Chapter 68: Easy to Dodge a Straight Attack
The setting in front of her was incredibly romantic. Soft lighting filled the space, and a winding path made of rose petals stretched across the ground, carrying a faint floral scent in the air.
At the end of the path stood a pavilion covered in beautiful flowers. An Yufei stood there, holding a guitar in one hand and a large bouquet of vibrant red roses in the other. His bright smile, paired with his little tiger teeth, made him look cheerful and full of sunshine.
Shen Xi was so shocked that her mouth dropped open, probably wide enough to fit a goblin.
She thought, ‘Wait... bro, I thought we were just friends, and now you’re…’
She instinctively took two steps back, her mind racing. Should she just pretend she didn’t see this and slip away now?
Seeing her reaction, An Yufei’s smile stiffened for a moment, but he quickly recovered. He put down the guitar and stepped toward her, his voice gentle.
"Xixi, I know this is sudden, but I really don’t want to wait any longer."
He had officially begun his "deadly love confession." Shen Xi awkwardly took another step back. Sure, she had imagined before that someone might secretly admire her and confess their feelings.
But she had never expected it to be a guy!
"Um... Yufei, you can wait, right? Let me explain, actually, I..."
An Yufei shook his head with a smile, closing the distance between them without giving her a chance to finish.
"The first time I saw you, the moment I heard you sing, your voice, and your laughter, I was completely captivated. I want to tell you—"
Before he could finish, a familiar cold voice suddenly came from behind Shen Xi.
"What exactly do you want to tell my wife?"
Her heart skipped a beat. Stiffly, she turned her head to see Gu Hanling standing behind her, his icy gaze locked onto An Yufei.
Dressed in a tailored black suit, he stood tall and exuded an undeniable aura of dominance.
"Big brother, it’s not what you thi—no, wait, you have to let me explain!"
But how was she supposed to explain this awkward, completely misunderstood situation?
This was like getting mud on your pants. No matter how you look at it, you're doomed.
He’s not going to say I embarrassed the Gu family and dock my allowance again, right? I swear I'm innocent!
At this moment, An Yufei finally understood where that nagging sense of unease had been coming from. He opened his mouth, as if wanting to explain, but the roses in his hands drooped slightly.
Of course. A woman this beautiful, almost too perfect, was bound to have admirers. How could she have been single all this time, just waiting for him to come along?
But there's always a chance, right? So even though he secretly suspected this would be the outcome, he still wanted to take that chance.
Gu Hanling, on the other hand, didn’t hesitate. He strode forward and wrapped an arm tightly around Shen Xi’s waist.
Shen Xi’s eye twitched as she looked up at the man beside her.
But… she had no excuse. She had no choice but to let Gu Hanling hold her, playing along with this loving couple act. Well, at least this counted as an answer, right?
Gu Hanling didn’t spare An Yufei another glance. Instead, he looked down at Shen Xi, his voice as cool as ever.
"Look at you, covered in dust. Go clean yourself up."
"Mm."
Shen Xi nodded obediently. She then turned to An Yufei with an apologetic expression, feeling helpless inside.
She had been so busy lately, one thing after another piling up. If she had known this would happen, she would have cleared things up sooner.
She gave a subtle, light nudge to Gu Hanling's hand on her waist, signaling him to loosen his grip slightly.
A visible threat is easily avoided, but secret admirers? That’s a whole different problem. She really wasn’t experienced in dealing with this kind of situation.
But instead of letting go, the man’s hold on her only tightened.
Oh, come on!
The tension in the air was unbearable. Someone had to break it. She sighed and decided to take matters into her own hands.
Fine, fine. She’ll personally issue this ‘friend zone’ card.
"Yufei, let me introduce you… This is my husband, Gu Hanling."
"I'm really sorry. I've always thought of you as a good friend, like a brother. It’s my fault for not telling you sooner that I’m already married, and that led to this misunderstanding."
There was a trace of helplessness and apology in Shen Xi’s voice.
An Yufei let out a bitter smile. Of course. A woman like Shen Xi getting married young was to be expected.
