Ji Wei was still buried in the pillow. She responded muffledly, but he couldn’t make out what she said.
Gu Moqian saw her burying her head like an ostrich, seemingly unwilling to face the world, and silently broke into a grin.
A moment later, he reached out and simply picked her up from the bed.
Ji Wei was startled and lifted her gaze to him, instinctively wrapping her arms around his neck.
"Where are we going?" She asked, now cradled in his arms.
"Taking you downstairs to fill your stomach."
Having said that, Gu Moqian carried her straight down the stairs.
In the dining room, Sister-in-law Zhang, noticing how long it was taking for the two of them to come down, had first sent a text to Zhu Jianian, quietly informing her that Gu Moqian and Ji Wei seemed to be bickering, and then began tidying up the untouched dishes on the table.
The dishes were vibrant and aromatic, yet not a single one had been touched before she prepared to dispose of them—it felt like such a waste.
Just as Sister-in-law Zhang was feeling regretful, she saw Gu Moqian enter the dining room carrying Ji Wei. Instantly, she was stunned.
Weren’t they just arguing? How had they made up so quickly?
Since Ji Wei was barefoot, Gu Moqian directly placed her onto one of the dining chairs. Turning around and seeing Sister-in-law Zhang still standing there in shock, his tone became colder: "Go fetch her a pair of slippers."
Sister-in-law Zhang stiffened under Gu Moqian’s icy demeanor, quickly nodding as she hurried out of the dining room.
In no time, Sister-in-law Zhang returned with a brand-new pair of women’s slippers.
After putting the slippers on Ji Wei, Gu Moqian spoke with indifference, "You’re not needed here. Leave."
Sister-in-law Zhang turned and walked away cautiously.
Feeling the piercingly sharp gaze behind her, Sister-in-law Zhang’s hands couldn’t help but tremble. Gu Moqian had suddenly turned cold and harsh—she feared he might have discovered something.
It seemed like the days of her staying in Shanshui Manor were coming to an end.
Watching Sister-in-law Zhang disappear through the door, Gu Moqian finally withdrew his gaze.
He sat beside Ji Wei, opened a bottle of red wine, poured some into a glass, and handed it to her. Then, he poured himself another glass.
Ji Wei rested her hand against her cheek, quietly observing the man’s actions.
The flickering candlelight illuminated Gu Moqian’s mature, fair, and almost excessively handsome face. With his gaze lowered slightly, his expression was focused. His movements, tinged with a touch of laziness, as he swirled the wine glass softly, were mesmerizing.
Thinking about how this refined and distinguished man was her husband, Ji Wei felt a surge of happiness in her heart.
At this close distance, she could clearly see his long, thick eyelashes. The candlelight outlined his high-bridged nose in silhouette, his perfectly sculpted side profile, and those thin lips that had kissed her countless times...
Ji Wei gazed at him, dazed, as if she could never look away.
When Gu Moqian finally looked back at her and noticed the reflection of him in her eyes, he suddenly leaned in, pressing his forehead gently against hers, his voice deep and rich like a cello: "Every time you look at me this way, I just want to kiss you."
The unexpected tease caught Ji Wei off guard, making her freeze and nearly skip a heartbeat.
After regaining her composure, she quickly averted her gaze and looked elsewhere, though her cheeks were already tinged with a rosy hue.
"I’m so hungry... so hungry! I’m starting first!"
To cover her embarrassment, Ji Wei grabbed her chopsticks and reached directly for a plate of stir-fried shrimp in front of her.
She picked up a piece of shrimp and popped it straight into her mouth, only to realize it was stir-fried with dried chili. In an instant, the spiciness nearly brought tears to her eyes.
Ji Wei opened her mouth, breathing sharply to cool down, and without caring too much, grabbed the red wine in front of her and tipped her head back for a few gulps.
"Cough... Cough... Cough..."
The shrimp’s spice mixed with the wine’s sharp tang forced tears to spill from Ji Wei’s eyes.
She waved her hand over her burning lips while sneaking glances at the man beside her.
Gu Moqian’s fair complexion remained stoic and calm.
But Ji Wei could easily tell he was holding back laughter at her expense. Her cheeks suddenly flushed hot, feeling like she’d lost all dignity at this moment.
She wished, more than anything, she could find a hole to crawl into and hide.