"Misunderstanding? What misunderstanding!" Song Zhi put her hands on her hips, exhaled sharply, and didn't want to hear another word from Cheng Yuli. "Fine, just pretend it's a misunderstanding. Please leave now, and stop bothering me like a mangy dog, okay?"
The words "mangy dog" hit Cheng Yuli's heart like a heavy blow. He had liked Song Zhi for so long, from a secret crush to an open relationship.
Although Song Zhi had never agreed to be with him, he felt that she actually had feelings for him too. He never expected that Song Zhi would use the words "mangy dog" to describe him.
Cheng Yuli's face flushed red with anger. He grabbed Song Zhi and slammed her against the door. "Zhi Zhi, aren't you just taking advantage of my feelings for you?" "Calling me a mangy dog? Then I'll show you how to cheat!"
With that, he suddenly leaned in, lowered his head, and his lips precisely captured Song Zhi's red lips. Their caresses roamed aimlessly, more like biting than licking.
In short, Song Zhi felt nothing but shame, her head thrashing wildly as she pushed him away with all her might. "Cheng Yuli, you bastard! Get away from me!"
Cheng Yuli's eyes were bloodshot; he clearly didn't know what he was doing, only the pent-up frustration in his chest was unbearable. He desperately needed an outlet, until a sharp slap echoed in the air.
Cheng Yuli's grip on Song Zhi finally froze. Freed, Song Zhi gasped for breath, two buttons undone at her collar, revealing a large expanse of pale, gleaming skin.
From her angle, a bloodied handprint was clearly visible on Cheng Yuli's pale cheek. In the chaos, she had only been trying to break free; when the slap landed, Song Zhi had been completely unaware.
Now, the slap was irreversible. Seeing Cheng Yuli's injured and stunned expression, Song Zhi gritted her teeth. "Cheng Yuli, get out of here before I lose my temper! And never show your face in front of me again!"
...Perhaps because she hadn't done such strenuous exercise as hiking in a long time, Su Mianmian slept until noon the next day.
When she woke up, Gu Yizhou was on the phone in the yard. It seemed there was something going on at the company; Su Mianmian sensed his serious tone and sharp words. "Do as I say right now, and I can be back at the company in about an hour!"
Gu Yizhou hung up and turned around, just in time to see the sleepy-eyed Su Mianmian. Her hair was slightly messy, her petite body draped in a loose bathrobe, and her bare feet were on the wooden floor. She looked adorable and innocent.
Gu Yizhou's heart instantly filled with warmth and joy. He went over, picked her up, and carried her to the sofa, helping her put on her slippers. "How many times have I told you not to walk barefoot on the ground? Do you have to catch a cold before you believe me?"
Su Mianmian looked at Gu Yizhou's thick, dark hair, recalling his reaction last night when asked about the butterfly ornament.
Previously in Gu Yizhou's office, Su Mianmian had confidently declared that if Gu Yizhou had a woman he liked, she would step aside and let them be together. What did Gu Yizhou say then? He said he would never like anyone but her in his life.
Su Mianmian still remembered that moment of infatuation; it was the first time Gu Yizhou had formally confessed his feelings to her, his expression and tone so earnest. But now, Su Mianmian suddenly felt uncertain… "Forgot?"
Su Mianmian's voice was already soft and sweet, but now it carried a hint of grievance. Gu Yizhou didn't notice the change in Su Mianmian's emotions; he was completely helpless against this soft and adorable little bunny.
Gu Yizhou went to the wardrobe to find Su Mianmian's clothes. "Something came up at the company, so we might have to head back early. Go wash up first, and we'll grab something to eat before we leave."
Su Mianmian had already made plans to go shopping with Song Zhi that afternoon. Hearing this, she said "Oh," and immediately called Song Zhi. Once they arrived in the city, Gu Yizhou dropped them off at the mall entrance and went straight back to the company.
Su Mianmian and Song Zhi strolled leisurely through the mall, each holding a cup of milk tea. "What do you think we should buy for Gu Yizhou?
Zhi Zhi, you don't know, he gave me another expensive anklet yesterday. I feel like whatever gift I buy him now wouldn't be very sincere."
