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The Flower on the High Ridge
墨書 Inktalez
The youngest in the dormitory has started dating, and as is customary, she invited the entire dorm and their families to dinner. I sent a message to Gu Ming.
After a long time, he called back. "This weekend works, I was just playing basketball."
A slight panting sound, along with his uniquely magnetic and husky voice, came through the receiver. It felt like an electric current, tingling and penetrating my ears.
Pink bubbles instantly popped up in my heart, and I couldn't help but smile sweetly. Just as I was about to say I would go find him, I heard his lazy voice casually drift over.
"However, there's one request: don't get too touchy-feely with me."
I froze, my face turning bright red. "What? I'm just holding hands."
"Come on, girlfriend, be honest. Is it really just holding hands?"
"From fingers to arms, if I didn't stop you, who knows where you'd end up touching."
He teased mischievously. I felt embarrassed but couldn't refute him. Gu Ming was like poison to me, an irresistible attraction.
Before meeting him, I was a well-behaved girl who followed the rules. After meeting him, I turned into someone clingy. Every part of him attracted me; every move he made captivated me. Just hearing his voice or smelling his scent made me happy.
Every time we met, I couldn't help but want to touch him or kiss him. But unexpectedly, he looked so confident yet was cold and serious to the extreme. Each time he would slowly stop me with that cool bad-boy face of his.
"We just started dating; let's take it slow, no rush."
"I don't like being intimate in front of others."
"Keep your little paws in check; don't let them cross the line, okay?"
I felt like a desperate girl being forced into something against her will. I was both ashamed and overwhelmed. Help!
How did I end up like this?
Later, I learned that this is called physiological attraction.
A heartfelt flutter, a natural magnetic pull, an unconscious sinking feeling.
In order not to scare away the The Flower on the High Ridge that I had finally managed to pursue,
I could only desperately suppress my wicked thoughts and strive to maintain the image of a well-behaved and virtuous young lady.
That evening, throughout the entire dinner, I kept myself in check.
I was cautious and proper.
It was Youngest's first time bringing her boyfriend to meet her family, yet I was even more reserved than she was, which caught Gu Ming's attention multiple times.
After dinner, we went to watch a movie.
The wise dorm leader chose a thrilling romance film.
There were many couples around us; the girls occasionally let out delicate gasps, followed by various soothing voices from the boys, eventually evolving into blush-inducing kisses.
Only I sat upright, my gaze fixed straight ahead.
My expression focused intently on the screen.
It wasn't that I was bold; I was just dizzy.
The pleasant scent of Gu Ming filled my nostrils, leaving my mind in a haze.
My thoughts were completely elsewhere.
"Is it good?" Gu Ming glanced at me.
"Mm."
Nodding, I then realized that the screen was showcasing an intensely passionate scene.
"I knew you would like this."
He smiled playfully.
Blood rushed to my face, and I felt embarrassed, standing up to make a quick escape to the restroom.
When I returned, the movie had reached an intense and thrilling part.
The theater was dimly lit, with terrifying sound effects echoing around us.
I cautiously made my way back to my seat using the light from my phone.
Suddenly, a piercing scream erupted from the screen.
Startled, I stumbled and fell toward Gu Ming.
He let out a muffled grunt, gripping my wrist tightly and hissing through clenched teeth.
"One can't let their guard down for even a moment..."
"Are you trying to take my life with that sneak attack?"
I panicked instantly and stammered an explanation.
"I didn't mean to, I'm sorry."
I hurriedly tried to pull my hand away, but he held it tighter.
He sighed and brushed aside the stray hair by my temple. "Are you scared?"
I was taken aback for a moment before realizing he was referring to the movie.
So I quickly nodded and let out a small whimper like a kitten.
"...Yeah, it's really scary."
He covered my eyes and teased me.
"Stop looking at me with those wolf-like green eyes; maybe I'll believe you."
After saying that, he lifted me with one hand and pressed me back into my seat.
He generously opened his arms and pulled me into his embrace.
"Is this better? Stay still and watch the movie."
He was wronging me.
But he was holding me!
I shyly pressed my face against his chest, greedily inhaling his scent.
It smelled like grass under the sun and like a forest brushed by a gentle breeze.
It was blissfully dizzying.
Gradually, my gaze unconsciously drifted upward.
In the dim light, his face looked like it had stepped out of a comic book.
With elegant long eyebrows, indifferent eyes, and a high nose.
His thin lips had the most tempting curve; they were slightly pursed yet looked jelly-like and rosy.
I couldn't help but lean in closer... closer...
"What are you doing?"
His palm quickly blocked my face.
"...There’s a mosquito by your mouth."
I opened my eyes wide with the most innocent expression, saying the most ridiculous thing.
