《Clinging to Devoted Fiancé, Heiress Slays the World!》


 Chapter 1 Room 2202, Save Me!

    <h4>Chapter 1: Chapter 1 Room 2202, Save Me!</h4>


    "Give me back my child!"


    The woman''s lower body was soaked with blood, and she weakly fell off the operating table, trying to crawl forward.


    The man looked down at her from above, his expression grim, his words like a poisonous arrow: "This child is a bastard, the bastard you had with Gu Moqian! I absolutely won''t let him live!"


    His eyes held an icy coldness. Suddenly, he raised his hand and mmed the newborn down onto the ground.


    "No!"


    Ji Wei''s eyes widened as she desperately crawled forward to grab the child, but she was still a step toote.


    She watched helplessly as the child she''d just given birth to was mercilessly tossed onto the ground. The tiny face went deathly pale, crimson blood trickled gradually from the corner of the mouth, and behind the head, blood pooled and flowed like a river...


    Ji Wei used all her strength to lunge forward, her hands tightly cradling the baby, letting out a heart-rending shriek: "My child... my baby!"


    She turned her gaze violently to the man, her eyes burning with fiery rage: "Ji Chuyang, you beast! He''s your biological son! How could you do this? How could you!"


    "Biological son?" Ji Chuyang sneered. "That night when you spent the whole evening with Gu Moqian, what did you think you were doing? Do you think I don''t know? You dare to act so righteous after putting a green hat on me? You filthy woman!"


    Ji Chuyang''s expression turned savage, and he raised his hand to p her across the face.


    "All of this is just your delusion! That night, you know exactly what I begged Gu Moqian for! I begged him to extend the deadline so you could finalize that critical investment deal¡ª"


    "Enough!"


    Ji Chuyang cut her off sharply: "Ji Wei, do you know what I hate most about you? Your clever, scheming nature¡ªpretending to be the perfect granddaughter-inw before my grandfather, winning the sympathy of everyone in the Ji Family. Even within the Ji Family corporation, you''re highly regarded, and me¡ªI''m nothing but a useless foil beside you! You don''t love me, yet you feign loyalty, helping the Ji Family through every crisis. It makes me sick! Don''t think I don''t know, you secretly consulted awyer about divorce! You dream of leaving me¡ªdon''t even think about it!"


    Ji Wei suddenlyughed, augh filled with despair and bitterness.


    "Oh, right. There''s one more thing I forgot to tell you. Back then, it was your beloved little cousin who drugged you and sent you into my bed. And it just so happened that night your fianc¨¦ Gu Moqian walked in on the scene. The expression on the face of Rongcheng''s number one young master was truly priceless!"


    "Ji Chuyang, you''re nothing but a monstrous beast! You killed my child¡ªI''ll fight you to the end!"


    Ji Wei let out a gut-wrenching roar, using every ounce of strength to stand up, reaching out her hands to strangle the man''s neck.


    "Get away from me!"


    Her frail body couldn''t stand firm, and he kicked her away harshly.


    Ji Wei fell backwards to the ground, her head striking the operating table heavily, and instantly, blood gushed out like a torrent. Blood dripped down her thighs, pooling into a vast puddle...


    The once-proud daughter of Rongcheng''s wealthiest family, Ji Wei, met a gruesome death on the day she gave birth.


    ¡ª¡ª


    My head... so dizzy, so heavy...


    Ji Wei painfully opened her eyes and saw the glittering crystal chandelier on the ceiling, stunned for a moment.


    Her mind was still flooded with the searing hate she felt in her dying moments...


    No, this isn''t right. She had clearly already died.


    Ji Wei struggled to prop herself up and sat on the bed, scanning her surroundings, finding herself in a room that unmistakably resembled a Presidential Suite.


    Her eyes widened in shock, confirming again and again.


    No doubt about it! This was Room 2202 at the Di Hao Hotel¡ªthe ce where her nightmare began!


    Ji Wei''s pupils constricted abruptly.


    Today was her twentieth birthday. On this very night, she''d been drugged, ended up in bed with the spoiled heir Ji Chuyang, and even got photographed by the media.


    The next day, rumors of her infidelity spread like wildfire,pletely destroying her reputation as Rongcheng''s premier socialite. She''d turned into a woman despised for her promiscuity, and Gu Moqian''s mother filed a letter of annulment the very next day out of fury!


    In the entire city of Rongcheng, no one else would dare marry her except Ji Chuyang.


    Yet, she had been foolishly deceived by Ji Chuyang''s hypocritical courtship, entrusting her entire future to a man worse than a beast.


    Bits and pieces of her past yed out again in her mind, and Ji Wei clenched her fists tightly. Since she had been reborn, she would never make the same mistakes again in this life!


    Gradually calming down, Ji Wei noticed the sound of water flowing in the bathroom.


    If she remembered correctly, the man showering in the bathroom right now was Ji Chuyang.


    At the same time, she felt a scorching heat surging through her body¡ªit was clear the drug Ji Shanshan had slipped was beginning to take effect. Her situation was already dire, and the door was locked.


    What to do? How could she escape?


    Ji Wei tensed up all over, pacing anxiously. Soon, her attention fell on thendline phone by the bedside.


    She walked over, grabbed the receiver, hesitated for a few seconds, then quickly dialed a string of numbers.


    "Beep... beep..."


    The waiting tone made her increasingly uneasy, as she wasn''t sure if the person on the other end would answer.


    Just as she was about to hang up in disappointment, a voice from the receiver responded with the one she desperately hoped to hear: "Hello?"


    A man''s voice, maic and tinged with coolness.


    For reasons unknown, hearing this voice again caused Ji Wei''s nose to sting sharply. She suppressed the wave of emotions building within her: "Gu Moqian, it''s Ji Wei..."


    Crash¡ª


    The bathroom door suddenly flew open.


    Ji Wei turned her head and saw Ji Chuyang emerge, his lower body wrapped only in a towel.


    "Room 2202, save me!"


    There wasn''t any time left. Ji Wei frantically spat out the few words into the receiver before mming the phone down.


    -


    New story "President Fu, The Reborn Wife Has Logged In" is now live! Please support~

 Chapter 2: What a waste of so much blood, it really breaks my heart

    <h4>Chapter 2: Chapter 2: What a waste of so much blood, it really breaks my heart</h4>


    "What are you doing?"


    Chuyang rushed over immediately, alert and vignt.


    Ji Wei backed away in panic. "You... stay away from me!"


    "Miss Ji, I suggest you stop wasting your energy and obedientlye to bed with me. I promise I''ll use my body to make you surrender." Chuyang''s lewd gaze trailed down from her delicate face...


    The naked desire in the man''s eyes made Ji Wei''s heart shudder with fear.


    She shook her increasingly drowsy head, striving to stay awake. Suddenly, she noticed a fruit knife lying on the coffee table behind her.


    "Miss Ji, there''s no need to be afraid. I''ll treat you very gently¡ª" Chuyang sneered as he advanced toward her.


    "Don''te any closer!" Ji Wei grabbed the fruit knife and screamed at him.


    Chuyang scoffed, "Miss Ji, with how weak you are right now, you think you can fight me with a knife? Don''t overestimate yourself!"


    With a wave of hisrge hand, Chuyang tried to snatch the knife from her.


    "Don''t move!" Ji Wei yelled sharply and suddenly turned the de towards her own right wrist. "If you dare take another step, I''ll die right in front of you!"


    Her expression was resolute, and there wasn''t an ounce of jest in her voice.


    Chuyang clearly didn''t anticipate such an act from her. He froze for a moment, then mocked, "I heard Miss Ji is even afraid of needles. Cutting your skin with a knife hurts far more than a shot. Do you really dare?"


    Ji Wei''s face turned pale.


    She *was* afraid of pain.


    As the rightful eldest daughter of the Ji Family, she had been doted on and spoiled by Old Madam Ji since childhood. She had never been allowed to suffer even the slightest hardship, resulting in her entitled demeanor.


    But after the pain of losing her child, dying tragically, and being reborn, Ji Wei was no longer that reckless and willful heiress.


    Even in death, she would never let Chuyang tarnish her purity!


    "Mr. Ji, is there some kind of misunderstanding between us?"


    Suddenly, Ji Wei''s lips curved into a faint smile. Her grip on the knife''s handle tightened. The sharp de opened a wound on her fair skin.


    Blood instantly gushed out, dripping onto the pristine floor.


    Ji Wei smiled faintly and said, "Chuyang, if I die here, you''ll be branded a murderer. The Ji Family will never let you go, and the Ji Family you belong to will also face dire consequences."


    Chuyang stared at her in shock, his eyes wide.


    He had never expected this delicate young mistress, who was both afraid of pain and overly dramatic, to actually harm herself.


    "I''m not afraid of your threats." Chuyang refused to admit his fear, speaking stubbornly. "You''remitting suicide. If you die, it has nothing to do with me."


    The crimson blood continued to drip steadily.


    The pain brought some rity to Ji Wei''s foggy mind. She endured the agony and looked down with a faintugh. "Oh, really? If Imitted suicide, don''t you think the Ji Family will investigate? And, how do you exin you and Ji Shanshan drugging my drink? Do you think the Ji Family will just let that slide? Sacrificing your entire family''s future just to sleep with me¡ªChuyang, is it worth it?"


    Chuyang stared at her in disbelief.


    She knew everything!


    Impossible.


    Only he and Ji Shanshan were aware of the drugging. How could Ji Wei possibly know?


    Seeing Chuyang''s momentary panic, Ji Wei secretly let out a sigh of relief.


    "At this point, Mr. Ji, what are you still standing there for? Get lost already!"


    Chuyang red at her, his expression darkening with malice.


    Since the secret was out, given this young mistress''s personality, even if he failed to sleep with her today, she wouldn''t let him or the Ji Family go.


    Might as well go all the way and make her his womanpletely!


    What''s more, Ji Shanshan would soon arrive with the reporters. By then, he''d simply im Ji Wei seduced him, forcing her into disgrace and leaving no choice but to marry him!


    "Miss Ji still has such a fiery temper¡ªbut I like that." Chuyang suddenly changed his expression, shamelessly closing in on Ji Wei.


    Ji Wei''s heart sank. "Chuyang, if youe any closer, I really will die right here!"


    "Miss Ji, dying won''t be that easy. Hand it over!" Chuyang snarled, forcibly snatching the fruit knife from Ji Wei''s hand.


    *tter¡ª*


    The knife was flung far away, and Chuyangughed maniacally. "If I''d known earlier, you should''ve listened obediently. Wasting all that blood¡ªmy heart aches for you."


    His tone was mocking as he ced a hand on his chest, feigning a pained expression.


    Disgust churned in Ji Wei''s stomach. She tried to push him away with all her might, but Chuyang grabbed her wrists tightly, keeping her immobilized.


    "Let me go... let me go!"


    Ji Wei screamed, but the drug in her system surged again. Weak and dizzy, her vision blurred until the man before her turned into two shadowy figures.


    Summoning thest shred of her strength, she lunged forward and sank her teeth into Chuyang''s arm.


    "You dare to bite me? You''re asking for it!"


    Chuyang raised his hand, ready to p her, but before the blownded, a steel-like grip caught his arm firmly!


    Chuyang froze in terror as he looked up at the man before him, whose icy, menacing gaze made his whole body tremble with fear and his knees go weak.

 Chapter 3 The Drug That Was Administered

    <h4>Chapter 3: Chapter 3 The Drug That Was Administered</h4>


    Special assistant Chen Ke saw Mr. Gu striding out of the room, holding a woman whose clothes were stained with blood, and quickly went up to him.


    "Tell Old Xu to drive the car to the underground parking lot." The manmanded while keeping his pace steady.


    "Yes, Mr. Gu."


    Inside the elevator, the numbers changed constantly. Mo Qian stared at the pale and fragile woman in his arms, his brows tightly furrowed.


    Beside him, Chen Ke was utterly astonished.


    In his impression, Mo Qian always maintained a calm andposed demeanor even when dealing with billion-dor investments and acquisitions. Why was it that the moment he faced Miss Ji, hisposure seemed to crumble?


    The driver, upon seeing Mo Qian approaching, immediately and respectfully opened the rear car door for him.


    Mo Qian carefully ced Ji Wei into the car seat, then got in himself.


    "Head to Shanshui Manor," the man said in a deep voice.


    At the entrance of Di Hao Hotel.


    Ji Shanshan secretly noticed Mo Qian taking Ji Wei away from the room. She immediately changed her strategy, directing the media reporters to the hotel entrance in an effort to corner them.


    But after waiting for quite a while, neither of them appeared. Not only was Ji Shanshan bing anxious, but even the reporters were beginning to lose patience.


    Before long, someone rushed over and whispered a few words in Ji Shanshan''s ear.


    Ji Shanshan turned pale with shock: "What? Ji Wei and Mr. Gu have already left the hotel!"


    Upon hearing her words, a reporter immediately walked up and questioned, "Miss Ji, are you ying us? Mo Qian hasn''t been in the hotel at all, has he?"


    Ji Shanshan''s expression shifted slightly but she quickly masked her emotions. Her eyes flickered as she said, "Well... Mr. Gu has indeed already left. But, I have an even bigger scoop."


    ...


    Ji Wei opened her eyes again, finding herself lying in a warm and solid embrace.


    Noticing the movement of the woman in his arms, Mo Qian slowly lowered his gaze.


    In an instant, Ji Wei fell into those deep, obsidian-like eyes.


    Her heart raced abruptly. She propped herself up with her hand, wanting to rise from his arms, but inadvertently touched the wound on her wrist, pain causing her to inhale sharply.


    The wound had been simply bandaged, and the bleeding had stopped.


    "Don''t move." A broad, firm palm held her wrist, stopping her action.


    Coolness from his fingertips seeped into her skin, spreading across the ces they touched, permeating the air with his crisp and clean scent.


    She stared at him, a bit dazed.


    He was still as distinguished and handsome as ever, dressed in custom-tailored, handmade suits that fit him perfectly. His facial features were finely chiseled, and from this angle, he was utterly captivating.


    Mo Qian was the sole heir to the Gu Group, the most esteemed man in Rongcheng. Their marriage had been arranged by the previous generation, but Ji Wei had fiercely opposed this union, dismissing it as a forced marriage.


    For some reason, Ji Wei found her gaze glued to the pronounced Adam''s apple on his neck, as if bewitched, unable to look away.


    Only now did she realize her throat felt dry and burning, leading her to swallow arge mouthful of saliva.


    This simple motion did not escape Mo Qian''s notice, his deep eyes darkening slightly.


    From the moment he had picked her up, he recognized the abnormality in her condition. Her entire body was unnaturally warm, as if consumed by mes.


    He was a young, vigorous man and understood instinctively what was happening.


    She had been drugged.


    The woman''s almond-shaped eyes shimmered like autumn water, glistening with an irresistible allure. As she looked at him, there was a yearning that she couldn''t conceal...


    Mo Qian endured and turned his gaze away, his voice low as he ordered, "Old Xu, drive faster."


    To Ji Wei, the man before her was like a forbidden poppy, an irresistible temptation. She couldn''t avert her eyes, and subconsciously she leaned closer into his embrace, snuggling toward him like a spoiled kitten seeking its master''s warmth.

 Chapter 4 What are you going to do...

    <h4>Chapter 4: Chapter 4 What are you going to do...</h4>


    Mo Qian''s back stiffened slightly. He lowered his gaze once more to the woman in his arms, a fleeting trace of astonishment shing in his eyes.


    Though she was his fianc¨¦e, their rtionship was far from close¡ªone could even say it was on the verge of copse.


    But tonight, Ji Wei seemed... different somehow.


    At this moment, shey obediently in his arms. Could it be solely because of the drug''s effect?


    But then, why did she actively call him for help?


    Moreover, she actually remembered his phone number all along...


    After the chaos at the hotel,pounded by the drug''s lingering effects within her, Ji Wei felt her body alternating between waves of heat and cold. Her lips were drained of color, and she trembled, curling up in Mo Qian''s embrace.


    Mo Qian instinctively tightened his hold on her.


    Her fevered body pressed tightly against his, and Mo Qian felt his throat tighten as an unease began creeping across his frame. A potent heat gathered within him, something stirring unwittingly in his lower abdomen...


    On the surface, Mo Qian still looked stern and unyielding¡ªthe imposing and aloof image of the domineering CEO remained intact.


    But in truth, he was enduring an immense struggle; faint beads of sweat had begun to form at his temples.


    Around twenty minutester, the silver-gray Maybach came to a steady stop at Shanshui Manor''s gates.


    Mo Qian carried Ji Wei out of the car and strode swiftly into the manor.


    The private doctor had been waiting there, promptly disinfecting and rebandaging Ji Wei''s wound while prescribing medication to prevent infection.


    "Is there any way to neutralize the drug she''s taken?" Mo Qian suddenly asked.


    The private doctor shook his head slowly. "This type of drug has no antidote. If the effects cannot be released naturally, the only alternative is to suppress them gradually with cold water and endure until dawn."


    Mo Qian looked at the pale-faced woman lying on the bed, his thin lips pressed tightly together.


    Seeing her like this, how could he bear to immerse her in cold water?


    After the private doctor left, Mo Qian remained standing quietly by the bedside.


    "Mr. Gu, it''s already veryte. You should rest now; I''ll take care of Miss Gu Ji," Sister Zhang said from behind him.


    "No need. I''ll watch over her personally," Mo Qian replied without turning back, his tone indifferent.


    Sister Zhang acknowledged softly and quietly exited the room, closing the door behind her.


    Tormented by the drug''s effects, Ji Wei''s sleep was restless. Her brows furrowed, her entire body drenched in cold sweat, her hair dampened and stered to her face.


    Seeing her in such difort, Mo Qian frowned slightly.


    He strode into the bathroom, quickly returning with a basin of water.


    The cool touch against her forehead brought some relief, and Ji Wei unconsciously murmured, "More... I want more..."


    With a sudden motion, her delicate, pale hand reached out and gripped therge hand resting on her forehead.


    "Want what?"


    Mo Qian froze, his movements stiffening, his voice hoarse as he asked softly.


    "I want... I want..."


    Ji Wei didn''t know exactly what she desired, only responding instinctively.


    Her perspiration increased, her damp hair clinging to her porcin neck, while sweat seeped into the neckline of her pajamas, staining it.


    Perhaps feeling ufortable, Ji Wei shifted restlessly.


    Mo Qian extended his hand and lifted the corner of the nket.


    As expected, her body was soaked in sweat. The silk pajamas clinging tightly to her chest revealed soft, alluring curves...


    Mo Qian swiftly averted his gaze, his brows furrowing slightly.


    If her body remained drenched in sweat, she''d risk catching a chill.


    He slowly bent over, one arm slipping beneath her neck and the other encircling her slender waist, gently lifting her into his arms and carrying her to the bathroom.


    The sound of running water echoed in the room, and Ji Wei shook her head uneasily.


    She moved slightly, the warm liquid rippling across her skin.


    The unfamiliar sensation startled Ji Wei. Her body stiffened abruptly, and with effort, she lifted her heavy eyelids.


    Ji Wei discovered she was immersed in the bathtub.


    Weakly tilting her head, she caught sight of the man standing in front of the tub.


    "You... What are you doing..."


    Her pale lips quivered as she instinctively raised a hand to shield her chest.

 Chapter 5 Fiancée

    <h4>Chapter 5: Chapter 5 Fianc¨¦e</h4>


    Fingers touched the silk fabric. Ji Wei lowered her head and realized she was wearing pajamas, not entirely naked as she had feared.


    She let out a small sigh of relief.


    Gu Moqian exined calmly, "You were drenched in sweat. I thought soaking in water might make you feel better."


    The temperature of the water had been adjusted by him¡ªneither too hot nor cold¡ªand would not let her catch a chill.


    "...Thank you."


    Feeling a bit embarrassed by her earlier misjudgment, Ji Wei lowered her gaze slightly.


    Indeed, soaking in the water eased the burning heat inside her and made her difort more bearable.


    Her lowered gazecked the usual arrogance she carried, instead showing a softer, more delicate side of her.


    Her hair, like seaweed, was wet and naturally draped over her face. Her cheeks, warmed by the steam, glowed faintly red. As her eyes lowered slightly, hershes trembled ever so lightly, like feathers fluttering onto his heart, sending ripples through it.


    "I''ll step out first. Call me if you need anything."


    Gu Moqian''s voice was husky as he spoke, swiftly turning away.


    Even though she was clothed, the curves of her figure still stood out, and tonight, she looked entirely different from how she had before¡ªtriggering an inexplicable feeling within him.


    He was afraid that if he stayed any longer, he wouldn''t be able to resist himself...


    The door to the bathroom shut quietly.


    Ji Wei stared nkly in the direction where Gu Moqian disappeared, momentarily lost in thought.


    Tonight, drifting between waking and sleeping, every time she opened her eyes, she would see Gu Moqian.


    He was known as a workaholic who always handled business matters in his study. Yet tonight, he hadn''t left her side even for a second.


    In her past life, when the scandal between her and Ji Chuyang broke out, Gu Moqian''s mother had adamantly insisted on canceling their engagement, driving the two apart.


    Later, to help Ji Chuyang secure the position of heir to thepany, she had sought Gu Moqian''s assistance, which led to brief interactions.


    But even then, their connection had been strictly limited to business.


    Truth be told, she barely knew anything about Gu Moqian.


    What sort of person was he, really? Why did he seem so different from the cold, aloof Mr. Gu in the rumors¡ªunapproachable and noble?


    The bathroom door suddenly swung open, startling Ji Wei out of her thoughts. She immediately looked up to see Sister-inw Zhang walking in her direction.


    "Miss Ji injured her hand, so it might be inconvenient for you. Mr. Gu asked me to help," Sister-inw Zhang exined kindly as she approached.


    Ji Wei was momentarily surprised¡ªGu Moqian had been quite thoughtful.


    She nodded slightly to Sister-inw Zhang in gratitude, "I''ll trouble you, then."


    She had intended to take off the pajamas, but every movement of her injured hand sent a jolt of pain. Having help was undoubtedly a blessing.


    "Miss Ji is Mr. Gu''s fianc¨¦e and the future mistress of Shanshui Manor. No need to be so formal," Sister-inw Zhang replied with a smile.


    Fianc¨¦e...


    Ji Wei froze momentarily.


    In this new life, could she truly repair the rtionship and reunite with Gu Moqian?


    As Sister-inw Zhang helped Ji Wei remove her pajamas, she silently observed her, unable to suppress her astonishment.


    The eldest daughter of the Ji Family had visited Shanshui Manor before, and back then, the Gu Family had prepared avish dinner banquet in her honor. Yet Ji Wei had flipped the entire table, causing a scene and leaving on bad terms.


    Since that day, the Gu household members regarded Ji Wei as overly arrogant and unfit for Mr. Gu.


    But the Ji Wei before her now seemed polite and gentlepletely different fromst time. What had changed?


    With Sister-inw Zhang''s help, the pajamas were finally removed, but Ji Wei''s feelings didn''t improve much.


    The effects of the drug seemed to be resurfacing. Her cheeks were growing increasingly flushed, and an unbearable itch stirred within her, like a cat wing at her heart.


    "Miss Ji, why is your face so red? Are you running a fever?"


    Sister-inw Zhang noticed her cheeks, bright as ripe apples, and couldn''t help but inquire with concern.


    "I... I''m fine."


    Ji Wei raised her hand to touch her burning cheek, awkwardly turning her head away, "Sister-inw Zhang, could you leave for now? I''ll call you if I need anything."


    She certainly didn''t want anyone to see her in such apromising state.


    "Alright then."


    Sister-inw Zhang stood and left the bathroom.


    She found Gu Moqian still standing quietly outside the bathroom door and was startled. She quickly lowered her head and greeted, "Mr. Gu."


    Gu Moqian''s gaze was fixed on the inside of the bathroom, "How is she?"


    "Miss Ji seems to have a slight fever."


    Gu Moqian''s expression shifted slightly.


    Sister-inw Zhang barely had time to process what happened before Gu Moqian vanished in a blink, striding into the bathroom with uncharacteristic urgency, his usualposure reced by a rare sense of hurriedness.

 Chapter 6: Be Good, Stop Moving

    <h4>Chapter 6: Chapter 6: Be Good, Stop Moving</h4>


    Ji Wei was tormented by the effects of the drug, leaving her somewhat dazed.


    Through the hazy white steam, she faintly saw the tall, upright figure of a man approaching her.


    She must be imagining things, right?


    Ji Wei squinted slightly, watching as the looming figure enveloped her, blocking the light overhead.


    She tilted her head up, her gaze crystal-clear like spring water but now misted with dizzying desire. Her delicate cheeks were flushed, and her cherry-red lips parted slightly, as if voicelessly inviting him closer.


    Gu Moqian''s tall silhouette stiffened abruptly. He nced at her briefly before grabbing a nearby towel and pulling her out of the water.


    Ji Wei''s thoughts were muddled, and she nkly let him wrap her up.


    Without a word, Gu Moqian carried her out.


    Ji Wei reached out unconsciously, hooking her arms around his neck and resting her face against his chest.


    Gu Moqian ced her gently on the bed, then turned away, holding himself back.


    Just as he was about to leave, the hem of his suit was tugged by a delicate hand. A woman''s voice, tinged with trembling coquettishness, pleaded, "Don''t go..."


    Gu Moqian turned back and saw her shifting uneasily. The towel wrapped around her body began to slide off, revealing skin as smooth and radiant as jade.


    His gaze darkened, and his Adam''s apple bobbed as he swallowed hard.


    "Be good, don''t move anymore." He leaned down, preparing to pull the nket over her.


    "It feels so ufortable... so hot..."


    She pushed away the nket he''d draped over her, her misty, water-filled eyes locking onto his, unrelenting. The moisture in her gaze sent a shiver down his spine.


    "Does it hurt that much?" Gu Moqian''s voice was hoarse as he asked softly.


    Ji Wei nodded, refusing to let her gaze waver for even a moment.


    Gu Moqian let out a quiet sigh, as if utterly helpless against a mischievous child.


    "Alright, I''ll help you."


    His gaze deepened, his tone unexpectedly tender and indulgent.


    Gu Moqian took off his jacket andy down beside her. Turning to his side, he reached out and pulled her into his embrace.


    For Ji Wei, the man in front of her was deadlier than any intoxicating poppy. She greedily burrowed further into his arms, her crimson lips urgently searching for his.


    The towel around Ji Wei''s body had long sincee undone, her burning skin pressed tightly against his. In the stillness of the night, their breaths and heartbeats sounded startlingly clear.


    In the next instant, he cupped the back of her head, his fingers threading through her soft hair, and he leaned down, pressing a heavy kiss on her lips, ripe and crimson as if ready to drip nectar.


    Once started, it was like a wildfire engulfing dry wood, impossible to restrain.


    Ji Wei wasn''t content with mere kissing; she wanted more and more...


    "Ji Wei, listen to me."


    Gu Moqian pulled back from her lips with considerable restraint, his hand cupping her flushed face.


    His deep, gravelly voice sounded clear and captivating in the quiet room: "You''re like this now because of the drug¡ªit''s not your true will. What I want is that, someday, you willingly, wholeheartedly give yourself to me..."


    Ji Wei stared at him with a mixture ofprehension and bewilderment, her expression dazed.


    "I can help you, but... only with my hands." Gu Moqian''s gaze darkened further, locking onto her. "Do you understand?"


    Ji Wei tilted her head, enchanted by every word he spoke, unable to tear her eyes away, wanting only to get closer to him¡ªcloser and closer.


    Only this way could the fire scorching her body find any relief.


    Gu Moqian gazed deeply into her desperate, confused eyes, realizing that she likely hadn''t understood a single word he''d said.


    He exhaled softly in surrender, unwilling to see her suffer so much, and started unbuttoning his shirt one by one.


    His slender fingers moved skillfully, the motion of unbuttoning elegant, refined, and effortlesslyposed.


    Ji Wei stared unblinkingly at his actions, her throat dry and her desire even stronger.


    Once the buttons were undone, Gu Moqian''s perfectly chiseled chest and muscr physique came into view, leaving Ji Wei looking like a starving lioness, ready to pounce.


    And pounce she did.


    Just as Gu Moqianid his hand on the intricate buckle of his belt, Ji Wei suddenly flung herself at him. The sheer momentum sent them tumbling onto the bed together.


    Therge mattress shuddered slightly with the impact.

 Chapter 7 Ouch, it hurts so much!

    <h4>Chapter 7: Chapter 7 Ouch, it hurts so much!</h4>


    Gu Moqian was worried that Ji Wei''s head would hit the corner of the bed, so he quickly reached out to shield her head.


    But in the next second, he heard Ji Wei cry out in pain, "Ah¡ª"


    Her previous movement had been too forceful, causing the wound on her wrist to split open again, making her cry out in agony.


    The moment Gu Moqian heard her cry out, he sat up abruptly and grabbed her wrist. He saw that the bandages wrapped around it were already soaked through with small spots of blood.


    His sharply defined brows furrowed slightly. Seeing her reddened eyes brimming with tears, his heart softened. He sped her small, delicate hand firmly and said, "Wait here for a moment, I''ll go get the first-aid kit."


    Ji Wei stared dazedly as he got out of bed, opened the door, and walked out.


    The pain jolted her awake, and she suddenly realized what the two of them had almost done just now.


    Thinking about how she had shamelessly thrown herself into Gu Moqian''s arms, Ji Wei''s face flushed bright red in an instant.


    She covered her burning cheeks in embarrassment for a moment and then suddenly grabbed a nearby towel, rushing straight into the bathroom.


    It was the middle of the night, and the servants in the vi were all asleep. Gu Moqian went downstairs, found the backup first-aid kit, and quickly returned to the bedroom.


    When he pushed open the door, he found that Ji Wei was no longer on the bed.


    His deep eyes flickered with a trace of surprise, but then he heard a ttering noiseing from the bathroom. Putting the first-aid kit down, he walked over in quick strides.


    "Ji Wei, what are you doing in there?"


    His tone carried a hint of urgency as he pressed his hand on the bathroom doorknob, only to find it locked from the inside.


    "I... I''m fine. I just wanted to... take a bath..."


    Ji Wei''s voice trembled slightly as she looked at the mess on the ground, feeling flustered.


    She had only tried to tiptoe and grab the shower gel stored on the top shelf, but due to her injured hand, she lost her grip. Therge bottle of shower gel fell, knocking over the toiletries on the sink, scattering them across the floor.


    With an injured hand, how was she supposed to take a bath with just one hand?


    Gu Moqian grew even more worried upon hearing her response. His voice dropped, carrying a heavy tone, "Open the door. I''ll help you bathe."


    "No!"


    Ji Wei refused without even thinking.


    The moments of blushing and breathlessness with Gu Moqian earlier were already shame-inducing enough.


    Even though they had a marriage arrangement, they had only met a handful of times¡ªshe could count the instances on one hand. Besides, a woman''s most significant "first" should be given to a man with whom she shared mutual feelings.


    She and Gu Moqian...weren''t at that stage yet, right?


    Even in her previous life, she never figured out whether Gu Moqian had agreed to their arranged marriage for the sake of family interests or because he genuinely liked her...


    In her past life, she had been so arrogant and brash. How could any man possibly like someone like that?


    Thinking about it, the marriage between Gu Moqian and herself waspletely a business deal, devoid of any personal emotions.


    For some reason, as these thoughts crossed her mind, Ji Wei felt a faint ache in her heart.


    She shook her head quickly, trying to dispel those dismal thoughts. The most important thing now was to alleviate the unbearable heat surging through her body.


    Ji Wei struggled to twist open the shower faucet with her left hand, gritting her teeth as the icy water poured down on her head.


    In the chill of an early autumn night, the cold water hitting her body felt like torture¡ªso cold that her teeth ttered uncontrobly.


    Ji Wei clenched her teeth tightly, making no sound. She told herself internally to endure it; the effect of the heat-inducing drug would soon wear off if she just held on a little longer.


    Suddenly, there was a loud crash from the direction of the door.


    Ji Wei raised her head in shock. Cold water streamed down her face, blurring her vision. She couldn''t see what had happened.


    But within seconds, the shower above her head was suddenly yanked away, and the icy stream of water stopped altogether.


    "You... how did you get in?"


    When she recognized the tall figure before her as Gu Moqian, Ji Wei instinctively covered her chest with her arms.


    Beads of water still clung to her cheeks, rolling slowly down her face. Her longshes were wet with droplets, fluttering lightly and catching his attention.


    But her face was pale, almost paper-white, and her lips had turned a faint bluish-purple from the cold. Gu Moqian''s gaze darkened. He reached out, pulling her into his arms without hesitation, despite her soaking wet clothes.


    Ji Wei looked at him in rm, her expression a mix of shock and embarrassment.


    Gu Moqian carried her to the bed and draped a nket over her with a swift motion.


    Ji Wei gripped the edge of the nket tightly with one hand, preventing it from slipping down. Her moist, glistening eyes carried a hint of caution as she stared at Gu Moqian.


    He walked over, picked up the first-aid kit, and silently took out a cotton swab soaked in disinfectant and a roll of bandages.


    "Give me your right hand," Gu Moqian said in a low voice, extending his hand.


    "I... I can do it myself..."


    Before Ji Wei could finish speaking, Gu Moqian firmly grasped her arm, giving her no chance to refuse.


    Under the dim light, the man lowered his head, focused and serious, as he unraveled her bandages and prepared to disinfect her wound with iodine-soaked cotton swabs.


    "It''ll hurt a bit."


    "Huh?"


    Ji Wei''s eyes widened in surprise, but before she could react, the sting of the iodine touching her wound made her cry out in pain, "It hurts! It hurts so much!"

 Chapter 8 Haven’t Slept Again, Why Take the Blame?

    <h4>Chapter 8: Chapter 8 Haven''t Slept Again, Why Take the me?</h4>


    Gu Moqian''s hand holding the cotton swab paused, seeing her brows knit tightly in pain, he suddenly couldn''t bring himself to continue.


    "It''s okay, I can endure it." Seeing his hand stop, Ji Wei bit her lower lip, her voice trembling slightly.


    Though she said she could endure it, her uneasy, wandering gaze still betrayed her.


    Gu Moqian hesitated, then put the cotton swab down.


    "Really, it''s fine. You can go on." Ji Wei, at this moment, started to act tough. She didn''t want Gu Moqian to think she was being overly fragile.


    "Not scared anymore?"


    "Not scared!"


    Ji Wei put on a resolute expression.


    To divert her attention, Ji Wei found a topic: "Gu Moqian, how do you know how to do these things?"


    In her impression, as the heir of Rongcheng''s number one elite family, Gu Moqian should be someone removed from the mundane concerns of life.


    Whatever he did should be apanied by a crowd of people, rather than being this... versatile, even knowing how to disinfect and bandage wounds.


    Thinking back, it seemed she was the one more spoiled, growing up as a pampered youngdy taken care of by others. If she was thirsty, a servant would automatically bring her water. If she was hungry, she only had to say a word. Even if she identally got a small cut, Old Madam Ji would hold her in distress for half a day.


    If she were thrown into a group and left to live alone, she probably wouldn''t even have basic self-care skills.


    "When I was a child, I lived in the countryside for a while." Gu Moqian paused slightly, his tone calm as he replied.


    Countryside?


    Why would the dignified heir of the Gu Family live in the countryside? What had he experienced in his childhood?


    Tss~


    Before Ji Wei could make sense of it, the pain in her wrist surged again. This time, she endured without crying out, but her brows furrowed tightly.


    Gu Moqian nced up at her. It seemed she really couldn''t handle pain, but seeing her hold back and feign resilience, his heart softened even more.


    He picked up the bandage and wrapped it carefully around her wrist, oneyer at a time.


    The man''s side profile under the light appeared much softer, his concentrated expression growing increasingly captivating to the point of unreal.


    Ji Wei stared dazedly.


    "It''s done. Try not to touch water, to prevent the wound from getting infected."


    Gu Moqian instructed casually, then put away the supplies into the medicine box.


    "...Thank you."


    Ji Wei withdrew her hand, lowering hershes as she murmured softly.


    "You''re my fianc¨¦e, what are you thanking me for?"


    Gu Moqian''s words drifted to her ears. Biting her lip, Ji Wei summoned her courage and met his gaze: "Gu Moqian, do you genuinely want to marry me, or is it just because you don''t want to go against the elders'' wishes?"


    She was unruly and headstrong. Given Gu Moqian''s status and position, he could havepletely refused this marriage!


    Gu Moqian paused for a moment, his deep, unfathomable gaze revealing nothing. He eventually answered calmly: "Our engagement was arranged long ago. I will take responsibility for you."


    They haven''t even been intimate! What ''responsibility'' is there to take?!


    Seeing her face full of disbelief, Gu Moqian raised his broad palm and softly ruffled her silky ck hair: "Alright, if you don''t sleep now, it''ll be morning soon."


    Ji Wei turned her head to nce out the window, the faintly lit courtyard shrouded in thick mist bing a bit clearer.


    Come to think of it, Gu Moqian had been awake all night. He probably had work tomorrow, right?


    Thinking of this, Ji Wei hurriedly said: "Then I''ll go sleep in the guest room¡ª"


    She had just started to rise from the bed when Gu Moqian pressed her back down, "Sleep here."


    "No, that''s not appropriate..."


    Ji Wei stammered and protested.


    After all the torment in the middle of the night, the effects of the medication in her system were gradually dissipating, but she wasn''t confident she wouldn''t pounce on Gu Moqian again.


    "You sleep in the bed. I''ll sleep on the sofa."


    Leaving her to sleep alone in the guest room, he couldn''t feel at ease. What if her medication effects returned?


    After speaking, Gu Moqian walked to the wardrobe, taking out a brand-new nket and cing it on the sofa.


    Ji Wei sat on the bed, watching his actions in a daze.


    Gu Moqian began undressing with elegance, his fingers unbuttoning halfway when he suddenly turned toward Ji Wei. "Still not nning to sleep?"


    His cor was open, revealing tan skin, a broad chest, and perfectly sculpted muscle lines... The enticing image of his strong physique firmly captivated Ji Wei''s gaze.


    She unconsciously swallowed and hastily turned away, "Sleeping, I''ll sleep right away."


    She quicklyy down on the bed, forcing herself to close her eyes.


    After a while, she heard footsteps approaching and thought Gu Moqian was up to something. Her entire body tensed, her palms clutching the nket as sweat seeped out.


    But after a moment, the sound of footsteps grew distant. Summoning courage, Ji Wei opened her eyes slightly, only to find the bedsidemp had been turned off.


    So he had juste to turn off the light.


    She had startled herself for nothing.


    Ji Wei turned over, her eyes open in the darkness for a while before exhaustion overwhelmed her.


    This night had felt incredibly long to her.


    She was utterly drained and sleepy. Though there was still some residual medication in her body, sleep swept over her, and she didn''t even have the energy to lift her eyelids.


    From the edge of the bed, faint breathing was audible. Gu Moqiany on the sofa, his dark eyes gazing at the faint light seeping through the window, a quiet smile slowly spreading across his lips.


    ¡ª¡ª


    The next morning.


    Ji Wei opened her eyes amidst the warmth of sunlight, still a bit dazed.


    It took her a few seconds to remember she was in Gu Moqian''s bedroom. As forst night...


    She abruptly looked toward the direction of the sofa, only to find it restored to its usual state, with no sign of anyone sleeping there.


    Ji Wei sat up, looking around the unfamiliar room, suddenly thinking of her own boudoir.


    Back at the Ji Family, every morning, Aunt Liu woulde to the bedside to wake her up. Her father, Ji Yunting, would wait for her at the dining table to have breakfast together. Everything had been so peaceful and wonderful.


    Father...


    She wondered if her father had sent people to search for her after her sudden disappearancest night.


    She should first call her father to let him know she was safe.


    Ji Wei looked around, only to realize her phone was missing. It must have slipped out at the hotel while tangled up with Ji Chuyangst night.


    The sound of footsteps echoed from the doorway, steady and powerful.


    Ji Wei abruptly raised her head to see Gu Moqian walking in.


    "Can I... borrow your phone for a bit?" she asked.


    Gu Moqian unhesitatingly took out his phone and handed it to her, "Use it for as long as you need."

 Chapter 9 The Newspaper Says You Attempted Suicide

    <h4>Chapter 9: Chapter 9 The Newspaper Says You Attempted Suicide</h4>


    Men usually don''t go out of their way to set a phone wallpaper, but when Ji Wei saw Mo Qian''s phone screen, she was stunned.


    There was a woman''s photo on the screen. Although it only showed a side profile, Ji Wei immediately recognized it¡ªit was her!


    The photographer''s skills were exceptional, capturing her image with an unparalleled sense of aesthetic.


    She stood beside a blooming tree, a few strands of hair naturally falling near her ears, her gaze slightly lowered. Long, dense eyshes framed her eyes, and a faint, almost imperceptible smile lingered at her lips, presenting an utterly gentle and captivating figure.


    Charming smile, radiant eyes.


    A few lines of verse coursed through her mind, as Ji Wei stared at the photo, unable to believe her eyes.


    Mo Qian actually set her photo as his phone wallpaper!


    And where did this photoe from? She didn''t have the slightest recollection of ever seeing it!


    Hmm... Could Mo Qian have fallen in love with her?


    No way, impossible!


    In their past life, they were as ipatible as fire and water. Mo Qian couldn''t possibly have fallen for her.


    Ji Wei quickly dismissed the unrealistic fantasies swirling in her mind and skillfully dialed a series of numbers.


    But the phone rang for a long time without anyone answering. Ji Wei called several more times, yet the results were the same.


    She paused to think for a moment before deciding to call her grandmother and ask about her father''s situation.


    After a few tones, the phone was answered.


    Ji Wei''s face lit up as she walked to the window, softly calling out, "Grandma."


    "Who is this?" From the other end came the voice of Old Madam Ji.


    Her grandmother, whose hearing wasn''t as sharp, hadn''t immediately recognized her voice.


    Ji Wei felt her nose start to sting, her eyes brimming with misty tears.


    In her past life, her grandmother had passed away in the second year of her marriage to Ji Chuyang. At the time, she had been locked in the vi by Ji Chuyang and hadn''t even been able to see her grandmother onest time.


    Ji Wei took a deep breath, speaking in a yful tone, "Grandma, it''s me, Ji Wei."


    "Silly girl, you changed your number? And you didn''t even tell me!" Old Madam Ji''s tone sounded reproachful, yet was full of affection.


    Ji Wei''s heart ached deeply.


    "Grandma, this is Mo Qian''s number."


    Old Madam Ji was noticeably surprised: "Mo Qian? Are you with him?"


    "Yes, he''s right here beside me," Ji Wei replied.


    "A Xiu, listen, Little Wei is finallying to her senses!"


    Old Madam Ji''s voice sounded delighted, but suddenly took on a more serious tone as she questioned, "Little Wei, are you lying to me? Last night you disappeared for no reason, and the newspapers mentioned an attempted suicide. Where are you right now, how could you be so reckless!"


    "Grandma, I''m not lying to you. I''m currently at Mo Qian''s Shanshui Manor," Ji Wei patiently exined.


    "I don''t believe you, unless you let him answer the phone!"


    When her grandmother became stubborn, even a herd of cattle couldn''t change her mind.


    Ji Wei moved the phone slightly away from her ear and raised her eyes to look at Mo Qian, who was standing not far away.


    He stood with his hands in the pockets of his tailored trousers, his tall figure poised and elegant, handsome as always.


    At this moment, Mo Qian was quietly watching her with deep eyes and a faint smile at the corner of his lips.


    Before Ji Wei could say anything, Mo Qian stepped forward and spoke in a maic voice, "Need me to answer the call?"


    He must have overheard her conversation with her grandmother just now.


    Ji Wei gazed at him and froze for a few seconds before handing over the phone.


    Mo Qian gracefully held the phone to his ear and said warmly, "Grandma, this is Mo Qian."


    Ji Wei watched as Mo Qian stepped away, engaging in a muted conversation with Old Madam Ji.


    She was immensely curious about their discussion but refrained from interrupting, standing quietly where she was as she waited for Mo Qian to finish the call.

 Chapter 10 Seize Every Opportunity to Stick to Him

    <h4>Chapter 10: Chapter 10 Seize Every Opportunity to Stick to Him</h4>


    A few minutester.


    Mo Qian handed the phone back to her.


    "Grandma." Ji Wei hurriedly put the phone to her ear.


    "Your husband-to-be just exined everything to me. Turns out, the two of you were together all nightst night."


    Grandma''s voice suddenly dropped, tinged with a tone of sly delight: "Little Wei, there''s no doubt you''re one of the Ji Family. Well done!"


    "Grandma, you''re misunder¡ª"


    Ji Wei was about to exin when Old Madam Ji swiftly cut her off, "Don''t worry. I''ll exin everything to your father. As for you, just stay glued to Mo Qian''s side, seize every chance to stick close to him, make him utterly devoted to you, unable to resist!"


    Ji Wei''s lips twitched uncontrobly. "Grandma, I¡ª"


    "That''s settled then. Bring Mo Qian home to see me as soon as possible! If I can''t meet my grandson-inw, who knows, my old headache might re up again... Oh dear, just thinking about the headache is making it worse! That''s it for now, Grandma needs to rest..."


    With that, Old Madam Ji decisively hung up.


    Ji Wei: "..."


    So now, she has to lure Mo Qian back to meet Grandma?


    Looking up, Ji Wei caught Mo Qian''s amused, enigmatic gaze.


    The corners of his thin lips curved into a faint smile, as though he had long since seen through her thoughts.


    Ji Wei quickly averted her gaze, her heart inexplicably racing.


    Mo Qian walked over and asked with a concerned expression, "Did Grandma me you?"


    "No."


    Ji Wei shook her head, her face reflecting thoughts in flux. After a moment, she looked straight at him, appearing hesitant to speak.


    Mo Qian knew she wanted to say something, but he didn''t rush her.


    After pausing for a bit, Ji Wei finally gathered her courage and said, "Could you...e with me to the Ji Family? Grandma said... she wants to meet you."


    "Sure."


    Mo Qian''s response came almost instantly.


    Ji Wei hadn''t expected him to agree so quickly and froze momentarily in surprise.


    "I don''t mean to force you," she exined. "If it''s inconvenient for you, we don''t have to go."


    "It''s not inconvenient at all."


    Suddenly, Mo Qian took her hand, his broad palm enveloping her soft fingers entirely. His dark eyes locked onto hers with a prating gaze, "Anything you want to do, I''m willing to apany you."


    The unexpected confession hit Ji Wei like a jolt, leaving her speechless for a long moment.


    Once again, Mo Qian shattered her expectations. Why is this man so good to her?


    She blinked her watery eyes, trying to decipher something from the ocean-deep mystery of his gaze, but came up empty-handed.


    "Let''s go."


    "To the Ji Family now?"


    Still stunned, Ji Wei hadn''t yet recovered when Mo Qian pulled her out of the bedroom.


    All the way, Mo Qian never let go of her hand.


    He helped Ji Wei into the car, then climbed in himself.


    "You''re driving yourself?"


    Seeing him settle into the driver''s seat, Ji Wei couldn''t help voicing her surprise.


    "Yeah." Mo Qian turned to look at her, his gaze deep. "I''ve got the day off and want to enjoy some time alone with you."


    Time alone...


    Images ofst night shed vividly in Ji Wei''s mind: Mo Qian''s intoxicatingly broad chest, their heated breaths and racing hearts, that dominant, searing kiss...


    She suddenly realized her cheeks were burning hot and abruptly snapped back to reality. Looking up, she was met with his dark, amused eyes. Flustered, she immediately turned her gaze away.


    "But you didn''t sleep wellst night. What if driving tired..."


    "Are you under some kind of misconception about me?" Mo Qian suddenly asked.


    "What?"


    Ji Wei blinked, not catching on to his meaning.


    Mo Qian curved his lips into a smile and leaned in close to her, "I''m full of energy right now. If you don''t believe me, I can prove it to you."

 Chapter 11 Perhaps they’ll have a car-date next.

    <h4>Chapter 11: Chapter 11 Perhaps they''ll have a car-date next.</h4>


    Warm breaths brushed against her ear, tingling and electrifying, teasing at her sensitive nerves.


    The intimate atmosphere spread throughout the narrow car cabin, and Ji Wei''s heartbeat suddenly quickened. She instinctively leaned back, forcing augh as she replied, "No... no need."


    He stared at her fixedly, the curve of his lips deepening further.


    "Alright, then at least fasten the seatbelt first."


    "..."


    Ji Wei felt flustered and unsettled, tugging at the seatbelt several times but failing to pull it across.


    Watching her clumsy attempts, Gu Moqian suddenly leaned forward, closing the distance between them.


    "Gu Moqian, it''s daytime right now, we can''t..."


    In her panic, Ji Wei hastily turned her head aside.


    Unexpectedly, her soft lips lightly grazed his slightly cool ones.


    Ji Wei''s body jolted sharply, but before she could react, arge hand sped the back of her head. In the next moment, a domineering yet tender kiss descended upon her.


    Ji Wei''s eyes widened, her heart pounding uncontrobly.


    Unlike the dazed confusion fromst night''s drug-induced torment, Ji Wei was exceptionally clear-headed now.


    She felt the man''s unique scent enveloping her entirely, his soft lips nudging hers open¡ªa mix of dominance and lingering passion that gradually consumed her senses...


    Ji Wei had never expected that beneath Gu Moqian''s seemingly aloof and restrained demeanory a dangerous yet captivating side.


    With just a single misstep, she would find herself wholly under hismand, entranced by him, willing to cast aside all her pride.


    The breath within her chest was slowly being stolen away, until finally, as Ji Wei was on the verge of suffocation, Gu Moqian pulled away from her lips.


    Finally able to inhale fresh air, Ji Wei''s chest rose and fell slightly as she caught her breath. Her pair of glistening eyes stared nkly at the man before her.


    Her cheeks were flushed a deep shade of red, a mix of shyness and annoyance, making her irresistibly endearing.


    Gu Moqian gently smiled, pulling the seatbelt¡ªwhich had already been in his hand¡ªacross and carefully fastening it for her.


    So it turned out, his earlier proximity had been to help her with the seatbelt.


    Ji Wei felt a surge of embarrassment, her gaze darting around as she struggled to find a ce to look.


    Just then, a sudden knock sounded against the car window.


    The two turned their heads simultaneously, spotting Ji Shanshan urgently patting the window. Due to the excellent soundproofing, they could not hear what she was saying.


    Ji Wei''s heart tightened, her gaze sharpening instantly.


    Gu Moqian looked toward Ji Wei, their eyes meeting briefly but exchanging mutual understanding in that instant.


    If Ji Shanshan was intent on disrupting things, how could she resist letting her?


    The car window slowly rolled down.


    Ji Shanshan''s gazended on Gu Moqian''s handsome features, and the jealousy burning within her heart red higher and hotter.


    Just moments ago, she had seen with her own eyes that they were kissing in the car!


    If she hadn''t interrupted them abruptly, who knew¡ªthey might have gone even further!


    Since childhood, Ji Wei had been vehemently opposed to this arranged marriage, often shing with Ji Yunli on this matter. If it weren''t for Old Madam Ji''s protection, Ji Wei would have been beaten up several times by now.


    Ji Shanshan had thought that if Ji Wei continued throwing tantrums, she would eventually ruin this alliance.


    By then, Ji Shanshan could seize the opportunity, using her own charm and gentle understanding to win over Gu Moqian''s heart and be the rightful Mrs. Gu.


    But that dream had gradually crumbled afterst night''s failed scheme against Ji Wei.


    Ji Wei seemed to have be an entirely different person, especially in her attitude toward Gu Moqian. Gone was her previous rejection; instead, the two of them now acted like a couple deeply in love, showing off their affection wherever they went.


    Why was it that such an outstanding man like Gu Moqian had to choose Ji Wei!


    She was just a spoiled princess whocked any real skills. What good was her beauty? She was nothing but a superficial vase!

 Chapter 12 Stop Talking, It Distracts Your Brother-in-law While Driving

    <h4>Chapter 12: Chapter 12 Stop Talking, It Distracts Your Brother-inw While Driving</h4>


    Luckily, she decided toe and investigate this morning. Otherwise, she wouldn''t have found out about Ji Wei''s true intentions!


    Ji Shanshan was full of resentment but still wanted to appeardylike in front of Gu Moqian. She spoke in a sweet voice, "Brother Mo Qian, where are you off to?"


    Gu Moqian''s long, slender fingers draped casually over the steering wheel, an elegant yet slightlynguid posture.


    Faced with Ji Shanshan''s eager gaze, he didn''t even bother lifting his eyelids.


    Not receiving any answer from Gu Moqian, Ji Shanshan felt deted. She turned to Ji Wei andined, "Sis, why have we grown so distanttely? Before, whenever you had good things, you''d always share them with me and say I was your favorite little sister. Howe you''re so cold to me now?"


    Ji Wei spoke coldly, "You know full well what you''ve done to me. Do you want me to spell it out in front of Mo Qian?"


    Ji Shanshan''s expression changed, feigningposure, "Sis, what are you talking about? I don''t understand..."


    "Don''t understand?" Ji Wei sneered, "You and Ji Chuyang¡ª"


    "Sis!" Ji Shanshan suddenly became extremely flustered and interrupted her sharply, "I... I just remembered I have something to do. I''ll head back to the Ji Family first!"


    Ji Wei stared at her, "Perfect, we''re heading back too. Since it''s on the way, why don''t we all go together?"


    "I... I..."


    Ji Shanshan panicked and couldn''te up with a reason to refuse.


    "What are you stammering about? Just now you said we''ve grown distant. Now I''m offering you a ride, and you don''t want toe. At the end of the day, you''re still ming me, right?"


    "Me... Why would I me you, Sis? Haha." Ji Shanshan forced an awkward smile.


    "If you''re not ming me, then get in the car."


    Ji Shanshan nced at the perpetually handsome and calm Gu Moqian, gritted her teeth, and said, "Alright."


    Ji Wei chuckled softly, suddenly reaching out to naturally hook her arm around Gu Moqian''s, leaning onto his shoulder. "Mo Qian, isn''t my cousin funny? She clearly wants to ride with us, but she keeps insisting otherwise."


    Ji Shanshan opened the car door and got into the back seat. Hearing Ji Wei mock her like this, her expression darkened even further.


    Gu Moqian reached out to pat the hand Ji Wei had looped around his arm but didn''t say a word, only smiling faintly.


    This was the first time he had witnessed Ji Wei''s craftiness...


    Ha, truly worthy of being his woman.


    "Sit tight."


    Gu Moqian''s maic voice resonated as his long, pale fingers opened wide and inteced with Ji Wei''s. Then, effortlessly, he brought their joined hands down to rest on his thigh.


    The warmth of his palm was just right, and Ji Wei felt her heart flutter. Her gaze unintentionally drifted to his toned thigh.


    Ji Wei''s cheeks flushed instantly, and she quickly redirected her gaze, trying to y it off naturally.


    Gu Moqian caught her subtle reaction, his eyes filled with amusement, a gentle warmth blooming in his heart.


    The silver-gray Maybach shot forward like an arrow in flight.


    The affectionate scene between the couple in the front seat made Ji Shanshan fuming in the back, her nails nearly digging into her palms.


    When did Ji Wei be so skilled at unting their love, and right in front of her? It had to be intentional!


    "Brother Mo Qian, when we get to the Ji Family, I can show you around. There''s a natural hot spring near the vi that''s supposed to be really good. We... can go together with Sis for a soak."


    "Brother Mo Qian, what''s your favorite dish? I''ll have the maid prepare it in advance..."


    "Brother Mo Qian¡ª"


    Ji Shanshan was about to prattle on when Ji Wei interrupted her bluntly, "Shanshan, stop talking. You''re distracting your brother-inw from driving."

 Chapter 13 Not Just Impatient, Probably Going Crazy

    <h4>Chapter 13: Chapter 13 Not Just Impatient, Probably Going Crazy</h4>


    Sis... brother-inw!


    You two aren''t even married yet, what ''brother-inw'' are you talking about!


    Ji Shanshan was visibly upset, speaking with a pitiful tone: "Sis, I can''t even say a word without you getting upset. Do you hate me that much now? I really don''t understand what I''ve done to make you so unhappy..."


    As she spoke, Ji Shanshan''s voice carried a hint of sobbing, as if she were suffering injustice worse than Dou E.


    Ji Wei frowned slightly, suppressing her urge to gag as she said, "Shanshan, you''re overthinking things. You''re my dear cousin¡ªwhy would I hate you?"


    Ji Wei''s tone had subtle sarcasm, and Ji Shanshan naturally caught it.


    Her lungs almost exploded with anger, and she couldn''t help but stomp her foot in frustration, fiercely kicking the back of the chair.


    "Ouch, that hurts!"


    Unfortunately, her foot hit the sturdiest part of the chair, causing her to cry out in pain.


    Ji Wei didn''t even bother to turn her head, a fleeting cold smile appearing in her eyes.


    Ji Shanshan had humiliated herself, and her mood grew gloomier; she wanted nothing more than to get out of the car immediately.


    Had she known this would happen, she would never have agreed to ride along.


    Gu Moqian drove in silence the entire time, not uttering a word.


    But deep down, he couldn''t help but feel delighted.


    This version of Ji Wei, who could leave Ji Shanshan speechless, was extraordinary¡ªand utterly captivating.


    She made him see his future wife in apletely new light.


    Soon, the Maybach arrived at Rongcheng''s busiestmercial district.


    Ji Shanshan nced out of the car window, her eyes full of surprise as she asked, "Sis, aren''t we heading back to the Ji Family home? Why are we here?"


    Ji Wei was equally puzzled, but if Gu Moqian had driven them here, he undoubtedly had his reasons.


    "I was feeling thirsty and wanted to grab a drink. You know how much I love the milkshakes from that Paris Main Area in the city center, so Moqian drove us here specifically."


    Of course, Ji Wei was merely making this up.


    To her surprise, Gu Moqian actually stepped out of the car. "Wait here, I''ll go buy you a milkshake."


    Ji Wei hadn''t expected Gu Moqian to take her seriously. She was momentarily stunned before quickly grabbing his hand. "I''ll go with you."


    Seeing both of them preparing to leave the car and leave her behind, Ji Shanshan became anxious. "I''ming too!"


    Ji Wei turned to her and said, "The sun outside is so intense. It''s way morefortable here in the car. Aren''t you the one who''s most afraid of getting a tan? We''ll be back as soon as we get the milkshake¡ªit''ll just be a few minutes."


    Ji Shanshan took another look at the zing, sunlit shopping district outside and immediately backed out of the idea.


    "Alright, I''ll wait for you in the car then."


    Ji Wei and Gu Moqian got out of the car together, with Gu Moqian taking the car keys before they left.


    As they walked, Ji Wei couldn''t help but ask, "Are we really going to buy milkshakes?"


    "Yes."


    "But I just made that up as an excuse."


    "If you like it, I''ll buy it for you."


    Ji Wei: "..."


    Once again, Gu Moqian had subtly flirted with her.


    After a brief pause, Ji Wei asked again, "You drove us here¡ªthere must be another reason, right?"


    Gu Moqian stopped in his tracks and turned to look at her. "Didn''t you lose your phone? I brought you here to get a new one."


    Ji Wei was taken aback. How did Gu Moqian know she''d lost her phone?


    It turned out he had noticed something she hadn''t paid any attention to herself, showing such thoughtful consideration.


    She turned her head slightly to look at Gu Moqian, who was holding her hand, feeling deeply moved.


    His dark, tailor-made suit entuated his strong and upright figure, his long legs resembling those of a runway model. That mesmerizingly handsome side profile, paired with his poised and elegant demeanor, each movement radiating an air of power and charm¡ªit all seemed to reinforce Gu Moqian''smanding presence.


    "But if we''re buying a phone, we can''t get it done in just a few minutes. Ji Shanshan will definitely grow impatient."


    "Not just impatient¡ªshe might throw a tantrum."


    Ji Wei looked at him in confusion.


    Gu Moqian leaned closer to her and whispered a few words near her ear.


    Ji Wei stared at the handsome man in front of her, a faint smile on his lips, and her eyes widened instantly.


    Sure enough, when Gu Moqian acted cunningly, no one could match him!

 Chapter 14 How Dare You Call Me an Airport, I’m Clearly 36D!

    <h4>Chapter 14: Chapter 14 How Dare You Call Me an Airport, I''m Clearly 36D!</h4>


    At this moment, Ji Shanshan, sitting in the car, was already growing impatient.


    She reached out to push the car door, wanting to get out, but the door didn''t budge.


    Only then did Ji Shanshan realize the car had been locked!


    "Open the door, open the door! I need to get out! Can anyone hear me?"


    Ji Shanshan frantically pounded on the car window, yelling loudly, her anxiety mounting.


    On the bustling square outside, no one noticed that within the luxurious Maybach, there was a woman losing her mind.


    ...


    Gu Moqian had just bought Ji Wei a matching couple''s phone identical to his own.


    As they stepped out of the phone store, the clerks couldn''t help but continue to stare, chattering excitedly amongst themselves.


    "Oh my god, that really was Gu Moqian! He''s at least a hundred times more handsome in person than in finance magazines! My heart is racing..."


    "That heart-racing feeling doesn''t concern you. Didn''t you see? Mr. Gu already has someone special!"


    "Can you believe Mr. Gu personally came to buy a phone with his girlfriend? How enviable!"


    "Girlfriend? That''s Miss Ji, the eldest daughter of the Ji Family. She''s Mr. Gu''s fianc¨¦e."


    "Wait, what! That''s Rongcheng''s notorious and spoiled Miss Ji? But she seems pretty gentle to me. Look at her standing by Mr. Gu''s side,pletely looking like a docile little bird."


    "I think it''s odd too. This morning, there were rumors that Miss Ji had tried slitting her wrists to break off the engagement with Mr. Gu. But now, watching them pick out phones, holding hands without letting go, surely those must have been baseless rumors..."


    As they walked, Ji Wei suddenly felt the need to use the restroom, but was too embarrassed to bring it up.


    Noticing her hesitancy, Gu Moqian asked, "What''s wrong?"


    "I... I need to use the washroom."


    "Alright, I''ll wait for you at the coffee shop nearby."


    Blushing slightly, Ji Wei hurried off toward the restroom up ahead.


    A few minutester.


    Ji Wei emerged from the restroom.


    She hadn''t walked far when someone abruptly stepped in her way, blocking her path.


    The corridor''s wide enough¡ªwhy would someone deliberately block her?


    Frowning, Ji Wei looked up, and her expression immediately soured.


    "Well, look who it is¡ªJi Wei, Miss Ji. Last night, you were all dramatic, life-and-death stuff, and now here you are shopping carefree. Truly heartless."


    Ji Chuyang stood in front of her, grinning slyly. His face still bore bruises from the beating Gu Moqian had given himst night.


    "Move."


    Ji Wei''s voice was icy cold.


    Ji Chuyang smirked sinisterly. "Miss Ji, with a temper like that, running into someone like me, who doesn''t pamperdies, you''re bound to suffer for it."


    Last night, Gu Moqian had stormed in to take away Ji Wei, leaving Ji Chuyang thoroughly thrashed. His ribs still ached. There was no way he''d swallow his pride¡ªhe wasn''t about to let Ji Wei leave just like that.


    "Chuyang, who''s this woman? Your ex?"


    A mboyantly dressed woman stepped out from the restroom, promptly hooking her arm around Ji Chuyang''s, her gaze filled with hostility toward Ji Wei.


    Ji Wei recognized the woman¡ªHe Qianyun¡ªa third-rate starlet, whose roles typically involved ying doomed antagonists who''d get killed off within a few episodes.


    Ji Chuyang replied mockingly, "Her? She''s the one from this morning''s newspaper headlines."


    "Oh, I thought it might be someone important. Turns out it''s Miss Ji, the brainless rich girl who was making a scenest night with her suicide attempt. What a disgrace to the Ji Family."


    He Qianyun pouted disdainfully.


    Ji Wei''s gaze turned icy as she nced at He Qianyun''s chest. "Young Master Ji sure isn''t picky. Even Miss He with... well, that t chest caught his eye."


    He Qianyun immediately red up, her brows arching sharply. "Who are you calling t-chested?!" She quickly turned toin to Ji Chuyang, whining, "Chuyang, did you hear her? She called me t-chested! But I''m clearly a 36D!"


    As she spoke, He Qianyun puffed out her chest, unting her so-called assets.

 Chapter 15 Help Me Deal with a Despicable Woman

    <h4>Chapter 15: Chapter 15 Help Me Deal with a Despicable Woman</h4>


    Ji Wei sneered coldly: "I heard Miss He used to shoot adult films and even took the initiative to throw herself at some director. A woman like that¡ªwho knows how many men have had her? Ji Chuyang, aren''t you afraid of catching some filthy disease?"


    "Stop ndering me! Do you have any proof?" He Qianyun''s face flushed red as she loudly rebuked, though an air of unease could not be hidden.


    Ji Chuyang noticed He Qianyun''s overly intense reaction, and a seed of doubt began to sprout in his heart.


    He had first met He Qianyun at a social gathering, where she had boldly approached him, radiating flirtation everywhere she went. Unable to resist temptation, he had slept with her that very night.


    The next day, He Qianyun asked him to buy her a car worth over a million, iming that it had been her first time and demanding that Ji Chuyang take responsibility.


    Ji Chuyang, having a fixation on purity, didn''t oppose her request, and the two began dating¡ªbut in his heart, he never saw her as anything more than a casual fling. To him, a low-tier celebrity like her was fine for a bit of fun, but entering the Ji Family as his wife? Absolutely impossible.


    "Proof?" Ji Weiughed lightly. "Oh, I''ve got some."


    "You''re lying! What kind of proof could you possibly have?" He Qianyun tried her best to appearposed. "Chuyang, she''s just making up nonsense. Don''t believe a word she says!"


    Ji Wei, calm as ake, pulled out her phone, navigated to a website, and opened her cloud drive.


    She held the phone up and disyed the video stored there to Ji Chuyang: "Young Master Ji, take a good look. The woman in this video¡ªif it''s not her, then who is it?"


    The video showed He Qianyun and a middle-aged, overweight director in a private room, indulging in carnal desires. Clothes were strewn chaotically across the floor, and He Qianyun appeared thoroughly entranced, panting and moaning under the nearly bald director.


    Seeing He Qianyun''s pale, horrified expression, Ji Wei only smirked coldly.


    The video had been sent to Ji Wei by her friend Xia Duoduo. Xia Duoduo, a budding name in the entertainment industry, had inadvertently captured He Qianyun''s sordid affair with the director on camera and had shared it merely as gossip between close friends.


    Ji Wei had opened the video just once, but her phone automatically backed it up to her cloud storage.


    Ji Chuyang''s face darkened to an rming degree, and he couldn''t suppress the furious roar that tore from his mouth: "You filthy woman, how dare you deceive me!"


    He reflected on how He Qianyun, from the start of their rtionship, had spun lies nonstop, treating him like a fool to be yed.


    Smack!


    Ji Chuyang''s hand rose violently, pping He Qianyun hard across the face.


    The sheer force of the blow sent He Qianyun sprawling onto the ground, half her face swelling up almost instantly.


    She gritted her teeth in hatred, ring daggers at Ji Wei, looking as though she wanted to leap forward and fight her to the death.


    "Chuyang, please let me exin..."


    He Qianyun looked up at Ji Chuyang, tears streaming down her face, attempting to soften his anger and win some sympathy.


    "Get out immediately! Don''t ever let me see you again!" Ji Chuyang bellowed, his entire being brimming with hostility.


    He Qianyun shuddered all over, knowing full well Ji Chuyang''s temper was vtile. Not daring to say another word, she could only wipe her tears as she scrambled to her feet.


    Before leaving, He Qianyun shot Ji Wei a harsh re, her eyes brimming with resentment and fury.


    Outside by the roadside caf¨¦.


    He Qianyun clutched her swollen cheek, seething with hatred, as she furiously pulled out her phone and dialed a number.


    "A Kun, I need you to deal with a bitch. Name your price¡ªI want her mouth torn apart and her face destroyed!"


    "Which bitch are you talking about? Heh..."


    He Qianyun''s sinister smile stretched as she spoke into the phone: "It''s that damned Ji Wei! Enough small talk¡ªtell me, will you help or not?"


    At the same moment, Gu Moqian, sitting at an outdoor caf¨¦ table, paused mid-sip of his coffee and nced toward the gaudy woman speaking venomously into her phone by the roadside, his gaze dark and unreadable.

 Chapter 16 A Good Dog Doesn’t Block the Way!

    <h4>Chapter 16: Chapter 16 A Good Dog Doesn''t Block the Way!</h4>


    The next second, the coffee cup was mmed heavily onto the table in front.


    In the blink of an eye, Gu Moqian had already stood up and left.


    He Qianyun had just hung up the phone when a tall and imposing figure appeared right before her.


    The man exuded an aura of noble coldness; his deep ck eyes carried an intimidating sharpness, instantly capturing He Qianyun''s attention.


    Gu Moqian!


    Oh my god, to actually see Rongcheng''s number one young master here in person! Was she hallucinating?


    He Qianyun rubbed her eyes hard¡ªno mistake, it was Mr. Gu!


    "What''s your name?"


    Gu Moqian asked in a cold, detached voice.


    Oh my goodness, Gu Moqian was actually talking to her! And he was asking her name!


    This domineering CEO-style flirting was so heart-fluttering. Could it be... Gu Moqian had taken a liking to her?


    Oh my god, oh my god!


    He Qianyun''s heart pounded uncontrobly. She hurriedly reached up to tidy her hair, responding coquettishly, "My name is He Qianyun."


    He. Qian. Yun.


    Excellent. Anyone who dared to bully his woman must really have a death wish.


    The cold and stern man suddenly curved his lips into a smile. That gaze, seemingly born from hell itself, sent a chill down He Qianyun''s spine.


    "Gu..."


    He Qianyun had barely uttered one word when Gu Moqian abruptly turned and walked away.


    A woman like this¡ªstaying even a second longer would dirty his eyes.


    As Gu Moqian walked, he pulled out his phone and made a call to Chen Ke: "Investigate a woman named He Qianyun immediately. By tomorrow, I want her gone from Congrong Citypletely."


    After a pause, Gu Moqian added, "Once everything''s arranged, bring the Koenigsegg to the centralmercial za."


    -


    In the hallway, Ji Wei frowned slightly, her expression already showing signs of irritation.


    He Qianyun had been sent away, but the scumbag in front of her was still blocking the path.


    "Ji Chuyang, good dogs don''t block the way! You refuse to be human, but you insist on being a dog?"


    "Ji Wei, who are you calling a dog?"


    Ji Chuyang was enraged by her words, his face darkening visibly.


    Ji Wei stared at him fearlessly. "Who else but you, Young Master Ji? You''re the only one in my way."


    "Ji Wei, looks like you''re tired of living!"


    Ji Chuyang, filled with fury, raised his fist and swung it toward Ji Wei''s face.


    However, before the fistnded, it was suddenly restrained mid-air by a powerful force, unable to budge an inch further.


    Ji Chuyang''s eyes widened in shock as he turned and saw Gu Moqian ring at him, his expression grim and terrifying, seething with unrestrained rage.


    Ji Chuyang''s heart skipped a beat.


    Before he could recover, a sharp pain shot through his wrist. Gu Moqian forcibly wrenched his fist out of mid-air.


    Ji Wei was also surprised to see Gu Moqian.


    Wasn''t he at the coffee shop? Why had he suddenlye here?


    Gu Moqian''s cold, dark eyes scanned Ji Chuyang''s face briefly before he walked straight to Ji Wei''s side. "Did he hurt you?"


    "He wanted to, but thankfully, you got here in time," Ji Wei lifted her gaze and smiled at him.


    As long as he was here, her heart felt more at ease.


    Gu Moqian silently took her hand, and his gaze toward her softened slightly.


    "Has the Ji Family been rooted in Rongcheng too long, perhaps thinking of relocating?"


    Gu Moqian raised his eyes casually to look at Ji Chuyang, his voice as chilling as shards of ice.


    Ji Chuyang''s face turned stark white, his heart quaking with dread.


    The Ji Family and Gu Family might both be among the top five wealthy families of Rongcheng, but their power was worlds apartpletely iparable.


    If Gu Moqian wanted the Ji Family wiped out, it would merely take the twitch of his finger.


    Ji Chuyang didn''t dare provoke Gu Moqian. The n to drug Ji Weist night had been orchestrated under Ji Shanshan''s instigation. Moreover, Gu Moqian''s unexpected appearance had left him anxious and unsettled, his mind haunted ever since.

 Chapter 17 You Touched Gu Moqian’s Woman

    <h4>Chapter 17: Chapter 17 You Touched Gu Moqian''s Woman</h4>


    Today, I originally nned to have some fun with He Qianyun, but unexpectedly, I ran into Miss Ji again¡ªwhat a small world.


    "Mr. Gu, you''ve misunderstood. I was just joking with Miss Ji earlier." Ji Chuyang, typically one to bully the weak and fear the strong, immediately cowered upon seeing Gu Moqian.


    "Then perhaps I should joke with Young Master Ji as well." Gu Moqian spokezily, his gaze terrifyingly cold. "Starting tomorrow, the Ji Family''s stocks will plummet continuously until they crash."


    Ji Chuyang''s face turned deathly pale in an instant, and he trembled as he spoke: "Mr. Gu, there must be a misunderstanding. Last night''s incident wasn''t my intention. I was being manipted... Yes, that''s it¡ªit was Miss Ji''s cousin, Ji Shanshan, who made me do it!"


    At this stage, the only way out was to heap all the me onto Ji Shanshan. After all, their rtionship was purely one of mutual exploitation.


    Miss Ji''s cold smirk deepened.


    Ji Shanshan''s underhanded dealings with Ji Chuyang were something she had known about for a long time.


    Moreover, judging by Gu Moqian''sck of surprise, it was clear he also knew exactly what was going on.


    "Regardless of what happened, you dared toy a hand on my woman."


    Gu Moqian''s tone lifted slightly, the corners of his eyes filled with chilling malice. "If not for me wanting to get Miss Ji out of there firstst night, do you think you''d still have the luxury of strolling around shamelessly today?"


    Ji Chuyang was now filled with regret. If he''d known things would end up this way, he would''ve kept a low profile and stayed at home instead of stepping out.


    Encountering Gu Moqian now meant there was no way he was getting away unscathed!


    Ji Chuyang panicked internally. "I... I was momentarily recklessst night. I sincerely apologize to you, Mr. Gu!"


    Miss Ji had been coldly watching Ji Chuyang this whole time. In front of Gu Moqian, he was like a shiveringmb. This spineless man¡ªthis scumbag who had destroyed her life¡ªwas actually reduced to this today!


    "Why apologize to me? The one you wronged is my future wife."


    Gu Moqian wasn''t the least bit amodating, the curve of his lips growing increasingly frigid.


    Ji Chuyang''s face alternated between red and white as he clenched and unclenched his fists. Turning reluctantly to Miss Ji, he said, "I''m sorry, Miss Ji..."


    Sorry?


    Ha! Did he think a simple "sorry" couldpensate for the pain and suffering she had endured?


    He had ruined her¡ªruined her life beyond repair! He hadn''t even spared her newborn child...


    Thinking back on every torment from her previous life, Miss Ji was consumed with a burning desire to kill Ji Chuyang on the spot!


    Miss Ji''s hands trembled, her eyes reddened, and the bottomless hatred and anguish in her gaze burned as she stared at Ji Chuyang.


    Gu Moqian caught her subtle changes in demeanor with keen sensitivity, and his heart ached deeply.


    She must have been reminded of the misery and humiliation fromst night.


    His chest tightened painfully.


    It was his fault¡ªhis failure to protect her had led her to endure that disgrace and torment.


    Gu Moqian''s brows softened with tenderness. Suddenly, he reached out, wrapped his arm around her slender waist, and pulled her into his embrace.


    His broad, warm hand gently patted her back as he whispered soothingly into her ear: "It''s okay. It''s all over now... I''m here..."


    His voice was tender and full of doting affection. Miss Ji copsed onto his shoulder, her eyes instantly welling with tears.


    Though her heart was heavy with sorrow, the strength and reliability of his shoulder made her feel as if she had finally found an anchor, a source of support she could lean on.


    It was a blessing to have been given another chance at life¡ªbecause this time, she hadn''t missed out on Gu Moqian...


    Ji Chuyang discreetly nced at the pair embracing before him and began to stealthily lift his foot, preparing to sneak away.


    "Trying to run?"


    Just as Ji Chuyang made a move, Gu Moqian''s chilling voice rang out.


    Ji Chuyang froze in ce, unable to take another step. Turning back awkwardly, he stammered, "Mr. Gu, I didn''t want to disturb you two..."

 Chapter 18 The World’s Most Expensive and Fastest Supercar

    <h4>Chapter 18: Chapter 18 The World''s Most Expensive and Fastest Supercar</h4>


    Gu Moqian''s voice was steady, carrying a hint ofziness, "Young Master Ji''s apologycks sincerity. Since that''s the case, let the entire Ji Family pay for your actions."


    His tone was as casual as if he werementing on the weather.


    But Ji Chuyang was drenched in sweat upon hearing it, "No! Please, no!"


    He asked anxiously, "Mr. Gu, what do I have to do for you to let me go, to let the Ji Family go?"


    Let him go? Dream on!


    "Do you remember pping my fianc¨¦est night?"


    Gu Moqian''s voice remainednguid, but his eyebrows were icy cold.


    The woman he wouldn''t dare touch was assaulted by this idiot!


    This is a debt he would make sure to settle properly!


    Ji Chuyang suddenly understood what Gu Moqian meant.


    He immediately bowed his head in apology, "Mr. Gu, I was wrong, I was really wrong! I shouldn''t have hit Miss Ji, I was wrong!"


    Ji Chuyang said this as he raised his hand to p himself.


    p! p! p!


    Ji Chuyang delivered one p to the left and another to the right, using plenty of force as he struck his face repeatedly.


    Compared to the Ji Family going bankrupt or Old Ji breaking his legs, Ji Chuyang preferred taking the pain now.


    Soon his face became bright red, marks from fingers visibly clear, almost painful just to look at.


    But Gu Moqian showed no intention of asking him to stop.


    At some point, people had begun gathering in the corridor, though Gu Moqian''s overpowering presence kept them froming too close.


    pping himself in front of so many people, Ji Chuyang''s disgrace knew no bounds.


    "Mr. Gu, may I stop now?" Ji Chuyang grimaced, his face on the verge of tears.


    Gu Moqian gazed at him coldly without a trace of extra emotion, much less an answer.


    Ji Chuyang was livid, his eyes nearly popping out of his head, yet he didn''t dare explode in their presence. Gritting his teeth, he continued pping himself.


    The people nearby watched in stunned silence; some couldn''t resist pointing at Ji Chuyang and murmuring among themselves.


    Within the crowd, Chen Ke silently approached Gu Moqian''s side, bowing his head, "Mr. Gu."


    Gu Moqian nodded mildly, extending his hand toward him.


    Chen Ke immediately understood and ced a car key respectfully in Gu Moqian''s palm.


    Ji Wei, watching Ji Chuyang now bleeding from the corners of his mouth, felt nothing but disgust.


    For a man like this, even wasting a nce was too much.


    "Gu Moqian, let''s go," Ji Wei tugged at his sleeve.


    "Just let him off like this?" Gu Moqian tilted his head, a smile ying faintly at his lips as he asked.


    "You decide."


    "Understood."


    A sharp glint flickered in Gu Moqian''s eyes as he turned to Chen Ke, "Strip him naked and throw him into the square outside."


    "Yes, Mr. Gu!"


    Gu Moqian wrapped a protective arm around Ji Wei''s shoulders and led her away from the scene.


    Behind them, Ji Chuyang''s vision blurred as blood dripped incessantly from his mouth. Unable to stand, he copsed to the floor in humiliation.


    He was quickly hauled up violently, his clothes stripped off before being dragged outside.


    -


    "Gu Moqian, are we heading in the wrong direction? The car''s parked by the square," Ji Wei noticed the discrepancy and asked in confusion.


    Gu Moqian chuckled as he reached for her hand, guiding her forward.


    A short distance ahead, a crowd had gathered, buzzing with excitement as they ogled something.


    As they got closer, Ji Wei finally caught snippets of their conversation.


    "Holy crap! Isn''t this a Koenigsegg One:1? The world''s fastest and most expensive supercar, starting at a billion! Only six of them exist globally! My God... Whose car is this?"


    "Ahhh, I can''t take it anymore; I just want to sit inside this luxurious supercar and cry!"


    "The woman riding in this car must be insanely lucky. Who could be fortunate enough for that..."

 Chapter 19 Oh Heavens, Bestow Upon Me a Mr. Gu Just Like Him!

    <h4>Chapter 19: Chapter 19 Oh Heavens, Bestow Upon Me a Mr. Gu Just Like Him!</h4>


    Ji Wei was led straight into the crowd by Gu Moqian.


    The people recognized Gu Moqian immediately, hurriedly making way for him with eyes full of shock.


    Some women were so excited that one even fainted on the spot.


    Gu Moqian paid no attention to themotion ahead, remaining as calm and poised as ever. He escorted Ji Wei to the luxury sports car and thoughtfully opened the car door for her.


    Ji Wei''s eyes widened in an instant.


    What? What?


    This luxury sports car is Gu Moqian''s ride!


    The sleek and stylish design of the sports car was breathtakingly dynamic, paired with its cutting-edge craftsmanship, dazzling metallic finish, and mirror-like surface that could reflect someone''s silhouette clearly. Even though Ji Wei wasn''t particrly knowledgeable about sports cars, she could tell this vehicle was worth a fortune!


    Under Gu Moqian''s gaze, brimming with amusement, Ji Wei stepped into the car, still stunned.


    Gu Moqian closed the door and walked around to the other side before getting in himself.


    A momentter, the pleasant sound of the engine roared to life, apanied by the silver-gray blur of the car speeding off, vanishing from the onlookers'' sight.


    Witnessing the ultra-expensive sports car leave in a trail of dust, the onlookers'' blood boiled with excitement.


    "Oh my god, oh my god, this car actually belongs to Mr. Gu! I told you, anyone driving this car in Rongcheng must have an extraordinary identity! Wow, my Mr. Gu..."


    "Did you see that? Mr. Gu opened the car door for Miss Ji himself! Being the woman of Mr. Gu must be absolute bliss... Heavens, please give me a Mr. Gu too!"


    "Mr. Gu is so handsome, so handsome, SO handsome! Ji Wei is so beautiful, so beautiful, SO beautiful! A dream couple, I''ve decided¡ªI''m shipping this pair!"


    Inside the sports car.


    Ji Wei took quite some time to collect herself before licking her lips and saying, "Gu Moqian, you usually keep such a low profile. This isn''t really your style, is it?"


    The striking car alone had caused amotion earlier, clearly destined to be tomorrow''s headline news.


    Gu Moqian''s lips carried a faint smile: "I''ve had this sports car for a long time. Today is also the first time I''m driving it."


    "But why... did you decide to drive it *today*?"


    "Because of you."


    The scandalous news from the morning about a wrist-slitting suicide had blown up across Rongcheng¡ªit was his oversight, not preemptively setting countermeasures in ce, that had allowed the rumors to run wild.


    Now, as he personally ushered Ji Wei into his luxury sports car, his favor and protection for her were evident. Those rumors iming discord between them? No one would dare believe them anymore.


    Ji Wei, bewildered, hadn''t yet figured out the implication behind his words. But Gu Moqian''s gaze shifted to the bandage on her wrist, his brows knit with a hint of sorrow: "From now on, don''t hurt yourself again¡ªnot even for acting."


    She stared at him, her nose suddenly stung with an aching sensation.


    "Gu Moqian, why are you so good to me?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly.


    So good it felt like a dream, so good that she feared she''d copse into despair if she ever lost him.


    "Because you''re my woman."


    Gu Moqian turned to look at her, his gaze deep and steady.


    Ji Wei stared dumbly at him, unable to respond for a long while. Yet in her heart, an indescribable wave of emotion surged forth.


    ...


    After dozens of minutes, the sports car came to a smooth stop at the intricately carved gates of the Ji Family estate.


    Gu Moqian stepped out of the car first, slightly bending his arm toward Ji Wei. She gazed at his refined,posed face for a moment before finally raising her hand to hook her arm through his.


    The two walked side by side toward the vi.


    "Young miss, you''re back!" The family''s butler, Uncle Zhao, hurriedly came to greet them.


    "Uncle Zhao, where''s Grandma?" Ji Wei asked with a faint smile.


    "Old Madam is in her room. I''ll notify her immediately!" Uncle Zhao eximed, casting Gu Moqian a quick, delighted nce¡ªit was almost hard to believe.


    Miss Ji had actually brought Mr. Gu home to the Ji Family! Praise the heavens, she''s finallye around!


    Having worked at the Ji Family for over twenty years, Uncle Zhao had practically watched Ji Wei grow up. In his heart, she was like a daughter.


    Now, seeing Ji Wei''s apparent closeness with Gu Moqian filled Uncle Zhao with indescribable joy; even his steps seemed lighter.


    Just as Uncle Zhao rounded the garden, he suddenly collided head-on with someone.


    "Ouch... That hurt so much!"


    Ji Yunxiang clutched her forehead, shrieking sharply, her brows furrowed in pain.


    She raised her head and saw Uncle Zhao, who had always been close to Ji Wei, and vented her frustration: "Rushing around like you''re on your way to reincarnation! Ugh, this really hurts..."


    Ji Yunxiang rubbed her forehead, her expression irritated.


    "I''m sorry, Mrs. Ji, I didn''t mean to," Uncle Zhao quickly apologized, bowing his head.


    Ji Yunxiang nced toward Cuiya Residence and, after a quick turn of her eyes, suddenly asked, "You were heading to see Old Madam Ji? Why so urgent? What''s the matter?"


    "Madam, the young miss is back, and she''s brought her future husband with her, so I was going to inform the Old Madam," Uncle Zhao answered cautiously.


    Ji Yunxiang''s expression shifted upon hearing this, surprise flickering in her gaze: "You mean Ji Wei brought Gu Moqian to the Ji Family?"


    That damn girl had been causing chaos with a suicide attemptst night, and now her attitude had suddenly changed? What''s going on?


    No, she had to go and see. Gu Moqian was the man she had chosen for Shanshan¡ªit was impossible for Ji Wei, that brat, to match someone so distinguished!

 Chapter 20 Our Relationship Is Doing Well

    <h4>Chapter 20: Chapter 20 Our Rtionship Is Doing Well</h4><h4></h4>


    Ji Wei led Gu Moqian into the living room.


    As the two stepped inside, the busy servants in the living room all turned their heads in unison. Seeing Ji Wei, they froze for a moment, but when they noticed Gu Moqian beside her, every single one of them stood rooted to the spot, ears ringing with astonishment.


    Noticing how Gu Moqian was curiously observing the surroundings from the moment they entered, Ji Wei couldn¡¯t help but chuckle lightly: "How could the Ji Family possiblypare to your luxury mansion? Everything here has been in ce for almost twenty years¡ªjust a bunch of antiques, nothing worth admiring."


    "This is where you grew up, where you¡¯ve lived your life. To me, that makes it special."


    Gu Moqian nced back at her, his tone serious and sincere.


    Ji Wei froze for a moment, just about to speak, when a sharp voice suddenly pierced the air from the doorway¡ª


    "Our dear Miss Ji disappeared all night yesterday, and now she finally decides to grace us with her presence. A youngdy staying out overnight¡ªwhat kind of behavior is that? If you were to encounter some malicious person and ruin your reputation, losing face is one thing, but tarnishing the Ji Family¡¯s name is far worse."


    Ji Yunxiang strode into the living room while speaking, heading directly toward the two.


    Ji Wei saw Ji Yunxiang enter, and her expression gradually grew cold.


    Five years ago, Ji Yunxiang divorced her husband and brought her daughter Ji Shanshan back to her parents¡¯ home at the Ji Family. She shamelessly insisted on living there ever since. Having been ustomed to living as a wealthy woman, Ji Yunxiang did nothing productive¡ªspending all her days shopping and ying cards with a group of affluentdies, all funded by Old Madam Ji.


    Ji Yunxiang¡¯s greatest aspiration was to marry off her daughter Ji Shanshan to a rich man, ensuring a worry-free life for the remainder of their days.


    The moment Ji Yunxiang saw Gu Moqian, she visibly froze.


    Mr. Gu from Rongcheng lived up to his reputation: every gesture and movement radiated an effortless and refined nobility. He stood there quietly, his tall and graceful figure reminiscent of jade, his handsomeness shining like the moon¡¯s glow.


    So good-looking and unimaginably wealthy¡ªif Shanshan could marry a man like him, wouldn¡¯t the mother and daughter be set for life?


    Ji Yunxiang¡¯s eyes gleamed with calction as devious schemes took shape in her mind.


    With urgent eagerness to get closer to Gu Moqian, she noticed Ji Wei blocking the way and stepped forward brazenly, shoving Ji Wei aside without hesitation to stand proudly in front of Gu Moqian.


    Looking up at the man in front of her, who seemed like a divine presence, Ji Yunxiang¡¯s heart raced uncontrobly. Ovee with joy, she enthusiastically extended her hand: "Mr. Gu, I¡¯m Shanshan¡¯s mother! My daughter is so beautiful¡ªyou surely remember her, don¡¯t you?"


    Ji Wei stumbled a step back after being pushed by Ji Yunxiang¡¯s plump frame, unsteady on her feet.


    The pressure in the air around Gu Moqian plummeted. His expression ice-cold, he shot Ji Yunxiang a sharp re and quickly walked over to support Ji Wei. "Are you alright?"


    Ji Wei shook her head lightly.


    "Shopping tired you out today, didn¡¯t it? Let me take you upstairs to rest."


    The tenderness in Gu Moqian¡¯s gaze was reserved for Ji Wei alone, his wordsced with gentle concern.


    Ji Wei had no desire to exchange another word with Ji Yunxiang, so she immediately nodded in agreement.


    Gu Moqian helped Ji Wei turn and head toward the stairs.


    Seeing the two leave her utterly ignored, Ji Yunxiang clenched her palm so tightly in frustration that her nails dug into her skin. Yet outwardly, she feigned concern and called out with a false smile: "Little Wei, your father threw quite the tantrum before leaving for the office this morning. Your aunt tried her best to calm him down but couldn¡¯t. Please, make sure you don¡¯t do anything rebellious again that might upset him, alright?"


    Ji Yunxiang¡¯s insincere remarks made Ji Wei¡¯s brow crease slightly. Turning back, she retorted: "What father and daughter don¡¯t bicker once in a while? No matter how often we argue, the bond between father and daughter runs thicker than water. Our rtionship is perfectly fine and doesn¡¯t require auntie¡¯s concern."

 Chapter 21: Must Feel Lonely and Empty

    <h4>Chapter 21: Chapter 21: Must Feel Lonely and Empty</h4><h4></h4>


    Ji Yunxiang¡¯s face stiffened, her expression hard to keep in check.


    Seeing Ji Wei had no intention of paying her any further attention and continued walking upstairs, Ji Yunxiang panicked and blurted out, "Where¡¯s Shanshan? Didn¡¯t she go looking for you? Why didn¡¯t shee back with you?"


    Ji Wei lifted her gaze and nced at Gu Moqian.


    Ha... Ji Shanshan?


    She was probably still locked inside that Maybach right now, wasn¡¯t she?


    In weather this hot, stuck inside that stifling car... that feeling should be unforgettable for a lifetime.


    "Didn¡¯t shee back ages ago?" Ji Wei blinked innocently. "Maybe she got carried away ying and went to a friend¡¯s ce?"


    Ji Yunxiang stared at Ji Wei, unable to judge whether her words were true or not.


    Of all things, Ji Shanshan had forgotten to bring her phone when she went out this morning. Gu Moqian was already here at the Ji Family¡¯s house, yet she still hadn¡¯t returned!


    While Ji Yunxiang was a bundle of nerves inside, she forced herself to maintain a smile on the surface.


    Suddenly, her gaze fell on the gauze wrapped around Ji Wei¡¯s right wrist. She cried out in exaggerated shock, "Oh my, Little Wei, what¡¯s wrong with you? How could you be so careless with yourself!"


    Ji Yunxiang rushed over, trying to grab Ji Wei¡¯s hand, but was unceremoniously blocked by Gu Moqian.


    Standing in front of Ji Wei, Gu Moqian shielded her behind him. His gaze was so cold it sent chills down one¡¯s spine.


    "Mr. Gu, you¡¯ve misunderstood. I¡¯m genuinely concerned about Little Wei."


    Ji Yunxiang tried to exin, "Little Wei has been spoiled since she was a child. She¡¯s stubborn too. The newspapers said she was suicidal because she didn¡¯t want to marry you, Mr. Gu. You treat her so well, but Little Wei still doesn¡¯t know how to appreciate it. You must feel terribly conflicted."


    Ji Yunxiang nced at the increasingly icy expression on Gu Moqian¡¯s face and, emboldening herself, pressed on: "Actually, Little Wei isn¡¯t the only girl in the Ji Family. My Shanshan is excellent in every way. Ever since she was born, she¡¯s carried myst name; she¡¯s a legitimate Ji Family member. If Little Wei truly doesn¡¯t want this marriage, why should you force it, Mr. Gu? Why not consider Shan¡ª"


    "Aunt, exactly which eye of yours saw that I didn¡¯t like Moqian?"


    Ji Wei¡¯s patience snapped, cutting off Ji Yunxiang¡¯s words without a hint of courtesy.


    Some people... once they be shameless, they¡¯re simply invincible!


    "That¡¯s what the reports said; I was merely stating facts. Besides, didn¡¯t you go on and on not long ago about how you¡¯d rather die than marry Mr. Gu? Everyone in the Ji Family knows that. Aunt hasn¡¯t ndered you."


    Ji Yunxiang retorted with a righteous air.


    "I changed my mind. Is there a problem with that?"


    Ji Wei chuckled lightly, then, all of a sudden, reached out and naturally looped her arm around Gu Moqian¡¯s neck.


    A sh of surprise darted across Gu Moqian¡¯s eyes before disappearing.


    Ji Wei¡¯s bright eyes sparkled with humor. She looked at Gu Moqian and said softly, "Moqian, your charm is simply too irresistible. Even Aunt has her eyes on you. Tell me, what should I do about this?"


    The corners of Gu Moqian¡¯s lips quirked upward. His arm slid around her slender waist, drawing her closer. He leaned in, his thin lips brushing lightly against her delicate earlobe.


    His warm breath tickled her pale cheek as he murmured, "Aside from you, I want no one else."


    The two of them so tantly showing off their affection in front of her made Ji Yunxiang¡¯s face turn dark with anger. Yet, she dared notsh out and could only clench her fists tightly in frustration.


    "Little Wei, as a youngdy, you should be more reserved. You and Mr. Gu aren¡¯t even married yet, being so intimate in broad daylight¡ªit won¡¯t look good."


    The bitterness in Ji Yunxiang¡¯s tone was impossible to miss.


    "I¡¯m in a normal rtionship with Moqian. Aunt, are you upset because you¡¯re jealous?"


    Ji Wei¡¯s gaze shifted to Ji Yunxiang. "Oh, I get it now. Aunt, you and Uncle have been divorced for almost five years, right? It¡¯s been years since you¡¯ve been alone. Feeling lonely watching me and Moqian being in love must be normal for you."

 Chapter 22: Want Me to Feed You?

    <h4>Chapter 22: Chapter 22: Want Me to Feed You?</h4><h4></h4>


    As Ji Wei spoke, she tilted her head up, looking at Mo Qian: "Mo Qian, let¡¯s just go upstairs. Aunt is old and can¡¯t handle much agitation."


    Mo Qian raised his eyebrows, the smile on his lips deepening.


    His woman was truly getting more mischievous by the day.


    But that was precisely what he liked.


    This side of Ji Wei¡ªvivid and full of life, as though adorned with stardust¡ªfirmly held his gaze.


    Ji Yunxiang could only watch helplessly as their figures disappeared upstairs, her chest heaving with fury.


    She was a senior, yet Ji Wei had humiliated her like this. It was absolutely intolerable!


    "Madam, would you like some tea?"


    A nearby servant cautiously handed over a teacup to Ji Yunxiang.


    Unable to contain her anger, Ji Yunxiang reached out, intending to use the tea to suppress her boiling rage, but as soon as her fingers touched the edge of the cup, she shrank back from the searing heat.


    "So hot! Are you trying to burn me to death?!"


    Ji Yunxiang roared irately, raising her hand to knock the teacup onto the ground.


    The servant was so frightened she dropped to her knees, ignoring the scalding tea sshing on her as she hurriedly apologized: "I¡¯m sorry, Madam, I didn¡¯t mean to..."


    "Even a servant dares to disrespect me now? Ji Wei, just wait and see. We¡¯ll settle this score, slowly but surely!"


    As Ji Yunxiang spoke, she looked toward the staircase with her eyes aze with fury.


    -


    Ji Wei led Mo Qian into her room.


    "You... feel free to take a seat."


    Ji Wei scratched her head, speaking with a hint of unease.


    Mo Qian nced at her, then suddenly spoke in an unhurried tone: "Ji Wei, I have some gifts in my car¡¯s trunk for Grandma and the Ji Family members. Ask the servant to bring them upter."


    Gifts? Had he already prepared for his visit to the Ji Family in advance and kept the gifts in the car this whole time?


    Ji Wei stared at him in astonishment, a warm feeling rising in her heart. It took her a moment before she responded with a simple "Oh."


    After speaking that single word, the air between them grew stagnant again.


    It was her first time bringing a man into her private space, and Ji Wei truly didn¡¯t know what to do.


    But suddenly, a sharp pain shot through her lower abdomen. Ji Wei instinctively frowned and pressed her hand to her stomach.


    Why did her stomach start hurting all of a sudden?


    Had she eaten something bad?


    Mo Qian turned his head and noticed Ji Wei still standing in ce, her face pale, showing unmistakable difort.


    He caught sight of her clutching her stomach, his eyes darkening immediately. Striding toward her with urgency, he asked, "What¡¯s wrong?"


    "My stomach hurts a little. I¡¯ll be fine after resting for a bit," Ji Wei forced a lighthearted smile.


    Mo Qian¡¯s deep eyes scrutinized her face intently, his expression showing no signs of rxation. The next moment, he took her hand and, without giving her a chance to object, guided her to the bed.


    "Lie down properly. I¡¯ll go downstairs to find something for the pain."


    He pulled back the nket and gently pushed her onto the bed, signaling her to lie down.


    "No, that¡¯s not appropriate. Grandma will be up in a bit," Ji Wei attempted to object.


    Seeing the hesitation in Ji Wei¡¯s expression, Mo Qian suddenly curved his lips into a smile. Leaning close to her ear, he murmured, "Can¡¯t bear to see me leave, hmm?"


    Ji Wei¡¯s face flushed crimson in an instant, and she stammered with an embarrassedugh, "No, definitely not..."


    Mo Qian stretched out his hand and gently ruffled her soft hair, "Wait for me."


    With that, he turned and left the bedroom.


    Ji Wei hadn¡¯t yet recovered her senses when Mo Qian pushed the door open once more, returning with a box of painkillers in his hand.


    He poured a ss of water, took out two pills, and brought them to her lips. "Take them."


    Ji Wei eyed the dark-colored pills uneasily, wrinkling her nose in hesitation.


    Since she was young, not only did she fear pain, but she also disliked taking medicine. Unless absolutely necessary, she would avoid it at all costs.


    Noting her reluctance, Mo Qian¡¯s gaze deepened, and a teasing smile tugged at his lips. "Want me to feed you?"

 Chapter 23: She delivered the pill into her mouth with her lips.

    <h4>Chapter 23: Chapter 23: She delivered the pill into her mouth with her lips.</h4><h4></h4>


    Ji Wei hadn¡¯t had time to say a word when Mo Qian swiftly ced the pill in his mouth and leaned toward her.


    The next second, Ji Wei felt a soft sensation on her lips¡ªit was Mo Qian¡¯s thin lips pressing against hers.


    He domineeringly imed her red lips, his tongue boldly entering and transferring the pill into her mouth.


    The bitterness spread inside her mouth, and Ji Wei instinctively wanted to push him away, but he deepened the kiss, refusing to leave any corner of her mouth untouched.


    "Mo Qian... mm..."


    Ji Wei was forced to swallow the pill.


    Her hands clenched slightly at her sides, her whole body pinned down by Mo Qian, the two of them pressed seamlessly together.


    Time seemed to stretch endlessly¡ªJi Wei felt her lips had gone numb from the kiss, her mouth filled entirely with his taste, no trace of bitterness left. Only then did Mo Qian release her.


    He extended his long fingers and gently caressed her red lips.


    Ji Wei froze, then turned her head away angrily and shyly.


    Mo Qian¡¯s gaze was deep and intense as he looked at her. "The medication won¡¯t work immediately. I¡¯ll stay with you¡ªit might ease things a bit." After saying that, he straightened up, began unhurriedly removing his suit jacket, and tossed it to the foot of the bed.


    Underneath, he wore a light blue shirt, its cor unbuttoned by two buttons.


    Mo Qian¡¯s chest was broad and solid, his body the kind that looks slender in clothes but muscr when revealed. As he moved, his shirt stretched tightly, outlining the contours of his chest muscles.


    Ji Wei¡¯s face flushed inexplicably, and she quickly shifted her gaze away.


    By the time she reacted, Mo Qian had already reclined against the headboard. He naturally patted the space beside him and said, "Come, lie here."


    Ji Wei: "..."


    Still frozen in ce, Ji Wei was suddenly pulled into Mo Qian¡¯s embrace.


    Caught off guard, she sprawled directly onto him.


    The unique scent of Mo Qian wafted into her nose¡ªit was clean, refined, and pleasant.


    As Ji Wei thought about getting up, Mo Qian suddenly turned to his side.


    She had no choice but to follow his movement, ending up lying t on her back on the bed.


    Ji Wei stared nkly with wide eyes, helplessly gazing at the refined and handsome man next to her pillow.


    The next second, a warm sensation spread over her lower abdomen. Mo Qian¡¯s brows softened, his tone gentle: "Does this feel less painful?"


    The faint warmth from his palm seeped through, and the ache in her belly did seem to ease.


    Ji Wei looked up at him,pletely enveloped by his tenderness and care, gradually forgetting about the pain in her stomach.


    Feeling cherished¡ªespecially by a man like Mo Qian, who treated her as if she were precious¡ªJi Wei¡¯s chest filled to bursting.


    Seeing Ji Wei staring nkly at him, her eyes glistening with a watery sheen, Mo Qian said softly, "Close your eyes and sleep¡ªI¡¯ll be right here."


    Ji Wei felt a faint mist cloud her vision.


    She nodded silently, then reached out to ce her hand on her lower abdomen, resting over the back of Mo Qian¡¯s hand.


    Perhaps she really was tired, and the sense of security Mo Qian provided was utterly reassuring. Gradually, she closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep.


    Mo Qian turned to his side, propping his head with one hand, quietly watching her sleeping face without blinking.


    His expression was full of tenderness, looking at her as if guarding the most cherished treasure in his life.


    At the bedroom door, Old Madam Ji, supported by A Xiu as she made her way upstairs, nced through the crack in the door at the scene inside. Unable to contain her glee, she covered her mouth to stifle herughter.

 Chapter 24 Turning That Kiss Into Initiative

    <h4>Chapter 24: Chapter 24 Turning That Kiss Into Initiative</h4><h4></h4>


    A Xiu was about to push the door open, but Old Madam Ji hurriedly stopped her, saying, "Don¡¯t disturb the young ones. Let¡¯s go downstairs and wait."


    Old Madam Ji¡¯s face was full of joy. With one hand leaning on her cane and supported by A Xiu, she slowly made her way downstairs.


    At first, Ji Wei was sleeping soundly, but when the unpleasant memories of her past life invaded her dreams, she became restless, shaking her head as if trying to rid herself of something.


    The scenes in her mind were chaotic, shing past like movie frames.


    In her three years of marriage to Ji Chuyang, she had been ruthlessly neglected, left alone each day and night in an empty room. Meanwhile, the gossip on television kept reporting how her husband had hooked up with one fresh-faced model after another.


    The scene shifted¡ª


    The Ji Family teetered on the edge of bankruptcy overnight, her father Ji Yunli¡¯s hair turned white with worry. He went to the Ji Family seeking help, only to be coldly turned away by Ji Chuyang. In the end, her father couldn¡¯t hold on any longer and copsed in the pouring rain...


    The final scene was a horrific one at the hospital: Ji Chuyang¡¯s twisted grin, her child thrown to the ground with blood sttering everywhere, and her own gut-wrenching screams...


    Gu Moqian noticed beads of sweat forming on her forehead, his brows furrowing slightly. He instinctively wanted to get up and grab a towel, but the next moment, Ji Wei¡¯s hand gripped his shirt sleeve tightly, refusing to let go.


    "No! Don¡¯t kill my child¡ª"


    Ji Wei shouted in terror, abruptly opening her eyes.


    She hadn¡¯t fully emerged from the dream, her gaze unfocused. When she saw the handsome, clear-faced man beside her, she didn¡¯t immediately recognize him.


    Gu Moqian tightly held her hand, his brows slightly drawn together. "Did you have a nightmare? It¡¯s okay now, all of that isn¡¯t real."


    Hearing Gu Moqian¡¯s voice, Ji Wei¡¯s tears instantly streamed down her face.


    She shook her head.


    No, it¡¯s not fake!


    Those were events truly from her past life¡ªthe Ji Family¡¯s bankruptcy, her father¡¯s hospital stay, and her newborn child being killed by Ji Chuyang.


    A wave of overwhelming grief surged through her. Ji Wei wept uncontrobly, her shoulders trembling violently.


    Seeing her so heartbroken made Gu Moqian feel equally distressed.


    He reached out, pulling her into his arms, softlyforting her over and over, "It¡¯s okay... it¡¯s okay, don¡¯t be afraid. I¡¯m here. Don¡¯t be scared..."


    Ji Wei¡¯s tears soaked through his shirt, pressing against his chest, scorching his heart.


    After crying for a while, Ji Wei suddenly lifted her head. Her eyes were red, a sight that tugged fiercely at the heartstrings.


    "Gu Moqian, if you hadn¡¯te in time to save mest night, if I had been defiled by Ji Chuyang, would you have abandoned me?"


    If the events of her past life repeated again, she feared she wouldn¡¯t survive a second time...


    Gu Moqian froze for a moment, then hugged her tightly, his face pressing against the curve of her neck, his tone unshakingly firm: "No, I would never abandon you."


    That single, simple statement swept away the gloom in Ji Wei¡¯s heart.


    She lifted her tear-streaked face again, gazing at Gu Moqian. Her reddened eyes shimmered with light, and a faint smile gradually appeared on her lips.


    The next moment, she suddenly leaned in, pressing her lips to his.


    Ji Wei¡¯s sudden kiss took Gu Moqianpletely by surprise.


    Her kissing skills were far from proficient; she was even a little clumsy, tentatively nibbling at his lips bit by bit to deepen the kiss.


    She closed her eyes, hershes trembling slightly with the stir of her emotions. Her fair arms wrapped firmly around his neck as she continued to peck at his lips, savoring his warmth and unique presence.


    Gu Moqian finally came to his senses a few secondster. He reached out to cradle the back of her head, taking charge of the kiss.

 Chapter 25: Speak Less, No One Thinks You’re Mute

    <h4>Chapter 25: Chapter 25: Speak Less, No One Thinks You¡¯re Mute</h4><h4></h4>


    The two kissed passionately, as if they wanted to merge into each other¡¯s hearts.


    After a long time, Ji Wei finally released his lips slowly.


    Her bright ck eyes sparkled, her cheeks flushed, carrying a tinge of shyness.


    Realizing what she had just done, Ji Wei hastily released her hands, quickly lifted the quilt, and burrowed into the bedding, lying down with her back facing Gu Moqian.


    Her heart was pounding wildly; biting her finger, she felt a mix of regret and sweetness, her mind entirely consumed by fragments of the kiss just moments ago.


    Oh my gosh, what did she just do?


    She actually initiated a kiss with Gu Moqian!


    Oh heavens, oh heavens, oh heavens!


    "What are you thinking about?"


    Ji Wei, her mind still in chaos, blurted out unconsciously, "How could I take the initiative to kiss him? I¡¯m socking in restraint..."


    Mid-sentence, she suddenly stopped abruptly and turned her face around.


    Gu Moqian¡¯s eyes were full of mirth as he looked at her, his tonezy, "Not only did you kiss me, you bit me too."


    He clearly remembered how someone just now was so irresistibly drawn to him, clumsily yet earnestly kissing and biting him.


    Ji Wei: "..."


    Her face instantly turned as red as a tomato.


    Was there anything wrong with biting him?


    She had seen it in those movies ¡ª when women took the initiative to tease, wasn¡¯t that how they did it?


    "Didn¡¯t bite enough just now? How about, we try one more time?"


    Gu Moqian suddenly leaned closer to her, his warm breath sprinkling across her cheeks, making them itch.


    Ji Wei hurriedly scrambled away in a panic, her behavior suggesting he was some terrifying creature.


    Gu Moqian¡¯s smile deepened. Just as he was about to say something, there was suddenly a knock at the door.


    Immediately after, the servant¡¯s voice sounded from outside: "Miss, are you awake? Dinner has been prepared, and the Old Madam is waiting for you and Mr. Gu toe down to eat."


    "Go tell Grandma we¡¯ll be right down."


    -


    In the dining room, the crystal chandelier emitted dazzling light, illuminating the surroundings brightly. A long dining table was alreadyden with sumptuous dishes.


    Ji Yunxiang was sitting by the table, visibly impatient: "Little Wei is getting so unruly, making her elders wait for her even during mealtime."


    Old Madam Ji cast Ji Yunxiang a sharp nce: "Say less¡ªno one¡¯s treating you as mute."


    "Mother, I am at least her aunt, am I not even allowed to say a few words? It¡¯s your fault and Brother¡¯s¡ªthe way you¡¯ve pampered her has made her disrespectful to her elders. If she gets married into the Gu Family, wouldn¡¯t that embarrass the Ji Familypletely!"


    Just as Ji Yunxiang finished speaking, Ji Wei and Gu Moqian walked into the dining room.


    Ji Yunxiang immediately masked her displeasure and, forcing a smile, looked at Ji Wei, speaking with veiled sarcasm: "Little Wei, you¡¯ve finallye down. Not bad, only twenty minuteste this time. That¡¯s an improvementpared tost time when you got mad and overturned the entire dining table, leaving everyone with no meal to eat."


    Then she quickly turned her gaze to Gu Moqian, saying, "Little Wei has a bad temper; all of us in the Ji Family have gotten quite used to it. But poor Mr. Gu, in the future when you deal with Little Wei¡¯s attitude, you¡¯re going to have a hard time, truly putting you in a difficult position."


    Gu Moqian raised his brow slightly and nced at Ji Wei by his side, his expression half-amused, half-serious. He replied, "Aunt, there¡¯s no need to worry. Since I¡¯ve chosen Weiwei, I¡¯ll ept both her good and bad sides."


    "Mr. Gu speaks lightly¡ªwhat if she disgracefully embarrasses your Gu Family? I¡¯ve heard Chairman Gu values the Gu Family¡¯s reputation above everything else," Ji Yunxiang said, clenching her teeth in concealed frustration.


    Before Gu Moqian could respond, Old Madam Ji could take no more. She forcefully tapped her cane against the floor and red at Ji Yunxiang: "Enough! You were the oneining about being hungry, yet here you are yapping endlessly. Are you not going to eat now?"

 Chapter 26 Suddenly Becomes So Sentimental

    <h4>Chapter 26: Chapter 26 Suddenly Bes So Sentimental</h4><h4></h4>


    "Mom, I was just kindly reminding Little Wei to control her temper. The man she¡¯s going to marry is Mr. Gu..."


    Ji Yunxiang¡¯s face turned pale, and she tried to defend herself.


    "If Little Wei needs to be managed, that¡¯s your older brother¡¯s job. Why are you meddling in everything?"


    Old Madam Ji reprimanded her and then softened her expression, showing a gentle smile as she looked at Ji Wei: "You two stop standing there. Come sit next to Grandma."


    Ji Wei walked over and sat beside Old Madam Ji, her voice slightly hoarse when she called out, "Grandma."


    "Girl, calling me so affectionately¡ªit¡¯s not at all like your usual self."


    Old Madam Ji chuckled warmly and extended her hand to hold Ji Wei¡¯s.


    Grandma¡¯s hand was bony but very warm. As it rested in her palm, Ji Wei¡¯s nose stung with emotion.


    "Grandma, from now on, I won¡¯t be reckless or lose my temper anymore. I¡¯ll make sure you¡¯re happy every single day."


    Ji Wei looked seriously at her grandmother, her red-rimmed eyes brimming with emotion.


    Old Madam Ji paused for a moment before patting the back of Ji Wei¡¯s hand: "Girl, getting so sentimental all of a sudden¡ªGrandma¡¯s not used to it. Come on, tell me, what trouble have you stirred up now that you need me to clean up?"


    Ji Wei¡¯s tears clung stubbornly to the corners of her eyes. Hearing her grandma say this, she felt both like crying andughing: "Grandma, I didn¡¯t cause any trouble."


    "Really not lying to Grandma?"


    "Really."


    Old Madam Jiughed joyfully. Her gaze shifted andnded on Gu Moqian, who was still standing nearby. "Grandson-inw, sit down, sit down."


    Gu Moqian had a faint smile on his lips as he pulled out a chair and sat next to Ji Wei.


    "Now that everyone¡¯s here, let¡¯s start eating," Old Madam Ji said, clearly in high spirits.


    Ji Wei nced around the dining table and asked, "Grandma, isn¡¯t Dading home tonight?"


    "Yunli called just now. He said there¡¯s an important social engagement and told us not to wait for him."


    In Ji Wei¡¯s memories of her past life, her father always seemed so busy. As a result, most of the time, she stayed with her grandmother, who doted on her and indulged her.


    "Grandson-inw, is there anything you like to eat? All these dishes are Sister-inw Liu¡¯s specialties. Try them and see if they suit your taste," Old Madam Ji said kindly, looking at Gu Moqian.


    The more she looked at this grandson-inw, the more satisfied she felt.


    He and Little Wei were a perfect match, both talented and beautiful.


    Gu Moqian nodded politely. "Alright."


    Although he agreed, his gaze hesitated briefly as itnded on the dish in front of him.


    Noticing Gu Moqian pause just as he raised his chopsticks, Old Madam Ji immediately gave Ji Wei a meaningful look.


    Why are you just sitting there? Hurry and serve some food to your grandson-inw!


    Understanding her grandmother¡¯s hint, Ji Wei picked up her chopsticks and ced a piece of crab meat into Gu Moqian¡¯s bowl.


    "This crab was flown in from Japan. It¡¯s really fresh¡ªyou should give it a try."


    Crab...


    Gu Moqian¡¯s eyes flickered slightly, but the change vanished in an instant. "Alright, I¡¯ll try it."


    Watching him take a bite, Ji Wei eagerly asked, "How is it?"


    "Delicious," Gu Moqian replied with a subtle smile.


    Seeing the two young ones getting along so well, Old Madam Ji was overjoyed beyond words.


    Meanwhile, Ji Yunxiang had an altogether different reaction; she tightly twisted the hem of the tablecloth into a crumpled ball, barely holding back her frustration. She had no appetite left to eat.


    Why wasn¡¯t Shanshan back yet? It was already sote!


    As she stewed in her thoughts, a figure appeared, panting heavily, at the dining room door.


    Ji Shanshan!


    Hearing themotion, everyone at the table turned toward the door.


    Ji Shanshan¡¯s hair was disheveled, and she was still catching her breath from running too fast.


    When her eyes fell on Ji Wei and Gu Moqian, a sh of resentment was unmistakable in her reddened gaze. Her fists clenched tightly by her sides, trembling uncontrobly.


    "Shanshan, why are you back sote!"

 Chapter 27 She hates, hates so much!

    <h4>Chapter 27: Chapter 27 She hates, hates so much!</h4><h4></h4>


    Ji Yunxiang was about to open her mouth to scold her daughter, but suddenly noticed that her aura felt off. She quickly stood up from the chair and walked toward her.


    Ji Shanshan finally moved her eyes, looking at Ji Yunxiang. She could no longer suppress the grievance in her heart, her lips trembled, and she was about to cry: "Mom, I..."


    Ji Yunxiang pulled her out of the dining room, to a ce where no one was around, and asked anxiously: "What¡¯s going on? Quickly, tell me."


    Ji Shanshan opened her mouth, but not a single word came out.


    She had been waiting in the Maybach, hoping Ji Wei and Gu Moqian would return quickly.


    But as night fell, neither of them showed up. The car grew stifling and hot. Her emotions shifted from initial unease and panic to aplete breakdown, sobbing uncontrobly, even mming her head against the car window multiple times...


    It was only at that moment that Ji Shanshan truly realized she had been deliberately locked inside the car.


    Surely, Ji Wei¡¯s n had been like this from the very start. That¡¯s why she threatened her to get in the car.


    The resentment in Ji Shanshan¡¯s heart toward Ji Wei reached its peak all at once!


    When Gu Moqian¡¯s assistant, Chen Ke, finally released her from the Maybach, the sky outside had already turned pitch ck.


    "Miss Ji, you¡¯re smart. It would be best if today¡¯s events remained buried deep in your stomach. Don¡¯t even think about seeking revenge, or else the matter of you colluding with Ji Chuyang to betray the Ji Family¡¯s secrets will soon reach Ji Yunting. By then, Miss Ji and your mother will likely lose their footing in the Ji Family entirely..."


    These were the words Chen Ke left her with before letting her go.


    Ji Shanshan knew these words conveyed Gu Moqian¡¯s intentions.


    She bit down hard, enduring overwhelming fear, stumbling to the street corner to hail a taxi, and finally returned to the Ji Family estate.


    "What¡¯s the matter with you, girl? Why won¡¯t you speak? What happened exactly?"


    Ji Yunxiang, seeing her unwilling to say anything, grew more anxious and pressed further.


    Ji Shanshan, pale and weak, replied lifelessly, "Mom, I went shopping with friends this afternoon. On my way back, I identally fell, so I look a bit messy."


    "You silly girl, you¡¯re driving me crazy! I told you to keep an eye on Ji Wei, but you went shopping instead and ended up like this¡ªtruly impossible to rely on..."


    Ji Yunxiang exploded with irritation, scolding relentlessly.


    But Ji Shanshan didn¡¯t hear a word. Her gaze fell on Ji Wei, sitting in the dining room,ughing and chatting with Old Madam Ji. Hatred surged in her eyes once again.


    She had been locked up in the car, almost suffocated to death, while Ji Wei was perfectly fine, sitting here enjoying dinner. She hated her, hated her so much!


    Trembling, Ji Shanshan said in a shaky voice, "Mom, I¡¯ll head to my room for a bit ande down shortly."


    Before Ji Yunxiang could respond, Ji Shanshan had already turned her back and walked away.


    "This child!"


    Ji Yunxiang had no choice but to return to the dining room alone.


    "Shanshan, what¡¯s the matter with her? She doesn¡¯t even greet the guests¡ªhow rude!"


    Old Madam Ji spoke with some displeasure.


    "Mom, Shanshan was being yful and identally fell. She went to change into clean clothes and will be back shortly," Ji Yunxiang exined with a forced smile.


    Ji Wei¡¯s gaze lingered in the direction where Ji Shanshan had disappeared, pondering thoughtfully.


    ¡ª


    Ji Shanshan quickly finished showering and stepped out of her room.


    In the corridor, two maids walked by carrying a stack of gift boxes, whispering to each other.


    "Mr. Gu treats our eldest Miss so well. He brought so many gifts from the Gu Family this time¡ªhe really gave her plenty of face."


    "Exactly, especially the gift on the top of the stack. You can tell just by looking at it that it¡¯s extraordinary. It¡¯s probably for Old Madam Ji. Who knows how much it cost..."

 Chapter 28: Preferring Romance Over Friendship

    <h4>Chapter 28: Chapter 28: Preferring Romance Over Friendship</h4><h4></h4>


    "What exactly is this gift?"


    "You¡¯ll find out soon enough, won¡¯t you? Hurry up, the young mistress is still waiting for us downstairs."


    Ji Shanshan stood right behind them, clearly overhearing every word of their conversation.


    Her mind raced, and her expression gradually turned sinister and ruthless.


    Just as the two maids were about to head down the stairs, Ji Shanshan darted forward and mmed into the pile of gift boxes!


    The boxes scattered from the tremendous impact, some falling to the floor, others rolling down the stairs.


    "Ouch..."


    Ji Shanshan dramatically rubbed her shoulder, ring at the two maids as she berated them loudly, "What kind of walking is that? Blocking the middle of the way¡ªdo you know how much that hurt?"


    "Second Miss, we¡¯re so sorry, we didn¡¯t mean to!" The two maids quickly bowed their heads to apologize.


    "Forget it, forget it! I know it wasn¡¯t on purpose."


    Ji Shanshan feigned impatience as she waved them off, then pointed at the scattered gift boxes on the stairs. "Hurry up and pick those up! If they¡¯re damaged, can you two afford to pay for it?"


    The two maids, rmed at the state of the scattered boxes, scrambled in a panic to pick them up.


    When no one was looking her way, Ji Shanshan swiftly grabbed the most exquisitely wrapped gift box.


    She nced around cautiously as she carefully opened it.


    Inside the box was an elegant, traditional Chinese qipao.


    Ji Shanshan instantly deduced that this was the gift meant for Old Madam Ji.


    The corners of her lips twisted into a silent, malicious sneer. She picked up the qipao and forcefully tore at the slit on the hem!


    Rip¡ª


    The qipao was left with arge, jagged tear.


    Ji Shanshan, satisfied with the long gash in the fabric, quickly ced the qipao back in the box and reced the lid.


    The two maids, now holding the picked-up gift boxes, cautiously ascended the stairs. As they passed Ji Shanshan, they didn¡¯t notice the cold, venomous look on her face.


    By now, dinner had already concluded.


    Ji Wei was seated in the living room, chatting with Old Madam Ji, while Mo Qian stood in the hallway outside, talking on the phone.


    "I mean it, Old Mo, the three of us brothers haven¡¯t hung out in nearly half a month! Ever since you got a woman, you¡¯vepletely forgotten about us. A textbook case of prioritizing romance over friendship!"


    On the other end of the phone came Xi Nanfeng¡¯s teasing tone.


    Mo Qian remained unfazed, answering coolly, "If you¡¯ve got the guts, why don¡¯t you try prioritizing romance over friendship for once?"


    "Gu Moqian, is this your way of bullying me just because I¡¯m single? Let me tell you, tomorrow I¡¯m going on a blind date. Watch me ditch my single status and show you how it¡¯s done!"


    "If you can actually stop being single, I¡¯ll send you a huge gift."


    "Hey, Old Mo, from the way you said that, it¡¯s clear you don¡¯t believe in my charm. After all, I¡¯m the young master of the Xi Family. Suave, dashing, and effortlessly cool..."


    Uninterested in hearing the boasting, Mo Qian brusquely interrupted, "Is Ye Cheng nearby?"


    "He¡¯s here... Wait a second, Old Mo, I¡¯m the one talking to you, and you¡¯re asking for Ye Cheng? Where exactly do I stand in your heart?"


    From the other end of the phone came the sound of Xi Nanfeng almost dropping his phone in frustration. Mo Qian held the handset away from his ear for a moment, letting the outburst die down before continuing, "Tell Ye Cheng, tomorrow night at the Zimei Club VIP room, we¡¯ll meet up."


    "Old Mo, you can¡¯t treat me like this! Are you intentionally trying to make me feel irrelevant? Am I really this invisible to you..."


    The voice on the phone abruptly cut off as Mo Qian hung up.


    At this moment, the two maids brought the gift boxes down and ced them on the coffee table.


    When Ji Wei nced up, she noticed Mo Qian putting his phone back into his pocket and striding toward them on his long legs.


    Ji Wei leaned closer to Old Madam Ji with joy in her voice as she said, "Grandma, Mo Qian specially brought you a gift. Would you like to take a look at it now?"

 Chapter 29: Chosen Personally by Mr. Gu, Of Course It Looks Good

    <h4>Chapter 29: Chapter 29: Chosen Personally by Mr. Gu, Of Course It Looks Good</h4><h4></h4>


    Old Madam Ji was both surprised and delighted: "Really? My grandson-inw brought me a gift?"


    Ji Wei nced at Gu Moqian.


    Gu Moqian strode over with his long legs and picked up the topmost gift box from the pile.


    Ji Shanshan had been sitting quietly by the sofa. When she saw Gu Moqian hand the gift box to Ji Wei, the malice in her eyes deepened further.


    Ji Wei, you¡¯ll be humiliated in a moment!


    To think you¡¯d give the old madam a shabby qipao¡ªha, this will be entertaining.


    Perhaps her resentful re was too tant, because when Ji Wei epted the gift box, she couldn¡¯t help but nce at Shanshan.


    Ji Shanshan immediately looked away, feigning distraction toward something else.


    Ji Wei sensed an unusual air.


    Normally, when it came to opening gifts, Ji Shanshan was the most eager, so why was she behaving soposed now?


    Her gaze lowered as she stared at the gift box for a few seconds, her expression subtly changing.


    One corner of the gift box was dented inward.


    Given how meticulous Gu Moqian was, how could he overlook such a detail?


    Ji Wei was convinced that someone had tampered with the gift box.


    Suddenly, she retracted the box she had been handing over, apologizing profusely: "I¡¯m so sorry, Grandma, I was in such a rush when leaving that I brought the wrong gift for you."


    After speaking, she handed the gift box back to Gu Moqian and gave him a meaningful look.


    Gu Moqian, with his sharp intellect, immediately understood there was something suspicious. He epted the box and set it aside.


    Old Madam Ji didn¡¯t seem to mind much: "The thought matters more than the gift itself."


    "That particr gift represents Moqian¡¯s heartfelt sentiment. I¡¯ll make sure to bring it to you another day."


    Just as a dramatic scene seemed to be unfolding, it suddenly came to an abrupt halt, leaving Ji Shanshan secretly clenching her teeth in displeasure.


    "Sis, what¡¯s in that box that you can¡¯t give it to Grandma? Let me take a look¡ª"


    Ji Shanshan reached out to grab it, but Ji Wei intercepted her, her gaze turning frosty as she said, "This is for Dad. You don¡¯t need to know what¡¯s inside. If you want a gift, go pick one from the pile yourself."


    A qipao for Uncle? Who¡¯d believe that?


    Fuming with irritation, Ji Shanshan couldn¡¯t openly point out that the qipao was meant for Old Madam Ji, so she stomped her foot in frustration.


    Her eyes flicked toward the pile of gift boxes, filled with disdain.


    Judging by the packaging, none of them looked particrly expensive.


    Nevertheless, she walked over, grabbed one casually, and tore it open in front of everyone.


    Inside the box was a silk scarf, stylish and unique in design.


    "This silk scarf was personally chosen by Moqian. Isn¡¯t it lovely?" Ji Wei asked Ji Shanshan with a smile.


