Chapter 69: Deadly Chain Call

Gou Yu stared at the phone in his hand—the call had already been disconnected. It was Zhu Niao’s phone.

This news was originally meant for Zhu Niao to know.

Helplessness and confusion once again clouded Gou Yu’s eyes.

He didn’t know what to do.

The situation was changing rapidly, effectively giving Zhu Niao a deadline to complete that so-called mission of winning his heart, or else face a dead end.

Either they were together, or it was death.

The choice seemed straightforward, but even if they overcame all obstacles and ended up together—whether genuinely or just for appearances—

Zhu Niao could never go back to how things were.

Gou Yu knew that, perhaps due to family reasons, Zhu Niao might already be somewhat obsessed, determined to conquer him in order to reclaim her male body.

But now, telling her all this would be pointless.

He didn’t know how long it would take for Zhu Niao to recover from this truth. Maybe she would decisively choose the three-year lifespan instead.

He couldn’t tell her.

But there was no time left, and he didn’t know what to do.

Utterly helpless.

He didn’t want to lose Zhu Niao—she was his best friend, his closest brother, his family.

Their tacit understanding only required a glance to know what the other meant.

He could never lose her, nor could he let her leave on her own.

With furrowed brows, Gou Yu lowered his head, and the hand not holding the phone kept running through his unkempt black hair, neglected for some time.

What should he do?

He could nonchalantly sleep in a Bridge Arch with Zhu Niao when he had not a penny to his name; he could pick up bottles with her in the crowded mall.

But this was different.

This was their relationship.

What exactly was the bond between them?

Click.

The door opened—just that one sound—because Zhu Niao would never lock the door on him.

A pale cyan dress, slightly cinched at the waist, with ruffles at the hem.

Her smooth long hair now behaved obediently, tied gently with a hair ribbon and draping over her left shoulder.

Paired with Zhu Niao’s shy gaze, delicate brows and eyes, and the little orange cat rubbing against her ankle by the bird’s foot,

she presented a perfect picture of a gentle Jiangnan woman.

And the atmosphere alone was enough to enchant anyone—Gou Yu knew this was called “home.”

His heart was pounding wildly. He knew the figure before him should be firmly engraved in his memory.

The interrupted question returned to his mind once again.

What should he do?

“This outfit… does it look good on me?”

There was a hint of shyness, a trace of expectation.

Bright eyes, bashful as a peach blossom.

She could elicit any answer she wished from anyone with that look.

Gou Yu’s mind kept echoing:

What should he do?

But his gaze brightened gradually, focusing on Zhu Niao’s face.

“Looks good.” He gave a thumbs-up, grinning.

“Good where?” Zhu Niao, slightly insecure, always felt Gou Yu was just humoring her.

“Uh…” Gou Yu pinched his chin thoughtfully. “It stands out.”

“You…” Zhu Niao’s words caught in her throat, then she remembered, “Oh right, I just heard you talking to someone. Did family visitors come?”

“Nope.” Gou Yu casually picked up Zhu Niao’s phone. “Someone was calling to harass me.”

“You deserve it.”

Zhu Niao rolled her eyes at him and took back her phone.

She noticed the screen was still on the call interface but without any new incoming or outgoing calls.

She shrugged it off as a mistaken tap.

Gou Yu still smiled.

He deleted the call log.

He’d figured it out—it was actually simple.

This was a sad, rickety single-plank bridge, swaying precariously, with him and Zhu Niao on opposite ends.

Countless vines entangled Zhu Niao; she was confused and helpless, and knowing the truth alone was enough to torment her.

And the isolated island she was on kept sinking; who knew how long before it would swallow her whole.

If Zhu Niao couldn’t come over, then he would go to her.

He shouldn’t put everything on Zhu Niao’s shoulders.

The result would be the same.

So he would chase after her.

He would snatch Zhu Niao away from that damned isolated island, bring her to his side.

He would make Zhu Niao like him.

*****

“Hey, hey, not like that.” Liu Xie stopped Liu Anran.

In the spacious living room of the mansion, Liu Xie held his phone in one hand while covering Liu Anran’s eyes with the other.

Liu Anran obediently let Liu Xie cover his eyes completely.

But his hands didn’t stop moving.

Then Liu Xie got beaten again by the blindfolded Liu Anran.

This was even more humiliating than the previous rounds Liu Xie had lost.

Liu Xie seemed unable to hide his embarrassment and began feeling around Liu Anran’s pockets on his clothes. “You’ve hidden a USB drive? Where is it, let me see.”

“How do you put a USB drive in a phone?” Liu Anran said, but he gave up resisting, letting Liu Xie’s delicate hands roam freely.

“Then how did you beat me?” Liu Xie looked puzzled. “You only installed this game an hour ago, and I even gave you the account.”

“An hour… can’t learn it?” Liu Anran actually asked this now, turning it back on Liu Xie.

Liu Xie was startled awake.

This was apparently normal for her good younger brother, Liu Anran—otherwise, it wouldn’t be Liu Anran.

Yet here she was, foolishly trying to challenge Liu Anran’s one-hour gaming experience with her several years of experience. She was asking for trouble.

Damn it, she still wasn’t willing to admit defeat.

Pouting, Liu Xie glared hard at Liu Anran, her chest rising and falling with her breathing.

“How about I play one-handed?”

“I’m done, I’m going to the bathroom.” Liu Xie grabbed her phone and headed toward the bathroom.

But Liu Anran grabbed her wrist firmly.

“Leave the phone.”

“Why? Are you invading my privacy?” Liu Xie said, but the phone was already in Liu Anran’s hand.

“The bathroom tiles are hard; if your leg goes numb and you fall, it’ll hurt.”

His concern was enough, but there was more: “I don’t want to be apart from you for too long.”

“Okay… okay, I get it!”

Liu Xie inexplicably felt a bit shy, even though Liu Anran was the one who said it.

The bathroom door opened and closed, leaving the empty hall with only Liu Anran.

He put down the phone.

If he weren’t playing with Liu Xie, he wouldn’t touch this stuff.

【Ding-dong, ding-dong…】

Liu Anran picked up Liu Xie’s phone and looked at the unknown number on the screen.

He glanced again at the closed bathroom door and finally chose to answer.

“Hello, hello, this is the Probationary Goddess speaking.”