Shen Nanyue shivered involuntarily.
She reached back to stop Zhou Yushen’s hand, her voice carrying a trace of urgency.
“We still have to go to work later.”
As if he hadn’t heard her, Zhou Yushen flipped over and pinned her beneath him before lowering his lips onto hers.
Their lips and teeth intertwined, waves of heat spreading through the crisp morning air.
The distinct cool sandalwood scent unique to the man wrapped warmly around Shen Nanyue, while their hurried breaths scattered through the quiet room.
“Hiss—!”
Not long after, the man let out a low pained sound, and the two finally pulled slightly apart.
One hand braced beside Shen Nanyue, Zhou Yushen used the thumb of his other hand to lightly wipe at the corner of his lips, smearing away the bright trace of blood.
He curled his lips into a smile, that vivid streak of red tracing a seductive arc across his face.
“You don’t like it?”
Only after steadying her breathing did Shen Nanyue glare lightly at him.
She pressed both hands against his chest and pushed him aside.
Then she sat up, running her fingers through her tousled hair a few times.
Tilting her head, she glanced at the man lying lazily on his side, propping his head up with one hand as he watched her with a curved smile.
Despite being rejected, there wasn’t the slightest hint of displeasure on his face.
Instead, he seemed thoroughly intrigued by her reaction.
Morning light outlined his refined features.
His flawless face, already perfect enough to seem unreal, appeared even more sculpted and profound beneath those dark eyes filled with hidden turbulence.
Shen Nanyue pursed her lips, a trace of conflict surfacing between her slightly furrowed brows.
She had always been very satisfied with Zhou Yushen’s appearance, and marrying him certainly didn’t mean she intended to live like a nun.
But because of what happened last night, her psychological aversion to uncleanliness had reduced her desire for Zhou Yushen to almost nothing.
Seeing Shen Nanyue’s increasingly unpleasant expression, as well as the faint disgust hidden in her eyes toward him, the smile at Zhou Yushen’s lips finally faded.
He sat up and looked at her.
“What’s wrong?”
Shen Nanyue lifted her gaze to him, her eyes cold to the extreme as they locked onto his face.
“Zhou Yushen, tell me honestly. Did you go out to see Gu Linlang last night?”
She hated deception, and she hated misunderstandings even more.
After calming her thoughts overnight, she finally sensed that something was off.
The photo Gu Linlang had sent her last night looked like bragging on the surface, but vaguely, it also seemed intended to mislead her into misunderstanding Zhou Yushen.
And just now, she hadn’t smelled any alcohol on Zhou Yushen.
She had gone to sleep very late last night, which meant Zhou Yushen must have returned even later.
If he had truly been as drunk as he appeared in the photo, there should definitely have been alcohol on him this morning.
Which meant he hadn’t been drinking last night.
That completely contradicted the information Gu Linlang had given her.
Hearing Shen Nanyue’s words, Zhou Yushen’s expression froze for a moment before his eyes turned cold.
“Why would you think that?”
Shen Nanyue showed him the message Gu Linlang had sent.
Looking at the message, Zhou Yushen’s face darkened.
The chill in his black eyes resembled spring ice—piercingly cold.
The intimate atmosphere from moments ago vanished without a trace.
“Last night I was having dinner with a client. The client was pressed for time and could only discuss business during a layover in Fengcheng. I can show you my work log.”
Zhou Yushen picked up his phone and first showed Shen Nanyue the call records between him and the client from last night.
Then he pulled up his work report, which detailed all of his movements throughout the day.
He really had signed a major contract last night.
The heaviness in Shen Nanyue’s heart dissipated by more than half, and even her body seemed to feel lighter.
“Fine then. I’ll reluctantly believe you.”
Pretending not to care, she returned the phone to Zhou Yushen.
Zhou Yushen took the opportunity to hold her hand in his palm, looking at her with seriousness and sincerity.
“When we first met, I told you that I’m a clean freak—both mentally and physically.”