    As soon as she heard it was personally picked by Gu Moqian, Ji Shanshan¡¯s mood instantly shifted. She examined the scarf repeatedly, unwilling to put it down.


    "If Mr. Gu personally chose it, of course it¡¯s beautiful." Ji Shanshan was inwardly delighted.


    Ji Wei¡¯s lips curled into a cold smile as she suddenly called out to the servant standing behind her: "These gift boxes are presents from Moqian for everyone. Each of you gets onee take yours."


    The servants in the living room were stunned.


    My goodness, such a distinguished man as Mr. Gu actually brought them gifts!


    Snapping out of their daze, the servants hurried over eagerly to pick their boxes.


    Ji Shanshan curiously nced at the servants¡¯ gift boxes, and the joy on her face instantly vanished.


    The servants¡¯ gifts were also silk scarves, but the colors were even prettier than the one she¡¯d received.


    She, the esteemed second daughter of the Ji Family, receiving the same treatment as these lowly servants!

 Chapter 30: If You Don’t Have a Child with Me, Who Do You Want to Have It With?

    <h4>Chapter 30: Chapter 30: If You Don¡¯t Have a Child with Me, Who Do You Want to Have It With?</h4><h4></h4>


    Ji Wei is deliberately making things difficult for her!


    Ji Shanshan stood there, gritting her teeth with anger, but with Old Madam Ji present, she had no choice but to swallow all her fury, her face turning crimson.


    "Little Wei, it¡¯s gettingte. I should head back to Cuiya Residence. You and your grandson-inw should get some rest early too."


    Old Madam Ji said as she stood up.


    After taking a few steps, as if remembering something, she suddenly turned back and said, "Oh, I just remembered, the guest rooms have been undergoing dust removal these past few days, so it isn¡¯t convenient to stay there. Your grandson-inw will share a room with you tonight¡ªthere shouldn¡¯t be any issues, right?"


    A Xiu, who was assisting Old Madam Ji, stifled augh.


    What dust removal? Old Madam Ji may be nearly eighty years old, but when ites to telling a lie, there isn¡¯t the slightest w.


    Ji Wei¡¯s face turned bright red, just as she was about to say something, Old Madam Ji suddenly pulled her hand, leaned close to her ear, and whispered in a voice only the two of them could hear, "Girl, do your best tonight..."


    Grandma¡¯s suggestive words instantly set Ji Wei¡¯s cheeks aze.


    She nervously nced at Mo Qian.


    His expression remained neutral, but his dark eyes sparkled with an inexplicable smile, causing her to hastily avert her gaze.


    Seeing her granddaughter¡¯s flushed cheeks, Old Madam Ji beamed with delight, patted her hand affectionately, and left with A Xiu¡¯s support.


    After Old Madam Ji left, Ji Shanshan had no intention of staying any longer and turned to go upstairs in a huff.


    Ji Wei nced at the scarf lying on the table and smirked coldly, raising her voice, "Shanshan, why are you rushing off so quickly? Aren¡¯t you going to take your scarf?"


    Ji Shanshan gritted her teeth in rage, refusing to turn around, and stormed upstairs angrily.


    ...


    Pushing open the door, the room was bathed in a warm and inviting light.


    Ji Wei and Mo Qian entered the room one after the other.


    "What exactly is inside here?" Ji Wei lifted the gift box that was originally meant for Grandma.


    Mo Qian raised his brow slightly, feigning mystery. "Why don¡¯t you open it and see?"


    Ji Wei walked to the sofa, ced the box on the table before her, and eagerly opened it.


    Inside the box was a light blue Chinese qipao edged with intricate details. The neckline was embroidered with patterns of flowers, birds, and fish¡ªelegant and sophisticated.


    Ji Wei¡¯s eyes lit up as she looked up at him with delight. "How did you know Grandma loves collecting qipaos?"


    Mo Qian smiled faintly. "Take a guess."


    Ji Wei¡¯s big, dark eyes darted around as she tentatively asked, "Did you secretly ask someone close to Grandma... like A Xiu?"


    Mo Qian¡¯s lips curved with a hint of a smile but didn¡¯t confirm nor deny it.


    But Ji Wei knew she had guessed correctly.


    She grinned cheerfully and teased, "I¡¯m so smart¡ªit must be quite stressful for you, isn¡¯t it?"


    Mo Qian maintained his faint smile, then suddenly reached out to lift her delicately curved chin, raising an eyebrow. "Oh? You¡¯re very smart? Then why did you let Ji Shanshan toy with you like a fool before?"


    "That... that was just a temporarypse in intelligence..."


    Ji Wei¡¯s eyes sparkled like stars as she blinked at him, her cheeks flushing slightly.


    Mo Qian¡¯s tone shifted abruptly, "Still, being smart does have its advantages."


    "What advantages?"


    "You won¡¯t lower our baby¡¯s IQ."


    "..."


    Ji Wei¡¯s face grew even redder, flustered as she stammered in protest, "Wh-who said they¡¯re going to have a baby with you..."


    Mo Qian asked her with a teasing smile, "If not with me, then who?"


    "I, I..."


    Ji Wei stammered for a long while, unable to form a single coherent sentence.

 Chapter 31 Get out of here immediately!

    <h4>Chapter 31: Chapter 31 Get out of here immediately!</h4><h4></h4>


    "I¡¯m not joking with you anymore."


    They were clearly talking about the qipao for grandma¡ªhow did the conversation shift to having children?


    Ji Wei blushed and brushed aside his hand, her gaze returning to the qipao. "This qipao looks fine; we should have delivered it to grandma directly earlier. I was overthinking."


    Gu Moqian also shifted his gaze to the qipao, his tone deep and foreboding. "That might not be the case."


    "Why?" Ji Wei asked in confusion, her eyes filled with puzzlement.


    Gu Moqian¡¯s expression darkened as he reached out to unfold the qipao. The tear in the fabric immediately came into view.


    The edges of the tear revealed frayed threads, looking as if someone had forcefully ripped them apart.


    Ji Wei¡¯s eyes widened in shock.


    How could a perfectly good qipao end up torn?


    Gu Moqian¡¯s gaze grew even colder as he exchanged a nce with Ji Wei.


    Their unspoken understanding confirmed what they both suspected.


    The one who destroyed the qipao was Ji Shanshan!


    Ji Wei clenched her fists tightly and looked at Gu Moqian, her voice resolute. "I¡¯m going to confront Ji Shanshan about this!"


    Seeing her about to storm off, Gu Moqian quickly reached out to stop her. "This is the Ji Family. What are you nning to do with her?"


    Ji Wei¡¯s eyes turned icy. "She no longer has the right to stay here."


    Gu Moqian read the determined resolve in her eyes and no longer tried to stop her. Instead, he softly advised, "Be careful."


    "I will."


    Ji Wei nced at him onest time, opened the door, and stepped out of the bedroom.


    Ji Shanshan¡¯s room was only ten meters away from Ji Wei¡¯s. Back then, Ji Wei had proactively asked Ji Yunting to move Ji Shanshan from the vi in the side courtyard to stay closer to her.


    Ji Wei was an only daughter who had lost her mother, leaving her lonely and alone from a young age. Among the many rtives, only Ji Shanshan was close to her age, and also a girl. The two had been inseparable back then, practically like conjoined twins, with a bond that felt as strong as that of biological sisters.


    But now...


    Standing before Ji Shanshan¡¯s door, Ji Wei thought about all their past memories together and felt an overwhelming sense of irony.


    Her sincere affection had been entirely wasted!


    This ungrateful cousin wasn¡¯t worth keeping around!


    Bam! Bam! Bam!


    Suddenly, a series of urgent knocks sounded on the door.


    Inside the room, Ji Shanshan, who had been sulking, shouted irritably, "I already said not to bring food! I¡¯m not eating!"


    The knocking didn¡¯t stop.


    Fueled by anger and frustration, Ji Shanshan leapt out of bed and stormed to the door, yanking it open. "I told you to take it away, didn¡¯t you hear¡ª"


    Her words abruptly caught in her throat.


    Standing at the door wasn¡¯t a servant with food¡ªbut Ji Wei.


    "What are you doing here?"


    Ji Shanshan looked at her warily.


    Ji Wei¡¯s expression was as cold as frost, her sharp gaze locked onto Ji Shanshan, as if trying to pierce through her.


    "What exactly do you want now?"


    Ji Shanshan grew uneasy under her intense stare, feigning calmness as she asked.


    In the next moment, Ji Wei grabbed the cor of Ji Shanshan¡¯s nightgown and yanked her harshly forward!


    Ji Shanshan was startled by the sudden action, stammering, "Let¡ªlet go of me..."


    "Did you damage the qipao?" Ji Wei¡¯s voice was colder than ice shards.


    "Wh-what qipao... I have no idea what you¡¯re talking about."


    Ji Shanshan tried to maintain herposure, but her pallid face had already betrayed her guilt.


    The answer was clear even without words. Ji Wei had no interest in dragging this out. She abruptly released her grip and shoved Ji Shanshan hard.


    Ji Shanshan stumbled backward, retreating several steps as she stared at Ji Wei with lingering fear.


    Ji Wei¡¯s overpowering aura at this moment made Ji Shanshan¡¯s heart quiver with unease.


    "Pack your things and get out of here immediately!"


    Ji Wei¡¯s expression was cold and resolute, her tone leaving no room for negotiation.

 Chapter 32: This is called, You Reap What You Sow

    <h4>Chapter 32: Chapter 32: This is called, You Reap What You Sow</h4> Ji Shanshan opened her mouth wide in shock and eximed, her voice trembling: "You¡¯re kicking me out?"


    Ji Wei¡¯s gaze was icy: "Get out immediately, or I¡¯ll call for help. By then, you won¡¯t even have a shred of dignity left."


    "Ji Wei, how dare you!" Ji Shanshan shouted, her voice cracking: "What gives you the right to make me leave? It was Uncle Zhao who allowed me to stay!"


    Ji Wei sneered coldly, her frosty re making others shrink back: "If I hadn¡¯t spoken to Dad to let you move in, did you really think you¡¯d be living in the main vi? Even though you share your mother¡¯s surname, you¡¯re still just an outsider."


    "You!!!"


    Ji Shanshan was so furious she almost spat out blood, her face turning pale.


    "Miss, what¡¯s going on here?"


    Hearing themotion, the butler, Uncle Zhao, hurried over and stood behind Ji Wei, cautiously asking.


    Ji Wei curled her lips into a chilling smile and pointed at Ji Shanshan: "Immediately have someone move her things out¡ªleave nothing behind!"


    Uncle Zhao initially wanted to persuade the eldest Miss but swallowed his words upon seeing the sharpness in her eyes.


    "Yes, Miss..."


    Seeing Uncle Zhao turn to leave, Ji Shanshan began to panic.


    In a fit of rage, she suddenly charged at Ji Wei, her hands outstretched to strangle her.


    Ji Wei, having already noticed her movements, nimbly sidestepped when Ji Shanshan lunged forward. Ji Shanshan missed her target and mmed her head into the edge of the door frame, quickly forming a swollen, bloody lump on her forehead.


    Ji Shanshan winced from the pain, her face turning crimson, almost purple, with fury.


    Ji Wei coldly regarded her, the corners of her lips curling into an arrogant smirk.


    This is the perfect example of reaping what you sow.


    "Ji Wei, you¡¯re being so ruthless today¡ªyou¡¯ll regret this!" Ji Shanshan¡¯s eyes bulged as she spat out the threat viciously.


    "I already regret it."


    Ji Wei¡¯s voice was cold: "I regret having once poured my heart and soul into you, only to receive betrayal and harm in return. Ji Shanshan, from now on, I, Ji Wei, no longer have a sister like you!"


    It wasn¡¯t as if she hadn¡¯t given Ji Shanshan chances, but time and again, Ji Shanshan had crossed the line.


    From drugging her to ruining the cheongsam meant for their grandmother, Ji Shanshan had repeatedly opposed her, leaving her heart cold.


    The sisterly bond between them had long since been obliterated.


    Ji Shanshan hadn¡¯t anticipated Ji Wei to speak so resolutely, causing her to freeze in ce, stunned and filled with disbelief.


    In the past, no matter how much trouble she caused or how secretly she schemed against Ji Wei, Ji Wei would always forgive her. But this time, Ji Wei was truly angry.


    The thought of losing Ji Wei as her support sent waves of panic through Ji Shanshan¡¯s heart, softening her tone instantly: "Sis, don¡¯t be like this... I was wrong. I shouldn¡¯t have gone against you¡ªyou¡¯re still my sister, alright?"


    As she spoke, Ji Shanshan tried to grab Ji Wei¡¯s sleeve, only for Ji Wei to coldly evade her touch.


    "You¡¯re my only sister¡ªhow can you be so cruel as to disown me as your sibling?" Ji Shanshan pouted with an utterly aggrieved expression.


    At that moment, Uncle Zhao returned with several servants.


    Ji Wei nced at the servants behind him, and they immediately understood, filing into the room.


    "What are you doing? This is my room¡ªno one is allowed in!"


    Ji Shanshan hastily spread her arms out to block them, but how could she stop them?


    "Don¡¯t take my things! I said no, are you all deaf? Hey! Be careful, that¡¯s my favorite vanity table... Put that back, put it down!"


    Ji Shanshan continued to fight desperately, but the tide had already turned, making her struggle nothing more than a futile effort.


    Ji Wei couldn¡¯t be bothered to spare Ji Shanshan another nce. She turned around and walked away without looking back.

 Chapter 33 When This Man Gets Gentle, It Can Be Lethal

    <h4>Chapter 33: Chapter 33 When This Man Gets Gentle, It Can Be Lethal</h4><h4></h4>


    Watching the servants move her belongings out piece by piece, Ji Shanshan copsed to the floor as the once tidy room became a wreck in an instant.


    At this moment, she finally understood the stark disparity between herself and Ji Wei.


    Ji Wei had always been at the pinnacle of Rongcheng¡¯s socialite circle, the brightest and most cherished one.


    Even with her capricious temperament, Ji Wei had the privilege of acting with impunity. She was the legitimate granddaughter of the Ji Family and the only daughter of the current Ji Family CEO, Ji Yunting. She was proud, indulged, and unattainable...


    But what about her, Ji Shanshan? Just a pitiful soul abandoned by her father, struggling to survive under another¡¯s roof.


    "Heh... heh... heh..."


    Overwhelmed by anger, Ji Shanshanughed wickedly, her voice filled with hatred.


    She red at Ji Wei¡¯s departing figure, her eyes zing with fury, her nails wing fiercely at the floor, producing sharp, grating sounds.


    One scrape, then another, and yet another.


    Hatred burned deeply in her heart, leaving an indelible mark that could never be erased.


    Ji Wei, I will make sure you fall from your pedestal. I¡¯ll see you shattered into pieces!


    After Ji Wei left, Mo Qian immediately pulled out his phone and called Ye Cheng.


    "Are you still out drinking with Nan Feng?"


    Mo Qian spoke in a calm tone.


    "Stop beating around the bush. Just say it¡ªwhat¡¯s the matter?"


    Ye Cheng knew Mo Qian¡¯s personality all too well. Someone as cold and reserved as him wouldn¡¯t just make a random call to check on their drinking status.


    So Ye Cheng skipped past the pleasantries and asked directly.


    Mo Qian didn¡¯t bother dragging it out either and said in a solemn voice, "I want to ask you for a favor..."


    ...


    When Ji Wei walked in, Mo Qian had just finished his call.


    While he had been on the phone, he had clearly heard themotion in the hallway. Knowing Ji Wei could handle her conflict with Ji Shanshan on her own, he hadn¡¯t intervened.


    He looked at her and softly asked, "Are you okay?"


    Falling out with the sister she once adored, Ji Wei felt far from okay.


    Ji Wei forced a weak smile in response.


    Mo Qian¡¯s eyes shifted slightly. He walked over and pulled her gently into his arms.


    Ji Wei didn¡¯t resist; she rested her head quietly against his warm, broad shoulder, her eyes rimmed with red.


    Feeling her body tremble faintly in his embrace, like a delicate and pitiable kitten, Mo Qian¡¯s expression filled with distress. He gently patted her back, offering silentfort.


    After a long while, Ji Wei finally lifted her head, wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes, and smiled at him, saying, "I¡¯m fine now."


    Mo Qian took her hand and guided her to the bed to sit down.


    "You don¡¯t need to worry about the qipao; I¡¯ll handle it," Mo Qian said softly, his gaze tender as a spring breeze.


    Ji Wei nodded quietly.


    "Alright, don¡¯t overthink it. Lie down, get some sleep, and let go of everything that¡¯s troubling you."


    As he spoke, Mo Qian helped her lie down and thoughtfully pulled the nket over her to keep her from catching cold.


    Ji Weiy quietly, her gaze unblinking as she stared at Mo Qian.


    This man¡¯s tenderness could be utterly disarming.


    "Aren¡¯t you going to sleep?" After a moment, she asked.


    "I¡¯ll take a shower. Your stomach¡¯s feeling ufortable, so don¡¯t wait for me¡ªjust rest," Mo Qian said, lifting his hand to brush aside the stray strands of hair falling across her forehead. His movements were tender, his eyes brimming with affection.


    Ji Wei looked at him, gazing as if she couldn¡¯t bring herself to look away.


    If it weren¡¯t for Mo Qian, she couldn¡¯t imagine what starting over in this lifetime would have been like. She would likely have been unable to escape her misfortune.


    "What are you thinking about?"


    Seeing her stare at him absentmindedly, Mo Qian curled his lips into a faint smile and asked.


    "I¡¯m thinking about you."


    Ji Wei blurted out without hesitation.

 Chapter 34: 999 Roses, Miss here also has suitors

    <h4>Chapter 34: Chapter 34: 999 Roses, Miss here also has suitors</h4><h4></h4>


    Gu Moqian¡¯s smile deepened at the corners of his lips, his slender fingers gently tracing the smooth, fair skin of her face, slowly outlining her enchanting features.


    "Miss me?"


    He asked softly, his gaze filled with warmth. "I¡¯m right here beside you, and you still miss me. If I weren¡¯t here..."


    Ji Wei suddenly interjected, "You won¡¯t not be here. I¡¯ll stick to you like a little tail."


    Gu Moqian was momentarily stunned, then reached out to lightly tap her delicate nose. "Clingy little bug."


    His tone was filled with such indulgence, indulgent enough to melt herpletely.


    After a pause, Gu Moqian spoke again, "If you can¡¯t sleep, then wait for me. I¡¯ll finish washing quickly ande out."


    "Okay."


    Ji Wei responded in a husky voice.


    Gu Moqian headed to the bathroom.


    Ji Weiy t on the bed, tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep.


    Eventually, she sat up, grabbed her phone from the bedside table, and opened WeChat.


    Since her rebirth, this was the first time she logged into her WeChat ount.


    Scrolling through the posts of her old friends, Ji Wei felt a profound sense of disconnection, as if the person who had lived those memories wasn¡¯t her.


    Those wealthy socialites she used to be close with were all showing off luxury cars, gourmet meals, and designer handbags...


    Ji Wei flipped through the posts, her interest dwindling quickly. Just as she was about to close the app, a photograph suddenly caught her attention.


    The bulk of the photograph was dominated by an enormous bouquet of roses, but in the upper right corner, Xia Duoduo¡¯s bright, doll-like face peeked out.


    The caption read: "Receiving 999 roses¡ªguess someone is actually pursuing me!"


    Ji Wei¡¯s expression immediately hardened, and a memory shed through her mind.


    In her previous life, ever since she had married Ji Chuyang, she was forced to endure his cold indifference while simultaneously dealing with the cunning members of the Ji Group, leaving her no time to even meet her best friend Xia Duoduo.


    One day, when she wanted to call Duoduo, she found Duoduo¡¯s phone number had already been deactivated. Even more disturbingly, Duoduo herself had seemingly vanishedpletely without a trace.


    Ji Wei had contacted Duoduo¡¯s family at the time. They informed her that a police report had already been filed, but the authorities hade up empty-handed in their search.


    Ji Wei couldn¡¯t ept that an energetic, lively person could disappear so utterly.


    She had asked herself countless times whether Duoduo had encountered someone or been trapped somewhere, waiting for her rescue.


    Thinking back now, Duoduo¡¯s disappearance had coincided with the time Ji Wei had been married to Ji Chuyang for six months¡ªa point less than a few months away now.


    She had to stay vignt from this moment onward¡ªshe absolutely could not allow Xia Duoduo to meet the same fate again!


    Her mind swirling with thoughts, Ji Wei finally forced herself to calm down and dialed Xia Duoduo¡¯s phone number.


    The call was quickly answered.


    Ji Wei spoke urgently, "Duoduo, it¡¯s me."


    Xia Duoduo, initially thinking it was a wrong number, was stunned when she realized it was Ji Wei!


    "Weiwei, what¡¯s with you? I¡¯ve called your number at least ten times and couldn¡¯t get through even once! Turns out you changed your phone number again!"


    After seeing this morning¡¯s headline in the newspaper, she¡¯d been worried sick about Ji Wei and had tried multiple times to call her, only to be met with the message that her phone was turned off.


    "I lost my phone." Ji Wei offered a brief exnation before asking seriously, "What¡¯s up with the roses you posted on your Moments? Is there really a guy chasing you?"


    "I was just about to tell you!"


    Xia Duoduo¡¯s tone rose slightly with excitement. "There¡¯s a pretty handsome guy who¡¯sunched a fierce pursuit of me¡ªhe sent 999 roses straight to the film set! The whole production team was absolutely stunned, can you imagine? Weiwei, I¡¯ve never in my life received so many roses before¡ªI waspletely overwhelmed!"

 Chapter 35 I really, really like him so much

    <h4>Chapter 35: Chapter 35 I really, really like him so much</h4><h4></h4>


    "What did he say to you?"


    "He wants me to agree to go on a date with him. I thought, there¡¯s nothing wrong with meeting him once, right? And do you know who is pursuing me? It¡¯s Xiao Zhen, the winner of the New Singer Award, Xiao Zhen!!! He¡¯s two years younger than me and he likes older girls like me! I have a feeling this date will be romantic and unforgettable, I might even give him my first kiss, hehe..."


    Even through the phone screen, Ji Wei could sense Xia Duoduo¡¯s excitement.


    But Ji Wei felt a slight worry in her heart.


    That Xiao Zhen has always been involved in rumors, can he really treat Duoduo well?


    "Xiao Zhen... he has too many rumors, don¡¯t you mind?" Ji Wei asked tentatively.


    "How can you not have rumors while mixing in the entertainment circle? Rumors are the key to upying the headlines, the secret to keeping a celebrity¡¯s poprity!" Xia Duoduo replied indifferently.


    "Then howe you don¡¯t have any rumors..." Ji Wei retorted.


    "I¡¯m just a minor celebrity, besides, it¡¯s not that easy to make it to trending."


    "So do you think a new generation idol singer would really be interested in you as a beyond-third-tier minor celebrity?"


    "Weiwei, have some confidence in me, will you! I, Xia Duoduo, was once the belle of the department, don¡¯t you know men are all about looks?"


    "..."


    "By the way, Weiwei, speaking of men, how are things with you and Gu Moqian? Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re still nning to hold a knife to his neck to force him to break off the engagement."


    Ji Wei: "...You¡¯re thinking too much."


    "That¡¯s for the best! Girl, you should know when you¡¯re blessed. A man like Gu Moqian marrying you is a blessing you¡¯ve built up from your past life, I can¡¯t even get that if I try!"


    "Weren¡¯t you just bragging about having someone chasing after you?"


    "Right, right, Xiao Zhen is my electricity, my light, my one and only myth... I really really like him."


    Ji Wei knew Xia Duoduo was getting smitten on the phone again and couldn¡¯t help interrupting her: "Okay, stop daydreaming, tell me, when did you agree to the date with Xiao Zhen?"


    "Next weekend, why?"


    "I¡¯ll go with you."


    "Why, are you so bored that you want to be a third wheel?"


    "Can¡¯t I just want to see a handsome guy?"


    "No way! Xiao Zhen is mine! Haven¡¯t you seen enough of your own Qianqian?" Xia Duoduo was resolute.


    Qianqian...


    Such a cheesy nickname made Ji Wei instantly get goosebumps.


    "Fine, fine, he¡¯s yours, I¡¯m just going to admire your handsome guy, okay?"


    "That¡¯s more like it."


    ...


    After talking with Xia Duoduo on the phone, Ji Wei found that the bathroom door was still tightly closed, and she could hear the sound of running water, which made her feel a twinge of concern.


    Gu Moqian... he¡¯s been showering for so long, why hasn¡¯t hee out yet?


    She put her phone down and walked towards the bathroom.


    "Gu Moqian, are you okay?"


    Ji Wei shouted at the door but got no response, so she pressed her face against the frosted ss door.


    Only the sound of water running responded to her.


    Ji Wei paused, decisively grabbed the doorknob and opened the bathroom door.


    Ayer of white steam filled the air, and the rush of heat enveloped Ji Wei instantly.


    She walked forward slowly, and the figure lying motionless in the bathtub gradually became clearer.


    Ji Wei¡¯s heart suddenly shook, and she rushed over quickly: "Gu Moqian!"


    His whole body was submerged in the bathtub, the water was already full and spilling over the edges.

 Chapter 36 What should she do if something happens to him?

    <h4>Chapter 36: Chapter 36 What should she do if something happens to him?</h4><h4></h4>


    "Mo Qian, wake up..."


    Mo Qian kept his eyes shut,pletely still.


    Ji Wei¡¯s heart immediately leapt to her throat, her tone turning frantic and unsettled. "Mo Qian, what¡¯s wrong? Wake up, quickly!"


    The bathroom was stifling and humid. Could he have fainted fromck of oxygen?


    Ji Wei, knowing a bit about first aid, hurriedly reached out to pinch the spot between Mo Qian¡¯s nose and upper lip, calling out anxiously, "Mo Qian, Mo Qian, wake up..."


    Mo Qian furrowed his brows slightly, struggling with difort.


    As he moved, Ji Wei suddenly noticed the uncovered part of his neck, where vivid red rashes had spread. It was terrifying to look at.


    Ji Wei¡¯s eyes widened in shock, goosebumps rising all over her body. She staggered, her foot slipping on the water stains, almost falling straight to the ground.


    "Mo Qian, what¡¯s wrong? Please wake up, okay? I¡¯m Ji Wei..."


    With a panicked expression, she squatted by the bathtub, disregarding how her sleepwear was being drenched by the spilling hot water. She tightly sped her hands around his neck and spoke urgently, her voice trembling near his ear.


    In Ji Wei¡¯s mind, Mo Qian was like a god¡ªinvincible, immune to sickness, exhaustion, and certainly not prone to fainting like this.


    He had always been dignified, elegant, and wless.


    But at this moment, seeing Mo Qian unconscious right before her, Ji Wei¡¯s underlying fear grew stronger.


    If something happened to Mo Qian, what would she do?


    The bathroom was too damp and hot; Mo Qian¡¯s current condition was unsuitable for staying in there.


    Swallowing her fear, Ji Wei gritted her teeth and arduously lifted Mo Qian¡¯s arm, cing it over her shoulder.


    It took all of her strength to pull Mo Qian out of the bathtub.


    His head rested heavily against her shoulder, his eyes tightly closed.


    Ji Wei, barely sparing a thought about Mo Qian¡¯spletely unclothed state, freed one hand and reached out with difficulty toward the towel rack.


    Trying to prevent Mo Qian from slipping off her shoulder while simultaneously attempting to grab the towel hanging on the rack, Ji Wei stretched her arm as far as it would go, using every ounce of her strength. After several attempts, she finally managed to pull the towel down and draped it over Mo Qian¡¯s body.


    She let out a long sigh of relief, sweat beading densely on her forehead.


    She bit down hard on her lip and summoned her determination, supporting Mo Qian¡¯s six-foot frame step by painstaking step until she managed to get him out of the bathroom.


    When she finallyid Mo Qian down on the bed, Ji Wei felt as if she were about to copse herself.


    Sweat covered her forehead, and damp strands of hair clung to her skin.


    The towel on Mo Qian¡¯s body hung loosely, barely covering the essential parts.


    Ji Wei looked at him and noticed, for the first time, that the small red dots weren¡¯t just on his neck. They had spread across his body as well, though they didn¡¯t look as severe as the ones on his neck.


    Her expression shifted, the confusion in her heart growing stronger and stronger.


    What on earth was going on? Mo Qian had been perfectly fine before taking a bath.


    She didn¡¯t even pause to catch her breath. Grabbing her phone, she immediately dialed the Ji Family¡¯s doctor.


    It was the middle of the night, but the family doctor promised toe immediately. Still, Ji Wei knew that no matter how fast he drove, it would take over twenty minutes to get here.


    Setting the phone aside, Ji Wei hurried back into the bathroom to fetch a dry towel and began gently drying Mo Qian¡¯s damp hair.


    Her breathing was still unsteady as she reached out, carefully wiping away the water droplets clinging to his jet-ck, slightly tousled hair.


    Mo Qian¡¯s handsome features were unmistakably close to her now. His facial contours were still impably defined¡ªthick, longshes trembling faintly, a high-bridged nose, and his lips lightly pressed together. Even in his current state, Mo Qian¡¯s appearance was strikingly attractive.


    Ji Wei¡¯s hand hesitated in mid-motion as she stared at his pale yet beautiful face, momentarily lost in thought.

 Chapter 37 The Touch... So Amazing

    <h4>Chapter 37: Chapter 37 The Touch... So Amazing</h4><h4></h4>


    Seeing the furrow between his brows and the unease in his expression, Ji Wei instinctively reached out her hand to smooth out the crease for him.


    The touch of the woman¡¯s fingertips carried a faint coolness, like the crisp, gentle chill of March spring rain brushing against the skinforting and refreshing.


    Ji Wei stared at his now-rxed brows, and a faint smile finally appeared at the corner of her lips. Yet, within her heart, an unspoken conviction grew firmer and stronger.


    In just two days, so much had happened between her and Mo Qian.


    From the moment he saved her at the hotel, was their fate already sealed?


    If she had a wish in this lifetime, perhaps it would be to protect the Ji Family well¡ªand to protect the man before her just as wholeheartedly.


    Twenty minutester, the family doctor arrived.


    The family doctor carefully examined Mo Qian.


    "What exactly happened to him? Why is he covered in red rashes?" Ji Wei asked anxiously from the side.


    "These are symptoms of an allergic reaction. After taking the medication, the rashes will gradually subside. It¡¯s nothing serious. What has he eaten in the past few hours?"


    Upon hearing the doctor¡¯s question, Ji Wei suddenly recalled his subtle expression at dinner when she had served him crab meat.


    Her heart skipped a beat.


    So, he was allergic to seafood!


    She remembered clearly how, when Mo Qian ate the crab meat, he still smiled at her. Even said it was "delicious." He knew. He clearly knew he would have an allergic reaction!


    Was it simply because she had given it to him?


    Mo Qian, you fool...


    Ji Wei fed him the medicine prescribed by the doctor but still dared not rx. She brought a small stool over and sat by the bed, just quietly keeping watch over him.


    ...


    When Mo Qian awoke, his fingers moved slightly at first. He found that his hand was tightly sped within a small, warm hand.


    He slowly turned his head and saw the delicate and peaceful face of the sleeping woman.


    Her head was resting on his arm, her other hand firmly holding his. Her soft, shallow breaths brushed against his ear. Perhaps overwhelmed by worry, the woman didn¡¯t sleep soundly, her brows furrowing from time to time.


    He stared at her in silence, a faint smile glimmering in his dark eyes.


    Mo Qian did not withdraw his hand, afraid of disturbing Ji Wei¡¯s rest.


    He simplyy there quietly, gazing at her fair, beautiful face, a peculiar sensation swelling in his heart.


    Before long, Ji Wei, still haunted by concerns over Mo Qian¡¯s condition, stirred slightly before slowly opening her eyes.


    The instant their eyes met, Ji Wei froze momentarily, unable to process the scene.


    Mo Qian¡¯s gaze brimmed with warmth as he softly asked, "Had enough sleep?"


    Ji Wei snapped back to her senses at the sound of his voice and the sight of his smile.


    "You¡¯re awake."


    "Mm."


    "Let me check if your rashes have gone down."


    As she spoke, she leaned down, carefully inspecting his neck.


    Seeing that the rashes had faded significantly, Ji Wei, still uneasy, reached out to tug at the cor of his pajama shirt.


    On his chest, only a few stubborn little red spots remained scattered.


    Ji Wei¡¯s worry melted away, and her brows finally smoothed out.


    Just as she was about to withdraw her hand, she suddenly realized that her palm was resting squarely on Mo Qian¡¯s firm chest.


    Ji Wei¡¯s face flushed crimson in an instant.


    At this moment, her eyes drifted over to Mo Qian¡¯s toned physique¡ªhis skin was healthy and radiated a masculine allure, almost dangerously captivating.


    One nce, and her cheeks burned even hotter.


    Ji Wei, flustered, tried to pull her hand away. Before she could seed, her wrist was abruptly held in ce by Mo Qian.


    Her small palm was pressed firmly against his bare chest, muscles taut, the tactile sensation... intoxicatingly good.


    Ahem... What was she even thinking right now?


    Ji Wei shyly turned her head away.


    Mo Qian held her wrist securely, watching her embarrassment with deep amusement in his eyes.


    Then, he suddenly spoke. "Don¡¯t you need to check...the lower half?"

 Chapter 38 Afraid of Falling Asleep and Losing Control

    <h4>Chapter 38: Chapter 38 Afraid of Falling Asleep and Losing Control</h4><h4></h4>


    He broke out in a rash all over his body. Ji Wei only checked his neck and chest, and... below.


    Ji Wei froze for a moment before realizing what he was referring to. Her face turnedpletely red as she stammered, "No, no need to check. It should be almost healed by now."


    The more embarrassed she looked, the harder it was for Gu Moqian to take his eyes off her.


    The next second, Gu Moqian¡¯s long arm reached out and pulled her entirely onto hisp.


    Ji Wei was so stunned by the sudden action that she forgot how to react, her wide, astonished eyes staring nkly at him.


    Gu Moqian reached out and pressed her into his chest, letting her head rest against him as his voice turned low and husky: "Was it you who helped me out of the bathroom?"


    Ji Wei nodded lightly against his chest.


    Gu Moqian couldn¡¯t quite imagine how her petite frame managed to lift his tall figure out of the bathtub and onto the bed.


    This thought softened his heart even more, and he tightened his embrace around her.


    Ji Weiy motionless on top of him, not daring to move. She could feel, through the thin fabric of their sleepwear, something firm and heated pressing against the base of her thigh...


    Ji Wei tried to lift her head from Gu Moqian¡¯s chest, but he quickly pressed it back down. His maic voice sounded above her head: "Just sleep like this. I¡¯ll hold you."


    It was the dead of night, the time for sleeping. But...


    How could she sleep like this, lying atop Gu Moqian? Not only was she afraid to move, but her nerves were stretched so tight that she might identally touch him in inappropriate ways if she fell asleep.


    "N-no, I don¡¯t think this is a good idea." Ji Wei attempted to protest, "Your allergic reaction has only just gotten better. How can I rest while pressing against a sick person like this?"


    "You¡¯re not heavy. What¡¯s there to be afraid of?"


    "That¡¯s not what I mean. What I mean is, like this... There¡¯s no way I¡¯ll fall asleep at all."


    With a living, breathing man right in front of her¡ªespecially one as impably built and devastatingly handsome as Gu Moqian¡ªshe feared she¡¯d lose her self-control if she fell asleep.


    Gu Moqian saw through her thoughts with a single nce and let out a low chuckle, unable to keep teasing her any longer.


    He loosened his grip. "Alright, get up. You can decide where you want to sleep."


    Ji Wei scrambled off him as if freed from a great weight. She straightened her rumpled sleepwear hurriedly, pointed at the sofa, and said, "I... I¡¯ll sleep on the sofa!"


    As soon as the words were out, she darted to the sofa and quickly sat down, offering him a lighthearted smile: "The sofa is pretty soft. It should be fine for a night... hehe..."


    Gu Moqian slowly propped himself up on one elbow, narrowing his eyes as he quietly watched her.


    "Not good?" Ji Wei felt a little guilty under his unwavering gaze.


    Truth be told, this youngdy hadn¡¯t really slept on a sofa before.


    "Not good."


    Seeing Gu Moqian reaching out to lift the nket and get out of bed, Ji Wei immediately stopped him: "Don¡¯t get up! Your body is only just starting to recover."


    "If you won¡¯t sleep with me, then I¡¯ll have toe over and sleep with you." Gu Moqian spoke as if it were the most reasonable thing in the world.


    Ji Wei froze, her face reddening: "Fine, fine, I¡¯ll sleep with you. Is that okay?"


    Reluctantly, she walked back to the bedside.


    The small woman standing in front of him had ears flushed red, her gaze lowered slightly. Gu Moqian¡¯s eyes darkened.


    In the next moment, he reached out and swept his arm around her waist, pulling her onto hisp.


    "Rx. I just want us to sleep together. I won¡¯t do anything excessive."


    Gu Moqian¡¯s thin lips edged towards her ear, his voice maic and husky.

 Chapter 39: Scoop her whole body up and hold her in his arms

    <h4>Chapter 39: Chapter 39: Scoop her whole body up and hold her in his arms</h4><h4></h4>


    Although he said that, Ji Wei¡¯s heart was still racing.


    She wanted to get up from him, but before she could, she was suddenly scooped up into his arms.


    Mo Qian gazed at her gently and ced her on the bed.


    Soon after, themp by the bed was turned off.


    In the darkness, Ji Wei saw Mo Qian¡¯s tall frame lying down beside her. Her heart was pounding wildly, and she nervously scooted away a little.


    Even in the dark, Mo Qian noticed her subtle movement. A smile yed at the corner of his lips as he extended his arm, pulling her whole body into his embrace.


    His strong and powerful arms kept her securely wrapped; Ji Wei had no way of breaking free.


    Mo Qian held her petite hand and said in a deep voice next to her ear, "Sleep now, good night."


    With him holding her like this, how could she possibly fall asleep right away?


    Ji Wei¡¯s body remained tense, her head resting against his chest, her entire self nestled in his protective arms, while her small hand was still held tightly by him without release.


    Ji Wei realized that she was starting to develop a craving for thefort of such an embrace.


    She quietly listened to the steady and strong beating of his heart, and slowly, her own heart began to rx.


    Gradually, she felt her eyelids grow heavier and eventually drifted into sleep.


    ...


    London, UK, by the Thames River.


    A middle-aged woman, elegantly dressed, was leisurely savoring her English coffee.


    Suddenly, the phone on the table rang.


    The woman nced at the caller¡¯s name, her expression subtly shifting. She set down her coffee cup, quickly picked up the phone, and answered the call.


    "What did you say?" The woman¡¯s tone rose slightly. "Mo Qian went to the Ji Family and hasn¡¯te back yet?"


    At this hour, it¡¯s the middle of the night back home. If that¡¯s the case, Mo Qian clearly intends to spend the night at the Ji Family.


    What¡¯s going on here? Why has Mo Qian¡¯s rtionship with that Miss Ji suddenly grown so close?


    She had originally assumed that Miss Ji would resist this arranged marriage to the end, which is why she hadn¡¯t intervened. But now, it seems she cannot afford to sit idly by any longer.


    "Alright, I understand. Keep watching them closely. If anything happens between Mo Qian and that woman, notify me immediately."


    After hanging up the call, the woman quickly dialed another number.


    "Jianian, it¡¯s good that you¡¯ve returned. That woman¡¯s attitude has changed suddenly, and I¡¯m worried Mo Qian may be bewitched by her. You know what needs to be done..."


    ...


    Early the next morning.


    When Ji Wei opened her eyes, she found Mo Qian standing by the bed, getting dressed.


    He moved with elegant ease, expertly buttoning his shirt and adjusting his cor, his long fingers deftly fastening each button with refined poise. Every gesture spoke of noble perfection.


    A man looking so striking this early in the day¡ªJi Wei hugged the quilt tightly, gazing at him with a satisfied expression.


    Noticing the gaze from behind him, Mo Qian suddenly turned to look at her. A faint smile curved his lips as he casually asked, "Did you sleep well?"


    "Yes..."


    Recalling how she had spent the entire night in his arms, Ji Wei¡¯s cheeks began to flush with heat.


    Mo Qian walked over to her, leaning down slightly to gaze at her and asked with a chuckle, "Want to go downstairs together for breakfast?"


    The morning sunlight streamed through the window, casting its golden glow upon Mo Qian. His exquisite features bathed in light, creating an ethereal aura that entuated his refinement and charm.


    The first sight she woke up to was Mo Qian, who hadn¡¯t gone down first but instead waited for her to rise.


    Though they were not yet married, mornings like this felt like the sweetness of a honeymoon¡ªa couple deeply in love even in small daily moments, with the delicate fragrance of happiness filling the air.


    Everything seemed so beautiful, like a waking dream. Ji Wei paused for a moment before answering, "Alright."

 Chapter 40 Her Lips, Very Delicious

    <h4>Chapter 40: Chapter 40 Her Lips, Very Delicious</h4><h4></h4>


    In the dining room.


    Aunt Liu had already prepared a sumptuous breakfast, with ham sandwiches, milk, and fried eggs.


    The two walked over and sat down.


    There was no sign of Ji Yunli in the dining room, so Ji Wei asked Aunt Liu, "Has my dad not gotten up yet?"


    "...Not yet."


    Aunt Liu hesitated for a moment before answering.


    Ji Wei knew that Ji Yunli must have had a lot to drinkst night, so not being able to get up now was quite normal.


    She simply nodded slightly and began eating.


    "Go check on him," Mo Qian suddenly said.


    Ji Wei was stunned but shook her head, "No, I¡¯ll apany you to finish breakfast first. Time is tight, and you have to go to thepany soon."


    Mo Qian looked deeply at her but said nothing more.


    Ji Wei took a bite of the sandwich, chewed a few times, and suddenly said, "I¡¯m sorry. You rarely get a chance to visit, but you didn¡¯t even get to see my dad."


    "That¡¯s fine. It¡¯ll give me a reason to visit again next time," Mo Qian said, looking at her with a faint smile.


    Ji Wei was startled and raised her eyes to look at him.


    Her dark eyes carried a trace of confusion, making it hard for him to look away.


    Suddenly, his gaze lowered and lingered on her cherry-red lips.


    Her tender lips were stained with a bit of white sd dressing, making them look like strawberries adorned with cream¡ªutterly enticing.


    Mo Qian stared at her lips, his eyes growing deep.


    "Is there something on my mouth?"


    Ji Wei noticed the oddity in his gaze and raised her hand, intending to wipe her lips.


    Just as her hand reached her lips, Mo Qian suddenly grabbed her wrist.


    She was astonished, and before she could react, he leaned over abruptly, his thin lips nting a kiss on the corner of her mouth.


    Ji Wei froze, shocked by the unexpected kiss, not daring to make a single move.


    Mo Qian¡¯s eyes sparkled with amusement. Seeing her dazed yet slightly adorable expression, he couldn¡¯t help but kiss her again.


    The taste of the sd dressing mixed with the vor of her lips was delicious.


    It wasn¡¯t until Mo Qian finally straightened his body and resumed eating breakfast as if nothing had happened that Ji Wei slowly registered what had urred.


    Just now... did Mo Qian eat the bit of food on her lips?


    Her face suddenly turned bright red, and she buried her head awkwardly, forcing herself not to think about the kiss that had just happened, focusing instead on her breakfast.


    After finishing breakfast, Ji Wei decided to see Mo Qian off to the front entrance, where his assistant, Chen Ke, was waiting.


    The two had barely stepped out of the living room when they ran into Ji Yunxianging toward them.


    Ji Yunxiang looked furious, and upon seeing the two of them, she immediately stormed over and began scolding, "Ji Wei, how dare you drive Shanshan out? Shanshan is your cousin, and as her elder sister, you¡¯re bullying her! Don¡¯t you feel ashamed?"


    Last night, Ji Shanshan had been driven out by Ji Wei and ended up staying with Ji Yunxiang, crying andining nonstop about being mistreated and misunderstood by Ji Wei.


    If it hadn¡¯t been sotest night, Ji Yunxiang wouldn¡¯t have waited until this morning toe over and confront her.


    Ji Wei didn¡¯t want to waste a single word on Ji Yunxiang. She merely gave her a cold re and stepped forward to leave.


    "Ji Wei, stop right there! Don¡¯t think you¡¯re so great. You¡¯re just a spoiled brat with a mother who gave birth but doesn¡¯t care. Comparing you to my Shanshan, you¡¯re nothing but¡ªAh!"


    Before Ji Yunxiang could finish her malicious words, her wrist was suddenly gripped so tightly that it sent waves of pain shooting through her. The excruciating pain contorted her entire face.


    Mo Qian¡¯s cold gaze locked onto Ji Yunxiang, the grip on her wrist intensifying further.


    Her entire wrist was bent backward to the point that she swore she could hear the sound of bones cracking. Her face, thickly coated in foundation, turned ghostly pale.


    -


    (Please rmend and bookmark this! Seeing how hard Tutu is working, I hope you¡¯ll support me. Love you all!)

 Chapter 41 This Man Gave Her All His Tenderness

    <h4>Chapter 41: Chapter 41 This Man Gave Her All His Tenderness</h4><h4></h4>


    "Let go, let go of me, let go..." Ji Yunxiang¡¯s voice trembled.


    "Take back what you just said!"


    Gu Moqian¡¯s voice was chillingly cold, emanating a powerful aura that made people shudder with fear.


    Ji Yunxiang¡¯s legs turned to jelly; she could barely stand. "Okay, okay... I¡¯ll take it back, take back what I said earlier. Ji Wei is not a bastard, she¡¯s not..."


    The word "bastard" once again ignited Gu Moqian¡¯s fury. He grabbed Ji Yunxiang¡¯s cor with his other hand, lifting her off the ground entirely.


    "Who gave you the guts to talk like that?"


    Gu Moqian¡¯s gaze was devoid of warmth, his voice ominously cold and terrifying. "If I ever find out that you insult Ji Wei again, I¡¯ll tell your ex-husband about how you fooled around with that pretty boy before the divorce and made him wear a green hat."


    Ji Yunxiang stared at Gu Moqian with a face full of terror.


    She had kept this secret tightly under wraps. How did Gu Moqian know?


    If her abusive ex-husband ever found out that she¡¯d not only cheated during their marriage but also demanded fifty million in severance during the divorce, he would definitely beat her half to death!


    "I don¡¯t dare, I don¡¯t dare... I¡¯ll never dare again..."


    Ji Yunxiang¡¯s body shook violently, like a sieve trembling in fear, her facepletely drained of color.


    Gu Moqian was too terrifying.


    "Remember what you said,"


    Gu Moqian stated without expression before viciously pushing Ji Yunxiang away.


    Ji Yunxiang¡¯s overweight body couldn¡¯t stabilize itself and copsed to the floor,nding in an awkward heap.


    Only after the two figures had walked far away did Ji Yunxiang remain sprawled on the ground, too scared to get up. At that moment, she felt as if her soul had almost left her body.


    Ji Yunxiang finally understood that Gu Moqian was someone Ji Shanshan could never control or ever truly have.


    This man reserved all his gentleness for Ji Wei, while his treatment of those who bullied Ji Wei was utterly ruthless and cold.


    ...


    At the front door, Chen Ke waited anxiously in front of the Maybach, ncing at his watch from time to time.


    There was an important video conference scheduled with coborators in Europe at nine-thirty in the morning. If they were dyed, it would mean losses in the billions.


    Fortunately, a few minutester, Gu Moqian and Ji Wei appeared.


    Chen Ke quickly stepped forward to greet them, "Good morning, Mr. Gu; good morning, Miss Ji."


    Immediately afterwards, he hurried to the car to open the door for Gu Moqian.


    Gu Moqian held Ji Wei¡¯s hand, reluctant to let go. He gazed at her, his eyes soft and tender. "I should finish work around six ande back to pick you up, then take you somewhere."


    "Alright, I¡¯ll wait for you at home."


    Gu Moqian was just bending down, about to get into the car, when he suddenly recalled something and walked back toward her.


    Ji Wei looked at him in surprise. "What¡¯s wrong?"


    Gu Moqian gave a faint smile, lowered his head, and nted a kiss on her smooth forehead. Then, he reached out to stroke her hair. "Be good and wait for me toe back."


    Ji Wei gazed at him, her eyes shimmering with happiness.


    A man like Gu Moqian, cold and dignified, could utterly melt her heart whenever he showed tenderness.


    She watched as Gu Moqian got into the car and waved goodbye to him.


    Only once the car drove away did Ji Wei withdraw her gaze and walk back inside.


    Back in the living room, Ji Wei saw that Aunt Liu seemed to have just knocked on the study door. She couldn¡¯t help but walk up to her and ask, "Is my dad in the study?"


    "Yes. Mr. Ji came home verytest night, and he drank quite a bit. I saw him go right into the study, and he hasn¡¯te out since. I¡¯m a bit worried."


    "I¡¯ll go in and check."


    Ji Wei spoke softly as she looked toward the study.


    Aunt Liu retrieved the key and opened the study door.


    The study was unlit, with the curtains blocking out most of the light.


    Ji Wei caught a glimpse of a figure leaning back in the swivel chair by the desk, seemingly still asleep.


    "Dad..."


    Ji Wei called out and walked toward Ji Yunli.

 Chapter 42 How could she not be my daughter, Ji Yunli

    <h4>Chapter 42: Chapter 42 How could she not be my daughter, Ji Yunli</h4><h4></h4>


    Ji Yunli moved his head slightly, but he didn¡¯t wake up.


    Ji Wei walked to the window and pulled the curtains wide open. Morning sunlight streamed in, making the study instantly much brighter.


    "Dad, wake up."


    Ji Wei bent down, leaned close to Ji Yunli¡¯s ear, and called out again.


    Ji Yunli finally opened his eyes with difficulty. The sudden light made him squint, and it took him a while to adjust.


    He turned his head and saw Ji Wei staring at him. Startled, he tried to stand up quickly, but because of his hangover from the previous night, his head remained muddled, and he soon fell back into the chair.


    "Dad, stop moving around," Ji Wei pressed down on his shoulder. "Your head must still be spinning. Who told you to drink so much again? Let me massage it for you."


    Ji Wei ced the index fingers of both her hands on Ji Yunli¡¯s temples, gently massaging him.


    "Mr. Gu has already left?"


    Ji Yunli spoke, his voice deep and husky.


    "Yeah, he went to thepany. I just saw him off."


    Ji Yunli turned his head to nce at her. "Little Wei, a few days back, you were still making a fuss about canceling the engagement and even threatening me with running away from home. Why is it that now not only are you not opposing it, but you¡¯re even actively bringing Mr. Gu to our home? Did something happen?"


    Ji Wei¡¯s hands abruptly paused, then she smiled. "What could¡¯ve happened? Isn¡¯t it good that I¡¯ve grown more mature? Or does Dad prefer a spoiled and stubborn daughter instead?"


    Ji Yunli stared in shock at his daughter, whom he felt had matured overnight. "You really think this way?"


    Ji Wei nodded. "Yeah."


    Ji Yunli breathed a sigh of relief, leaned back against the chair, and sighed. "You¡¯re no longer opposing Dad, so of course Dad feels reassured."


    "Dad." Ji Wei wrapped her arms around his neck. "You must promise me not to drink so much anymore. Ever since Mom passed away, youe home drunk after every social gathering. If this keeps going, your body will copse."


    Ji Yunli patted the back of his daughter¡¯s hand. "Don¡¯t worry, your dad is in good health."


    "No, you have to promise me!"


    Ji Wei¡¯s attitude was firm.


    Thinking of her previous life, when Ji Group faced a debt crisis and Ji Yunli fell gravely ill, Ji Wei couldn¡¯t help but feel scared.


    Dad¡¯s illness must¡¯ve been caused by excessive drinking, gradually dragging his health down, right?


    "Alright, alright, Dad promises."


    Ji Yunli, seeing that his daughter no longer opposed the arranged marriage with the Gu Family, felt much better.


    "If I catch you drinking excessively again, I¡¯ll lock the door and not let you in!"


    Ji Yunli froze. "That¡¯s a bit much, isn¡¯t it? Drinking is one of my few pleasures. Daughter, you shouldn¡¯t take away this small joy of mine."


    "You just promised me, and now you¡¯re backing out so quickly?" Ji Wei demanded sternly in mock seriousness.


    Ji Yunli was left speechless.


    He truly couldn¡¯t do anything about this precious daughter of his.


    "Dad." Ji Wei fell silent for a moment and then suddenly spoke. "Tell me, I don¡¯t look anything like you. Could it be that I¡¯m not your biological daughter?"


    Ji Yunxiang¡¯s earlier remark about her being illegitimate kept echoing in her mind, refusing to fade away.


    She knew that no matter how brainless Ji Yunxiang was, there must be a reason behind using the term "illegitimate child."


    Ji Yunli¡¯s face changed drastically upon hearing this.


    "Little Wei, don¡¯t joke about things like that! How could you not be my daughter? You may not resemble me much, but you¡¯re the spitting image of your mother. Don¡¯t ever let wild thoughts like that get to you!"


    Ji Yunli¡¯s expression suddenly grew exceptionally stern as he spoke.


    "I was joking, Dad. Don¡¯t get so worked up."


    Ji Yunli¡¯s face remained taut, his expression still grave. "It¡¯s my fault for spoiling you. How dare you even joke about something like this? Listen closely¡ªI¡¯m your biological father! Don¡¯t ever say such things again."

 Chapter 43: You staring at me like this now, are you tempting me to commit a crime?

    <h4>Chapter 43: Chapter 43: You staring at me like this now, are you tempting me tomit a crime?</h4><h4></h4>


    "Alright, alright, I was wrong. I won¡¯t say that again."


    Ji Weiughed as she wrapped her arms around her father¡¯s neck, though a faint unease lingered in her heart.


    After finishing breakfast, Ji Yunli headed to thepany.


    Meanwhile, Ji Wei went to Cuiya Residence to chat with her grandmother, stayed for lunch, and then returned to her room.


    She had intended to take a nap, but no matter how much she tossed and turned, she couldn¡¯t fall asleep.


    Now that Gu Moqian wasn¡¯t around, why did she feel like something was missing?


    Even though they had just seen each other this morning.


    What was he doing now? Was he in a meeting, handling business affairs, or perhaps out negotiating partnerships at a social event?


    Unable to control her thoughts from wandering to Gu Moqian, Ji Wei grumbled inwardly and sat up in frustration, grabbing her phone from the bedside table.


    "I think I might be missing you a little."


    She quickly typed out a message and sent it, leaving herself no room for second thoughts or regrets.


    After sending the text, Ji Wei kept her eyes fixed on the phone screen, terrified she might miss his reply.


    Ding-dong.


    One minuteter, her phone buzzed with a new message.


    Ji Wei¡¯s heart raced as she opened it eagerly, only to feel a pang of disappointment. It was just a promotional text from 10086 about a package reminder.


    Dejected, Ji Wei switched her phone to silent mode and shoved it under her pillow.


    "Miss, Miss..."


    Through the haze of sleep, she faintly heard someone calling her. Furrowing her brows, she forced her eyes open.


    She propped herself up halfway and saw Aunt Liu standing at the doorway.


    "What is it, Aunt Liu?"


    "Mr. Gu¡¯s assistant is in the living room. He said he¡¯s here to pick you up," Aunt Liu replied.


    Pick me up?


    ncing at the clock on the wall, Ji Wei noted it was only three-thirty in the afternoon. Wasn¡¯t he supposed to pick her up in the evening?


    "Alright, I¡¯ll be down shortly."


    Half an hourter, Ji Wei was seated securely in Gu Moqian¡¯s office.


    His office exuded understated sophistication and elegance, mirroring his persona.


    A towering floor-to-ceiling window upied one wall, offering a bird¡¯s-eye view of Rongcheng¡¯s bustlingmercial district from the 33rd floor.


    Ji Wei curiously surveyed her surroundings, looking left and then right.


    It was her first time in Gu Moqian¡¯s office, so naturally, everything fascinated her.


    Unintentionally, she pushed open a door at the back of the office. What appeared before her was a spacious lounge, fully furnished with a kitchen and bedroom¡ªready for someone to move in at a moment¡¯s notice!


    It must be where Gu Moqian stayed when he workedte.


    Completely enchanted by the room¡¯s understated luxury, Ji Wei found herself wandering further inside.


    She paused at a bookshelf filled with an impressive collection of books¡ªhalf of them in English¡ªwhich left her utterly stunned.


    And then, she caught sight of a photo of Gu Moqian.


    Dressed in a ck graduation gown and doctoral cap, standing in front of the University of Cambridge, UK, his features were clear and refined. The in graduation attire looked remarkably good on him.


    Beneath the photo was a line of small English text: "Moqian Gu graduated with a doctorate in foreign countries."


    Gu Moqian was a Cambridge Ph.D. in Economics!


    The thought that her man was not only young but also a top schr filled her with a certain pride.


    As Ji Wei stared intently at the photo, suddenly, a pair of strong hands wrapped around her from behind. His well-defined jaw rested on her shoulder, and his deep, gentle voice resonated near her ear: "I miss you too."


    Ji Wei swiftly turned her head to see Gu Moqian¡¯s ink-dark eyes filled with amusement. Her surprise left her speechless for a moment.


    He hadn¡¯t replied to her message because he wanted to tell her in person that he missed her.


    Gu Moqian¡¯s eyes sparkled withughter. Seeing her still staring nkly at him, he leaned in and gently nipped her earlobe. In his rich, gravely voice, he teased, "Does that answer satisfy you?"


    Ji Wei nodded once, then again.


    She stared unwaveringly at the stunningly handsome man in front of her, unable to tear her gaze away.


    "Do you know that looking at me like that now is tempting me tomit a crime?"


    Gu Moqian pressed his lips lightly to her cheek, chuckling softly as he gazed at her.

 Chapter 44 This Person is Not Xia Duoduo (Revised)

    <h4>Chapter 44: Chapter 44 This Person is Not Xia Duoduo (Revised)</h4><h4></h4>


    "I wasn¡¯t staring at you..."


    Ji Wei knew clearly she was trying to argue, her small face flushing red.


    She pushed him away slightly, lowered her head, and stopped talking.


    Gu Moqian looked at the petite woman in front of him, strange emotions swimming in his deep gaze.


    In the next second, Ji Wei was pulled into Gu Moqian¡¯s arms again. Immediately, she felt softness on her lips as Gu Moqian suddenly bent down and kissed her.


    He domineeringly upied her lips, entering deep, tangling, and sucking, leaving no corner of her mouth untouched.


    "Gu Mo... Mmm..."


    Ji Wei, caught off guard by his kiss, tried to speak, but Gu Moqian didn¡¯t give her the slightest chance.


    Her hands clenched slightly beside her body, her entire figure tightly encircled in Gu Moqian¡¯s embrace, the two pressed together seamlessly.


    Who knows how long itsted? Ji Wei only felt her lips growing numb from the kiss, her mouthpletely overtaken by his taste, before Gu Moqian finally released her.


    He smiled and held her hand, "The affairs I needed to handle are all done. Let¡¯s go."


    "Where are we going?"


    "To meet my two friends."


    Ji Wei suddenly felt a bit nervous: "Do I need to prepare some gifts? After all, it¡¯s the first time meeting them."


    "Your presence alone is the greatest honor for them. Why bother with gifts?"


    Ji Wei: "..."


    ...


    Zimei Club was thergest high-end private establishment in Rongcheng.


    It was said that the identity of the boss behind the scenes was very unusual, someone who walked both the ck and the white paths. Thus, those qualified to enter Zimei Club were either wealthy or noble.


    It was evening, the peak hour for guests.


    Before Ji Wei entered the private room, she made a detour to the restroom.


    She had just pushed the restroom door open when a girl hurriedly rushed out from inside, nearly colliding with her.


    Startled, Ji Wei looked up and was surprised to see a familiar figure.


    Xia Duoduo?


    Why was she at Zimei Club?


    While Ji Wei was still puzzled, she saw a private room door suddenly swing open, a hand unexpectedly reached out, and pulled the girl directly inside.


    Everything happened too fast, within the blink of an eye.


    Ji Wei¡¯s brow twitched, and she instinctively moved closer to that private room door.


    The door wasn¡¯t locked, and as she got closer, she could hear vulgarughter from inside, making Ji Wei feel instant disgust.


    "Don¡¯t... don¡¯t touch me!"


    "Fiery little pepper, drink this ss, and I promise you¡¯ll feel heavenly..."


    Ji Wei couldn¡¯t listen anymore and abruptly pushed the door open.


    The people in the private room froze and turned to look at her.


    The "Xia Duoduo" also turned to face her, suddenly shing a grin¡ªa smile unfamiliar and eerie.


    This person... was not Xia Duoduo!


    A chill ran down Ji Wei¡¯s spine as she abruptly realized something, then turned to flee, but a hand suddenly reached out from behind, covering her mouth and nose.


    The world went ck in front of her, and Ji Wei¡¯s body softened and copsed...


    Inside the private room.


    Xi Nanfeng saw Gu Moqian push the door open and immediately stood up from the sofa, holding the woman beside him in his arms.


    He proudly shoved the woman toward Gu Moqian. "Old Mo, this is my girl. Isn¡¯t she gorgeous? I¡¯ve finally found someone! So, when will you prepare my grand gift?"


    As he got closer, Gu Moqian caught the overwhelming fragrance of perfume on the woman and frowned slightly.


    He nced up and saw the woman¡¯s heavily made-up face, her typical influencer-like appearance, and the clothes she was wearing. Though branded, the craftsmanship gave off a distinctly cheap vibe, likely knock-offs of luxurybels.


    Gu Moqian calmly walked over to the sofa, sat down elegantly, crossed his legs, and picked up the red wine on the table, lightly swirling it.

 Chapter 45 Where is Your Woman?

    <h4>Chapter 45: Chapter 45 Where is Your Woman?</h4><h4></h4>


    Seeing Gu Moqianpletely ignoring his words, Xi Nanfeng immediately exploded: "Old Mo, you said it yourself! If I found a girlfriend, you¡¯d give me a big gift. Now you¡¯re going back on your word?"


    Gu Moqian paused in the act of swirling his wine and looked up, speaking coolly: "The money you spent renting a girlfriend was more than the gift I¡¯d nned to buy you. Why bother?"


    Xi Nanfeng deted at those words, waved dismissively to the woman beside him, indicating for her to leave, then walked over with the intention of sitting next to Gu Moqian.


    Gu Moqian disdainfully scooted further inside to avoid him.


    Xi Nanfeng¡¯s face twitched. He turned to the seductive man with long hair at the inside seat, who was quietly savoring red wine, andined, "Ye Cheng, look at him! He¡¯d rather sit next to you than with me. I¡¯m a charming, dashing, carefree man¡ªwhat¡¯s so wrong with that?"


    Ye Cheng raised his phoenix-like eyes to nce at him but said nothing.


    "Are you jealous?" Gu Moqian shot a sidelong nce at Xi Nanfeng.


    "I¡¯ve never been jealous of another man," Xi Nanfeng said disdainfully. "After being friends with you two big shots for so many years, I¡¯ve already developed an indestructible body."


    With that, Xi Nanfeng raised a wine ss from the table and tilted his head back, downing it boldly in severalrge gulps.


    Ye Cheng didn¡¯t take Xi Nanfeng¡¯s teasing seriously at all and turned to look at Gu Moqian. "Where¡¯s your woman? Didn¡¯t you say you were bringing her?"


    Gu Moqian nced at the exquisite Swiss watch on his wrist and suddenly ced his wine ss on the table.


    Just now, Ji Wei had said she was going to the restroom, but she still hadn¡¯t returned.


    In Zimei Club, unexpected things happened frequently. He was worried something might have happened to her.


    "I¡¯ll go find her."


    Gu Moqian said this quickly, stood up, and headed for the exit.


    "Old Mo, you¡¯re leaving before your seat¡¯s even warmed up? At least have a few drinks with your brothers, huh? Don¡¯t they say¡ªwomen are like clothes, but brothers are like limbs? Are you giving up your limbs for a piece of clothing? Hey, I¡¯m not finished..."


    Xi Nanfeng watched Gu Moqian¡¯s retreating figure and shook his head, sighing, "Old Mo has really fallen for that eldest daughter of the Ji Family. Who knows if that¡¯s a good thing or a bad thing."


    Ye Cheng also stared toward the doorway, his phoenix eyes narrowing slightly, though he said nothing.


    ...


    When Ji Wei regained consciousness, she found herself lying on a cold, hard ground.


    She lifted her head, staring nkly around her, and realized she was in a dimly lit space. The air was thick with a strong aroma of wine.


    In the limited light, she vaguely made out the orderly rows of shelves in front of her, all stocked with bottles of red wine.


    This was an underground wine cer.


    Why was she here?


    As her mind gradually cleared, Ji Wei remembered she had been chasing after Xia Duoduo, who was being threatened by someone. Somehow, she had lost consciousness.


    Thinking back, she realized she must have been deliberately knocked out and brought here.


    Who was behind this, and why had they locked her up?


    Struggling to her feet, Ji Wei tried to reach for the light switch on the wall, but the switch seemed to have been intentionally damaged¡ªit waspletely unresponsive.


    She carefully felt her way along the wall, hoping to find another switch.


    After only a few steps, Ji Wei suddenly stopped in her tracks.


    She heard a faint rustling sound approaching her.


    "Squeak, squeak... squeak, squeak..."


    That sound¡ªit was...


    Rats!


    A high-end, top-tier establishment like Zimei, with such an extensive collection of red wine in its underground cer, couldn¡¯t possibly have rats.


    Which meant those rats had been deliberately released here!

 Chapter 46 Come on, if you dare, bite me!

    <h4>Chapter 46: Chapter 46 Come on, if you dare, bite me!</h4><h4></h4>


    "Squeak, squeak, squeak... squeak, squeak, squeak..."


    In the darkness, rats dashed toward Ji Wei from the ground. Just hearing the sound was enough to guess¡ªthere were quite a few of them, at least a dozen or twenty.


    Ji Wei¡¯s nerves instantly went taut. She leaned against the wall, her eyes fixated on those gray-ck little creatures without blinking.


    Suddenly, a rat leaped at her face with incredible speed. Luckily, Ji Wei reacted quickly, raising her hand to violently fling the rat away.


    Before she could catch her breath, another rat lunged forward, its sharp teeth sinking into her arm.


    Ji Wei let out a piercing scream, raised her arm, and mmed the rat heavily against the wall.


    The rat screeched miserably before it fell from her arm.


    The bite on her arm was deep, and blood was flowing out incessantly.


    The scent of blood filled the wine cer in an instant, mixing with the aroma of wine and creating an oddly tempting smell.


    The rats, which had hesitated earlier, were immediately invigorated by the scent, excitedly squeaking as they surged toward Ji Wei once again.


    Ji Wei, drenched in sweat, ignored the pain in her arm. She needed to stay calm. With this many rats and no weapons in hand, dealing with these creatures wouldn¡¯t be easy.


    Suddenly, Ji Wei¡¯s gaze locked onto the wine rack ahead, and her eyes lit up.


    She rushed over swiftly, grabbed a wine bottle, and smashed it against the wall without hesitation.


    The bottle shattered with a crash, and dark red liquid sttered everywhere.


    The pungent scent of wine filled the air.


    Quickly, Ji Wei threw another bottle, then picked up the parts of the bottle neck that hadn¡¯t shattered. She pointed the sharp ss edges toward the rats.


    "Come on, if you¡¯ve got the guts, bite me!"


    Ji Wei yelled at the rats in the darkness.


    If this had been her former self, she would have already been scared half to death by these rats. But now, she was someone who had died once before. If she wasn¡¯t ruthless, she wouldn¡¯t survive. She absolutely refused to ept fate this time!


    Maybe it was Ji Wei¡¯smanding tone, or perhaps the rats feared the sharp ss in her hands. They squeaked nervously and jittered, but none dared to pounce.


    Ji Wei gasped for air, leaning against the wall. Her disheveled hair spilled around her, beads of sweat soaked her bangs, clinging tightly to her pale cheeks.


    She didn¡¯t dare to rx for a moment, her entire body tense, her eyes fixed on the restless creatures lurking in the darkness.


    Ordinary rats wouldn¡¯t typically attack humans. However, these rodents had clearly been tormented by hunger for far too long, their sanity long gone. Driven purely by primal instincts, they attacked the only source of food they could find¡ªJi Wei.


    Finally, a few bold rats lunged at her again.


    "Ah¡ª!"


    Ji Wei screamed, frantically swinging the sharp wine bottle in her hand. One rat, then another, was stabbed by the ss, their shrieks filling the air as they fell to the ground. Blood from the rats sttered across Ji Wei¡¯s face...


    The sight of their fellow rats being killed instantly enraged the rest. Squeaking furiously, they all charged at Ji Wei...


    ¡ª¡ª


    Gu Moqian pushed open the door of thest private room, his gaze falling on a group of terrified people inside. His expression grew progressively colder.


    He had searched every single private room himself, yet there was still no sign of Ji Wei.


    Closing the door to the room, Gu Moqian turned, finding Chen Ke standing quietly behind him at some point. Chen Ke lowered his head and reported, "Mr. Gu, my apologies, but our team still hasn¡¯t found Miss Ji¡¯s whereabouts..."


    Gu Moqian¡¯s eyes were icy, his voice chillingly emotionless, so cold it was terrifying: "Keep searching! Even if we have to turn this ce upside down, we must find her!"

 Chapter 47 I Am Very Interested in Mr. Gu

    <h4>Chapter 47: Chapter 47 I Am Very Interested in Mr. Gu</h4><h4></h4>


    Ye Cheng and Xi Nanfeng had already be restless upon hearing about Ji Wei¡¯s disappearance; the two simultaneously stepped out of the private room.


    Seeing the obvious trace of anxiety behind the coldposure on Gu Moqian¡¯s face, Xi Nanfeng quickly caught up to him, cing a hand on his shoulder, "Old Mo, we¡¯ll help you search for her."


    Gu Moqian lifted his eyes to nce at the two. "Do either of you know where Zimei¡¯s boss is?"


    "I¡¯ll take you there."


    Ye Cheng, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke up.


    Gu Moqian looked at him with slight surprise before silently nodding.


    Zimei¡¯s boss wasn¡¯t at the Zimei Club but instead in a highly concealed Halfway to Mountain Vi in Rongcheng.


    The three got out of the car, and as Xi Nanfeng gazed at the European-style vi cloaked under the night shadows and tree silhouettes, he remarked in surprise, "Old Ye, how do you know Zimei¡¯s boss lives here?"


    Ye Cheng¡¯s expression shifted subtly, but he didn¡¯t respond.


    "Let¡¯s go."


    Gu Moqian didn¡¯t want to waste even a second; he walked straight toward the vi.


    Almost as if they had been expected, the vi¡¯s housekeeper stood respectfully waiting at the entrance of the living room.


    "Mr. Gu, please follow me. As for the other two, please rest briefly in the living room," the housekeeper, dressed impably in a ck tailcoat and gold-rimmed sses, said courteously.


    "Why can¡¯t we meet Zimei¡¯s boss as well?" Xi Nanfeng asked indignantly.


    "That¡¯s the boss¡¯s directive. Your understanding is appreciated," the housekeeper exined.


    Xi Nanfeng scoffed, his entire face spelling out irritation.


    Were this any other asion, he would¡¯ve overturned the ce already. But for now, under someone else¡¯s roof, he had no choice but toply.


    "Mr. Gu, this way."


    The housekeeper led Gu Moqian to the study door and gestured for him to enter.


    Without hesitation, Gu Moqian pushed the door open.


    Sitting in a swivel chair in the study was a seductive woman d in a qipao.


    Her pale, tender legs were elegantly crossed, and between her fingers rested a slim cigarette. Her alluring red lips parted slightly, releasing circle after circle of smoke. Laziness graced her posture, mingling seamlessly with elegance.


    As soon as he stepped into the study, the dense smell of smoke swept over Gu Moqian, making him involuntarily wrinkle his brows.


    He held back his irritation and continued stepping forward.


    The woman raised her enchanting eyes to scrutinize him, her voice dripping withnguid charm, "I didn¡¯t expect Rongcheng¡¯s most distinguished man to personallye knocking. Tell me, Mr. Gu, what brings you here?"


    As the words fell, the woman rose gracefully from her chair, her slender heels cking against the floor as she approached Gu Moqian.


    The qipao outlined her fiery figure, and every step she took seemed an embodiment of seduction.


    "Don¡¯t y games with me," Gu Moqian snorted coldly, his voice devoid of warmth, "Where is Ji Wei?"


    "Mr. Gu, don¡¯t be so serious." The woman¡¯s crimson lips parted slightly, and her slender hand naturally reached toward Gu Moqian¡¯s chest, brushing lightly against the slightly open cor of his shirt.


    "Zimei has long heard of Mr. Gu¡¯s reputation. But to meet you this close¡ªwell, it¡¯s a first. I must admit, I¡¯m quite... taken with you."


    Her captivating eyes shimmered like silk, her entire being radiating enchanting allure, reminiscent of a thousand-year-old fox spirit.


    Gu Moqian gazed at her impassively, raising his hand to remove hers without a trace of politeness. "If Boss Zi doesn¡¯t wish to speak, then Moqian won¡¯t trouble you further."


    Gu Moqian spoke indifferently before turning to leave.


    Zimei quickly stepped forward, blocking his path.


    She stretched out her arms, once again trying to hook them around his neck, only for him to seize her wrist firmly and fling her away!


    The woman let out a tender cry of pain, "Mr. Gu, you¡¯ve hurt me!"


    Gu Moqian¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, cold and full of danger, as he stared at her.


    Zimei¡¯s enticing eyes beseechingly locked onto his, her crimson lips opening slightly, "I can tell Mr. Gu what he wants to know. But it¡¯s not for free¡ªyou must offer me something in return, don¡¯t you think?"

 Chapter 48: The woman was quite delicate and pretty.

    <h4>Chapter 48: Chapter 48: The woman was quite delicate and pretty.</h4><h4></h4>


    "Name your price."


    Gu Moqian coldly and grimly uttered three words.


    "Money? I don¡¯tck money." Mei let out a coquettishugh, then suddenly leaned her alluring lips close to Gu Moqian¡¯s ear, her breath as fragrant as orchids: "What Ick is a man."


    Gu Moqian¡¯s eyes darkened ominously. His hand reached out once more, forcefully shoving the woman in front of him aside: "Then we have no reason to keep talking."


    He resolutely turned around.


    Mei raised her voice slightly behind him and said, "As long as you sleep with me for one night, by tomorrow morning, the person you¡¯re looking for will naturally return unharmed."


    Gu Moqian froze mid-step. The corner of his lips curled; he was indeed smiling, but the smile didn¡¯t reach his eyes. Instead, it carried a chilling aura of menace: "Keep dreaming."


    "Heh." Mei chuckled lightly, "Such integrity, Mr. Gu. Guarding your chastity so devotedly for your fianc¨¦e truly makes me see you in a different light."


    Gu Moqian couldn¡¯t bear to stay in the presence of this woman for even another second. Without looking back, he strode out of the study with purpose.


    This trip may not have revealed Ji Wei¡¯s whereabouts, but he was now certain of one thing: Ji Wei¡¯s disappearance was undoubtedly tied to Boss Zi!


    That meant Ji Wei was very likely still in the Zimei Club!


    To dare touch his woman¡ªthis debt, once he confirmed Ji Wei¡¯s safety, would be repaid thoroughly with Mei!


    "Out so quickly?" Xi Nanfeng, noticing Gu Moqian had left after less than five minutes inside, quickly stood up: "Did you find any news about Miss Ji already?"


    Gu Moqian shook his head, his footsteps continuing without pause toward the exit.


    "Hey, wait for us!"


    Xi Nanfeng hurried after him.


    Ye Cheng, however, simply stared at the door to the study without moving.


    His phoenix eyes narrowed slightly before he stood up and walked toward the study.


    ...


    Inside the wine cer.


    Ji Wei leaned against the wall, gasping for breath in gulps. Blood still dripped from the shattered wine bottle in her hand.


    Around her were the twisted carcasses of dead rats¡ªmangled and disfigured. The air was thick with the metallic stench of blood. Her clothes were sttered with rat blood, and killing them had nearly pushed her to her limits.


    If more rats appeared, she doubted she could fend them off.


    No. She couldn¡¯t stay trapped here forever; she had to find a way to get out!


    Ji Wei tossed away the broken bottle in her hand and began feeling her way around for an exit to the wine cer.


    Not long after searching, her handnded on a wooden door panel.


    She shook it forcefully, but the door didn¡¯t budge¡ªit was clearly locked from the outside.


    "Is anyone there? Let me out!" Ji Wei leaned against the door fissure and shouted loudly.


    There was no response from outside.


    "Let me out! Do you hear me? Let me out!"


    Ji Wei shouted several more times. Most of her energy had already been drained while fighting off the rats earlier. If this continued, she might truly faint.


    Pale-faced, Ji Wei slouched against the door panel. Her body involuntarily slid downward as she stared at the rows of wine racks filled with red wine bottles ahead. Suddenly, she chuckled: "Fine, if you¡¯re not letting me out, I¡¯ll smash every bottle of wine in here!"


    She braced against the door panel to rise, walked to the nearest wine rack, and grabbed a bottle of red wine without hesitation, smashing it onto the ground.


    Then came the second bottle, the third...


    ss shards flew everywhere, and streams of crimson wine snaked across the floor like rivers.


    "Still not opening the door? Great, then I¡¯ll keep smashing!" Ji Wei cast a fierce nce toward the door as she continued shouting.


    She grabbed bottle after bottle, each one shattered violently into pieces.


    Outside the door, two guards peeked through the cracks to witness the chaos inside. Both their expressions turned extremely grim.


    "What now? If she keeps smashing, all those treasured vintage wines will bepletely ruined! Boss will definitely skin us alive!"


    The scrawny guard spoke up, panic written all over his face.


    The scar-faced guard spat on the ground with a curse: "Damn it, stupid bitch. I¡¯m going in to handle this!"


    That woman¡¯s skin was delicate and smooth, and she was quite a beauty. Getting a chance to bed such a stunner must feel amazing.


    The scrawny guard reached out to pull him back. "No, that¡¯s not right. Boss only told us to keep an eye on her, not to..."


    Scar-faced guard impatiently shook off his hand. "Coward! Look at you, so pathetic! Stay here and keep watch¡ªI¡¯ll go enjoy myself ande back."


    Bam!


    The wooden door panel was suddenly pushed open. Ji Wei¡¯s face lit up with joy; she instinctively tried to rise and move forward, but what she saw standing at the threshold was a tall man. In the dim light, his entire aura exuded an oppressive gloom.

 Chapter 49 Get away from me, you beast!

    <h4>Chapter 49: Chapter 49 Get away from me, you beast!</h4><h4></h4>


    Ji Wei¡¯s heart suddenly sank. She slowly squatted down, casually picked up a shard of a broken wine bottle, and clenched it in her hand. Every nerve in her body was stretched to its limit.


    "You... don¡¯te any closer!"


    Ji Wei shouted coldly, her pitch-ck eyes locked firmly onto the man who kept advancing toward her.


    The scar-faced man nced at the dead rats scattered all over the ground and grinned sinisterly. "You filthy wench. You¡¯ve got some guts, huh? Since the rats didn¡¯t kill you, let me have a damn good time instead!"


    With a lecherous gleam in his eyes, the scar-faced man lunged at her.


    Ji Wei dodged to the side in haste, her footnding on a carpet of broken ss shards. She stumbled, nearly falling.


    In that brief moment of pause, the scar-faced man grabbed hold of her arm. "Trying to run? Give up that hope. Be a good girl and take off your clothes, and maybe I¡¯ll be a little gentle with you!"


    "Get lost! Get away from me!"


    Ji Wei swung the shard of ss in her hand frantically, her eyes bloodshot, screaming madly.


    The scar-faced man¡¯s eyes shed with malice. He forcibly snatched the shard of ss from Ji Wei¡¯s hand and threw it to the ground.


    "Come here, damn it!"


    The scar-faced man roughly dragged her to another side of the wall, his towering figure pressing her heavily against the wall.


    The man was bare-chested, his greasy fat crushing against her body. His stubbly face scraped against her as he leaned in to kiss her.


    As he approached, a rank stench of bad breath hit Ji Wei, making her almost gag.


    Her hands were pinned against the wall by the scar-faced man, and her legs were restrained by his. Despite her desperate struggles, she was helpless.


    Seeing the man¡¯s disgusting face getting closer, Ji Wei suddenly lunged forward and bit down hard on his ear.


    She used all the strength she could muster, tearing off a piece of the man¡¯s ear!


    Spitting!


    Ji Wei spat out the chunk of flesh, blood dripping from her lips as she watched the scar-faced man clutch his ear and howl in agony. Her mouth twisted into a blood-soaked, frenzied, cold smile.


    "You filthy wench! Daring to bite me¡ªare you tired of living?!"


    The scar-faced man, utterly enraged, raised his hand and pped Ji Wei hard across the face.


    Ji Wei saw stars as her head mmed into the wall behind her, splitting the skin and oozing blood.


    Her vision darkened, and before she could react, she heard a tearing sound¡ª


    The scar-faced man¡¯srge hand ripped open the front of her dress, exposing a patch of snow-white, smooth skin at her neckline. His eyes instantly lit up, filled with unbridled lust.


    He pressed Ji Wei¡¯s head down roughly, preventing her from struggling, and like an unhinged beast, furiously leaned in.


    Ji Wei felt a cold shiver run down her spine, waves of nausea crashing over her.


    Her eyes filled with tears as she screamed in agony, "Get away from me, you beast! Get away!"


    Meanwhile, the short man standing guard at the door caught sight of what was happening in the wine cer and grew increasingly apprehensive.


    At Zimei, no one ever dared to defy the boss¡¯s orders. Those who crossed her had nevere to a good end.


    The scar-faced man, disregarding the boss¡¯s orders, insisted on viting the woman. If the boss held him ountable, there would be no way for him to escape responsibility!


    No, he had to report this to the general manager immediately.


    The short man, his face filled with panic, turned and bolted out of the wine cer.


    However, just as he pushed open the wooden board overhead, a gleaming dagger was pressed against his throat.


    Only then did the short man realize the general manager¡¯s office, connected to the wine cer below, had already been taken over.


    At that moment, the general manager was crouched in a corner, clutching his head. When he saw the short man emerge from the wine cer, his face instantly contorted with fear.


    Just moments ago, he had been relieved that he¡¯d bit down hard and refused to reveal the location of the wine cer. But in the blink of an eye, the short man who had just emerged exposed its existence.


    Chen Ke reached out and gripped the short man¡¯s face tightly, his voice harsh andmanding, "Take us down. Behave yourself! Or I¡¯ll end you right now!"


    Gu Moqian had just set foot in Zimei when his phone rang, and Chen Ke¡¯s voice came through. "Mr. Gu, we¡¯ve found Miss Ji. She¡¯s in the underground wine cer..."

 Chapter 50: If She Had to Be Ruined by Another Man, She Would Rather Die!

    <h4>Chapter 50: Chapter 50: If She Had to Be Ruined by Another Man, She Would Rather Die!</h4><h4></h4>


    Halfway to Mountain Vi.


    "If you have any issues, take them out on me. It has nothing to do with anyone else. Let Miss Ji go."


    Ye Cheng stood before Zimei, speaking coldly.


    "If I didn¡¯t do this, would youe to see me?" Zimei lightly swirled the red wine in her ss, raising her bewitching gaze fixedly on the excessively handsome man in front of her.


    "There¡¯s no need for all this effort. I told you long ago, from now on, we are strangers, no interference with each other." Ye Cheng looked at her expressionlessly.


    "What you say doesn¡¯t matter."


    Zimei stood up, lifting the ss of red wine to his face. "This is a French rarity I specially brought for you. Want to try?"


    Ye Cheng coldly brushed her hand aside. "This is thest time I meet you."


    With that detached remark, he turned and walked away.


    Zimei¡¯sposed expression crumbled in an instant. She shouted emotionally at his retreating figure, her voice breaking apart, "Why? Why can¡¯t we go back to how we were? I have everything now, Ye Cheng. I want you toe back to me!"


    Pain flickered in Ye Cheng¡¯s eyes for a moment before vanishing. He didn¡¯t look back, leaving resolutely, just like before.


    "Why, why!"


    Zimei flung the wine ss in her hand heavily to the ground. The wine sttered instantly, and the ss shattered into shards.


    Zimei stood frozen, staring at the crimson liquid like blood on the floor, her tears flowing in torrents.


    A few minutes after Ye Cheng¡¯s departure, someone cautiously reported at the door, "Boss, Miss Ji has been found by Gu Moqian."


    "Got it."


    Zimei dropped into the chair, her gorgeous face still stained with un-dried tears.


    After a while, she spoke to the person quietly standing at the door, "Tell Miss Zhu that I¡¯m doing this as a favor for her family¡¯s elders, but just this once. Only this once, and nothing more."


    ...


    Meanwhile, in the wine cer, the scar-faced man was growing increasingly frenzied.


    "You bitch, I¡¯ll make you feel heaven right now!"


    The scar-faced man rushed to undo his belt.


    "No!"


    Ji Wei was pinned tightly against the wall by the man, screaming in terror, her entire being on the verge of breakdown.


    At that moment, Gu Moqian¡¯s face suddenly shed in her mind.


    His brows were handsome and his deep, ink-ck eyes carried a gentle light. When he looked at her, they were filled with fondness, care, and joy.


    He said, "Ji Wei, the only candidate for Mrs. Gu has always been you."


    He said, "It¡¯s fine, I¡¯m here."


    He said, "Because you¡¯re my woman."


    He said, "I miss you."


    ...


    Despair gripped Ji Wei¡¯s heart, but at the same time, determination burned fiercely.


    In this life, her body and soul belonged to Gu Moqian alone. If she was going to be vited by another man, she would rather die!


    Ji Wei¡¯s bloodied lips suddenly curved into a smirk.


    The next second, she bit down on her lips fiercely, gathering all her strength, and mmed her head viciously into the scar-faced man¡¯s forehead.


    Caught off guard by her sudden action, the scar-faced man groaned as he held his aching head. When he looked up again, cruelty shone unmistakably in his eyes.


    "You slut! I¡¯ll ruin you!"


    The scar-faced man raised his foot to kick Ji Wei, but she staggered to dodge it, losing her bnce and falling to the floor.


    The scar-faced man raised his foot again, aiming a savage kick at her!


    Ji Wei stared at him with blood-red eyes, biting her lips hard, refusing to cry out in pain.


    "So you dare to go against me? I¡¯ll kick you to death!"


    Like he was venting his anger, the scar-faced man kicked her repeatedly with merciless force.


    Ji Wei¡¯s face was drenched in cold sweat from the pain. Unable to suppress it anymore, she opened her mouth and blood spurted out.


    Seeing this, the scar-faced man grabbed her by the ground, lifted her, and pinned her against the wall fiercely, preparing to force himself on her again. "This time, I¡¯ll see what tricks you have to resist me!"


    Bang!


    Suddenly, the wooden cer door behind them copsed with an explosive sound, jolting the scar-faced man into turning his head abruptly.


    In an instant, a flood of people charged in. The blinding beams from their shlights caused the scar-faced man to temporarily lose his vision.


    Before he could figure out who these intruders were, Gu Moqian, leading the front, kicked him forcefully to the ground.

 Chapter 51 I Feed You

    <h4>Chapter 51: Chapter 51 I Feed You</h4><h4></h4>


    Freed from the Scarred Man¡¯s grip, Ji Wei¡¯s body could no longer hold itself upright, and she weakly slid to the ground.


    Mo Qian rushed forward, catching her in his arms before she copsed.


    Seeing her drenched in blood, even her face covered in gory stains, Mo Qian¡¯s chest tightened with an unbearable ache, his eyes tinged with a deep red.


    "Ji Wei, I¡¯m sorry. I came toote. I¡¯m so sorry..."


    Overwhelmed with heartache, Mo Qian held the woman tightly in his arms, his voice soft and low.


    "You... came..."


    Ji Wei strained to maintain a shred of rity. Upon recognizing the man holding her, her lips twitched into a faint smile.


    "Yes, I¡¯vee. It¡¯s alright now. It¡¯s all over..."


    Mo Qian¡¯s hoarse voice trembled with emotion, a faint sob stuck in his throat.


    "I... didn¡¯t lose..."


    Ji Wei struggled to force out a few words, but before she could finish, her vision turned ck, and she fell unconscious.


    Looking at the tortured and fainted woman in his arms, Mo Qian¡¯s eyes burned with fury, his fingers curling into a clenched fist, his whole body trembling lightly.


    Those who dared to harm his woman, to leave her in this miserable state, he would make sure not one of them escaped his wrath!


    Mo Qian removed his jacket and wrapped it tightly around Ji Wei.


    Then, cradling her carefully in his arms, his dark eyes simmering with rage, he approached the Scarred Man.


    By then, the Scarred Man had already been subdued and was kneeling on the ground, not even daring to breathe heavily.


    Seeing Mo Qian¡¯s tall figure closing in, he was so terrified he lost control, his body trembling violently.


    Mo Qian stomped down hard on the Scarred Man¡¯s shoulder, forcing him lower until one could audibly hear the sickening crack of bones shattering underfoot.


    The Scarred Man screamed in agony and copsed to the ground, twisting into a contorted heap.


    Mo Qian gave him no reprieve, immediately driving his foot between the man¡¯s legs, grinding down with merciless force.


    With that single move, the Scarred Man¡¯s lower body was utterly ruined.


    The Scarred Man couldn¡¯t even muster a scream, his body convulsing uncontrobly as thick blood gushed out from below.


    Mo Qian withdrew his foot with disgust, his gaze cold and venomous. "Drag this beast out and deal with him. He has no right to live any longer."


    His voice cut through the air, chilling and terrifying, as if it came straight from Hell itself.


    "Don¡¯t kill me... no... ugh..."


    The Scarred Man barely started pleading before Chen Ke stepped forward, mping his hand tightly around the man¡¯s throat. No more sounds escaped him.


    Mo Qian spared the Scarred Man not a single nce, turning instead to the woman in his arms. His gaze softened as he stared at her pale face, speaking with tender pain: "Weiwei, I¡¯ll take you home."


    ...


    Ji Wei had no idea how long she had been unconscious.


    During that time, she groggily woke for a moment, glimpsing figures in white coats moving around her. But her strength was utterly sapped, and after barely opening her eyes, she fell back into a deep slumber.


    When she finally woke again, she found herself lying in a bed at Shanshui Manor. Her arm was wrapped in gauze, aching faintly, and her head still felt heavy and muddled.


    Ji Wei slowly shifted her gaze and saw the man seated by her bedside.


    Mo Qian was staring down at her. When he noticed her eyes opening, a spark lit up in his otherwise gloomy gaze.


    Taking her hand, his voice raspy, he spoke gently: "Ji Wei, it¡¯s over now."


    She wanted to say something, but as she opened her lips, she found her throat so parched she could barely utter a sound: "Water..."


    Her lips moved faintly, and Mo Qian immediately guessed what she needed.


    He quickly stood up, poured her a ss of water, and brought it to her.


    Ji Wei tried to sit up. But as soon as she moved, the bite wound on her arm pulled painfully, making her frown deeply.


    Mo Qian immediately pressed her down gently. "Let me help you. I¡¯ll feed you."

 Chapter 52: Can’t Sleep, I Want You to Hold Me While Sleeping

    <h4>Chapter 52: Chapter 52: Can¡¯t Sleep, I Want You to Hold Me While Sleeping</h4><h4></h4>


    Ji Wei froze for a moment, thinking that when he mentioned feeding her water, he meant bringing the cup to her lips, even though drinking water while lying down could easily cause choking.


    However, she watched as Gu Moqian lifted the cup and took a sip himself.


    Ji Wei stared at him nkly, her mind short-circuited, not understanding why he drank the water himself.


    The next second, Gu Moqian suddenly leaned down, drawing closer to her.


    Ji Wei¡¯s eyes widened suddenly as she realized something.


    Gu Moqian leaned closer and closer to her, his nose almost brushing against hers. His eyshes, long and dense, framed his eyes, which carried a soft tenderness.


    While she was still dumbfounded, his lips pressed against her dry and pale ones. The sensation of moisture brushed through, and then her lips were pried open as water slowly flowed into her mouth.


    Forced to swallow all the water, Ji Wei looked at the man who had lifted his head, her face flushing with a bright red hue.


    "Do you want more water?"


    Gu Moqian asked gently.


    Ji Wei nodded, then immediately shook her head.


    Gu Moqian was briefly taken aback but then smiled faintly at her. "So, what you mean is you want to drink water but don¡¯t want me to feed you?"


    Ji Wei: "..."


    Mouth-to-mouth feeding... it was too overwhelming. In her current weak state, she couldn¡¯t handle such stimtion.


    She bit her lip, staring at him steadily, and after a long moment, she suddenly asked, "What time is it now?"


    Gu Moqian raised his hand to nce at his watch. "Three in the morning."


    Ji Wei slowly nodded. So, it was thiste already.


    He suddenly took her hand and lowered his head, pressing a kiss to the back of it. His voice was unusually tender, "Go back to sleep. I¡¯ll stay here with you."


    "Aren¡¯t you going to sleep?" she asked.


    Gu Moqian gave a faint smile and said, "I¡¯m not tired."


    But he must not have slept at all through the night. How could he not be tired?


    Ji Wei looked at the man in front of her, his expression haggard, and his eyes faintlyced with bloodshot veins. A wave of sorrow welled in her heart, and tears suddenly streamed down her face.


    "What¡¯s wrong? Why are you crying?"


    Gu Moqian seemed flustered by her tears and quickly raised his hand to wipe away the streaks on her cheeks.


    "Mo Qian, I¡¯m sorry for worrying you," she said, unable to stop the tears from falling. As thoughts of everything that had happened in the wine cer that night filled her mind, she still felt a lingering fear.


    If Gu Moqian hadn¡¯t arrived in time, she might really have died.


    "It¡¯s my fault. I didn¡¯t protect you well enough."


    Gu Moqian¡¯s voice was filled with guilt, his eyes slightly reddened as well.


    His voice was hoarse, and his face was visibly worn.


    Ji Wei knew that if she continued to bring up what had happenedst night, Gu Moqian would drown further in self-me.


    She forced the tears in her eyes back, smiled faintly at him, and said, "I can¡¯t fall asleep. Can you hold me while I sleep?"


    "Of course."


    Gu Moqian smiled at her, then lifted the nket on her side andy next to her.


    He wrapped his arms around her, careful not to touch the wound on her arm. His heart was enveloped in endless tenderness and ache, and he whispered, "Ji Wei, I¡¯ll never let you get hurt again..."


    Ji Wei nestled her head against his chest and nodded softly.


    Her body was still very weak, but lying in Gu Moqian¡¯s embrace, she let down all her defenses and fell soundly asleep once more.


    As Gu Moqian held the woman in his arms, he treated her like a treasure he had lost and found again, his heart unable to calm down for a long time.


    If he had been even a secondter, he truly didn¡¯t know what the consequences might have been.


    As he held Ji Wei, his heart was full of guilt, robbing him of any ability to sleep.


    Just then, the phone on the bedside table lit up silently.


    Gu Moqian¡¯s eyes flickered slightly. He gently set the sleeping Ji Wei down, tucked her in carefully, and then picked up the phone, walking to the balcony to answer it.


    It was Chen Ke calling. He returned the call.


    "Mr. Gu, we¡¯ve found the man who knocked out Miss Ji," Chen Ke said from the other end of the line.

 Chapter 53: Filling My Mouth with Dog Food

    <h4>Chapter 53: Chapter 53: Filling My Mouth with Dog Food</h4><h4></h4>


    "Have you gotten anything out of him?" Mo Qian asked.


    "This guy has a tough mouth. Even after we beat him half to death, he refuses to reveal the mastermind behind it."


    "Everyone has a weakness. If he won¡¯t talk, it¡¯s likely he hasn¡¯t faced something that truly terrifies him." Mo Qian spoke slowly, his eyes flickering with a chilling intensity. "No matter the method, make sure he gives up the person behind all this."


    "Yes, Mr. Gu."


    "Keep him alive after he confesses. I need him for something."


    Preserving the scum¡¯s life leaves no room for the person pulling the strings to make excuses.


    After hanging up the call, Mo Qian walked back into the bedroom. He noticed Ji Wei was sleeping uneasily, fine beads of sweat decorating her forehead. He immediately grabbed a towel to gently wipe her dry, then pulled her back into his embrace.


    He kissed her forehead, his heart softening endlessly with tenderness, holding her tightly with a deep sense of cherishing.


    By this time, the faint light of dawn was creeping in outside the window.


    When Ji Wei woke up the next morning, she opened her eyes but did not see Mo Qian.


    A faint sense of disappointment rose in her chest. Turning her head, she saw Sister Zhang standing by the bedside.


    Seeing her awake, Sister Zhang spoke with a warm smile, "Miss Ji, you¡¯re awake."


    "Where¡¯s Mo Qian?"


    "Mr. Gu is downstairs making breakfast. Since your arm is injured, he asked me to help you wash up and get dressed."


    Mo Qian is making breakfast?


    Ji Wei¡¯s eyes widened instantly. She even suspected she had misheard.


    "Miss Ji, would you like to get up now, or rest for a little longer?" Sister Zhang asked respectfully, seeing her standing there in a daze.


    "I¡¯ll get up now."


    Ji Wei said, and began to prop herself up. Sister Zhang quickly reached out to support her.


    With Sister Zhang¡¯s assistance, Ji Wei washed up, got dressed, and then slowly walked downstairs.


    To confirm whether Mo Qian was truly in the kitchen, Ji Wei walked straight toward the dining room.


    As soon as she stepped into the dining room, she saw Mo Qian walking out from the kitchen with a bowl of steaming hot congee.


    He was dressed simply in a beige knitted sweater and matching casual pants. His tall and upright figure was ented by an apron adorned with cartoon bears.


    Mo Qian, in a domestic setting,cked his usual cold and imposing demeanor but exuded an unexpected charm of contrast.


    Ji Wei was utterly dumbfounded.


    "You¡¯re hungry, aren¡¯t you? Come sit down."


    Mo Qian ced the bowl of congee on the table with a gentle tone as he pulled the chair out for her.


    Being afforded Mr. Gu¡¯s special treatment so early in the morning left Ji Wei somewhat flustered. She obediently walked over and sat down, just like a well-behaved schoolchild.


    Mo Qian took off the apron, handed it casually to Sister Zhang, then sat down close to her.


    Looking at the steaming bowl of lean pork congee in front of her, Ji Wei reached for the spoon, eager to take a bite and taste Mo Qian¡¯s cooking.


    Just as her fingers touched the edge of the spoon, Mo Qian snatched it away first.


    Ji Wei looked at him in confusion, only to see Mo Qian¡¯s perfectly natural movements as he scooped some congee, blew on it lightly, and then brought the spoon to her lips. "Open up."


    Ji Wei waspletely petrified.


    After a long moment, she awkwardly chuckled, "I can eat on my own..."


    "Be good. Open up. It might not be as delicious as Sister Zhang¡¯s cooking, but it shouldn¡¯t taste bad either."


    Mo Qian paid no heed to her embarrassment, a faint smile gracing his lips as he gazed at her.


    Under his steady gaze, Ji Wei finally opened her mouth.


    The congee was soft and smooth, tasting delightfully good. As Ji Wei swallowed, her eyes misted slightly.


    It¡¯s often said that women are willing to cook for the men they love, but when a man is willing to cook for a woman, what level of adoration must that represent?


    Mo Qian fed her several spoonfuls in a row. Watching her obediently open her mouth to eat, his smile grew even brighter.


    When he brought another spoonful to Ji Wei¡¯s lips, and she was about to open her mouth, a loud voice suddenly interrupted the dining room. "Mo Qian! I came early to check on your fianc¨¦e, and the first thing you do is feed me a mouthful of dog food?"


    Xi Nanfeng shouted as he strode over to them, followed closely by Ye Cheng behind him.

 Chapter 54: Be at Ease as Mrs. Gu, the Profession of an Artist Doesn’t Suit You

    <h4>Chapter 54: Chapter 54: Be at Ease as Mrs. Gu, the Profession of an Artist Doesn¡¯t Suit You</h4><h4></h4>


    Ji Wei was startled by the sudden appearance of tworge men.


    The man in front of her casually pulled out a chair and sat down, his features sharp and rugged. There was an air of carefree arrogance about him, radiating the vibe of a yful son from a wealthy family.


    The man who followed closely behind wore his long hair loosely tied back in a ponytail.


    Pale skin and a delicate appearance usually describe women, yet it suited this man perfectly. His slightly upturned eyes carried a hint of seduction, and his thin lips, pale as water, gave him an otherworldly presence encapsted in one word: enchanting.


    "Mo Qian, who are they..."


    Ji Wei knew that anyone who could behave so casually in front of Gu Moqian must be someone close to him.


    Gu Moqian hadn¡¯t replied yet when Xi Nanfeng jumped in first: "I¡¯m Xi Nanfeng, and he¡¯s Ye Cheng. We¡¯re both your fianc¨¦¡¯s men."


    Uh, why did that introduction sound a bit odd?


    Seeing Ji Wei¡¯s confused expression, Gu Moqian patiently exined, "They¡¯re the friends I wanted to introduce to youst night¡ªone¡¯s the second son of the Xi Family, and the other¡¯s a highly sought-after celebrity agent."


    The Xi Family was considered one of Rongcheng¡¯s top five wealthiest families, so Ji Wei had naturally heard of them. But as for the renowned celebrity agent, this was her first time seeing one in person, and her eyes instantly shone with admiration.


    "Mr. Ye, what kind of artists do you manage?"


    She asked curiously.


    Gu Moqian spoke calmly, "He manages three Best Actor winners, four Best Actress winners, and six of the hottest idol stars."


    Ji Wei¡¯s mouth immediately formed an "O" shape upon hearing this.


    If she had known Gu Moqian was acquainted with such an influential agent, she would have introduced Xia Duoduo to Ye Cheng long ago! That way, Duoduo wouldn¡¯t be struggling in the obscure third-tier anymore.


    "Mr. Ye, are you still epting artists?" Ji Wei asked enthusiastically.


    Suddenly, Gu Moqian sped her hand. "You should just focus on bing Mrs. Gu. Being an artist¡ªsuch a public-facing profession¡ªdoesn¡¯t suit you."


    "I wasn¡¯t trying to..."


    Ji Wei was about to exin but was cut off by Xi Nanfeng: "Old Mo, it¡¯s perfectly normal for Miss Ji to want a job. What, are you nning to hide her away forever, keeping her at your side like a treasure locked in a gilded cage?"


    "If she wants a job, I can arrange for her to work at the Gu Family." Gu Moqian replied calmly.


    "I get it now. In the end, it¡¯s just your overpowering possessiveness talking. You¡¯re scared someone might dare try to snatch your woman. But let me tell you, topete with Rongcheng¡¯s Number One Young Master for a woman, that man probably hasn¡¯t even been born yet."


    "How do you know he hasn¡¯t been born yet?" Ji Wei asked, curious.


    Xi Nanfeng smirked. "Because that man would be your child with Old Mo. Unless you get pregnant now, he wouldn¡¯t arrive early."


    "I¡¯m not pregnant..."


    Ji Wei¡¯s face instantly flushed red.


    She and Gu Moqian hadn¡¯t... done that yet, so how could she possibly be pregnant?


    With her cheeks burning, Ji Wei couldn¡¯t help but nce at Gu Moqian. Seeing the deep amusement in his eyes, she quickly lowered her head.


    "Alright, enough chit-chat. I¡¯m starving here, and nobody¡¯s bringing me a meal. Guess I¡¯ll head to the kitchen myself to find something to eat."


    Xi Nanfeng said as he stood up and walked toward the kitchen.


    Gu Moqian nced at Ye Cheng, who was still standing there. His gaze turned slightly serious: "You¡¯re not here just to see Ji Wei, are you?"


    "Mm. I have something to discuss with you."


    Ye Cheng didn¡¯t beat around the bush and got straight to the point.


    "You eat first. I¡¯ll be back shortly."


    Gu Moqian said softly to Ji Wei, then stood up.


    Ji Wei stared nkly at the backs of the two men disappearing into the study, her eyes flickering with a hint of confusion.


    What on earth could the two possibly need to talk about?

 Chapter 55: The person who locked up Miss Ji last night, I know him

    <h4>Chapter 55: Chapter 55: The person who locked up Miss Jist night, I know him</h4><h4></h4>


    Xi Nanfeng came out holding a bowl of porridge and an egg. He nced around and noticed that neither Mo Qian nor Ye Cheng were there. He asked in surprise, "Where did those two run off to? I was only gone for a moment, and now they can¡¯t wait to sneak off and get all lovey-dovey? I¡¯ve always suspected their rtionship is no ordinary one. We were supposed to be the Rongcheng Iron Triangle, but here I am getting left out? No, I have to go check this out!"


    Xi Nanfeng set the bowl of porridge down, grabbed the egg, and was about to rush out of the dining room.


    Ji Wei hurriedly stopped him: "Second Young Master Xi, they¡¯re probably discussing some serious matters. It wouldn¡¯t be appropriate for you to interrupt now, would it?"


    "Serious matters?" Xi Nanfeng looked astonished. "Ye Cheng came straight to me, saying he wanted to visit you, but now he¡¯s off whispering secrets with Old Mo. Suspicious, very suspicious! They must be hiding something from me!"


    "Maybe, but I think Mr. Ye must have his reasons for doing this."


    Though unwilling, Xi Nanfeng finally pulled out a chair and sat down.


    He took a sip of the porridge and frowned, saying, "Why does this porridge taste like nothing at all? Did someone forget the salt?"


    Ji Wei swallowed a mouthful of saliva and replied, "Mo Qian made this porridge."


    He must have intentionally made it lighter, knowing that she was physically weak.


    "What did you say?" Xi Nanfeng looked stupefied. "He really made this porridge himself? I never thought I¡¯d live to see the day I could eat food cooked by Old Mo. What an unbelievable stroke of luck!"


    With that, Xi Nanfeng buried his head and slurped the entire bowl of porridge clean in one go.


    "It¡¯s a little nd, sure, but still pretty tasty. For something personally made by Old Mo, this is a once-in-a-decade opportunity. I¡¯ll go get myself another bowl!"


    Holding the empty bowl, Xi Nanfeng cheerfully bolted toward the kitchen.


    Ji Wei: "..."


    Two men, one a chatterbox and the other taciturn¡ªhow on earth did Mo Qian end up befriending these two oddballs?


    Inside the study.


    Mo Qian walked to the wine cab, chose a bottle of fine red wine, poured it into two sses, and handed one to Ye Cheng.


    Mo Qian raised his wine ss and clinked sses with Ye Cheng. The two stood in the golden morning light, tall and elegant.


    One was absurdly handsome, the other a devilish charmer.


    Taking a small sip of the wine, Mo Qian spoke slowly, "Go on, what¡¯s the matter?"


    Ye Cheng stared at the dark red liquid swirling in his ss for several seconds and then suddenly lifted his phoenix eyes: "I know the person who locked Miss Ji awayst night."


    Mo Qian¡¯s hand stiffened, and he looked at Ye Cheng in shock.


    The owner of Zimei Club wasn¡¯t someone you could meet casually, but given Ye Cheng¡¯s status as a top-tier agent, it wasn¡¯t surprising he¡¯d be acquainted.


    However, Mo Qian understood that the ¡¯acquaintance¡¯ Ye Cheng was referring to was far from ordinary.


    "What¡¯s your connection to Zimei?" he asked.


    Ye Cheng¡¯s expression darkened, and he didn¡¯t answer.


    For the first time, Mo Qian saw such an expression on Ye Cheng¡¯s face. Ye Cheng, a dazzling agent who practically ruled half of the entertainment industry¡ªwhy would a man like him show this kind of emotion?


    Mo Qian faintly suspected that there was a story between Ye Cheng and Zimei.


    "Do you want me not to pursuest night¡¯s incident?"


    Mo Qian fell silent for a moment and suddenly asked, his tone inscrutable.


    Ye Cheng nced at him, "Yes, and no."


    After a pause, he continued, "Zimei and I are a thing of the past. I don¡¯t want you to confront her because it might be a trap she¡¯s set to get close to me again. However, the person who wanted to harm Miss Ji wasn¡¯t Zimei, as I¡¯m sure you already know."


    "You also understand that I would never let those who hurt Ji Wei off the hook."


    Mo Qian¡¯s face darkened, and his tone became resolute: "Even if Zimei isn¡¯t the mastermind, any aplices won¡¯t escape punishment."

 Chapter 56 Your Wife Says You’re Excessive

    <h4>Chapter 56: Chapter 56 Your Wife Says You¡¯re Excessive</h4><h4></h4>


    Ye Cheng was slightly taken aback but said nothing more.


    After nearly ten years of friendship, he understood Mo Qian¡¯s personality very well.


    Anyone who dared to mess with someone Mo Qian cared about was guaranteed a grim fate, even if it was Zimei with its underworld connections.


    Seeing Ye Cheng go silent, Mo Qian raised an eyebrow and asked, "You¡¯re not going to plead with me this time?"


    "There¡¯s no need." Ye Cheng shook his head slowly. "Whatever you decide to do with Zimei, I¡¯ve got no objections."


    Mo Qian looked at his entirely expressionless face, a hint of thoughtfulness shing through his eyes.


    ...


    Xi Nanfeng had already finished all the remaining porridge, yet the other two still hadn¡¯te out. Growing irritable, he muttered, "Those two are dragging this out¡ªwhat, are they telling bedtime stories in the study? Damn it, I can¡¯t wait any longer!"


    Xi Nanfeng shot up from his seat and had just taken a few steps when he saw Ye Cheng and Mo Qian walking back.


    "What sneaky business were you two up to behind my back?"


    Xi Nanfeng was indignant about being excluded, grumbling with righteous indignation, "We¡¯re all brothers here, so why the double standard?"


    The two nced at him briefly beforepletely ignoring him.


    Unwilling to let it go, Xi Nanfeng turned to Ji Wei and asked, "Miss Ji, don¡¯t you think they¡¯re being way too overboard?"


    Ji Wei nced at Mo Qian, forcing an awkwardugh. "Well... maybe just a little, hehe..."


    "Hear that? Even your woman thinks you¡¯re overboard, Old Mo! What are you going to do about it, huh? If I don¡¯t get an exnation today, then I¡¯m not leaving!"


    Xi Nanfeng swaggered back to his seat and plopped down, adopting the demeanor of an unrepentant rascal.


    Mo Qian didn¡¯t even spare him a nce, walking directly to Ji Wei instead. He crouched down in front of her.


    "Are you full? Do you want me to get you another bowl?"


    He took her hand, his broad, warm palm gently caressing the smooth back of her hand. His gaze was as tender as a flowing stream.


    "I¡¯m... I¡¯m full," Ji Wei quickly replied.


    "You¡¯ve only just started to recover¡ªlet me take you upstairs to rest."


    With that, Mo Qian stood up, ready to help Ji Wei upstairs.


    Beside them, Xi Nanfeng was once again force-fed a big helping of "public disys of affection."


    As the two of them passed him without a care, Xi Nanfeng clutched his chest, feeling as if a thousand arrows had just pierced his heart.


    He turned to Ye Cheng, who was standing nearby, andmented with a pained expression, "Damn it, I¡¯m going on a blind date tonight! If I don¡¯t find a woman, I¡¯ll write my name backward!"


    After passionately dering this, he realized Ye Cheng looked entirely uninterested, as if none of it had registered. Feeling another wave of heartbreak, Xi Nanfeng pointed at Ye Cheng in usation. "Even you? You¡¯re in cahoots with Old Mo, aren¡¯t you? You¡¯re both ganging up on me!"


    Only then did Ye Cheng snap out of his daze, replying indifferently, "Let¡¯s go."


    Without waiting for Xi Nanfeng to react, he strode out of the dining room.


    "Old Ye, wait for me! Don¡¯t just leave me behind..."


    Xi Nanfeng shouted as he chased after him.


    ...


    The two returned to the bedroom.


    Mo Qian shut the door behind him. When he turned around, he saw Ji Wei staring at him.


    "What is it?" he asked softly, taking her hand in his.


    "Mo Qian, do you think the person who locked me upst night could have been Ji Chuyang?"


    Ji Wei couldn¡¯t let go of what had happened the night before. The decisiveness and precision of the move¡ªit was way out of Ji Shanshan¡¯s league. And anyone who dared make a move at Zimei Club undoubtedly had unusual connections and influence.


    If it wasn¡¯t Ji Shanshan, then the only other person targeting her would have to be Ji Chuyang.


    That day, Ji Chuyang was stripped and thrown onto the public square by Mo Qian¡¯s men. There was no doubt he held a grudge.


    Given Ji Chuyang¡¯s twisted and vindictive nature, it was entirely possible he¡¯d choose to retaliate against her.


    The hand Mo Qian was holding stiffened slightly. He shook his head slowly. "It wasn¡¯t him."


    "So, you know who it was?"


    Ji Wei asked in surprise.

 Chapter 57 I Like You When You’re Shy

    <h4>Chapter 57: Chapter 57 I Like You When You¡¯re Shy</h4><h4></h4>


    Mo Qian didn¡¯t answer; instead, he pulled her tightly into his arms, his chin resting against the soft crown of her head.


    "No matter who this person is, I won¡¯t let them go. Anyone who dares to hurt you¡ªI won¡¯t allow it, not even myself, let alone someone insignificant."


    Ji Wei pressed her cheek against his chest, listening to the strong, steady rhythm of his heartbeat. It brought her a sense of peace she¡¯d never felt before.


    After quietly holding him for a long moment, Ji Wei suddenly lifted her head and asked, "Aren¡¯t you going to work today?"


    "You¡¯re the most important,"


    Mo Qian replied.


    "Honestly, I¡¯m fine now. It¡¯s just a small wound on my arm. You must have so much to handle at thepany. You really don¡¯t need to stay with me on purpose."


    Mo Qian looked at her without answering.


    Ji Wei spoke again, "Sister-inw Zhang is here at home. You can rest assured. Besides, I¡¯m not that fragile."


    After a moment of silence, Mo Qian finally nodded and agreed, "Alright. Call me anytime if anythinges up. I¡¯ve already brought your phone back for you."


    He gestured toward the bedside table.


    "Alright. I¡¯ll wait for you toe home after work,"


    Ji Wei said with a smile. Then, she stood on tiptoe and gently kissed his thin lips.


    Mo Qian froze briefly, and just as Ji Wei was about to pull away, he abruptly reached out, held the back of her head, and deepened the kiss.


    Their kiss grew intense, so much so that Ji Wei felt the air in her chest being gradually stolen away, leaving her nearly breathless.


    Thankfully, Mo Qian let go of her lips.


    He gazed at her flushed cheeks and couldn¡¯t help but gently tap her forehead. "Why weren¡¯t you breathing just now?"


    "I... I got nervous and forgot..."


    Ji Wei murmured before shyly turning her gaze away.


    A faint smile surfaced in Mo Qian¡¯s eyes. Suddenly, he leaned closer, his deep, maic voice sounding by her ear. "I love it when you¡¯re shy."


    As he spoke, his breath brushed against her sensitive earlobe, making her feel as though even the tips of her ears were burning. Her heart began to race uncontrobly.


    "Alright, I won¡¯t tease you anymore,"


    Mo Qian chuckled softly at her increasingly flushed face. He raised his hand to gently ruffle her hair, his tone filled with fondness. "Stay home and rest. Wait for me toe back, okay?"


    "Okay,"


    she replied.


    ...


    After Mo Qian left, Ji Wei fell asleep again.


    Following lunch, she no longer felt sleepy. Not wanting to stay cooped up in the bedroom, she asked Sister-inw Zhang to move a recliner into the garden, where she could lie in the shade of the trees and enjoy the sunlight.


    Ji Wei rarely had such tranquil moments to herself, doing absolutely nothing. She gazed at thezy, drifting white clouds in the sky, feeling as though time had slowed to a crawl.


    "Meow..."


    A sudden meow came from the bushes behind her.


    The next moment, a small white figure leapt out and crouched by her feet.


    It turned out to be a snow-white kitten.


    The kitten rubbed itself against the fabric of her pants, then curled up in afortable position and began to nap.


    Ji Wei couldn¡¯t help but feel her heart soften as she watched the little creature, which seemed so attached to her.


    She bent down and reached out, gently stroking the kitten¡¯s soft, smooth fur along its back.


    The kitten let out a contented "meow,"


    causing Ji Wei to let out a smallugh.


    The kitten stayed by her side, refusing to leave, and Ji Wei didn¡¯t have the heart to shoo it away, so she let it remain.


    Meanwhile, in the Gu Group¡¯s president¡¯s office...


    Mo Qian was buried in his work, handling the tasks at hand when Chen Ke suddenly pushed the door open and entered.


    "Mr. Gu, we¡¯ve found the person you instructed us to investigate. They¡¯re currently at the club."


    Mo Qian, holding a pen, swiftly signed his name before closing the folder and lifting his head. "Good. Get ready; we¡¯re heading out immediately."


    "Understood,"


    Chen Ke replied.

 Chapter 58: He Ultimately Couldn’t Bring Himself to Be Too Ruthless Towards Her

    <h4>Chapter 58: Chapter 58: He Ultimately Couldn¡¯t Bring Himself to Be Too Ruthless Towards Her</h4><h4></h4>


    Zimei Club is not open during the day.


    As Gu Moqian approached the entrance, the bodyguard at the door stopped him. "Sorry, we¡¯re not open yet. Pleasee back tonight."


    Gu Moqian had no patience for pointless exchanges with the bodyguard. He gave Chen Ke, who was standing behind him, a meaningful look.


    Chen Ke immediately motioned to the men they had brought along and, within seconds, subdued the bodyguard at the door.


    "Mr. Gu, please."


    Standing at the entrance, Chen Ke made an inviting gesture towards Gu Moqian.


    Gu Moqian walked unimpeded into Zimei¡¯s office.


    Zimei was sitting in her swivel chair, frowning as she pondered something. When she looked up and saw Gu Moqian leading a group of people inside, she was visibly startled.


    She knew she¡¯d offended Gu Moqianst night¡ªbadly, at that.


    What surprised her was how quickly Gu Moqian hade looking for her.


    "Mr. Gu, we only metst night. What is it? Missed me already?"


    Hiding the surprise in her eyes, Zimei reced it with a cheerful smile and walked gracefully over to him.


    But before her outstretched hand could touch Gu Moqian¡¯s jacket, a cold, hard gun was pressed against her waist.


    "Stay put!"


    Chen Ke, holding the handgun, warned her with a steely expression.


    Zimei gasped in shock and shrieked, "What¡¯s the meaning of this, Mr. Gu?!"


    "Tell me, who ordered you to detain Ji Weist night?"


    Gu Moqian¡¯s voice was void of warmth, his expression as cold as eternal ice, sending an uncontroble shiver through her.


    Zimei hadn¡¯t expected him to figure out so quickly that someone else was behindst night¡¯s events. She froze briefly before recovering her demeanor andughing coyly, "Mr. Gu, you¡¯re so clever. Can¡¯t you guess who it is?"


    "Cut the nonsense! Mr. Gu is asking you a question¡ªyou¡¯d best answer honestly!"


    Chen Ke pushed the gun even harder against her waist.


    "Ah¡ª"


    Zimei screamed in panic. Seeing that Gu Moqian was truly furious, she could no longer maintain her usualposed demeanor.


    She took a deep breath and said, "I have a photo. Once you see it, Mr. Gu, you¡¯ll know exactly who it is."


    "Bring the photo here. Don¡¯t even think about trying any tricks," Chen Ke said coldly.


    Zimei walked to the desk, pulled open a drawer, and took out a photograph.


    Chen Ke snatched the photo immediately and handed it to Gu Moqian.


    "The person you¡¯re looking for lives in the ce shown in the photo," Zimei said, her eyes secretly studying Gu Moqian¡¯s reaction.


    The photograph showed a grand and imposing vi. On the que above the main gate, tworge characters were written: "Zhu Mansion."


    Gu Moqian¡¯s pupils contracted sharply as a name suddenly surfaced in his mind.


    But his shocksted only a moment before his expression returned to its icy cold calm.


    He pocketed the photo and said in a chilly voice, "Zimei Club is involved in illegal activities, including drugs. Close it down for six months."


    "Mr. Gu, I¡¯ve already given you the information you wanted. Why must my club still be shut down?" Zimei bit her lip, protesting unwillingly.


    Gu Moqian let out a cold scoff. "If it weren¡¯t for someone else¡¯s sake, your club would be shut down permanently."


    With that, he didn¡¯t linger another second longer and turned to stride out of the office.


    Zimei watched as her office emptied in the blink of an eye, then slumped into her chair in defeat.


    For someone else¡¯s sake...


    That phrase echoed endlessly in her mind. Zimei¡¯s fiery red lips curled into a striking smile, though her eyes carried a deep sorrow.


    In the end, he still couldn¡¯t bring himself to utterly destroy her, could he?


    After leaving Zimei Club, Gu Moqian made the necessary arrangements and decided to drive himself back to Shanshui Manor.


    It was 3:30 in the afternoon. He was done waiting for the workday to end.


    Ji Wei was alone at home, and he could never feel at ease.


    Shortly after his car pulled out, the phone on the passenger seat started ringing.


    Gu Moqian nced at the caller ID, his dark, intense eyes narrowing slightly.

 Chapter 59: You’re not jealous of the cat, are you?

    <h4>Chapter 59: Chapter 59: You¡¯re not jealous of the cat, are you?</h4><h4></h4> Gu Moqian parked the car by the roadside and answered the call.


    "Mo Qian, is thepany busytely?"


    The voice of his mother, Nan Huiru, came through the phone.


    "Not too bad."


    Gu Moqian responded indifferently.


    "Here¡¯s the thing¡ªMom needs to ask you for a favor. Jianian will be returning to the country in a few days, and I¡¯ve already promised her a position as an intern at the Gu Familypany. She¡¯s just finished her postgraduate studies, and entering the rightpany is crucial for starting her career. You know how close I am with Jianian¡¯s mother¡ªthis is just a little favor, right?"


    Gu Moqian listened quietly without replying, but the deep ck of his eyes suddenly darkened.


    "Mo Qian, why aren¡¯t you saying anything? Mom¡¯s request isn¡¯t unreasonable, right? You¡¯ve known Jianian since you were kids¡ªshe¡¯s practically like your little sister. As her older brother, shouldn¡¯t you lend her a hand?"


    Nan Huiru¡¯s tone carried a hint of reprimand.


    Gu Moqian suddenly spoke in a low voice, "What position do you want me to give her?"


    Nan Huiru, hearing the implicit agreement in his words, immediately replied in delight, "Of course, one wheremunication with you will be easiest. How about the head of the Secretary Department? Jianian is an outstanding graduate of London University¡ªshe¡¯s more than capable of handling duties in the Secretary Department."


    "If she¡¯s such an outstanding graduate, wouldn¡¯t secretarial work be beneath her?"


    Gu Moqian¡¯s tone remained as cool as ever.


    "You¡¯ve got a point¡ªJianian is indeed very capable..."


    On the other end of the call, Nan Huiru hesitated in thought.


    "Then let¡¯s assign her as a Project Manager. It¡¯s a role that can allow her to gain experience while helping her quickly bond with her colleagues¡ªit¡¯s perfect for her, isn¡¯t it?"


    "This would be her first time entering thepany; having her lead a project might be a bit too much for her, don¡¯t you think?" Nan Huiru voiced her concern.


    "I¡¯m still at Gu Family. What¡¯s there to worry about?"


    Gu Moqian replied tly, though the chill in his eyes seemed to grow colder.


    Sure enough, upon hearing this, Nan Huiru immediately agreed enthusiastically, "Alright, alright! You handle the arrangements, then. I¡¯ll tell Jianian about this good news shortly!"


    After expressing her excitement, Nan Huiru paused, suddenly remembering something. She continued, "Oh, by the way, Jianian will be back in the country tomorrow. Go pick her up, and prepare a wee banquet for her..."


    Before Nan Huiru could finish her sentence, she was abruptly interrupted by Gu Moqian: "Mom, I have things to do. Hanging up now."


    "Hey, you absolutely need to go pick up Jian¡ª" Beep... Beep...


    The call was cut off without hesitation by Gu Moqian.


    His grip on the steering wheel gradually tightened, and a cold light flickered in his obsidian eyes.


    ...


    Returning to Shanshui Manor, Gu Moqian had barely stepped one foot into the living room when he spotted Ji Wei sitting on the sofa, teasing a white kitten.


    While putting on the slippers handed to him by Sister Zhang, Gu Moqian asked with a faint smile, "Where¡¯d the cate from?"


    "It suddenly ran over when I was in the garden. No matter what, it refused to leave, so I had no choice but to take it in for now."


    Ji Wei walked toward Gu Moqian, holding the kitten in her arms.


    "Milk, say hi to Daddy Moqian!"


    Ji Wei yfully raised a tiny paw and waved it at Gu Moqian.


    Gu Moqian stared at the cat for several seconds before suddenly asking, "Is it male or female?"


    Ji Wei didn¡¯t expect the question and froze for a moment before answering, "I think it¡¯s a male... maybe?"


    Gu Moqian¡¯s expression darkened, and he spoke with an air of unquestionable authority, "The cat isn¡¯t allowed in our bedroom."


    Ji Wei looked at him in surprise for a moment, then seemed to understand something as a smirk appeared on her face. "Mo Qian, are you jealous of a cat?"


    Gu Moqian suddenly took the cat from her arms and ced it directly on the floor. Then, towering over her, he leaned closer, raising an eyebrow. "Amusing, huh?"

 Chapter 60 Mo Qian, Don’t...

    <h4>Chapter 60: Chapter 60 Mo Qian, Don¡¯t...</h4><h4></h4>


    Gu Moqian¡¯s voice carried little warmth, sending a shiver down Ji Wei¡¯s spine.


    She instinctively stepped back, and after just a few steps, her back was pressed against the floor-to-ceiling ss window in the living room.


    "Mo Qian, Milk is just a cat. Even though he¡¯s male, he probably only likes female cats... mm..."


    Ji Wei¡¯s exnation was abruptly cut off as Gu Moqian braced his hands on either side of her body. He leaned in swiftly and captured her lips in a kiss.


    This kiss was nothing like the gentle kisses of the past; it was imbued with dominance and possession, trapping her firmly between his chest and the window.


    He deepened the kiss relentlessly, as if wanting to devour her entirely.


    Ji Wei, overwhelmed by the kiss, couldn¡¯t react. When she finally came to her senses and instinctively tried to push him away, he seized her wrists and pressed them against his chest. His tongue continued to invade deeper, until she was gasping for air, her eyes misted over with a haze of confusion, and only then did he let her go.


    "Stillughing at me?"


    Watching her lean against the ss window, gasping for breath, Gu Moqian¡¯s eyes gleamed with amusement as he asked in a low voice.


    Ji Wei shook her head frantically.


    How could she still dare to tease him? He¡¯d practically kissed her into brain fog and weakness in her legs!


    At that moment, Milk, abandoned on the floor, pitifully rubbed against Ji Wei¡¯s foot, seekingfort.


