this moment, she understood what she meant. Without hesitation, Bai Tan nodded. “Okay.”

After that day, Bai Tan didn’t see Gu Baozhi again. She stayed in Gu Zhu’s dorm for a full seven days. After enjoying a few carefree days, she had to start her journey back.

Throughout the entire holiday, Gu Zhu spent the first three days in the lab, but she spent the remaining four days with Bai Tan.

They went to the university Gu Zhu had attended, walking hand in hand around the campus. Gu Zhu pointed out the dorm building she had lived in, the library she often frequented, the lab, and so on. She also took her to experience the cafeteria food. They shared a single tray. Some people noticed them because of their striking appearances and took a few extra glances, but very few people were curious about their overly intimate relationship.

Some people who knew Gu Zhu even greeted her. To every “Hello, Senior,” Gu Zhu would nod or say “Hello.”

Bai Tan watched her with a smile, and when Gu Zhu looked over in confusion, she blinked and said, “Hello, Senior. Can I kiss you?”

In October, the weather in the capital wasn’t as hot as in the south. An autumn rain would occasionally fall. In the misty rain, they shared an umbrella. Gu Zhu’s lowered eyelashes fluttered. With Bai Tan’s smiling face in her eyes, she raised her hand, took the hand that was holding the umbrella, and suddenly pulled the umbrella down. The umbrella blocked the outside world’s view, and taking advantage of the moment, she stood on her tiptoes and kissed Bai Tan on the lips.

And as she was about to pull away, Bai Tan’s arms tightened around her waist. The simple brushing of lips quickly turned into a deep kiss as she was thoroughly explored and devoured.

In a daze, it felt like they had been kissing for a long time, but it was only a few dozen seconds. When they separated, the corners of their lips were both wet.

Their eyes were filled with lingering affection, like a fine thread that didn’t want to be broken. For a moment, neither of them moved.

“Shall we go back?” Bai Tan asked softly.

“Okay,” Gu Zhu nodded.

So the two of them held hands and went home without a moment’s delay.

On the nightstand, there was some oil they had bought at some point, along with a uniquely shaped but beautiful little toy. Bai Tan pressed the switch to turn it on, and the item in her hand began to vibrate and move like a piece of jelly.

“We finally got it through security, so we have to make use of it, right?” she said, then kissed the person she had pinned underneath her. Amidst Gu Zhu’s gasps, she wrapped Gu Zhu’s legs around her waist. “Relax, baby. It’ll feel so good.”

Gu Zhu hid her face, which was already a deep red. Listening to Bai Tan’s endless chatter, she finally couldn’t help but sit up and kiss her on the lips, blocking her mischievous words.

In that moment, her body was completely opened up.

Gu Zhu was utterly speechless and could only let Bai Tan kiss her.

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