Wen Ying’s breath hitched as she turned toward the door behind her, yet she could see nothing, only hearing Fu Tingchuan speaking to the waiter outside. “You brought her over here, so where is she now?”
“I’m sorry, sir. Why don’t you try calling Miss Wen? Perhaps she went somewhere to rest, or to the restroom.”
Fu Tingchuan impatiently reached for his phone.
Hearing this, Wen Ying was startled and hurriedly fumbled for her own phone.
The screen showed Fu Tingchuan calling, but there was no ringtone.
She let out a quiet breath of relief.
She had almost forgotten that earlier in the afternoon, when she had been kissing Gu Qingyu at the restaurant, Fu Tingchuan had called. After it rang twice, Gu Qingyu had silenced it, and since then her phone had remained silent.
The screen was still lit. Gu Qingyu let out a low chuckle, his warm breath brushing against her neck as his husky voice sounded by her ear. “Didn’t you say he’s your fiancé? So, are you going to leave with him now?”
He tightened his arm around her waist, making a move as if to open the door.
Wen Ying was alarmed and quickly pressed down on his hand, lowering her voice. “Are you crazy?”
There was a smile in his eyes as he easily caught her hand and kissed her again.
In a situation like this, how could Wen Ying possibly be in the mood?
She pushed at him, trying to make him stop, but he held her firmly in his arms.
“Shh.” He murmured softly in her ear, “If you keep moving, you might get discovered at any moment.”
Fu Tingchuan was right outside, separated only by a door. Although the room was soundproofed, too much movement would inevitably be heard.
Wen Ying truly didn’t dare move anymore. Leaning against the door, she could still hear Fu Tingchuan’s voice, though it was soon drowned out by the heated sound of breathing close to her ear.
His scorching kisses roamed across her neck, overwhelming her senses, making it impossible not to sink into the haze, forgetting everything beyond the door.
“Click!”
The sound of a key entering the lock snapped Wen Ying back to her senses.
When Fu Tingchuan couldn’t get through on the phone, he had someone check the restroom. When no one was found there or in the other private rooms, this was the only door left unopened, so he had the staff bring a key.
Wen Ying stiffened in fright, not daring to move at all.
Yet the man before her showed no restraint whatsoever. His lips brushed her ear as he asked in a low voice, “Are you coming home with me?”
Wen Ying could already hear the lock turning. She instinctively clutched Gu Qingyu’s shirt, her mind racing over how she could justify herself if the door opened.
At his question, she snapped irritably, “We’re about to get caught and you still have the mood to talk about this?”
Gu Qingyu frowned slightly, clearly displeased with her choice of words, and said calmly, “What’s there to be afraid of?”
Wen Ying felt he hadn’t grasped the seriousness of the situation at all.
If the door opened, their affair would be exposed to everyone. Not only would she not be able to leave with Gu Qingyu, she would likely be dragged home and reprimanded, losing both dignity and reputation.
“Huh? Why won’t it open?” came the staff’s puzzled voice from outside.
Wen Ying looked at Gu Qingyu questioningly, mouthing, “Did you do this?”
Gu Qingyu chuckled softly and leaned close to her ear. “This door can be locked from the inside. A key won’t open it.”
Just as Wen Ying felt a bit relieved, he added, “Don’t celebrate too early. They’ll soon realize it’s locked from inside and guess that someone’s in here.”
“What should we do then?”
“It’s all your fault!” It was the first time Wen Ying had found herself in such an embarrassing dilemma. Furious, she kicked him. If he hadn’t suddenly dragged her in, none of this would have happened.
Gu Qingyu bent his knee to block her leg and asked again, “So, are you coming with me?”
“Come home? Do you think that’s even appropriate right now?” If she stepped out like this, she would be caught red-handed.
Gu Qingyu glanced toward the door. “Then you want to leave with him?”
“In this state?”
He released her and braced one hand against the door, his fingertip lightly tapping the side of her neck. Raising a brow, he smiled, looking almost reckless under the dim yellow light.