    Ji Wei was about to bend down to pick up the kitten when she suddenly sensed a sharp, chilling gaze directed at her. Her movements froze instantly.


    The next second, she felt her body suddenly lifted as Gu Moqian scooped her up into his arms.


    Looking at the slightly panicked woman in his embrace, the smile on Gu Moqian¡¯s lips deepened. "Why hug the cat when you can hug me?"


    "Huh?"


    Ji Wei was momentarily stunned into confusion.


    But under Gu Moqian¡¯s dark, intense gaze, her hands instinctively reacted faster than her brain. She reached out and wrapped her arms around his neck.


    Though her reaction was tardy, Gu Moqian seemed satisfied. Holding her steadily, he carried her upstairs.


    Gu Moqian gently ced her onto the bed.


    Ji Wei¡¯s heart hammered wildly as her bright eyes gazed at him, dazedly asking, "What are we... going to do?"


    "What do you think?"


    Gu Moqian stared at her in return, his eyes deep and alluring, his lips curved in an enigmatic smile.


    "Meow, meow, meow..."


    Ji Wei was about to respond when suddenly she heard pitiful meows and faint scratching noises at the bedroom door.


    Ji Wei swallowed hard and smiled awkwardly at Gu Moqian. "Mo Qian, Milk is just a kitten. Isn¡¯t it a little cruel to leave him locked out like this?"


    "Cruel?"


    Gu Moqian¡¯s tone lilted slightly, and the smile on his lips immediately disappeared.


    "No, no, I misspoke!"


    Realizing the perceptible drop in his mood, Ji Wei hurriedly corrected herself.


    Gu Moqian suddenly leaned in, and Ji Wei thought he was going to kiss her again. rmed, she quickly shut her eyes.


    But Gu Moqian bypassed her lips, trailing kisses down her smooth, baster neck.


    His thin lipsnded softly on her delicate corbone, sending tingling sensations through her. Ji Wei trembled all over, the feeling far more dangerous and intoxicating than the kiss in the living room.


    She abruptly opened her eyes, her voice quivering with a trace of fear. "Mo Qian, don¡¯t..."


    "Still going to mention that cat?"


    Gu Moqian¡¯s voice was low, filled with tension, though his lips didn¡¯t pause their path of kisses.


    "I won¡¯t! I promise I¡¯ll never bring him up again!"


    Ji Wei replied hastily.


    Even a cat could spark his jealousy¡ªGu Moqian was terrifying!


    Hearing that, Gu Moqian raised his head, amusement flickering in his dark, fathomless eyes. "Considering your newfound understanding, I¡¯ll refrain from punishing you for now."


    Ji Wei¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief.


    So earlier, he was actually nning to punish her?

 Chapter 61 She’s Being Coquettish with Him

    <h4>Chapter 61: Chapter 61 She¡¯s Being Coquettish with Him</h4><h4></h4> Ji Wei rested at Shanshui Manor for two days. During this time, Gu Moqian strictly forbade her from going out, insisting that she stay home and recover from her injuries. On the other hand, he was also worried she might encounter another mishap.


    Ever since the incident at the wine cer, security measures at Shanshui Manor had been continuously reinforced. Even when Ji Wei ventured into the garden, two bodyguards followed her closely.


    Luckily, Milk kept Ji Weipany to ease her boredom. Otherwise, she truly didn¡¯t know how she would have gotten through these two days.


    On the third day, Xia Duoduo called.


    "Ji Wei, about my date with Xiao Zhen..."


    Xia Duoduo began speaking, her tone sounding a bit downcast.


    Ji Wei immediately asked, "Did he cancel it?"


    There was a moment of silence on the other end of the line, then Xia Duoduo burst out with triumphantughter: "Gotcha! Not only did Xiao Zhen not cancel our date, he even moved it up¡ªit¡¯s happening this afternoon! Oh my gosh, Ji Wei, I¡¯m too excited! I don¡¯t even know which outfit to wear. Can you give me some advice?"


    "You look good in anything. Duoduo, why was the date moved up?" Ji Wei frowned slightly.


    Her injuries hadn¡¯t yet healed, and she didn¡¯t even know if Gu Moqian would allow her to leave the house...


    "Xiao Zhen said a fan meeting was arranged on short notice for the weekend, so the date got rescheduled. He¡¯s the hottest idol star right now, so I can understand. Ji Wei, are youing or not?"


    Ji Wei bit her bottom lip, hesitating for a few seconds before saying, "Yes, I¡¯lle!"


    "Okay, though I don¡¯t really want you to be a third wheel, as my best friend, I still want to introduce the person I like to you! I¡¯ll send the address to your phone in a bit, okay?"


    "Okay."


    "Alright, it¡¯s settled then. See you this afternoon!"


    After ending the call, Milk, who had been rubbing against Ji Wei¡¯s feet, suddenly jumped onto herp, meowing and seeking affection.


    She stroked the soft fur of the kitten, her thoughts churning as she tried to figure out how to convince Gu Moqian to let her go out.


    Gu Moqian had just finished a meeting when Chen Ke walked over with a phone in hand.


    "Mr. Gu, Miss Ji called you several times. You were in meetings the whole time, so I didn¡¯t hand it to you immediately." Chen Ke handed over the phone.


    Worried that Ji Wei might have an urgent matter, Gu Moqian immediately returned the call.


    Ji Wei¡¯s voice quickly came through on the other end: "Mo Qian, can Ie to your office this afternoon?"


    Ji Wei¡¯s voice was soft and sugary, with a hint of yful coquettishness,pletely different from her usual self.


    Gu Moqian paused for a moment before replying, "Why do you want toe see me?"


    "Oh, it¡¯s nothing. I just want to see what you look like when you¡¯re working," Ji Wei responded, her voice slightly guilty.


    Gu Moqian¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. "Haven¡¯t you seen enough of me at home every day?"


    "It¡¯s not enough. You¡¯re too handsome¡ªI could look at you all day and still not get tired of it."


    Today, Ji Wei¡¯s words were as sweet as honey, capable of melting hearts. She was acting so out of character that it was obvious she wasn¡¯t simply interested in seeing him.


    Gu Moqian remainedposed and continued probing, "Are you really justing to see me?"


    "Yeah," Ji Wei replied. "But on the way there, can I stop by a caf¨¦ for a bit? I haven¡¯t left the house these past two days¡ªI¡¯m about to lose my mind."


    Gu Moqian smirked inwardly. As expected, seeing him was just an excuse¡ªgoing to the caf¨¦ was her real intention.


    Seeing that Gu Moqian didn¡¯t immediately agree, Ji Wei hastily added, "I promise I won¡¯t stay at the caf¨¦ for more than an hour. Mo Qian, pretty please?"


    At this point, she was fully employing her charm to persuade him.


    Gu Moqian¡¯s eyes softened with amusement. After pausing briefly, he finally said, "Alright, I agree. But the two bodyguards following you will apany you as well."

 Chapter 62: Mr. Gu has instructed us not to be more than three meters away from you.

    <h4>Chapter 62: Chapter 62: Mr. Gu has instructed us not to be more than three meters away from you.</h4><h4></h4>


    "Oh, got it."


    Ji Wei¡¯s tone didn¡¯t sound very cheerful.


    "You seem a bit reluctant?"


    Gu Moqian¡¯s smile deepened.


    "No, no... just being able to go out is already a blessing, how could I dare to be unwilling."


    The little woman was clearly saying one thing but meaning another.


    "Why do I feel like you¡¯re ming me for restricting your freedom?" Gu Moqian said lightly.


    "Not at all... Mo Qian, everything you do is for my own good. I understand." Ji Wei suddenly sped up her speech. "You must be really busy right now, so I¡¯ll stop taking up your time. Bye-bye!"


    She hung up the phone as soon as she finished speaking.


    Gu Moqian slowly put his phone away. Thinking of Ji Wei¡¯s somewhat begrudging and conflicted expression in that moment, he couldn¡¯t help but curve his lips into a faint smile.


    Still, her purpose in calling specifically to ask permission to go to the caf¨¦ might not be solely about coffee.


    Just to be safe...


    "Chen Ke, reschedule the meeting with Yao Shi Group this afternoon to tomorrow. I have other ns this afternoon." Gu Moqian suddenly turned to tell Chen Ke behind him.


    "Yes, Mr. Gu."


    ...


    After lunch, Ji Wei couldn¡¯t wait to change into her outfit, lightly put on some makeup, and head out.


    The driver dropped her off at the entrance of the caf¨¦ Xia Duoduo had mentioned.


    Ji Wei lifted her wrist to look at her watch. She was thirty minutes early for the agreed time.


    She was about to walk into the caf¨¦ when she suddenly thought of something. Turning around, she looked at the two bodyguards in ck following her: "You two wait outside for now. I¡¯m just going in for coffee."


    Bringing bodyguards along just for coffee¡ªshe didn¡¯t want to walk in and cause a hugemotion. If the paparazzi showed up, Xia Duoduo and Xiao Zhen¡¯s date would bepletely ruined.


    "Miss Ji, Mr. Gu instructed us not to stay more than three meters away from you..."


    Ji Wei frowned slightly. "So you¡¯re saying if I go to the restroom, you¡¯re going to follow me into the women¡¯s bathroom too?"


    "This..."


    The bodyguards looked visibly distressed.


    "I know Mo Qian is concerned about my safety, but it¡¯s daytime right now, and I¡¯ll only be sitting inside the caf¨¦. You¡¯ll be able to monitor the caf¨¦ from outside just as well, won¡¯t you? I don¡¯t want to be the center of attention just for drinking coffee."


    Ji Wei¡¯s expression was serious.


    The two bodyguards exchanged nces and reluctantly conceded. "Alright, Miss Ji, please go ahead."


    Ji Wei turned and walked into the caf¨¦.


    ording to Xia Duoduo¡¯s message, she had reserved a table on the second-floor terrace of the caf¨¦, which offered a good view of Rongcheng¡¯s river scenery.


    Ji Wei naturally headed straight to the second floor, finding a table closest to the terrace.


    Luckily, there was a ss window and some decorative flowers nearby, so it wouldn¡¯t appear as if she had deliberatelye to spy on Xiao Zhen.


    Ji Wei ordered atte and sat there flipping through a magazine.


    Meanwhile, Ji Shanshan, along with two friends she often hung out with at bars, also walked into the caf¨¦.


    "Ln, are you sure about the info? Is Xiao Zhen reallying to this caf¨¦?" another girl named Zhang Yun asked.


    "Absolutely. My friend¡¯s sister has a good connection with Xiao Zhen¡¯s agent. She overheard Xiao Zhen confirming the itinerary personally¡ªit¡¯s here."


    "Great. Finally, we get to meet the idol of our dreams. I¡¯m so thrilled!" Zhang Yun made a fangirl expression.


    Ji Shanshan¡¯s mood, however, wasn¡¯t as high. Ever since Ji Wei had kicked her out that day, she¡¯d been hanging around with these two troublemaker friends every day, even spending allst night at the bar.


    If she hadn¡¯t been dragged out to meet the celebrity, she¡¯d have chosen to stay home and sleep.


    "Huh, Xiao Zhen isn¡¯t downstairs. Could we have arrived too early?" Zhang Yun scanned the caf¨¦.


    "Let¡¯s check upstairs."


    The small group began climbing the stairs to the second floor.


    As soon as they reached thending, Ln¡¯s sharp eyes caught sight of Ji Wei sitting by the window. She quickly patted Ji Shanshan¡¯s shoulder. "Shanshan, isn¡¯t that your cousin?"


    Ji Shanshan had been absent-minded, but when she heard Ln¡¯s remark, she immediately followed her gaze and her expression changed.


    It really was Ji Wei!

 Chapter 63 We will teach this cheap woman a good lesson for you

    <h4>Chapter 63: Chapter 63 We will teach this cheap woman a good lesson for you</h4><h4></h4>


    Ji Shanshan¡¯s eyes suddenly filled with fury. She clenched her fists and couldn¡¯t control herself as she lunged toward Ji Wei.


    Standing to the side, Ln quickly grabbed her, "Shanshan, don¡¯t be impulsive! I just saw two bodyguards at the entrance, they might be here to protect your cousin. The three of us are no match for them."


    "That bitch Ji Wei! She kicked me out of the main house and now she¡¯s leisurely drinking coffee here. I can¡¯t swallow this anger!"


    Ji Shanshan forced herself to hold back, ring fiercely in Ji Wei¡¯s direction, grinding her teeth in hatred.


    "I know you hate her, Shanshan. Don¡¯t worry, this time Zhang Yun and I will take care of it. You just sit back and enjoy the show¡ªwe¡¯ll teach that bitch a proper lesson for you!"


    Ln said while throwing a meaningful nce at Zhang Yun.


    The two of them exchanged understanding nods.


    Ji Shanshan was the Ji Family¡¯s young miss after all. Ln and Zhang Yun often went clubbing and shopping with Ji Shanshan footing the bills. To them, she was a cash cow they were desperate to cling to.


    At the moment, it was the perfect opportunity to please Ji Shanshan.


    The three of them found the quietest corner to sit down. Ln and Zhang Yun huddled together, whispering about how to deal with Ji Wei.


    Ji Wei waited for over ten minutes. When she realized Xia Duoduo and the others still hadn¡¯t arrived, she decided to get up and use the restroom.


    However, the moment she stood up, she collided head-on with a woman walking toward her.


    The woman was holding a cup of scalding coffee, which spilled onto Ji Wei¡¯s arm during the collision.


    Brown coffee sttered out,nding right on Ji Wei¡¯s not-yet-healed wound, immediately causing a burning pain. The skin around the injury turned bright red.


    Ji Wei hadn¡¯t even had time to cry out when the woman impatiently spoke up, "What, are you blind? You spilled my coffee and it sshed onto my dress. Do you know how much this dress costs? You¡¯re paying for it!"


    The woman¡¯s voice was sharp and cutting, her face twisted with rage.


    Ji Wei snorted coldly. She was clearly the one who got hit, yet this woman was so quick to question her¡ªit was obviously intentional!


    Ji Wei was certain she didn¡¯t know the woman in front of her. But why was she making trouble on purpose?


    Ji Wei didn¡¯t bother to argue immediately.


    She simply turned around, picked up thette on the table that had been barely touched, and tapped her fingers lightly against the rim of the cup, her movements seemingly casual.


    "Are you deaf? I told you to apologize and pay for my dress!"


    Zhang Yun saw Ji Wei suddenly pick up the coffee cup and totally ignore her, which made her grit her teeth in anger and shout fiercely.


    Just as her words fell, Ji Wei abruptly raised the coffee cup.


    Before Zhang Yun could react, a torrent of warm liquid drenched her from head to toe!


    Brown coffee now covered the woman¡¯s hair and face, leaving herpletely stunned.


    It took her quite a while before she exploded in fury, "What are you doing! Why did you throw coffee at me?"


    Ji Wei calmly set down the coffee cup, raised her eyes, and coldly nced at the visibly flustered woman, "You kept yelling for me topensate for your dress¡ªhow can I pay without dirtying it a bit more?"


    The dress on the woman had initially only been stained by some coffee, but now the entire front was soaked in dark brown, looking utterly unappealing.


    Zhang Yun wiped her face, dripping with coffee, trembling all over with rage, "You bitch! How dare you throw coffee at me! I¡¯ll beat you to death!"


    She raised her hand to p Ji Wei, but Ji Wei was quick to grab her wrist tightly.


    Zhang Yun¡¯s face twisted with effort, but no matter what, she couldn¡¯tnd the p.

 Chapter 64 What Are You Feeling Guilty About?

    <h4>Chapter 64: Chapter 64 What Are You Feeling Guilty About?</h4><h4></h4>


    "Let me go!"


    Zhang Yun shouted furiously.


    Ji Wei looked at her coldly and refused to let go.


    At that moment, another woman walked over, "Zhang Yun, what happened? How did things turn out like this? Let me help you change your clothes first."


    The woman supported Zhang Yun, trying to lead her away.


    Zhang Yun, however, pointed at Ji Wei and used, "Ln, this bitch not only bumped into me but also spilled coffee all over me. You tell me, shouldn¡¯t she apologize and pay for my dress?"


    The woman called Ln immediately looked at Ji Wei, a hint of surprise shing in her eyes, "You... You¡¯re the eldest Miss of the Ji Family, right? The socialite of Rongcheng, you¡¯ve always been the most dazzling one. My friend might have had some misunderstanding with you. Please calm down and don¡¯t target her, alright?"


    Ji Wei suddenly loosened her grip, yet the smile at the corners of her mouth grew colder.


    Ha, how did it be her targeting this troublemaking woman?


    By now, a crowd had already gathered around to watch themotion.


    Additionally, the bodyguards at the entrance, noticing themotion in the caf¨¦, quickly came inside and stood in front of Ji Wei.


    The two bodyguards, dressed in matching ck uniforms, were tall and imposing. Standing there expressionless, they exuded an immense oppressive presence.


    Seeing the two towering bodyguards protecting Ji Wei, Ln immediately revealed a frightened expression, her voice carrying a hint of grievance and innocence as she spoke.


    "Miss Ji, I don¡¯t know how Zhang Yun may have offended you. But youe from a prominent family, and you have bodyguards by your side. We ordinary people simply can¡¯t afford to offend you. I¡¯ll apologize to you on her behalf right now. Please don¡¯t hold my friend¡¯s mistakes against her, okay?"


    Hearing Ln¡¯s words, the surrounding onlookers couldn¡¯t help but start pointing fingers at Ji Wei.


    "Is this the unreasonable eldest Miss of the Ji Family? I heard she has a terrible temper, always flying off the handle. Earlier, it must¡¯ve been thisdy identally bumping into her, and then she retaliated by spilling coffee straight onto her."


    "Her arrogant and willful nature has long been notorious in Rongcheng. If someone from a wealthy background insists on bullying others, what can we ordinary folks do? We¡¯re just left with no choice but to endure meekly!" the person said with obvious resentment.


    "Even as an heiress of a wealthy family, she can¡¯t just bully people. Honestly, I feel a little sympathy for these two who unknowingly walked right into her trap..."


    These murmurs reached Zhang Yun¡¯s ears.


    Seeing the tide of public opinion turning in their favor, she immediately put on an exceedingly aggrieved expression, her mouth twisting as she sobbed, "Miss Ji, you can¡¯t just rely on your family¡¯s power and keep pressing me. I truly bumped into you identally... You¡¯ve already spilled coffee on my head; what more do you want?"


    In the eyes of the onlookers, Ji Wei¡¯s behavior epitomized arrogance, capriciousness, and indulgence.


    She had instantly been pushed to the forefront of public condemnation, and now someone started speaking up for Zhang Yun, "Miss Ji, you should apologize to this youngdy."


    "Yes, apologize! Apologize!"


    Soon, others began to echo the sentiment.


    Seeing Ji Wei be the target of universal criticism, the corners of Ln¡¯s lips curved into a faintly triumphant smile.


    Ji Wei looked at the crowd shouting around her, the cold smirk on her lips grew even harsher.


    This woman who had walked over was truly a master maniptor, skillfully ying with people¡¯s minds. With just a few words, she had ced Ji Wei squarely on the opposing side of public sentiment, trying to drown her out under the weight of their disdain?


    How imaginative.


    "You keep insisting that I¡¯m making things difficult. How about this¡ªwe check the surveince footage and see exactly what happened!"


    At the mention of checking the surveince, the expressions of the two women changed instantly.


    If the surveince captured them plotting earlier on how to deal with Ji Wei, wouldn¡¯t that ruin everything?


    "Check what footage? Everyone saw what happened just now; it¡¯s clear as day. You¡¯re just looking for an excuse not to apologize!" Zhang Yun retorted confidently.


    Ji Wei stared at her, suddenly asking, "What are you guilty about?"

 Chapter 65: Gu Moqian Has Arrived, Their Fate Will Be Miserable!

    <h4>Chapter 65: Chapter 65: Gu Moqian Has Arrived, Their Fate Will Be Miserable!</h4><h4></h4>


    "You... You¡¯re the one feeling guilty! I just don¡¯t want to waste everyone¡¯s time!"


    Zhang Yun retorted, somewhat unnaturally.


    Ji Wei was about to respond when she suddenly sensed something amiss. She abruptly raised her head to scan the surroundings.


    At some point, the crowd that had previously surrounded them tightly began to retreat a few steps. The entire caf¨¦ had fallen into extreme silence; no one dared to make a sound.


    Immediately afterward, a tall and slender figure appeared at the staircase.


    The man exuded an oppressive aura that sent chills down one¡¯s spine. His familiar face remained excessively handsome.


    A flicker of surprise shed in Ji Wei¡¯s eyes.


    With her back to the staircase, Zhang Yun mistook Ji Wei¡¯s silence for a triumphant advantage and continued to press on relentlessly, "Miss Ji, is that it now? Nothing to say? With so many people watching, hurry up and apologize. Don¡¯t even think about pulling some sort of trick!"


    Ln spotted the approaching man whose presence exuded undeniable power and immediately turned pale as a sheet.


    She frantically tugged at Zhang Yun¡¯s sleeve, trying to stop her from continuing to speak.


    But Zhang Yun, feeling victorious and smug, refused to back down.


    She shook off Ln¡¯s hand and shouted, "Ln, don¡¯t stop me! Today, I must fight for justice! Miss Ji, relying on the Ji Family¡¯s influence, bullies ordinary people¡ªhow can anyone swallow that kind of anger? Miss Ji, apologize to me right now! Did you hear me?"


    Ji Wei¡¯s lips curled into a faint, cold smile. She stared at Zhang Yun without saying a word.


    Although the current situation was well within her ability to handle, Gu Moqian¡¯s arrival felt like a solid reassurance to her.


    Zhang Yun sneered, "Ha! So Miss Ji knows how to act shamelessly too? This is absolutely hrious. To think you¡¯re a youngdy of a wealthy family, yet you dare to do the deed but not take responsibility! I guess the infamous reputation of Miss Ji in Rongcheng will now include being a cowardly turtle... Ah!"


    Zhang Yun didn¡¯t get to finish her sentence as her hair was suddenly yanked forcefully.


    "Who is it?!"


    Forced to tilt her head back, she was about to shout angrily but froze when she spotted the man standing silently behind her. Her heart almost jumped out of her chest.


    Gu Moqian!


    Since when did Rongcheng¡¯s number one figure appear here? She hadn¡¯t noticed at all!


    It was said that Mr. Gu was infamous for protecting his people, particrly those he held dear. Zhang Yun¡¯s audacious shouting at Ji Wei earlier must¡¯ve been witnessed by Gu Moqian.


    This is bad, very bad¡ªshe was absolutely doomed!


    If it weren¡¯t for the bodyguard still grabbing her cor, Zhang Yun would¡¯ve copsed to the ground with her legs going soft.


    Ln, realizing that the situation had turned for the worse, tried to sneak away.


    But as soon as she took a few steps back, the bodyguard caught her without fail.


    With just one hand, the bodyguard tightly restrained her hands behind her back, leaving her unable to move.


    "Let go of me! Let go of me!"


    Ln shouted in panic and distress.


    With Gu Moqian here, their fate was bound to be miserable!


    Ji Wei finally walked to Gu Moqian¡¯s side at a deliberate pace. Her clear, bright eyes lifted toward him, and with a faint smile at the corner of her lips, she asked, "Why are you here?"


    Gu Moqian nced down, took her hand in his, and gave it a small squeeze. His voice was deep and mellow, carrying traces ofziness as he replied, "To apany you for coffee."


    Ji Wei: "..."


    With just a few words from Gu Moqian, the surrounding crowd was so startled their eyes practically bulged out of their sockets.


    It was rumored that Gu Moqian and Ji Wei had a tense rtionship, their emotionally barren arranged marriage gued by fiery conflicts. Not long ago, Miss Ji even resorted to dramatic measures like a suicide attempt to resist the marriage.


    But now, the two appeared nothing short of lovey-dovey.


    Especially Gu Moqian, known for his ruthless work ethic¡ªyet here he was, skipping work in the middle of office hours to apany Miss Ji on a coffee date. Wasn¡¯t this outright spoiling her?


    The crowd, who had previously been calling for Ji Wei to apologize, suddenly realized the potential consequences of Gu Moqian¡¯s intervention. One after another, they made a hurried escape, scatteringpletely in the blink of an eye.


    -


    (Don¡¯t forget to cast your rmendation votes! There might be bonus Chapters!)

 Chapter 66: Women who bully me must not be let off easily

    <h4>Chapter 66: Chapter 66: Women who bully me must not be let off easily</h4> Ji Shanshan, who had been hiding in the corner all along, wanted to slip away, but the stairway was guarded by bodyguards. She knew very well that the moment she showed herself, she¡¯d be caught red-handed.


    With no choice, Ji Shanshan continued to hide in the corner, her view obscured by arge bouquet of flowers that perfectly shielded her from the others¡¯ sight.


    Although Ji Shanshan hadn¡¯t been exposed yet, watching her two friends being subdued made her extremely anxious and uneasy.


    Gu Moqian¡¯s gaze, initially fixed on Ji Wei¡¯s face, suddenly shifted. Narrowing his eyes, he asked seriously, "What happened to your arm?"


    Ji Wei had nearly forgotten about the burn on her hand, but Gu Moqian¡¯s question brought it back to her mind. "Got burned by coffee," she replied.


    There was a wound on Ji Wei¡¯s arm¡ªa careful person like her wouldn¡¯t have been so negligent as to burn herself.


    Then, the person who burned her must be...


    Gu Moqian suddenly looked up, his gazending on Zhang Yun, who was on the verge of copse, her face filled with panic. "Was it you?"


    As soon as Zhang Yun heard the dangerous tone in Gu Moqian¡¯s voice, her entire body trembled violently. Instinctively she shook her head. "I-I didn¡¯t do it on purpose, truly, I didn¡¯t..."


    Gu Moqian¡¯s expression grew even darker. Without saying a single word, his looming presence alone had Zhang Yun trembling in fear, wishing she could dig a hole to bury herself in.


    His cold gaze lingered on Zhang Yun momentarily before he turned his head toward Ji Wei. "What do you want me to do?"


    Upon hearing this, Zhang Yun¡¯s legs gave way and she fell to her knees on the spot.


    "I wasn¡¯t hurt. I already sshed the coffee back at her just now," Ji Wei replied.


    "Very good."


    Gu Moqian¡¯s lips curved into a smile as he held her hand. "Even when I¡¯m not around, you¡¯ve learned how to protect yourself. You¡¯ve improved. From now on, never let anyone bully you, understand?"


    "Understood," Ji Wei nodded, feeling a warm sensation blossom in her heart.


    Listening to their exchange, Zhang Yun thought she might escape unscathed. She secretly exhaled in relief, but in the next second, Gu Moqian suddenly spoke, "However, bullying my woman is something I cannot let slide."


    Gu Moqian turned his attention to the trembling coffee shop server standing nearby and said, his tone frosty and sharp, "Bring a cup of coffee, and make sure it¡¯s scalding hot."


    The server hastilyplied.


    Without needing to guess, Zhang Yun knew exactly what Gu Moqian intended to do. She was so frightened her limbs went weak, barely managing to crawl to Gu Moqian¡¯s feet while trembling.


    Stretching out a hand, she grabbed the hem of Gu Moqian¡¯s trousers, pleading desperately. "Mr. Gu, please, don¡¯t. I know I was wrong, I truly know I was wrong. I shouldn¡¯t have collided with Miss Ji. I beg you, spare me..."


    Gu Moqian unhesitatingly raised his foot and kicked her aside, his facial features cold and rigid.


    Unwilling to give up, Zhang Yun endured the searing pain in her chest and lunged forward again.


    This time, however, before her hand could even touch Gu Moqian¡¯s trousers, she was rudely dragged away by a bodyguard.


    "Mr. Gu, please spare me! I swear I won¡¯t do it again! I truly didn¡¯t do it on purpose..."


    Zhang Yun wailed miserably in despair, but Gu Moqian couldn¡¯t be bothered to respond. Wrapping his arm around Ji Wei, he guided her to sit down at a table.


    Before long, the server returned carrying a cup of coffee.


    "Give the coffee to her."


    Gu Moqian¡¯s emotionless voice rang out, his finger pointing at Ln, who had secretly been celebrating her good fortune.


    Upon hearing this, Ln¡¯s face instantly turned pale, her distress evident as she panicked and shook her head. "No, please don¡¯t, Mr. Gu, please don¡¯t!"


    Gu Moqian¡¯s voice remained icy. "This cup of coffee¡ªeither it gets sshed on her, or it gets sshed on you. Choose one."


    "No, I won¡¯t choose..."


    Ln¡¯s face was ashen, her frantic resistance now apanied by tears.

 Chapter 67: Scalding coffee splashed on someone will certainly peel off a layer of skin.

    <h4>Chapter 67: Chapter 67: Scalding coffee sshed on someone will certainly peel off ayer of skin.</h4>


    The waiter carefully handed over the coffee. "Miss, please hold it steady."


    "Take it away! Take it away quickly! I don¡¯t want it, I don¡¯t want it¡ª"


    Ln was trembling uncontrobly and had be utterly incoherent.


    Suddenly, as if struck by a thought, her wide, terror-filled eyes darted toward the corner, and she screamed, "Shanshan,e out and save me!"


    Ji Shanshan¡¯s face instantly turned deathly pale at the sound of Ln¡¯s voice.


    She stayed hidden in the corner, refusing to move.


    "Ji Shanshan,e out! Zhang Yun and I only offended Miss Ji because of you. Beg her for mercy! She¡¯s your cousin; she won¡¯t hurt you!" Ln kept shouting.


    Hearing Ln¡¯s cries, Zhang Yun suddenly remembered Ji Shanshan was still there. A glimmer of hope lit up in her eyes as she joined in, yelling, "Shanshan, we¡¯re best friends! Hurry ande out to save us!"


    She then turned to Ji Wei, pleading, "Miss Ji, we have no quarrel with you. If not for Shanshan, we wouldn¡¯t have opposed you. Please let us go, won¡¯t you?"


    Gu Moqian¡¯s dark, enigmatic eyes flicked toward the corner, and he gestured at the bodyguard beside him.


    The bodyguard strode over and dragged out Ji Shanshan, whose face was ashen.


    "Sis, it wasn¡¯t my idea. They acted on their own, iming they wanted to stand up for me. I never asked them to do this¡ª"


    Ji Shanshan hurriedly defended herself, desperate to sever all ties with her two friends.


    Whether or not Ji Shanshan had incited them, this entire matter originated because of her. How could Ji Wei not understand that?


    She let out a cold snort, her gaze icy enough to freeze, locking onto Ji Shanshan and making her shiver all over.


    Ji Shanshan hung her head low, thinking it might help her escape this predicament.


    But then Gu Moqian¡¯s voice, devoid of any warmth, cut through the air: "Ji Shanshan, you¡¯ll throw this coffee."


    Ji Shanshan swallowed hard in terror, staring at the cup of coffee, her legs trembling uncontrobly.


    If the scalding coffee was poured on someone, it would definitely leave their skin peeling¡ªjust the thought sent chills through her.


    "Unwilling?"


    Gu Moqian¡¯s voice rang out again, as chilling and ominous as a demon from hell.


    Ji Shanshan finally extended her trembling hand.


    Zhang Yun¡¯s face twisted in shock, and she screamed, "Ji Shanshan, we¡¯re best friends! You can¡¯t do this to me!"


    Ji Shanshan trembled even more violently. Panicked, she looked at Zhang Yun, stammering, "Don¡¯t me me. I¡¯m being forced¡ª"


    Hardening her resolve, Ji Shanshan picked up the cup of coffee and took slow, deliberate steps toward Zhang Yun.


    Zhang Yun fell to the ground in despair, her eyes shutting briefly as if resigning herself to her fate. There would be no escape today.


    "Don¡¯t me me, Zhang Yun. It¡¯s not my fault¡ªI was left with no choice¡ª"


    Ji Shanshan gritted her teeth as she spoke, raising the still-steaming cup of coffee.


    Zhang Yun scrambled backward, her eyes overflowing with fear. "No, no, Shanshan, you can¡¯t do this to me¡ª"


    "Wait!"


    Ji Wei¡¯s voice suddenly rang out.


    She nced at the pale, broken Zhang Yun lying on the ground and said, "If you were given a choice, would you take it?"


    Like a drowning person grasping desperately at a final lifeline, Zhang Yun nodded frantically, her voice trembling with urgency, "Yes, yes, I would!"


    "Very well. If you pour this coffee on her, I¡¯ll let you go."


    Ji Wei gestured toward Ln, who stood nearby.


    When it came to scheming, the one who had pushed her to the brink earlier was this woman, while Zhang Yun was merely a foolish pawn.


    Zhang Yun, initially convinced that her end was near, was stunned by the prospect of a choice. She had not expected Ji Wei to offer her an out.


    Rather than suffering burns that would peel her own skin, she naturally preferred for that pain to fall on someone else!


    Resolve shed in Zhang Yun¡¯s eyes. She bit her lip and nodded fiercely, "I¡¯ll do it!"

 Chapter 68: In the face of trial, human hearts reveal their coldest side.

    <h4>Chapter 68: Chapter 68: In the face of trial, human hearts reveal their coldest side.</h4>


    Ln could hardly believe her ears¡ªshe and Zhang Yun had been friends for years, but Zhang Yun was willing to sacrifice her life without a second thought for her own survival!


    Friendship, when faced with tough choices, turns out to be so fragile!


    Zhang Yun stumbled and scrambled to her feet, reaching out to grab the coffee cup from Ji Shanshan¡¯s hand.


    But what no one could have anticipated was that just as her hand was about to touch the cup, Ln suddenly rushed forward ahead of her.


    Before Zhang Yun could react, Ln fiercely grabbed the coffee, lifted her hand, and without hesitation, sshed it onto Zhang Yun¡¯s face!


    "Ah¡ª"


    Zhang Yun erupted in a scream of agony, clutching her face as she writhed on the ground in pain.


    In the instant that Ln threw the coffee at Zhang Yun, Gu Moqian suddenly extended his hand and covered Ji Wei¡¯s eyes: "Don¡¯t look."


    His deep voice resonated by her ear, his broad figure leaned in, pressing against her back and wrapping her entirely in his embrace.


    Ji Wei couldn¡¯t help but suck in a cold breath at that moment.


    She didn¡¯t sympathize with the two women before her but insteadmented how human nature, under trial, reveals its coldest and most ruthless side.


    "Mo Qian, if one day someone forced you to make such a choice, would you turn against me?"


    Ji Wei asked softly, with lingering dread, as she tipped her face upward to look at him.


    "Never."


    Gu Moqian responded without the slightest hesitation, "I¡¯d rather hurt myself than ever hurt you."


    Ji Wei¡¯s heart trembled, and unknowingly, a smile appeared at the corner of her lips.


    She suddenly turned to face him, reaching out to wrap her arms tightly around his neck.


    Ln stared at the ground where Zhang Yun was screaming and rolling,pletely frozen, her hands trembling uncontrobly as cold dread washed over her entire body.


    A momentter, her spirit copsed entirely, unable to support herself any longer, and she sank weakly onto the floor.


    Meanwhile, Ji Shanshan stood there as well, drenched in cold sweat, paralyzed, not daring to move an inch.


    Suddenly, Zhang Yun, who had been screaming just moments ago, turned her head abruptly to look at Ln.


    Half of her face had already been scalded to the point of peeling, raw red and terrifying.


    Ln screamed instinctively, her hands pressed against the floor, subconsciously retreating step by step.


    Zhang Yun, appearing to have lost her mind, lunged fiercely at her, reaching out to strangle Ln¡¯s neck, cursing malevolently: "Ln, how ruthless you are! I¡¯ll strangle you! Strangle you..."


    "Zhang Yun, you can¡¯t me me; I was only trying to protect myself! You were the one who tried to attack me first..."


    Ln desperately stretched out her hands to push her away, her face pale and terror-stricken.


    "Die! Just die!"


    Zhang Yun crazily tightened her grip on Ln¡¯s neck, cursing repeatedly.


    Ln¡¯s eyes rolled back, on the verge of losing consciousness.


    Zhang Yun stared at the nearly lifeless Ln, hesitated for several seconds, then suddenly loosened her grip.


    She turned her head abruptly and fixed her re on Ji Shanshan.


    "And you! You were trying to attack me too, weren¡¯t you? I went out of my way to stand up for you, and you stab me in the back¡ªyou deserve to die too!"


    Zhang Yun¡¯s eyes were bloodshot as she cursed furiously, lunging toward Ji Shanshan.


    The sheer momentum sent Ji Shanshan crashing to the ground, her head smashing against the hard floor, with blood gushing instantly.


    Ji Shanshan disregarded the pain, desperately trying to dodge, screaming: "Stay away, stay away!"


    Zhang Yun seized her hair violently, pinning her head down and mming it repeatedly against the floor.


    "Die! Just die!"


    Zhang Yun repeated mechanically,pletely devoid of rationality.


    Ji Shanshan¡¯s vision swam with stars as blood pooled on the back of her head, sticky and thick, congealing into her hair.


    "Throw all three of them out."


    Gu Moqian frowned impatiently and suddenly gave an order, cutting short this absurdly melodramatic spectacle.

 Chapter 69: Is Dog Food Free? Spreading it Everywhere

    <h4>Chapter 69: Chapter 69: Is Dog Food Free? Spreading it Everywhere</h4>


    The shouting gradually faded, and the coffee shop returned to its quiet atmosphere.


    The waiter carefully approached the two of them and asked respectfully, "Mr. Gu, what would you like to drink?"


    Gu Moqian sat down, taking the opportunity to pull the woman in front of him into his arms, seating her on hisp. Then he leaned close to her ear and softly asked, "What do you want to drink?"


    Completely ignoring the presence of others nearby, Gu Moqian openly flirted with her, causing Ji Wei¡¯s ears to instantly turn red. "Anything is fine," she replied.


    "Two cappinos, one with sugar." Gu Moqian spoke slowly, his voice deep and rich.


    The waiter quickly responded and retreated.


    During the wait, Ji Wei absentmindedly toyed with the small porcin seasoning bottles on the table and remarked wistfully, "Actually, just now, if they hadn¡¯t been so selfish, I might have let them go."


    A nameless emotion stirred in Ji Wei¡¯s eyes. "What a pity..."


    "Human nature has always been fragile under trial."


    Gu Moqian¡¯s broad hand covered hers, halting her fiddling. His tone was calm and unhurried.


    "Indeed."


    Thinking back to the hardships she had endured in her previous life, Ji Wei felt a faint mncholy in her heart.


    Though she was only twenty years old, her past experiences had long since left her world-wearied far beyond her years.


    Gu Moqian turned his head quietly and gazed at her. In the depths of her clear eyes, he captured a trace of sadness that was almost imperceptible.


    He tightened his grip on her hand and spoke with unwavering certainty. "Those who fail the test are weak, but I am different."


    Startled by his words, Ji Wei turned toward him, her eyes meeting his. His ocean-deep gaze was resolute, without the slightest hint of doubt.


    Her heart trembled, but warmth flooded through her.


    Gu Moqian¡ªhe was indeed unlike any other man.


    Perhaps in this lifetime, she wouldn¡¯t have to endure the tragic fate of her previous life...


    "Mr. Gu, your coffee is here."


    The waiter ced two cups of coffee on the table before discreetly retreating again.


    Gu Moqian showed no intention of letting her go.


    He wore a clean white shirt, with the cuffs rolled up slightly to reveal a refined watch. His slender, fair hands holding the coffee cup were exceptionally elegant.


    The man¡¯s clean-cut face, mature and angr, with his striking brows and rxed demeanor, exuded an innate nobility.


    Ji Wei turned her head, watching the man, even in the act of sipping coffee, radiating an effortless charm. She couldn¡¯t help but stare in a daze.


    Sensing her gaze, Gu Moqian suddenly turned to meet her eyes, a faint smile curving his lips. "I remember you saying over the phone that no matter how much you look at me, it never feels enough. Is that really true?"


    She had said that back then purely to tter him.


    Never expecting him to bring it up now, Ji Wei¡¯s face instantly burned with heat, and she quickly averted her gaze.


    Seeing her shy reaction, Gu Moqian¡¯s smile deepened. "The coffee tastes good. Want to try?"


    Ji Wei had nned to refuse, but Gu Moqian had already lifted the cup and brought it to her lips.


    Having no choice, she took a sip from his hand.


    Amidst the subtle bitterness, there was a trace of sweetness. The rich aroma of the coffee lingered, leaving asting impression.


    She had always been fond ofttes, but now she discovered that cappinos could be just as delightful.


    Ji Wei nced at her watch. Xia Duoduo and the others should be arriving soon.


    "Moqian, your bodyguards standing there like that are probably intimidating my friends. I doubt they¡¯ll daree up." Ji Wei pointed at the row of men in ck behind her in protest.


    "Your friends?" Gu Moqian raised an eyebrow slightly.


    "My closest friend, Xia Duoduo. She¡¯s having a date here today."


    Now, Gu Moqian finally understood why she had chosen toe here today.


    Without any change in his expression, he asked, "Your friend is on a date¡ªwhy are you here meddling?"


    "To be an invisible third wheel." Ji Wei replied yfully.


    Gu Moqian suddenly leaned in and nted a quick kiss on her flushed right cheek. "Then I¡¯ll keep youpany."


    Ji Wei¡¯s face grew even redder. "This is a public ce; mind the impact!"


    "We¡¯re in a proper, loving rtionship. What¡¯s wrong with some kisses and cuddles?"


    Ji Wei: "..."


    Just as Xia Duoduo walked upstairs, she was greeted by the sight of this pink-bubble-filled scene. Stunned for a good while, she suddenly bolted forward.


    "Ahem, ahem, ahem! Ji Xiaowei, do you think spreading dog food around is free? You¡¯re sprinkling it everywhere!"

 Chapter 70: Kissed and hugged, yet they didn’t make it to bed, that’s unscientific!

    <h4>Chapter 70: Chapter 70: Kissed and hugged, yet they didn¡¯t make it to bed, that¡¯s unscientific!</h4>


    Ji Wei quickly got up from Mo Qian as soon as she saw Xia Duoduo.


    She nced behind Xia Duoduo, "Where¡¯s Xiao Zhen? Didn¡¯t hee with you?"


    "He just called and said there¡¯s traffic on the road. He¡¯ll be here in a few minutes."


    Xia Duoduo answered casually while sizing up Mo Qian from head to toe, her eyes gleaming brightly.


    The number one young master of Rongcheng truly lives up to his reputation. That face, that physique¡ªhe¡¯s practically the epitome of male perfection!


    "Mo Qian, this is my best friend, Xia Duoduo." Ji Wei introduced.


    "Hello," Mo Qian responded politely.


    "Hello, hello..."


    Xia Duoduo nodded eagerly, her gaze still glued to Mo Qian.


    Although Xiao Zhen was number one in her heart, encountering a rare gem like Mo Qian was absolutely worth an extra nce!


    Ring ring ring...


    Suddenly, Mo Qian¡¯s phone rang.


    "Excuse me, I need to take this call."


    He smiled and stepped away a few paces to answer the phone.


    "Weiwei, spill the truth¡ªhow far have things gone between you and your Gu Qianqian?" Xia Duoduo asked while tugging Ji Wei toward the terrace.


    "What are you talking about?" Ji Wei feigned ignorance.


    "You were literally sitting on Gu Qianqian¡¯sp just a moment ago. Don¡¯t tell me nothing¡¯s happened between you two."


    Xia Duoduo grabbed Ji Wei¡¯s arm mischievously, "Don¡¯t be shy. Come on, tell me."


    "You¡¯re overthinking it."


    Ji Wei¡¯s face flushed a bit awkwardly.


    "You¡¯ve kissed and hugged but haven¡¯t taken it to the next level? That¡¯s just not logical!" Xia Duoduo looked bewildered, then leaned in closer to interrogate her further, "Come on, spill it. Hurry and tell me everything."


    The two of you are already that close, and yet you¡¯re iming nothing¡¯s happened? Who would believe that!


    "Duoduo, I swear I¡¯m not lying to you." Ji Wei said helplessly, throwing her hands up.


    Although she had shared the bed with Mo Qian a few times, it really waspletely innocent¡ªthey had just slept, nothing more.


    Suddenly, Xia Duoduo noticed something and started waving her arms, shouting, "Weiwei, it¡¯s Xiao Zhen! He¡¯s here! Quick, hide!"


    Following Duoduo¡¯s gaze, Ji Wei looked over and saw a tall figure in casual attire appear at the staircase.


    The man was wearing a ck baseball cap and a matching face mask, covering his entire face except for his eyes.


    If Xia Duoduo hadn¡¯t explicitly said it was Xiao Zhen, Ji Wei wouldn¡¯t have recognized him at all.


    It¡¯s seriously impressive how far celebrities go to avoid paparazzi.


    "Hide, Weiwei, hurry!" Xia Duoduo urged again.


    Ji Wei blinked in confusion, "Why should I hide?"


    "Ugh, I didn¡¯t tell Xiao Zhen you¡¯d be here... Just hide for now, okay?"


    "There¡¯s nowhere to hide here!" Ji Wei looked helplessly around the room.


    Xia Duoduo moved quickly, pushing her underneath the table, "Hide under the table, now!"


    Before Ji Wei could protest, Duoduo had already shoved her into the cramped space.


    Next thing she knew, Duoduo¡¯s voice suddenly became sickeningly sweet,pletely different from her usual loud tone, "Brother Zhen, you¡¯re here! Come on, have a seat."


    Xiao Zhen scanned the area, making sure there were no paparazzi hiding nearby, and then sat down opposite Duoduo.


    "Were you waiting long?"


    "Oh no, not at all. I just got here too." Duoduo replied bashfully, shing a shy smile.


    The caf¨¦ table had a red-and-white checkered tablecloth with a long drop, so Xiao Zhen didn¡¯t notice Ji Wei hiding underneath.


    In front of Xiao Zhen, Xia Duoduo was like apletely different person¡ªher voice was soft and delicate, so much so that Ji Wei, crouched silently under the table, couldn¡¯t help but cringe.


    Sitting awkwardly under the table hugging her knees, Ji Wei listened to the conversation above grow increasingly lively. Realizing it wasn¡¯t ending anytime soon, she felt a wave of despair.


    If she stayed curled up like this, her legs were definitely going to go numb.


    "Duoduo, do you know where Ji Wei went?"


    Suddenly, Mo Qian¡¯s deep, maic voice sounded from overhead.

 Chapter 71: Are you so eager to take off my clothes?

    <h4>Chapter 71: Chapter 71: Are you so eager to take off my clothes?</h4>


    "Weiwei..."


    Xia Duoduo dragged out thest syble.


    How could she dare say that Ji Wei was hiding under the table? Her eyes darted around as she fumbled for an excuse: "Oh, she said her stomach hurt a bit earlier, so she went to the restroom."


    Gu Moqian stared at Xia Duoduo with his deep eyes for a few seconds.


    Xia Duoduo pretended to remain calm on the surface, but inside she was a bundle of nerves.


    Oh my, being stared at by Gu Moqian like this, why did she feel so flustered?


    Fortunately, Gu Moqian finally spoke: "Alright, I understand."


    After saying that, he turned and walked away.


    Xia Duoduo secretly breathed a sigh of relief.


    Gu Moqian hadn¡¯t walked a few steps when he suddenly turned back for another nce.


    From under the checkered tablecloth, half a shoe was sticking out.


    The style of that shoe was exactly the same as what Ji Wei was wearing today.


    Gu Moqian¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, a mischievous smile ying in them.


    A few minutester.


    A waiter approached Xia Duoduo: "Excuse me, two guests, could I trouble you to move to another table? The air conditioner next to you is broken and needs immediate repair. We don¡¯t want it to affect you."


    Xia Duoduo was a little surprised.


    The AC broke at such a convenient moment?


    But thinking that once they left, Ji Wei would be able toe out from under the table, Xia Duoduo immediately nodded: "Sure, no problem."


    Xia Duoduo and Xiao Zhen moved to another seat by the window.


    Ji Wei didn¡¯t move. She waited there for a bit, and once she confirmed they were truly gone, she breathed a sigh of relief.


    She shuffled inch by inch while crouching, preparing to crawl out from under the table.


    But just then, a pair of shiny ck leather shoes appeared right in front of her.


    Immediately after, Ji Wei heard the sound of a chair being pulled, as if someone had just sat down.


    Weren¡¯t they going to fix the air conditioner? Why was someone sitting here?


    Ji Wei looked puzzled, but she really didn¡¯t want to keep crouching¡ªone of her legs was already numb.


    If she was going to beughed at, so be it. She was going to crawl out anyway!


    Determined, Ji Wei ignored everything else and reached up to lift the tablecloth in front of her.


    Looking up, she suddenly turned to stone.


    Gu Moqian was looking down, watching her with an amused expression, a yful glint in his eyes: "Does it smell nice under there?"


    Ji Wei: "..."


    She stared nkly at him, her face full of embarrassment, wishing she could find a hole to crawl into.


    It was truly humiliating.


    "Not nning to get up?"


    Seeing her still crouched without moving, Gu Moqian quirked a smile and asked softly.


    "I¡¯m getting up, right away..."


    Ji Wei said, and just as she was trying to crawl out from under the table, she forgot that one of her legs was numb and couldn¡¯t hold steady. As soon as she stood up a bit, she fell right onto Gu Moqian.


    Shended directly between Gu Moqian¡¯s legs.


    Ji Wei¡¯s petite nose was less than a centimeter away from the slightly bulging area between his legs.


    Ji Wei¡¯s face changed drastically with shock, and she immediately tried to get up from him, but her leg was so numb she couldn¡¯t stand, and she fell back into his arms as soon as she tried.


    In her panic, her hand instinctively grabbed onto Gu Moqian¡¯s shirt, identally pulling open a few buttons.


    The man¡¯s alluring chest muscles came into view¡ªmuscr and sensual, defined yet partially concealed, extraordinarily enticing.


    Ji Wei was so mesmerized, shepletely forgot to react.


    "So eager to strip my clothes?"


    Gu Moqian looked at her face, red as a ripe apple, eyes filled with amusement.


    Ji Wei gave a mortifiedugh, quickly letting go of his shirt: "Misunderstanding, hehe, misunderstanding..."


    But before Ji Wei could recover from her embarrassment, she suddenly felt weightless. When she realized what was happening, she found herself being lifted entirely off the ground by Gu Moqian.


    Instinctively, she wrapped her arms around his neck, raising her astonished eyes to stare nkly at the man.


    Gu Moqian strode forward, carrying her out of the caf¨¦ under everyone¡¯s gazes.


    Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows on the first floor, somehow, a bunch of journalists had gathered, drawn by the news, each craning their necks to look inside.

 Chapter 72 She Really Left Her Behind…

    <h4>Chapter 72: Chapter 72 She Really Left Her Behind...</h4>


    "Mr. Gu, there¡¯s suddenly a crowd of gossip reporters at the entrance. If you leave now, you¡¯ll be surrounded. Please take the employee-only passage for a safe exit," the bodyguard reported as he leaned in.


    Gu Moqian nodded, then held Ji Wei and walked toward another direction.


    Before they had taken a few steps, a journalist outside the window suddenly recognized Gu Moqian¡¯s silhouette and excitedly shouted, "Mr. Gu, it¡¯s Mr. Gu! He¡¯s inside the caf¨¦!"


    The other media reporters immediately erupted in excitement. Ignoring the security guards trying to stop them, they rushed into the caf¨¦ in droves.


    However, Gu Moqian and his group had already quietly slipped away.


    The crowd looked all around but could not find any trace of Gu Moqian. One by one, they appeared despondent yet unwilling to give up.


    The second floor of the caf¨¦.


    Xiao Zhen had been chatting happily with Xia Duoduo when he suddenly sensed themotion caused by the reporters downstairs. He leaned out to take a look.


    Seeing the swarm of reporters below, Xiao Zhen¡¯s expression instantly darkened.


    Could his whereabouts have been discovered? Despite being so cautious, he still ended up exposed.


    "Duoduo, there are paparazzi downstairs. I need to leave immediately," Xiao Zhen said hastily, standing up with a panicked expression.


    Xiao Zhen¡¯s towering height of over 1.8 meters made him instantly noticeable to the media below as soon as he stood.


    "Look quickly, that person looks like Xiao Zhen!"


    "Xiao Zhen! It¡¯s Xiao Zhen! Hurry, he¡¯s upstairs! Looks like he¡¯s with a woman¡ªgo surround him now!"


    A rookie idol singer meeting a woman in a caf¨¦? This was absolutely explosive scandal material!


    The reporters¡¯ eyes lit up. The frustration of letting Gu Moqian slip away just moments ago vanishedpletely as they charged up to the second floor with renewed zeal.


    Facing the swarm of reporters, Xiao Zhen fled in a hurry, leaving Xia Duoduo behind without a second thought. He immediately jumped down behind the caf¨¦¡¯s bar counter and darted into the staff-only door nearby.


    Xia Duoduo waspletely stunned, unable to process what had just happened.


    One group of paparazzi trailed the route Xiao Zhen had escaped through, while the other group surrounded the dazed Xia Duoduo tightly.


    Microphones and cameras pointed at Xia Duoduo¡¯s pale face, and the shlights made her furrow her brows.


    "You¡¯re the one who yed the viinous supporting actress in ¡¯The Legend of Xiangmi,¡¯ right?"


    "Were you just on a date with Xiao Zhen? When did you start seeing each other and how serious are you two now?"


    "For a minor celebrity, how did you manage to catch Xiao Zhen¡¯s attention? Did you use some kind of ploy to seduce him?"


    "Miss Xia, please give us a direct answer to our questions!"


    The reporters¡¯ questions were sharp and aggressive. Xia Duoduo¡¯s face grew paler and paler as she stood there helplessly, overwhelmed by the situation.


    She was merely a minor celebrity and had never faced such an encirclement by reporters before. If it weren¡¯t for Xiao Zhen, the media probably wouldn¡¯t have paid her any attention at all.


    Horrified, Xia Duoduo nced around desperately, clutching at the faint hope inside her.


    If Xiao Zhen worried about her and came back for her, wouldn¡¯t that be wonderful?


    Her anxious gaze suddenly locked onto the window, and just like that, the tiny glimmer of hope was extinguished.


    She saw Xiao Zhen¡¯s figure hurriedly slide into a nanny van by the roadside. Momentster, the vehicle started and disappeared down the street in the blink of an eye.


    Xiao Zhen really left her behind...


    Xia Duoduo couldn¡¯t quite describe her emotions at that moment. She stood therepletely still, refusing to say a word no matter how the reporters pressed her.


    Yet her eyes turned red despite her efforts to suppress it.


    Meanwhile, Gu Moqian had already gotten Ji Wei into the car.


    Sitting inside, Gu Moqian noticed the look of disappointment on Ji Wei¡¯s face and couldn¡¯t help but ask, "What¡¯s the matter? Are you feeling regretful for not being able to witness someone else¡¯s date?"


    "I was nning on keeping an eye out for Duoduo, to see if that Xiao Zhen guy is trustworthy, but¡ª" Ji Wei spread her hands, expressing her helplessness.


    "So, your way of ¡¯keeping an eye out¡¯ involved hiding under someone else¡¯s table?"


    Gu Moqian couldn¡¯t help but tease.

 Chapter 73: You’re physically weak, go hike to exercise

    <h4>Chapter 73: Chapter 73: You¡¯re physically weak, go hike to exercise</h4>


    Ji Wei rubbed her forehead, feeling awkward for a few seconds, then asked, "Where are we headed now?"


    Mo Qian lifted his deep, captivating eyes to look at her and moved his lips, "Take a guess."


    "To yourpany?"


    "Nope."


    "Back to Shanshui Manor?"


    "Not that either."


    Ji Wei couldn¡¯t figure it out, "Then where are we going?"


    Mo Qian¡¯s thin lips parted slightly, and he uttered two words, "A date."


    "...!!!"


    More than an hourter.


    Ji Wei stared at the lush mountains ahead and asked the man beside her with surprise, "We¡¯re having a date in the mountains?"


    Mo Qian took her hand, smiled, and nodded, "Yep."


    Ji Wei: "..."


    Other people¡¯s dates involve candlelit dinners or romantic strolls by the riverside. When ites to Mo Qian, it turns into a mountain hike.


    "Your stamina¡¯s not great¡ªtime to train it up with some exercise."


    Mo Qian added without much expression.


    "What makes you think my stamina is bad?" Ji Wei protested indignantly.


    Mo Qian merelyughed without replying.


    To Ji Wei, however, his smile seemed to carry a hint of mischievous intent.


    Nanshan was Rongcheng¡¯s tallest mountain, with an elevation of over two thousand meters. It was a fairly well-established tourist destination. Visitors could hike up or take a cable car.


    After walking along the mountain path for less than half an hour, Ji Wei was already panting heavily, "I can¡¯t. Mo Qian, can we take the cable car instead?"


    Her gaze toward him carried a trace of pleading.


    Mo Qian looked at her flushed cheeks and sweat-drenched forehead. He couldn¡¯t bear to let her tire herself out too much and finally nodded in agreement, "Alright."


    That single word of assent made Ji Wei feel an intense relief. Without hesitation, she sank to the ground, not wanting to move another inch.


    Mo Qian walked over, extended his hand, and pulled her up, "No rush to exercise¡ªwe¡¯ll have plenty of opportunities in the future."


    Ji Wei blinked, a little confused.


    Could it be that next time he nned to take her swimming?


    As if seeing right through her thoughts, Mo Qian reached out, hooking her delicate chin gently and stroking it, "I meant... bed-rted exercises."


    Ji Wei was in the middle of taking a sip of water when she heard this, nearly choking and spraying water everywhere.


    The hiking route took over an hour to traverse, while the cable car only required a few minutes.


    Once they reached the mountain summit, they were greeted by lush green trees, rolling peaks, and¡ªfurther in the distance¡ªa sea of clouds. The sun floated up and down within the clouds.


    It was Ji Wei¡¯s first time seeing such a view, and she was as excited as a child.


    As evening approached, there were fewer tourists on the mountain.


    The temperature difference at the summit was noticeable. A gust of chilly wind had Ji Wei instinctively shrinking her neck. The next second, a men¡¯s zer was draped over her shoulders.


    "Careful not to catch cold,"


    Mo Qian reminded her warmly.


    Ji Wei looked at him and silently nodded, her heart suddenly feeling cozy and warm.


    The two of them stood at the summit, admiring the scenery for a while, and then headed to a nearby snack shop.


    Mo Qian went to order food while Ji Wei sat at a table waiting for him. She toyed with a pair of chopsticks in her hand, her gaze lingering on the sea of clouds outside the window, feeling content.


    It was her first time going out on a date with Mo Qian¡ªsuch a strange and wonderful feeling.


    Ring ring ring...


    A sudden phone ringtone yanked Ji Wei out of her thoughts.


    It took her a moment to realize that the sound wasing from Mo Qian¡¯s zer pocket.


    Ji Wei pulled out the phone and saw an unfamiliar number disyed on the screen.


    Could it be an important call?


    She nced at Mo Qian, who wasn¡¯t far away chatting with the shopkeeper, hesitated for a moment, and then decided to answer the call.


    "Mo Qian, I¡¯ve already arrived at the airport. Where are you? Auntie told me you¡¯de pick me up¡ªdid you leave yet?"


    Before Ji Wei could utter a word, a woman¡¯s voice came through the phone first.


    Her tone was gentle and soft, calling him "Mo Qian" instead of "Gu Moqian."

 Chapter 74: I am Ji Wei, Mo Qian’s Fiancee

    <h4>Chapter 74: Chapter 74: I am Ji Wei, Mo Qian¡¯s Fiancee</h4>


    Also, from the tone of her voice, it seems like she¡¯s very familiar with Gu Moqian and close to him.


    Who is she?


    "Mo Qian, are you listening?" The person on the other side asked again when there was no response.


    Ji Wei paused for a moment before replying as calmly as possible, "He¡¯s not avable to take the call right now. You might want to try againter."


    The other person was silent for a few seconds, then suddenly asked in surprise, "Who... are you?"


    Ji Wei smiled lightly, "I¡¯m Ji Wei, Mo Qian¡¯s fianc¨¦e."


    The silence on the other endsted so long that Ji Wei almost thought they¡¯d hung up, but then she heard the voice again, seemingly trembling, "Mo Qian is with you now?"


    "I¡¯m holding his phone, what do you think?" Ji Wei replied with a faint smile.


    "Is he bringing you along to pick me up?" The other person asked again.


    Ji Wei pursed her lips, her smile remaining distant, "Probably not. Mo Qian and I are on a date right now; he likely doesn¡¯t have time to pick you up."


    Another silence followed, breaking only after a lengthy pause. "Oh... I see." The voice said.


    Right after, the call was cut off.


    Ji Wei held the phone and stared at it for a while, unaware that Gu Moqian hade over carrying steaming dishes.


    "What¡¯s wrong?"


    Gu Moqian set the tes down on the table and asked.


    Ji Wei snapped out of her thoughts and handed him the phone. "There was a call for you earlier. I answered it without asking. It was a woman, and she said you were supposed to pick her up from the airport."


    Gu Moqian¡¯s eyes flickered but quickly returned to normal as he replied indifferently, "I never agreed to pick anyone up."


    "Then who is she?"


    Jealousy stirred faintly in Ji Wei¡¯s heart, and she couldn¡¯t stop herself from blurting out the question.


    "She¡¯s the daughter of a friend of my mother¡¯s." Gu Moqian answered without any hesitation.


    "Oh." Ji Wei nodded. "She must have a good rtionship with you; I suppose you saw each other often as kids?"


    Gu Moqian raised his deep and profound eyes to look at her but didn¡¯t deny it.


    Ji Wei continued in an understated tone, "I see. So she¡¯s your childhood friend, and I¡¯m guessing your mother likes her very much."


    "Are you jealous?"


    His dark gaze locked onto hers.


    "Yes." Ji Wei didn¡¯t deny it.


    "She¡¯s known you since childhood¡ªso many memories between you two. Even if she¡¯s just a friend, such a bond makes me envious." Ji Wei openly confessed her feelings without reservation.


    In her view, there should be no secrets between her and Gu Moqian; they should be honest with each other.


    Gu Moqian chuckled when he heard her words.


    He walked up to her, pulled her into his arms, let his chin rest on the top of her head, and spoke gently, "Don¡¯t worry. In my heart, there¡¯s only room for you. As for others, even if they try to squeeze their way in, they¡¯ll end up battered and bruised, with no chance at all."


    "What if someone refuses to give up?"


    Gu Moqian was such an outstanding man¡ªsurely women would covet him wherever he went.


    "Then I¡¯ll make her give up."


    Gu Moqian¡¯s words were delivered lightly, but his gaze was strikingly sharp.


    Ji Wei asked no more questions. She believed this man would keep his word.


    She rested her head against his chest, wrapping her arms tightly around his waist.


    Her silent gesture was response enough, and Gu Moqian¡¯s lips gradually curved into a charming smile.


    After finishing the warm meal, Ji Wei felt less cold.


    The two stood side by side at the mountaintop, gazing out at the majestic sea of clouds swirling below as the sun slowly set, painting the sky with a fiery glow of golden light.


    For the first time in a long while, Ji Wei seriously admired the sunset, so captivated she didn¡¯t blink once.


    She was watching the sunset, while Gu Moqian was watching her.


    Her porcin-white face was bathed in the golden hue of the setting sun, and her clear, bright eyes reflected the vibrant colors of the dusk.


    The entire figure of her seemed enshrouded in the warm afterglow. Strands of hair danced in the wind, her luscious red lips parted slightly, resembling an irresistibly golden cherry kissed by the sunlight.


    Gu Moqian¡¯s ocean-like eyes stirred as he leaned down suddenly, cupped her face with both hands, and kissed her.

 Chapter 75: Should we pry open his teeth and give him a French kiss?

    <h4>Chapter 75: Chapter 75: Should we pry open his teeth and give him a French kiss?</h4>


    His tongue traced the contours of her lips meticulously, savoring her sweetness bit by bit, both greedy and restrained.


    She was utterly defenseless under his kisses, gasping softly within moments, letting out delicate moans.


    Gu Moqian was entranced by the sound of her voice, prying open her lips with dominance, invading, conquering, andpletely iming her mouth.


    Ji Wei was left dazed by the sudden kiss, her mind in a perpetual state of short circuit. Even when Gu Moqian finally pulled away, she still stared at him with wide, unblinking eyes.


    "Didn¡¯t get enough?"


    Gu Moqian extended his elegant fingers, gently brushing her flushed, tender lips.


    Ji Wei¡¯s face was scarlet, but she knew Gu Moqian was teasing her on purpose. Rather than feeling even more embarrassed, she lifted her gaze to meet his, her expression firm. "That¡¯s right, I didn¡¯t get enough."


    As soon as she finished speaking, she surprised him by rising on her tiptoes, pressing her reddened lips boldly onto his cool, thin ones.


    Why should he always be the one making the first move? She could take the initiative too!


    However, it seemed Gu Moqian had already seen through her thoughts. He stood perfectly still, deliberately letting her do as she pleased.


    Ji Wei, other than merely brushing his lips lightly, waspletely clueless on what to do next.


    Should she pry open his teeth for a full-on French kiss?


    Deep in thought, Ji Wei frowned, kissing Gu Moqian clumsily without any rhyme or reason.


    Regret bubbled up in her heart; she should¡¯ve watched some romantic movies to study kissing techniques when she had the chance.


    She had been kissing him for quite some time, yet Gu Moqian hadn¡¯t responded in the slightest.


    Ji Wei began to seriously suspect if her kissing skills were simply atrocious.


    Just as she was about to retreat and pull away, arge, warm palm suddenly pressed against the back of her head.


    In an instant, the kiss shifted as Gu Moqian took control.


    Gu Moqian guided her patiently, coaxing her to try sucking on his lips, entwining her tongue with his...


    Ji Wei finally stopped feeling so awkward and lost like before.


    Just as she started to feel a smidge of confidence, she heard Gu Moqian murmur through the kiss, "We¡¯ve kissed and hugged before, yet your kissing skills are still this bad. Go home and practice properly, hmm?"


    His voice was deep, maic, rich with a timbre that could easily make someone lose themselves.


    Ji Wei¡¯s ears burned red to the tips upon hearing his words.


    She had originally nned to tease him, yet somehow she ended up being the one teased instead. What a failure!


    Pretending to be annoyed, she pushed him away and turned to march off ahead angrily.


    Gu Moqian watched her walk off in a puff of supposed anger, the smile in his eyes growing even deeper.


    Not too far ahead, there was a patch of grass. Ji Wei decided to plop down, cupping her face in her hands, her cheeks puffed out like an indignant child.


    She sat there for a while, waiting, but when she realized Gu Moqian hadn¡¯t followed her, she couldn¡¯t help but nce back over her shoulder.


    Sure enough, he was nowhere in sight.


    No way, did he really just leave her here?


    The evening breeze was chilly, and she was half abyrinth prototype in terms of navigation skills. The sky would soon turn dark¡ªwould he truly leave her here all alone?


    A slight panic began to rise in Ji Wei¡¯s chest. She quickly scrambled to her feet.


    Brushing the bits of grass off her clothes, she prepared to retrace her steps and head back.


    But just as she turned around, there came a sharp crackle¡ª


    A dazzling firework streaked into the sky, bursting into a brilliant sea of stars right above her.


    Then came a second, and a third...


    Colorful fireworks bloomed above her in session, breathtakingly beautiful.


    Ji Wei stood frozen in ce, utterly stunned.


    Like a fool, she watched as a man emerged from the fireworks, walking toward her. Her eyes rimmed red with emotion before she could stop herself.


    "This is a surprise for our first date. Are you satisfied?"


    The man¡¯s eyes danced withughter, his voice cool and husky as he stepped closer and closer toward her.


    Ji Wei stared at this man, whose smile could upend the heavens, snapping back to her senses. Her emotions, however, were torn between delight and annoyance.


    Just now, she had truly thought he¡¯d left her behind!


    Calling it a "surprise" felt more like calling it a scare, didn¡¯t it?


    "You¡¯re awful, absolutely the worst!"


    Ji Wei raised her little fists and, without hesitation, pounded them against Gu Moqian¡¯s chest.


    Gu Moqian seized the opportunity to catch her hands. Ji Wei tried to pull free, but no matter how hard she struggled, it was futile. In defeat, she could only re at him fiercely.


    "I¡¯m the worst? Or am I someone you love to hate and can¡¯t get enough of?" He gazed at her, a mesmerizing smile tugging at the corners of his lips.


    This man, with just a slight furrow of his brow, a faint curve of his lips, was utterly lethal, utterly seductive.


    -


    Second Chapter update. Wishing my lovelies a happy Valentine¡¯s Day!

 Chapter 76: If You Don’t Put Me Down, I’ll Bite You

    <h4>Chapter 76: Chapter 76: If You Don¡¯t Put Me Down, I¡¯ll Bite You</h4>


    Ji Wei heard what he said and wrinkled her nose in distaste.


    Where did Gu Moqian learn such cheesy lines?


    "Alright, don¡¯t worry. I never thought about leaving you. I was just preparing fireworks for you earlier, hoping to surprise you."


    Gu Moqian pulled her into his arms with a gentleness tinged with indulgence, patiently coaxing her.


    She knew, of course she knew.


    It was just that, deep down, there was a small sense of unwillingness.


    Every move this man made affected her mood, and she feared that one day...


    Forget it, don¡¯t think too much.


    Since heaven blessed her with such a wonderful man, she would cherish him, keep him, love him, hold onto him tightly for a lifetime!


    Ji Wei buried her head in his embrace, inhaling his refreshing and pleasant scent. The little temper she had earlier hadpletely vanished, leaving only a sweet feeling in her heart.


    The sky had darkened, and the night on the mountaintop was exceptionally clear. Countless twinkling stars could be clearly seen strewn across the heavens.


    Ji Wei and Gu Moqiany on the grass, her head resting in the crook of his arm.


    "Mo Qian, with so many stars up there, how can anyone tell which is which?" Ji Wei asked.


    Gu Moqian turned his head to look at her. "For someone who has a deep love for the stars, they naturally can tell. Just like among so many women in the world, I can immediately recognize which one is you."


    The sudden romantic remark made Ji Wei¡¯s cheeks flush red.


    Gu Moqian¡¯s level of romantic banter was at the top tier, while she, a novice, was mercilessly crushed.


    "Ji Wei, are you still cold?"


    "A little."


    "Come closer."


    So she shifted a little closer to him.


    "Closer still."


    She moved a little more.


    Gu Moqian looked at the ten centimeters of distance still between them. After a few seconds of silence, he suddenly reached out with hisrge hand and scooped Ji Wei entirely onto himself.


    Ji Wei was startled, propping her hands against his chest as she sat up.


    At that moment, Gu Moqian was beneath her, and she, she was straddling him.


    This posture felt incredibly awkward somehow.


    Ji Wei tried to get off him, but Gu Moqian firmly pressed her hands down, leaving her unable to move.


    A word suddenly popped into her mind: "Caught between a rock and a hard ce."


    Gu Moqian¡¯s eyes curved with amusement as he gazed at her utterly embarrassed expression, his lips lifting into a teasing smile.


    "Mo Qian, I want to get down..."


    Ji Wei struggled a little, but when she saw Gu Moqian holding her hands tightly, she blushed and softened her tone, gazing at him pitifully with watery eyes.


    This look of hers made his heart surge with emotion, leaving him stunned for a few moments.


    "Y-you, let me down quickly!"


    Ji Wei¡¯s face suddenly flushed scarlet, stammering incoherently as she desperately tried to climb off him.


    Because a certain part of him was pressing against her ufortably.


    Gu Moqian also became aware of the change in his own body. His Adam¡¯s apple bobbed, and his deep, dark eyes grew even more intense.


    Seeing him silent and staring at her steadily, Ji Wei grew increasingly anxious. "Let me down! I¡¯m not mad at you anymore, okay?"


    "You... were angry earlier?" Gu Moqian asked in a hoarse voice.


    "I-I¡¯m not mad anymore!"


    Ji Wei was thoroughly flustered now. She was wearing a dress, and this position was far too embarrassing, her heart pounding like a frantic deer.


    When he didn¡¯t answer, Ji Wei suddenly bit the bullet and blurted out, "If you don¡¯t let me down, I¡¯ll bite you!"


    As she spoke, she really lowered her head and bit fiercely onto Gu Moqian¡¯s hand.


    -


    Today¡¯s third update is here! Please continue to support Tutu, love you all!

 Chapter 77: We May Fall into the Abyss at Our Feet

    <h4>Chapter 77: Chapter 77: We May Fall into the Abyss at Our Feet</h4>


    She ultimately didn¡¯t want to bite too hard, only applied a bit of force.


    Mo Qian simply felt a tingling numbness on the back of his hand, the bite from her oddlyforting.


    She moved her lips away, leaving five distinct teeth marks on his fair hand, yet Mo Qian remained unfazed: "Bite, keep going."


    His voice carried a trace of ambiguous intimacy beneath its deep tone.


    Ji Wei: "..."


    That¡¯s it. Clearly, she meant to resist him¡ªhow did it suddenly turn into flirting?


    Faced with such a Mo Qian, Ji Wei was utterly at a loss.


    Just as she admitted defeat, Mo Qian suddenly released her hand: "Alright, I¡¯ve teased you enough. It¡¯s getting dark; we need to head down the mountain quickly."


    ...


    Inside the cable car, Ji Wei deliberately kept her distance from Mo Qian out of spite for his earlier teasing.


    He sat on one side, and Ji Wei adamantly chose the seat opposite.


    Mo Qian looked at the proud, stubborn little woman across from him, a faint smile ying on his lips.


    Ji Wei leaned against the ss, quietly gazing at the night view outside the cable car.


    The lights of Rongcheng in the distance scattered across the earth like stars, so impossibly dreamy. Nearby, shadowy trees loomed, tranquil and serene, with asional calls from wild animals carrying through the air, ethereal and distant.


    The cable car moved downward slowly, descending from the mountain peak to the valley, then rising steadily again.


    Suddenly, with a metallic tter¡ª


    The cable car violently shook a few times beforeing to aplete stop, suspended motionless in mid-air.


    In the seconds of the cable car¡¯s jolt, Ji Wei¡¯s heart nearly leapt out of her chest, her face instantly turning pale.


    Her body lurched uncontrobly forward, but before she fell, Mo Qian caught her steadily.


    As the shaking gradually stopped, Ji Wei remained pressed against Mo Qian¡¯s chest, still shaken and unsettled.


    "Mo Qian, why did the cable car suddenly stop?"


    Having calmed herself slightly, Ji Wei sensed something was off and looked up at Mo Qian with shock, questioning him.


    Mo Qian¡¯s expression shifted slightly, though his voice was steady: "It¡¯s likely a power failure¡ªthe circuitry must have been interrupted, causing it to stop. Let¡¯s wait; someone wille to repair it soon."


    Despite his words, a trace of unease lingered in his heart.


    How could it be so coincidental that the cable car they were riding on malfunctioned?


    Hearing Mo Qian¡¯s exnation, Ji Wei let out a small breath of relief.


    After the harrowing moment just now, her earlier defiance hadpletely dissipated, and now she meekly stayed in Mo Qian¡¯s embrace.


    Mo Qian held her with one arm while using the other hand to take out his phone, pressing the screen to light it up.


    Seeing him staring at the phone intently with a grave expression, Ji Wei couldn¡¯t help but ask: "What¡¯s wrong?"


    "There¡¯s no signal on the phone."


    Mo Qian¡¯s voice was calm, without inflection, but his eyes were sharp and probing.


    "That¡¯s impossible. We¡¯re only at an altitude of around two thousand meters¡ªhow could there be no signal?" Ji Wei protested, pulling her own phone from her pocket.


    The signal bar at the top disyed nothing¡ªnot even a single one!


    Ji Wei¡¯s face fell as she looked at Mo Qian, a trace of panic in her eyes.


    It was nighttime. If no one realized the cable car had broken down, they would be stuck here all night.


    The temperature in the mountains dropped sharply at night, and the cable car offered no protection against the biting cold. How could they survive an entire night here?


    A sudden gust of wind swept past, causing the metal parts connecting the cable car and the cable to sway slightly, emitting a faint, rhythmic creaking sound.


    Mo Qian abruptly tilted his head upward, ncing at the top of the cable car.


    Seemingly noticing something, as he turned back to look at Ji Wei, there was a subtle shift in his expression.


    Ji Wei also heard the noise from above her head.


    But she didn¡¯t yet grasp how severe the situation was.


    "Weiwei, listen to me. The part connecting the cable car to the cable above us has been tampered with. The reason we¡¯re stuck here might be because it¡¯s no longer stable."


    Mo Qian suddenly tightened his grip on her hand, pulling her firmly into his arms. "The worst-case scenario is... we might plunge into the chasm below us."

 Chapter 78 The only regret is that I haven’t had the chance to marry you yet

    <h4>Chapter 78: Chapter 78 The only regret is that I haven¡¯t had the chance to marry you yet</h4>


    Ji Wei trembled uncontrobly at Mo Qian¡¯s words.


    They were suspended dozens of meters high in the air, with only a lush forest below. If the cable car were to fall, their chances of survival would be almost zero.


    Facing death, Ji Wei couldn¡¯t help but be afraid.


    But because Mo Qian was right beside her, she felt slightly calmer.


    "I¡¯m not afraid. At worst, we¡¯ll meet again in eighteen years."


    Ji Wei tilted her head up to look at Mo Qian, her gaze burning bright. A faint smile even yed on her lips: "The only regret I have is that I didn¡¯t get the chance to marry you and be your Mrs. Gu."


    Mo Qian stared nkly at the beautiful face of the woman in front of him, his eyes beginning to redden.


    He lowered his head, pressing a kiss to her smooth forehead, then tightened his embrace around her. His voice was hoarse: "We¡¯ll be fine. Trust me. Eighteen years is too long¡ªI can¡¯t wait that long."


    A thin sheen of tears clouded Ji Wei¡¯s eyes. She nodded repeatedly, a lump forming in her throat.


    When life teeters on the edge, countless chaotic thoughts fall away. In this moment, Ji Wei¡¯s eyes and heart had room for only Mo Qian.


    She leaned in, recklessly pressing her lips to his.


    Even if this was theirst kiss, she was unafraid!


    Their reflections glimmered in each other¡¯s eyes as they kissed fervently, embraced passionately, as if trying to melt into one another.


    Their lips and tongues entwined, breaths mingling. Under the serene night sky, their heartbeats were impossibly audible.


    After what felt like an eternity, they reluctantly parted.


    Ji Wei¡¯s cheeks flushed red, her eyes teeming with a dreamy vitality. Even with the abyss lying dozens of meters below, her heart was unexpectedly calm.


    "Weiwei, we won¡¯t die. Absolutely not."


    Mo Qian¡¯s gaze was firm as he adjusted her position to sit securely on hisp. Then, he lit up the phone¡¯s screen and dialed three numbers: 112.


    Shortly after, a voice came through the receiver: "This is the Action Phone 112 Emergency Rescue Line. If you wish to file a police report, press 0, and we will connect you to the police department. If you require rescue services, press 9, and we will connect you to the fire department..."


    Ji Wei stared in a daze as Mo Qian pressed the number 9.


    After a brief wait, a voice spoke on the other end: "This is 119. How can we assist you?"


    "Hello, the Nanshan cable car has malfunctioned. The situation is critical..."


    Mo Qian calmly and methodically described the current situation.


    Soon, the voice on the other end assured him that a rescue team would be dispatched immediately.


    Even after Mo Qian ended the call, Ji Wei continued staring at him nkly, her mind unable to process for a moment.


    The man before her exuded a steadyposure. Even in the face of life and death, he showed no sign of panic. Without Mo Qian, she couldn¡¯t imagine how frantic she would¡¯ve been.


    "Mo Qian, how did you know you could dial 112?" Ji Wei couldn¡¯t help but ask curiously.


    "112 is a universal line across the country. Even if the phone has no signal or only an extremely weak battery, it will work," Mo Qian exined calmly, his eyes fixed on her. "It¡¯s a basic survival skill."


    Ji Wei bit her lip and stared at him in a daze.


    This sort of basic knowledge¡ªshe didn¡¯t know any of it.


    Mo Qian tucked the phone into his pocket and wrapped both arms around her tightly again. "It¡¯s cold up here. Are you cold?"


    Ji Wei rested her head on his chest and shook her head slowly: "With you holding me, not at all."


    Mo Qian rested his chin atop her head, his deep eyes gazing into the boundless night outside the cable car. His expression became solemn.


    Although the emergency call had gone through, the cable car¡¯s connection above had been deliberately sabotaged. It was uncertain whether it could hold until the rescue team arrived...

 Chapter 79: Am I Really Going to Die Here?

    <h4>Chapter 79: Chapter 79: Am I Really Going to Die Here?</h4>


    The two of them embraced quietly in the cable car. Surrounding them was pitch-ck darkness. From below, the asional low growls of wild beasts could be heard, and the wind howled past their ears, with cold air pouring inpletely.


    Gu Moqian wrapped Ji Wei tightly, not letting a single bit of cold touch her, while he himself wore only a thin shirt.


    "Get some sleep,"


    Gu Moqian leaned close to her ear and said softly.


    Ji Wei rested in his embrace. She hadn¡¯t nned to sleep, but the overwhelming danger before her had pushed her spirit to the breaking point. In her hazy exhaustion, she drifted off.


    Ji Wei was in a deep sleep when suddenly there was a violent rattling noise¡ªnking and banging!


    She snapped her eyes open to see the cable car swaying relentlessly in the wind. The noise hade from the connection point above the cable car.


    Without further thought, Ji Wei understood that the connection area was fracturing and couldn¡¯t hold on for much longer!


    She turned to Gu Moqian in panic. "Are we... really going to die here?"


    Gu Moqian reached out to touch her pale cheek, his lips curving into a faint smile. "No, we¡¯ll get out of here safely."


    As he spoke, Gu Moqian looked up at the pitch-ck night sky.


    There was no sign of lights or rescuers nearby.


    The cable cars totaled dozens, and they were somewhere near the middle. Even if the rescue team had already arrived at Nanshan, they would still need to search each cable car one by one to find them.


    The longer it took, the slimmer their chances of survival became.


    If only there were some way to let the rescue team quickly know their location...


    Suddenly, an idea struck him, and he reached into the pocket of his trousers.


    Ji Wei watched as Gu Moqian pulled out a small firework.


    It took only a moment for her to understand his intent.


    He was going to use the firework as a signal re to mark their position for the rescuers!


    Gu Moqian ced the firework within a crevice of the cable car and lit it.


    Boom¡ª


    An intense sh of light exploded across the night sky!


    Though it was just a small firework, the sound of its burst was loud enough to catch anyone¡¯s attention in the vast mountain wilderness.


    As the firework blossomed, Gu Moqian quickly reached out to cover Ji Wei¡¯s eyes, afraid the bright light would harm her.


    Seven or eight secondster, only the faint scent of gunpowder and a wispy trail of smoke lingered in the air, as the mountain returned to its deathly silence.


    Meanwhile, about a hundred meters away from the cable car, the rescue team noticed a sudden burst of light in the sky, apanied by a faint rumble.


    The rescue team leader¡¯s expression brightened, and he immediately shouted, "Deploy the helicopter at once! Head toward the area where the light appeared!"


    ...


    The impact from the firework was enough to make the already unstable cable car shake more violently. Ji Wei clung tightly to Gu Moqian¡¯s chest, not daring to move an inch.


    Her hands clutched at Gu Moqian¡¯s sleeve with a death grip. Her face was ashen, yet she bit her lip hard to stifle any sounds of fear.


    "Don¡¯t be afraid. The rescue team will be here soon. Don¡¯t be afraid..."


    Gu Moqian¡¯s voice, rough and hoarse from the cold seeping into him, trembled slightly as he suppressed the shivers wracking his body, all while continuouslyforting the young woman in his arms.


    In the obsidian ckness of his deep-set eyes, a flicker of unease surfaced as well.


    Around them, the silence was oppressive. In the boundless darkness, there wasn¡¯t a single speck of light.


    The cable car swayed more fiercely in the biting wind. The grating screeches of the scraping metal sounded bone-chilling.


    Gu Moqian held tightly onto the handrail beside him with one hand, barely managing to stay seated and stop himself from slipping.


    Ji Wei¡¯s entire body was unbearably stiff. With every sway of the cable car, she couldn¡¯t steady herself and her body began to slide downward.


    Time and again, Gu Moqian reached out to pull her back up.


    When she fell back onto his chest once more, Ji Wei raised her head and looked at the handsome man¡¯s face so incredibly close to hers. Her teeth chattered uncontrobly, yet she mustered a faint trace of a smile at the corners of her lips. "Mo Qian, if today really is our fate, and we can¡¯t escape... I don¡¯t regret it. Because, in the final moments, you were by my side."


    Her body, taut with tension, heaved with each breath. Strands of hair on her forehead clung to her skin, damp with cold sweat.


    After a brief pause, Ji Wei suddenly spoke, "I love you, Mo Qian. I love you, I love you..."


    She smiled at him through her tears, which fell uncontrobly.


    Again and again, she repeated "I love you," as though wanting to say all the "I love you¡¯s" she had for a lifetime in one breath.

 Chapter 80: Gu Moqian didn’t have time to grab the rope ladder, and fell with the cable car!

    <h4>Chapter 80: Chapter 80: Gu Moqian didn¡¯t have time to grab the ropedder, and fell with the cable car!</h4>


    I love you.


    To wait for these three words, it took Gu Moqian ten years.


    He held Ji Wei in his arms without any hesitation, his eyes reddened, mingling with her tears, and frantically kissed her cheeks, her nose, her lips...


    He wanted to give her all the beauty in the world, but possibly, all this was as fleeting as fireworks that couldn¡¯t be retained.


    Ji Weiughed and cried amid the man¡¯s kisses.


    She had already faced death once, and even if she couldn¡¯t escape fate this time, she had no regrets. Only because this time, Gu Moqian was by her side.


    Just when both thought there was no hope, suddenly, a beam of light shone through the dense fog, followed by the sound of rotors spinning in the air.


    They turned their heads abruptly and saw the silhouette of a helicopter appearing in the mist.


    "Mo Qian, someone is here, we¡¯re saved!" Ji Wei couldn¡¯t help but exim in surprise.


    "Yes."


    Gu Moqian nodded lightly, his eyes also shining a bit.


    The helicopter carefully approached, hovering seven or eight meters above the cable car.


    Soon after, a ropedder was seen hanging down from the helicopter.


    Two rescuers swiftly slid down the ropedder, slowly approaching the cable car.


    A few minutester, the rescuers opened the cable car door with professional tools and handed a safety rope to Ji Wei and Gu Moqian each.


    "Weiwei, you go up first."


    Gu Moqian helped Ji Wei fasten the safety rope, confirmed it several times, and then brought her to the cable car door.


    As she approached the cable car door, the cold wind blew fiercely, making Ji Wei¡¯s long hair fly wildly, messily pping against her face.


    Gu Moqian brushed away the stray hair on her cheeks, his voice somewhat ethereal in the cold wind: "Don¡¯t be afraid, believe in yourself."


    Ji Wei nodded vigorously, taking a step forward, looking back at him in the wind, her teeth chattering with cold: "Mo Qian, I¡¯ll wait for you up there."


    "Okay."


    Gu Moqian nodded with a gentle smile in his eyes.


    Ji Wei was lifted onto the ropedder with the help of the two rescuers.


    The wind was so strong, the ropedder swayed endlessly, and Ji Wei climbed up with great difficulty.


    She clenched her teeth tightly, desperately trying to stop her whole body from trembling.


    Her hands and feet were nearly frozen stiff, but fortunately, she finally reached the helicopter¡¯s hatch.


    The rescuer already waiting there extended a hand and pulled her up.


    After taking a moment to catch her breath, Ji Wei anxiously leaned against the hatch, looking toward the direction of the cable car.


    At this moment, the cold wind blew more fiercely, causing the cable car to shake more violently than ever, the metallic creaking at the top interface sounding terrifying.


    Ji Wei¡¯s palms kept breaking out in cold sweat!


    She saw Gu Moqian preparing to step onto the ropedder from the cable car.


    The two rescue team members were ready to assist.


    The ropedder shook ceaselessly in the gusting wind, and several times, Gu Moqian¡¯s hands missed the rescuers¡¯ grasp, causing Ji Wei¡¯s heart to jump to her throat.


    She silently prayed, hoping Gu Moqian could climb up safely.


    Suddenly, the metallic creaking stopped abruptly!


    Just as Gu Moqian had stepped one foot out, the entire cable car, unable to withstand the onught of the cold wind any longer, rapidly plummeted downwards, crashing into the woods more than ten meters deep below.


    Gu Moqian, unable to grab the ropedder in time, fell along with the cable car!


    "Mo Qian! No¡ª"


    Ji Weiy at the hatch, shouting desperately.


    Her cries echoed through the empty mountains with heart-wrenching reverberations.


    Below was the dense fog filling the sky, as the cable car plunged into the abyss of fog and disappeared, along with the sight of Gu Moqian.

 Chapter 81 Please Don’t Die

    <h4>Chapter 81: Chapter 81 Please Don¡¯t Die</h4>


    The faces of the two rescue personnel grew exceedingly grim.


    "Mo Qian, Mo Qian! Mo Qian..."


    Ji Wei desperately stretched her arm out of the cabin door, futilely trying to grasp something.


    Half of her head was already outside the cabin, the fierce wind cutting across her face like knives.


    Oblivious to the pain, Ji Wei screamed with every ounce of strength she had, over and over again.


    If Gu Moqian were dead, she wouldn¡¯t want to live either...


    "Miss, please calm down. It¡¯s very dangerous for you to act like this..."


    The rescue team member beside her frantically tried to pull her back into the cabin.


    Ji Wei, like a madwoman, lunged outward, her tears cascading down like broken strings of pearls. "Mo Qian, don¡¯t leave me! Mo Qian, I beg you¡ªdon¡¯t die! Please don¡¯t die..."


    Just as Ji Wei was sobbing so hard that she nearly fainted, suddenly, a figure faintly appeared from the thick fog.


    The two rescue personnel below immediately began pulling the safety rope upward.


    Gradually, through the dense mist, the tall and familiar figure of a man became visible to everyone¡¯s eyes.


    Gu Moqian had fallen along with the cable car moments earlier, but thankfully, the safety rope tied around his waist didn¡¯te loose, saving his life.


    Step by step, Gu Moqian moved closer to the softdder, and finally, the two rescue personnel securely helped him up.


    The instant Gu Moqian climbed back into the cabin through the door, Ji Wei felt as though she were dreaming.


    She stared at the living, breathing, handsome man before her, tears streaming uncontrobly down her face.


    Without hesitation, Ji Wei threw herself into Gu Moqian¡¯s embrace, holding him tightly. "I thought you were dead. I was so scared. Mo Qian, don¡¯t leave me again! Please don¡¯t leave..."


    She held him with such force, so tightly, her voice trembling and choked with residual terror.


    Gu Moqian¡¯s eyes turned red as he hugged her firmly, pressing his face against her neck, his voice hoarse and heavy: "Weiwei, I¡¯m okay now. Don¡¯t cry."


    Ji Wei raised her head from his chest, staring at him unblinkingly, as if needing to confirm once more that this wasn¡¯t a dream.


    "Mo Qian, it¡¯s really you..."


    Ji Wei reached out a trembling hand, tracing his brows and eyes, his refined features, and suddenly broke intoughter through her tears.


    Gu Moqian looked into her swollen red eyes, a sh of heartache flickering deep within his dark gaze.


    Suddenly, he lowered his head and kissed her lips.


    Having survived a catastrophe, the two kissed without concern for anything else.


    Their breaths intertwined, as though they wished they could embed each other into their very souls.


    Her tears mingled with their lips, salty and bitter, leaving his heart aching. He tenderly outlined the shape of her lips again and again, hoping that this deep and lingering kiss could soothe the terror left in her heart.


    After quite a while, they reluctantly parted.


    Gu Moqian reached out, brushing aside the stray strands of hair falling over Ji Wei¡¯s forehead and tucking them behind her ear. His voice was deep and hoarse: "It¡¯s alright now, don¡¯t cry. Since we survived against all odds, from now on, let¡¯s savor all the sweetness this world has to offer, together."


    Ji Wei nodded, tears surging out once again.


    That night was long and harrowing for the two of them.


    When they returned to Shanshui Manor, Ji Wei felt as though she werepletely drained.


    Gu Moqian held her icy hands, his face changing instantly, and resolutely ushered her into the bathroom.


    "Take a hot shower beforeing out."


    He looked at her pale face, his tone allowing no room for refusal.


    Having spent so much time up in the mountains, with the cold seeping into her body, he was afraid she might fall ill.


    After such a shocking and perilous brush with death, Ji Wei had no mind to shower. She hastily rinsed herself, then came out in her pajamas.


    Walking out of the bathroom, Ji Wei saw Gu Moqian already changed into his pajamas, leaning against the headboard with his eyes slightly closed.


    Hisplexion was far from good¡ªpale and ashen.


    Ji Wei¡¯s heart tightened as she stepped forward, reaching out to feel his forehead, only to withdraw her hand sharply in shock at the rming heat.


    "Mo Qian, you have a fever!"

 Chapter 82: Will You Carry Me to Bed, Please?

    <h4>Chapter 82: Chapter 82: Will You Carry Me to Bed, Please?</h4>


    "I¡¯m fine."


    Mo Qian responded indifferently. Seeing her hair still dripping wet, he frowned slightly and tugged her back toward the bathroom.


    "Sit still."


    Mo Qian brought over a chair and pressed her into it.


    Ji Wei looked at him in surprise as he turned away and returned soon after, holding a hairdryer, standing behind her.


    Turns out, he was going to help her dry her hair.


    Ji Wei pursed her lips, a sweet smile creeping onto her face.


    She sat obediently, letting his long fingers thread through her hair, feeling bothfortable and at ease.


    In front of them was a mirror, fogged up from the steam of their earlier shower.


    In the hazy reflection, their faint silhouettes were like a watercolor painting. Even though their features were blurred, the image of the two of them together was strikingly harmonious.


    A ripple spread in her heart, and the soft smile on Ji Wei¡¯s lips deepened.


    Noticing that she seemed lost in thought, Mo Qian tilted his head slightly and asked, "What are you looking at?"


    Ji Wei turned her head abruptly, her beautiful big eyes meeting his dark, ink-like gaze: "Mo Qian..."


    She called out softly.


    "Hmm?"


    His deep, maic voice was as captivating as a cello, and he casually turned off the hairdryer in his hand.


    "Tonight on the cable car, if it weren¡¯t for you, I might have..."


    Ji Wei¡¯s words trailed off as Mo Qian¡¯s slender fingers suddenly lifted her elegantly curved chin, his dark eyes locking onto hers for a few seconds of silence.


    Then, his thin lips pressed gently against hers.


    Mo Qian kissed her tenderly, bit by bit, and Ji Wei instinctively reached out to wrap her arms around his waist.


    Their emotions surged, the kiss growing more passionate until, reluctantly, they separated just a little.


    Ji Wei gasped for breath, her cheeks flushed crimson, her eyes shimmering with a haze of emotion.


    Having faced life and death with Mo Qian, her longing for him had intensified more than ever before.


    She wanted to give herselfpletely to this man tonight...


    "Mo Qian, carry me to the bed, will you?"


    Ji Wei, blushing, bit her bright red lips as she spoke.


    Her voice carried a hint of yful coquettishness, her suggestive words causing Mo Qian to freeze momentarily.


    But itsted only a moment before he smiled faintly, scooping her up into his arms and walking out of the bathroom.


    Mo Qian gently ced Ji Wei onto the bed.


    Lying on the soft mattress, a certain yearning within Ji Wei grew stronger and stronger.


    As Mo Qian moved to pull his hand away, Ji Wei suddenly stretched out her arms and wrapped them tightly around his neck.


    The man¡¯s head lowered; his perfectly handsome face was mere inches from hers, and a trace of surprise flickered in his ink-ck eyes.


    "Mo Qian, Mo Qian... I... I want..."


    Soft murmurs escaped her crimson lips, and her moist, glimmering eyes gazed deeply into his, as if making a silent invitation.


    Mo Qian looked down at the petite woman beneath him, his gaze growing darker, his breath growing just a touch uneven.


    Ji Wei boldly reached out her hands, undoing the buttons of his shirt one by one.


    It was her first time taking the initiative to undress a man, her movements both urgent and flustered.


    Soon, Mo Qian¡¯s fit, well-toned chest came into view, and Ji Wei¡¯s heart raced. Her trembling hands couldn¡¯t stop shaking.


    Awkwardly, she leaned forward and ced a kiss on the perfect contours of his chest.


    The heat of his skin startling her instantly, she froze.


    Ji Wei¡¯s eyes widened, and she quickly reached out to touch his forehead.


    The unusually high temperature showed no signs of subsiding, and Ji Wei instantly cast all her prior thoughts aside.


    She could no longer stay calm and abruptly sat up from the bed: "Mo Qian, wait here, I¡¯ll go find some fever medicine right away!"


    Ji Wei hurriedly slipped on her sandals and dashed out of the room in a panic.

 Chapter 83 Kissing her, he reached out to undo her nightgown

    <h4>Chapter 83: Chapter 83 Kissing her, he reached out to undo her nightgown</h4>


    After a while, Ji Wei came back breathlessly with the fever medicine.


    Seeing Mo Qian still standing there, Ji Wei quickly helped him to the bed and said sternly, "You¡¯re sick, lie down and rest."


    Mo Qian has always been in good health and usually doesn¡¯t get sick.


    If he hadn¡¯t given her his coat tonight and held her tightly in the cold, he wouldn¡¯t have caught a chill, right?


    Guilt filled Ji Wei¡¯s heart as she looked at the faint sickly red on Mo Qian¡¯s cheeks, making her feel even more remorseful.


    After applying a fever patch and feeding him the medicine, Ji Wei still felt uneasy and blurted out, "I should call a doctor toe over."


    After saying that, she hurried to find her phone, but Mo Qian grabbed her arm: "It¡¯s toote, Weiwei, you should sleep first. It¡¯s just a fever, it won¡¯t defeat me."


    They had already been through so much tonight; he didn¡¯t want her to worry about him any longer.


    "No, I can¡¯t sleep."


    Ji Wei insisted sternly.


    Looking at the flush on his cheeks, she suddenly remembered something and sprang up: "I don¡¯t even know how high your fever is, let me get a thermometer!"


    Having said that, she rushed out of the bedroom once again.


    When Ji Wei came back to the bedroom and walked to the bed, she saw Mo Qian with his eyes closed, seemingly asleep.


    His lips were pale, his brow slightly furrowed, and the sickly flush on his cheeks hadn¡¯t receded. Even in the grip of such a high fever, he remained incredibly handsome.


    Ji Wei sat down by the bed, staring at the thermometer in her hand, feeling a little troubled.


    The only kind she found was the old-fashioned type that had to be mped under the arm to measure temperature.


    She nced at Mo Qian.


    Noticing his somewhat rapid breathing, the air he exhaled warming the surrounding air.


    Ji Wei could no longer care about much else and hurriedlypletely unbuttoned his half-open shirt, then reached out to ce the thermometer under his armpit.


    After waiting for a few minutes, she took out the thermometer and saw that Mo Qian¡¯s fever had reached 39.5 degrees!


    She was so startled that the thermometer slipped onto the quilt.


    This wasn¡¯t a solution to let the fever run its course. Even if she called a doctor now, it would nearly take an hour.


    Ji Wei suddenly remembered that she had had a high fever several times when she was a child, and at that time, her grandmother used warm water to wipe her body to reduce the fever physically.


    She quickly went to the bathroom to fetch a basin of warm water, soaked a towel, and then removed all of Mo Qian¡¯s clothing, leaving only his underwear.


    At this moment, Ji Wei¡¯s mind was solely focused on worrying about Mo Qian¡¯s illness, with no room to concern herself with his nearly naked body.


    She picked up the wet towel and began to carefully wipe his feverish body.


    After about ten minutes of wiping, Ji Wei felt that Mo Qian¡¯s body temperature had slightly reduced, and his scorching rapid breaths had somewhat calmed, allowing her to secretly breathe a sigh of relief.


    Yet she didn¡¯t dare rx, holding the thermometer in her hand and measuring Mo Qian¡¯s temperature every fifteen minutes.


    In the meantime, Ji Wei sumbed to her sleepiness and dozed off for a while.


    Suddenly waking from her slumber, Ji Wei nced at the wall clock and found it was past three in the morning.


    She reached out to feel Mo Qian¡¯s forehead; his temperature was still high, but it seemed a bit better than before.


    She then prepared to take his temperature again.


    Leaning over him, she focused on slipping the thermometer under his armpit when suddenly, a pair of arms swiftly reached out, pulling her into his embrace.


    Ji Weiy on Mo Qian¡¯s chest, her mind goingpletely nk.


    Through the thin nightgown, Mo Qian¡¯s strong and powerful heartbeat seemed to echo in her heart, intensely clear.


    The coolness of her body made him feel veryfortable.


    Mo Qian held her greedily, inhaling her unique fragrance.


    "Mo Qian..."


    Ji Wei came back to her senses and looked up at him, softly calling his name.


    Yet in the next moment, arge hand suddenly cupped the back of her head, pressing her down.


    Before Ji Wei could react, her lips were tightly pressed against his.


    The woman¡¯s soft, cool body made Mo Qian reluctant to let go.


    In his muddled state, he only wanted to be closer to her skin, so he continued to kiss her while reaching to untie the straps of her nightgown.

 Chapter 84: He forcefully left scratch marks on his broad back

    <h4>Chapter 84: Chapter 84: He forcefully left scratch marks on his broad back</h4>


    Gu Moqian tugged a few times but couldn¡¯t pull it off, so in his frustration, he tore the nightgown from her body with force.


    Ji Wei waspletely stunned by his sudden action.


    The abrupt removal of her nightgown left her exposed to a chill, a sensation that jolted her back to awareness.


    Ji Wei tried to push herself away from Gu Moqian, but just as her lips barely moved an inch, he sped the back of her head again, capturing her in an even fiercer kiss that consumed her senses.


    Gu Moqian was burning in a haze; the scorching heat within him tormented him far more than the fever consuming his body.


    He couldn¡¯t control himself, instinctively kissing, sucking...


    Even amidst his high fever, he domineeringly imed every inch of her lips and tongue, his tongue tangled tightly with hers.


    His kisses trailed down her neck, sending waves of electricity through her body, making Ji Wei tremble uncontrobly.


    Her pupils dted sharply, and a shiver spread almost instantly from where his lipsnded, coursing through every nerve in her body.


    Ji Wei¡¯s heart pounded wildly, so intense she felt as though she might die in the next second.


    Her breathing grew shallow and fractured. Before she even realized it, soft moans escaped her lips, tinged with a quivering sob, driving thest remnants of the man¡¯sposure to the brink.


    Gu Moqian felt a taut string in his mind snap suddenly.


    The next moment, Ji Wei¡¯s body convulsed in a spasm of pain, and in the throes of it, she involuntarily wed deep marks into his broad back.


    ...


    Gu Moqian lowered his head and met Ji Wei¡¯s gaze, her eyes veiled with a misty sheen of tears.


    Sweat stered her hair to her forehead, her cheeks flushed like ripe tomatoes, faint kiss marks trailing down her fair neck...


    In an instant of rity, Gu Moqian realized what he had done. He was just about to withdraw when Ji Wei, wincing in pain, hurriedly stopped him: "Mo Qian, don¡¯t..."


    Her voice was as soft and delicate as a feather, like a pebble dropped into the depths of his heart, creating ripples that resonated deeply.


    Gu Moqian froze and didn¡¯t move further.


    His dark, deep eyes quietly studied her.


    They stared at each other like that, and the room grew utterly silent.


    Ji Wei, flustered, grabbed the pillow beside her and clumsily covered her face with it.


    Gu Moqian: "..."


    "...Just let me catch my breath."


    Ji Wei¡¯s muffled voice came out from beneath the pillow.


    Seeing her shy demeanor, Gu Moqian felt a tingling sensation spread through his chest.


    He did nothing else but slowly leaned down, wrapping her gently in his arms.


    A slight dizziness remained from the fever clouding his mind, but an indescribable fulfillment and sweetness filled Gu Moqian¡¯s heart.


    Even if he stayed like this, simply holding her to sleep, it was enough for him.


    Ji Wei could feel the man¡¯s heart pounding like a drum, her initial tension slowly ebbing away.


    After a while, Gu Moqian¡¯s hoarse voice murmured by her ear, "Does it... still hurt?"


    Ji Wei, her face burning, shook her head: "It¡¯s much better now."


    The heat of his breath brushed against Ji Wei¡¯s ear, each word fanning the mes of her sensitive nerves.


    Ji Wei¡¯s heightened tension caused her whole body to stiffen, momentarily making her forget about the pain.


    Gu Moqian held her quietly, not daring to move, afraid that any slight gesture might cause her pain again.


    Ji Wei could sense his tender caution, and a warmth spread through her chest, filling it to the brim.


    Most men were creatures driven by desire, rushing through such moments, focused only on their own pleasure, without regard for the woman¡¯s experience.


    But Gu Moqian was not like most. He was the exception. The only one.


    Ji Wei suddenly mustered up her courage, looked up at him, and said, "It¡¯s okay, Mo Qian. I can bear it..."

 Chapter 85 Last Night’s Intense Exercise

    <h4>Chapter 85: Chapter 85 Last Night¡¯s Intense Exercise</h4>


    Gu Moqian knew Ji Wei had feared pain since she was young, and especially this kind of pain.


    He refused, still holding her tightly in his arms.


    Ji Wei waited for a moment, but seeing him remainpletely still, she began to feel a bit guilty.


    Gu Moqian was a man full of vigor, and she knew how difficult it must be for him to endure like this.


    Moreover, being held so intimately in this position, Ji Wei¡¯s heart felt as if a little kitten were scratching at it¡ªtingling, itchy, and unbearably restless.


    It seemed she wanted something.


    Biting her rosy lips, Ji Wei steeled herself with resolve.


    The next moment, she suddenly buried her face into his broad, solid chest, rubbing against it, and even pressed her lips to kiss the firm contours of his chest, which remained heated from his lingering fever.


    Gu Moqian stiffened abruptly, his gaze burning with a fiery desire. The rationality he had been struggling to maintain waspletely ignited by the little woman¡¯s bold initiative.


    In an instant, Ji Wei found herself tightly enclosed in Gu Moqian¡¯s embrace. His deep, hoarse voice murmured by her ear, "Bear with it."


    ...


    The next morning, when Ji Wei opened her eyes, sunlight was already streaming into the room through the window.


    She turned her head to look to the side, finding no sign of Gu Moqian. Puzzled, she tried to get out of bed to search for him, but a certain unbearable aching made her suddenly recall the blush-inducing events ofst night.


    Even though Gu Moqian had been running a high fever, his energy had been astonishing.


    He had taken her time and again, until she ultimately couldn¡¯t withstand it and fell into an exhausted sleep.


    Ji Wei covered her burning cheeks, flustered for several seconds.


    Just as she tried to pull the nket aside, she suddenly saw Gu Moqian¡¯s tall, lean figure appear at the doorway.


    He was dressed in a crisp white shirt, its sleeves neatly rolled up to reveal an elegant watch on his wrist. ck cks and matching leather shoespleted his polished look as he walked towards her with poised confidence.


    Ji Wei froze for a moment and then realized she wasn¡¯t wearing anything. Hastily, she clutched the nket and pulled it tightly around herself.


    Gu Moqian gazed at her shy expression, his eyes lighting up with amusement.


    Leaning down, he looked at her flushed face and chuckled softly, "Mrs. Gu, not going to sleep a little longer?"


    The phrase "Mrs. Gu" stunned Ji Wei for several seconds.


    Seeing her dazed expression, the smile at the corner of Gu Moqian¡¯s lips deepened.


    As she snapped back to reality, Ji Wei suddenly remembered the fever Gu Moqian had suffered through the night before.


    She couldn¡¯t fret over her embarrassment any longer and anxiously raised her hand to touch his forehead.


    The skin she touched didn¡¯t feel abnormally hot anymore.


    Still uneasy, Ji Wei reached up andpared it to the skin on her own forehead. The temperature felt simr, and she finally exhaled in relief, saying, "Thank goodness, the fever¡¯s broken."


    Gu Moqian¡¯s strong constitution seemed to have ovee the illness with remarkable speed.


    Just as Ji Wei finished her thought, she heard Gu Moqian nod seriously and say, "Yes, that¡¯s entirely thanks to Mrs. Gu¡¯s efforts."


    Ji Wei waved her hand modestly, "I was quite flusteredst night, honestly, I didn¡¯t do much..."


    "All that exercisest night made me sweat so much, and that¡¯s what broke the fever. You worked hard, Mrs. Gu." Gu Moqian¡¯s dark eyes locked onto her, and he spoke with such seriousness.


    At the mention ofst night¡¯s events, Ji Wei¡¯s cheeks instantly grew warm again.


    She avoided his gaze in a flustered attempt to calm herself.


    Gu Moqian suddenly took her hand, his eyes filled with concern. "Does it still hurt?"


    Ji Wei looked at him without responding.


    "I promise you, starting next time, it won¡¯t hurt again."


    And also...


    Next time!

 Chapter 86 The First Piece of Evidence

    <h4>Chapter 86: Chapter 86 The First Piece of Evidence</h4>


    Ji Wei¡¯s body now felt as if it had been crushed by a wheel, aching unbearably.


    She truly didn¡¯t want to think about the next time!


    So she quickly changed the subject: "Mo Qian, don¡¯t you need to go to work today?"


    Gu Moqian pulled her into his arms and spoke gently above her head, "I have other ns today. I¡¯m taking you somewhere."


    "Where?"


    Ji Wei looked at him curiously.


    "You¡¯ll know soon enough."


    Ji Wei didn¡¯t ask further, instead hugging his waist, leaning her head against him, and nodding lightly. "Alright."


    After holding each other for a while, Ji Wei reluctantly started to get up.


    She nced at the nightgown tossed aside, torn and ruined duringst night¡¯s passion, and hesitated slightly before saying, "Mo Qian, my clothes..."


    Gu Moqian tenderly pinched her flushed cheeks, "I¡¯ll go get them for you."


    The wardrobe was in the small room next door. Taking advantage of Gu Moqian¡¯s turned back as he left, Ji Wei quickly lifted the nket.


    Exhaustion from the night before had overwhelmed her, and she had fallen asleep without a shower!


    The moment her feet touched the ground, Ji Wei almost copsed from the weakness in her legs, barely managing to grab the edge of the bed for support.


    As her gaze rose, she suddenly caught sight of the stark crimson stain on the pristine white bedsheet...


    Ji Wei¡¯s face instantly flushed red, the color sweeping down to her neck. She quickly yanked up the nket to cover the stain, then rushed into the bathroom, her hands pressed over her burning cheeks.


    Ji Wei¡¯s entire body was sore, and her shower took much longer than usual.


    Meanwhile, Sister-inw Zhang appeared suddenly at the bedroom door. Seeing it half-ajar and no one inside, she gathered her courage and stepped in.


    At Shanshui Manor, all the bedsheets were changed daily. Sister-inw Zhang ced the fresh sheets to the side, lifted the nket, and began to rece them.


    When that crimson mark came into view, Sister-inw Zhang froze, a mix of astonishment and shock flitting across her eyes.


    After a few seconds of hesitation, she abruptly took out her phone and pressed the shutter to capture the bloodstain on the bedsheet.


    "What do you think you¡¯re doing?"


    Gu Moqian¡¯s cold voice suddenly sounded from behind.


    Sister-inw Zhang was so startled she almost dropped her phone. She hastily shoved it into her pocket, turned pale, and stammered, "Mr. Gu, I... I was just changing the bedsheet."


    Gu Moqian¡¯s sharp gaze swept across Sister-inw Zhang¡¯s face, and his lips tightened into a thin line.


    He said nothing, his imposing presence intimidating Sister-inw Zhang to the point she didn¡¯t even dare to breathe, lowering her head and remainingpletely motionless.


    The cold, oppressive silence was torturous for Sister-inw Zhang, and beads of sweat gradually formed on her forehead.


    After a long pause, Gu Moqian finally spoke, "Don¡¯t change the sheet yet. Leave."


    "Yes, sir."


    In that moment, Sister-inw Zhang felt as if her soul had nearly fled her body.


    Upon hearing Gu Moqian¡¯smand, she wasted no time, quickly turning and walking out of the room, carefully shutting the door behind her.


    Gu Moqian watched Sister-inw Zhang¡¯s tense, hurried retreat, his gaze darkening, his expression cold and enigmatic.


    Ji Wei stepped out of the bathroom wearing a bathrobe, and found Gu Moqian standing by the bed with a dress draped over his arm, his gaze fixed intently on a particr spot.


    At first, Ji Wei didn¡¯t realize what was happening, but after taking a few steps, a sudden tension snapped in her mind.


    The crimson stain on the bed had been discovered!


    Ji Wei¡¯s eyes widened, and she quickly ran to Gu Moqian, swiftly lifting the nket to cover the sheet. Then, feigning nonchnce, she stretched out her other hand and smiled at him, "Mo Qian, give me the clothes."


    Gu Moqian¡¯s lips curved into an almost teasing smile, "What are you trying to hide? I¡¯ve already seen it."


    "Seen what?"


    Ji Wei pretended to act clueless.


    Gu Moqian suddenly leaned in, his warm breath brushing against her delicate earlobe, "Evidence of your first time, given to me."

 Chapter 87 Mr. Gu, Can You Hold Back a Little?

    <h4>Chapter 87: Chapter 87 Mr. Gu, Can You Hold Back a Little?</h4>


    Watching the woman¡¯s ears gradually turn pink, Mo Qian¡¯s eyes filled with an even deeper amusement as he continued, "I¡¯ll be keeping this bedsheet."


    Ji Wei hurriedly interjected, "No, no need for that, right? Keeping it doesn¡¯t serve any purpose."


    "It signifies that your body and soulpletely belong to me. To me, it¡¯s very precious," Mo Qian replied with a smile in his eyes and a deep, sultry voice.


    Ji Wei: "..."


    She truly couldn¡¯t win against this man!


    Ji Wei didn¡¯t want to continue this topic any longer. Every time it came up, it would inevitably remind her ofst night¡¯s passionate affair. Besides, if Mo Qian¡¯s desires were stirred again, she wouldn¡¯t stand a chance of going out today!


    She quickly pointed to the dress draped over his arm and said, "I need to change my clothes."


    Mo Qian raised an eyebrow, looking at her quietly, as if he didn¡¯t understand her meaning.


    Ji Wei grew anxious with him and simply reached out to grab the dress from his arm.


    Mo Qian suddenly pulled on the other end of the dress, exerting just enough force to tug the petite woman directly into his embrace, holding her tightly.


    The scent of her body wash was utterly intoxicating, and Mo Qian¡¯s heart stirred uncontrobly. He couldn¡¯t resist lowering his head to lightly peck her lips.


    "Mmm..."


    Mo Qian¡¯s kiss deepened gradually, leaving Ji Wei feeling weak and powerless,pletely melted against him.


    His thin lips moved from her flushed cheek to her ear, his deep, maic voice murmuring, "Tell me, where are you most sensitive, hmm?"


    "I... I won¡¯t!"


    Ji Wei instinctively resisted his teasing. As soon as the words left her lips, she felt the tip of his warm tongue lightly flick against her delicate earlobe.


    A sudden tingling sensation coursed through her, making her shudder and cry out softly, unable to hold back.


    Ji Wei gasped for breath, ring at the man with wide eyes. "Mr. Gu, can you show some restraint? Wasn¡¯t it enough topletely devour mest night?"


    "Not enough."


    Mo Qian answered matter-of-factly, so much so that Ji Wei rolled her eyes in frustration.


    Her entire body ached, and she could barely walk, all right!


    Clearly, she couldn¡¯t let this man have his way too often, or he would bepletely spoiled!


    "Then I refuse."


    Ji Wei pouted, wriggling out of his embrace and putting several meters of distance between them, adopting a stance like she¡¯d rather die than go along with him.


    There was no way Mo Qian would force her, right?


    Hmph!


    Her puffed-up, indignant expression only served to further brighten his mood.


    With a seductive curve to his lips, Mo Qian narrowed his eyes and walked toward her.


    "Don¡¯t... don¡¯te any closer. I won¡¯t yield to you!"


    Ji Wei boldly crossed her arms over her chest, standing firm.


    Mo Qian took another step forward.


    Ji Wei¡¯s back pressed against the wall, leaving her with nowhere to retreat!


    "Don¡¯t¡ª"


    As he leaned toward her, Ji Wei panicked and immediately shut her eyes tight.


    Instead, Mo Qian¡¯s thin lips merely brushed lightly past her cheek and settled near her ear. His deep, maic voice slowly whispered, "I¡¯ll let you off for today. After all, we still have a lifetime ahead of us to kiss slowly... and do everything else, slowly."


    If it weren¡¯t for the very important matter he had to attend to next, there was no way he¡¯d let such a tempting opportunity slip by.


    With those words, he stuffed the dress directly into Ji Wei¡¯s hands. "Go on, wear it."


    Ji Wei stood there, clutching the dress in a daze, hardly able to believe it.


    Mo Qian was really letting her off this time?


    Closing the bathroom door, Ji Wei took off her robe as confusion lingered in her mind.


    Her hands subconsciously moved to put on the dress, but no matter how she tried, the dress hung loose and untidy. It was only then that Ji Wei suddenly realized the dress had a long strap at the back that needed weaving and tying!


    Of all the clothes he could¡¯ve chosen, Mo Qian just had to pick the mostplicated dress...


    He must have done it on purpose!


    Annoyed, Ji Wei bit her bright red lips, deliberated for a few moments, and then called out toward the bathroom door, "Mo Qian, can youe in for a moment?"


    "Alright."


    The man¡¯s answer came swiftly.


    Soon enough, the bathroom door was pushed open.


    Ji Wei stood sideways to the door, one hand holding up the long hem of the dress, the other reaching awkwardly behind her.


    Mo Qian¡¯s deep gaze swept over her body, lingering for a few seconds on the smooth, elegant line of her bare back.


    His eyes darkened, and his Adam¡¯s apple bobbed subtly.


    Ji Wei was feeling rather frustrated but still managed to keep a smile for him. "Can you help me tie the strap?"

 Chapter 88: Please Advise for the Rest of My Life

    <h4>Chapter 88: Chapter 88: Please Advise for the Rest of My Life</h4>


    Gu Moqian walked up behind her and slowly extended his hand to pick up the ribbon.


    In front of the two of them was a mirror.


    Ji Wei clearly saw in the mirror that Gu Moqian was bowing his head, his slender fingers focused and serious as he tied her dress ribbon.


    He was dressed in a white shirt and ck trousers, standing tall and elegant. By her side, he was so dazzling, so captivating.


    The image of the two of them standing together was as beautiful as a dream.


    Ji Wei suddenly felt her anger dissipate.


    She understood that from this moment on, there would be a man who loved her as his life.


    When the weather turned cold, he would put a coat over her; when she caught a cold, he would feed her medicine; even small things like helping her dress could be entrusted to him at any time.


    Seeing the little woman staring at the mirror in a daze, Gu Moqian gently ced his hands on her smooth shoulders and softly asked, "Do I look good in the mirror?"


    His cool fingertips touched her delicate skin, and Ji Wei felt as though an electric current pulsed out from where his fingers met her, instantly coursing through her entire body.


    A strange sensation welled up inside her.


    Ji Wei quickly snapped back to reality, turned to look at him, and said, "Yes, the one I like looks very good."


    This rare seriousness in her tone caught Gu Moqian off guard for a moment.


    Then, he wrapped his arms around her from behind, his warm body pressing close to her back. Holding her hand, he guided her forefinger to write a few English letters on the mirror, which was still faintly misted: G LOVE J.


    Gu Moqian loves Ji Wei.


    She stared nkly at the letters and a smile slowly blossomed on her lips.


    After breakfast, the two walked out together.


    Twenty-some minutester, the Maybach stopped steadily at the entrance of Rongcheng¡¯s Civil Affairs Bureau.


    Ji Wei stared at the three golden characters in astonishment, her eyes widening.


    "Do you still remember what you said in the cable car?"


    Gu Moqian intertwined his fingers with hers, lifted his deep eyes to look at her, and spoke slowly, word by word: "You said your only regret was not yet having married me."


    So, he brought her here to ensure she wouldn¡¯t have any regrets?


    Ji Wei looked at him, her gaze fiery: "Mo Qian, isn¡¯t this... a bit rushed?"


    "Not rushed at all," Gu Moqian corrected her firmly, "A long time ago, I made the decision that in this lifetime, it must be you."


    A long time ago...


    Ji Wei stared at him nkly, unable to immediately grasp the meaning behind his words.


    "Let¡¯s go in."


    Gu Moqian held her hand and led her toward the Civil Affairs Bureau hall.


    Today must be a good day; inside, many couples had gathered.


    Chen Ke had been waiting there early and, upon seeing Gu Moqian and Ji Wei walk in, immediately rushed over to hand them a file bag containing their household registration books and identity cards.


    Ji Wei epted it in surprise and nced at Gu Moqian.


    He even prepared her household registration book in advance! Had he already nned this?


    After handing their documents to the staff at the Civil Affairs Bureau, the two of them walked into the adjacent photo room.


    "Okay, move a little closer together, tilt your heads toward the center, yes, smile." The photographer directed them from the front.


    Ji Wei felt a little nervous facing the camera and, as she moved closer to the center, she overdid it and identally bumped her head against Gu Moqian¡¯s.


    Ouch!


    She rubbed her sore scalp and cautiously nced at the man beside her.


    Gu Moqian¡¯s lips curved into a smile, elegant and charming.


    Without a shred of me, he raised his hand and affectionately patted her head.


    Then, Ji Wei suddenly felt warmth on her waist¡ªit was Gu Moqian pulling her closer to his side, the two of them snugly nestled together.


    "Alright, ready again. One, two, three, cheese!"


    Click¡ª


    The camera lens froze this moment in time.


    She wore a white dress, her smile bright and stunning. And he, dressed only in a white shirt, his radiant eyes and celestial features breathtakingly handsome.


    Looking at the photo on the small red marriage certificate, Ji Wei still felt a bit dazed, almost unable to believe it.


    From this day forward, Gu Moqian was her husband.


    Gu Moqian suddenly raised his hand to lightly lift her delicate chin, his starry eyes gazing deeply into hers. With a tender smile on his lips and a voice husky and enchanting, he said, "Mrs. Gu, I look forward to spending the rest of my life with you."

 Chapter 89: In the Next, Next Life You Will Still Bear My Surname

    <h4>Chapter 89: Chapter 89: In the Next, Next Life You Will Still Bear My Surname</h4>


    "Mr. Gu, looks like you¡¯re stuck with me for this lifetime. If you regret it now, you¡¯re still in time¡ªjust step out of the Civil Affairs Bureau."


    Ji Wei looked back at him and yfully blinked her eyes.


    "No regrets."


    Gu Moqian¡¯s reply was resolute. Then he leaned closer to her ear and whispered, "I want you in the next lifetime, and the one after that too. All of them, carrying my surname."


    Ji Wei stared at him, stunned. The deep, rich timbre of his voice echoed in her ears. The sharp contours of his clean-cut face were as striking as when they first met, a subtle curve lifting the corner of his mouth. Those profound eyes held an ocean of emotion, and within the rity of his pupils, there was only her. Unique and irreceable.


    Ji Wei felt her breath hitch momentarily, then her lips curled into a radiant smile.


    Fingers tightly entwined, the two walked out of the Civil Affairs Bureau together.


    At that moment, across the street, a red Ferrari was parked by the roadside, gleaming almost aggressively under the sunlight.


    Inside the car, a woman fixed her gaze on the couple emerging from the bureau. Her eyes were filled with unwillingness, and her hands gripped the steering wheel so tightly that her knuckles stood out sharply.


    On the passenger seat beside her, a mobile phone screen was still lit, disying a photo.


    On pristine white sheets, a vivid red stain stood out ringly.


    As the couple approached a Maybach parked nearby, the woman suppressed the burning jealousy in her heart. Snatching up her phone, she swiftly dialed a number.


    Gu Moqian was just about to open the car door when the phone in his pocket suddenly began to ring.


    He pulled it out, nced at the screen, and without hesitation, ended the call.


    "Who was calling?" Ji Wei asked curiously.


    "Spam call."


    Gu Moqian replied without the slightest change in expression and gantly opened the car door for her.


    Watching Gu Moqian coldly reject her call, the woman across the street flushed with anger, her chest heaving violently.


    She paused for a moment, then refused to give up and redialed the number.


    Before Gu Moqian could end the call a second time, Ji Wei caught sight of the number shing on the screen.


    She recognized it¡ªit was the same number that had called yesterday when they were at Nanshan. The woman who grew up with Gu Moqian, the one he¡¯d known since childhood...


    Ji Wei froze momentarily.


    Seeing that Gu Moqian was about to hang up again, Ji Wei suddenly blurted out, "Are you sure it¡¯s okay not to answer? What if it¡¯s something urgent?"


    As soon as she spoke, Gu Moqian abruptly lifted his gaze and nced across the street.


    Noticing the slight change in his expression, Ji Wei followed his line of sight.


    From the red Ferrari parked across the road, a woman stepped out. Her makeup was meticulous, her attire trendy¡ªshe wore a ck-and-white professional suit that exuded elegance. Upon first nce, she seemed like a woman of poise and refinement.


    Who... is she?


    An rm bell rang in Ji Wei¡¯s heart. Without realizing it, she reached out and held onto Gu Moqian¡¯s arm.


    The two of them stood side by side, watching as the woman approached step by step.


    She was tall and statuesque, teetering on high heels, her legs sheathed in nude stockings. Her fairplexion andposed demeanor exuded confidence. A gentle smile yed on her lips as she stopped before them.


    A faint perfume wafted from her¡ªsubtle, yet unmistakably a limited-edition fragrance from a luxury brand.


    Though the woman seemed understated and elegant, the sharp angles of her brows carried a trace of intimidation that made Ji Wei¡¯s heart instinctively tighten.


    The woman raised the phone in her hand, the one where her earlier call had been disconnected, and gently smiled, her crimson lips parting as she spoke softly: "Moqian, I¡¯m back. Two years apart, yet you¡¯re still the same¡ªyou never like answering my calls. But don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t hold it against you."

 Chapter 90 First Meeting, I am Zhu Jianian

    <h4>Chapter 90: Chapter 90 First Meeting, I am Zhu Jianian</h4>


    The woman¡¯s tone carried an air of familiarity, calm yet subtly provocative, like a needle hidden within cotton.


    The confidence in her expression made it seem as though she was the one closest to Gu Moqian.


    Ji Wei frowned, her gaze instantly turning colder.


    The moment the woman started speaking, Ji Wei recognized the voice¡ªit was the same person who had called yesterday!


    Gu Moqian¡¯s childhood friend, huh.


    It seemed like quite a formidable rival.


    Ji Wei¡¯s fingers tightened slightly around Gu Moqian¡¯s arm, an inexplicable sour jealousy welling up in her heart.


    This woman had known Gu Moqian long before she did.


