Chapter 75: The Bewitching Beauty

Dinner has been prepared for quite some time now.

Yet downstairs, several individuals find themselves waiting in vain for the two to descend.

Wen Mingting conjectured that perhaps the two were struggling against their emotions, inevitably... However, she reconsidered; Gu Hansheng didn't seem like someone so lacking in restraint. In such a situation, he must consider the bigger picture and couldn't possibly indulge in frivolity with A Shu.

Thus, she instructed Qu An, "Take the ointment upstairs to the master and gently remind him. Say that dinner is ready and ask them to come down and eat."

Qu An knocked on the bedroom door to no response. After pondering for a moment, she decided to push the door open.

Yet just as she entered, she heard the cool and soothing voice emanating from the dressing room.

Clearer and more intense than the last time she stumbled upon them.

Occasionally interspersed were the deep, masculine breaths.

Qu An silently retreated.

However, her demeanor didn't betray ease; why had the master lost his sense of propriety at this hour?

Qu An descended the stairs, casually fabricating an excuse to stall the two, thus waiting another ten minutes.

...

This time, Gu Hansheng promised Liang Shu to hasten, which was notably quicker than his usual self.

Perhaps about half an hour.

Compared to his usual bedroom demands, which were at most perfunctory, the current situation indicated his inability to continue.

Liang Shu was strained.

Unlike their usual encounters in bed, this time they were in the dressing room directly. Hence, Liang Shu had to stand throughout, in an awkward and contorted posture.

He asked her, "How was your time with Jing Xing this afternoon?"

Liang Shu, distracted by his advances, could hardly muster any focus to respond to his query. She mumbled, "Fine."

However, these two words, heard by Gu Hansheng, condensed into one:

Good.

He fell silent, tormenting her.

At the end, Liang Shu ended up straining her waist.

Or rather, her previous injury from the staircase collision hadn't fully healed, so any spark could easily trigger a relapse.

And now it was irretrievable.

Even walking became arduous.

Gu Hansheng suggested she stay in the bedroom and he would have Qu An bring dinner to her later.

But what kind of solution was this?

Liang Shu couldn't agree at all.

She gritted her teeth, enduring the pain and tears, saying, "I'll manage not walking, but Mother is waiting for us to have dinner. How can I not go down?"

Gu Hansheng held her arm, his tone calm, "With me accompanying her, it's not a big deal."

"But if I don't go, what will Mother think of me?"

He continued to reassure her, "Mother will understand, hmm?"

Yet Liang Shu was ungrateful; tears welled in her eyes as she stared at him, "Understand what? Understand that even in moments like these, we still care about..." Liang Shu couldn't bring herself to say the phrase "conjugal bliss," choked up, "It's all because of you, why do you have to torment me at such a time?"

She pushed against Gu Hansheng's chest with her hand, "Now it's done, how will the old lady look at us?"

Gu Hansheng genuinely felt it unnecessary, he chuckled, "It's not a big deal."

...

Later, when Gu Hansheng came down alone, Wen Mingting frowned upon seeing only him arriving late, "Where's A Shu?"

Gu Hansheng, looking refreshed, glanced at her and said, "A Shu is resting. She accidentally strained her waist just now and can't come down at the moment. Mother, let's have dinner first."

Wen Mingting gazed at him, while Jing Xing, who had lifted his head from the sofa, keenly noticed the scratch marks on Gu Hansheng's neck, his expression darkening.

Gu Hansheng's gaze casually swept over Jing Xing, remarking nonchalantly, "Let's have dinner."

Wen Mingting shook her head, watching Gu Hansheng's retreating figure, unable to resist muttering in her heart: "Each and every one of them is too troublesome today."

Gu Hansheng's actions were clear to Wen Mingting. Naturally, this was his fault.

She hadn't expected him to actually be with A Shu at such a time...

Although she blamed Gu Hansheng to some extent, she couldn't help but feel happy from the depths of her heart. If this trend continued, by this time next year, she might even be holding her grandson.

Wen Mingting thought to herself; their usual frequency must be quite high.

