Chapter 122: Say Something I Like to Hear

Shen Xi’s beautiful eyes widened in surprise as she watched Gu Hanling raise an eyebrow with clear intent.

She suddenly realized she had underestimated the people in this world, especially the man beside her, the one standing at the very top of Su City.

At some point, she must have let something slip, revealing a flaw in her disguise. But they had already done that, why was he only bringing it up now?

Shen Xi couldn’t help but worry. What if Gu Hanling was the type of man who discarded someone without a second thought? What if, in the next second, he threw her from heaven straight into hell and kicked her out?

Lowering her head slightly, she bit her lip, hesitated for a moment, but then decided to tell the truth.

“Shen Xi.” (沈溪)

Gu Hanling's eyes darkened slightly, and he tightened his grip on the woman's hand. He thought that she still didn't trust him and was unwilling to tell him the truth even now.

Shen Xi knew the man had definitely misunderstood, so she quickly added.

“Xi (溪), as in ‘stream of water.’ (溪水: xī shuǐ)”

Gu Hanling's lips curved into a slight smile. He released the woman's wrist, pulled her closer to his chest, and repeated Shen Xi's name from her previous life.

“Xiao Xi, a beautiful name.”

Their skins were pressed against each other, still naked, with a soft silk quilt casually draped around their waists, half-concealing the alluring scene.

The warm early winter sunlight of December had lost the scorching heat of summer. It filtered through the sheer curtains, casting scattered patches of light onto the woman’s exposed shoulders and neck, freezing the intimate atmosphere in a golden amber glow.

Shen Xi's cheek rested against the man's warm, firm chest, listening to his powerful heartbeat, and she felt an inexplicable sense of peace.

Her slender fingertips unconsciously traced circles on Gu Hanling's firm chest.

“Hanling… Aren’t you afraid?”

“I might not even be… a real woman.”

Gu Hanling let out a soft chuckle, his long fingers gliding down Shen Xi’s smooth back before suddenly giving her soft, perky bottom a firm squeeze.

“Ah~”

A breathy gasp escaped Shen Xi’s lips as her body instinctively arched. Her face flushed red in an instant, and she raised a small fist to lightly punch his chest.

“Big brother, you’ve turned bad!”

“This question is pointless. I already answered it before. As for whether you’re a woman…”

Gu Hanling smirked, his wandering hand still lingering in that soft spot.

“Didn’t we confirm that last night? Or… is my wife looking for further proof, hmm?”

“Absolutely not!”

Shen Xi quickly lifted her head, shooting him a glare with her misty eyes. After being relentlessly tormented the whole night, she felt like she had been squeezed completely dry.

“One week… No, one whole month! You’re not allowed to touch me.”

Her warning lacked any real threat. Instead, the slight tremor in her voice made it even more enticing.

“As you wish, my queen.”

Gu Hanling simply smiled meaningfully and leaned down, pressing a light kiss on her forehead.

If one ignored the emotions surging in the man's eyes, those words might have been somewhat believable.

He had always kept his promises to her, except for this one.

The sight of the woman in his arms, the soft and alluring side that only he could witness, had long been carved into his bones. Like an intoxicating drug, impossible to quit, and truthfully, he had no intention of quitting.

Shen Xi’s heart skipped a beat at the tenderness of his kiss, and even the tips of her ears turned pink.

Unable to handle the thick tension in the air any longer, she hurriedly changed the subject, mumbling under her breath,

“It’s already noon… Butler Wang will probably be knocking on the door soon. We should… get up.”

Gu Hanling gently pulled her closer, wrapping her in his embrace, then tenderly stroked her hair.

"You're overthinking, my dear. Butler Wang is very considerate, he won’t disturb us."

"Uh..."

Hearing that, Shen Xi buried herself deeper into his embrace in embarrassment. Didn’t that mean even Butler Wang knew what they did last night? Were they that loud yesterday?

Just then, her stomach let out a loud "grumble," breaking the lingering intimacy in the air. She had burned way too much energy last night, slept straight through the morning, and was only now realizing just how hungry she was.

Gu Hanling chuckled softly and hooked his finger under her chin, his voice low and magnetic, carrying a lazy charm.

"Say something I like hearing, and I’ll let you go."

Shen Xi’s long lashes trembled slightly. Of course, she knew exactly what a man would want to hear the most.

She had imagined this moment before, but she never thought that when the time came, she'd be the one saying it.

Under his burning gaze, she whispered in a voice as soft as a mosquito’s buzz.

