Flash Marriage with Dr. Huo

One day a week later, sunlight shone through the glass dome of the school library, casting tiny spots of light on the seats in the corridor.

Tang Xiaqing looked down at her phone. On the screen was a message from Gu Zhian: "I'm waiting for you in the corridor outside the east gate of the library."

Her finger hovered over the screen for a moment, her heartbeat inexplicably quickening. This was the first time Gu Zhian had taken the initiative to ask her out.

"Tang Xiaqing."

A male voice came from behind her. She turned around hurriedly and saw Gu Zhian standing where light and shadow intersected.

He was wearing a light blue shirt today, with his sleeves casually rolled up to his elbows, revealing his sturdy forearms. The sunlight gilded his elegant features with a faint golden hue.

"Senior Gu." She stood up.

Gu Zhian sat down next to her: "I heard that you are preparing for the Level 6 exam recently?" His voice was very soft, "I can help you take a look."

Tang Xiaqing smelled the faint, refreshing scent on him, mixed with the unique smell of ink in the library, which made her feel inexplicably at ease.

She opened her exercise book and pointed to a question: "How did you know?"

"I went to ask the members of the Calligraphy Association." Gu Zhian said little and was very direct.

"I always get this question wrong..." Tang Xiaqing spread out the book.

Gu Zhian moved closer, and his slender fingers passed across the title: "Look, the key word here is "however", which indicates a turning point..." His voice was low and pleasant, with convincing power.

Tang Xiaqing was a little distracted.

Gu Zhian's profile was so close that she could clearly see the shadows cast by his thick eyelashes and the slight movement of his Adam's apple when he spoke. Two buttons of his shirt were undone.

"Do you understand?" He suddenly turned his head, and their eyes met unexpectedly.

Tang Xiaqing hurriedly lowered her head: "I understand. Your English is really good."

"Of course. I scored 7.5 in IELTS and 112 in TOEFL," Gu Zhian said confidently.

Then, Gu Zhian seemed to chuckle and continued to explain the next question. The sun gradually set in the west, stretching the shadows of the two people very long.

*

Their second date was on a weekend afternoon. After shopping, raindrops pattered against the umbrella. Tang Xiaqing shrank back and leaned closer to Gu Zhian. She was wearing a light pink dress, the hem of which was soaked by the rain and felt cold against her legs.

"It's all your fault for insisting on taking this road." Tang Xiaqing pouted and poked Gu Zhian's arm. "You could have taken a taxi back."

Gu Zhian looked straight ahead, but his grip on the umbrella handle tightened slightly. "It takes a long time to get a taxi on a rainy day, and it's less than a kilometer away."

"That's better than getting wet in the rain." Tang Xiaqing stamped her feet, splashing a little water. "Look, my shoes are wet."

Gu Zhian then looked down. Tang Xiaqing was wearing a pair of white leather shoes today, which were now stained with mud. He frowned and suddenly stopped.

"What's wrong?" Tang Xiaqing looked up in confusion.

Gu Zhian handed the umbrella to her: "Take it."

"Ah?" Tang Xiaqing hadn't reacted yet when she saw Gu Zhian squatting in front of her. "What are you doing?"

"Come up." Gu Zhian's voice was still cold, but it carried a tone that could not be refused.

Tang Xiaqing was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter. She happily jumped onto Gu Zhian's back and put her arms around his neck: "Gu Zhian, you finally got it!"

Gu Zhian held her legs steadily and took the umbrella again: "Don't move."

Tang Xiaqing pressed her face against his back, feeling his warmth through his shirt. She smiled secretly and blew into his ear deliberately: "Gu Zhian, your ears are red."

"Tang Xiaqing, keep quiet." Gu Zhian's voice was filled with warning.

"Okay, okay, I won't say anything." Tang Xiaqing shut up obediently, but couldn't help but rub against his neck again. Gu Zhian had a faint cedar scent on him, mixed with the freshness of rain, which made her take a deep breath.

The rain was getting heavier, and the plane trees on the street were swaying in the wind, their leaves making a rustling sound. Tang Xiaqing looked at Gu Zhian's profile. His long eyelashes were covered with tiny water droplets, which gleamed faintly under the streetlight.