    Though the woman disyed a familiar demeanor, Gu Moqian¡¯s expression remained distant, offering only the faintest nod, not bothering to utter even a single word in response.


    The woman, undeterred, turned her gaze to Ji Wei and said, "Apologies for showing up so abruptly like this."


    She pressed her lips into a gentle smile, her voice soft and tender, "Hello, it¡¯s nice to meet you. I¡¯m Zhu Jianian."


    Zhu Jianian...


    Ji Wei¡¯s grip tightened further.


    Noticing the shift in her emotions, Gu Moqian turned his head to look at her deeply, his eyes emanating a steady warmth.


    He raised his hand, his broad palm covering her soft, delicate fingers, gently patting them in reassurance.


    Gu Moqian¡¯s attentive gestures toward Ji Wei did not escape Zhu Jianian¡¯s notice, and for a fleeting moment, a cold glint shed in her eyes.


    This woman named Zhu Jianian, though outwardly graceful and kind, speaking with politeness, gave Ji Wei an unshakable sense of hostility.


    As another woman, Ji Wei could keenly sense that faint yet undeniable animosity.


    Still, Ji Wei thought, her man wasn¡¯t someone any woman could covet¡ªnot even Gu Moqian¡¯s childhood friend!


    Ji Wei suddenly lifted her gaze, a faint smile tugging at her lips as she looked at Zhu Jianian, "You¡¯re my husband¡¯s friend, right? Hello, I¡¯m Ji Wei. Or, you could call me... Mrs. Gu."


    As she spoke, her hand naturally slid around Gu Moqian¡¯s sturdy waist, making an unmistakable deration of ownership: This man is mine!


    When she said "Mrs. Gu," her eyes slightly dropped, and a faint blush of shyness tinged her cheeks.


    Watching the pair before her, so evidently close and intimate, even Zhu Jianian¡¯s impable self-restraint couldn¡¯t prevent a knot of discontent from forming in her heart.


    Gu Moqian should have been hers; she had known him far longer than Ji Wei...


    And yet, why¡ªwhy was the person standing by Gu Moqian¡¯s side not Zhu Jianian?


    "Oh, and since we just got our marriage certificate, as my husband¡¯s friend, why don¡¯t you join us for a meal? Consider it a celebration for us," Ji Wei added, noticing Zhu Jianian¡¯s pale expression and the way her lips pressed tightly together in silence.


    The words "marriage certificate" struck Zhu Jianian like a fatal blow, rendering her speechless for several moments.


    A sharp pain bloomed in her chest.


    Until now, she¡¯d held onto a sliver of hope, imagining the two of them had onlye to the civil affairs bureau for some unrted matter¡ªand hadn¡¯t actually registered their marriage.


    But now, even that final hope had been crushed.


    She was bound to be just one step toote!


    Though Ji Wei¡¯s words repeatedly struck at her, Zhu Jianian merely bit down hard on her lip, leaving deep imprints from her teeth, never breakingposure or losing her cool.


    "Sorry, I¡¯ve just started at Gu Family and still have much business to familiarize myself with, so I won¡¯t be able to join you for dinner," Zhu Jianian responded, her tone neutral as she gathered her emotions.


    "Oh, that really is a pity," Ji Wei replied, feigning regret.


    Zhu Jianian managed a stiff smile.


    But soon enough, she recovered her poise and turned toward Gu Moqian.


    "Moqian, today¡¯s my first day at work. As your friend, you could at least show me some courtesy bying to thepany to wee me. Otherwise, don¡¯t me me if Iin to Aunt Huiru," Zhu Jianian said casually, lightening her tone with a yful note and even sticking out her tongue at him.


    She refused to believe that her nearly two-decade bond with Gu Moqian could be inferior to the connection he had with this intruding Ji Wei!

 Chapter 91: Stay away from my husband!

    <h4>Chapter 91: Chapter 91: Stay away from my husband!</h4><h4></h4>


    Ji Wei knew that the Aunt Huiru Zhu Jianian mentioned was none other than Gu Moqian¡¯s mother, Nan Huiru.


    With just a simple sentence, Zhu Jianian unted her unusually close rtionship with Gu Moqian¡¯s mother. It was an outright provocation directed at Ji Wei.


    Ji Wei¡¯s eyes gradually turned cold.


    She tightened her arms around Gu Moqian¡¯s waist, rested her head on the man¡¯s shoulder, and lifted her bright, sparkling eyes. Her words were calm but distant: "Jianian, although you and Moqian are friends, I hope you¡¯ll be mindful of your boundaries when you speak."


    As Ji Wei spoke, she looked up at the handsome contours of the man¡¯s face. Then, out of the blue, she stood on tiptoe and kissed Gu Moqian¡¯s cheek.


    Looking at the red lipstick mark she had left on the man¡¯s fair skin, Ji Wei curled her lips into a smile before turning to Zhu Jianian and saying, "After all, Moqian is my husband. If you talk to him like that, I¡¯ll get jealous."


    Zhu Jianian¡¯s expression froze, betraying a hint of awkwardness. She hesitated for a moment before apologizing: "Sorry, Ji Wei. I¡¯ve known Moqian since we were kids; our rtionship is like family. I didn¡¯t think much earlier, so..."


    "I won¡¯t hold what happened earlier against you, but from now on, I hope you¡¯ll keep your distance from my husband!"


    As Ji Wei spoke, her tone grew unintentionally sharp.


    Zhu Jianian was struck speechless, left standing stiffly in ce by Ji Wei¡¯s audacious words.


    The striking red lipstick mark on the man¡¯s face stung Zhu Jianian¡¯s eyes, making her fingers tremble uncontrobly.


    Gu Moqian turned his head to look at the little woman beside him. Seeing her stern expression as she stared unwaveringly at the rival who coveted her man, he couldn¡¯t help but think she resembled a lioness fiercely guarding her territory.


    It was the first time he had seen her so serious about him, and it filled Gu Moqian¡¯s heart with delight, causing the corners of his lips to curve into an enchanting smile.


    A woman who gets jealous for him¡ªadorable beyond measure.


    "Let¡¯s go."


    Gu Moqian reached out confidently, wrapping an arm around her shoulder, and gently guided her into the car.


    Then he bent down, preparing to step inside as well.


    Zhu Jianian quickly called out upon seeing this, "Moqian, are you really not going back to thepany?"


    Bam!


    The only response to her was the sound of the car door mming shut.


    From the moment she arrived, Gu Moqian hadn¡¯t uttered a single word to her!


    Two years had passed, and he had nothing to say to her? Back when they were children, they got along so well!


    Fury bubbled in Zhu Jianian¡¯s chest. Her long nails pressed so hard into her palms that the pain couldn¡¯t even begin to alleviate her seething resentment.


    The Maybach sped away from her view, leaving her standing there.


    Zhu Jianian took a deep breath and pulled out her phone to call Nan Huiru. "Aunt Huiru, Moqian married that woman. What should I do..."


    A trace of a sob crept into her pleading voice.


    Who knows what Nan Huiru said to Zhu Jianian, but a momentter, Zhu Jianian nodded again and again. "Alright, I understand, Aunt Huiru. I won¡¯t give up!"


    Hanging up the phone, Zhu Jianian concealed her vulnerability, her eyes fixed on the Maybach disappearing at the end of the road. The corners of her lips slowly curved into a cold smile.


    ...


    Inside the car.


    Ji Wei leaned her head against Gu Moqian¡¯s shoulder, still mulling over the tense confrontation with Zhu Jianian earlier. Her heart felt a bit sour.


    She had just registered her marriage with Gu Moqian, only to encounter his childhood sweetheart right away. Anyone would feel unsettled.


    "Why aren¡¯t you saying anything?"


    Ji Wei was usually so lively¡ªwhy was she so quiet now?


    "What should I say? That your childhood sweetheart?"


    Ji Wei lifted her head from his shoulder, her tone carrying a thread of grievance.


    The resentment was obvious in her tone¡ªa faint bitterness lingering in the air.


    Gu Moqian¡¯s slender fingers tilted her chin upward, his dark gaze locking onto her clear eyes. "Are you jealous, hmm?"

 Chapter 92: You Are Mine, No Other Woman Can Covet You

    <h4>Chapter 92: Chapter 92: You Are Mine, No Other Woman Can Covet You</h4><h4></h4>


    Ji Wei didn¡¯t really want her mood to be affected by Zhu Jianian¡¯s appearance.


    Today was supposed to be her and Gu Moqian¡¯s wedding day. By all rights, the two of them should be blissfully happy.


    Yet, they had barely stepped out of the civil affairs bureau before they started bickering.


    Ji Wei tried her best to appear calm andposed, and she began, "Other women are eyeing you like tigers stalking their prey. If I said I didn¡¯t mind, I¡¯d be lying."


    Gu Moqian listened quietly, not interrupting her.


    "What¡¯s more, she mentioned working at the Gu Familypany. You two see each other at work, and you¡¯ve known each other since you were kids. If anything were to happen..."


    Her words were suddenly cut off by Gu Moqian¡¯s unexpected kiss.


    "Mmmph¡ª"


    She raised her hands, attempting to push him away, but his kiss was fierce,pletely taking over her lips and tongue.


    Soon, Ji Wei¡¯s resisting hands drooped weakly, and she gasped softly, leaning into his chest, her cheeks flushed a bright crimson.


    Only when Gu Moqian lightly nibbled on her flushed lips did he finally let her go.


    Ji Wei had been filled with grievances moments ago, but after being kissed so passionately, her mind was momentarily nk.


    "There is absolutely no possibility between her and me. Trust your husband, alright?"


    Gu Moqian spoke softly, tightening his arm around her.


    "But... she has so much history with you. I can¡¯t help but care," Ji Wei replied.


    "What do you want me to do? Just tell me."


    He tilted up the chin of the woman in his arms, his ink-ck eyes fixed on her intently.


    "You can¡¯t magically make her disappear, can you?" Ji Wei muttered under her breath.


    Gu Moqian raised his brows and replied seriously, "That is exactly my intention."


    He had originally only given Zhu Jianian the position of project manager to keep her temporarily at the Gu Familypany.


    Now, seeing Ji Wei¡¯s jealous demeanor, he didn¡¯t mind speeding up Zhu Jianian¡¯s departure.


    Ji Wei stared nkly at the man¡¯s strikingly handsome features. The look in his eyes didn¡¯t seem like he was joking.


    After a pause, she tugged at the corners of her lips and said, "I was just saying something offhandedly. Besides, since she¡¯s my rival, I should personally go into battle myself. It would feel much more satisfying that way. Tell me, what position does Zhu Jianian hold at the Gu Familypany?"


    "Project manager."


    Ji Wei straightened up from his arms, sat upright, and looked at him as she spoke seriously, "I¡¯d like you to lend me the position of project director for the time being."


    The project director position, as it happened, was directly above the project manager.


    A higher rank could crush someone utterly. If Zhu Jianian learned her immediate superior was Ji Wei, how would she react?


    Gu Moqian¡¯s eyes briefly shed with surprise but then he nodded and agreed, "Alright, as you wish."


    Whatever she wanted to do, he would support it unconditionally.


    "Thank you, hubby."


    Ji Wei¡¯s eyes sparkled brightly at his assent, and she smiled, calling out affectionately in a coquettish tone.


    "Not mad anymore?"


    "I was never mad in the first ce," Ji Wei said, then suddenly stretched out her hand, mimicking Gu Moqian¡¯s posture as she lifted his clean-cut, mature jaw, and dered earnestly, "You belong to me alone. No other woman can dream of coveting your beauty."


    Gu Moqian was amused by her seriousness and couldn¡¯t help butugh aloud. "Alright."


    His heart softened as he pulled her tightly into his embrace. "Don¡¯t worry¡ªmy heart is yours, and no one can steal it."


    Ji Wei leaned quietly into Gu Moqian¡¯s chest for a moment before suddenly lifting her head, thinking of something. "Mo Qian, who arranged for Zhu Jianian to work at the Gu Familypany?"


    It was clearly not Gu Moqian. Then... who could it have been?


    Still deep in thought, she heard Gu Moqian speak calmly and evenly, "My mother."


    At the mention of Gu Moqian¡¯s mother, Ji Wei¡¯s heart became inexplicably mixed with emotions.


    She hadn¡¯t even seen his mother in person.


    Logically speaking, given how smoothly things were progressing between them, Gu Moqian should have introduced her to his mother at the earliest opportunity.


    "Does your mother... not like me very much?"


    Ji Wei asked softly, her tone tinged with mncholy.

 Chapter 93: Husband, Let’s Keep a Low Profile

    <h4>Chapter 93: Chapter 93: Husband, Let¡¯s Keep a Low Profile</h4><h4></h4>


    Gu Moqian paused slightly, then raised his hand to gently rub the top of her head, his voice soft and tender: "That¡¯s not true. She¡¯s overseas right now. When she returns, I¡¯ll arrange for you two to meet."


    Really?


    Although Ji Wei still held doubts about Gu Moqian¡¯s answer, she chose not to press further.


    The Maybach finally stopped at the entrance of Shanshui Manor.


    Gu Moqian escorted Ji Wei to the living room: "You didn¡¯t sleep wellst night. Go back to your room and take a nap."


    "Are you really heading to the office?" Ji Wei grabbed his hand, unwilling to let go.


    Gu Moqian tightened his grip on her hand: "Still worried?"


    Ji Wei nodded without hiding her feelings: "My husband is so outstanding. What if some other woman snatches you away?"


    "Snatches me away?" Gu Moqian raised a brow. "What do you think your husband is¡ªa piece of meat?"


    "Not just meat, fresh meat! If you were a bit younger, you could debut as a celebrity and instantly overshadow those so-called young heartthrobs."


    Gu Moqian suddenly extended a slender finger and gently rubbed her luscious red lips. His voice lowered and carried a hint of danger: "So you¡¯re saying I¡¯m a bit old now?"


    Ji Wei quickly shook her head, instinctively responding to the threat: "You¡¯re only twenty-eight, definitely not old! Besides, men only get more attractive as they mature. I happen to love the way you are."


    The corners of Gu Moqian¡¯s lips curled into a satisfied smile. That sounded about right.


    "Alright, I¡¯m leaving. Rest up and wait for me toe home after work."


    He withdrew his hand and turned to walk outside.


    "Mo Qian, wait!" Ji Wei suddenly called out to him.


    Gu Moqian turned around, somewhat surprised.


    Ji Wei quickly stepped in front of him,ughing into her palm: "The lipstick mark on your face is still there. Are you nning to walk into the office like this and let your employees stare holes into you?"


    Gu Moqian replied calmly, "I don¡¯t mind."


    "..."


    Ji Wei froze for a few seconds but eventually reached out to rub away the lipstick on his face. "Honey, let¡¯s keep a low profile, okay...?"


    That one word, "Honey," stirred Gu Moqian¡¯s heart.


    Looking at her flushed cheeks, he suddenly leaned in and captured her lips in a firm kiss.


    This must have been the umpteenth time he¡¯d kissed her; Ji Wei hadpletely lost count.


    Was it possibly becausest night he¡¯d tasted the forbidden fruit, and now the man was acting without restraint?


    Once again, Ji Wei was kissed dizzy by Gu Moqian, leaning intoxicated and breathless against his chest, her dewy eyes clouded with confusion.


    Gu Moqian stared at her for a moment, then abruptly pushed her away to create some distance and turned away with restraint.


    He worried that if he stayed even a second longer, he¡¯d lose all motivation to go to the office.


    Ji Wei stood dazed, watching his retreating figure disappear through the doors of the living room, still trying to recover her senses.


    Suddenly, something dawned on her, and her eyes widened.


    She had only wiped away half of the lipstick mark on Gu Moqian¡¯s face...


    At that moment, her phone rang. Ji Wei took it out and looked at the screen¡ªit was Xia Duoduo calling.


    "Weiwei, do you have a moment right now? I want to talk to you." Xia Duoduo¡¯s voice sounded hoarse and weak.


    Concerned for her friend, Ji Wei immediately nodded, "I do. Send me the address, and I¡¯ll head over right away."


    Thirty minutester, Ji Wei arrived at the appointed dessert shop where Xia Duoduo was waiting.


    Xia Duoduo sat alone in a seat by the street-facing window, resting her head on one hand, staring nkly at the traffic outside.


    "What are you thinking about?"


    Ji Wei walked over and handed her a bottle of lemon water she¡¯d just bought.


    "You¡¯ve arrived."


    Xia Duoduo turned her head, her mood low, as she epted the water.


    "What¡¯s wrong?" Ji Wei asked gently as she took a seat across from her. "Yesterday... how did your date with Xiao Zhen go?"


    As soon as Xia Duoduo heard Xiao Zhen¡¯s name, her face paled noticeably.


    Before she could answer, her gaze shifted toward the ss window outside.


    A few school-aged girls had stopped by the window, pointing at Xia Duoduo and gossiping loudly.


    "Look, isn¡¯t she the B-list celeb rumored to be dating Xiao Zhen? I thought she¡¯d be stunning, but she¡¯s really just... so-so."


    "Rumored girlfriend? Xiao Zhen hasn¡¯t even acknowledged her! It¡¯s all this faker stirring things up, trying to leech off him for clout. Shameless!"


    "Someone like her being linked to Xiao Zhen is an insult to our idol¡¯s taste. No way¡ªI¡¯m posting on Weibo. This woman needs to get out of the entertainment industry now!"

 Chapter 94: It’s Not Worth Being Heartbroken Over a Jerk

    <h4>Chapter 94: Chapter 94: It¡¯s Not Worth Being Heartbroken Over a Jerk</h4><h4></h4>


    Ji Wei heard the girls¡¯ chatter and frowned slightly.


    She signaled to the two bodyguards standing outside the window with a nce.


    The bodyguards immediately stepped forward and forcibly drove the girls away.


    Ji Wei reached out and held Xia Duoduo¡¯s trembling hand resting on the table,forting her softly, "It¡¯s okay, Duoduo. Tell me, what exactly happened yesterday."


    Xia Duoduo raised her reddened eyes to look at her. After a long silence, she recounted how yesterday, after the paparazzi spotted Xiao Zhen, he abandoned her and fled in panic.


    "Duoduo, there¡¯s no need to be sad. Xiao Zhen ditching you to save himself is exactly the kind of thing only a jerk would do. Seeing his true colors sooner is actually a good thing for you."


    Though the logic was clear, Xia Duoduo couldn¡¯t stop the sadness in her heart. The man she had once admired so deeply turned out to be a selfish coward.


    Having her fantasies shattered all at once¡ªit wasn¡¯t so easy to just move on.


    Ji Wei knew she needed time to process this, so she didn¡¯t rush her. She simply held her hand the whole time.


    Xia Duoduo¡¯s tears fell uncontrobly.


    Ji Wei silently handed her a tissue.


    After she had cried her heart out, Ji Wei finally spoke, "Duoduo, there will be better men waiting for you in the future. It¡¯s not worth being heartbroken over a jerk."


    Xia Duoduo¡¯s eyes were red as she nodded silently.


    Seeing that her mood had somewhat improved, Ji Wei changed the topic, "By the way, don¡¯t you have any scenes to shoot today?"


    Xia Duoduo froze and slowly shook her head. "Xiao Zhen¡¯s fans caused a hugemotion at the filming site, severely disrupting the other actors. The director said...that I don¡¯t need to go for now."


    "Don¡¯t need to go for now" was probably a tactful way of putting it.


    In the production, Xia Duoduo had only a minor role. Recing her would be an easy task.


    "Don¡¯t overthink it. Just treat it as giving yourself a break and take some time to rest. The entertainment industry is vast¡ªthere¡¯s always another opportunity."


    Though Ji Weiforted her like this, she already had her own ns forming in her heart.


    She didn¡¯t have much of awork in the entertainment industry, but there was someone who might be able to help...


    After consoling Xia Duoduo for a long while, Ji Wei finally took her back to her apartment.


    Before she left, she urged Xia Duoduo several times not to overthink and to remember to call her if anything happened. Only then did Ji Wei leave with some peace of mind.


    Ji Wei didn¡¯t mention her marriage registration with Gu Moqian to Xia Duoduo. Given Duoduo¡¯s current state, it was better not to add to her burdens.


    ...


    Gu Group.


    The door to the CEO¡¯s office was suddenly knocked on.


    "Come in."


    Gu Moqian responded casually without looking up, still engrossed in his documents.


    Chen Ke walked up to his desk, standing respectfully as she reported, "Mr. Gu, we¡¯ve managed to get some leads on the incident fromst night."


    "Let¡¯s hear it."


    Gu Moqian spoke calmly, his long fingers gripping a pen as he quickly signed his name at the bottom of the document.


    "Old Master Ji appears to have learned about the foolish act his grandsonmitted. He came here early this morning to personally apologize for his mistake, but without your approval, security refused to let him in."


    Old Master Ji had always been a fairly upright person. Who would have thought that in his old age, he¡¯d fall victim to the foolishness of his grandson Ji Chuyang?


    Seeing that Gu Moqian remained silent, Chen Ke continued, "I heard Old Master Ji went straight to the hospital after returning home and even threatened to personally deal with that brat Ji Chuyang. However, it seems Ji Chuyang has suddenly disappeared."


    Ji Chuyang was the only heir of the Ji Family. Even if Old Master Ji wanted to take action against him, the rest of the Ji n would likely help him escape. Not being able to find him wasn¡¯t surprising.


    "Have you checked the outbound travel records?" Gu Moqian finally looked up from his documents, ncing at Chen Ke. His voice remained calm and steady.


    "Yes, we¡¯ve checked. Ji Chuyang boarded the earliest flight this morning heading to Japan."


    Japan...


    What exactly was this fugitive scion nning to do in Japan?

 Chapter 95: Aren’t You Afraid Little Weiwei Will Tear You Apart?

    <h4>Chapter 95: Chapter 95: Aren¡¯t You Afraid Little Weiwei Will Tear You Apart?</h4><h4></h4>


    Seeing Gu Moqian seemingly lost in thought, Chen Ke took the initiative to speak: "Mr. Gu, do you need me to immediately send someone to Japan to bring Ji Chuyang back?"


    "No need."


    Gu Moqian already had a n in his mind and said calmly, "I recall I need to go on a business trip to Japan next Wednesday. Start making arrangements now¡ªI want to deal with him personally while I¡¯m there."


    Of all the countries, Ji Chuyang deliberately fled to Japan; this matter isn¡¯t as simple as it seems.


    What¡¯s more, this spoiled rich boy dared to target both him and Ji Wei¡ªthe man had practically set one foot in the grave. Let him jump around for a few more days; it wouldn¡¯t hurt.


    "Understood, Mr. Gu."


    Chen Ke bowed his head inpliance.


    Seeing Gu Moqian redirect his attention to the documents in front of him, Chen Ke chose not to linger and quietly exited, closing the door behind him.


    But less than half a minute after the door shut, it was forcefully pushed open again.


    A coarse and boisterous voice suddenly broke the quiet of the office: "Old Mo, you¡¯re still alive huh!"


    Without lifting his head, Gu Moqian already knew Xi Nanfeng had arrived.


    "Not dead¡ªsorry to disappoint you."


    Gu Moqian replied in a calm, emotionless tone without so much as batting an eyelid.


    "Damn, you survived falling off a cable car¡ªyour luck is insane! Lend me some of your luck, brother. I¡¯ll go buy a lottery ticketter."


    Xi Nanfeng strode up to his desk, his face brimming with excitement.


    "Did you find the person behind it?"


    It was another voice speaking now, steady andposed.


    Gu Moqian raised his eyes at the sound, seeing Xi Nanfeng¡¯s otherpanion¡ªYe Cheng¡ªstanding behind him.


    So these two had conspired toe together to "check on" their brother who had narrowly escaped death?


    "Yes, that brat from the Ji Family," Gu Moqian answered with indifference.


    "Do you need help?" Ye Cheng asked again.


    "No need."


    Ye Cheng nodded knowingly, and without saying more, he stepped to the nearby sofa. Without hesitation, he picked up the warm teacup on the table and began to drink.


    Since Gu Moqian managed to pinpoint the perpetrator in less than half a day, Ye Cheng trusted he could handle the matter on his own.


    There was no need for him to get involved.


    Feeling sidelined, Xi Nanfeng scratched his head awkwardly. Suddenly, he spotted a faint lipstick mark on Gu Moqian¡¯s left cheek and, acting as if he¡¯d discovered something unbelievable, eximed in shock: "Old Mo, who did this to you? Leaving such tant evidence¡ªaren¡¯t you afraid Little Weiwei will tear you apart?"


    Gu Moqian shot him a re: "My wife kissed me. Got a problem with that?"


    Hearing the word "wife"e out of Gu Moqian¡¯s mouth was akin to listening to a fairy tale; both Xi Nanfeng and Ye Cheng couldn¡¯t hide their astonishment.


    Leaning onto the desk, Xi Nanfeng demanded aggressively, "Old Mo, when the hell did you get married? Who¡¯s the luckydy?"


    Gu Moqian gave him a look reserved for idiots and said, "Nanfeng, a brain is a wonderful thing."


    Xi Nanfeng nearly spat blood, but soon he caught on: "Wait, so you¡¯re saying... you married Ji Wei?"


    "Yes." Gu Moqian nodded. "Got the certificate this morning¡ªstill fresh."


    Xi Nanfeng¡¯s eyes nearly popped out of his skull, and he shouted: "You¡¯re lightning fast! Last night you were at death¡¯s door, and today you¡¯re already coupled up. Brother, I respect that!"


    Gu Moqian raised an eyebrow lightly, neither confirming nor denying the sentiment.


    After a short pause, Xi Nanfeng asked again: "Hold on, if you¡¯re already a married man, why did you bring Zhu Jianian into thepany? Are you nning for a threesome?"


    Earlier, while entering with Ye Cheng, Xi Nanfeng had clearly seen Zhu Jianian in the cubicle area discussing a project with colleagues. At that time, he had already found it odd¡ªwhy had Zhu Jianian returned to the country quietly and even entered the Gu Group?


    Xi Nanfeng always had a tendency to speak without a filter, but this time, he¡¯d clearly provoked Gu Moqian.


    Gu Moqian¡¯s re turned icy, practically freezing Xi Nanfeng on the spot.

 Chapter 96: Two tigers cannot coexist on one mountain, let alone two tigresses

    <h4>Chapter 96: Chapter 96: Two tigers cannot coexist on one mountain, let alone two tigresses</h4><h4></h4>


    Xi Nanfeng realized he had misspoken and quickly jumped a few steps back.


    Old Mo¡¯s reaction was simply a testament to how deeply he loved Ji Wei¡ªhe couldn¡¯t tolerate the slightest doubt about their marriage.


    "I said something wrong, my bad..."


    Xi Nanfeng apologized awkwardly, "But seriously, bro, I just don¡¯t get it. You clearly love Ji Wei, so why did you drag Zhu Jianian into this? Two tigers can¡¯t share one mountain, let alone two tigresses. Your harem¡¯s bound to erupt in chaos..."


    Xi Nanfeng suddenly shut his mouth.


    Because Gu Moqian abruptly stood up and walked toward him, exuding an oppressive and dangerous aura, his presence sharp and cold.


    Xi Nanfeng¡¯s heart skipped a beat, his body shuddered, and sensing danger, he darted behind Ye Cheng in a sh.


    Meanwhile, Ye Cheng remained expressionless, passively watching the scene unfold.


    Xi Nanfeng gave Ye Cheng a shove. "Old Ye, say something for me! Old Mo looks like he¡¯s about to eat me alive."


    "You brought this on yourself."


    Ye Cheng replied coolly, offering him no sympathy.


    As Gu Moqian got closer and closer, and with Ye Cheng showing no intention of helping, Xi Nanfeng lost hope. Deciding not to stick around, he bolted out the door in a sh.


    The office door swung open and then closed, leaving the spacious room in sudden silence.


    Gu Moqian¡¯s lips twitched slightly as he reined in the sharp edge of his demeanor and walked over to sit next to Ye Cheng.


    He leaned back against the sofa, crossed his legs, and inteced his fingers on hisp. His deep, ocean-like ck eyes observed the man beside him for a moment before he calmly asked, "About Zimei¡ªI didn¡¯t show any mercy. You¡¯re not holding that against me, are you?"


    Hearing Zimei¡¯s name, Ye Cheng¡¯s hand, which was holding a teacup, paused briefly. He replied faintly, "No."


    Of course, he knew full well that, given Gu Moqian¡¯s nature, sparing Zimei¡ªsomeone who¡¯d dared to harm Ji Wei¡ªby merely shutting down her venue for six months, was already doing him a favor and an act of great fairness.


    After speaking, Ye Cheng raised the teacup and took another sip.


    But this time, for some reason, the tea tasted unbearably bitter.


    Ye Cheng didn¡¯t say anything further, and neither did Gu Moqian. For a moment, the spacious officepsed into silence once again.


    Gu Moqian understood very well that the past involving Zimei was likely Ye Cheng¡¯s most painful memory, one he would rather forget. Naturally, he wouldn¡¯t press him on it.


    In the end, it was Ye Cheng who broke the silence first. "There¡¯s something I don¡¯t quite understand."


    He turned to the refined man sitting beside him, whom he had known for nearly a decade. "You knew very well that the person who orchestrated Ji Wei¡¯s confinement in the wine cer was Zhu Jianian, yet you still allowed her to join the Gu Family. Do you have your reasons?"


    Gu Moqianzily yed with his index fingers, his demeanor rxed as he replied, "Anyone who¡¯s hurt my woman and thinks they can walk away unscathed?" A cold, shallow smile crept onto his lips, not reaching his eyes. "I¡¯m just giving the prey a bit more time to struggle before the hunt begins."


    Ye Cheng showed no surprise at this response. It was entirely consistent with Gu Moqian¡¯s usual cunning and dark nature.


    It seemed that, as far as Gu Moqian was concerned, Zhu Jianian¡¯s character was utterly irredeemable.


    Just then, a crisp ringtone echoed through the space.


    Gu Moqian nced toward his desk before getting up, walking over, and picking up his phone.


    The call was from Ji Wei.


    The coolness in Gu Moqian¡¯s expression softened instantly, his lips curving into a smile as he answered the phone. "Miss me?"


    "Cough, cough..."


    Ji Wei choked slightly on his straightforward words and took a moment before saying, "Moqian, could you give me Ye Cheng¡¯s number? I need to talk to him about something."


    Gu Moqian nced back at Ye Cheng, who sat on the sofa with a distant expression, and teased, "Asking your husband for another man¡¯s phone number¡ªhave you considered my feelings at all?"

 Chapter 97: Harm my woman and think you can leave unscathed?

    <h4>Chapter 97: Chapter 97: Harm my woman and think you can leave unscathed?</h4><h4></h4>


    "You¡¯ve misunderstood, I actually have something serious to discuss with him."


    Ji Wei hastily exined, her voice unconsciously softening, turning sweet and tender, even carrying a hint of yful coaxing: "Send me his number, hubby, you¡¯re the best!"


    Sure enough, this little woman only knew to act coy with him when she needed something.


    But, he totally fell for it.


    Gu Moqian¡¯s mood brightened: "Ye Cheng is actually in my office right now. What do you need him for? I¡¯ll tell him for you."


    "Really?" Ji Wei sounded excited on the other end of the call: "Tell Ye Cheng..."


    Gu Moqian quietly listened to her instructions, and after the two chatted affectionately for a while, they reluctantly hung up the phone.


    Their lovey-dovey voices inevitably drifted into Ye Cheng¡¯s ears, regardless of whether he wanted to hear them or not.


    He nearly lost control and stood up to leave.


    When he saw Gu Moqian walking back toward him, Ye Cheng asked directly and indifferently, "Alright, what does your wife need me to help with?"


    From their earlier conversation, Ye Cheng had already deduced a bit.


    "She wants to introduce someone to you," Gu Moqian said.


    "A man or a woman?"


    "A woman," Gu Moqian replied. "She¡¯s Ji Wei¡¯s best friend, hoping you could take her under your wing in the entertainment industry."


    "I don¡¯t work with female artists anymore, you should know that."


    Ye Cheng said, his expression devoid of emotion, remaining as cold and detached as ever.


    Of course, Gu Moqian knew.


    Ever since that incident three years ago, Ye Cheng had refused to take on female artists.


    Gu Moqian fell silent for a second before suddenly speaking up: "If you agree to this, I could consider reopening the Zimei Club sooner."


    Ye Cheng¡¯s face remained unchanged, unmoved by the suggestion.


    "Her club earns nearly two million yuan a day. If it stays closed for half a year, the losses would amount to astronomical figures."


    Gu Moqian¡¯s persuasion was relentless.


    The club was indeed something deeply important to Zimei.


    Just the other day, Zimei had called him to plead on her behalf to Gu Moqian.


    Ye Cheng had only listened to the first two sentences before rudely hanging up.


    But even those two sentences were enough to stir the storm buried deep in his heart.


    That woman¡¯s grip on his emotions far exceeded his expectations.


    It had been a full three years, and he¡¯d thought everything had already settled, yet deep down, Ye Cheng knew very well what the truth was¡ªeven if he was unwilling to admit it.


    In reality, whether Gu Moqian interceded or not was entirely up to Ye Cheng.


    But he simply couldn¡¯t let go of his wounded pride.


    Seeing Ye Cheng¡¯s lips pressed tightly together, his expression no longer asposed and restrained as before, Gu Moqian took the opportunity to continue: "If you don¡¯t object, I¡¯ll take it as you¡¯re agreeing. That Xia Duoduo, I¡¯ve met her¡ªshe¡¯s just an innocent young girl. I promise, nothing like that incident three years ago will ever happen again."


    Gu Moqian even went so far as to guarantee it, leaving Ye Cheng nothing more to say.


    "Have your wife bring her to Xingyao Entertainment tomorrow," Ye Cheng said tly, cing his teacup down on the coffee table before standing up.


    "Leaving already?" Gu Moqian asked.


    "Mm."


    Ye Cheng¡¯s tone was devoid of emotion as he turned and walked out of the office.


    After Ye Cheng left, Gu Moqian called Chen Ke into the room.


    "In one month, return the operating license for the Zimei Club."


    Chen Ke looked surprised: "...Didn¡¯t you say it would close for six months?"


    "Consider it repaying someone a favor," Gu Moqian said casually.


    "Understood, Mr. Gu."


    ...


    Because Gu Moqian had gone to the caf¨¦ yesterday afternoon, there were loads of important documents that had umted and required his personal attention.


    When he finally lifted his head from thest file, the sky outside the window had already turnedpletely dark.


    Worried that Ji Wei might be anxiously waiting, he stepped out of his CEO office while pulling out his phone to call her.


    But before he could even make the call, Gu Moqian spotted Zhu Jianian.

 Chapter 98: Starting Tomorrow, You Don’t Need to Show Up at Gu Headquarters Anymore

    <h4>Chapter 98: Chapter 98: Starting Tomorrow, You Don¡¯t Need to Show Up at Gu Headquarters Anymore</h4>


    At this hour, the other employees of the Gu Family had long since left work. The expansive office was empty and deste, with only the corridor lights still illuminated.


    Zhu Jianian stood a few steps away, seemingly waiting deliberately for him.


    "Mo Qian, are you off work yet? I¡¯ve been learning to cook with Sister-inw Zhang, and you¡¯vee back just in time for some hot corn and pork ribs stew." On the other end of the phone, Ji Wei¡¯s cheerful voice rang out.


    Gu Moqian could picture her busy in the kitchen at that moment, and an unconscious smile formed at the corners of his mouth. "Mm, I¡¯ll be back shortly. If you¡¯re hungry, you can eat first¡ªjust save some dishes for me."


    "How could I do that? I want to wait for you so we can eat together," Ji Wei said stubbornly.


    "Alright."


    While talking on the phone, Gu Moqian walked forward. Even as he passed by Zhu Jianian, he remained indifferent, his expression calm.


    "Mo Qian, can you have dinner with me?"


    Seeing that she was beingpletely ignored, Zhu Jianian urgently called out to stop him.


    Gu Moqian paused briefly.


    On the other end of the call, Ji Wei, who had been chatting about her cooking adventures, abruptly fell silent. After a moment, she spoke hurriedly, "Mo Qian, the pot¡¯s still simmering¡ªI won¡¯t keep talking..."


    Before Gu Moqian could respond, Ji Wei hung up the phone decisively.


    Gu Moqian¡¯s grip on his phone tightened slightly, his face darkening as he sharply turned to look at Zhu Jianian, his gaze growing frosty.


    Without an answer from him, Zhu Jianian continued to smile gracefully as she spoke, "I knew it wouldn¡¯t be possible. I suppose you¡¯re eager to get back to Mrs. Gu, aren¡¯t you?"


    "If you knew I was going back to her, then you shouldn¡¯t have spoken up in the first ce," Gu Moqian responded, his eyes turning cold in an instant.


    Although his voice wasn¡¯t loud and he retained his usual detached manner when speaking to her, in Zhu Jianian¡¯s ears, it felt as if her entire body stiffened.


    Quietly, she clenched her palms, only to release them shortly after. "I¡¯m sorry."


    "Your project department is set up next to the building Gu Family invested in on the west side of the city. From now on, you don¡¯t need to appear at Gu Headquarters again."


    Gu Moqian¡¯s tone was so cold that it sent a chill down her spine.


    Zhu Jianian¡¯s face turned pale, her voice tinged with grievance, "Mo Qian, why has our rtionship grown so distant? Before, clearly¡ª"


    Gu Moqian cut her off impatiently, "This is the situation you brought upon yourself, and you dare ask why?"


    With that, he didn¡¯t bother staying another moment. With his long strides, he walked out of the office.


    Zhu Jianian was left standing in shock at his earlier words, her entire body cold.


    What did he mean by saying that?


    That matter¡ªGu Moqian couldn¡¯t have known. It was absolutely impossible!


    ...


    When Gu Moqian returned to Shanshui Manor and stepped into the living room, his first nce was toward the direction of the dining area.


    The dining room lights weren¡¯t on, but the mes of French candles danced lightly on the table, illuminating a spread of sumptuous dishes that looked irresistibly tempting. Beside the table were a bottle of red wine and two wine sses.


    The candlelight, the dinner, the wine¡ªit was all incredibly romantic and picturesque. Yet Ji Wei herself was nowhere to be seen.


    "Where is she?"


    Gu Moqian asked Sister-inw Zhang, who stood off to the side, keeping a timid distance from him out of fear.


    "Ji... Mrs. Gu is upstairs. She said she was feeling tired and wanted to rest early," Sister-inw Zhang answered nervously, immediately lowering her head afterward.


    Gu Moqian¡¯s gaze darkened slightly, and without a word, he headed upstairs.


    The bedroom door was slightly ajar, and Gu Moqian pushed it open directly.


    Ji Wei heard the sound at the door, lifted her gaze momentarily to nce over. Upon seeing that it was Gu Moqian, she immediately turned her head away.


    As though she hadn¡¯t seen him, Ji Wei continued talking to the cat nestled in her arms. "Milk, be good. Let¡¯s sleep together tonight, alright?"


    Saying this, she picked Milk up with both hands, intending to ce it directly beside the pillow.


    That pillow was meant for Gu Moqian.

 Chapter 99: First Day of Marriage, You Want to Sleep in Separate Rooms?

    <h4>Chapter 99: Chapter 99: First Day of Marriage, You Want to Sleep in Separate Rooms?</h4>


    However, before the cat could be put down, Mo Qian rushed over in a single stride and snatched it away.


    Mo Qian instantly knew Ji Wei was sulking.


    A faint smile flickered in his eyes as he leaned his breathtakingly handsome face toward her and softly asked, "If the cat sleeps on the bed, where do I sleep?"


    "There are so many guest rooms; sleep wherever you want." Ji Wei shot him a re, her toneced with irritation.


    The implication was clear¡ªshe would rather sleep with a cat than with him.


    "It¡¯s the first day of our marriage, and you want us to sleep in separate rooms? What kind of reasoning is that?" Mo Qian wasn¡¯t angry; he simply stared at her fixedly.


    Ji Wei stood up from the bed, ring at him as she spoke up, "Give Milk back to me."


    With that, she reached out, attempting to snatch the cat from his grasp.


    Mo Qian raised Milk high in the air. With his towering height of nearly six feet three inches and long arms, Ji Wei couldn¡¯t even touch the fur of Milk despite standing on tip-toe.


    "I told you¡ªit can¡¯t appear in our bedroom."


    Even as he watched her in obvious frustration and desperation, Mo Qian remained unmoved.


    With those words, he strode to the door, threw Milk out, and casually closed it behind him.


    Ji Wei was already furious, and seeing him unceremoniously shut Milk outside only made her storm toward the door to go out as well.


    But just as her hand gripped the doorknob, Mo Qian¡¯s broad body pressed against her, pinning her down firmly against the door.


    "Let me go."


    Ji Wei turned her head to scowl at him, frowning as she reprimanded him.


    "If I let go, you¡¯ll leave."


    Mo Qian looked at her, his tone tinged with a trace of helplessness.


    Ji Wei tried to break free, but it was all in vain. Her face turned red with anger, and she shouted indignantly, "Mo Qian, let me go!"


    Calling him by his full name, Ji Wei made it clear she was genuinely angry.


    Mo Qian¡¯s expression shifted abruptly, a flicker of pain gleaming in his eyes. He pursed his lips tightly and said nothing.


    No matter how Ji Wei struggled, she couldn¡¯t break free of Mo Qian¡¯s grip.


    Eventually, she surrendered, resting her cheek against the door, motionless, as her eyes began to turn red.


    She had originally nned to prepare a romantic candlelit dinner for Mo Qian tonight to celebrate their wedding anniversary.


    But who would have thought she¡¯d overhear Zhu Jianian¡¯s voice on the phone? She kept telling herself not to mind Mo Qian¡¯s childhood friend.


    Yet rationality ultimately gave way to emotion. She couldn¡¯t help but dwell on what the two might have said, nor could she stop questioning whether Mo Qian still harbored even the slightest shred of feelings for Zhu Jianian...


    Seeing her stop struggling, Mo Qian softened his tone, speaking close to her ear, "Weiwei, you¡¯re upset right now. Please calm down and listen to me, alright?"


    Ji Wei bit her lip, saying nothing, though a heavy feeling of grievance seemed to swell inside her, and her eyes soon began to mist over.


    "I ran into Zhu Jianian after work. Yes, she wanted to have dinner together, but I immediately refused."


    She still said nothing, merely listening as the mist in her eyes thickened, eventually moistening hershes.


    Mo Qian noticed her sudden sniffle, his expression shifting as he forced her face to turn toward him.


    Seeing her tear-stained eyes, Mo Qian¡¯s heart clenched painfully. He hurriedly raised a hand to wipe away the tears at the corners of her eyes.


    "I¡¯m sorry. It was my mistake."


    Mo Qian¡¯s voice was husky, tinged with apology.


    Ji Wei stared at the man before her, the deep ink-ck of his eyes now brimming with tender affection.


    Somewhere deep within her, something felt stirred, and the ache in her nose began to dissipate.


    It suddenly hit Ji Wei¡ªher ability to throw tantrums without reservation, to cry whenever she wanted, stemmed entirely from Mo Qian¡¯s affection for her.

 Chapter 100: Haven’t seen you for half a day, miss you so much......

    <h4>Chapter 100: Chapter 100: Haven¡¯t seen you for half a day, miss you so much......</h4><h4></h4>


    Gu Moqian had clearly exined¡ªhe had decisively rejected Zhu Jianian¡¯s unreasonable demands. So why was she still quarreling with him like this?


    Thinking of this, Ji Wei¡¯s anger subsided more than half in an instant.


    "You¡¯re right. She works at the Gu Familypany, so running into her is inevitable. Since that¡¯s the case, there¡¯s no need to wait any longer. Tomorrow morning, I¡¯ll have her process her resignation paperwork."


    Gu Moqian raised his hand and gently rubbed the top of her hair, his voice iparably solemn.


    Ji Wei looked at the man¡¯s unusually serious face. She knew that when he said something, he would do it.


    But at this moment, her heart involuntarily turned to other matters.


    Zhu Jianian was introduced into the Gu Familypany by Gu Moqian¡¯s mother. If he were to directly drive her away, wouldn¡¯t that create a rift between him and his mother?


    Although Ji Wei wasn¡¯t entirely clear on Gu Moqian¡¯s mother¡¯s thoughts, knowing that he was engaged and still cing another woman by his side, did this not imply that Gu Moqian¡¯s mother was dissatisfied with her?


    Perhaps, in the eyes of that older woman, Zhu Jianian was actually the most suitable choice for a daughter-inw.


    So wasn¡¯t Gu Moqian caught in the middle, facing dilemmas from both sides?


    Realizing this, Ji Wei became aware that she had been overreacting a little.


    She gently bit her lower lip,posed herself, and then raised her gaze to look at Gu Moqian. "Forget it. Since I said I¡¯d take the initiative to drive her away, I¡¯ll definitely make it happen."


    Having her handle it was better than forcing Gu Moqian to sh with his mother directly.


    He steadily gazed at the petite woman¡¯s slightly stubborn yet earnest expression, his heart softening. Suddenly, he reached out and wrapped his arm around her slender waist.


    Through the thinyer of fabric, Ji Wei could feel the warmth of his palm.


    She naturally leaned into his broad chest.


    Gu Moqian¡¯srge hand resting on her waist gradually tightened, holding her firmly in his embrace.


    Ji Wei struggled slightly with some embarrassment but eventually let him hold her.


    Gu Moqian rested his chin against the top of her head. "The position of project director has been arranged for you. You can start anytime."


    Ji Wei slightly lifted her head from his embrace and asked, "Does this mean I got into the Gu Familypany because of you? Aren¡¯t you worried about other employeesining about the unfairness?"


    Gu Moqian raised an eyebrow. "Who would dare?"


    Ji Wei couldn¡¯t help butugh, as if there really was no one who would.


    "But I won¡¯t be a mere decoration sitting in the project director¡¯s chair. I¡¯ll work hard to prove to everyone that I am capable of handling this job."


    In her previous life at the Ji Family, after Old Master Ji passed, the Ji Family faced the risk of being swallowed up by uncles and rtives. Back then, Ji Wei had decisively entered thepany, scheming step by step, and ultimately secured the family business for Ji Chuyang.


    It could be said that she was no stranger to the battles of the business world; on the contrary, they fueled her determination.


    As she spoke, her eyes sparkled with confidence. The radiance in them caught Gu Moqian¡¯s attention, and an approving smile flickered across his face.


    "Of course, how could my Mrs. Gu possibly be inferior?" Gu Moqian¡¯s voice carried a hint of pride. "However, even if you did nothing, I could take care of you for a lifetime."


    Ji Wei felt sweetness bloom in her heart, but she still gently shook her head.


    Having experienced rebirth, she understood deeply that even if someone offered protection, one still had to grow strong independently.


    Gu Moqian quietly stared at her somewhat stubborn yet earnest face, his heart stirred.


    Without warning, he suddenly scooped her up into his arms. His deep eyes rippled with emotion, and his voice held a husky undertone. "It¡¯s been half a day. I¡¯ve missed you so much..."


    Ji Wei was utterly stunned, staring nkly at the man¡¯s sharp and handsome features.


    Gu Moqian carried her inrge strides toward the bed.


    By the time Ji Wei realized what was happening, her back was already sinking into the soft mattress.

 Chapter 101: You’re starving, and yet I’m thinking of eating you first.

    <h4>Chapter 101: Chapter 101: You¡¯re starving, and yet I¡¯m thinking of eating you first.</h4>


    Ji Wei¡¯s long hair spread across the floor beneath her, and those clear yet slightly bewildered eyes were still staring nkly at him.


    Gu Moqian leaned forward, looking down at her instantly blushing face, his gaze growing deeper.


    Ji Wei understood something from his eyes, and the painful memories ofst night were so vivid that she instinctively closed her legs.


    "Weiwei, trust me, it won¡¯t hurt anymore."


    Gu Moqian noticed her movement, his voice hoarse as he whispered softly in her ear.


    "I..."


    After all, she¡¯d been exhausted a few times justst night, and Ji Wei really didn¡¯t want it.


    But just as she uttered a single word, Gu Moqian lowered his head and kissed her soft lips.


    His tongue skillfully explored, and at first, Ji Wei was a bit reluctant, but under his passionate entanglement, she gradually reached out to embrace his neck, actively responding to his intense kiss.


    His kiss was incredibly alluring, and Ji Wei¡¯s body suddenly tensed, giving him the most honest reaction.


    Ji Wei couldn¡¯t help but secretlyment how easily she had lost control, feeling utterly useless.


    Gu Moqian¡¯s body gradually became as scorching as his lips, tracing along her delicate jawline and leaving one burning kiss after another.


    "Mo Qian, are we... really going to do this?"


    Ji Wei¡¯s eyes were misty as she looked at him, her expression dreamlike, coupled with her flushed cheeks, creating an exceptionally enchanting beauty.


    Gu Moqian¡¯s gaze deepened, as he gently nibbled on the tender skin of her neck, his deep voice slowly spilling from between his lips, "Call me husband."


    Ji Wei stared nkly at him, Gu Moqian¡¯s body pressed tightly against hers, and his mature, clean face was quite pleasing to the eye.


    His hot lips traveled down her fair neck, lingering at her exquisite and beautiful corbone.


    His kiss, as if magical, sent waves of electric current through her, causing Ji Wei¡¯s whole body to tremble, and she couldn¡¯t help but let out a soft whimper.


    "Weiwei, your sensitive spot is here, hmm?" Gu Moqian¡¯s low, rich voice slowly uttered.


    Ji Wei¡¯s heart raced uncontrobly under his teasing, and she bit her lip to keep from moaning out loud.


    The reaction of her body to his teasing made her feel so shy that she could barely resist the urge to move closer to him.


    "Good girl, call me husband, and I¡¯ll give you..."


    Gu Moqian repeated once more, his voice seemingly holding a seductive charm, and Ji Wei lightly bit her lower lip, finally unable to resist his teasing, two words slipped out from between her teeth: "Husband..."


    Her voice was low and soft, with a hint of breathless sighs, making Gu Moqian¡¯s heart flutter.


    One word "husband" was simply more fatal than poppy.


    A slight smile yed in his eyes, and he immediately embraced her tightly.


    Ji Wei felt as if her whole body was tightly encircled by Gu Moqian¡¯s arms and chest, with each breath carrying his scent, faint and uniquely Gu Moqian¡¯s.


    As they intimately whispered to each other, Ji Wei felt the hem of her nightdress being lifted, her mind instantly went nk, but deep down, she involuntarily anticipated...


    Just as Gu Moqian was about to move further, a few "gurgle" sounds suddenly rang out.


    Both of them paused, stunned.


    Gu Moqian quickly realized the sound came from Ji Wei¡¯s stomach.


    When Ji Wei btedly realized it was her stomach growling in protest, she suddenly turned her head and buried her face in the soft pillow.


    At that moment, it was truly incredibly awkward.


    A faint smile appeared on Gu Moqian¡¯s lips as he leaned close to her ear, whispering, "It¡¯s my fault, you¡¯re starving and I was still thinking of eating you first."

 Chapter 102: Every time you look at me like this, I want to kiss you

    <h4>Chapter 102: Chapter 102: Every time you look at me like this, I want to kiss you</h4>


    Ji Wei was still buried in the pillow. She responded muffledly, but he couldn¡¯t make out what she said.


    Gu Moqian saw her burying her head like an ostrich, seemingly unwilling to face the world, and silently broke into a grin.


    A momentter, he reached out and simply picked her up from the bed.


    Ji Wei was startled and lifted her gaze to him, instinctively wrapping her arms around his neck.


    "Where are we going?" She asked, now cradled in his arms.


    "Taking you downstairs to fill your stomach."


    Having said that, Gu Moqian carried her straight down the stairs.


    In the dining room, Sister-inw Zhang, noticing how long it was taking for the two of them toe down, had first sent a text to Zhu Jianian, quietly informing her that Gu Moqian and Ji Wei seemed to be bickering, and then began tidying up the untouched dishes on the table.


    The dishes were vibrant and aromatic, yet not a single one had been touched before she prepared to dispose of them¡ªit felt like such a waste.


    Just as Sister-inw Zhang was feeling regretful, she saw Gu Moqian enter the dining room carrying Ji Wei. Instantly, she was stunned.


    Weren¡¯t they just arguing? How had they made up so quickly?


    Since Ji Wei was barefoot, Gu Moqian directly ced her onto one of the dining chairs. Turning around and seeing Sister-inw Zhang still standing there in shock, his tone became colder: "Go fetch her a pair of slippers."


    "Sure... Sure..."


    Sister-inw Zhang stiffened under Gu Moqian¡¯s icy demeanor, quickly nodding as she hurried out of the dining room.


    In no time, Sister-inw Zhang returned with a brand-new pair of women¡¯s slippers.


    After putting the slippers on Ji Wei, Gu Moqian spoke with indifference, "You¡¯re not needed here. Leave."


    Sister-inw Zhang turned and walked away cautiously.


    Feeling the piercingly sharp gaze behind her, Sister-inw Zhang¡¯s hands couldn¡¯t help but tremble. Gu Moqian had suddenly turned cold and harsh¡ªshe feared he might have discovered something.


    It seemed like the days of her staying in Shanshui Manor wereing to an end.


    Watching Sister-inw Zhang disappear through the door, Gu Moqian finally withdrew his gaze.


    He sat beside Ji Wei, opened a bottle of red wine, poured some into a ss, and handed it to her. Then, he poured himself another ss.


    Ji Wei rested her hand against her cheek, quietly observing the man¡¯s actions.


    The flickering candlelight illuminated Gu Moqian¡¯s mature, fair, and almost excessively handsome face. With his gaze lowered slightly, his expression was focused. His movements, tinged with a touch ofziness, as he swirled the wine ss softly, were mesmerizing.


    Thinking about how this refined and distinguished man was her husband, Ji Wei felt a surge of happiness in her heart.


    At this close distance, she could clearly see his long, thick eyshes. The candlelight outlined his high-bridged nose in silhouette, his perfectly sculpted side profile, and those thin lips that had kissed her countless times...


    Ji Wei gazed at him, dazed, as if she could never look away.


    When Gu Moqian finally looked back at her and noticed the reflection of him in her eyes, he suddenly leaned in, pressing his forehead gently against hers, his voice deep and rich like a cello: "Every time you look at me this way, I just want to kiss you."


    The unexpected tease caught Ji Wei off guard, making her freeze and nearly skip a heartbeat.


    After regaining herposure, she quickly averted her gaze and looked elsewhere, though her cheeks were already tinged with a rosy hue.


    "I¡¯m so hungry... so hungry! I¡¯m starting first!"


    To cover her embarrassment, Ji Wei grabbed her chopsticks and reached directly for a te of stir-fried shrimp in front of her.


    She picked up a piece of shrimp and popped it straight into her mouth, only to realize it was stir-fried with dried chili. In an instant, the spiciness nearly brought tears to her eyes.


    Ji Wei opened her mouth, breathing sharply to cool down, and without caring too much, grabbed the red wine in front of her and tipped her head back for a few gulps.


    "Cough... Cough... Cough..."


    The shrimp¡¯s spice mixed with the wine¡¯s sharp tang forced tears to spill from Ji Wei¡¯s eyes.


    She waved her hand over her burning lips while sneaking nces at the man beside her.


    Gu Moqian¡¯s fairplexion remained stoic and calm.


    But Ji Wei could easily tell he was holding backughter at her expense. Her cheeks suddenly flushed hot, feeling like she¡¯d lost all dignity at this moment.


    She wished, more than anything, she could find a hole to crawl into and hide.

 Chapter 103: You greedy woman, I have fallen right into your hands

    <h4>Chapter 103: Chapter 103: You greedy woman, I have fallen right into your hands</h4><h4></h4>


    Just as Ji Wei was feeling disoriented, Mo Qian suddenly turned away, and shortly after, returned with a bottle of mineral water, handing it to her: "Rinse your mouth, it will feel better."


    Ji Wei hurriedly followed his suggestion.


    After drinking half a bottle of water, the burning sensation in her throat finally subsided a bit.


    Mo Qian refilled her wine ss with red wine, then looked at her and raised his own ss, clinking it against hers.


    The ss made a crisp, pleasant sound.


    "Congrattions to Mrs. Gu on bing the mistress of Shanshui Manor," Mo Qian said in his clear, gentle voice.


    Ji Wei smiled with her lips pursed. Under the candlelight, her face was rosy and adorable.


    She lifted the corners of her mouth, looking at the handsome and peerless man beside her: "But Mr. Gu, besides congratting me, shouldn¡¯t you also thank me?"


    "Thank you for what?"


    "Thank you for helping you sessfully leave the single life," Ji Wei said with a justified tone.


    Mo Qian suddenly leaned closer to her, his voice low and incredibly alluring: "Hmm, what kind of gratitude do you want? Physical or emotional?"


    Ji Wei stared at his overly attractive face, dazed for a few seconds before finally blurting out three words: "I want both..."


    Mo Qian smiled with the corners of his mouth lifted, raised his hand to pinch her upturned little nose: "What should I do with you, you greedy woman, I¡¯ve just fallen into your hands."


    Her heart pounded like a drum.


    Once again, Ji Wei felt the impact of Mo Qian¡¯s top-tier romantic words.


    Every day, she was deeply charmed by Mo Qian.


    The woman gazed at him, her clear eyes reflecting his smiling brows, causing Mo Qian¡¯s heart to sway, his voice filled with tenderness: "Mrs. Gu, a toast."


    Ji Wei absentmindedly brought the wine ss to her lips, but her eyes couldn¡¯t leave the man for a moment.


    Mo Qian was like the moon in the sky; no matter how many stars surrounded him, he was always the most dazzling, the most noticeable one.


    Knowing Ji Wei was truly hungry, after finishing the wine, Mo Qian picked up the chopsticks to serve food for her.


    Seeing the bowl in front of her quickly piled into a small mountain, Ji Wei couldn¡¯t help but swallow.


    If she finished this bowl, it might fill her up to the brim.


    Seeing her staring at the food in the bowl without moving, Mo Qian suddenly raised an eyebrow and asked: "Do you know how to make these dishes taste the best?"


    Ji Wei blinked, unable to think of any different way to eat these dishes.


    "Dip them in some sauce?" she hesitantly suggested.


    Mo Qian took the chopsticks from her hand, and amid her astonished gaze, picked up a piece of meat and brought it to her lips: "I¡¯ll feed you, it tastes the best."


    Ji Wei: "..."


    After eating heartily, Ji Wei, satisfied, stood up, patting her full stomach.


    Seeing this, Mo Qian helped her to the sofa, "You rest for a while, I¡¯ll clean up the dishes."


    "Let me help you."


    Ji Wei blurted out immediately.


    By now, Aunt Zhang was surely asleep, waking her up to clean up wouldn¡¯t be too good.


    But having the dignified Mr. Gu clean dishes and wipe tables seemed like a waste to Ji Wei.


    Yet in the end, she couldn¡¯t go against Mo Qian, so she had to obediently lean on the sofa.


    When Milk saw her alone, it dared to jump into her arms, meowing forfort.


    Milk always got thrown out of the room by Mo Qian, leaving it with a huge psychological shadow.


    Ji Wei took a cushion, resting her chin on it, and absentmindedly watched the tall figure in the dining room.


    Mo Qian had taken off his jacket, wearing only a clean white shirt, with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, methodically tidying the chaotic table.


    This man was decisive and cool in the business world, aloof and elegant, making people hesitant to approach. But once back in their home, he was full of the warmth of domestic life, never bothered about chores or cooking.


    Marrying such a man truly was wonderful.


    Ji Wei secretly smiled, lips pouting.


    She gazed at Mo Qian without blinking, entranced, not even reacting to Milk meowing on herp.


    When Mo Qian finished tidying and walked out of the dining room, he found Ji Wei asleep on the sofa. Her lips still bore a faint smile, looking very content.


    He watched her sleeping face tenderly, and only after a long while did he lovingly pick her up and carry her upstairs.

 Chapter 104 Awakened by His Kiss

    <h4>Chapter 104: Chapter 104 Awakened by His Kiss</h4><h4></h4>


    The morning sunlight filtered through the thin curtains, casting a warm glow onto the woman¡¯s sleeping face.


    The man on the bed woke up before the woman.


    Lying on his side, one hand resting against his cheek, he carried azy air from just waking up, quietly gazing at the woman¡¯s sweet sleeping expression.


    The sunlight outlined her gentle features, and in the soft morning light, he could even make out the fine baby-like fuzz on her face. Her fair, delicate skin seemed as if it could release a dewy glow from a pinch.


    Looking at Ji Wei like this, Gu Moqian¡¯s heart softened immeasurably. If he could just watch over her like this for a lifetime, that would be enough.


    His elegant eyebrows twitched slightly, and suddenly, he lowered his head toward the woman.


    Feeling the soft and warm touch on her lips, Ji Wei¡¯s eyes suddenly snapped open.


    The first thing she saw was a pair of deep, ink-ck eyes filled with a faint smile, brighter than the stars.


    Ji Wei was entirely kissed awake by Gu Moqian. Her brain was momentarily frozen, still in a daze.


    Could this be a dream?


    Oh my goodness, how desperate could she be, dreaming inside and outside of kissing Gu Moqian!


    The softness on her lips began deepening. The man gently brushed her lips, savoring her bit by bit. Ji Wei¡¯s breathing grew shallow, and the next moment, her soft lips were parted.


    "Mm..."


    A delicate sound escaped from Ji Wei.


    Her mind was still somewhat muddled. Why did the kiss in the dream feel so vivid, stirring up an itchy feeling in her heart? Mmm, she liked it so much.


    Anyway, since it¡¯s just a dream, she wouldn¡¯t waste this kissing opportunity!


    Ji Wei stretched her hand to hook around Gu Moqian¡¯s neck, actively leaning her body toward him. Their lips and tongues intertwined, sharing a thorough good morning kiss.


    She was entirely immersed in this incredibly sweet kiss, feeling like she was sitting on clouds¡ªsoft and fluffy, delightfullyfortable.


    "Mmm... Mm..."


    From between her teeth escaped faint moans, her misty eyes filled with a thinyer of dew, making her look even more lovable and endearing.


    Suddenly, Ji Wei felt arge palm starting to stir on her body through the thin fabric of her sleepwear.


    Her entire body stiffened in an instant, and she reached out to push the man away.


    Gu Moqian released her lips, his faint smile teasing as he looked at her.


    Ji Wei opened her still half-awake, half-drowsy eyes, stared at the man inches away from her, and only then confirmed one thing.


    She... wasn¡¯t dreaming?


    Everything that had just happened was real!


    Ji Wei¡¯s face instantly flushed red: "Hubby... What are you doing?"


    Gu Moqian stared at her without speaking.


    Suddenly, he reached out to ce his hand behind her head, pulling her into his embrace, and softly said, "I held back all nightst night. Shouldn¡¯t youpensate me now, hmm?"


    Ji Wei¡¯s eyes widened in shock, and her lingering drowsiness disappearedpletely.


    She had been feeling rather relieved about not being bothered by Gu Moqianst night, only to realize he¡¯d been thinking about her the entire time!


    Ji Wei¡¯s mind raced to find an excuse: "Well... it¡¯s morning now, and you need to go to work soon. There¡¯s not enough time..."


    "It¡¯s Saturday," Gu Moqian replied.


    "But... But I haven¡¯t brushed my teeth or washed up yet. How about I take a shower first..."


    Ji Wei started to turn over and sit up, only to be swiftly pressed back down by Gu Moqian.


    Still trying to negotiate, Ji Wei said, "Um, also... we don¡¯t have condoms. What if I get pregnant?"


    "Then we¡¯ll keep it."


    Gu Moqian answered without hesitation: "You¡¯re already Mrs. Gu in name and in fact. Let¡¯s just take this as moving up the timeline for our ns."


    "..."


    Ji Wei¡¯s face turned crimson from embarrassment, unable to utter another word.


    And then, the man suddenly leaned forward to hold her, rolling them over so their positions were reversed.


    Her legs split and straddled his body. This position was truly...

 Chapter 105: Bathing Together

    <h4>Chapter 105: Chapter 105: Bathing Together</h4>


    Gu Moqian pulled her into his embrace once again, his slender fingers slipping under the hem of her nightgown. His slightlybored breathing sounded low and husky: "What should I do? No matter what, I can¡¯t get enough of you..."


    In the morning light, beneath the pristine white quilt, bodies intertwined, an endless spring scene unfolded.


    ...


    Afterwards, Ji Weiy weakened and soft against Gu Moqian¡¯s chest, her tone carrying a trace of grievance as she spoke: "Mr. Gu, at this rate of indulgence, are you trying to drain me dry?"


    She had intended to get up early, but that n was entirely ruined by the fervent battle with Gu Moqian,plete with several different positions¡ªones that were utterly unspeakable. Now her entire body was limp and sore, she couldn¡¯t even get up.


    "How could I ever bear to drain you dry?"


    Gu Moqian tilted her chin upward, and the woeful expression on her face drew a faint smile across his lips. "Should I make some bird¡¯s nest soup for you to nourish your body, hmm?"


    This wasn¡¯t about nourishment! It was simply that she couldn¡¯t handle it, absolutely couldn¡¯t.


    Ji Wei was just about to retort when she suddenly felt a rush of warmth flow beneath her. That familiar sensation was...


    Her, period, had, arrived.


    It was practically a divine intervention!


    Ji Wei abruptly sat up from Gu Moqian¡¯s embrace, her face lighting up with excitement as she spoke: "Well, sorry about this, Mr. Gu. For the next six days, you¡¯ll have to endure and hold back."


    Gu Moqian looked at her in puzzlement, clearly not understanding the implication of her words.


    Ji Wei got out of bed barefoot with a spring in her step, walked over to the nightstand, opened a drawer, and pulled out a pack of sanitary products. Triumphantly, she waved it at the man.


    Watching the little woman¡¯s smug disy, Gu Moqian couldn¡¯t help but let out a lightugh.


    Just how much did she resist intimacy with him?


    The next moment, the man suddenly stretched out his long legs and stepped down from the bed, walking barefoot toward her.


    Ji Wei stared at him dazedly, uncertain of what he intended to do.


    Suddenly, her entire body left the ground¡ªGu Moqian had swept her up into his arms.


    "Mo Qian, I have my period! Don¡¯t do anything rash!" Ji Wei¡¯s face turned a shade paler with fright.


    Gu Moqian looked down at the panicked little woman in his arms and casually stated, "We¡¯ll take a bath together."


    At this moment, Ji Wei¡¯s earlier smug expression had vanished without a trace, reced by sheer timidity as she gazed at the man¡¯s profile: "N-no, that¡¯s not a good idea..."


    Bathing together? That was far too humiliating.


    "Is there any part of your body I haven¡¯t touched already? What¡¯s there to be shy about?"


    "..."


    Gu Moqian¡¯s words left Ji Weipletely speechless.


    Carrying her, he strode toward the bathroom.


    Given Ji Wei¡¯s condition, only a shower would suffice.


    Gu Moqian turned on the showerhead, thoughtfully adjusting the water temperature for her. Once the water was just right, he turned back to find Ji Wei still standing there with a deeply flushed face.


    The little woman clutched the hem of her nightgown, looking utterly at a loss.


    Gu Moqian felt his heart soften. Walking over, he reached out and gently stroked her silky hair, his voice tender: "Why aren¡¯t you undressing yet?"


    "You... You¡¯re still here, how can I undress..."


    Ji Wei¡¯s cheeks burned as she cast her gaze down, unable to meet his eyes.


    "I¡¯ll help you take it off."


    A low, melodicugh sounded beside her ear, and before Ji Wei could react, Gu Moqian had already pulled free the belt tied around her waist.


    The nightgown was made of real silk, a simple design secured by a belt at the waist.


    But now, its only restraint had been undone, causing the gown¡¯s front to naturally fall open.


    A soft expanse of snow-white skin was suddenly exposed before his eyes.


    Feeling the man¡¯s piercing gaze on her, Ji Wei instinctively raised her hand to cover her chest.

 Chapter 106: You’re so charming, I can’t help myself

    <h4>Chapter 106: Chapter 106: You¡¯re so charming, I can¡¯t help myself</h4>


    Gu Moqian looked at her shy demeanor, holding back a chuckle as he gently said, "I¡¯ll turn around, you can undress yourself."


    After speaking, he really did turn around.


    Ji Wei froze for a few seconds, confirming that the man hadn¡¯t shown any signs of turning back suddenly, and only then did she quickly take off her nightgown.


    When she turned back again, Ji Wei was already standing under the shower, her back facing him.


    The woman¡¯s skin was white as jade, her back smooth and elegantly contoured, with a pair of slender, beautiful legs. Ji Wei¡¯s figure was ideal¡ªcurvaceous in all the right ces, undeniably alluring.


    At the moment, her long hair naturally draped over her shoulders. Warm shower water trickled down her jet-ck strands, sliding across her pale, jade-like spine and over her pert curves...


    Gu Moqian¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple bobbed as his gaze darkened even further.


    "Aren¡¯t you supposed to shower too?"


    Ji Wei suddenly asked.


    Not daring to look back at him, her voice was soft, yet to Gu Moqian, it sounded irresistibly delicate and moving.


    "Mm, I¡¯ll join you in a moment," he responded, reaching out to remove his own nightclothes.


    Soon, Ji Wei heard slow footsteps approaching in the water. Her hand gripped the showerhead tightly, her heart pounding wildly.


    Suddenly, the warmth of a man¡¯s body pressed against her from behind, tightly adhering to her back.


    Ji Wei trembled all over, instinctively tensing her legs.


    From behind, Gu Moqian reached out and wrapped his arms around her. The water droplets on her wet body flowed onto his as well.


    Ji Wei stood there rigidly, listening as Gu Moqian¡¯s gentle voice, soft as water, tickled her ear, "Mrs. Gu, you¡¯re far too captivating like this; it¡¯s hard for me to resist wanting to..."


    His voice trailed off, his warm breaths teasing the sensitive skin of her earlobe. Ji Wei felt a jolt of electricity coursing through her, growing even more tense.


    Sensing that the woman in his arms had gonepletely stiff, not daring to move, Gu Moqian chuckled softly, "Rx, your body¡¯s not in a convenient condition¡ªI won¡¯t do anything to you."


    With those words, Gu Moqian abruptly released his arms from around her, "I¡¯ll go bathe in the tub."


    Ji Wei was still struggling to recover from her daze. When she finally mustered the courage to turn around, she saw Gu Moqian raising his long leg to step into the bathtub.


    His back muscles were exquisitely defined¡ªstrong and solid, with a healthy, sensual skin tone. Paired with those impossibly long legs, he resembled a male model straight out of a poster, making anyone¡¯s pulse race.


    Ji Wei¡¯s face grew hot as she watched. When Gu Moqian suddenly turned around, she hurriedly averted her gaze.


    Her heart was pounding furiously.


    It was her husband, yet why did she feel like a guilty thief?


    Ji Wei didn¡¯t dare look back again, turning the shower to its strongest setting, hoping the rushing sound of water would mask her inner turmoil.


    Gu Moqian reclined in the bathtub, water rising to his chest as his long arms rested on the tub¡¯s edges. His demeanor exuded a hint ofziness.


    Yet his deep, ink-like gaze never once left the woman¡¯s snow-white silhouette, bathed in the dreamlike haze of rising steam.


    After finishing their baths, the two finally went downstairs for breakfast.


    The dining room was quiet. The table was set with prepared breakfast: sandwiches, vegetable sd, milk, and eggs. But Sister-inw Zhang was nowhere to be seen.


    "Huh, did Sister-inw Zhang go out to buy groceries?" Ji Wei asked in surprise.


    Gu Moqian, having stepped into the dining room, immediately noticed the envelope ced on the table. He walked over to pick it up and, after scanning its contents quickly, said indifferently: "She quit."

 Chapter 107: A peach-colored lip print stamped on the man’s face

    <h4>Chapter 107: Chapter 107: A peach-colored lip print stamped on the man¡¯s face</h4>


    Ji Wei looked at him for a long while before murmuring, "Everything was fine, so why did she resign?"


    "The letter says there¡¯s something urgent back in her hometown, and she must return."


    Gu Moqian folded the letter and stuffed it directly into his pocket.


    "Sister inw Zhang has been here for so long. Without her, it really feels a bit strange. Justst night, I was telling her she should teach me to cook more often."


    Ji Wei walked over, pulled out a dining chair, and sat down. Exhausted from being thoroughly worn out by Gu Moqian this morning, she was also so hungry her stomach felt glued to her back. She grabbed a sandwich and took a big bite. "Sister inw Zhang¡¯s cooking is impable; this sandwich is absolutely delicious."


    "If you want to eat it every day, that¡¯s not a problem." Gu Moqian also came over and sat beside her. "I¡¯ll have Chen Ke find the best five-star hotel chefter. The vors they create will be even better than this."


    Ji Wei took a sip of the milk nearby and said, "There¡¯s no need for that. We usually just eat homestyle dishes. Asking a five-star chef to cater to us would be such a waste. Besides, I¡¯ve gotten used to Sister inw Zhang¡¯s cooking. Her sudden departure feels like a bit of a pity."


    Gu Moqian stiffened slightly in the middle of eating.


    It only took Ji Wei a short while to get used to it. And him? Except for the years studying abroad, he¡¯d been eating Sister inw Zhang¡¯s cooking for almost six years.


    "Hmm." He hummed lightly and suppressed the flicker of emotion in his eyes, lowering his head to focus on his meal.


    The real reason for Sister inw Zhang¡¯s departure was something he was well aware of.


    Having worked at Shanshui Manor for nearly ten years, she was an old hand. Of course, he knew there wasn¡¯t anyone left in Aunt Zhang¡¯s so-called hometown. Her excuse was clearly made up on the spot.


    Sister inw Zhang likely knew that her deeds were about to be exposed, so she ran off in such a hurry.


    Some people, when their loyalty does not lie with him, aren¡¯t worth keeping around.


    "Mo Qian, today¡¯s Saturday. Do you have any ns?"


    Noticing that the atmosphere had suddenly grown somber, Ji Wei casually brought up a new topic.


    Gu Moqian paused mid-bite, raised his eyes to look at her, and spoke slowly, "I¡¯ll call your friendter to see if she¡¯s free. Ye Cheng agreed to give her a chance."


    "Really?"


    At first, Ji Wei thought she had misheard. But when she saw the faint smile in Gu Moqian¡¯s eyes, she quickly swallowed the bite of sandwich in her mouth and jumped to her feet in excitement. "That¡¯s fantastic! I¡¯ll call Duoduo right away!"


    If Duoduo found out that the top-tier agent Ye Cheng was willing to take her on as an artist, she¡¯d probablyugh herself awake dreaming. All her recent gloom would vanish in an instant!


    Seeing how the little woman couldn¡¯t wait even a moment to grab her phone, Gu Moqian¡¯s lips curled into a faint smile, his gaze filled with tenderness and indulgence.


    Ji Wei and Xia Duoduo arranged to meet in front of the Xingyao Entertainment Building. After finishing breakfast, she went upstairs to change into something more suitable for going out. "ck ck ck," she descended the stairs and went to the entrance to put on her shoes.


    Just as she finished putting them on and looked up, Ji Wei saw Gu Moqian approaching.


    "I¡¯ll give you a ride."


    Ji Wei was taken aback. "Weren¡¯t you just in the study? Don¡¯t you need to deal with work?"


    "Work isn¡¯t as important as you."


    Gu Moqian reached out and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. Looking at the flush on her face, his smile was gentle like the breeze.


    Ji Wei stared at the man¡¯s impossibly handsome face, momentarily dazed, before she took the initiative to hook her arm around his. Looking up at Gu Moqian with a bright, flower-like smile, she cheerfully said, "Thanks, hubby!"


    "Hmm, a kiss first."


    Gu Moqian casually pointed a finger to his left cheek.


    Ji Wei almost burst intoughter at his attitude.


    Holding in herughter, she stood on her tiptoes and gave his chiseled, clean-shaven cheek a firm kiss.


    A peach-colored lip print was left on the man¡¯s face.

 Chapter 108 Who gave you the confidence, to actually...

    <h4>Chapter 108: Chapter 108 Who gave you the confidence, to actually...</h4><h4></h4>


    Ji Wei stared at the lipstick mark, her smile curving into a yful arc. "You¡¯re heading out soon, so let me wipe off the lipstick mark for you." She said as she pulled a wet tissue from her bag.


    The woman¡¯s eyes were clear and dark, as bright as the stars. She tilted her head and carefully wiped away the lip print she had personally left moments ago, her expression focused. Gu Moqian watched her silently, his heart softening infinitely.


    "There, all done."


    Just as Ji Wei tucked the tissue away with a smile, the man suddenly bent down and pulled her into a tight embrace...


    About half an hourter, the Maybach came to a steady stop at the entrance of Xingyao Entertainment Building.


    Stepping out of the car, Ji Wei immediately saw Xia Duoduo, who had arrived earlier.


    "Duoduo, over here!" Ji Wei called out.


    Xia Duoduo walked toward them, and Ji Wei grabbed her hand. Seeing her with light makeup and aplexion better than yesterday¡ªher eyes no longer noticeably swollen¡ªJi Wei finally felt relieved.


    Xia Duoduo nced at Gu Moqian standing behind Ji Wei and greeted politely, "Hello, Mr. Gu."


    "Hello." Gu Moqian responded with a courteous smile.


    Since it was the weekend, the building was nearly empty. After exining their purpose at the reception desk, they headed straight to the top-floor agent department via elevator.


    Ye Cheng¡¯s assistant was already waiting by the door and swiftly led them inside.


    "Duoduo, don¡¯t be nervous. Just perform at your usual acting level, and I¡¯m sure Ye Cheng won¡¯t make things difficult for you."


    At the office door, Ji Wei gently reminded her friend once more, then watched her enter while offering a look of encouragement.


    "Mr. Gu, Miss Ji, please follow me to the lounge. Miss Xia¡¯s interview will take a while to finish."


    Ye Cheng¡¯s assistant spoke to them politely.


    After walking a few steps, Gu Moqian¡¯s phone suddenly rang.


    He pulled out his phone, nced at the caller ID, and his expression darkened instantly.


    "I¡¯ll take the call. You go ahead," Gu Moqian said as he strode toward thepany¡¯s entrance, bringing the phone to his ear. "What do you want from me?"


    "Miss Ji, would you like coffee or tea?" The assistant asked when they arrived at the lounge.


    "Just a ss of water, please. Thank you."


    Ji Wei had only sat down for a few minutes when a woman appeared in the lounge.


    The woman was wearing a sequined dress, gold heels, and had yellow curly hair. Her entire look screamed attention-grabbing.


    Even though Ji Wei wasn¡¯t familiar with the entertainment industry, she could tell this was a celebrity just by the outfit.


    After all, this was thergest entertainmentpany in Rongcheng, and running into a celebrity was entirely normal.


    The woman had been merely passing through, but upon noticing Ji Wei seated on the sofa, she suddenly stopped in her tracks. Her heavily made-up eyes scanned Ji Wei from head to toe, filled with guarded suspicion.


    Before Ji Wei could say anything, the woman blurted out a question, "Who are you? Are you here for Ye Cheng too?"


    As she spoke, the woman moved closer, her demeanor arrogant. "Let me tell you, Ye Cheng is mine. You little insignificant starlet shouldn¡¯t dream of climbing up the ranks to reach the hottest agent in the entertainment industry."


    Ji Wei scoffed internally¡ªso this woman was interested in Ye Cheng and had mistaken her as a rival.


    She hadn¡¯t said a word yet and was already being scolded. Suddenly, Ji Wei felt an urge to y along and tease this woman.


    "That¡¯s right, I¡¯m here to see Ye Cheng," Ji Wei stood up and met the woman¡¯s gaze without flinching.


    "You?" The woman sneered, eyeing Ji Wei¡¯s dress with disdain. "Do you even know who I am? I¡¯m Jia Entertainment¡¯s top talent, Jin Xuan¡¯er! Which second-ratepany are you from?"


    Before Ji Wei could respond, Jin Xuan¡¯er continued sarcastically, "No need to say it. It¡¯s obvious you¡¯re from some obscure, no-namepany. I bet you can count the number of artists there on one hand. I can¡¯t imagine what gave you the confidence toe to Xingyao asking for Ye Cheng. Now get out!"


    Her face flushed with anger as Jin Xuan¡¯er pointed toward the exit and reprimanded her.

 Chapter 109 Mr. Ye, I Really Like You…

    <h4>Chapter 109: Chapter 109 Mr. Ye, I Really Like You...</h4><h4></h4>


    "You said it yourself¡ªyou¡¯re an artist from Jia Entertainment. So, let me ask you, as a female celebrity from Jia Entertainment, Xingyao¡¯s sworn enemy, are you sure you¡¯re not here to spy for yourpany?"


    Faced with Jin Xuan¡¯er¡¯s aggressive questioning, Ji Wei didn¡¯t show even the slightest hint of fear. Instead, her retort made Jin Xuan¡¯er momentarily freeze in ce.


    It was true that Xingyao and Jia Entertainment were bitter rivals, but fate had its own peculiar sense of humor. Jin Xuan¡¯er just happened to fall for the top agent of the opposingpany.


    "What nonsense are you spouting?"


    Jin Xuan¡¯er, unwilling to back down, yelled stubbornly, "A small-time celebrity like you dares to boss me around? Get the hell out of here, do you hear me?"


    Ji Wei smirked coldly at the woman in front of her, who seemed on the verge of losing control.


    "The one who should leave is you."


    The voice wasn¡¯t Ji Wei¡¯s, but a cool, indifferent tone that came from behind the two of them.


    Both Ji Wei and Jin Xuan¡¯er turned their heads at once, only to see Ye Cheng walking out of his office, his usual aloof demeanor unchanged. Beside him stood Xia Duoduo, her head lowered, making it impossible to discern her expression.


    Ji Wei noticed that Xia Duoduo didn¡¯t seem to be in a good mood, and couldn¡¯t help feeling a bit surprised.


    Could it be that her conversation with Ye Cheng hadn¡¯t gone well? No matter how she looked at it, Xia Duoduo seemed like she was on the verge of tears.


    Ji Wei took a step towards the two, but before she could reach them, Jin Xuan¡¯er rudely shoved her aside from behind, her high heels clicking loudly as she rushed over to Ye Cheng.


    "Mr. Ye, do you remember me? I¡¯m Jin Xuan¡¯er! We first met at the film festival press conference, where you so graciously extended your hand to catch me when I almost fell. From that moment on, I was captivated by you..."


    Jin Xuan¡¯er gazed at Ye Cheng with an infatuated look, her voice filled with unmistakable joy and urgency.


    Ye Cheng only gave her a brief nce, his eyes exuding a frosty detachment that kept others at a distance. "I¡¯ve told you before, don¡¯te to Xingyao again. Leave immediately."


    Ever since their fleeting encounter at the film festival, Jin Xuan¡¯er had be inexplicably obsessive about Ye Cheng. Completely disregarding the fact that theirpanies were rivals, she seized any opportunity toe looking for him.


    Thepany¡¯s front desk had tried to stop her a few times but couldn¡¯t keep her out. And since she always imed to have business to discuss with Ye Cheng, it was hard topletely bar her from entering.


    After all, who would¡¯ve thought that a celebrity like Jin Xuan¡¯er would chase after a mere agent so fervently?


    Today was a Saturday. Jin Xuan¡¯er, having learned through her spywork that Ye Cheng was in the office, knew this was a perfect chance to approach him. So she had rushed over in a whirlwind.


    But as soon as she arrived, she mistakenly assumed Ji Wei was her rival in love.


    "Mr. Ye, I truly like you..."


    Jin Xuan¡¯er tried to appeal to the man¡¯s heart, and her words were emotional and stirring. "You¡¯re unlike any man I¡¯ve ever met. There¡¯s something irresistibly maic about you, something that draws me in and makes me think about you... I think about you while eating, while filming, even in my dreams, you¡¯re always there. I¡¯m not asking you to agree to be with me right away, but at the very least, don¡¯t push me away. Give us a chance to get to know each other better, okay?"


    The more Ye Cheng listened, the darker and colder his expression became.


    It was precisely because of countless women like Jin Xuan¡¯er¡ªswooning admirers¡ªthat he avoided getting too involved with actresses.


    Women approached him either for his attractive appearance or his status as a top agent, hoping to use him as a stepping stone to climb to the pinnacle of the entertainment industry.


    Ji Wei, overhearing Jin Xuan¡¯er¡¯s overly sentimental confession, was somewhat dumbfounded.


    So, this was her witnessing someone confessing their love to the ice-cold Ye Cheng?


    Ye Cheng clearly had little patience left, his voice chilling to the bone. "Miss Jin, I¡¯ve already told you¡ªI¡¯m not interested in you."


    "That¡¯s okay. As long as I¡¯m interested in you, that¡¯s all that matters. Feelings can be cultivated over time, can¡¯t they? How about this: why don¡¯t youe work for me as my agent instead? I¡¯ll give you five times your current sry. You wouldn¡¯t have to take care of multiple artists anymore¡ªjust me alone. What do you think, Mr. Ye? Would you consider it?"

 Chapter 110: If You Hit Her, It’s the Same as Hitting Me

    <h4>Chapter 110: Chapter 110: If You Hit Her, It¡¯s the Same as Hitting Me</h4><h4></h4>


    Jin Xuan¡¯er spoke as she reached out to grab Ye Cheng¡¯s sleeve, but he coldly evaded her.


    Unwilling to give up, she tried again. In the next moment, Ye Cheng suddenly pulled Xia Duoduo to stand in front of him, blocking Jin Xuan¡¯er.


    Only then did Jin Xuan¡¯er notice Xia Duoduo¡¯s presence, and her voice became sharp instantly: "Mr. Ye, who is she?"


    "A new actress I just signed," Ye Cheng replied in an extremely detached tone.


    Jin Xuan¡¯er¡¯s eyes widened in shock.


    How was this possible? Ye Cheng hadn¡¯t signed a female artist in nearly three years. Who was this woman supposed to be? What right did she have to earn Ye Cheng¡¯s favor!


    Not only Jin Xuan¡¯er, but even Xia Duoduo seemedpletely stunned, her reddened eyes staring at Ye Cheng¡¯s cold yet devilishly handsome face.


    Just a moment ago in the office, hadn¡¯t he clearly said her talent was too poor, that she wasn¡¯t cut out to be a star, and rejected her outright? Why this sudden change of heart¡ªwhat game was he ying now?


    Could it be that she was just a shield to help him avoid the harassment of the woman in front of him?


    Xia Duoduo bit her lip, her emotions swirling in chaos.


    After recovering from her shock, Jin Xuan¡¯er outright refused to believe what she had heard: "Mr. Ye, her looks are a dime a dozen in the entertainment industry. Why would you choose her? I don¡¯t believe it. You must be lying to me. I¡¯m not falling for it."


    "Believe it or not, that¡¯s up to you."


    Ye Cheng¡¯s patience had long been exhausted; he didn¡¯t n to deal with this clingy woman anymore. Turning away, he strode into his office.


    Unwilling to admit defeat, Jin Xuan¡¯er chased after him. Just as she reached the doorway, there was a loud bang!


    The door mmed shut inches from her nose.


    Jin Xuan¡¯er stood frozen in ce, her heavily made-up face turning angrily red. She simply couldn¡¯t ept being shut out by Ye Cheng!


    Her hands at her sides clenched into fists, and Jin Xuan¡¯er gritted her teeth as she whipped around, ring daggers at Xia Duoduo.


    It had to be this new actress¡ªundoubtedly, she¡¯d seduced Ye Cheng and made him lose interest in Jin Xuan¡¯er!


    "You slut! What did you do in the office just now? Did you use your filthy body to seduce Mr. Ye so he¡¯d break tradition and sign you? Someone like you¡ªjust another third-rate star¡ªdares topete with me over a man? You¡¯re nothing but trash!"


    Jin Xuan¡¯er¡¯s eyes bulged with fury as she raised her hand, preparing to p Xia Duoduo across the face.


    Before her hand couldnd, Ji Wei grabbed her wrist tightly.


    Ji Wei¡¯s grip was strong enough to make Jin Xuan¡¯er wince in pain. Enraged, Jin Xuan¡¯er demanded, "I¡¯m teaching her a lesson¡ªwhat does it have to do with you? Let go of me!"


    Ji Wei sneered coldly: "She¡¯s my best friend. If you hit her, it¡¯s the same as hitting me."


    Jin Xuan¡¯er stared at the two women in shock, trembling with rage: "So the two of you are in this together! Of course¡ªyou¡¯re both vixens, it¡¯s not surprising you¡¯re from the same den!"


    Ji Wei didn¡¯t respond immediately. Instead, her grip on Jin Xuan¡¯er¡¯s wrist tightened.


    The pressure made Jin Xuan¡¯er¡¯s face twist in pain, and she shouted in fury, "Let go of me! Let me go!"


    Fine¡ªif she wanted Ji Wei to release her, then Ji Wei would oblige.


    Ji Wei suddenly loosened her hold and shoved Jin Xuan¡¯er hard.


    Jin Xuan¡¯er, wearing towering heels, couldn¡¯t keep her bnce. She staggered back several steps before unceremoniously falling to the ground.


    "It hurts so much..."


    Clutching her backside, Jin Xuan¡¯er struggled to get up. Her finger trembled with rage as she pointed at Ji Wei: "You¡ªyou actually dared to push me! Do you believe I won¡¯t call someone right now to cklist both of you!"

 Chapter 111 Delete the Recording for Me!

    <h4>Chapter 111: Chapter 111 Delete the Recording for Me!</h4><h4></h4>


    "I just fear you don¡¯t dare to do that." Ji Wei nced coldly at her, not the slightest bit flustered.


    "What do you mean?"


    Jin Xuan¡¯er frowned, feelingpletely confused by her words.


    Could it be that this woman has some big shot supporting her behind the scenes in the entertainment circle?


    Ji Wei calmly took out her phone from her pocket, turned on the screen, and then showed it to the woman: "I¡¯ve been recording the whole time. Every word you¡¯ve said, including your passionate confession to Ye Cheng, has been recorded."


    Jin Xuan¡¯er wanted to cklist her, she wasn¡¯t a celebrity, so she wasn¡¯t afraid, but Xia Duoduo was different. So she had to make Jin Xuan¡¯er give up on the idea of cklisting.


    "You¡¯re despicable!"


    Jin Xuan¡¯er didn¡¯t expect Ji Wei to use this move, and was obviously a bit panicked.


    She had always appeared in the public eye with an innocent image, and her fans believed Jin Xuan¡¯er to be pure and kind-hearted, beautiful.


    If these recordings were exposed, not only would her relentless confessions to Ye Cheng be ridiculed, but her domineering and profane words just now wouldpletely ruin her public image, and her entertainment career might be destroyed as a consequence.


    "Delete the recording." Jin Xuan¡¯er ordered with a trembling voice, her eyes ring at Ji Wei as if she could bore holes into her.


    "Deleting it is out of the question."


    Ji Wei tly refused, paused, and suddenly changed her tone: "However, I can choose not to make this recording public. Of course, there are conditions to not making it public. First, you must not pester Ye Cheng again in the future; second, Duoduo is about to make a new debut under Ye Cheng, please do not harbor any ill intentions against Duoduo in the future... Otherwise, these recordings may appear in the public eye at any time."


    Jin Xuan¡¯er was so angry and shocked that her chest kept heaving, her face turning purple with rage, even the thick foundation couldn¡¯t cover it.


    She gritted her teeth, and her gaze filled with hatred when she looked at Ji Wei. After a long time, Jin Xuan¡¯er finally suppressed her anger and resentment, and said hatefully, "Fine, I agree with you..."


    These words were almost forced out from between Jin Xuan¡¯er¡¯s clenched teeth.


    Ji Wei certainly knew Jin Xuan¡¯er¡¯s unwillingness and resentment, but she was not afraid.


    It¡¯s not too much to say that being a female celebrity is one of the most fragile professions. An explosive negative scandal can ruin a star in an instant.


    Ji Wei didn¡¯t n to waste time with Jin Xuan¡¯er here, she coldly responded, "Remember what you said."


    After finishing, she took Xia Duoduo¡¯s hand by her side and walked toward the rest area.


    Jin Xuan¡¯er watched their figures walk away with hatred, her anger and frustration growing stronger.


    She felt that the woman¡¯s face just now looked very familiar, but she couldn¡¯t recall it at the moment. If she managed to find out her identity, she would definitely not let her go!


    Jin Xuan¡¯er walked out filled with anger, and as soon as she reached the corridor, a man approached her.


    The man was dressed in a tailored suit, with a tall and straight stature, a face of clear and handsome features, exuding nobility from every gesture and move, charming and captivating.


    It was the number one young master of Rongcheng, Gu Moqian!


    At the moment she saw Gu Moqian, memories of past news reports shed through Jin Xuan¡¯er¡¯s mind like lightning. She suddenly recalled who that woman causing her shame earlier was!


    Gu Moqian¡¯s fianc¨¦e, the Ji Family¡¯s spoilt and rebellious eldest daughter, Ji Wei!


    Jin Xuan¡¯er stared at Gu Moqian¡¯s breathtakingly handsome face, and suddenly a thought urred to her.


    Gu Moqian had just finished a call and was walking back when a woman suddenly appeared in the corridor, but he paid her no mind and walked right past her.


    Just as they brushed past, the woman coquettishly called out, "Are you Mr. Gu?"


    After calling out, Jin Xuan¡¯er hurried to introduce herself to Gu Moqian: "You, Mr. Gu, are exactly as the rumors say, elegant and noble. By the way, I¡¯m Jin Xuan¡¯er, the hottest actress under Jia Entertainment, surely you¡¯ve heard of me, right?"

 Chapter 112 He Should Be Considered Miss Ji’s First Love

    <h4>Chapter 112: Chapter 112 He Should Be Considered Miss Ji¡¯s First Love</h4><h4></h4>


    "Don¡¯t know."


    Mo Qian answered coldly, lifting his foot as if to continue walking forward.


    Jin Xuan¡¯er hurriedly spoke again, "Mr. Gu, I just saw your fianc¨¦e, is her name Ji Wei?"


    Hearing Ji Wei¡¯s name, Mo Qian paused his steps, turning to nce at Jin Xuan¡¯er.


    His reaction made Jin Xuan¡¯er even more certain she hadn¡¯t mistaken the person. The one who offended her earlier was indeed the eldest Miss of the Ji Family¡ªJi Wei! When it came to Ji Wei, Jin Xuan¡¯er really held a crucial leverage.


    "The newspapers say you and your fianc¨¦e don¡¯t have a good rtionship. Others might not know the reason, but I wonder¡ªit could be because of someone, perhaps?"


    Jin Xuan¡¯er smiled as she spoke, though her words were ambiguous, like she was deliberately keeping him guessing.


    Mo Qian disliked her phrasing, the cold expression between his brows clear. Instead of asking eagerly as Jin Xuan¡¯er had anticipated, he turned indifferently and continued walking forward.


    Seeing this, Jin Xuan¡¯er blurted out in urgency, "That person has quite a deep rtionship with Miss Ji... it¡¯s the Second Young Master of the Huo Family, Huo Yan."


    Mo Qian¡¯s eyes flickered.


    The Gu Family and Huo Family had no business connections, and he had only met Huo Yan once at a party, leaving no deep impression.


    Seeing his steps slow down slightly, Jin Xuan¡¯er secretly approached him while seizing the opportunity to continue, "Coincidentally, I¡¯m quite good friends with the Second Young Master Huo as well. The rtionship between him and your fianc¨¦e might not be so simple."


    Mo Qian stopped walking but didn¡¯t turn back.


    His figure stood tall, the tailored trousers perfectly entuating his long legs.


    Jin Xuan¡¯er looked at his back, secretly sighing in her heart¡ªthis man indeed lived up to his reputation; even from behind, one couldn¡¯t help but feel captivated.


    But she only had eyes for Ye Cheng¡ªfor now, other men didn¡¯t interest her.


    "Mr. Gu, did you know? Huo Yan could probably be considered Miss Ji¡¯s first love."


    Jin Xuan¡¯er suddenly covered her mouth and chuckled lightly.


    After uttering those words, she finally saw Mo Qian abruptly turn around. His cold and indifferent face tensed slightly, giving no clues to his emotions.


    Jin Xuan¡¯er secretly watched Mo Qian¡¯s shifting expressions, confidently believing her words had hit the mark.


    No current partner could remain unaffected hearing about their girlfriend¡¯s first love¡ªnot even someone as poised and untouchable as Mr. Gu.


    Meanwhile, Ji Wei and Xia Duoduo were sitting on the sofa in the lounge area.


    "What did Ye Cheng say to you earlier in the office? Why do I feel like you¡¯ve been crying?" Ji Wei asked bluntly without reservations.


    Xia Duoduo seemed a little embarrassed, grabbing the water cup in front of her and taking a big gulp. "I... got scolded by Agent Ye."


    Ji Wei was surprised. "Why did he scold you?"


    Xia Duoduo coughed awkwardly. "He asked me about why I entered the entertainment industry and my ns for the future... You know I¡¯m quitezy. I¡¯ve never thought about ns. Even entering the entertainment industry was because I got discovered by a scout while buying bubble tea to shoot an advertisement¡ªit just sort of happened."


    Ji Wei: "..."


    Alright, Xia Duoduo was truly aid-back little celebrity...


    After a pause, Ji Wei asked again, "So, he scolded you, and then you started crying?"


    "... He said if I couldn¡¯t even figure out why I entered the entertainment industry, I shouldn¡¯t bother bing an artist and might as well go home to live off the Xia Family as a spoiled little heiress."


    For him to say something like living off one¡¯s family, it was clear Ye Cheng was deeply frustrated with Xia Duoduo¡¯s passive attitude.


    Xia Duoduo tightened her grip on the cup, her lips curling upward. "Not everyone has to think things through so clearly and logically, right? As the saying goes, ignorance is bliss. I was really annoyed and snapped back at him... And then, Agent Ye exploded on the spot and t-out refused to take me on as his artist."

 Chapter 113: Aren’t You Afraid That She Will Rekindle Her Old Flame With Him?

    <h4>Chapter 113: Chapter 113: Aren¡¯t You Afraid That She Will Rekindle Her Old me With Him?</h4><h4></h4>


    "But just now, he promised in front of Jin Xuan¡¯er..." Ji Wei felt very confused.


    "Exactly, I was also shocked earlier. I really want to crack open this big agent¡¯s skull and see how his brain circuits are wired."


    Ji Wei shared the same sentiment, finding Ye Cheng to be an enigma, probably due to his past experiences.


    She was particrly curious about how Gu Moqian became good friends with such an entric man.


    After chatting for a bit longer, Xia Duoduo went to the restroom. Ji Wei, seeing that Gu Moqian hadn¡¯t returned yet, couldn¡¯t help but stand up to go look for him.


    In the corridor.


    Jin Xuan¡¯er, seeing that Gu Moqian was still silent, couldn¡¯t hold back anymore and spoke up, "Mr. Gu, do you really not care at all about Huo Yan¡¯s existence?"


    "You already said it¡¯s a first love; that¡¯s in the past. I won¡¯t hold Ji Wei¡¯s past against her, but her present and future will only involve me." Gu Moqian spoke coldly, though his expression was gravely serious.


    "Ha... Mr. Gu is quite detached, I see." Jin Xuan¡¯er sneered, "But they say a first love is the white moonlight in one¡¯s heart. Aren¡¯t you afraid Miss Ji and Huo Yan will rekindle old feelings?"


    Ji Wei had just stepped into the corridor when she saw Gu Moqian and Jin Xuan¡¯er standing together. Instinctively, she felt that Jin Xuan¡¯er must be up to no good again.


    When she heard the mention of Huo Yan¡¯s name, Ji Wei¡¯s expression shifted slightly. Her face turned serious as she strode forward and spoke coldly, "Rekindle old feelings? That would require feelings to still exist in the first ce, wouldn¡¯t it?"


    Ji Wei¡¯s voice rang out suddenly from behind, startling Jin Xuan¡¯er, who whipped around sharply.


    Gu Moqian had already seen Ji Wei, and after hearing her words, the slight tension on his face instantly softened.


    "Miss Ji, you¡¯re just in time. I was just discussing your first love with Mr. Gu." Jin Xuan¡¯er clenched her palms tightly in frustration, though outwardly she wore an innocent, harmless expression.


    Ji Weipletely ignored her words and brushed past Jin Xuan¡¯er,ing to Gu Moqian¡¯s side.


    "Husband, are you done with your call?" Ji Wei naturally looped her arm around Gu Moqian¡¯s, speaking intimately as she looked up at him.


    "Yes."


    Gu Moqian looked down at her, his gaze tender and warm.


    Hus... Husband?


    Jin Xuan¡¯er looked as if she¡¯d been struck by lightning.


    Ji Wei was merely Mr. Gu¡¯s fianc¨¦e, and not long ago, there had been chaos everywhere, with rumors of her allegedly shing her wrist to oppose the engagement.


    How had they ended up married so quickly? And why hadn¡¯t she heard anything about it?


    Suddenly, Ji Wei felt a firm grip around her waist as Gu Moqian pulled her into an embrace from behind.


    "Does your stomach still hurt?"


    On their way to Xingyao Entertainment, Ji Wei had mentioned a faint pain in her abdomen.


    "Mm, a little, but it¡¯s no big deal," Ji Wei answered with a smile, turning her head. Difort during her period was inevitable, and she was used to it.


    "Does this feel a bit better?"


    Gu Moqian ced his warm hands on her lower abdomen. The heat eased the faint difort significantly.


    Ji Wei nodded, a sweet, warming sensation blooming in her heart.


    Standing off to the side, Jin Xuan¡¯er trembled with fury as she watched the two of them unabashedly showing affection.


    All her efforts in stirring the pot earlier had amounted to nothing¡ªGu Moqian didn¡¯t harbor the slightest grudge!


    Any man would feel jealousy; there was no way Gu Moqian could be an exception, she thought.


    "Mr. Gu¡ª"


    Jin Xuan¡¯er had barely spoken two words before Gu Moqian ignored herpletely. "Let¡¯s go inside," he said.


    He spread his fingers, inteced them with Ji Wei¡¯s, and the two walked hand in hand right past Jin Xuan¡¯er.


    Realizing they intended to fully disregard her, Jin Xuan¡¯er, growing anxious, blocked their path. "Miss Ji, do you remember the Huo Family¡¯s second son, Huo Yan?"

 Chapter 114 Stop Acting like a Loving Couple in Front of Me

    <h4>Chapter 114: Chapter 114 Stop Acting like a Loving Couple in Front of Me</h4><h4></h4>


    Ji Wei¡¯s expression remained calm andposed. When she looked at Jin Xuan¡¯er, a glimmer of coldness surfaced in her clear and bright eyes: "Whether or not you remember has nothing to do with you. Move aside!"


    Jin Xuan¡¯er was momentarily intimidated by her aura, but quickly sneered and stared at Ji Wei: "Of course it has nothing to do with me. But, don¡¯t you think you should consider Mr. Gu¡¯s feelings beside you?"


    Seeing Ji Wei¡¯s face turn cold and stern, Jin Xuan¡¯er hurriedly added, "I heard from Huo Yan that your rtionship suddenly came to an unresolved end, and that he hasn¡¯t agreed to break up with you..."


    "My personal affairs¡ªdo I owe an exnation to an outsider like you? You¡¯re so concerned about Huo Yan, do you have something going on with him?"


    Faced with Jin Xuan¡¯er¡¯s aggressive questioning, Ji Wei showed no sign of unease or panic. Instead, she grew even calmer.


    Because she knew Jin Xuan¡¯er had suffered a loss earlier at her expense and was deliberately trying to provoke tension between her and Gu Moqian.


    Jin Xuan¡¯er¡¯s voice suddenly sharpened: "What nonsense are you spouting! Huo Yan and I are just friends. How could we possibly¡ª"


    "Enough of this noise!"


    Gu Moqian¡¯s icy tone abruptly interjected, not loud, butced with authority. Jin Xuan¡¯er opened her mouth but didn¡¯t dare utter another word.


    "Ji Wei is my wife¡ªthe only woman I will ever love in this life. If you attempt to sow discord again, I doubt you¡¯ll want to remain in Rongcheng."


    Though Gu Moqian had uttered plenty of sweet words before, this was the first time he said them openly in someone else¡¯s presence. Ji Wei turned her head to the man beside her, his mature and well-defined face seemingly luminous, radiating warmth and resolute strength through his interlocked fingers with hers. It felt as if she¡¯d found her anchor.


    Jin Xuan¡¯er stared nkly at Gu Moqian¡¯s cold-as-ice expression yet refused to ept the reality before her.


    She stubbornly believed that Ji Wei married Gu Moqian purely out of a lovelessmercial arrangement. It was a union set in ce by their elders with neither party willing participants.


    "Miss Ji, you¡¯re nothing more than a titr wife to Mr. Gu. Spare me the act of feigned affection; I won¡¯t buy it," Jin Xuan¡¯er said after pausing, her tone dripping with sourness.


    Ji Wei waspletely speechless at Jin Xuan¡¯er¡¯s senseless pestering: "Acting? It seems you¡¯ve been immersed in your profession for too long, deluding yourself into believing you¡¯re an actor lost in the role?"


    Jin Xuan¡¯er¡¯s eyes instantly widened as if spitting fire: "Who are you calling an actor! You¡ª"


    Her furious voice was abruptly cut off by Gu Moqian: "Say one more word, and you¡¯re out of the entertainment industry!"


    Gu Moqian¡¯s threat was overpowering. Jin Xuan¡¯er¡¯s face turned pale, and she truly couldn¡¯t muster another sound, forced to re bitterly at the two before stomping away.


    They returned to Xingyao Entertainment.


    Not far away, Ye Cheng stood with arms crossed, leaningzily against the office doorframe. As he spotted them walking back, he spoke up: "Old Mo, I need to discuss something with you."


    Without waiting for a reply, Ye Cheng opened the door and walked in.


    "Take a seat for a moment; I¡¯ll be back soon," Gu Moqian said warmly, his broad palm gently patting the back of Ji Wei¡¯s hand.


    "Okay," Ji Wei nodded in agreement.


    Inside the office.


    Ye Cheng stood in front of his desk. Though he heard footsteps at the door, his eyes didn¡¯t leave theputer screen. He said indifferent words: "Come over and take a look."


    Ye Cheng held his mouse in hand and clicked on an email within theputer.


    Gu Moqian raised an eyebrow slightly and walked over as directed.


    "I received this email an hour ago. Can you guess what¡¯s inside?" Ye Cheng lifted his head to nce at Gu Moqian beside him and spoke.

 Chapter 115: If there’s real danger, I’ll be the first to call you to take the bullet.

    <h4>Chapter 115: Chapter 115: If there¡¯s real danger, I¡¯ll be the first to call you to take the bullet.</h4><h4></h4>


    Gu Moqian¡¯s searching eyes met his friend¡¯s gaze. Before he could speak, Ye Cheng added on his own, "It¡¯s about Ji Chuyang."


    Gu Moqian¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, and then he lowered his head, looking at the contents of the email on theputer screen.


    The first thing that came into view were a few photographs, all capturing the same scene: Ji Chuyang hastily walking out of the airport, heading toward a ck car nearby.


    Beside the car, four men dressed entirely in ck and wearing ck sunsses stood straight, exuding an air of discipline that showed they were not ordinary bodyguards.


    As Ji Chuyang approached the car door, one of the men in ck promptly opened it for him. The camera shutter froze this moment, clearly capturing a rough, calloused hand extending halfway out from inside the car. The palm had a yellowish tint of hardened skin.


    This suggested that the person inside the car had likely been handling some kind of weapon for years. A man with armed bodyguards dressed in ck was anything but ordinary.


    Who was this person?


    Thest photo showed Ji Chuyang driving away in the car, but the license te had been deliberately blurred, making the numbers illegible.


    The email contained only these photos, with no apanying text or exnation.


    "Who sent this email?" Gu Moqian asked calmly.


    "I had my people investigate, but they couldn¡¯t trace the sender¡¯s IP address. It¡¯s apparent that measures were taken to conceal their identity from us," Ye Cheng replied.


    Gu Moqian pondered silently without speaking immediately.


    The sender of the email was unknown, which called the email¡¯s authenticity into question.


    "I know you¡¯re doubting the credibility of the email, but my instincts tell me everything in it is real."


    Ye Cheng¡¯s expression turned serious as well. "I fear that Ji Chuyang knows he¡¯s cornered and has no way out, which is why he turned to the Japanese mafia for protection. Those people are desperate criminals; bing Ji Chuyang¡¯s bodyguards for money wouldn¡¯t be surprising."


    Mafia...


    Gu Moqian¡¯s eyes darkened suddenly. Indeed, from the way those men were dressed and their aura, it wasn¡¯t hard to guess their identity.


    Would the Japanese mafia really assist Ji Chuyang merely for money?


    Gu Moqian didn¡¯t fully believe that.


    The mafia had always held themselves in high regard; they wouldn¡¯t extend a helping hand to a foreigner merely for a meager sum. There had to be deeper reasons behind it.


    "I heard from Chen Ke that you¡¯re going to Japan for business next Thursday. Are you nning to deal with Ji Chuyang there?" Ye Cheng suddenly turned his head to look at him.


    "Yes," Gu Moqian admitted without hesitation.


    "Old Mo, I have a bad feeling about this trip to Japan. Maybe... you should cancel your ns."


    Gu Moqian let out a faint smile and shook his head. "No matter what connection Ji Chuyang has with the Japanese mafia, I won¡¯t let him roam freely."


    Ji Chuyang nearly killed him and Ji Wei¡ªdid he think fleeing overseas would allow him to escape retribution? How na?ve.


    "Alright then, just be extremely careful." Ye Cheng knew it was impossible to talk him out of it. He reached out and gave Gu Moqian¡¯s shoulder a firm pat, his expression solemn.


    Noticing his friend¡¯s unusually grave demeanor, Gu Moqian chuckled softly. "Old Ye, you know I¡¯ve been through countless perilous situations over the years. No need for that worried look. If there¡¯s real danger, I¡¯ll make sure to have you flown to Japan to take the bullets for me."


    Ye Cheng knew Gu Moqian was intentionally making light of the situation, but deep down, his friend¡¯s nerves were undoubtedly wound tightly.


    In the past, Gu Moqian had always faced danger alone, calm and detached because there was no one he was tied to emotionally.


    But now, he had someone he deeply loved.


    Ji Wei was Gu Moqian¡¯s armor. Yet, at the same time, she was also his greatest vulnerability.

 Chapter 116: Could it be that he’s bringing her to buy a diamond ring?

    <h4>Chapter 116: Chapter 116: Could it be that he¡¯s bringing her to buy a diamond ring?</h4><h4></h4>


    Xia Duoduo sessfully became an artist under Ye Cheng, allowing Ji Wei to finally feel a weight lifted off her chest.


    She hoped that after leaving the scumbag Xiao Zhen, Duoduo could have apletely different life, free from the tragedies of her previous one.


    As they walked out of Xingyao Entertainment, Ji Wei offered to drive Xia Duoduo home, but she was decisively refused: "I don¡¯t want to be the sparkling third wheel stuck between you two." After saying this, she waved grandly and strode to the roadside to g a taxi.


    Meanwhile, Ji Wei and Gu Moqian climbed into the Maybach parked nearby.


    "Aren¡¯t you curious who called me just now?" Gu Moqian suddenly asked as he buckled Ji Wei¡¯s seatbelt.


    Ji Wei tilted her head slightly to look at him, a faint smile emerging on her lips. "I wasn¡¯t curious before, but since you asked, now I want to know."


    "It was my mom."


    Surprise flickered briefly in Ji Wei¡¯s eyes, but she quickly recovered with a smile. "It¡¯s normal for a mother to call her son, isn¡¯t it?"


    Although she spoke like this, an uneasy thought lingered in Ji Wei¡¯s mind¡ªwas there another reason for Mrs. Gu to call?


    Gu Moqian studied her intently for a few seconds. "She said she¡¯ll be returning to Rongcheng in a week."


    "Hmm, that¡¯s good," Ji Wei nodded.


    Gu Moqian sharing this with her was likely a way to prepare her mentally.


    The thought of meeting her future mother-inw left Ji Wei feeling slightly uneasy. Many TV dramas depicted dramatic conflicts between mothers-inw and daughters-inw; would she face simr troubles?


    Noticing the faint tension in her expression, Gu Moqian suddenly grasped her small hand. "Don¡¯t overthink it. If things aren¡¯t pleasant between you and my mom, we¡¯ll move out and live somewhere else."


    Ji Wei: "..."


    Gu Moqian, are you a mind-reader or something?


    "Would you prefer a seaside vi or a luxury home in a prime location?"


    Ji Wei blinked, caught off guard by the abrupt mention of housing.


    "Xi Nanfeng told me about a stunning private beachfront vi that¡¯s for sale. It spans over 20,000 square meters and offers panoramic views of Banyue Bay¡¯s sea. The private beach is just steps away from the bedroom. If you¡¯re interested, we can buy it."


    "How much?" Ji Wei blurted out instinctively.


    "Not much, around 300 million."


    million isn¡¯t much? Ji Wei¡¯s eyes widened instantly. "Forget it. Since she¡¯s your mother¡ªmy mother-inw¡ªI¡¯ll do my best to get along with her peacefully."


    "Don¡¯t force yourself, alright?" He gently tightened his grip on her hand.


    Ji Wei looked at him, her gaze clear and heartfelt. "It¡¯s not difficult at all."


    Even if Mrs. Gu disliked her, Ji Wei knew she was still Gu Moqian¡¯s beloved family. She would make every effort to earn Mrs. Gu¡¯s eptance.


    Ji Wei thought they were headed straight back to Shanshui Manor, but the Maybach unexpectedly pulled up in front of thergest jewelry store in Rongcheng. Before she could even voice her surprise, Gu Moqian had already ushered her inside.


    The store staff, upon seeing Mr. Gu¡¯s vehicle, immediately rushed forward attentively.


    "Mr. Gu, Mrs. Gu, pleasee inside!"


    Guided by the staff, they entered the store¡¯s exclusive super VIP area.


    Soon after, the store manager personally arrived to receive them.


    "Mr. Gu, here is the customized diamond ring you requested. It just arrived from New York via air express¡ªdesigned by the world-renowned jewelry brand Lorraine Schwartz."


    As he spoke, the manager gestured toward an assistant, who presented a velvet box containing the diamond ring.


    A... diamond ring?


    Ji Wei¡¯s big eyes widened in shock as the realization slowly dawned on her.


    Could it be that Gu Moqian brought her here to pick out a diamond ring?

 Chapter 117: The Engagement Gift She Capriciously Threw into the Toilet...

    <h4>Chapter 117: Chapter 117: The Engagement Gift She Capriciously Threw into the Toilet...</h4><h4></h4>


    Mo Qian took the ornate box and opened it.


    Ji Wei stood right beside him, and the moment the box opened, she saw a dazzling pink diamond shimmering under the light. The diamond, shaped like a heart, was surrounded by a circle of pure, tiny diamonds that sparkled brilliantly, each facet refracting an extraordinary brilliance.


    This pigeon-egg-sized diamond must be worth tens of millions.


    Mo Qian¡¯s attention wasn¡¯t entirely on the diamond itself. He had personally picked out this pink diamond, ensuring its quality and craftsmanship were impable¡ªit naturally wouldn¡¯t disappoint.


    He picked up the diamond ring and flipped it over to look at the engraving inside.


    Engraved were the initials of his and Ji Wei¡¯s names: G.J, followed by a series of numbers: 201X527.


    It was exactly as he had envisioned.


    "Mr. Gu, are you satisfied with this diamond ring?" the store manager nervously asked.


    For a VIP client as prestigious as Mo Qian, they had to be exceedingly cautious in their service.


    "Mm, you may leave now."


    Mo Qian responded calmly.


    "Of course. If you need anything, please don¡¯t hesitate to call us." The manager gave a signal to the staff nearby, and in no time, everyone in the jewelry store had left the room.


    It was only then that Ji Wei snapped out of her daze. "When did you order this diamond ring?"


    "I ordered it just before your birthday."


    Mo Qian gazed at her, his eyes warm and tender. "I originally intended to give it to you on your birthday, but there was a minor w in the design of the ring at the time, so I sent it back to New York for adjustments."


    Her birthday¡ªthat day was also the day of her rebirth.


    Mo Qian had already decided to give her this precious diamond ring at that time?


    "Mo Qian, back then I was quite unreasonable. Why did you still want to marry me?" Ji Wei looked at him and asked softly.


    "Because apart from you, I never considered marrying anyone else." Mo Qian suddenly reached out and gently took her hand.


    "You just went along with what the elders said? You didn¡¯t even resist the idea of marrying me?"


    Mo Qian nced down, his gaze focused intently on her hand.


    Ji Wei¡¯s hands were slender and fair, their texture smooth and soft. Her neatly trimmed pink nails added to the overall pleasant appearance.


    He raised his brow slightly, and within the depths of his eyes seemed to stir a universe of stars¡ªprofound and captivating. "I chose my wife myself. Why would I resist?"


    With that simple deration, Ji Wei was stunned.


    So this arranged marriage was Mo Qian¡¯s choice?


    Why?


    She¡¯d never encountered Mo Qian in her childhood¡ªhow did he even know she existed?


    "Did we... meet when we were children?" Ji Wei couldn¡¯t help but voice her question.


    Mo Qian didn¡¯t respond. He remained silent as his attention fixed on the ring in his hand, slipping it onto her ring finger.


    The ring size was neither too big nor too small¡ªit fit just perfectly.


    ced on her tender, slender finger, it looked like a blossoming pink diamond flower¡ªutterly stunning.


    Mo Qian curled his lips into a satisfied smile.


    Ji Wei was still waiting for his answer when she suddenly felt a faint coolness at her fingertip. She instinctively lowered her gaze and saw the ring now sitting perfectly on her finger.


    Was this the ring Mo Qian had just ced on her finger?


    "This diamond ring is a substitute for your engagement gift. On our wedding day, in front of all the guests, I¡¯ll solemnly ce our wedding rings onto both of our fingers."


    Mo Qian held her slender fingertip and spoke in a low, steady yet incredibly reverent tone.


    The mention of the engagement gift brought a sudden blush to Ji Wei¡¯s cheeks. She lowered her head in awkward embarrassment.


    It had happened when she first visited Shanshui Manor¡ªMo Qian had prepared a diamond ring as an engagement gift, only for her to impulsively toss it into the toilet...


    Thinking back on it now, Ji Wei couldn¡¯t help but mentally chastise herself.


    If she wanted to throw it away, couldn¡¯t she have chosen somewhere else? Tossing it into the toilet, where it got flushed away¡ªit was impossible to retrieve even if she regretted itter.


    Ji Wei paused for a moment, then finally raised her gaze to look at him. "Mo Qian, I think I¡¯ve done many foolish things in the past. Didn¡¯t you ever once feel like calling off the engagement?"

 Chapter 118: Do You Want Me to Help You Change?

    <h4>Chapter 118: Chapter 118: Do You Want Me to Help You Change?</h4><h4></h4>


    In their previous life, Gu Moqian hadpletely given up on her because he found her sleeping with Ji Chuyang. That must have been his bottom line. As for trivial things like throwing a diamond ring or flipping a dining table, he seemedpletely unfazed.


    He looked at her with calm indifference. "Sometimes, being silly is kind of cute."


    "..."


    Ji Wei lowered her gaze, staring at the dazzling pink diamond between her fingers, her heart so full it could burst.


    Suddenly, she looked up again at the man in front of her, his face ever so gentle with that faint smile. In a deeply serious tone, she said, "Moqian, you¡¯re so good to me. There¡¯s absolutely no way I¡¯d ever run away."


    "Where else do you think you¡¯re going?" Gu Moqian¡¯s tone rose slightly with teasing.


    "I didn¡¯t mean it like that..."


    Before Ji Wei could finish her sentence, Gu Moqian cupped the back of her head, pressing a deep and domineering kiss on her lips.


    ...


    When they returned to Shanshui Manor and stepped into the living room, Ji Wei immediately noticed a woman dressed in a crisp housekeeper¡¯s uniform with her hair styled wlessly, standing there waiting.


    "Mr. Gu, Mrs. Gu, good day. I¡¯m Ling Ling. Assistant Chen brought me here. I¡¯m a graduate of London University¡¯s Management program and am honored to take on the housekeeper position at Shanshui Manor."


    The housekeeper introduced herself and then gestured to a middle-aged woman standing beside her. "This is Aunt Zhu. I selected her from a group of candidates to be your maid. She¡¯ll be responsible for your daily care."


    "Good day, Mr. Gu, Mrs. Gu," Aunt Zhu greeted them with a smile, her demeanor simple and unassuming.


    Gu Moqian simply nodded slightly. "The Madam¡¯s hungry. Is lunch ready?"


    "Yes, Mr. Gu. Everything¡¯s prepared and ready to be served."


    At the dining table.


    Ji Wei ate heartily, savoring the delicious meal, but eventually couldn¡¯t hold back her curiosity. "Isn¡¯t hiring a highly educated housekeeper like Ling Ling a bit of a talent mismatch?"


    "Ling Ling will also be your personal assistant from now on. Plus, she once won first ce in London University¡¯s Taekwondopetition. I¡¯ll feel more at ease with her around."


    Ji Wei nodded in approval.


    Gu Moqian really thought of everything.


    Having a female assistant around was certainly better than being escorted everywhere by two bodyguards who looked like door gods, scaring away anyone who dared to approach her.


    "By the way," Ji Wei suddenly remembered something, "I haven¡¯t gone through the materials on the Gu Family¡¯s Westside project yet. Could you send the detailed documents to my emailter?"


    Seeing her newfound ambition, Gu Moqian naturally nodded. "Alright."


    Over the next day and a half, Ji Wei stayed home, meticulously studying the project she was about to take over.


    The Westside project wasn¡¯t particrlyplicated. The Gu Family nned to develop a plot ofnd in the western part of Rongcheng, creating a top-tiermercial center for the group. However, the area was surrounded by residential neighborhoods with dense poptions. Dealing with resident relocation would undoubtedly be a significant challenge.


    When Gu Moqian walked out of the bathroom after a shower, he found Ji Wei leaning against the headboard, clutching a stack of printed project documents. She had fallen asleep just like that.


    He approached her, gently removed the documents from her hands, and carefullyid her t onto the bed.


    As her head touched the soft pillow, Ji Wei¡¯s eyes suddenly fluttered open.


    In a daze, she stared at the handsome face before her, struggling to process for a moment before groggily asking, "What time is it?"


    "Eleven o¡¯clock."


    "Oh, goodnight then, hubby..."


    Ji Wei turned over, her back facing him, and continued to sleep.


    "Not changing into your pajamas?"


    Gu Moqian leaned in close to her ear and asked in a low voice.


    "Too tired, don¡¯t want to," Ji Wei mumbled softly.


    "Need me to help you?"


    Half-asleep, the woman let out a faint, kitten-like "mm" in response.


    -


    Daily votes, please~ Sending love!

 Chapter 119: Can’t I, the Director of This Project, Come Here?

    <h4>Chapter 119: Chapter 119: Can¡¯t I, the Director of This Project, Come Here?</h4><h4></h4>


    Mo Qian gently started removing Ji Wei¡¯s jacket, followed by her underwear.


    When his hand touched the strap of her bra, he suddenly froze in ce. His gaze inadvertently swept across the soft rise and fall of her chest, and his eyes darkened slightly.


    But when he noticed the little woman sleeping so deeply, her breathing light, he couldn¡¯t bear to wake her.


    Mo Qian let out a silent sigh of restraint, then carefully removed her bra and changed her into sleepwear.


    Next, he lifted the nket andy down as well, reaching out to pull the soft, delicate body beside him into his arms. Holding her with infinite tenderness, he drifted off into a dream.


    ...


    Early the next morning, as she needed to head to the projectmand site in the west of the city, Ji Wei naturally woke up early.


    When she opened her eyes, she realized she was still being held tightly in Mo Qian¡¯s embrace. For fear of disturbing her sleep during the night, Mo Qian had remained in the same position, simply cradling her closely.


    Looking at the man as he slept, Ji Wei couldn¡¯t help but smile.


    She quietly got out of bed and headed to the bathroom.


    By the time she finished freshening up and came out, she saw Mo Qian had also awakened. He was propping himself up on one hand, lying on his side, quietly watching her.


    "Good morning, Mrs. Gu," he said.


    "Good morning, Mr. Gu," she replied with a smile.


    The early autumn sunlight bathed the man, enveloping him in a gentle glow. His refined and handsome face appeared even more strikingly beautiful in the morning light.


    Ji Wei stared dumbly at her dashing husband, her heart awash with happiness.


    After breakfast, the two left the house together.


    Heading to the project site in the west of the city would mean passing by Gu Group. When the Maybach arrived at the Gu Mansion, Mo Qian got out and instructed Old Xu to continue driving Ji Wei to the west side.


    In the car, Ji Wei was still making use of the time to familiarize herself with the project¡¯s progress.


    At present, only the centralmercial building had been constructed, while the surrounding facilities¡ªsuch as parking lots, food streets, and entertainment zones¡ªhad yet to begin construction. As for why it had been dyed, the reason column only briefly mentioned external restrictions, unresolved for the time being.


    What kind of external factors were causing the dy in the project¡¯s progress?


    The Maybach eventually came to a stable stop at the entrance of the projectmand site.


    Zhu Jianian was discussing the final version of the design ns with the project designer when her eyes suddenly lit up at the sight of the approaching Maybach.


    Mo Qian¡¯s car! Could it be him?


    Zhu Jianian was ecstatic. She had thought that, being temporarily assigned to this site, she wouldn¡¯t get the chance to see Mo Qian. Yet here he was, looking for her on the very first day!


    Sure enough, she still held a ce in his heart.


    Unable to contain herself, Zhu Jianian hurriedly set down the blueprints and, ignoring the designer¡¯s surprised expression, ran straight toward the entrance.


    Outside the car, Ji Wei had just stepped out, with Ling Ling following closely behind her.


    As soon as Zhu Jianian caught sight of Ji Wei, her steps abruptly halted, and her smile froze momentarily.


    Why is Ji Wei here?


    But she quickly dismissed the thought and resumed walking forward.


    Assuming Mo Qian was still inside and had not yete out of the car, Zhu Jianian leaned close to the window to peek inside.


    "Old Xu, you can head back now," Ji Wei said calmly while turning to the driver, paying no attention to Zhu Jianian.


    "Alright, Mrs. Gu. I¡¯lle pick you up before the end of the workday," Old Xu replied.


    With that, he started the engine and drove off.


    Zhu Jianian stood there, staring dazedly as the Maybach disappeared into the distance, a hint of disappointment in her gaze. After a long moment, she turned to Ji Wei, biting her lip somewhat resentfully as she asked, "Why are you here? Why isn¡¯t Mo Qian here?"


    Ji Wei smiled slightly, looked at Zhu Jianian, and replied slowly, "I¡¯m the director of this project. Can¡¯t I be here?"

 Chapter 120: Miss Zhu need not bother adding glory to my husband’s face

    <h4>Chapter 120: Chapter 120: Miss Zhu need not bother adding glory to my husband¡¯s face</h4><h4></h4>


    "Director?"


    Zhu Jianian was clearly taken aback. "Why have I never heard Mo Qian mention that you¡¯re the overall person in charge of this project?"