Wen Ying instinctively lowered her head, but from her angle she couldn’t see the mark, only her slightly disheveled clothes.
She straightened her outfit, then touched the spot he had indicated and used her phone as a mirror.
Sure enough, there was a deep hickey on her neck, clearly left by him just moments ago. Even the area she had previously covered with foundation had been rubbed off.
“You did that on purpose?” Wen Ying glared at him, unable to understand.
What benefit was there for him if this was discovered? Was he proud of getting involved with his good friend’s fiancée?
Gu Qingyu neither confirmed nor denied it, only asking again, “So, are you coming with me?”
Wen Ying found him unbearably annoying. “Fu Tingchuan is blocking the door. How am I supposed to leave?”
“You only need to agree.”
“Fine, I agree!”
Though her tone was impatient, Gu Qingyu didn’t mind at all. Instead, he smiled faintly and took out his phone to make a call.
Wen Ying looked at him in confusion.
Soon, a staff member approached Fu Tingchuan. “Sorry, sir. Miss Wen actually left earlier. She asked us to inform you after forty minutes.”
Fu Tingchuan’s expression stiffened slightly, but he didn’t doubt it.
After all, Wen Ying was still angry with him. It was entirely in character for her to leave first and deliberately leave him behind.
He himself had made her stay before, so perhaps this was just her way of evening things out.
Calming his emotions, Fu Tingchuan nodded and left.
Wen Ying’s expression wasn’t any better. She felt as though she had been played by Gu Qingyu.
He must have arranged things with that staff member in advance. He could have gotten Fu Tingchuan to leave earlier, yet deliberately let her remain anxious and panicked.
He was clearly watching her make a fool of herself.
Wen Ying was unhappy, and after getting into the car, she kept a cold expression and refused to speak.
“Angry?” Gu Qingyu turned his head to ask.
Wen Ying felt he was stating the obvious. “I want to go home. Take me back to Yushui Bay.”
Gu Qingyu was already used to her fickle attitude, but he merely smiled and ignored her.
After driving for a while, Wen Ying realized they were not heading toward Yushui Bay but toward Beidi Villa.
She couldn’t help turning to him. “Gu Qingyu, did you even hear what I said?”
He pushed his glasses up calmly. “Mm, what did you say?”
Wen Ying refused to believe he hadn’t heard her and assumed he was pretending. Thinking of how he had just tricked her, she grew irritated. “Gu Qingyu, is there something wrong with you? Why do you always go against what people say?”
“When I said I wanted to go to your place, you insisted on taking me home. Now that I want to go home, you insist on taking me to your place.”
Gu Qingyu didn’t argue, maintaining his usual composed smile.
“We’re here. Get out.”
The car stopped at Beidi Villa. Gu Qingyu got out, opened the door for her, but Wen Ying remained seated, turning her head away stubbornly, refusing to acknowledge him.
Gu Qingyu looked at her for a few seconds, then smiled, bent down, reached into the car, and lifted her out in one swift motion, carrying her in his arms.
Wen Ying was startled and wrapped her arms around his neck. “What are you doing, Gu Qingyu?”
He shut the car door behind him, carried her inside, and set her down on the sofa before asking, “Are you hungry?”
“Want some late-night food?”
The living room lights came on, filling the space with warmth. Now that she was here, Wen Ying found her anger had already faded somewhat.
Thinking about how she had only eaten lunch around three in the afternoon and nothing since, she hesitated before nodding. “Then… let’s eat.”
Then, remembering she had been angry just moments ago, she forced her expression to harden again. “I don’t want takeout. You have to cook it yourself.”
“Alright,” Gu Qingyu agreed easily.
Without asking what she wanted, he went to the kitchen and soon brought out two bowls of noodles.
Wen Ying didn’t like noodles and was about to refuse, but Gu Qingyu spoke first. “It’s late, so this is something simple. If you want something else, I’ll make it for you next time. Try it first?”
His voice was gentle and coaxing as he handed her a pair of chopsticks.
Wen Ying shifted slightly, feeling awkward. “Fine then.”
She took the chopsticks and, under his gaze, picked up some noodles and took a bite.
