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墨書 Inktalez
They beheld the long-lost sea, though calling it the sea was not entirely accurate. As far as the eye could see, it was an endless expanse of blue, with no beaches or islands in sight. They were truly adrift in the ocean, like mayflies, utterly without support.
Xu Nuan's expression had not improved. Although she did not suffer from seasickness, her fear of water was something she had failed to overcome in over twenty years. In this game, encountering the sea every ten levels or so was quite common. However, they usually started above the ocean before finding a deserted island.
"Drink some water."
As Xu Nuan's face reflected her complex feelings, Gu Ze handed her a cup of warm water. His gaze was fixed on the distance while his other hand rummaged through his backpack for the telescope that had once been fitted with a tracker.
After taking a sip of water, Xu Nuan suddenly felt much better. She knew it was just a psychological effect, yet she continued to deceive herself.
This scene reminded her of a moment during the Arrogant Swamp level when she had been inspired by Qi Huan to bravely take a step forward. Although she had prepared herself mentally at that time, when they finally reached the Supply Station and enjoyed a rare moment of peace together, she found herself at a loss for words.
Her expression then had been one of embarrassment. When she looked up, she noticed that Gu Ze's expression was not much better. Xu Nuan could no longer recall how long it had been since she had seen Gu Ze look that way. Before they had established their relationship, she admired him as a strong man capable of embracing everything. Afterward, his actions throughout their journey revealed him to be an exceptional and formidable man. In those moments, Gu Ze exuded confidence, but when he fell silent, he seemed unfathomable.
There was now a slight difficulty in approaching him; the distance between them had grown under the guise of protection. When Xu Nuan realized this, it coincided with the eruption of their conflicts. Yet in that serious atmosphere, Gu Ze's rare expression made Xu Nuan laugh.
The awkward yet serious tension dissipated, replaced by a warm ambiance that belonged solely to them.
At that time, Xu Nuan was still recovering from a cold; her cheeks often flushed with color and her voice soft and delicate. Even the most serious words seemed somewhat charming under such circumstances. Although Xu Nuan did not wish for Gu Ze to describe her in such terms, the warmth and pity reflected in his eyes turned her blush into a radiant glow that showed no signs of fading.
"Gu Ze," Xu Nuan tried hard to maintain a serious demeanor, though her body did not cooperate well with her intentions. "You are too domineering; you make decisions without consulting anyone else. It's only natural for me to feel uneasy."
"I was wrong."
Those simple three words stifled the emotions Xu Nuan had been building up for so long. However, she did not give up and pressed on.
"Gu Ze, you are too outstanding; I fear I won't be able to keep up with your pace."
Once upon a time, she chased after Qin Yaojie’s footsteps, constantly striving to improve herself, believing she could stand beside him. Little did she know that he had left her behind long ago. Being abandoned led her to realize the insignificance of her existence after being caught up in the life shaped by Qin Yaojie’s decisions.
Now, Gu Ze gave her the same feeling, but having learned from past experiences, chasing after him became her greatest fear. Lacking confidence and strength, she felt constantly manipulated, convinced that she didn’t have the ability to leave this place.
“I was wrong; I shouldn’t have made you uneasy.”
Gu Ze’s attitude remained sincere, yet his words clearly veered in another direction. Xu Nuan, who believed she shouldn’t be fooled, initially intended to respond with righteous indignation. However, upon reflecting on Gu Ze’s words, she found herself at a loss.
It was her unease that bred her lack of confidence. Loving someone didn’t mean she had to chase after them; Gu Ze had already proven through his actions long ago that if she simply turned around, she would find him watching her. This distance didn’t require pursuit.
She was just uneasy and afraid of losing again. She finally realized this truth, but it was a step too late for Gu Ze. That night signified that there would be an ending between her and Gu Ze, one that wouldn’t end in bitterness.
Xu Nuan suddenly found herself at a loss for words. She pondered Gu Ze’s statements and the smile in his eyes, growing increasingly uncomfortable with the situation. The rhythm of their conversation was entirely controlled by Gu Ze, even though he had seemed hurt just moments before.
“I think,” Xu Nuan said earnestly, “we can’t let this continue.”
“You.”
Gu Ze interrupted Xu Nuan’s brewing emotions with simple words. Knowing he was doing it intentionally made her feel sweet inside; such a carefree feeling only emerged after they had come to understand each other better. While she struggled to figure out what their issue truly was, he was also taking this matter seriously—this sensation was quite pleasant.
“You’re not allowed to hide anything from me anymore; you must answer whatever I ask.”
Xu Nuan intended to resolve this matter decisively. Indeed, she couldn’t bear it; allowing the conflict to develop further would lead to an outcome she didn’t want to accept. She loved Gu Ze and wanted to salvage their relationship. This thought and feeling didn’t seem like her own yet undeniably were.
