Ji Huaixiang froze for a second, then her red lips curved high. “Jin-jin, you’re hurting me. Be gentler.”
The hand Gu Wujin had pressed against her thigh trembled. The girl’s fair, long legs had perfectly even curves—straight, beautiful, not skinny like two bamboo poles, and so white they practically glowed. The delicate, silky touch transmitted through his palm nearly made him lose control.
“Are you angry?”
Ji Huaixiang’s clear black-and-white eyes fixed on the handsome face in front of her. She blinked, her gaze shimmering with rippling water.
Gu Wujin’s chest felt blocked with stifled frustration. He stared at her in silence.
They were pressed very close. The girl’s skin was luminous like jade—clean, translucent, flawless, not a trace of makeup. He let her fragrance drill into his nose, allowing desire to grow unchecked.
Feeling the scorching heat on her leg, Ji Huaixiang unconsciously shifted. The tender skin on the inside of her thigh rubbed against his hand—ticklish. Her face flushed as she said, “Earlier you were hurting me, and now your hand is tickling me. Jin-jin, are you trying to do something improper?”
“Don’t talk nonsense.” His Adam’s apple quivered. Gu Wujin moved his hand away, but his fingertips still carried the lingering sensation of smooth, tender skin.
Before the food arrived, the staff had already adjusted the private room’s temperature. The air conditioning was strong, yet it couldn’t dispel the rising humid heat.
Ji Huaixiang leaned back against the chair. She reached up and wrapped both arms around his neck like vines entwining, her already soft and whiny voice turning even gentler—sticky and sweet, almost like coquetry. “I know. It’s because I look too good in this outfit, right? Jin-jin, you’re jealous, aren’t you?”
She tugged the silent man’s neck downward, bringing him closer, and said earnestly, “I’m sorry. Because of my natural beauty, I’ve caused you trouble.”
Gu Wujin: “…”
Then Ji Huaixiang leaned even closer to his handsome face. After staring for a long moment—while Gu Wujin looked puzzled—she found the perfect spot and bit down. It was a very light, gentle nip, leaving only the faintest tooth mark on his cheek. Before he could react, her red lips had already pulled away.
“Is this you trying to please me, or punish me?” His voice came out low and hoarse.
The suffocating blockage in his chest vanished instantly. A wave of heat surged upward from his heart, staining his neck red. Gu Wujin’s long lashes trembled violently. This woman…
“Neither. This is me liking you. Jin-jin, don’t be angry.”
Ji Huaixiang pressed the tip of her nose against his, rubbing gently—intimate in a way that was hard to describe. Seeing his black pupils dilate even larger, the smile on her lips deepened. She continued coaxing him: “They say when you see someone you like, your pupils dilate by half. Jin-jin, your pupils are so big—you must like me a lot, right?”
She tilted her face even higher. “Jin-jin, look at mine. My pupils are big and bright—they’re completely filled with you. I like you so, so much.”
Listen to her—every word coated in sugar, dipped in honey.
In Gu Wujin’s eyes was the girl’s flushed, smiling face. He realized that ever since his heart had spiraled out of control, his temper and mood had followed suit. Perhaps one day, even if her sugar hid poison, he would still swallow it willingly.
Resigned, he wrapped his arms around the little fire-starter who kept rubbing against him. Only then did Gu Wujin’s thin lips finally curve upward, his brows and eyes softening with tenderness. “Stop acting cute. You’re my girlfriend—liking you is a given…”
After successfully coaxing her boyfriend, Ji Huaixiang suddenly felt starving. In one breath she ordered four or five dishes plus dessert. She preferred sour-sweet flavors and loved spicy food too—just not too spicy. Knowing Gu Wujin disliked ginger and green onion, she specially instructed the server to leave them out.
The waiter’s attitude was excellent. He double-checked the order, promised to serve the food as quickly as possible, then quietly closed the door.
The moment the door shut, Ji Huaixiang pulled out her phone and snapped a rapid series of photos of Gu Wujin’s side profile.
“You’re secretly taking pictures of me?”
Gu Wujin’s arm rested on the back of her chair; his expression had returned to normal.
Ji Huaixiang shook her head. “No, I’m taking them openly and honestly.”
