take a bath

Holding the check tightly in her hand, Gu Dandan cautiously glanced at the handsome face of the man beside her. He looked no more than his early twenties but possessed a charm that was hard to look away from. "He's truly good-looking..." This thought had crossed her mind countless times.

"Take the money and leave quickly," the man urged her in a cold tone.

"I... I don't want the money..." Gu Dandan's voice was barely above a whisper.

The man narrowed his sharp eyes slightly, his gaze resting on Gu Dandan's youthful face, "Then what do you want?"

This question left Gu Dandan momentarily stunned; she hadn't expected him to ask her so directly about her desires. "I... I want a home."

She was only thirteen years old, and as she spoke those words, her heart was filled with the purest longing and humblest plea.

Lifting her little face up, Gu Dandan showed a hint of determination, "I want a home." But then she felt confused, why would she confide such a private wish to this stranger? She knew well that no one could give her the warmth of a family she longed for.

After a moment of silence, the man returned to his car and started the engine. Perhaps he had really gone mad, because he decided to take this ragged, mud-covered little girl home with him.

...

His residence was like a grand palace, something out of a fairy tale to Gu Dandan. Maybe this man was a prince or even a king.

The man led her to a room on the second floor and briefly said, "Go bathe."

With that, he turned and left. Gathering her courage, Gu Dandan called after him, "Wait... wait, may I know your name? I'm Gu..."

"Gu Ao!" The man interrupted her stuttering, mistaking her hesitation for a speech impediment!

"Gu...Ao." Watching Gu Ao's retreating figure, Gu Dandan wondered why she suddenly became so tongue-tied in front of him.

...

The room was much larger than where she used to live. There was a bathroom on the north side. Pushing open the door gently, Gu Dandan opened her mouth wide in astonishment—the place looked like a heavenly retreat.

However, without any clean clothes to change into, she didn't know what to do next.

The bathtub was exceptionally large, and lying in it must be very comfortable. Gu Dandan smiled; even if this was all a dream, she wanted to enjoy it fully.

After stripping off her clothes, she climbed into the bathtub with a splash, only to realize how deep it was, almost like a small swimming pool. She searched everywhere for the water source but found nothing, sitting there for half an hour, naively hoping the water would fill up by itself.

At that moment, Gu Ao walked into the bathroom...

"Ahh...!" Gu Dandan curled up in panic.

Gu Ao chuckled dismissively; he had no interest in underage girls. With ease, he operated the sensor, and water began to flow into the bathtub. Curious, Gu Dandan watched everything unfold, gradually relaxing.

Realizing her nakedness, she exclaimed, "You... you go out..."

Gu Ao snorted again, unimpressed by her undeveloped body.

After bathing and putting on the shirt Gu Ao had left for her, Gu Dandan stepped out of the bathroom and accidentally bumped into someone, "Oof... Gu...Ao..." Rubbing her forehead, she timidly retreated to one side, keeping her head low.

Gu Ao's piercing gaze lingered on her; it was the first time someone dared to call him by his full name, let alone a stammering little girl.

Upon hearing his displeasure at being addressed by name, Gu Dandan grew even more nervous, recalling the abuse she had endured in the past, fearing she had done something wrong again.

"Who allowed you to call me by my name?" Gu Ao asked coldly.

"I'm sorry, I..."

Impatiently, Gu Ao squinted his eyes, "What is your name?"

"I'm Gu...Dan...Dandan..." Due to nervousness, she repeated her name several times.

Then, there was silence between them until Gu Ao pulled out a stack of cash and handed it to Gu Dandan, "Take this money, and don't come back tomorrow."

"I... I don't need it." Regarding money, Gu Dandan had no concept; she simply wasn't interested in it.

Finding this unusual girl intriguing, Gu Ao held her chin firmly and then pressed his icy lips against hers in a passionate and forceful kiss.

"Is this what you wanted?" Gu Ao whispered seductively into her ear after the kiss, his tone cold and alluring.