    "That¡¯s not surprising," Ji Wei said. "The personnel arrangements within the Gu Group don¡¯t necessarily need to be discussed with Miss Zhu, do they?"


    Upon hearing Ji Wei¡¯s words, Zhu Jianian quickly understood the situation. However, she was someone who knew how to endure. Keeping a calm smile on her face, she looked at Ji Wei and said, "Miss Ji, since that¡¯s the case, we¡¯ll be colleagues from now on. I¡¯m very pleased to have the opportunity to work with you."


    As Zhu Jianian spoke, she extended her hand toward Ji Wei.


    Ji Wei nced at her hand but showed no intention of shaking it.


    "Miss Zhu is quite understanding. I suddenly became your superior¡ªyou wouldn¡¯t have any objections to that, would you?"


    Zhu Jianian clenched her other hand tightly in secret, while maintaining her smile. "How could I? Aunt Gu personally rmended me for this role, and I will put my heart and soul into performing it well. I won¡¯t disappoint Aunt Gu, nor will I let Mo Qian lose face. So, naturally, I have no objections to Miss Ji serving as my superior."


    Her words were wless, yet they sparked a hint of coldughter in Ji Wei¡¯s heart.


    Zhu Jianian was clever, knowing how to subtly bring Mo Qian¡¯s mother into the conversation to provoke her.


    But Ji Wei wasn¡¯t the type to fall for such tactics.


    "You don¡¯t need to trouble yourself with giving my husband any des, Miss Zhu," Ji Wei responded with a faint smile, then turned to her assistant and said, "Ling Ling, let¡¯s head inside. There¡¯s a lot of work to do today¡ªwe can¡¯t afford to waste time standing here."


    After speaking, Ji Wei walked past Zhu Jianian without hesitation.


    As Zhu Jianian watched Ji Wei and her assistant disappear into the project site one after the other, a wave of fury rose in her heart.


    Was Ji Wei actually showing off her authority and superiority over her now?


    Does she really think being the project director is that simple?


    Just a bachelor¡¯s degree from some foreign universitypared to her own graduate-level education, they weren¡¯t even remotely in the same league! Conveniently, this project was riddled withplex issues that even she found challenging. She was curious to see how Ji Wei would tackle them!


    When Zhu Jianian entered, she saw Ji Wei gathering the main participants of the project for a meeting.


    Grabbing a notebook, Zhu Jianian followed them into the conference room.


    Ji Wei didn¡¯t so much as nce at Zhu Jianian, focused instead on exining the content disyed on the projector with seriousness and precision.


    Zhu Jianian listened to Ji Wei¡¯s analysis with disdain. For instance, Ji Wei mentioned that the surrounding area consisted of Rongcheng¡¯s traditional residential districts, or that there was arge naturalke not far away.


    What did any of that have to do with the project?


    This was exactly the kind of amateur-level thinking a bachelor¡¯s degree education would yield.


    As Zhu Jianian was mulling this over, she suddenly heard Ji Wei say, "This project has been dyed for far too long. Apart from the main building, anciry facilities around the site still haven¡¯t moved forward. Can anyone exin the specific reasons for this? Is it due to funding issues, or are there problems with the designs?"


    "Director Ji, neither funding nor design is the issue. The primary problem lies with the local residents. They¡¯re incredibly stubborn and refuse to move out, even though we¡¯ve raised thepensation payouts to triple the original amount. They still won¡¯t ept it. We also can¡¯t send people to forcibly demolish their homes¡ªthat kind of esction could damage the Gu Group¡¯s reputation and ultimately not be worth it."


    An engineering team member couldn¡¯t help but speak up.


    Ji Wei hadn¡¯t yet responded when suddenly someone rushed into the room with urgency to report: "Bad news! All the nearby residents have gathered at the front gate, demanding answers!"

 Chapter 121: In this situation, the newly appointed Director Ji is probably unable to cope.

    <h4>Chapter 121: Chapter 121: In this situation, the newly appointed Director Ji is probably unable to cope.</h4><h4></h4>


    The entrance of the projectmand center.


    At this moment, twoyers of human walls had already formed inside and outside the entrance. The gathered crowd, all indignant, held sticks, bricks, or kitchen knives in their hands, shouting aggressively at the main gate.


    When Ji Wei came out with several key personnel, the crowd immediately buzzed with excitement. A man named Uncle Zhang, who appeared to be the leader, raised his voice and questioned loudly, "Get your person in charge out here! Why did you cut off our water and electricity? You must give us an exnation today! Otherwise, we¡¯ll tten this ce!"


    Upon hearing this, Ji Wei nced back at the few people beside her. Seeing their faces also filled with astonishment, she shifted her gaze briefly to Zhu Jianian.


    Zhu Jianian, however, remained calm, though her assistant leaned in close to whisper something in her ear. From the sudden contraction of Zhu Jianian¡¯s pupils, Ji Wei discerned certain things.


    Without any visible reaction, Ji Wei stepped forward a few paces and walked to the forefront of the crowd.


    Ling Ling followed closely behind, her eyes wary as she scanned the group in front of them. She was prepared to protect Ji Wei¡¯s safety at a moment¡¯s notice if anyone dared to make a move.


    "I¡¯m Ji Wei, the project director here. Can you exin in detail what¡¯s going on with the water and electricity outages you mentioned?"


    Uncle Zhang gave Ji Wei a once-over, seeing that she was merely a young woman in her early twenties. Bing a director at such an age, he assumed she must have bought her way in. His tone turned disdainful: "Are you even qualified to make decisions?"


    Ji Wei chuckled lightly. "Of course I am. Please go ahead."


    Seeing that despite her young age, she at least appeared polite, Uncle Zhang¡¯s anger subsided slightly, and he began exining the series of events to Ji Wei.


    It turned out that early this morning, the residents of nearby Shuiyun Lane suddenly discovered that there was no water or electricity. At first, they assumed there was a temporary issue with the waterpany or the powerpany. Some residents went to inquire, only to be informed that the outages were due to the Gu Family¡¯s project preparing to begin construction. To avoid idents such as electrocution or bursting pipes during the operation of excavators, a power and water outage had been requested in advance.


    "Director Ji, none of our residents agreed to relocation. So why are you sending excavators in? Are you nning to forcibly demolish our houses?" Uncle Zhang asked sternly, his face dark with anger.


    "We didn¡¯t agree to the demolition! If you dare to mess with us, I¡¯ll go to court and sue you for illegally damaging private property!" someone in the crowd immediately echoed.


    "That¡¯s right! We¡¯ll report the Gu Family! Do they think a little money makes them invincible? We¡¯re not buying it!"


    The simmering anger in the residents¡¯ hearts instantly red, bing uncontroble. One by one, they brandished the sticks and bricks in their hands, looking ready to attack Ji Wei at any moment.


    "Director Ji, please be careful," Ling Ling softly reminded her on the side.


    Ji Wei, however, casually waved her hand, indifferent, her lips still carrying a faint smile.


    Standing the furthest from the crowd, Zhu Jianian saw the scene teetering on the brink of a riot and secretly curved her lips into a smirk.


    This kind of chaos¡ªit was unlikely the newly appointed Director Ji could handle it. All Zhu Jianian had to do was watch from the sidelines to see how she embarrasses herself!


    "Everyone, calm down!"


    Ji Wei suddenly raised her voice, her expression stern, as her sharp gaze swept over the angry residents.


    Although this young woman appeared tender in age, her imposing expression, piercing eyes, and authoritative tonepelled the crowd to momentarily quiet down and listen.


    "I will give you all an exnation for this matter. I promise you, the water and electricity will be restored within one hour at thetest. Furthermore, there will be no forced demolition. I can responsibly assure you all that not only will Shuiyun Lane not be torn down, but it will also be renovated, and not a single brick or tile of your homes will be lost!"


    Ji Wei¡¯s words left everyone stunned.


    The residents exchanged puzzled nces. None of them had expected such a significant turn of events¡ªwas their neighborhood truly safe from demolition?


    Who exactly was this Ji Wei? Could they trust what she was saying?


    Seeing that some people still appeared hesitant, Ji Wei suddenly smiled brightly. "Give me some time. If the water and electricity issues aren¡¯t resolved within the next hour, I¡¯ll resign from my position as project director immediately."

 Chapter 122 What’s the Story with Director Ji

    <h4>Chapter 122: Chapter 122 What¡¯s the Story with Director Ji</h4><h4></h4>


    Ji Wei¡¯s face was full of confidence and determination. She looked nothing like a na?ve, inexperienced young girl, but rather like a professional woman who had been navigating the business world for years, with a sharp mind to match.


    With the conversation reaching this point, the anger of the crowd had mostly dissipated.


    Compared to thest few times they came to make a fuss, only to be turned away without even meeting anyone responsible, at least this director¡¯s attitude towards resolving the issue wasmendable.


    "Fine, we¡¯ll believe you this time," Uncle Zhang said in a deep voice.


    "Thank you for your trust." Ji Wei responded with a polite smile.


    Uncle Zhang led the group of residents away in orderly fashion. No one expected this crisis to be resolved so quickly. The other project managers nearby visibly breathed long sighs of relief.


    Some of them had even thought they were about to be physically assaulted by the angry residents. It seemed the newly appointed Director Ji had some real skills after all.


    The only person who seemed unhappy was Zhu Jianian. Her face had gone pale, and her hands, hanging at her sides, were clenched tightly into fists, as if she were struggling to suppress a deep sense of unwillingness.


    Seeing Ji Wei walk back, a few of the managers immediately gathered around her. Someone couldn¡¯t wait to start ttering her: "Director Ji, you¡¯re incredible. The moment you stepped in, those troublesome locals instantly fell into line..."


    Ji Wei shot him a re. "Troublesome locals? They¡¯re ordinary citizens. You are the project managers, meaning you¡¯re the face of the Gu Group. Watch your words and behavior¡ªdon¡¯t disgrace the Gu Family!"


    Ji Wei¡¯s voice wasn¡¯t loud, but her tone was stern, making several people freeze in embarrassment, not daring to say another word.


    As Ji Wei passed by Zhu Jianian, she suddenly stopped and gave her a meaningful look. "Manager Zhu,e to my office. I have something I¡¯d like to discuss with you privately."


    Zhu Jianian¡¯s heart skipped a beat, but her expression remainedposed. She quickly nodded and replied, "Alright."


    Watching the two women walk away, the remaining managers exhaled heavily. Someone couldn¡¯t resist muttering, "What¡¯s the deal with this Director Ji? She¡¯s a woman, but why is her presence so intimidating?"


    "All I know is that Manager Zhu is Mr. Gu¡¯s friend. I could understand her suddenly parachuting into the project. But this woman with thest name Ji¡ªI have no idea where she came from."


    "She also shares thest name Ji. Do you think she could have something to do with Mr. Gu¡¯s fianc¨¦e? Manager Zhu got her position through connections. This Director Ji might be the same."


    These project managers had spent years in the field and rarely paid attention to gossip or news. They knew Mr. Gu¡¯s fianc¨¦e by her surname but had never seen her in person, so it made sense they didn¡¯t recognize Ji Wei.


    The group exchanged knowing looks. "Could be..."


    The project department director¡¯s office.


    When Ji Wei reached the door, she motioned for Ling Ling to stay outside. Then she pushed the door open and walked in.


    Zhu Jianian followed a few secondster, hesitating briefly before stepping inside.


    "Have a seat."


    Ji Wei gestured towards the sofa, her tone calm andposed.


    Zhu Jianian walked over to the sofa and took a seat.


    "What can I do for you, Miss Ji?" Zhu Jianian still wasn¡¯t willing to address her as Director, but Ji Wei couldn¡¯t be bothered to fuss over such petty details.


    Ji Wei also sat down on a single-seater sofa across from her, studied her carefully, and spoke bluntly, "Was it you who instructed someone to cut off the water and electricity to those residents¡¯ homes?"


    Zhu Jianian¡¯s hands, resting on her knees, froze for a split second. She hadn¡¯t expected Ji Wei to catch on so quickly. Forcing herself to stay calm, she shook her head with a faint smile. "No, I didn¡¯t give anyone such instructions."


    Without any evidence on Ji Wei¡¯s part, even if Zhu Jianian outright denied it, there was nothing Ji Wei could do.


    -


    (Today¡¯s third update is here! For Tutu¡¯s hard efforts, throw some votes this way! To new readers and those who¡¯ve supported Tutu all along, love you all¡ªsending hearts your way~)

 Chapter 123: Mrs. Gu, How Do You Feel on Your First Day at Work?

    <h4>Chapter 123: Chapter 123: Mrs. Gu, How Do You Feel on Your First Day at Work?</h4><h4></h4>


    "Oh, really?"


    Ji Wei didn¡¯t show any disappointment and continued speaking calmly, "Finding out who did this is actually quite easy. For requests to cut off water and electricity, the water supply and powerpanies would have records. They should have the ID details of the personnel who handled the application."


    Before Zhu Jianian could respond, Ji Wei suddenly called toward the door, "Ling Ling,e in for a moment."


    Ling Ling, who had been waiting outside, pushed the door open, walked up to Ji Wei, and stood there with her hands at her sides.


    "Ling Ling, go to the local water and powerpany, restore water and electricity to Shuiyun Lane, and also check who applied for the cutoff."


    "Understood."


    Ling Ling responded and left.


    Zhu Jianian¡¯s face paled slightly, and her fingers unconsciously gripped the hem of her skirt tightly.


    "Manager Zhu, are you feeling unwell? Why does yourplexion look off?" Ji Wei smiled pleasantly, pretending not to notice anything.


    "Oh... maybe it¡¯s the air conditioner here, the temperature is a bit low, and I¡¯m not quite used to it." Zhu Jianian spoke, her expression subtly stiff.


    "Shall I adjust the temperature higher for you?"


    "No need to trouble yourself." Zhu Jianian blurted out, "Miss Ji, if there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯ll take my leave first..."


    As she spoke, she was already impatiently standing up.


    "Alright."


    Ji Wei pursed her lips and nodded mildly.


    Zhu Jianian quickly left the director¡¯s office.


    Watching her hurried and somewhat frantic figure, the smile at Ji Wei¡¯s lips gradually stiffened.


    Miss Zhu, we have all the time in the world to settle ounts slowly.


    After leaving Ji Wei¡¯s office, Zhu Jianian immediately called her assistant into her own office.


    "When you submitted the application to cut off water and electricity, did you use an ID?" Zhu Jianian asked eagerly.


    "Yes, as per the regtions, you need to provide a copy of the ID." The assistant answered.


    Upon hearing this, Zhu Jianian slumped into her chair.


    In order to quickly resolve the project¡¯s lingering issues and return to Gu Headquarters sooner, she had resorted to rather extreme measures from the outset.


    She originally thought no one would investigate this matter, but to her surprise, Ji Wei had caught onto it so quickly!


    Seeing Zhu Jianian¡¯s pale face, the assistant suddenly added, "However, I didn¡¯t use my own ID to register. I knew this matter couldn¡¯t be discovered by anyone from Gu, so I used an ID I found."


    "Are you telling the truth?"


    Zhu Jianian¡¯s previously dejected expression immediately brightened.


    The assistant nodded.


    "Xiao Wang, you handled this very well, and I¡¯m pleased. As long as you continue to work diligently by my side, I promise to help you get a promotion and a raise, and possibly even a chance to work at Gu Headquarters."


    "Really? Thank you, Manager Zhu!" Xiao Wang eximed with joy.


    An hourter.


    Ji Wei had been reviewing documents in her office during this time. Meanwhile, Gu Moqian had called.


    "Mrs. Gu, how was your first day at work?" Gu Moqian¡¯s voice sounded exceptionally maic and soothing on the other end.


    "Hmm, not bad." Ji Wei flipped through the documents in her hand while replied.


    "Did you encounter anything tricky?"


    "You could say so, but I managed to resolve it."


    At that moment, a knock came on the office door, and Ling Ling walked in shortly afterward.


    Ji Wei looked up and, seeing that it was Ling Ling, hastily said, "I¡¯ll talk to youter. It¡¯s work hours now, and I have some things to deal with."


    With that, she promptly hung up the call.


    On the other end of the line, Gu Moqian: "..."


    "Director Ji, the water and electricity for Shuiyun Lane residents have been restored. However, when I checked the applicant¡¯s details, it seems the person doesn¡¯t work for Gu." Ling Ling approached and reported.


    Ji Wei was taken aback. "Are you certain?"


    "Yes. I also looked into the applicant¡¯s social security records. They¡¯re with a privately-ownedpany, very small in scale, and noparison to Gu."


    Could it be that Zhu Jianian had preemptively picked a scapegoat to cover her tracks?


    "Alright, I see. Inform all department heads to attend a meeting in the conference room shortly."

 Chapter 124: Such an Incredible Woman is Definitely Not Ordinary

    <h4>Chapter 124: Chapter 124: Such an Incredible Woman is Definitely Not Ordinary</h4><h4></h4>


    The meeting room was already full with several key team members, naturally including Zhu Jianian.


    Before Ji Wei arrived, the group couldn¡¯t resist chatting: "Two meetings within one morning? Isn¡¯t Director Ji being a bit too decisive and relentless?"


    These people were used to a slower, methodical work pace, so the sudden change left them feeling out of sorts.


    "Do any of you actually know Director Ji¡¯s background?" another person leaned in to ask.


    A woman this formidable definitely isn¡¯t ordinary, that¡¯s for sure.


    Though seated two meters away, Zhu Jianian could still clearly hear their discussion.


    So, these people weren¡¯t aware of Ji Wei¡¯s connection to Gu Moqian? Utilizing them as pawns to make Ji Wei lose face sounded like a clever idea.


    "Director Ji is newly appointed, so of course she wants to quickly achieve results. If she sessfully oversees this project, transferring to Gu Headquarters wouldn¡¯t be an issue," Zhu Jianian remarked suddenly, looking at the group.


    They hadn¡¯t considered this angle before, but Zhu Jianian¡¯sment made them realize it instantly.


    These people had been managing the project department for years without seeing any prospects for promotion. Now, Director Ji shows up aiming to seize the chance for advancement. How could they possibly ept that?


    "If she wants instant sess, she¡¯d better prove she has the ability," one of the team members snorted coldly.


    With just one sentence, the atmosphere had shifted dramatically. Keeping her expression neutral, Zhu Jianian toyed with the pen in her hand, though a hint of satisfaction flickered in her eyes.


    "Looks like everyone¡¯s here now, so let¡¯s begin the meeting."


    When Ji Wei stepped in, she immediately sensed the odd mood. The team members, on hearing her voice, not only didn¡¯t greet her warmly but remained silent, offering no reaction at all.


    Her gaze instinctively flicked to Zhu Jianian, who remainedposed, eyes fixed on her pen and deliberately avoiding eye contact. Ji Wei couldn¡¯t help but smirk inwardly.


    Zhu Jianian had undoubtedly been up to her usual small-time schemes.


    Still, Ji Wei wasn¡¯t fazed. Maintaining a serene expression, she walked confidently to the front and turned on the projector.


    "As I mentioned earlier this morning, Shuiyun Lane is an ancient street of Rongcheng and naturally functions as a ready-to-use tourist destination. Instead of demolishing it to buildmercialnd, why not preserve its historical architecture and create a distinctive folk culture street? Tourism is thriving across regions nowadays, and during weekends or holidays, visitors from Rongcheng and surrounding areas can be drawn here, indirectly boosting foot traffic to ourmercial center. It also eliminates the resistance to relocation among residents. What do you think of this proposal?"


    Once Ji Wei finished speaking, the meeting room fell silent. Nobody responded.


    Ji Wei swept her eyes across the room. "If no one speaks, I¡¯ll take it as unanimous agreement. I¡¯ll finalize the proposal and submit it to Gu Headquarters ordingly..."


    Before she could finish, someone unwillingly stood up. "Our vision is to develop an integratedmercial center. Throwing in a traditional folk streetpletely contradicts the overall design. Let me be blunt¡ªthis idea isn¡¯t viable at all!"


    "I agree with Old Zhao. The Gu Family has never ventured into tourism before. Creating an unprofitable folk culture street is utterly senseless."


    The remaining members didn¡¯t speak up but wore visibly displeased expressions, making it obvious they all opposed Ji Wei¡¯s approach.


    They wouldn¡¯t let Ji Wei resolve the residential relocation issue, which had stumped them for months, right on her first day on the job. That would make them look ipetent inparison.


    Relying on the Gu Family¡¯s lucrative job opportunities to support their families, they couldn¡¯t let themselves be overshadowed by Ji Wei.


    A twenty-something girl, trying to outsmart seasoned professionals? Foolish andughable!

 Chapter 125: Can a girl in her early twenties get into a big company like Gu Family?

    <h4>Chapter 125: Chapter 125: Can a girl in her early twenties get into a bigpany like Gu Family?</h4>


    "Manager Zhu, what¡¯s your opinion?"


    Ji Wei did not show any sign of displeasure. Her expression remainedposed as she locked her gaze on Zhu Jianian.


    Zhu Jianian chuckled lightly. "The ideas Director Ji proposed are indeed intriguing, but as a few of the responsible persons mentioned earlier, the Gu Family isn¡¯t a charity. You want to build a folk-cultural street to keep residents from moving out. Leaving aside its effectiveness, even if the redevelopment goes smoothly, can the profits of this one folk streetpare to constructing a massivemercialplex? The Gu Family has been nning this project for nearly a year. It¡¯s not meant for charity. I hope Director Ji understands this point."


    "What Manager Zhu said aligns exactly with what the rest of us were thinking. Please, Director Ji, abandon these impractical fantasies. Don¡¯t turn a multi-billion Yuan project into aughingstock!"


    The others nodded in agreement with Zhu Jianian, their stance firmly unwavering.


    Ji Wei could tell¡ªthey were deliberately targeting her.


    She gave a faint smile. "Your opinions can be reflected in the proposal I submit. As for the final decision, it will rest with Mr. Gu."


    Just as Ji Wei finished speaking, someone stood up and mocked, "Director Ji, surely you must have some connection to Mr. Gu to speak with such confidence. I hear Mr. Gu¡¯s fianc¨¦e¡¯s surname is also Ji. You must be rted to that Miss Ji, right? Otherwise, how could someone in her early twenties manage to get into a top-tierpany like the Gu Family?"


    The man gave Ji Wei a disdainful nce, sat down arrogantly, and crossed his legs.


    They couldn¡¯t let a woman who¡¯d just joined thepany overshadow them, could they?


    After the first remark, the others followed suit, casting condescending looks at Ji Wei.


    The atmosphere in the meeting room quickly became tense, like a bowstring stretched to its limit.


    Everyone assumed Ji Wei would be infuriated by their remarks. Yet to their surprise, she calmly began gathering the meeting documents. As she was about to leave, she gave Zhu Jianian a nce full of hidden meaning.


    When they saw her leave just like that, no one could tell whether she would submit the proposal to headquarters or not, which made them nervous. One of them couldn¡¯t sit still and rushed to block Ji Wei¡¯s path at the door.


    "Director Ji, regarding the proposal, you better not submit it. Without signatures from us responsible personnel, even if submitted, it will be rejected."


    "Is that so? There¡¯s a need for signatures now?" Ji Wei let out a coldugh. "It¡¯s the first time I¡¯m hearing that supervisors need to get their subordinates¡¯ consent before submitting proposals."


    The man, chastised by Ji Wei, felt thoroughly humiliated. Seeing the rest of the group staring at them, he angrily shouted, "I¡¯ve been with the Gu Family for seven or eight years, and this is the first time I¡¯ve been put in such a miserable position¡ªbullied by some young girl! Do my years of hard work and loyalty mean nothing? You tell me¡ªis that fair?"


    "Old Zhao, simmer down. She¡¯s a rtive of Mr. Gu, brought in with investment backing. A word from her and we could be booted out. What are wepared to her? How could we evenpete?" Someone stepped in to mediate, their words dripping with passive-aggressive sarcasm.


    "Then fine, let them kick me out! If Director Ji is so capable, she should handle all the project tasks on her own!"


    Old Zhao flung his arm in frustration and turned to leave, but the person next to him hurriedly pulled him back.


    At this moment, Zhu Jianian stepped forward. "Everyone, let¡¯s calm down. Director Ji is young, ambitious, and driven. Cut her some ck."


    Ji Wei nced at her, her eyes filled with cold detachment, before instructing Ling Ling next to her, "Pull up Mr. Zhao¡¯s employment records and send them to Human Resources. File it under voluntary resignation."


    Old Zhao had merely voiced his frustration; who, after all, would willingly give up the golden ticket that came with working at the Gu Family? Yet he hadn¡¯t expected Ji Wei to truly proceed with forcing him out!


    Unable to contain his anger any longer, Old Zhao sprang up, his face furious. "You, Ji! Who the hell do you think you are? A damn woman acting all high and mighty¡ªyou think I¡¯ll let you run wild here? Today, I¡¯ll show you that arrogance doesn¡¯t pay!"


    As Old Zhao raised his hand, Ling Ling had already pulled Ji Wei behind her. But before the p couldnd, a chilling and authoritative male voice rang out sharply.


    "Stop."


    -


    (Bonus update! Vote for me, dear readers~)

 Chapter 126: Neglecting Your Husband on the First Day of Work

    <h4>Chapter 126: Chapter 126: Neglecting Your Husband on the First Day of Work</h4><h4></h4>


    The voice was calm andposed, yet carried a sharp edge, startling everyone present into turning their heads in unison.


    Ji Wei was equally surprised as she looked up, only to see that familiar, tall figure stepping through the doorway.


    Gu Moqian was dressed in an ink-colored suit, his tie an intricate ck-and-red pattern. His long, straight legs were d in tailored trousers, and with his arrival, he naturally brought an imposing andmanding presence.


    With just a casual nce at the several managers, Gu Moqian made their faces turn pale, silencing them to the point where they dared not utter a word.


    "Mo Qian, why are you here?"


    Zhu Jianian was initially shocked upon seeing Gu Moqian but quickly revealed an expression of joy.


    Encountering him here was a rare asion. If not for Ji Wei, Gu Moqian probably wouldn¡¯t have stepped foot in this ce.


    Suppressing the jealousy bubbling in her heart, Zhu Jianian eagerly approached, attempting to showcase a closer-than-usual connection with Gu Moqian in front of everyone.


    However, Gu Moqian only returned her with an exceedingly indifferent gaze.


    Completely bypassing Zhu Jianian, Gu Moqian¡¯s attention fell on Ji Wei.


    The woman, d in sleek, professional attire, stood quietly in ce, her lips curving into a smile the moment she saw him. Her clear, bright eyes looked at him, filled with a tenderness imbued with an emotion only he could discern.


    He walked straight to Ji Wei¡¯s side, his voice low and maic: "Did they bully you?"


    Understanding that Gu Moqian intended to stand up for her, Ji Wei felt a subtle warmth in her heart but quickly blinked at him, her voice tinged with respect: "Thank you for your concern, Mr. Gu. They are my subordinates, and differing opinions and conflicts are normal. We¡¯ll discuss furtherter to resolve the issues quickly."


    Ji Wei¡¯s words were polite, as if her rtionship with Gu Moqian was nothing out of the ordinary.


    But for the others witnessing this scene, their emotions felt like being on a roller coaster.


    Gu Moqian¡¯s single question alone already caused their hearts to skip in fear. They had braced themselves for Ji Wei to lodge usations on the spot before Gu Moqian, and for all of them to be fired. Yet unexpectedly, she was protecting them!


    Zhu Jianian desperately wanted to rush forward and tear apart the mask Ji Wei wore on her face.


    Moments ago, they had nearly started a fight, and now she imed differing opinions were normal? Wasn¡¯t this just an attempt to avoid exposing her ipetence in front of Gu Moqian on her first day, preventing humiliation caused by her subordinates shoving her into an awkward position?


    Still, Zhu Jianian ultimately held back.


    She understood Gu Moqian¡¯s temperament well¡ªsuch actions would only provoke his disdain.


    She had to stay calm, bide her time. Just wait until Aunt Huiru returned; everything would undergo a dramatic turnaround!


    "Since Director Ji said so¡ª"


    Gu Moqian deliberately slowed his tone, but to everyone else, it felt as oppressive as storm clouds descending, robbing them of air. His piercing, warning gaze swept over the others: "Then I won¡¯t pursue the matter further."


    With that, Gu Moqian turned and stepped away, his voice calm and detached, carrying a business-like tone: "Director Ji, handle it well ande to the officeter."


    "Understood, Mr. Gu," Ji Wei replied courteously.


    After Gu Moqian left, Ji Wei nced at the managers before her. Seeing that they were still tense, unwilling to rx in the slightest, she suddenly smirked: "If you have any concerns with the n, now¡¯s the time to speak up..."


    Before Ji Wei could finish her sentence, someone hurriedly shook their head, visibly panicked: "No, no concerns at all. Director Ji¡¯s n is brilliant, solving two problems at once. I wholeheartedly support it!"


    That ttery was quite something.

 Chapter 127: This is the office, mind the influence, hey!

    <h4>Chapter 127: Chapter 127: This is the office, mind the influence, hey!</h4><h4></h4>


    The others chimed in, all expressing no objections.


    Zhu Jianian remained silent, neither looking at Ji Wei nor reacting, pretending as though she¡¯d heard nothing.


    "Since Manager Zhu has tacitly agreed, I will report the proposed n to Gu Headquarters. Thank you everyone for your hard work. That¡¯s it for today, you may all go."


    Ji Wei gave a faint smile and then turned to leave.


    Once they were sure Ji Wei had walked far away, the hearts of the other team leaders, hanging by a thread, finally eased.


    "Oh my god, I almost lost half my life from fright. Who would¡¯ve thought Mr. Gu would suddenly drop in on our project site like that!"


    Another person gasped for breath and said, "Say what you will, but for Mr. Gu to show up personally, that Director Ji must have quite the close rtionship with him..."


    Noticing Zhu Jianian staring in the direction Ji Wei had left, her face grim, one of the team leaders couldn¡¯t resistining, "Manager Zhu, you didn¡¯t seem surprised at all. Did you already know about the good rtionship between Director Ji and Mr. Gu? Why didn¡¯t you warn us earlier? We almost got ourselves fired by Mr. Gu!"


    "I... I only just found out myself," Zhu Jianian exined stiffly.


    "No way, just now you directly called Mr. Gu by name. What¡¯s your rtionship with him?"


    Zhu Jianian was stunned for a moment, initially wanting to deny it. But after reconsidering, she smiled and said, "I¡¯m Mr. Gu¡¯s childhood friend. We grew up together."


    As Zhu Jianian finished speaking, the eyes of the team leaders widened instantly.


    They had thought they were just fairly close friends, but turns out they were childhoodpanions all along!


    The team members exchanged quick knowing nces. Clearly, they would have to be a lot more cautious in their interactions with Manager Zhu from now on.


    ...


    Director¡¯s Office.


    After Ji Wei entered the office, Gu Moqian walked over and directly locked the door behind her.


    Ji Wei was momentarily stunned before letting out augh. "What are you doing? This is the office. If you lock the door, what happens if someonees looking for me to report their work?"


    "It¡¯s only your first day at work, and you¡¯re already putting work before your husband, hmm?"


    If it weren¡¯t for her curtly ending their phone call with just a few words earlier, he wouldn¡¯t have arranged his tasks in a hurry and sped over at 180 kilometers per hour.


    Hearing his words, Ji Wei couldn¡¯t help butugh out loud. "Hubby, you¡¯re not seriously jealous of my work, are you?"


    Gu Moqian immediately pulled her into his arms, gripping her slender waist tightly. He leaned close to her ear and murmured, "Yes, I wish I could put you in my pocket so nothing and no one could take up your time and energy. I want you to belong only to me..."


    Ji Wei: "..."


    Why did it feel like his possessiveness had only grown stronger after they got married?


    Seeing her remain silent, Gu Moqian lifted her chin with a finger, leaned down, and lightly bit her tender lips.


    "... This is the office. You should consider the impact," Ji Wei protested, her face blushing with heat as she gave him a yful re.


    "The entire Gu Family belongs to me. What¡¯s there to worry about?" Gu Moqian said dismissively, leaning in again to im her lips.


    There was something inexplicably thrilling about kissing in the office. Before long, Ji Wei found herself lost in the moment, even more responsive than usual.


    The blush on her cheeks deepened, her eyes grew hazy and moist, and the way she looked at him seemed to bewitch him, as if trying to steal his very soul.


    For a fleeting second, Gu Moqian was captivated. His kiss grew fiercer, consuming the sweetness of her lips, iming her entirely until she was nearly out of breath, forcing him to finally relent.

 Chapter 128: Manager Zhu, what are you doing leaning on the door?

    <h4>Chapter 128: Chapter 128: Manager Zhu, what are you doing leaning on the door?</h4><h4></h4>


    "Just now, you didn¡¯t need to speak up for those department heads." He held her hand as he spoke and guided her to sit down in the office chair.


    "Do you think I was being softhearted?"


    Ji Wei sat down, tilted her head to look at him, her cheeks still faintly flushed: "This project has already been dyed long enough, and every day it¡¯s burning through the budget. If we fire them, it¡¯d be hard to find suitable recements in a short time. So it¡¯s better to let them stay in their positions for now."


    She paused, her clear ck and white eyes sparkling with spirit: "This is your Gu Family enterprise, and I won¡¯t allow it to suffer any unnecessary losses."


    "So, does that mean I should thank Mrs. Gu for keeping such a close eye on the Gu Family for me?" Gu Moqian teased as he pinched her delicate cheek.


    "Hmm, you should thank me. Let me think... What kind of thank-you gift should I ask for?" Ji Wei touched her chin, looking as if she were seriously contemting.


    "Do you even need to think? I¡¯m right here, all yours."


    Gu Moqian¡¯s eyes crinkled withughter as he spoke. Hisst two words were said softly, his lips close to her ear, his warm breath making Ji Wei blush all the way to her neck, leaving her feeling flustered and short of breath.


    "I... my period is here, so you can¡¯t do anything anyway," Ji Wei stammered, her face glowing red.


    Gu Moqian¡¯s smile deepened. "So what you¡¯re saying is, if it weren¡¯t here, we could do something here?"


    Discussing such suggestive topics in broad daylight in an office¡ªhow was anyone supposed to get any work done?


    Ji Wei feigned annoyance and pushed the man away. "Be serious for once, okay? This is my office, no less! Do you want me to sit here every day and think about the things we...?"


    Ji Wei couldn¡¯t finish the sentence, her cheeks burning hot.


    "Think about the things we what?" Gu Moqian raised an eyebrow, pretending not to understand.


    Ji Wei gave him an annoyed sideways nce. "ying dumb, are we?"


    Her little pouty expression made her seem even more adorable.


    Gu Moqian¡¯s heart softened as he pulled her into his embrace again, his voice dropping gently above her head: "I¡¯ve never thought life could be like this. Whenever I see you, it makes me so happy, like all my worries just vanish."


    Ji Wei silently listened to the man¡¯s steady, drum-like heartbeat, her lips curving into a sweet smile.


    Gu Moqian leaned down and kissed her again.


    Since he couldn¡¯t take things further with Ji Wei, he kissed her until her tongue went numb before finally letting her go.


    Just as they separated slightly, the sound of knocking came from the doorway.


    "Director Ji, are you avable now? I wanted to discuss the Folk Street project." Zhu Jianian¡¯s voice sounded from outside,pletely ruining the moment.


    Discuss the Folk Street project?


    Hadn¡¯t Zhu Jianian been staunchly opposed to it? So why was she trying to discuss it now? The transparent attempt to find an excuse toe inside was far too obvious.


    After knocking, Zhu Jianian pressed her ear to the door to listen to what was happening inside.


    It was dead quiet. She couldn¡¯t tell if Gu Moqian and Ji Wei were actually discussing work.


    "Director Ji, may Ie in?"


    Zhu Jianian waited for a while. Seeing that Ji Wei hadn¡¯t answered at all, she grew increasingly anxious and reached out to grab the door handle, intending to push the door open.


    To her surprise, the door was locked from the inside.


    In broad daylight¡ªto lock the office door, what could they be doing?


    Could it be... were they actually... doing that sort of thing?!


    Unbidden images shed through Zhu Jianian¡¯s mind, her face instantly turning red and then pale.


    Unwilling to give up, she bit her lip and pushed forcefully on the door again, but it didn¡¯t budge.


    Zhu Jianian called out a few more times, still hearing no response from inside.


    "Manager Zhu, what are you doing leaning against the door?"


    The sudden voice behind her startled Zhu Jianian so much that she nearly tripped and fell. She turned around to see Ling Ling staring at her with a look of suspicion.


    -


    (Third update~ Tutu is posting plenty, remember to vote and save, love you all!)

 Chapter 129 She Won’t Even Let Go of Her Hand...

    <h4>Chapter 129: Chapter 129 She Won¡¯t Even Let Go of Her Hand...</h4><h4></h4>


    "I... I¡¯m here to discuss something with Director Ji, but she seems to not be in her office. I¡¯lle backter to look for her."


    Zhu Jianian hastily finished speaking and hurriedly fled in embarrassment.


    Ling Ling watched her retreating, disheveled figure, the corners of her mouth curling into a mocking grin.


    Zhu Jianian¡¯s voice was overheard by the two people inside the office. Without even needing to look, Ji Wei could already imagine the utterly mortified expression Jianian must have had when caught in the act of spying.


    Ji Wei reyed the scene in her mind, then covered her mouth with her hand andughed lightly. "Your childhood sweetheart seems to have misunderstood what we were doing."


    Mo Qian looked at the womanughing charmingly in front of him, then suddenly bent down and scooped her up from the chair, cing her onto the desk.


    Ji Wei waspletely stunned by his sudden action. Only when the man propped his hands on either side of her body and leaned in close, his deep, dark eyes fixed steadily on her, did she snap out of it. "Mo Qian, what are you trying to do...?"


    He leaned close to her ear, his voice soft andced with endless enticement. "Confirm the misunderstanding we were just used of."


    Ji Wei¡¯s eyes widened abruptly, instinctively trying to move back.


    But Mo Qian firmly grasped her slender wrist. In the next instant, his thin lips captured her delicate, fair earlobe in a yful bite.


    The tingling, ticklish sensation made Ji Wei¡¯s body tremble immediately.


    The man indulged in her scent, his lips and tongue trailing along the smooth curve of her ear down to her neck, and then to the alluring corbone.


    The neckline of Ji Wei¡¯s white blouse already had two buttons undone, which made it all the easier for the man to overtake her territory, as he kissed her corbone with lingering passion and started unbuttoning the rest of her shirt...


    She was teased to the point where her eyes became misty, her body taut, and her legs instinctively pressed together.


    Even though she was facing the inconvenient circumstance of being on her period, Ji Wei couldn¡¯t help but feel that if this continued, she might lose control.


    She tried to push him away, but her hands were pinned firmly against his broad chest by his single hand,pletely unable to break free.


    "Mo Qian, stop..."


    Ji Wei attempted to plead, her voice trembling under his teasing touches.


    Little did she know that this trembling tone, in the ears of a man already consumed by his desires, only served as an even deadlier temptation.


    Her blouse had been opened, revealing the pastel pink bra underneath. The man¡¯s eyes darkened further, savoring her like a gourmet delicacy, taking his time as he kissed and explored every inch of her porcin skin.


    Ji Wei shivered uncontrobly under his kisses. If not for his hand holding her waist, she might have already copsed backward, limp.


    The man¡¯s breathing grew heavier, his deep, maic voice simultaneously stoked the woman¡¯s attraction and heightened her nerves.


    The fire in Mo Qian¡¯s eyes had been ignited, and no matter how much Ji Wei might want to retreat, it was already far toote.


    ...


    Half an hourter.


    Ji Wei sat in her office chair, ring resentfully at Mo Qian as he adjusted his perfectly neat suit and left through the door.


    Her grip on the pen, tightened by embarrassment and anger, pressed forcefully against the document in front of her. Despite her effort, her hand still trembled uncontrobly, sore and weak, barely able to hold the pen!


    She wanted to scream so badly!


    As the indescribable scene from earlier reyed in her mind, Ji Wei¡¯s cheeks flushed uncontrobly all over again.


    She stared at the document for what felt like an eternity, yet not a single word entered her brain. Finally, she couldn¡¯t suppress her internal roar any longer: "I swear I¡¯m switching to a different office tomorrow!"

 Chapter 130: Am I Not Feeling It Right Now?

    <h4>Chapter 130: Chapter 130: Am I Not Feeling It Right Now?</h4><h4></h4>


    Ji Wei sent the proposed n to Gu Headquarters that day and received Gu Moqian¡¯s personal approval the next day to proceed with the n to redevelop Shuiyun Lane into a cultural heritage street.


    Over the next few days, Ji Wei personally visited the residents in Shuiyun Lane to gather their opinions and ideas about turning it into a cultural street.


    Initially, the residents couldn¡¯t believe the redevelopment n was real, but only when they saw Ji Wei leading the project team in on-site inspections with a diligent and proactive attitude did the heavy stone in their hearts finallynd.


    On Wednesday night, Ji Wei and Mo Qian had dinner at a restaurant.


    Having been running around Shuiyun Lane visiting various households every day, Ji Wei felt herself constantly getting hungry much faster than usual. By now, she had finished her second bowl of rice.


    Mo Qian, noticing Ji Wei¡¯s growing appetite over the past few days, found himself quite pleased.


    He thought she was still too slim and should eat more to put on some weight, so he got up and served her another bowl of rice.


    Ji Wei was already feeling stuffed. Leaning back into her chair, she looked at the glistening white bowl of rice in front of her and teased, "Are you trying to fatten me up?"


    "A little more fat makes for better texture," Mo Qian replied with a straight face.


    Ji Wei nced down at herself, noting the curves where curves were supposed to be, and couldn¡¯t help but retort, "Do I have bad texture now?"


    "Why don¡¯t I test it out right now?"


    Mo Qian leaned down, slowly moving closer to her.


    Ji Wei instinctively leaned back, "Don¡¯t mess around with me! And besides... after eating, it¡¯s better not to¡ª"


    "Better not to what?" The man looked at her with a faintly amused smile.


    Ji Wei¡¯s face instantly turned red. Quietly, she cursed herself in her heart: Why, oh why, did I bring this up? Now I¡¯ve really asked for trouble!


    "Ahem..." Ji Wei awkwardly turned her head away, avoiding Mo Qian¡¯s scorching gaze. "I suddenly feel really sleepy, I think I¡¯ll go to bed!"


    She was about to flee, but after eating so much, her movements were slower than usual. She hadn¡¯t even managed to get up from her chair before Mo Qian pressed her back down.


    "You just ate, don¡¯t go to sleep right away."


    As soon as his wordsnded, he leaned down and nted a domineering kiss on her lips.


    "Mo... Qian..."


    Ji Wei tried to break free from his grip, but in the next moment, Mo Qian pinned her wrists above her head with one hand.


    Ji Weiy half beneath Mo Qian, her eyes widening in shock as the position oozed undeniable intimacy and allure.


    With his free hand wrapped around her waist, Mo Qian deepened the kiss, transitioning from dominating to gradually tender and patient.


    When he finally allowed her a moment to catch her breath, he murmured in a husky voice against her flushed lips, "Still trying to run away, hmm?"


    "..."


    She could only groan inwardly¡ªwhy couldn¡¯t she even muster the courage to be mad at him!


    Mo Qian chuckled softly as he looked at her helpless expression and, after some time, let her go.


    Later that evening, after taking a shower, Ji Wei emerged from the bathroom, drying her still-damp hair as she approached the bed.


    Mo Qian set down the book in his hands and pulled her into his arms with one long arm.


    "I have to go to Japan for a business trip tomorrow. I¡¯ll be back in three days."


    Mo Qian rested his cheek against her silky hair, taking in the gentle fragrance from her freshly washed locks.


    Ji Wei turned to look at him in surprise, "Why so sudden?"


    "The trip was scheduledst week, but I hadn¡¯t mentioned it to you yet."


    It was their first time being apart since getting married, and Ji Wei suddenly felt a strong sense of reluctance. She tightly gripped Mo Qian¡¯s hand, feeling as though the three days ahead of her would stretch unbearably long. "I¡¯ll wait for you at home."


    Mo Qian stroked the top of her head gently. "If you miss me, just call me, alright?"


    "I will."


    With her head buried in his chest, she took in theforting scent of gardenias radiating from him and murmured gloomily.


    Sensing the dip in her mood, Mo Qian tilted her face up to look at him. "You don¡¯t want me to leave?"

 Chapter 131: Tonight It’s My Turn to Make You Comfortable

    <h4>Chapter 131: Chapter 131: Tonight It¡¯s My Turn to Make You Comfortable</h4>


    Ji Wei answered honestly, "Mm, I can¡¯t bear to let you go."


    As she spoke, she tightened her grip around his strong waist, resting her head against his broad chest, holding him closely.


    "Seeing you like this makes it hard for me to leave you here alone," Gu Moqian said, looking down at the woman in his arms.


    Ji Wei¡¯s eyes lit up at his words and she looked up excitedly. "If it¡¯s so hard for you, then take me with you. I¡¯ve always wanted to visit Japan anyway. I heard autumn at Mount Fuji is breathtaking..."


    Gu Moqian pressed his thin lips together, falling into a brief silence for a few seconds.


    If it were any other business trip, he would have agreed without hesitation. But this time was different.


    He might have to confront Ji Chuyang directly, and on top of that, there were ties to the Japanese underworld. He would never allow her to risk such dangers alongside him.


    "I was just joking earlier. There¡¯s still a lot of work waiting for me at the project office. Where would I find the time to go to Japan with you?" Ji Wei said with augh when she noticed the serious hint in his expression.


    Gu Moqian: "..."


    His deep eyes darkened slightly as he held her close, his voice hoarse. "This trip is too rushed. But I promise, I¡¯ll take you to see Mount Fuji next time."


    "Okay." Ji Wei didn¡¯t dwell on the matter.


    However, Gu Moqian¡¯s gaze on her softened, darkening slightly before he suddenly asked, "Your period ended today, didn¡¯t it?"


    "Yeah."


    Ji Wei replied absentmindedly, then suddenly realized something as the words left her mouth. She abruptly pushed herself out of Gu Moqian¡¯s embrace.


    Before the man could react and pull her back into his arms, Ji Wei snatched the nearby nket and wrapped herself tightly from head to toe.


    "I ate spicy chicken feet during dinner, and I didn¡¯t wash my hands properly!" It was clear that the incident from that day left a deep psychological mark on her.


    "..."


    Gu Moqian hadn¡¯t expected Ji Wei to say such a thing. His refined brows failed to suppress the smile tugging at his lips.


    "What¡¯s so funny?" Ji Wei asked with a flushed face.


    To Gu Moqian, the woman before him was unbearably adorable.


    Without warning, he reached over and scooped her up, nket and all, into his embrace.


    Ji Wei squirmed awkwardly. "Moqian, it¡¯ste. Let¡¯s just sleep, okay?"


    "Call me ¡¯husband¡¯," the man demanded softly, his lowered gaze locking onto her crimson cheeks as his arms tightened around her.


    Ji Wei bit her lip, then whispered, "Husband..."


    Satisfied, Gu Moqian¡¯s lips curved upward. He suddenly leaned close to her lips, his voice deep and teasing. "Tonight, let me make you feel good. As for your hands, save them for when Ie back."


    Ji Wei: "!!!"


    She wanted to re at him, but he moved too swiftly, capturing her soft, rosy lips with his own.


    Her earlier resistance dissolvedpletely under the intensity of his fervent kiss when she thought about their impending separation.


    They kissed passionately, unable to hold back or let go.


    The nket around Ji Wei slipped off under his touch, and soon, his warm, broad hands removed her clothing as well.


    With nothing left to obstruct him, the man shamelessly left deep and shallow marks all over her body.


    The dim glow of the bedsidemp cast their entangled shadows on the wall, their silhouettes tightly intertwined, lost in one another as they indulged recklessly on the night before their separation.


    Sweat glistened on Gu Moqian¡¯s strong, sensual back as Ji Wei clung tightly to him, leaving clear red scratch marks in her ecstasy.


    Even when she eventually fell into an exhausted slumber, Ji Wei still held onto him, unwilling to let go.


    ...


    Gu Moqian¡¯s flight was at four in the afternoon, so the two of them left home together early in the morning.


    That afternoon, just as Ji Wei returned from an inspection at the construction site, she received a call from a servant of the Ji Family.


    "Miss Ji, something terrible has happened! The old madam tripped whileing downstairs. She¡¯s still unconscious and has been sent to the hospital..."

 Chapter 132: Drugged Inside the Train Car

    <h4>Chapter 132: Chapter 132: Drugged Inside the Train Car</h4><h4></h4>


    The servant¡¯s voice sounded extremely anxious. Ji Wei¡¯s heart sank, and she tried to control the trembling in her voice as she asked, "Which hospital was Grandma sent to?"


    "It was the ambnce from Central Hospital. Miss, you should hurry over and take a look!"


    At this point, the servant¡¯s voice began to choke up. "You haven¡¯t been back to the Ji Family in days. The olddy often mentions you, worrying whether you¡¯re eating properly, whether your sleep is regr... The olddy truly cares deeply about you, Miss."


    Although the servant was not A Xiu, the one usually by Grandma¡¯s side, she often attended to Grandma as well. Hearing these words, Ji Wei couldn¡¯t help but feel her nose sting with emotion. She realized she should visit the Ji Family more often.


    Ji Wei paused for a few seconds and then blurted out, "Alright, I¡¯ll head over right now!"


    After hanging up, Ji Wei said a few quick words to Ling Ling, who was behind her, and then hurriedly walked toward the front door.


    It was now a little past 4 PM, and the project site was in the rtively remote West City District. Ji Wei had expected it would be difficult to hail a taxi, but as she stood by the roadside for a moment, a taxi happened to pass by, and she quickly raised her hand to g it down.


    "Driver, could you please take me to Central Hospital?" Ji Wei opened the car door and got into the back seat.


    The driver said nothing, merely nodded slightly, and swiftly started the car.


    The cityscape outside the car window receded rapidly. Ji Wei stared nkly out the window, her expression extremely grave. She recalled her previous life, when Grandma had suddenly fallen and suffered a stroke, which eventually left her bedridden.


    The palm clutching her phone grew damp with sweat, and her eyes were filled with undisguised worry and urgency.


    Because she was lost in her thoughts, Ji Wei didn¡¯t notice that the taxi was gradually veering off the main road.


    When she finally realized something was amiss, she was stunned to see that the scenery outside the window had turned into sprawling woods, with only the asional household flickering by. They were now in a remote rural area of the West City District, not far from the region¡¯srgest naturalke.


    "Driver, did you take the wrong route?" Ji Wei asked in astonishment.


    The driver seemed topletely ignore her, continuing to drive in silence without responding.


    It was only then that Ji Wei suddenly realized¡ªsince she¡¯d gotten in the car, the driver hadn¡¯t uttered a single word.


    Could the driver be mute?


    Confused, she prepared to lean forward and tap the driver¡¯s shoulder. "Driver, you¡¯ve made a mistake! I¡¯m headed to Central Hospital!"


    But just as Ji Wei rose slightly, an overwhelming wave of dizziness struck her out of nowhere, forcing her back down into the seat.


    When had she started feeling this dizzy? She hadn¡¯t noticed it at all!


    Ji Wei frowned and held her forehead. The heavy, spinning sensation made her consciousness gradually fade. She struggled to lift her eyelids, but everything before her seemed to blur and double.


    What was going on?


    What was happening to her?


    Ji Wei reached out, trying to open the window to get some air. But after pressing the button to open the window several times, it didn¡¯t budge.


    She discovered that all the windows had been sealed tightly shut. She hadn¡¯t noticed earlier because the air conditioning inside the car had been on.


    Now, she detected a suffocating and oppressive scent permeating the air...


    Ji Wei was suddenly shocked¡ªsomeone had scattered knockout gas inside the car!


    After the initial shock, Ji Wei bit down hard on her lip, leaving visible marks that almost drew blood.


    The sharp pain temporarily made her more alert.


    "Stop the car... Stop the car now!" Ji Wei struggled to rise again, reaching for the driver¡¯s arm and shouting urgently.


    This time, the driver turned his head and nced at her.


    Ji Wei saw that the driver was wearing a ck baseball cap and a ck mask, leaving only his eyes visible.


    And those eyes glinted with a sinister and menacing light.

 Chapter 133: Who is so ruthless to want her dead!

    <h4>Chapter 133: Chapter 133: Who is so ruthless to want her dead!</h4><h4></h4>


    "Who... are you exactly?" Ji Wei asked, her heart pounding.


    The driver seemed to let out a coldugh and suddenly yanked his arm out of Ji Wei¡¯s grasp forcefully.


    Because of the sheer strength, Ji Wei¡¯s hand slipped abruptly, and her body tilted backward uncontrobly, stumbling onto the car seat.


    Her head felt heavy, her consciousness grew increasingly blurry. Ji Wei tried to prop herself up, but after barely two seconds, she slumped weakly onto the seat, her hair disheveled, hanging down messily, motionless.


    ...


    At the project site, Ling Ling stood in the hallway staring at her phone, stunned for a few seconds.


    Just moments ago, she had called Ji Wei to ask if the investigation report on Shuiyun Lane needed to be sent over for her to confirm again. However, the call had been picked up for barely two seconds before being hung up.


    Ling Ling found it odd. Judging by Ji Wei¡¯s personality, she wouldn¡¯t pick up a call without saying anything and immediately hang up.


    She dialed again, but this time, the phone was directly turned off.


    Could the phone have run out of battery?


    For some reason, an inexplicable sense of unease crept into Ling Ling¡¯s heart.


    She tried working for a while, but her mind refused to settle. Finally, she decided to go to Central Hospital to personally confirm the matter of the report with Ji Wei.


    Ling Ling arrived at Central Hospital, and without much effort, she found the ward where Old Madam Ji was staying.


    Old Madam Ji seemed to have injured her ankle, and the doctor was currently conducting rehabilitation treatment on her.


    Through the half-open ward door, Ling Ling didn¡¯t spot Ji Wei¡¯s figure. She scanned the hallway but didn¡¯t find her anywhere either.


    The unease in Ling Ling¡¯s heart intensified, and she walked over to the servant waiting outside the ward door. "Hello, I¡¯m Miss Ji¡¯s assistant. Has she been here today?"


    The servant, A Xiu, shook her head, visibly taken aback. "No, not at all. The Old Madam said it¡¯s just a sprain, nothing serious, no need to bother the eldest youngdy, so I didn¡¯t inform her."


    They hadn¡¯t called Ji Wei!


    Then whose call had Ji Wei answered?


    Ling Ling¡¯s eyelid twitched violently.


    Something¡¯s wrong!


    Ji Wei is in danger!


    Without paying heed to A Xiu¡¯s astonishment, Ling Ling immediately spun around and dashed out of the hospital.


    Ji Wei had no idea how long she had been unconscious. When she woke up, the first thing she saw was a sky nketed in dense, gray clouds overhead.


    Her awareness hadn¡¯tpletely returned yet. Her eyes shifted around, gazing nkly at her surroundings.


    The ce where shey seemed to be floating on water, swaying lightly with her movements.


    Water... water?


    rmed, Ji Wei forced her aching head to lift as she struggled to sit up slowly.


    Finally, she saw exactly where she was.


    The ce shey was an old wooden boat, surrounded entirely by water. A dense mist hung in the air, making it impossible to see the shore or any endpoint.


    At that moment, wind from over theke caused the small wooden boat to rock incessantly.


    Ji Wei reached out to hold onto the edge of the boat and discovered the wood was severely dpidated. The entire boat didn¡¯t even have a single oar; the boat¡¯s edge had several cracks split open.


    It was clearly an abandoned, broken-down wooden boat.


    Looking at the endless expanse of mist-covered water around her, Ji Wei roughly guessed where she was.


    It was likely thergest naturalke in the West City District.


    But she distinctly remembered being in a taxi. How had she suddenly ended up here?


    As her mind fully cleared, Ji Wei finally pieced together what had happened.


    She must have been drugged into unconsciousness while in the taxi, then abducted here by the masked driver.


    Such a vastke, with depths unfathomable and no end in sight¡ªif no one discovered her whereabouts, she could very well die here!


    Who was so cruel, so merciless, wishing her dead!

 Chapter 134 But sir, the airplane cabin door is already closed...

    <h4>Chapter 134: Chapter 134 But sir, the airne cabin door is already closed...</h4><h4></h4>


    Although Ji Wei was scared, she forced herself to remain calm.


    Mo Qian¡¯s flight had departed sometime after 4 PM; by now, he was probably nearing Japan. No one had noticed her disappearance, so she had to attempt self-rescue!


    Ji Wei searched herself and quickly realized that her phone and wallet were indeed missing.


    She tried to steady herself and crawled to the edge of the boat, attempting to paddle with her hands.


    The small wooden boat swayed unsteadily. After paddling for what felt like an eternity, Ji Wei had only managed to move about two meters. Theke was enveloped in thick fog, making it impossible to see her direction or tell whether she was paddling toward the shore or deeper into theke.


    Before long, Ji Wei¡¯s strength ran out, forcing her to stop.


    This wasn¡¯t a sustainable solution.


    Under ordinary circumstances, if there were enough water, she could endure for three or four days while waiting for rescue. But the problem was that this shabby little wooden boat could break apart at any moment¡ªand the sky above was now covered in heavy clouds, promising a downpour tonight.


    The mastermind behind this likely not only predicted Mo Qian¡¯s business trip but also anticipated the storm. If the rain came, the wooden boat wouldn¡¯t be able to withstand the weight of the water, and it was only a matter of time before it capsized.


    Was this really how she was meant to meet her end, sinking to the bottom of theke?


    ...


    Ling Ling sprinted out of the hospital while sending a message to Mo Qian.


    Her most crucial duty was to ensure Ji Wei¡¯s safety. Now that Ji Wei was missing, it was a responsibility she could not shake off. She also couldn¡¯t afford to keep this from Mo Qian.


    As she pressed send, Ling Ling nced at the time disyed on her phone.


    She hoped it wasn¡¯t toote.


    Inside the passenger ne.


    The flight attendants were reminding everyone to fasten their seatbelts, as the aircraft was set to take off in five minutes.


    Mo Qian took onest look at his phone before preparing to switch it to airne mode.


    But suddenly, a message popped onto the screen: "Mr. Gu, Madam is missing!"


    Mo Qian¡¯s expression changed drastically, and he shot to his feet.


    Gripping his phone tightly, his face was etched with tension. Ignoring the puzzled and intrusive stares of the other passengers, he strode toward the cabin door withrge steps.


    "Sir, the ne is about to take off. Please return to your seat," a flight attendant said with a polite smile, trying to stop him as he approached.


    "Open the cabin door. I have an urgent matter and need to disembark," Mo Qian demanded, his tone severe.


    "I¡¯m sorry, sir, but the cabin door has already been sealed. Unless there¡¯s an emergency, we cannot reopen it..."


    No longer willing to listen, Mo Qian¡¯s voice turned icy and menacing, his words sharp enough to chill: "I¡¯ll say this one more time¡ªopen the cabin door, or all of Rongcheng Airlines¡¯ nes can forget about flying tomorrow!"


    His voice carried an undeniable authority, making it clear this wasn¡¯t an idle threat.


    The flight attendant¡¯s eyes widened in shock, and atst, she recognized this man¡¯s imposing identity. He was none other than the CEO of Gu Group, Rongcheng¡¯s prominent figurehead, Mo Qian!


    "P-Please wait here. I¡¯ll inform the captain right away," she stammered, her face pale as she rushed into the cockpit.


    A few minutester, the cabin door was opened, and that tall,manding figure descended from the ne in hurried strides.


    The sky had already turnedpletely dark.


    The night temperature was much colder than during the day. Ji Wei sat curled up in the tiny wooden boat, hugging her knees tightly as the frigid wind left her teeth chattering uncontrobly.


    The clouds overhead grew thicker, rumbling with muffled thunder trapped within them, looming ominously.


    The chilly breeze rippled across theke, though luckily, the wind wasn¡¯t strong enough to tip the fragile little boat. Otherwise, it would have capsized long ago.


    Ji Wei stared at the endless darkness nketing theke, the terror within her heart swelling more and more with each passing second.

 Chapter 135: Ji Wei is gone without her having to lift a finger, it couldn’t be better!

    <h4>Chapter 135: Chapter 135: Ji Wei is gone without her having to lift a finger, it couldn¡¯t be better!</h4><h4></h4>


    Ji Wei kept telling herself not to lose hope¡ªLing Ling would definitely realize she was missing and think of a way to call the police to save her.


    In fact, Ling Ling had indeed alerted the police. However, Ji Wei had been missing for less than twenty-four hours, so the authorities only recorded the case without officially filing it.


    As Ling Ling left the police station, she received a call from Gu Moqian: "Tell me every detail of what happened before Ji Wei went missing."


    Ling Ling recalled and told Gu Moqian that, worried about Old Madam Ji¡¯s condition, Ji Wei had hurriedly gotten into a taxi, and shortly afterward, her phone had shut off.


    She also revealed that Ji Wei never went to the hospital and that the maid beside Old Madam Ji said no calls had been made informing Ji Wei of anything.


    Gu Moqian listened, his expression growing colder with every word, but his mind remained calm and clear: "Have Chen Ke send someone immediately to investigate the taxis that traveled near the project site and find clues as soon as possible!"


    "Yes, Mr. Gu!"


    After leaving the airport, Gu Moqian headed straight to the Gu Family project site in the west of the city.


    It was already past office hours, and most of the people at the project site had gone home. Zhu Jianian, however, had stayedte to work on revising a proposal.


    When she walked out of her office, she found Gu Moqian sitting on a sofa in the lounge area, his face somber and grim.


    Zhu Jianian was taken aback. Wasn¡¯t Ji Wei out this afternoon? What was Gu Moqian doing here?


    She quickly walked over, suppressing the excitement bubbling up her throat, and spoke softly, "Moqian, why are you here? Are you waiting for me to get off work?"


    Hearing her voice, Gu Moqian nced up at her.


    His gaze was sharp and cold,den with an oppressive intensity that made Zhu Jianian¡¯s heart jolt.


    Why was he looking at her like that?


    Though slightly startled, Zhu Jianian didn¡¯t appear flustered, and Gu Moqian thereby ruled out her involvement in Ji Wei¡¯s disappearance.


    He wasn¡¯t in the mood to engage with Zhu Jianian and spoke with an icy tone: "Go finish your work. Don¡¯t meddle in things that don¡¯t concern you."


    Zhu Jianian was just about to say something; the words were already at the tip of her tongue but were abruptly pushed down by Gu Moqian¡¯s cutting remark.


    Pressing her lips together, her face turned slightly pale, and her voice dropped to a murmur: "...Alright. Don¡¯t stay too long either¡ªit¡¯s already prettyte."


    Her enthusiastic attempts to reach out were mercilessly extinguished by Gu Moqian. Saying she wasn¡¯t discouraged would be a lie.


    Unwilling to let it show, Zhu Jianian turned away, though her mind was entangled in confusion.


    Ji Wei clearly wasn¡¯t here, so what reason did Gu Moqian have to remain?


    As Zhu Jianian took two steps toward the door, she saw Chen Ke and Ling Ling rush inside.


    The two saw her and gave only a polite nod before hastily heading toward Gu Moqian.


    Something inside Zhu Jianian tensed. Slowing her pace, she perked up her ears to eavesdrop on the situation behind her.


    Chen Ke opened theptop he had brought and ced it in front of Gu Moqian, showing him surveince footage: "Mr. Gu, we¡¯ve tracked down the taxi your wife was in. However, the license te has been tampered with, so we haven¡¯t pinpointed its exact location yet. Our people are checking all possible routes one by one, and we should have results soon."


    Zhu Jianian pretended to be on her way out, but she heard every word Chen Ke said.


    Ji Wei had gone missing!


    Whoever was behind this¡ªit was perfect. She didn¡¯t even have to lift a finger to make Ji Wei disappear; how delightful!


    Zhu Jianian was certain Gu Moqian must be feeling tormented right now. She, of course, wouldn¡¯t stick around to add to his troubles. Knowing Ji Wei had vanished was already thrilling enough for her; tonight definitely called for a celebratory drink.

 Chapter 136 The Maid Who Made the Call is Definitely Still Here!

    <h4>Chapter 136: Chapter 136 The Maid Who Made the Call is Definitely Still Here!</h4><h4></h4>


    Ji Wei was leaning against the edge of the small wooden boat, dozing off, when she was suddenly jolted awake by a deafening p of thunder.


    A streak of lightning tore through the night sky, splitting the dark clouds apart.


    Ji Wei barely had time to react before raindrops, asrge as beans, started pelting down from the heavens. They fell harder and denser with each passing second, and the wind over theke, carrying the rain, charged toward the small wooden boat.


    The boat¡¯s frame couldn¡¯t withstand such a battering and began to sway violently.


    Ji Wei was drenched from head to toe. She stretched out her hand to grip the edge of the boat tightly, but the violent rocking made her feel as if she could be tossed overboard at any moment.


    The rain blurred her visionpletely. Through the downpour, Ji Wei could just make out the torrential rain cascading from the sky. The boat quickly began to fill with water.


    With no time to worry about the rocking boat, she endured the intense dizziness and tried to scoop the umting water out of the boat.


    Her long hair, soaked by the rain, clung to her pale cheeks. Ji Wei desperately scooped water out again and again, but it was clear her speed couldn¡¯t keep up with the influx of rain. Instead, the water inside the boat grew deeper and deeper, and the boat was visibly sinking!


    Frightened out of her wits, Ji Wei tried to move faster. Suddenly, a gust of wind brought a wave crashing down on the boat. The violent impact caused her to lose her bnce, and she tumbled awkwardly.


    Her back mmed hard against the edge of the boat, making her gasp sharply in pain.


    Ji Wei panted for breath, her brows furrowed tightly.


    After resting against the boat¡¯s edge for just a moment, Ji Wei attempted to shift her body. Staying in this position was extremely dangerous; she had to find a slightly safer spot.


    The boat¡¯s rocking made each movement an excruciating struggle. Before she could even catch her breath, anotherrge wave struck, flipping the boat and sending her plunging into theke.


    As her body sank rapidly, Ji Wei thankfully held her breath in time.


    Her swimming skills were poor, and she was already exhausted from her struggle on the boat. What would have been a mere four or five meters felt like an impossible distance for her.


    Gritting her teeth, Ji Wei stared up at the shadow of the overturned boat above and gave everything she had to swim upward.


    When her head finally broke the surface of the water, Ji Wei felt as if she¡¯d been given a second chance at life.


    The wooden boat had capsized, but being made of wood, its buoyancy was excellent. She clung to the edge of the boat, barely managing to steady herself.


    Ji Wei rested against the boat for a while. Once she had regained a bit of strength, she scrambled to climb onto the overturned bottom of the boat. If she stayed in the water any longer, she wouldn¡¯t drown but would surely freeze to death.


    After a grueling effort, she managed to climb aboard, copsing onto the wooden nks on her back, utterly drained of strength.


    By then, the rain had begun to let up. Ji Wei flipped herself over, her hands clinging tightly to the edges of the nk as she barely steadied herself against the waves threatening to toss her back into theke.


    The ordeal had sapped her strength, and with the biting cold, her hands were beginning to go numb.


    ...


    After scouring footage from dozens of intersections, the taxi was finally found abandoned in a wooded area, but the driver was still nowhere to be seen.


    Mo Qian¡¯s face grew exceptionally grim upon hearing the news.


    Continuing the search like this was pointless. If the driver was deliberately hiding and Ji Wei remained in danger, the consequences would be disastrous.


    They couldn¡¯t afford to waste any more time!


    Mo Qian¡¯s mind raced for an action n.


    Ling Ling had said the servant didn¡¯t call Ji Wei, yet Ji Wei had obviously received a call...


    If the caller wasn¡¯t someone she was familiar with, Ji Wei would have been suspicious. This meant that the servant who made the call must havee from the Ji Family!


    "Tell Chen Ke to bring some people. We¡¯re heading to the Ji Family right now!"


    Mo Qian suddenly stood up and barked the order to Ling Ling, his movements sharp and decisive as he stormed out the door.

 Chapter 137: Who are you to dare to trespass into the Ji Family?

    <h4>Chapter 137: Chapter 137: Who are you to dare to trespass into the Ji Family?</h4><h4></h4>


    Ji Family¡¯s vi.


    Ji Yunxiang was eating dinner in the dining room when a group of bodyguards dressed in ck uniforms suddenly stormed in. Startled, her chopsticks slipped from her hand, ttering onto the edge of the bowl with a crisp sound.


    Ji Yunxiang¡¯s face turned pale as she demanded, "Who are you? How dare you trespass into the Ji Family¡¯s estate? Do you know..."


    Her words abruptly stopped when she saw the man who followed closely behind and stepped in.


    Gu Moqian arrived amidst the storm, moving perhaps too hastily to even open an umbre. His dark suit and jet-ck short hair were drenched by the rain, yet this did nothing to diminish his cold, noble demeanor. On the contrary, the dangerous aura emanating from him became even more intense.


    Ji Yunxiang¡¯s heart inexplicably raced, her fingers slowly curling into a fist.


    Ji Shanshan, upon noticing Gu Moqian¡¯s stern expression, felt a chill run down her spine and secretly tugged at her mother¡¯s sleeve. She exchanged a silent look with her.


    Could it be that Mr. Gu has already uncovered something?


    Ji Yunxiang signaled her daughter with her eyes to remain calm. She then stered on a smile, moving closer to Gu Moqian as she said, "Mr. Gu, what brings you here so suddenly? You didn¡¯t even give us prior notice. Have you had dinner? Shall I ask the servants to set a ce for you?"


    Gu Moqian had no patience for Ji Yunxiang¡¯s pleasantries. He raised his chin slightly with cold arrogance and issued amand to the two bodyguards beside him.


    The bodyguards immediately understood and strode forward, firmly gripping Ji Yunxiang¡¯s arms on either side.


    "Where is Ji Wei? Speak!"


    Gu Moqian¡¯s first words cut straight to the point, leaving Ji Yunxiang no room to catch her breath.


    Seeing the bone-chilling coldness in the man¡¯s eyes, Ji Yunxiang instinctively denied, "Mr. Gu, what... are you saying?"


    "Where is she? Tell me now!" Gu Moqian repeated, his eyes locked intensely on Ji Yunxiang¡¯s face.


    Ji Yunxiang feigned ignorance, trying her best to rx her stiff expression. She even managed a smile: "Mr. Gu, have you misunderstood something? How could I possibly know where Little Wei is? Isn¡¯t she always staying at your ce?"


    Gu Moqian¡¯s gaze was as cold as shards of ice, fixed sharply on Ji Yunxiang.


    This woman wouldn¡¯t shed a tear unless she saw the coffin.


    The only people Ji Wei had ever offended in the Ji Family were Ji Yunxiang and her daughter. If it wasn¡¯t them, who else could it be?


    Time was of the essence. He couldn¡¯t afford to waste it arguing with her endlessly.


    "Bring all of the Ji Family¡¯s servants here!" Gu Moqianmanded in a frosty tone.


    The bodyguards obeyed the order, quickly dispersing in all directions.


    Some began searching the vi, while others headed to the Ji Family¡¯s main residence and the old matriarch¡¯s quarters.


    Watching the bodyguards brazenly storm into various rooms, Ji Yunxiang started to panic internally. "Mr. Gu, I truly have no idea where Little Wei is. This is the Ji Family; isn¡¯t it against proper etiquette for you to let people barge around like this?"


    Gu Moqian stood tall and unyielding, his expression dark. He didn¡¯t respond to Ji Yunxiang¡¯s words, acting as though he hadn¡¯t heard a thing.


    He naturally possessed an aura that inspired fear, and when forcing others into submission, this dominion was even more pronounced.


    Ji Yunxiang felt as though all the blood in her body had turned cold, the fear steadily escting within her.


    Recalling how Gu Moqian had threatened her with her marital infidelity days ago, herplexion had already turned ashen. But under these circumstances, she could only clench her teeth and stubbornly refuse to admit anything.


    Even if Gu Moqian discovered something, he had no evidence to prove she was the one behind it!


    "Mom..."


    Ji Shanshan timidly stepped in front of Ji Yunxiang, whispering softly.


    Ever since that day at the caf¨¦ when Gu Moqian had reprimanded her, Ji Shanshan had been terrified of him. That was the first time she experienced Gu Moqian¡¯s cold, ruthless methods.


    At this moment, Ji Shanshan could only nce at him fearfully. She didn¡¯t even dare to approach him.


    Ji Yunxiang held her daughter¡¯s hand. Though she felt a surge of panic inside, she pushed her chest out and pretended to be fearless, saying, "Don¡¯t be afraid. We haven¡¯t done anything wrong; we¡¯re innocent. I¡¯m sure Mr. Gu is someone who values evidence. Besides, this is the Ji Family¡ªno one dares act recklessly toward us!"

 Chapter 138 Don’t Cut Off My Fingers!

    <h4>Chapter 138: Chapter 138 Don¡¯t Cut Off My Fingers!</h4><h4></h4>


    Not long after, all the Ji Family¡¯s servants were rounded up and brought to the guest house living room.


    A total of twelve servants were present, while the butler and A Xiu were absent because they were apanying Old Madam Ji at the hospital.


    "Who among you called Ji Wei today?" Mo Qian¡¯s voice rang out coldly, each word striking heavily on everyone¡¯s hearts: "You¡¯d better confess immediately to avoid suffering."


    Suddenly dragged to the living room by bodyguards dressed in ck, the servants were thrown into confusion, not knowing what had happened. Hearing Mo Qian¡¯s words, most of them looked bewildered, unable to make sense of the situation.


    When his words fell, the room fell into an eerie silence; not a single person dared to step forward and admit.


    "Not willing to speak, are you?" Mo Qian¡¯s voice carried a chill devoid of any warmth. "Fine, then start with him¡ªinterrogate each one, one by one!"


    Mo Qian gestured to a servant standing in the front row and gave his coldmand.


    Two bodyguards immediately stepped forward and dragged the servant out.


    "No! No, don¡¯t cut my fingers, please¡ª" It wasn¡¯t long before blood-curdling screams echoed from beyond the doors.


    The cries of pain were unbearable to hear and drained all blood from the faces of everyone present. Those with weaker mental fortitude fainted on the spot, while others trembled uncontrobly like leaves in the wind.


    Ji Yunxiang¡¯s face was ashen as she tried to intervene, "Mr. Gu... These people are Ji Family¡¯s servants. You don¡¯t have the right to punish them this way, and if you mutte their fingers and render them disabled, how can they serve in the future?"


    "Shut up." Mo Qian cast Ji Yunxiang a frosty nce, silencing her instantly.


    He raised his hand to nce at his watch and addressed the remaining eleven servants: "You don¡¯t have much time. Either confess now or continue to lose fingers."


    With those words, another servant was dragged away by two bodyguards.


    The screams of agony erupted again, seeping dread into everyone¡¯s hearts. The psychological defense of the servants began to crumble under the pressure, and finally, someone couldn¡¯t bear it anymore and stood up, pointing usingly at an attractive female servant, dering, "I know who called the youngdy¡ªit was her, A Qin! I happened to overhear her talking on the phone while I was passing the garden this afternoon."


    The used servant, A Qin, froze in fear. Her attempts at defending herself were shaky and filled with terror: "You... you¡¯re lying! I was calling my family, not the youngdy!"


    At the moment A Qin was identified, Ji Yunxiang¡¯s heart sank instantly; her nails dug deep into her palms out of intense anxiety.


    Mo Qian immediately issued his icy order to the bodyguards: "Take her away. If she doesn¡¯t confess within a minute, cut off one finger. Continue until every finger is gone."


    "Understood!"


    A Qin copsed on the floor, utterly terrified. She cast a desperate nce at Ji Yunxiang, but Ji Yunxiang pretended not to notice and turned her gaze away.


    A Qin was dragged out by two bodyguards. It didn¡¯t take more than two minutes before she confessed everything.


    A bodyguard rushed back in, leaned down, and whispered a few words into Mo Qian¡¯s ear.


    Mo Qian cast Ji Yunxiang a nce filled with icy menace and gave hismand: "Leave two guards here to watch over her and her mother. The rest, follow me!"


    Without lingering, he strode out the door without pause.


    ...


    Ji Wei was already near exhaustion on the turbulentke surface amid the storm.


    Half of her body was submerged in the water, with only her hands desperately clinging to the edge of the wooden nk.


    The rain, which had briefly subsided, became even fiercer again. It pounded on her face and body, making it increasingly more difficult for her arms to keep holding on.


    Through blurry vision, she stared at the raging waters. Her mind clung to onest thought¡ªshe had to hold on, she must not let go, absolutely cannot...


    If she let go, she would sink to the bottom of theke and never wake up again.


    Having finally been reborn into this life, she refused to die. She couldn¡¯t, and wouldn¡¯t!


    If she died, how would Mo Qian react? She dared not imagine the face of that aloof and noble man when confronted with her cold, lifeless body.


    Time ticked by, and every moment of endurance was a tremendous challenge for Ji Wei.


    The strength in her body was fading. Her eyelids grew heavier, and no matter how unwilling she was, her grip on the nk was loosening bit by bit...


    -


    (Here are today¡¯s three Chapters! For Tutu¡¯s hard work, please vote and save the story. Love you all!)

 Chapter 139: He Kissed Her Lips Directly to Transfer Air

    <h4>Chapter 139: Chapter 139: He Kissed Her Lips Directly to Transfer Air</h4><h4></h4>


    Gu Moqian stood at the very front of the speedboat, disregarding the raging wind and rain, his expression anxious as he scanned the vast surface of theke.


    He had taken off his suit jacket, leaving only the pristine white shirt beneath. But even now, his shirt waspletely drenched, clinging tightly to his body, while his short ck hair hung wetly over his forehead.


    "Miss Ji... Miss Ji, where are you?"


    "Miss Ji, we¡¯vee to find you. Please, you must hold on..."


    Ling Ling and the other bodyguards shouted through the storm from the speedboat.


    Countless beams of shlight light swept across theke, hoping to catch sight of the figure they were desperately searching for.


    Ji Wei, dazed and disoriented, caught a faint glimpse of a light shing not far away. She opened her mouth, but what came out was a voice so hoarse it was almost inaudible: "Here... I¡¯m here..."


    Her voice was entirely swallowed by the wind and rain; no one but herself could hear it.


    She knew someone was here¡ªthey must havee to find her. She wanted so badly to hold on a little longer, but she was like a fragile boat adrift in the storm, long since drained of strength. Finally, her nearly frozen hands could no longer hold onto the wooden nk and abruptly let go...


    Deprived of the nk¡¯s support, her body began sinking rapidly into theke¡¯s depths.


    Ji Wei stared with despairing eyes as she watched herself drift further and further away from the surface of theke. She no longer had the strength to even move.


    ¡ªSsh¡ª


    A white figure suddenly dove into theke, sending up a massive ssh of water.


    The man swam swiftly toward the woman who was sinking rapidly. Just as she was about to sink into the muddy bottom of theke, he suddenly reached out and pulled her firmly into his arms.


    Seeing the woman barely breathing, weakly leaning against him, Gu Moqian immediately lowered his head and kissed her lips, giving her air.


    When Ji Wei first started sinking, she had been holding her breath. But the deeper she went, the thinner the air in her chest became. Her mind buzzed, and water poured into her nose and chest.


    The intense feeling of suffocation and the influx ofke water made her feel like she was on the verge of death.


    Just as she struggled to breathe, drowning in despair, suddenly, her lips were pressed down forcefully by someone else¡¯s, and fresh air rushed into her lungs, momentarily alleviating her suffocation.


    Ji Wei barely managed to open her eyes a sliver. She saw the man¡¯s pale face close at hand, and his deep, ink-ck eyes gazing quietly at her, as if containing a thousand unspoken words...


    Was it an illusion?


    Why was she seeing Gu Moqian? He should be in Japan right now.


    But ultimately, she was too weak. After ncing at him, she fell back into unconsciousness.


    ...


    When Ji Wei woke up, it was already the next morning.


    The autumn sunlight streamed into the room, and with every breath, she could inhale the familiar scent of Shanshui Manor.


    "Mrs. Gu, you¡¯re awake." Aunt Zhu¡¯s voice came from beside her ear.


    Ji Wei tried to sit up, but her whole body felt weak, and she struggled to move. Aunt Zhu hurriedly reached out to help her sit against the headboard.


    "Madam, you¡¯ve been asleep the entire night. Have something to eat, or you¡¯ll have no strength." Aunt Zhu brought a steaming bowl of porridge to Ji Wei.


    Ji Wei took a few sips, but couldn¡¯t help asking, "Where¡¯s Mo Qian?"


    "Mr. Gu watched over you all night. He originally nned to take the day off to stay with you today, but he suddenly received a call. Before leaving, he instructed me to take good care of you and then went out."


    Was it some urgent matter at the Gu Family that required his attention?


    -


    (Tutu will post three updates this weekend. Starting next Friday, there will be 4-6 updates a week. The updates are not few, dear readers. Please continue supporting Tutu, who is working hard on writing. Love you all!)

 Chapter 140 This is Nonsense!

    <h4>Chapter 140: Chapter 140 This is Nonsense!</h4><h4></h4>


    Ji Wei didn¡¯t ask further questions. She drank a bowl of porridge and fell asleep again.


    When she woke up, her strength had somewhat recovered. She drank the chicken soup Aunt Qin brought her, her thoughts gradually clearing, and she recalled the phone call she received yesterday.


    She couldn¡¯t help but wonder how her grandmother¡¯s condition was...


    Since her phone was taken away yesterday, Ji Wei borrowed Aunt Qin¡¯s phone to call her grandmother. As soon as the call connected, she eagerly spoke, "Grandma, this is Ji Wei. How is your health?"


    But the voice on the other end wasn¡¯t her grandmother; it was A Xiu, speaking in a deliberately low tone: "Miss? The olddy is fine, just a twisted ankle. The doctor said she can go home tomorrow."


    A twisted ankle... Wasn¡¯t it said she was unconscious?


    The servant yesterday made it sound serious. Could they have lied to her?


    Ji Wei¡¯s grip on the phone tightened, her voice striving to remain calm as she asked, "Is Grandma unable to take calls right now?"


    A Xiu hesitated for a moment before exining softly: "The olddy had a disagreement with Mr. Ji this morning. She¡¯s in a bad mood and has been lying in bed quietly since."


    Ji Wei was surprised: "Why would my dad argue with Grandma?"


    "It seems to be about Madam Yunxiang," A Xiu replied. "I don¡¯t know the details. Miss, if you have the time, maybe you should visit the Ji Family and see for yourself."


    "Alright, I understand. Thank you for looking after Grandma, A Xiu."


    "It¡¯s my duty, Miss."


    After hanging up, Ji Wei¡¯s mind kept reying A Xiu¡¯s words.


    Why would Dad argue with Grandma, especially over Ji Yunxiang?


    Ji Wei couldn¡¯t sit still any longer. She abruptly pulled off her quilt and got out of bed.


    "Madam, are you heading out?"


    Aunt Zhu noticed Ji Wei walking to the wardrobe to select clothes and couldn¡¯t help but ask.


    "Yes, I¡¯m going to the Ji Family for a bit."


    "But your health has just started to improve..."


    "It¡¯s alright, I can manage. If Mo Qianes back, just tell him that I¡¯m at the Ji Family for something and not to worry." Ji Wei chose a knit short jacket and a dress, then went to get changed.


    Outside the Ji Family vi.


    Ji Wei stepped out of the car and quickly walked toward the vi. As she passed the parking area, she suddenly spotted a familiar silver-gray Maybach.


    A hint of astonishment shed in Ji Wei¡¯s eyes.


    Why is Gu Moqian¡¯s car here? Could he also be at the Ji Family?


    Without thinking too much, Ji Wei quickened her pace and headed into the vi.


    As soon as she stepped into the living room, she immediately noticed the atmosphere was highly unusual.


    Ji Yunli sat on the sofa, his expression cold and stern, seemingly suppressing anger. Ji Yunxiang stood behind him, her face pale, staring at the man seated with his back to the door.


    Ji Wei instantly recognized the tall, dark silhouette¡ªit was Gu Moqian.


    The three of them together in such a scene made Ji Wei vaguely sense what might be happening.


    "Dad, what¡¯s going on here?" Ji Wei stepped forward and asked.


    When Ji Yunli saw Ji Wei suddenly appear at the doorway, his expression softened slightly. Just as he was about to speak, Gu Moqian rose to his feet and strode directly toward Ji Wei.


    "Your body is still weak. Why aren¡¯t you resting at home properly?"


    Gu Moqian grasped her slightly cold hand, noticing her paleplexion and lips less vibrant than usual, his tone carrying a trace of sternness.


    "I... I just wanted toe back and check on things."


    Ji Wei didn¡¯t mention that she¡¯de back because she heard about the argument between her father and grandmother; she simply said this instead.


    Ji Yunli saw Ji Wei had returned and immediately spoke with a grim face: "Since you¡¯re here, help persuade Mr. Gu to exin why he¡¯s having bodyguards guard the courtyard, breaking our servants¡¯ fingers, and nning to hand your aunt over to the police. Isn¡¯t this ridiculous behavior?"

 Chapter 141: He Has Ulterior Motives, Aiming to Embezzle the Ji Family’s Assets

    <h4>Chapter 141: Chapter 141: He Has Ulterior Motives, Aiming to Embezzle the Ji Family¡¯s Assets</h4><h4></h4>


    Ji Wei waspletely baffled by Ji Yunli¡¯s words.


    "Dad, what are you talking about? I really don¡¯t understand..."


    Ji Wei turned her searching gaze toward Gu Moqian. The man met her eyes with a gaze that was steadfast and profound.


    Based on her understanding of Gu Moqian, he would never act without a reason. For him to insist on handing Ji Yunxiang over to the police... it seemedst night¡¯s events were undoubtedly tied to Ji Yunxiang!


    Ji Wei¡¯s heart trembled sharply. She turned her head and shot a piercing re at Ji Yunxiang before saying to Ji Yunli, "I trust that Moqian has his reasons for acting this way. He¡¯s always measured in his actions; he wouldn¡¯t do something reckless."


    Ji Yunli stared at his daughter, who was wholeheartedly supporting Gu Moqian, and instantly felt a twinge of displeasure.


    She hadn¡¯t even married him yet, and he already had the unsettling impression that the daughter he raised was bing someone else¡¯s.


    Ji Yunli let out a disgruntled snort. "Are you saying that everything your aunt said was a lie? With so many servants who witnessed it firsthand, when Mr. Gu barged into the Ji Familyst night with a group of people, intimidating your aunt and cousin? If I hadn¡¯t been out hosting guestsst night, how could I tolerate him acting so outrageously in the Ji Family?"


    Gu Moqian cast a cold nce at Ji Yunxiang, who was cowering behind Ji Yunli. His stare made her shrink her neck instantly, visibly fearful.


    "You¡¯re still not fully recovered. Come over here and sit," Gu Moqian didn¡¯t rush into arguing; instead, he helped Ji Wei over to sit on the sofa.


    "Bring some hot water for your youngdy," he said to the servant standing nearby.


    The servant nced cautiously at Ji Yunli¡¯s grim expression before hesitating momentarily, then turned to pour the water and handed it to Ji Wei.


    Ji Wei took the cup, drank a few mouthfuls, and held the warm cup in her hands. She looked at Ji Yunli with a faint, pale smile. "Dad, do you know what I went throughst night?"


    Even though Gu Moqian hadn¡¯t exined a word to her, listening to Ji Yunli¡¯s words since she entered, Ji Wei had more or less pieced things together.


    The one responsible for trapping her by thekest night was certainly Ji Yunxiang!


    Ji Yunli was utterly baffled by her words. "What happenedst night? All I know is that you seemed to have gotten caught in the rain and weren¡¯t feeling well. You¡¯re a grown-up now; you should learn to take better care of yourself."


    Ji Wei responded with a bitter smile. "Dad, I almost drowned in thekest night."


    Thinking of how, if not for Gu Moqian arriving in time, she would¡¯ve sunk to the bottom of theke and be a ghost brimming with injustice¡ªJi Wei couldn¡¯t help but lose herposure.


    With her eyes reddened, she clenched the water cup in her hands even tighter. When her gazended on Ji Yunxiang, the icy glint in her eyes sent chills down the spine.


    "What are you saying!" Ji Yunli abruptly stood up, staring at Ji Wei in shock and disbelief. "What on earth happened?"


    Seeing the shock in Ji Yunli¡¯s eyes, Ji Wei understood that he likely wasn¡¯t aware ofst night¡¯s events yet.


    It was possible that Gu Moqian hadn¡¯t had the chance toy everything out before being reprimanded by her father. Coupled with Ji Yunxiang¡¯s embellishments, her father¡¯s anger seemed understandable.


    "If you want to know what happened, Mr. Ji should ask the person behind you."


    Gu Moqian¡¯s icy voice suddenly broke the air, concealing a deep anger in his shadowy gaze as he stared at Ji Yunxiang, who trembled fearfully under his scrutiny.


    Ji Yunli¡¯s face instantly turned ashen as he turned to interrogate Ji Yunxiang. "Yunxiang, what¡¯s going on? Say everything clearly and truthfully!"


    "...I didn¡¯t do anything, I don¡¯t know anything."


    Ji Yunxiang shook her head, her expression visibly panicked. "Mr. Gu misunderstood me. The servant who called Little Wei has nothing to do with me at all, big brother. I swear I¡¯m telling the truth!"


    She clung tightly to Ji Yunli¡¯s arm and continued her usations. "It¡¯s Mr. Gu who barged into the Ji Family without discernment, harboring who knows what intentions. He ims he wants to form a marriage alliance with our family, but after all these years, he still hasn¡¯t married Ji Wei. Keeping the Ji Family hanging like this¡ªit¡¯s clear he has sinister motives! He might even be nning to seize the Ji Family¡¯s business!"

 Chapter 142 Ji Yunxiang is Sick

    <h4>Chapter 142: Chapter 142 Ji Yunxiang is Sick</h4><h4></h4>


    Ji Wei heard these absurdities and couldn¡¯t help but curl her lips in mockery.


    Ji Yunxiang really could spout any kind of nder¡ªshe was truly unbelievable.


    "Dad, there¡¯s something I haven¡¯t had the chance to tell you."


    Ji Wei suddenly spoke, instinctively grabbing Gu Moqian¡¯s hand beside her as she did so, a faint smile ying on her lips: "Actually, Moqian and I have already registered our marriage. We¡¯re a legal couple now. In other words, Moqian is your son-inw. I¡¯m just puzzled¡ªif Moqian really harbored ill intentions toward the Ji Family, why would he marry me?"


    Ji Wei paused, her gaze fixed on Ji Yunxiang¡¯s face, which was gradually turning bloodless, and continued, "Moreover, given the current strength of the Gu Family in Rongcheng, would they really need such borate schemes to target the Ji Family? If they wanted the Ji Family to go bankrupt, they could do it with a flick of their finger."


    Though Ji Wei¡¯s words sounded rather harsh, Ji Yunli had to admit that what she said was the truth.


    If Ji Wei and Gu Moqian were indeed married, it actually aligned with his wishes. At this moment, Ji Yunli¡¯s attitude toward Gu Moqian hadpletely lost the fury it held earlier.


    "This... this is impossible..."


    Ji Yunxiang outright refused to believe what Ji Wei was saying. She grabbed Ji Yunli¡¯s sleeve in panic, "Little Wei must be lying on purpose to cover for Mr. Gu. A marriage license is such a big deal, how could she agree to it silently without consulting the family? She¡¯s definitely lying!"


    "Auntie, would you only believe me if I showed you the marriage certificate?" Ji Wei looked at Ji Yunxiang coldly.


    "Impossible! I won¡¯t believe it! Big Brother, they just don¡¯t like me. They want to kick me out of the Ji Family, that¡¯s why they deliberately set up this trap. You absolutely can¡¯t fall for it!" Ji Yunxiang¡¯s words had be increasingly incoherent.


    Ji Wei sneered, "In order to drive Auntie away, I almost risked my life. Do you think I¡¯m that stupid?"


    "I... I didn¡¯t do anything! I¡¯m being framed!" Ji Yunxiang suddenly clutched her head with both hands, her demeanor appearing borderline manic.


    "Mom, your illness is acting up again. Quickly, take your medicine!"


    Ji Shanshan, who had been hiding in the shadows near the staircase, suddenly walked out briskly. She poured a few pills from a box she was holding and offered them to Ji Yunxiang with a ss of water.


    "Shanshan, what kind of medicine are you giving your mom?" Ji Yunli asked in surprise upon seeing this.


    Ji Shanshan patted Ji Yunxiang¡¯s back and softly coaxed her like one would a child. After a while, she exined, "Uncle, my mom has been suffering from depression for a long time. She used to be rtively stable¡ªit wasn¡¯t much different from how ordinary people behave. But recently, her condition has worsened, and she¡¯s been doing bizarre things uncontrobly at times..."


    When Ji Shanshan said this, she deliberately nced at Ji Wei, a flicker of resentment and envy shing in her eyes.


    That wretched Ji Wei actually married Gu Moqian!


    Why do they get to be together? What does Ji Wei have that she doesn¡¯t?


    "Perhaps because of this, my mom might have inadvertently hurt my cousin. I¡¯ll apologize to my cousin on her behalf!" As she spoke, Ji Shanshan bowed deeply toward Ji Wei.


    With a single im of depression, Ji Yunxiang¡¯s behavior was cleanly absolved. This mother-daughter duo had truly yed their cards well!


    Ji Wei stared coldly at Ji Shanshan, who was now performing this disy of apology, her expression growing even frostier.


    Ji Yunli eximed in astonishment, "Your mom¡¯s condition is this serious? Why didn¡¯t you tell me sooner? Did she go to the hospital for treatment?"


    "Uncle, my mom¡¯s illness is psychological."


    Ji Shanshan replied with a bitter smile, "Ever since she divorced my dad, her mood has been unstable¡ªshe was always gloomy. I had her see a psychologist, but the doctor said this kind of illness can only be treated gradually through counseling. Medication can only provide temporary relief."

 Chapter 143: Thought pretending to be crazy and foolish could get you off the hook?

    <h4>Chapter 143: Chapter 143: Thought pretending to be crazy and foolish could get you off the hook?</h4><h4></h4>


    "Feeling gloomy but still going out to y mahjong every now and then? Aunt¡¯s way of relieving distress sure is unique," Ji Wei mocked.


    Ji Shanshan¡¯s face stiffened as she defended, "Sis, that¡¯s just my mom¡¯s only hobby. I can¡¯t always stop her, can I?"


    Ji Yunli looked at Ji Yunxiang¡¯s worn-out appearance and couldn¡¯t bear it anymore. He waved his hand gently, "Shanshan, take your mom back to the other house to rest for now."


    "Thank you, Uncle."


    Ji Shanshan secretly celebrated and quickly supported Ji Yunxiang, guiding her out.


    As she passed by Ji Wei, she shot her a sharp, piercing look.


    "Stop right there!"


    The mother and daughter hadn¡¯t even stepped out of the living room when Ji Wei¡¯s loud voice stopped them abruptly.


    "Let me see the medicine in your hand," Ji Wei said coldly, extending a hand toward Ji Shanshan.


    Ji Shanshan instinctively resisted, "Even if I showed it to you, you wouldn¡¯t understand. It¡¯s just antidepressant medication¡ªwhat¡¯s there to look at?"

 Chapter 144: Sealing the Tear at the Corner of Her Eye with a Kiss

    <h4>Chapter 144: Chapter 144: Sealing the Tear at the Corner of Her Eye with a Kiss</h4><h4></h4>


    "Mm."


    Ji Wei did not deny it. "Last night, when I was lying on the wooden boat, with the storm and waves crashing toward me, I thought¡ªeven if I have to use my veryst ounce of strength, I won¡¯t let go. Because you are waiting for me to return, I cannot die."


    Recalling the experience ofst night, Ji Wei¡¯s eyes suddenly grew damp.


    Gu Moqian lowered his head abruptly and kissed away the teardrop at the corner of her eye.


    His warm tongue brushed against her tremblingshes, patiently and meticulously caressing her tears. Then, sliding down her pale cheeks, it reached her dry lips.


    His cool lips fell lightly onto her softness, and Ji Wei couldn¡¯t help but tremble all over.


    Their tongues intertwined. She closed her eyes, responding to him wholeheartedly, immersing herself in the deep love he conveyed¡ªlike nothing existed except the two of them.


    Eventually, her breath quickened, her cheeks flushed bright red, and her eyes shimmered with a hint of dazed confusion.


    Realizing her body was still weak, the man suddenly released her lips, cupped her face with his hands, and gently brushed his cool fingertips over her fair cheeks. His focused gaze locked onto her as if he could never look enough. "Sleep peacefully. I¡¯ll stay right here and keep watch over you."


    This time, Ji Wei finally fell into a peaceful sleep.


    Her dreams were no longer filled with the icyke waters and the nightmare-like ordeal ofst night. Instead, they were sweetened by the taste of Gu Moqian¡¯s kiss...


    When she woke up, the two of them had lunch. Ji Wei didn¡¯t want to return to the bedroom to rest, so she suggested taking a walk nearby.


    As they approached the vi¡¯s entrance, Gu Moqian suddenly changed direction and headed toward the nearby security guard¡¯s booth.


    Ji Wei watched as Gu Moqian spoke with the guard for a few moments before retrieving a bicycle from outside the booth and walking back with it.


    "We¡¯re out for a walk; why are you bringing a bicycle?" she couldn¡¯t help but ask.


    Gu Moqian took off his suit jacket, folded it neatly, and ced it in the bike¡¯s front basket. Then, with graceful movements, he rolled up one sleeve of his white shirt and settled onto the bike. Tilting his chin slightly, he motioned for Ji Wei to hop on.


    "Your body is only beginning to recover. You shouldn¡¯t walk too far. Come on, I¡¯ll give you a ride."


    Ji Wei stared at his clean, sharply defined face for a moment before finally walking over and sitting on the back seat.


    "Hold onto my waist and steady yourself," Gu Moqian instructed.


    Ji Wei obediently extended her arms and wrapped them around his lean, muscr waist.


    They set off, the bike gliding ahead as the breeze caressed their faces. Surrounding the vi were lush green woods, the environment serene, and even the air carried a refreshing fragrance.


    At first, Ji Wei worried about Gu Moqian¡¯s biking skills. She held his waist tightly, unwilling to rx even the slightest bit. But gradually, she realized that he rode steadily, not once making her feel uneasy.


    On a downhill slope, Ji Wei suddenly felt a surge of yful excitement. She let go of his waist, stretched out her arms, andughed gleefully as they sped down the slope.


    The sound of her childlike, joyousughter from the back seat brought an irresistible smile to Gu Moqian¡¯s lips.


    Passersby caught sight of this moment and couldn¡¯t help but be touched by the beautiful scene of the two riding the bike together.


    The man wore a crisp white shirt, his face clean and bright, radiating warmth and beauty beneath the autumn sunlight.


    The woman sat on the backseat, dressed in a light-colored dress paired with a matching knit cardigan. Her long hair danced in the wind, her delicate face aglow with a vibrant smile, exuding youthful charm.


    Together, they looked like a couple fresh out of a university campus¡ªpure and lovely.


    - (Here¡¯s the third update! Please support Tutu with votes and collections!)

 Chapter 145: Soaking in the hot spring with her, it’s easy to have an accident!

    <h4>Chapter 145: Chapter 145: Soaking in the hot spring with her, it¡¯s easy to have an ident!</h4><h4></h4>


    Walking along the tree-lined path, Ji Weiughed as she introduced the surroundingndmarks to Mo Qian.


    The Ji Family¡¯s vi was situated halfway up the mountainside. This area was well-known in Rongcheng for its hot spring resorts, with numerous natural springs scattered across the mountains.


    "There¡¯s a spring here, and it¡¯s said that at midnight, the moon¡¯s reflection falls precisely into the water. You can even see bubbles rising to the surface..."


    "And over there is the site of Rongcheng¡¯srgest natural hot spring. Famous people oftene here because of its reputation!"


    Mo Qian turned his head, gazing at the woman with a palerplexion as she enthusiastically introduced thendmarks. He raised an eyebrow slightly, as if something had just crossed his mind.


    Last night, after soaking in the icyke water for nearly two hours, Ji Wei¡¯s energy hadn¡¯t fully recovered. If she were to soak in a hot spring for a while, it might help drive away the lingering cold from her body.


    The bicycle suddenly came to a stop.


    Ji Wei looked on in surprise, only to find herself standing before the grand entrance to thergest natural hot spring.


    She asked Mo Qian, "Do you want to soak in the hot spring?"


    "Not going in to give it a try would almost seem like a waste after your eager introductions just now," Mo Qian said as he parked the bicycle.


    Ji Wei looked bbergasted. "But... we didn¡¯t bring anything with us when we left. We can¡¯t... soak in the hot spring naked, can we?"


    "Your cycle has ended, so soaking naked wouldn¡¯t be an issue," Mo Qian replied in a matter-of-fact tone.


    Ji Wei: "!!!"


    The mere thought of sitting naked in the hot spring with Mo Qian, facing each other, sent a rush of blood straight to her head. Her pale face instantly flushed crimson.


    When Ji Wei came to her senses, Mo Qian was already holding her by the hand and leading her through the entrance to the hot spring area.


    After only a few steps inside, Ji Wei spotted stores on either side selling hot spring essentials. Like seeing a savior, she let go of Mo Qian¡¯s hand and dashed straight into one. "I¡¯ll go buy a towel!"


    The store had towels in all sorts of bright and gaudy colors. Ji Wei frowned while browsing, and finally managed to find one in a subduedvender shade that seemed less ostentatious.


    When she turned around, she was startled to find Mo Qian standing quietly behind her, watching her pick out towels. Blushing, she awkwardly said, "You should pick out a towel or some swim trunks too."


    She absolutely couldn¡¯t bear the thought of Mo Qian soaking with her wearing nothing¡ªit was way too easy for things to escte into something unintended!


    "You pick for me," Mo Qian responded, his tone as casual as if they were discussing the weather.


    Ji Wei stared at him with wide eyes, momentarily at a loss for words to refute him.


    After all, they were husband and wife, so buying intimate clothing for her husband seemed normal enough.


    At first, Ji Wei chose a men¡¯s towel. But then she reconsidered, thinking that soaking in a hot spring wrapped in a towel might not be veryfortable for a man. So she put it down and turned her attention to the men¡¯s swim trunks nearby.


    The swim trunks came in various patterns, but Ji Wei chose the most basic ck pair and handed them to Mo Qian. "How about this one?"


    "It¡¯s fine," he replied. Anything she chose¡ªhe would like them all.


    "Alright, then I¡¯ll go pay for them now."


    Ji Wei took the towel and the men¡¯s swim trunks and headed to the cashier.


    Since it was the afternoon and not a weekend, there weren¡¯t many people soaking in the hot springs.


    They chose a small hot spring pool hidden behind an artificial mountain, next to a tranquil bamboo grove. The environment was serene and picturesque. Most importantly, they were the only two people there.


    Ji Wei carried her towel and entered the changing room beside the pool.


    With quick movements, she took off her knitted sweater and skirt. But when it came to deciding whether to remove her underwear, she hesitated.

 Chapter 146: Why are you so bold to wear nothing underneath?

    <h4>Chapter 146: Chapter 146: Why are you so bold to wear nothing underneath?</h4><h4></h4>


    Thinking about how her underwear would be soaked if she didn¡¯t take it off, and given that she was wearing a dress, without a spare pair of panties, the wind on the way back could very well expose her.


    In the end, she decided not to wear any underwear.


    Ji Wei stepped out of the changing room, wrapped in a towel and wearing slippers, and Gu Moqian was already standing by the hot spring pool, clearly waiting for her.


    "Mo Qian, I¡¯m ready."


    Ji Wei held onto the front part of the towel wrapped around her chest with one hand. She had only tied a knot, so it wasn¡¯t very secure, making her feel quite uneasy.


    If the towel fell off just like that, wouldn¡¯t that be utterly mortifying?


    Thinking back, she regretted not going through the shop just now to find something like a clip to secure it.


    The man noticed the woman carefully shuffling over in her slippers. The moment he raised his eyes, his gaze deepened considerably.


    Except for the areas of her chest and thighs covered by the towel, the rest of her fair skin was exposed without reservation.


    Her smooth skin was wless, silky as if untouched, with those long, pale legs revealed outside the towel. The towel barely covered her thighs, and with every step she took, it seemed as though glimpses of something inside could be exposed at any moment...


    Ji Wei had her long hair pinned up at the back, with a few strands falling beside her cheeks. Her longshes trembled slightly as she looked down, lightly biting her lower lip¡ªa mix of shyness and coyness¡ªas she approached Gu Moqian.


    When she lifted her eyes, she inadvertently met the man¡¯s gaze, deep and as vast as the sea. She intended to look away quickly, but her gazended directly on his bare upper body instead.


    His chest muscles were perfectly sculpted, his abdomen taut with not a trace of excess fat.


    Further down, a pair of ck swimming trunks obscured the most private area, but one particr ce was impossible to ignore. Below that, his model-like, impossibly long legs stood out...


    Such a breathtakingly beautiful physique was presented right in front of her without warning, and Ji Wei couldn¡¯t help but swallow hard while staring.


    Realizing she had been tantly staring at Gu Moqian, she blushed furiously and quickly averted her gaze.


    In those fleeting moments of embarrassment, Ji Wei suddenly felt herself liftedpletely off the ground!


    Snapping back to reality, she realized Gu Moqian had picked her up horizontally. Looking dumbfounded at the man holding her, her mind wentpletely nk.


    Gu Moqian nced at the dazed woman in his arms, his lips curling into an irresistible smile as he strode toward the hot spring pool with his long legs.


    The moment her body dipped into the water, the buoyancy caused Ji Wei¡¯s towel to float upward uncontrobly. Panicking, she tried to climb down from Gu Moqian.


    But the man clearly wasn¡¯t intending to let her go that easily.


    Gu Moqian gazed deeply at her. "In such a hurry to get down?"


    "How can you soak while holding me like this? Let me go!"


    Distraught that the towel might rise and reveal whaty beneath, Ji Wei ced one hand against his chest to push him away while the other hand struggled to press down the floating towel¡ªa flurry of frantic movements.


    Her obvious anxiety was not lost on Gu Moqian; how could he not know the reason?


    "You¡¯re not wearing anything underneath. How bold of you to act this way," he murmured in a low, hoarse voice, his lips brushing against her delicate ear as he yfully nibbled on her earlobe.


    The heat of his breath as he spoke sent shivers down her spine, leaving her entire body tingling with an unbearable sensation, especially around her ears.


    Ji Wei, too flustered to care about her now deeply flushed face, wriggled free and slid off the man as quickly as she could. She used one hand to guard her chest and the other to tightly press the towel against her lower body, retreating a few steps before finally leaning against the edge of the hot spring pool.


    Gu Moqian couldn¡¯t help but chuckle silently at the sight of her acting as if faced with a great enemy.


    He stepped toward her, and before Ji Wei could strategically move away, he sat down next to her and swiftly scooped her entire body into his arms.


    Ji Wei struggled. "This is a public area! Can you please be mindful of how this looks?"


    Gu Moqian held her tightly, his chin resting on the top of her head, his voice low and tender. "You¡¯re not wearing anything underneath. If I don¡¯t keep you close, what if someone else catches a glimpse of you?"

 Chapter 147: How Did We End Up in Bed While Soaking?

    <h4>Chapter 147: Chapter 147: How Did We End Up in Bed While Soaking?</h4><h4></h4>


    Ji Wei still wanted to struggle, but just at this moment, a woman in a swimsuit suddenly entered the hot spring pool.


    The woman hesitated for a few seconds upon seeing the couple embracing by the opposite pool wall, but in the end, she still stepped into the pool.


    This was a public mixed-gender hot spring, so it was normal for others to show up.


    However, with the arrival of a third person, Ji Wei instantly stopped struggling, obediently letting Mo Qian hold her.


    The temperature in the hot spring was just right. As the heat rose, after only a few minutes of soaking, Ji Wei felt warmth spread through her body, and even beads of sweat started forming on her forehead.


    Mo Qian looked down at the woman¡¯s pale face, which had now turned rosy and alluring. He couldn¡¯t help but lean down and give her a kiss on the cheek.


    Ji Wei red at him in yful reproach: "There¡¯s someone else here! Can you show a little restraint?"


    Mo Qian, seeing this slightly angry yet inexplicably adorable expression, reached out and pinched her face directly: "You¡¯re my wife. This is perfectly natural. Why care about what others think?"


    Ji Wei was just about to roll her eyes at him when she heard the sound of sshing water.


    Looking toward the sound, she saw the woman who had entered the hot spring earlier suddenly stand up with a start and quickly turn to leave.


    Ji Wei: "..."


    It seemed the poor woman had just wanted to enjoy a quiet soak, only to end up witnessing a public disy of affection that was too much for her to handle, forcing her to make a swift exit.


    "Perfect. Now no one will disturb our peace." Mo Qian remarked nonchntly.


    Ji Wei looked at the man in front of her, who wore a half-smile, and inwardlymented her misfortune. Why had she even suggesteding to the hot spring in the first ce?


    Soaking in such warm and rxing water for a long time could easily make one sleepy.


    Ji Wei didn¡¯t even know when she¡¯d started nodding off. Eventually, she felt her head grow heavy and leaned directly against Mo Qian¡¯s shoulder.


    "Weiwei, wake up?" Mo Qian tried to rouse her.


    Falling asleep in the hot spring, thoughfortable, could easily lead to catching a chill.


    Ji Wei, thoroughly sleepy, mumbled something incoherent before continuing to sleep without a care in the world.


    Mo Qian looked at the woman¡¯s even breathing, her closed eyes, and the serene way she slept. He couldn¡¯t bring himself to wake her.


    But he couldn¡¯t just leave her sleeping in the hot spring either.


    With the utmost tenderness, he lifted her damp body into his arms.


    The silk bath towel Ji Wei had chosen clung to her after being soaked, creating a slightly see-through effect.


    Now, the wet towel tightly adhered to her figure, showcasing her shapely curves in vivid detail, exuding an unspoken allure...


    Mo Qian¡¯s eyes darkened instantly.


    If she weren¡¯t asleep, he wasn¡¯t sure he could restrain himself from taking her right then and there. After all, it had already been five or six days since he¡¯dst indulged.


    Suppressing the heat surging within him, Mo Qian forcibly tore his gaze away. Clutching the sleeping woman, he carried her out of the hot spring pool.


    When Ji Wei opened her eyes, she found herself lying on what seemed to be a tatami bed. The soft nket, wooden windows, and vibrant greenery outside, apanied by the melodious chirping of birds, created a tranquil atmosphere.


    For a moment, she felt dazed, unable to understand how she¡¯d ended up in such a ce.


    Hadn¡¯t she been soaking in the hot spring with Mo Qian?


    How had she gone from soaking to lying in bed?


    "Awake? Did you sleep well?"


    A deep, warm, and maic voice suddenly broke the silence. Ji Wei turned her head and saw Mo Qian walking in from outside the door.

 Chapter 148: Betrayal by Loved Ones is the Most Fatal

    <h4>Chapter 148: Chapter 148: Betrayal by Loved Ones is the Most Fatal</h4><h4></h4>


    She propped up her upper body and asked, "Where are we?"


    "A five-star hotel next to the hot springs." Mo Qian replied, "You fell asleep while soaking in the hot springs, so I brought you here to let you sleep well."


    Ji Wei nced at the sky outside the window; the sunset was already about to dip below the horizon.


    "It¡¯s gettingte; we should go back."


    She was about to lift the quilt and get out of bed when she suddenly noticed she was wearing a brand new bathrobe, and she was petrified for a few seconds.


    The bathrobe must have been changed by Mo Qian, which means when he took off the towel, he saw her wearing nothing underneath!


    Ji Wei felt she no longer had the courage to face the man in front of her; she didn¡¯t dare to look up, her face flushed with a rosy hue.


    "What are you thinking?"


    The man¡¯s deep voice suddenly came closer, and Ji Wei suddenly looked up; if Mo Qian hadn¡¯t dodged quickly, she might have bumped her forehead into him.


    "Let¡¯s... go back."


    Ji Wei quickly covered her embarrassment, swiftly lifted the quilt, and then dashed into the bathroom.


    On the way back, they still rode bicycles.


    Ji Wei hugged the man¡¯s waist, resting her head on his broad back, recalling the time they spent together that afternoon, and suddenly felt a bit sentimental, wishing she could hold on to those brief moments of happiness.


    "Mo Qian, life is so unpredictable. Yesterday, I was trapped in theke, nearly losing my life, and today we soaked in the hot springs and rode bicycles together. I really hope the good days can always stay good."


    "They will." The man¡¯s clear and gentle voice carried on the wind.


    Ji Wei knew such thoughts were too naive and had to force herself back to reality: "But once we return, we¡¯ll still have to face those unpredictable human hearts."


    "You don¡¯t have to worry about Ji Yunxiang¡¯s matter; I have it under control."


    "But that woman, after all, I called her ¡¯aunt¡¯. What kind of twisted soul woulde at me with such brutality?" Ji Wei¡¯s voice had a slight tremble.


    Sometimes, it¡¯s the betrayal of family that¡¯s the most deadly.


    "You found out?"


    "Yes. From the things I heard my dad say in the living room, I knew the person scheming behind all this must be Ji Yunxiang. If she hadn¡¯t done something unforgivable, you would have considered the fact that she¡¯s from the Ji Family and wouldn¡¯t have handed her over to the police without hesitation."


    Mo Qian¡¯s eyes slightly narrowed, pursing his thin lips in silence.


    "I know, Ji Yunxiang did it all for Ji Shanshan. She¡¯s been pampered in the Ji Family with all the luxuries, there¡¯s no reason for her to want topletely destroy me."


    Mo Qian suddenly mmed the brakes, stopping the bicycle.


    He got off, walked directly to Ji Wei, gently pulled her into his arms, and stroked her fluffy hair: "Sorry, it¡¯s my fault for not protecting you well, letting you fall into this perilous situation."


    Ji Wei shook her head slightly: "Mo Qian, you have nothing to apologize for."


    She looked up at him, her voice firm: "It¡¯s okay, if anyone can¡¯t stand me and wants to target me, let theme. I¡¯m not that weak nor that easy to defeat; I will live more brilliantly and happily than any of them!"


    "Yes. I promise that those who scheme in the dark will never dare to target you again; I will protect you well and never let you get hurt again."


    Mo Qian¡¯s voice sounded lightly, and in those deep eyes of his was the sharp and cold majesty of a superior.


    Ji Wei stared at him, unable to speak for a long time.


    Having such a husband who loves and protects her, even if the road ahead is fraught with difficulties, she does not regret living this life again.

 Chapter 149: Trade Secrets Have Been Leaked

    <h4>Chapter 149: Chapter 149: Trade Secrets Have Been Leaked</h4>


    When Mo Qian and Ji Wei returned to the Ji Family¡¯s vi, Uncle Zhao was instructing the servants to set up the tableware.


    Seeing Ji Wei and Gu Moqian walk in, Uncle Zhao hurried over to greet them, "Mr. Gu, Miss Ji, you¡¯re finally back. Mr. Ji has been waiting for you toe home for dinner!"


    "Is Dad in the study?"


    Ji Wei nced at the dining room but didn¡¯t see Ji Yunli¡¯s figure, then turned her gaze toward the direction of the study.


    Uncle Zhao nodded, "Yes, Mr. Ji said he had some matters to handle. After returning, he went straight to the study and hasn¡¯te out since."


    "I¡¯ll call Dad."


    Ji Wei smiled at Gu Moqian and then walked toward the study.


    The study door was slightly ajar. Ji Wei gently pushed it open and stepped inside, only to find Ji Yunli leaning over the desk as if he¡¯d fallen asleep.


    "Dad, it¡¯s time for dinner," Ji Wei walked over and called.


    Ji Yunli seemed to be in a deep sleep and didn¡¯t react.


    She couldn¡¯t help but reach out to shake his shoulder, and only then did Ji Yunli react. He lifted his head to look at Ji Wei, his eyes still hazy with sleep.


    "Why did I fall asleep again?"


    Ji Yunli forced himself to wake up, muttering under his breath.


    Ji Wei noticed how fatigued he appeared and couldn¡¯t help but suggest, "Dad, why don¡¯t I help you to your bedroom to rest for a while? You cane downter to eat."


    Ji Yunli felt his eyelids grow heavy. Without denying her, he nodded slightly.


    Ji Wei helped him upstairs to his bedroom. After making sure the door was securely closed, she turned around to find Uncle Zhao standing behind her, his expression conflicted, as if he wanted to say something but hesitated. Unable to resist, she asked,


    "Uncle Zhao, what¡¯s going on? My dad usually has so much energy¡ªhow has he suddenly be so lethargic?"


    Uncle Zhao¡¯s expression stiffened. "Mr. Ji¡¯s condition has been like this for several days now. It might be because..."


    Uncle Zhao paused mid-sentence, seemingly deliberating whether to continue.


    "Because of what?" Ji Wei asked anxiously.


    "This matter... I identally overheard when Mr. Ji was on the phone. Apparently, the Ji Group¡¯s trade secrets were leaked. Mr. Ji has been working tirelessly to contain the issue these past few days."


    The Ji Group¡¯s confidential information meant for its business partners had suddenly been leaked to apetitor. Not only did it lead to significant losses in advertising expenses, but thepany was also sued by its partners, demandingpensation of over a hundred million yuan.


    To prevent the Ji Group¡¯s reputation from being tarnished, Ji Yunli worked hard to suppress the news. Aside from a few of the Ji Group¡¯s higher-ups, nobody else knew about the matter.


    After hearing Uncle Zhao¡¯s ount, Ji Wei felt profoundly shaken.


    She hadn¡¯t expected her father to bear such immense mental stress all by himself, all while she remainedpletely oblivious.


    Ji Wei nced towards the bedroom door, her heart surging with deep guilt and remorse.


    When Ji Wei walked back downstairs, she noticed that Gu Moqian wasn¡¯t in the dining room. After searching around, she finally found him in the study.


    "Mo Qian, why are you here?" she asked aloud.


    Gu Moqian didn¡¯t move, his deep eyes fixed on a teacup on the desk that had gone cold, with only two-thirds of its contents drunk.


    Seeing that Gu Moqian didn¡¯t react, Ji Wei waved her hand in front of his eyes. "What are you staring at so intently?"


    "Does your dad really love tea?" Gu Moqian suddenly asked.


    Ji Wei didn¡¯t understand why he was asking but still nodded, "Yes, my dad has always had a habit of drinking tea. Whenever he handlespany affairs in the study, he always brews a cup."


    Upon hearing this, Gu Moqian¡¯s gaze focused intently on a specific spot on the desk, his pupils contracting slightly.


    The next moment, he strode forward, picked up a box of tea leaves ced beside theputer, opened the tin lid, and raised it to his nose to smell.


    Then, his expression changed dramatically.

 Chapter 150 Someone Wants to Harm Ji Yunli

    <h4>Chapter 150: Chapter 150 Someone Wants to Harm Ji Yunli</h4><h4></h4>


    Ji Wei looked at Mo Qian¡¯s actions, feelingpletely confused: "Is there something wrong with this tea?"


    Mo Qian solemnly pinched a small amount of tea leaves between his fingers and held it out to Ji Wei: "Take a sniff."


    Ji Wei leaned in curiously and took a whiff.


    A faint, fragrant aroma of tea leaves¡ªthere didn¡¯t seem to be anything unusual.


    Seeing her perplexed expression, Mo Qian slowly began to speak: "Once, during negotiations in Southeast Asia, I encountered a simr situation. The other side attempted to mix a drug into my tea that could cause someone to fall unconscious. The scent of the drug was extremely subtle, and the average person would never have noticed. But my nose has always been more sensitive than others¡¯ since childhood, and as soon as I picked up the teacup, I detected something off. That particr scent is identical to the oneing from this tin."


    "Later, I learned that this type of drug is prohibited; it¡¯s banned from being sold on the market and can likely only be obtained through the ck market. Consuming small doses of the drug causes a person to fall into a deep sleep, unable to function. But if the dosage umtes over time, it gradually weakens the internal organs. In severe cases, it can even jeopardize a person¡¯s life."


    Mo Qian¡¯s words hit Ji Wei like a bolt of thunder!


    She stared in disbelief at the tin of tea leaves, unable toprehend why someone would want to harm Ji Yunli!


    Ji Wei suddenly recalled that during her past life, when the Ji Family faced a bankruptcy crisis, her father¡¯s health had abruptly copsed,nding him in the intensive care unit multiple times.


    At that time, her father was likely already drinking long-term adulterated tea, which caused his internal organs to deteriorate. Combined with the stress from the bankruptcy, he ultimately couldn¡¯t hold on and fell apart.


    Ji Wei¡¯s eyes turned red as her entire body trembled uncontrobly from the extreme anger.


    Mo Qian felt a pang of distress as he watched her, pulling her directly into his arms and softlyforting her: "Don¡¯t worry. There¡¯s still more than half left in this box of tea, which means Dad hasn¡¯t been drinking it for long. We still have time."


    Ji Wei¡¯s body continued to tremble uncontrobly. The Ji Family she had once been so proud of, its warmth and happiness, now revealed itself to be full of hidden dangers. Someone wanted Ji Yunli dead. Just thinking about it turned her blood cold, filling her with lingering fear.


    If not for her rebirth in this life, she might never have uncovered such a cruel truth in her entire existence.


    Mo Qian could understand Ji Wei¡¯s feelings at this moment. He didn¡¯t say anything further. Instead, he held her trembling body tightly in his arms, hoping his warmth would help her calm down.


    Ji Wei buried her face into the man¡¯s broad chest, letting her tears fall silently, soaking into his shirt.


    After a long while, Ji Wei finally lifted her head, her eyes red: "Mo Qian, I must find the person who drugged my father! I will never forgive them!"


    "Alright, I¡¯ll help you uncover who it is," Mo Qian replied.


    Once she had somewhat regained herposure, Ji Wei called for the family¡¯s butler, Uncle Zhao.


    "Uncle Zhao, you¡¯ve been by my dad¡¯s side the longest. Do you know if anyone¡¯s been in my dad¡¯s studytely?"


    Uncle Zhao shook his head: "Mr. Ji¡¯s study isn¡¯t open to just anyone. Generally, you need Mr. Ji¡¯s permission to enter."


    No one had been there?


    "Then did my dad buy this tea himself?" Ji Wei asked, picking up the tin of tea leaves.


    Uncle Zhao examined the box closely and then suddenly pped his forehead: "I remember now! Last weekend, Madam Yunxiang said someone gave her a tin of premium-grade Guanyin tea. Since she doesn¡¯t drink tea, she decided to gift it to Mr. Ji instead. I recall Mr. Ji being thrilled and saying he¡¯d savor it properly."


    Actually, before Uncle Zhao spoke, Ji Wei had already faintly pieced the answer together in her mind.


    She had simply held onto a shred of hope, clinging to the belief that Yunxiang wouldn¡¯t be cruel enough to harm her own brother!


    But unexpectedly, it truly was her!


    Because of Shanshan, Yunxiang saw her as a thorn in her side, which Ji Wei could somewhat understand. But why would Ji Yunli, who constantly supported and protected his divorced, ostracized sister, have to face betrayal?


    What kind of unspeakable secrets were buried beneath all this?

 Chapter 151: Pretending to Be Crazy and Stupid in the Full Set

    <h4>Chapter 151: Chapter 151: Pretending to Be Crazy and Stupid in the Full Set</h4><h4></h4>


    Ji Wei forced herself to suppress the trembling all over her body, trying hard to make her voice sound calmer: "Alright, I understand, Uncle Zhao. You may leave now."


    "Miss, you don¡¯t look very well. Shall I call the family doctor to have a look at you?" Uncle Zhao asked with concern.


    Ji Wei suddenly turned around, shaking her head as she said, "No need, I¡¯m fine." As she spoke, tears instantly rolled down her cheeks.


    Uncle Zhaoplied and left the study room.


    The moment Uncle Zhao left, Ji Wei couldn¡¯t help but break into sobs, but she quickly stifled her tears. Her eyes gleamed with cold light and sharp determination as she stepped forward to rush out of the study room.


    Mo Qian quickly grabbed hold of her.


    "Where are you going?"


    Ji Wei lifted her bloodshot eyes. "To confront Ji Yunxiang face-to-face!"


    "She managed to fake madness and ignorance; she¡¯ll definitely never admit to what she¡¯s done."


    "I won¡¯t let her continue down this mad path and destroy the Ji Family!" She clenched her fists tightly in secret, her voice trembling with rage.


    Mo Qian held her shoulders, his gaze fixed firmly on her tear-stained eyes, his voice carrying a steadying power: "Give me some time. Let me handle this."


    Handle... handle what?


    Ji Wei stared at hisposed face in a daze. Under the intense gaze of his ink-dark eyes, her chaotic heart gradually settled.


    "Trust me." Mo Qian seemed to have already seen through her and spoke again, his voice gentle.


    Ji Wei nodded.


    Mo Qian released her and walked to the hallway outside the study to make a phone call to Chen Ke.


    Ji Wei stood quietly where she was, unable to focus on listening to what Mo Qian was saying on the phone. Her mind was still churning over the insane things Ji Yunxiang had done.


    When Mo Qian finished the call and walked back, the moment he held her hand, he realized it was so icy cold it seemed to have no warmth at all!


    "Weiwei." He called her softly.


    Ji Wei lifted her vacant eyes.


    Her eyes were reddened, as if desperately holding back something. The sight of her like this made his heart ache all the more.


    Mo Qian pulled her into his arms, his voice tender as he consoled her: "No matter what the truth ultimately is, you have to know that I¡¯m here. Don¡¯t be afraid of anything."


    Without saying a word, Ji Wei rested her head on the man¡¯s shoulder, but her eyes welled up with tears once more.


    After a long while, she finally pulled away from Mo Qian, lifting her eyes to wipe the tear stains from her face. "Let¡¯s go."


    What had to be faced ultimately still had to be faced.


    When the two arrived at the secluded vi, they discovered that the bodyguards were not at the entrance. A flicker of something unusual passed through Mo Qian¡¯s deep eyes as he took Ji Wei inside at a quick pace.


    As soon as they stepped into the living room, they saw Ji Yunxiang sitting on the sofa in her pajamas, holding a fruit knife and peeling an apple.


    Rather than peeling, it was more like hacking away at the apple with the knife.


    The round apple was chopped into pieces, its juice sttering everywhere.


    After hacking for quite a while, it was as if she just noticed the two people who had walked in. Ji Yunxiang picked up a chunk of the chopped apple and extended it toward them. "Try it, it¡¯s sweet!"


    Ji Yunxiang grinned, showing a row of white teeth. Her smile was disturbingly bright, like that of a person unhinged.


    "You won¡¯t eat it? You must think it¡¯s not sweet enough. Let me peel another one for you." Seeing Ji Wei and Mo Qian unmoved, Ji Yunxiang enthusiastically grabbed another apple from the basket and began hacking away at it again.


    Watching Ji Yunxiang¡¯s lunatic behavior, Ji Wei couldn¡¯t help but clench her teeth in fury.