So during dinner, she tactfully hinted to Gu Hansheng, "If you're fine, try not to trouble A Shu too much. Her health isn't good, and if anything were to happen during a potential pregnancy, it would be disastrous."

To which Gu Hansheng replied with unwavering determination, "I know what's appropriate."

At this moment, Jing Xing, who was sitting beside Wen Mingting, picked up a piece of food with his chopsticks and stuffed it into his mouth. After remaining silent for the entire evening, he suddenly said in a sarcastic tone, "If you know what's appropriate, then why did rumors about you and the female celebrity spread like wildfire? Once or twice might be excusable, but overall, the two of you have caused quite a stir."

Then, Jing Xing added, "Auntie told me that you got married. At first, I thought you were with that female celebrity."

This kid was truly a conversation killer.

These words angered both Gu Hansheng and Wen Mingting.

Wen Mingting managed to contain her emotions to some extent.

But Gu Hansheng was different.

He slammed his chopsticks on the table with a resounding "crack" and glared coldly at Jing Xing, "Watch your tongue!"

Unaffected, Jing Xing stared back defiantly and slammed his chopsticks on the table too, "What? Did I say something wrong? Brother, aren't you known for your discretion? Rarely ever involved in scandals with female celebrities? No matter what, if I ever walk down your path and reach your position, I will never use my emotions as a tool to benefit the company!"

His words were even more provocative.

Each word was like a sharp dagger, piercing precisely at Gu Hansheng's sore spot.

The tension between the two was palpable. Wen Mingting was so angry that she couldn't even breathe properly. She turned to Jing Xing, "A Xing, say a little less!"

Jing Xing glanced at Gu Hansheng but directed his words at Wen Mingting, "Big brother dares to act, shouldn't he be afraid of others talking?"

In the quiet dining room, even the fall of a needle could probably be heard clearly.

After a long while, Gu Hansheng suddenly curled his lips, staring directly at Jing Xing, his cold facial contours carrying an invisible mockery, "Walk my path, to my position? First, see if you can even graduate from college."

It had to be said; Jing Xing wouldn't be able to reach Gu Hansheng's heights in the short term.

Because others didn't know that Gu Hansheng was a peculiar individual with an IQ exceeding 180.

But Jing Xing didn't back down. He looked back, his voice cold, "How would you know if you don't try?"

Gu Hansheng couldn't be bothered to argue with him. How could he not know why Jing Xing was like this?

This was exactly the outcome Gu Hansheng wanted, so why was Jing Xing provoking him?

...

After dinner, at this time of year, the sky outside had long turned dark.

Gu Hansheng intended for Wen Mingting to stay, but she hesitated because of Jing Xing.

So Gu Hansheng didn't insist.

Wen Mingting said, "You need to take good care of A Shu's health. Don't just keep bothering her. When I found out I was pregnant with you, I was at least a little fatter than A Shu is now. She's too thin. If she were to get pregnant now, during her pregnancy, she'd probably have to endure quite a bit."

Unexpectedly, before Gu Hansheng could speak, Jing Xing spoke up from behind, his tone faint, "If it were me, I wouldn't be willing to have a child for him."

"Jing Xing!" Wen Mingting turned around and scolded him.

Jing Xing glanced at Gu Hansheng, smiled ambiguously at Wen Mingting, and said, "Auntie, did I say something wrong again?"

Wen Mingting was truly exasperated. She turned back to Gu Hansheng and said, "You should take what I say to heart. I'll find some good medicine for A Shu another day and have the kitchen brew it for her to drink."

Rarely did Mother show such concern, causing Gu Hansheng to smile involuntarily.

"Mom, you should find some sweet medicine for her. A Shu hates taking medicine, especially if it's bitter."

Wen Mingting gave him a sideways glance. "Good medicine tastes bitter. There's no such thing as sweet medicine."

Since it was getting late, Wen Mingting decided to return home.

Gu Hansheng had prepared a pair of calligraphy and paintings for her, so he was now planning to go upstairs to the study to fetch them for Wen Mingting to take back with her.

