A reward? What kind of reward?
Huai Yin’s brain was completely numb, practically incapable of coherent thought.
All she knew was that she couldn’t let Xu Shiyan make that call to Su Yi.
Strictly speaking, Huai Yin didn’t need to meddle. Her primary mission was to play the villainous female supporting character; the development of the main leads’ romance wasn’t her responsibility.
Yet, her conscience nagged at her. She didn’t actually want to break up the main couple.
Her only option was to stop this from happening while staying as true to her character persona as possible.
Huai Yin raised her hand, trying to snatch the phone away. Xu Shiyan caught on immediately. Raising an eyebrow, he held the phone high out of her reach, making it impossible for her to touch it.
“What’s wrong now, my fiancée?”
His tone held a faint, amused smile.
Like a kitten failing a pounce, Huai Yin reached for air and pitched forward out of balance. Just as she was about to tumble, Xu Shiyan quickly wrapped an arm around her waist.
In his haste, his phone flew from his grip and hit the floor. The screen went black, and the call was abruptly cut off.
The two fell together into the leather seat, Huai Yin landing directly on top of Xu Shiyan.
Her nose slammed into his firm, solid chest. Seeing stars from the impact, Huai Yin gasped in pain, tears shimmering in the corners of her eyes—a vision of pure, adorable distress.
Xu Shiyan couldn’t help but let out a low laugh. Pressed tight against each other through the thin fabric of her shirt, Huai Yin could feel the subtle vibrations of his chest as he chuckled.
What’s so funny?
Huai Yin felt both embarrassed and annoyed.
He was laughing at her for overestimating herself.
Trying to snatch something from him with a body as small as hers was hardly a clever move.
She would have been far better off acting sweet, whispering a few nice words to him; perhaps then he might have softened up and handed the phone over.
Honestly, it wasn’t just the phone—he would have given her anything she asked for.
Huai Yin was thoroughly miffed now.
Her cheeks puffed out slightly. Looking down at her from his angle, Xu Shiyan thought she looked just like a little squirrel sneaking nuts.
Her rosy lips were pouted, the delicate lip peak rounded and slightly upturned. Xu Shiyan felt a sudden itch in his teeth, burning with the urge to lean down, lick them, and take a taste.
To tease and torment that soft lip with his tongue and teeth until he was thoroughly satisfied, before devouring her whole.
At the thought, his breathing grew ragged. Unconsciously swallowing, a wave of heat spread through his body. He raised his hand to unbutton his uniform jacket.
Huai Yin tilted her head up. Xu Shiyan revealed a swath of cool, white neck, his prominent Adam’s apple bobbing up and down. The blue veins along his throat pulsed faintly, making him look exceptionally attractive, full of raw, restrained tension.
With his head bowed, his dark eyes remained fixed on her without straying an inch. A few loose strands of hair fell over his eyes as he pulled his lips into a careless, brooding smirk—the picture of a reckless, charming playboy.
He was undeniably handsome, a completely different type from Shen Xiaozhou.
Shen Xiaozhou was reserved and guarded, whereas Xu Shiyan was flashy and unrestrained.
Blushing, Huai Yin awkwardly turned her head away.
See no evil, see no evil, she chanted inwardly.
Xu Shiyan was thoroughly dissatisfied with her reaction, even beginning to second-guess himself.
What, is he really that unbearable to look at? Why won’t she look at him?
Born with a silver spoon in his mouth, he had been cherished since childhood—a proud prince in everyone’s eyes. Whether it was his family background or his looks, he had always possessed supreme confidence.
He had tried to entice her with this face, fully confident in his charm, only for her to remain utterly unbothered and turn her head away instead.
It was entirely outside his expectations. Xu Shiyan froze for a few seconds, feeling a sting of defeat.
Why won’t she look at him?
When had a young master like him ever been given the cold shoulder like this?
The more he dwelt on it, the more annoyed he became. The arm wrapped around her waist tightened bit by bit, as if he wanted to crush her right into his own body.
Huai Yin felt as though her waist was about to snap.
She tried to scramble off him, pressing her soft hands against his chest. As her fingertips accidentally grazed a sensitive spot, Xu Shiyan’s entire body went rigid instantly.
Just as she propped her upper body up, Xu Shiyan pressed the restless girl right back down against him.
Huai Yin’s chin bumped into his chest. She glared at him with wide, round almond eyes, thoroughly exasperated with the culprit in front of her.
“I want to get up!” She crumpled his uniform into a messy heap.
The fabric was thoroughly wrinkled, making it look as though they had just been engaging in something scandalous.
Xu Shiyan shifted his grip, pinning her thigh down with his hand. Now, the girl was completely unable to move.
The soft flesh of her leg spilled like cream through his fingers. Xu Shiyan caught a faint, sweet fragrance lingering in the air.
“Angry?” Xu Shiyan relaxed his posture slightly so she could lie comfortably in his arms.
Huai Yin pouted and gave a reluctant nod.
With her hands folded neatly over his chest, she looked impossibly tame, like a docile little kitten.
So that was it.
Clear insight dawned on Xu Shiyan, and a hint of a smile crept onto his previously stormy face.
Huai Yin tilted her head, watching him with complete confusion.
So strange, why was he suddenly in a good mood again?
She really couldn’t understand these boys. They flipped their moods faster than turning a page.
“You don’t want me talking to Su Yi, do you?” Xu Shiyan’s voice rose with smug certainty. “Getting jealous over something like this. Fine, then. You can talk to Su Yi yourself.”
Huai Yin was stunned.
By the time she processed what he meant, she was frantically shaking her head in her mind.
No, no, no! That’s not what I meant at all!
Xu Shiyan’s logic was truly out of this world. She couldn’t keep up with his train of thought at all.
