Chapter 14

Whether Gu Xuchen was really sick or not, I couldn’t tell, but when I got home that day, he was already lying on the sofa, looking listless and flipping through some documents.

Gu Xuchen’s gaze swept past me without a pause. I didn’t want to bother with him either, so I went straight upstairs.

“Stop.”

Gu Xuchen’s voice was calm and deep.

I didn’t slow down, just went upstairs, opened the door, and closed it in one go.

“With the way you two are, when do you expect to give me a grandchild?”

It was past nine in the evening when Gu’s mother’s sharp voice rang out. I could hear her through the door, and before I could get up, the door was already pushed open.

Gu’s mother, face cold, looked at Gu Xuchen and said, “Get in.”

Then she turned to me: “I don’t have many demands for you two. Boy or girl, I’ll love them all, but there must be at least one.”

Me: …

Our eyes met.

Gu Xuchen glanced at me, his face pale, clearly reluctant, but he went into the bedroom anyway.

Bang.

The bedroom door slammed shut.

Gu Xuchen stood there for a moment, then sat down on a chair nearby, his voice cold: “I’ll go out once she leaves.”

I said nothing, put on my headphones, and continued drawing.

The room was utterly quiet.

Midnight.

I finished my work early, looked at Gu Xuchen who was still sitting there, and said calmly, “She should be gone by now.”

Gu Xuchen glanced sideways at me, as if sulking, got up, and walked straight out the door.

I couldn’t be bothered with him, so I curled up in bed, turned off the lights, and went to sleep.

But-

Not five minutes later, the bedroom door opened, and Gu Xuchen darted onto the bed like the wind.

At the door,

Gu’s mother stood with a feather duster, only her silhouette visible: “You brat, you’re really pushing it.”

With the sound of the door closing,

My anxious heart finally settled down. I couldn’t help but look at Gu Xuchen beside me: “Why haven’t you told her about the fake marriage yet?”

Gu Xuchen glanced at me, his eyes intense.

“What are you looking at?”

“You used to stare at me all the time. Why can’t I look at you?”

Gu Xuchen retorted.

His cool scent was overwhelming, almost suffocating. Honestly, with a handsome guy lying next to you, who could resist?

Without hesitation, I got up, opened the wardrobe, and pulled out another quilt to lay on the floor.

“What are you doing?”

“Men and women shouldn’t sleep together. You take the bed, I’ll sleep on the floor.”

Gu Xuchen sat up on the bed, looking a bit annoyed, his voice cold:

“Are you really going to use my own words against me now?”

I lay down on the floor with my pillow: “You taught me well. You should be proud.”

Gu Xuchen: …

I knew Gu Xuchen’s temperament-his chance of coaxing someone was about 0.99%. After being mocked, he’d never lower his head, so I felt at ease and drifted off to sleep.

But-

I didn’t expect him to get off the bed and lie down right next to me, pulling me into his arms.

“Gu Xuchen!”

I tried to struggle, but I was no match for him. I was so scared I didn’t even dare to breathe:

“Don’t mess around, or I’ll call the police.”

“That’s exactly how you used to hold me.”

Gu Xuchen spoke suddenly.

I frowned, not wanting to respond, but he moved even closer, his voice low:

“I admit, at first I only saw you as a partner…”

“Enough, I’m tired.”

I closed my eyes, not wanting my hard-won peace of mind to be ruined by him again.

The night grew deeper.

Gu Xuchen didn’t say another word, but his arm stayed wrapped around my waist. I curled up, not daring to move at all.

This scene-

I’d imagined it many times, but when it actually happened, all I felt was a bitter ache inside.

The days after my failed interview were still fresh in my memory.