"H-Husband..."

Gu Hanling was clearly not satisfied, his fingertip caressing her soft, rosy lips.

"Hmm? I didn’t hear that clearly."

Shen Xi rolled her eyes at him but mustered the courage to raise her voice slightly.

"Husband! Husband!!"

Only then did Gu Hanling smile in satisfaction.

But just as Shen Xi started to relax, she suddenly felt something firm pressing against her lower abdomen. Seeing that he was about to make another move, she shrank back like a startled little deer, her watery eyes glaring at him with a hint of pleading.

"You… You promised you wouldn’t touch me for a month!"

Gu Hanling clicked his tongue in mild frustration but eventually loosened his grip on her.

Seizing the chance, Shen Xi quickly lifted the blanket and jumped out of bed as if she had just been granted a royal pardon.

However, her legs felt as heavy as if they were filled with stones, and a wave of soreness washed over her waist, causing her knees to buckle uncontrollably.

"Ah—"

Just as she was about to fall to the ground, a powerful arm wrapped around her slender waist.

Gu Hanling effortlessly pulled her back into his embrace, pressing her bare, smooth back against his warm skin, making her body go weak all over again.

His other hand gently brushed over the red marks on her collarbone, his warm breath tickling her ear.

"Does it still hurt?"

That unusually gentle tone made Shen Xi's heart race inexplicably, and her delicate body trembled slightly as she shook her head gently.

This soft and caring Gu Hanling was even more overwhelming than his dominant and intense self from last night. She couldn't help but wonder, was this really the same cold and distant CEO who always kept a straight face?

Shen Xi put on her nightgown and walked to the mirror to freshen up. The moment she saw her reflection, her face instantly turned red.

Her fair skin was covered in marks from last night, trailing all the way down her collar, like blooming plum blossoms. Some of them even had a faint purplish hue.

She touched the marks on her neck with her fingertips, feeling both embarrassed and annoyed. Turning to look at the man behind her, who was leisurely buttoning up his shirt, she pouted in frustration.

"Hanling, look at what you’ve done! How am I supposed to face anyone like this?"

Gu Hanling glanced at the marks on her neck, the corners of his lips curling into a satisfied smirk.

"I’ll be more careful next time."

His words sounded considerate, but his tone carried not the slightest hint of apology.

Once they were both dressed and ready to leave the room, Gu Hanling naturally took Shen Xi’s hand in his.

A moment of surprise flashed across her face. Why does he need to hold her hand even when they're at home?

Though she found it a bit unnecessary, an unexpected warmth spread through her heart. She didn’t say anything, just let him hold her hand.

When they reached the first floor, Butler Wang greeted them with an especially bright smile.

"Sir, Madam, lunch is ready."

Gu Hanling nodded and led Shen Xi straight to the dining room, still holding her hand.

As they walked past Butler Wang, Shen Xi caught him giving her a discreet thumbs-up.

She couldn't help but give him a light glare, but the corners of her lips involuntarily turned up, as she bit her lip to suppress a smile.

At the dining table, Gu Hanling thoughtfully pulled out a chair for Shen Xi before sitting down across from her.

She lowered her gaze to the beautifully prepared dishes on the table, the aroma making her stomach growl in anticipation. It had been a week since she last tasted the villa chef’s cooking, and right now, she just wanted to grab a plate and dig in.

Just as she was about to start eating, her phone rang.

Glancing at the screen, she saw a message from the production team. The filming was officially wrapped up.

There was still a wrap party coming up, followed by promotional events, meaning the drama would be airing soon. The production team had been working on post-production while filming to ensure a New Year's release.

While she was sending congratulatory messages in the crew’s group chat, another notification popped up, from someone she didn’t recognize.

Opening the message, she realized it was from an old high school classmate she hadn’t contacted in years, inviting her to a New Year's class reunion.

Without even thinking, Shen Xi declined immediately.

What a joke! If this follows the original storyline, she’ll definitely run into the male and female leads. No way she’s walking into that mess.

She looked up at Gu Hanling.

"Hanling, I might be really busy soon. I have to travel for work."

"I’ll go with you."

Gu Hanling raised an eyebrow and answered without hesitation.

Shen Xi couldn't suppress a light laugh when she heard that. How did he suddenly become so clingy overnight?

"Hanling, we both have jobs. Don’t let me distract you from your work."

Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Butler Wang standing nearby, his shoulders trembling slightly.

She couldn't help but frown and glance over, only to see him struggling to hold back laughter as he eavesdropped on their conversation.