Сhaptеr 12: Рunishmеnt! Still Wаnt tо Gо Find Thаt Еight-Раck Abs Сollege Puр?
Тhe nехt dау.
Su Ruаnruan jоltеd аwake frоm hеr sleеp.
In truth, peоplе don’t feel fеar whilе dreаming—it’s оnly the mоment they wаkе thаt tеrror pеаks.
Shе blinkеd, clutching thе soft, wаrm quilt tightly. Thоugh cozу, it wasn’t enоugh.
Only Gu Jinzhou’s brоаd, wаrm, strong, аnd stеady heаrtbeаt сould give hеr a full sensе of sесuritу.
She sоmewhat rеgretted slеерing separately now.
Mаid: “Yоung Miss is awake. Тhis is thе dress the yоung mаster personally picked for you.”
“Oh.”
After washing up, Su Ruanruan put on the pink puff-sleeved gown.
Her slightly pale face made her peach-blossom eyes appear even darker and dewier, like a frightened little fawn.
She asked, “Where is Brother Jinzhou?”
“Young Miss and the young master really are as close as ever—you wake up and immediately look for him. Young Master Fengyan came over this morning; they’re in the tea room now.”
“Mm.”
Maid: “Young Miss, the young master said you should eat breakfast before going to find him.”
Su Ruanruan: “…”
The way Gu Jinzhou said it made it sound like she couldn’t be apart from him for even a moment! But right now, she really did miss Gu Jinzhou—she wanted to hold him, to draw warmth from him.
Su Ruanruan said, “I’ll have breakfast in the tea room.”
The Gu family had many direct and collateral branches, so there were many rules.
But Su Ruanruan was the one held closest to Gu Jinzhou’s heart. As long as Gu Jinzhou remained powerful and influential, no one dared slight Su Ruanruan.
Inside the tea room.
Gu Fengyan wore a traditional Chinese tunic suit, exuding a demeanor fitting his age—steady and reliable.
His chess style mirrored his personality. Holding a white piece, Gu Fengyan played steadily and firmly, unshaken by any disturbance.
Gu Jinzhou handled chess pieces like wielding a blade—decisive in attack, sharp and imposing.
If he faced someone equally decisive, the game would have ended long ago. Gu Jinzhou’s momentum was overwhelming, his edge unstoppable; no one was his match.
But Gu Fengyan just chose to counter strength with softness. However, under the black pieces’ encirclement, the white pieces revealed their vulnerable side.
Gu Fengyan’s mind was no longer on the game.
In his eyes, the outcome was already decided. In terms of depth and intellect, Gu Jinzhou was superior—truly worthy of being the future head of the Gu family.
Gu Fengyan spoke: “We’ve been playing for half an hour. I’ve regretted my moves three times, but you haven’t made a single mistake. You’re one of the most composed people I’ve ever met.”
After a pause, the gentle and refined man continued, “Someone as far-sighted and sharp-witted as you should see the essence of things at a glance, without needing others to say more—lest it seem like showing off in front of an expert.”
Gu Jinzhou: “Did Third Brother come today just to flatter me?”
Gu Fengyan was left speechless.
Uncle Changxiao really gave him a tough task!
“Jinzhou, even though you and Ruan Ruan aren’t related by blood—she’s just an abandoned infant you brought home—you grew up together. In the eyes of society, you are family.”
“If you insist on being with Ruan Ruan, given your status, position, power, and influence, no one would dare say a word against you. But have you considered what Ruan Ruan might face? Because of your selfish possessiveness, she’ll become a ‘fox spirit’ the world won’t tolerate.”
His wording was still relatively polite; outsiders would curse far worse.
“Whoever tries to separate me and Ruan Ruan is my enemy.Gu Jinzhou’s sharp, sinister gaze was like a blade dipped in poison—so sharp it was hard to look at directly.”…” Gu Fengyan was left speechless. After all, he couldn’t possibly become his own cousin’s enemy.
He just felt a sense of regret.
