Part 2 Hello, Mr. Major General I'm Gu Nianzi

293. Empty handed!

He Zhichu's warm, slender fingers were wrapped firmly around Gu Nianzhi's delicate hand.
His expression was cold and ruthless, but his bright almond eyes looked at Gu Nianzhi with concern.
Gu Nianzhi looked towards Yin Shixiong. She tried to free herself from He Zhichu's grasp, but he reflexively tightened his hold on her.
Just then, a policeman came over and asked Yin Shixiong to follow him. "Are you the owner of the car? The sergeant has a few questions for you."
Yin Shixiong put an arm around Gu Nianzhi's shoulder, and looked at He Zhichu. "Professor He, I'm leaving Nianzhi in your care for now. I'll pick her up from your office once I've taken care of this."
He Zhichu nodded. "Okay, no problem. I was going to discuss her case with my assistants anyway. You should join the discussion when you come over." He tightened his grip on Gu Nianzhi's hand.
Yin Shixiong let go of Gu Nianzhi. "Go, I'll look for you later."
Gu Nianzhi looked at him a second time, before He Zhichu turned her around and led her to his car.
He Zhichu opened the car door and helped her in.
Gu Nianzhi was deathly pale. Her eyes were wide and unseeing; it took some time for her to react to her surroundings.
He Zhichu did not say anything. He started the car and drove to his office.
When they arrived at He Zhichu's office, he made her a cappuccino with extra milk and sugar.
"Here, drink this." He Zhichu held the blue and white coffee mug out to Gu Nianzhi.
Gu Nianzhi did not take the mug. She looked up at him, her expression timid, like a child in unfamiliar company. There was a storm brewing in the depths of her eyes, but it was covered by a veil of fog. Her mind alternated between lucidity and confusion. She could feel memories stirring within her, struggling to break out; but when she made an effort to remember, she came up empty handed. There was simply nothing there.
Is it possible I don't actually have a past?
The thought flashed through Gu Nianzhi's mind, unbidden.
He Zhichu saw that Gu Nanzhi wasn't responding to him. He took a closer look at her eyes, and realized she was barely there. He put an arm around her and sat her down on the two-seater sofa, in his lap. He called out to her in a soft voice: "Nianzhi? Nianzhi?"
Gu Nianzhi's eyes flickered at his voice. She looked at him doubtfully.
"Want some cappuccino? You told me it's your favorite." He raised the coffee mug to Gu Nianzhi's lips.
Gu Nianzhi could smell the pleasant, lingering aroma of milk wafting from the cappuccino. It was comforting.
She slowly opened her mouth.
He Zhichu pursed his lips. He let her lean against his chest, and supported her head as he raised the coffee mug to her lips. "Drink."
Gu Nianzhi closed her eyes. She latched onto He Zhichu's hand and began drinking the coffee in small sips.
He Zhichu watched her long, fan-like eyelashes flutter close over her beautiful inky eyes.
Under her exquisite nose, her pouty lips latched onto the coffee mug as she drank the warm cappuccino with enthusiasm.
Coffee, sugar, and milk all had a soothing effect on the nerves; the effect was amplified when taken together.
Gu Nianzhi's racing heart gradually returned to normal.
As he watched Gu Nianzhi, a parade of emotions flickered across He Zhichu's face: anger, anxiety, and outrage at her predicament were followed by distress, pity, and the desire to pamper her like a child. There was even a hint of something else, something he did not want to think about right now.
When she had finished the entire mug of cappuccino, Gu Nianzhi raised her head. Her lips released the rim of the mug, and she pushed the mug away with her hand. She was telling him that she was done.
He Zhichu set the mug down on the small coffee table beside the sofa, but did not move away. He kept her in his arms, with a hand on the small of her back. He lowered his head and looked into her face; his lips were practically beside her ear when he said, in his cool voice, "What happened? Were you scared out of your wits?"