He had just gone upstairs when Jing Xing followed closely behind him. "Auntie, I'll go talk to Brother. You can rest downstairs for a while."

...

Gu Hansheng walked out with the calligraphy and paintings, but as soon as he reached the door, Jing Xing slipped into the study. Looking up at Gu Hansheng, he used his right foot to slam the door shut with force, causing the sound of the door slamming to reverberate through the walls.

Then, in the split second that Gu Hansheng furrowed his brows, Jing Xing swiftly threw a punch with his right hand, hitting Gu Hansheng's face with eighty percent of his strength.

Jing Xing, who was half a head shorter than him, had a sinister expression on his face as he glared fiercely at Gu Hansheng. "Gu Hansheng, you are shameless!"

This was the first time Jing Xing had ever addressed him so directly by his full name from childhood to adulthood.

The young man in his twenties put all his strength into the punch, and soon, blood began to seep from the corner of Gu Hansheng's mouth.

Gu Hansheng hadn't sensed this blow coming, which allowed Jing Xing to take advantage of the situation.

After finishing his tirade, Jing Xing was about to strike again, but this time, he didn't succeed.

Gu Hansheng placed the calligraphy and paintings aside, stood still, and looked at Jing Xing with cold eyes.

Jing Xing clenched his teeth, and his fingers, which were hanging by his side, slowly turned into fists.

He lunged forward, but this time, Gu Hansheng reached out with his right hand and grabbed Jing Xing's fist. With a firm grip, the expression on Jing Xing's face visibly contorted from the pressure.

"Gu Hansheng, you're shameless!" Jing Xing gritted his teeth, but due to the vast difference in strength, he was powerless against Gu Hansheng at this moment.

Gu Hansheng released his grip on Jing Xing's hand, staring at him with a particularly cold expression. His voice was equally cold. "Where am I shameless?"

However, the air fell silent for about ten seconds.

Suddenly, Jing Xing, who was a meter away from Gu Hansheng, unexpectedly lunged forward again. This time, he failed once more, and instead, Gu Hansheng grabbed his wrist in a swift motion, swiftly spun him around, and pinned his hands behind his back.

Gu Hansheng's eyes darkened several degrees, and with a sudden force, Jing Xing's body bent forward, and his right cheek hit the wall directly, causing his rough skin to sting.

Behind him, a cold laughter emanated from Gu Hansheng. "Are you sure you want to challenge me physically?"

Gu Hansheng was too perfect.

He was a ninth-degree black belt in kickboxing and Taekwondo. Jing Xing couldn't compare.

Struggling against Gu Hansheng's restraint, Jing Xing fought back with all his might, but after a while, he found himself unable to do anything. He tilted his head back, glaring at Gu Hansheng with eyes that seemed to be ablaze, containing a fire that could consume everything.

"You let me go! You're shameless to the extreme!"

They say things happen in threes, but Gu Hansheng didn't give Jing Xing that third chance. Right after Jing Xing finished speaking, Gu Hansheng suddenly pulled his arm and slammed him to the ground with force, then clenched his fist without hesitation and struck him in the face.

Jing Xing was punched by him, his eyes completely red, and he lunged at him again.

Gu Hansheng naturally wouldn't be ruthless enough to harm him, so in this invisible battle, Jing Xing once again found a loophole. Unable to overpower Gu Hansheng, he could only resort to brute force. The two of them wrestled, creating chaos.

In the end, Gu Hansheng emerged victorious.

Both of them had varying degrees of bruises on their faces, but Jing Xing was worse off.

At this moment, Gu Hansheng stood tall, looking mockingly at the figure in front of him, unable to resist a cold laugh. "Am I shameless?"

Jing Xing raised his head, his eyes slightly swollen. As he stood up, he was immediately brought back down by Gu Hansheng stepping on one of his legs. He looked up. "Not only are you shameless, but you're also deceitful. I listened to you and let you find the person I like. Where the hell did you go?"

As soon as he finished speaking, his shinbone was immediately kicked, causing Jing Xing's eyebrows to furrow in pain.

