Su Mianmian's pink lips trembled slightly. "If you really have someone you like, I can divorce you. I'll tell the elders it's my own fault." Divorce? Taking all the blame herself?
Gu Yizhou believed the young girl truly meant what she said. He took a few deep breaths, his fingertips slowly tracing Su Mianmian's pink lips. "It seems the punishment just now wasn't enough." With that, he leaned down, capturing Su Mianmian's lips in his kiss, his caresses revealing a fierce intensity.
Su Mianmian's lips ached from his kiss, letting out a soft whimper. Gu Yizhou then released her, his dark eyes swirling. "My dear, listen carefully, in this life, I will never like anyone else but you."
"Also, this is the first time I've heard the word 'divorce' from your lips, and I hope it's the last." His deep, husky voice, coupled with such menacing words, sent chills down Su Mianmian's spine; her heart pounded uncontrollably.
Gu Yizhou said that he would never love anyone else in his life except her. In other words… "You said you… like me?" Su Mianmian stared intently at Gu Yizhou, seemingly trying to gauge the truthfulness of his words.
Then, a slight smile curved the lips of the man above her. "I thought I'd made it obvious enough." Seeing the girl's still incredulous, adorable expression, Gu Yizhou had to be even more direct. "Mianmian, I like you a lot. What about you?
Have you started to like me even a little bit?" Su Mianmian fell silent. She looked at the man before her, composed and reserved, yet his expression revealed nervousness and anticipation at his answer. Su Mianmian's heart suddenly raced.
She remembered the bouquet of roses on the breakfast table that morning, the huge photograph on the wall. She remembered the moment he descended like a god at the club, rescuing her from danger. She remembered the butterfly necklace and pearl earrings he had given her.
She remembered the time Lin Jiaojiao and Tang Yunzheng ganged up on her, and how he had accompanied her without hesitation to find evidence. She remembered the cake he gave her in the car on her twentieth birthday.
And then there was his constant tenderness and care, those gentle calls of "Mianmian," "My darling..." Su Mianmian belatedly realized that in their seemingly short time together, she and Gu Yizhou had already accumulated so many memories.
Gu Yizhou felt that the few seconds of silence Su Mianmian lingered for years. He reflected in his heart, perhaps he hadn't done enough; otherwise, why, after so long, did the girl still have no feelings for him?
He didn't want to push her too hard, fearing it would backfire. "It's okay, it's alright if you don't like it now, one day you will..." "I like it." Before Gu Yizhou could finish speaking, he heard the girl's clear reply.
Su Mianmian's bright eyes met Gu Yizhou's gaze, her cheeks flushed slightly with shyness, making her look incredibly adorable. "I like you, Gu Yizhou, although, maybe not that much, just a little bit, but…" "That's enough."
Gu Yizhou's usually calm eyes were stirred by Su Mianmian's words. "A little bit is enough, Mianmian, no rush, we have plenty of time." With that, Gu Yizhou cupped Su Mianmian's face and kissed her again.
This kiss was completely different from the previous one, lingering and tender. From her forehead to her eyes, nose, and finally, when their lips met, both of them experienced a feeling unlike anything they had ever felt before, no longer just a simple sensory stimulation.
Even the intimate sucking sounds became melodious and pleasurable. The kiss ended, and Su Mianmian was completely limp. Gu Yizhou held her, unwilling to let go for a long time. His gaze fell on her slender legs encased in jeans, and he noticed her outfit today.
"Why are you dressed a little differently today?" Although she still looked good, it was a significant change compared to her usual fresh and sweet style.
Su Mianmian was still a little breathless, her voice soft and sweet, "I don't want to dress too young, it'll make you look old." "Old?" Gu Yizhou rubbed his temples, chuckling, "Are you afraid I'll look old, or do you think I'm old?" "How could I think you're old?"
Su Mianmian quickly explained, "Don't all the people at your company misunderstand me as your niece? I'm worried you'll feel uncomfortable hearing that."
Gu Yizhou didn't understand what the young girl was thinking all day, but he knew she was getting closer to him in her own way. Gu Yizhou's heart melted. "Want to make me feel better?" Su Mianmian nodded.
Gu Yizhou ruffled her hair, "The company has a team-building event in a few days, you'll come with me, and you can clear my name in front of the company employees."
Clearing my name again… Su Mianmian felt that Gu Yizhou seemed to value his status as her husband very much, wanting to announce it to the whole world at all times. …It was already past two in the afternoon when she finished delivering the food to Gu Yizhou.
