Chapter 117: Took the Bait
The woman placed a light kiss on Gu Hanling’s lips, barely touching before pulling away.
“Alright… I… I’m going to take a shower now.”
Maybe it was because she was feeling a bit conflicted and shy, Shen Xi didn’t linger longer. Besides, the man was too tall. She had to tiptoe just to barely reach him.
Wearing high heels might have helped, but she had tried that before and almost fell flat on her face.
Gu Hanling’s lips curved into a faint smile as he shook his head slightly. Clearly, that fleeting kiss wasn’t enough for him.
He released her wrist, but before she could react, his strong arms wrapped around her waist, lifting her off the ground.
Shen Xi instinctively grabbed onto his shirt, their eyes meeting, a mere breath away.
Feeling the warm breath of the man, his cold and handsome face so close, Shen Xi couldn't help but swallow nervously. When she saw his face this close, she didn't understand why, but her heart somehow beat faster and faster.
Gu Hanling didn’t move any further, but she had a rough idea of what he meant. Perhaps, um...he wanted her to be able to kiss him more comfortably?
“Uh… big brother…”
Her voice was soft, filled with hesitation and uncertainty.
Gu Hanling responded with a quiet “Mm,” his eyes fixed on her, as if patiently waiting for her next move.
Shen Xi bit her lower lip. She really wanted to ask if Gu Hanling had any special feelings for her…
But she didn’t dare to. What if she was just overthinking it? What if she said something wrong and got kicked out of the villa?
But… what if?
What if his answer was yes? Then what would she do?
She didn’t know. She had no clue. Her mind was a complete mess, tangled up like a ball of thread she couldn’t unravel.
“Hmm…?”
While she was still lost in her wild thoughts, Gu Hanling seemed to have lost his patience, unable to wait any longer.
Before she could react, his lips pressed down on hers, cutting off her scattered thoughts.
It was firm, undeniable, and utterly dominating.
Shen Xi’s mind went blank. All her doubts, worries, and hesitation vanished into thin air.
Her fingers unconsciously tightened around his shirt as his presence completely surrounded her. She was sinking into him, unable and unwilling to break free.
This feeling… was impossible to describe.
Shen Xi’s kissing skills were still clumsy, while the man’s technique was becoming more and more skilled, making it hard for her to keep up.
After a long moment, Gu Hanling finally let go of her waist and gently set her back down. He didn’t make any further moves.
Both of them were breathing a little fast, but his breaths were noticeably heavier. His broad chest rose and fell, as if he was trying to suppress certain urges and keep them under control.
When Shen Xi’s feet touched the ground again, she realized her legs felt weak. Feeling embarrassed about losing her composure, she stubbornly leaned against the wall, trying to steady herself.
Sensing that the atmosphere had become way too intense, she was just about to find an excuse to escape this dangerous situation. But before she could say anything, the man’s deep, slightly husky voice came from above her head.
“Go take a shower and rest early.”
After saying that, he stepped slightly to the side, making way for her.
“Mm…”
She responded in a barely audible whisper, her face turning an irresistible shade of pink. Then, without another word, she ran out of the room like a startled rabbit.
Watching her flee, Gu Hanling’s lips curved slightly.
After returning to her room, Shen Xi shut the door and touched her still-burning face, the earlier scenes from just moments ago replaying in her mind over and over.
She grabbed her head in frustration and ran toward the bedroom, plunged into the soft bed. Like a restless little cat, she rolled around in distress.
“Ahhh!”
She couldn’t help but let out a low, frustrated scream.
“Shen Xi! What is wrong with you?!”
She kept questioning herself. Had she really started to fall for his looks? No way!
Sure, she had to admit that Gu Hanling was so handsome it was almost unfair. He was the kind of man who made other women unable to look away.
But that was just handsomeness! He wasn’t pretty or anything. How could a man make her so flustered by a kiss?
“There’s no way… Absolutely no way!”
She suddenly sat up and lightly patted her cheeks, trying to snap herself out of it.
“It must be hormones messing with my head!”
The woman nodded firmly to herself.
“Yes, that’s definitely it!”
Shen Xi got up from the bed, grabbed her pajamas, and walked into the bathroom.
The warm water flowed over her body, gradually washing away the tension in her nerves.
After her shower, she felt much more refreshed, and for the moment, all her worries seemed to fade away.
