The study was brightly lit, and the coffee on the desk steamed with a rich, fragrant aroma.
Jin Chenyue stared at the coffee in front of him for a long moment before finally snapping back to reality and looking up at her.
“You brewed this yourself?”
He was undoubtedly surprised, even shocked.
A woman who had grown up in the lap of luxury—forget brewing coffee, she probably hadn’t even boiled water before.
She never needed to. Everyone in the Gu and Jin families was more than willing to spoil and indulge her.
But now, this openly pampered young lady had personally brewed coffee for him.
His heart warmed slightly. Jin Chenyue’s deep eyes reflected her delicate, pristine face, and his eyelashes fluttered gently. “When did you learn to brew coffee?”
“This is my first time…”
Gu Anyun grew a bit nervous under his intense gaze. Her beautiful eyes blinked, and her fingers fidgeted along the edge of the desk. “Just try it!”
Her soft, gentle voice was like a cat’s paw, tickling his heart. The man’s Adam’s apple bobbed. “Alright.”
He picked up the coffee cup, blew on it gently, pressed his thin lips to the rim, and took a small sip.
The coffee entered his mouth—rich and aromatic… huh?!
His brows furrowed sharply from the sudden assault on his taste buds.
Jin Chenyue’s hand holding the coffee trembled, spilling a bit of the liquid.
“Cough, cough—”
The coffee cup was placed back on the saucer, the crisp clinking sound drowned out by his coughing.
Jin Chenyue covered his mouth, lowered his head, and coughed somewhat awkwardly, his handsome, chiseled face flushing red.
Gu Anyun was completely bewildered by his reaction.
“What’s wrong? Does it not taste good?”
“Cough… no, it’s just… cough, cough… I drank too fast and choked.”
Hearing this, Gu Anyun sighed in relief. “Drink slower, no one’s rushing you.”
As she spoke, she walked around the desk to his side, gently patting his back and thoughtfully handing him a tissue.
Jin Chenyue took the tissue and wiped his mouth.
Once the coughing subsided, he took a deep breath and sighed. “I’m fine now.”
He looked up at Gu Anyun standing beside him and offered a reassuring smile. “Sorry for worrying you.”
Gu Anyun frowned. “What’s going on with you? Why are you suddenly being so polite? We’re husband and wife. If you act like this… I’ll feel like we’re strangers.”
Jin Chenyue was slightly taken aback.
Gu Anyun seemed to have just casually complained and didn’t seem concerned about his response. Glancing at the coffee on the desk, she frowned slightly. “Husband, tell me the truth—is the coffee not good?”
After all, it was her first time brewing it. Although Nan Qiu had guided her, she had taken the opportunity while Nan Qiu was on a phone call to improvise a bit.
Because of that improvisation, Gu Anyun was particularly concerned about the feedback on the coffee’s taste.
“The coffee…” Jin Chenyue ran his tongue around his mouth; the strange, sour bitterness still lingered. He curved his lips into a slight smile, looked at her, and lied through his teeth. “It’s delicious.”
“Really?” Gu Anyun’s beautiful eyes sparkled. “Husband, you’re not lying to me, right?”
“It really is delicious.” Jin Chenyue stood up and ruffled her hair. “I’m really happy you brewed coffee for me yourself. For me, this is a wonderful surprise.”
That was the truth.
Even though the coffee tasted indescribable, it was brewed by Gu Anyun herself. Even if it were poison, he would drink it with contentment.
“If you like it, I’ll brew it for you every day from now on!”
Jin Chenyue: “…” That really isn’t necessary.”Although I’m very happy, let Nan Qiu make it from now on.”
Jin Chenyue said half-concerned, half-self-preserving, “Even though the coffee machine is fully automatic, the temperature is too high. If you get burned, I’d be heartbroken.”
“I’m not that clumsy!”
Gu Anyun cupped her cheeks, gazing at him adoringly, her lips curving upward, unable to suppress that sweet smile. “Although Nan Qiu taught me how to make this coffee, she left halfway through to answer a phone call. The rest was all my own improvisation~”
Jin Chenyue: “…?”
So it was improvisation. No wonder he was puzzled why the taste would be so… indescribable if Nan Qiu had taught her.
