Chapter 9: If You Want It, Come Get It Yourself

Shen Yanhui was wearing a custom-made dark gray suit today, which made him look a little less stern than usual and added a touch of elegant languor.

His tie was untied, and his shirt collar still had one button undone, revealing a bit of cold-white skin and a clear collarbone line.

Gu Yan's heart skipped a beat in her chest, betraying her.

She quickly adjusted her expression, lifted her face, and said with just the right amount of surprise and a hint of imperceptible coquettishness, "Mr. Shen? What a coincidence."

Shen Yanhui watched her putting on an act, the corners of his lips curling up almost imperceptibly.

"Not a coincidence." His voice was low, blending into the background music and the sound of the waves, possessing a unique magnetism. "I was looking for you."

Gu Yan's eyelashes trembled slightly.

Looking for her?

"Looking for me for what?" She tilted her head and smiled. "Mr. Shen is a busy man; do you still have time to pay attention to a small fry like me?"

"A small fry?" Shen Yanhui repeated, taking half a step forward.

The distance between the two shortened once more, so close that she could see the tiny, swaying lights reflected in the depths of his eyes, as well as her own reflection.

His scent enveloped her more intensely, carrying the faint aroma of whiskey and a hint of cigar.

"If Miss Gu counts as a small fry," he leaned down slightly, his voice dropping even lower, almost a whisper, "then I'm afraid there are no 'big shots' on this ship."

His gaze lingered on her simple evening gown for a moment before returning to her face, his meaning implied.

"After all, not everyone can wear a basic piece and make it look... so eye-catching."

Gu Yan's cheeks felt slightly warm.

These words sounded like a compliment, but coming from his mouth, paired with his calm, ripple-free gaze, they always made one feel there was a hidden meaning—dangerous and ambiguous.

She turned her head uncomfortably, her diamond tassel earrings swaying gently, refracting tiny rays of light.

"Mr. Shen really knows how to talk. But, what exactly do you want with me?"

Shen Yanhui did not answer directly.

His gaze fell on the swaying diamonds at her ears, watching for a moment.

"These earrings," he suddenly spoke, his tone flat, "don't suit you."

Gu Yan was stunned.

Subconsciously, she raised a hand to touch the cold diamonds.

"Too bright, too noisy." Shen Yanhui continued, his gaze deep. "They steal the spotlight from their owner."

Gu Yan's heart stirred inexplicably.

Choosing these earrings today had been, in some part, an act of spite.

Since that pair of pearls that matched better wasn't there, she might as well choose the flashiest, most dazzling ones.

She hadn't expected him to see through it at a glance and point it out directly.

It was a bit embarrassing, and also carried a strange, indescribable feeling... of being seen through.

She pursed her lips, lifted her face, and said deliberately, "I think they're fine. Only by being a bit flashy will I not be outshone by some... inconspicuous things."

She had always intended to be the most dazzling person in the crowd.

This was her life motto.

Shen Yanhui smiled again. "Pearls suit you better."

How could he have the nerve to bring up the pearls himself?

Gu Yan looked at him, and on an impulse, she blurted out, "Then where are my pearls?"

As soon as the words left her mouth, she felt a bit of regret.

It was too direct.

It was as if she cared so much about that pair of earrings, as if she were so preoccupied with the thing he had taken away.

Shen Yanhui did not seem surprised.

He looked at her eyes, which were slightly widened with annoyance and a hint of anticipation, a faint trace of a smile spreading in the depths of his eyes.

"You want them?" he asked, his voice low and slow.

Gu Yan felt her earlobes heat up under his gaze, but she refused to admit defeat, stiffening her neck. "They were mine to begin with."

"Mm." Shen Yanhui responded, noncommittal.

He raised his hand.

His fingertips did not touch her, merely brushing through the air by her ear, close enough for her to feel the slight coolness of his touch.

"If you want them," he withdrew his hand, watching her suddenly hold her breath, and said leisurely, "come and get them yourself."

Gu Yan froze.

Get them herself?

Go where to get them? How to get them?

Before she could react, Shen Yanhui no longer gave her the chance to ask.

He suddenly reached out and wrapped his arm around her waist.

His palm pressed against her waist through the thin, smooth satin fabric.

The heat was scorching, his presence startlingly distinct.

"Come with me." Shen Yanhui held her and walked toward the elevator.

His movements were natural and fluid, as if he were simply taking a slightly tipsy female companion away to rest.

Along the way, people cast surprised glances, including Chu Yilan, who was in the middle of a conversation.

She watched the back of Shen Yanhui as he led Gu Yan away, the smile on her face completely stiffening, her fingers gripping her wine glass turning slightly white.

