The sun gradually sank below the sea, and the clouds along the horizon seemed to catch fire, as brilliant as an overturned palette. A breeze swept past, rustling the roadside plane trees as though they were providing accompaniment for this moment.
Gu Yue stopped beneath an old plane tree. She released Tang Wulin's arm and turned to face him. Her chest rose and fell slightly, her long silver hair drifting in the evening breeze. Her eyes, usually tinged with haughty coyness and mischief, now looked unusually deep and anxious.
Her stare gave Tang Wulin the jitters. He instinctively touched his face. "Gu Yue, what's wrong? Is there something on my face?"
"Tang Wulin." Gu Yue drew a deep breath. Her voice trembled, yet carried the resolve of someone smashing her boats and burning every bridge behind her.
"Yes?"
Gu Yue raised her head and looked straight into his eyes. Her cheeks visibly flushed crimson, the blush spreading all the way to her ears until they looked ready to drip blood. She held his gaze, afraid of missing even the slightest change in his expression.
"Do... do you like me?"
The question seemed to drain every ounce of Gu Yue's strength. She pressed her lips tightly together, unconsciously wringing her hands until her nails nearly dug into her palms.
"I... I really, really, really like you."
Gu Yue's voice grew softer, but every word seemed squeezed from the depths of her heart, burning hot. "If you say you don't... I... I'll freeze you in ice so you can never run away!"
Though it was a threat, her scarlet face and trembling voice robbed it of any menace. Instead, she looked utterly sweet and endearing.
Tang Wulin froze.
He looked at the girl before him, usually as proud as a queen, now