“Husband, do you like the coffee I made?” Gu Anyun looked at him, her beautiful eyes innocent and pure. “Between mine and Nan Qiu’s, which one do you prefer?”
Jin Chenyue: “…”
Great, the legendary life-or-death question has arrived.
He curved his lips, replying against his conscience, “Yours tastes better.”
“Ah~” Gu Anyun instantly blossomed with joy, spreading her arms to wrap around his waist, resting her chin against his chest, and pouting, “Kiss~”
Jin Chenyue: “…”
“What’s wrong?” Gu Anyun, seeing his hesitation, said discontentedly, “Husband, I feel like you’ve changed. It seems like you don’t love me as much as before… Mmm!”
Her remaining words were blocked by the man’s lips.
When she said “kiss,” he really gave her a kiss—a very pure, light peck, like a dragonfly skimming the water.
Though it was just a fleeting kiss, Jin Chenyue’s heart rippled intensely. It took all his “gentlemanly cells” to resist the urge to press her against the desk and kiss her passionately.
He sighed inwardly, pinching the tip of her nose. “Don’t talk nonsense.”
“Alright! I know my husband loves me the most~”
Completely tamed by a single kiss, Gu Anyun smiled brightly, revealing two adorable dimples.
Jin Chenyue watched, his Adam’s apple bobbing with difficulty as his large hand tightened around her slender waist.
His heart was burning with restlessness, but what could he do?
Endure it.
“Since my coffee is better than Nan Qiu’s, from now on, whenever I’m home, I’ll be in charge of making your coffee! Don’t refuse me, or I’ll be sad. You should at least let me do something for you~”
Jin Chenyue: “…”
He really wanted to say no, but he couldn’t.
Finally, under Gu Anyun’s starry-eyed gaze, Jin Chenyue forced himself to take several sips of the coffee in a row.
Gu Anyun watched him drink it with apparent enjoyment, her mood delightfully sweet.
As it neared ten o’clock, Li Yang called to remind Jin Chenyue that the overseas video conference was about to start.
Jin Chenyue finally had a reason to ask Gu Anyun to go back to her room and rest first.
Knowing he was busy, Gu Anyun didn’t overthink it.
But as she reached the door, she stopped, slowly turned around, her face slightly flushed, and looked hesitantly at the man at the desk.
Sensing her gaze, Jin Chenyue looked up. “What’s wrong?”
“Um…” Gu Anyun clutched the soft fabric of her skirt with both hands, her beautiful eyes shy and soft. “I slept too much during the day, so I might not be able to sleep tonight.”
Hearing this, Jin Chenyue paused briefly.
After a moment, his voice was warm and steady, speaking earnestly, “I don’t know when the meeting will end. If you can’t sleep, ask Nan Qiu to play chess with you or watch a movie?”
Gu Anyun frowned.
What kind of wooden-headed husband is this?!
She didn’t want Nan Qiu’s company!
“I…”
The video call ringtone interrupted Gu Anyun’s words.
Jin Chenyue didn’t answer the call immediately. Instead, he muted the ringtone and asked her, “Or is there something else you’d like to do?”Gu Anyun originally wanted to say, “I want you to keep me company.”
But that video call ringtone not only interrupted her, it also reminded her that Jin Chenyue was genuinely busy right now.
Forget it.
Her husband was still working so late to earn money and support the family—she needed to be understanding!
“Husband, you should get back to work. Finish up soon so you can come back and rest early. I’ll head back to the room first!”
Gu Anyun flashed him what she felt was a considerate and virtuous smile, then turned away gracefully.
The study door closed. Jin Chenyue looked at it and let out a long sigh.
She was finally gone.
The current Gu Anyun truly frightened him.
He glanced at the coffee cup, still more than half full. The strange, sour and bitter taste lingered in his mouth.
It could be said that this was the worst coffee he had ever tasted in his 23 years of life.
He should have secretly poured it out.
But when he picked up the cup again, Gu Anyun’s eyes flashed through his mind.
The corners of his mouth lifted unconsciously, and as if bewitched, he lowered his head and took another sip.
The next moment, his brows furrowed tightly, and coughing sounds erupted once more.
For the first time in his life, Jin Chenyue laughed at his own foolishness…