"Watch your words," Gu Hansheng reminded calmly, as if the kick just now hadn't come from him at all. After a pause, he continued, "How did I deceive you? You're twenty years old now, not two. If you like someone, shouldn't you pursue them yourself? Do you not understand this simple principle?"

"The person I like..." Jing Xing's expression was fierce, "My future girlfriend has already been taken away by you!"

Furthermore, if he could find her himself, why would he bother Gu Hansheng?

"Ah—" Jing Xing had just finished speaking when he received another kick to his leg, and this time, Gu Hansheng didn't hold back, causing Jing Xing to cry out in pain.

"I said, watch your words. That's your sister-in-law, you know?" Gu Hansheng corrected him lightly.

"Nonsense, she's the person I like, and you stole her away! You're despicable!"

Upon hearing this, the man who had been looking down at him suddenly squatted down to eye level, meeting his gaze squarely. Gu Hansheng smirked, "You should know, I'm very selective about my future partner. If she's already Mrs. Gu, it means our relationship wasn't formed overnight. Understand?"

This statement was meant to placate Jing Xing.

At this moment, Jing Xing saw the marks on Gu Hansheng's neck, which were very conspicuous, and he turned his head away. "You stole the person I like, you're shameless! I agreed to study hard because of you, but now it seems like it's all bullshit!"

"What benefit do I gain from telling you to study hard?" Gu Hansheng snorted, "Who knows? I won't give up."

That night, because of this statement, "I won't give up," Jing Xing was beaten by the restrained emotions of Gu Hansheng.

When Wen Mingting came up to find Jing Xing, the two had just ceased their fight.

She stood at the door, listening to the sounds of the scuffle inside, and was frightened into opening the door and rushing in. Once inside, Jing Xing dropped his pretense and looked at Wen Mingting with a pitiful expression. "Auntie, come save me quickly! He's going to kill me!"

Wen Mingting rushed over and stood between the two of them. She helped Jing Xing up and shielded him behind her, looking at Gu Hansheng. "What's going on with you two?"

Gu Hansheng reached out and brushed the dust off his clothes, then looked past Wen Mingting at Jing Xing behind her.

But in just a glance, that look was as chilling as if it were infused with poison.

Gu Hansheng took the calligraphy and paintings from the side and handed them to Wen Mingting. His tone was somewhat cold. "These are the calligraphy and paintings for you. It's getting late. I'll have the driver take you back home."

With that, he was about to leave.

"I'm asking you, what's going on? Everything was fine, but suddenly it turned into this? What happened?" 

The man, who had already walked to the door, suddenly turned around at Wen Mingting's words. His face was bruised, but it didn't detract from his handsome features. He said, "What happened, you can ask Ah Xing on your way."

...

After seeing off the two, Gu Hansheng returned to the living room.

Qu An stepped forward, but upon seeing the bruises on his face, she was momentarily stunned, forgetting what she had wanted to say. She covered her mouth in surprise. "Sir, what happened to you?"

Gu Hansheng didn't answer her question but instead asked, "How is A Shu?"

Upon being asked, Qu An suddenly remembered. "I was just about to tell you. Madam said she didn't want to eat dinner right now. She also said her waist hurts. Should we... call a doctor to come and check on her?"

Gu Hansheng pursed his lips and said slowly, "Arrange it."

"Okay," Qu An nodded.

Then she watched as Gu Hansheng walked towards the kitchen area. Before long, he emerged with an ice pack in hand and ascended the stairs.

Before ascending, he issued another command, "Have someone tidy up the study."

By the time Gu Hansheng returned to the bedroom, an hour had already elapsed.

Liang Shu had just finished washing up in the bathroom and lay down, feeling sore all over.

As the man entered, Liang Shu leaned against the headboard, sensing his peculiar mood. As he approached, she easily discerned the anomaly on his face. She pursed her lips. "What's wrong with you?"

However.

Gu Hansheng did not respond to her words, merely walking to the side of the bed, his gaze fixed squarely upon her.

Liang Shu was unnerved by this gaze, shrinking into the covers. She inquired, "Is something the matter with me?"

The next moment.

The man advanced directly towards her, a shadow descending upon her. Liang Shu's lips were already sealed by his kiss.

