mesbooks Chapter 276 You're not spying on me, are you?
Chapter 276 You're not spying on me, are you?
Outside the window, the night was as dark as ink, and the city's hustle and bustle gradually subsided.
Zhu Ziqing lay in bed, her brows furrowed, cold sweat soaking her hair. Every night, she would unconsciously have the same nightmare.
In the dream, a group of people in white coats surrounded her. One of them, holding a syringe, slowly injected an unknown liquid into her body. She was powerless to resist, and fear overwhelmed her. Just then, a familiar yet distant male voice rang out, but the shadowy figure was instantly dragged away by the people in white coats. Zhu Ziqing struggled desperately, shouting, "No! Come back!"
"Ring ring—" The phone rang abruptly, like a thunderclap, violently pulling Zhu Ziqing out of her nightmare.
She opened her eyes abruptly, gasping for breath, her heart pounding as if it would burst from her chest. Trembling, she picked up her phone and answered, "Hello..."
"Ziqing, it's me, Tan Haoyu." Tan Haoyu's deep voice came from the other end of the phone, like the warm sun in spring, instantly soothing Zhu Ziqing's flustered heart.
Zhu Ziqing was stunned for a moment, then suddenly remembered a few days ago, when Tan Haoyu's phone call came just in time, also when she was tormented by nightmares. She was filled with doubt; why did Tan Haoyu always seem to appear at crucial moments? Even though she had always felt that she was merely a substitute for Tan Haoyu's deceased wife.
Trying to calm herself, Zhu Ziqing made her voice sound as calm as possible: "Why did you think of calling me so late?"
"It's nothing, I just wanted to hear your voice." Tan Haoyu's voice was as gentle as a spring breeze.
Zhu Ziqing's heart skipped a beat, and she asked half-jokingly, "You're not spying on me, are you?"
Tan Haoyu's heart sank. After a brief silence, he said frankly, "Yes, I've noticed you have a problem with nightmares. I couldn't help it, so I called you. I just wanted to give you a moment of peace across the vast sea of people, and I also hope to return to your side as soon as possible."
Zhu Ziqing was somewhat confused upon hearing this.
Was Tan Haoyu's use of "surveillance" meant literally, or did it have a deeper meaning? She bit her lower lip, her cheeks instantly flushing red, and whispered, "Yes, I will."
After saying that, she buried her face in the pillow nervously, her heart pounding like a drum.
On the other end of the phone, Tan Haoyu remained silent for a long time before giving a firm "Okay," followed by a resounding "Wait for me."
Before Zhu Ziqing could react, the call had already ended.
Zhu Ziqing stared blankly at her phone, Tan Haoyu's promise echoing in her mind, her heart pounding uncontrollably, unable to calm down for a long time.
Finally, Zhu Ziqing placed her phone beside her pillow with a sigh of relief. Her lips moved slightly as she murmured her response to Tan Haoyu's words, "Wait for me," but her voice was instantly swallowed by the soft pillow and the thick darkness.
Without Tan Haoyu's deep, magnetic voice, loneliness and solitude enveloped her once more like a tidal wave. The thought of that terrible nightmare possibly returning made Zhu Ziqing hug her pillow tightly, her eyes wide open, staring intently at the dark night sky outside the window, afraid that if she closed them, she would be plunged back into that terrifying dream.
Zhu Ziqing tried hard to recall the nightmare she had just had, but her mind was blank, with only a lingering sense of fear remaining.
"Ring ring—" The phone rang again, breaking the silence, and the three words "Tan Haoyu" stood out on the screen.
Zhu Ziqing quickly answered the phone, and Tan Haoyu's gentle voice came through: "Ziqing, are you asleep? I'm downstairs at your place. The moonlight is beautiful, do you want to come down for a walk?"
Without the slightest hesitation, Zhu Ziqing blurted out, "Okay."
After hanging up the phone, Zhu Ziqing hurried back to her room and opened the wardrobe. Clothes flashed before her eyes, and finally, she chose a white shirt to pair with jeans.
After quickly tidying up, she tiptoed out of the house, trying not to make a sound so as not to disturb her father.
However, Zhu Shigou had already taken in his daughter's every move from inside the room. He frowned slightly, and a barely perceptible sneer flashed in his eyes.
As Zhu Ziqing descended the stairs, it happened to be the fifteenth day of the lunar calendar. A bright moon hung high in the night sky, casting a silvery glow, as if the whole world was draped in a dreamlike veil.
Tan Haoyu stood in the moonlight, one hand in his pocket, his posture as upright as a pine tree, his gaze fixed on the distance. His unique aura made Zhu Ziqing stop in her tracks. At this moment, she could quietly admire Tan Haoyu's back, secretly sighing that he was the most perfect man she had ever seen. Thinking of his deceased wife who had been by his side day and night, a pang of jealousy rose in Zhu Ziqing's heart.
Seemingly sensing the gaze behind him, Tan Haoyu turned around, and instantly, a smile bloomed on his face, as warm as melting snow on a glacier. "Ziqing, you've come," he said softly.
Zhu Ziqing's heart pounded like a drum, and her face flushed instantly. She blinked frantically, quickly turning her head away, silently praying that the night would be even darker so Tan Haoyu wouldn't see her like this. But the moonlight tonight was too bright; it seemed no secret could be hidden.
Tan Haoyu strode over and arrived at Zhu Ziqing's side in a few steps. The silvery moonlight poured down, enveloping her, and Tan Haoyu could clearly see that her eyelashes trembled slightly, her cheeks were as red as the sunset, and her eyes sparkled with a faint light.
Looking at Zhu Ziqing before him, Tan Haoyu's thoughts involuntarily drifted back to the past. The initial flutter of his heart when they first met, the tacit understanding they developed as they got to know each other, and every moment of their love played out in his mind like a movie.
Unable to suppress his emotions any longer, Tan Haoyu reached out and took Zhu Ziqing's hand. The softness of her fingertips touched his palm, yet carried a slight coolness. Tan Haoyu instinctively tightened his grip, silently vowing in his heart to hold these hands forever.
Zhu Ziqing was startled by Tan Haoyu's sudden action and instinctively tried to pull her hand back.
However, Tan Haoyu's hands were broad and strong, holding her firmly and preventing her from breaking free.
Zhu Ziqing widened her eyes and glared reproachfully at Tan Haoyu. But when she met his deep gaze, she was momentarily lost in thought. In those eyes, she couldn't tell whether Tan Haoyu was looking at her or seeing the shadow of his deceased wife through her.
Her heart pounded faster and faster, and a voice inside her screamed, wanting to hold Tan Haoyu's hand back.
But reason told her that Tan Haoyu was likely just using her as a substitute for his deceased wife.
After struggling for a while, Zhu Ziqing gritted her teeth and thought: So what if he's a stand-in? At least for now, his hand is holding mine tightly.
Tan Haoyu led Zhu Ziqing on a slow stroll along the street.
The night was quiet, a gentle breeze blew by, and the moonlight shone softly on the two of them. All around was silent, as if the whole world consisted only of the two of them.
"Ziqing, is there anywhere you'd like to go?" Tan Haoyu's voice broke the silence.
Zhu Ziqing shook her head slightly and said softly, "I'm not very familiar with Pengcheng."