Bai Shixiong laughed heartily.
“This child—I only mentioned at home that she should make friends with Second Young Master Gu, and she’s already thinking about marrying him.”
Old Master Gu’s gaze darkened slightly.
“It just shows the child is simple and straightforward in her thinking. Not like so many girls these days, with their roundabout ideas and vanity.”
“You’re absolutely right, Old Master Gu. Your vision is as far-sighted as ever.” Satisfaction flashed in Bai Shixiong’s eyes. He patted Bai Nini’s head. “Nini, be good. Second Young Master Gu is dancing over there. Eat something first, and you can go meet him later.”
At the mention of food, Bai Nini’s eyes curved into happy crescents.
“Okay! I’ll eat first.”
The music flowed gently; under the lights, the atmosphere was pleasant.
“You really didn’t know how to dance before?” Gu Wujin’s low, elegant voice sounded.
“I didn’t know how to dance at all. But I just watched other people’s steps a few times, and now I can do it. I’m very smart.” Ji Huaixiang’s soft voice carried a hint of smug pride. “Am I amazing or what? I didn’t step on your foot even once.”
The girl’s little proud expression pleased Gu Wujin. Laughter filled his pitch-black eyes.
“Then I should thank you for your mercy in not stepping on me.”
After the song ended, the two stopped dancing and prepared to head back to the sofas to rest.
“Gu Wujin.” A clear, bright voice rang out behind them.
They turned. A sweet, delicate-looking girl in a white dress stood in front of them.
“Gu Wujin.”
Seeing him turn, she happily stepped forward.
“Daddy didn’t lie to me—you really are so good-looking.”
Gu Wujin frowned. He didn’t recognize the person in front of him.
“Are you still hungry? Want something to eat?” He ignored her and asked Ji Huaixiang instead.
“No need. I’m already full.” Ji Huaixiang glanced at the girl and had a bad feeling. “Let’s go sit down.”
“I’m Bai Nini.” Seeing that Gu Wujin wasn’t responding to her, Bai Nini pouted, a little unhappy. “Why aren’t you paying attention to me? You’re my husband.”
At her self-introduction, Gu Wujin finally shifted his gaze toward her. When he heard what she called him, his sharp, handsome eyebrows knitted tightly.
“Didn’t the Bai family teach you any shame?”
The people nearby also heard Bai Nini’s words and were stunned. The Gu family’s second young master had become the Bai family’s son-in-law?
A cripple and a lunatic? Heh, now this was going to be a real show.
“You’re not my husband right now, but you will be in the future.” Bai Nini really liked him—Gu Wujin was the most handsome person she had ever seen.
“Psycho.”
Gu Wujin tugged at the corner of his mouth, unwilling to argue with someone who was clearly mentally unstable—it would only lower his own IQ. He turned with Ji Huaixiang and started walking away. They had only taken a few steps when Bai Nini exclaimed from behind,
“Ah! There’s something wrong with your foot?”
“Husband, don’t worry. I won’t abandon you just because your foot has a problem,” Bai Nini added.
The veins on Gu Wujin’s forehead throbbed faintly. He kept walking.
The surrounding guests who heard Bai Nini’s words couldn’t hold back their laughter. A fool who didn’t mind a cripple—who was really the one being despised here?
Ji Huaixiang sat down on the sofa. She looked at Bai Nini, who had followed them over, and her gaze cooled. The girl was staring unblinkingly at her man, and earlier she had loudly called her boyfriend “husband” in front of everyone. It made her extremely unhappy and very angry.
Zhou Zisheng raised his glass toward Gu Wujin.
“A-Jin, your charm is truly boundless.” He teased.
“Husband…” Bai Nini called again.
“Pfft!” Zhou Zisheng sprayed his drink. “I didn’t hear wrong, did I?”
Fang Zheng dodged in time.
“You didn’t hear wrong. Brother Jin, this one’s spicy.” He sneaked a glance at Ji Huaixiang’s expression—blank face, probably holding it in.
“Get lost. If I hear you shout that nonsense again, I’ll have someone seal your mouth shut,” Gu Wujin said coldly.
Bai Nini’s round, bright almond eyes darted around. She quickly covered her mouth.
“Gu Wujin, then I won’t call you husband anymore.” She paused before continuing: “I’ll wait until later.”
“Sorry, but you won’t get the chance later either.” Ji Huaixiang cut in calmly. “He’s mine. The only one who can call him husband is me.”
