Chapter 144

Chapter 144: Confession? The Door to the Post-Apocalyptic Rebirth – Full Book Online

144. Confession?

Perhaps because the weekend weather was clear and sunny, the streets were bustling with pedestrians. Gu Ning followed Ji Jiuzhe through the crowded streets. Whether it was his height, appearance, or aura, Ji Jiuzhe stood out like a crane among chickens. Young girls occasionally glanced their way, whispering and giggling with their friends. Gu Ning, bundled up in a puffy down jacket and a thick scarf around her neck, looked like a golden penguin. Walking next to Ji Jiuzhe, the scene had a strangely adorable vibe.

“Captain, is there a mission?” Gu Ning couldn’t help but ask.

Ji Jiuzhe replied, “No.”

Gu Ning asked curiously, “Then where are we going?”

Ji Jiuzhe said, “We’re here.”

Gu Ning looked up and saw a very conspicuous building in front of the square with a huge sign that read “Frozen Wonderland.” A cold breeze wafted out from inside.

After queuing to buy tickets and entering, Gu Ning was stunned by the world of intricately carved ice sculptures.

It took her a while to tear her gaze away from the exquisite ice sculptures. She looked at Ji Jiuzhe in surprise, never expecting him to bring her to see ice sculptures. “Captain? Are you sure there’s no mission?” she confirmed again.

Ji Jiuzhe said calmly, “No. I heard there was an ice sculpture exhibition here, and since we had nothing to do, I brought you to see it. Have you seen ice sculptures before?”

“Yes!” Gu Ning nodded with a smile. “On TV.”

Ji Jiuzhe was momentarily stunned, then smiled slightly as he watched Gu Ning walk into the inner area. The smile was fleeting, and his expression quickly returned to its usual calm.

“Wow!” Gu Ning looked up at the nearly one-story-high ice pagoda in front of her, marveling not just at its shape but also at the intricate details carved into it.

As they walked further, they saw Cinderella’s pumpkin carriage, a lifelike five-clawed dragon, and even a small amusement park and castle made entirely of ice. Each sculpture was flawless, with smooth lines and clear contours. The transparent, pure ice was a feast for the eyes. The cold, crisp air was refreshing, making Gu Ning feel as if all the fatigue from recent events had been swept away, and her mind felt clearer.

It was the weekend, and the ice sculpture exhibition was packed with people. Families, couples, and friends strolled around, some alone, all looking relaxed and at ease. The occasional exclamations of wonder from children and young girls could be heard. Gu Ning thought that these ordinary scenes of daily life were incredibly precious in the post-apocalyptic world. Even if all the zombies disappeared overnight, both spiritual and material civilization had already suffered devastating blows. It would take decades to rebuild to this level. Gu Ning leaned on the railing separating the crowd from the ice sculptures, staring absentmindedly at the irregular ice lanterns hanging from the ceiling.

Ji Jiuzhe glanced at Gu Ning’s pensive profile. She seemed to be intently watching the ice lanterns hanging in mid-air, but her eyes were unfocused, as if lost in thought. Her brows furrowed slightly, as if troubled by something.

In the distance, faint screams and laughter could be heard. Ji Jiuzhe’s heart stirred slightly, and he turned to ask, “Can you ice skate?”

Gu Ning snapped out of her reverie and looked at him in confusion.

It turned out that the ice sculpture exhibition was connected to an ice rink. The front area was for the sculptures, and the back was the rink.

“I’ve only tried rollerblading with four wheels, never ice skates,” Gu Ning said as she bent down to tie her skate laces. She hadn’t even mastered rollerblading yet.

By then, Ji Jiuzhe had already put on his skates and stood up. He was already tall, and the skates made him even taller. Young girls on the sidelines occasionally sneaked glances their way, speculating about the relationship between Gu Ning and Ji Jiuzhe.

After tying her laces, Gu Ning was about to stand up when a hand appeared in front of her. Gu Ning’s gaze flickered slightly, then she took the hand and stood up.

It’s hard for first-timers to maintain balance on ice skates, but Gu Ning only wobbled slightly when she stood up holding Ji Jiuzhe’s hand, quickly stabilizing herself.

Ji Jiuzhe’s reaction to Gu Ning’s impressive balance was a slight raise of his eyebrow.

Gu Ning was about to let go of Ji Jiuzhe’s hand and reach for the railing, but her hand didn’t successfully slip out of his grasp.

“I’ll guide you,” Ji Jiuzhe said, holding Gu Ning’s hand and slowly skating forward.

Caught off guard, Gu Ning’s body tilted backward, and she let out a soft gasp. She quickly grabbed Ji Jiuzhe’s hand with both hands to steady herself. Ji Jiuzhe glanced back at her, a hint of amusement in his eyes. “Be careful,” he said.

Gu Ning felt a bit embarrassed by Ji Jiuzhe’s amused look. Even when facing zombies, her first reaction was to slash them down. Her reaction just now was indeed a bit embarrassing. She coughed dryly and said, “I’ve never skated before.” It was understandable.

Ji Jiuzhe led Gu Ning slowly into the rink. The space was vast, with dozens of people skating without feeling crowded. There was plenty of room to move around. Couples and friends skated past, holding hands and leaving a trail of cool air in their wake. Some who couldn’t skate well clung to the railings, struggling to move.