She looked at the photos on her phone. The man’s side profile had sharp, refined lines; his jawline was perfect. On his jade-like face was a faint red mark—already impossible to tell it was her tooth mark. She selected the clearest one and set it as her phone’s lock screen.
“Look.” Ji Huaixiang held up her phone for Gu Wujin to see. “My photography skills are pretty good. I captured you looking really handsome.”
He glanced sideways. Gu Wujin tugged at his thin lips. “It’s because I’m too good-looking. Even the worst photography skills can’t hide my handsomeness.”
Ji Huaixiang: “…”
Why did she feel like that actually made perfect sense?
The food at Huan Man Lou was delicious and perfectly suited to Ji Huaixiang’s taste. After eating good food, her mood was especially bright.
“Are we still going to buy clothes?” Ji Huaixiang asked with a beaming smile. Her hand was held in Gu Wujin’s as they walked out of the private room together.
Gu Wujin raised a brow, about to reply—when his phone suddenly rang, interrupting him.
He answered. “What did you say?”
Ji Huaixiang watched Gu Wujin’s face darken abruptly. His tone turned tense: “Got it. I’m heading back now.”
“What happened?” Seeing him hang up with an unhappy expression, Ji Huaixiang asked worriedly.
“Something came up. I need to go back. We’ll buy the clothes another day. For now, I’ll send you home first.” Gu Wujin’s sharp brows furrowed.
Since the man didn’t elaborate, Ji Huaixiang didn’t press. “If you have something urgent, go handle it. The school isn’t far from here—I can just take a taxi back.”
Gu Wujin’s deep black eyes fixed on her steadily.
“Don’t worry. Go take care of it.” Ji Huaixiang urged him.
“Then text me when you get back.” Gu Wujin squeezed the small hand he was still holding.
Ji Huaixiang obediently promised, “Okay, I will.”
Huan Man Lou had an ancient-style design. Red lanterns hung thickly at the entrance—festive and beautiful.
Against the backdrop of green walls and glowing red lanterns, the crystal-clear, radiant girl stood bathed in crimson light. Her fair skin and ink-black hair, her bright, watery black eyes—standing there gracefully, she made hearts flutter uncontrollably.
“Junior Sister Ji?”
Huang Weige called out excitedly toward Ji Huaixiang. He slapped the shoulder of Wei Yuanhe beside him—too hard in his excitement—and pointed. “Look, it’s Junior Sister Ji!” With that, he was already striding over first.
“Junior sister, wow, it really is you! I was worried I’d mistaken someone else.” Huang Weige’s face was full of delight. “What a coincidence—you’re here for dinner too?”
“Senior Huang, yes.” Ji Huaixiang also found it quite a coincidence. Seeing the other senior approach, she greeted him politely. “Senior Wei.”
Unlike Huang Weige’s enthusiasm, Wei Yuanhe only gave her a faint glance and responded with a single syllable.
“Junior sister, are you heading back to the dorm?” Huang Weige asked.
“Mm, I was just about to call a taxi.”
As soon as she finished speaking, Huang Weige immediately said, “No need for a taxi. We’re heading back to the dorm too. Old Wei drove here—we can give you a ride.”
“Ah, no… no need to trouble the seniors.” Ji Huaixiang could tell Wei Yuanhe wasn’t the approachable type, and they had only met today—neither side knew each other well.
“It’s no trouble at all. Are you worried we might do something bad to you?” Huang Weige quickly explained. “Come on, even if you gave us the courage of the heavens, we wouldn’t dare. Professor Yan would skin us alive. Don’t worry—we’ll deliver you back to school without losing a single hair.”
Ji Huaixiang’s face heated up. She hadn’t expected the senior to be so direct and call out her exact concern.
“Come on, junior sister. Trust Old Wei’s driving skills.” Huang Weige winked at her. “Absolutely solid.”
“Then… thank you, seniors.” Ji Huaixiang smiled.
The atmosphere in the car was pleasant. Huang Weige had a lively personality. After telling a few jokes, he asked, “Junior sister, how did you end up choosing to study perfumery?” After all, there weren’t many girls in the fragrance and essence department.
Ji Huaixiang paused slightly. Her mind drifted back to the first time she visited Aunt Ji’s shop to deliver takeout.