"Gu Zhian." She called him softly.

"Um?"

"I like you."

Gu Zhian paused for a moment, then continued walking forward: "I know."

"What about you?" Tang Xiaqing asked relentlessly.

Gu Zhian didn't answer, but just lifted her up.

Tang Xiaqing was about to ask again when she suddenly felt something cold falling on her face.

Tiny raindrops fell, looking like scattered stars under the dim street lights.

"Gu Zhian, look!" She shook her legs excitedly. "The rain is getting heavier."

"Don't move." Gu Zhian's voice was filled with helplessness. "The ground is slippery, you'll fall."

"Of course not." Tang Xiaqing said with a smile, "With you here, I'm not afraid of anything."

Gu Zhian's mouth curled up slightly, but it was fleeting. He looked up at the sky, and raindrops fell on his eyelashes.

"Tang Xiaqing."

"Um?"

“I like you, too.”

Tang Xiaqing was stunned, then buried her face in his back and smiled secretly. Her Gu Zhian was always like this, obviously very gentle in his heart, but he had to pretend to be cold.

However, she likes Gu Zhian like this the most.

*

The tenth date was at the cinema on the weekend.

Tang Xiaqing, wearing a newly bought white long-sleeved shirt and a blue denim knee-length skirt, stood at the entrance of the theater, looking in. From a distance, she saw Gu Zhian approaching from the crowd. He was wearing a light blue shirt that made his figure look even more upright.

"Have you been waiting long?" he asked, his eyes falling on the tip of her slightly red nose.

"No, no, haha! I just arrived too." Tang Xiaqing waved her hand.

The movie is an art film with beautiful pictures, but Tang Xiaqing's attention is all on the people around her.

Gu Zhian was very focused while watching the movie. The light and shadows on the screen flowed across his face, outlining his perfect features. She stole a glance at him, again and again, until he suddenly turned his head.

"Concentrate on the movie." He whispered with a hint of smile in his tone.

After watching the movie, when I walked out of the cinema, it was already late at night, the lights on the street were dim, and the breeze was blowing gently, bringing a little coolness.

Gu Zhian put his hands in his trouser pockets, walked steadily, and looked straight ahead. However, his peripheral vision kept glancing at Tang Xiaqing beside him.

Tang Xiaqing had a bright smile on her face. She hummed the theme song from the movie as she walked, and occasionally jumped a few steps, as if she was completely immersed in the romantic atmosphere brought by the movie.

Her voice gently struck Gu Zhian's heartstrings.

The two walked side by side, and the atmosphere was a little subtle.

Gu Zhian curled his fingers slightly in his pocket, feeling a little hesitant.

He had never been good at expressing his emotions, especially at such seemingly insignificant yet ritualistic moments. However, the plot of the movie and Tang Xiaqing's smile at the moment made him feel a little impulsive.

He stopped and turned his head slightly to look at Tang Xiaqing. His voice was low and calm, with his usual indifference: "Tang Tang, can I hold your hand?"

Tang Xiaqing was stunned for a moment, then blinked and smiled even more. She tilted her head deliberately and asked mischievously, "Gu Zhian, are you moved by the movie?"

Gu Zhian's lips curled up slightly at her words, and he said lightly: "I just feel that holding your hand will make walking more joyful."

Tang Xiaqing smiled and held out her hand, which Gu Zhian then gently held. He felt that Tang Xiaqing's hand was warm and soft.

Gu Zhian stopped beside the sycamore tree. His fingers tightened slightly, completely wrapping her small hand. Gu Zhian's face was calm, but a hint of tenderness flashed in his eyes.

Gu Zhian checked his watch, which had already reached eleven o'clock. He realized that he was facing a difficult situation—the school gates were closed.

Gu Zhian frowned slightly and looked at Tang Xiaqing, his eyes full of apology: "I'm sorry, I didn't calculate the time well. Now the school gate is closed, so I can only stay outside for one night."

Tang Xiaqing nodded gently: "It's okay, this is not something you can predict."

So, Gu Zhian took Tang Xiaqing to look for a hotel.

