Shen Wang’s tense body unconsciously relaxed. He asked casually, “So what do you want to ask?”
Gu Shengsheng noticed his attitude soften and boldly asked, “Did you really have a puppy before?”
“Yeah.”
“What kind of puppy was it?” Gu Shengsheng couldn’t imagine what kind of dog someone as cold and aristocratic as Shen Wang would keep.
“Forgot.” Shen Wang’s tone cooled again.
And just like that, the conversation died.
Gu Shengsheng still tried to keep it going: “I used to have a cat.”
She waited a moment, then pouted. “You’re terrible at chatting. Why didn’t you ask what color it was?”
“…Hm?” Shen Wang made a small sound.
Gu Shengsheng perked up happily. “It was black. It was the most beautiful cat I’ve ever seen—its fur shone like satin, and its eyes were golden amber. Pointy ears, pink paw pads… but it wouldn’t let me touch it. I sneaked a pet once while it was eating, and it scratched my hand. Sigh, I thought it would scar and secretly cried for ages.”
Shen Wang said, “Your cat scratched you?”
Gu Shengsheng immediately felt embarrassed and confessed, “Oh… actually, it just showed up on its own. It ate and left.”
Shen Wang didn’t respond. Thinking he was mocking her, Gu Shengsheng hurried to add, “But every time it came, it would bring a flower and leave it under my window. Very romantic, right? So actually, it really liked me!”
In Shen Wang’s mind appeared a black cat with pointed ears and golden eyes. In the soft spring light, it carried the brightest, fullest flower from a branch, leaped lightly over rooftops, and placed it beneath a young girl’s windowsill.
Shen Wang pierced the illusion with one sentence: “That was its payment for food.”
“Huh?!” Gu Shengsheng instinctively protested. “No way! It… it…”
Thinking back, every time the black cat dropped off a flower, it would sit proudly on the windowsill, waiting for Gu Shengsheng to happily bring out food. That haughty posture, the carefree way it left after eating… Shen Wang clearly understood cats better than she did.
Gu Shengsheng’s tender feelings were doused with cold water. She muttered sulkily and closed her eyes. “Heartless cat… serves it right that it’ll never eat my cooking again…”
Shen Wang waited a moment, then asked, “And then?”
The only answer was Gu Shengsheng’s sweet, even breathing.
Shen Wang: “…”
Perhaps the chatting had worn her out—Gu Shengsheng slept especially soundly that night. The nightmares that had plagued her vanished completely. When she woke the next morning, she found herself covered in a layer of dark gray sweat again.
She rushed into the bathroom and scrubbed her face hard. In the mirror, her almond eyes were clear as water, her skin smooth as cream, her lips the freshest peach blossom petal of spring. Gu Shengsheng gently traced her small nose and heart-shaped jaw, then burst into delighted laughter.
Her appearance had come back!
Hot water poured over her skin. The impurities in her body rose to the surface—dark gray grime washed away, revealing flawless, perfect skin underneath. Gu Shengsheng scrubbed herself until she smelled sweet and fresh, then stepped out of the bathroom with wet hair, still in her nightgown.
She felt light and refreshed, her mood bubbling with joy. Seeing a sliver of sunlight through the gap in the velvet curtains, she walked over and yanked them open.
Outside, the sky was a clear blue, the sunlight bright and warm. Dewdrops hung like pearls from the tips of leaves. Gu Shengsheng pushed the window open, stretched in the sunlight, and let out a tiny yawn.
Just then, Sister Li came in carrying a grocery basket. Gu Shengsheng waved cheerfully. “Good morning, Sister Li!”
“Good morning, Madam!” Sister Li waved back with a big, cheerful grin.
“Too noisy.” The man on the bed shifted slightly. His voice carried the low, husky magnetism unique to mornings, his brows furrowed in clear irritation.
Gu Shengsheng chirped brightly, “Good morning, Shen Wang!”
“Shut up.” Shen Wang had slept well all night—his tone wasn’t actually that harsh.
Suddenly, a warm, tingling sensation spread across the skin of his face. When a breeze carrying the scent of grass and trees lifted his bangs, he finally realized: it was sunlight shining directly on him.
Shen Wang’s brows twisted tighter, anger rising. “Who told you to open the window?”
