Chapter 39: It’s All Ours
"Mmm..."
At that moment, Shen Xi heard a faint, muffled groan from a man above her, low and suppressed.
Her hand hurriedly recoiled as if it had been electrocuted. Shen Xi's face flushed red and then pale. Looking up at Gu Hanling, she saw the man's eyes were somewhat dazed and filled with an unspeakable restraint, whether he had just woken up or for some other reason.
She immediately understood.
After all, despite being single since birth, she was a "hand-brewed" coffee master. She knew all too well when a purely physiological reaction was about to turn dangerous.
She had assumed this man might have some performance issues.
Now, she realized she was dead wrong.
Very wrong.
Not only was there nothing wrong, but it was actually… too much.
Maybe it was because her hand had gotten smaller, but she couldn’t even wrap her fingers around it completely.
A tiny part of her… felt a bit envious.
Pfft! Stop! What was she even thinking?!
Shen Xi shook her head frantically to clear her thoughts, then sat up in a panic, ready to make her escape. She was not going to deal with this aftermath.
But before she could flee, a large hand suddenly grabbed her slender wrist firmly.
She could feel his breathing grow heavier. Shen Xi was so startled that even her words came out jumbled.
"B-Brother, calm down!"
"I... I didn't mean to! You know I already have someone in my heart, don't force me!"
"Heh..."
She only heard a cold, mocking chuckle before Gu Hanling let go of her wrist.
Freed from his grip, Shen Xi jumped off the bed like a startled rabbit and bolted into the bathroom.
She turned on the faucet and started furiously scrubbing her hands, her face filled with despair.
"Oh my god... I'm tainted..."
She washed her hands over and over, using generous amounts of soap. After a few rounds, she cautiously sniffed her palm. Only to smell nothing but floral hand wash.
Even so, she still felt mentally scarred.
Feeling sneaky and guilty, she peeked out of the bathroom. She wasn't sure how to face Gu Hanling now. It was just too embarrassing.
But when she looked towards the bed, it was empty. Gu Hanling had already gone downstairs.
Shen Xi let out a long sigh of relief, tidied herself up, and left the room as well.
Maybe it was because Gu Hanling had been sleeping in her room so often, but Shen Xi felt like the attitude of the mansion staff had changed subtly.
There was now a certain respectful wariness in their eyes.
As she went downstairs, the cleaning maids paused their work to greet her politely, their gazes careful and cautious.
"Good morning, Madam."
Shen Xi smiled back, responding in a friendly tone.
"Morning!"
She wasn’t the type to act high and mighty.
After all, they were all working people, just in different roles.
At the dining table, Gu Hanling acted completely normal, eating his breakfast as if nothing had happened.
Meanwhile, Butler Wang greeted her with a warm smile.
"Good morning, madam. You look quite radiant today."
"Hehe… morning."
Shen Xi forced an awkward smile.
Her cheeks still carried a faint pink hue from earlier.
She naturally took a seat across from Gu Hanling, stirring the steaming bowl of sea cucumber porridge in front of her, looking like she had something on her mind.
Gu Hanling looked up, his cool gaze meeting hers.
"You have something to say?"
Shen Xi hesitated.
She had originally planned to talk about Susie, but that felt too abrupt. So, she changed the topic at the last second.
"That apartment of mine… When would it be convenient for you to handle the transfer?"
Gu Hanling set down his coffee cup, his tone calm.
"No rush."
"Huh?"
Shen Xi looked confused. The man replied casually, as if stating an obvious fact.
"Because that entire neighborhood belongs to me. No rush."
"......"
She rolled her eyes internally, her mind dripping with sarcasm, ‘Wow. What a humble and subtle way to flex your wealth.’
Clearing her throat, she was about to get back to the main topic.
"Brothe—"
But before she could finish, her phone rang again.
She was speechless.
At this point, she felt like she got more calls than Gu Hanling.
Shen Xi answered the call and walked outside. The caller ID showed that it was her stepfather, the biological father of Shen Wanru.
"Hello?"
Before she could say anything else, her stepfather’s harsh voice came through.