How on earth did Gu Yan manage to get involved with such a big shot?

Shen Yanhui looked straight ahead, his expression indifferent.

Only the hand clasped around her waist was warm and forceful.

Gu Yan followed his footsteps, the skin at her waist feeling as if it were about to burn.

"Shen Yanhui," she lowered her voice, a bit annoyed, "where exactly are you taking me?"

Shen Yanhui glanced at her from the corner of his eye.

The elevator light was dim, and a faint, dark glow seemed to swirl in the depths of his eyes.

"Aren't you here to get your earrings?" His tone was calm, yet it made Gu Yan's spine tingle for no reason.

"I..." She was at a loss for words.

"Scared?" He paused his steps, lowered his head, leaned close to her ear, and asked in a breathy voice only she could hear, his warm breath brushing against her sensitive earlobe.

Gu Yan could not stand being provoked.

Scared?

She was not scared at all!

"Who's scared!" She tilted her face up, and although her cheeks were flushed, her eyes tried hard to look fierce, like a cat bluffing, "You'd better actually return my earrings!"

Shen Yanhui chuckled softly, said nothing more, and, holding her, arrived at the third floor and pushed open a heavy, carved wooden door at the end of the corridor.

Inside the door was a private lounge.

The lighting was warm and yellow, quiet and silent.

The scent of expensive cigars lingered faintly.

It felt like a different world from the noisy banquet and the salty sea breeze outside.

The door closed gently behind them.

With a soft click, most of the noise was shut out.

Shen Yanhui released the hand he had been holding around her waist.

Gu Yan immediately took half a step back, but her chin remained tilted up, the light falling on her slender neck like a vigilant and proud white swan.

"My earrings." She held out her hand, palm upward, "Can you return them to me now?"

Shen Yanhui did not answer, opening a deep blue velvet box.

On the black velvet, a pair of pearl earrings lay quietly. They were South Sea white pearls, large and round, with a luster like a lunar halo, surrounded by tiny inlaid diamonds, imposing and luxurious.

Gu Yan glanced at them, and her red lips pursed slightly.

"These aren't mine." She raised her eyes to look directly at him, with a trace of displeasure at being brushed off.

Shen Yanhui took out one of them, pinched the pearl with his fingertips, and walked in front of her.

"Hmm," he admitted bluntly, "I'm keeping yours."

Gu Yan raised an eyebrow: "Reason?"

"Does it need a reason?" Shen Yanhui leaned down slightly, looking at her at eye level, the distance close enough to exchange breath, "I found them pleasing to the eye, so I kept them."

This answer was simply overbearing and illogical.

Gu Yan was so angry she laughed, the corners of her eyes curving slightly.

"Is Mr. Shen forcibly seizing someone else's property?"

"It's temporary storage." He corrected, his gaze falling on her earlobe, "This pair is better; it suits you more."

As he finished speaking, he had already raised his hand, his fingertips touching her earlobe.

Cool.

Gu Yan's body tensed imperceptibly for a moment, then she forced herself to relax.

Dodge? That would make it look like she was scared.

She simply stood still and let him do as he pleased.

His movements were indeed very slow. His fingertips, with their thin calluses, rubbed over the delicate skin of her earlobe, taking off the pair she was wearing today.

Then, that cold, luxurious pearl earring was slowly pushed into her ear piercing.

Throughout the process, his gaze was fixed on the side of her ear, focused and devout.

Gu Yan could smell the crisp and dangerous scent on him, mixed with a faint hint of alcohol.

She could see his lowered, thick eyelashes, his well-defined jawline, and... his slightly bobbing Adam's apple.

So sexy, she wanted to kiss him.

Gu Yan swallowed, feeling a bit distracted.

With such beauty before her, it was truly hard for her not to feel lustful.

Her heartbeat quickened a little, but it didn't show on her face; even when he had finished putting on one and his fingertips were about to leave, she said coquettishly: "The other one."

It was like giving an order.

Shen Yanhui raised his eyes and looked at her. Her cheeks were slightly red, and even the mole at the corner of her eye had turned red along with them.

She looked pitifully charming, yet she thought she was hiding it perfectly.

A faint trace of a smile flashed in his eyes; he said nothing, took out the other earring, and leaned in again.

He repeated the previous movements.

His fingertips lingered, slow and meticulous.

Gu Yan felt the skin behind her ears was about to burn, that tingling sensation racing down her spine. She secretly bit the tip of her tongue, using the slight pain to stay awake.

She could not show weakness.

Just as the second earring was about to be put on—

"Mmm... ah..."

A suppressed and sweet moan, mixed with a muffled thud of impact, came clearly through the wall, which was not very soundproof.