Unrepentant

Chapter 8:Lin Si Ze looked at his book; she looked at Lin Si Ze.

Lin Si Ze was nearly at the ends of his patience. Gu Hong Jian could finally be considered to be able to write 'Lin Si Ze' (林思泽) relatively normal. In reality, Lin Si Ze also didn't expect it would lead to a fight to the death just to get her to be able to write his name. After this, he made her practice other characters.

Contrary to what he expected, Gu Hong Hian learned to write the other characters very quickly. This caused Lin Si Ze to have no choice but to deeply suspect that Gu Hong Jian was deliberately acting stupid about being unable to write his name; as a matter of fact, he continuously had a headache from dealing with Gu Hong Jian. Thus, he completely didn't bother investigating this.

And because Lin Si Ze taught her to read, the two of them, at last, transitioned from refusing to acknowledge each other to mutual conversation.

Only, Lin Si Ze still wasn't inclined to speaking, minimally responding to Gu Hong Jian's words.

Lin Si Ze taught Gu Hong Jian to write the character 'Chun' (春), explaining that 'the whole year must be planned for in the spring.'1 All living things originated in the spring. Gu Hong Jian nodded at once, as if she was repeatedly kowtowing to him. She said, "Chun Hua!"

Lin Si Ze stared blankly at her before immediately saying, "The turning of the seasons, a lifetime is certainly a quick affair... you actually understand this."2

Gu Hong Jian was very unhappy that he considered her to be illiterate and loudly protested, "Of course! I used to be called that name!"

Lin Si Ze was dumbstruck. He immediately pressed, "You were called... Gu Chun Hua?"

Gu Hong Jian said, "Yes!"

Lin Si Ze set down his writing brush. With a sly expression, he turned his head.

After quite a while, Gu Hong Jian found something fishy. She bellowed, "LIN SI ZE!!! Do you think I don't see you laughing into your sleeve?!"

This was the first time Gu Hong Jian had called Lin Si Ze's name. This was entirely because, at that moment, she was too furious in addition to practicing those three characters beforehand.

After she had finished yelling, she had a somewhat guilty conscience. Fortunately, Lin Si Ze was restraining himself from laughing, so he also didn't notice this. Or perhaps, he didn't care very much about this matter. Thus, he merely turned his head and pretended to solemnly say, "I did not laugh."

Gu Hong Jian said, "...Then why did you first force the corners of your mouth down!"

Lin Si Ze replied, "Were you really called Gu Chun Hua?"

"... Yes. Do you have any objections with this name?" Blue veins pulsed on Gu Hong Jian's forehead. "My younger brother was called Gu Da Yong!"

Lin Si Ze was somewhat surprised. "You also have a younger brother?"

Gu Hong Jian said, "Yes. When my home was flooded, my parents took my younger brother away, but they didn't take me. Afterwards, I was kidnapped by a child trafficker."

This was the first time Gu Hong Jian told someone else this, and this was also a rare time when Lin Si Ze wanted to listen. He listened to Gu Hong Jian speak and roughly recalled his own past. After being silent for aw

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hile, he asked, "Afterwards?

Gu Hong Jian said, "Afterwards? Afterwards, I was taken to the capital. Gu mómo came from the palace and wanted to buy a little girl to pay her last respects when she died. As it turns out, she found me. Because she and I both had the last name Gu, it felt more like we were brought together by fate. Regardless of my young age, she bought me."