    It seemed she truly intended to carry out this act of feigned madness to the fullest extent.


    Ji Wei¡¯s expression turned icy as she walked up to Ji Yunxiang and said, "Stop pretending. Whether it¡¯s depression or madness, the things you¡¯ve done cannot be erased, and you will never escape the punishment you deserve!"


    "Mad...ness?"


    Ji Yunxiang murmured, then suddenly raised her voice. She shot up from the sofa, chuckling foolishly as she nodded. "That¡¯s right, I¡¯m mad! I¡¯m a lunatic, hahaha~"


    Smack!


    A resounding p rang out, catching Ji Yunxiangpletely off guard. She stood frozen, unable to react at all.

 Chapter 152 No... I don’t know this person at all!

    <h4>Chapter 152: Chapter 152 No... I don¡¯t know this person at all!</h4><h4></h4>


    Ji Wei¡¯s voice was icy cold: "If calling yourself insane could absolve you of all your misdeeds, that¡¯s far too easy for you!"


    Half of Ji Yunxiang¡¯s face swelled up quickly. She stared nkly for a moment, still pretending to act like a lunatic, pointing at Ji Wei and using her pitifully: "It hurts so much! Why did you hit me? Why would you hit me... You¡¯re a bad person!"


    Before her shouting had even ended, another fierce pnded squarely on the other side of Ji Yunxiang¡¯s face!


    Ji Wei used all her strength, mming Ji Yunxiang¡¯s face in the opposite direction.


    Ji Yunxiang¡¯s eyes widened in shock, just about to speak, when another p cut her off.


    Having endured three ps in quick session, no matter how good Ji Yunxiang¡¯s act was, she couldn¡¯t keep it up any longer.


    This time, Ji Yunxiang didn¡¯t scream or shout. She raised her hand to cover her burning, stinging face, her eyes ring at Ji Wei with a venomous hatred, no longer showing a trace of her earlier feigned madness.


    Only then did Ji Wei lower her hand, staring coldly at Ji Yunxiang: "Finally realized that pretending to be insane won¡¯t work anymore? You have the gall tomit such outrageous acts, yet you don¡¯t even dare to admit them. I nearly overestimated you."


    Ji Yunxiang slowly dropped her hand, her face shing a sneer filled with scorn: "What did I do? You keep calling me outrageous, but do you have proof? If you have evidence, bring it out, and we¡¯ll confront it face to face!"


    Gu Moqian, who had been silent until now, walked over with calm, steady steps and stood shoulder to shoulder with Ji Wei.


    His piercing and intimidating gaze swept across Ji Yunxiang¡¯s face, instantly extinguishing more than half of her arrogance.


    "You want evidence? I¡¯ll give you evidence."


    Gu Moqian spoke slowly, each word carrying immense weight, sinking Ji Yunxiang¡¯s heart lower and lower.


    Yesterday, the servant who had called was thrown out of the Ji Family and sent back to the countryside under Ji Yunli¡¯s persuasion. So what evidence could Gu Moqian possibly have now?


    Suspicion filled Ji Yunxiang¡¯s mind, and herplexion turned a shade paler.


    But she told herself that Gu Moqian must be bluffing, so she smirked and said, "Don¡¯t make empty usations. If you have the proof, show it. Scaring me with words alone won¡¯t work!"


    With measured ease, Gu Moqian pulled out his phone, opened a video message sent by Chen Ke, and turned up the volume before ying it.


    "Yunxiang, help me, Yunxiang!"


    As the video began, a man¡¯s desperate cries for help immediately echoed.


    Ji Yunxiang¡¯s face turned deathly pale in an instant.


    It was Ming Qiang¡¯s voice!


    No wonder he hadn¡¯t answered her calls that afternoon¡ªhe had been caught by Gu Moqian¡¯s people!


    Horrified, Ji Yunxiang couldn¡¯t stop herself from watching the content of the video on the phone screen.


    The man¡¯s hands were tied behind his back as he knelt on the ground, his face beaten ck and blue. He called out repeatedly to the person filming: "Yunxiang, save me, hurry! They¡¯re going to take me to the police! I was just following your orders, it has nothing to do with me¡ªI don¡¯t want to go to jail..."


    Hearing this, Ji Yunxiang¡¯s whole body went cold, and her hands began to tremble uncontrobly. Inwardly, she cursed venomously, thinking how useless Ming Qiang was to confess after just a beating!


    There was no need to keep watching¡ªthe evidence in the video had alreadyid bare Ji Yunxiang¡¯s crimes.


    "This man," Gu Moqian stated, his eyes locked on Ji Yunxiang¡¯s ashen face, "is the cab driver who abducted Weiwei and took her to theke. He¡¯s also your little lover who¡¯s been tangled up with you."


    Gu Moqian stared at Ji Yunxiang, watching her trembling uncontrobly, and sneered coldly. "With evidence like this, it¡¯s time for you to give up."


    Ji Yunxiang staggered backward a step, nearly toppling a vase behind her.


    "What you thought was wless turned out to be riddled with holes. Finding evidence against you was only a matter of time."


    Gu Moqian had no interest in wasting time with someone like Ji Yunxiang, but her unforgivable mistake was targeting Ji Wei. Trying to endanger his woman¡ªshe must have a death wish.


    "No... I don¡¯t know this man at all!"


    Pushed to the brink of terror, Ji Yunxiang instinctively denied everything: "Mr. Gu, with all your money and power, of course it¡¯s easy for you to find someone to frame me, nder me. But I won¡¯t fall for it!"

 Chapter 153: Whoever Dares to Come Over, I Will Kill Him!

    <h4>Chapter 153: Chapter 153: Whoever Dares to Come Over, I Will Kill Him!</h4><subtxt> It seems Ji Yunxiang intends to cling shamelessly to the very end.


    Ji Wei sneered and shook her head, "It doesn¡¯t matter whether you admit it or not. We¡¯ve already called the police, and they¡¯ll be here soon. As for this evidence, we¡¯ll hand it over to them. I trust thew will deliver the most impartial judgment and will never let any murderer go unpunished!"


    The words "murderer" struck heavily at Ji Yunxiang¡¯s heart, leaving her utterly panicked and at a loss.


    Could it be that she would spend the rest of her life in prison?


    Unwilling, she was not willing!


    Ji Yunxiang¡¯s face showed despair; she had lost,pletely and thoroughly lost!


    Fortunately, at least her daughter Shanshan had managed to escape...


    Seeing no hope left, a sudden malicious impulse surged within Ji Yunxiang. She dashed forward, grabbed the fruit knife she had used earlier to peel an apple, pointed it at the two people in front of her, and screamed madly, "Let me go, let me go! Or I¡¯ll drag you both down with me!"


    The moment Ji Yunxiang grabbed the fruit knife, Mo Qian had already stepped forward, shielding Ji Wei behind him, firmly protecting her.


    Mo Qian was tall and strong, and even though Ji Yunxiang was holding the fruit knife, she felt no confidence deep down.


    Even she wasn¡¯t sure of this desperate struggle.


    Watching as Mo Qian approached to seize the knife from her hand, Ji Yunxiang panicked and shouted desperately, "Don¡¯te any closer, don¡¯t you daree closer, do you hear me?!"


    Mo Qian¡¯s expression was ice-cold. His piercing gaze carried an unforgiving chill as he ignored her cries and continued to approach.


    Ji Yunxiang gripped the fruit knife tightly with both hands, her bloodshot eyes screaming, "Anyone who darese closer, I¡¯ll kill them!"


    "Put the knife down!"


    Suddenly, an aged voice came from the doorway. Ji Yunxiang turned her head in astonishment to see Old Madam Ji, supported by A Xiu, walking in with her cane.


    Old Madam Ji was here!


    Wasn¡¯t she still in the hospital?


    Ji Yunxiang was too shocked; her trembling hands couldn¡¯t hold onto the fruit knife, and it fell to the floor with a ng.


    Mo Qian reacted quickly, kicking the fruit knife sharply, sending it straight under the sofa.


    Ji Wei, who was equally stunned by her grandmother¡¯s arrival, hadn¡¯t yet had a chance to react before Ji Yunxiang lunged toward her first.


    "Mom, save me, I was wrong, I shouldn¡¯t have done those despicable things. Please talk to Ji Wei, don¡¯t let her hand me over to the police..."


    Ji Yunxiang dropped to her knees, clutching at Old Madam Ji¡¯s clothing hem, pleading humbly.


    Though Old Madam Ji didn¡¯t know what heinous deeds Ji Yunxiang hadmitted, she trusted that Ji Wei wouldn¡¯t target her aunt for no good reason.


    She couldn¡¯t help but recall the scene from the day she fell down the stairs, a memory that chilled her to the bone.


    Because the one who had personally pushed her down the stairs was none other than this daughter she had spoiled since childhood!


    If A Xiu hadn¡¯t stepped in front of her to break the fall, slowing down the descent, Old Madam Ji wondered if she¡¯d even still be standing here now!


    "How could you be so cruel!"


    Old Madam Ji cried out in agony and raised her cane, bringing it down harshly on Ji Yunxiang¡¯s back.


    Ji Yunxiang shielded her head, trying to evade, yet she didn¡¯t attempt to rise from the ground, continuing to beg desperately.


    "Mom, you can hit me as much as you want, as long as you help plead for me... I didn¡¯t mean it, I just wanted Little Wei to treat Shanshan a bit better, to stop targeting us as mother and daughter. Shanshan has been so mncholytely, and as a mother, I couldn¡¯t bear to watch anymore, so I ended up doing some wrong things. Mom, you understand my troubles, don¡¯t you?"</subtxt>

 Chapter 154: You’ve always protected me since we were little, why not this time!

    <h4>Chapter 154: Chapter 154: You¡¯ve always protected me since we were little, why not this time!</h4><h4></h4>


    "Ungrateful daughter! What kind of heart do you have? It¡¯s bad enough you raised someone like Shanshan, but to think even you could be so ruthless¡ª I regret ever giving birth to you!"


    The Old Madam Ji smashed her cane onto Ji Yunxiang with all her might, hitting her repeatedly while railing at her in fury.


    "Mom, I¡¯m your own flesh and blood, you have to help me! Everything I¡¯ve done has been for the Ji Family. Only this way can the Ji Family¡¯s business stay out of an outsider¡¯s hands..."


    Seeing that Ji Yunxiang was on the verge of confessing something shocking, the Old Madam Ji abruptly snapped, "Shut up! Don¡¯t spout such nonsense. The Ji Family has fallen to ruin because of a disgrace like you¡ª it¡¯s my greatest failing!"


    "Fine, fine! I¡¯ll admit I misspoke. But I¡¯m truly being wronged here!" Ji Yunxiang shamelessly continued to plead.


    "Wronged?"


    The Old Madam Ji let out a bitter, sorrowfulugh. "You think I don¡¯t know how I ended up falling down the stairs?"


    She shook her head, gazing at the daughter she¡¯d spoiled all her life. In an instant, tears rolled down her wrinkled face as grief surged within her.


    Ji Yunxiang¡¯s eyes widened, filled with disbelief.


    Mom understood everything!


    The Old Madam Ji calmed herself, turning toward Ji Wei beside her. "Child, your auntmitted a grave mistake. Do what needs to be done¡ª Grandma won¡¯t protect her."


    "Grandma..."


    Ji Wei, seeing how deeply pained her grandmother was, couldn¡¯t bring herself to reveal that Ji Yunxiang had drugged Ji Yunli and attempted to kill her. She choked on her words, managing only to call out softly before falling silent.


    "I¡¯ll leave this to you. Grandma is leaving."


    The Old Madam Ji stifled her tears, spoke with effort, and then, leaning on A Xiu for support, walked out without looking back.


    Seeing this, Ji Yunxiang dropped to her knees and crawled after her, attempting to grab at her mother¡¯s pants. However, the Old Madam Ji mercilessly smacked her hand away with the cane.


    "Mom, you can¡¯t just abandon me like this! I¡¯m the daughter you loved the most. Ever since I was young, you always stood by me¡ª why can¡¯t you protect me this time?!"


    Ji Yunxiang¡¯s cries of unwillingness echoed, but the Old Madam Ji had already been escorted out.


    Ji Wei watched as her trembling grandmother hurried away, knowing she feared staying any longer would weaken her resolve.


    Her heart ached for her grandmother, but her hatred for Ji Yunxiang only deepened.


    The once harmonious Ji Family had been reduced to this state¡ªall because of Ji Yunxiang!


    As the person she had clung to for salvation walked away before her eyes, Ji Yunxiang¡¯s glimmer of hope was extinguished, plunging her back into despair.


    She slumped to the ground, her face ashen as if devoid of life.


    Ji Wei stepped closer, towering over the woman she once respectfully called "Aunt." "Everything that¡¯s happened, you brought onto yourself. You have no one else to me."


    Ji Yunxiang tilted her head back and suddenly let out augh. "Ji Wei, are you really going to hand me over to the police? Can you bear to watch your beloved grandmother send her own daughter to prison?"


    Ji Wei¡¯s expression froze.


    If Ji Yunxiang truly ended up behind bars, the person who would suffer the most would be Grandma.


    The image of her grandmother¡¯s heartbroken face lingered vividly in Ji Wei¡¯s mind.


    Though Grandma had firmly dered she wouldn¡¯t plead for Ji Yunxiang, Ji Wei could sense why, even as night fell, Grandma had rushed back from the hospital.


    Because deep down, she was still worried about this daughter of hers.


    Ji Wei reluctantly admitted to herself that she was wavering.


    She couldn¡¯t bear to watch her grandmother, well past her prime, endure such a devastating blow. Yet, there was no way to overlook what Ji Yunxiang had done!


    Just as Ji Wei wrestled with her inner conflict, two ck-d bodyguards suddenly entered from outside, striding directly to Gu Moqian.


    "Mr. Gu..."


    "Where have you two been?" Gu Moqian¡¯s voice grew colder,ced with a distinct sharpness.


    The two bodyguards had been stationed at the entrance to the private residence, yet when he¡¯d arrived earlier, they had been nowhere in sight.


    Gu Moqian¡¯s bodyguards were always well-trained and disciplined; negligence was unthinkable. What, then, had they been up to?

 Chapter 155: Buried at Sea, I’m Afraid Not Even the Corpse Will Be Found

    <h4>Chapter 155: Chapter 155: Buried at Sea, I¡¯m Afraid Not Even the Corpse Will Be Found</h4><h4></h4>


    When Gu Moqian spoke, the two bodyguards trembled in fear. One of them mustered the courage to report, "Mr. Gu, please calm down. We didn¡¯t do it on purpose. It¡¯s because Ji Shanshan suddenly jumped out of the window to escape, and we went after her..."


    From the moment Ji Wei stepped inside, she couldn¡¯t shake off the sense of strangeness. Why was Ji Yunxiang the only one present, while Ji Shanshan was nowhere to be seen?


    She never expected that Ji Shanshan had actually escaped!


    Upon hearing her daughter¡¯s name, Ji Yunxiang couldn¡¯t help but shudder.


    "What exactly happened?" Gu Moqian asked deeply.


    "We realized Ji Shanshan had fled, so we immediately gave chase. She managed to get into a car first, and we tailed her all the way onto the coastal highway. Seeing us in pursuit, she panicked and tried to wrest control of the steering wheel from the driver. But the driver wouldn¡¯t let go, and the two got into a violent struggle. The car lost control, swerving wildly, before it broke through the guardrail and plunged into the sea below the cliff..."


    "What did you say!"


    Ji Yunxiang was hit with a shocking blow, caught in a daze, unable to process the harrowing truth.


    "Did you see the car fall into the sea with your own eyes?" Gu Moqian asked.


    "Yes. We were right behind the vehicle at the time. When we got out to check, the car had already sunk into the water." The bodyguard responded.


    Gu Moqian and Ji Wei exchanged a grave look.


    Ji Shanshan had fallen into the sea, and her chances of survival were slim to none.


    No one had anticipated such an ident¡ªa tragic twist to her attempt to escape.


    She was swallowed by the sea; even retrieving her remains seemed impossible.


    "No, it¡¯s not possible! My Shanshan can¡¯t be dead. She absolutely can¡¯t be! I need to find her. I must find my Shanshan..."


    Ji Yunxiang was driven to the brink of copse. Utterly unhinged, she scrambled up from the ground, crying out as she staggered recklessly towards the exit.


    Gu Moqian and Ji Wei hurriedly bolted after her.


    Outside, there had just been a light rain, leaving the ground slick. Wearing only slippers, Ji Yunxiang ran without thinking, slipping and nearly falling several times.


    "Shanshan, Mommy¡¯sing for you. Shanshan, you¡¯re going to be okay... You¡¯ll definitely be okay..."


    Distraught, Ji Yunxiang continued shouting as she raced towards the main gate.


    Suddenly, she tripped on something underfoot and fell heavily onto the wet ground.


    The impact was brutal. The rough pavement scraped her face, and her whole body felt as though it had shattered, leaving her writhing in pain and unable to rise.


    With great difficulty and grimacing through the agony, Ji Yunxiang propped herself up halfway¡ªonly to see a pair of glinting handcuffs thrust in front of her. "Ji Yunxiang, you are under arrest, approved by the police, on suspicion of intentional homicide."


    Ji Yunxiang stared nkly at the two men in uniforms before her, unable to withstand this dual blow any longer. Her body gave way, and she copsed backward, only to be caught by the two officers.


    Clink¡ª


    The cold handcuffs snapped onto her wrists, and in that moment, Ji Yunxiang knew her life was over.


    Ji Wei stood several meters away, watching as Ji Yunxiang was taken away by the police. She felt neither joy nor sorrow, only an inexplicable emptiness.


    The events of tonight had drained herpletely, and she feared she was nearing her own breaking point.


    Gu Moqian noticed her faltering condition and quickly reached out to steady her trembling figure.


    Ji Wei leaned weakly against his shoulder.


    Gu Moqian understood. No words could ease Ji Wei¡¯s pain at this moment.


    What she had thought was a harmonious and happy family had turned out to be riddled with hidden danger and betrayal. The unpredictability of human nature, the profound sense of loss¡ªit was overwhelming, and her reaction was all too natural.


    He held the trembling woman tightly in his arms, his heart aching, wishing he could bear all of this anguish for her.


    -


    (Starting today, there will be at least four updates daily!)

 Chapter 156: He is Your Rightful Grandson-in-Law

    <h4>Chapter 156: Chapter 156: He is Your Rightful Grandson-in-Law</h4><h4></h4>


    After a long while, Ji Wei finally lifted her head from Mo Qian¡¯s chest.


    "Mo Qian, I want to go see Grandma." After a pause, Ji Wei said hoarsely.


    The woman¡¯s eyes were red like a rabbit¡¯s. Although distressed, Mo Qian understood the ce Old Madam Ji held in Ji Wei¡¯s heart. What had just happened certainly weighed heavily on Old Madam Ji as much as it did on Ji Wei.


    "Alright, let¡¯s go together," Mo Qian replied softly.


    When they arrived at Cuiya Residence, A Xiu was standing guard at the door to Old Madam Ji¡¯s room, which was closed.


    "How is Grandma doing?" Ji Wei asked worriedly.


    A Xiu nced at the door with concern. "The old madam said she wanted to rest as soon as she got back. She didn¡¯t even have dinner. Madam Yunxiang¡¯s situation... it really broke her heart."


    "Let me try," Ji Wei said, attempting to knock on the door. "Grandma, it¡¯s Little Wei. May Ie in?"


    There was silence inside the room.


    "Grandma, can I talk with you for a while?" Ji Wei asked again.


    She waited quietly by the door, not rushing or pushing. Finally, after a while, Old Madam Ji¡¯s voice came through. "Come in."


    Relief softened Ji Wei¡¯s face into a faint smile. She turned to A Xiu and said, "A Xiu, go prepare some food and bring it upter."


    A Xiu quickly nodded in agreement.


    Ji Wei turned to look at Mo Qian, who silently gave her a nod, his gaze full of encouragement.


    Ji Wei pushed the door open and entered the room.


    Old Madam Ji sat at the head of the bed. Under the dim yellow light, her figure appeared even more hunched. One hand held a photo album, while the other gently dusted the photos with a handkerchief. Her expression was absorbed and focused, as if she hadn¡¯t noticed Ji Wei enter.


    The closer Ji Wei walked, the harder it was to suppress the ache in her chest. When she saw her grandmother¡¯s hair, now fully silver, she held back her tears with great effort.


    She sat down beside her grandmother and leaned in, looking at the photos in the album together. "Grandma, are these photos of Dad when he was little?"


    Ji Wei saw the faded yellow photos¡ªyoung versions of her grandparents, her father, and Ji Yunxiang.


    There were many photos of Ji Yunli and Ji Yunxiang, from infancy to their twenties, when Ji Yunli was a handsome young man and Ji Yunxiang a lovely young woman.


    "Grandma, I know you must be feeling very sad right now, but what¡¯s done is done. There¡¯s no way to undo it." Ji Wei forced herself to speak, her voice trembling.


    "I understand..."


    Old Madam Ji reached out her trembling hand to gently touch the youthful face of Ji Yunxiang in the photograph. "Yunxiang was a good child back then. If I hadn¡¯t insisted on forcing her to marry that man with a tendency for domestic violence, she wouldn¡¯t have divorced and been thrown out. Since she came back, she began giving up on herself, pinning all her hope on Shanshan. But Shanshan... she¡¯s another child who brings no peace of mind..."


    Ji Wei listened quietly as her grandmother spoke, biting her lip in silence.


    The issue of Ji Shanshan falling into the sea¡ªJi Wei had already had the news tightly suppressed. For now, her grandmother wouldn¡¯t know about it. Facing a double blow, she didn¡¯t know whether her grandmother could bear it.


    "Ah, girl... Yunxiang has wronged you. She¡¯s my daughter, but it¡¯s all on me. I didn¡¯t discipline my own child properly, which let hermit so many mistakes!"


    Ji Wei shook her head, choking up, and after a long time finally said, "Grandma, don¡¯t be sad anymore. You still have Dad, and you have me. I¡¯ll always be here to care for you, making you happy every single day."


    She hugged her grandmother¡¯s shoulders, unable to hold back her tears as they began to stream down. "Oh, by the way, I haven¡¯t told you yet¡ªI¡¯ve registered my marriage with Mo Qian. He¡¯s officially your grandson-inw now. You always said you liked Mo Qian¡¯s manners and demeanor. From now on, I¡¯ll make sure he visits you often, keeping youpany and lifting your spirits."

 Chapter 157: Could She Be Her Own Mother?

    <h4>Chapter 157: Chapter 157: Could She Be Her Own Mother?</h4><h4></h4>


    "He¡¯s so busy, how could he have time to apany an olddy like me?" Upon hearing the news of Ji Wei¡¯s wedding, Old Madam Ji¡¯s mood improved slightly.


    "You¡¯re my grandmother, which means you¡¯re his grandmother too. It¡¯s only right." Ji Wei tightly hugged Old Madam Ji. "Grandma, could you eat something for me? Let me feed you."


    After speaking, Ji Wei directed a nce toward A Xiu, who was standing by the half-open door.


    A Xiu hurriedly walked in, carrying a steaming te of food in her hands.


    "I still remember how, as a child, I refused to eat, and you would chase me all over the house to feed me." Ji Wei scooped a bowl of chicken soup, blew on a spoonful, and brought it to her grandmother¡¯s lips. "Eat a bit, will you?"


    Ji Wei had been indulged from a young age, always having things done for her without lifting a finger. Old Madam Ji couldn¡¯t help but let a hint of surprise sh through her eyes while she sighed internally: her little girl had truly grown up and learned to care for others.


    Old Madam Ji no longer resisted. After finishing the chicken soup, Ji Wei sat with her grandmother and chatted for a long while. It wasn¡¯t until her grandmother, ovee with sleepiness, drifted off that Ji Wei finally stood up.


    Just as she rose, the photo album slipped off the nket and was about to hit the floor with a heavy thud. Ji Wei quickly reached out to catch it.


    She let out a quiet sigh of relief, but as she prepared to put the album back, her gaze inadvertently caught a photograph within it.


    The photo¡¯s background featured Britain¡¯s famous London Bridge. Because of its age, the photo had yellowed, yet even so, it could not hide the graceful charm of the woman depicted within it.


    The woman wore a white, elegant European-style dress, smiling softly with a serene and refined demeanor. She was exceptionally beautiful, and at a nce, bore a striking resemnce to Audrey Hepburn.


    Just one look, and the woman¡¯s face was engraved firmly in Ji Wei¡¯s memory.


    Ji Wei had never seen this woman before, yet a strange and inexplicable sense of familiarity rose within her.


    A bold possibility surfaced in her mind. Could this woman be her mother?


    Ji Wei¡¯s memories prior to the age of eight were entirely nk. Her grandmother had once exined that it was due to an ident, where she fell and hit her head on a stone, injuring her brain and causing the loss of her past memories.


    Because of this, Ji Wei had no recollection of her mother¡¯s face. And whenever she had tried to ask about her motherter, her grandmother would always deftly evade the topic.


    Over time, since she had no impression of her mother, Ji Wei had eventually stopped asking.


    As if she wanted to confirm her own conjecture, Ji Wei picked up the photograph and turned it over.


    Sure enough, words were written on the back of the photo. They were in English, but tranted, they read: "Autumn 200X, taken in London, Wanfei."


    Wanfei¡ªher mother¡¯s name.


    Seeing her mother¡¯s photograph for the first time, Ji Wei couldn¡¯t contain her emotional excitement. So her mother was such a stunning beauty.


    Just as Ji Wei was immersed in the joy of discovering her mother¡¯s photo, the old madam on the bed suddenly turned over, startling Ji Wei so much her hands froze for a few seconds.


    Over the years, Ji Wei had faintly sensed that her grandmother seemed intent on keeping her away from anything rted to her mother. Aside from this photo, the house carried no trace that her mother had ever existed.


    That woman named Wanfei¡ªher mother¡ªonly seemed to live in Ji Yunli¡¯s asional fleeting mentions.


    Ji Wei, caught in a web ofplex emotions, dared not look further and quickly returned the photograph to its ce.


    By the time she left, it was alreadyte into the night.


    In the cold night wind, Gu Moqian noticed Ji Wei huddling her arms tightly to herself. Without hesitation, he took off his suit jacket, draped it over her shoulders, and carefully adjusted the cor to keep her warm.


    As they walked past the Ji Family home, now cloaked in faint shadows from the trees, Ji Wei suddenly felt an unfamiliarity with the ce where she had grown up.


    "Mo Qian, I don¡¯t want to stay here anymore. Could we go back tonight?"


    Her pale face tilted up as she spoke, her voice trembling slightly.

 Chapter 158: How Intense Was Your Battle Last Night!

    <h4>Chapter 158: Chapter 158: How Intense Was Your Battle Last Night!</h4><h4></h4>


    Seeing Ji Wei¡¯s face pale and bloodless, Mo Qian¡¯s eyes were full of pity as he pulled her into his arms and nodded gently, "Alright, I¡¯ll take you away from here."


    Before leaving, Ji Wei went to see Ji Yunli, who was still asleep.


    Uncle Zhao had already called a family doctor to examine Yunli, who said he was just in a deep sleep and would naturally wake up tomorrow. There were no unusual signs in his body for now.


    Ji Wei gave Uncle Zhao a few instructions, ensuring he would take good care of Yunli, and then left.


    Regarding Yunxiang¡¯s matter, it¡¯s estimated Ji Yunli would find out the next day anyway. At this point, she couldn¡¯t stop it. She just hoped Yunli wouldn¡¯t be too disappointed when he learned the truth.


    Sitting in the Maybach, Mo Qian noticed Ji Wei¡¯s mood was not great and softly said, "Close your eyes and rest for a while, we¡¯ll be there soon."


    "Mhm."


    Ji Wei responded faintly, then turned to gaze at the night scenery ofte fall outside the car window. The events of tonight had exhausted her, and before long, she fell asleep resting against the seat back.


    To make Ji Wei sleep a bit morefortably, Mo Qian slowed the car down considerably.


    The road at night was very quiet. His hands were on the steering wheel, but his eyes couldn¡¯t bear to leave the face of the sleeping woman next to him.


    Ji Wei used to be well protected by the Ji Family, even a bit of a pampered daughter, but now she had truly seen the dirty and scheming side of wealthy families, and she was certainly feeling terrible.


    Mo Qian¡¯s ink-colored eyes were both gentle and full of pity, as he reached out and tightly held Ji Wei¡¯s slightly cool hand.


    He sighed silently.


    If possible, he wished to nurture her like a flower in a greenhouse, only wanting sunlight and rain by her side, without seeing the cold indifference under the shadows.


    Ji Wei slept for a long time, and when she woke up, she heard a rustling sound by her ear, like water rushing against the shore.


    She groggily opened her eyes, propped up her upper body, and saw an entirely unfamiliar environment.


    A Mediterranean-style European room with clean, soft curtains fluttering in the morning breeze. From the window, you could see a white sandy beach and the endless blue sea in the distance.


    Ji Wei could only describe herself as utterly bewildered at this moment.


    Weren¡¯t they in the car returning to Shanshui Manorst night?


    Where is this ce?


    Just as Ji Wei was extremely puzzled, a familiar hearty male voice suddenly came from outside the door, "Old Mo, it¡¯s already midday, and your Little Weiwei still can¡¯t get out of bed? How intense was your battlest night! Though it¡¯s your honeymoon, you still need to hold back a bit, overindulgence can be hard on the body."


    Ji Wei didn¡¯t need to think to know the person speaking was Xi Nanfeng.


    This made it even stranger, how did Xi Nanfeng end up here as well?


    "I have good stamina," Mo Qian¡¯s very calm voice came through.


    "Good stamina isn¡¯t to be used like that, be careful not to exhaust your kidneys."


    "Those who can¡¯t have the grapes say the grapes are sour."


    "Am I not just single? Can you guys stop rubbing it in!"


    As Xi Nanfeng spoke, the sliding door ttered open from inside.


    Ji Wei, wearing pajamas and with her hair in a tousled mess, stood abruptly and unexpectedly in front of the two men.


    "Morning." Ji Wei greeted with a faint smile.


    Mo Qian nced at her in her sexy pink spaghetti-strap nightdress, his eyes suddenly changing.


    Before Ji Wei could react, she was suddenly pushed back by Mo Qian, who followed her into the room.


    Bam!


    The door was shut unexpectedly, the wind it brought with it sweeping straight at Xi Nanfeng¡¯s face.


    Seeing himself left standing outside the door, Xi Nanfeng couldn¡¯t help but roar at the door, "I got a call and rushed over without even having breakfast, and this is how you treat me? It¡¯s outrageous!"

 Chapter 159: The Sexy Nightgown Bought by Gu Moqian

    <h4>Chapter 159: Chapter 159: The Sexy Nightgown Bought by Gu Moqian</h4><h4></h4>


    Being dragged by Gu Moqian withrge strides toward the bed, Ji Wei wore a confused expression: "Aren¡¯t you going to deal with the Second Young Master Xi?"


    The man nced back at the door, his brows lightly furrowed, his voice deep: "Ignore him."


    What exactly... is going on?


    Ji Wei was utterly baffled by Gu Moqian¡¯s actions.


    When they reached the bed, he suddenly pressed her down to sit on it, his deep gaze sweeping over her silk nightgown: "Dressed like this in front of another man, just what were you thinking, hmm?"


    His voice was low, maic, irresistibly seductive.


    She stared at him nkly for a few seconds before lowering her head to nce at herself.


    The pink silk camisole nightgown revealed her shoulders and the corbones on her chest¡ªit seemed perfectly normal. Besides, the level of exposure was much more modest than a deep V-neck; it wasn¡¯t too revealing, right?


    The only eye-catching part was the hem of the nightgown, which only reached mid-thigh, fully showcasing her long, fair legs.


    She vaguely remembered that she had fallen asleep in the carst night, so this outfit...


    "Did you buy this nightgown for me?"


    This wasn¡¯t Shanshui Manor, and this outfit was something she was wearing for the first time. It couldn¡¯t have been purchased by her.


    "Yeah. I bought it. There¡¯s also a whole wardrobe full of clothes I bought for you." Gu Moqian responded calmly.


    "You bought this kind of nightgown for me to wear, so you can¡¯t me me," Ji Wei muttered under her breath.


    Unexpectedly, even though she spoke softly, she was still overheard by Gu Moqian. His pronounced brows raised slightly, "I bought it for you to wear for my eyes only."


    Ji Wei looked up at him, her cheeks flushing red all of a sudden.


    "I... is that so."


    She could clearly feel her face heating up. Should they continue with this conversation, who knows what might happen next.


    The hem of the nightgown made it all too easy for a certain someone¡¯s hands to wander up and down.


    Ji Wei abruptly stood up and quickly walked to the wardrobe, opening its doors.


    Sure enough, as Gu Moqian had said, the wardrobe was filled with women¡¯s clothes, from tops to coats, even hats and bags, all meticulously categorized and neatly arranged. The sight left her gaping in astonishment.


    "Mo Qian, where exactly is this ce? And why did you buy so many clothes to leave here?" Ji Wei asked, puzzled, turning her head back toward him.


    "Remember the Banyue Bay sea-view vi I mentioned to you before? This is it."


    Ji Wei¡¯s eyes widened instantly.


    So, this was the ultra-luxurious, 300-million-yuan vi with a 360-degree ocean view!


    "You... really bought this ce?" Ji Wei still found it hard to believe.


    Gu Moqian nodded calmly: "Yes. It¡¯s your wedding gift. Do you like it?"


    Ji Wei: "..."


    Truly extravagant.


    To buy a 300-million-yuan vi just like that, without even blinking an eye.


    "Change your clothes first. I¡¯ll take you for a walk nearbyter. There¡¯s a private beach outside, and the scenery is beautiful."


    When the room¡¯s door opened again, Ji Wei had already changed into a knee-length dress and donned a light yellow straw hat on her head.


    Standing dressed like this on the breezy beach, Ji Wei suddenly felt as though she were on vacation on some exotic ind.


    Lying idly on the sand to pass time and sunbathe, Xi Nanfeng suddenly sat up the moment he heard their approaching footsteps. Tossing aside the magazine he had been using to block the sunlight, he indignantly said, "Old Mo, I came rushing all the way here all excited, and you¡¯re making mey here on the sand? Meanwhile, you have your lovely wife in your arms but can¡¯t even introduce a woman to me?"


    Gu Moqian gave him a calm nce: "What¡¯s the rush? A woman will be here soon."


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


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 Chapter 160: Do You Know How Your Husband Bought This Villa?

    <h4>Chapter 160: Chapter 160: Do You Know How Your Husband Bought This Vi?</h4><h4></h4>


    "Really?"


    Xi Nanfeng was taken aback for a moment and couldn¡¯t quite believe it: "In front of your own wife, you actually admit so readily that you invited another woman, aren¡¯t you afraid of kneeling on a washboard tonight?"


    Gu Moqian didn¡¯t bother to exin further, raising an eyebrow and giving him a big eye roll.


    Suspicious for a moment, Xi Nanfeng then rather eagerly leaned in, but since Ji Wei was nearby, he lowered his voice and pressed: "Is the woman who came pretty? Is she delicate and easy to push down or hot and spicy? Come on, give your bro some details..."


    Gu Moqian first nced at Ji Wei, who was holding his arm, and then casually looked at Xi Nanfeng: "I¡¯m afraid she¡¯s not too fond of idiots."


    "What idiots, I¡¯m talking to you about serious stuff!" Xi Nanfeng clearly hadn¡¯t caught on yet.


    Ji Wei almost couldn¡¯t hold back herughter. Fortunately, Gu Moqian didn¡¯t n on paying Xi Nanfeng any more mind and briskly walked forward, holding her hand.


    Xi Nanfeng stood there in a daze for a moment, suddenly realizing and pped his forehead: "Old Mo, did you just insult me? You definitely insulted me, right... Wait for me, you guys!"


    He shouted as he chased after them.


    The three hadn¡¯t gone far when Ye Cheng arrived.


    When Xi Nanfeng caught up, he saw Ye Cheng carrying shopping bags and asked in surprise: "Old Ye, why are you here too? Buying so many ingredients, are you nning to cook us a big meal?"


    Ye Cheng simply "hmm"ed and headed straight into the vi.


    Seeing this, Ji Wei pulled Gu Moqian inside to help out.


    After all, Ye Cheng was a guest, and letting him cook breakfast as soon as he arrived seemed a bit unreasonable.


    As they entered, Ye Cheng was already busy washing vegetables in the kitchen.


    Ji Wei was about to step into the kitchen when Gu Moqian stopped her: "You just sit and rest, I¡¯ll go help."


    Ji Wei didn¡¯t insist and went to sit down by the sofa.


    The sound of washing and chopping vegetables came from the kitchen, and Ji Wei watched the two tall men busy, finding the scene quite pleasing to the eye.


    Indeed, men who cook have a special charm.


    Ji Wei quietly watched the direction of the kitchen, getting a bit lost in thought.


    Also sitting on the sofa was Xi Nanfeng, with his arms on the backrest, loungingfortably.


    However, he wasn¡¯t in the mood to appreciate the eye-catching scene in the kitchen.


    Seeing Ji Wei focused on the two good friends in the kitchen, Xi Nanfeng couldn¡¯t help but strike up a conversation: "Do you know how your husband bought this vi?"


    Ji Wei¡¯s attention was sessfully drawn by his topic, and she turned to ask: "How did he buy it?"


    "This vi actually belonged to one of my cousins. Since he has been developing his business in South Korea for many years and couldn¡¯t live here for more than a few days a year, he decided to sell it."


    "I just casually mentioned it to Old Mo, asking him to introduce potential buyers if convenient. But one day, he suddenly told me he wanted to buy it himself. I was puzzled at the time, wondering if he had too much money to spare. Why buy a seaview house when he has the grand Shanshui Manor? Butter, I thought about it and understood¡ªhe bought it for you."


    "Initially, the selling price was agreed upon, but then there was a dispute between my cousin¡¯s wife and my big brother, demanding not to sell the vi and wanting toe back to live. Yet, Banyue Bay only had this property with the best location and was up for sale. To buy the vi, Gu Moqian personally flew to South Korea to persuade my cousin¡¯s wife."


    Ji Wei found this strange: "Mo Qian and I are together every day, when did he fly to South Korea?"


    "Tuesday," Xi Nanfeng replied: "He flew over in the morning and came back in the afternoon, right around the end of the workday."


    Ji Wei fell silent.


    Her heart felt as if something had suddenly poured in, filling itpletely.


    A flight from Rongcheng to South Korea is nearly three hours, with no time to rest on the same day, but Gu Moqian went back and forth just for her.


    She remembered waking up groggily one Tuesday night and seeing amp lit near the sofa, while Gu Moqian sat nearby with aptop, head down, working.


    At that time, she hadn¡¯t noticed his exhaustion at all.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


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 Chapter 161 She tiptoed and boldly wrapped her arms around his neck

    <h4>Chapter 161: Chapter 161 She tiptoed and boldly wrapped her arms around his neck</h4><h4></h4>


    "Although Old Mo is as cold as a frozen iceberg toward other women, he treats you differently. I¡¯ve known him for more than twenty years, and this is the first time I¡¯ve ever seen him care so much about a woman."


    Ji Wei stared nkly at Xi Nanfeng, utterly stunned and speechless for a long moment.


    He always loved her more than she imagined, and his deep affection for her went far beyond what she couldprehend.


    Ji Wei felt her eyes grow warm. After a long silence, she smiled lightly at Xi Nanfeng and said, "Second Young Master Xi, you know, although you¡¯ve got a bit of a sharp tongue, you¡¯re actually a good person. Mo Qian having a friend like you really isn¡¯t bad."


    Xi Nanfeng¡¯s mouth twitched.


    A sharp tongue? Did he? He didn¡¯t think so, not even a little.


    Ji Wei stood up. "Take your time. I¡¯ll go help in the kitchen."


    In the kitchen, the two men were quietly and methodically working together to prepare breakfast.


    "Mo Qian..."


    A soft, feminine call suddenly sounded behind him. Gu Moqian put down the lettuce he was washing and turned around.


    Ji Wei leaned against the kitchen doorway. Her pale face carried a gentle smile as she quietly gazed at him.


    They¡¯d never really been out of each other¡¯s sight, yet at this moment, Ji Wei¡¯s eyes held a longing, as if she hadn¡¯t seen him in forever, unwilling to move her gaze away.


    Gu Moqian wore only a white shirt and dark dress pants, the cuffs of his sleeves rolled up to his elbows, with water droplets still falling from his long, slender fingers.


    Seeing her suddenly appear behind him, his deep, ink-like eyes shed briefly with surprise before his lips curved into a faint smile. His voice, resonant like the soothing notes of a cello, murmured, "Hungry? Just wait a bit longer, the porridge will be ready soon. If you¡¯re really starving, grab some fruit from the table to hold you over."


    Ji Wei kept smiling but gently shook her head. Her gaze lingered on him. "I¡¯m not hungry. I just wanted to see if you needed any help."


    Hearing that, Gu Moqian took a step closer to her. His eyes softened as he said gently, "You don¡¯t need to do anything. Just wait patiently. I¡¯ll call you when it¡¯s ready."


    Warmth surged in Ji Wei¡¯s chest, so much so that she found herself slightly choked up, unable to speak.


    The events surrounding the Ji Family hadid bare the cruelty in people¡¯s hearts, but Gu Moqian had somehow healed her. Even after she had walked through hell itself, there was still light and warmth embracing her¡ªthe kind only this man before her could give.


    The two of them stood there, silently gazing into each other¡¯s eyes.


    In that locked exchange, unspoken emotions of love and tenderness flowed like a quiet stream.


    "Ahem!"


    Nearby, Ye Cheng, who had been silently chopping vegetables, finally couldn¡¯t bear to watch any longer. Realizing he was just an oversized third wheel, he set the knife down and said expressionlessly, "You two cut the meat and vegetables yourselves."


    With those words, he walked straight out of the kitchen, leaving the two behind.


    The two of them: "..."


    Xi Nanfeng, who was popping sunflower seeds out of sheer boredom, caught sight of Ye Cheng¡¯s stoic face as he walked out of the kitchen. Instantly, as if finding a kindred spirit, Xi Nanfeng sprang to his feet.


    He hurried over, grabbing Ye Cheng¡¯s arm and dragging him toward the door. "You made the right calling out. Let¡¯s leave the lovey-dovey couple to their gooey romance. As two proud single dogs, there¡¯s no point torturing ourselves. Come on, let¡¯s go surfing at the beach..."


    Therge house was left with just the two of them.


    Ji Wei blinked her clear, wide eyes and stared quietly at the man in front of her. After a moment, she suddenly stood on tiptoes and boldly wrapped her arms around his neck.


    Before Gu Moqian could react, she leaned in and kissed his thin lips.


    Gu Moqian¡¯s eyes flickered with slight surprise initially, but the softness of her lips, imbued with raw emotion and intensity, stirred something deep within his heart. His hand rose to rest on the back of her head, pulling her closer as he deepened the kiss.


    The kiss grew more fervent, and soon, the two embraced tightly, locked in an inseparable hold. Between kisses, feelings of gratitude, joy, and profound affection overflowed, unspoken yet deeply felt...

 Chapter 162 When did you take in a female artist!

    <h4>Chapter 162: Chapter 162 When did you take in a female artist!</h4><h4></h4>


    After a long while, the two reluctantly parted.


    Ji Wei, slightly breathless, gazed at him with a blush on her cheeks, her eyes glowing brightly.


    She hesitated for a moment, then turned her flushed face away and said, "Mo Qian, let me help you."


    As she spoke, she walked into the kitchen. Standing in front of the cabs, she hesitated about where to start when Gu Moqian approached and said gently, "You can wash the vegetables, I¡¯ll do the cutting."


    Knowing he was worried she might cut her hand, Ji Wei felt a warmth in her heart.


    Watching the man beside her pick up the knife, she paused momentarily. Suddenly, she walked up and hugged him from behind, resting her cheek against his broad back and murmured softly, "Mo Qian, it¡¯s so good to have you."


    His warm hand covered hers, which rested on his waist, tightly enclosing it. The corners of his lips curved into a charming smile.


    ...


    When Xia Duoduo arrived, Xi Nanfeng and Ye Cheng had just finished surfing.


    The two grown men, each carrying a surfboard under one arm, were wearing nothing but brightly patterned swim trunks. Bare-chested, they walked back from the beach, with Xi Nanfeng, as usual, doing all the talking.


    Both had perfectly proportioned bodies, but especially Ye Cheng¡ªthough he often appeared cold and humorless, no one would have guessed that under his clothes was a physique that was absolutely stunning!


    Xia Duoduo¡¯s eyes had been glued to Ye Cheng¡¯s lean, well-defined abs from the start,pletely blown away.


    "Isn¡¯t this a private beach? Howe there¡¯s a woman here?"


    Xi Nanfeng quickly noticed Xia Duoduo standing a few meters away, staring dazedly at them, and spoke up.


    Ye Cheng nced at Xia Duoduo, his expression calm, without a hint of surprise.


    While Xi Nanfeng was usually carefree, this time he keenly picked up on the unusual way Xia Duoduo looked at Ye Cheng. Instantly, as if uncovering a great mystery, he blurted out in astonishment, "Do you two know each other?"


    This question finally brought Xia Duoduo back to her senses.


    Realizing she had been tantly staring at Ye Cheng, she lowered her head awkwardly, fixing her gaze on her toes.


    Ye Cheng¡¯s expression remained unchanged, his tone t: "She¡¯s my artist."


    Xi Nanfeng¡¯s jaw nearly dropped: "What did you say? Since when did you take on a female artist? Weren¡¯t you the one iming to steer clear of women and stay abstinent for life? Breaking the rule so quickly¡ªdoes this mean... you¡¯re interested in her?"


    Ye Cheng shot Xi Nanfeng a cold nce without exining and strode ahead.


    Curiosity sessfully stirred, Xi Nanfeng wasn¡¯t about to let it drop. Seeing Ye Cheng unwilling to answer, he trotted over to Xia Duoduo instead: "Hey, beauty, how do you know Ye Cheng? How far along are you two, huh?"


    Having known Ye Cheng for so long, especially after that incident three years ago, Xi Nanfeng knew Ye Cheng hadn¡¯t privately interacted with any female stars since. Now suddenly he¡¯s taken a female artist under his wing¡ªif there¡¯s no story behind it, who¡¯d believe that?


    Xia Duoduo¡¯s face inexplicably turned red: "N-nothing like that... He¡¯s just my agent." After hurriedly saying that, she quickly walked ahead with her head down.


    Unwilling to give up, Xi Nanfeng chased after her: "Old Ye hasn¡¯t had a female artist in three years. Are you really saying you don¡¯t have even a little something between you two?"


    Xia Duoduo had no idea how to respond, feeling increasingly flustered when Ji Wei¡¯s voice conveniently came down the hallway: "Duoduo, you¡¯re here! Come in quickly, we just finished making breakfast."


    Xia Duoduo found the perfect excuse to escape and quickly replied, "I¡¯ll head over now!" Then she ducked her head and ran off at full speed.


    Xi Nanfeng stood in ce, rubbing his chin with an expression as though he¡¯d already uncovered something significant.

 Chapter 163: Husband Sings, Wife Follows - Any Objections?

    <h4>Chapter 163: Chapter 163: Husband Sings, Wife Follows - Any Objections?</h4><h4></h4>


    In the dining room, everyone had arrived, just enough to fill a circle of seats.


    Mo Qian made porridge, Ji Wei boiled eggs, and there was also a vegetable sd and sandwiches.


    Although it was a simple breakfast, it looked rather abundant.


    Xi Nanfeng and Ye Cheng dived in without hesitation, burying their heads and eating. To be able to taste Mo Qian¡¯s porridge¡ªit¡¯s a rare treat, so savor it while itsts.


    After finishing his big bowl of porridge, Xi Nanfeng remembered something and asked, "Old Mo, you mentioned earlier that some woman wasing. Were you referring to Little Duoduo?"


    "Mm, she¡¯s Ji Wei¡¯s best friend."


    Mo Qian was peeling an egg, his long fingers holding the top while the other hand skillfully removed the shellyer byyer with elegant precision.


    Xi Nanfeng nced at Xia Duoduo, who was sipping on just half a bowl of porridge beside him, and muttered, "Little Duoduo is Old Ye¡¯s person. You¡¯re just making me happy for nothing, aren¡¯t you?"


    Mo Qian offered the perfectly peeled egg to Ji Wei¡¯s lips and, in a calm voice, said, "She¡¯s just an artist under Ye Cheng. If you want to pursue her, there¡¯s still a chance."


    With so many people watching, Mo Qian showed no hesitation in feeding her. Ji Wei originally wanted to refuse, but after seeing the man¡¯s indulgent expression, she gave up.


    She lowered her head and took a small bite of the egg.


    Ji Wei wasn¡¯t particrly fond of eggs, but for some reason, this bite tasted especially good.


    "Forget it, I think those two..."


    Xi Nanfeng¡¯s gaze flitted back and forth between Xia Duoduo and Ye Cheng, his face full of hesitation before he finally sighed and shook his head. "In any case, there¡¯s no chance for me, is there? All of you are coupling off while I¡¯m the one left as a lonely single dog. Ugh..."


    Ye Cheng had long since built immunity against Xi Nanfeng¡¯sints and remainedpletely indifferent.


    But Xia Duoduo nearly choked upon hearing the phrase "coupling off."


    "Cough, cough, cough..."


    She covered her mouth, coughing violently.


    "Duoduo, are you okay?" Ji Wei hurriedly handed her a ss of water.


    Xia Duoduo drank several gulps before finally recovering. She quickly cast a nce at Ye Cheng, who remained calm and focused on eating, and said, "I¡¯m done. You all take your time."


    Saying that, she began to stand up.


    "You¡¯ve only had half a bowl of porridge. Isn¡¯t that a bit too little?" Ji Wei couldn¡¯t help but speak up.


    Just as Xia Duoduo was about to respond, Ye Cheng nonchntly remarked, "Artists need to manage their figures and shouldn¡¯t eat too much."


    With that, Ye Cheng also put down his bowl and chopsticks. "I¡¯m full. You guys enjoy."


    Before anyone could react, Ye Cheng had already strode out of the room.


    Ji Wei hadn¡¯t expected Ye Cheng to be so strict with the artists under him and was momentarily stunned.


    Xia Duoduo suddenly stood up. "I think the ocean view outside looks great. I¡¯ll go take a look first. You all keep eating, okay?"


    With those words, she dashed out in a sh.


    Feeling bitter over being single, Xi Nanfeng channeled his frustration into eating, finishing off the remaining porridge, two eggs, and a sandwich.


    In the end, when he truly couldn¡¯t eat another bite, he slumped back in his chair and sighed, "Old Mo, why is it that I just can¡¯t find a girlfriend? Everyone else is pairing up, and I¡¯m the only one left behind."


    Ji Wei looked puzzled. "How has Mr. Ye paired up with anyone?"


    "Your best friend is an artist under Ye Cheng. They see each other every day. It¡¯s easy for feelings to develop over time."


    Could that be possible?


    Mo Qian, who had been silent the whole time, suddenly turned to twist the knife. "Old Xi, you can¡¯t me women for not liking you. Honestly, looking at the way you are, if I were a woman, I wouldn¡¯t like you either."


    "Hey, I¡¯m the second son of the Xi Family! Money isn¡¯t an issue. Where have all those gold-digging women gone? Can¡¯t they see a real live eligible bachelor standing right here?" Xi Nanfeng protested indignantly.


    "In an era that values looks, no amount of money will help," Mo Qian jabbed again.


    "Sure, I might be a little rugged, but I¡¯ve got a tender heart, and I¡¯m passionate and devoted. I¡¯d definitely be a loving husband. Don¡¯t look down on me!"


    Ji Wei, looking at Xi Nanfeng¡ªwho despite being from a wealthy family, insisted on presenting himself as a rough-and-tumble type¡ªcouldn¡¯t help but chuckle. "Mm, you¡¯re actually not bad. If you shave your beard a bit and brighten up yourplexion, you might have a bit of that carefree charm."


    Xi Nanfeng frowned. "Why do I get the feeling that after spending so much time with Old Mo, your knack for roasting people has improved?"


    Mo Qian coolly replied, "Husband and wife are of one mind. Got an issue with that?"


    -


    (Fifth update today. Looking for votes andments. Love you all! There will be another update at midnight!)


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


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 Chapter 164: An Eccentric Woman Who Pursued Xi Nanfeng

    <h4>Chapter 164: Chapter 164: An entric Woman Who Pursued Xi Nanfeng</h4><h4></h4>


    Xi Nanfeng was fuming. Not wanting to deal with the backstabbing couple any further, he dropped a line: "I¡¯m heading out to get some sea breeze and cool off!" Then he turned and walked out of the restaurant.


    After Xi Nanfeng left, Mo Qian fed Ji Wei a few more bites of sandwich. Once she swallowed, she couldn¡¯t help asking, "Actually, the Second Young Master Xi seems like a decent guy. Why has no one ever pursued him?"


    "He¡¯s not very good at dealing with women. Of the ten blind dates he¡¯s been on, nine ended in failure. Despite how he always talks about wanting to find a woman, I suspect he¡¯s never truly taken it seriously from the bottom of his heart."


    Ji Wei suddenly blurted out a bold guess: "Do you think... he might be gay?"


    Mo Qian couldn¡¯t help butugh: "With someone like him, I¡¯d bet he wouldn¡¯t even like men."


    Ji Wei: "..."


    When ites to dishing out sharp remarks without insults, Mo Qian has no equal.


    ...


    Near the vi, there¡¯s a fishing vige. In the evening, fishermen returning with their catch often sell their fresh seafood directly by the seaside. Because it¡¯s both fresh and cheap, the impromptu market is always bustling with activity.


    The group decided to have a barbecue that evening and headed to the market.


    It was Ji Wei¡¯s first time seeing such a lively, down-to-earth seafood market, and everything felt novel to her. However, faced with the dazzling array of seafood, some of which she couldn¡¯t even name, she waspletely at a loss.


    She simply had no idea how to choose good seafood, okay?


    Meanwhile, Mo Qian was entirely different. He personally picked out each shrimp, crab, and fish with skillful expertise. If it weren¡¯t for his polished appearance and distinguished demeanor, many would assume he was the son of one of the local fishermen.


    After selecting the seafood, they also bought barbecue tools from nearby shops. Laden with bags and packages, the group headed back, brimming with satisfaction.


    On the way, Xi Nanfeng wouldn¡¯t stop talking. Maybe he was provoked by Ye Cheng bringing female celebrities to the gathering, but all hisments were aimed at Ye Cheng, and Xia Duoduo wasn¡¯t spared either.


    "Little Duoduo, be honest¡ªdo you have feelings for our Old Ye?"


    Flustered by Xi Nanfeng¡¯s relentless questioning, Xia Duoduo buried her head and dashed forward: "I¡¯ll go clean the seafood first!"


    Seeing Xia Duoduo flee, Xi Nanfeng refused to let it go and turned to Ye Cheng, pressing him for answers: "Come on, tell me¡ªhow does an old bull like you feast on such a tender little flower?"


    Ye Cheng had endured enough. Pushed to his limit, he directly threw therge bag he was carrying at Xi Nanfeng: "You carry this!"


    Then, with empty hands, he walked off in style.


    Ji Wei could hardly contain herughter, feeling it necessary to rify: "Second Young Master Xi, you¡¯ve got it all wrong. Mr. Ye signed Xia Duoduo as one of his female artists purely as a favor to me and Mo Qian. We personally apanied Xia Duoduo to her Xingyao Entertainment audition. If you don¡¯t believe me, ask Mo Qian."


    Xi Nanfeng looked skeptical: "Really?"


    "Yes." Mo Qian nodded and then casually added, "I think you¡¯re just bitter about being single. Should I give Miss Qin a call?"


    Ji Wei perked up immediately, sensing drama: "Who¡¯s Miss Qin?"


    "A unique young woman who¡¯s been chasing after Xi Nanfeng."


    Mo Qian rarely used such a tone to describe a woman, so apparently, Miss Qin was quite something.


    Xi Nanfeng seemed to summon memories he¡¯d rather forget. With an expression full of resistance, he said, "No, absolutely not! I¡¯m going surfing. You two can chat all you want!"


    With that, he quickly made his escape.


    Ji Wei¡¯s curiosity only grew: "Wow, is this Miss Qin really that formidable? To scare someone like Second Young Master Xi to this extent, I¡¯d love to meet her."


    "She¡¯s the first woman to chase after Old Xi so much that she drank herself silly, cried her heart out, stormed the Xi Family mansion, and forcibly upied his bed for an entire night."

 Chapter 165: Are You Just Going to Let Your Woman Drink Herself into Oblivion?

    <h4>Chapter 165: Chapter 165: Are You Just Going to Let Your Woman Drink Herself into Oblivion?</h4><h4></h4>


    Gu Moqian paused for a moment and continued, "But right now she¡¯s not in the country. Otherwise, do you think Xi Nanfeng could still be so carefree?"


    Ji Wei froze for a second.


    This Miss Qin¡¯s way of chasing men... is really quite unusual.


    After sunset, the sky gradually darkened.


    Grills were already set up on the beach, a bonfire was lit, and the string lights around helped set the mood, glowing one after another.


    The sea breeze blew gently, the night was enchanting.


    Gu Moqian and Ye Cheng were in charge of the grilling, while the other three were responsible for eating and eating and eating.


    Xi Nanfeng nced at the lone skewer of grilled meat in front of him. Meanwhile, the te next to him, belonging to Ji Wei, had turned into a miniature mountain. Yet Gu Moqian kept piling onto that mountain. Unable to hold back, Xi Nanfengined, "Old Mo, it¡¯s understandable to dote on your wife. But, we¡¯re bros too! Are you seriously okay with me surviving on just one skewer?"


    "You¡¯ve got hands and feet, don¡¯t you? Why don¡¯t you grill your own?" Gu Moqian¡¯s voice drifted over, cool as ever.


    Xi Nanfeng was left speechless and red at him, knowing there was no way to win against Gu Moqian. He then ran off to bother Ye Cheng. Finally managing to swipe two oily, sizzling grilled squid skewers out of Ye Cheng¡¯s hands, he felt immensely pleased and smug.


    "Have a bite first; I¡¯ll go help grill more." Gu Moqian spoke warmly, then went back to being the grill chef.


    After Gu Moqian left, Ji Wei casually picked up a beer can in front of her and handed one to Xia Duoduo. "Duoduo, how about we take these up front, have some drinks, and enjoy the sea breeze?"


    Coincidentally, Xia Duoduo had almost finished eating. Although Ji Wei¡¯s face had been wearing a smile all day, Xia Duoduo could keenly sense that Ji Wei¡¯s mood wasn¡¯t as lively as usual.


    The two women carried an armload of beer cans and walked towards the distant part of the beach.


    Ji Wei stared at the waves slowlypping at her feet, lost in thought for a while. Then, she cracked open a beer and raised it up. "Duoduo, it¡¯s been so long since we¡¯ve sat down like this and had drinks together. We have to toast!"


    Seeing her speak enthusiastically but without much expression on her face, Xia Duoduo paused for a moment, then raised her beer can as well. "Cheers."


    The two women tilted their heads back and started drinking, gulping it down.


    Xia Duoduo had a hunch that Ji Wei wasn¡¯t in a great mood. So if Ji Wei wanted to drink, she¡¯d apany her until they were bothpletely drunk¡ªjust like how Ji Wei once drank and cried with her after her breakup.


    "Old Mo, you¡¯re really okay with your woman binge drinking like this?"


    The three men seated at the table watched the two women holding onto each other drinking not far away. Xi Nanfeng couldn¡¯t help but make a remark.


    Gu Moqian kept his gaze fixed on Ji Wei¡¯s silhouette, his eyes darker than the night itself. Yet he didn¡¯t move to stop her. He knew she needed an outlet to vent the pain inside.


    "Drinking a little now and then doesn¡¯t hurt." Retracting his gaze, Gu Moqian replied calmly.


    "Old Ye, what about you? Don¡¯t you care about your one and only female artist?" Xi Nanfeng turned to ask Ye Cheng.


    Ye Cheng shot him a re and tossed him a few skewers of grilled meat. "Even food won¡¯t shut you up?"


    Xi Nanfeng felt they were avoiding conversation for the night. He sighed loudly but didn¡¯t stop eating.


    Ye Cheng cracked open a beer, suddenly turning to Gu Moqian with a serious look and said, "Old Mo, I¡¯ve already tracked down the mafia in Japan tied closely to Ji Chuyang. Their leader is Yamamoto Yu. Years ago, Old Master Ji saved Yamamoto Yu¡¯s daughter. That¡¯s why Yamamoto stepped in to protect Ji Chuyang out of gratitude this time. Yamamoto Yu has significant influence in Tokyo; we shouldn¡¯t take him lightly."


    Gu Moqian¡¯s eyes darkened briefly, a sharp glint shing through them. After a moment¡¯s silence, he responded, "Alright, I understand."


    Ye Cheng¡¯s hand, which was sping the beer can¡¯s tab, froze midway. He raised his eyes to look at him. "You¡¯re still nning to go, aren¡¯t you?"


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 166: Honey~ I Just Feel So Hot

    <h4>Chapter 166: Chapter 166: Honey~ I Just Feel So Hot</h4><h4></h4>


    Gu Moqian nodded, his expression calm: "Mm, I¡¯ve already booked the ticket for two weekster."


    Ye Cheng was silent for a few seconds before replying, "Alright, I¡¯ll go with you then."


    Gu Moqian looked at Ye Cheng with some surprise, but before he could say anything, Xi Nanfeng suddenly pped his thigh and boldly dered, "Count me in too!"


    "The more people, the moreplicated it gets. You don¡¯t need to add to the chaos," Ye Cheng said expressionlessly.


    "Eh? How am I adding to the chaos? If things get violent, at least I can help bolster the numbers!" Xi Nanfeng retorted indignantly, rolling up his sleeves.


    "None of you are going." Gu Moqian suddenly stood up, looking seriously at his two close friends in front of him. "This matter has nothing to do with you. I don¡¯t want to drag you into it."


    "Old Mo..."


    Ye Cheng was about to say something when he noticed Gu Moqian¡¯s gaze suddenly darken, focused on the beach not far away. Before he could react, Gu Moqian had already dashed toward the shore.


    Xi Nanfeng, startled, followed Gu Moqian¡¯s line of sight. On the distant shoreline, a figure was walking steadily deeper into the sea. He couldn¡¯t help but mutter, "Isn¡¯t that Ji Xiaowei? It¡¯s already dark, and she¡¯s still trying to catch fish?"


    At this moment on the beach:


    Xia Duoduo staggered to her feet, kicking away the pile of empty beer cans beside her. Her eyes were hazy as she looked at the woman wading into the dark water, drunkenly shouting with a giggle, "Weiwei, why are you going into the sea when it¡¯s so dark? Come back and drink with me instead..."


    "Duoduo,e join me. Soaking in the seawater feels so good."


    Hearing the voice from the shore, Ji Wei turned her head and gave a blurry smile, then continued walking deeper into the water.


    Suddenly, a tall figure leapt into the sea, reaching out to firmly pull the woman into his arms.


    Ji Wei struggled, lifting her head with a frown of annoyance. "Why are you grabbing me?"


    When she saw the man¡¯s face clearly, she suddenly broke into a wide grin. "I recognize you, you¡¯re... you¡¯re..."


    Ji Wei swayed her head slightly, as if trying hard to remember, but no matter how she tried, she couldn¡¯t recall his name.


    Her tolerance for alcohol had never been great, and tonight she had let herself drink freely. Now, she was utterly, hopelessly drunk.


    "I¡¯m your husband."


    Gu Moqian looked at her flushed little face, showing no trace of impatience, and firmly held onto her wobbling body.


    "Right! Husband!" Ji Wei repeated, beaming brightly. "Husband~ I¡¯m just feeling so hot, and the water feels so much better..."


    She tilted her head back to look at him, her eyes clouded with intoxication. As she spoke, her cherry-like lips pouted slightly, unconsciously acting coquettish toward him.


    Gu Moqian patiently coaxed her, "Be good,e with me to the shore. The seawater is cold."


    "The cool water feels good though."


    Ji Wei retorted. Turning her gaze to see Xia Duoduo still on the shore, she hurriedly waved and shouted, "Duoduo,e down quickly!"


    Xia Duoduo, by now just as drunk,ughed foolishly, wobbling as she charged toward the sea. "Alright..."


    She stumbled forward, but before her foot could touch the water, a strong force suddenly grabbed her arm. The pull spun her around, throwing her off bnce, and she fell straight into the embrace of the person behind her.


    The man¡¯s body stiffened slightly.


    Xia Duoduo lifted her eyes to see Ye Cheng looking at her with a cold expression. She stared nkly for a moment, then suddenly shivered.


    Her eyes flickered with a trace of panic as she reached out to push the man away. "Let go, let go of me! I can walk on my own..."

 Chapter 167: Lunge at the Man’s Shoulder and Bite Hard

    <h4>Chapter 167: Chapter 167: Lunge at the Man¡¯s Shoulder and Bite Hard</h4><h4></h4>


    Ye Chengpletely ignored her resistance and effortlessly dragged her forward.


    Xia Duoduo panicked, desperately trying to break free from the man¡¯s grasp: "Don¡¯t pull me! Let go of me..."


    However, Ye Cheng remained unmoved, and Xia Duoduo was forcibly dragged into the room by him.


    Seeing her best friend being taken away, Ji Wei immediately panicked: "Duoduo is being kidnapped by a bad guy, I have to save her!"


    She pushed aside Mo Qian, anxiously rushing toward the shore. However, since she was too drunk, she couldn¡¯t stay steady and almost fell right into the sea before Mo Qian caught her just in time.


    "Duoduo, don¡¯t be afraid, I¡¯lle save you right away, Duoduo..."


    Ji Wei was still relentlessly trying to wriggle free from Mo Qian¡¯s arms, but he didn¡¯t give her the chance.


    He suddenly bent down and lifted her onto his shoulder.


    Ji Wei let out a startled cry and began struggling with all her limbs: "Put me down! I need to chase the bad guy, hurry up and put me down!"


    Mo Qian paid no attention and continued walking forward.


    No matter what Ji Wei said, the man remained silent. Growing increasingly frustrated and desperate, she clenched her teeth and fiercely bit his shoulder.


    The sudden sharp pain made Mo Qian let out a muffled grunt. He nced down at the culprit hanging on his shoulder, his eyes filled with helpless yet indulgent amusement.


    In the end, Ji Wei was carried into the bedroom by Mo Qian.


    Her dress was soaked with seawater, and Mo Qian¡¯s pants were equally drenched. Without hesitation, he brought her into the bathroom.


    Mo Qian set her down and then started adjusting the shower¡¯s water temperature.


    Finally feeling the chill, Ji Wei instinctively hugged her arms and, upon seeing the steam rising from the shower, walked over and stood directly under it.


    Warm water cascaded down, dispelling the cold from her body. Ji Wei visibly rxed, her brows smoothed out.


    "I¡¯ll help you take off your clothes."


    Mo Qian turned his head and noticed her standing under the shower still in her dress. Frowning slightly, he reached out to pull down the zipper at the back of her dress.


    Ji Wei looked up at the much taller man with a dazed expression. Suddenly, she reached out and grabbed half of his face.


    Mo Qian froze, as if petrified.


    Ji Wei stared seriously at his features for a moment, then muttered to herself, "Even with your face all distorted from me pulling, you¡¯re still so handsome. It¡¯s unfair."


    After saying this, she let go of his face: "Fine, I¡¯ll let you take my clothes off since you¡¯re so good-looking." Her tone carried an air of casual boldness.


    Mo Qian: "..."


    So... drunk women really have a unique talent for leaving you speechless?


    "Do you know who I am?" Mo Qian¡¯s voice rumbled deeply.


    "My memory isn¡¯t that bad. Just now you said it yourself¡ªyou¡¯re my husband~" The woman answered proudly.


    Was she truly drunk or just pretending? What a sharp memory.


    "Alright, then be good and don¡¯t move. Husband will help you take off your clothes." The man¡¯s voice returned to its warm maism.


    As if enchanted, Ji Wei really stopped moving, letting him remove her wet clothes quietly and behaved like an angel, a stark contrast to her earlier drunken chaos.


    To prevent her from catching a cold, Mo Qian focused solely on washing her, drying her off, and wrapping her snugly in a bath towel before carrying her to the bed.


    Once she felt the soft mattress, Ji Wei stretched outfortably and closed her eyes, utterly satisfied.


    Looking at the woman who had been causing trouble not long ago but nowy quietly like a child, the corners of Mo Qian¡¯s lips quirked up in a faint smile.


    His pants were still wet from the seawater. After carefully tucking Ji Wei in, he returned to the bathroom.


    Worried she wouldn¡¯t sleep soundly due to the alcohol, Mo Qian took less than half his usual time to shower beforeing out.


    When he stepped out, the first thing he saw was Ji Wei sitting up, hugging the nket and looking at him.


    "Husband..."


    She called softly, her eyes shimmering with moistness.

 Chapter 168: Did You Sleep with Little Duoduo Last Night?

    <h4>Chapter 168: Chapter 168: Did You Sleep with Little Duoduo Last Night?</h4><h4></h4>


    "Are you feeling unwell?"


    Mo Qian froze for a moment, then quickly walked over and sat down beside her, asking with concern.


    "Husband, hug me~"


    Ji Wei opened her arms to him, speaking earnestly.


    Mo Qian was stunned for a second before leaning over to embrace her.


    Her head rested against the man¡¯s chest, inhaling the fresh scent of his body wash. She stayed silent, letting the stuffiness linger in the air.


    Mo Qian held her quietly. After a while, he felt the woman in his arms start to sob, her fiery tears soaking through his pajamas.


    He pressed his lips together, wrapped his arms around her tighter, and said nothing.


    Ji Wei cried her heart out in his arms for a long time. He knew what was troubling her. Letting her grief out through the haze of alcohol wasn¡¯t a bad thing¡ªat least she wouldn¡¯t bottle it up forever.


    For Ji Wei, Old Madam Ji was a family member more important than her own mother.


    Her mother barely featured in her memories, whereas her grandmother had apanied her throughout her childhood, loving her, protecting her, and raising her into adulthood.


    Ji Yunxiang¡¯s fate now was deserved, but this event inevitably hurt Old Madam Ji¡¯s heart. Though Ji Wei didn¡¯t want things to turn out this way, she had no choice but to do it.


    Gradually, Ji Wei¡¯s sobs quieted down, and eventually, she fell asleep in Mo Qian¡¯s arms.


    Mo Qian lowered his head. Seeing her swollen, tear-streaked eyes, he felt an overwhelming tenderness. He leaned down, gently kissed away the traces of tears left on her pale cheeks, and slowly moved downward, brushing his lips over her soft ones...


    When Ji Wei woke up again, the sky was already bright.


    The consequence of drinking was a splitting headache, leaving her feeling dizzy and disoriented.


    She sat up in bed, clutching the nket. She noticed the white curtains swaying lightly in the sea breeze, and beyond themy the distant white sandy beach and the serene, blue sea.


    Instinctively, she turned to look beside her but saw no sign of Mo Qian.


    While puzzling over this, a sudden shriek from outside the door rang out.


    Ji Wei¡¯s face changed instantly¡ªit was Xia Duoduo¡¯s voice!


    Ignoring her pounding headache, she threw off the nket and dashed towards the door barefoot.


    Bang!


    The sliding door flew open as she pushed it forcefully. Following the direction of the scream, Ji Wei saw Xia Duoduo frantically running out of the adjacent bedroom.


    What on earth was happening?


    Drawn by Xia Duoduo¡¯s scream, Xi Nanfeng stretched and emerged from the third bedroom. He nced at Xia Duoduo and then at Ye Cheng, who followed closely behind her. His eyes instantly widened.


    "You... You two actually slept togetherst night?! This is way too fast!" Xi Nanfeng eximed.


    Xia Duoduo¡¯s face flushed crimson in an instant. Before anyone else could react, she hurriedly darted back into the bedroom. A few secondster, she emerged again, clutching her bag.


    "Weiwei, I¡ªI¡¯m heading out first!"


    Xia Duoduo stammered at the still-stunned Ji Wei before bolting towards the front door as if escaping.


    "She¡¯s just leaving like that?"


    Xi Nanfeng muttered after a long pause. Then, turning toward the perceived culprit in all this, he said, "Old Ye, you¡¯re a man for crying out loud. If you shared a bed with her, the least you could do is catch up and console her!"


    Ye Cheng lifted the electric shaver in his hand with an expression of helplessness. "I just went into the room to get this. You misunderstood."


    Xi Nanfeng gave him a dubious look. "You¡¯re telling me that nothing happened between you and Little Duoduost night?"


    "I slept in your roomst night. Forgot already?" Ye Cheng said with indifference.


    Xi Nanfeng scratched his head. "Really? I have absolutely no memory of that..."


    "You drank, passed out like a pig, and obviously don¡¯t remember a thing." Ye Cheng, not wanting to waste any more time, turned and walked away.


    "Old Ye, did you or did you not sleep with me? This concerns my reputation¡ªI don¡¯t like men!" Xi Nanfeng persisted, chasing after him.

 Chapter 169: Clearly She Is the Daughter-in-Law, Yet Another Woman Is Picked Up from the Airport

    <h4>Chapter 169: Chapter 169: Clearly She Is the Daughter-in-Law, Yet Another Woman Is Picked Up from the Airport</h4><h4></h4>


    Ji Wei looked at the scene in front of her, stillpletely dazed. So, did Xia Duoduo sleep with Ye Cheng or not?


    If they really did sleep together, wouldn¡¯t it be super awkward when they meet at thepany?


    "Here, drink this honey lemon juice. It¡¯ll help sober you up."


    Mo Qian had somehow appeared next to her, handing her a ss of fresh, golden-yellow juice.


    Ji Wei took it and sipped: "Mo Qian, do you know what really happened between Ye Cheng and Duoduost night?"


    "Last night, Xia Duoduo got drunk, and Ye Cheng helped her into her room. But she insisted on sleeping on Ye Cheng¡¯s bed and refused to sleep in her own room. So, Ye Cheng ended up squeezing in with Xi Nanfeng."


    "That¡¯s it?"


    "Yes."


    It seemed that Xia Duoduo had forgotten all about her drunken antics the previous night. She had woken up in Ye Cheng¡¯s room and just happened to see Ye Chenging in to grab his razor, leading to this perfectly crafted misunderstanding.


    Ji Wei took another sip of the sweet and sour juice and asked Mo Qian with a serious expression, "Did I do anything strangest night?"


    Mo Qian looked into the bright, clear eyes of the petite woman and said calmly, "You bit me."


    "Huh?" Ji Wei froze for a moment and then hesitantly asked, "Where did I bite you?"


    "On my shoulder."


    "Is it serious? Let me see." Ji Wei set the juice aside on the windowsill and reached out to tug at Mo Qian¡¯s shirt.


    Mo Qian was only wearing a dress shirt with two buttons undone, making it easy for Ji Wei to pull it aside.


    Seeing a distinct row of teeth marks on Mo Qian¡¯s shoulder, Ji Wei¡¯s face twitched. She really didn¡¯t hold backst night; the teeth marks were still there after an entire night¡ªit must¡¯ve been a pretty hard bite.


    "Does it still hurt?" Ji Wei tiptoed and puckered her lips, blowing softly on the bite marks.


    At the same moment, Ye Cheng and Xi Nanfeng happened to walk out of the dining room and caught sight of this scene.


    Xi Nanfeng still had half a steamed bun in his mouth and muttered indistinctly, "First thing in the morning, can¡¯t you two close the door or something... mmmph..."


    Ji Wei blinked, indicating she didn¡¯t catch what he said.


    Xi Nanfengboriously swallowed the bite of steamed bun: "Ahem... Flirting and tugging at clothes in front of us this early, you should really think about the impression you¡¯re leaving."


    Ji Wei suddenly let go of Mo Qian¡¯s shirt and awkwardly tried to exin, "His shoulder was hurting, I just wanted to blow on it, haha..."


    A few minutester, Ye Cheng and Xi Nanfeng each found excuses to leave, probably not wanting to stick around and endure the "dog food."


    After leisurely finishing breakfast, Ji Wei was about to ask Mo Qian what he nned to do today since it was a rare weekend. Just then, Mo Qian received a phone call.


    Ji Wei noticed his brows furrowing slightly as he listened to the voice on the line. When he hung up, she couldn¡¯t help but ask with concern, "What¡¯s wrong? Is it an urgent matter at work?"


    "No." Mo Qian looked at her, paused for a moment, his eyes deep and voice calm: "My mom is back."


    "At the airport? Did she ask you to pick her up right away? Let¡¯s go, I¡¯ll go with you." Ji Wei spoke as she pushed back her chair and stood up, but before she could take a step, Mo Qian grabbed her hand.


    "She¡¯s not at the airport." Mo Qian gazed at Ji Wei, kept silent for a few seconds, then continued, "She went straight to the Zhu Family¡¯s house."


    Ji Wei blinked in confusion. Why would Nan Huiru head straight to the Zhu Family¡¯s house the moment she returned?


    "So, is she asking you to go over there too?"


    Ji Wei couldn¡¯t help but feel a subtle hint of unease rising in her heart.


    "Just now, Zhu Jianian called using my mom¡¯s phone. She said my mom was feeling unwell and dizzy afternding, so she took it upon herself to bring my mom to the Zhu Family¡¯s house."


    So, Nan Huiru hadn¡¯t contacted her own son after returning but had Zhu Jianian pick her up from the airport instead...


    Ji Wei was supposed to be the daughter-inw, but Nan Huiru had chosen someone else to pick her up. Was this Nan Huiru¡¯s way of delivering a warning the moment she returned?


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 170: The Scent of a High-Class Perfume on a Woman

    <h4>Chapter 170: Chapter 170: The Scent of a High-ss Perfume on a Woman</h4><h4></h4>


    When Gu Moqian spoke, his gaze was fixed on Ji Wei. Seeing her expression suddenly darken, he couldn¡¯t help but reach out to hold her small hand resting on her knee. "If you feel ufortable, I won¡¯t go pick her up."


    Ji Wei looked at the man¡¯s gentle eyes and brows. Though she felt slightly uneasy inside, she still tried her best to suppress it. "How could we do that? Mom just came back; we can¡¯t let her stay in someone else¡¯s house, right?"


    Gu Moqian said nothing, quietly watching her.


    "Besides, I can¡¯t let her think I¡¯m an unfilial daughter-inw, ignoring her even after she¡¯s returned." Ji Wei added.


    "Alright, we¡¯ll do as you say." Gu Moqian nodded.


    Ji Wei suddenly smiled and made an effort to cheer up. "I¡¯ll head back to Shanshui Manor to tidy up the house first, and wait for you all to return."


    "Don¡¯t push yourself." Gu Moqian¡¯s deep, quiet eyes gazed at her.


    "I¡¯m fine, let¡¯s go."


    Before he could finish speaking, Ji Wei stood up, took his arm, and walked outside.


    Gu Moqian first instructed the driver to drop her off at the entrance of Shanshui Manor before heading to the Zhu Family¡¯s residence.


    After returning, Ji Wei asked Aunt Zhu to clean the room Nan Huiru had lived in before. She personally arranged Nan Huiru¡¯s favorite lilies in the vase in the bedroom.


    After finishing everything, Ji Wei busied herself in the kitchen, thinking Gu Moqian should return with Nan Huiru soon.


    However, as the sky outside gradually darkened, thevishly prepared dishes began to cool, and Gu Moqian still hadn¡¯te back.


    Ji Wei felt an inexplicable unease, unable to sit still in the dining room. She decided to sit on the steps in front of the living room, her gaze fixed on the straight road leading to the front gate.


    "Mrs. Gu, the ground is chilly; maybe you should get up," Ling Ling, who had been standing nearby for a while, finally spoke to persuade her, seeing Ji Wei motionless, resting her chin while staring toward the distant gate.


    "It¡¯s fine, I¡¯ll get up in a little while." Ji Wei replied faintly.


    Ling Ling, knowing she couldn¡¯t convince her, turned around and went upstairs to fetch a knitted jacket, draping it over Ji Wei¡¯s shoulders.


    "Thank you." Ji Wei noticed the sudden weight of a garment on her and turned to smile at Ling Ling.


    Ji Wei sat quietly on the steps, waiting for almost another half hour. During that time, Aunt Zhu came to ask if the dishes should be reheated, but Ji Wei said to wait a bit longer.


    Gradually, her legs began to grow numb. Ji Wei nced at her watch; it was already close to nine-thirty.


    Thinking back to the day her phone was damaged and still hadn¡¯t been reced, Gu Moqian probably couldn¡¯t directly call her.


    At this hour, his absence likely meant he was held back at the Zhu Family¡¯s residence for dinner. After all, the two families had been long-time acquaintances; sharing a meal was entirely normal.


    Yet, thinking about Nan Huiru and Gu Moqian dining at the Zhu Family¡¯s ce left a sense of heaviness in Ji Wei¡¯s chest.


    She decided not to wait any longer. Just as she stood up, a white Ferrari suddenly drove directly up to the front of the living room and stopped.


    The driver stepped out first, respectfully hurrying to open the door at the back.


    A graceful middle-aged woman stepped out of the car.


    At the same moment the middle-aged woman exited, two ck sedans trailing behind the Ferrari also opened their doors, and six ck-suited men who resembled bodyguards stepped out simultaneously.


    The woman had short, wavy permed hair, was dressed fashionably and impably, held an upscale branded handbag in her hand, and clicked her high heels as she walked straight towards Ji Wei. As she approached, there was a faint scent of luxurious perfume emanating from her.

 Chapter 171 Don’t Call Me Mom! I Had No Idea You Married Mo Qian

    <h4>Chapter 171: Chapter 171 Don¡¯t Call Me Mom! I Had No Idea You Married Mo Qian</h4><h4></h4>


    The middle-aged woman bore a four or five-point resemnce to Gu Moqian, and Ji Wei guessed that this must be Nan Huiru.


    Ji Wei nced behind the middle-aged woman but did not see the figure of Gu Moqian.


    This was strange; why was Nan Huiru aloneing back?


    Seeing Nan Huiru¡¯s sharp gaze fixed on her, Ji Wei put away her doubts, lowered her eyes slightly, and respectfully addressed, "Mother."


    Although Ji Wei understood that Nan Huiru didn¡¯t particrly like her, as Gu Moqian¡¯s wife, she wouldn¡¯t fail to show the necessary respect.


    Upon hearing her call "Mother," Nan Huiru immediately frowned in displeasure and examined her up and down again, "Are you the Ji Family¡¯s eldest daughter with that not-so-good reputation?"


    Upon hearing Nan Huiru¡¯s sarcastic words, Ji Wei squeezed her palm tightly, then released.


    She raised her head to meet her gaze, patiently exined, "Mother, in the past, I may have been somewhat spoiled, but my reputation wasn¡¯t that bad. However, since meeting Moqian, my personality has changed a lot..."


    Nan Huiru impatiently interrupted her, "Don¡¯t call me Mother. I wasn¡¯t even aware of your marriage with Moqian, so in my eyes, you¡¯re not my daughter-inw at all!"


    Nan Huiru red at Ji Wei, finished speaking condescendingly, and strode inside the living room.


    Ji Wei discreetly clenched her palm, striving to keep herposure.


    She is Moqian¡¯s mother; she had promised to try tomunicate and get along well with her.


    Once her emotions settled a bit, Ji Wei followed inside.


    "Why didn¡¯t Moqiane back with you?" Ji Wei asked.


    Nan Huiru turned back to stare at her, "Haven¡¯t seen him for just a few hours and you¡¯re already this eager? Moqian has always been career-oriented and should prioritize work first. Are you going to take responsibility for wearing him down by clinging to him?"


    It sounded as if she was some seductress draining a man dry.


    Ji Wei, unwilling to show weakness, retorted, "He¡¯s my husband. Isn¡¯t it right for us to be close?"


    "Husband?" Nan Huiru sneered, "The two of you acted first and reportedter, really splendid! Now that I¡¯ve returned, without my permission, don¡¯t think you can easily walk into the Gu Family¡¯s doors!"


    "But I¡¯ve already walked in," Ji Wei said, meeting Nan Huiru¡¯s gaze directly.


    From the moment Nan Huiru arrived, it was evident she was determined to make things difficult for her. Since that was the case, she wouldn¡¯t just yield and let herself be manipted!


    Ji Wei suddenly chuckled slightly, "If you won¡¯t tell me where Moqian is, I¡¯ll find him myself."


    There was no way she would believe that at thiste hour, Gu Moqian wouldn¡¯t have any word at all!


    Seeing Ji Wei turn and prepare to leave, Nan Huiru immediately snapped, "Stop! There¡¯s an issue at the Gu Family, Moqian went to handle it, what mess are you causing by running over there?"


    Ji Wei didn¡¯t believe Nan Huiru¡¯s words. If the Gu Family really had problems and he couldn¡¯t return, Gu Moqian would have found a way to let her know.


    Ignoring her, Ji Wei continued heading out.


    Nan Huiru instantly signaled to the bodyguards standing at the door.


    Before Ji Wei could react, her arms were restrained by bodyguards from both sides.


    "What are you doing? Let go!" Ji Wei coldly reprimanded.


    "Take her to the bedroom. Don¡¯t let her out until tomorrow morning!" Nan Huirumanded coldly.


    Seeing this, Ling Ling hurried over to plead for Ji Wei, "Madam, she just wants to find Mr. Gu, she hasn¡¯t done anything wrong, it¡¯s not right to lock her up like this, is it?"


    "And who are you? Who said you could speak here?" Nan Huiru red at Ling Ling sharply.

 Chapter 172: Talk too much, slap yourself in the face!

    <h4>Chapter 172: Chapter 172: Talk too much, p yourself in the face!</h4><h4></h4>


    Ling Ling was not intimidated by Nan Huiru¡¯s pressure. She looked directly at her, maintaining both distance and respect, and said, "Madam, I am the personal assistant and housekeeper that Mr. Gu specifically hired for Mrs. Gu. If you indiscriminately lock Mrs. Gu up like this, I have no choice but to intervene."


    "You¡¯re just a hired servant. A single word from me can have you pack up and leave. Don¡¯t overestimate yourself and meddle where you shouldn¡¯t, or you might not be able to protect yourself," Nan Huiru warned.


    "Apologies, but if I ept a sry and don¡¯t do my job, it would be my dereliction of duty," Ling Ling said as she quickly stepped forward, attempting to pry Ji Wei free from the bodyguards¡¯ grip.


    The bodyguards, of course, refused to back down, and the two sides began to sh.


    Ling Ling¡¯s taekwondo skills were not weak, but as the fight broke out, several other bodyguards stationed at the door quickly rushed in. They soon subdued Ling Ling, immobilizing her.


    Nan Huiru shot a contemptuous nce at Ling Ling and, with a cold expression, ordered, "Immediately lock up the Ji Family¡¯s eldest daughter in the bedroom. Without my permission, she is not to be let out!"


    "Let go of me! Let me go..."


    No matter how Ji Wei struggled, she could not break free from the bodyguards¡¯ grasp. She was forcibly dragged upstairs.


    Ling Ling watched anxiously as Ji Wei was taken away, unwilling to give up, and shouted in protest, "This is too despicable! If Mr. Gu finds out about this, he will be heartbroken¡ª"


    "Too much talk! p her!"


    Nan Huiru red fiercely at Ling Ling andmanded sharply.


    Smack!


    Before Ling Ling could finish her words, a fiery pain enveloped her cheek. The bodyguard struck her hard and heavy, leaving half of her face reddened and swollen.


    Yet, she still defiantly stared at Nan Huiru and said, "Mr. Gu is elegant and refined. How could he have a mother as unreasonable as you, huh..."


    The mocking curve on Ling Ling¡¯s lips provoked Nan Huiru even more, making her eyes widen with fury and her finger tremble as she pointed at Ling Ling. "Drag her out and beat her severely!"


    The mockery in Ling Ling¡¯s eyes deepened. Before being dragged out, she sneered coldly, "Mr. Gu will despise you!"


    Nan Huiru was trembling with anger.


    Of course, she knew that Mo Qian would hate her for this. But the Gu Family¡¯s bloodline was precious, passed down from three generations. She would never allow her daughter-inw to be a spoiled, arrogant, overly coddled youngdy.


    Moreover, someone had secretly ryed a rumor to her¡ªa rumor suggesting that Ji Wei might not even be Ji Yunli¡¯s biological daughter.


    So who exactly was Ji Wei?


    An unidentified woman definitely could not be her son¡¯s wife!


    In her eyes, only someone like Zhu Jianian¡ªa true noblewoman who grew up alongside Gu Moqian¡ªwas worthy of being her daughter-inw.


    Upstairs.


    Ji Wei was roughly shoved into the bedroom by two bodyguards.


    Before she could react, the bedroom door mmed shut heavily. Right after, she heard the sound of the lock clicking into ce.


    She pounded on the door forcefully, yelling, "Let me out! Do you hear me? Let me out!"


    Ji Wei kept hammering away at the door, but it didn¡¯t budge. She knocked for a long time, until her hands throbbed with pain and numbness, finally slumping against the door weakly as her gaze swept over the room.


    It was the bedroom she shared with Gu Moqian. Everything about its arrangement was familiar andforting, yet Ji Wei felt an unprecedented sense of anxiety.


    Nan Huiru was willing to go so far as to imprison her just to prevent her from seeking out Gu Moqian. Did this mean that something had happened to him?


    She was Moqian¡¯s mother. What exactly might she be doing to him...


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 173: Suddenly, a hand stretched out from the darkness and grabbed her arm.

    <h4>Chapter 173: Chapter 173: Suddenly, a hand stretched out from the darkness and grabbed her arm.</h4><h4></h4>


    Ji Wei couldn¡¯t figure it out, but the only thing she was certain of was that she had to find a way to escape!


    She quickly walked to the window and lifted the curtain to look outside.


    This was the second floor, and the window wasn¡¯t very high off the ground. If she used tools to jump down, it wouldn¡¯t be too difficult. But it seemed Nan Huiru had anticipated her move¡ªtwo bodyguards were already stationed beneath the window.


    Ji Wei stood at the window for a few seconds before the bodyguards noticed her.


    She quickly stepped back, hiding her body behind the curtain.


    Escape through the window was now impossible. What other method could she use to get out?


    She bit her finger, furrowing her brows as she thought.


    Suddenly, Ji Wei noticed the balcony of the bedroom on the other side. Her eyes lit up instantly.


    Ji Wei walked quickly to the balcony. Beneath it was a vast swimming pool, and the bodyguards weren¡¯t stationed directly below but were pacing back and forth along the poolside a short distance away.


    Ji Wei spotted a narrow pathway, just wide enough for one foot, connecting to the balcony of another bedroom. An idea suddenly hit her.


    If she could reach that adjacent room, she could surely open the door and get out.


    Nan Huiru wouldn¡¯t have locked the empty bedroom next door.


    Ji Wei didn¡¯t hesitate for long and immediately took action.


    To avoid attracting the attention of the distant bodyguards, she turned off all the lights in the room.


    Hidden in the darkness, she carefully felt her way onto the narrow pathway outside the balcony.


    To make movement easier, Ji Wei took off her shoes, walking barefoot.


    The moment she stepped onto the pathway, Ji Wei realized it was even narrower than she had imagined. She pressed her back tightly against the wall, inching forward with bare feet.


    Night nketed the outside, and Ji Wei nced down at the pool water shimmering faintly under the nearby streemp. Her heart was pounding with tension.


    If she fell, she¡¯d plunge straight into the pool. While her life wouldn¡¯t be in danger, she¡¯d undoubtedly expose herself.


    Ji Wei moved slowly, covering only a distance of five or six meters. The journey felt painstaking. Before she was halfway across, her palms were already slick with sweat.


    Her entire body was tight with tension as she forced herself to focus.


    Finally, the balcony of the adjacent room was within arm¡¯s reach.


    Ji Wei was about to let out a breath of relief when, suddenly, the two bodyguards turned their heads toward her!


    Her heart leapt into her throat, and she froze, her body pressing tightly against the wall, striving to minimize her presence.


    Thankfully, the bodyguards were looking toward the bedroom she had been locked in earlier and hadn¡¯t noticed someone standing a few meters away on the wall.


    Once the bodyguards turned away, Ji Wei dared not linger. Holding her breath, she quickly moved to the edge of the balcony, grabbing its railing and leaping inside.


    Thump!


    Shended cleanly.


    Since she was barefoot, the impact sent a dull pain through her soles, causing Ji Wei to gasp sharply.


    She didn¡¯t dare dy. Ignoring the pain, she bent low and quickly slipped into the bedroom.


    Only after leaving the balcony did Ji Wei slightly rx her nervous heart. Standing in the dark, she gasped for air, taking a moment to regain herposure.


    Using the soft light filtering in from the window, Ji Wei carefully avoided the obstacles in the room and made her way to the door. She pressed her ear against the door panel and listened closely. After confirming there were no sounds outside, she grasped the doorknob and slowly turned it.


    The door opened a crack, and Ji Wei cautiously poked her head out to take a look.


    No bodyguards stood guard outside the locked bedroom, and the entire hallway was eerily quiet. Only then did she slip out, quickly heading for the staircase at the far end.


    This staircase led to the storage room on the first floor. The moment Ji Wei stepped off thest stair, a hand suddenly emerged from the darkness and grabbed her arm!

 Chapter 174 Nan Huiru Lied

    <h4>Chapter 174: Chapter 174 Nan Huiru Lied</h4><h4></h4>


    Ji Wei was startled and was about to pull away when the person whispered softly, "Mrs. Gu, it¡¯s me."


    "Aunt Zhu?" Ji Wei tentatively called out.


    Aunt Zhu nodded. "Mrs. Gu, there are bodyguards outside now. Come with me. I¡¯ll take you through a safe route to leave."


    Aunt Zhu dragged Ji Wei forward with her.


    Aunt Zhu led her through the living room, heading straight out of the main door. On the way past the entryway, Ji Wei quickly slipped on a pair of shoes.


    Nan Huiru would never have imagined that Ji Wei would dare to walk straight out of the living room, so there wasn¡¯t any security set up here at all.


    Aunt Zhu guided her along a small path in the garden until they reached the edge of the vi¡¯s wall. The wall was originally surrounded by a high-voltage anti-theft, but this section just happened to be damaged and hadn¡¯t been repaired yet.


    The wall wasn¡¯t very high. Using a nearby tree for support, Ji Wei easily climbed on top.


    "Aunt Zhu, thank you." Before jumping off, Ji Wei expressed her gratitude.


    "Madam, hurry and go. Take care of yourself."


    Ji Wei nodded in agreement and then carefully slid down the wall.


    ...


    Ji Wei wasn¡¯t sure if Gu Moqian was at the Gu Group, but she decided to head there first.


    By now, it was already close to 11 p.m., and most of the lights in the Gu Building were off.


    As soon as Ji Wei entered, she was stopped by a security guard.


    To the security guard, anyoneing to the Gu Group thiste at night had to be up to something suspicious!


    "What are you doing here?"


    The guard scanned Ji Wei from head to toe. Her clothes had been dirtied with grass and mud when she climbed over the wall, making her look rather disheveled.


    "I¡¯m looking for Assistant Chen, who works with Mr. Gu."


    Knowing that outright saying she was looking for Gu Moqian might get her dismissed as a crazed fan and thrown out, Ji Wei decided to change her approach.


    The security guard looked at her skeptically. "You know him?"


    "Of course I do." Ji Wei pointed to the phone at the reception desk. "I don¡¯t need to go upstairs to find him. Could I borrow the phone for a moment? I¡¯ll call him to check if he¡¯s still workingte."


    Seeing that, despite her messy appearance, she carried herself sincerely and seemed unlikely to be lying, the security guard hesitated for a moment before agreeing. "Alright."


    Ji Wei recalled Chen Ke¡¯s number and quickly dialed it.


    As soon as the call connected, she asked urgently, "Assistant Chen, it¡¯s Ji Wei. Are you in the office right now? I heard that Mo Qian is working overtime..."


    However, Chen Ke¡¯s responsepletely stunned her: "Mrs. Gu, Mr. Gu isn¡¯t workingte tonight. Didn¡¯t he stay with you the whole evening?"


    Ji Wei¡¯s heart skipped a beat!


    Nan Huiru had lied!


    Why... why would she lie to her?


    "Assistant Chen, could I trouble you with something?" Ji Wei suppressed her shock and spoke up.


    More than twenty minutester, Chen Ke arrived at the entrance of the Gu Building in his car.


    When Ji Wei saw him, she quickly stood up from the lobby chair and walked outside in a rush.


    After getting into the car, Chen Ke turned back to nce at Ji Wei in the backseat and confirmed again, "Madam, are you sure Mr. Gu is at the Zhu Family¡¯s residence?"


    "Yes, let¡¯s head there immediately. You know the Zhu Family¡¯s address, right?"


    "Understood."


    Chen Ke agreed and focused on driving.


    Ji Wei couldn¡¯t shake an unsettling sense of worry. Nan Huiru¡¯s lie was obviously meant to keep something from her, but what could she be hiding?


    When they arrived at the Zhu Family Vi, Ji Wei¡¯s hand was already on the car door handle, but Chen Ke stopped her. "Madam, please wait in the car. Let me check the situation first."


    This chapter is updated by freew(e)bnovel.(c)om


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 Chapter 175: The Fire! Quick, Put it Out!

    <h4>Chapter 175: Chapter 175: The Fire! Quick, Put it Out!</h4><h4></h4>


    If Gu Moqian is really at the Zhu Family, the security guards at the entrance likely won¡¯t let us in easily.


    Ji Wei pondered for a moment and nodded in agreement.


    Through the car window, Ji Wei saw Chen Ke walk over and say something to the security guard. After learning Chen Ke¡¯s intent, the security guard¡¯s attitude suddenly changed, bing adamantly firm.


    After several failed attempts to negotiate, Chen Ke had no choice but to return.


    "How did it go?" Chen Ke got back into the car, and Ji Wei couldn¡¯t wait to ask.


    Chen Ke¡¯s expression was solemn: "As soon as I mentioned I was looking for Mr. Gu, the security guard immediately rejected my request, repeatedly emphasizing that Mr. Gu had already left and wasn¡¯t at the Zhu Family."


    The security guard¡¯s attitude raised suspicion; it seemed necessary to enter the vi to investigate the situation. However, barging in was not an option.


    Ji Wei furrowed her brows and thought for a while before suddenly lifting her head. "Assistant Chen, could I trouble you to drive to a nearby gas station?"


    Sote at night, what was the purpose of going to a gas station?


    Chen Ke shot her a puzzled look but ultimately followed Ji Wei¡¯s instructions.


    Half an hourter.


    The Zhu Family Vi¡¯s security guards were in the middle of their shift change.


    The guard being reced yawned repeatedly, preparing to return to his quarters to sleep. But after only a few steps, he suddenly caught sight of a flicker of mes near the vi¡¯s wall out of the corner of his eye.


    The fire quickly spread along the wall, tongues of mes leaping skyward, nearly igniting the trees beside it.


    "It¡¯s on fire! Quick, put it out!"


    The security guard¡¯s drowsiness vanished instantly; he shouted and dashed back to the guard post.


    Soon, several other guards ran out as well. Seeing the increasingly fierce ze, their faces turned pale.


    Without time to think, all the guards sprang into action, running towards the water sources inside the vi. As they ran, they shouted loudly, "Fire! Wake up and help! Someone¡ª!"


    At this point, not a single guard remained stationed at the vi entrance.


    Ji Wei, who had been hiding in a concealed spot all along, seized the opportunity. Keeping her body low, she swiftly slipped past the guard post.


    The vi¡¯s servants, who had already gone to bed, were startled awake by the urgent shouts, and lights flickered on one by one throughout the rooms.


    The servants hurriedly dressed, grabbed water buckets, fire extinguishers, and other tools, then rushed to the direction of the mes.


    Taking advantage of the chaos and everyone¡¯sck of attention on her, Ji Wei quietly made her way to the European-style vi.


    She nced back at the distant wall, where the fire she had started with a bucket of gasoline raged even fiercer, then carefully avoided the servants¡¯ line of sight and slipped in through the open side door.


    Ji Wei had no idea which room Gu Moqian might be in, so she intended to search each one.


    As she stood at the base of the stairs, preparing to go up, she suddenly heard the sound of two people talking, the voices growing closer and closer.


    Her steps faltered, and her heart began to race wildly.


    Ji Wei quickly scanned her surroundings, then darted into the narrow space beneath the stairs.


    The cramped space forced Ji Wei to curl herself up tightly to avoid being detected, hiding within the shadows cast by the dim light.


    Above her head, footsteps descended the stairs, apanied by increasingly audible conversation between two people.


    "Is it really okay that we locked Jianian and Gu Moqian together? Jianian identally drank the water that was meant for Gu Moqian. I¡¯m worried that once Jianian wakes up tomorrow, she¡¯ll me us..." This was the voice of a middle-aged woman.


    "If you want to achieve great things, you can¡¯t afford to be sentimental! What we¡¯re doing is all for Jianian¡¯s benefit." The middle-aged man replied coldly.


    "But Jianian has been affected by that kind of drug. What if something goes wrong..."


    "Nothing will go wrong! If it weren¡¯t for Nan Huiru revealing that Gu Moqian and that Miss Ji have already registered their marriage, we would still be in the dark! At this point, what is there to hesitate about? Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures!"


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


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 Chapter 176: With A Few Ambiguous Gasps, Leading to Wild Thoughts

    <h4>Chapter 176: Chapter 176: With A Few Ambiguous Gasps, Leading to Wild Thoughts</h4><h4></h4>


    The woman remained silent and said nothing.


    The middle-aged man paused for a moment before continuing: "Our Jianian has been chasing Gu Moqian for years, but nothing has evere of it. I¡¯ve long seen through it¡ªGu Moqian has no feelings for Jianian. Yet our daughter stubbornly refuses to give up. If the two of them end up having rtions tonight, I refuse to believe Gu Moqian can act as if nothing happened! Even if he doesn¡¯t marry Jianian in the end, he¡¯ll at leastpensate us with a massive payment. After all, it¡¯s a fact that he ruined Jianian¡¯s purity."


    "But Gu Moqian has been drugged. Will he even remember what happened the next day? What if he refuses to admit it?"


    "What are you afraid of?"


    The middle-aged man nced back at a certain room on the second floor, his eyes gleaming with cunning calction: "I already installed surveince cameras in Jianian¡¯s room¡ªfive of them in total. No matter which corner they choose to... engage, it won¡¯t escape being recorded. By then, with evidence in hand, we won¡¯t have to fear Gu Moqian refusing toply."


    "But my heart still feels uneasy about all this."


    "Enough. Do you think I want to sacrifice Jianian? If it weren¡¯t for the good-for-nothing son you gave birth to, running around gambling and racking up billions in high-interest debt, would I be this desperate? On top of that, the Zhu Family¡¯s stock price has been plummeting drastically these past two weeks. If we don¡¯t hold tight to the Gu Family now, the Zhu Family is finished sooner orter! You don¡¯t need to meddle in this anymore¡ªfocus on maintaining a good rtionship with Nan Huiru. As long as she stands on our side, Jianian marrying into the Gu Family will just be a matter of time!"


    "Huiru genuinely treats me as a close friend... I feel uneasy doing this."


    "You¡¯re always so indecisive! If we¡¯d nned ahead and had Jianian betrothed to the Gu Family when she was a child, we wouldn¡¯t have to go through all this trouble now."


    At this point, the middle-aged man had grown impatient. "Enough. Go check on the fire outside¡ªI don¡¯t know if it¡¯s under control yet."


    The sound of their footsteps gradually faded, and the living room returned to silence. Only then did Ji Wei cautiously creep out from under the staircase.


    The conversation she just overheard hadpletely upended Ji Wei¡¯s worldview, leaving her utterly shaken.


    To think that Zhu Jianian¡¯s family could be so insidious and ruthless, scheming even against their own daughter for profit!


    Right now, she had to hurry and find Gu Moqian. He¡¯d been drugged¡ªif something really happened between him and Zhu Jianian...


    Ji Wei forced herself not to spiral into overthinking and quickly bolted up the stairs to the second-floor hallway.


    The second floor had seven or eight bedrooms, each door looking identical.


    Which one was Zhu Jianian¡¯s room?


    Ji Wei went to test each door. When she reached the third bedroom, she suddenly froze.


    Faint sounds came from inside.


    Ji Wei¡¯s expression changed, and she silently approached the door, pressing her ear against it to focus on the noise within.


    A woman¡¯s muffled whimpering and moaning came intermittently from inside.


    The sounds were low, tinged with a few suggestive gasps, enough to make one¡¯s imagination run wild.


    Ji Wei¡¯s face instantly turned pale.


    Was it Zhu Jianian and Gu Moqian inside...!!!


    Her whole body stiffened, and she felt as if her blood had frozen in her veins.


    No, it couldn¡¯t be!


    Ji Wei grew frantic, grabbing the doorknob and desperately attempting to push the door open.


    The door had clearly been locked from the outside with a key.


    Unwilling to give up, she bit her lip and rammed her shoulder against the door repeatedly¡ªonce, twice, three times...


    The heavy solid wood door didn¡¯t budge an inch.


    Ji Wei¡¯s shoulder ached intensely, and she hissed through gritted teeth.


    At this point, her brain felt short-circuited, incapable of logical thought¡ªshe could only act on instinct, mming against the door.


    "What are you doing?"


    A sudden, fierce shout came from behind her, jolting Ji Wei into turning around abruptly.

 Chapter 177: Master, the Second Young Master Xi of the Xi Family has suddenly arrived.

    <h4>Chapter 177: Chapter 177: Master, the Second Young Master Xi of the Xi Family has suddenly arrived.</h4><h4></h4>


    The middle-aged man had returned at some point and was shocked to see a woman clothed in ck with a ck baseball cap standing at the doorway trying to push it open.


    Ji Wei instinctively stepped back.


    Zhu Ming¡¯an froze for only a few seconds before striding quickly toward Ji Wei.


    Ji Wei¡¯s expression showed some panic as she turned on her heel and quickly ran toward the other end of the hallway.


    "Stop! Don¡¯t run, stand right there!" Zhu Ming¡¯an shouted, chasing after her.


    Ji Wei had no idea which way led out, so she darted into the first open door she saw. It turned out to be a storage room piled high with misceneous items, with no other way out.


    The sound of approaching footsteps behind her grew louder and louder. With no alternatives left, Ji Wei decided to hide inside a cab nearby and pulled the door shut behind her.


    The moment the door was pushed open, her heart leapt into her throat.


    Through the crack in the cab door, Ji Wei saw the middle-aged man stick his head in to take a look.


    His sharp, icy gaze swept around the room before locking onto the cab in the corner.


    It¡¯s over. It¡¯s all over. He¡¯s going to find me!


    Ji Wei¡¯s palms were mmy with nervous sweat.


    Just as Zhu Ming¡¯an was about to take a step toward the cab, another voice suddenly called out from outside the door: "Sir, Second Young Master Xi from the Xi Family has arrived unexpectedly."


    Zhu Ming¡¯an paused, his expression puzzled, and asked, "What¡¯s he doing here in the middle of the night?"


    "Second Young Master Xi said there¡¯s something important he needs to discuss with you in person," the butler replied.


    The Xi Family was one of the top five families in Rongcheng, second only to the Gu Family in terms of power. Whatever the reason for Second Young Master Xi¡¯s visit, Zhu Ming¡¯an knew better than to treat him carelessly.


    He nced again in the direction of the cab, then took another look around the room before finally stepping out and leaving.


    Hearing the sound of retreating footsteps, Ji Wei finally exhaled a sigh of relief. Her whole body felt weak as if she¡¯d nearly copsed from exhaustion.


    In the living room.


    Zhu Ming¡¯an could not fathom the purpose of Xi Nanfeng¡¯s visit, but when he noticed Gu Moqian¡¯s assistant trailing behind Xi Nanfeng, a suspicion began forming in his mind.


    Could it be that word of Gu Moqian¡¯s presence here had somehow gotten out?


    Zhu Ming¡¯an was a seasoned yer in the business world. Despite the unease in his heart, his expression remained calm and unppable as he courteously arranged for tea to be served to Xi Nanfeng.


    "I wonder, Second Young Master Xi, what business brings you here sote?" Zhu Ming¡¯an asked with a smile, lifting his teacup and deftly stirring the floating tea leaves with the lid.


    Xi Nanfeng, with his usual nonchnt attitude, lounged on the sofa, one leg crossed over the other, a smirk tugging at his lips. "Uncle Zhu, why don¡¯t you take a guess?"


    "How could I guess at the thoughts of you young people?"


    Zhu Ming¡¯an took a sip of tea, his skepticism growing at Xi Nanfeng¡¯s ambiguous reply.


    Xi Nanfeng cast a casual nce toward the upstairs rooms and remarked, "Actually, I¡¯m here today looking for someone."


    Zhu Ming¡¯an¡¯s hand trembled violently as he clutched his teacup. "Wha... what person?"


    Could it be that Xi Nanfeng really knew something?


    Xi Nanfeng suddenly straightened up, leaning in a bit closer as he asked in a low voice, "Uncle Zhu, is my brother Gu Moqian here with you?"


    Zhu Ming¡¯an paled at those words, his palms damp with sweat.


    He tried his best to maintainposure, forcing an awkward smile. "Second Young Master Xi, you must be joking. Why would Mr. Gu be here with us? He must have already returned home."


    "He¡¯s not here?" Xi Nanfeng pped his thigh, feigning an expression of great surprise.


    "No, no, he¡¯s not." Zhu Ming¡¯an responded uneasily.


    This Second Young Master Xi appeared carefree and approachable on the surface. Yet despite his young age, he had surpassed his calcting elder brother to be the heir to the Xi Family. Such a feat wouldn¡¯t have been possible without exceptional cunning and skill.


    People like him, who didn¡¯t y by the rules, were the hardest to deal with.

 Chapter 178: The screen is pitch black, nothing can be seen

    <h4>Chapter 178: Chapter 178: The screen is pitch ck, nothing can be seen</h4><h4></h4>


    Upon hearing Zhu Ming¡¯an say this, Xi Nanfeng shot up from his seat, pointing at Chen Ke behind him and barking, "Didn¡¯t you say Old Mo was here? Uncle Zhu already said he isn¡¯t¡ªyou must¡¯ve deliberately tricked me here as part of some scheme, drawing me away to let Old Mo escape! A grown man like him¡ªif he loses a bet, he should own up to it. Is kissing some woman at the bar really such a big deal that Gu Moqian would be this shy?"


    As Zhu Ming¡¯an listened, he felt the heavy weight in his heart suddenly lift.


    So Xi Nanfeng came looking for Gu Moqian because of some bet, and not because he caught wind of any wild rumors.


    From his words, it seemed Gu Moqian had lost the bet but refused to kiss the woman, so he decided to sneak away.


    No wonder Gu Moqian tried to leave not long after arriving.


    But luckily, Zhu Ming¡¯an had already slipped something into the tea he drank earlier to ensure he stayed.


    "Since Mr. Gu isn¡¯t here, then we should leave¡ªit¡¯ste, and we wouldn¡¯t want to disturb President Zhu¡¯s rest," Chen Ke said awkwardly.


    Yes, leave, quickly leave!


    Zhu Ming¡¯an nearly blurted out his inner thoughts.


    Just as he exhaled a breath of relief, Xi Nanfeng suddenly strode toward the staircase and said, "Since I¡¯m already here, I¡¯ll take a look upstairs. Old Mo¡¯s as sly as a fox¡ªwho knows if he¡¯s deliberately hiding from me?"


    This Second Young Master Xi really doesn¡¯t y by the rules.


    Panic surged through Zhu Ming¡¯an as he hurriedly set down his teacup and stepped forward to block Xi Nanfeng¡¯s path. "Second Young Master Xi, those rooms upstairs belong to my wife and daughter¡ªit wouldn¡¯t be appropriate to barge in like this."


    Xi Nanfeng halted, standing still as he gave it some thought. It seemed to make sense.


    "Alright then, I won¡¯t go up. But Uncle Zhu, you better not be ying favorites with Gu Family just because you¡¯re close to them."


    "Of course not, of course not," Zhu Ming¡¯an said quickly, waving his hands.


    Xi Nanfeng turned around, abruptly covered his mouth to stifle a yawn, and muttered, "I¡¯m so tired¡ªI went through all this bother for Old Mo and it¡¯s been half the night."


    "Second Young Master Xi, if you¡¯re tired, you should head home and sleep," Zhu Ming¡¯an suggested internally, thinking to himself how this guy was finally about to leave.


    But to his utter shock, Xi Nanfeng said, "Uncle Zhu, it¡¯s almost dawn already, and I¡¯m really exhausted. I¡¯ll just crash here at your ce tonight."


    As soon as he finished speaking, Xi Nanfeng continued to march upstairs.


    Zhu Ming¡¯an¡¯s heart nearly leapt out of his chest as he shouted again to stop him, "The rooms on the second floor are all upied. If you must stay, Second Young Master Xi, let me arrange for the guesthouse nearby. I¡¯ll have the servants take you there immediately."


    "Alright, thank you for the trouble, Uncle Zhu."


    Finally, under the escort of the servants, Xi Nanfeng left for the guesthouse. Not until his figurepletely disappeared beyond the doorway did Zhu Ming¡¯an raise a hand to wipe the sweat off his forehead¡ªit was drenched.


    This Second Young Master Xi was truly a handful.


    Once Xi Nanfeng departed, Zhu Ming¡¯an reviewed the events of the night and couldn¡¯t shake off a sense of unease.


    He hastily summoned a few servants and ordered them to search the vi inside and out for the suspicious woman.


    The hallway lighting earlier had been dim, and the woman had pulled her hat brim so low that Zhu Ming¡¯an hadn¡¯t been able to catch a clear glimpse of her face.


    After issuing his orders, Zhu Ming¡¯an went into the study.


    He intended to check the surveince feed to see what was going on in Zhu Jianian¡¯s room.


    The two had been in the room together for hours now¡ªthey should be tangled up on the bed in heated passion by this time.


    The effects of the aphrodisiac were supposed tost all night!


    Though it was an unexpected twist that Zhu Jianian ended up taking the drug, it didn¡¯t matter¡ªhis daughter sleeping with Gu Moqian would still align with his ns. His scheme was soon to bear fruit.


    As soon as he powered up theputer connected to the surveince system, Zhu Ming¡¯an¡¯s eyes widened in shock¡ªthe screen showed nothing but pitch ckness!

 Chapter 179: If You Fall Down, You’re Likely to Break a Leg!

    <h4>Chapter 179: Chapter 179: If You Fall Down, You¡¯re Likely to Break a Leg!</h4><h4></h4>


    Could there be a malfunction with the surveince cameras?


    Zhu Ming¡¯an had barely stepped out of the study when there was a sudden "snap," and the lightbulb above his head flickered a few times before going out.


    He immediately sensed something was wrong. Just as he started to take a few steps, a servant came rushing toward him to report, "Master, someone has sabotaged the vi¡¯s power box!"


    ...


    After Zhu Ming¡¯an left, Ji Wei waited a little longer. Once she confirmed that no one had discovered her, she cautiously stepped out of the storage room.


    Before leaving, she grabbed a shlight from the shelf nearby.


    What she was certain of now was that Mo Qian was locked in a room on the second floor. However, her presence must have already rmed members of the Zhu Family, and getting into the room wouldn¡¯t be easy.


    When Ji Wei passed by a window, she nced toward the distant wall, at the spot she had set aze with gasoline. The fire had already been extinguished.


    What should she do now to get into the room?


    One way or another, she had to figure out a way to get in!


    Ji Wei walked a short distance and suddenly noticed a small square-shaped panel on the wall ahead. From the gaps in the panel, faint blinking red dots could be seen.


    Ji Wei instantly understood what it was¡ªthe power box!


    A look of delight crossed her face as an idea struck her. She briskly walked toward it.


    Because of the sudden ckout in the vi, the servants searching for her had no choice but to use shlights to look around. The Zhu Family Vi was massive, and trying to find someone in such arge area without lighting was no easy task.


    After sabotaging the power box, Ji Wei sneaked around to the back of the vi.


    Hiding within the tall grass and avoiding the passing servants, she lifted her gaze to the pitch-dark vi that was devoid of a single glimmer of light.


    She remembered Zhu Jianian¡¯s room was the third one from the left.


    The night¡¯s sky was gloomy, with no trace of moonlight. Through the shadows, Ji Wei could vaguely make out the outline of the terrace outside the third room. Lowering her body, she carefully moved toward it.


    The second-floor terrace wasn¡¯t particrly high, but climbing it barehanded posed a challenge.


    Fortunately, there was arge tree not far from the terrace. She could use its trunk to get close to the second-floor area and then figure out the rest.


    Luckily, on the way to the gas station, Ji Wei had stopped by a shop and bought tight-fitting clothing and sneakers. Though she wasn¡¯t skilled at climbing, she managed to scramble her way up.


    A thick branch, approximately the width of an arm, stretched out toward the edge of the terrace.


    Ji Wei cautiously stepped onto it. Her weight wasn¡¯t much, but the moment her foot settled, she could still feel the branch sharply sink downward.


    She could hear her heart pounding furiously in the eerie silence. If she were to fall from the tree, she¡¯d very likely break her leg!


    But Ji Wei couldn¡¯t afford to think about that. Even at the risk of broken bones, she had to find Mo Qian.


    For him, all of this was worth it!


    Ji Wei leaned against the sturdy tree trunk for a moment, forcing herself to stay calm andposed. Then, inch by inch, she began to move forward on the branch. Her hands gripped the other branches to maintain her bnce.


    As her body shifted forward, the branch underfoot bent more and more.


    Hold on. It has to hold on!


    Ji Wei prayed silently in her heart.


    She knew that the longer she remained on the branch, the greater the risk of it snapping. Holding her breath, she quickened her pace.


    Just as she was half a meter away from the terrace, she suddenly heard the sound of the branch cracking!


    Everything happened too fast. Ji Wei¡¯s face turned pale, and instinctively, she stretched out her hand to grab the railing of the terrace. But the railing, slick with dew in the night, was slippery, and her hand couldn¡¯t grip it securely!


    As her fingers slid off, a horrified scream escaped her lips: "Ah¡ª!"

 Chapter 180 You’re Doing Something Very Dangerous

    <h4>Chapter 180: Chapter 180 You¡¯re Doing Something Very Dangerous</h4><h4></h4>


    At the very moment her body was hanging in mid-air, a pair of strong arms suddenly stretched out from the terrace and firmly grabbed Ji Wei¡¯s hands!


    Ji Wei was shocked and had no idea how to react, staring nkly upward at the man who had descended like a divine being.


    Under the night sky, the man¡¯s face was not clearly visible, but his arms gripped her tightly, and his voice was as familiarly low and alluring as ever: "Hold onto me."


    "Mo Qian, it¡¯s you!"


    Ji Wei snapped back to her senses, her expression lit up with joy, and she used the momentum he provided to prop her foot against a gap in the terrace railing, stabilizing her downward fall.


    Gu Moqian exerted strength with both arms and hauled her up forcefully.


    The moment she was pulled up, both of them were exhausted. Ji Wei copsed forward heavily.


    Meanwhile, when she fell onto him like this, his body lost bnce and he toppled to the ground.


    Shended on top of him. The instant their eyes met, Ji Wei¡¯s tears began streaming uncontrobly.


    At this very moment, seeing the man safe and sound before her, the taut thread in Ji Wei¡¯s mind finally loosened.


    "Mo Qian, you¡¯re okay, really okay?"


    Ji Wei¡¯s voice carried a hint of sobbing, her cheek pressed against his warm, broad chest as she reached out both hands to tightly embrace his neck.


    Knowing she had been badly shaken tonight, Gu Moqian wordlessly held her close, his palm softly patting her back tofort her, breathing in her delicate fragrance¡ªa scent that filled his heart with boundless tenderness and affection.


    He didn¡¯t know how Ji Wei had managed to find this ce, but the process must have been fraught with challenges.


    The once-pampered and arrogant youngdy had climbed trees, scaled terraces, and almost fallen¡ªall for him. Thinking about that heart-stopping moment earlier, Gu Moqian¡¯s heart tightened with a pang, yet was filled with a profound warmth and stirring emotion he had never experienced before.


    When the woman finished crying in his arms, she finally raised her face, her pout filled with grievance as she said, "You scared me to death. Did Zhu Jianian... did she do anything to you...?"


    "What do you think?" Gu Moqian gazed at her steadily, his lips curving slightly.


    "I heard that when women are affected by that drug, they be especially seductive and start clinging to men on their own. Faced with a woman who sees you as her only antidote, did you really not waver even a little?"


    "It¡¯s not the first time I¡¯ve encountered this." Gu Moqian replied calmly.


    Ji Wei was momentarily stunned upon hearing this, and a certain memory suddenly surfaced in her mind.


    It seemed on the night she was reborn, she had also been affected by that drug...


    The scene of that night, where she had been alone with Gu Moqian and had clung to him relentlessly, shed through her mind, causing Ji Wei¡¯s face to turn red instantly.


    Embarrassed, she tried to get off the man but, as soon as her hand pressed against his chest, he grabbed her hand firmly: "Do you know how dangerous that was."


    Ji Wei looked at his eyes, which were brimming with worry and affection, and her heart warmed. She pretended to be rxed and smiled lightly: "It¡¯s nothing. I climbed trees when I was a kid, and when I was in college, I even climbed over walls to sneak out and have fun..."


    Before she could finish her words, she was pulled tightly into his embrace. His deep, husky voice resonated right by her ear: "Don¡¯t ever do anything so reckless again."


    "I¡¯ll try not to." She replied.


    If Gu Moqian knew that earlier she had even lit gasoline to start a fire, he might end uppletely stunned.


    Gu Moqian pulled back slightly, fixing his gaze on her. His refined brows furrowed slightly: "What do you mean ¡¯try¡¯?"


    "It means if you¡¯re in danger, or being entangled by another woman, I will stille for you¡ªeven if it means going through fire and water!"

 Chapter 181 The woman kept pressing on him, moving around.

    <h4>Chapter 181: Chapter 181 The woman kept pressing on him, moving around.</h4><h4></h4>


    The man¡¯s eyes shifted slightly, quietly observing the faintly proud expression on the woman¡¯s face. His lips gradually curved into a smile: "You¡¯re not some heroine risking life and limb. I think it¡¯s necessary to send you to learn some self-defense skills¡ªsomething more practical."


    Ji Wei had recently been repeatedly targeted by petty schemers. Even if he arranged a hundred bodyguards for her, there were still moments of oversight. Teaching her some self-defense skills certainly wouldn¡¯t hurt.


    Though if possible, he hoped she could always stay safely behind him, peacefully being Mrs. Gu.


    "Sure, actually I¡¯ve always admired soldiers since I was young. Why don¡¯t you send me to the military for some training?"


    Seeing the little woman¡¯s face full of longing, Gu Moqian¡¯s lips lifted slightly: "No."


    "Why not?"


    "Too many men in the military," Gu Moqian replied sinctly.


    Ji Wei froze for a moment. "You could send me to a women¡¯s barracks instead."


    "Women won¡¯t do either," Gu Moqian blurted out, his expression seemingly suppressing something.


    The woman had been pressing on him like this the whole time, asionally shifting around, thinking he wouldn¡¯t have any reaction?


    It was outright torture.


    "Oh..."


    Ji Wei responded softly and, noticing the man¡¯s eyes suddenly deepen, was struck by the realization of something. She hurriedly tried to get off him in panic: "Sorry, I¡¯ve been pressing on you for so long..."


    Her hands scrambled awkwardly as she got up, sending her knee directly into that spot, eliciting a muffled groan from the man.


    Ji Wei froze entirely, not daring to move a muscle. She stared nkly at the man¡¯s pained and restrained expression, like a child who had made a mistake, blushing deeply as she whispered, "I didn¡¯t mean to touch you there."


    "It¡¯s fine." The words were squeezed through his teeth, his voice deep and raspy.


    Ji Wei finally managed to climb off the man.


    She stood there, noticing Gu Moqian lying motionless on the ground, seemingly in no hurry to get up. Her expression shifted instantly, and she crouched down to ask with concern, "What¡¯s wrong? Did you twist your back when you fell just now?"


    Gu Moqian turned his head to look at her without speaking.


    "Let me help you to the bed for a rest; the floor¡¯s cold." As she spoke, she reached out to support him.


    "No need..."


    Gu Moqian¡¯s voice was still extraordinarily hoarse. He had intended to cool down, but seeing Ji Wei¡¯s worried expression, he supported himself with his hands and stood up.


    Ji Wei¡¯s expression finally rxed a little. She stepped into the room but abruptly paused and hurried back to the terrace, turning her head to say, "Mo Qian, there are five surveince cameras in the room. Although I¡¯ve cut the power, it¡¯s still better if we find and deal with all of them, just in case."


    Gu Moqian raised a brow: "So the sudden power outage was your doing?"


    "Yep, if I hadn¡¯t cut the power, I wouldn¡¯t have been able toe up here. I would¡¯ve been discovered before even reaching the terrace below."


    The little woman turned out to be smarter than he¡¯d imagined.


    Gu Moqian felt a tender warmth in his heart and suddenly pulled her into his arms: "Thank you foring to find me. Don¡¯t worry, I dealt with those surveince cameras long ago¡ªthey¡¯re all disabled now."


    Only then did Ji Wei feel relieved.


    The two held each other tightly, and it wasn¡¯t until a whileter that she remembered something important. She quickly poked her head toward the bedroom.


    The night spilled through the windows, faintly revealing the situation in the room. The quilt on the bed was still neatly folded, showing no signs that it had been slept in.


    Ji Wei couldn¡¯t help but exim in surprise: "Jianian? Isn¡¯t she locked in here with you?"


    Gu Moqian¡¯s deep gaze shifted toward the bathroom: "She¡¯s in there."

 Chapter 182: Do You Think Your Husband Is That Stupid?

    <h4>Chapter 182: Chapter 182: Do You Think Your Husband Is That Stupid?</h4><h4></h4>


    Ji Wei was even more surprised: "You locked her in the bathroom?"


    "Mm." Mo Qian nodded calmly.


    Ji Wei couldn¡¯t imagine what it was like for Zhu Jianian, who had been drugged with an aphrodisiac, to be locked alone in the bathroom, but it certainly wouldn¡¯t have been pleasant.


    Was this all a trap set by the Zhu Family? A case of reaping what one sows?


    "Right. There¡¯s something I don¡¯t understand. Why was Zhu Jianian drugged, but nothing happened to you?" This was the part Ji Wei couldn¡¯t quite figure out.


    She clearly remembered Zhu Ming¡¯an saying Mo Qian had been drugged too.


    Mo Qian lifted her delicate chin, his deep, clear eyes gazing into hers as he said with a faint, teasing smile, "Do you really think your husband is that foolish? That he could be so easily drugged and knocked out?"


    "But if you were fine, why would you let yourself be locked up..."


    Ji Wei had only just started speaking when her eyes suddenly lit up. Seeing the increasingly mischievous smile in the man¡¯s eyes, she was now even more certain of her suspicion: "You were acting, weren¡¯t you? Pretending to be drugged, fooling everyone!"


