Chapter 18: Kiss Me, Won't You?

"Gu Yan, you are playing with fire." Shen Yanhui's voice carried the weight of a coming storm.

"I'm not," Gu Yan tilted her head, feigning confusion.

She did not know how alluring this feigned innocence of hers was, making one want to hide her away and have her smile for oneself alone.

Shen Yanhui's jaw tightened, and the warm air brushed against the hair behind her ears, carrying a clear sense of restraint.

Having tasted sweetness, Gu Yan continued to press against him.

The distance between the two was so close that their breathing could be heard.

She lifted her face slightly, her gaze landing on his thin lips, and tentatively leaned her own lips toward him.

The movement was very slow, carrying a bewitching quality.

Yet, in a place Shen Yanhui could not see, the hand that had been resting on the seat had already quietly moved to the position near the car door handle.

Gu Yan's lips were now only an inch away from his.

Shen Yanhui had not moved the entire time, tacitly allowing her actions. Only his eyes were surging with a startling darkness.

"Won't you give me a kiss?" Gu Yan murmured.

"Mm."

Just at this moment, a soft "click" sounded, exceptionally clear in the silence.

The car door lock had opened.

The girl who, a second ago, was still asking "won't you give me a kiss," had already nimbly slipped out of the carriage and ran toward the villa gate without looking back.

She did not forget to wave and say goodbye to Shen Yanhui, "Bye-bye, Mr. Shen!"

Her thin cashmere cardigan lifted in a light arc behind her, like a butterfly triumphantly escaping.

Shen Yanhui remained in his previous posture, and only after her figure disappeared at the entrance did he let out a very soft, low laugh.

He raised his hand, and his well-defined fingers gripped his tie knot, pulling it outward with some roughness.

It still wasn't enough.

He undid two more buttons.

His movements were still unhurried, yet they carried a sense of releasing something.

The cold wind poured into his open collar, blowing across his scorching skin.

He leaned back against the seat and closed his eyes.

His Adam's apple rolled heavily once more.

——

Gu Yan had also done the deed of teasing and running, and her mood was wonderful.

She had finally won against Shen Yanhui once; it should be recorded in history and marked with a milestone.

This wonderful mood lasted until the next afternoon, and even when Lin Wei stormed over and shrieked in a breakdown at the painting in the studio with its worrying level of completion, it could not be ruined.

"Gu Yan! My little ancestor! The art exhibition is only three months away, and this is what you show me?" Lin Wei pointed at the blurry color blocks and messy lines on the canvas, heartbroken.

Gu Yan was lounging on the chaise longue by the studio window, pinching a green grape with her fingertips and slowly popping it into her mouth.

"Don't be in such a rush."

Lin Wei clutched her head, "I can't help but be in a rush."

Gu Yan said, "I have been working very hard to find inspiration."

Lin Wei calmed down slightly, crossing her arms in thought, "No, we can't keep dragging this out; we have to think of a way."

"What way?"

Gu Yan picked up another grape.

"I remember Lu Xun once said that returning to the place where memories began, especially the environment where one grew up in childhood, is the best way to awaken dormant perception and creativity."

Gu Yan: "……Lu Xun never said that."

Lin Wei waved her hand: "That's not important. Didn't you live in Yunqi Jian for several years when you were little? The mountains are good and the water is good there, and it's unbelievably quiet—it's the most suitable place for a retreat to create."

Yunqi Jian.

Gu Yan chewed on this long-lost place name.

It was a scenic area west of Jingcheng where mountains and water merged; the Gu Family had an old villa by the lake there in the early years.

Before she was seven, she spent most of her time there. Later, when her parents' work focus shifted, they moved back to the city.

The old villa had always been kept, looked after by the old butler, Uncle Changming, and maintained regularly every year.

It was indeed a quiet place.

That same evening, Lin Wei packed her up and took her to Yunqi Jian.

Accompanying them were Doctor Zhou and two servants; Yang Bing was worried and insisted they bring them along.

The Gu Family's old villa was halfway up the mountain, facing a deep, emerald pool, with lush green mountains leaning against the back of the house.

It was already completely dark when the two arrived, and Uncle Changming had already received the news and was waiting at the door. He didn't usually live here and had made a special trip from home.

"Uncle Changming." Gu Yan got out of the car and gave the old man a hug.

Uncle Changming was taken aback by this enthusiastic hug and patted her back lightly: "Miss... you've grown so big, yet you're still the same as when you were little."

At this moment, a young man wearing a light gray jacket walked up from behind Uncle Changming and naturally took the largest suitcase from the servant's hand.

He was in his early twenties, with wheat-colored skin and upright features.

From the moment she got out of the car, he had been peeking at Gu Yan, with a bit of caution and some anticipation.

Gu Yan let go of Uncle Changming, her gaze falling on the young man's face, and after a slight hesitation, she tentatively spoke: "……Xu Xu?"

Upon hearing this, the young man visibly relaxed, "Sister Gu Yan, you still remember me."

"Of course I remember." Gu Yan blinked, "You stole persimmons when you were little and knocked out a front tooth. I was the one who helped you hide the tooth and lied to Uncle Changming, saying it was just you losing your baby teeth."

Xu Xu's earlobes turned slightly red, and he touched his head in embarrassment.

The Earl of Changming scolded with a laugh, and the group walked inside.

Through chatting, they learned that this brat was studying at Jingda, and in the law department at that.

As they walked into the villa, Lin Wei bumped Gu Yan's arm and lowered her voice: "You actually know this kind of handsome guy?"

Gu Yan: "This level is called a handsome guy?"

She thought to herself, only someone like Shen Yanhui could be called handsome, the kind that is handsome without a single flaw.

Lin Wei was greatly shocked: "This doesn't count? You can't compare everyone to your eldest brother and second brother."

Gu Yan: "It doesn't count."

"I finally know why your blind dates fail every time, Miss Gu; your standards are not just a little high."

Gu Yan gave a light hum, "That's because you haven't seen someone truly handsome."

Lin Wei was stunned for a moment, then took two quick steps to catch up with her: "You've seen one? Send me a photo; I won't believe it without a photo."

"I just won't show you; I'll look at it by myself."

Lin Wei: "... Stingy."

The next morning.

Gu Yan ate breakfast at a leisurely pace, then headed toward the studio.

Actually, she wasn't completely without inspiration; although it was incredible, men—especially men with broad shoulders, narrow waists, and good kissing skills—did indeed give her a little bit of inspiration.

Having walked only two steps, Lin Wei grabbed her: "Hey, where are you going?"

"Back to the studio to paint."

"No rush, since we finally came here, let's go look around first, shall we? I heard there's a forest park nearby with wild crested ibises inside."

Her eyes gleamed: "And there's mountain spring tofu pudding; I've wanted to eat it for a long time."

Gu Yan: "..."

"You brat, you want to come out and play yourself and are using me as an excuse, right?"

Lin Wei said with a grin: "It's called balancing work and rest."

Gu Yan was completely certain: this person was just here to play.

Lin Wei didn't know when she had added Xu Xu on WeChat; he happened to be on summer break and was very happy to come and be the driver for the two of them.

The three of them toured all over Yunqi Jian.

With green mountains, clear waters, beautiful scenery, and delicious food, Gu Yan completely forgot about Shen Yanhui.