Bai Nini bit her lip and glared at her.
“Who are you?”
“I’m Gu Wujin’s girlfriend.” Ji Huaixiang answered politely—answering every question asked.
“No way. I want to be Gu Wujin’s girlfriend too.” Bai Nini twisted her fingers excitedly.
Ji Huaixiang took several deep breaths inwardly. So angry, but she couldn’t argue with someone who was mentally ill.
“Gu Wujin, can I be your girlfriend?” Bai Nini tugged at her white skirt, face full of excitement.
“I see you’ve been abroad for so many years, and the Bai family still hasn’t fixed your brain.” Gu Wujin’s thin lips curved lightly. His words were ruthless and venomous: “Is the Bai family out of people? Letting you run around like this. If you don’t leave right now, I guarantee you’ll end up even crazier than you are now.”
Bai Nini looked both wronged and furious.
“You’re dead! I’m going to tell Daddy you don’t want me!” With that, she ran off.
Gu Wujin didn’t even spare her a glance from the corner of his eye.
“Hey, I’m telling you, this young miss from the Bai family is actually kinda cute.” Fang Zheng wiped the tears of laughter from the corner of his eyes.
Zhou Zisheng poured himself a glass of wine and swirled the scarlet liquid inside. “Tsk tsk. Looks like you don’t know what happened a few years ago—she bit off a classmate’s ear. Someone who can snap at any moment—you think she’s cute? Go ahead and date her yourself.”
“Fuck, no way. That intense?” Fang Zheng pictured Bai Nini with blood all over her mouth, an ear clamped between her teeth, and shuddered. “A freak like that—I really can’t handle it.”
“This time she came back to the country, and the Bai family still wants to shove her onto A-Jin. Hmph. Their abacus is clicking loud and clear.”
Gu Wujin leaned back against the sofa, dark eyes half-lidded. His fingers toyed with Ji Huaixiang’s ink-black long hair, wrapping it around and around in slow circles before letting it slip free again.
“You don’t need to worry. I’ll handle it.”
Ji Huaixiang blinked, then realized—he was explaining this to her.
“Mm. I believe you.” She nodded obediently.
In the restroom, Ji Huaixiang was straightening her clothes. She looked at herself in the mirror: red lips glossy and wet, eyes bright and sparkling, the corners lifted in clear delight. They say women in love glow—this saying really wasn’t wrong.
The restroom door opened. A figure in white rushed in and shoved her hard. Caught off guard, Ji Huaixiang crashed into the marble sink counter. The soft flesh at her waist slammed straight against the sharp edge.
A sharp, searing pain shot through her waist. Ji Huaixiang furrowed her brows tightly; tears instantly welled up at the corners of her eyes. She turned to look at the culprit.
Bai Nini stood not far away, face full of arrogance.
“Fox spirit! How dare you steal my husband—I’ll beat you to death!”
Ji Huaixiang covered the aching spot. She remembered what Zhou Zisheng had just said—about Bai Nini biting off someone’s ear. Compared to that, this push was actually going easy on her. A cold glint flashed in her eyes.
“I already told you—Gu Wujin is not your husband.”
“My dad said I’m going to marry him.” Bai Nini’s fair face twisted slightly. “No one is allowed to take what’s mine.”
Ji Huaixiang’s expression darkened. She stared coldly at Bai Nini.
“A lunatic thinks she’s worthy of him? You’re daydreaming.” She slowly stepped closer, gaze deep and chilling. “The man I waited one lifetime for, longed for one lifetime for, guarded for one lifetime—is not yours just because you throw around some crazy words.”
She had finally waited until the clouds parted and the moon appeared. No one—no one—would be allowed to interfere. Even if it meant offending the entire Bai family, she would never, ever back down half a step.
Bai Nini was frightened into taking a step back.
“Fox spirit, what do you want to do?” The woman in front of her was terrifying—she was actually glaring at her.
Ji Huaixiang drew close. Her red lips curved in a cold smile.
“Didn’t you call me a fox spirit?” She reached out and shoved Bai Nini hard, sending her crashing to the floor. Looking down at her from above, Ji Huaixiang said, “If I don’t return the favor, I’d really be letting down such a compliment. Don’t think that just because you’re crazy and mentally ill, I won’t hold it against you.”
