The familiar scent of hormones washed over her, and Gu Mian felt her heartbeat quicken. “Don’t mess around—there are cameras here!”
Li Tingshen reached out and tapped her nose, chuckling softly. “You believe everything Grandma says? There’s no way she actually installed cameras in our room.”
“You know Grandma better than I do.” Gu Mian gave an awkward smile. “It’s getting late. I need to sleep.”
The man held her tightly in his arms. “No rush. We haven’t finished what we started before going to the hospital. Let’s pick up where we left off.”
“No!” Gu Mian hastily pulled her pajamas tighter. “If you insist, I’ll go sleep with Grandma!”
“Your courage is growing—daring to threaten me now.” Li Tingshen lowered his head, his forehead touching hers. “I shielded you from that vase today. Is this how you repay your savior, hmm?”
Gu Mian was speechless. Blocking a vase hardly made him her savior!
Besides that, he hadn’t spoken a single word in her defense—only Madam Li and Zhang Ma had stood up for her.
Because he only believed and cared about Yin Luoxue; her life or death meant nothing to him.
Suppressing the dull ache in her chest, Gu Mian thanked him out of politeness. “Thank you. May I go to sleep now?”
Seeing her reluctant expression, Li Tingshen decided not to let her off so easily. “No. My back hurts. Help me bathe.”
Gu Mian was both annoyed and amused. “Did that vase hit you so hard it paralyzed you?”
“I saved you, so it’s only right you repay the favor.” The man’s gaze deepened. “Or would you prefer we skip the bath and continue directly in bed?”
“I’ll do it!” Gu Mian said hurriedly. “But you have to promise me that after your bath, you’ll go straight to sleep. I’m really tired.”
The man raised an eyebrow. “We’ll see how I feel.”
…
After Gu Mian filled the bathtub with water, Li Tingshen entered and undressed in front of her.
Gu Mian’s face flushed, and she quickly turned away.
Li Tingshen smiled faintly. “It’s not the first time you’ve seen me. Why are you shy?”
Her face grew even redder. “Hurry up and bathe. The water will get cold.”
Li Tingshen settled into the tub. “Mrs. Li, if I recall correctly, this is a thermostatic bathtub.”
“…” Gu Mian picked up a towel and began washing him.
Li Tingshen usually disliked baths, but he had chosen one over a shower just to tease her.
And indeed, the sight of her blushing while diligently washing him was quite entertaining.
“Let’s not bring up divorce anymore, okay?” Li Tingshen’s voice softened unconsciously. “Whatever you want, I’ll do my best to provide it.”
“You mean living in a mansion, carrying bags others dream of, and being an endless blood bank for Yin Luoxue, right?” Gu Mian gave a wry smile. “Ting Shen, that’s not the life I want.”
Li Tingshen felt inexplicably irritated. “Then what kind of life do you want?”
“To leave you. Anywhere would be fine, as long as I can get away from you.” Gu Mian smiled. “I might not live in a big house and might have to work to earn a living, but I’d be content.”
“Do you hate me that much?” Li Tingshen looked at her, puzzled. “So much that you’d rather suffer outside than stay with me?”
Gu Mian shook her head gently.
This was the man she had once loved with all her heart. Even if the love was gone, even if she was utterly disappointed, she could never bring herself to hate him.
If she truly hated him, then her one-sided love would have truly become a joke.
“Ting Shen, I don’t hate you.” Gu Mian gazed earnestly into his eyes. “I just don’t want to stay by your side anymore.”
“What’s the difference between that and hating me!” Li Tingshen grabbed her shoulders, his deep eyes clouded with anger. “Gu Mian, I haven’t told you to leave. What right do you have to walk away from me on your own!”
Just as Gu Mian was about to speak, the world suddenly spun around her. The next second, the man dragged her into the bathtub!
“Ah!”
Gu Mian fell against the man’s body, causing water to splash out of the tub.
She instinctively touched her stomach, relieved that she hadn’t hit it.
As Gu Mian tried to climb out of the bathtub, the man wrapped his arms around her, his other hand gripping her wrist and pressing it against his body.
Gu Mian felt both embarrassed and angry. “Don’t you dare mess around!”
“Is it because I haven’t fulfilled my duties as a husband that you’re acting like this?” His thin lips brushed against her ear as he whispered seductively, “It’s been a long time since we’ve been in the bathtub. Shall we try?”
“I don’t want to!”
Gu Mian struggled with all her might, but she was no match for the man’s strength.
Li Tingshen was impatient.
He was a normal man, and it had been over a month since their last intimate encounter. He had been holding back ever since Gu Mian was released from prison.
It was unbearable.
Especially since his desire had already been ignited earlier today, only to be suppressed because of the poisoning incident.
Now, there was no way he could control himself.
Gu Mian’s hands gripped the edge of the bathtub tightly, her teeth clenched to keep herself from crying out.
She didn’t know if all men were like this—capable of being intimate with a wife they didn’t love while carrying another woman in their heart.
But she couldn’t do it.
At this moment, she felt like nothing more than a tool for his release.
She didn’t want this.
“Don’t… Ting Shen, let me go… I don’t want to…”
Perhaps it was the water, or perhaps it was Gu Mian’s struggles, but Li Tingshen nearly lost control.
He took a deep breath, gripped her waist, and was about to press further when a tear suddenly dripped onto his face.
Li Tingshen froze, abruptly stopping all movement.
Gu Mian’s despairing face crashed into his vision unexpectedly.
Her eyes were filled with tears, falling uncontrollably, one drop after another.
“What’s wrong?” the man asked hoarsely. “Did I hurt you?”
His question broke her completely, and Gu Mian burst into uncontrollable, heart-wrenching sobs.
Li Tingshen hurriedly carried her out of the bathroom, laid her on the bed, and wrapped her in the blanket. “I’ll call a doctor.”
He had been too rough earlier and might have hurt her.
“Don’t call a doctor!” Gu Mian curled up under the blanket, trembling. “Don’t disturb Grandma. I don’t want her to worry.”
Li Tingshen stopped in his tracks, put on a bathrobe, and returned to sit by the bed. “Stop crying.”
The girl obediently quieted her sobs, though she continued to sniffle softly.
“I’ve stopped touching you, so stop crying.” Li Tingshen reached out to smooth the hair from her forehead. “Get up and dry off, or you’ll catch a cold.”
Gu Mian quickly dodged his hand. “I can do it myself.”
Li Tingshen’s hand froze mid-air, a wave of irritation surging in his chest as he stood up and left.
“Bang!”
The door to the room slammed shut, startling Gu Mian with a jolt.
She closed her eyes, tears streaming from the corners into her pillow.
After steadying herself, Gu Mian got up and took a shower.
She was pregnant now and couldn’t take medicine casually, so she absolutely couldn’t afford to catch a cold.
While showering, her legs trembled, and the faint scent of Li Tingshen still lingered on her body.