"So you plan to use your mouth to help me swat it?"
Gu Ming laughed in disbelief, simply pulling me back and pushing me into my seat.
"Tsk, can't I give you a little chance?"
"In public, don't act like a jerk, okay?" I huffed as I turned my head away.
"Not touching you, just a little stingy," came the playful reply.
Yet deep down, I felt a wave of shame wash over me, accompanied by a hint of disappointment.
After the movie, everyone was still craving more.
So we moved to a bar and started playing Truth or Dare.
After a few drinks, the questions became increasingly provocative.
When the bottle pointed at Youngest's boyfriend, the atmosphere escalated quickly.
"What stage are you two at now?"
The athletic guy's handsome face turned a deep shade of red in an instant.
The dorm leader exclaimed, "No way?!"
This was Youngest's third boyfriend; she calmly pressed her lips together and smiled shyly.
The athlete nervously raised his glass but was stopped by her.
"What are you drinking for? They already know the answer."
I was shocked, my eyes nearly popping out.
"...You guys just started dating, right?"
Youngest winked at me flirtatiously.
"Xiao Xing, you've exposed yourself."
I froze, wishing I could take back what I just said.
This group of women had been eyeing Gu Ming with great interest.
It was all his fault for having such a big reputation—cool, aloof, and seemingly like a player.
There had been rumors about him before, but nothing had ever been confirmed.
I was the only one he officially acknowledged as his girlfriend.
They were always curious about our situation.
So in the next round, when the bottle pointed at me, the same question hit me straight on.
"What stage are you two at now?"
I felt embarrassed and silently reached for my drink, only to be blocked by Youngest.
Her eyes were like those of a Thousand-Year Fox, darting back and forth between the two of us.
"Really? Are you still at first base?"
"Xiao Xing, I know you're shy, but you can't keep teasing us, Gu Cao."
"He's quite the catch; be careful not to scare him off."
The Youngest, emboldened by alcohol, teased without restraint.
I felt a wave of bitterness wash over me, with no one to confide in, so I could only force a smile.
Pushing the Youngest's hand away, I was about to down my drink in one go.
Suddenly, a long hand reached out and took my glass.
Gu Ming smiled and ruffled my hair.
"I think it's great that you’re like this, I really like it."
Saying this, he leaned down and finished my drink for me.
Cheers erupted around us, everyone saying Gu Ming was too indulgent.
I could only smile awkwardly, swallowing my bitterness.
Before long, the beer bottle rolled again and pointed towards Gu Ming.
The dorm leader grinned and made a playful suggestion.
"Gu Cao, give your girlfriend a kiss."
The atmosphere instantly exploded.
"Kiss her! Kiss her!"
"French kiss!"
"I want to record this; who said our class isn't good? Gu Cao has been in a relationship for so long and no one has caught them kissing."
Some people tried to persuade me.
"He’s had quite a bit to drink; didn’t you say he wasn’t feeling well? Don’t let him drink anymore."
"Come on, Xiao Xing, let’s indulge a little; the kid is starving for some sweetness!"
"Come on, Youngest, show her what a kiss during the honeymoon phase looks like."
The Youngest unabashedly pulled her boyfriend close and shared a passionate kiss.
My heart nearly stopped at the sight.
As if infected by their heat, I felt my face flush uncontrollably and looked helplessly at Gu Ming.
Gu Ming leaned back comfortably in the booth, his long legs stretched out lazily.
With a lollipop in his mouth, he calmly watched my roommates go wild.
The dorm leader stepped in to mediate and called for the crowd to stop their commotion.
"Everyone put your phones away. What kind of French kiss is this? A normal peck on the cheek is fine."
Gu Ming didn’t move.
"Um, can Qianqian just peck?"
Gu Ming still didn’t move.
Everyone's gaze shifted to me, and I felt my face burning.
I quickly glanced at Gu Ming and then looked at the others.
I was so embarrassed that I could barely maintain a smile.
"Um, can I just kiss your cheek... is that okay?"
I whispered as if negotiating.
It seemed like everyone caught on and stopped pressing the issue.
Gu Ming silently watched me.
I looked at him with pleading eyes, hoping for a favor.
Please! Just give me a break.
He furrowed his brow slightly and finally took the lollipop out of his mouth.
His tall figure leaned slightly forward, lowering his face toward mine.
The scent of sunshine and fresh grass enveloped me, and the surrounding noise faded away like waves retreating from the shore.
All that remained was my heart pounding wildly in my chest, as if it might burst out at any moment.
I trembled and closed my eyes.
Then, in the next second, his long fingers touched my forehead and gave it a gentle push.
He sidestepped past me and picked up my drink.
"Sorry, I've caught a cold recently, so I can't pass anything to my star."
