Chapter 21: Pool

Seeing Ji Su kept silent, Qiao Jin finally reacted and tried to remedy the situation, "Indeed, indeed, Susu's piano playing is really hard to listen to, so it's just a problem for my ears alone, so you'd better not listen to it!"

"I don't believe it." Wang Mingzhe squeezed in from the back on his crutches, "Ji Su is so good-looking, how can she play the piano so badly?"

Ji Su: "......"

What's this theory, that his good looks have anything to do with his ability to play the piano?

But when it came down to it, he was the duck that had been forced onto the shelf, and if he insisted on not playing the piano, he would be even more suspicious.

Gu Zhao, in particular, has such sharp instincts.

Qiao Jin was still trying to find some more excuses for him, "Actually, Ji Su he--"

"Good." Ji Su agreed, "Then I'll make a fool of myself."

He walks over to the piano stand and lifts the white dust cover over the piano.

A few others gather around expectantly, only Qiao Jin has nervousness written all over his face.

The sound of the piano was "tinkling", a pleasant sound, and the rhythm was relaxed and joyful.

Gu Zhao leaned forward, staring at the hands jumping on the black and white keys, narrowing his eyes slightly.

After the song, Ji Su put down her hands with a somewhat embarrassed expression, "I haven't played the piano for too long, so I've forgotten all the score, so I only remember 'Little Star'."

He couldn't play to the piano, not to mention that Gu Zhao's level of appreciation could definitely tell if he was playing nonsense or not.

So he had to choose the simplest "Little Star", an entry-level piece for beginners, making it difficult to tell the player's piano level.

"Oh! I said this melody is so familiar!" He Yiming applauded as an afterthought, "Good to hear, good to hear, it's played exceptionally well!"

A few other people also applauded, and Wang Mingzhe said, "Ji Su, you are really multi-talented, don't be modest in the future!"

Ji Su smiled and pretended to look sideways in the direction of the couch without realizing it.

Gu Zhao, who was sitting on the sofa, rose just in time, his dark eyes as inscrutable as ever, and without a word, turned and went upstairs.

Ji Su couldn't help but breathe a light sigh of relief, and his tense spine loosened up.

Gu Zhao's reaction was normal, as if he did not suspect anything.

After returning to his room, Ji Su went to take a shower first.

When he came out of the bathroom, Qiao Jin was already lying on the big bed playing with his cell phone, and was happy to see what he was wearing, "Susu, why are you still dressed so tightly after the shower?"

Instead of wearing the bathrobe provided by the villa, Ji Su changed into the shirt and pants he had brought with him.

He toweled his hair and returned, "Just in case."

When he took a shower just now, he carefully combed through it from head to tail, and the only evidence Mengmeng left behind was the leg photo, and the red mole on his thigh was indeed uncommon.

So he decided to weld his pants to his legs when he was in front of Gu Zhao in the future, never giving the other party a chance to find out.

"Hey, it's scary to come out for a little fun." Qiao Jin tsked, "If it wasn't for Gu Zhao's homophobia, I'd think it'd be better to just come clean with him."

Ji Su hesitated, "Do you also think ...... it is better for me to confess to him?"

"No Susu, I'm saying this with a caveat okay?" Qiao Jin gets up from the bed, "Provided Gu Zhao isn't homophobic and isn't that vindictive. Besides, you've been hiding it from him for so long, now I can only help you pray that he doesn't find out."

Ji Su : "Got it ......"

"Don't think so much." Qiao Jin patted his shoulder, "I'm going to take a shower too."

Ji Su stood in place for a moment and turned in the direction of the balcony.

A cool breeze greeted me as I opened the balcony door.

Ji Su walked over to the railing and lifted his face up to look at the bright moon hanging in the deep blue sky.

The ancients said that they wished for a long time, a thousand miles together, and among the people who watched this bright moon with him, was there that one person who had a little bit of hanging on to him?

After a long time, Ji Su turned around and leaned against the railing, his eyes touched a figure and abruptly stopped.

The two rooms of the villa are connected by a balcony, and on the next balcony there is a rattan lounge chair, on which Gu Zhao is lying with his eyes closed, not knowing whether he is asleep or in a state of tranquility.

Ji Su subconsciously wanted to go back to his room, and after taking two steps, he couldn't help but look back.

He pursed his lips, went into his room and rummaged for a thin blanket, and went back out onto the balcony.

Ji Su walked gingerly to the rattan recliner and carefully draped the thin blanket over Gu Zhao.

He thought he was moving carefully enough, but Gu Zhao's eyes widened the instant he touched them, and a large hand clutched his wrist.

"Hiss ......" Ji Su took a backwards breath and explained softly, "I'm sorry, it's windy at night, I'm afraid you'll catch a cold."

Gu Zhao stared at the face close at hand, scrutinizing it.

His eyes were dark and heavy, as if they were thicker than the night color behind him, Ji Su a bit unable to stand such a look, glancing away, "Can ...... you let go of me first?"

Gu Zhao let go of his hand and asked in a low voice, "Apologize for what?"

Ji Su straightened up, "Huh?"

Gu Zhao's tone was inaudible, just stating a fact: "You are very used to apologizing to others."