Shen Nanyue blinked.
Was he declaring his loyalty?
“The kind of marriage I want is one that’s faithful and long-lasting. I would never do anything that could threaten our marriage. You can give me one hundred percent trust.”
Shen Nanyue’s pupils shrank slightly.
A faithful and long-lasting marriage.
That was deeply tempting.
Unfortunately, life was not a fairy tale.
With her free hand, she lightly patted the back of Zhou Yushen’s hand, the corners of her lips lifting into a half-smile that wasn’t quite a smile.
“I never give anyone one hundred percent trust. My eyes, my ears, and my mind are the only things I trust completely.”
“Zhou Yushen, I won’t ask about your past with Gu Linlang, just like I won’t ask which version of you in that obviously real photo she sent—the you from years ago—was in love with someone else. But you’re married to me now. I’m petty and possessive, so you’d better stay away from any romantic entanglements from the past or the future. Otherwise, this faithful and long-lasting marriage you speak of… I can’t give it to you.”
Her words were firm and powerful.
Zhou Yushen fell silent.
Shen Nanyue gently withdrew her hand.
“And one more thing—I hate being lied to. If I ever find out you’ve lied to me about something, then this contractual marriage of ours will have to end too.”
A slight tremor passed through Zhou Yushen’s pupils, a trace of panic quietly surfacing beneath the dark tide in his eyes.
But he quickly concealed it.
After speaking, Shen Nanyue moved to get out of bed, only for Zhou Yushen to grab her wrist and pull her back.
His warm palm gently covered her cheek, the burning heat of his fingertips brushing over her delicate, smooth skin with lingering tenderness.
She lifted her eyes and met the man’s ink-dark gaze.
“I’ll prove to you that I’m worthy of your trust.”
The determination in his voice sounded almost like an oath.
Before Shen Nanyue could respond, her lips were sealed once again.
The metallic taste of blood spread between their tightly pressed lips.
Their mouths fought softly against each other, and after freezing for a second, Shen Nanyue lightly grasped the fabric at his chest and stopped resisting.
Half an hour later, the two of them finally came downstairs, neat and properly dressed.
At first glance, both appeared perfectly normal.
But a closer look revealed Shen Nanyue’s faint embarrassment and Zhou Yushen’s frustrated, unsatisfied expression.
Shen An’an still hadn’t gotten out of bed.
Butler Liu was about to go wake her when Shen Nanyue stopped him.
“Uncle Liu, let her rest well. The doctor I contacted will arrive in Fengcheng today. Once An’an wakes up, give me a call and I’ll take her to see the doctor.”
“Alright.”
Butler Liu nodded.
As his gaze briefly swept across the couple’s faces, he seemed to understand something and lowered his head with a light cough.
When he looked up again, his expression had returned to normal.
“Then Miss and Young Master can go eat first. Breakfast is ready.”
During breakfast, Zhou Yushen still wore a sour expression.
Shen Nanyue placed a crystal dumpling into his bowl and said with a smile, “Relax. I only made you take a cold shower this morning. After all, I need a happy married life too.”
She deliberately stressed certain words.
The seafood porridge Zhou Yushen had just put into his mouth nearly sprayed out.
After swallowing the porridge, he maintained his composure and good manners by choosing not to respond to Shen Nanyue’s teasing.
She was the one who said no, yet she was also the one deliberately bringing it up again.
Then what about his happy married life?
Shen Nanyue smiled so hard that her eyes curved into crescents, no longer carrying the heavy worry she’d had over the past few days.
“Oh right, which doctor did you contact for An’an?”
Once the topic shifted, Zhou Yushen stopped dwelling on those distracting thoughts.
“Professor Anso from M Country—a renowned dermatologist. He once helped a patient with eighty percent burn coverage recover their appearance. An’an’s burns are less severe than that patient’s, so I think there’s a chance.”
— The end of the Chapter–
TL note : Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up ahead of the release :
https://www.patreon.com/DeCakraWnloverz
