The fog of sleep dissipated in an instant.
Jiang Qingli's eyes flew open. She wondered if staying up all night was making her hallucinate.
As if sensing her thoughts, Gu Nian said softly, "You heard me right, Qingli."
He pulled back slightly to observe her reaction.
Seeing the shock in her eyes, Gu Nian lowered his long, light-colored lashes. They trembled heavily, like a butterfly's wings drenched in a downpour.
A few seconds later, he looked up again.
As if he had made some kind of decision, Gu Nian spoke again with the utmost solemnity:
"Qingli, I like you."
"I've liked you since the first moment I saw you."
A torrent of affection swirled in his beautiful eyes.
Years of longing had found an outlet, threatening to burst forth like a flood. He wanted to crowd in front of her, to take every declaration of love, give it form, and present it to her, begging for her affection.
But he was afraid of scaring her, so he could only freeze in place, his breathing a ragged mess.