“Of course, I won’t hide anything from you either.”
In order not to seem too domineering, Xu Nuan added, "After all, at this point, I have nothing to hide from Gu Ze." She had already revealed most of her secrets to him, and besides, Gu Ze was so capable that he knew more than she did. With everything out in the open, Xu Nuan felt as if she had gained an advantage.
Gu Ze chuckled lightly, and Xu Nuan felt a sense of embarrassment as if he could see right through her. But soon, that feeling was replaced by ease. This sense of transparency and straightforwardness was exactly the attitude she believed couples should have.
Now it depended on Gu Ze's reaction. For some reason, Xu Nuan felt a bit nervous; when she looked up, she found herself unable to meet his gaze directly. Even without looking into his eyes, she could feel his intense stare on her, a burning sensation that reached deep into her heart, making her breath hitch.
"Xu Nuan," Gu Ze's serious tone startled her. She looked up in surprise and was taken aback again by the seriousness in his eyes. "I know you won’t hide anything from me, but you often keep things to yourself. This isn’t hiding; it’s excessive."
Xu Nuan's heart raced, and her ears turned red. Despite the serious tone, she didn’t feel uncomfortable; there was something strange about this feeling.
"I know you’re strong and capable; that’s what attracts me to you. But," Gu Ze paused, causing Xu Nuan to tense up as well. It felt like being evaluated by someone she admired during her school days, leaving her in shock. "I hope you can rely on me—not in an absolute way, but as a habit built on love."
Then Gu Ze began to speak earnestly.
"You always suffer in silence; that's too much."
"You clearly have thoughts about He Min and the others but hesitate to speak up. Being timid isn’t like you. I will always stand by your side; your Mind's Eye is not wrong."
"If you don’t like Deng Yinyin and the others, just say so. Don’t remain silent all the time; you don’t need to worry about me."
"And I will always be by your side; you don’t need to feel insecure. However, I also made mistakes—I shouldn’t have made plans without telling you."
The more Xu Nuan listened, the more uncomfortable she felt. It seemed like she was being criticized while also feeling that Gu Ze was criticizing himself. But undeniably, what Gu Ze said was true; she often expressed her opinions through silence without realizing that silence could be the most hurtful response. Gu Ze would always support her, and she didn’t need to arm herself with silence.
Yet Xu Nuan found it amusing; she and Gu Ze were indeed a peculiar couple. After having a disagreement, they began a sort of critique session where both seemed quite happy about it. Was this a sign of masochism? Nevertheless, this indicated how well-matched they were. Suddenly blushing, Xu Nuan then heard Gu Ze suppressing his laughter.
"So, Nuan, do you really want to know if there are things I need to hide from you?"
The seriousness in his tone was unprecedented, and within that seriousness lay the gravity of the situation. Xu Nuan stopped her wild thoughts and looked up at Gu Ze, nodding earnestly.
"I want to know."
She wanted to entrust her life to Gu Ze and also take on his burdens. Only then could they stand on equal ground, confident in walking together out of the game.
"I hope you can tell me."
Xu Nuan smiled lightly, hoping to soften the seriousness in Gu Ze's eyes.
"You wouldn't want me to keep overthinking and make mistakes, would you?"
She had indeed touched a nerve in Gu Ze, but what he had said also struck a chord with her.
She had never considered that Gu Ze's entry into the game was not just part of his father's plan; she had no idea how many more people were involved in this game.
Suddenly, some of Gu Ze's actions made sense, and his reasons for withholding information from her became clearer.
But this man was truly foolish. She could give her life for him; how could she distance herself from him for this reason? Sometimes he was adorably naive. Having already entrusted her life, what secrets were worth hiding?
A wave crashed toward her, causing Xu Nuan to stumble forward slightly. Her thoughts came to an abrupt halt as she stepped out of her memories, and just then, a hand reached out to steady her.
Xu Nuan let out a soft breath and looked down to find that the warm water in her cup had spilled nearly all over.
"What were you just thinking about?"
Gu Ze casually asked while skillfully pouring Xu Nuan another glass of water, his gaze still fixed on the distance. Their boat was sailing smoothly forward.
"I was thinking about you."
Xu Nuan replied with a mischievous smile, her tone as light as her mood, all the gloom brought by the vast ocean vanished.
"That's someone's dark history."
"Hey, hey."
Gu Ze chuckled helplessly, his eyes filled with affection.
The two of them were in perfect harmony, their love evident, which truly struck a blow to the onlookers.
"Tsk tsk, why do I feel like the atmosphere between them has improved? Weren't they just at each other's throats before?"
At that moment, the one closest to the driver's seat stared wide-eyed and pouted at the couple, looking frustrated but without any hint of jealousy. This caught the attention of Xie Huai, who was piloting the boat.
Deng Yinyin seemed to have lost interest in Gu Ze.
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