Ji Su was slightly stunned, "Really?"

He hadn't even noticed that he liked to apologize to people, but now that I think about it, he did seem to say "sorry", "sorry", "excuse me", and so on, a lot! I'm sorry", "I'm sorry", "I'm sorry".

Gu Zhao reached out with his big hands and grabbed the blanket that kept slipping down.

"I'm apologizing to you because I accidentally woke you up." Ji Su snapped back, "I was going to cover you with a blanket, but it seems to have been a good idea."

But he would have owed Gu Zhao a formal apology, though not for such a trivial matter.

Gu Zhao looked at him, "I'm not asleep."

"Ah ......" Ji Su blinked her eyelashes, not knowing how to continue the conversation, "Then ...... I'll go back to my room? "

Gu Zhao reclosed his eyes, "Uh-huh."

Ji Su turned and headed inside, closing the balcony door and thoughtfully and discreetly dropping the lock.

Qiao Jin saw his movement and casually asked, "Susu, why did you lock the balcony door?"

Ji Su: "Gu Zhao is on the next balcony."

"It should be locked!" Qiao Jin immediately chimed in and asked, "Should I move another table over to block it?"

Ji Su was amused by him, "There's no need to exaggerate."

*

Early the next morning, Ji Su got up, washed up and went downstairs.

The others were still asleep and the villa was quiet.

Ji Su went into the kitchen, poured a glass of warm water, drank it and then felt free to make a simple breakfast.

The kitchen was fully stocked with utensils and he took the apron hanging from the wall and put it on, opening the refrigerator to take out the ingredients.

Just then, there was a sound of footsteps behind them.

Ji Su turned and greeted, "Good morning."

Gu Zhao's brow jumped and his feet jerked to a halt.

Ji Su wore a black apron with ties that pinched out an impossibly thin waist and a knee-length hem that made it look like she was wearing a strappy dress.

"What's wrong?" Ji Su saw him staring at him without saying anything and raised her hand to touch her cheek, "Do I have something on my face?"

Gu Zhao withdrew his eyes, "No."

Ji Su vaguely sensed that he was a bit strange, but did not think much about it and continued to prepare breakfast.

Gu Zhao walked over to the table and poured a glass of water, his large bony hands holding the glass, his gaze falling heavily on the lean but curvy back.

Mengmeng did send him a lot of pictures in skirts, but the background was always in the dormitory, and at most he was only shown the waist and legs, never any other gender-specific parts.

Is he ......

Make a preconceived error?

Ji Su turned back, "I'm going to make sandwiches, is there anything you won't eat?"

Gu Zhao's thoughts were interrupted, "What?"

Ji Su patiently repeated, "I'm going to make a couple of sandwiches for breakfast, is there anything you won't eat?"

Gu Zhao was silent for a few seconds and asked, "Why are you making breakfast for the others?"

"Huh?" Ji Su was caught off guard by his question, "Just ...... casually ah."

Gu Zhao coldly said, "Whoever eats it does it."

The cold look on the other party's face looked like he didn't know any better, but Ji Su's feelings were a bit mixed.

He already knows that Gu Zhao is G. He's been taught not to bother trying to impress other people's Gs.

Ji Su also knew that he didn't mean to be a people pleaser, these were just habits that had been etched into his bones over the years.

While the two were in a stalemate, Zhou Yang's surprised voice rang out, "Brother Gu, Ji Su, why are you up so early?"

"I don't like to sleep in in the morning." Ji Su shifted her eyes to him, "You're up pretty early too."

"Hey, we law students get up early to memorize for finals!" Zhou Yang walked over with a few big steps, "Are you going to make breakfast?"

Ji Su hesitated and responded, "Yes."

"That's just right, let's do it together." Zhou Yang picked up the tomato on the table and nibbled on it straight away, "But let's make it clear in advance, I'm a terrible cook haha!"

Ji Su pursed her lips, "I'm not a good cook either."

When Zhou Yang arrived, the atmosphere in the kitchen returned to normal, and Gu Zhao joined in the breakfast making without a word.

After breakfast, except for Wang Mingzhe, the others were ready to go out for a hike.

For the rest of the day, Ji Su always felt a gaze behind his back, but when he went to look for it, there was no trace of it, so he had to assume that he was just being paranoid.

But in the process of climbing the mountain, he finally saw how good Gu Zhao's physical strength is, the whole face is not red, not gasping, like a leisurely walk.

On the way down, Qiao Jin secretly whispered in his ear, "Susu, with the physical strength of the Gu Da schoolmaster, you definitely won't be able to take his beating."

Ji Su was also a bit worried and could only reassure himself, "I think Gu Zhao should not be the kind of savage who solves problems with his fists ...... bar ......"

After all, the fact that the other man had saved him from a horse only yesterday, at personal risk, showed that Gu Zhao was not the kind of man with a cold face and an even more ruthless heart.

"Look, you don't even sound sure." Qiao Jin skimmed his eyes, "But it's fine, just hide it."

Ji Su whispered back, "I'll hide it better if you'll be less bald in front of him from now on."

