Chapter 88: Is Everyone Crazy Today?
Hearing the butler’s words, Shen Xi rolled her eyes internally, complaining in her mind.
First love? As if! Why would she be drinking her sorrows away over him? The only ones who can truly hurt her are women, definitely not men!
Even though she found the whole thing ridiculous, she had no choice but to play along. After all, that was the image people expected of her.
She waved her hand, sounding a little helpless.
"Butler Wang, let’s not talk about him. My head hurts."
"If your master hears about this, he’ll just say I embarrassed the Gu family again."
Or worse, he will deduct her money again!
"Madam, please rest for a while. I’ll make you some hangover tea."
Shen Xi nodded and stumbled to the sofa, burying her head in the cushions.
By the time Butler Wang returned with the tea, she was already fast asleep.
Just then, the villa’s front door opened again. Gu Hanling stepped inside.
Butler Wang immediately went to greet him, tea still in hand. He could sense the temperature around his master.
Hmm… On the surface, Gu Hanling looked as composed as ever, but years of experience told Butler Wang that his mood was definitely bad, and on a high level of bad at that.
Trying to please him, the butler quickly offered the tea with a flattering smile.
"Sir, would you like some…?"
"I’m not a child. I can pour my own."
"Uh…"
Butler Wang had expected this response but still felt a little wronged as he mumbled under his breath, ‘Yet you still need Madam to coax you to sleep.’
Gu Hanling’s gaze landed on the sleeping woman on the sofa.
He walked over and sat down beside her, looking down at her tiny, curled-up figure, her cheeks slightly flushed from the alcohol.
Reaching out, he gently pinched her chin, his fingertips brushing against her soft lips.
Hmm, no lipstick.
Butler Wang stood to the side, concerned.
"Sir, should I carry Madam back to the bedroom?"
Gu Hanling looked up at the butler, raising an eyebrow.
The moment he spoke, Butler Wang immediately realized he had overstepped again. Trying to cover it up, he quickly made an excuse.
"Ah! My old back! I must've strained it!"
He hurriedly placed the hangover soup on the table, rubbed his waist dramatically, and slipped away upstairs.
Shen Xi had barely fallen into a light sleep, still feeling a little dizzy from the alcohol, when the voices of the two men woke her up.
Half-asleep, she blinked groggily, only to find Gu Hanling sitting right beside her.
Startled, she jolted upright, instantly sobering up by at least half.
"B-Big brother, when did you get back?"
Gu Hanling had a smile that was more of a smirk.
"Was the alcohol outside any good?"
Shen Xi hadn’t even realized she’d been drinking alcohol. She just thought it tasted good, so she had a couple of cans.
Feeling a little thirsty, her eyes landed on the hangover soup on the table. She casually replied,
"It was alright."
She picked up the tea and took a few sips. But before she could fully relax, she heard Gu Hanling’s icy voice ring out.
"Tonight, I saw Shi Jingyan."
"Pff—!"
Shen Xi almost spat out the tea, barely managing to swallow it down with great effort.
‘Oh crap! Did he see me completely ignoring the so-called male lead? Damn, this is bad! Am I doomed?!’
She always knew this day would come. After all, the male lead and her big boss were bound to cross paths sooner or later. The only question was how far their ‘friendly conversation’ had gone.
Feeling a little guilty, she braced herself for what was coming.
Seeing her exaggerated reaction, her guilty expression, and how she seemed to panic just from hearing Shi Jingyan’s name, a strange sourness spread through Gu Hanling’s chest.
He let out a cold, humorless chuckle and said in a flat tone,
"Here’s a joke for you. Shi Jingyan, plus one guy and four women, doing some shady business in a KTV… and then getting thrown out by the owner."
If he wasn’t worried about Shen Xi getting heartbroken and hating him forever, he wouldn’t have just thrown Shi Jingyan out, he would’ve made him disappear.
Hearing this "cold joke," Shen Xi immediately covered her face with both hands.
Pff—HAHAHAHA! No way, she can’t hold it in! She’s gonna lose it!
What the heck?! The male lead getting kicked out of a KTV like some loser, is he even still the male lead?! Hahahaha!
She tried her best to hold back that tears welled up in her eyes. Her whole body shook from trying to hold it in. She didn’t even stop to wonder who had enough power to throw the so-called male lead out.
But in Gu Hanling’s eyes…
He hadn’t expected this news to make her so upset, to the point where she was shaking from holding back her tears.
For the first time, he wondered if he was being too harsh. Without thinking, he reached out and gently pulled her hands away from her face.
Shen Xi’s eyes were glistening with tears, her lips slightly trembling, as if she was struggling to suppress her emotions.
"You like him that much?"
Gu Hanling’s deep voice was unreadable.
Shen Xi froze for a second. Her tear-filled eyes looked like rippling autumn water, but deep inside, she was thinking,
‘Big brother, I’d like it even more if you just wiped him out. Then I could finally sleep soundly! Hmph!’
…Wait.
No, no, killing him wouldn’t be good. She didn’t want her big brother to dirty his hands.
It would be better if the Shi family went bankrupt, just like the Jiang family. Let them suffer while staying alive.
Sigh, she’s too kind. Too merciful.
Poor Shen Xi didn’t even notice the way Gu Hanling’s gaze grew colder and darker.
The image of Shi Jingyan, that absolute scumbag, flashed through his mind.
(She’ll come back to me in a few days!)
(She’ll throw herself into my arms… She’ll throw herself into my arms…)
Gu Hanling’s eyes darkened.
An unfamiliar and overwhelming emotion surged inside him, shattering his usual self-control.
Before Shen Xi could react, he suddenly leaned in. His lips pressed against Shen Xi's.
Her eyes widened in shock—AGAIN?!
But this time was different. This was no longer just testing the waters. It was intense, possessive, overpowering.
His tongue forcefully pried open her lips, invading her mouth with absolute dominance so that they could savor each other's taste.
"Mmph... Hanling..."
Shen Xi was utterly shocked.
Compared to this, the previous three kisses were child’s play. And worst of all, she was completely sober this time!
‘What the hell!! I'm a grown man, how can I be... French kissed by another guy?!’
She tried to push him away, but Gu Hanling held her firmly, keeping her locked in place.
"Mmph—!"
No! No way! She can't let this happen!
Shen Xi screamed internally, but his kiss only deepened.
Her body gradually weakened, her hands instinctively gripping his shirt, fingertips trembling. Her consciousness began to blur, and she involuntarily wanted to respond to the man's kiss.
‘Shen Xi! You’re a man! This is wrong! Wrong!’
She repeated the words in her head, forcing herself not to get swept away by Gu Hanling’s rhythm.
After what felt like forever, Gu Hanling finally let her go. Shen Xi’s cheeks were flushed, her breathing uneven, and her lips swollen.
Her hair was messy, and she looked fragile yet alluring, a beautiful mess.
Gu Hanling stared down at her, his eyes cold and unreadable.
As expected. He hadn't felt any response from her. His gaze darkened.
With a light touch, he tilted her chin up, leaned in, and whispered—
"Du gehörst mir." (You belong to me.)
Then, without another word, he turned around and walked upstairs, his back cold and distant.
…German?
Shen Xi sat there dazed, her heart pounding wildly.
She knew Gu Hanling had studied abroad since childhood and was fluent in multiple languages, so speaking German wasn’t strange.
But why did he suddenly say some weird bird language to her?!
Was he praising her for having sweet saliva?!
Shen Xi touched her swollen lips, still in a daze.
"Hiss—"
"It hurts… Has everyone gone insane today?!”