After Su Mianmian finished speaking, Song Zhi didn't react for a while. She glanced at her sideways; Song Zhi's eyes were vacant, lost in thought. Su Mianmian frowned. "Zhizhi, what are you thinking about?"
Song Zhi snapped out of her reverie, a smile playing on her lips. "Weren't we just helping each other think about what to give Mr. Z? I think you should just go for what he likes. Giving him yourself would be more sincere than anything else, wouldn't it?"
Su Mianmian's face flushed slightly. Of course, she was too embarrassed to tell Song Zhi that she actually planned to formalize their marriage on Gu Yizhou's birthday.
She pursed her lips. "I still need to give him a gift, after all, it's my first birthday with him." Song Zhi took a sip of her milk tea, her eyes darting around. "Mr. Z isn't short of money. How about something handmade, like a knitted scarf?"
Su Mianmian had thought about this before, but after watching a scarf-knitting video, she decisively abandoned the idea. "I'm pretty clumsy with my hands; even if I knit something, Gu Yizhou probably won't be able to wear it out."
Thinking this, Su Mianmian glanced around and saw a lighter shop not far away. Suddenly, the image of Gu Yizhou tilting his head to light a cigarette flashed in her mind, and an idea struck her. "Let's go, let's go pick out a lighter for him." "Huh? Just a lighter? That's so unoriginal." Su Mianmian's eyes crinkled. "Let's buy a lighter first, then we'll see if there's a cake shop nearby, I'll go learn how to make cakes."
Song Zhi patted Su Mianmian's shoulder, looking at her with a "you're teachable" expression. "That's more like it, at least it shows your heart." Su Mianmian picked out a pure black lighter for Gu Yizhou, with a matte finish, simple and elegant, perfectly matching his style.
As the two came out, they passed a women's clothing store. Su Mianmian noticed Song Zhi seemed listless all day and pointed to a light pink coat on a mannequin. "Zhi Zhi, this coat suits your skin so well, why don't you try it on?"
Song Zhi also thought the coat was nice. She went inside and picked out a dress, intending to try it on in the fitting room as well. However, just as they reached the fitting area, they saw two familiar figures.
Cheng Yuli was lounging on the sofa, his hand propping up his forehead. The woman in front of him, wearing a red V-neck dress, twirled around him. "Lili, how do I look in this dress?" Cheng Yuli nodded. "It looks good." "You didn't even look!"
The woman pouted, displeased, in a coquettish manner. "Hurry up, take a good look at me." Cheng Yuli sighed, finally looking up. His gaze, however, fell on Song Zhi behind him through the mirror. She was holding several clothes, coldly watching them.
Cheng Yuli instinctively wanted to stand up, but then he remembered Song Zhi calling him a "mangy dog" last night, and his ears turned red. He forced himself not to move. He lowered his head, his voice listless, "I've seen it, it looks good."
The woman was finally satisfied. "Okay, this one's the one then. Go pay." With that, she went back into the fitting room. Su Mianmian helped Song Zhi pick out a few more clothes. She came over and, seeing Song Zhi still standing there, urged her, "Zhi Zhi, why aren't you going in to try them on?
What are you standing here for?" Song Zhi looked away from Cheng Yuli and walked straight to the cashier. "Never mind, I won't try them on. Just these two, wrap them up."
Song Zhi had just taken out her bank card when someone next to her was even faster, shoving a black card into the sales clerk's hand. "These, along with the dress that lady tried on earlier, will be paid for together."
Su Mianmian then noticed Cheng Yuli, her dark eyes darting around. "Cheng Yuli, what are you doing here?"
Cheng Yuli's ears were red. "I'm with me…" He was interrupted halfway through his sentence by Song Zhi, "Miss, please swipe your cards separately. I don't need someone else to pay for me." The sales clerk hesitated, holding the black card.
Cheng Yuli looked extremely uncomfortable. "Zhi Zhi, it's just two pieces of clothing…" "Never mind, I don't want them!" Song Zhi said, pulling Su Mianmian's hand and walking out. Cheng Yuli was about to chase after them when a woman called out from behind, "Lili, where are you going?"