While walking, Song Zhi called, mimicking the melancholy tone of the female lead in a certain TV drama. "Mianmian, my lovely girl, I missed you so much on your first day away from the dorm."
Su Mianmian chuckled. "Missing me so much? Want to come out and play?" Song Zhi's composure crumbled instantly. "No way! That bastard Cheng Yuli is waiting for me downstairs! I don't want to see him!" "Cheng Yuli waiting for you? What does he want?"
Song Zhi scoffed. "Who knows? He had a classmate bring me breakfast this morning, then followed me to the cafeteria at noon, and now he's gone too far—he's just waiting downstairs and won't leave!"
Su Mianmian blinked. "So what are you going to do? You can't stay in the dorm forever, can you?" Song Zhi scoffed. "It's not that bad. I've decided, this time whatever he wants, I'm not going to engage!"
Su Mianmian sighed. "I think it's better if you two talk things out face-to-face. This constant tactic isn't sustainable." Song Zhi picked at her nails in frustration.
"Let's not talk about him, let's talk about something else, Mianmian. After you got home last night, did your Mr. Z give you any more trouble?" Was it considered trouble?
Su Mianmian omitted the part about being tricked by Gu Yizhou into wearing that sexy nightgown, and instead told Song Zhi about how Gu Yizhou held her hand and touched his abs one by one. Song Zhi's pupils almost dilated in shock after hearing this.
Then, an incredulous burst of laughter erupted. "Seriously? Mr. Z flirts like that? He even asked if you'd ever crave other men's muscles?" "And what if you said you would? ...Make you touch his abs so hard you'd feel like throwing up at the sight of them for the rest of your life?" "Oh my god, I can't take it anymore, this is hilarious! Mr. Z's way of punishing people is so unique!"
Su Mianmian was speechless. "How can you laugh like that? Don't you even consider who got me into this mess!"
Song Zhi smiled and wiped away her tears. "How was I supposed to be so unlucky? The first time I led you on a mischievous spree, your husband caught us red-handed. You have no idea how terrified I was. Mr. Z looked at me like he wanted to devour me alive."
Su Mianmian couldn't deny this. When Gu Yizhou got angry, the aura he exuded was truly overwhelming. "But seriously, how do Mr. Z's abs compare to those guys from last night?"
Su Mianmian blushed slightly, feeling embarrassed even over the phone. "They're definitely more impressive than them." "Wow!" Song Zhi's eyes lit up. "More impressive than male models? You silly Mianmian, if it's really as exaggerated as you say, you've struck gold!"
The two bantered for a while, then Su Mianmian sighed. "Zhizhi, you don't know, I did something really embarrassing today." Song Zhi asked. "What was it? Tell me about it." Su Mianmian recounted her misunderstanding about Gu Yizhou and Xue Jing.
"Should I apologize to Xue Jing? I feel really ashamed for misunderstanding her for no reason." "Ashamed of what?!"
Song Zhi sat bolt upright in bed. "Su Mianmian, after listening to your description, I'm officially informing you, congratulations on successfully encountering a high-level acting green tea bitch!" High-level acting, green tea bitch?
Su Mianmian's temples throbbed as she listened to the long string of terms. "What does that mean?" "Still don't understand? It could be explained in a single sentence, but she's stammering. That Xue guy is clearly misleading you on purpose!"
"And, does having coffee stains on your clothes mean you have to take them off to check? Didn't she even consider that it was in a private place like a male-only office? I guarantee she had ulterior motives!"
After Song Zhi's analysis, Su Mianmian felt there was some truth to it. Song Zhi was always accurate in judging people; in all these years, apart from Cheng Yuli, she had never misjudged anyone. "But that's just your speculation. What if you really misunderstood her?"
Song Zhi clicked her tongue. "Just wait and see. A fox will always show its tail eventually. Mianmian, just remember, always be wary. Next time you see her, be smart and don't let her easily trap you."
...Because Cheng Yuli was waiting for her downstairs at the dormitory, Song Zhi didn't sneak down until evening. "No choice, I'm starving..." She glanced around but didn't see anyone suspicious.
"Tch, that's all the patience I have. I thought he was so persistent." Just as she was humming a little tune and walking out, a figure suddenly darted out from behind a tree trunk and grabbed Song Zhi's arm. Song Zhi jumped in fright, and when she saw it was Cheng Yuli, her face instantly darkened.
"Cheng Yuli, are you a ghost? Trying to scare me to death in the middle of the night?"