Referring to last night's piano incident, Qiao Jin can't help but feel guilty: "I wasn't careless for a moment, I wanted to protect your reputation as a pianist ......"

"Qiao Jin, Ji Su, what are you two doing back there?" Zhou Yang, who was walking in front, shouted back, "The sun is almost setting."

Qiao Jin responded, "Coming, coming!"

He Yiming took the initiative to stop, waiting for Ji Su to catch up with him, and said, "Ji Su, do you usually dislike climbing mountains?"

"I'm okay, I usually climb mountains when I have time." Ji Su replied, "It's just that I'm not as physically fit as you guys, so it's harder for me to climb."

"That doesn't look like you're struggling." He Yiming enthusiastically invited, "If you like outdoor sports, we can go out more often in the future!"

Ji Su smiled slightly, "We'll see."

At that moment, Gu Zhao also stopped and turned his head to see the two men talking and laughing side by side.

Ji Su Suddenly met a pair of cold black eyes, his heart jumped and almost stepped on the air.

Gu Zhao frowned and his body instinctively stepped forward.

Luckily, He Yiming took Ji Su's arm and said with concern, "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine." Ji Su withdrew her arm and moved a little to the side, "Thanks."

When I looked up again, Gu Zhao had already continued down the mountain.

*

After climbing the mountain for a day, a few people were more or less tired. In the evening, Zhou Yang called for a big meal to be delivered to the villa, and still ate dinner on the big terrace.

After dinner, Ji Su went upstairs to work for a while, and when she came down again, she found the terrace deserted.

He looked around the villa and finally followed the sound to the pool at the back of the villa.

"Susu!" Qiao Jin was sitting on the shore drinking and waved excitedly when he saw him, "Come over and play with us!"

Ji Su walked over and saw Zhou Yang swimming around in the water and complimented, "Zhou Yang, you're a good swimmer."

"I'm okay, Gu is really good at swimming." Zhou Yang leaned against the side of the pool, "He's on the varsity swim team and has earned a lot of medals for our school."

Qiao Jin sighed, "Schoolmaster Gu Da really deserves to be an all-around schoolmaster, is there anything he can't do?"

Zhou Yang thought hard for a few seconds and returned, "Can't get along with people."

"Can't fall in love yet!" Wang Mingzhe took over, "Otherwise our poor Brother Gu wouldn't have been reduced to being cheated by his online love interest."

Ji Su takes another shot to the knee and clears his throat awkwardly.

"Oops, let's not talk about that." Qiao Jin interrupted, "In case Gu Zhao hears you, he'll press you into the pool for a bellyful of water."

"Hahaha!" Zhou Yang laughed out loud, "Is Brother Gu that ferocious?"

Qiao Jin scrunched his shoulders, "I think there is."

"Right, where is Gu Zhao?" Ji Su looked around, "Why don't I see--ah!"

As soon as he turned around, he almost ran into a wall of people.

"You were looking for me?" A low, magnetic voice sounded overhead.

Ji Su took two steps backward in a row, "I'm sorry ......"

Gu Zhao gave him a look and walked over to the pool, untied the ties of the bathrobe she was wearing, and took off her white bathrobe, which contained only a pair of loose black swim trunks.

Qiao Jin, who was sitting on the opposite side of the table, instantly widened his eyes, and shouted out a sentence of "Crap" that he couldn't hold back.

The next moment, Gu Zhao jumped into the water and swam back and forth like a dragon in the blink of an eye, with nothing but churning white waves in the water.

"With a crash and a splash, Gu Zhao emerged from the water, facing Ji Su's direction.

His jet-black hair was dampened and plastered wetly against his handsome face, and he casually brushed his forehead hair upwards, revealing his high, three-dimensional brow bone in its entirety, looking sharper and more aggressive than usual.

For the first time, Ji Su read an almost aggressive emotion in those dark eyes and tried to turn away, but his feet felt like they were nailed in place.

"Brother Gu, didn't you just say you didn't want to swim?" Zhou Yang opened his mouth to break the silence, "Why did you suddenly come down again?"

Gu Zhao didn't answer and swam to the edge of the pool, bracing his hands on the shore and leaping up.

He bent down and picked up his bathrobe from the floor, wiping the water off his body with one motion, his eyes still locked on Ji Su's face.

Right in front of me were chunky abs, with a constant stream of water rolling down their grooves, and loose black swim trunks that were completely wet ......

Ji Su couldn't help but think of the picture of his abs he'd sent himself, and her ears got hot and her eyes averted.

Gu Zhao opened his mouth, "Aren't you going to get in the water?"

"I ......" Ji Su Eyes don't know where to look for a moment, they can only land on her toes, "I can't swim."

"Yes, yes, Susu can't swim!" Qiao Jin, in a rare moment of clarity, laughed awkwardly to himself, "I'm afraid I'll drown him if he goes in the water, hahaha!"

"If you don't know how to swim, then just let Brother Gu teach you!" Wang Mingzhe enthusiastically suggested, "With Brother Gu here, we can teach you!"

Zhou Yang also chimed in, "Yes, more swimming skills may save your life in critical moments in the future!"

Ji Su: "......"

He wants to scream for help now ......