    That "everyone" undoubtedly included Nan Huiru. Otherwise, how could she have made it back to Shanshui Manor early to stop her from finding Mo Qian?


    Mo Qian nodded approvingly, "Mm, Mrs. Gu is indeed very clever."


    Hearing Mo Qian¡¯spliment, Ji Wei didn¡¯t show any signs of happiness. Instead, she abruptly pulled away from his embrace, pouting in displeasure as she said, "Do you have any idea how worried I was? Since you were fine, why didn¡¯t you think to send me a message? You let me fret and panic, terrified that Zhu Jianian might..."


    The petite woman stood with her back to him, her head lowered as she rambled on, venting her dissatisfaction.


    Mo Qian listened quietly until she suddenly fell silent. Only then did he step forward, wrapping his arms around her from behind, tightening them little by little.


    Ji Wei felt like she was being hugged so tightly she could barely breathe. She struggled slightly, but when she couldn¡¯t break free, she turned her head and red at him instead: "You don¡¯t care about my feelings, so why are you hugging me now?"


    Her tone was still puffed up with anger.


    Mo Qian buried his head against her fair, smooth neck, inhaling her light and elegant scent, his voice low and haunting as he murmured, "I didn¡¯t tell you because I didn¡¯t want you overthinking."


    Ji Wei thought for a moment and realized he had a point.


    If Mo Qian had told her that he¡¯d been locked in the same bedroom as Zhu Jianian, she probably wouldn¡¯t have been able to sit still either. She would¡¯ve run over to check on him anyway.


    "Don¡¯t be angry anymore, hmm?" The man¡¯s deep, velvety voice resounded beside her ear, the warmth of his breath teasing her sensitive nerves.


    Ji Wei wasn¡¯t actually angry anymore.


    Mo Qian hadn¡¯t nned on telling her anything. He chose to bear the danger of being schemed against alone, protecting her in his own way. Thinking of this, her nose suddenly felt a bit stuffy with emotion.


    She slowly reached out her hand, cing it over the warm hand resting on her waist, offering her silent response.


    Feeling the soft touch of her small hand, just the right warmth, it was like a wave of tender heat coursing through his heart.


    Mo Qian suddenly turned her body around. Seeing the slight astonishment flicker in her bright eyes, he leaned down abruptly, capturing her lips precisely with his own.


    His thin lips softly brushed, tenderly sucking, as though patiently waiting for her response.


    His breath was so close, and an electrifying numbness surged through her, making her heart tremble. Slowly, she began to respond to him.


    Their tongues entwined, as if neither could bear to let the other go, wanting nothing more than to merge each other into their very soul.


    Mo Qian¡¯s kiss stirred up a rosy flush on her cheeks, and before long, she was breathing unevenly.


    "Mm... ah..."

 Chapter 183: With Hatred in His Eyes, He Looked at Ji Wei

    <h4>Chapter 183: Chapter 183: With Hatred in His Eyes, He Looked at Ji Wei</h4><h4></h4>


    After a long while, the two finally parted reluctantly.


    Gu Moqian¡¯s palm still rested on her nape, leaning closer to press his forehead against hers, gazing at her intently.


    The woman¡¯s eyes were misty, her flushed cheeks incredibly alluring. He stared deeply into her eyes, his voice low and melodious: "From now on, whenever something like this happens, I¡¯ll tell you. You¡¯re my wife¡ªyou have the right to decide what to do, alright?"


    "Mhm."


    Ji Wei nodded repeatedly, her heart softening as though it would melt.


    Gu Moqian drew her into his arms once again. What he thought would be an unbearable evening now felt overwhelmingly fulfilling and fortunate.


    Because a woman had climbed windows and scaled trees just to find him, making him the most important worry in her heart.


    The two were indulging in the warmth of each other¡¯s embrace when a noise suddenly emerged from the direction of the bathroom.


    Bang!


    The sound of something heavy falling echoed, catching them both off guard. Simultaneously, they turned their gaze to the bathroom door.


    "Mm... mm..."


    Ji Wei vaguely heard the sound of a woman sobbing.


    "Half an hour ago, Zhu Jianian was making too much of a fuss, so I knocked her out. She¡¯s probably woken up now," Gu Moqian remarked indifferently.


    "Let¡¯s go check."


    The two walked to the bathroom door and unlocked it.


    Because of the power outage, the bathroom was dimly lit, and at first nce, nothing was visible.


    Ji Wei suddenly remembered the shlight she had taken earlier and pulled it out of her jacket pocket, pressing the switch to turn it on.


    A beam of bright light shone directly into the bathroom.


    Ji Wei finally saw the scene inside the bathroom.


    The floor was aplete mess; cleaning supplies were scattered everywhere, even towels were tossed haphazardly. Water pooled across the wet floor, with an improperly closed showerhead dripping incessantly.


    Sitting slouched by the bathtub was a woman, drenchedpletely. Her soaked hair clung to her head, and her mouth was stuffed with a towel, leaving her only able to produce muffled sounds.


    As the sudden shlight beam hit her, the woman instinctively turned her face away.


    Once her eyes adjusted to the light, she looked back at the doorway.


    Ji Wei was taken aback by Zhu Jianian¡¯s disheveled appearance, momentarily unable to gather her thoughts.


    "Mm! Mm!"


    Unable to see clearly who had arrived due to Ji Wei and Gu Moqian standing in the shadows, Zhu Jianian instinctively cried out for help.


    Her hands seemed to be bound by something in the front, restricting her movements. After several attempts, she managed to awkwardly pull herself off the floor and stumbled toward the two.


    Gu Moqian instinctively stepped forward, positioning himself in front of Ji Wei.


    As Zhu Jianian drew closer and closer, Ji Wei began to sense the strangeness of her condition.


    Her flushed face seemed ready to drip blood, while her fervent gaze burned as it locked onto Gu Moqian, an obsessive hunger consuming her¡ªlike a famished beast greedily yearning for something.


    Just as Zhu Jianian appeared ready to leap toward Gu Moqian, he swiftly sidestepped out of reach.


    Zhu Jianian missed her target and, stepping on the slippery floor, fell hard, her face hitting the ground.


    "Mm!"


    Unable to cry out in pain, Zhu Jianian¡¯s body curled into a ball, trembling all over from the agony.


    Ji Wei never imagined that Zhu Jianian¡ªthe proud and lofty woman, a graduate of an elite international university¡ªwould end up in such a condition.


    Had her desire to possess Gu Moqian consumed even her basic sense of shame and dignity?


    Perhaps the pain had sobered Zhu Jianian; when she raised her head from the ground again, her eyes brimmed with hatred as they fixed on Ji Wei.

 Chapter 184: Why do you get him, why!

    <h4>Chapter 184: Chapter 184: Why do you get him, why!</h4><h4></h4>


    Such a look made Ji Wei furrow her brow. Zhu Jianian brought this upon herself, and now she wanted to me her?


    "Mo Qian, I¡¯d like to talk to her alone, is that okay?" Ji Wei suddenly said.


    Gu Moqian nced at her briefly, then nodded lightly, "Alright."


    He understood that some matters needed to be resolved between women.


    After Gu Moqian left, Ji Wei, holding a shlight, approached Zhu Jianian, crouched down, and abruptly reached out to pull the towel from Zhu Jianian¡¯s mouth.


    Finally free, Zhu Jianian gasped heavily for fresh air. Her face, from the previous fall, was scraped and bleeding slightly.


    Ignoring her pain, she struggled to prop herself up on her elbows, her hateful gaze fixed firmly on Ji Wei.


    "Why are you here?" Zhu Jianian said through trembling clenched teeth, her voice sharp with venom.


    "Disappointed to see me, aren¡¯t you?" Ji Wei sneered coldly. "Using such shameful tactics to seduce Gu Moqian¡ªdon¡¯t you have any sense of decency? You¡¯re supposed to be well-educated; I expected more from you, Miss Zhu. Turns out I overestimated you."


    "What I do is none of your business," Zhu Jianian retorted, her eyes still brimming with hatred.


    "You¡¯re right, I wouldn¡¯t waste my breath on your self-destructive antics. But let me tell you one thing, Miss Zhu: a woman who doesn¡¯t respect herself will never earn the love of a man."


    "Do you think I want to be like this? If it weren¡¯t for Mo Qian¡¯s indifference toward me, and my father¡¯s impatience, would I have ever resorted to such despicable methods¡ªmethods I loathe even myself for?"


    Zhu Jianian suddenly clutched her chest, roaring, her eyes red, tears threatening to spill.


    Tonight¡¯s events, no doubt pushed along by Zhu Ming¡¯an, were still not entirely forced upon Zhu Jianian. If she had resisted to the end, her family wouldn¡¯t have truly coerced her.


    Deep down, Zhu Jianian carried a shred of hope¡ªusing these means to win the favor of the man she longed for day and night...


    "At this point, what¡¯s the use of saying any of this? If Miss Zhu still clings to even a sliver of shame or dignity, stay quietly in the bathroom until dawn. Say nothing, do nothing."


    Zhu Jianian was educated and the Zhu family¡¯s heiress. Ji Wei believed there was still pride within her. Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have spent years chasing Gu Moqian without resorting to cheap tricks.


    Ji Wei finished speaking and stopped looking at the woman behind her, striding toward the bathroom door.


    "Ji Wei, you¡¯re just a spoiled rich girl. What makes you worthy of him? What gives you the right?" Zhu Jianian screamed, tears rolling down her face.


    Her voice was cut off by the door as Ji Wei shut her out.


    When Ji Wei emerged, Gu Moqian, who had been leaning against the door, straightened and walked toward her, taking her hand.


    "Go rest on the sofa for a bit; there¡¯s still five or six hours until dawn," Gu Moqian said.


    As the two headed toward the sofa, footsteps suddenly echoed outside the bedroom door.


    Gu Moqian immediately gestured for Ji Wei to be silent. He silently moved toward the door, cing his ear against it.


    The voices outside were hushed but still faintly audible.


    "Sir, are you sure you want to take a look? What if we disturb Miss Zhu..."


    "Tonight¡¯s events are far too strange¡ªthe surveince cameras aren¡¯t even working. I¡¯m uneasy, and I must check!" Zhu Ming¡¯an¡¯s decisive voice came through clearly.


    Then the sound of keys colliding with metal rang through.


    Gu Moqian¡¯s brow furrowed sharply.


    Zhu Ming¡¯an wasing in!


    -


    (This story is stillpeting¡ªfour updates daily! Please continue toment, vote, and send rewards to support Tutu so this story can go further. Love you all!)


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 185 What should I do, I can’t control myself around you now...

    <h4>Chapter 185: Chapter 185 What should I do, I can¡¯t control myself around you now...</h4><h4></h4>


    This door was locked from the outside, and at this moment, Mo Qian heard the conversation of two people outside. He had already ced his hand on the doorknob, ready to firmly block the door.


    But this was ultimately not a solution.


    What could be done to stop Zhu Ming¡¯an froming in?


    Suddenly, a pair of pale, slender hands rested lightly on Mo Qian¡¯s shoulders. He turned his head sharply and saw that Ji Wei had approached him at some point.


    Both of them understood implicitly that under no circumstances could the people outside discover the situation in this room.


    Otherwise, Mo Qian¡¯s carefully nned deception would be shattered.


    Ji Wei¡¯s clear eyes fixed steadily on Mo Qian. In the next moment, she suddenly leaned forward, holding his neck with her hand and pressing her lips against his.


    Mo Qian understood immediately what she intended to do.


    Wrapping his arms around her body, he turned her over in one swift motion, pinning her against the wall beside the door. Pressing against her, he turned the kiss into something deliberate and domineering, biting hard on her soft, red lips.


    "Mmm... ah..."


    The woman cooperatively let out moans from between her lips.


    Her voice was deliberately more intense and passionate than usual.


    The man¡¯s lips traced from her cheek and stopped at her ear, where his tongue brushed against her delicate, pale earlobe. His deep, husky voice, mingled with heavy breaths, whispered, "Cry out. I want to hear more."


    Just a thin wall away, Zhu Ming¡¯an was already preparing to insert the key into the lock when he suddenly heard these blush-inducing and heart-racing sounds. His hand froze instantly.


    Although he knew it was merely an act for the people outside the door, Mo Qian¡¯s voice at this moment was unbearably low and sensual. Coupled with the way his tongue happened to brush past her most sensitive spot, it sent shivers through Ji Wei¡¯s entire body, making her let out an uncontroble sound.


    "Ah... mmm... ah..."


    Inside the room, the heavy breathing didn¡¯t stop. After freezing for a few seconds, Zhu Ming¡¯an stuffed the key back into his pocket.


    Everyone in Rongcheng knew that Mo Qian, the city¡¯s famous cold and self-restrained elite, locked inside with a woman burning with lust, couldn¡¯t resist the primal urges of a man.


    After all, there were few who could remain unmoved like the ancient sage who resisted temptation, especially when the woman before him was so enchanting and gentle.


    The pair had been locked together for hours now, and the intensity of the "battle" showed no signs of waning. It seemed that once this night passed, everything would be firmly set in stone.


    Drenched in his confidence of victory, Zhu Ming¡¯an turned away without an ounce of suspicion, departing with joy written all over his face.


    As the sound of footsteps in the hallway faded into the distance and the silence of the night returned, Ji Wei secretly let out a breath of relief.


    "Mo Qian, they¡¯ve left,"


    She said softly, and was about to push the man away when she suddenly realized that Mo Qian, pressed against her, showed no sign of letting go.


    She lifted her gaze and met a pair of dark eyes zing with intense passion.


    Ji Wei¡¯s heart trembled within her chest.


    Could it be that Mo Qian was truly reacting to her?


    "What should I do? Right now, I can¡¯t restrain myself around you..." His voice was slightly ragged, murmuring in her ear.


    Ji Wei¡¯s hand, still resting on his back, felt the thinyer of sweat soaking through his shirt.


    The scent of Mo Qian lingered in the air between them, mixed with a faint trace of sweat and masculine pheromones, teasing her already frayed nerves.


    Suddenly, Mo Qian pulled her even closer, his lips descending on her pale, slender neck, kissing her with increasing intensity.


    Ji Wei¡¯s entire body was confined between the wall and his chest, her heart racing wildly with every kiss hended.


    The room was utterly quiet; the moonlight filtered through thettice window, outlining vague shapes within the space.


    "Mo Qian, no... we can¡¯t... not here..."


    Just as she was about to lose control, Ji Wei gave a small struggle, avoiding the kiss that was about tond on her lips, turning her head away and whispering hoarsely.

 Chapter 186: After Going Back, You Can Do Whatever You Want

    <h4>Chapter 186: Chapter 186: After Going Back, You Can Do Whatever You Want</h4><h4></h4>


    Not to mention this is someone else¡¯s bedroom, which instinctively makes her feel uneasy, and besides, Zhu Jianian is in the bathroom now, asking her to just do it with him... she really can¡¯t handle it.


    Mo Qian lightly bit her lips, his warm breath spraying on her cheeks, "Really can¡¯t?"


    Her face flushed red, she buried her head in his neck, pleading softly, "Can we... do it when we go back...?"


    "Okay." Mo Qian responded in a low husky voice, but didn¡¯t let go of her.


    Ji Wei felt a bit panicked and urged again, "After we go back, you can do whatever you want, can we just not for tonight?"


    The man on top of her suddenly lifted his head, gazing down at her, his eyes smiling, "I¡¯ll remember what you said."


    Ji Wei looked at him in a daze, why does it suddenly feel like she¡¯s been trapped?


    After a pause, she heard the woman speak again, "The things that happened tonight feel like a movie, I never thought one day I¡¯d sneak into the Zhu Family, and even boldly climb a tree to get up here."


    Ji Wei¡¯s voice gently rose in the quiet night.


    Mo Qian lowered his gaze, "I didn¡¯t think you¡¯d be so bold toe looking for me either. If anything happened to you, I would me myself for a lifetime. In the future, I won¡¯t hide anything from you again, sorry for making you worry."


    Ji Wei quietly gazed at those eyes in the darkness that were more beautiful than the stars. After a while, she buried her head into the man¡¯s chest and murmured a soft "Hmm."


    The two of them didn¡¯t speak anymore, just held each other tightly.


    Suddenly, the ttering sound from the bathroom startled Ji Wei, making her raise her head abruptly.


    "What happened?" She looked over.


    Mo Qian¡¯s eyes were cold and dark as he looked towards the bathroom, shadows moving behind the closed door.


    The sound of water sshing came from the bathroom, it must be Zhu Jianian fumbling around in the dark earlier, tipping something over by mistake.


    It¡¯s probably not easy to endure that kind of drug, but this was all Zhu Jianian¡¯s own choice, who can she me?


    "Are you sleepy?"


    Mo Qian withdrew his gaze, gently stroking the woman¡¯s soft hair, speaking tenderly.


    "Not sleepy." Ji Wei shook her head.


    After experiencing so much tonight, she was surprised she didn¡¯t feel sleepy at all.


    Mo Qian suddenly took her hand and led her to the terrace. There was a sliding door between the terrace and the bedroom, and after they went out, they closed the sliding door.


    The outside air was slightly cool, but very fresh, apletely different feeling from indoors.


    Beside the terrace was a swing-like wicker chair. Mo Qian sat down and pulled Ji Wei onto hisp, wrapping his strong arms around her from behind.


    Ji Wei felt a little embarrassed at first but didn¡¯t dare to move recklessly, her heart pounding like a frightened deer.


    The man¡¯s warm palm gently caressed her waist through the fabric, deliberately teasing her nerves.


    In the distance, the sky was dawning, the morning light would soon break through the clouds and illuminate the earth.


    Somehow, looking at this scene, Ji Wei felt a strange sense of familiarity sh through her heart.


    It seemed like somewhere deep in her memory, a simr scene had appeared.


    The fresh smell of grass and trees, the cool night air, and the thin morning mist surrounding them, and when the sky gradually brightened, that joy of narrowly escaping danger...


    And, the same warm and steady embrace.


    But when Ji Wei wanted to see clearly the person in her memory holding her in that embrace, she couldn¡¯t make it out.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 187 Zhu Ming’an’s Face Looks Like He’s Seen a Ghost

    <h4>Chapter 187: Chapter 187 Zhu Ming¡¯an¡¯s Face Looks Like He¡¯s Seen a Ghost</h4><h4></h4>


    Suddenly, a sharp headache struck, and Ji Wei couldn¡¯t help but let out a low gasp.


    "What happened? Are you feeling unwell?" Gu Moqian, noticing her knitted brows and the thinyer of sweat on her forehead, immediately asked with concern.


    Ji Wei raised her hand to rub her temple. "I don¡¯t know... it feels like this scene, being held like this and waiting for daylight, is so familiar, as if I¡¯ve experienced it before. But I just can¡¯t remember..."


    Gu Moqian¡¯s gaze darkened as he heard her words. He stared at her puzzled face and remained silent for a long time.


    Then he pressed her head into his embrace, his voice slightly hoarse. "If you can¡¯t remember, then don¡¯t force yourself to. Let it go."


    Listening to the strong rhythm of his heartbeat, Ji Wei gently nodded.


    Gu Moqian¡¯s embrace always had the ability to make her forget all her worries. Before long, she drifted off to sleep.


    As the woman leaned against him, her breathing soft and steady, Gu Moqian lowered his head. His eyes traced her delicate, pale face, which somehow ovepped with the image of a youthful face from his memories.


    It¡¯s okay... one day, you¡¯ll remember.


    He raised his hand to gently outline the contours of her face, his lips curving into a faint, enchanting smile.


    ...


    Early the next morning, Zhu Ming¡¯an rushed eagerly to the door of the room.


    The vi¡¯s electrical panel had been severely damaged, leaving him unable to ess the surveince cameras all night, which only exacerbated his unease. Years of maneuvering in the business world had cultivated his suspicious nature. Not being able to confirm that Gu Moqian and Zhu Jianian were sleeping together left him deeply unsettled.


    With swift motions, Zhu Ming¡¯an took out a key and unlocked the door.


    But the moment the door swung open, he nearly stumbled backward in shock at the sight of the man standing before him!


    Gu Moqian stood there with a detached, intense expression. He was dressed impably in a white shirt and dark cks, his attire neat, his hair perfectly in ce without a trace of disorder.


    Moreover, there was no sign of exhaustion or excess indulgence visible on his face.


    Zhu Ming¡¯an¡¯s mind was full of suspicion.


    Impossible. He had clearly heard those breathy, intimate soundsst night with his own ears¡ªthere was no mistaking it.


    Struggling to collect himself, Zhu Ming¡¯an forced a courteous smile and asked, "Mr. Gu, up so early? Why not sleep a little longer? Where¡¯s Jianian? She hasn¡¯t woken up yet, has she?"


    As he spoke, Zhu Ming¡¯an stretched his neck to peek into the bedroom, eager to verify his assumptions.


    But Gu Moqian ced a hand firmly against the doorframe, his tall figure unmoving as he coldly stared at Zhu Ming¡¯an, making him feelpletely out of sorts.


    Suddenly, a slender and fair hand rested on Gu Moqian¡¯s shoulder, followed by a sweet and soft voice spilling from red lips. "Honey, who¡¯s here?"


    When the woman abruptly appeared behind Gu Moqian, Zhu Ming¡¯an¡¯s face turned ashen, as if he¡¯d seen a ghost.


    If it weren¡¯t for Shen Yu behind him catching his fall, Zhu Ming¡¯an would have copsed right onto the ground.


    "You, you... who are you? How can you be in Jianian¡¯s room?" Zhu Ming¡¯an stammered, trembling as he pointed at Ji Wei.


    Gu Moqian pulled Ji Wei into his arms, a cold, cutting smile ying on his lips as he spoke. "She is my wife¡ªJi Wei."


    Ji Wei... this woman¡¯s surname is Ji!


    In that instant, Zhu Ming¡¯an realized the identity of the woman before him.


    So this was none other than the eldest daughter of the Ji Family¡ªthe one betrothed to Gu Moqian!


    He shook his head in disbelief. "How can she be here? No, this can¡¯t be possible, absolutely not!"


    "Impossible, you say? President Zhu, are you disappointed you didn¡¯t see what you¡¯d expected?"

 Chapter 188: Do You Find It Funny to Push Your Daughter onto Me?

    <h4>Chapter 188: Chapter 188: Do You Find It Funny to Push Your Daughter onto Me?</h4><h4></h4>


    "Impossible what? President Zhu, are you disappointed not to see the scene you envisioned?"


    Mo Qian¡¯s voice carried a dangerous undertone, his deep-set eyes icy and cold: "President Zhu has been clever his whole life, and now you¡¯re muddled to this extent in your old age? Thinking that drugging me would guarantee everything, and throwing your daughter at me¡ªdon¡¯t you find it ridiculous?"


    Zhu Ming¡¯an¡¯s heart sank to rock bottom the moment Ji Wei appeared.


    He couldn¡¯t have dreamed that the n he¡¯d painstakingly orchestrated would be effortlessly seen through by Mo Qian.


    When Mo Qian mentioned Zhu Jianian, Shen Yu, standing to the side, finally snapped back to reality. She hurriedly pushed open the door and rushed inside, flustered: "Jianian, where¡¯s Jianian?"


    Zhu Ming¡¯an¡¯s face darkened as he followed her inside.


    Shen Yu scanned the room; seeing no sign of anyone having slept in the bed and no trace of Zhu Jianian, her anxiety only deepened. "Jianian! Where are you, Jianian? Jianian..."


    Shen Yu called out in panic, finally stopping at the tightly shut bathroom door.


    "Sir, do you think Jianian might be inside?" Shen Yu¡¯s face waspletely drained of color. She turned to ask, trembling.


    Zhu Ming¡¯an¡¯s cold gaze locked on the tightly shut bathroom door, his expression utterly grim.


    It seemed Mo Qian had confined Jianian in there all night.


    Zhu Ming¡¯an¡¯s hands clenched into fists at his sides, suppressing a fury that threatened to erupt. He turned back toward the doorway and barked sharply at the butler who stood there hesitating to enter: "What are you waiting for? Get in here and open the door!"


    Terrified by Zhu Ming¡¯an¡¯s reprimand, the butler jolted as if shocked, quickly stepping inside to fetch a spare key and unlock the bathroom door.


    "Jianian, Jianian..."


    Shen Yu walked in, trembling.


    As the bathroom door swung open, light from outside poured in, illuminating everything inside.


    The water pooled on the floor had mostly dried, but the mess scattered all around nearly made Shen Yu trip. She stumbled forward and suddenly froze in ce, her face filling with a horrified expression.


    Shen Yu saw Zhu Jianian sitting astride the edge of the bathtub, her clothes disheveled, hands bound in front of her. Her body twisted uncontrobly, her face flushed with an ecstatic and frenzied glow...


    Her clothes werepletely soaked, clinging tightly to her skin, and her wet hair hung loosely over her shoulders.


    The drug Zhu Ming¡¯an had procured secretly from Thand was three times stronger than an ordinary one, specifically designed to prevent Mo Qian from relying on rationality to resist.


    But nobody had imagined that Zhu Jianian would mistakenly drink the ss of water meant for Mo Qian.


    By the time they realized the error, it was toote.


    Soter they secretly drugged Mo Qian and locked the two together, thinking that this way everything would go off without a hitch. But no one had expected this to be the oue!


    The drug¡¯s potency was overwhelming; even after a night of cold showers, Zhu Jianian couldn¡¯t get relief. She was forced to deal with the torment in such a humiliating way.


    "Jianian... Jian..."


    Seeing Zhu Jianian, usually so refined and well-mannered, reduced to this state, Shen Yu couldn¡¯t handle the shock and fainted on the spot.


    "Madam!" The butler rushed over and caught Shen Yu.


    His daughter¡¯s needy, wanton appearance stunned Zhu Ming¡¯an so deeply that his entire body trembled with rage and humiliation.


    His eyes bulged, brimming with fury, as he strode over to Zhu Jianian, pulled off his coat, and draped it over her: "Jianian,e to your senses!"

 Chapter 189 Looking at the Man Called Father as If He Were the Devil

    <h4>Chapter 189: Chapter 189 Looking at the Man Called Father as If He Were the Devil</h4><h4></h4>


    Zhu Ming¡¯an gritted his teeth, his face twisted in disappointment as though ming her for failing to meet his expectations.


    Left alone with Gu Moqian, yet she couldn¡¯t even handle that man¡ªshe was such a letdown to him!


    Suddenly, a piece of clothing appeared on her body. Zhu Jianian looked up in confusion, her writhing motions abruptly stopping. But the instant she heard a man¡¯s voice, her raw nerves were sharply provoked again.


    In this moment, in Zhu Jianian¡¯s eyes, Zhu Ming¡¯an wasn¡¯t her father¡ªhe was nothing more than a man!


    Tormented by the drug¡¯s effects to the brink of madness, she was like a starving she-wolf, lunging at Zhu Ming¡¯an with terrifying urgency!


    When his daughter clung tightly to him, her hands already reaching to undo his belt, Zhu Ming¡¯an felt the blood in his veins freeze solid.


    <subt></subt>


    His face turned ashen, a mixture of fury and panic overtaking him. Abruptly, he raised his hand and delivered a vicious p across Zhu Jianian¡¯s face.


    Smack!


    The crisp sound of the p echoed strikingly loud in the bathroom.


    Zhu Ming¡¯an didn¡¯t hold back; the force was severe. Five distinct finger marks instantly appeared on one side of Zhu Jianian¡¯s face. The intense pain momentarily snapped her out of the desire engulfing her body, leaving her frozen in ce.


    When she saw Zhu Ming¡¯an¡¯s hand still trembling in midair, not fully lowered after the p, a flicker of terror and panic gleamed in Zhu Jianian¡¯s wide eyes. Suddenly, she staggered backward.


    She retreated a few steps, failing to notice the bathtub behind her, and with a piercing scream, she fell directly into the water.


    Thud!


    Water sshed in all directions, yet the fear on Zhu Jianian¡¯s face remained undiminished. She stared at the man she called father with wide eyes, as if staring at a demon.


    "No¡ªdon¡¯te near me... Stay away!"


    Curling up in the corner of the bathtub, Zhu Jianian screamed frantically in a fit of fear, watching Zhu Ming¡¯an inch toward her.


    A sh of anguish clouded Zhu Ming¡¯an¡¯s eyes before he called out sharply to the butler behind him, "Go call Nanny Liu to bring Miss out of here at once!"


    The butler helped support Shen Yu onto the sofa and then rushed downstairs to fetch someone.


    Minutester, the Zhu family¡¯s maid, Nanny Liu, walked into the bathroom. Spotting Zhu Jianian trembling as she soaked in the bathtub filled with cold water, Nanny Liu hurried forward in concern, trying to help her up. "Miss, Miss, what¡¯s wrong with you? Come out quickly, or you¡¯ll catch a cold!"


    As soon as Nanny Liu touched Zhu Jianian¡¯s hand, she was startled by the burning heat radiating from her body.


    "Sir... Miss has a fever. She¡¯s burning up," Nanny Liu eximed, her face full of panic, unaware that Zhu Jianian had been drugged, as she turned to Zhu Ming¡¯an with worry.


    Zhu Ming¡¯an¡¯s face darkened to an unspeakable degree. He growled under his breath, "Take her to the guestroom and call the family doctor to examine her."


    "Alright, alright..."


    Nanny Liu nodded quickly, reaching out both hands to support Zhu Jianian. However, Zhu Jianian stared at her with visible resistance, refusing to follow her.


    "Miss, it¡¯s me, Nanny Liu¡ªthe one who¡¯s watched you grow up since you were a child. Pleasee out, alright?" Nanny Liu pleaded tearfully, her voice choking with emotion.


    For a moment, Zhu Jianian stared at her nkly. Amid the clouded haze in her mind, a flicker of recognition for Nanny Liu broke through. After hesitating for a moment, she finally allowed herself to be helped out of the bathroom.


    Ji Wei and Gu Moqian were standing by the doorway, coldly observing the unfolding drama.


    When Zhu Jianian stepped out and caught sight of Gu Moqian, her pupils contracted violently. Gritting her teeth hard, every step she took seemed unbearably difficult, as if she was exerting every ounce of willpower to suppress the wild unrest in her body.


    <subt></subt>


    Nanny Liu half-dragged, half-pulled her along, leading her out of the room.


    All the while, Zhu Jianian¡¯s gaze remained fixed on Gu Moqian¡¯s figure as though he were a delectable piece of meat, tempting and irresistible.


    Yet, as she passed by Ji Wei, Zhu Jianian¡¯s obsessive infatuation with Gu Moqian abruptly transformed. Her bloodshot eyes locked onto Ji Wei¡¯s, surging with intense hatred and fierce indignation.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 191: This Shameless Old Fox!

    <h4>Chapter 191: Chapter 191: This Shameless Old Fox!</h4><h4></h4>


    In the living room.


    Gu Moqian methodically took out disinfectant cotton swabs and alcohol from the medical kit.


    Although he had temporarily cleaned Ji Wei¡¯s wound with saliva earlier, it was far from the best method. Concerned about potential scarring, he needed to handle it carefully.


    Ji Wei obediently extended her arm, watching the man attentively disinfect the wound on her arm. Warmth surged in her heart.


    Beside them, Zhu Ming¡¯an stood uneasily, his nerves on edge. Seeing Gu Moqian¡¯s seriousness, he didn¡¯t dare to speak first, even though the anxiety in his mind felt like ants scurrying in a hot pan.


    After Gu Moqian finally finished applying the medication and returned the medical supplies to the kit, Zhu Ming¡¯an couldn¡¯t hold back any longer and said, "Mr. Gu,st night¡¯s incident wasn¡¯t our Zhu Family¡¯s idea. As you know, if it hadn¡¯t been your mother¡¯s instructions, we wouldn¡¯t have dared to do such a thing."


    Upon hearing Zhu Ming¡¯an¡¯s words, Ji Wei couldn¡¯t help but silently sneer.


    The truth was that Zhu Ming¡¯an harbored ill intentions. Now that things had been exposed, he was desperately throwing the me onto Nan Huiru. What a shameless old fox!


    Gu Moqian acted as though he hadn¡¯t heard a thing, carefully pulling down Ji Wei¡¯s sleeve before gently holding her soft little hand, wrapping it securely in his grasp.


    This indifferent response only deepened Zhu Ming¡¯an¡¯s difort.


    He spoke up again, "To be honest, the entire matter boils down to love. We were just as shocked to realize that Jianian loves you to the point of no return. You grew up together, and in Jianian¡¯s heart, she¡¯s always seen you as her closest person. When she heard about your marriage, she lost herposure and impulsively made a mistake. Mr. Gu, could you forgive her this once, for the sake of the years of friendship between our families?"


    If he wasn¡¯t ming Nan Huiru, he was shifting the me onto Zhu Jianian. Was Zhu Ming¡¯an being clever or foolish, thinking Gu Moqian would be so easily deceived?


    Gu Moqian had already seen through everythingst night. That¡¯s why he decided to y along and cooperate in staging this act. Now that Zhu Ming¡¯an was trying to clean things up, it was far toote.


    "So, President Zhu, are you saying thatst night¡¯s events had nothing to do with you?" Gu Moqian finally turned his head to nce at Zhu Ming¡¯an.


    His expression was fiercely cold, exuding an intimidating aura.


    Zhu Ming¡¯an forced an awkward and ugly smile, "Jianian is my daughter. Of course, I wouldn¡¯t want to see her unhappy every day. Last night, I tacitly approved of Jianian¡¯s actions. Ultimately, it¡¯s my failure as a father to properly guide her, and it led her to make mistakes. I deeply regret it."


    Zhu Ming¡¯an clutched his chest, putting on an expression of heartbreak and remorse.


    Ji Wei felt thoroughly disgusted.


    It was the first time she had witnessed such a malevolent and ruthless father.


    "President Zhu seems to have missed one crucial point." Gu Moqian coldly fixed his gaze on him and spoke slowly.


    Zhu Ming¡¯an stared at him in bewilderment, "What does Mr. Gu mean by this?"


    "Zhu Family¡¯s stock price has been declining steadily for the past two weeks, resulting in losses of over ten billion. Am I right?" Gu Moqian¡¯s icy gaze bore into Zhu Ming¡¯an as he spoke.


    Zhu Ming¡¯an¡¯s face turned pale in an instant. He stared at Gu Moqian, and a sh of realization lit up in his mind like a bolt of lightning. His eyes widened: "It was you!"


    The Zhu Family¡¯s stock price had always been stable, but just two weeks ago, it encountered an unprecedented crisis¡ªstock prices plummeted, shareholders rapidly withdrew investments, and the Zhu Family¡¯s holdings were on the brink of copse!


    He had sent people to investigate but couldn¡¯t uncover even a trace of evidence. He thought perhaps it was an act of revenge from some business rival offended over the years.


    But he never imagined that the matter could be connected to Gu Moqian!

 Chapter 191: This Shameless Old Fox!

    <h4>Chapter 191: Chapter 191: This Shameless Old Fox!</h4><h4></h4>


    In the living room.


    Gu Moqian methodically took out disinfectant cotton swabs and alcohol from the medical kit.


    Although he had temporarily cleaned Ji Wei¡¯s wound with saliva earlier, it was far from the best method. Concerned about potential scarring, he needed to handle it carefully.


    Ji Wei obediently extended her arm, watching the man attentively disinfect the wound on her arm. Warmth surged in her heart.


    Beside them, Zhu Ming¡¯an stood uneasily, his nerves on edge. Seeing Gu Moqian¡¯s seriousness, he didn¡¯t dare to speak first, even though the anxiety in his mind felt like ants scurrying in a hot pan.


    After Gu Moqian finally finished applying the medication and returned the medical supplies to the kit, Zhu Ming¡¯an couldn¡¯t hold back any longer and said, "Mr. Gu,st night¡¯s incident wasn¡¯t our Zhu Family¡¯s idea. As you know, if it hadn¡¯t been your mother¡¯s instructions, we wouldn¡¯t have dared to do such a thing."


    Upon hearing Zhu Ming¡¯an¡¯s words, Ji Wei couldn¡¯t help but silently sneer.


    The truth was that Zhu Ming¡¯an harbored ill intentions. Now that things had been exposed, he was desperately throwing the me onto Nan Huiru. What a shameless old fox!


    Gu Moqian acted as though he hadn¡¯t heard a thing, carefully pulling down Ji Wei¡¯s sleeve before gently holding her soft little hand, wrapping it securely in his grasp.


    This indifferent response only deepened Zhu Ming¡¯an¡¯s difort.


    He spoke up again, "To be honest, the entire matter boils down to love. We were just as shocked to realize that Jianian loves you to the point of no return. You grew up together, and in Jianian¡¯s heart, she¡¯s always seen you as her closest person. When she heard about your marriage, she lost herposure and impulsively made a mistake. Mr. Gu, could you forgive her this once, for the sake of the years of friendship between our families?"


    If he wasn¡¯t ming Nan Huiru, he was shifting the me onto Zhu Jianian. Was Zhu Ming¡¯an being clever or foolish, thinking Gu Moqian would be so easily deceived?


    Gu Moqian had already seen through everythingst night. That¡¯s why he decided to y along and cooperate in staging this act. Now that Zhu Ming¡¯an was trying to clean things up, it was far toote.


    "So, President Zhu, are you saying thatst night¡¯s events had nothing to do with you?" Gu Moqian finally turned his head to nce at Zhu Ming¡¯an.


    His expression was fiercely cold, exuding an intimidating aura.


    Zhu Ming¡¯an forced an awkward and ugly smile, "Jianian is my daughter. Of course, I wouldn¡¯t want to see her unhappy every day. Last night, I tacitly approved of Jianian¡¯s actions. Ultimately, it¡¯s my failure as a father to properly guide her, and it led her to make mistakes. I deeply regret it."


    Zhu Ming¡¯an clutched his chest, putting on an expression of heartbreak and remorse.


    Ji Wei felt thoroughly disgusted.


    It was the first time she had witnessed such a malevolent and ruthless father.


    "President Zhu seems to have missed one crucial point." Gu Moqian coldly fixed his gaze on him and spoke slowly.


    Zhu Ming¡¯an stared at him in bewilderment, "What does Mr. Gu mean by this?"


    "Zhu Family¡¯s stock price has been declining steadily for the past two weeks, resulting in losses of over ten billion. Am I right?" Gu Moqian¡¯s icy gaze bore into Zhu Ming¡¯an as he spoke.


    Zhu Ming¡¯an¡¯s face turned pale in an instant. He stared at Gu Moqian, and a sh of realization lit up in his mind like a bolt of lightning. His eyes widened: "It was you!"


    The Zhu Family¡¯s stock price had always been stable, but just two weeks ago, it encountered an unprecedented crisis¡ªstock prices plummeted, shareholders rapidly withdrew investments, and the Zhu Family¡¯s holdings were on the brink of copse!


    He had sent people to investigate but couldn¡¯t uncover even a trace of evidence. He thought perhaps it was an act of revenge from some business rival offended over the years.


    But he never imagined that the matter could be connected to Gu Moqian!

 Chapter 192: I Didn’t Mean to Spray Your Face, Shall I Wipe It for You?

    <h4>Chapter 192: Chapter 192: I Didn¡¯t Mean to Spray Your Face, Shall I Wipe It for You?</h4><h4></h4>


    "Why target the Zhu Family? Our two families have been allies for generations. You have no reason to do this..."


    Zhu Ming¡¯an staggered slightly, his face full of shock as he looked at Gu Moqian.


    "Why?" Gu Moqian sneered coldly, "When Zhu Jianian wakes up, go ask her why she tried to harm Ji Wei."


    Zhu Ming¡¯an was taken aback: "Jianian just returned to the country a few days ago. When could she have harmed Miss Ji?"


    "Just returned?" Gu Moqian¡¯s voice turned icy and sharp as he retorted, "Do you really think I don¡¯t know? She secretly returned two weeks ago."


    Zhu Ming¡¯an stumbled back a step.


    "She thought she had done it so covertly that no one would notice, even leveraging the owner of Zimei Club. But I still found out¡ªit was your daughter. When ites to ruthlessness, your daughter has certainly inherited it from you."


    Zhu Ming¡¯an felt the blood in his veins freeze. He hadn¡¯t expected Gu Moqian to know everything, to be so crystal clear about the truth, while concealing it all so deeply.


    How could he have forgotten? This number one young man in Rongcheng is the rightful head of the Gu Family, the man Gu Zhizhou willingly ceded the family¡¯s century-old foundation to with full trust!


    A man as sharp and decisive in business as Gu Moqian, a hundred times craftier than the slyest of foxes¡ªhow could he possibly be fooled by something as trivial as a drug? How could he so easily fall into the trap they arrogantly thought was foolproof?


    Only now did Zhu Ming¡¯an truly understand just what the nearly deified name "Gu Moqian" meant to the people of Rongcheng.


    He slumped onto the sofa nearby, unable even to force a smile. His hands, resting on his knees, trembled uncontrobly from the fear and despair consuming his heart.


    <sub>f|re(e)web.n\ovel. (c)o.m</sub>


    He had initially intended to grit his teeth and pin everything on Nan Huiru, but Gu Moqian had already seen through it all¡ªdeceiving him was impossible.


    "So lively this early in the morning¡ªdid I miss something?"


    The previously icy solemnity of the living room was suddenly interrupted by the boisterous, carefree voice of a man.


    As the voice trailed off, Xi Nanfeng could be seen strolling in while stretchingzily.


    Who knew how long he¡¯d been standing outside? Only now did he choose to enter.


    Xi Nanfeng swept a casual nce at Gu Moqian and Ji Wei, then swaggered over to a spot beside Zhu Ming¡¯an, plopping down without hesitation. He even helped himself to the tea on the table, taking a sip.


    Whether the tea tasted off or not, Xi Nanfeng frowned, and before he could hold back, he spat it out. The teanded, unerringly, right on Zhu Ming¡¯an¡¯s already ashen face.


    The steaming tea caused Zhu Ming¡¯an¡¯s face to convulse painfully for a moment, rendering himpletely petrified.


    Tea trickled from his elderly face, with a few stray leaves clinging to it.


    He couldn¡¯t have looked more miserable if he tried.


    Ji Wei could clearly sense that Zhu Ming¡¯an¡¯s dignity had been utterly shattered, yet he stubbornly held hisposure, suppressing his humiliation.


    In the presence of Gu Moqian, this old fox could only swallow his grievances.


    "Uncle Zhu, you¡¯re not mad, are you? The tea from your family tastes so strange¡ªI just can¡¯t drink it. I didn¡¯t mean to spit it all over you. Let me help wipe it off for you?"


    Xi Nanfeng offered this with a seemingly earnest expression as he reached out his sleeve to wipe Zhu Ming¡¯an¡¯s face.


    Zhu Ming¡¯an turned his head away to dodge, lifting his own hand to wipe the tea from his face. His expression was indescribably grim.


    He knew perfectly well that Xi Nanfeng had done it on purpose, but he had no choice but to endure it.


    Xi Nanfeng sat back down and asked, "Uncle Zhu, didn¡¯t you sayst night that Old Mo wasn¡¯t here? So why did he suddenly show up early this morning?"

 Chapter 193: Too Full of Oneself, Doomed!

    <h4>Chapter 193: Chapter 193: Too Full of Oneself, Doomed!</h4><h4></h4>


    "You were looking for mest night?"


    Mo Qian didn¡¯t know Xi Nanfeng hade over the previous night. Hearing him say that, he was a bit surprised.


    Xi Nanfeng nced at Ji Wei beside him and shot him a look. "Well, uh... nothing much really. I was just bored, wanted to chat with someone to kill time. I heard from Chen Ke you were here, so I came over to check."


    Although Mo Qian didn¡¯t quite understand the hint in Xi Nanfeng¡¯s look, he knew for sure he was lying based on what he¡¯d said. Yet, he refrained from questioning further in front of Zhu Ming¡¯an.


    Now that everything had beenid bare, he didn¡¯t n to stay any longer.


    Mo Qian pulled Ji Wei¡¯s hand and stood up to leave.


    Seeing this, Xi Nanfeng turned to Zhu Ming¡¯an and quipped, "Uncle Zhu, your family¡¯s bed is prettyfortable. Thanks for giving me shelterst night."


    After saying this, he followed Mo Qian and the others outside.


    Mo Qian walked a few steps before abruptly stopping and turning back. His deep, icy eyes locked onto Zhu Ming¡¯an as he warned, "Oh, by the way, President Zhu, you¡¯d better not make any desperate moves. Otherwise, your good-for-nothing son might just end up crippled by the underground casino crowd one day."


    Zhu Ming¡¯an felt a chill run through his body, staring in fear at Mo Qian, who was already at the doorway¡ªcold, refined, and imposing.


    Mo Qian had anticipated all his potential ways to retaliate and blocked them entirely.


    This man was terrifying.


    ...


    At the vi¡¯s entrance, the driver, Old Xu, was already standing beside the car with hands down, waiting for them.


    All three got into the vehicle.


    Once the car began moving, the ever-restless Xi Nanfeng turned around from the passenger seat, raising an eyebrow smugly at Mo Qian. "Old Mo, I did you a huge favorst night. You owe me big time."


    In the back seat, Mo Qian pulled Ji Wei into his arms,pletely unconcerned about the fact that there were two others in the car. Upon hearing Xi Nanfeng¡¯s words, he slightly parted his lips, his demeanorzy yet sharp as he asked, "What did you do for me?"


    "It¡¯s a long story. If you don¡¯t believe me, you can call Assistant Chen for confirmation," Xi Nanfeng replied.


    "Alright, I¡¯ll ask him now."


    Mo Qian took out his phone decisively and dialed Chen Ke¡¯s number.


    Rarely seeing Mo Qian this straightforward, Xi Nanfeng was still savoring the anticipation of receiving a grand token of gratitude. Yet, he failed to notice Mo Qian¡¯s expression growing colder and colder as he listened to Chen Ke¡¯s report.


    As Mo Qian ended the call and put the phone back into his pocket, Xi Nanfeng immediately leaned forward to ask, "So? I wasn¡¯t lying, was I?"


    "Hm, you weren¡¯t lying." Mo Qian¡¯s voice was deep and unreadable.


    "So what¡¯s your n to thank me?" Xi Nanfeng asked, grinning broadly.


    "Thank you?" Mo Qian¡¯s tone lifted slightly, his gaze sweeping over the overly smug friend in front of him, who clearly had no idea he¡¯d crossed the line. "Did I lose a bet with you? Refuse to kiss some random woman? And now you¡¯re making up nderous lies about me, expecting gratitude?"


    Three consecutive questions made Xi Nanfeng involuntarily furrow his brow.


    The smile on his face froze.


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    It¡¯s over, it¡¯s over... He got too carried away earlier andpletely forgot about this!


    Xi Nanfeng awkwardly scratched his head. "Well, uh... you know, when acting out a scene, you have to make it convincing. I said that to make it more believable."


    "Oh?" Mo Qian raised an eyebrow, his voice as cold as shards of ice. "When have you ever won a bet against me? Twisting the facts¡ªis that convincing to you?"


    Xi Nanfeng was momentarily at a loss for words, stammering for a while before stiffly responding, "Whatever¡ªat the time, I came up with it in the heat of the moment! You can¡¯t me me for that."


    Mo Qian let out a faint, contemptuous snort, his voice firm and unyielding as he stated two icy words: "Get out."

 Chapter 194 Miss Ling Was Injured

    <h4>Chapter 194: Chapter 194 Miss Ling Was Injured</h4><h4></h4>


    The moment Xi Nanfeng was ordered to get out of the car by Gu Moqian, he stood by the car door, intending to protest with a: "Old Mo, this is just too much¡ª"


    But he hadn¡¯t had the chance to finish the phrase "too much," when the silver-gray Maybach roared its engine and sped off without the slightest hesitation.


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    Staring at the car¡¯s dust trail rising faintly in the air, Xi Nanfeng stood there, his whole body frozen as though petrified, his face showcasing a wonderfullyplex expression.


    As the car drove off, Ji Wei remarked, "Actually, Second Young Master Xi showing upst night was quite timely. Otherwise, I would¡¯ve been discovered by Zhu Ming¡¯an long ago."


    "Hmm, I¡¯m not denying his contribution. But making that kind of joke at my expense¡ªabsolutely not."


    After a pause, Gu Moqian added, "Do you think leaving him stranded by the roadside means he can¡¯t find a way back? He¡¯s the young master of the Xi Family."


    That was true.


    Ji Wei let the matter of Xi Nanfeng drop, resting her head against Gu Moqian¡¯s chest while fiddling with the intricate cufflinks on his sleeve. "Moqian, just now at the Zhu Family, when the Zimei Club incident was mentioned, was it Zhu Jianian who instructed that I be locked in the underground wine cer back then?"


    She¡¯d wanted to ask earlier but couldn¡¯t find the chance.


    Back when the underground wine cer ordeal happened, she had suspected Ji Chuyang. Butter, Gu Moqian dismissed that suspicion. Never had she imagined that the real mastermind behind it all would be Zhu Jianian!


    Gu Moqian nced down at the woman in his arms and gave a simple "Hmm," pulling her closer without borating further.


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    That incident was already in the past, and he didn¡¯t want her to relive the awful memories of that night.


    Ji Wei fell silent.


    The extent of Zhu Jianian¡¯s cruelty was beyond anything she could have anticipated. Even before they¡¯d ever crossed paths, she had been ruthless enough to make a brutal move! Thinking about it now, Zhu Jianian¡¯s current misfortune was entirely her own doing¡ªshe deserved no sympathy at all!


    After getting out of the car, the two walked hand in hand into the vi.


    They hadn¡¯t gone far when Ji Wei spotted Aunt Zhu standing in the hallway near the living room, her expression filled with worry.


    Recalling how Aunt Zhu had helped her escape from her room the night before, Ji Wei¡¯s chest suddenly tightened. Had Nan Huiru made things difficult for Aunt Zhu?


    She quickly walked up and called out, "Aunt Zhu."


    Seeing Ji Wei return, Aunt Zhu¡¯s face lit up with relief and joy. But just as she was about to say something, her gaze darted to Gu Moqian standing behind Ji Wei, and she became hesitant once more.


    Ji Wei noticed that there was something Aunt Zhu wanted to say and pressed further, "Aunt Zhu, what¡¯s wrong?"


    After some deliberation, Aunt Zhu finally decided to speak. "Miss Ling... Miss Ling was... was injured. Mrs. Nan wouldn¡¯t let me call a doctor, and now she¡¯s still lying in the bedroom."


    "When did this happen?" Ji Wei, unaware that Ling Ling had been beatenst night, reacted with shock. "Take me to see her immediately!"


    The room was quiet.


    When Ji Wei pushed the door open and entered, she saw Ling Ling propping herself up, trying to reach a ss of water on the nearby table.


    Rushing forward, Ji Wei quickly grabbed the ss and handed it to her.


    "Madam, you¡¯re back. I¡¯m so d to see you¡¯re alright..."


    Ling Ling¡¯s face revealed no clear signs of injury except for a slight pallor. But upon seeing Ji Wei, her expression brightened with joy, as though she could finally breathe a sigh of relief.


    Sitting at the bedside, Ji Wei¡¯s expression turned serious and stern. "Ling Ling, tell me where you were hurt."


    Ling Ling¡¯s hand, wrapped around the ss, froze for a moment. Instinctively, she tried to pull away, her gaze evasive as she replied, "No, I¡¯m not hurt. I just caught a bit of a cold this morning."


    Ji Wei didn¡¯t believe a word of it.


    Before she could press the issue further, Aunt Zhu, who had been standing to the side, couldn¡¯t hold back any longer and spoke up, her voice filled with worry. "Miss Ling, Madam is here now. Stop pretending you¡¯re fine. Last night, those two bodyguards gave you such a brutal beating¡ªyou¡¯re definitely seriously injured. Otherwise, how could you not even get out of bed this morning?"


    Aunt Zhu hadn¡¯t seen Ling Ling¡¯s injuries firsthand, but she was convinced they weren¡¯t minor.


    Ling Ling hurriedly tried to exin, "Aunt Zhu, you¡¯re mistaken. It¡¯s really because I¡ª"


    Before she could finish, Ji Wei suddenly grabbed her other hand, the one not holding the ss, and pushed the sleeve up to her elbow.


    Several bruises, vivid purple and green, were instantly exposed.

 Chapter 195: She Should Know When to Retreat and Leave Gu Moqian

    <h4>Chapter 195: Chapter 195: She Should Know When to Retreat and Leave Gu Moqian</h4>


    Ling Ling¡¯s expression flinched slightly as she tried to withdraw her hand.


    "Don¡¯t move." Ji Wei¡¯s tone was exceptionally stern, and Ling Ling dared not move again.


    The bruises on Ling Ling¡¯s body were clearly not limited to her arm. Before Ling Ling could react, Ji Wei swiftly pulled down the cor of her shirt, revealing purplish-blue marks on her chest as well.


    Ji Wei¡¯s pupils contracted sharply, and she asked in a grave voice, "These were done by Nan Huiru¡¯s men, weren¡¯t they?"


    Ling Ling hurriedly reached up to pull her shirt cor tightly, her head lowered, remaining silent.


    Even though Ling Ling said nothing, Ji Wei already understood what was going on.


    Other than Nan Huiru¡¯s bodyguards, who else would dare treat Ling Ling like this? Ling Ling was her personal assistant; Nan Huiru¡¯s overt targeting of her was clearly meant as a warning to Ji Wei.


    A warning to know when to back down and to leave Gu Moqian?


    Absolutely impossible!


    Ji Wei suppressed the fury boiling inside her and said to Aunt Zhu, "Call the family doctor immediately to examine Ling Ling."


    Aunt Zhu hesitated, her expression conflicted. "But Mrs. Nan doesn¡¯t allow it. If¡ª"


    "I¡¯ll take responsibility for anything that happens. You two have nothing to fear!" Ji Wei said firmly with a resolute expression.


    "Alright, I¡¯ll call right now." Aunt Zhu left immediately after saying that.


    Ji Wei looked at the purplish bruises on Ling Ling¡¯s arm, feeling as though something was pressing heavily against her chest, rendering her breath stifled and painful.


    After a few seconds of silence, she instructed, "Ling Ling, just rest well for the next few days. There¡¯s no need to follow me to work for now." She tucked the corner of Ling Ling¡¯s nket and then stood up.


    After taking a few steps, Ling Ling¡¯s voice sounded behind her. "Madam, I¡¯m really fine. These bruises will fade in a few days... You should still try to talk calmly with Mrs. Nan."


    Ji Wei knew Ling Ling was worried about her worsening rtionship with Nan Huiru. After all, Gu Moqian was caught between them, and the only one truly feeling torn would be him, as a son.


    But the fact that Nan Huiru had treated her and Ling Ling so harshly upon returning¡ªexpecting her to let this slide¡ªwas difficult for Ji Wei to ept.


    Ling Ling, still injured, thinking only of her well-being, made Ji Wei¡¯s eyes suddenly redden. Striving hard to keep her tone steady, she answered, "Hmm, I¡¯ll handle this appropriately. Don¡¯t worry about me."


    With that said, she didn¡¯t look back and left the bedroom quickly.


    Upon leaving Ling Ling¡¯s room, Ji Wei did not see Gu Moqian.


    Oddly, they hadn¡¯t seen Nan Huiru when they returned either.


    Could she still be in bed?


    Thinking this, Ji Wei unintentionally nced toward Nan Huiru¡¯s room upstairs.


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    She had a hunch that Gu Moqian was already up there, so she headed up.


    Nan Huiru¡¯s room door was slightly ajar. Through the crack, Ji Wei saw the long legs d in dark trousers and the clean, white-shirted back of Gu Moqian.


    She was just moving closer when, suddenly, a loud crash rang out!


    Something like porcin smashed violently onto the ground!


    Ji Wei¡¯s heart jolted. Without a second thought, she quickly strode forward and pushed the door open.


    Inside the room, Nan Huiru was seated at her dressing table, her face furious.


    On the floor around Gu Moqian¡¯s legsy the shattered remains of a delicately crafted porcin vase.


    The lilies Ji Wei had personally arranged yesterday were strewn messily across the floor, while the water from the vase had sshed out and soaked Gu Moqian¡¯s pant leg.


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    Those few lilies stung Ji Wei¡¯s eyes in an instant. Because Nan Huiru liked them, Ji Wei had gone out of her way to pick them herself from the greenhouse.


    The hope of harmonious rtions with Nan Huiru shattered at that moment.


    Ji Wei instinctively bent down to pick up the lilies, but before her hand could touch them, a forceful sweep sent her hand flying away.


    Her fingertips scraped against the jagged edge of a nearby porcin shard, leaving a long cut that immediately oozed blood.

 Chapter 196: If You Want to Protect Her, I’m Determined to Drive Her Away Today

    <h4>Chapter 196: Chapter 196: If You Want to Protect Her, I¡¯m Determined to Drive Her Away Today</h4><h4></h4>


    Ji Wei lifted her eyes and was met with the fiery gaze of Nan Huiru, whose voice boomed above her head: "Who told you to pick it up? Mind your own business!"


    Before Ji Wei could react, her wrist was seized by Gu Moqian, who strode over quickly. The man looked at the bloodstained tips of her fingers with a pained expression, his face cold and shrouded as if with frost.


    "It¡¯s just a small cut, I¡¯m fine." Ji Wei tried to pull her hand back, but Gu Moqian held it tightly.


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    In front of Nan Huiru, he lowered his head and sucked the blood from her wounded fingertips.


    This act, one reserved for only the most intimate of rtionships, incensed Nan Huiru even more. Gu Moqian had never shown such tenderness or care for her as his own mother. What gave this woman the right!


    "The distance between me and Moqian is all because of you, you vile woman! And you still have the audacity to show up here? Get out!" Nan Huiru exploded, pointing at Ji Wei with spittle flying as she berated her.


    Gu Moqian pulled Ji Wei behind him, his tall and imposing figure shielding her entirely.


    Just earlier, Gu Moqian had told Nan Huiru everything that had happened with the Zhu Family, including Zhu Ming¡¯an¡¯s bold and calcting ns.


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    Nan Huiru, enraged that the marriage alliance she had arranged with the Zhu Family had fallen through, and her most secret motives had been ruthlessly exposed by Gu Moqian, found herself utterly humiliated. When Ji Wei appeared, she unloaded all her ire onto her.


    Seeing Ji Wei silently taking refuge behind Gu Moqian, Nan Huiru¡¯s anger only escted as she railed: "It¡¯s all because of you, you vixen! You¡¯ve bewitched Moqian to the point where he¡¯s grown cold to me, his own mother. What have you done to cast such a spell on him? Now that I¡¯m back, I absolutely won¡¯t allow a woman like you to stay by his side! Get out of here, do you hear me?"


    Nan Huiru¡¯s words were as harsh as they were vile. Gu Moqian¡¯s usually refined demeanor gave way to a tightly furrowed brow, the cold gleam in his dark eyes growing sharper.


    Facing Nan Huiru¡¯s aggressive tirade, Ji Wei remainedposed, her face graced with a distant smile: "Mrs. Nan, you¡¯ve only been back from abroad for less than half an hour and already call me a vixen. Not only is that unfair, but I¡¯m genuinely puzzled¡ªwhat exactly have I done to bewitch Moqian so much as to make you lose face? Surely someone from a schrly family like you wouldn¡¯t act like one of those shrewish women on the streets, brandishing your status as an elder to bully others."


    "Mrs. Nan"¡ªthe address was distant and impersonal.


    Since Nan Huiru had never regarded her as a daughter-inw in her heart, Ji Wei no longer saw the need to call her "Mother."


    Every word Ji Wei spokended like a sharp dagger, leaving Nan Huiru momentarily at a loss for a retort.


    Her entire body trembled with fury. Convinced that Ji Wei was purposely antagonizing her because Gu Moqian was shielding her, she shouted again, voice cutting: "Stop twisting words with me! I don¡¯t want to hear your excuses! Go back to your Ji Family¡ªthis is the Gu Family! I won¡¯t allow some woman without proper status to seduce my son!"


    "Ji Wei is the woman I¡¯ve chosen as my wife, and no one can undermine her ce in my life." Gu Moqian¡¯s voice was cold and detached as his eyes stayed fixed on his mother¡¯s enraged face. "Not even you."


    Mother and son, who hadn¡¯t seen each other in half a year, had already shed bitterly twice within a short time of reuniting.


    Nan Huiru¡¯s blood boiled as she fumed: "I just don¡¯t understand. There are so many women in Rongcheng. Why, out of everyone, are you fixated on this spoiled and willful rich girl? What does she have that Jianian doesn¡¯t? In terms of education or looks, Jianian surpasses her in every way. How much longer are you going to let this woman cloud your judgment?"


    "If Zhu Jianian were truly as perfect as you im, then how do you exin what happenedst night?"


    A dangerous glint flickered in Gu Moqian¡¯s eyes.


    Don¡¯t think for a second that he didn¡¯t know Nan Huiru had tacitly approved of the Zhu Family¡¯s actions the previous night.


    Whenst night was mentioned, Nan Huiru¡¯s face stiffened with embarrassment.


    "You want to protect her? Well, I¡¯ll just have to throw her out myself today! Someone,e here and drag this woman out of my house!"


    Seeing that Gu Moqian had no intention of retreating and was determined to defend Ji Wei to the end, Nan Huiru immediately shouted at the doorway in a piercing voice.

 Chapter 197: Apologize or Disappear from Rongcheng

    <h4>Chapter 197: Chapter 197: Apologize or Disappear from Rongcheng</h4><h4></h4>


    The bodyguard standing at the staircase heard the words and quickly rushed over.


    "I¡¯d like to see who dares!"


    Gu Moqian¡¯s voice wasn¡¯t loud, but it carried an undeniable authority. He turned to look at the two bodyguards who were eager to act, his gaze sharp as a de, leaving them unable to even breathe heavily.


    Ji Wei also turned to stare at the bodyguards at the doorway. Were they the ones who injured Ling Ling?


    The look in her eyes suddenly became as piercing as arrows.


    The two bodyguards were rattled by Ji Wei¡¯s sudden intense gaze, their hearts pounding like drums.


    "Ji Wei is my wife, which makes her the mistress of Shanshui Manor. Anyone who dares to drive her out is openly opposing me." Gu Moqian¡¯s voice, cold as a winter wind, echoed softly.


    The room fell silent in an instant.


    Nan Huiru¡¯s face darkened with anger. Trembling, she gritted her teeth and red at Gu Moqian as she said, "Moqian, now that you¡¯ve got this woman, you don¡¯t want your mother anymore! I was the one who carried you for ten months and gave birth to you, and what is this woman supposed to be? She¡¯s nothing!"


    "She¡¯s more important to me than my life. Don¡¯t you dare insult her again!" Gu Moqian responded coldly. "Who I choose to marry is my decision. Even if you¡¯re my mother, I ask that you don¡¯t interfere."


    "Fine, just fine!"


    Nan Huiru was so ovee by rage that she seemed confused. She red ruthlessly at the two figures in front of her, her chest rising and falling rapidly from her agitation. "If she doesn¡¯t leave, I will! If this house has her in it, it won¡¯t have me!"


    After she finished speaking, Nan Huiru abruptly turned and grabbed the handbag sitting on the dressing table. As she passed by the two of them, she shot Ji Wei a hateful re before storming out.


    Seeing the two bodyguards quickly following Nan Huiru as she left, Ji Wei suddenly stepped forward to block their path.


    "Was it you two who injured Ling Ling?" Ji Wei demanded coldly, staring at the bodyguards.


    The two bodyguards froze, though they didn¡¯t admit it out loud, their expressions made the truth clear.


    Nan Huiru had walked a few steps before noticing Ji Wei confronting her bodyguards. Abruptly, she turned back and came charging over again. "It was on my orders that they did it. What now, are you going to hit me too?"


    Nan Huiru¡¯s eyes widened, her voice rising sharply, filled with aggression.


    Ji Wei looked at her coolly. "You¡¯re Moqian¡¯s mother, so I won¡¯ty a hand on you. But I won¡¯t let these two off easily either. They injured Ling Ling¡ªdon¡¯t they owe her an apology?"


    "Don¡¯t you dare!" Nan Huiru snapped fiercely.


    Ji Wei ignored Nan Huiru and kept her gaze fixed on the two bodyguards. "Will you apologize or not?"


    The two bodyguards lowered their heads and remained silent.


    The truth was, neither of them had any intention of apologizing. After all, with Nan Huiru backing them, they assumed Ji Wei wouldn¡¯t dare do anything to them.


    Amid the tense standoff, Gu Moqian¡¯s voice suddenly rang out, devoid of warmth: "You have two choices. Either apologize, or disappear from Congrong City forever."


    His words panicked the two bodyguards, who immediately looked to Nan Huiru for help.


    "Moqian, are you trying to drive me to my death?" Nan Huiru hissed through gritted teeth.


    "Apologize... we¡¯ll apologize!" The two bodyguards quickly stammered in response.


    Regardless of how dominant Nan Huiru might be, she and Gu Moqian were still mother and son. No matter how fierce their conflicts became, a full-out estrangement was impossible. Instead, the bodyguards had be casualties of their power struggle.


    If Gu Moqian so much as lifted a finger, they¡¯d be out of Congrong City in an instant!


    After their hurried apology, the two bodyguards didn¡¯t dare look at Nan Huiru¡¯s face, which was already contorted with rage. They bolted downstairs and headed straight to Ling Ling¡¯s room.


    "Let¡¯s go."


    Gu Moqian grabbed Ji Wei and, without any further regard for Nan Huiru, started heading downstairs.


    Nan Huiru watched the two of them walking closely together, their silhouettes unbearably ring. Her hatred for Ji Wei deepened.


    This woman¡ªsooner orter, she would force her out of the Gu Family!

 Chapter 198: The hand pressed straight on...

    <h4>Chapter 198: Chapter 198: The hand pressed straight on...</h4><h4></h4>


    As soon as the family doctor left, Ling Ling saw the bodyguard who had hit her yesterday rush in anxiously and then fall to his knees before her: "Miss Ling, I¡¯m sorry, we shouldn¡¯t have hit you yesterday. Please forgive us... I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m sorry..."


    Ling Ling waspletely dumbfounded, unable to process what was happening.


    Seeing that Ling Ling remained unresponsive despite their repeated bows, the two bodyguards grew increasingly frantic, fearing their apologies weren¡¯t sincere enough to appease her and worried they would be kicked out of Rongcheng by Gu Moqian. They began bowing harder and harder.


    The sound of their foreheads knocking on the ground echoed loudly.


    They even started pping their own faces: "We were wrong, we shouldn¡¯t haveid hands on you. You¡¯re a woman, and hitting you was something only absolute scum would do. Please, Miss Ling, forgive us..."


    Ling Ling finally snapped back to reality and understood everything the moment she noticed Ji Wei standing by the bedroom door with a faint smile.


    She returned a smile, a warmth passing through her heart.


    As they left, Ji Wei nced at the man standing tall and graceful beside her, and suddenly asked, "Mo Qian, to offend your mother for my sake¡ªwill you regret it?"


    The man reached out and drew her into his embrace, his gentle voice echoing softly above her head, "No, I won¡¯t regret it. Marrying you is the luckiest thing in my life, and I will never, ever regret it."


    With these words from Gu Moqian, everything was enough.


    Ji Wei leaned quietly against Gu Moqian¡¯s chest, listening to his steady heartbeat, her thoughts swirling: No matter how oppositional Nan Huiru might be, as long as this man loves her, she would fear nothing!


    Suddenly, Ji Wei heard Gu Moqian let out a low grunt.


    "What¡¯s wrong?" Ji Wei stepped away from him and asked in surprise.


    Before Gu Moqian could reply, she suddenly remembered something and quickly looked down. Her eyesnded on the water stain on Gu Moqian¡¯s trouser leg, still wet from being hit by the vase earlier.


    Ji Wei abruptly released his embrace, squatted down, and began rolling up his trouser leg.


    Gu Moqian¡¯s fair and slender right calf disyed a bluish bruise that had swelled due to the force of the porcin impact.


    Heart aching, Ji Wei reached out and gently touched it before tilting her face up to ask, "Does it hurt?"


    Gu Moqian¡¯s ink-colored eyes froze for a brief moment before his lips curved into a faint smile: "It doesn¡¯t hurt."


    Does it really not hurt?


    Ji Wei stared at the swollen bruise, still feeling uneasy.


    "Wait here for me."


    After speaking, Ji Wei headed straight toward the kitchen. Shortly thereafter, she returned holding an ice pack.


    "Go sit over there." Ji Wei gestured toward the sofa.


    The serious expression on the little woman¡¯s face made it impossible for him to refuse, so he obediently let her lead him over.


    After Gu Moqian sat down, Ji Wei knelt in front of him.


    The man¡¯s long legs spread slightly apart, allowing her to roll up his trouser leg again and meticulously apply the ice pack to the bruise on his calf.


    Her movements were exceedingly gentle, her eyshes lowered, and a few strands of hair brushed across her fair and tender cheeks. Gu Moqian observed her focused expression quietly, his eyes filled with warmth and tinged with amusement.


    "All done."


    When Ji Wei put away the ice pack and looked up, her gaze identally locked onto the man¡¯s deep, ink-like eyes. She froze momentarily and then attempted to rise.


    However, having crouched for too long, Ji Wei suddenly realized with a jolt that her legs had gone numb. As soon as she stood, she lost bnce and toppled forward.


    Her handnded squarely on a very... specific spot.


    To make matters worse, the ice pack she had been holding began to melt, and ice-cold water dripped right onto that very spot.


    The crotch of his pants instantly darkened with moisture, turning pitch ck.

 Chapter 199: It’s Just Too Embarrassing

    <h4>Chapter 199: Chapter 199: It¡¯s Just Too Embarrassing</h4><h4></h4>


    Staring at the very conspicuous wet spot in front of her, Ji Wei instinctively reached out her hand to wipe away the water stains.


    Mo Qian¡¯s pupils froze abruptly. The moment her warm little hand touched him, even though twoyers of fabric separated them, he still involuntarily reacted.


    The sudden change in a certain area shocked Ji Wei into pulling her hand back abruptly, her cheeks turning zing red.


    In this exceedingly awkward moment, Ji Wei couldn¡¯t even bother with her slightly numb legs and tried to move off of him.


    However, just as she made a move, the man suddenly lowered his head and urately captured her soft lips.


    The instant their lips touched, it felt as though a current coursed through her entire body. Ji Wei¡¯s mind went nk for a moment, while the man¡¯s nimble tongue had already ventured in recklessly.


    Their lips and tongues intertwined, soft breath escaping between their teeth.


    Just as they kissed passionately and deeply, a noise of a chair being knocked over suddenly came from behind them.


    Ji Wei was so startled that she immediately pushed the man away.


    She whipped her head around and saw Aunt Zhu standing at the dining room entrance with a steaming bowl of porridge in her hands, her expression rather stiff as she exined awkwardly, "I... I didn¡¯t see anything. I¡¯ll go deliver the porridge to Miss Ling."


    After speaking, Aunt Zhu quickly walked away.


    Her words clearly signified that she had seen something she shouldn¡¯t have.


    Ji Wei was so embarrassed she covered her face with her hands.


    Awkward. It was beyond awkward...


    Mo Qian, however, looked as calm as ever and called her name, "Ji Wei."


    "Hmm?" The woman still covered her face, unwilling to show it.


    With a gleam of amusement in his eyes, the man reached out directly, peeling her hands away from her face and holding them in his own. "Let¡¯s go. Time for breakfast."


    Blushing, Ji Wei allowed herself, like an obedient child, to be led into the dining room by Mo Qian.


    She hadn¡¯t eaten anything sincest night, and upon seeing the sumptuous breakfast spread on the table, Ji Wei was so ravenous that she quickly cast aside her earlier embarrassment.


    After finishing the food on her te, Ji Wei patted her stomach in satisfaction and looked at the man beside her, who managed to eat so gracefully it was mesmerizing. "I¡¯ll head out with youter."


    "You didn¡¯t sleep wellst night. Stay home and rest properly, hmm?" Mo Qian looked at her.


    Ji Wei shook her head. "No, I don¡¯t need to. There¡¯s still a lot of work waiting for me at the project site."


    Mo Qian set down the spoon in his hand, took her soft little hand into his palm, and gazed at her intently as he said, "Zhu Jianian will no longer appear in the Gu Family. You don¡¯t need to work at the project site anymore. Stay home and rx as a carefree wife, hmm?"


    "No, that¡¯s not an option," Ji Wei firmly opposed. "The Shuiyun Lane redevelopment project was initiated by me. It¡¯s only just begun construction. If I pull out now, and something goes wrong with the project, I¡¯d be letting down the trust of the residents."


    Once she had made the decision to take on this task, she was determined to see it through.


    Initially, her presence at the west-side project site had indeed been about suppressing Zhu Jianian, but now, as far as she was concerned, her role as project director represented a greater responsibility¡ªshe needed to live up to her promise to the residents.


    Seeing her resolve, Mo Qian¡¯s eyes held a look of admiration. He nodded slightly. "Alright, whatever decision you make, I¡¯ll support you unconditionally."


    "Thank you, husband."


    Ji Wei smiled at him, her eyes curving into crescent moons.


    Their tightly sped hands stayed intertwined, and in each other¡¯s eyes, they saw the light.


    At this moment, all the malice from Nan Huiru and the fear and anxiety from the previous night vanishedpletely. As long as she and Mo Qian were doing well together, happiness was certain to follow.

 Chapter 200: Duoduo is protected by Ye Cheng, you can’t touch her

    <h4>Chapter 200: Chapter 200: Duoduo is protected by Ye Cheng, you can¡¯t touch her</h4><h4></h4>


    As usual, Gu Moqian had the driver drop Ji Wei off at the project site in the west of the city first.


    When Ji Wei got out of the car, she leaned in to nt a kiss on his cheek before getting out.


    Before closing the car door, she said cheerfully, "Mo Qian, see you after work."


    Seeing that the woman seemed to be in good spirits, Gu Moqian felt a bit more at ease, but he couldn¡¯t help but remind her, "Take a longer rest at noon and make up for your sleep."


    "Okay, I will."


    Ji Wei replied and walked towards the project site.


    After taking a few steps, she sharply noticed a Mercedes that had been modified to a striking pink parked by the roadside. Such an eye-catching color was hard not to notice.


    As she was wondering whose car it could be, she saw a woman with dark sunsses, golden hair, and a tall figure getting out of the car.


    The woman stood there and only walked towards Ji Wei, swaying her hips, after confirming that Gu Moqian¡¯s Maybach had driven away.


    As she got closer, Ji Wei smelled the overwhelming perfume on the woman and couldn¡¯t help but raise her hand to cover her nose, frowning slightly.


    The woman took off her sunsses and tossed her head of golden curls, and upon seeing Ji Wei¡¯s disdainful gesture of covering her mouth and nose, she sneered dismissively.


    "Miss Ji, do you still remember me?"


    Of course, Ji Wei recognized her; wasn¡¯t this the actress Jin Xuan¡¯er, who wouldn¡¯t let go of Ye Cheng?


    A big celebrity, what was she doing at this remote project site in the west of the city?


    Ji Wei put down her hand and coldly asked, "Are you looking for me for something?"


    Sincest time Jin Xuan¡¯er didn¡¯t gain any advantage in front of her, Ji Wei knew her intentions were likely far from simple this time around.


    Jin Xuan¡¯er seductively stroked the hair falling over one side of her face, "I came to ask you for a favor, to arrange for Ye Cheng to attend a cruise party as my malepanion."


    Upon hearing this, Ji Wei pressed her lips into a smile, but the smile didn¡¯t reach her eyes, "Miss Jin, if you want him as your malepanion, just ask him yourself. Whye to me?"


    Jin Xuan¡¯er felt a bit stifled hearing this.


    If she could ask Ye Cheng directly, why would she need to approach someone else?


    After thatmotion at Xingyao Entertainment, Ye Cheng strictly prohibited her from setting foot in Xingyao. Moreover, the agency she belonged to was a staunch rival of Xingyao, with no business interactions whatsoever, making it extremely difficult to even meet Ye Cheng.


    She racked her brains but couldn¡¯te up with any good idea.


    Until a couple of days ago, she received an invitation to a cruise party, and she thought of having Ye Cheng as her malepanion. As long as the media reported on their unusual rtionship, even if Ye Cheng wanted to deny her, it wouldn¡¯t be so easy.


    Faced with Ji Wei¡¯s retort, Jin Xuan¡¯er, although unwilling in her heart, tried her best to control her emotions and smiled, "I have my trump card foring to you. Doesn¡¯t Miss Ji want to hear it?"


    Ji Wei nced at her watch and replied with a cold expression, "Sorry, I¡¯m really not interested. I have work to do, so forgive me for not keeping youpany."


    With that, Ji Wei stepped forward and walked towards the project site.


    Seeing that she was really leaving, Jin Xuan¡¯er panicked and hurriedly stepped in front of her, blocking her way, "Aren¡¯t you good friends with Xia Duoduo? Do you really not care if she can survive in the entertainment industry?"


    "Duoduo has Ye Cheng backing her, you can¡¯t touch her," Ji Wei coldly retorted.


    It¡¯s precisely because that bitch has Ye Cheng as her agent that Jin Xuan¡¯er¡¯s rage burned even more!


    "You as an outsider wouldn¡¯t understand how treacherous the waters of the entertainment industry really are."


    Jin Xuan¡¯er clenched her fists tightly to control her emotions, mocking as she pulled the corners of her lips, "I am, after all, a top-tier celebrity. Isn¡¯t it easy to deal with a neer?"

 Chapter 201: I Have an Indecent Video of You That Can’t See the Light of Day!

    <h4>Chapter 201: Chapter 201: I Have an Indecent Video of You That Can¡¯t See the Light of Day!</h4>


    "Ye Cheng might be skilled, but he can¡¯t possibly keep an eye on her every moment. All I have to do is casually lift a finger, and countless people eager to please me will handle things for me. For instance, having your little friend encounter an unfortunate ident while filming, like breaking a leg or something..."


    Indeed, if Jin Xuan¡¯er was determined to target Xia Duoduo, there was no way Ye Cheng could cover every base.


    Ji Wei stared coldly at the smug expression on her face, her eyes growing even icier.


    Jin Xuan¡¯er seemed convinced that Ji Wei wouldn¡¯t be able to reject her request, but Ji Wei had no intention of letting her get her way.


    "Are you done? If you¡¯re done, get out of the way. Stop blocking my path!"


    Jin Xuan¡¯er hadn¡¯t expected Ji Wei to be so unyielding. Her anger finally broke through, as she red and snapped loudly, "Miss Ji, so your so-called ¡¯friendship¡¯ with that little wretch is just that shallow? This is nothing but a minor favor, yet you¡¯re unwilling to help!"


    It wasn¡¯t that she was unwilling to help; Ji Wei could find another way to assist Xia Duoduo, but she would not be coerced into it by Jin Xuan¡¯er¡¯s threats.


    "If you don¡¯t move, I¡¯ll call for help," Ji Wei warned.


    The entrance to the project site was right next to the security booth, and if she called out, the guards would immediately arrive.


    Jin Xuan¡¯er noticed this too, ring at Ji Wei with resentment but ultimately having no choice but to step aside.


    Ji Wei didn¡¯t want to waste another second and strode forward decisively.


    Jin Xuan¡¯er, begrudging and unwilling to relent, shouted at her retreating figure, "Do you really think Xia Duoduo is the only leverage I have on you? I possess incriminating, indecent videos of you!"


    Jin Xuan¡¯er¡¯s words made Ji Wei stop in her tracks.


    Her mind suddenly raced to one incident.


    Could it be... that Huo Yan had kept some evidence back then?


    Ji Wei¡¯s brow furrowed tightly, and she turned around abruptly.


    Seeing Ji Wei suddenly stop, Jin Xuan¡¯er strutted toward her like a triumphant peacock, her steps full of pride.


    "Go ahead, keep walking. Why did you stop? Afraid I¡¯ll release the video and ruin you?" Jin Xuan¡¯erughed wildly. "Miss Ji has always been so arrogant. Now what? Even you bow down to me because of one indecent video!"


    Ji Wei¡¯s expression remained aloof and indifferent, her gaze fixed coldly on Jin Xuan¡¯er.


    Jin Xuan¡¯er shot her a disdainful nce, raising her hand and spreading her fingers, leisurely admiring her freshly done nails as she spoke arrogantly, "First, apologize to me. Last time, you yed your little tricks and embarrassed me in front of Ye Cheng. I¡¯ve kept that in mind all along."


    "You im to have my video, but words alone mean nothing. Why should I believe you?" Ji Wei gradually calmed down, regaining herposure as she stared coolly at the haughty woman in front of her.


    "Hah..." Jin Xuan¡¯er let out a sarcasticugh. "Why would I dare say so confidently if I didn¡¯t have it? That video is stored right on myputer. If you refuse to invite Ye Cheng for me, fine¡ªI¡¯ll y the video at the cruise ship g in front of everyone. Let them all see what Rongcheng¡¯s famous socialite looks like without clothes..."


    As she spoke, Jin Xuan¡¯erughed uncontrobly, her glee unchecked. "Ah, the reactions of the guests would surely be priceless, especially your husband, Gu Moqian. I¡¯m actually looking forward to it a little now."


    Gu Moqian will also attend the cruise ship g?


    Ji Wei was momentarily taken aback.


    Jin Xuan¡¯er seemed to read her confusion, saying smugly, "This cruise g is Rongcheng¡¯srgestmercial event. The Gu Family is attending as the city¡¯s corporate representative. Do you really think Gu Moqian wouldn¡¯t show up?"


    Ji Wei stayed silent, ring coldly at Jin Xuan¡¯er.


    "Well? You can¡¯t refuse now, can you?" Jin Xuan¡¯er said, utterly triumphant.

 Chapter 202 Huo Yan, You Are Still So Despicable!

    <h4>Chapter 202: Chapter 202 Huo Yan, You Are Still So Despicable!</h4>


    Ji Wei shook her head, her voice indifferent: "No, I still refuse."


    "What did you say!"


    Jin Xuan¡¯er shrieked, momentarily doubting whether she had misheard.


    Impossible! She had already yed her trump card, yet Ji Wei remained unmoved!


    Ji Wei didn¡¯t want to stay a second longer and turned to leave.


    Jin Xuan¡¯er unwillingly yelled, "Miss Ji, if you want to see yourself disgraced in Rongcheng overnight, bing a target of public disdain, then go ahead and try!"


    Ji Wei ignored her words and continued walking forward.


    Seeing all her efforts yield no results, Jin Xuan¡¯er grew even more indignant and rushed forward again to entangle Ji Wei.


    "Let go!" Ji Wei looked at the brightly manicured hand grabbing her, her voice icy.


    "I won¡¯t let go. Right now, you must be panicking and trying to flee, aren¡¯t you? Don¡¯t pretend to be calm in front of me, Miss Ji. This won¡¯t do you any good."


    "Security!" Ji Wei called out toward the security booth several meters away.


    Two security guards immediately approached upon hearing her.


    "Miss, please let go. Director Ji still has work to attend to." The security guards, recognizing Ji Wei, quickly stepped forward to intervene when they saw her being hassled by a heavily made-up woman.


    The two security guards pulled Jin Xuan¡¯er away from Ji Wei. Struggling in vain, Jin Xuan¡¯er furiously yelled, "Let me go! Do you know who I am? How dare youy a hand on me!"


    "No matter who you are, this is the Gu Family¡¯s project site. Please leave immediately," one of the guards said sternly.


    "Are you blind? I¡¯m the famous Jin Xuan¡¯er! Let go of me this instant!"


    "Let go of me! Did you hear me!"


    Behind her, Jin Xuan¡¯er was still shouting at the two security guards, but Ji Wei had already walked briskly through the project building¡¯s main entrance.


    Once she reached her office, Ji Wei immediately picked up herndline and dialed Ye Cheng¡¯s number, instructing him to be cautious of Jin Xuan¡¯er¡¯s retaliation and to assign an additional assistant to Xia Duoduo.


    But the mention of thepromising video by Jin Xuan¡¯er indeed left Ji Wei feeling troubled.


    She had never expected that Huo Yan not only kept the video but also shared it with Jin Xuan¡¯er!


    Though she maintained herposure in front of Jin Xuan¡¯er, the matter still bothered Ji Wei. She forced herself to act as though nothing had happened and worked through the entire morning.


    During her lunch break, Ji Wei decided to call Huo Yan to get to the bottom of it.


    "Little Wei, is it really you?"


    Upon hearing Ji Wei¡¯s voice on the other end of the phone, Huo Yan could hardly believe his ears.


    The two hadn¡¯t been in contact for ages. Every time he tried to call Ji Wei, he would get a notification saying the call couldn¡¯t go through. Huo Yan had long suspected he¡¯d been blocked.


    But what was going on today? Ji Wei had reached out to him on her own!


    Compared to Huo Yan¡¯s excitement, Ji Wei¡¯s response was ice-cold: "I have something to ask you."


    Unexpectedly, Ji Wei opened with such a blunt statement, catching Huo Yan off guard. He froze for a moment before replying, "Go ahead, what is it?"


    "Do you still have my videos? And did you give them to Jin Xuan¡¯er? Huo Yan, I didn¡¯t think you could be this despicable!" Ji Wei¡¯s voice was clearly tinged with fury.


    At that moment, Huo Yan finally understood why she had called.


    Feigning surprise, he said, "Little Wei, you misunderstood. The videos and photos were all deleted back then. I don¡¯t have them anymore. If you don¡¯t believe me, you¡¯re wee toe check yourself."


    Huo Yan knew that Ji Wei avoided him like the gue¡ªthere was no way she would actuallye look for him.

 Chapter 203: Love Me? Your Love is Truly Distorted and Perverted

    <h4>Chapter 203: Chapter 203: Love Me? Your Love is Truly Distorted and Perverted</h4>


    "Then please exin clearly, how did Jin Xuan¡¯er know about the video?" Ji Wei¡¯s voice remained indifferent.


    "Jin Xuan¡¯er and I are sort of friends. A few days ago, she invited me out for drinks, and I got drunk. Under her probing, I blurted out the incident from back then in a confused state. She also mentioned having a grudge against you, so she probably nned to use the video to y some petty tricks."


    Is that really true?


    Ji Wei still felt somewhat skeptical.


    If Jin Xuan¡¯er didn¡¯t actually possess any video, how could she act so confidently just relying on something she heard from Huo Yan?


    "Alright, I understand. Sorry for bothering you."


    Ji Wei spoke coldly, intending to hang up the phone, but Huo Yan quickly stopped her: "Little Wei, you specifically called me, can¡¯t you talk to me a bit longer?"


    "Sorry, my husband doesn¡¯t like me chatting too much with strange men," Ji Wei replied unemotionally.


    The word "husband" pierced straight into Huo Yan¡¯s heart.


    He took a deep breath topose his emotions: "You really married Gu Moqian?"


    "It¡¯s none of your business."


    Huo Yan¡¯s voice sounded deeply wounded: "Little Wei, we were together once. Could you not treat me so coldly?"


    Before Huo Yan finished speaking, Ji Wei interrupted him curtly: "Mr. Huo, what we had was never a rtionship. You coerced me!"


    "But in my heart, you were my girlfriend!"


    Huo Yan¡¯s emotions grew agitated, "Little Wei, no matter who you marry, the person I love most will always be you!"


    "Love me? Your love is truly twisted and perverse. If I hadn¡¯t caught you spying on me while I was showering, I wouldn¡¯t have known you had such sick tendencies."


    As she brought up those old incidents, Ji Wei couldn¡¯t suppress the anger surging in her heart. She closed her eyes briefly, deciding not to entangle herself further with Huo Yan: "I have nothing to say to you. Goodbye."


    With that, she frowned and cut the call.


    ...


    Two dayster, Ji Wei left work as usual and walked out of the project site.


    At the gate, she saw Mo Qian leaning against the car door.


    He wore a clean white shirt on top, paired with sharply cut suit trousers. His suit jacket was casually draped over his elbow, one arm tucked into his trouser pocket, exposing a finely crafted watch on his wrist. His expression held a hint of casual ease and elegance.


    Even the simplest gesture from this man could stir her girlish heart.


    "Why do you have time to personally pick me up from work today?" Ji Wei paused for a moment before walking over to him, looping her arm around his and tilting her head to look up at him, her smile radiant.


    Seeing the woman¡¯s clear eyes fixed on him, Mo Qian curved his lips in a faint smile: "To take you to pick out a gown."


    "There¡¯s a business g in Rongcheng two days from now, and I want to bring you along," Mo Qian said as he opened the car door for her.


    Ji Wei froze halfway into the car and turned around in surprise: "The g wouldn¡¯t happen to be on a cruise ship, would it?"


    "Hmm, you¡¯ve heard about it?" Mo Qian asked.


    Ji Wei didn¡¯t answer immediately.


    She recalled Jin Xuan¡¯er¡¯s words. Turns out, she wasn¡¯t lying.


    Mo Qian was indeed attending the g, which meant the matter regarding the video had to be handled cautiously. She absolutely couldn¡¯t let Jin Xuan¡¯er use it to stir up trouble!


    Twenty minutester, the car stopped at the doorstep of Rongcheng¡¯s most exclusive luxury gown boutique.


    As a super VIP, Mo Qian was immediately escorted by the staff into the VIP reception room.


    The staff brought out all of the season¡¯stest designs, letting them choose at leisure.


    Ji Wei had decision anxiety. Facing dozens of gowns, she had no idea where to start, so she handed the choice over to Mo Qian.

 Chapter 204: Snowy White and Smooth, Deliciously Tempting

    <h4>Chapter 204: Chapter 204: Snowy White and Smooth, Deliciously Tempting</h4>


    Gu Moqian didn¡¯t take much time before he picked out a pale blue floor-length evening gown.


    The attendant led Ji Wei to the fitting room, while Gu Moqian stayed in the waiting area, sipping coffee and reading the newspaper.


    Ji Wei used to find evening gowns troublesomeplicated and hard to put on or take off. Yet, this gown slipped on effortlessly, and the fabric felt exceptionallyfortable against her skin.


    After adjusting the draping skirt, the attendant stood up, gazed at the elegant and stunning woman in the mirror, and sincerely praised, "Though this gown¡¯s design isn¡¯t overly intricate, it requires a certain presence to pull it off. Many customers in our store have fallen for it at first nce, but none could truly do it justice. Miss Ji, you¡¯re the first who has."


    Ji Wei looked at herself in the mirror and pressed her lips into a faint smile.


    "Let¡¯s go, Miss Ji. Let¡¯s show it to Mr. Gu," the attendant said with a smile, supporting the trailing hem of her gown as they stepped out.


    The crisp sound of high heels reached the waiting room door, prompting Gu Moqian, who was engrossed in his newspaper, to look up abruptly.


    A flicker of astonishment shed through the man¡¯s eyes. Ji Wei stood at the doorway, slightly nervous, asking, "How is it? Does it look good?"


    Gu Moqian rose slowly from his seat.


    He walked toward her, step by step, unhurriedly closing the distance.


    Ji Wei usually dressed in simple attire. Even on herst birthday, she only wore a short cocktail dress. This was the first time he¡¯d ever seen her look so breathtaking.


    The gown featured an asymmetric shoulder design with a delicate blue chiffon rose adorning one side, while the other side was perfectly cut to reveal her smooth, fair shoulder¡ªsnow-white and temptingly soft, inviting indulgence.


    At the hem of the gown, tiny crystals sparkled, refracting dazzling beams under the lighting. The pale blue trailing skirt resembled a mermaid¡¯s tail, entuating her regal and captivating presence.


    Elegant, gorgeous, stunning, alluring.


    No word was sufficient to describe Ji Wei in this moment. She stood there, slightly nervous, clutching at the gown¡¯s hem. A faint flush colored her cheeks, and to Gu Moqian, this shy charm only made her all the more mesmerizing.


    Though the man stopped right before her, his deep gaze seemed frozen on her, unwaveringly locked onto her every detail. Summoning her courage, Ji Wei finally met his eyes and said, "If it doesn¡¯t look good, I¡¯ll go change out of it."


    Before she could turn away, her wrist was seized by the man, and in the next moment, he pulled her straight into the room. The door shut behind her with a soft click.


    The attendant outside: "..."


    "Mo Qian..."


    Ji Wei stared at him with bewildered eyes.


    The man braced one hand against the door while his other hand gently lifted her delicate chin. His maic voice came forth from his lips, "You look so beautiful, I just want to hide you away so no other man can see you."


    Ji Wei gazed at his teasingly handsome face, stunned into silence.


    Her heartbeat at this moment seemed akin to the pounding of a drum, boom boom boom.


    Just as she was about to speak, suddenly, the man tilted his head down and crushed his lips against hers.


    His fresh, enticing scent enveloped her. Hisrge hand seized her slender waist, pulling her body close to his, while his lips deepened the kiss, iming her again and again.


    With Gu Moqian¡¯s kisses leaving her breathless, it took a long while before Ji Wei realized they were still in a clothing store¡ªand the attendant outside the door likely hadn¡¯t left, awkwardly lingering at the doorway.


    "Mo Qian, stop..."


    Ji Wei seized the fleeting moment his lips moved away to speak hurriedly, attempting to push his chest with her hand.


    As if he had already anticipated her intention, Gu Moqian¡¯s lips curved into a smile. Leaning close to her ear, he whispered, "What you just said will only make the people outside misunderstand more."


    Ji Wei froze, her face turning impossibly red.


    "Be good and let me kiss you a little longer, hmm?" His dangerously seductive voice teased her, the warmth of his lips brushing her earlobe and sending shivers through her body.


    At this point, what else could she even say?


    The man¡¯s kisses trailed from her ears to her neck, then to her corbone, continuing toward her exposed, milky smooth shoulder...


    Even though Gu Moqian had kissed her countless times before, every time he did, Ji Wei still couldn¡¯t help but react intensely, instinctively pressing her thighs tightly together.

 Chapter 205: Who Did You Show the Hickey on Your Neck To?

    <h4>Chapter 205: Chapter 205: Who Did You Show the Hickey on Your Neck To?</h4>


    After an extended kiss, Ji Wei bolted out of the reception room, covering her flushed cheeks.


    The store attendant, who had unwillingly witnessed the affectionate moment, saw Ji Wei grabbing her gown and dashing out, heels cking as she sprinted toward the dressing room. Quickly, the attendant hurried to follow her.


    The dressing room was on the other side of the store, requiring Ji Wei to pass through the sales floor. Her sudden emergence caught everyone¡¯s eye¡ªfrom the other employees to the customers¡ªeliciting gasps of admiration.


    "Who is thisdy? This is the first time I¡¯ve seen someone wear a gown so perfectly."


    "She must be some socialite from a prominent family. She looks kind of familiar¡ªher name is Ji... Ji something?"


    "Now that you mention it, I think I know! She¡¯s Ji Wei, the daughter of Mr. Ji!"


    "Oh, right! How could I forget? Although Miss Ji has a bold personality, you can¡¯t deny she¡¯s born a natural beauty. No other socialite in Rongcheng dares to stand next to her¡ªthey¡¯d only end up overshadowed."


    Nan Huiru, who was picking out gowns with her close friend Shen Yu, overheard the nearby customers¡¯ conversation. Her head snapped toward them sharply.


    Ji Wei had already slipped into the dressing room, her pale blue silhouette vanishing behind the curtain. Nan Huiru¡¯s face instantly darkened to an extreme.


    It seemed impossible not to encounter that woman wherever she went!


    The gown wasn¡¯t tooplicated, so Ji Wei didn¡¯t ask for help¡ªshe only instructed the attendant to wait outside. However, it wasn¡¯t long before the sound ofmotion reached her ears.


    "Madam, please wait a moment if you want to try on a gown. There is someone inside right now."


    "I¡¯m a VIP client of this shop¡ªdon¡¯t you dare stop me!"


    "Madam, could you please wait just a little longer? The dressing room next door is vacant and ready for use... Madam, you¡ª"


    A sharp ripping noise suddenly broke the air. The dressing room curtain was forcefully yanked open.


    Ji Wei spun around in shock, instinctively clutching the gown near her chest, which was on the verge of slipping off. When she saw the intruder was Nan Huiru, a glimmer of surprise shed in her eyes.


    Nan Huiru? What was she doing here?


    Before Ji Wei could speak, Nan Huiru charged forward, her expression livid, her eyes burning with rage.


    Her sharp gaze swept over Ji Wei¡¯s gown, then froze abruptly on something. Her pupils constricted as she raised her hand, aiming to p Ji Wei. "You shameless woman! You dare unt your neck with kiss marks while wearing such revealing clothes? Are you trying to disgrace the Gu Familypletely?"


    The p nevernded¡ªJi Wei caught her wrist firmly in mid-air.


    It was only after hearing Nan Huiru mention the kiss marks that Ji Wei realized Mo Qian had left a visible trace¡ªa small hickey¡ªon her neck during their earlier intimacy in the reception room.


    Yet she felt no shame about it. Her gaze rose confidently to meet Nan Huiru¡¯s, her voice icy. "Moqian being affectionate and leaving a mark on me is entirely normal. How, exactly, does this offend Mrs. Nan¡¯s sensibilities?"


    Offend her? It was absolutely intolerable!


    Nan Huiru was beside herself with fury, railing against Ji Wei for her shamelessness. "Ji Wei, you¡¯ve been spoiled rotten since you were a child¡ªno sense of decency, no shame! Parading a kiss mark on your neck for everyone to see? Are you desperate to broadcast your promiscuity?"


    At the doorway, Shen Yu, rmed by Nan Huiru¡¯s burning anger, quickly stepped forward to mediate. "Huiru, calm down. Young people¡¯s rtionships are something we shouldn¡¯t interfere with."


    "I can¡¯t stay out of this! This vixen shares my son¡¯s pillow every night¡ªI have no idea what poison she¡¯s feeding Mo Qian! I¡¯ve already been thrown out of the house by my own son, and now I¡¯m supposed to tolerate this woman running amok in the Gu Family?"

 Chapter 206: Take off this dress immediately

    <h4>Chapter 206: Chapter 206: Take off this dress immediately</h4>


    "Why is Mrs. Nan speaking so maliciously? Mo Qian didn¡¯t ask you to leave, you chose to go yourself." Ji Wei exined coldly.


    Nan Huiru was already seething with rage. "Shen Yu, look at her! Just look at this woman! How could someone this unruly and disrespectful possibly be my daughter-inw? Even though Jianian made mistakes, in terms of character alone, she¡¯s miles above this arrogant and reckless Miss Ji!"


    "Alright, alright, calm down. Otherwise, your headache will start acting up again."


    Shen Yu supported Nan Huiru, speaking gently as she softly patted her chest to help her calm down. "We¡¯re here to pick out a dress for Jianian. Let¡¯s step out first."


    Hearing Shen Yu mention the dress, Nan Huiru suddenly remembered the purpose of today¡¯s visit. Her fiery eyes locked onto Ji Wei with intensity.


    Ji Wei¡¯s dress looked exquisite¡ªit would surely look stunning on Jianian.


    "Take off that dress you¡¯re wearing. I want to buy it!" Nan Huirumanded imperiously, pointing at Ji Wei.


    Ji Wei was in the middle of trying clothes on, but hearing Nan Huiru¡¯s arrogant demand, she slid the strap of the dress back onto her shoulder rather than removing it.


    "Sorry, Mrs. Nan, I picked this dress first. If you want one, you can ask the staff for assistance." Ji Wei said with a faint but cold smile.


    "No, I want the exact dress you¡¯re wearing, and I want it now!" Nan Huiru insisted stubbornly.


    Ji Wei merely smirked coldly, showing no intention of taking it off.


    The nearby Shen Yu, seeing the standoff, turned her head to ask the trembling store clerk, who hadn¡¯t dared to speak: "Excuse me, is there another identical dress in stock?"


    The clerk nervously shook her head. "Mrs. Shen, I¡¯m sorry. All the dresses in our store are limited editions and individually designed, so... this particr dress is one of a kind."


    "Oh." Shen Yu turned back to Nan Huiru and said, "Huiru, let it go. Since Miss Ji likes it, let her have it."


    Shen Yu¡¯s tone was gentle and soft, but to Ji Wei, her words felt irritatingly condescending.


    Let her have it?


    This dress was clearly picked out by her and Mo Qian first¡ªhow did it turn into her snatching something away?


    "Mrs. Shen, everything should follow the principle of firste, first served. I picked this dress first; there¡¯s no such thing as ¡¯letting it go,¡¯ is there?" Ji Wei stared icily at Shen Yu.


    Shen Yu paused for a moment and then smiled faintly. "Miss Ji, you¡¯re young, and we elders shouldn¡¯t fuss with you. But you¡¯re well aware that Huiru is Mo Qian¡¯s mother, yet you keep targeting her with insolent remarks without the slightest respect for your elders. Besides, Huiru suffers from headaches and can¡¯t handle too much stress. What you¡¯re doing is truly over the line."


    Although Shen Yu appeared to be a kind and gentle person, Ji Wei could see through her cold, calcting eyes that she was harboring grudges over what had happened that night.


    She was clearly pinning the consequences of Zhu Jianian¡¯s misdeeds onto Ji Wei¡¯s shoulders.


    Shen Yu¡¯s words were seamless and diplomatic, yet they solidified the image of Ji Wei as rude and temperamental.


    "Shen Yu, why bother wasting words on someone like her? If she had even a shred of respect for me, things wouldn¡¯t have escted to this point." Nan Huiru abruptly interjected. "This dress would look perfect on Jianian¡ªI absolutely must buy it!"


    Ji Wei, seeing the situation unfold, let out a softugh. She walked over to the dressing table, picked up her handbag, retrieved her wallet, and held out her golden card to the store clerk. "Here, charge it. I don¡¯t want to waste any more time."


    "Ah, okay..."


    The clerk cautiously approached, about to take the golden card with both hands, when suddenly it was struck to the ground by a hand reaching across! The gesture was sharp and forceful!

 Chapter 207: The Evening Gown was Ripped Off Forcefully

    <h4>Chapter 207: Chapter 207: The Evening Gown was Ripped Off Forcefully</h4>


    "Who gave you permission to buy this? I already said I wanted this dress¡ªare you deaf?" Nan Huiru¡¯s face flushed red as she shouted aggressively at Ji Wei.


    "Mrs. Nan, this dress was indeed picked out first by Miss Ji. You should¡ª"


    The shop assistant, seeing Nan Huiru go too far, tried to intervene, but Nan Huiru shoved her hard, causing her to fall to the floor. "Get out of here! This is none of your business!"


    The assistant¡¯s head hit the marble pir by the dressing table, making her eyes red from the pain, though she dared not cry out.


    Ji Wei, seeing Nan Huiru¡¯s unreasonable behavior, raised her eyes to meet the aggressive re and responded coolly and sharply, "Mrs. Nan, if you have anger, take it out on me. This young girl has nothing to do with this. Pushing someone like that is unbing of ady from a prestigious family."


    "I didn¡¯t realize Miss Ji had any sense ofpassion left. Your spoiled behavior is far worse than mine¡ªwhat right do you have to lecture me?"


    Ji Wei didn¡¯t want to waste time here; Mo Qian was still waiting for her.


    If she couldn¡¯t remove the dress, she¡¯d just wear it out to the counter.


    "Mrs. Nan, the air in the fitting room is suffocating. With your condition of frequent headaches, it¡¯s best not to stay too long."


    As Ji Wei took a step forward to leave, Nan Huiru hurriedly reached out and grabbed the hem of her dress.


    "Stop! You can¡¯t leave without taking off that dress!" Nan Huiru fiercely tugged at the back of the dress, her voice harsh.


    "Please let go."


    Ji Wei briefly nced back at her, her patience nearing its limit.


    She had been tolerant of Nan Huiru because she was Mo Qian¡¯s mother, but today, Nan Huiru refused to let go of her unreasonable antics.


    After speaking, Ji Wei tried once more to step forward, but Nan Huiru was determined not to let her leave. She tugged forcefully on the dress!


    A ripping sound¡ª


    The fabric tore!


    Nan Huiru had ripped off a piece of the back of Ji Wei¡¯s dress!


    Her fair, delicate back was suddenly exposed for all to see.


    Ji Wei stared at the piece of fabric in Nan Huiru¡¯s hand, unable to react before suddenly feeling a dark suit jacket, faintly scented with gardenias, drape over her head and cover her upper body tightly.


    Ji Wei raised her eyes and met Gu Moqian¡¯s ink-like, intense gaze.


    "Let¡¯s go."


    Gu Moqian¡¯s cold, furious expression shed as he briefly nced at Nan Huiru before turning away indifferently.


    He firmly held onto Ji Wei and walked out of the dressing room.


    Under the weight of that nce, Nan Huiru froze entirely.


    The hand clutching the torn fabric trembled uncontrobly.


    Since leaving Shanshui Manor a few days ago, Nan Huiru had calmed down a lot. No matter what, Gu Moqian was her son; she shouldn¡¯t have let their rtionship be so strained.


    She had nned to find ways to mend their rtionship, but after today¡¯smotion, his attitude toward her had grown even colder. He couldn¡¯t even spare her a single word.


    "Mo Qian!"


    An inexplicable panic rose in Nan Huiru¡¯s heart, and she instinctively took hurried steps to chase after him.


    Gu Moqian escorted Ji Wei into the car directly, then turned back inside to finalize the payment.


    Nan Huiru staggered toward him, her steps unsteady, but Gu Moqian¡¯s expression remained unchanged¡ªcold and distant, his thin lips pressed tightly together.


    Nan Huiru tried to grab his arm, but Gu Moqian effortlessly stepped back, avoiding her touch.


    He handed the ck card in his hand to the shop assistant.


    "Mo Qian, are you really nning to ignore your mother?" Nan Huiru¡¯s heart ached with bitterness.


    Gu Moqian¡¯s jaw clenched tightly as he waited for the shop assistant to return the card. Once he took the card back, he turned and walked away without hesitation.


    Just as he was about to step out of the store, he suddenly stopped and, without looking back, spoke chillingly, "When you¡¯re willing to ept Ji Wei, I might reconsider."


    Watching her son¡¯s indifferent figure leave, Nan Huiru¡¯s heart felt a mix of emotions she couldn¡¯t describe.


    So, if she refused to acknowledge Ji Wei¡¯s position as his wife, Mo Qian intended to keep ignoring her indefinitely?

 Chapter 208: A Young Girl Taking a Bath in the Video

    <h4>Chapter 208: Chapter 208: A Young Girl Taking a Bath in the Video</h4>


    After returning to Shanshui Manor, Ji Wei went straight upstairs to take off her gown and changed into afortable home outfit.


    When she came back downstairs, Aunt Zhu was still preparing dinner in the kitchen. Ji Wei sat on the sofa and casually browsed some webpages on the phone that Gu Moqian had recovered for her.


    Ji Wei quickly spotted news about Rongcheng¡¯s grandest business g prominently disyed on the webpage.


    The cruise g would not only invite the top five families of Rongcheng and various prominent figures but also have numerous celebrities attending to add mour. She even saw a list of Xingyao Entertainment¡¯s artists; on that day, Ye Cheng and Xia Duoduo would also be present.


    Ji Wei stared at the news on her phone screen, furrowing her brows in thought.


    If Jin Xuan¡¯er nned to release that video during the g, it would spread throughout Rongcheng overnight, and the situation would spiral out of control.


    This potential oue had to be prevented.


    Ji Wei put away her phone and headed toward the study.


    Gu Moqian had returned earlier and was already in the study handling some matters. Hearing footsteps at the door, he looked up and saw Ji Wei leaning against the doorframe, appearing as if she wanted to talk to him.


    "Come in," Gu Moqian said gently.


    Ji Wei walked over and wrapped her arms around his neck from behind. "Mo Qian, do you know any top-notch hackers? Like someone skilled enough to break into another person¡¯sputer and retrieve files?"


    Gu Moqian was slightly surprised by her question and looked at her. "Why the sudden interest?"


    "Um... I want to find something on someone¡¯sputer," Ji Wei replied vaguely.


    Gu Moqian studied her quietly for a moment, then nodded. "Alright, I¡¯ll give you the contact details of the Gu Family¡¯s IT department head."


    His long fingers tapped across the keyboard, quickly pulling up the Gu Family staff directory. "Xiao Zhang used to work for the U.S. Intelligence Agency and is proficient in hacking techniques. He should be able to help."


    Ji Wei jotted down Xiao Zhang¡¯s contact information on her phone.


    "Thank you, darling!"


    She leaned forward and nted a kiss on Gu Moqian¡¯s cheek, then happily walked out of the study with her phone in hand.


    ...


    After calling Xiao Zhang, Aunt Zhu came over to ask Ji Wei to have dinner.


    Following dinner with Gu Moqian, the two went for a stroll in the garden before Ji Wei finally went upstairs to take her shower.


    By the time Gu Moqian entered the bedroom, Ji Wei had not yet emerged from the bathroom. He nced toward the bathroom; the sound of running water echoed steadily from within. He walked over to the sofa, took a seat, and loosened the top two buttons of his shirt.


    Gu Moqian was only wearing a clean white dress shirt, with an elegant yetnguid posture. He draped one hand casually over the sofa¡¯s backrest, resembling a regal Persian cat.


    With his eyes slightly lowered, he raised his long, well-defined fingers and slowly rubbed his temples to alleviate fatigue.


    Suddenly, theptop on the nearby coffee table chimed, notifying the arrival of a new email.


    Gu Moqian¡¯s fingers paused momentarily against his temple, then slowly lowered his hand.


    Turning toward the sound, he noticed a notification box had automatically popped up on theptop screen, showing the sender¡¯s name¡ªXiao Zhang.


    Had Xiao Zhang already uncovered something within just two hours?


    Gu Moqian had no intention of prying into Ji Wei¡¯s emails. However, just as he was about to look away, his gaze caught the video attachment in the email.


    His expression froze for a moment before he sat straight up, grabbed the nearby mouse, and clicked on the video.


    The video depicted a young woman bathing. As she sat in the bathtub, only the faint outline of her back was visible.


    The girl¡¯s fair neck, snowy white back, and graceful figure still evoked the viewer¡¯s imagination.


    The videosted about thirty seconds, and from itsposition, it was clearly filmed secretly from behind.


    The instant Gu Moqian saw the silhouette in the video, his eyes narrowed dangerously, his strikingly handsome face tightening in severity.


    The girl in the video was... Ji Wei!

 Chapter 209: The Man Turns Out to Be Somewhat Domineering

    <h4>Chapter 209: Chapter 209: The Man Turns Out to Be Somewhat Domineering</h4>


    At the end of the video, Ji Wei suddenly turned her head and saw the man behind her. She immediately shouted in rm, "Huo Yan, what are you doing!"


    Then the video shook slightly and abruptly stopped.


    Huo Yan!


    This video was taken by that Second Young Master Huo!


    Mo Qian¡¯s five fingers tightened forcefully around the mouse, the veins on the back of his hand bulging as the mouse creaked under his grip. Suddenly, he remembered something Jin Xuan¡¯er had said that day.


    ¡ª "Aren¡¯t you afraid that Ji Wei and Huo Yan will rekindle their old feelings?"


    His eyes turned icy cold and unfathomably dark. He slowly raised his gaze and looked toward the faint silhouette of a woman behind the glowing bathroom door.


    Ji Wei was taking a shower when she suddenly heard the sound of the bathroom door being opened.


    Startled, she turned her head back. Upon seeing the tall and familiar figure of the man, she immediately rxed and yfully said toward the door, "Mo Qian, I¡¯m almost finished. Wait a bit beforeing in."


    The bathroom was filled with steaming heat, and in the milky-white mist, the woman¡¯s snow-white body exuded an indescribable allure.


    Recalling the scene in the video, so eerily simr to the one before his eyes now, and thinking about how Huo Yan had also secretly spied on this enchanting sight, Mo Qian clenched his fists in rage.


    Dammit!


    That Huo Yan... He deserves to have his eyes gouged out!


    Ji Wei was fully engrossed in her shower, entirely oblivious to the man¡¯s darkened mood. As she heard the sound of footsteps drawing closer, she turned her head again through the steamy haze.


    By then, Mo Qian was already standing behind her.


    "Mo Qian, are you going to shower too?" Ji Wei asked in surprise.


    "Mm."


    Mo Qian suppressed the fury simmering within him and gave a low response.


    "I¡¯m almost done. You can take over," she said, reaching for the towel on the rack beside her. But before her hand could reach it, the man suddenly grabbed her wrist.


    Mo Qian¡¯s grip wasn¡¯t as gentle as usual; it held a heavier force. Ji Wei felt a twinge of pain and furrowed her brows slightly, confused as she turned to look at him. "What¡¯s wrong?"


    "Help me shower." Mo Qian¡¯s tone carried an unyielding authority.


    There was... a certain dominance in it.


    Ji Wei looked at the man in front of her. His thin lips were pressed tightly together, and his deep, inscrutable eyes made it impossible to gauge his mood. Her heart filled with mounting suspicion.


    Mo Qian began unbuttoning his shirt one button at a time, revealing the well-defined lines of his chest.


    Ji Wei took the shirt he removed and hung it on the nearby rack.


    Mo Qian¡¯s slender, fair hands paused at the metal buckle of his belt for a few seconds. Then, in a low voice, he suddenly said, "Help me take it off."


    "Oh, okay..."


    They were husband and wife, and over time, Ji Wei had gradually gotten used to this, feeling less shy about it. She extended her delicate hands and pressed them on the buckle of his belt.


    With a crisp sound, the belt¡¯s metal sp popped open.


    After helping him remove his outer trousers, Ji Wei caught sight of the dark-colored underwear underneath, and her hands suddenly trembled slightly.


    Why did she feel so nervous?


    Ji Wei hesitated for a moment but ultimately gritted her teeth and, with a determined effort, slowly pulled down the man¡¯s underwear, trying her best to keep her eyes straight ahead and her mind focused.


    During the entire process, Mo Qian¡¯s deep, prating gaze remained fixed on her. After shedding all his clothing, he walked with his long, lean legs toward the bathtub.


    Ji Wei, ever considerate, followed him over and started running the hot water for him.


    Mo Qian watched the petite woman before him, fully absorbed in adjusting the water temperature. Suddenly, his eyes narrowed, and his voice turned hoarse as he spoke. "Do you still remember what you promised mest night?"


    Ji Wei blinked nkly, unable to recall for a moment.


    "You said that once we returned, I could do whatever I wanted," Mo Qian murmured seductively by her ear, a dangerous undertoneced in his whisper.

 Chapter 210: The Reason for Ruthlessly Tormenting Her

    <h4>Chapter 210: Chapter 210: The Reason for Ruthlessly Tormenting Her</h4>


    Ji Wei faintly sensed that something was different about Gu Moqian tonight, but she couldn¡¯t quite pinpoint it. Just as she was lost in thought, Gu Moqian suddenly reached out, grabbed her arm, and pulled her into his embrace.


    Thrown off bnce, Ji Wei fell straight into the bathtub,nding on top of the man.


    Water sshed up into Ji Wei¡¯s face as she lifted her head. Beads of water rolled down her cheeks, and she asked in astonishment, "Mo Qian, are we... doing this here?"


    Her voice trembled faintly.


    "Mm." He responded curtly, his voice hoarse and low.


    Before Ji Wei could react, the man¡¯s broad hand abruptly flipped her over.


    Her smooth back faced him, her skin white as snow and as silky as jade.


    Images from the video suddenly shed across Gu Moqian¡¯s mind. His eyes narrowed as he leaned forward and fiercely bit down on her fragrant neck.


    The bite was hard enough to elicit a gasp from Ji Wei. Her neck, the most fragile and sensitive part of her body, sent an electric current coursing through her, bringing with it a strange, overwhelming sensation.


    His kisses trailed downward from her pale, smooth neck, mixing with droplets of water as his lips explored the skin of her back. Then he returned upwards, his lips roaming until they found her sensitive earlobe and bit down once more...


    Just as she was on the verge of copsing under his teasing touches, the man suddenly, without warning, thrust into her.


    Beads of sweat immediately formed on Ji Wei¡¯s forehead, and the sharpness of the pain made her cry out.


    For some reason, tonight, Gu Moqian shed his usual tenderness. He was domineering and forceful, tormenting her in the confined space of the bathtub for what felt like an eternity, her protests and pleas for mercypletely ignored.


    ...


    After carrying Ji Wei to the bed, Gu Moqian returned to the bathroom to take another shower.


    Ji Weiy there, her entire body sore and limp, unwilling to move. After resting a while, she managed to put on her nightgown and decided to check if Xiao Zhang had replied to her email.


    Theptop on the coffee table was in standby mode. She reactivated the screen, and sure enough, there was an email notification.


    Just as Ji Wei was about to open it, she noticed the email icon was already marked as read. She froze for a moment.


    Did Mo Qian read the email?


    A sudden sense of foreboding washed over her. She moved the cursor to open the email and scrolled immediately to the attachment section, her hand instantly freezing in ce.


    A video!


    The attachment was indeed the video she had been searching for!


    Ji Wei¡¯s heart sank abruptly, her hands turning cold.


    She didn¡¯t open the video, but she could already guess the content. Almost panicked, she lifted her gaze towards the bathroom.


    The man was still showering, the sound of rushing water audible from inside. But her face had gone incredibly pale. Something in her mind snapped, and she suddenly understood why Gu Moqian had been so fierce with her in the bathroom earlier.


    The whole time, it was her cries of pain, and Gu Moqian¡¯s silence and restraint, his relentless and punishing rhythm, that had unsettled her so deeply.


    It turned out Gu Moqian had seen the video. He was furious!


    The bathroom door swung open abruptly, and Gu Moqian emerged, a white towel wrapped loosely around his waist.


    His body still carried a faint mist, his jet-ck short hair not fully dried. Droplets of water dripped from the ends onto the floor. His physique was wless¡ªa perfect inverted triangle, every inch exuding strength.


    Ji Wei watched the impossibly alluring Gu Moqian approach her, but the unease in her heart only grew stronger.


    "You¡¯re done showering."


    "Mm."


    After this brief exchange, the man sat down beside her on the sofa, his body close to hers.


    "Checking your email?"


    Gu Moqian nced at theptop screen nonchntly.


    Ji Wei¡¯s entire body stiffened. She nodded awkwardly, her eyes avoiding his at all costs.

 Chapter 211 Mo Qian, I have something to tell you...

    <h4>Chapter 211: Chapter 211 Mo Qian, I have something to tell you...</h4>


    "What¡¯s in it?" Mo Qian asked again.


    "It¡¯s something Xiao Zhang sent me. I asked him to look for the videos on Jin Xuan¡¯er¡¯sputer, and he actually found them," Ji Wei answered apprehensively, her hands subconsciously gripping the hem of her pajamas.


    "That actress came to see you?"


    "Yes." Ji Wei nodded. "She threatened that if I didn¡¯t help her arrange for Ye Cheng to be herpanion at the banquet, she¡¯d bully Xia Duoduo. So I thought I¡¯d try to find some leverage against her..."


    Her voice trailed off as she spoke. Ji Wei hadn¡¯t told Mo Qian the truth, and she could feel her confidence crumbling.


    But Mo Qian didn¡¯t seem to notice anything amiss. He wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her into his embrace. His gaze was dark as he spoke: "Leave Jin Xuan¡¯er to me. Daring to threaten my woman¡ªlooks like she thinks she¡¯s been in the entertainment industry for too long."


    From beginning to end, Mo Qian didn¡¯t mention anything about the video. Every word he said was solely to protect her.


    Ji Wei¡¯s heart clenched painfully. She felt miserable; she couldn¡¯t bear lying to Mo Qian.


    Having been spied upon by another man¡ªa secret she¡¯d intended to bury forever¡ªshe decided, in this moment, to confess it to Mo Qian.


    Ji Wei lifted her head to gaze at him, her voice trembling slightly as she prepared to speak: "Mo Qian, there¡¯s something I need to tell you..."


    Mo Qian looked down at the woman in his arms. The unease shing in her clear eyes made his heart tighten.


    It seemed he already had an inkling of what she was about to say. Instead of pressing her, he drew her closer, his voice low and calming as it drifted down from above her soft hair: "If you don¡¯t want to say it, then don¡¯t."


    Ji Wei shook her head lightly, with a touch of stubbornness: "No, this is something I must be honest with you about."


    She bit her lower lip, took a deep breath, and finally forced the words through her teeth: "That video... it was secretly filmed by Huo Yan. He sneaked into my room when I wasn¡¯t paying attention..."


    As Ji Wei spoke, her body began trembling uncontrobly, as if remembering something terrible.


    Mo Qian lowered his gaze to her pale little face, his eyes filled with tenderness: "You don¡¯t have to say anymore. Let the past stay in the past, as long as you¡¯re safe by my side."


    His low, soft voice carried a reassuring strength, gradually calming the trembling woman in his arms.


    Ji Wei looked at him: "We¡¯re husband and wife. I don¡¯t want to hide my past from you."


    Feeling Mo Qian¡¯s warm and steady heartbeat, Ji Wei finally recounted the events of that day to him.


    ¡ª¡ª


    Because Old Madam Ji and Grandma Huo were close, Huo Yan had been one of Ji Wei¡¯s childhood ymates.


    But back then, Ji Wei was a headstrong youngdy, mischievous and full of whimsy. When ying with Huo Yan, she often made a game out of bullying him.


    Huo Yan, with his mild and somewhat shy personality, would never fight back, often returning home dirty and earning scoldings.


    As they grew older, Huo Yan developed feelings for Ji Wei that went beyond friendship, though Ji Wei had no such thoughts about him.


    On Ji Wei¡¯s eighteenth birthday, Huo Yan confessed to her in front of their families, only to be harshly rejected. She even smashed a birthday cake onto his face.


    Despite the humiliation, Huo Yan didn¡¯t get angry. He kept trying to confess to her again and again, even pleading with Grandma Huo to speak on his behalf.

 Chapter 212 You’re Like a Madman Now

    <h4>Chapter 212: Chapter 212 You¡¯re Like a Madman Now</h4>


    Ji Wei had never thought of Huo Yan in a romantic way, not even when Grandma Huo tried to intervene¡ªit was all futile.


    After a while of tangled interactions, Huo Yan finally gave in and said he wouldn¡¯t force her to be his girlfriend.


    But what Ji Wei didn¡¯t expect was that, not long after, one day, while she was taking a bath, Huo Yan stealthily sneaked into her room.


    Since Huo Yan had long been a regr guest of the Ji Family, the servants assumed he was just there to invite her out and didn¡¯t stop him, giving him the perfect opportunity.


    While bathing, Ji Wei suddenly felt an intense, scorching gaze on her back. Whipping around, she was horrified to find Huo Yan peeking through the crack in the door.


    She let out a startled scream and hastily grabbed a nearby towel, wrapping herself tightly in it.


    Whoosh¡ª


    Ji Wei stood up in the bathtub, her face flushed with fury.


    Having been caught, Huo Yan appeared momentarily flustered, but then, as if making a snap decision, he charged at her, locking her in an unrelenting embrace with his arms.


    "Huo Yan, you bastard! Let go of me... mmph mmph..."


    Afraid that Ji Wei¡¯s screams would alert the servants downstairs, Huo Yan, emboldened, forcefully covered her mouth with his hand.


    Ji Wei struggled with all her might, but her efforts were in vain¡ªhe was taller and much stronger than her.


    The girl¡¯s wet body exuded a fresh, fragrant scent of body wash, and the intensity in Huo Yan¡¯s eyes grew darker.


    Those eyes seemed to ignite suddenly, brimming with unchecked desire. Ignoring her protests, Huo Yan tightened his hold, frically burying his face into the crook of her neck and onto her exposed shoulder.


    Feeling his hands roaming her body, his fingers seemingly attempting to lift the edge of her towel, Ji Wei felt every hair on her body stand on end. In an act of desperation, she sharply raised her knee and drove it forcefully into his lower body!


    Taking advantage of his momentary painful groan, Ji Wei summoned all her strength to shove him away and bolted out of the bathroom as if fleeing for her life.


    Huo Yan immediately chased after her. Just as Ji Wei reached the door and was about to grab the handle, he caught her.


    "Little Wei, be my girlfriend," Huo Yan panted as he spoke.


    Ji Wei¡¯s face was pale as she snapped coldly, "Shameless!"


    "I¡¯m begging you, will you be my girlfriend? I¡¯ll treat you like a queen¡ªanything you want, I¡¯ll give it to you. Just stay with me!"


    Huo Yan¡¯s words sounded desperate, his tone urgent, like a stubborn child demanding candy.


    Enraged, Ji Wei swung her arm fiercely and pped him hard across the face. The force of the p caused blood to seep from the corner of Huo Yan¡¯s mouth instantly.


    "Huo Yan, you¡¯re acting like a madman!" Ji Wei¡¯s chest heaved as she shouted angrily.


    Instead of letting go after the p, Huo Yan pinned Ji Wei against the door with sudden force, a wild glint shing in his eyes. "Little Wei, I love you. I love you so much it consumes me. You can bully me for the rest of my life, just please say yes."


    "Touching you has already sullied my hands¡ªdon¡¯t even dream I¡¯d agree!"


    Ji Wei spat furiously at Huo Yan¡¯s face.


    Huo Yan¡¯s expression darkened visibly. He stood frozen for a moment, staring at her livid face, before gradually wiping the spit off his face with his other hand.


    Ji Wei felt a sudden, chilling shift in Huo Yan¡¯s demeanor.


    Slowly, he pulled out his phone from his pocket, holding it up in front of her, a cruel smirk tugging at his lips. "I recorded a video of what just happened. Agree to my terms, and I won¡¯t leak it."


    Ji Wei stared at the childhood friend she had grown up with, utterly horrified. He was nothing but a deranged demon, daring to film her in the bath!

 Chapter 213: Beating Huo Yan into a Pig’s Head

    <h4>Chapter 213: Chapter 213: Beating Huo Yan into a Pig¡¯s Head</h4>


    "Delete the video!"


    Ji Wei reached out to grab the phone, but Huo Yan quickly stuffed it back into his pocket.


    Just then, a servant¡¯s voice came from outside the door, startled by Ji Wei¡¯s earlier shouts: "Miss, are you alright?"


    Upon hearing the servant¡¯s voice, Huo Yan¡¯s face turned pale. While he was momentarily distracted, Ji Wei sank her teeth into his arm!


    Seizing the opportunity, she broke free. "Huo Yan, you bastard!"


    After cursing him, Ji Wei wasted no time and yanked the door open.


    "Miss, what on earth happened?" The servant was shocked to see her stepping out wrapped in a bath towel, her body still dripping wet.


    "Call the bodyguards in and throw Second Young Master Huo out for me!"


    As soon as Ji Wei finished speaking, a panicked Huo Yan suddenly darted out, shoving past the servant and fleeing in a hurry.


    Ji Wei changed her clothes right away and immediately called for the driver to take her to the Huo Family estate.


    Huo Yan had the video he secretly recorded of her. Keeping it was a risk, and she had to make sure it was deleted!


    When she arrived at the Huo Family estate, Huo Yan started ying the innocent act. As soon as he saw Ji Wei barging in furiously, his face turned pale with fear, and he quickly hid behind Mrs. Huo.


    Huo Yan stubbornly refused to admit he had recorded the video and even handed his phone to Ji Wei to inspect.