"I have thin skin and I'm not used to performing in public."
"How about this? I'll drink three cups as punishment."
Saying this, he filled his cup along with an empty one to the brim.
With one swift motion, he downed both cups cleanly.
I stared blankly, unable to maintain the smile on my face any longer.
My heart felt like it was being tightly gripped by a large hand.
Isn't kissing on the cheek allowed either?
Would rather drink than kiss me?
Does he really... love me?
My acquaintance with Gu Ming began with a candid shot.
That day, he was playing in a competition, surrounded by a group of girls who were making sharp, excited noises.
I was obsessed with photography at the time, and it was rare to encounter someone so exceptional.
So I squeezed into the crowd, crazily clicking the shutter with my camera.
Unfortunately, I was caught by him on the spot.
With a cold expression, he took my camera and started deleting photos haphazardly.
Why only delete mine? Others took pictures too; is it just because I'm the one with the camera?
I felt frustrated and my face turned red, but I dared not say anything.
When I finally got my camera back, I found myself smiling again.
He had accidentally missed deleting one photo, the one where he lifted his shirt to reveal a small patch of abs.
Every time I saw that photo later, I couldn't help but marvel at the Creator's favoritism.
He was incredibly attractive, both in looks and physique, with a charmingly rogue vibe.
I heard that the senior girls pursuing him could form an elite squad.
At that time, I was purely appreciating him from an artistic perspective and didn't think much of it.
But just when I was about to forget him, I received a new order for a casual photoshoot.
When we met, I almost died of shock.
It turned out to be Gu Ming.
He wanted to take some lifestyle photos for an upcoming academic competition.
To my surprise, he looked like a school bully but was actually an academic achiever.
Fortunately, he didn't recognize me; however, he really wasn't good at taking photos.
Throughout the process, I had to constantly adjust his poses, guide his expressions, and make him relax and smile—it was exhausting.
What made it worse was that every time I got close to him, my heart raced like a wild horse breaking free.
Adjusting an arm here, tilting a cheek there, lifting his chin slightly—each physical contact felt like my fingers were scorched by fire.
I found it puzzling; I never had this issue when photographing others.
Luckily, although he was aloof, he was surprisingly easy to talk to.
After seeing the final shots, without saying a word, he directly added me on WeChat and transferred the payment.
But this person is truly toxic.
For more than a month afterward, every time I scheduled a shoot with someone else, it felt dull and uninteresting. I always thought the person in front of the camera looked terrible, which directly affected my creative enthusiasm. Yet, at that moment, orders were pouring in, overwhelming me.
When I inquired about it, I was shocked and broke out in a cold sweat. They all said they found me through Gu Ming's photos online, which still had my contact information on them. Shocked! He can't possibly think I used his photos for advertising, right? I haven't shared those photos with anyone.
Just as I was struggling with whether to explain things to him, I ran into him on the street. He looked like he had just been in a fight, exuding an intimidating aura, with a cut on the corner of his mouth. His gaze was cold and sharp as it glanced over at me.
I shivered in fear and quickly stepped forward to explain. "Um, your photo wasn't posted by me."
"No wonder I've been getting so many harassing calls lately."
"I really didn't..."
"I'm hungry; let's eat first."
In the blink of an eye, I found myself inexplicably sitting across from Gu Ming. I invited him to a small restaurant near the school to apologize. Well, considering he had taken so many orders, it was only fair for me to treat him to this meal.
But just as I was trying hard to clear my name, the department beauty from the Department of Foreign Languages suddenly rushed in. With tears streaming down her face, she confronted Gu Ming.
"Why did you block me? Why are you avoiding me?"
"What exactly are you dissatisfied with? Can't I change?"
Gu Ming looked visibly impatient, and his dark eyes suddenly turned toward me. Was he asking me to make room for their conversation?
I stood up thoughtfully, ready to leave when he suddenly pulled me back into his embrace. The scent of fresh grass enveloped me as he accurately kissed my lips.
"Did you see that? I've got someone I like now..."
I couldn't hear a word after that; I didn't even notice when the department beauty left. All I felt was fireworks exploding in my brain, electric currents zipping through my entire body.
Help!
This is my first kiss.
It wasn't until Gu Ming repeatedly apologized that I snapped out of my daze.
When I opened my mouth, I said, "Can I pursue you?"
Now it was Gu Ming's turn to be stunned.
Once my rationality returned, I regretted it.
But Gu Ming had already reluctantly agreed, and I couldn't back down.
Forget it, it's rare to meet someone I feel this way about; I'll just go for it.
He was originally The Flower on the High Ridge; even if I failed, it wouldn't be embarrassing.
So I started mimicking others, sending breakfast, inviting him out for meals, bringing water while playing basketball...
I went through the motions diligently and earnestly.
