Chapter 6

Chapter 6

Things truly spiraled out of control during the Gu Group’s anniversary gala.

That night, I accompanied Gu Yanzhou to the event wearing a dark green gown. He had sent the dress over himself; the shoulder line fit so perfectly it felt custom-made. When I first came downstairs, Gu Yanzhou was sitting on the sofa. He looked up at me, his gaze lingering for a full three seconds.

“What is it?” I asked intentionally.

“I’m thinking of having you stay home.”

“Why?”

Gu Yanzhou stood up and walked over. He adjusted the delicate chain near my collarbone, his voice dropping low.

“You’re too eye-catching.”

My ears instantly flushed hot.

Before I could respond, he had already draped a coat over my shoulders.

“Let’s go. Stay close to me tonight.”

It sounded like a piece of advice, but coming from his mouth, it felt like a command.

Once we entered the venue, Gu Yanzhou hardly let me out of his sight.

No matter who he was introduced to, he only said one thing.

“My wife, Xu Yutang.”

Not an ex, not someone’s replacement.

His wife.

I thought things were messy enough already, but I hadn’t expected Gu Zeqian to deliver himself right to our doorstep.

Halfway through the banquet, he publicly displayed an old photograph.

It was from my birthday three years ago. He was leaning down to help me light the candles, the distance between us an eyesore of ambiguity.

The media erupted instantly.

Gu Zeqian held his wine glass, a malicious smile on his face.

“Sister-in-law, care to explain?”

That address, “sister-in-law,” felt like he was intentionally ripping open my scars.

My fingertips went cold. Just as I was about to speak, Gu Yanzhou tilted his head toward me.

“Do you mind?”

“What?”

In the next second, he cupped the back of my neck, leaned down, and kissed me.

The entire room went silent.

It wasn’t a light peck.

It wasn’t a performance for the cameras.

That kiss was fierce, bordering on predatory. It was a declaration in front of everyone that no one else was to touch my past, my present, or my future ever again.

My legs suddenly went weak. I could only clutch the lapels of his suit, forced to tilt my head back and endure his aggression. Gu Yanzhou’s presence overwhelmed me completely. Toward the end of the kiss, he even gave the corner of my mouth an incredibly light nip.

It was very gentle.

Yet it was enough to make my scalp tingle.

When we pulled apart, my breathing was a total mess.

Gu Yanzhou’s hand was still hooked around my waist. He lowered his head close to my ear, his voice desperately husky.

“If anyone dares to use the past to disgust you in front of me again, I’ll make them watch exactly how I kiss you with their own eyes.”

My ears were burning through and through.

Gu Zeqian’s face was ashen, his grip on his wine glass so tight it nearly shattered.

After returning home, I fled upstairs as if I were escaping.

But just as I reached the top of the stairs, Gu Yanzhou called out to me.

“Xu Yutang.”

I turned around and saw him leaning against the entryway. His tie had been loosened, and the restraint in his eyes hadn’t fully faded yet.

“About that kiss tonight-if you didn’t like it, I apologize.”

I could have just said it was fine.

But looking at him, I suddenly didn’t want to pretend anymore.

“It’s not that I didn’t like it.”

My fingers gripped the fabric of my skirt, my heart racing so fast it felt like it would explode. “It’s just… it was too much.”

Gu Yanzhou walked up the stairs, closing in on me step by step.

“Too much?”

He pressed me back until my spine hit the railing. I didn’t even dare to breathe heavily.

Gu Yanzhou braced one hand beside me, looking down at me.

“I haven’t even done anything yet.”

My face instantly turned scarlet.

“Don’t talk nonsense.”

“Nonsense?”

He let out a soft chuckle, his gaze falling on my slightly swollen lips. His eyes were dangerously dark. “Back at the gala, if there hadn’t been so many people, I would have done more than just kiss you.”

My brain went blank, and my whole body froze.

Gu Yanzhou looked down at me for a moment before finally withdrawing his hand.

Before turning away, he dropped a low sentence.

“Go to sleep. If I keep looking at you, I’m afraid I won’t be able to stop myself.”

That night, I barely slept a wink.