“Not willing to do that either?” Xu Shiyan frowned. “Do you really hate Su Yi that much?”
Then, realizing that her deep hostility toward Su Yi was only because she liked him so much, the corners of his lips curled up, the smile in his eyes deepening.
Jealousy is jealousy. Huai Yin was actually quite cute like this.
He had never realized she loved him this much—so much that her eyes couldn’t bear the sight of anyone else.
Given how close he and Su Yi had been in the past, it was only natural for Huai Yin to feel insecure. He would just have to coax her more in the future.
“Alright, be good. Stop throwing a tantrum.” Xu Shiyan raised his thumb to gently rub her soft cheek. Huai Yin squinted her eyes, suffering in silence with no way to explain.
“I promise you, I won’t say a single word to Su Yi from now on. Happy now?”
Ruffling her hair into a messy mop, Xu Shiyan looked at his foolish fiancée with an amused expression. “Still not satisfied?”
Little girls in love really are possessive.
Xu Shiyan felt a mock sense of helplessness; he had truly never faced a dilemma like this before.
As a young master who never coaxed anyone, he was blurting out all kinds of overly sweet words just to make her happy.
“How about I give you a leash so you can lock me up? Lock me right by your side, so I can’t take a single step away from you.”
Xu Shiyan breathed the words intimately against the top of her head.
To coax his fiancée, this proud young master was even willing to play the loyal dog for her.
Huai Yin let out a helpless sigh.
There was no fixing this now. Whatever—let him do as he pleased. She had tried her best, but she couldn’t stand Xu Shiyan talking to himself like this.
Xu Shiyan always meant what he said; nothing she did was going to change his mind.
“Fine, fine, I’ll listen to you.”
Huai Yin squirmed her body, struggling to get up.
Xu Shiyan’s body was burning hot, making beads of sweat break out across her forehead.
“Can’t you just let me hold you a little longer?” Xu Shiyan was almost addicted, unwilling to let her go.
“You said you were going to take me home!” Huai Yin reminded him crossly.
Even a rabbit will bite when pushed too far!
Xu Shiyan leaned down to inhale the scent of her hair—it was extraordinarily sweet. He genuinely wondered if his fiancée took baths in milk every night.
He felt a deep urge to take a bite and see if she tasted like a sweet milk candy.
Restraining himself with everything he had from swallowing her whole, Xu Shiyan buried his face into the side of her neck, greedily inhaling that intoxicating fragrance.
Only when he was thoroughly satisfied did he slowly release her under Huai Yin’s accusing gaze.
Huai Yin scrambled up immediately and sat back in her original seat. Breathing softly, she raised a hand to touch her flushed cheek.
“Hurry up. Take off Shen Xiaozhou’s clothes and put mine on.”
Xu Shiyan’s amused voice sounded beside her ear.
Huai Yin’s eyes widened in disbelief, while Xu Shiyan comfortably watched her reaction.
How had he still not forgotten about this?
Xu Shiyan declared overbearingly, “If you don’t take it off, we’ll just sit here and waste time all day.”
So unreasonable!
Huai Yin felt a massive headache coming on. It seemed there was no dodging this after all.
Clutching her collar, she pouted her lips and mumbled in a low voice, “Then turn around.”
She added, “No peeking!”
Xu Shiyan’s handsome face suddenly leaned right in front of hers. He pulled his lips up into a half-smile and asked, “Are you sure you don’t need my help, fiancée?”
Huai Yin’s face flushed red instantly, and she kicked him crossly in the leg.
It wasn’t hard at all—it didn’t hurt in the slightest.
Instead, that light kick left an itch in his heart.
Who was this foolish fiancée trying to threaten? She didn’t have an ounce of intimidation in her.
“I promise not to peek.”
Xu Shiyan pulled off his own uniform jacket right in front of her.
“In return, you can look at me. I don’t mind either way.” His stunning phoenix eyes narrowed slightly, a breezy, charming smile playing on his lips.
Huai Yin didn’t dare to look. She kept her head buried low, looking just like an ostrich that had spotted its natural predator.
He had no idea what she was being so shy about. After all, they’d eventually have to be completely open with each other sooner or later anyway.
“I’m done.”
Xu Shiyan turned around, extending an arm to hand his shirt to Huai Yin.
Huai Yin looked up, her gaze catching on his broad shoulders and narrow waist.
She quickly averted her eyes, nervously undoing her buttons.
Slipping out of the shirt and putting on the one Xu Shiyan handed her, her face was practically burning by the time she finished the whole process.
“I’m done changing, too.”
Xu Shiyan had draped a jacket over himself. Hearing her voice, he turned around.
Seeing Huai Yin wearing his clothes now, a surge of deep satisfaction filled his heart.
Much better.
Likely because she had been in too much of a rush, Xu Shiyan noticed she had misaligned two of the buttons.
What a silly fiancée.
“Come here. Unless you want me to do it for you.”
His long, slender fingers unbuttoned those two misplaced fasteners. A flash of dazzlingly fair skin burst into his view. Xu Shiyan froze for a fraction of a second before quickly buttoning them back up correctly.
“Th-thank you.”
Huai Yin raised her hand, smoothing out the wrinkles in the shirt.
Xu Shiyan sat back down, his posture appearing somewhat awkward. Crossing his long legs, he placed one hand over his knee as if trying to cover something up.
He opened the car window, letting a burst of cold wind rush inside. Huai Yin shuddered at the sudden chill.
“Why did you open the window?” She asked, thoroughly confused.
Xu Shiyan swallowed hard, his expression distinctly unnatural.
“It’s hot in here.”
Huai Yin blinked blankly.
Is it?
He really was strange—completely baffling.