Gu Jing Shen looked at the woman standing before him.
His deep voice carried a faint, inexplicable bitterness that he could not quite conceal.
“Thank you for respecting the rules between us.” Su Jin Yue replied without hesitation, every word as cold and sharp as a blade.
“I’m a woman of principles, too!
And you’re not someone I care enough about to want to know every little detail about.” Gu Jing Shen’s hand instinctively tightened.
A wave of disappointment swept through his mind, making the corner of his lips twitch slightly.
“So I was imagining things after all.” His attitude only made the anger burning inside Su Jin Yue flare up even more.
She frowned slightly, her tone tinged with irritation.
“Rest assured.
From now on, even if your house is on fire, I won’t care.
And since we’re talking about the contract, remember to maintain the image and fulfill your duties as my husband!
We were having dinner, yet the moment you received a phone call, you rushed out.
If that gets back to my father, it won’t look good.” Seeing how irritated Su Jin Yue was, Gu Jing Shen curled his lips into a half-teasing, half-serious smile.
“Got it.
So it’s about the contract, not because my wife is jealous.” Su Jin Yue let out a cold laugh and immediately retorted.
“You’re overthinking it.
I’m only your wife on paper.
What right do I have to be jealous?” “If you’re not jealous, why are you so angry?” Gu Jing Shen tilted his head slightly, his deep voice carrying a hint of teasing.
“I’m not angry!” Su Jin Yue replied coldly.
Gu Jing Shen’s lips curved up slightly.
His unwavering gaze locked onto her eyes, which were desperately trying to appear indifferent, and he stated firmly: “You are angry.” “I’ll say it one more time.
I don’t have the time to get angry over something that has nothing to do with me!” Su Jin Yue said through gritted teeth, the displeasure in her eyes unmistakable.
“I know.
You don’t have to explain yourself.” “I just don’t want my father laughing at me because I got cheated on by my husband only a few days after getting married.” “Don’t worry.
I know where to draw the line,” Gu Jing Shen reassured her gently.
“You’d better mean what you say.
Don’t make someone else clean up the mess afterward!” Gu Jing Shen readily agreed.
“Of course.
I’ll handle everything discreetly and make sure everything is taken care of properly.
I won’t let you lose face in front of your father.” Su Jin Yue glared at Gu Jing Shen.
“Just don’t let my father ever see you looking at me like that.
Otherwise, he’ll think we’re getting ready to divorce.” Su Jin Yue suppressed the irritation rising inside her.
“Thanks for the reminder.
My memory is perfectly fine.
Whether we like it or not, we can’t get divorced until two years from now.
Besides, I’m a professional.
I follow the terms of the contract, unlike some people.” The corner of Gu Jing Shen’s lips curled into a faint, knowing smile.
He leisurely took another step forward, narrowing the distance between them.
Su Jin Yue instinctively took half a step back, but the moment the back of her calf touched the sofa, she stopped herself.
She refused to let him see that she was flustered.
She lifted her chin, forcing herself to remain calm.
“What are you trying to do?” Gu Jing Shen’s gaze slowly swept over Su Jin Yue’s beautiful face.
He had no intention of doing anything beyond the boundaries between them.
He simply wanted to see how long this sharp-tongued woman could keep pretending to be so tough.
“Then what do you want me to do now?” Gu Jing Shen leaned close to Su Jin Yue’s ear and whispered.
His sudden movement startled her.
The warmth of his breath brushed lightly against her ear, making her instinctively turn her head away.
Su Jin Yue’s heart skipped a beat, but she forced herself to maintain a calm expression, as though nothing had happened.
“Gu Jing Shen, you…” She had barely spoken when his gaze made her words catch in her throat.
They were standing far too close.
So close that she could clearly make out every sharp line of his handsome face, and even catch the familiar scent lingering on his body.
Su Jin Yue unconsciously curled her fingers into her palm.
She hated this feeling of losing control.
More than that, she hated the fact that such a simple gesture from him could make her heartbeat fall out of rhythm.
Gu Jing Shen watched her trying desperately to conceal her embarrassment, the curve of his lips deepening.
“Aren’t you the one overthinking things now?” “You’re imagining things again.” Su Jin Yue quickly regained her composure and reached out to push Gu Jing Shen away.
“Counselor Gu, I suggest you follow the terms of the contract.
Respect my privacy.” Her push was not forceful, but her attitude was unmistakably firm.
Gu Jing Shen allowed himself to be pushed back a step.
He lowered his eyes to the hand that had just touched his chest before looking back at her.
“I was only joking.
Do you really have to be so tense?” “We’re not close enough to joke around with each other so casually.” Su Jin Yue withdrew her hand, her expression turning cold.
“Don’t forget that we got married for the benefit of both parties.
It’s best not to do anything unnecessary.” Gu Jing Shen was completely unfazed by her sharp remark.
Instead, he lowered his voice as though soothing a sulking child.
“It’s late.
Go back to your room and get some rest.
Getting angry too often will make you age faster.” “You…!” Su Jin Yue gritted her teeth, her chest rising and falling with anger at Gu Jing Shen’s infuriatingly calm demeanor.
She no longer wanted to argue with him.
She turned decisively and walked past him, deliberately bumping her shoulder hard against his as a small act of revenge.
Su Jin Yue quickened her pace toward her room before raising her hand and slamming the door shut.
The loud bang echoed through the quiet house.
Gu Jing Shen stared at the closed wooden door before him, a helpless smile appearing on his face.
He shook his head slightly and murmured to the empty space: “She really is such a child.” The next morning, pale rays of sunlight slipped through the cracks in the curtains, stretching across the kitchen.
Su Jin Yue stepped out of the spare bedroom looking tired.
On the dining table, she found a plate of toast and fried eggs that had been prepared sometime earlier.
Beside it sat a glass of warm milk and a small tube of ointment.
Right next to the plate was a note written in Gu Jing Shen’s familiar, firm handwriting: “A protein-rich breakfast helps keep your mind clear.
Apply the ointment twice a day to prevent scarring.” Su Jin Yue pressed her lips tightly together.
This half-hearted display of concern did not soften her at all.
Instead, it only stirred up her pride.
She muttered through clenched teeth: “First you hit me, then you try to make it up to me?
Gu Jing Shen, do you really think I’m a three-year-old child?” Without the slightest hesitation, she crumpled the note into a tight ball and threw it straight into the trash can beneath the table.
Despite the hunger gnawing at her stomach, her pride refused to let her touch the breakfast he had prepared.
Su Jin Yue turned around, picked up her handbag, and walked out of the house coldly, completely unaware that behind her, Gu Jing Shen was silently watching her retreating figure.