“How is it?” he asked.
“It’s okay,” she answered reluctantly, unwilling to admit it was actually quite good.
“How do you know how to cook?” she asked, taking another bite.
With servants at home, they usually didn’t need to cook. At least she had never stepped into a kitchen, and in her memory, neither had Fu Tingchuan.
Gu Qingyu paused slightly, then smiled. “When I was abroad alone, I couldn’t get used to the food, so I learned a bit myself.”
“Oh.” Wen Ying didn’t ask further. After finishing, she put down her chopsticks and went upstairs.
Though she had only stayed there for two days before, she was already familiar with the place. She went straight to his wardrobe, took a clean shirt, and entered the bathroom to shower, leaving Gu Qingyu alone to wash the dishes.
Halfway through, there was a knock on the bathroom door. Wen Ying turned off the water and asked, “What is it?”
“May I come in?”
His clear voice reached her. Wen Ying’s face flushed. “No!”
After that, there was no sound. She listened for a moment and heard nothing more.
Thinking he had left, she hesitated, then opened the bathroom door and peeked out.
Gu Qingyu hadn’t left. He stood right outside, his shirt unbuttoned, revealing his fair, toned abdomen.
Seeing her peek out, he smiled softly. “Are you sure I can’t?”
Wen Ying’s gaze flickered over his exposed torso before she looked away awkwardly. “It’s your house. Why are you asking me? If you really want to come in, then just come in.”
Gu Qingyu couldn’t help but laugh.
Steam filled the bathroom, tinting her face with a flush. Wen Ying leaned against the sink as a heated body pressed against her back.
Her eyes were hazy, her lips slightly parted, breath uneven. Beads of sweat dampened her hair and traced down her cheeks, only to be kissed away by the man behind her.
His kisses were soft yet scorching, lingering by her ear as he murmured, “Have you really decided not to consider breaking off the engagement?”
His low voice carried a tempting tone. “If it’s a business marriage, I think the Gu family isn’t lacking either.”
“But the Wen family and the Gu family don’t have business ties.” Wen Ying’s voice came out uneven. She let out a soft sound and turned to look at him, but before she could see his expression, her lips were captured again.
“If you break off the engagement, we can have ties,” he said indistinctly.
“You want to marry me?” Wen Ying’s beautiful face was flushed with emotion, her expression alluring.
Her eyes were misty, lips slightly parted, irresistibly tempting. Gu Qingyu looked down at her, then suddenly lifted her up.
She let out a soft cry, her back hitting the cold wall, making her gasp, yet his body in front of her was burning hot.
Before she could react, he kissed her fiercely.
Only after leaving her breathless did he murmur by her lips, coaxing, “Who you marry doesn’t matter, so why not marry me? At least I won’t embarrass you in public, don’t you think?”
With nothing to support herself, Wen Ying clung tightly to his shoulders, letting out a soft whimper before nodding quickly.
By the time Wen Ying woke again, it was nearly noon. She tried to sit up, only to find an arm draped over her waist, pinning her down.
Usually, Gu Qingyu was already up when she woke, so his presence surprised her.
Just as she was about to push his arm away, it tightened, pulling her into his warm embrace.
“Awake?” His voice, still thick with sleep, sounded above her.
Her ears tingled. Turning in his arms, she looked at his striking face and reached out to touch it. “Why aren’t you going to work today?”
He caught her wandering hand and held it. “I’m taking a day off.”
His skin felt good to the touch. Since her hand was held, she leaned closer to kiss him.
Gu Qingyu tilted his head back slightly. “What’s wrong?”
“If I can’t touch, I can at least kiss, right?” she said matter-of-factly.
As she leaned in, he chuckled and instead lowered his head to kiss her first.
When Wen Ying finally got up again, it was already close to noon. Supporting her sore waist, she glared at him. “I only wanted a kiss. I didn’t ask you to do all that extra.”
Gu Qingyu smiled and helped massage her waist. “Then say so in advance next time.”
“Who said there’ll be a next time?” Wen Ying rolled her eyes.