Her sweet, soft voice answered right away: “The sun finally came out today! I wanted you to get some sunshine too. Keeping the windows shut all the time isn’t good for your health.”
Shen Wang’s expression darkened. Women really couldn’t be spoiled—even the tiniest bit of indulgence, and she started climbing all over him, acting spoiled and clingy again.
Ignoring the chill radiating from him, Gu Shengsheng briskly pulled open the remaining curtains and windows. Her bedroom was spacious, with windows on three sides. Fresh air rushed in from every direction; sunlight poured in like slowly flowing molten gold, sweeping away the heavy medicinal smell that always lingered in the room.
Shen Wang instinctively turned toward the windows. The golden light gently caressed his cheeks—like the soft fur of a fluffy little milk puppy, carrying a warm, milky fragrance.
No—that was Gu Shengsheng’s scent. A faint rose fragrance mixed with a light milky sweetness.
The mattress dipped. Gu Shengsheng knelt beside him, half-leaning over to wrap her arms around him. The fragrance rose like mist from her damp hair tips, her wrists, and the hollow of her neck.
“Shen Wang, hug me~” Her voice was soft and coquettish, with a tiny breathless note as a warm, plush bundle nestled into his arms.
Shen Wang’s breathing hitched for a split second. He grabbed the back of her neck. “Let go.”
Gu Shengsheng twisted her head to dodge. “What’s wrong?”
The sharp, elegant line of the man’s jaw tensed—he was clearly annoyed again. But when she had hugged him just now, the blazing yang spiritual flow inside his body hadn’t flared up violently. It had only grown faintly hotter, circulating faster.
Gu Shengsheng looked at him in confusion. “What’s the matter? Don’t you want to get up and go to the bathroom? Or… do you want some water?”
Shen Wang’s face was expressionless. “No. I want to sleep more. Cover the blanket.”
Shen Wang was stingy with words, but this woman—whether truly dense or pretending—always reacted slowly. He had to spell everything out clearly.
“Okay~” Sure enough, Gu Shengsheng moved away, pulled up the blanket she’d been pressing down, and tucked it neatly over him.
Shen Wang had just let out a breath of relief when a warm, soft bundle slipped right back under the covers and curled up against him like a cat.
“…” Shen Wang asked very calmly, “What are you doing?”
Gu Shengsheng wriggled around restlessly, tucking in the blanket corners properly. “I want to sleep a little more too.”
The next second, she was grabbed by the back of the neck and flung out of the quilt.
======
Gu Shengsheng felt quite disappointed in Shen Wang. This man flipped moods in an instant—he wasn’t friendly to her at all! If it weren’t for needing his yang energy to ward off evil, Gu Shengsheng would rather go sleep with Sister Li!
She rubbed her sore bottom and slowly climbed up from the floor. Shen Wang still ordered her around: “Bring me my phone.”
Maybe he was finally fed up with Gu Shengsheng’s corny videos—Shen Wang had remembered his own phone existed. Every day he had her play news for him, occasionally make calls, or read emails aloud.
Gu Shengsheng stayed silent, unplugged the charging phone from the table. The moment she picked it up, it started ringing.
She trotted back to the bed with quick steps. “It’s Grandpa.”
Shen Wang replied carelessly, “Be good.”
“…It’s your grandfather calling!” Gu Shengsheng stomped her foot.
Shen Wang frowned slightly. “Don’t answer… Never mind. You take it. Say I’m sleeping.”
“M-me?” Gu Shengsheng got a little nervous. Her hand slipped and accidentally answered.
A robust, vigorous voice boomed from the other end: “You brat, you finally picked up! If I hadn’t heard you switched to a new batch of bodyguards, I’d think you were planning to keep playing dead forever!”
Gu Shengsheng: “…”
In the book, Old Master Shen had passed away within a year, heartbroken over Shen Wang’s illness. But right now, the old master’s voice was loud and full of energy—completely different from what Gu Shengsheng had imagined.
The old man launched into a furious tirade at Shen Wang. Gu Shengsheng listened with secret delight. The only person in the world who dared speak to Shen Wang this harshly was probably Grandpa.
Suddenly, soft flesh on her side got pinched. “Ouch!”
“…Who’s that?” The roaring on the other end stopped abruptly.
