Lip Reading

When Gu Cheng was nine, a new housekeeper came to the old family home.

The housekeeper brought along a timid little girl who hid behind her.

Overcome by a mischievous impulse,

Gu Cheng waited until the adults were gone, tugged on the girl's pigtails, and made her call him big brother.

He hadn't expected to turn around and find her fawn-like eyes brimming with tears. She tugged gently at the hem of his clothes, moving her lips twice without making a sound, her eyes full of pleading.

Gu Cheng's heart melted into a puddle on the spot.

He reached out and clumsily wiped the tears from her face, then soothed her in a low voice. "How about you stop crying? You can get back at me however you want."

-

In high school, a boy from the class next door blushed as he handed Wen Wanxi a love letter, then signed to her, "I like you."

Gu Cheng narrowed his eyes, took it from her hand, and glanced up lazily. "Getting bold, are you? You know how to date now?"

The little girl blushed to the tips of her ears.

She avoided his gaze, too shy to look him in the eye.

"I'm confiscating this letter."

Gu Cheng tapped her on the head with the page and clicked his tongue. "You heartless little thing."

-

Gu Cheng thought Wen Wanxi didn't like him. Ever since his feelings first took root, he had carefully tried to suppress them, afraid that if he crossed the line, she would run even farther away.

Then one day, he came across the notebook she used to write things down when communicating.

One page was filled with his name and the words "I like you."

After that,

Gu Cheng came to love seeing her face turn bright red when he teased her, biting her lip but unable to tell him to stop.

Also known as My Little Mute

*Mutual crush

[Sweet, well-behaved mute girl × carefree young master]