"Get on!" Lin Yu shouted at Gu Yue, who still stood in shock at the scene she had just witnessed.
"Oh, right," she responded hastily and carefully made her way past the moaning figures strewn on the ground. As she passed the greasy-faced fat man in a dirty shirt, her small shoe accidentally—or perhaps not so accidentally—stomped on his face, twisting it cruelly before she scurried towards Lin Yu.
Once Gu Yue was securely on the bike, Lin Yu revved up and sped off with her...
...
Arriving at the seaside at an even pace, Lin Yu parked the motorcycle and removed his helmet to gaze at the vast ocean. It was just past 4 PM, the beginning of dusk, and the blazing sun had tempered its glare, casting a sanctified, warm glow over the waters—a brilliant tapestry of gold forged by the evening's grace.
The sea breeze was calming, and Lin Yu felt an unprecedented sense of ease.
"You did great today," he said to Gu Yue, leaning against a railing by the roadside with a bright smile and an approving thumbs up.
Gu Yue looked like a mess, her makeup smeared by tears, resembling an apparition from 'The Ring.' Nonetheless, her eyes still shone beautifully against the golden canvas of the sea, reflecting the gentle image of the man before her.
"Considering how well you performed today, the situation with Tang Manman..." Lin Yu's smile vanished as he continued coldly, "Obviously cannot be forgotten."
"What made you think you could be so cruel?" he questioned, poking at Gu Yue's forehead indignantly. "Bullying Tang Manman is one thing, administering a lesson with your own hands is another, but wanting to take naked photos? You gave her no space to breathe. Do you even want her to live?"
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Gu Yue hung her head low and timidly accepted his reprimand, whispering an apology, "I'm sorry."
"Remember this!" Lin Yu growled with a threat, "You'll continue to protect Tang Manman at school. If anything happens to her, I'll come after you first!"
Gu Yue nodded faintly as dimness seeped into the golden light of the sunset in her eyes.
"But," Lin Yu shifted his tone, his friendly smile resurfacing, "I am a man of fairness. You err, and I’ll reprimand you, but you’ve earned merit today."
As he spoke, Lin Yu began to unzip his jacket, adding, "So, I’ll be sure to reward you appropriately."
Gu Yue watched in bewilderment as Lin Yu unzipped his clothing, utterly confused by what he meant by 'reward.' But the alarm in her eyes soon gave way to a mix of shyness and anticipation as Lin Yu paused his actions.
Reaching halfway into his half-opened jacket, Lin Yu's next motion was unexpected: he pulled out a thick stack of hundred-dollar bills.
Handling the money that Xia Mu Zhu, the second female lead, had forcefully given him, he estimated it to be about three thousand dollars. After a brief moment of hesitation, he stuffed it all into Gu Yue's hands, instructing, "Take this money. You've done work for me, and I won’t leave you hanging."
"Be sure to watch over Tang Manman at school, keep her from harm. But remember your boundaries; don’t intrude on her life too much."
Despite the mixed emotions in her eyes, Gu Yue nodded, reluctantly mustering a strained smile, "Brother Long, you can count on me to look after sister-in-law!"
Lin Yu nearly slipped off the railing, glaring at her with vexation, "She's not your sister-in-law. Call her that again, and I'll knock you out!"
He shook his clenched fist in front of her, his menacing demeanor enough to frighten her into nodding meekly.
After giving Gu Yue one last disdainful look, Lin Yu turned back to the sea painted gold by the setting sun, seeking solace in its beauty and the cool sea breeze.
For Lin Yu, the beautiful view was singular and right before his eyes, while for Gu Yue, there were two—the ocean and something else. Although mostly preoccupied by the sea, every now and then, her gaze drifted off, lingering a moment longer than necessary before returning warily to the gilded waters—and every time her thoughts gave way, her eyes would sneak another fleeting look...