Chapter 20: Can You Be My Model?

Lin Wei held up her binoculars, having kept watch in the designated marshland area for nearly an hour, but without seeing even a single feather of a crested ibis, she turned back in disappointment.

She retraced her steps to find Gu Yan, but just as she rounded a dense bamboo grove, her footsteps came to a sudden halt.

She blinked, and then blinked again.

Not far ahead, Gu Yan was sitting on a bench, her bare feet resting on the shoes of the man in front of her.

The man was extremely tall and wore a well-tailored suit.

The afterglow of the sunset spilled over from behind him, rimming his upright figure in a dazzling golden edge; his face was unclear, but just from that broad-shouldered, long-legged silhouette and his imposing air, one knew he was no ordinary person.

Gu Yan saw Lin Wei first, raised her hand, and waved with a smile: "I'm here!"

Lin Wei snapped out of it and walked toward her.

"I've been looking for you for a while," she said to Gu Yan, though her gaze couldn't help but drift back to the man.

His brow bone was deep, his nose bridge high and straight, and his thin lips were pressed into a flat line, combining to form a face that was excessively handsome and excessively cold.

The air of nobility exuding from his entire being, along with the oppressive presence of someone who had long held a position of power, made her not dare to look any longer.

Some people, you know at a single glance, are not to be trifled with.

Gu Yan, however, was at ease, even wiggling the toes she had resting on his shoes as she introduced him nonchalantly: "This is my friend, Lin Wei."

Shen Yanhui's cool gaze swept over, and Lin Wei felt inexplicably nervous, standing up straight.

Then, Gu Yan added, her tone sly: "And this Mr. Shen here is also my friend."

At least for now, they were friends.

Shen Yanhui narrowed his eyes.

"Time to go back," he said, his voice low.

"Oh," Gu Yan replied, then reached out her hands, "Then carry me."

Lin Wei: "..."

The young miss was indeed a young miss; she herself had been so shaken by his aura that she didn't dare to speak, yet the other party dared to reach out and ask for a hug.

Shen Yanhui stared at Gu Yan for a moment, then leaned down and scooped her up horizontally.

The parking lot.

Chang Su had long been waiting by the car; seeing his boss walk over carrying Miss Gu, he didn't even raise an eyebrow as he respectfully opened the car door.

After getting in the car, Lin Wei was bursting with energy, her fingers tapping on her screen so fast they left a blur.

The phone in Gu Yan's bag vibrated several times, the movement so pronounced that even Shen Yanhui glanced over.

Lin Wei: 【!!!!! Gu Yan!】

Lin Wei: 【Confess everything!】

Lin Wei: 【Where did you get such a top-tier hunk! Damn, he's even more handsome than a male celebrity!】

Lin Wei: 【You kid, eating so well behind my back?】

Gu Yan looked down, the curve of her lips deepening as she leisurely typed a reply.

Gu Yan: 【Found him.】

Lin Wei: 【???】

Lin Wei: 【Young miss, don't lie to me.】

Gu Yan: 【I'm not, he just delivered himself to my door.】

The man who had "delivered himself" looked displeased, reached out to take the phone from her palm, and said faintly: "Stop looking, it's bad for your eyes."

Gu Yan gave a nonchalant "Oh."

Lin Wei, on the other hand, stiffened—why did it feel like he was targeting her?

The car soon arrived at the Gu Family's Linhu Villa.

Shen Yanhui picked up Gu Yan and walked straight toward the main entrance. The posture was as if he were returning to his own home.

He carried her all the way into the living room and set the young lady down on the sofa.

As soon as Gu Yan's bottom touched the sofa, she began to burn her bridges: "Thank you for bringing me back, Mr. Shen. It's getting late, I won't see you out."

Shen Yanhui, however, unhurriedly unbuttoned his overcoat and handed it to the servant nearby, "Is this how Miss Gu treats her guests?"

Gu Yan choked.

Lin Wei had just finished changing into her slippers and walked in; hearing this, she immediately chimed in with a grin: "Exactly, exactly! Yanyan, Mr. Shen brought you back, and you won't even offer him a cup of tea? That's too rude!"

She added: "It's hard to book a hotel around here; Mr. Shen might as well stay the night. There are plenty of guest rooms anyway."

Gu Yan: "?"

Shen Yanhui: "Miss Lin is very thoughtful. Then, I shall respectfully accept your offer."

Lin Wei: "You're too kind, you're too kind."

Gu Yan: "?"

Shen Yanhui turned to the servant and said: "Excuse me, a cup of black coffee, delivered to the study."

Then, he turned his gaze to Gu Yan, "I'll borrow your study for a moment to handle some business."

Gu Yan: "?"

After speaking, without waiting for her response, he walked toward the second-floor study with practiced ease. His demeanor was as if he were the master of the house.

Gu Yan opened her mouth, watching his upright back disappear around the corner of the stairs, a breath of air stuck in her chest.

This man... he was just too matter-of-fact!

——

Nighttime.

Gu Yan chased Lin Wei off to the guest room.

On the massive bed, she tossed and turned, not feeling a shred of sleepiness.

She simply threw off the quilt and got out of bed, her bare feet stepping onto the soft carpet, preparing to go to the kitchen to find something to drink, perhaps something that could help her sleep.

Although Linhu Villa was unoccupied year-round, all the facilities were fully equipped. Uncle Changming had added quite a few things upon learning she was coming to stay for a while.

Gu Yan rummaged through the wine cabinet and pulled out a bottle of white wine; the alcohol content was not high. She had always had a poor tolerance for alcohol and dared not drink anything too strong.

By the dim light, she poured a small glass and leaned against the kitchen counter, sipping it slowly.

The icy wine slid down her throat, but it did nothing to soothe her restless state of mind.

Instead, she found herself uncontrollably thinking of Shen Yanhui.

What was he doing in his room at this hour?

Sleeping? Or working?

She still hadn't asked him why he had appeared at the forest park today.

How about she go and take a look?

Gu Yan set down her wine glass and tiptoed out of the kitchen. Just as she reached the stairs, a figure came down from upstairs.

It was Shen Yanhui.

He was wearing a dark gray silk bathrobe, the belt tied loosely, the collar open to reveal a patch of firm, toned chest.

Gu Yan pursed her lips and swallowed.

It was too unfair, being this provocative in the middle of the night.

Shen Yanhui held his phone in his hand, seemingly having just finished a call, the faint light of the screen reflecting off his sharp, angular profile.

He seemed not to have expected to run into her, his footsteps pausing slightly.

Gu Yan looked up, staring at him, especially at his slightly bobbing Adam's apple, which, in the dim light, had lines so clear that...

It invited wild thoughts.

Her mouth felt a bit dry, and her hands felt a bit hot.

Shen Yanhui was looking at her as well.

Her silk camisole nightdress only reached the middle of her thighs, and the skin she exposed was dazzlingly white in the dimness.

His eyes darkened silently.

"What are you doing?" he asked, his voice lower and hoarser than usual.

Gu Yan felt her heart tremble at his voice, and she subconsciously answered obediently: "... Drinking. I can't sleep."

Shen Yanhui let out a soft laugh.

The laugh was short, vibrating in his chest, and combined with his lazy, sexy appearance at that moment, it was like a feather scratching the itchiest part of one's heart.

Gu Yan felt her head spinning even more; perhaps the alcohol was going to her head.

With such beauty before her, in a daze, a thought uncontrollably popped up.

She tilted her face up, looking at him, her eyes startlingly bright.

"Shen Yanhui," she heard her own voice, soft and sweet, direct, and carrying a hint of eager coquettishness.

"Can you... be my model?"