Held tightly by the man in his embrace, Gu Jiayin didn’t resist, instead she continued to prick at his pride, "Young Master Chi, being so close to me, haven’t you noticed that I’m bitter all over with no hint of sourness?" Sheng Qianchi knew that hearing nice words from this woman’s mouth was impossible in this lifetime. But he was highly vexed, so he angrily bit down with force, leaving a row of teeth marks on her earlobe. Her skin was already delicate and fair, and with just this bite, her earlobe and ear base turned a blush pink. Indeed, he exerted some strength, enough to see her flinch in pain. Evidently, she was in no mood to fight him, biting her lower lip in silence, her slightly heaving chest the only sign she was angered. "Hehehe..." Sheng Qianchi was entertained, his low, slow laughter was like a fatal enchantment. He deliberately leaned closer, his warm breath fanning out finely over her fair neck, "I didn’t taste bitterness. That night, I knew every inch of you was sweet." He mentioned that night again. Gu Jiayin was instantly embarrassed and angry, her cheeks turning rosy as though coated in moist rouge. She turned to glare at him, her eyes openly defiant and annoyed; if her hands weren’t bundled up in the blanket, and if he weren’t holding her so tightly, she would have surely slapped him across the face and called him, "Scoundrel!" The man seemed deeply intrigued; the more angry and irritated she became, the more delighted he felt, so the amusement in his eyes grew deeper and thicker, "Tell me, what is bitter?" Gu Jiayin’s contemptuous gaze passed over the man’s face, then drifted outside the car window as the scenery receded, her expression indifferent as she said, "I lost the closest person to me at sixteen, lost my childhood sweetheart whom I first loved at twenty-three, and now I’m confined by you, bearing the weight of disgrace. Isn’t that bitter?" Sheng Qianchi suddenly fell silent. Indeed, as she said, it was bitter. The amused expression on his face gradually stiffened, an inexplicable ache rising within him, making him reluctant to even criticize her mention of her lost first love. He stared at her profile for a long time, then slowly lowered his head to bury his face in her hair. Silence engulfed the space once more. Only the light sound of breathing. Uncertain when, a magnetic, hoarse voice arose from her hair, "Jiayin, I will cherish you." The car passed through half the city and returned to Shuiyunjian; once on the mountain path, it seemed isolated from the mundane. The air was fresh, tranquil, and charming. Throughout the journey, Sheng Qianchi held Gu Jiayin dominantly, not letting go for even a moment; she was always warm, and his clothes were completely dried by her body heat. Upon arriving at Shuiyunjian, he attempted to carry her upstairs, but she pushed him away, wrapping herself in a blanket as she walked into the villa. At the entrance, Gu Jiayin held the blanket tightly around her, bending down to change her shoes, her face expressionless. To be precise, devoid of any emotion. To her, this place was a cage, with a duration of two months. The agreement between her and him was merely a process; a journey of two months ultimately leading to estrangement. Therefore, there was no need for sorrow, nor joy; quietness was enough. Her emotions were understood by Sheng Qianchi, but he too remained emotionless, quietly following behind her to change his shoes. To him, this agreement was also a process—a waiting period of two months until she willingly became his woman. Like a person nurturing a bird; it can fly away when bored but always returns when night falls. "Miss Jiayin, you’re back?" A warm, gentle voice belonging to a middle-aged woman flowed soothingly like water waves, comforting the depths of Gu Jiayin’s soul. It was like being suddenly thrust into a time machine, her mental world abruptly regressed seven years. Stopping all actions, she turned swiftly and saw a long-lost relative. Seven years ago, when she was still the legitimate young lady of the Gu Family, Sister Li was their cook—kind and gentle, she was particularly close with her mother, even calling each other sisters. As their eyes met, Sister Li’s were visibly moist. Back when the Gu Family mother and her two children suddenly sank in a shipwreck, Sister Li was driven out by Qin Zhennan, and now hearing Gu Jiayin was still alive, her heart overflowed with an indescribable excitement. Her voice carried subtle, delicate tremors, "Miss Jiayin." Having worked solitary for years at the Gu Family, only to be abruptly expelled by Qin Zhennan, Sister Li had wandered aimlessly these past years; seeing Gu Jiayin felt like finding a family. Gu Jiayin was deeply moved; although Sister Li was a servant, compared to those old faces from the Qin Family, she was as close as kin. She suddenly recalled the lunch Sheng Qianchi brought her; the flavor was so familiar—it turned out to be Sister Li’s handiwork. If she assumed Sheng Qianchi went out of his way to find Sister Li for her, would that be self-indulgent? She turned to face the man who had already changed his shoes; he seemed slightly awkward, deliberately clearing his throat as he spoke, "Don’t stare at me like that, just a coincidence." With that, Sheng Qianchi brushed past Gu Jiayin’s shoulder and entered the room. He was accustomed to her sarcasm and even her fiery temper; now her moved gaze left him uncomfortable. Watching Sheng Qianchi ascend the staircase, Sister Li wiped her tears with a smile and took Gu Jiayin’s hand, "Miss Jiayin, you’re alive, that’s wonderful." "Yes." Gu Jiayin nodded, moved. In this cold villa, she finally felt a hint of warmth, found a trace of familiarity. She intended to reminisce further with Sister Li, but a man’s impatient voice came from the stairs, "Aren’t you going to come up for a bath and change clothes? Want to catch a cold?" Gu Jiayin looked upstairs, smiled at Sister Li, "Sister Li, we’ll catch up when there’s time." "Alright, hurry up and take a bath and change clothes; I’ve prepared dinner, all of your past favorites." "Yes, at noon, I ate very satisfyingly." Bidding farewell, Gu Jiayin wrapped herself in the blanket and walked into the living room. Sheng Qianchi still stood at the staircase, impatiently glancing at her, and as she looked back at him, he immediately averted his gaze and vanished at the stairway entrance. That demeanor clearly showed he was still sulking. Gu Jiayin couldn’t help but laugh, watching where Sheng Qianchi disappeared, she pouted playfully; this man was indeed quite shy. On the second floor, she didn’t see Sheng Qianchi at all. For original chapters go to novęlfire.net Ha, as arrogant as he was, even he had moments of sheepishness. Gu Jiayin quickly showered, dressed in clean clothes, and went downstairs to find Sister Li. By this time, Sister Li had already set all the prepared dishes on the table; seeing Gu Jiayin descend, she smiled gently, "Miss Jiayin, come have dinner, are you hungry?" Looking at the dishes on the table, Gu Jiayin suddenly felt extremely hungry. For years, she had longed for these flavors; having grown up on Sister Li’s cooking, these flavors were etched into her very bones, each thread representing warmth and love.