He gave her a small nod, signaling that it was fine. Then, without hesitation, he turned to Gu Hanling and said,
"Hello, Mr. Gu. This was my misunderstanding. It has nothing to do with Xixi."
Even though he had never met Gu Hanling before and didn’t know his background, the black Rolls-Royce waiting nearby made it easy to guess that this man was no ordinary person.
And as for his looks. Well, even in their social circles, it was rare to see someone this strikingly handsome. Paired with his natural aura of authority, it was clear he was someone used to being in control.
Seeing them together, An Yufei had to admit, they did look like a perfect match.
However, when Gu Hanling heard the way An Yufei affectionately called her Xixi, his eyes narrowed slightly.
To him, An Yufei’s words sounded like he was saying, "It has nothing to do with Xixi, come at me if you have a problem."
Gu Hanling gave An Yufei a half-smile but said nothing. Instead, he cast him a sharp glance before tightening his arm around Shen Xi and leading her away. The two of them got into the car, taking the back seat.
Shen Xi sneaked a glance at Gu Hanling. His side profile was sharp and cold as always, his expression unchanged.
Most importantly, he didn't mention docking her allowance.
Nice. That’s a win.
The night grew late, and news came from the hospital that Grandma’s condition had stabilized and she had already fallen asleep. Not wanting to disturb her rest, the two decided to return to the villa and visit her early the next morning.
……………………………
The Next Morning.
Shen Xi put on the elegant Suzhou embroidery cheongsam that had been specially delivered for her.
Alright, she thought. I have to admit, the elders in the Gu family really have a thing for cheongsam.
After changing in the dressing room, she examined herself in the mirror. Today's design was slightly different. It had a stand-up collar that subtly highlighted the graceful curve of her neck.
The slim fit design fitted her figure perfectly, accentuating her slender waist and making her silhouette even more delicate. The dress not only flattered her form but also brought out her unique beauty effortlessly.
Lately, Shen Xi’s appetite had increased, and she looked much healthier compared to her previously frail appearance. She was no longer overly thin. Her figure remained slender where it should be, but she had also become more curvaceous in all the right places.
And in a cheongsam, that was especially obvious.
It made her feel a little shy, though she wasn’t as uncomfortable as she had been the first time she wore one.
Still, at the end of the day, as long as her "daughter" (herself) looked good, that was all that mattered. That said, she still preferred her usual loose T-shirts and casual pants. They were far more comfortable.
This morning, Gu Hanling had even returned the antique jade bracelet that he had taken away days ago.
This was important. If Grandma found out he had taken back the bracelet she had given to Shen Xi, then even the almighty President Gu would end up like his childhood self, getting a flick on the forehead as punishment.
Shen Xi gently turned her wrist, letting the jade bracelet slide smoothly over her delicate skin.
"Welcome back, little jade bracelet."
As soon as she stepped into the living room, Butler Wang greeted her with a warm smile.
"Madam, you're looking great. And you’re even more beautiful now."
He used to disapprove of Shen Xi, thinking she wasn’t worthy of his master. But ever since that drowning incident, she seemed like a completely different person. Now, the more he looked at her, the more pleasing she was to the eye.
Looking at her now felt like looking at his own granddaughter. He couldn’t help but feel that she was truly wonderful. It's just... well, she and her husband don't get along too well.
For instance, when Mr. Gu came home last night, he had a cold face the whole time and was even more distant towards Madam than before.
Just then, Gu Hanling descended the stairs, his voice low and indifferent.
"Let’s go."
Shen Xi quickly nodded and obediently followed behind him, not daring to say much. Just like a child who had done something wrong.
Better to stay quiet. If she said too much and reminded him of last night’s embarrassing incident, she might lose another ten million just like that.
Less than two hours later, their car slowly pulled into a private hospital.
The hospital grounds were vast. The outer section was open to the public, bustling with people coming and going.
However, the black luxury car didn’t stop there. It continued smoothly down an exclusive, private driveway, heading straight toward the inner hospital.
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