Then she saw him open the wardrobe, revealing a dazzling array of clothes.
“These are all yours,” he said. “Pick whichever you like.”
Wen Ying walked over in surprise. The styles were varied, the taste impeccable, all in her size. “When did you have these delivered? How come I didn’t know?”
“Yesterday, after we went out.”
“Gu Qingyu, aren’t you mistaken about something?” Wen Ying pressed her hand against the wardrobe and turned to him. “I’m not your kept woman.”
Gu Qingyu looked at her quietly for a moment before asking, “Do you remember my suggestion last night?”
“You mean the marriage alliance?” Wen Ying nodded. “I do. I’ll think about it.”
She was tempted. Gu Qingyu was a good lover, gentle and attentive, never criticizing her like Fu Tingchuan.
If he were a husband, he would probably be good as well.
Even if he liked someone else in the future, at least he wouldn’t humiliate her in public like Fu Tingchuan.
Still, her parents’ approval was uncertain, so she didn’t dare commit fully.
“If there’s an intention to marry, then it’s a relationship, not something like being a kept woman. Don’t you think so?”
Wen Ying tilted her head, then nodded. “That makes sense.”
After all, no one said a girl couldn’t have both a nominal fiancé and a real boyfriend at the same time.
Gu Qingyu didn’t know her thoughts. Seeing her agree, a smile spread across his face, softening his expression.
“You seem to look better when you smile today,” Wen Ying remarked.
“Is that so?” he smiled.
She nodded, studying him, though she couldn’t quite say what was different.
They changed clothes and went out to eat, then spent time shopping and watching a movie.
Wen Ying had always been idle, often going to Fu Tingchuan’s company or shopping with her social circle.
Now, after spending several days at Beidi Villa, she found herself enjoying this life more than expected.
A few days later, a phone call broke the calm.
“Mom?” Wen Ying answered, startled awake.
After the call, she quickly washed up, changed clothes, and hurried out.
She took a car key from the TV cabinet and drove back to Yushui Bay.
A poised middle-aged woman sat on the sofa, glancing up briefly. “You’re back. Sit.”
Her tone was calm, neither warm nor cold.
“Whose car?” her gaze fell on the key. “A man’s?”
Wen Ying tossed the key into her bag. “So what if it is?”
“You don’t need to be so tense. I’m not interested in how you amuse yourself outside,” Rong Xi said lightly.
Wen Ying’s expression darkened. “Then why did you call me back?”
“I heard you’ve been having issues with Tingchuan.”
“I’m not the one causing trouble.”
“Whoever it is doesn’t matter. Tingchuan said there’s a misunderstanding and he can’t reach you. He’ll be coming for dinner later, so don’t overdo things.”
Wen Ying stood up sharply. “So that’s why you suddenly remembered you have a daughter?”
Rong Xi set her cup down. “Mind your tone.”
Later, after being forced to stay, Wen Ying reluctantly changed into a high-collared outfit.
Soon, Fu Tingchuan and Mrs. Fu arrived.
After greetings, Mrs. Fu took her hand. “Wen Ying, Tingchuan was wrong. Can you forgive him this once?”
Fu Tingchuan looked at her expectantly.
Wen Ying pressed her lips together, unwilling to speak.
“Wen Ying,” Rong Xi reminded me.
Fu Tingchuan said softly, “I’ve reflected on it. It won’t happen again. As for Lin Shiwei, I’ve already dismissed her.”
Wen Ying was stunned. The male lead fired the female lead?
What kind of development was this?
At the dining table, her phone buzzed.
Gu Qingyu: 【Are you coming out? I’m waiting outside your house.】
Her heart pounded. She set the phone down, intending to ignore it.
But it rang again.
Before Fu Tingchuan could notice, she quickly declined the call.
“Who was that?” he asked.
“Spam call,” she said awkwardly.
She quickly typed a reply: 【I can’t come out right now. Go back.】
Gu Qingyu replied: 【It’s fine. If you can’t come out, I can go in. I haven’t visited Aunt Rong in a while either.】