Although Gu Zhian's father was a high-ranking official, he was an honest official. Gu Zhian's pocket money was not as much as Tang Xiaqing's, so after seeing the price of the executive suite, he just booked a standard room.

Entering the room, warm yellow light instantly filled the space. The room was spacious, with two single beds placed side by side, separated by a bedside table. Tang Xiaqing stood at the doorway, feeling a little awkward.

Gu Zhian turned and walked towards Tang Xiaqing. His eyes were deep and blazing, and he moved closer until he pushed Tang Xiaqing against the wall.

Tang Xiaqing's heartbeat suddenly quickened and her breathing became rapid. She looked up at Gu Zhian, her eyes full of panic.

Gu Zhian placed his hands on Tang Xiaqing's sides, leaned forward slightly, and said in a low and hoarse voice: "Tangtang, I want to ask you, is this the first time you've been taken to a hotel?"

Tang Xiaqing subconsciously shrank back, her back pressed against the cold wall, her heart beating like a drum.

Tang Xiaqing nodded, her throat tight, her voice so soft it was almost inaudible: "Yes."

His figure loomed over her, bringing with it an irresistible sense of oppression.

"Gu Zhian..." Tang Xiaqing's voice was weak and a little flustered, trying to use words to distance themselves from each other.

But Gu Zhian didn't give her a chance. He gently grasped her slender wrist, not with much force, but enough to prevent her from breaking free. His gaze was like a torch, staring straight into her clear eyes.

"Don't say anything. You can only belong to me." His eyes were as deep as the night, and the next second, his lips covered hers with a scorching temperature.

Gu Zhian's eyes darkened, and he raised his hand to touch her cheek. His fingertips were slightly cool, but they made her feel a burning sensation.

Tang Xiaqing's mind went blank. However, this kiss, in its subtleties, revealed Mr. Gu's cherishment and deep affection.

Gu Zhian unbuttoned two buttons of Tang Xiaqing's shirt, then reached out to pull off her inner shoulder straps.

Tang Xiaqing's shoulders trembled slightly with nervousness, and her hands subconsciously grabbed Gu Zhian's arm.

At this moment, Gu Zhian felt her trembling and suddenly stopped. He realized that his impulse might have frightened Tang Xiaqing, so he let her go.

Gu Zhian looked at her and gently stroked her hair: "I'm sorry, I... lost control just now." Tang Xiaqing lowered her head, not daring to look him in the eye.

After that, the two fell into an awkward silence.

After a moment, Gu Zhian broke the silence: "Go take a shower first. You go to sleep first. I want to play games." Tang Xiaqing felt relieved and walked into the bathroom.

The sound of dripping water came from the bathroom. Gu Zhian sat on the edge of the bed, took a deep breath, and tried to calm himself down.

To distract himself, he turned on his phone and began to concentrate on playing a game. The light from the phone screen reflected on his face, sometimes bright and sometimes dim, but he still couldn't fully concentrate.

When she came out of the shower, Gu Zhian was still sitting on the edge of the bed, his fingers sliding rapidly across the screen of his mobile phone, his expression so focused that it seemed as if everything around him had nothing to do with him.

Tang Xiaqing walked silently to her bed, lifted the quilt, lay down, turned her back to him, and closed her eyes.

The only sounds in the room were from mobile games, with occasional low notification sounds.

Time passed minute by minute, and Gu Zhian felt that Tang Xiaqing had fallen asleep. Then he finally put down his phone, got up and walked towards the bathroom.

When he came out of the shower, the room was quiet. In the dim moonlight, he saw that Tang Xiaqing seemed to have fallen into a deep sleep, her breathing even and steady. He tiptoed to his bedside and lay down.

In the dim light, Gu Zhian stared at the ceiling, unable to fall asleep for a long time.

Looking at Tang Xiaqing's slender back wrapped in a thin blanket, he thought that he should save the most important moment for the wedding night when he married her.

However, Gu Zhian did not expect that this idea would eventually become a regret. The more sincere the feelings, the deeper the regret.

Later, this relationship was forced to come to an abrupt end. That breakup cost both of them half their lives. Many years later, whenever he thought of it, his heart still ached.