CHAPTER 81: CHAPTER 81: CUT YOUR LOSSES IN TIME

When Chi Xingtong arrived, Gu Ningyue was already sitting on the couch with Shen Hanyin, accompanying Ji Qianqian to watch TV.

The butler led Chi Xingtong in, cut some fruit and placed it on the table. Gu Ningyue then asked him to take care of other things.

"Hasn’t Lu Qingqing come to pick up Ji Qianqian yet?" Chi Xingtong asked, looking puzzled at Ji Qianqian clinging to Gu Ningyue. "Is she that trusting?"

Gu Ningyue said, "Soon, she’ll come pick up Ji Qianqian in two days."

Having lived together for nearly half a month, Gu Ningyue had grown accustomed to having this little clingy spirit by her side.

Maybe after Ji Qianqian leaves, I might feel a bit unaccustomed!

Though this kid is noisy at times, she’s mostly well-behaved and obedient, not causing much trouble.

"Are we just going to sit here? Let’s find a movie to watch!" Chi Xingtong plopped onto the sofa, casually picking up the remote. "I heard there’s a new zombie movie out, want to give it a try?"

Gu Ningyue was curious, "With how easily scared you are, you dare watch a zombie movie?"

Chi Xingtong retorted, "It’s not the same. Zombies are visible and touchable; who wouldn’t be afraid of those elusive ghosts?"

Gu Ningyue thought for a while, "Forget it, Qianqian can’t handle overly stimulating scenes, let’s pick another one!"

Just as she finished speaking, Ji Qianqian clapped her hands and said, "Sister, watch zombies, watch zombies!"

Gu Ningyue was momentarily stunned, "It’s really scary, do you really want to watch it, Qianqian?"

Ji Qianqian nodded vigorously, "I want to watch, Qianqian wants to watch!"

Shen Hanyin looked at her and said, "Let’s watch this one then!"

Gu Ningyue saw everyone agreed and responded, "Alright then!"

Just as they were about to look for the movie, Aunt Zhang came over and said, "Madam, you can go to the innermost room on the second floor, President Ling had a projector set up there earlier, the experience is better than watching here."

Gu Ningyue paused for a moment before leading Shen Hanyin, Chi Xingtong, and Ji Qianqian upstairs.

Opening the door, Gu Ningyue was taken aback by what she saw, "So, Ling Tianyou installed a private cinema at home? It’s even Japanese-style?"

Aunt Zhang smiled warmly, "If Young Madam needs anything, just call me and I’ll bring it up."

The door closed slowly, leaving only the eerie glow of the big screen inside the room.

Gu Ningyue reached for the remote and sat down on the tatami, "Come on, girls! What do you want to watch?"

Chi Xingtong provided the movie title and grabbed a nearby thin blanket, "How about some popcorn?"

Shen Hanyin said, "We could also have some milk tea."

Qianqian extended her hand, "Sister, I want to eat fruit."

Gu Ningyue called the servant up, "Four cups of milk tea, four tubs of popcorn, a fruit salad box, and two servings of fried chicken."

The servant obliged and soon brought the items up.

After securely closing the door again, Gu Ningyue tore off a piece of chicken, "Should I press play?"

Everyone nodded, as the opening theme echoed, a chilling scream filled the room.

Ji Qianqian held her milk tea tightly, sticking to Gu Ningyue like a chick, her eyes wide open, eagerly watching the screen for what’s to come.

"Why does this sneak attack biting scene feel familiar?"

"All zombie movies are like this."

"Aaaahhhhh—"

"Chi Xingtong, weren’t you unafraid? Why are you screaming?"

"I didn’t mean to, my vocal cords have a mind of their own..."

The movie wasn’t finished yet, but Gu Ningyue was already overwhelmed by Chi Xingtong’s piercing screams.

Gu Ningyue rubbed her forehead, "Let’s change the movie, my eardrums are about to burst."

Shen Hanyin, clutching her popcorn, agreed, "Second that."

The only one silent was Ji Qianqian, who was nestled in Gu Ningyue’s embrace, too scared to speak. Gu Ningyue stroked her head, feeling an inexplicable urge to protect her.

With a two-to-one vote, Chi Xingtong didn’t get to see the ending, as Gu Ningyue forcibly switched to a comedy.

The room was suddenly quiet without Chi Xingtong’s screams.

Gu Ningyue glanced at Shen Hanyin, "Can you talk?"

Shen Hanyin pondered, "Mm, go ahead."

Gu Ningyue briefly talked about Ji Zhiye and Shen Hanyin’s situation, stuffing a handful of popcorn in her mouth, "What do you think this person means?"

Chi Xingtong turned to Shen Hanyin, "Hey, have you asked him one specific question?"

Shen Hanyin asked, "What question?"

Seeing Shen Hanyin like this, Chi Xingtong hesitated for a moment before speaking, "Well... have you asked him if he has a girlfriend?"

Shen Hanyin was taken aback, her previously calm expression changed, "No. He took me to his clinic, he shouldn’t have a girlfriend, right? Besides, while I was with him, I didn’t see anyone calling him."

Especially during the time she was injured, Ji Zhiye spent a lot of time with her.

Chi Xingtong cleared her throat, "Well, it’s better to ask!"

Shen Hanyin nodded, looking a bit forlorn, "He shouldn’t lie to me."

"Chi Xingtong’s just saying, once that’s clear, you’ll be at peace." Gu Ningyue reassured, "What if he doesn’t have a girlfriend?"

Although she said that, even Gu Ningyue was not entirely certain.

"Ask now," Chi Xingtong said, sipping milk tea, "While we’re all here, we can offer advice."

And if you cry, there’s a shoulder to lean on.

Shen Hanyin contemplated for a long while before finally taking out her phone and opening the chat with Ji Zhiye.

She typed the text multiple times but ended up deleting it each time.

Seeing her so conflicted, Gu Ningyue remarked, "If you don’t ask, the movie will end soon."

Shen Hanyin gritted her teeth and typed out a sentence before directly pressing send.

A few seconds later, her phone rang with a ’ding’.

Shen Hanyin became visibly nervous, holding her phone for a while before opening the unread message.

"——No!"

Shen Hanyin couldn’t help but smile, "He said he doesn’t have a girlfriend."

"——So you just remembered to ask this question after all this time? Haha."

A new message quickly popped up, and you could almost sense the smile on Ji Zhiye’s face on the other end of the phone.

Shen Hanyin replied with a couple of sentences and then set her phone aside.

"Since he said it himself that he doesn’t have one, in the future, if a girlfriend suddenly appears, it won’t be a problem," Chi Xingtong appeared skeptical.

Shen Hanyin said, "He doesn’t confess, yet he’s very nice to me. Sometimes I’m afraid if I ask certain questions, it might ruin everything."

Chi Xingtong turned her head, her beautiful face flickering under the screen light, "He’s probably banking on your mindset. Ask! Better face it early, make a quick escape, minimize the damage!"