Her smile was beautiful and enchantingly wicked. When it came to anything involving Gu Wujin, she wouldn’t tolerate even the tiniest bit—she held grudges fiercely.
Bai Nini was furious. No one had ever dared hit her. She immediately burst into loud sobs.
“How dare you push me! I’m telling Daddy… he’ll definitely punish a vicious fox spirit like you…”
“Oh.”
Ji Huaixiang watched Bai Nini rolling around on the floor throwing a tantrum. The anger knotted in her chest eased a little; even her waist hurt less. She smiled sweetly and said,
“Go ahead, go ahead. A pretty fox spirit like me loves tattling and stirring up trouble the most. In a bit, I’ll go tell my boyfriend Gu Wujin that you bullied me.”
Bai Nini’s crying choked off at those words. She wanted to stand up and bite her, but seeing the cold, ruthless light in the other woman’s eyes, she didn’t dare. This woman wasn’t like the cowardly pushovers she used to bully.
“Ah! You’re so hateful!” she screamed viciously. “Big Sister Jiang was right—you really are a beautiful snake.” Pretty and vicious.
“Big Sister Jiang?” Ji Huaixiang’s brows lifted lightly. The only person she knew here with the surname Jiang was Jiang Mengwan.
“Jiang Mengwan?” she asked.
Bai Nini realized she had slipped up. Her round eyes darted around.
“Not telling you.”
“Oh, you don’t have to say it. I already know. She’s wearing a white dress tonight.” Ji Huaixiang gave a gentle smile.
“No she isn’t, you big dummy. She’s wearing a purple dress.” Bai Nini said with full disdain.
It really was Jiang Mengwan.
Ji Huaixiang’s expression tightened. She looked down at Bai Nini on the floor, her gaze serious.
“Gu Wujin is mine. I don’t want to hear you call him husband again, Bai Nini. If you really want to go crazy, you’re no match for me…”
“Why did it take you so long?”
As soon as the girl sat down, Gu Wujin naturally leaned closer to her.
“I ran into a little something.” Ji Huaixiang lowered her voice, speaking softly: “But I’ve already taken care of it.”
Gu Wujin raised an eyebrow, about to ask who had dared bother her, when Bai Shixiong stormed over with a furious look on his face, dragging people behind him.
“You hit my daughter?” Bai Shixiong glared angrily at Ji Huaixiang beside Gu Wujin, demanding an answer.
As soon as Bai Shixiong spoke, he drew the attention of many people. It looked like the Bai family was determined to force a connection with the Gu family’s second young master tonight. What had Bai Shixiong just said? The woman brought by Second Young Master Gu had hit Miss Bai? Everyone perked up their ears, all attention fixed on the group.
“The situation isn’t clear yet, and the Bai family is already making accusations right from the start?” Gu Wujin looked at Bai Shixiong with displeasure and gave a cold laugh.
“Look for yourself.”
Bai Shixiong pulled his daughter Bai Nini forward to show him the dirt on her dress.
“It was the person you brought—relying on your power, acting arrogantly and pushing my little girl to the ground.”
“It was her. She hit me.” Bai Nini pointed at Ji Huaixiang to back up her father, glaring at her with fierce, vicious eyes.
Everyone saw the white dress behind Bai Nini was filthy, clearly as if it had been rubbed against the floor.
“Hmph. Even if someone falls, they wouldn’t get this dirty. She didn’t roll around on the ground herself, did she?” Gu Wujin’s voice was icy.
At his words, the crowd couldn’t help laughing. No one else would, but the Bai family’s daughter really was capable of it.
Ji Huaixiang leaned against Gu Wujin, head lowered, saying nothing. She looked as if she had been frightened by Bai Shixiong—small, pitiful, and fragile. Someone so timid daring to hit the Bai family’s lunatic? It didn’t match at all.
Hearing the crowd’s murmurs, Bai Shixiong grew even angrier. He turned his glare on Ji Huaixiang and barked,
“You tell me—what really happened?”
Ji Huaixiang’s body trembled against Gu Wujin’s, like a startled fawn—lost and helpless. She lifted her head; her eyes were brimming with tears, glistening and watery, as if a pool of clear water was about to overflow. She bit her red lip, looking as though she had suffered the greatest injustice and bullying.
The crowd sucked in a breath. Tsk—no wonder Second Young Master Gu kept her by his side. That little appearance was pure seductive fox spirit.