"Wanru cried all night. Did you bully her again yesterday?"
Shen Xi stayed silent, her expression indifferent. After all, she was just an adopted daughter. Her stepfather had never liked her. Especially since she looked prettier than his own daughter.
The two girls had the same mother, but Shen Xi’s beauty made it painfully clear that the issue lay elsewhere, which only fueled his resentment.
Growing up, she was constantly told, "You’re the older sister, you should let your younger sister have her way."
Over time, everything good went to Shen Wanru. The only exception?
Her contract marriage with Gu Hanling.
Since Gu Hanling hadn’t chosen Shen Wanru, the Shen family felt entitled to financial compensation.
For years, the original Shen Xi had accepted this arrangement, because she cared deeply about her identity as the Shen family’s daughter.
Losing that title meant she’d be even further from Shi Jingyan.
"How long has it been since you gave Wanru money? Is it so hard for you to spare some?"
"Without the Shen family, do you really think Gu Hanling would even look at you? What a joke."
Her stepfather’s insults grew sharper.
"The benefits from your marriage with the Gu family are almost gone. However much money you have left, transfer it all to us. You’re living comfortably in the Gu family anyway, aren’t you? Do you even understand how hard things are for us? Say something!"
Shen Xi had been listening quietly the entire time.
Once she was far enough from the house, she finally spoke.
Her tone?
Cold.
"Who the hell do you think you are? Are you sick? Do you think I’m actually your daughter, barking orders at me like some rabid dog?"
"You—!"
The man on the other end was stunned. Shen Xi had always been obedient. A few scoldings, and she’d quietly hand over the money.
But now?
It was like she had become a completely different person.
Shen Xi let out a cold laugh, her voice dripping with contempt.
"My money? My kindness? Those are for the right people. You don’t deserve them."
And with that, she hung up.
As soon as she turned around, she almost crashed into a tall figure standing behind her.
Startled, she instinctively took a step back. Her emotions were already running high, so her tone came out colder than intended.
"President Gu, do you enjoy eavesdropping this much?"
Gu Hanling frowned slightly at her accusation.
"This is my villa. I can stand wherever I want."
"......"
Then, his gaze turned icy.
"The ‘right person’, are you talking about Shi?"
"......"
She was speechless.
Why does he keep bringing up Shi Jingyan?
Is the male lead aura that strong? Does this big boss seriously want to meet him so badly?
She neither confirmed nor denied it, and Gu Hanling took her silence as agreement.
…………………………………………
At the Shen Family’s House.
Back at the Shen household, Shen Xi’s stepfather was furious.
"Did you hear that?! Look at the daughter you raised! She actually said I was barking like a dog!"
His wife, Liu Qiulan, sighed helplessly.
"Calm down. I can’t control her anymore either. She’s an ungrateful brat. Now that she’s a wealthy man’s wife, she won’t even ask the Gu family for more benefits to help us."
In reality, even in decline, the Shen family was far better off than an average middle-class household.
But once you’re used to luxury, it’s hard to go back.
Their business alone wasn’t enough to maintain the lavish lifestyle they once had.
For the longest time, they relied on Shen Xi’s marriage to the Gu family, receiving a large dowry and business deals in return.
The original Shen Xi had been obedient. Sending money, jewelry, and gifts every month.
But now? Not a single cent.
Her stepfather sighed heavily.
"If only Wanru had married Gu Hanling instead... The Shen family would have regained its former glory."
"Instead, that ungrateful brat refuses to repay us for raising her."
Hearing their conversation, Shen Wanru stepped out of her room. She had heard everything. With determination in her eyes, she spoke up.
"Dad, Mom. If we can make them divorce, wouldn’t I have a chance to marry Gu Hanling?"
Her parents exchanged hesitant glances. Liu Qiulan’s gaze lingered on her daughter’s face for a moment, but she didn’t say anything. Shen Wanru’s father, on the other hand, let out a cold chuckle.
"Well, since she refuses to share her wealth with us, she shouldn’t get to enjoy it either. First, we make sure Gu Hanling divorces that ungrateful brat."