Gu Ming smiled at the corners of his mouth, and his gaze toward me became increasingly inscrutable.
Until a month later, without any warning, he grabbed my hand and took a photo.
He posted it on social media.
The caption read: "She's the one, pretty good."
In an instant, countless glasses shattered.
The school forum crashed, and my information rolled daily on the confession wall.
I was also dazed by this stroke of luck, thinking sweet love had finally come my way.
But when we actually got together, I realized it wasn't like that at all.
Who in a relationship spends every day in the library, being forced to memorize vocabulary for the CET-6?
Who in a relationship is busy participating in various competitions to show off muscles while making their girlfriend take pictures the whole time?
Who in a relationship only talks with words, not initiating intimacy or allowing any?
Yet he was like a piece of coveted meat, intoxicatingly appealing to me.
One time I couldn't take it anymore and, under the influence of alcohol, initiated a forceful kiss.
He covered my mouth and laughed mischievously and arrogantly.
"What kind of nonsense are you thinking in that little head of yours? You can't just be attracted to my looks, right?"
"Looks are part of you too."
"Let's forget about looks for a moment; how about appreciating your boyfriend's other qualities?"
I blushed but refused to let go.
Taking a deep breath, I asked, "…Don't you want to?"
He stared at me, his gaze gradually dimming, his Adam's apple bobbing heavily.
"There's no rush, take it slow, things will fall into place…"
"But I do want to."
I interrupted him, anxiously standing on my tiptoes to kiss him forcefully.
In the moment I pulled back, he took control and pinned me against the wall.
In a moment of impulse, I dazedly planted a strawberry on his neck.
Afterward, he was very angry and didn't see me for a week.
I felt ashamed and regretful, swearing that I would never make the same mistake again.
I always thought he was a treasure of a boy—flamboyant on the outside but pure on the inside.
But now it seemed otherwise.
"What’s going on between you two? Who dates without wanting to kiss and hug?"
"I'm sorry, I was wrong. I used to be jealous that you ate so well; turns out you’ve always been hungry."
"This issue needs to be taken seriously."
…
Back in the dormitory, everyone was talking over each other, giving me a headache.
I listened with a wry smile and resolved that it was time to have an open and honest talk with him.
The next day, I messaged him, and he said he was busy and would get back to me.
I waited from morning until evening but received no message.
While wandering downstairs by the boys' dormitory, I happened to run into his roommate.
When I asked if he had seen Gu Ming, the guy clearly hesitated before shaking his head.
"Did you call him?"
"His phone is off; he said he was busy."
"Yeah, he's quite busy. Don't wait around; just head back."
I nodded numbly and turned away in disappointment.
After walking a few steps, I suddenly remembered something I wanted to ask and turned back.
Then I overheard them talking quietly.
"Weren't we just at the café by the door? Why didn’t you tell his girlfriend?"
"What do you know? Gu Ming isn’t answering calls; he probably just doesn’t want to deal with it."
"No way, Brother Ming is tired of her? The girl looks quite sweet."
"Hmph—she's only sweet on the surface. You haven't seen Brother Ming come back with lipstick marks on his face, looking as dark as a pot bottom; it's obvious he was forced."
"Brother Ming doesn't like being touched, but he's like that with his girlfriend too. I guess he just hasn't invested much emotion."
"Maybe he's using her as a shield; after all, that girl from the Department of Foreign Languages was really hard to deal with."
"No way, Brother Ming isn't that kind of person."
"Tsk, you saw that stunning beauty at the café just now; she's Brother Ming's white moonlight. She comes to find him often, and every time Brother Ming looks annoyed, but he still goes. One time, he didn't even come back until late at night."
...
I couldn't listen any longer and turned to rush toward the door.
Sure enough, Gu Ming was sitting by the window with a girl who had long hair like seaweed.
The girl was radiant and was crying against his shoulder.
Gu Ming, who usually doesn't let anyone touch him, didn't push her away.
He even handed her a tissue.
His eyelashes were lowered, seemingly comforting her.
My heart sank to the bottom.
It turned out that his aversion to kisses and hugs wasn't due to being traditional and proper.
It was because... he didn't love.
At such a passionate age, if it were true love, how could he be so restrained?
I have never been one to make things difficult for myself.
I would never exhaust myself trying to reach for something I know I can't have.
Gu Ming was the only unexpected element in my life.
For him, I repeatedly deceived and forced myself.
In fact, from the first time he pushed me away, I knew I was forcing it.
Since I've hit a wall, I should turn back and heal properly.
Banging my head against it repeatedly is just pointless.
I gave a self-deprecating smile, took out my phone, edited a message, and sent it.
"I'm tired of this; let's break up."
Then I blocked his number and walked away.
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