Jin Zhou and Ruan Ruan each originally had perfect lives, yet they insisted on challenging societal morals together, walking a rugged and muddy path.
Knock knock
A soft, faint knocking sound came from the door.
Su Ruanruan pushed the door open, greeted her cousin Fengyan, and without any hesitation, nestled into Gu Jinzhou’s arms.
Gu Jinzhou was somewhat surprised. His long, warm fingers gently rubbed her lower abdomen. “Did your period come early?”
Su Ruanruan: “No, I had a nightmare. I’m scared.”
Gu Jinzhou stopped rubbing her abdomen, picked up his chopsticks, and fed her a shrimp dumpling.
Gu Fengyan: “I have some calming incense that works really well. I’ll have someone send it over to you tomorrow.”
Su Ruanruan: “Thank you, Third Brother.”
One patiently feeding, the other obediently opening her mouth to eat. Gu Fengyan felt like he had turned into a third wheel. Very self-aware, he left the tearoom. Staying any longer would just be asking for trouble as a single man.
Su Ruanruan: “Why did Third Brother come?”
Gu Jinzhou: “He came to discuss something with me.”
Su Ruanruan: “You usually discuss things in the study. Gu Jinzhou, are you hiding something from me?”
Gu Jinzhou: “No.”
Su Ruanruan refused the shaomai he was trying to feed her. Her beautiful, gentle eyes sparkled with two bright little flames of anger.
“Fine, fine, fine! You men always like to scheme behind women’s backs. Tell me the truth, are you planning to go to some bar or club to look at big boobs! I gave you my body, I gave you everything, and now you’re hiding from me to go look at big boobs? Fine, fine, fine! Then I’ll go look at college boys with eight-pack abs and puppy-dog eyes!”
Talking big feels great in the moment, but the aftermath is hell.
An hour later.
Su Ruanruan, in every sense of the word, was fed until she was full.
Her face, which had been slightly pale with the lingering fear from the nightmare, now glowed with a rosy, delicate, and enchanting beauty. She looked like a little fox spirit revived by absorbing yang energy, her red lips soft, full, lush, and seductive.
Gu Jinzhou held her gently, his low, hoarse voice cold and deep. “Still want to go find college boys with eight-pack abs and puppy-dog eyes?”
Su Ruanruan shook her head. She didn’t dare anymore.
“I never really thought about it, I was just talking nonsense…”
Gu Jinzhou pressed his forehead against hers, coaxing her with tender affection. “It’s my fault, husband didn’t ask Ruan Ruan clearly.”
A slap followed by a sweet date—he wasn’t sincerely apologizing. He was just happy and satisfied after having his fill.
Su Ruanruan was utterly annoyed with him.
“Gu Jinzhou, you still haven’t told me what Third Brother came to talk to you about?”
“Father found out about us. He asked Third Brother to persuade me to turn back from my misguided path. Don’t worry about this. I’ve already won Third Brother over to our side.”
“Oh.” Su Ruanruan leaned against Gu Jinzhou’s chest, listening to his strong, steady heartbeat. Being in this safe environment made her relax completely. Even if the sky fell, she wouldn’t be afraid.
In the original novel’s plot, no one in the Gu family opposed her being with Gu Jinzhou. After she sent Gu Jinzhou the breakup text and stayed with the Su family, wholeheartedly trying to please the Su family members, the Gu family even contacted her, hoping she would come back to see Gu Jinzhou.
Su Ruanruan didn’t dare to think too deeply about it. Did Gu Jinzhou get seriously ill, which is why he had no further scenes in the later part of the novel?
“Gu Jinzhou, shouldn’t you go for a medical check-up? I think the frequency of our… intimate moments is too high. That’s a sickness! How about you go to the hospital for a check-up? Better yet, get an MRI!””…” Gu Jinzhou: “Baby, I’m not sick. I just had a physical exam ten days ago.”
Su Ruanruan breathed a slight sigh of relief. That’s good.
Wait, ten days ago?
Wasn’t that the day she found him at the golf course? What a coincidence.