She dried her wet hair and changed into a silk nightgown.
Walking over to the desk, she opened the international package.
Inside was the trophy and certificate from the International Jewelry Design Competition. The sparkling crystal trophy had her English stage name, “Susie,” engraved on it.
This had been specially mailed to her by her birth father, Edward.
“Finally, it’s here.”
Shen Xi’s eyes curved into a playful smile.
She found a spot on the desk where the trophy and certificate wouldn’t reveal her location, then carefully arranged them. She even placed a cup of coffee next to them for a more sophisticated, high-end look, something she had to thank Director Feng for, as he had given her tips on capturing the perfect shot.
She grabbed her phone, adjusted the angle, and snapped a few photos.
Then, she opened Weibo and switched to the “Susie” account, a small side account that her father had pre-registered and verified for her.
Even if someone tried to dig into her identity, they wouldn’t be able to trace it back to her.
After editing a caption and selecting a few of the best pictures, she hit send.
“Hehe, the hook and bait are ready. Now, I just have to wait for him to take the bait.”
“Oh? And who is madam trying to catch?”
A cold male voice suddenly sounded from behind her.
Shen Xi jumped in shock, her whole body tensing up.
She turned around stiffly, only to see Gu Hanling, who also seemed to have just finished showering. He was wearing a dark silk robe, the loose neckline exposing his collarbone. A single water droplet slid down his Adam’s apple.
Shen Xi’s throat moved involuntarily as she found herself momentarily captivated by the sight in front of her.
Before she could snap out of it, the man took slow steps toward her, his deep gaze carrying a trace of unreadable coldness.
She instinctively backed up, but within seconds, her retreat was cut off by the edge of the desk.
“N-no one! I was just scrolling through Weibo to pass the time.”
She hurriedly hid her phone behind her back, feeling inexplicably guilty.
She wasn’t exactly trying to lure a rich guy… but technically, she was trying to bait a man.
The woman tried to change the topic and quickly asked, “Big Brother, why are you here?”
“I did say I would come to rest early.”
Uh… did he really say that before?
A slight smile touched Gu Hanling's lips. He lifted his hand, gently tucking the stray strands of hair behind her ear, as he leaned closer.
“During our contract period, Madam, if you ever make me wear a ‘hat,’ you know what the consequences will be.”
His warm breath carried a faint, woody scent from his shower, and Shen Xi couldn’t help but recall the fear of being completely overwhelmed by his kissing skills earlier.
She froze for a moment. Huh? A hat? Then, realization hit her. She lightly bit her lip and quickly shook her head, pretending to be fragile and innocent, as if she wouldn’t dare.
But in her mind, she grumbled.
Wasn’t he just reminding her not to embarrass the Gu family? Did he really have to bring it up all the time?
And was Gu Hanling getting nearsighted or something? Why did he always have to get so close whenever he talked to her?
As she processed his words, something still felt a little off…
Just then, Gu Hanling straightened up and walked directly into the bedroom. After a few steps, he turned back and saw her still standing there in a daze. He frowned slightly.
“Sleep.”
“Oh…”
Snapping back to her senses, Shen Xi quickly responded and obediently followed behind him. Everything felt so natural, sleeping in the same room with him had somehow become a habit.
………………………………………………
The Next Morning.
The buzz around "Susie" in the country wasn’t particularly high. After all, international high-end jewelry design wasn’t something the average person cared about.
However, those in certain social circles were very interested in “Susie.”
Overnight, her inbox was unsurprisingly flooded with 99+ messages. As she scrolled through countless collaboration requests and nosy inquiries, she finally found the one she had been waiting for.
[Miss Susie, hello. I am Wang Lei, the representative of the Shen family. Would you be available for a meeting to discuss a collaboration? I guarantee the conditions will satisfy you.]
Seeing this message, a sly smile played at the corner of Shen Xi’s lips. A glint of mischief flickered in her eyes.
“My ‘fish’ took the bait.”
--------------------------------
Translation Notes:
The "hat" in this context is a euphemism for being cuckolded or betrayed.
(帽子) : hat
(戴绿帽子) : Chinese idiom that literally translates to "to wear a green hat."
It means that a man's wife or female partner has been unfaithful to him.
But here Gu Hanling only said "帽子" (Hat), not directly saying "戴绿帽子" (wear a green hat).