sbdcsierra Chapter 767 You have to repay such a huge favor.
Chapter 767 You have to repay such a huge favor.
On the first day of the Lunar New Year, the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion was quieter than ever before.
The servants in the mansion all kept their heads down, walked very lightly, and dared not even breathe, for fear of accidentally offending any of their masters.
When the gatekeeper announced that the eldest son of the Qian family had come to pay New Year's greetings, the air in the entire front hall seemed to freeze for a moment.
Countless gazes, filled with curiosity, worry, or inquiry, all fell upon the figure who stepped across the threshold.
Qian Zhenyun wore a festive robe today, which made him look tall and straight, and his face was calm and gentle.
He walked over step by step, his expression calm, as if the storm that had shaken the capital last night had nothing to do with him.
In the main hall, Gu Junze and Chu Ruohan sat in the main seats, their expressions inscrutable.
The tea on the table was still steaming, but the chill in it was colder than the fresh snow outside.
"Your nephew Qian Zhenyun greets the Duke and Aunt Chu. I wish you both a happy and prosperous New Year." Qian Zhenyun bowed respectfully, his movements precise and unhurried.
Gu Junze didn't speak, but instead used his deep eyes to scrutinize the young man in front of him.
Chu Ruohan spoke first, her voice devoid of warmth: "Young Master Qian, you have quite the nerve."
These words contained not a trace of praise.
Qian Zhenyun straightened up, meeting her gaze without flinching: "Aunt Chu, you flatter me. Zhenyun was just doing what he was supposed to do."
"What should be done?" Chu Ruohan's lips curled into a cold smile. "Gambling your own life and the future of the entire Qian family? In my opinion, that's incredibly foolish."
"If it's for Qingchen, I can afford to take this bet." Qian Zhenyun's voice was soft, but every word was clear, carrying an undeniable firmness.
Chu Ruohan was momentarily speechless.
Looking at this young man who had always been gentle, kind, and even somewhat dull, she discovered for the first time that he possessed a startling composure and solitary courage.
Gu Junze finally spoke, his voice deep and resonant: "There's still no movement from the Crown Prince's side."
This is not a question, it is a statement.
“Yes,” Qian Zhenyun said frankly, “but the calm before the storm never lasts long.”
"Aren't you afraid?" Gu Junze asked.
"I'm afraid." Qian Zhenyun's answer was surprisingly candid. "But there are always things in this world more important than fear."
Gu Junze stared at him for a long time, his sharp gaze seemingly trying to see through him. After a long while, he slowly nodded: "Go and see Qingchen, she's in her own courtyard."
Gu Qingchen did not stay in the room.
She stood alone under the bare plum tree in the courtyard, looking up, lost in thought.
"Still worried about what happened last night?"
A gentle voice sounded from behind her, pulling her back to reality.
Gu Qingchen turned around abruptly, his face filled with undisguised surprise and joy: "Gun Gun!"
He stood not far away, a faint smile on his face. The morning light fell on him, dispelling some of the winter chill.
Gu Qingchen strode up to him, her face filled with relief at surviving the ordeal and an overwhelming sense of guilt: "Why are you here? Are you alright? Did the Crown Prince give you any trouble? And what about your family...?"
A barrage of questions, asked quickly and urgently, revealed obvious panic.
He simply watched her quietly, waiting for her to finish asking her questions in one breath.
"I'm fine," he said softly. "Father and Mother are both well, so don't worry."
"How could I not worry!" Gu Qingchen's voice was tense. "I was too impulsive. I didn't think things through and dragged you into this mess. I..."
"Qingchen," he interrupted her gently, "I said, I'm willing."
"But the price is too high!" Her eyes reddened with anxiety. "This is no small matter; it's betraying the Crown Prince! Your future, the safety of your family—I've ruined them all!"
He suddenly smiled, a smile like the first snow melting, instantly dispelling all the heaviness and gloom.
“It’s not destroyed yet,” he said in a relaxed tone, “but…”
He paused, a sly glint in his eyes.
"I risked my life to act in this whole charade with you, you can't just let it go like this, can you?"
Gu Qingchen was taken aback, caught off guard by his sudden change of heart: "What?"
"You have to make it up to me." Qian Zhenyun's smile faded, and he said seriously, "You have to repay such a big favor."
Gu Qingchen stared at him blankly, her mind completely empty.
At this critical moment, he was actually talking to her about compensation?
"Compensate you?" she repeated instinctively, completely bewildered. "What...what do you want?"
Qian Zhenyun looked at Gu Qingchen's stunned expression, and the smile on his lips deepened.
He stepped forward, walked up to her, reached out and gently, as if brushing away dust, smoothed the wind-blown strands of hair at her temples.
The movement was natural and intimate, yet it maintained a perfect distance without overstepping any boundaries.
"You owe me such a huge favor, you can't just renege on it like that, can you?"
His voice was gentle, with a hint of playful mockery.
Gu Qingchen felt a little uncomfortable from his sudden action, and her cheeks flushed slightly.
Song Ruyan's words, "Are you sure you don't want to try with my little Gun Gun?" seemed like a curse, swirling in her mind!
No way……
She instinctively took a half step back, avoiding his touch, her heart beating a little fast.
"Of course I wouldn't renege on my debt!"
She spoke quickly, trying to make her voice sound calm.
"Tell me, how do you want me to make it up to you? As long as it's within my power, I will definitely..."
"Oh?"
Qian Zhenyun raised an eyebrow, a mischievous smile in his eyes. "So generous? What if I wanted you?"
Gu Qingchen's face flushed red instantly, down to her ears.
She suddenly looked up, only to meet his smiling eyes.
His eyes were clear, without the kind of desire a man might have for a woman that she had imagined; rather, they seemed to be making a harmless joke.
"What nonsense are you talking about!" Gu Qingchen was both ashamed and angry, but didn't know how to refute it.
She knew he was joking, but for some reason, a complex emotion welled up inside her that she couldn't quite explain.
Seeing her embarrassed state, Qian Zhenyun finally couldn't help but laugh out loud.
When he smiles, his eyes crinkle, and his usual calm and reserved demeanor becomes lively and vibrant with that smile.
"Look how scared you are."
He stopped laughing, and his tone became serious again, "Don't overthink it, I'm not that kind of opportunistic."
Gu Qingchen breathed a sigh of relief, but also felt a sense of inexplicable disappointment.
She patted her chest and said reproachfully, "You scared me to death!"