When she stepped inside, the rows of exquisite perfume bottles on the shelves instantly caught her eye. A light, ethereal fragrance drifted through the air. She had never known perfume could smell so good—so magical. At that moment, she thought: Could something this beautiful cover up something foul and rotten?
From then on, a longing took root in her heart. She wanted to buy a bottle of perfume—maybe then her body’s bad odor could be hidden.
“Junior sister?” Huang Weige noticed she had zoned out and called her.
Ji Huaixiang pulled her thoughts back from the memory and smiled. “Because I like perfume.”
Huang Weige gave her an “I knew it” look.
“Has the top note, heart note, and base note of that perfume been analyzed yet?” Ji Huaixiang changed the subject.
Wei Yuanhe glanced at her through the rearview mirror.
“Old Wei already figured out the heart notes today. Just the base notes left—it shouldn’t take long to identify them.” Huang Weige sounded very confident. The few of them were the top students in their year, had all participated in perfume competitions and won awards. Recreating this fragrance wouldn’t be too difficult for them.
“That’s good.” Ji Huaixiang was very interested in this particular perfume. She also wanted to know its exact composition.
At the Gu family residence, the atmosphere in the living room was frozen stiff.
“Very White—have you found him yet?” Gu Wujin strode into the hall. Because he was walking too fast, his limp was especially pronounced.
“Second Young Master, you’re back.” Aunt Hua looked hesitant and uneasy. “Not yet. We’ve already sent people to search.”
“What happened?” Gu Wujin’s face was icy cold.
“It’s…”
“No need to look anymore.” Old Master Gu’s voice came from the staircase. He descended slowly. “That beast ran off—let it go. Why bother searching?”
“Grandfather!” Gu Wujin’s pitch-black eyes fixed on him. “I will find him.”
“Are you ignoring my words now? That beast went mad and scratched your big brother’s hand. Which is more important—your brother or that beast?” Old Master Gu’s face was full of anger.
“Very White scratched Big Brother?” Gu Wujin was stunned. He looked toward Gu Lü sitting on the sofa. “Brother?”
Gu Lü helplessly raised the hand wrapped in white gauze. “Yeah. I was sitting on the sofa today when Very White suddenly charged over like he’d gone crazy. He scratched me with his claws. I kicked him away, and he ran off.”
“Very White has always been very well-behaved. How could he suddenly go mad and attack someone?” Gu Wujin frowned. “Aunt Hua, what did Very White eat today?”
Aunt Hua lowered her head, looking guilty—it was her fault for not watching the cat properly. “Same as usual. Nothing else. Uncle Jiang has already gone to look, but hasn’t found him yet.”
“Mm.” Gu Wujin turned to leave.
“Stop right there. Where are you going?” Old Master Gu called after him.
“I’m going to find the cat.” Gu Wujin’s voice was low and deep.
“If he ran away, just let him go. Why bring him back…”
Before Old Master Gu could finish, Gu Wujin had already walked out without looking back.
“Look at him—look at this attitude! He doesn’t listen to a word I say anymore. I told him not to associate with those shady women, and he still took her to the perfume exhibition. Now I tell him to leave that beast alone, and he acts like he didn’t hear me. Hmph—is that beast more important than your big brother?”
Gu Lü looked toward the doorway—Gu Wujin’s figure had already disappeared. His handsome, refined face remained calm and unruffled. “Grandfather, that cat really is important. It was the birthday gift Mom and Dad gave to Ah Jin. No wonder he cares so much about it.”
Old Master Gu’s face stiffened. He let out an angry snort. “The people are gone, and he’s still caring about a beast—what’s the use?”
By the time Ji Huaixiang reached the dormitory, the first thing she did was call Gu Wujin to let him know she was safe. She had no idea what had happened on his end.
“Jin-jin, I’m back at the dorm.” As soon as the call connected, Ji Huaixiang said immediately.
“Mm.” Gu Wujin responded with a single sound.
“Is everything okay on your side?”
On the other end of the line, the girl’s voice was soft, carrying a trace of cautious concern. Gu Wujin’s tightly clenched face finally softened. “Something happened.” His voice was very low, very deep, and somehow tinged with grievance as he said, “My cat ran away from home.”