Unlike the tender kisses in the dressing room.

This one bore the mark of dominance.

He was about to strip away her breath, leaving nothing.

Liang Shu gripped his clothing tightly with her fingers, whimpering twice. Just as she felt herself nearly suffocating, he suddenly released her, his lips descending onto her neck, moist breath enveloping her neck.

She heard him utter three simple words, "Seductress."

Whether it was Liang Shu's imagination or not, she couldn't shake the feeling that the man's tone was somewhat resentful.

She tentatively pushed him away, regaining her breath before asking, "What happened to your face?"

Regarding the injury.

Gu Hansheng didn't explain to her. Liang Shu wasn't particularly curious, so if he didn't say anything, she let it be.

She wrinkled her nose at the smell emanating from him. "The smell of smoke on you is too strong, quite odd. If possible, it would be best to smoke less. That stuff isn't any good."

Although Liang Shu smoked too, she wasn't addicted.

But Gu Hansheng, in Liang Shu's eyes, was a bona fide nicotine addict.

Almost never without a cigarette in hand.

Liang Shu admitted that Gu Hansheng looked good smoking, but it was harmful nonetheless.

Now, as she suggested he smoke less, he recalled the words of the old lady. Wen Mingting asked him, "You and A Shu, have you taken precautions?"

Out in the cold, Jing Xing was not pleased to see that Gu Hansheng had already slipped into the car.

Only Wen Mingting and Gu Hansheng remained outside.

At these words, the man's brow lightly furrowed, the scarlet glow flickering at his fingertips. A wisp of smoke ash scattered in the wind as he glanced towards the second-floor bedroom balcony. "No."

Wen Mingting's expression soured upon hearing this.

She glanced down at the cigarette still pinched between his fingers, her tone slightly reproachful. "Perhaps at this moment, A Shu has news, and yet, you continue to smoke recklessly every day. It's not good for A Shu's health. That smoke of yours, I think it's best to quit."

For a man, quitting smoking is harder than anything else.

Gu Hansheng merely furrowed his brow slightly and said, "I'll smoke less in front of her from now on."

"Well, that's not ideal either. You should weigh this matter for yourself; I won't say more."

So Gu Hansheng's right hand now rested lightly on Liang Shu's abdomen. His expression was grave, pondering whether he should quit smoking.

...

After Gu Hansheng finished showering, Liang Shu was already dozing off.

She had wanted to say something to him, but drowsiness overcame her, and she suddenly forgot.

All the lights in the room were extinguished.

There was a heavy sinking beside her, and soon, an arm reached over to pull her into a embrace filled with masculine scent.

In a daze, something cold and sharp was placed into her hand, startling her awake.

As she lifted her head, she accidentally bumped into the man's sturdy jaw. Liang Shu felt the thin, rigid object in her hand and asked in a hoarse voice, "What is this you've given me?"

Gu Hansheng embraced her shoulders calmly and replied, "My supplementary card."

Liang Shu instantly became alert; she admitted she was tempted by money.

She pinched the card in her hand and silently tucked it under her pillow before saying, "Is it one of those unlimited spending kinds?"

"Yes."

Liang Shu nestled closer to him, feeling a slight touch of sentiment in her heart. "I'm deeply moved."

The next moment.

The man who had been quietly holding her suddenly rolled over, and in the darkness, only the contours of their faces were visible. He said, "Besides being moved?"

Liang Shu blinked, then hugged his neck and kissed him on the corner of his mouth. Unexpectedly, she heard the man emit a faint hiss.

She blinked again, this time not daring to move at all.

His mouth was injured; why didn't he cry out when she kissed him just now, yet this time, he winced in pain from her light touch?

"Thank you, Mr. Gu."

The pressure on her instantly disappeared as Gu Hansheng rolled back and laid properly beside her, saying, "I didn't give you this to hear your thanks."

Perplexed, she asked, "Then what do you want to hear?"

Unnoticed, the person beside her suddenly rolled over again. In the darkness, Gu Hansheng stared straight into her eyes without saying a word.