Gu Wujin reached out and took Ji Huaixiang’s hand, gripping it tightly.
“A-Jin… I’m scared.”
Ji Huaixiang’s voice was soft, trembling slightly:
“I didn’t push her. Earlier in the restroom, Miss Bai suddenly burst in and shoved me. I crashed into the sink counter because of her push. She lost her balance and fell to the floor herself. Then she sat there on the ground and started yelling at me, calling me a fox spirit, saying you’re her husband, telling me to get lost or she’d tell her daddy to deal with me…” Ji Huaixiang sniffled tearfully as she explained, “My waist still hurts so much.”
“You are a fox spirit!” Bai Nini shouted, only confirming Ji Huaixiang’s story even more.
Heh. The crowd looked at Bai Shixiong with mocking eyes. So his own daughter had a meltdown, went to bully someone, cursed her out, and then ran to tattle? How brainless did you have to be to do that? Lucky for her she had a powerful family, or she would have been dealt with long ago.
Bai Shixiong’s face darkened, teeth grinding in fury.
Gu Wujin held Ji Huaixiang’s hand tightly. His pitch-black eyes were cold and clear.
“The Bai family isn’t above the law. I, Second Young Master Gu, may be a cripple, so people don’t take me seriously—no problem. But if my woman gets bullied and I can’t even protect her, then I’d be worse than worthless.” He looked straight at Bai Shixiong, expression blank. “This matter—I’ll remember it.”
With that, ignoring Bai Shixiong’s reaction, he pulled Ji Huaixiang’s hand and left directly.
The man walked fast. Ji Huaixiang, in her high heels, struggled to keep up as he dragged her along.
“A-Jin, slow down a bit. I can’t keep up with you.”
The man showed no response.
“A-Jin.” Still no sound.
“Jinjin… Gu Jinjin…” The man’s footsteps paused.
Gu Wujin whipped his head around and glared at her fiercely.
“What’s wrong with you?”
The girl’s eyes were clear and bright, shimmering with moisture. She looked up at him so pitifully that in an instant, the anger at the center of his heart melted away.
He reached out and wiped the corner of her eye. His fingertip caught the cool teardrop hanging there. His heart pricked and tingled a little.
“Don’t cry so easily from now on, Ji Huaixiang. I don’t like it.”
He didn’t like seeing her with tears in her eyes.
Until much later, in bed, when Gu Wujin pinned her soft body down and bullied her again and again, teasing her until her eyes were teary and watery, ruthlessly taking everything he wanted. Facts proved—the man’s words couldn’t be trusted at all.
Hearing him, Ji Huaixiang’s red lips curved upward, a little smug.
“I wasn’t really crying. That was just to fool them. Did I act it convincingly?” She looked at him expectantly, like she was asking for praise.
Gu Wujin increased the pressure as he wiped, as if trying to erase the irritating redness at the corner of her eye. He growled fiercely:
“No pretending to cry from now on either. You can borrow my power and bully others all you want—use my name to throw your weight around.”
“Mm-hmm, mm-hmm.” Ji Huaixiang nodded obediently. “From now on, I’ll definitely use your influence to lord it over everyone else.”
The car pulled up in front of a pharmacy. Gu Wujin got out and returned shortly with a bottle of medicinal liquor.
“Where did you get hurt? Let me see.” His voice was noticeably gentler than usual.
Ji Huaixiang felt a little shy.
“Just give me the medicine. I’ll apply it myself when I get home.”
“How are you going to reach the spot on your back by yourself? Turn around.” He had noticed earlier how she was clutching her lower back—she was clearly still in pain.
Ji Huaixiang bit her lip. She was both embarrassed and reluctant to refuse his thoughtfulness. She turned slightly sideways, exposing her back to him, and pointed to the left side of her waist, at the dip near her waistline.
“Here. It hurts here.”
The light inside the car was dim. Gu Wujin reached over and turned on the overhead lamp. The warm yellowish glow instantly fell across the girl’s alluring, slender figure.
Her entire fair back was bare. The smooth, delicate skin shimmered with a soft, luminous white, framed on both sides by the vivid red fabric of her dress—jade-like and snow-pure, flawless. From the graceful line of her nape downward, the elegant curve flowed enticingly all the way to her waist, where the deep hollow of her waist dimple carried an irresistible, seductive charm.
Zhou Zisheng had once loudly declared that a woman’s back was her most sensual area; the others had scoffed at the time. Now, Gu Wujin found himself in full agreement.