A娇娇嫩嫩 voice piped up: “Shen Wang… Shen Wang says he’s sleeping. Ouch!”
“Hahahaha…” The old master’s tone instantly turned kind and gentle, afraid of startling the delicate guest. “Ah, you must be the little wife Shen Wang just married, right? What’s your name again, child?”
Gu Shengsheng covered her mouth to hold back a laugh. “I’m Gu Shengsheng.”
There was a brief silence on the other end, then a warm chuckle: “Good girl. You’ve had it hard these past few months. That brat Shen Wang has a terrible temper—if he dares bully you, just wait till Grandpa gets back. I’ll sort him out for you!”
“He… he actually has a pretty good temper.” Shen Wang pinched her waist several times. Gu Shengsheng held back her laughter and hurriedly said, “Grandpa, is there something you need Shen Wang for?”
The old master raised his voice: “Oh! I found an old eye specialist for him. I used up every last bit of face I have left to beg the man to come out of retirement. Tell him—if he doesn’t cooperate this time, I’ll have people tie him up and drag him to the appointment!”
“Okay, don’t worry, Grandpa. Shen Wang will definitely go.” Gu Shengsheng’s eyes lit up. She answered crisply and cheerfully.
Old Master Shen was very pleased with her obedience. “Good girl. Last time Grandpa was sick and couldn’t attend your wedding—I let you down. When you and Shen Wang come home for New Year, Grandpa will make it up to you with a proper gift.”
After hanging up, Old Master Shen exploded in rage: “Look at the mess Shen Guochang and Liu Ping made!”
Without wasting a second, he dialed Shen Guochang’s number. The old butler lowered his eyes respectfully, pretending not to hear the cursing, quietly cleaned up the shattered purple-clay teapot, and poured a fresh cup of water for the old master.
Old Master Shen took two sips of water, then continued roaring into the phone:
“Didn’t you tell me you were marrying Shen Wang to a girl from an ordinary family?”
“Do you really think I’m senile and already dead? You’re shoving the girl your second son didn’t want onto my eldest grandson?”
“Don’t pretend you didn’t know! I warned you long ago—I didn’t care if you married that woman, but you had to keep her in line! Stop letting her do all these shameful, low-class things!”
“And if your wife and daughter dare show up at the hillside villa one more time, I’ll break your damn legs! Get lost!”
On the other end, Shen Guochang had been cozied up in his lover’s arms early that morning. Now he sat stunned from the tirade.
His new little mistress wrapped her arms around him softly. “Darling, whose call is it so early~”
“Get off!” Shen Guochang shoved her away, threw on his clothes, and stormed out in a rage.
It had to be Liu Ping causing trouble again! Day after day, she never gave him a moment’s peace!
Old Master Shen hung up, his face flushed purple with anger, breathing heavily. The old butler quickly fed him blood pressure medicine and patted his chest to help him calm down. “Master, your condition is worst when you get angry. Please, no more excitement.”
Old Master Shen let out a long sigh. “Was I wrong to insist on a good-luck marriage for Shen Wang?”
Old Master Shen had always been an upright, honest man his whole life. The one thing he’d been stubborn and obsessive about was forcing Shen Wang into a chongxi marriage to bring him luck.
He had been seriously ill in bed at the time, so he’d left the matter to Shen Guochang and his wife. He’d instructed them to find a gentle girl from an ordinary family and offer a generous dowry—nothing more. Who could have guessed Liu Ping would be so bold as to shove Shen Tingchen’s fiancée, Gu Shengsheng, onto Shen Wang instead?
The old butler said, “This isn’t your fault, Master. I think the chongxi actually worked—look how much better the eldest young master is doing now.”
“Hm.” A trace of relief appeared on Old Master Shen’s face. “That boy is even letting her touch his phone. Seems the young couple gets along well. I remember she’s a celebrity, right? Let me see what my granddaughter-in-law looks like.”
Old Master Shen happily opened Weibo and searched “Gu Shengsheng photos.” What came up was a flood of photoshopped ugly pictures: “Society Big Sis Sheng,” “One slap from me sends you flying,” “Forced smile.jpg.”
Not understanding what “blackened pics” meant, Old Master Shen made the classic “subway grandpa staring at phone” expression. “She looks… pretty good. Big eyes, high nose, just a bit thin.”
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