Confession Game

Chapter 314

Meanwhile, the atmosphere in the room on the first floor where the couple stayed was just as subtle, with the air filled with a refreshing scent of tea.

Gu Xiangcheng paced back and forth in the room, hands clasped behind his back, his brows tightly furrowed.

After agonizing for ages and mentally revising his speech countless times, he finally mustered the courage to stop.

He cleared his throat and looked at his wife, who was peeling an apple on the sofa.

"Uh, Shulian, there's something I need to talk to you about..."

But the moment he started, Ye Shulian put down the fruit knife, placed the peeled apple on a plate, and shot back bluntly.

"Alright, stop beating around the bush. You're making me dizzy with all that pacing. I know what you're going to say."

Ye Shulian pulled out a tissue to wipe her hands, a knowing smile curling at the corners of her mouth as she looked at the nervous Gu Xiangcheng.

"Is it about the two kids dating?"

Gu Xiangcheng's eyes widened in disbelief. He quickly sat beside her and lowered his voice.

"How did you know?! I only found out about their secret relationship by accident."

Ye Shulian cut a piece of apple and popped it into his mouth.

"When did I find out? I can't say exactly. It's been a while, though. But..."

She narrowed her eyes.

"But... from the way you're speaking, it sounds like you've known for a long time. Why confess only now?"

Gu Xiangcheng felt like he was facing a crisis, silently cursing Gu Ran in his mind. He put on a smile, moved behind Ye Shulian, and began massaging her shoulders ingratiatingly.

"I just couldn't find the right moment, and I didn't know how to bring it up."

Ye Shulian arched her brows in amusement, forked a piece of apple, and said slowly.

"You certainly have your excuses."

When the two pieced together their timelines, they realized—what a surprise! They'd both been playing dumb all along!

During this time, they'd each been secretly covering for the kids, afraid that the other might try to break them up.

Ye Shulian shot Gu Xiangcheng a disapproving glare.

"Next time there's an issue, let's just keep each other in the loop. Keeping secrets from each other—what's that about?"

Gu Xiangcheng readily agreed.

"Of course! Next time for sure! Oh no—there won't be a next time!"

Hearing his desperate attempt to save face, Ye Shulian couldn't help but burst out laughing.

Seeing he was in the clear, Gu Xiangcheng let out a relieved chuckle and massaged her shoulders even more vigorously.

At that moment, Gu Ran knocked on the door with the solemn determination of a warrior heading into battle.

The two inside were startled and exchanged puzzled glances.

Gu Xiangcheng opened the door and, seeing the slightly nervous Gu Ran, immediately understood.

Ah, the kid's here to confess.

Looks like tonight's a full-on confession session!

Ye Shulian watched the two men standing dumbfounded at the doorway, sighed, walked over, and shot Gu Xiangcheng a glare.

"Why aren't you letting the kid in? What are you blocking the door for?"

She turned to Gu Ran with a smile.

"Come in and talk."

Gu Ran walked into the room, looking a bit uneasy.

Standing before his parents, he clenched his fists slightly, mentally bracing himself for the coming storm and interrogation.

"Dad, and Aunt Ye, I've got something to confess today."

Gu Ran straightened his back and swept a firm gaze across the two elders.

"I'm planning to propose to Zhenzhen on New Year's Eve."

Expecting a serious family tribunal, he was instead met with Ye Shulian's beaming smile and eyes full of approval.

She stood up and walked over to him, patting his arm, her tone teasing.

"Alright, no need to be so tense. You don't have to cover for your dad either."

Ye Shulian shook her head with a laugh, pointing at Gu Xiangcheng, who was trying to hold back a smirk on the sofa.

"Your dad just told me everything. We know it all."

"Your secret-keeping skills are terrible—definitely could use some improvement."

She pushed Gu Ran by the shoulders into the room and, noticing his awkwardness, handed him a plate of apples.

"You just focus on preparing your proposal. No need to worry about us interrupting. We promise we won't show up."

Gu Ran was completely stunned by their omniscience. His brain nearly short-circuited as he stood there dumbfounded.

He shot Gu Xiangcheng a look of silent complaint.

"Dad, why didn't you give me a heads-up? I thought I was going to get chewed out today!"

Gu Ran held out his hands, showing his palms to his father.

"Look, my hands are dripping with sweat."