His gaze darkened, sparks flickering within. The girl’s back held a hidden allure, deeply provocative and sensual. He had the sudden, violent urge to press her down, to take every inch of that soft flesh into his mouth.
“Did you see it? Right here.” After waiting a moment with no movement behind her, Ji Huaixiang shifted uncomfortably and pointed again.
Gu Wujin pulled his thoughts back. Lowering his eyes, he followed her fingertip. The red dress covered part of it; he lifted the fabric slightly. On the tender white skin was a large, ugly bruise—dark purple against her extreme fairness. It looked stark and almost frightening.
That lunatic from the Bai family had really hit hard. Black strands of hair fell across Gu Wujin’s forehead, hiding the coldness in his eyes.
“It’s a bad bruise. You’ll need firm rubbing to break up the blood stasis.”
“Mm.”
Ji Huaixiang didn’t need to look to know how bad it was. Her skin was ridiculously delicate—perhaps because she had always worn long sleeves and protected it too well—any minor bump or scrape looked far worse on her than on most people.
The moment the man’s hand touched her, Ji Huaixiang’s whole body jolted. Pain made her brows knit tightly.
“Ah—lighter!” She couldn’t help crying out softly.
Gu Wujin’s hand trembled. It felt like a cat had scratched at his heart. His grip tightened instead.
Immediately after, waves of pain surged through her.
“Ah… lighter… please…” Ji Huaixiang couldn’t bear it. She braced both hands against the car window, leaning forward so her entire back was offered to him. Her voice carried a crying tone—soft, sweet, sticky, like the whimper of someone being bullied too hard. It was enough to drive anyone’s imagination wild.
Gu Wujin’s eyes grew darker and darker, settling on the deep dip of her waist. He said quietly,
“Bear with it a little.”
Ji Huaixiang turned her head slightly. Tears shimmered in her eyes from the pain. She looked at him pitifully and begged in a low voice:
“It really hurts. Please be gentler, okay?”
The skin beneath his palm was as soft as cotton. Gu Wujin clenched his jaw hard, suppressing the urge to pin her down, grab her chin, and devour her completely. His hand didn’t lighten at all—he kept pushing the medicinal oil in firmly. His gaze fell on her reddened eye corners; he gritted his teeth:
“No more sounds.”
So delicate. If he ever really got rough with her in the future, wouldn’t she flood the whole place with tears?
Ji Huaixiang saw how serious his face had become. She obediently stopped making noise. Her white teeth bit down on her red lip; a few strands of long hair clung to the side of her face in charming disarray. Her eyes were overflowing with water, glistening and wet. She just stared back at him like that—her little seductive expression nearly killing Gu Wujin.
A few seconds later, Gu Wujin finally stopped.
“When you shower later, try not to get the injured side wet. Understand?”
“Mm-hmm.” Ji Huaixiang nodded. The fiery sting at her waist had eased a little. She gave him a sweet smile and praised:
“Boyfriend, you’re so good.”
Only then did the corners of Gu Wujin’s lips curve upward.
It seemed his excellence had reached the point where she could no longer ignore it.
After finishing the perfume Old Madam Shen had requested, Ji Huaixiang still spent a lot of time in the lab during this period—she was far from idle. She was trying to recreate the perfume formulas she had created in her previous life. She had forgotten some of the exact proportions and needed to slowly experiment and readjust them.
She took off her slightly yellowed white lab coat and hung it back on the wall. Just as she stepped out the door, she spotted Jiang Mengwan walking over with a book in her arms. The other girl’s eyes were filled with surprise.
“What a coincidence, Classmate Ji.” Jiang Mengwan looked her over with a measuring gaze. She hadn’t expected Ji Huaixiang to be in the lab. Aside from regular classes, the lab was mostly used by second-year students who had started learning fragrance imitation.
“Yeah, quite a coincidence.” That night, from Bai Nini’s own mouth, she had learned that the person who instigated Bai Nini to trouble her was Jiang Mengwan. Now, looking at her, Ji Huaixiang kept her expression gentle and her demeanor refined—yet she felt not the slightest bit of goodwill.
“Though it might be presumptuous, I still want to ask—are you really with Wujin?” Jiang Mengwan held her book and asked softly.
Ji Huaixiang’s red lips curved slightly.
“Yes. He’s my boyfriend.”