After skating about ten meters, Gu Ning felt she could stand on her own and let go of Ji Jiuzhe’s arm. Her other hand was still gently held by Ji Jiuzhe as he guided her forward. She focused intently on Ji Jiuzhe’s leg movements and subtle body shifts, slowly adjusting her own movements. With her spatial awareness, Gu Ning had an extreme level of control over her body, which was why she had such sharp reaction speed and agility. Her most adept skill might be learning, or perhaps imitation. After being led around the rink by Ji Jiuzhe, Gu Ning said, “I think I can do it on my own now?”

Ji Jiuzhe looked at her in surprise, as if asking if she was sure.

Gu Ning smiled and said, “Let me try.”

As soon as Ji Jiuzhe let go, Gu Ning pushed off with her left foot and slowly glided forward. At first, she was cautious about her speed, as falling was one thing, but losing face was another. After gliding slowly for about ten meters, Gu Ning felt she had fully grasped the technique and began to pick up speed. Her legs alternated, pushing her forward faster and faster. The cold wind brushed against her face, feeling sharp but exhilarating.

Suddenly, a figure caught up from behind, closely following Gu Ning. At first, Gu Ning thought it was Ji Jiuzhe, but when she glanced sideways, she saw a boy in a red jacket, about eighteen or nineteen years old. When he saw Gu Ning looking at him, he grinned and said while skating, “You’re pretty good!”

Gu Ning smiled politely but had no interest in engaging in conversation. She pushed off again, increasing her speed.

The boy was momentarily stunned, then thought Gu Ning was deliberately challenging him to a race. He grinned and sped up as well.

Gu Ning noticed the boy catching up again, clearly targeting her. Suddenly feeling playful, she turned her head and smiled at him, then accelerated once more!

The boy was momentarily dazed by Gu Ning’s smile, then shocked by her sudden burst of speed. His competitive spirit kicked in, and he sped up to chase her. However, Gu Ning’s speed was too fast. Spectators on both sides of the rink were stunned, seeing a blur fly past, followed by a gust of wind.

Though the boy increased his speed, the distance between them only grew. From afar, he saw Gu Ning had already returned to the entrance and stopped pushing, letting momentum carry him to her. He skidded to a stop in front of her, not at all disheartened by the loss but excitedly said, “Hey! You’re amazing! How long have you been skating?”

Gu Ning glanced at Ji Jiuzhe and said, “Uh, just now.” Even she felt like she was bragging.

The boy was stunned, then gave her a look that said, “Are you kidding me?” He thought Gu Ning was joking and chuckled, “Heh, I wasn’t ready earlier. How about a proper race now?”

Truthfully, Gu Ning had just fallen in love with the feeling of skating, but she neither liked showing off nor had a competitive streak. She usually avoided unnecessary trouble that could lead to conflicts, so she smiled and shook her head at the boy, declining his offer.

The boy wasn’t ready to give up and wanted to say more when he suddenly felt a cold gaze on him. He looked up and saw a tall man staring at him icily. He had been so focused on Gu Ning that he hadn’t noticed Ji Jiuzhe standing behind her. Meeting that cold gaze, he involuntarily took a step back. Realizing the man might be Gu Ning’s boyfriend and that he had just tried to flirt with her in front of him, the boy’s expression turned awkward. He said to Gu Ning, “Uh, I won’t push you then. Bye.” He quickly skated away.

“Let’s go,” Ji Jiuzhe said calmly to Gu Ning, who was looking at him suspiciously, then skated off ahead.

Gu Ning smiled and skated after him on her ice skates.

The two skated leisurely around the outer edge of the rink. Ji Jiuzhe gradually fell behind Gu Ning, his eyes showing a hint of admiration. If there was one thing he appreciated most about Gu Ning, it was her calm composure and her almost freakish ability to learn. Come to think of it, her personality was also just right—perfect in every way.

Ji Jiuzhe stopped, slightly dazed, as if surprised by his own sudden thoughts.

Gu Ning, who had skated far ahead, suddenly noticed Ji Jiuzhe wasn’t following. She turned around and saw him standing still, staring straight at her, as if deep in thought or simply daydreaming. Gu Ning rarely saw Ji Jiuzhe in such a state. Feeling playful, she made a turn and skated back, accelerating as she spread her arms and charged toward Ji Jiuzhe!

Ji Jiuzhe snapped out of his thoughts as he saw Gu Ning rapidly approaching, arms wide open. But he didn’t move, calmly watching her. Just as Gu Ning, with a mischievous smile, was about to stop a meter in front of him, he suddenly skated forward and pulled her into a tight embrace.

Somewhere, a gasp was heard. Gu Ning was sure people were watching, but her face was pressed against Ji Jiuzhe’s shoulder, so she couldn’t see anything. She froze, not daring to move, completely baffled by the situation. The hug was so sudden, catching her off guard. Was this payback for her prank?

The hug lasted a few seconds before Ji Jiuzhe held Gu Ning’s shoulders and gently pushed her away. He didn’t look down at her but gazed into the distance. After a moment, he finally looked at her and said in a very calm voice, “Gu Ning, if my heart beats faster than usual when I hug you, does that mean I like you?”

???

What kind of development is this???

Even Gu Ning, who was usually unflappable, couldn’t hide her shock. She looked up at Ji Jiuzhe, dumbfounded, completely unable to comprehend the situation. After a while, she swallowed hard and slowly said, “It could also be a normal reaction after intense exercise…”

Ji Jiuzhe nodded and calmly concluded, “Then I really do like you.”

??????

Gu Ning’s brain short-circuited.