Returning to Shuiyunjian, Gu Jiayin got out of the car and walked towards the villa on her own, not caring about Sheng Qianchi.
But the man casually strolled along, always managing to stay by her side.
Once inside the villa, she headed straight upstairs, only to be grabbed by the wrist by the man just before stepping onto the stairs. "Accompany me for dinner."
"I’ve already eaten."
"Then just sit with me."
Gu Jiayin turned around, biting her lip, "Sheng Qianchi, how desperately do you need someone to keep you company?"
She was right; he had always lacked companionship. From childhood to adulthood, she was the first person to dine with him.
But he had his pride and would never admit it.
"I’m setting rules for you, don’t defy me so easily." He deliberately turned his face cold, "Hurry over, or I won’t be so pleasant, got it?"
With that, he cast a threatening glance and turned to walk towards the dining room first.
"Ha!" Gu Jiayin rolled her eyes to the sky.
He had promised not to force her into anything, so whatever unpleasantness he threatened, she ignored it and went upstairs.
Hearing the "thud thud thud" as she stomped loudly up the stairs, Sheng Qianchi, who had just stepped into the dining room, suddenly retracted his foot, gritting his teeth as he turned around, just in time to see the woman’s figure disappear around the stairway corner.
He had a stomach full of frustration with nowhere to vent it.
After a tense standoff, he coldly instructed the servant, "Bring my meal upstairs."
Gu Jiayin entered the bedroom, got her clothes, and went into the bathroom to shower. She needed a good rest for tomorrow’s participation in the Wine Tasting Competition.
After finishing her bath and coming out, she found Sheng Qianchi sitting on the sofa with a few dishes and two bowls of rice in front of him.
He sat there casually, yet exuding a certain chill, his gaze coldly fixed on her. He seemed angry but was suppressing his anger with an oddly affectionate demeanor.
"Come over and have dinner with me." His voice wasn’t loud, but it was clear he wouldn’t take no for an answer.
But Gu Jiayin chose to reject him with her actions.
Casually drying her hair, she didn’t spare him another glance.
The room fell into a strange silence.
He watched her intently, while she leisurely dried her hair, engaging in a silent battle.
Eventually, it was Sheng Qianchi who broke the silence. It seemed that since their reunion, he was always the one who couldn’t withstand the stalemate.
Suddenly, he stood up, his long legs crossing the table corner, his tall frame blocking the light, casting a shadow over the slim woman.
He thought she might at least be somewhat surprised or shaken, but she remained completely unresponsive as if everything he did was invisible to her.
Her indifference only fueled his anger, so he suddenly bent down, lifted her horizontally, and tossed her onto the sofa.
Gu Jiayin irritably shook the towel in her hands, "I’ve told you, I’ve already had dinner!"
Sheng Qianchi sat down next to her, feeling a bit better, "Then just sit here and watch me eat."
Gu Jiayin muttered under her breath, noticing the hairdryer conveniently nearby, she picked it up to dry her hair.
Just after taking a bite of his meal, Sheng Qianchi frowned in annoyance and put down his chopsticks, "I’m eating, and you’re blowing, blowing, blowing—so noisy."
Gu Jiayin continued to dry her hair.
Her tone was drawn out, slow and deliberate, "Didn’t Young Master Chi say that not drying your hair promptly after a shower would lead to catching a cold? Now that you’re sticking around like a pesky plaster, if I catch a cold and pass it to you, wouldn’t that be a great sin?"
In truth, she just wanted to irk him.
Of course, she also genuinely couldn’t afford to catch a cold, or she wouldn’t be able to participate in the Wine Tasting Competition.
"Ha!" Sheng Qianchi suddenly laughed; it was the first time a woman had called him a pesky plaster. He used to say that about others, so being called such was quite refreshing.
Laughing, he took the hairdryer from her and started drying her hair himself, "You really are sharp-tongued, woman."
Having someone serve her, Gu Jiayin was happy to enjoy it, leaning into the sofa and closing her eyes.
This man was too dominant, not allowing any refusal, even when taking care of her.
It seemed that drying a woman’s hair was more interesting than eating, as the slight anger from before dispersed like light smoke in the "whirring" of the hairdryer.
With someone to argue with, someone to talk to, and someone to dine with, he felt that his life had never been this fulfilling.
Suddenly, the sound of the hairdryer ceased, and Gu Jiayin, comfortably nestled in the sofa, just wanted to sleep when a kiss was suddenly planted on her cheek, bringing a surge of irritation from within as she abruptly opened her eyes.
Her eyes were large, clear, and bright like deep lakes, suddenly reflecting the man’s handsome face.
As she fumed, he smiled brilliantly, "I’ve been serving you for quite a while; is it too much to ask for a little reward?"
Gu Jiayin disdainfully shot him a glance, got up to leave, but was pulled back by his strong arm encircling her waist, "Have dinner with me."
She knew if she didn’t join him for this meal tonight, he would keep pestering her endlessly, so she resignedly sat back down, muttering coldly, "Take your hand off."
Seeing she was willing to sit and have dinner, he didn’t push further, releasing the hold on her slender waist but not widening the gap between them, sitting shoulder to shoulder, while he ate and she watched.
After all the fuss, the meal had grown cold, but he still savored it.
Once they finished eating, the servants cleared the dishes.
Sheng Qianchi went to shower, and upon coming out, found the woman already curled up under the covers.
She lay quietly, while he paced restlessly.
Then, he stood by the bed, quietly asking, "Gu Jiayin, could you allow me... not to sleep on the floor tonight?"
There was a touch of pleading in his voice.
Gu Jiayin remained buried under the blanket, her voice muffled, "Sure, you can sleep directly on the floor."
Sheng Qianchi pressed his lips together, raised an eyebrow, and pulled down the blanket to reveal her fair and delicate face, smiling splendidly, "Look what I have here?"
Gu Jiayin glanced down, seeing a blank check waving enticingly in front of her.
Ha! A soft chuckle emerged from within her.
Sheng Qianchi continued to coax with a smile, "As long as I can sleep on the bed, you can fill in any amount you want." For original chapters go to Nove1Fire.net
Fearing her refusal, he added quickly, "Just sleeping purely with separate blankets, I won’t touch you. Isn’t this a worthy deal without reason to refuse, hmm?"
Gu Jiayin’s beautiful eyes narrowed slowly, seeming to brim with laughter.
But in the next second, her eyes opened suddenly, full of coldness and sarcasm.
Without uttering a word, she turned and showed him her back.
She answered with her actions whether the deal was worthy.
Sheng Qianchi’s body shook slightly, his expression extremely awkward. When had he ever humbled himself before anyone?