All that anxiety outside the door, and he'd even mentally prepared his last words!

Gu Xiangcheng snorted, took a sip of tea, and puffed up with the pride of a family patriarch, completely unmoved.

"Since when does a father report to his son? You've still got a lot to learn, kid."

Gu Xiangcheng tapped the table with his knuckles.

Gu Ran sighed helplessly.

Still, the heavy weight in his heart had finally lifted, and he couldn't help the smile spreading across his face.

Ye Shulian stepped forward, gently took his hand, tears glistening in her eyes, her voice a little choked.

"Xiao Ran, Zhenzhen has been through a lot growing up with me. She's always put herself second."

Ye Shulian patted the back of his hand, her eyes full of heartfelt concern.

"I know you didn't dare tell us about your relationship before. I understand."

"Make sure you treat her well from now on. Auntie believes you're a responsible young man."

She wiped the corner of her eye and gave him a warm, relieved smile.

"Handing her over to you—I'll rest easy for the rest of my life."

Hearing this, Gu Xiangcheng stepped closer. First, he patted Ye Shulian's hand, which still rested on Gu Ran's, in consolation. Then, he gave Gu Ran's shoulder a firm pat, weighty with the authority of an elder.

"Your aunt's right. If you dare bully Zhenzhen..."

Gu Xiangcheng's face hardened as he lightly smacked the boy on the head.

"Don't blame me for disowning you. I'll be the first to take you down!"

Gu Ran winced, rubbing his head, and nodded solemnly.

"Don't worry, Dad. Don't worry, Aunt Ye. I won't let you down."

The three chatted briefly, going over the general plan for the next day, before urging the young man to leave.

Gu Ran walked back to his room feeling completely at ease, even the air in the hallway seemed fresher.

As soon as he got off the elevator, he spotted Ye Zhenzhen crouching sneakily by his door, peering through the peephole with her backside sticking out—she looked both awkward and hilarious.

A playful urge stirred in Gu Ran. He tiptoed softly over and shouted right by her ear.

"Ha! Caught a little thief up to no good!"

Ye Zhenzhen jumped in fright, her face instantly turning bright red. She flailed her arms and nearly slapped him across the face.

She stammered, smoothing her messy hair, her gaze darting everywhere as she adamantly denied spying on him.

"What are you doing! You scared me half to death, you know that?!"

She patted her chest to steady her breath and shot him a glare.

"You walk like a cat—not a sound at all!"

“I’m not spying on you, I just ate too much seafood earlier.”

She straightened her back, raised her chin with an air of righteous indignation.

“Just taking a walk to digest, happened to pass by. Don’t overthink it.”

Gu Ran watched her, clearly guilty of trying to cover up, and barely suppressed a smile. He went along with it and nodded.

“Oh, so that’s how it is. Well, keep walking and digesting then.”

He pulled out his room card, swiped it to unlock the door, and angled his body to block the entrance, sealing the gap completely.

“I’m going back to rest. Have a nice walk, and don’t get lost.”

Under Ye Zhenzhen’s gaze, full of hints and anticipation, Gu Ran mercilessly closed the door, shutting her out completely.

Outside the door, Ye Zhenzhen was shocked by his cold-heartedness. She pouted and let out a humph.

“You jerk!”

The girl trudged back to her room, a look of disappointment on her face.

Inside the room, Gu Ran stared at the sea of wedding proposal props he had set up, his heart pounding with nervousness.

His palms were starting to sweat again. This was the most important day of his two lifetimes combined.

He rehearsed the proposal process over and over, adjusting the position of every single balloon.

He checked the ring box repeatedly, terrified of making even the slightest mistake.

In the other room, the girl’s plan had failed. She curled up on the bed, lost in a whirl of thoughts, and unknowingly, her eyes gradually closed as she drifted into sleep.

The eastern sky began to lighten with the first blush of dawn. The early morning sunlight filtered through the curtain gaps, spilling over the pink-and-white balloons and gilding the entire room with a warm golden edge.

Gu Ran had two dark circles under his eyes, his irises shot with red, but as he looked at the scene he had arranged, a profound sense of accomplishment filled him.

The new year had officially arrived. Everything was ready, only the right moment remained.

The young man stood in the center of the room, his heart brimming with both nervousness and anticipation.

......