    Of course, there was no video on the phone; he had likely stored it elsewhere long ago.


    Grandma Huo looked at her grandson¡¯s timid and aggrieved demeanor in front of Ji Wei and was convinced that Ji Wei was making an unreasonable scene. After all, Ji Wei had bullied Huo Yan since they were children.


    Grandma Huo sided with Huo Yan. Out of consideration for the families¡¯ reputations, Ji Wei stopped causing a stir and temporarily returned to the Ji Family.


    The next day, Ji Wei received a message from Huo Yan, threatening her to agree to be his girlfriend, or else he would release the video.


    At that time, Ji Wei was the pampered and adored youngdy of the Ji Family¡ªwhen had she ever been threatened?


    Huo Yan¡¯s actions were utterly despicable, and she vowed to teach him a lesson!


    Over the phone, she pretended to agree to be Huo Yan¡¯s girlfriend. Huo Yan couldn¡¯t contain his excitement and immediately proposed meeting up.


    Ji Wei brought a group of bodyguards along and stormed into the meeting.


    Before Huo Yan could figure out what was going on, the bodyguards beat him up mercilessly, leaving him bruised and swollen like a pig¡¯s head. In the end, he had no choice but to hand over the video.


    He offered Ji Wei a USB drive, iming it contained the video.


    Ji Wei wasn¡¯t about to trust him so easily. She thoroughly searched Huo Yan¡¯sputer and phone to make sure there was no way he could have hidden the video elsewhere.


    To her surprise, aside from the video, she found many photos Huo Yan had secretly taken of her over the years without her consent¡ªsome even focused on close-up shots of her thighs when she wore shorts.


    Seeing those photos, Ji Wei felt a wave of nausea and disgust toward Huo Yan from deep within her soul.


    This man was aplete and utter pervert!


    Ji Wei deleted all the photos down to thest one. After finishing, she didn¡¯t hesitate to p Huo Yan across the face several times and warned him to stop harboring any illusions¡ªbeing his girlfriend was impossible in this lifetime!


    Half a monthter, Ji Wei went abroad to study. Four years passed, and by the time she returned, she and Huo Yan were practically strangers.


    Although Huo Yan had tried calling her during that time, Ji Wei mercilessly added his number to her cklist and never took it off, even to this day.


    After hearing all this, Gu Moqian silently pulled Ji Wei into his arms and held her tightly.


    After a long pause, he suddenly blurted out, "...I¡¯m a little jealous of Huo Yan."


    Ji Wei was revisiting those unpleasant memories when Gu Moqian¡¯s unexpectedment made her lift her eyes to look at him. "Why would you envy that bastard?"


    Gu Moqian answered, "He grew up with you. He witnessed you during your most youthful and innocent days."


    That was a time Gu Moqian had missed.

 Chapter 214 Sleep, My Mrs. Gu

    <h4>Chapter 214: Chapter 214 Sleep, My Mrs. Gu</h4>


    Although their marriage arrangement was decided very early on, at that time he was forced by his father to study corporate management, and he went to Britain for a full eight years.


    By the time he returned, his presence in Ji Wei¡¯s life was virtually nonexistent. Ji Wei had even momentarily forgotten about the marriage arrangement altogether.


    He had missed her youthful rebellious phase, when she resembled a delinquent, getting into fights everywhere; he had also missed her time at school when she became the goddess boys admired but couldn¡¯t approach.


    Throughout her youth, he had only ever heard fragments of her life through informants he had arranged in secret, but hearing was never the same as seeing it with his own eyes.


    "Don¡¯t be jealous of anyone. I¡¯m right here with you now, and I will never, ever leave," Ji Wei said, wrapping her arms around the man¡¯s waist.


    Gu Moqian said nothing. His deep, enigmatic eyes flickered with emotions as he rested his chin on the top of the woman¡¯s head. Softness and regret coexisted in his heart.


    The two held each other like that for a long while. Suddenly, Ji Wei spoke: "By the way, the video Xiao Zhang found at Jin Xuan¡¯er¡¯s ce¡ªit was probably from Huo Yan. Back then, I deleted the video off theputer but overlooked the possibility that the shameless bastard might have backed it up somewhere else."


    The appearance of the video proved that Huo Yan had lied during their phone call.


    Was this all because she had beaten him up badly before and then refused to be his girlfriend, leading him to hold a grudge and use Jin Xuan¡¯er as a tool to exact revenge?


    "Leave the video to me. Don¡¯t think about anything else right now. Just get some rest," Gu Moqian said, lifting her into his arms.


    "I want some water."


    She tilted her head up toward him while in his arms.


    "Alright, I¡¯ll get it for you."


    Afterying Ji Wei down on the bed, Gu Moqian turned to leave. It wasn¡¯t long before he returned with a ss of water in hand. "Drink. It¡¯s warm."


    Ji Wei intended to reach out and take the ss, but Gu Moqian simply brought it to her lips instead. She looked at his gentle expression for a few seconds before lowering her head and drinking from the ss in his hand.


    With his other hand, Gu Moqian pulled the nearby nket over her.


    When she saw he was about to leave, Ji Wei grabbed the hem of his shirt. Her eyes, clear and glistening, gazed at him as her lips pursed. She hesitated and then asked, "Moqian, do you mind that my body was seen by that bastard Huo Yan..."


    Before she could finish her sentence, Gu Moqian suddenly leaned down. His slender fingers pressed against her soft lips, stopping her from saying more.


    "No, I don¡¯t," he said firmly.


    Gu Moqian lowered his gaze to meet hers. Staring at her slightly pale face, he bent down and nted a kiss on her smooth forehead. "Go to sleep, my Mrs. Gu."


    The woman didn¡¯t hold out for long and eventually fell asleep.


    Gu Moqian sat by the bed, observing her peaceful expression as she rested. It wasn¡¯t until quite some time had passed that he finally got up.


    He walked straight out onto the balcony.


    The night breeze was gentle, and from where he stood, he could see the twinkling lights of Rongcheng at the foot of the mountain.


    Leaning against the balcony railing, Gu Moqian slipped one hand into the pocket of his suit pants while the other held a phone to his ear. His voice was deep andmanding as he said, "Chen Ke, there¡¯s something I need you to handle. Investigate the details of Huo Family¡¯s second young master. The more thorough, the better..."


    As the man spoke, a cold, dark glint lit his eyes, like the turbulent ocean roiling beneath a surface of calm¡ªdangerous and unpredictable.


    Two dayster, at night.


    Thergest business g in Rongcheng was held aboard the Pearl cruise ship.


    The brightly lit cruise ship was docked by the shore, waiting for all of Rongcheng¡¯s most prominent guests to arrive. On the shore, the media reception area was already swarming with reporters, each holding cameras and microphones, eagerly awaiting their chance.


    Every time a famous socialite or celebrity appeared, the crowd would erupt in excitement, rushing forward to conduct interviews. To prevent chaos, the organizers had to station more than a dozen bodyguards to maintain order at the scene.


    A silver-gray Maybach glided to a stop. Ji Wei stepped out of the car, her hand held by Gu Moqian.


    This was the first time the two of them had made a public appearance together. The moment Ji Wei and Gu Moqian emerged, all of the reporters¡¯ eyes widened in shock.


    Were they seeing things?


    Had Mr. Gu just arrived hand-in-hand with the Ji Family¡¯s infamously notorious eldest daughter?!

 Chapter 215: Any slander against her is tantamount to opposing me, Gu

    <h4>Chapter 215: Chapter 215: Any nder against her is tantamount to opposing me, Gu</h4>


    Although the two have always had a marriage arrangement, because Miss Ji fiercely opposed the union, all these years they not only avoided appearing together in public, but the chances of them being at the same location were incredibly slim.


    Media reporters waiting on the sidelines seemed to have sensed some explosive scoop. One by one, they snapped back from their shock and swarmed forward.


    However, before they could surround the pair, bodyguards who had been prepared ahead of time blocked them outside the security perimeter.


    Ji Wei wore the light blue gown she had previously purchased. The tear in the back had been redesigned overnight, with a light blue chiffon bow added to cover the damaged area. Not only did it conceal the w, but it also brought a yful charm to the gown¡¯s elegant and refined look.


    The dress appeared as if it was tailor-made for Ji Wei,plementing her radiant beauty, making her stunningly breathtaking.


    In the past, Ji Wei would attend banquets with careless, mood-driven outfits. This time, she put real effort into her appearance, leaving the mediapletely stunned.


    Indeed, a true socialite of Rongcheng¡ªher natural beauty served as a strong foundation. A little effort was all it took for her to shine like a celestial being. Especially standing next to Gu Moqian, whose every gesture exuded the nobleposure of a man in power, the two could only be described with eight words:


    A perfect match, made in heaven.


    Countless shes from cameras flooded toward them, yet Ji Wei remained calm and unhurried, each step and smile measured perfectly, embodying the grace and allure of a true socialite.


    The reporters were blocked outside the security line, forced to stretch their arms with microphones pointed toward the pair.


    "Miss Ji, didn¡¯t you always strongly oppose the marriage arrangement with Mr. Gu? Does your appearance together tonight mean you¡¯ve finally chosen topromise and abandon resistance?"


    "Mr. Gu, Miss Ji was once notorious for her scandals¡ªrumors of clubbing, drug use, and even wrist-shing to force you to break off the engagement. Does none of this bother you at all?"


    Ji Wei couldn¡¯t help butugh upon hearing this question.


    Who came up with these false ims? She had only asionally visited bars to hang out with friends, but how had it spiraled into such outrageous rumors?


    Clearly, she didn¡¯t need to think hard to figure out who might be behind these fabrications.


    With Ji Shanshan¡¯s life currently uncertain, she didn¡¯t bother to address these matters.


    As for the wrist-shing¡ªthat had only been a desperate measure when Ji Chuyang cornered her that night. The outside world had wildly spected, and she had never bothered to exin.


    Gu Moqian cast a casual nce at the reporter who had posed the question. Instantly, the reporter felt a wave of icy pressure sweep over him, causing his whole body to shudder and his face to turn pale as he quickly shut his mouth.


    Ji Wei, holding onto Gu Moqian¡¯s arm, leaned slightly against him and shed a brilliant smile at the previous reporter. "I¡¯ve indeed made many mistakes in the past, but Mo Qian has been forgiving of me. Now, I¡¯ve changed, and I hope the media will stop dwelling on outdated matters."


    Gu Moqian lowered his gaze to the woman beside him, whose cheeks were slightly flushed¡ªher first disy of intimatepanionship with him in front of so many reporters moved him deeply. His heart softened as he reached out to cover her delicate hand with his, sping it tightly.


    Then, he lifted his gaze toward the cluster of reporters, his voice calm yet full of authority, every word striking heavily in their hearts: "Ji Wei is now my wife. Any insult against her is an attack on me. Understood?"


    Wha... what!


    The two of them... are married!


    Everyone at the scene was so shocked their jaws practically dropped to the floor, staring nkly at the couple in front of them, as wless and radiant as if they were carved from the same mold.

 Chapter 216: No One Related to the Zhu Family Can Board the Cruise Liner

    <h4>Chapter 216: Chapter 216: No One Rted to the Zhu Family Can Board the Cruise Liner</h4>


    "Let¡¯s go."


    Gu Moqian no longer paid attention to the media, cing an arm around Ji Wei¡¯s shoulder as they headed toward the cruise ship¡¯s cabin door.


    Behind them, the reporters, realizing the pair had moved away, suddenly snapped back to attention and began hurling questions reluctantly.


    "Mr. Gu, what did you mean earlier? Are you implying that you and Miss Ji have already registered your marriage?"


    "Did you marry Miss Ji willingly, or was it due to pressure from your elders?"


    "Can you exin what¡¯s going on? Mr. Gu, Mr. Gu..."


    ...


    The reporters¡¯ questions dissipated in the ocean breeze, but Gu Moqian had no interest in responding. Whatever was going on between him and Ji Wei wasn¡¯t anyone else¡¯s business to exin.


    Just as they were about to step into the cabin, a woman¡¯s voice arguing rang out behind them: "Why aren¡¯t we allowed in? I am the Zhu family¡¯s wife, and this is my daughter. We have an invitation!"


    Shen Yu handed the invitation in her hand to the bodyguard, her emotions visibly agitated.


    Zhu Jianian stood by Shen Yu¡¯s side, and even with a heavyyer of foundation, she couldn¡¯t hide the pallor on her face.


    "I¡¯m sorry, we¡¯ve received instructions that no Zhu family members are allowed aboard the cruise. Please leave," the bodyguard stated in a businesslike tone.


    "Who gave such instructions? We were explicitly issued invitations earlier, and now that we¡¯vee, you refuse us entry. Are you deliberately humiliating us?"


    Shen Yu brought Zhu Jianian along to attend the business g. One reason was to take this chance to cheer Zhu Jianian up, hoping that seeing Gu Moqian might lift her spirits after days of mncholy. The other was towork with prominent figures in the industry during the event and potentially gain support for the Zhu family¡¯s precarious situation.


    But Shen Yu hadn¡¯t anticipated being denied even the right to step onto the cruise. They had been blocked outpletely.


    As Shen Yu argued with the bodyguard, Zhu Jianian showed no reaction, her face remaining indifferent, as though the matter didn¡¯t concern her.


    It wasn¡¯t until she caught sight of the man¡¯s figure disappearing into the cabin that her emotions suddenly surged.


    "Mo Qian, Mo Qian! Wait for me... let me in!"


    Zhu Jianian suddenly screamed, reaching out to shove the bodyguard before desperately attempting to squeeze into the cruise entrance.


    The bodyguard firmly blocked her path. Seeing that she was still adamantly pushing forward, he unceremoniously shoved her back with force.


    Zhu Jianian, who hadn¡¯t eaten much over the past two days and was physically weak, fell to the ground immediately from the push. Her elbow scraped against the floor, and the pain brought tears streaming from her eyes.


    "Jianian, Jianian... Are you okay, Jianian?"


    Shen Yu hurriedly helped her up.


    Zhu Jianian struggled to her feet, refusing to give up as she tried to rush the bodyguard again. Shen Yu, afraid she would be pushed down once more, quickly held her back. "Jianian, forget it, forget it... Even if we can¡¯t attend tonight¡¯s g, there¡¯ll still be other chances to see him in the future."


    Ji Wei turned her head to look, only to see Zhu Jianian being dragged away by Shen Yu, her eyes fixed fiercely in their direction¡ªburning with intense hatred and unwillingness.


    Ji Wei knew it had been Gu Moqian who instructed that no Zhu family members be allowed aboard. She didn¡¯t ask any more questions.


    At this moment, the banquet hall on the top level of the cruise was aze with light, as bright as day.


    When the two walked in, the hall was already bustling with guests.


    They inevitably became the center of attention again, but Ji Wei had long grown ustomed to such scrutinizing gazes. Her every gesture and move remained impable, poised andposed.

 Chapter 217: When Zimei Approaches, Her Bewitchingly Beautiful Face Suddenly Turns Cold

    <h4>Chapter 217: Chapter 217: When Zimei Approaches, Her Bewitchingly Beautiful Face Suddenly Turns Cold</h4>


    Soon, Ji Wei spotted Xia Duoduo in the crowd. She was standing with Ye Cheng, talking with several directors and producers.


    When Xia Duoduo turned her head and saw Ji Wei, she said something to Ye Cheng before quickly walking over to her.


    "Little Wei, you¡¯re here too! That¡¯s great."


    The two close friends beamed as they held each other¡¯s hands in excitement.


    Ji Wei scrutinized Xia Duoduo from head to toe before clicking her tongue in admiration and saying, "It¡¯s rare to see you dressed so elegantly. Did you pick out that dress yourself? It really suits your style."


    Xia Duoduo blushed slightly, lowering her gaze shyly as she replied, "Agent Ye helped me pick it out and gave some advice."


    Ji Wei nodded knowingly. No wonder¡ªthis was far above Duoduo¡¯s usual taste.


    Gu Moqian noticed the lively conversation between the two close friends, but as business associates approached him to exchange name cards, he gave Ji Wei a subtle nce.


    Ji Wei immediately understood his signal and nodded. "You go handle your business; I¡¯ll take Duoduo to the dining area to sit for a bit."


    After Gu Moqian left, the two were about to head to the dining area when a guest nearby eximed, "Look, look! Isn¡¯t that thedy boss of Zimei Club? Wow, I can¡¯t believe she¡¯s here!"


    "Keep your voice down! Didn¡¯t you see Zimei walking in arm-in-arm with Brother Hu? We absolutely can¡¯t afford to offend someone like her from the underworld and upper society circles."


    Ji Wei instinctively reacted at the mention of Zimei¡¯s name and followed the gaze of the surrounding guests.


    A sultry woman walked in with an air of nonchnt grace. She was tall, wearing a cheongsam-style white gown. Her every move carried an effortless sensuality as she covered her mouth with a hand,ughing softly while chatting with the middle-aged man next to her.


    Though a woman, she exuded an aura of decisive power and control.


    To certain men, a woman like her could be utterly captivating¡ªutterly deadly.


    As she passed by them, the woman paused suddenly. Her seductive eyes swept up and down Ji Wei with scrutiny for what seemed like a long moment. Just as Ji Wei was about to speak, the woman merely nodded slightly before linking arms with the middle-aged man again and disappearing into the crowd.


    Ji Wei retracted her gaze and noticed Xia Duoduo staring ahead at the mingling crowd, her thoughts seemingly elsewhere.


    Following Xia Duoduo¡¯s line of sight, Ji Wei spotted the direction she was looking in¡ªtowards Ye Cheng.


    Previously engaged in an animated conversation with several producers and directors, Ye Cheng¡¯s stunningly handsome face had momentarily frozen when Zimei approached.


    When his gazended on Zimei¡¯s hand looped around the middle-aged man¡¯s arm, the chill in his expression deepened with an understated hint of anger.


    In the very next moment, Ye Cheng returned to his calm demeanor, said something to the directors and producers, and quickly faded into the crowd.


    "Let¡¯s go, Duoduo," Ji Wei said as she tugged Xia Duoduo, whose gaze remained fixed on the direction where Ye Cheng had vanished, and led her to their seats.


    As a waiter passed by, Ji Wei grabbed a ss of champagne from the tray and handed it to Xia Duoduo, then took one for herself.


    They sat side by side, sipping champagne and chatting leisurely. Xia Duoduo shared updates on her progress with Xingyao Entertainment. With Ye Cheng¡¯s support, she had smoothlynded a new filming project and was set to join the production team next week.


    Though Xia Duoduo kept talking, Ji Wei could sense her absentmindedness. Her eyes drifted towards the crowd from time to time, as though searching for a particr someone.


    Putting down her champagne ss, Ji Wei suddenly reached out and sped her friend¡¯s hand. "Duoduo, you... have you fallen for Ye Cheng?"


    Though hesitant, Ji Wei couldn¡¯t hold back the question.

 Chapter 218: You’re Just a Young Lady from the Ji Family, What’s There to Be Arrogant About?

    <h4>Chapter 218: Chapter 218: You¡¯re Just a Young Lady from the Ji Family, What¡¯s There to Be Arrogant About?</h4>


    Xia Duoduo¡¯s expression clearly froze for a moment, but she quickly masked it with a smile. "No, he¡¯s just my agent."


    As she spoke, her gaze faltered slightly, lowering her eyes to stare at the champagne in front of her.


    The two had been best friends for years¡ªhow could Ji Wei not see through her thoughts?


    Encouragingly, Ji Wei held Xia Duoduo¡¯s hand and said, "Duoduo, if you like him, then go for it. Don¡¯t let those scumbags from your past affect you."


    The Duoduo she knew had always been someone who loved and hated boldly.


    Xia Duoduo looked at her and smiled. "Thank you, Little Wei."


    "Since when did we be the kind of friends who needed to say thank you? Silly girl." Ji Wei reached out and hugged her.


    By now, the guests at the cruise¡¯s g dinner had all arrived. The host from the business association was delivering a speech on stage, filled with nothing more than some polite weing remarks.


    Ji Wei nibbled on the delicate pastries from her te, listening indifferently and only sporadically paying attention.


    Xia Duoduo left for the restroom, and Ji Wei saw that Gu Moqian was still being surrounded by several business titans from Rongcheng, so she decided not to bother him.


    After the speeches concluded, the g dinner officially began.


    Melodious waltz music drifted through the venue as some guests raised their sses and chatted, while others paired up with dance partners, moving gracefully to the tunes.


    Feeling bored after finishing the champagne in front of her, Ji Wei decided to head to the deck for some fresh ocean air. The nighttime sea must have its own special charm.


    She had just gotten up and walked a short distance when a young woman came up to her.


    "Miss Ji, pleasee with me to the top floor," the woman said arrogantly, lifting her chin.


    "Do I know you? And why should I go with you?" Ji Wei responded with a mocking smile.


    The woman frowned and strained to hold back her anger. "You don¡¯t know me, fine. But you surely know Sister Xuan¡ªJin Xuan¡¯er. She¡¯s the one who sent me to find you."


    Earlier, Ji Wei had nced around the main hall upon arriving and hadn¡¯t seen Jin Xuan¡¯er. She had assumed Jin Xuan¡¯er had given up after failing to secure Ye Cheng¡¯spany, but it turned out Jin Xuan¡¯er was hiding in one of the cruise ship¡¯s rooms.


    "Why didn¡¯t shee herself?" Ji Wei countered.


    "Sister Xuan is a big star. She prefers to keep a low profile and doesn¡¯t want to attract a crowd or cause amotion. It¡¯s better if Miss Jies along."


    "Sorry, I¡¯m not interested."


    Why meet Jin Xuan¡¯er? It was obvious she wanted to make things difficult¡ªonly an idiot would fall for that.


    With that, Ji Wei turned and walked away without hesitation. Unexpectedly, the woman suddenly grabbed her arm roughly.


    "You¡¯re just the Ji family¡¯s daughter! What¡¯s with the attitude? I came to invite you because I was being generous. Don¡¯t get too full of yourself! Didn¡¯t your mom ever teach you basic manners when you were a child?¡ªAh!"


    The woman¡¯s sharp words were cut off by a sudden yelp.


    "Y-You... You actually sshed wine on me!"


    The woman pointed a trembling finger at Ji Wei, furious and exasperated. Champagne streamed down her hair, dripping incessantly and smudging the heavilyyered makeup on her face.


    Ji Wei raised her eyebrows and slowly ced the empty wine ss back onto a waiter¡¯s tray, her eyes gleaming coldly.


    "You¡¯ve infuriated me! This dress¡ªit¡¯s brand new, just bought from abroad! You have topensate me!"


    Seeing the stain spreading on her expensive dress from the dripping champagne, the woman¡¯s face turned red, and her indignation grew even stronger.


    As she shouted, she reached out to grab Ji Wei¡¯s dress, but Ji Wei noticed her move in advance and deftly dodged her attack.


    The woman, gnashing her teeth, refused to give up and lunged at her again. But suddenly, she was pulled back by a force from behind, making her stumble to a halt.


    The woman turned around and, upon seeing the neer, immediately adopted a whiny tone. "Sister Xuan, you¡¯re here! That vile woman actually sshed me with wine¡ªyou have to help me get justice!"

 Chapter 219: How Did Your Ex-boyfriend Betray All Your Secrets?

    <h4>Chapter 219: Chapter 219: How Did Your Ex-boyfriend Betray All Your Secrets?</h4>


    Jin Xuan¡¯er nced around and noticed that Mo Qian had his back turned to this direction. Coupled with the loud music at the banquet, he didn¡¯t catch themotion over here, and she quietly breathed a sigh of relief.


    However, a few guests nearby had already cast their gazes this way. Jin Xuan¡¯er immediately shot a look at the young woman, signaling her to cease making noise to avoid drawing unnecessary attention.


    The woman, indignant, stepped behind Jin Xuan¡¯er, her eyes full of resentment as they fixed on Ji Wei.


    Seeing Jin Xuan¡¯er appear, Ji Wei didn¡¯t show the slightest hint of surprise. She had anticipated that sending someckey to invite her upstairs probably wouldn¡¯t work, necessitating Jin Xuan¡¯er toe in person.


    "Miss Ji, I genuinely sent someone to invite you upstairs for a private drink. After all, it¡¯s too noisy here, with prying eyes everywhere, making it unsuitable for discussing certain matters. But you? Not only did you reject the invitation, you even sshed wine on my friend. Shouldn¡¯t Miss Ji offer an apology?" Jin Xuan¡¯er fixed her with a piercing stare as she spoke.


    "Certain matters?"


    Ji Wei¡¯s expression remained indifferent as she raised her eyes toward Jin Xuan¡¯er. "What matters can¡¯t be discussed openly and honestly, and instead require the privacy of a room upstairs?"


    Jin Xuan¡¯er flushed with embarrassment at her retort but forced herself to smile, maintainingposure. "Doesn¡¯t Miss Ji already know why? Why ask me?"


    Ji Wei¡¯s face hardened as she stared at Jin Xuan¡¯er, saying, "You want to use the video to threaten me? But all it shows is a blurry silhouette. Who can confirm the person in it is me? With today¡¯s advancedputer synthesis techniques, do you really think people would believe it?"


    "Whether they believe it or not, as long as I im the person in the video is you, the curious media reporters will dig deep into the matter without me lifting a finger," Jin Xuan¡¯er sneered coldly.


    "Oh, that¡¯s true. In doing so, the incident of Huo Yan secretly filming me would inevitably be exposed to the public. The illustrious Second Young Master Huo revealed as a perverted voyeur¡ªdo you think that would be good for the Huo family¡¯s reputation?"


    Ji Wei watched as Jin Xuan¡¯er¡¯s face paled instantly, her cold smile bing all the more pronounced.


    The worst-case scenario would be the video ending up in the hands of the media, but likewise, Huo Yan would be implicated.


    Jin Xuan¡¯er had ties with Huo Yan, so it was unlikely she¡¯d dare to take that step.


    "You iming the video was taken by Huo Yan¡ªwithout evidence¡ªno one will believe you!"


    Jin Xuan¡¯er steadied her emotions and refuted reluctantly, "By the way, I not only have the video, but I also have your photos. Every single one couldnd Miss Ji on the front page in a heartbeat. I think Miss Ji could debut as an erotic star with these."


    Saying this, Jin Xuan¡¯er raised her brows triumphantly.


    Ji Wei¡¯s brow furrowed. As expected, Huo Yan had passed even those photos to Jin Xuan¡¯er!


    That despicable, shameless scoundrel!


    "Miss Ji must be furious. How does it feel to have all your privacy sold out by your ex-boyfriend?"


    Jin Xuan¡¯erughed with smug satisfaction. "If Miss Jies upstairs with me, I can let you vent your anger, because the man you¡¯d want to punch is waiting there too."


    "That bastard Huo Yan is here too?"


    Shock flickered in Ji Wei¡¯s eyes, and her hand involuntarily tightened into a fist.


    "That¡¯s right, he¡¯s in the room upstairs," Jin Xuan¡¯er said as she gestured upward with a finger.


    "Fine, I¡¯ll go with you." Ji Wei gritted her teeth, her expression simmering with anger.


    Seeing that she had sessfully provoked Ji Wei, a glimmer of triumph appeared in Jin Xuan¡¯er¡¯s eyes.


    Ji Wei, oh Ji Wei, you¡¯re nothing special after all!


    Swaying her hips arrogantly as she led the way, her voice dripped with conceit. "Then let¡¯s go."

 Chapter 220: After leaving you, I learned so many things; what’s a thick skin in comparison?

    <h4>Chapter 220: Chapter 220: After leaving you, I learned so many things; what¡¯s a thick skin inparison?</h4>


    As Ji Wei was about to leave the banquet hall, she suddenly halted and nced back at the crowd. Amid the clinking of sses andughter, the man standing there seemed to instinctively turn his gaze towards her. In that fleeting exchange of nces, something unspoken passed between their eyes, a moment of mutual understanding.


    Gu Moqian gave a faint nod, and that simple gesture brought Ji Wei an unexpected sense of calm.


    She responded with a gentle smile, then turned and continued walking. Looking ahead at Jin Xuan¡¯er, who exuded an air of self-satisfaction after falling for her deception, a trace of cold detachment shed through Ji Wei¡¯s eyes.


    Outside the cabin doors of the second-floor hall.


    The cruise hall nearby was brightly lit and lively, but here it felt unusually quiet.


    The sea breeze tousled the curled hair of the woman leaning against the railing. Her enchanting eyes were fixated calmly on the tranquil sea before her. From time to time, she would raise the ss of red wine in her hand to her vibrant red lips, taking a gentle sip. Her gaze seemed distant, lost in thought about something unknown.


    Suddenly, the sound of footsteps gradually approaching broke the silence behind her.


    The woman whirled around, and her alluring face lit up with surprise and delight when she saw who it was. She quickly walked towards him.


    Because she had drunk a little and was overwhelmed with joy and urgency, her high heels hit the floor unevenly. When she reached the man, her cheeks flushed faintly like a girl on her first date. Opening her lips eagerly, she said, "Ye Cheng, you¡¯re here."


    As she neared, Ye Cheng instinctively took a step back. In stark contrast to her delight, his handsome face bore an expression colder than the moonlight above.


    "Speak. What do you know?"


    His voice was emotionless, detached.


    It was as if they were strangers brought together solely because the other had valuable information, and he had to tolerate her presence.


    This unfamiliar distance and near-indifferent demeanor caused a sharp pain to pierce Zimei¡¯s heart.


    The joy on Zimei¡¯s face froze for only a moment before she quickly recovered, speaking cheerfully, "You know I don¡¯t like attending these kinds of banquets. I came only because I wanted to see you. But I must admit, asionally enjoying the sea breeze on such a luxurious cruise isn¡¯t bad, wouldn¡¯t you agree?"


    Her familiarity and casual tone made Ye Cheng frown ever so slightly. His face remained expressionless as he said, "I didn¡¯te here to keep Boss Zipany and enjoy the view. If you have nothing to say, then forgive me for not staying."


    If not for Zimei¡¯s people passing him information about Ji Chuyang¡¯s recent movements in Japan, he wouldn¡¯t havee at all. Given her connection with Lu Shanhu, a powerful figure across both legitimate and underground circles in Rongcheng, it wasn¡¯t surprising she had some knowledge about the mafia¡¯s activities in Japan.


    With that, he turned without hesitation.


    Zimei quickly reached out and grabbed his arm. "You care more about your brothers than you ever care about me. Am I really that unbearable to you?"


    As she spoke, tendrils of pain unfurled in her chest.


    "Let go."


    Ye Cheng turned back to nce at her coldly.


    She was still as dazzling and alluring as ever. Hers was the kind of face that could captivate anyone with just one look, one that lingered in memories forever.


    Yet to him, it was a face he¡¯d rather avoid at all costs.


    "I won¡¯t!"


    Zimei, rarely so obstinate, held on tightly. Her long, red-painted nails stood out vividly against the white fabric of his shirt sleeve, refusing to release him.


    This time, Ye Cheng¡¯s frown deepened visibly. He worked to suppress his rising anger, lifting his hand to pry her fingers off his arm with deliberate force.


    Zimei seemed determined, though. The moment he freed himself, her handtched onto his arm again.


    "When did you learn to be so shameless?"


    Ye Cheng grabbed her wrist firmly this time, speaking through clenched teeth.


    Zimei smiled, her expression beguiling. "I¡¯ve learned quite a lot since leaving you. Being shameless is nothing."

 Chapter 221: Ye Cheng, if I jump down from here...

    <h4>Chapter 221: Chapter 221: Ye Cheng, if I jump down from here...</h4>


    Ye Cheng¡¯s gaze grew colder, once again forcibly removing her hand from his arm, and as they pulled at each other, the red wine ss in Zimei¡¯s other hand swayed violently.


    Two-thirds of the remaining red wine sshed out, directly spilling onto Zimei.


    The crimson wine soaked through her chest, appearing exceptionally dazzling and ring on the white cheongsam.


    Ye Cheng stared at the stain for a moment in a daze, yet still unceremoniously pulled Zimei¡¯s hand away.


    Zimei no longer reached out to cling to him; she suddenly became quiet, lifting her misty eyes to fixedly look at the man she loved deeply and engraved in her heart.


    After a moment, she suddenlyughed.


    Herugh was beautiful and enchanting, like dahlias blooming under the sun.


    Then, they saw Zimei retreating step by step, retreating while stillughing foolishly at Ye Cheng.


    Ye Cheng was momentarily stunned by her peculiar behavior.


    When he came to his senses, Zimei¡¯s back was already against the yacht¡¯s railing. She was still looking at him and smiling, her red lips moving: "Ye Cheng, if I jump down from here, would you save me?"


    Upon hearing this, the space between Ye Cheng¡¯s brows suddenly twitched.


    What did she want to do?


    "Don¡¯t be crazy," the man coldly reprimanded.


    Zimei suddenly moved the wine ss in her hand slowly outside the railing, the sea breeze blowing her hair, covering most of her face, yet she still smiled enchantingly, "I¡¯m not crazy."


    As her words fell, she suddenly released her hand.


    The red wine ss quickly plummeted, disappearing in an instant into the surging waves below, without a trace.


    "Ye Cheng, if I fall, would I sink into the sea just like that in an instant?" Zimei withdrew her gaze, turned back to Ye Cheng, and asked with a haunting tone.


    "If you want to die, find somewhere else, don¡¯t die here," Ye Cheng replied coldly.


    "Ha..." Zimeiughed, full of sorrow, "If I die, it must be in front of you."


    After speaking, she already turned to face the sea, and then made a gesture as if to leap.


    Ye Cheng¡¯s expression changed dramatically, and almost instinctively, he rushed at her, sping tightly onto her body before the woman could jump.


    "Did you not care whether I live or die anymore? Then let me die!" Zimei struggled and shouted.


    "I said, if you¡¯re going to die, go far away! Don¡¯t dirty my eyes."


    Ye Cheng dragged her to a spot far from the railing, only then did he release his grip sharply.


    The man¡¯s face was ashen as he stared at the woman, whose chest was heaving from the intense struggle: "Even acting has its limits, don¡¯t expect me to stop you next time."


    After the icy warning, Ye Cheng strode away without looking back.


    Zimei saw he was really leaving, swallowed back the tears in her eyes, and suddenly called urgently to his back: "Ye Cheng, don¡¯t let Mo Qian go to Japan, there¡¯s a trap over there!"


    Ye Cheng¡¯s steps paused slightly, then he quickly walked into the nearby cabin door.


    As Ye Cheng¡¯s figure gradually disappeared down the corridor, Xia Duoduo, who had been hiding in a concealed spot, slowly emerged.


    She had juste out of the bathroom, saw Ye Cheng leave the hall and head outside, and quietly followed him.


    Xia Duoduo just didn¡¯t expect to see Ye Cheng entangled with that seductive woman.


    Even though Xia Duoduo couldn¡¯t hear their conversation clearly, from their actions, it was obvious that their rtionship was not ordinary.


    No wonder Ye Cheng isn¡¯t interested in other women; it turns out he¡¯s always had a woman hidden deep in his heart...

 Chapter 222: The man before her is actually not Huo Yan!

    <h4>Chapter 222: Chapter 222: The man before her is actually not Huo Yan!</h4>


    Xia Duoduo¡¯s face was slightly pale, as if the budding feelings she had just developed were suddenly crushed.


    She stood there, watching the woman on the deck crouching down slowly, burying her head between her knees, her shoulders trembling. A sharp pain instantly pierced her heart.


    For a long time, she finally withdrew her gaze and left slowly.


    The top floor of the luxurious yacht.


    Jin Xuan¡¯er led Ji Wei to a door and pushed it open. "Huo Yan is inside. I won¡¯t get involved in your private matters anymore; you can go in and talk to him yourself. But let me give you a word of advice, Miss Ji¡ªcontrol yourself a bit. Don¡¯t cause a scene here. The guests downstairs are still enjoying themselves, and I doubt you¡¯d want them all to climb up here to watch, would you?"


    It seemed like Huo Yan had even told Jin Xuan¡¯er about the incident from years ago when Ji Wei beat him up.


    Ji Wei couldn¡¯t help but find it bizarre. How had a coward like Huo Yan managed to get close to someone like Jin Xuan¡¯er?


    Although Jin Xuan¡¯er spoke with such certainty, Ji Wei cautiously stood by the door and didn¡¯t go in immediately. Instead, she leaned her head in to nce around the room. "Are you sure he¡¯s in there? I don¡¯t see him anywhere."


    "Listen, the sound of water running in the bathroom. He¡¯s obviously taking a shower," Jin Xuan¡¯er exined.


    "Alright then," Ji Wei said as she stepped inside.


    Once inside, the sound of running water from the bathroom became clearer.


    Bam!


    Suddenly, the door behind her mmed shut!


    Ji Wei rushed back in quick strides, raising her hand to pull the doorknob, only to realize that the door had been locked from the outside.


    Jin Xuan¡¯er¡¯s smug voice echoed through the door. "Miss Ji, you¡¯d better stay in here obediently. I¡¯ll go downstairs in a bit and make sure to spread your scandalous video far and wide. By the time youe out, you¡¯ll be greeted by a crowd of media reporters at the door. With you alone in a room with Second Young Master Huo, you¡¯ll have a hard time exining yourself."


    After saying this, Jin Xuan¡¯er walked away but then quickly doubled back to add, "Oh, right. If Miss Ji wants to escape, there¡¯s still one possible way¡ªjump out the window into the sea. It¡¯s probably better than being surrounded by reporters, isn¡¯t it?"


    Jump into the sea?


    Ji Wei snorted coldly. It was alreadyte autumn¡ªjumping in would either drown her or freeze her to death. Was she really that stupid?


    The sound of Jin Xuan¡¯er¡¯s voice outside the door slowly disappeared. She had probably gone downstairs to carry out her triumphant n.


    Ji Wei scanned the room. Though it wasvishly decorated, the space was limited¡ªit was still part of a yacht, after all. Besides the living room and bedroom, only the bathroom remained.


    The sound of water running from the bathroom hadn¡¯t stopped, likely because the person inside hadn¡¯t noticed her presence yet.


    With Gu Moqian downstairs, there was no way Jin Xuan¡¯er could seed in releasing the video. As for this situation here¡ªJi Wei decided she would handle it herself.


    Ji Wei¡¯s gazended on an ashtray on the coffee table. She walked over, grabbed it in her hand, and slowly approached the bathroom.


    She tried to make her footsteps as light as possible to avoid alerting Huo Yan in the bathroom. Then, stopping in front of the bathroom door, she took a deep breath, tightened her grip on the ashtray, ced her other hand on the doorknob, and forcefully pushed the bathroom door open!


    The man in the bathroom had his back to her. The showerhead had already been turned off, and he was in the middle of putting on a bathrobe.


    Ji Wei hadn¡¯t seen Huo Yan in years. Although the man¡¯s back looked slightly different, she didn¡¯t think much of it. She charged forward, raising the ashtray in her hand, ready to strike down on the man¡¯s neck!


    At thest critical moment, the man suddenly turned his face around.


    In that instant, Ji Wei¡¯s eyes widened in shock, utterly stunned.


    No way, how could this be possible!


    The man in front of her wasn¡¯t Huo Yan!

 Chapter 223: Are you surprised or taken aback to see me?

    <h4>Chapter 223: Chapter 223: Are you surprised or taken aback to see me?</h4>


    Xi Nanfeng casually continued to put on his bathrobe, not turning around until he had tied the belt securely. A roguish smile hung on his handsome face: "Ji Xiaowei, surprised to see me? Unexpected, huh?"


    "Wh... Why is it you?" Ji Wei was stunned for a moment before squeezing out a few words.


    "Old Mo asked me toe."


    Xi Nanfeng said as he grabbed a towel from the rack nearby to dry his hair: "Let me tell you, I barely got myself to this cruise party. Haven¡¯t even had a sip of champagne or flirted with a single chick, and then your Old Mo sends me here¡ªfor a shower, of all things! I literally just showered before heading out, and now I¡¯m taking another one. Look at this cramped little space. Even a shower feels suffocating!"


    Ji Wei listened to Xi Nanfeng¡¯sints in a daze, starting to piece things together.


    She hadn¡¯t seen Xi Nanfeng since boarding the cruise and thought he wouldn¡¯t bother showing up tonight. Who would¡¯ve guessed that Gu Moqian had actually arranged for him to be here?


    Ji Wei asked with some confusion: "Hasn¡¯t Jin Xuan¡¯er been in this room all along? How did you sneak in without her noticing?"


    "I waited until she went downstairs to find you. I was hiding in the room next door the whole time. The second she left, I used a spare key card to open the door."


    Xi Nanfeng had already finished drying his hair and was stepping out of the bathroom.


    Ji Wei followed him out, still prying as they walked: "And what about Huo Yan? Is he in the room or not?"


    "You mean that coward Second Young Master Huo?" Xi Nanfeng motioned toward the bedroom with his chin.


    "You put him in the bedroom?" Ji Wei asked in shock, looking toward the bedroom.


    The bedroom door was closed, and she had no idea what the situation inside was.


    Xi Nanfeng sauntered over to the sofa, plopped himself down, grabbed a bottle of red wine from the side, and poured himself a ss: "Go take a look. He shouldn¡¯t be awake yet. I drugged him; he¡¯ll probably be out cold for a while."


    Ji Wei breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this.


    Take a look?


    No way¡ªshe¡¯d rather not see him at all.


    Ji Wei simply walked over and sat down beside Xi Nanfeng, saying earnestly, "Second Young Master, thank you."


    Though Gu Moqian might have pulled some strings, Xi Nanfeng had clearly gone out of his way to help, and his cooperation wasn¡¯t guaranteed.


    "No need for thanks." Xi Nanfeng raised his ss toward her casually. "Want a drink?"


    Ji Wei shook her head: "Go ahead. By the way, aren¡¯t we going out now? The reporters will actually show up soon."


    Xi Nanfeng cocked his head toward the door: "They¡¯re already here."


    Ji Wei was startled and instinctively peeked toward the door.


    Footsteps sounded from outside, as if a crowd of people was gathering nearby.


    The gossip-hungry reporters hade swiftly.


    Xi Nanfeng finished his ss of red wine, set it down, and stood up.


    He walked over to the coat rack and took down his clothes.


    Ji Wei¡¯s gaze followed his movements involuntarily: "Did you and Mo Qian plot something together?"


    Beforeing here, Gu Moqian had only told her that if Jin Xuan¡¯er tried to make things difficult for her, she should leave it to him to handle and not worry about anything.


    At the time, Ji Wei hadn¡¯t asked for more details.


    Now, with Xi Nanfeng here and Huo Yan drugged unconscious, her suspicions only grew stronger.


    "You¡¯ll find out soon enough." Xi Nanfeng responded cryptically with rare mystique, then turned and disappeared back into the bathroom.


    As Xi Nanfeng went to change clothes, Ji Wei stood up, tiptoed to the door, and leaned her ear against the door panel.

 Chapter 224: Daring to Put a Green Hat on Mr. Gu

    <h4>Chapter 224: Chapter 224: Daring to Put a Green Hat on Mr. Gu</h4>


    Outside the door, a crowd had likely already gathered. Through the door, Ji Wei could hear the quiet murmur of voices outside.


    "Do you think the eldest daughter of the Ji Family is really inside with Second Young Master Huo? We¡¯ve been listening for ages, but there¡¯s no sound at all."


    "Sister Xuan wouldn¡¯t be wrong. Just now, Miss Ji was still seen side by side with Mr. Gu. And now, in such a short time, she ends up sneaking into a room with Second Young Master Huo? Daring to put a green hat on Mr. Gu¡ªnow *that¡¯s* explosive news!"


    "I heard that Miss Ji and Mr. Gu are only together because of pressure from the elders. But Second Young Master Huo grew up alongside Miss Ji as childhood sweethearts. Miss Ji has always been bold and headstrong, so sneaking off to meet a man in private? Totally normal behavior for her."


    Hearing the conversation outside, Ji Wei¡¯s eyebrows furrowed slightly.


    Not only did Jin Xuan¡¯er want to expose her scandalous video at the banquet, but she also intended to have the media catch her having an "affair" with Second Young Master Huo. Clearly, this was a meticulously nned scheme.


    Before long, voices outside rose again: "But waiting like this won¡¯t solve anything. How about we quietly open the door and take a look?"


    "I¡¯ve got the key Sister Xuan gave me. I¡¯ll open the door now."


    They wereing in!


    Nervous, Ji Wei unconsciously clenched her palms. While her mind raced toe up with a solution, out of the corner of her eye, she suddenly caught sight of Xi Nanfeng walking toward her.


    Xi Nanfeng, fully dressed, stopped right in front of her.


    Ji Wei was about to tell him about the situation outside when Xi Nanfeng gestured for silence and signaled with his eyes for her to hide next to the door.


    Ji Wei had no idea what he was nning, but sheplied anyway.


    The impatient media reporters used the key to unlock the door. But just as they reached out to push it open, the door was unexpectedly pulled open from the inside.


    The crowd froze for a moment, then their eyes lit up with excitement. They hurriedly adjusted their cameras and microphones, aiming them at the door, which had just swung open.


    "Miss Ji, may I ask if you and Mr. Huo¡ª"


    The first reporter to speak was dumbfounded, his jaw dropping as he saw the unexpected face behind the door. His microphone nearly slipped from his hand to the floor.


    The cluster of reporters at the bedroom door all stared in disbelief at the man in front of them, wondering if their eyes were ying tricks on them.


    They rubbed their eyes furiously¡ªno mistake!


    It was none other than Second Young Master Xi, Xi Nanfeng!


    "I just came in to take a damn shower, and I¡¯ve attracted this many people to gawk? Don¡¯t you media folks have anything better to do?"


    Standing tall and imposing in the doorway, Xi Nanfeng crossed his arms, a signature smirk of insolent arrogance on his face as he stared down the group of dumbfounded reporters.


    "Second Young Master Xi, why is it you..."


    One of the reporters finally regained hisposure and asked hesitantly, "Isn¡¯t this Mr. Huo¡¯s room?"


    The reporter wasn¡¯t giving up and even tiptoed to peek behind Xi Nanfeng.


    Impossible! Jin Xuan¡¯er had clearly said it was Room 205¡ªthere was absolutely no way it was wrong.


    "Mr. Huo who? This is *my* room," Xi Nanfeng stated with certainty.


    The reporters exchanged confused looks, suspicion flickering across their faces.


    "Make way. I still need to head downstairs for the banquet. Excuse me, everyone, but I won¡¯t be keeping youpany." After speaking, Xi Nanfeng casually shut the door behind him and walked through the crowd with a look of impatience.


    The reporters had no choice but to move aside and make way for him.


    As they watched Xi Nanfeng walk off, they remained utterly bewildered, unable to make sense of the situation.


    If Second Young Master Xi was in the room, then where were Mr. Huo and Miss Ji?

 Chapter 225: The Qin Family’s Heiress and the Woman-Repellant Second Young Master Xi Hit the Sheets!

    <h4>Chapter 225: Chapter 225: The Qin Family¡¯s Heiress and the Woman-Repent Second Young Master Xi Hit the Sheets!</h4>


    Just as Xi Nanfeng was halfway down the road, a woman suddenly came running toward him, shouting excitedly: "Brother Nanfeng, I¡¯m back!"


    Xi Nanfeng¡¯s scalp tingled at the sound of her voice.


    Before he could take off and escape, the woman, dressed head-to-toe in leather with smoky makeup and a fiery red short haircut, charged straight toward him.


    Xi Nanfeng instinctively stepped backward, but behind him were a swarm of media reporters, all turning their heads in curiosity at the woman¡¯s shouting. Before he had retreated even a few steps, she barreled forward and threw herself into his arms.


    "Brother Nanfeng, did you miss me? Did you miss me? Did you miss me?"


    The woman¡¯s face was flushed with excitement, her hands gripping Xi Nanfeng¡¯s neck tightly, her whole body practically hanging on to him.


    "Miss Qin, please get down."


    Xi Nanfeng said, restraining himself, while trying to peel the woman clinging onto him off.


    But the woman, like an octopus, clung harder, using both her hands and feet. She pouted and said, "I won¡¯t let go. Brother Nanfeng, just admit it if you miss me. Stop being so insincere; I know all your deepest feelings."


    What?


    Xi Nanfeng was utterly bewildered by Qin Sixue¡¯s words. When had he ever said he missed her?


    "Miss Qin, could there be some misunderstanding here?" Xi Nanfeng managed to pry the woman clinging tightly to his neck slightly loose, his face filled with embarrassment as he asked.


    "No misunderstanding at all! Mr. Gu said that you¡¯ve been calling my name in your dreams. Daydreams, night dreams¡ªBrother Nanfeng, you definitely missed me! Don¡¯t think that just because there are so many people here, you won¡¯t admit it!"


    Xi Nanfeng cursed inwardly. When had he ever called her name in his dreams?


    Gu Moqian had never even shared a bed with him, so where was he getting this nonsense about dream talking?


    Wait a second...


    So many people... people!


    Xi Nanfeng abruptly turned his head, only to see a journalist pointing a camera directly at him, furiously snapping photos.


    The reporters who had just been blocking the door were now charging en masse toward him, their faces lit with excitement.


    Xi Nanfeng¡¯s lips twitched violently.


    Great! In his effort to help Ji Wei evade reporters, he had ended up throwing himself under the bus.


    In that moment of dazed realization, Xi Nanfeng and Qin Sixue werepletely surrounded by journalists, leaving no gaps to slip through. Escaping unscathed was now a pipe dream.


    Sharp and probing gossipden questions were hurled at them one after another.


    "Second Young Master Xi, are you and Miss Qin in a romantic rtionship? We¡¯ve heard that Miss Qin chose to suddenly study abroad because of a falling-out with you. Now that she¡¯s returned to the country, does this mean you¡¯ve reconciled?"


    Xi Nanfeng¡¯s expression froze, but Qin Sixue jumped in to answer: "That¡¯s right! I came back specifically to reconcile with Brother Nanfeng."


    When Qin Sixue imed they had made up, didn¡¯t that confirm they were in a rtionship?


    So it turned out that when Qin Sixue went abroad, it really was because the couple had quarreled!


    "What stage are you two at now? When do you n to get married?"


    "What stage, you ask?" Qin Sixue eagerly interjected again, pausing dramatically in thought before saying, "Well, I¡¯ve already slept in Brother Nanfeng¡¯s bed!"


    Oh my, the implications were massive...


    Someone quickly took out a notebook to jot that down.


    The Qin family¡¯s heiress sharing a bed with the woman-repellent Second Young Master Xi¡ªnow this would definitely be sensational news!


    "As for marriage..."


    Qin Sixue paused before continuing, looking up at Xi Nanfeng as she spoke, her eyes glimmering with affection and a hint of coyness. She stared at him like a bashful little woman, saying, "As long as Brother Nanfeng proposes, I¡¯ll say yes right away¡ª"


    "Qin Sixue, enough!"


    Before Qin Sixue could finish her sentence, Xi Nanfeng interrupted her with a loud shout.

 Chapter 226: Daring to Seduce a Married Man

    <h4>Chapter 226: Chapter 226: Daring to Seduce a Married Man</h4>


    Qin Sixue looked at the man in front of her, his anger evident. Her face instantly went pale.


    Xi Nanfeng finished speaking, forcefully pushed the woman leaning against him away, and strode toward the edge of the crowd.


    What was going on?


    The journalists present stared at Xi Nanfeng leaving in a huff, momentarily unable to react.


    Just a moment ago, the two were so sweet and affectionate¡ªhow did things turn sour so suddenly?


    Qin Sixue stood still, biting her dark purple lips, and forcefully suppressed the immense disappointment in her heart.


    In the next second, she suddenly turned around and chased after Xi Nanfeng in the direction he had disappeared: "Brother Nanfeng, wait for me!"


    The media reporters, distracted by this dramatic turn in Xi Nanfeng and Qin Sixue¡¯s story, had long forgotten about their n to "catch Ji Wei in the act." Seeing the two run off, they grabbed their cameras and hurriedly chased after them.


    Listening to the noise outside gradually recede, eventually giving way to silence, Ji Wei¡ªwho had been standing behind the door¡ªfinally let out a sigh of relief.


    She had vaguely caught a hint of Qin Sixue¡¯s voice earlier.


    The woman called out "Brother Nanfeng" in a crisp and sweet tone, sounding oddly pleasing to the ears.


    So that was the Miss Qin Gu Moqian had mentioned earlier? She seemed to be quite an interesting character.


    Ji Wei didn¡¯t hesitate anymore and pulled open the door, heading down the corridor to the second-floor banquet hall of the cruise ship.


    By now, the scene in the banquet hall hadpletely shifted¡ªcheerful tunes reced with the prelude of a graceful waltz, signaling the impending start of a ballroom dance.


    Using such asions to dance,work, and connect with elite figures in the business world was an ideal strategy.


    By the dance floor, numerous socialites were eager to try their luck, their gazes fixed on the men they admired.


    Gu Moqian didn¡¯t stand in the center of the dance floor. To deliberately avoid the fervent gazes directed his way, he turned around and moved toward the edges of the room.


    Although everyone knew Gu Moqian had brought a femalepanion tonight, there were still a few determined socialites trailing him, hoping to invite him to dance.


    "Mr. Gu, I¡¯m President Chen¡¯s daughter. May I invite you for a dance..."


    Before Miss Chen could finish her sentence, Gu Moqian interrupted her indifferently, "Sorry, I have a partner."


    With that, he kept walking.


    Miss Chen had admired Gu Moqian for a long time but rarely had the opportunity to get so close to him. So, even though she was coldly rejected, she stubbornly pressed on, "Your partner isn¡¯t currently by your side, Mr. Gu. Just one dance with me¡ªsurely it won¡¯t hurt? My father¡¯spany is also seeking coboration with the Gu Family soon; wouldn¡¯t Mr. Gu benefit from gaining another partner?"


    "The Chen Family handles mining and transportation¡ªit has no ovep with Gu Family¡¯s operations. Miss Chen, there¡¯s nothing more to discuss."


    Gu Moqian had already reached a nearby bar and reached out to grab a ss of pale yellow champagne. Unexpectedly, Miss Chen abruptly extended her hand, attempting to grasp his wrist: "Mr. Gu, can¡¯t you reconsider? Whatever that Miss Ji has, I have as well. I can stay by your side too..."


    Gu Moqian¡¯s brows furrowed coldly. He moved his arm, trying to avoid her touch, but at that moment, a slender, fair hand suddenly intervened, blocking his arm and firmly swiping away Miss Chen¡¯s hand.


    "Miss Chen has a decent appearance, so why is she so afraid of being unwanted? To the point of seducing a married man,"


    Ji Wei¡¯s voice rang out steadily, her bright, piercing gaze fixed on Miss Chen, sending an ufortable shiver down the other woman¡¯s spine.

 Chapter 227: I Want to Stay with You on the Boat Until Death

    <h4>Chapter 227: Chapter 227: I Want to Stay with You on the Boat Until Death</h4>


    "S...Sorry."


    Miss Chen¡¯s face turned pale the moment she saw Ji Wei, and she blurted out the words instinctively.


    Ji Wei looped her arm affectionately through Gu Moqian¡¯s. After ncing at the man¡¯s perfect and handsome face, she turned to Miss Chen and sneered, "My husband is indeed quite good-looking. A lot of women would want a man like him. But he¡¯s married, understand? If you¡¯re thinking of stepping into someone else¡¯s rtionship and bing a mistress that everyone despises, you¡¯ll probably drown in spit before you even leave this ce."


    Her words made Miss Chen¡¯s face sh red then pale, as if caught red-handed trying to steal something. Her hands trembled as she forced herself to speak and lowered her head. "Miss Ji, I¡¯m sorry, I..."


    "Aren¡¯t you leaving yet?" Ji Wei¡¯s voice grew even colder.


    "I... I¡¯ll leave now."


    Miss Chen never once dared to meet Ji Wei¡¯s eyes. After finishing her sentence, she turned and ran off as if fleeing.


    Watching the woman in front of him fiercely standing up for him like a mother hen guarding her chick, Gu Moqian¡¯s lips curved upward. In high spirits, he reached out to hold her waist, drawing her closer into his arms little by little.


    Ji Wei was caught off guard by his sudden action and stumbled directly against his chest. Tilting her head back, her clear ck-and-white eyes quietly gazed up at the man.


    "Mrs. Gu, your performance just now gets full marks from me," Gu Moqian said approvingly.


    Ji Wei froze for a moment before regaining her senses. With a pout, she raised a hand and gave him a light punch on the chest. "Hmph, it¡¯s all your fault for being so good-looking and attracting flowers and butterflies wherever you go. I think most of the young women in this banquet hall are swooning over you."


    Though she grumbled, her brows and eyes were filled with amusement.


    "And what about you?" A faint smile surfaced in the man¡¯s eyes as he asked.


    "Me? What can I do?" Rising from his embrace, she spread her hands. "If you marry a rooster, live with the rooster; if you marry a dog, live with the dog. I¡¯ve already boarded this pirate ship."


    Her antics made Gu Moqian chuckle softly.


    At this moment, she bore a striking resemnce to the mischievous, spirited little girl she used to be.


    His eyes shimmered as he reached out once more, pulling her firmly into his arms. His warm breath brushed against Ji Wei¡¯s ear as he murmured, "Since you¡¯ve boarded this ship, stay put. Don¡¯t even think about getting off for the rest of your life."


    "But what if I get seasick and my legs go weak?"


    "Not an option. If that happens, then I¡¯ll stay on the ship with you until the very end."


    "..."


    Why did hisst sentence sound like it had a double meaning?


    Loosening his embrace slightly, Gu Moqian lowered his gaze to see her flushed cheeks, which had unknowingly turned a deep red. The smile on his lips grew wider, his voice low and maic. "Mrs. Gu, what are you thinking about?"


    Ji Wei quickly turned her face away.


    "Nothing."


    As if it wasn¡¯t his words that led her astray, and now he had the nerve to ask?


    The man said nothing, just stared at her with a smile that wasn¡¯t quite a smile.


    To dispel the awkwardness, Ji Wei hastily changed the subject. "It was really surprising to see Second Young Master Xi appear in the upstairs room. Did you figure out Jin Xuan¡¯er¡¯s n early on?"


    "Yes. That actress¡¯s every move has been under my watch."


    As Gu Moqian spoke, he lifted his deep gaze and swept it around the banquet hall.


    Ji Wei suddenly thought of something and followed his gaze.


    Soon, she noticed bodyguards disguised as ordinary guests stationed all around the banquet hall, keeping a close eye on Jin Xuan¡¯er. They wore tiny earpieces, likely feeding information to Gu Moqian in real time.


    She hadn¡¯t expected Gu Moqian to go to such lengths. Her understanding of his meticulous handling of affairs deepened once more.


    Then again, Gu Moqian was in a lofty position. At such a young age, he held control of the wealthiest family in Rongcheng. Whether in intelligence or talent, he was iparable.


    And this man¡ªhe belonged to her.

 Chapter 228: Jin Xuan’er shuddered all over with just one glance

    <h4>Chapter 228: Chapter 228: Jin Xuan¡¯er shuddered all over with just one nce</h4>


    Ji Wei felt a sweet sensation ripple through her heart. She continued, "Oh right, earlier when we were upstairs, you mentioned Miss Qin, who¡¯s pursuing Second Young Master Xi, also showed up. Was that your arrangement as well?"


    Mo Qian nodded, "Mm."


    "Isn¡¯t Miss Qin abroad? Why did she suddenly return?"


    "I had Chen Ke call her two days in advance."


    Mo Qian exined while hisrge hand gently caressed the delicate, soft back of her hand. "Old Xi is getting on in years; it¡¯s time for him to settle down."


    Though Mo Qian often teased Xi Nanfeng about his single status, Ji Wei thought he still cared deeply about his lifelong happiness.


    "But how can you be so sure Miss Qin is suitable for Second Young Master Xi?" Ji Wei asked, a little puzzled.


    The feelings between men and women are truly the most enigmatic of all.


    "I¡¯m simply drawing the connection; whateveres of it is beyond my control." Mo Qian¡¯s deep, ocean-like eyes rested on her. "The only thing I can guarantee is that my heart, loving you, will never change."


    As he spoke, the man suddenly took hold of her small hand and slowly ced it against his chest, where his heart beat.


    Ji Wei¡¯s heart skipped a beat in shock.


    Click, click, click ¡ª the skill level of this romance guy was on a whole new level. She had no defense against it ¡ª what was she going to do?


    ...


    The two stood at the edge of the crowd near the dance floor. The spotlight illuminated the center of the dance floor, leaving the surrounding areas much dimmer. Because of this, Jin Xuan¡¯er, who stood at the very front of the crowd, didn¡¯t notice that Ji Wei had alreadye downstairs.


    Jin Xuan¡¯er¡¯s eyes were glued on Ye Cheng a few meters away.


    Tonight, Ye Cheng wore a ck suit that entuated the wless contours of his wickedly handsome face. His thin lips pressed together in an aloof way, giving him an air of restraint that only heightened Jin Xuan¡¯er¡¯s desire to conquer him.


    For now, she wasn¡¯t in a hurry to release Ji Wei¡¯s humiliating video. After all, for her, getting closer to Ye Cheng was the top priority.


    Anyway, that "Miss Ji" was locked upstairs, likely being "bullied" by Huo Yan by now. To ensure things went as nned, she had even spiked Huo Yan¡¯s drink with a dose of aphrodisiacs.


    Feeling pleased with herself, Jin Xuan¡¯er adjusted her bright red gown and then confidently raised her head high. She strutted forward, swaying her hips seductively, heading toward Ye Cheng.


    But before she could reach him, a tall, burly man in ck suddenly appeared and blocked her way.


    "What are you doing? Move!"


    Jin Xuan¡¯er looked at the man in ck before her, baffled. What did her approaching Ye Cheng have to do with him?


    Jin Xuan¡¯er¡¯s voice was sharp. As a well-known actress, she quickly drew the attention of nearby guests, who looked her way.


    Strangely though, despite seeing Jin Xuan¡¯er being blocked by the men in ck, none of the onlookers dared to step forward to help.


    Even the men who liked her visibly hesitated, shrinking back nervously, afraid to intervene.


    Everyone seemed to be afraid of something.


    From the peculiar expressions of the guests, Jin Xuan¡¯er began to sense something. Whipping around, she found herself face-to-face with a middle-aged man who had somehow appeared behind her.


    His deep-set eyes radiated sharpness, carrying the ruthless edge of someone who had long maneuvered through bothwful and criminal worlds. He exuded a chilling aura that felt like venomous fangs grazing her spine, making her shudder uncontrobly.


    The underworld kingpin, Lu Shanhu ¡ª Brother Hu!


    At just a nce, Jin Xuan¡¯er couldn¡¯t suppress her trembling. Her legs grew so weak she nearly copsed on the spot.

 Chapter 229: This little bitch, why is she everywhere?

    <h4>Chapter 229: Chapter 229: This little bitch, why is she everywhere?</h4>


    Jin Xuan¡¯er, the flowery celebrity idol celebrated in the entertainment industry, faced a powerful figure like this for the first time¡ªit was perfectly normal for her legs to feel weak.


    What she couldn¡¯t understand was why Brother Hu, with whom she had never had any interactions, prevented her from approaching Ye Cheng.


    Two men dressed in ck watched her intently, while the piercing gaze of Lu Shanhu behind her felt like needles against her back. Guests around them either observed curiously or spected quietly. Jin Xuan¡¯er felt that she couldn¡¯t stay there any longer.


    Since dancing with Ye Cheng was out of the question, and none of the other men interested her, she decided to leave the dance floor altogether.


    Jin Xuan¡¯er made an effort to appear less disheveled, then turned around and forced herself to maintain aposed demeanor as she walked step by step out of the center of the dance floor.


    She pushed her way through the crowd, striding quickly toward the exit, and red unapologetically at a male fan who attempted to strike up a conversation. Having meticulously dressed up for the evening banquet, only to encounter such an oue, her frustration was easily imaginable.


    Just as she was about to head to the lounge to freshen her makeup, Jin Xuan¡¯er spotted Xia Duoduo at the bar, drinking.


    Her brows furrowed tightly in an instant.


    This little tramp¡ªwhy was she everywhere?


    Xia Duoduo had already lost count of how many sses she had downed.


    When she stood up, a sudden wave of dizziness left her unsteady, forcing her to lean against the table¡¯s edge for support before she could move forward.


    Not far away, Jin Xuan¡¯er watched Xia Duoduo heading toward the restroom. A glint of coldness shed across her eyes, and she followed carefully behind.


    "Would you like a dance?"


    Gu Moqian saw Ji Wei gazing with interest toward the dance floor and couldn¡¯t help but ask.


    Ji Wei immediately waved her hand, saying, "No, I haven¡¯t danced in ages¡ªI wouldn¡¯t even know where to put my feet."


    Although she had once been Rongcheng¡¯s most dazzling socialite, dancing in such settings had naturally been second nature. However, her past life had been consumed with battling wits with the Ji Family¡¯s senior members and dealing with Ji Chuyang, leaving her long forgotten about the pleasures of dancing.


    Gu Moqian was about to reply when one of the ck-d operatives discreetly stationed in the banquet hall walked briskly toward him.


    The operative whispered something in Gu Moqian¡¯s ear, causing his expression to darken slightly.


    "All right, I understand," Gu Moqian responded coolly with a nod.


    The operative silently faded back into the crowd.


    "Has something happened?" Ji Wei asked.


    Gu Moqian nced toward the restroom and replied in a calm voice, "It seems Xia Duoduo has been in the restroom for quite a while, and Jin Xuan¡¯er followed her inside. My operative cannot enter thedies¡¯ room¡ªgo check what¡¯s happening in there."


    "Okay."


    Upon hearing that it involved Duoduo, Ji Wei immediately nodded in agreement.


    Inside the restroom, Jin Xuan¡¯er was gleefully pinching Xia Duoduo¡¯s jaw, forcing her to lift her head.


    Her heavily made-up eyes squinted arrogantly as she ground her teeth and sneered, "You little tramp¡ªI didn¡¯t expect you¡¯d be this drunk. With your looks, you dare stay close to Ye Cheng? You¡¯re utterly overestimating yourself!"


    After finishing her words, Jin Xuan¡¯er shoved Xia Duoduo¡¯s head back harshly, mming it against the wall behind her.


    Xia Duoduo had been leaning over a toilet bowl, ready to vomit, when Jin Xuan¡¯er barged in aggressively and grabbed hold of her.


    Her head throbbed painfully from the cold, hard wall that struck it. Despite her drunken haze, Xia Duoduo frowned, unable to make sense of what this woman was saying. Running purely on instinct, she iled her arms in an attempt to free herself from the other¡¯s grip.


    "Let... let me go..." Xia Duoduo whimpered weakly.


    "You little tramp! I¡¯m telling you to stay away from Ye Cheng¡ªdo you hear me?"


    Jin Xuan¡¯er, thrilled to have seized such an opportunity, was unwilling to squander it. She grabbed Xia Duoduo¡¯s face again, pressing her against the wall. "If you don¡¯t stay away from him, I have countless ways to make you disappear from the entertainment industry!"

 Chapter 230 I Will Never Let You Go!

    <h4>Chapter 230: Chapter 230 I Will Never Let You Go!</h4>


    Knock knock knock!


    "Jin Xuan¡¯er, I know you¡¯re in there. What did you do to Duoduo? Open the door, now!"


    When Ji Wei arrived at the restroom, she noticed one of the stalls was closed, and from within came Jin Xuan¡¯er¡¯s aggressive cursing. Instantly, Ji Wei was certain that both Jin Xuan¡¯er and Xia Duoduo were inside.


    But the stall door was locked from the inside by Jin Xuan¡¯er, and she couldn¡¯t force it open.


    Hearing Ji Wei¡¯s voice, Jin Xuan¡¯er immediately froze, an expression of disbelief shing across her face.


    How could Ji Wei be here?


    Wasn¡¯t she supposed to be upstairs in the room with Huo Yan?


    She actually managed to escape!


    A trace of panic flitted across Jin Xuan¡¯er¡¯s eyes. She had no idea how Ji Wei had freed herself from Huo Yan, nor how she found out about her bullying Xia Duoduo here. But there was one thing she understood.


    That was, the n to frame Ji Wei had gone far too smoothly tonight¡ªit had to be a trap!


    Jin Xuan¡¯er abruptly let go of Xia Duoduo¡¯s chin, which she¡¯d been gripping tightly, as her mind raced for solutions.


    Having suddenly lost her bnce, Xia Duoduo¡¯s body leaned heavily to one side, mming into the stall next to her. She crumpled in pain.


    "It hurts..." Xia Duoduo couldn¡¯t help but groan.


    "Duoduo, are you okay? Duoduo..." Ji Wei was still outside banging anxiously on the door.


    This wasn¡¯t going to work. She needed to confirm that Xia Duoduo hadn¡¯t been harmed by Jin Xuan¡¯er.


    Ji Wei nced around, and her eyesnded on a bucket used by the cleaning staff in the corner. Then she looked up at the top of the open stall that hadn¡¯t been fully sealed. A n suddenly sprang to mind.


    Jin Xuan¡¯er assumed that since she wasn¡¯t opening the door, Ji Wei couldn¡¯t do anything to her for the time being. Besides, she still had Xia Duoduo. At worst, she could use Duoduo as a hostage to threaten Ji Wei intoplying with her demands.


    But what Jin Xuan¡¯er never expected was a bucket of ice-cold water pouring down on her head out of nowhere.


    Without missing a single spot, she was drenched from head to toe.


    "Ji Wei! You... you actually dared to ssh me!" Jin Xuan¡¯er¡¯s gown was soaked through, and she was shivering so much she could barely speak.


    Outside the stall, Ji Wei set the bucket down and red coldly at the door. "Still noting out? Want another cold shower?"


    The moment Ji Wei¡¯s wordsnded, Jin Xuan¡¯er, looking utterly humiliated, flung the door open and red daggers at her.


    Jin Xuan¡¯er was in a downright pitiful state. Her hair clung wetly to her face, water streaming down nonstop, and her clothes were soaked beyond recognition.


    Seeing Ji Wei¡¯s icy gaze fixed on her, with the bucket still at her feet, Jin Xuan¡¯er¡¯s rage surged to the surface. She bellowed furiously, "Ji Wei, I¡¯m a big star! How dare you treat me like this, you¡ª"


    "Move!"


    Before Jin Xuan¡¯er could finish her rant, Ji Wei rudely shoved her aside. And before she could even react, Ji Wei had barged into the stall and rushed to help Xia Duoduo, who had copsed on the floor.


    Jin Xuan¡¯er, pushed with such force by Ji Wei, couldn¡¯t stop herself from mming into the stall wall behind her. She cried out in pain, clutching her side.


    "Ji Wei, you¡¯re going to regret helping this little bitch today! I¡¯ll never let either of you off!" Jin Xuan¡¯er growled, clutching her arm where she¡¯d hit it in anger.


    Ji Weipletely ignored her, treating her words as if they didn¡¯t exist. Instead, she gently patted Xia Duoduo¡¯s cheek. "Duoduo, wake up. Why did you drink so much?"

 Chapter 231: I don’t know how many men have seen this body

    <h4>Chapter 231: Chapter 231: I don¡¯t know how many men have seen this body</h4>


    Ji Wei struggled to help her friend up. The floor was cold, and there was some water spilled earlier. She couldn¡¯t just let her stay there.


    When Xia Duoduo heard the familiar voice, she tried hard to open her bleary eyes. "Little Wei, it¡¯s you... Where... where am I now?"


    She looked around in confusion, as if unable to remember where she was.


    "You¡¯re drunk. Let me help you out first," Ji Wei said gently and patiently. As she noticed a bump swelling on Xia Duoduo¡¯s temple¡ªlikely Jin Xuan¡¯er¡¯s handiwork¡ªher gaze turned ice-cold. She turned sharply to re at Jin Xuan¡¯er.


    "How dare you bully Duoduo! I¡¯ll settle this score with you sooner orter!" Ji Wei said sternly.


    "Ha!" Jin Xuan¡¯er sneered dismissively. "You two? Thinking you can go against me? Aren¡¯t you overestimating yourselves?"


    Ji Wei had no intention of wasting words with Jin Xuan¡¯er. The most important thing now was to get Xia Duoduo out of here. Who knew if she had other bruises on her body...


    Seeing Ji Wei so brazenly taking Xia Duoduo away, Jin Xuan¡¯er stomped her foot in frustration. "You¡¯re not allowed to leave! I haven¡¯t finished talking!"


    Saying this, Jin Xuan¡¯er chased after them in her high heels.


    As Jin Xuan¡¯er reached out to grab Ji Wei¡¯s arm forcefully, her hand froze mid-air.


    She saw, just a few meters away, a man standing outside the restroom. His face was devilishly handsome yet emanated an otherworldly coldness. Upon noticing him, Jin Xuan¡¯er quickly withdrew her hand and hid it behind her back, instinctively raising her other hand to fix her wet hair clinging to her cheek.


    "Ye... Ye Cheng..."


    Jin Xuan¡¯er called out, her voice suddenly soft and full of affection, her eyes brimming with tenderness.


    However, Ye Cheng didn¡¯t even spare her a nce. With utter indifference, he walked straight over to Ji Wei and took Xia Duoduo from her arms.


    Seeing Xia Duoduo in her half-drunk, half-unconscious state, his sharp brows barely perceptibly furrowed.


    "Duoduo¡¯s drunk, and it seems she also has some bruises. Mr. Ye, it¡¯s best you take her to the hospital for a check-up," Ji Wei advised.


    "Mm,"


    Ye Cheng responded ndly, then supported Xia Duoduo as they disappeared down the corridor.


    "Ye Cheng! Ye Cheng! Look at me! Why are you ignoring me?"


    Seeing this, Jin Xuan¡¯er anxiously tried to chase after them. She had only taken two steps when Ji Wei forcefully grabbed her wrist.


    Jin Xuan¡¯er turned back and shouted angrily, "What are you doing? Let go of me!"


    Ji Wei held Jin Xuan¡¯er¡¯s wrist tightly, and the pain twisted Jin Xuan¡¯er¡¯s face grotesquely. "You bullied Duoduo in the restroom just now. Do you really think you can just walk away without facing the consequences?"


    "Let me go! Did you hear me?!"


    Jin Xuan¡¯er furiously tried to yank Ji Wei¡¯s hand away. Just as she used all her strength to struggle, Ji Wei abruptly released her grip. Before Jin Xuan¡¯er could stumble backward, Ji Wei raised her hand and delivered a resounding p across her face.


    The force of the p left Jin Xuan¡¯er dazed, copsing to the ground.


    "That p was for what you did to Duoduo earlier!" Ji Wei said coldly, staring at the woman on the ground.


    Clutching the reddened, swollen side of her face, Jin Xuan¡¯er¡¯s eyes burned with fury, as though she wanted to incinerate Ji Wei into ashes.


    Through gritted teeth, she slowly got up from the floor, her voice trembling with rage. "Ji Wei, just you wait! I will make you pay for this!"


    "Whatever dirty tricks you have, bring them on. You think I¡¯d be afraid?" Ji Wei scoffed coldly.


    Suddenly, Jin Xuan¡¯er raised her voice and screamed, "Ji Wei, you¡¯re utterly unworthy of being called a socialite of Rongcheng! You¡¯re even more undeserving of Mr. Gu¡¯s attention! Everyone, take a look at this woman! She might have a pretty, innocent face, but she¡¯s filthy inside. She even recorded obscene videos of herself. God knows how many men have seen her disgraceful body¡ªabsolutely disgusting!"

 Chapter 232: See How Ji Wei Can Continue To Survive in Rongcheng

    <h4>Chapter 232: Chapter 232: See How Ji Wei Can Continue To Survive in Rongcheng</h4>


    At this moment, due to the tugging between the two women, guests passing through the hallway couldn¡¯t help but pause and watch. The crowd of onlookers was growingrger by the minute.


    Earlier, Jin Xuan¡¯er had deliberately raised her voice, clearly intending for everyone nearby to hear her!


    Sure enough, the onlookers, especially the socialites who harbored resentment toward Ji Wei, immediately looked at Ji Wei with a different expression.


    However, some still maintained a skeptical attitude.


    After all, Ji Wei was undeniably the youngdy of the Ji Family. How could she possibly be involved in scandalous videos?


    Jin Xuan¡¯er also noticed those hesitant gazes. But seeing that her words had already made an impact, she continued to fan the mes: "I know you might not believe me, but I wouldn¡¯t say such a thing without evidence. Otherwise, how could I exin myself if Miss Ji sued me for nder?"


    As Jin Xuan¡¯er spoke, she took out a USB drive she had been hiding and held it up in front of everyone.


    "This contains Miss Ji¡¯s scandalous video. You probably can¡¯t imagine what this most celebrated socialite of Rongcheng looks like without clothes, right?" Jin Xuan¡¯er spoke with great satisfaction, her eyes brimming with malice as she nced at Ji Wei.


    Ji Wei didn¡¯t argue back, merely staring coldly at Jin Xuan¡¯er. This act of hers was probably being yed far too confidently.


    The real show was yet toe.


    The youngdy of the Ji Family, a video of her without clothes...


    Several nearby men, upon hearing Jin Xuan¡¯er¡¯s words, instantly revealed a lustful gleam in their eyes.


    These were all spoiled sons of wealthy families, who had admired Ji Wei for a long time. But out of respect for Gu Moqian¡¯s identity and status, none of them dared to approach Ji Wei casually.


    Unable to im the beauty for themselves, they¡¯d still revel in the chance to see the beauty without her clothes!


    One of the men joked loudly, "Miss Jin, is the video in your USB drive real or fake? This is a society ruled byw, you can¡¯t just make false usations about Miss Ji. After all, she has Mr. Gu supporting her."


    "Yes, we won¡¯t easily believe it until we see it with our own eyes," another chimed in.


    "I remember there¡¯s a projector in the banquet hall. Why not publicly y the supposed scandalous video you mentioned? That way, we can all confirm whether Miss Ji¡¯s being falsely used. If she is, an apology would definitely be in order!"


    The men flung their remarks one after another, clearly trying to provoke Jin Xuan¡¯er into ying the video she held.


    Ji Wei suddenly shot them a frosty, chilling look. The few men immediately mmed up, no longer daring to coax her.


    But this was precisely the effect Jin Xuan¡¯er wanted. Seeing that she had sessfully piqued everyone¡¯s curiosity, she became even more smug, replying decisively, "Since you¡¯ve all said so, I¡¯ll y the video!"


    "Miss Jin sure is straightforward!"


    The men pped their hands in praise, their faces alight with anticipation.


    This dull banquet had finally taken a turn for the interesting.


    The socialites who were jealous of Ji Wei for being the only woman beside Gu Moqian also secretly revealed schadenfreude-filled expressions.


    Once the scandalous video was exposed, let¡¯s see how Ji Wei could still survive in Rongcheng!


    In the banquet hall, the music suddenly halted.


    The rumors about Ji Wei¡¯s scandalous video quickly spread, and the guests couldn¡¯t resist whispering amongst themselves.


    Jin Xuan¡¯er strutted arrogantly onto the stage. As she inserted the USB drive into the projector equipment, everyone below wore an expression of eager anticipation, waiting for the drama to unfold.


    Moments ago, the confrontation between Jin Xuan¡¯er and Ji Wei at the restroom door had already been reported to Gu Moqian by informants. Seeing Ji Wei returning, he swiftly stepped forward to take her hand, pulling her gently into his embrace.


    "Do you need me to drag her off the stage?" the man¡¯s cold voice sounded from above her head.


    "No need,"


    Ji Wei replied, her gaze extraordinarilyposed, showing no trace of panic or distress: "If a certain actress wants to destroy herself, let¡¯s just watch."

 Chapter 233: In Scheming, She’s Still No Match for Gu Moqian

    <h4>Chapter 233: Chapter 233: In Scheming, She¡¯s Still No Match for Gu Moqian</h4>


    The projector on the stage lit up quickly, and the massive screen flickered before disying a video.


    This was a silent video, pieced together from a series of photos.


    As soon as the photos appeared on screen, the audience below erupted intomotion.


    People were discussing the photos fervently, creating a chaotic scene. Among them, media reporters who had sneaked in raised their cameras and camcorders, snapping away at the disy screen relentlessly.


    Jin Xuan¡¯er, who had been basking in her smugness just moments before, nced deliberately in Ji Wei¡¯s direction. She noticed Ji Wei standing far away, shoulder to shoulder with Mo Qian on the outer edges of the crowd. Her face still held that damnedposure and calmness, which left Jin Xuan¡¯er somewhat unsettled.


    This shouldn¡¯t be happening¡ªhow could Ji Wei remain so indifferent when such explosive content had been revealed?


    Suddenly, Jin Xuan¡¯er noticed that many people in the crowd seemed to be pointing at her. A pang of uneasiness shot through her heart¡ªwhat was going on?


    Why was the object of their attention not Ji Wei, but her?


    Jin Xuan¡¯er¡¯s dyed realization hit her, and she turned her head. The utter shock caused her legs to go weak, and she copsed to the floor in a kneeling position.


    How could this be? How?!


    What was disyed on the giant screen behind her wasn¡¯t a video of Ji Wei showering, secretly filmed, but rather scandalous photos of Jin Xuan¡¯er herself after a drunken night.


    There were pictures of her taking off clothes, kissing her agent recklessly, and cozying up with an unfamiliar man in a dimly lit room, doing who knows what...


    In short, these photos utterly destroyed Jin Xuan¡¯er¡¯s long-cultivated image as a pure and innocent idol.


    Turns out this popr star looked utterly disgraceful after drinking!


    The male fans below instantly showed visible disgust on their faces.


    Ji Wei seemed to have anticipated this oue and showed little surprise.


    On the second day after Xiao Zhang sent her the video, he also sent her some photos found on Jin Xuan¡¯er¡¯sputer.


    These photos were apparently secretly taken by paparazzi. Jin Xuan¡¯er had paid a high price to bribe them into keeping the photos from being exposed, yet she hadn¡¯t expected that one day, her efforts would be in vain, and the photos would appear before the public¡ªreleased by none other than herself!


    Ji Wei nced sideways at the calm andposed man standing next to her. She pressed her lips together and asked, "Were you the one who instructed Xiao Zhang to send me those photos on the second day?"


    "Mm." Mo Qian nodded faintly, his gaze falling upon the female celebrity on stage, who was now inplete disarray. A cold glint flickered in his eyes. "People whock self-awareness and actively throw themselves into the line of fire deserve a good lesson."


    Indeed, when it came to being devious, she was still no match for Mo Qian.


    "Ji Wei, you framed me!"


    Realizing that everything had been a trap orchestrated by Ji Wei, Jin Xuan¡¯er erupted in fury. She pointed in Ji Wei¡¯s direction and screamed furiously, her voice raw with anguish.


    The reporters had long swarmed around her, forming an imprable blockade. Jin Xuan¡¯er wanted to escape, but found every step immensely difficult.


    "Jin Xuan¡¯er, why did you release your own scandalous photos? These seem like paparazzi shots¡ªhow did you get your hands on them?"


    "These unsavory pictures have just been uploaded online, andizens are in an uproar. Do you have anything to say about this?"


    "You keep targeting Miss Ji of the Ji Family¡ªdo you secretly bear resentment towards her and used this opportunity to go after her?"


    ...


    Having reached her breaking point, Jin Xuan¡¯er was barely holding herself together. Faced with the reporters¡¯ sharp questions, her lips turned pale and trembling, and she explosively shouted, "Stop asking me! I have no idea what¡¯s going on! It¡¯s all Ji Wei¡¯s doing¡ªthat bitch set me up! Go ask her!"


    After screaming, Jin Xuan¡¯er stumbled her way out of the crowd of reporters, escaping in utter disarray.


    Her high heels were knocked off in the frantic attempt to flee, but Jin Xuan¡¯er couldn¡¯t care less. Barefoot, she dashed recklessly toward the exit of the cruise ship.


    Just as she rushed out of the cabin door, a hand suddenly reached out from the darkness, pulling a ck sack down over her head!

 Chapter 234 Don’t Touch Me, No!

    <h4>Chapter 234: Chapter 234 Don¡¯t Touch Me, No!</h4>


    "Who are you! Let go... mm mm..."


    Jin Xuan¡¯er kicked and thrashed desperately, but her mouth was quickly covered. In the next moment, she was hoisted up like a sack of grain by the men in ck and swiftly disappeared from the cruise ship¡¯s deck.


    The reporters who had rushed out to chase her searched the deck thoroughly but failed to find any trace of Jin Xuan¡¯er. Many spected that she might have been so scared of being surrounded that she had jumped into the sea to escape.


    On the top floor of the luxury cruise ship, inside a bedroom.


    Jin Xuan¡¯er felt herself being forcefully shoved inward, and she tumbled hard onto the ground.


    Ignoring the pain radiating through her entire body, she hurriedly reached up to tear off the ck sack covering her head. The blinding light overhead made her close her eyes for a moment before she dared to open them.


    Seeing the familiar arrangement of the room, Jin Xuan¡¯er froze in shock, eyes wide open.


    Wasn¡¯t this the room where she¡¯d tricked Ji Wei into entering?


    Just as Jin Xuan¡¯er was attempting to get up from the floor, she suddenly noticed someone moving on the sofa.


    The person had been lying down with their back to her but was now sitting up while clutching their head. Slowly, he turned to look at her.


    "Huo Yan!" Jin Xuan¡¯er eximed in shock.


    Huo Yan¡¯s mind was clouded from the effects of the drug, coupled with the unbearable heat surging through his body. When he heard a woman¡¯s voice, it was as if a starving man had found a glimmer of hope.


    The man¡¯s bloodshot eyes shone with a dangerous glint as he slowly stood and started approaching Jin Xuan¡¯er.


    "Huo Yan, what... what are you doing?! Don¡¯te any closer!"


    Seeing Huo Yan¡¯s demeanor, Jin Xuan¡¯er instantly realized that the drug hadpletely taken effect. Originally, she¡¯d schemed for Ji Wei to be vited by Huo Yan, but now the situation had unexpectedly turned against her!


    Panic-stricken, Jin Xuan¡¯er supported herself on the ground as she frantically retreated, all the while shouting, "Huo Yan, look at me! See who I am! Don¡¯te any closer, do you hear me?!"


    However, Huo Yan was already fully under the drug¡¯s control. Hearing his heavy, ragged breathing close in around her ears made Jin Xuan¡¯er¡¯s heart pound in terror.


    She backed up to the door and clumsily climbed up, leaning against the door panel. Gripping the handle, she desperately tried to pull the door open!


    But no matter how hard Jin Xuan¡¯er pulled, the door wouldn¡¯t budge.


    Huo Yan¡¯s hand had alreadynded on Jin Xuan¡¯er¡¯s back, the intense heat seeping through her sweat-soaked clothes like an electric shock, making her face turn ghostly pale in an instant.


    Terrified, she pressed herself against the door, her eyes filled with despair. "Huo Yan,e to your senses! Look closely at who I am!"


    "Huo Yan! You can¡¯t do this... don¡¯t rip my clothes!"


    "No, please, Huo Yan... don¡¯t touch me, no!"


    "Help! Somebody, open the door!"


    "Ah¡ª!"


    Inside the room, the man, like a ravenous wolf,pletely lost his sanity and pinned the woman beneath him without mercy...


    In the hallway, waiters continued to move back and forth, but none noticed the woman¡¯s heart-wrenching cries.


    After the incident involving Jin Xuan¡¯er, the ballroom gradually returned to its serene atmosphere under the security team¡¯s supervision.


    ...


    Downstairs in the ballroom, the gentle notes of a waltz began to y again.


    Perhaps because Jin Xuan¡¯er¡¯s downfall seemed like a fitting punishment for her scheming, Ji Wei¡¯s mood lifted considerably as she indulged in several sses of champagne. Her cheeks felt a little warm.


    Gu Moqian, after dealing with a few trade leaders who hade up to greet him, turned to see the petite woman looking dreamily at him with hazy eyes.


    Ji Wei was holding a tall-stemmed ss by its delicate stem, her other hand propping up her cheek. Her misty, glistening eyes stared unblinkingly at the incredibly handsome man in front of her.


    Oh, her husband was simply perfect, no matter the time¡ªnever boring to look at.

 Chapter 235: Stop Jumping Around, You’re Embarrassing Yourself

    <h4>Chapter 235: Chapter 235: Stop Jumping Around, You¡¯re Embarrassing Yourself</h4>


    The woman stared straight at him, her gaze resembling that of an infatuated fan admiring her idol, causing Mo Qian¡¯s refined brows to arch slightly.


    In the blink of an eye, Ji Wei had somehow downed this much alcohol.


    Mo Qian took a seat next to her.


    Ji Wei¡¯s gaze followed his every move, unable to look away for even a second.


    Mo Qian¡¯s long, fair fingers gently lifted the woman¡¯s elegantly curved chin, locking his eyes onto her dreamy ones. His voice, low and maic, resonated: "Do you know what you¡¯re implying by looking at me like that?"


    Ji Wei froze, her hand propping her chin slipping away as she nkly asked, "What?"


    "Makes me want to devour you."


    Mo Qian leaned close to her ear, his tone seductive.


    Even in her drunken state, Ji Wei¡¯s cheeks instantly flushed. She stared at the excessively alluring man with a faint smirk on his lips, dazed for a few seconds before hastily averting her gaze.


    Mo Qian reached out, taking the wine ss from her hand, and sped her soft, delicate hand. "Why drink so much? If you can¡¯t handle it, I¡¯ll have Old Xu drive you back."


    Ji Wei turned her head, her intoxicated smile refusing his offer with a shake of her head. "No need; my alcohol tolerance isn¡¯t that bad."


    He raised a brow. Not that bad?


    With her tantly suggestive gaze practically luring him in, if it were any worse, the consequences would be unimaginable...


    Her eyes swept past the crowd in front of her, drifting toward the dance floor. Suddenly, she spoke softly, "Mo Qian, why don¡¯t we go dance?"


    "Dance?" Mo Qian sounded slightly surprised.


    "Yes,e on."


    Ji Wei stood up, her intoxicated voice tinged with a yful plea. Boldly, she grabbed Mo Qian¡¯s hand and led him toward the dance floor.


    The crowd around the dance floor noticed their approach and instinctively parted to make way.


    People stared with wide eyes, wondering if they were imagining things.


    My God, in this lifetime, they were actually witnessing the first young master of Rongcheng dancing!


    This man, who dominated the business world with ease, turned out to have such an elegant side, and his dance partner was none other than Rongcheng¡¯s socialite Ji Wei. Now, this was going to be interesting.


    The lighting technician also noticed themotion near the dance floor.


    The dazzling spotlight instantly focused on the pair.


    Energized by the alcohol, Ji Wei felt fearless. Paying no mind to the jealous or envious stares of others, she confidently held onto Mo Qian¡¯s hand and headed straight to the center of the dance floor.


    The music, too, adjusted to their sudden entrance, switching to an elegant waltz.


    Mo Qian intertwined his fingers tightly with Ji Wei¡¯s in one hand, while the other circled her slender waist, pressing her curvaceous figure firmly against himself. Together, their steps began to follow the rhythm of the music.


    Ji Wei, still a little tipsy, stumbled on her very first step and nearly toppled onto Mo Qian.


    "Sorry, I haven¡¯t danced in a long time..." she apologized, embarrassed.


    "Rx, just follow my lead."


    Mo Qian gazed at her encouragingly.


    "Okay." Ji Wei nodded, trying hard to stay focused.


    However, her steps remained clumsy. She stepped on Mo Qian¡¯s leather shoes several times and almost bumped into someone next to them while spinning.


    The crowd, initially eager to see an impressive disy of dance, was left dumbfounded.


    "Miss Ji¡¯s dancing is really bad, isn¡¯t it? What a waste of such an amazing partner like Mr. Gu."


    "Exactly, and she ims to be Rongcheng¡¯s socialite? Even regr folks dance better than this."


    "Ugh, just stop dancing already. It¡¯s embarrassing!"


    "I feel secondhand embarrassment for Miss Ji, especially with so many people watching."


    ...


    The murmurs from the crowd made their way to Ji Wei¡¯s ears. While she had initially considered retreating in defeat, her resolve suddenly hardened.


    These people were dying to see her fail. She wasn¡¯t about to let them get their wish!

 Chapter 236: I Only Have Eyes for You

    <h4>Chapter 236: Chapter 236: I Only Have Eyes for You</h4>


    Ji Wei suddenly stopped in her tracks.


    She simply took off her high heels, which had be painfully ufortable, then bent down and gathered up the long train of her gown, arranging it into a stylish and sleek design at her side in an instant.


    Her earlier clumsy dancing had been due to wearing a dress that wasn¡¯t suitable for dancing.


    At this moment, everyone at the edge of the dance floor was utterly baffled by Ji Wei¡¯s actions.


    What exactly is this youngdy nning to do?


    "Mo Qian, let¡¯s dance again."


    Ji Wei beamed brightly at the man, her cheeks tinged with a faint blush. Under the spotlight above her, she looked radiant and captivating, making it impossible for anyone to look away.


    "Alright."


    Gu Moqian agreed without hesitation, cooperating unconditionally.


    As he agreed, the man also took off his restrictive suit jacket, leaving only a crisp white shirt. The two buttons at the neckline were undone, exuding an effortless elegance and refined charm.


    On the dance floor, the two stood together as if surrounded by a halo. The other dancers quietly stepped aside because just standing near them made everyone else fade into obscurity.


    When the music began again, Ji Wei¡¯s expression transformed. Her beautiful eyes glimmered with determination and defiance.


    Tonight, she wanted to reim the title once bestowed upon her: Queen of the Dance Floor.


    In stark contrast to her earlier drunken state, Ji Wei now seemed like an entirely different person. Her movements, her demeanor¡ªall were indistinguishable from that of a professional dancer, while Gu Moqian¡¯s wless coordination only added the finishing touch.


    Their tacit understanding and perfect synchronization transformed every rhythm and move into something passionate yet elegant, leaving the onlookers stunned and full of praise.


    Before the crowd could finish savoring the moment, Ji Wei ended the dance with a wless backbend.


    Those spectators who had mocked Ji Wei earlier for embarrassing herself quickly shut their mouths. The unspoken p in the face came far too quickly.


    As Gu Moqian pulled Ji Wei back into his arms, she was still catching her breath, exhrated from the joy and excitement of dancing after such a long time.


    Staring at the woman before him, her cheeks flushed and her eyes sparkling with a strange allure, Gu Moqian¡¯s gaze deepened. He reached out and pulled her into his embrace, letting warm breath fall against her delicate earlobe as he praised her without hesitation, "You dance beautifully."


    His thin lips brushed faintly along the edge of her ear, eliciting involuntary shivers.


    Their intimate actions caused the surrounding spectators to be stunned speechless.


    Mr. Gu was notoriously indifferent and cold toward other women, almost to the point of aloofness, yet he was unmistakably different when it came to Miss Ji.


    The sess of their dance was undoubtedly due in part to Mr. Gu¡¯s extraordinary patience and perfect coordination, which was nothing less than indulgence toward Miss Ji¡¯s confident ir¡ªa clear disy of pampering.


    At this moment, their closeness only further confirmed Mr. Gu¡¯s unmistakable favoritism toward Miss Ji.


    It seems that all those rumors about arguments and even annulment between the two wereplete fabrications. Meanwhile, the women at the scene who still held onto a smidgen of hope toward Gu Moqian had their dreams entirely shattered.


    With so many people watching, Ji Wei still felt a little embarrassed despite the alcohol she¡¯d consumed.


    The woman in his arms squirmed slightly, but Gu Moqian only tightened his hold. "Let me hold you a little longer." The mesmerizing charm she¡¯d exuded while dancing captivated him so deeply that he was unwilling to let go.


    "But there are so many people watching..." Ji Wei murmured hesitantly.


    "In my eyes, it¡¯s only you," he replied, implying that he couldn¡¯t even see the crowd around them.


    "..."


    After a moment, Gu Moqian reluctantly let her go.


    Ji Wei was about to bend down to slip on her high heels again, but as soon as she made a move, Gu Moqian stopped her. "I¡¯ll do it."

 Chapter 237: The other party raised the dark muzzle of the gun and aimed at them.

    <h4>Chapter 237: Chapter 237: The other party raised the dark muzzle of the gun and aimed at them.</h4>


    The man spoke, then crouched down, his slender hand picking up a pale gold high heel, while his other hand gently cradled her snow-white bare foot in his palm.


    Ji Wei lowered her head and saw Gu Moqian preparing to put her shoe on in front of so many people. She whispered anxiously, "Mo Qian, there¡¯s no need. I can do it myself."


    "I¡¯ll do it."


    The man didn¡¯t look up, only said these two words indifferently before continuing to put the high heel onto her foot, then moved to the other one.


    The spotlight from the dance floor had yet to move away from the two of them.


    The woman stood there holding up her dress, while the man knelt on one knee before her. The hand that had signed contracts worth billions was now carefully cing a shoe on a woman¡¯s foot...


    Such an unbelievable scene once again stunned everyone at the banquet.


    So it turned out that beneath Mr. Gu¡¯s aloof and cold exterior, he was secretly a wife-doting maniac!


    After putting on the other shoe, Gu Moqian slowly stood up. "Done."


    "Th-thank you," Ji Wei stammered helplessly, her face flushed.


    A trace of a smile flickered in Gu Moqian¡¯s eyes as he said calmly, "Why thank me? I¡¯m your husband."


    Ji Wei: "..."


    Biting her lip lightly, she looked at the refined and elegant man before her, a wave of warmth coursing through her heart.


    The two were holding hands, about to walk out of the dance floor, when suddenly a gunshot pierced the air!


    Bang!


    The crystal chandelier overhead shattered instantly, fragments raining down with a crash, sending the crowd at the edge of the dance floor into a panic as they screamed and scrambled for cover.


    Ji Wei had yet to process what was happening when a second deafening shot echoed out.


    The moment the first shot sounded, Gu Moqian instinctively pulled Ji Wei into his arms and moved swiftly to the side.


    The lights overhead went out one by one, plunging the banquet hall into chaos.


    The sudden gunshots only heightened the fear, with shouts and cries filling the air.


    Amid the turmoil, Gu Moqian shielded Ji Wei tightly beneath him, his voice low and cool, devoid of any panic: "Don¡¯t be afraid. I¡¯m here."


    It was Ji Wei¡¯s first time experiencing such a scene. Coupled with her dulled senses from alcohol, she remained in shock, unable to react.


    The gunshots nearby came one after another, each louder than thest. Gu Moqian shielded Ji Wei in his embrace as they dodged left and right.


    Several times, bullets whizzed right past them, their situation perilous.


    As Ji Wei finally snapped out of her daze, her face had turned pale. At that moment, it was unclear if the power circuits had been sabotaged, but the entire cruise ship was swallowed in darkness.


    Screams and cries echoed incessantly in her ears. Amid such chaos, Ji Wei was luckily kept safe in Gu Moqian¡¯s firm protection, avoiding being knocked over by the panicked crowd fleeing the bullets.


    "Follow me."


    In the darkness, Gu Moqian¡¯s gaze was sharp and icy. His grip on her hand was warm and full of strength. Even though Ji Wei had beenpletely overwhelmed moments ago, as long as this man was by her side, as long as she stayed near Gu Moqian, she felt inexplicably reassured.


    Gu Moqian, relying on his memory, led Ji Wei toward the cabin door. The relentless gunfire continued nearby, shattering wine bottles and sses on the tables, sending shards flying and screams erupting again and again.


    Several times, Ji Wei felt the bullets graze right past them, their surroundings rife with danger.


    Who was shooting?


    Who were these assassins targeting?


    As they were about to approach the cabin door, under the faint moonlight reflecting off the sea outside, Ji Wei suddenly saw a figure in ck, lurking near the doorway, leap out of the shadows.


    She could even clearly see the person raise a pitch-ck gun, aiming directly at them.


    "Mo Qian, watch out!"


    Ji Wei cried out in rm without thinking.

 Chapter 238: Mo Qian, you’re injured!

    <h4>Chapter 238: Chapter 238: Mo Qian, you¡¯re injured!</h4>


    Gu Moqian dragged her swiftly, ducking into the nearby darkness. In that split second, the sound of gunfire erupted so close to their ears it felt like it was grazing them, leaving Ji Wei¡¯s eardrums buzzing with pain.


    "Mo Qian, are you hurt?"


    The darkness ahead was imprable, and Ji Wei couldn¡¯t tell if he was injured. Her hands groped wildly over the man¡¯s body just in case.


    When her hand brushed against Gu Moqian¡¯s arm, he couldn¡¯t suppress a muffled groan.


    Ji Wei felt a sticky, slippery liquid on her hand. Her expression changed drastically, and she spoke urgently, "Mo Qian, you¡¯re bleeding!"


    The woman¡¯s voice trembled, but Gu Moqian¡¯s face remainedposed and measured, without a trace of panic: "Just a scratch. Don¡¯t worry."


    His steady tone didn¡¯t sound like someone gravely injured, and Ji Wei finally exhaled a bit, relieved.


    At that moment, two figures emerged swiftly from the darkness, approaching them.


    Ji Wei was rmed. She turned sharply, shielding Gu Moqian behind her, and shouted harshly, "Who are you? Come after me if you need something!"


    Gu Moqian ced a firm hand on her shoulder and spoke in a low tone, "They¡¯re my men."


    The two shadows bowed to Gu Moqian in unison. One handed him a gun and reported, "Mr. Gu, approximately a dozen assassins are aboard the cruise ship. Who sent them is still unclear. The rest of our team is engaged in a firefight with them. For now, we¡¯re here to escort you and your wife off the ship."


    "Understood," Gu Moqian replied sinctly.


    The two men in ck led the way, while Ji Wei and Gu Moqian followed closely behind, moving quickly toward the ship¡¯s exit.


    Along the way, the men in ck managed to shoot down several assassins attempting sneak attacks. The journey was incredibly perilous, and Ji Wei¡¯s heart raced relentlessly, sweat coating her palms.


    When they reached the deck, Ji Wei was utterly stunned by what she saw.


    The cruise ship was shrouded in pitch-ck darkness, entirely devoid of light. If not for the relentless cries, screams, and endless gunfire, one might think this was a ghost ship abandoned long ago.


    The deck was strewn with bodies, and the pungent stench of blood made Ji Wei nearly retch. She quickly covered her nose and mouth to prevent herself from actually vomiting.


    The ship¡¯s emergency lifeboats had already been lowered into the sea, with crowds scrambling and shouting in a frantic attempt to escape onto them.


    Ji Wei and Gu Moqian made their way to the deck, where Xi Nanfeng and Qin Sixue were already seated on one of the lifeboats below.


    "Old Mo, hurry down!" Xi Nanfeng waved urgently to the two of them.


    Suddenly, a gunshot rang out behind them. Ji Wei spun around instantly and saw one of the men in ck protecting them copse, clutching his chest in agony as he curled into himself.


    Right before her eyes, a living person was struck and fell, and Ji Wei¡¯s face turned pale as a ghost.


    The other man in ck fired several shots toward the third level of the ship. A faint scream was heard, followed by a figure crashing down, spurting blood from their mouth, lifeless.


    Gu Moqian turned his eyes coldly, like icy steel, fixating on a particr room on the ship¡¯s third level.


    From one of its windows, something sharp and glinting briefly caught the light before disappearing.


    Gu Moqian adeptly drew his pistol, aimed at the window, and fired multiple shots. A scream echoed, and blood sttered across the ss.


    For the first time, Ji Wei witnessed Gu Moqian wielding a gun¡ªso sharp, ruthless, and decisive.


    Before she could react, Gu Moqian suddenly pulled her into his embrace, tackling her to the ground. "Don¡¯t move!"


    The two rolled together into the shadows of the deck, narrowly avoiding the hailstorm of bullets raining down from above.


    The deafening gunfire surrounding them kept Ji Weipletely frozen in ce. When she finally dared look up, she saw their previous standing spot riddled with bullet holes.


    If not for Gu Moqian¡¯s swift reflexes just now, those holes would surely have been in their bodies...

 Chapter 239 Go! You Don’t Belong Here

    <h4>Chapter 239: Chapter 239 Go! You Don¡¯t Belong Here</h4>


    "Mo Qian..."


    Overwhelmed by extreme fear, Ji Wei clung tightly to the man¡¯s sleeve, refusing to let go.


    Gu Moqian lowered his gaze. By the light of the moon, he saw the woman¡¯s pale, petite face, her eyes filled with fleeting panic.


    It was the most instinctive reaction when confronted with death and fear.


    Gu Moqian fixed his eyes on her uneasy gaze for a long moment. Then, he pulled her firmly into his arms and whispered softly in her ear, "As long as I¡¯m here, they wouldn¡¯t dare harm you. Not even a little. You¡¯ll be fine."


    His voice carried an innate confidence and resolve, and his promise, as always, was utterly reliable.


    In this life-and-death moment, he was her pir of strength.


    Ji Wei quickly regained herposure, bit her lower lip, and nodded at him with unyielding determination. "I trust you."


    Once the gunfire hadpletely ceased, another man dressed in ck approached them.


    "Mr. Gu, we just received intel. The assassins on the second floor have all been eliminated. Now, only the third floor remains. There are about five or six of them up there. However, because they hold a positional advantage, it will take some time to take them all out..."


    The man in ck had barely finished speaking when suddenly, from the third floor of the cruise ship, a head poked out of the window. In sheer terror, the person screamed at the top of their lungs, "Mr. Gu, save me! Save me! I don¡¯t want to die, I don¡¯t want to die..."


    Gu Moqian¡¯s expression changed instantly upon hearing this. He turned back and saw one of the leaders of the chamber ofmerce being shoved halfway out of the window, his face ashen with terror.


    The assassins had actually taken someone from the chamber as a hostage!


    At first, Gu Moqian was uncertain if these people were targeting him. But now, hearing the hostage call out his name, he was absolutely sure.


    Their target was him!


    Who on earth wanted him dead so badly? Sacrificing the innocent lives on the cruise ship¡ª it was utterly unforgivable!


    When Gu Moqian withdrew his gaze, his icy demeanor had already been wiped away. He abruptly extended his hand and pushed Ji Wei toward the man in ck. "Take Madam and evacuate first."


    "Yes, Mr. Gu."


    The man in ck grabbed Ji Wei and started heading toward the yacht. However, just as Ji Wei regained her senses, she abruptly ran back, clutching Gu Moqian¡¯s arm and refusing to let go. "No, I can¡¯t leave. I want to stay with you."


    Ji Wei¡¯s voice was resolute, and her eyes were filled with unwavering determination as she looked at him.


    She knew Gu Moqian would never leave the people from the chamber ofmerce to die. But once he went up there, who knew what kind of danger awaited him?


    She wanted to stay by his side.


    Gu Moqian froze for a moment, then forcefully pried her hand away from him. "Be good. Leave with Nan Feng and the others. It¡¯s too dangerous here."


    "I don¡¯t want to go..." She was still pleading, trying to persuade him.


    "Go! It¡¯s not safe for you to stay here." His tone was more serious than she had ever heard before.


    Ji Wei fought back the urge to sob. "Mo Qian, I don¡¯t want anything to happen to you..."


    "Nothing will happen. Now, go." He urged once more.


    Every minute they lingered increased the risk.


    Compared to himself, he was even more unwilling to see her get hurt.


    The man in ck chimed in, trying to persuade her, "Please, Madam, let¡¯s go. Mr. Gu will definitely be safe."


    Tears welled up in Ji Wei¡¯s eyes.


    Knowing that Gu Moqian¡¯s decision was final and that she couldn¡¯t change it, Ji Wei had no choice but to relent. Yet, her gaze remained locked on him until she was finally taken aboard the yacht.

 Chapter 240: You women are just trouble!

    <h4>Chapter 240: Chapter 240: You women are just trouble!</h4>


    "Old Mo didn¡¯te?"


    Xi Nanfeng helped Ji Wei down, settled her on the yacht, and asked.


    Ji Wei wasn¡¯t in high spirits and nodded lightly. "They¡¯ve taken a hostage to threaten Mo Qian. He¡¯s probably gone to negotiate..."


    "Goddamnit! Those bastards don¡¯t give a damn about lives! I¡¯m gonna go fight them!" Xi Nanfeng, filled with righteous indignation, rolled up his sleeves, pulled a handgun from his pocket, and prepared to leap onto the cruise ship.


    However, just as he made a jumping motion, Qin Sixue grabbed him by the arm. "Brother Nanfeng, don¡¯t go! It¡¯s dangerous!"


    "Let go." Xi Nanfeng turned back coldly. "My brothers are still up there. How can I cower like a turtle here?"


    "Brother Nanfeng, the people up there wouldn¡¯t blink an eye to kill. If something happens to you... I... I..." Qin Sixue¡¯s voice trembled as her eyes reddened. She clutched the hem of his shirt tightly, refusing to let go.


    Xi Nanfeng couldn¡¯t bear to see a woman cry. Just as he was growing agitated, unsure of what to do, Ji Wei suddenly spoke up: "Second Young Master Xi, why don¡¯t you take Miss Qin back first? It¡¯s not safe here."


    "Fine, fine! You women are so troublesome!"


    Xi Nanfeng abruptly shoved the gun back into his pocket, furrowed his brows, and strode to the front of the yacht.


    Seeing Xi Nanfeng abandon the idea of returning to the cruise ship, Qin Sixue secretly let out a sigh of relief. She looked up at the beautiful woman in front of her and spoke gently, "You must be Miss Ji, right? Thank you."


    Ji Wei had been so concerned about Gu Moqian¡¯s safety that she hadn¡¯t paid much attention to the others on the yacht. Now, hearing Qin Sixue take the initiative to speak to her, she forced a faint smile. "You¡¯re too kind, Miss Qin."


    "You know me?" Qin Sixue asked, somewhat surprised.


    Of course, Ji Wei wouldn¡¯t admit to eavesdropping on her conversation with Xi Nanfeng in the cruise ship¡¯s stateroom. She gave a brief exnation instead: "Mo Qian mentioned you to me."


    But the Miss Qin in front of her waspletely different from what Ji Wei had imagined.


    She had assumed Miss Qin would be a willful and spoiled heiress. After all, it must take some guts totch onto Xi Nanfeng.


    But the girl before her, with smoky makeup, a rebellious short-haired look, and a surprisingly gentle and polite tone, was a bundle of contradictions.


    Noticing Ji Wei¡¯s appraising gaze, Qin Sixue didn¡¯t mind at all. She brushed aside the strands of hair on her forehead and smiled as she said, "Miss Ji, you must think it¡¯s strange, right? I¡¯m clearly an heiress, yet I insist on dressing like this."


    Ji Wei pressed her lips together, signaling her agreement to Qin Sixue¡¯s spection.


    Qin Sixue¡¯s lips still held a faint smile, but her eyes shifted toward Xi Nanfeng, who was standing at the front of the yacht. Her tone turned pensive. "Actually, I dress like this to cater to someone¡¯s taste."


    Someone... Xi Nanfeng?


    Ji Wei quietly listened, not interrupting.


    "Brother Nanfeng has always been bold and carefree. I thought he would like strong, straightforward girls with a lot of personality. That¡¯s why I intentionally dressed this way. But actually, though I¡¯ve styled myself like this, at my core, I¡¯m not like this at all. And maybe that¡¯s why Brother Nanfeng doesn¡¯t like me."


    Ji Wei felt a jolt in her heart.


    So Qin Sixue¡¯s entire look was designed simply to catch Xi Nanfeng¡¯s attention.


    For the person she liked, an heiress was willing to transform herself into a bad-girl persona. Such courage to change wasn¡¯t something everyone had.


    Looking at Qin Sixue¡¯s slightly sorrowful expression, Ji Wei suddenly spoke up. "Maybe you¡¯re trying in the wrong direction? Perhaps the real you is actually Second Young Master Xi¡¯s type."

 Chapter 241 A figure was thrown out, emitting a wretched cry of pain

    <h4>Chapter 241: Chapter 241 A figure was thrown out, emitting a wretched cry of pain</h4>


    Qin Sixue stared at Ji Wei with a hint of shock.


    This was a question she had never considered.


    She had known Xi Nanfeng for a long time and had seen him many times at family gatherings. At that time, she was extremely gentle and shy, even afraid to talk to Xi Nanfeng much.


    But every time Xi Nanfeng appeared, her gaze could never leave him.


    Later, Qin Sixue discovered that Xi Nanfeng liked frequenting bars, heating things up with those bold and provocative women, and she began thinking to herself¡ªmaybe she¡¯s not the type Brother Nanfeng likes, which is why he never paid her any mind.


    After that, she changed herselfpletely, transforming from a good girl into a rebellious young woman who often hung out in nightclubs.


    She would often get drunk and look for Xi Nanfeng, upy his bed to sleep, confess to him, and cause numerous ridiculous situations.


    Eventually, her parents forced her to study abroad, sending her away for three whole years.


    Today, in fact, was her first day back in the country after those three years.


    The yacht was speeding toward the shore, and the gunfire that had vanished without a trace suddenly rang out again!


    The sound startled everyone on the yacht into turning their heads simultaneously.


    Ji Wei nced back and immediately saw someone being tossed out of a third-floor window on the cruise ship, letting out a terrible scream.


    Was it Gu Moqian?!


    Ji Wei¡¯s heart clenched tightly, and she stared fixedly at the window, a wave of unprecedented panic tearing through her.


    She didn¡¯t dare imagine what she would do if Gu Moqian were truly hurt... how would she go on living?


    Unable to control herself, Ji Wei moved toward the edge of the yacht, her trembling hands pulling a life vest from nearby and clumsily putting it on.


    Seeing what Ji Wei was attempting to do, Xi Nanfeng quickly stepped forward and grabbed her wrist firmly. "Ji Wei, what are you trying to do? It¡¯s dangerous up there right now."


    Ji Wei froze in her actions, raised her eyes to look at Xi Nanfeng, her expression unusually sharp and serious: "Mo Qian is up there. I can¡¯t just leave him. He is my husband, the one closest to me."


    Anyone would feelpelled to stay with their loved ones, wouldn¡¯t they? Even knowing they faced a hailstorm of bullets ahead, they¡¯d risk their lives without hesitation.


    Xi Nanfeng hesitated for only a few seconds before speaking, "I¡¯ll go with you."


    His own close brother was up there as well.


    "No, you have to make sure Miss Qin gets back safely," Ji Wei said, looking at him.


    Qin Sixue stood silently behind the two, not saying a word.


    Xi Nanfeng slowly released her hand. "If Old Mo finds out that I let you go back, he¡¯ll carve me into pieces."


    That remark counted as his reluctant consent for her to leave.


    Ji Wei had already strapped the life vest tightly around herself. She smiled lightly at Xi Nanfeng, "Thank you, Second Young Master."


    ...


    The sea inte autumn was even colder than she had imagined. Wearing the life vest, Ji Wei suppressed her trembling as much as possible and paddled swiftly toward the cruise ship.


    The yacht behind her grew farther and farther away. On the dark sea without any lights, Ji Wei had only one thought¡ªto return to Gu Moqian¡¯s side.


    She had already died once; she could not let this life pass with any regrets left behind!


    When she finally climbed back onto the edge of the cruise ship, Ji Wei¡¯s face, drained pale from her prolonged immersion in the seawater, broke into a faint smile.


    She leaned against the railing to catch her breath briefly, then crouched down and hurriedly headed inside the ship.


    The entire cruise ship was pitch dark except for a faint light emanating from a room on the third floor. Ji Wei carefully navigated through the darkness, feeling her way upstairs.


    The thick scent of blood in the air made her nauseous, but she fought to hold it back. Every step she took was meticulously cautious, avoiding making any noise or exposing her presence.


    As she ascended the stairs, she saw no one along the way. In the shadows, her eyes strained wide open, her nerves on edge as she approached the third floor.


    Just as she stepped onto the third-floornding, a pair of hands suddenly shot out from the nearby shadows, grabbing hold of her and pulling her with force.

 Chapter 242: To Make Someone Owe Me a Favor

    <h4>Chapter 242: Chapter 242: To Make Someone Owe Me a Favor</h4>


    Ji Wei hadn¡¯t had the chance to scream; her mouth was tightly covered.


    Her legs kicked desperately, but ultimately she was dragged into the adjacent room, the door quietly closing behind her.


    After bringing her into the room, the person let go of her.


    The lights in the room were off, but Ji Wei immediately noticed the crimson glow not far in front of her, surrounded by a cloud of smoke.


    Someone was smoking!


    "Who are you?" Ji Wei spoke cautiously, her body subtly leaning back against the wall to reduce the possibility of an attack.


    "Mr. Gu¡¯s woman, indeed you have some courage. Dare to venture up here alone."


    The voice was a captivating female voice, somewhat familiar to her.


    Ji Wei¡¯s eyes widened slightly, "Are you the owner of the Zimei Club?"


    "Heh..."


    The woman chuckled softly and then snapped her fingers, and the candles in the room suddenly flickered to life.


    Only then did Ji Wei clearly see the situation inside the room.


    The woman in front of her was indeed Zimei, and beside her on the sofa sat a formidable middle-aged man. Behind the two was a row of men in ck, all tall and menacing, with Azure Dragon tattoos, clearly not ordinary bodyguards.


    The room¡¯s windows were tightly shut, with thick curtains drawn. From the outside, there was no sign of anyone inside.


    Ji Wei knew that the rooms on the third floor were already booked by guests with umon status.


    It seemed this was the room reserved by Zimei and her associates, and just one room apart was where the chamber ofmerce leader was supposed to be resting, a ce likely overrun by assassins now.


    Ji Wei quickly noticed Gu Moqian¡¯s two men nearby.


    Both were injured to varying degrees, one of them the protector among them. His arm was injured, wrapped in thick bandages.


    Had they also been rescued by Zimei and brought here?


    "Why did you bring me here?" Although she saw the people in front of her, Ji Wei remained vignt.


    Thest time she was locked in the underground wine cer at the Zimei Club, that incident couldn¡¯t be unrted to Zimei.


    "Do you want to save Mr. Gu?"


    Zimei slowly blew out a smoke ring, twisting her graceful waist as she walked over to Ji Wei.


    Ji Wei didn¡¯t like the smell of cigarettes, instinctively wrinkling her nose. She looked at Zimei, who stopped in front of her, and spoke without hesitation, "Of course I want to. Do you know where he is?"


    "In the chamber ofmerce leader¡¯s room."


    Zimei answered, seeing Ji Wei¡¯s change of expression, she added unhurriedly, "But rest assured, those people won¡¯t harm him for now because he still has value alive."


    "Who exactly are those people?" Ji Wei blurted out.


    Zimei smiled, "I won¡¯t say what shouldn¡¯t be said. If you want to save him, cooperate with us."


    "Why are you helping me?"


    There are no freebies in this world; these people helping her without reason must have a cause!


    Zimei¡¯s smile froze for a moment, then she brought the cigarette to her lips and took a deep drag before saying, "To have someone owe me a favor."


    Ji Wei didn¡¯t understand the meaning behind her words but didn¡¯t press further.


    Right now, the most urgent task was to rescue Gu Moqian. Other matters could wait to be rifiedter.


    After a moment of silence, Zimei gave a nod to the bodyguard next to her.


    Immediately, a tall man in ck stepped forward and tossed Ji Wei a set of ck, tight-fitting clothing suitable for action, with a gun on top.

 Chapter 243: If you don’t agree, I will kill one of them first!

    <h4>Chapter 243: Chapter 243: If you don¡¯t agree, I will kill one of them first!</h4>


    Ji Wei looked at Zimei in astonishment.


    "Go to the bedroom and change your clothes."


    Zimei spoke indifferently, then turned around and walked back to the middle-aged man¡¯s side.


    Her clothes were soaked and needed to be changed.


    Ji Wei didn¡¯t hesitate much, silently grabbed the clothes and the gun on top of them, and quickly walked into the bedroom.


    She changed her clothes as swiftly as possible, opting for t shoes that would facilitate movement, and tied her hair into a ponytail that fell neatly at the back of her head.


    Looking at herself in the mirror, Ji Wei felt that she possessed a certain air of bravery.


    She was stunned for a second before her gaze shifted to the handgun ced by the bed.


    It was the first time she had trulyid eyes on a pistol, and the thought of this deadly weapon both terrified and intrigued her.


    Fortunately, her military training sessions had taught her how to handle firearms. After hesitating for a long moment, Ji Wei finally picked up the gun, cing her index finger on the trigger, slightly curling it.


    Feeling the weight of the pistol, Ji Wei realized her palms were already faintly sweaty.


    Just as she was debating whether to carry the gun or not, a sudden knock sounded on the door¡ªthree deliberate taps.


    Ji Wei swiftly tucked the gun into the pocket of her pants and walked over to open the door.


    At the doorway, Zimei scanned Ji Wei from head to toe beforezily parting her red lips to spit out three words: "Not too bad."


    With that, she turned around and began to walk ahead on her own. "Come on, let¡¯s n how we¡¯re going to save them."


    ...


    Meanwhile, in another room, since Gu Moqian had entered, the three assassins hadn¡¯t rxed their vignce for even a moment, their gun barrels aimed straight at him.


    In contrast, Gu Moqian stood thereposed and unflinching, showing no trace of fear or hesitation.


    Even with his gun confiscated and no weapon to rely on, even dressed in nothing but a thin white shirt stained with arge patch of blood at the shoulder from a grazing bullet wound, he remained imposing. Standing tall and graceful, his deep, profound eyes seemed to weigh heavily on the ruthless killers before him, exerting invisible pressure.


    Meanwhile, Qiu Yi, the head of the business consortium, along with several other senior leaders, knelt on the floor with their heads bowed, not daring to utter a sound. Judging by their trembling forms, they were clearly terrified out of their wits.


    Leading the group, Miyata Ichiro spoke in halting Mandarin: "Mr. Gu, you would be wise to seriously consider our proposal; otherwise, you and these people will all die here."


    "Release them first. These people are innocent," Gu Moqian replied steadily, his gaze fixed on Miyata Ichiro.


    From the moment he saw that the other party was Japanese, he had roughly deduced their origins.


    That old man from the Ji Family truly hadn¡¯t held back. To protect his only grandson, he had even resorted to hiring foreign mafia to act as assassins and eliminate him.


    Not only that, the old fox hoped to force him to surrender the Gu Family¡¯s trade secrets, crippling them while wreaking havoc on him personally. Truly, his schemes were intricate.


    But things wouldn¡¯t necessarily go as he wished.


    "Mr. Gu, as long as you agree to my terms, these people will be returned unharmed. Time is running out, Mr. Gu, don¡¯t waste your breath with pointless talk," Miyata Ichiro said while ncing at his wristwatch.


    Staying here for too long would only increase their risk. They needed to resolve the matter quickly and retreat.


    Gu Moqian recognized that the other party was growing anxious, but he didn¡¯t yield: "Release them first."


    His voice remained cold and steady, as if the barrels of the guns aimed at him were nothing but air.


    Annoyed, Miyata Ichiro frowned deeply, his tone losing its initial politeness and bing sharper with impatience and irritation: "I¡¯ll give you just one minute to decide. If you don¡¯t agree, I¡¯ll kill one of them first!"

 Chapter 244: Does Mr. Gu Really Intend to Stand by and Do Nothing?

    <h4>Chapter 244: Chapter 244: Does Mr. Gu Really Intend to Stand by and Do Nothing?</h4>


    "Mr. Gu... Mr. Gu, help, help me! I don¡¯t want to die..."


    Hearing Miyata Ichiro¡¯s words, the vice president kneeling on the ground trembled uncontrobly, his face pale as he raised his head, pleading with Gu Moqian for help.


    "I-I don¡¯t want to die either... Mr. Gu, you must save us, I beg you!" Another chamber leader beside him quickly chimed in, equally stricken with terror.


    Qiu Yi nced at Gu Moqian. Though his face was pale, he didn¡¯t stoop to begging for mercy.


    He understood that Gu Moqian was in a difficult position, and given their friendship, he couldn¡¯t force him into anything.


    Gu Moqian¡¯s expression grew colder, an icy frost enveloping his face, and his aura made it impossible to approach him.


    Meanwhile, in the adjacent room, a tall shadow mbered swiftly upwards along a rope dangling from the edge of the top deck.


    The shadow moved to the ceiling above Miyata Ichiro¡¯s room, leaned forward to peer down for a moment, then quickly retreated back along the same route into the room.


    "Boss Zi, I just tested it. Pressing feet against the metal hull makes noise. We need to find the lightest person the rope can bear to move closer to the window."


    The lightest person?


    The room was full of burly ck-d guards, so the only one who might qualify would be a woman.


    Upon hearing this, Ji Wei stepped forward without hesitation and said, "I¡¯ll give it a shot."


    Zimei shot her a surprised nce but, seeing the determined look in her eyes, said no more and signaled the ck-d guards to secure her safety harness.


    As Ji Wei leapt onto the window ledge, Zimei suddenly asked, "Is the handgun still on you?"


    "Yes."


    "Remember, once you¡¯re outside Mr. Gu¡¯s room, you only need to fire a few random shots inside. uracy doesn¡¯t matter."


    "Understood..."


    Ji Wei nodded firmly.


    Though she was inwardly nervous, having never fired a gun in realbat, she was willing to do anything to help Gu Moqian!


    Ji Wei,cking rope-climbing experience, was pulled up to the cruise ship¡¯s top deck by the ck-d guards who had gone ahead.


    The wind on the top deck was fierce, whipping Ji Wei¡¯s ponytail against her face painfully.


    She brushed off the difort and carefully moved to the spot above Gu Moqian¡¯s room. Taking a deep breath, she gestured "OK" to the ck-d man before cautiously gripping the rope and descending.


    Thanks to her light weight, her feet pressed gently against the hull and made only faint noises. Nheless, Ji Wei stayed alert, inching downward bit by bit, until she finally reached the window ledge. She paused there, catching her breath.


    Inside the room, the beam of a shlight illuminated Miyata Ichiro¡¯s grim face.


    Gu Moqian¡¯s refusal to yield infuriated him. Desperately, he began counting down in a sharp voice: "...Twenty-nine, twenty-eight, twenty-seven... Half a minute left, Mr. Gu, are you really nning to watch us die and do nothing?"


    Gu Moqian shot Miyata Ichiro an icy stare.


    "Fifteen, fourteen, thirteen..."


    With each number Miyata counted down, the two chamber leaders shivered slightly, their dread mounting as the countdown approached its final seconds. Gu Moqian remained utterly silent, plunging them into despair.


    It was over. Tonight, they were surely going to meet their end at the hands of these thugs!


    "Mr. Gu!" Miyata Ichiro¡¯s patience had all but evaporated, and when the count reached ten, he couldn¡¯t help but shout.


    Gu Moqian¡¯s icy eyes remained devoid of any trace of panic.


    His gaze flicked, barely perceptibly, to the window behind Miyata Ichiro.


    He was waiting for the right moment¡ªthe moment to break this stalemate.


    The only exit in this room was the window obscured by the curtains. He could only hope his team had already found a way to exploit it...

 Chapter 245: Put the Gun Down, Nobody Move!

    <h4>Chapter 245: Chapter 245: Put the Gun Down, Nobody Move!</h4>


    "Good, very good! Mr. Gu, you¡¯re quite bold. I see there¡¯s no need to count down anymore. I¡¯ll blow his brains out right now!"


    Miyata Ichiro angrily finished speaking, abruptly aiming the gun in his hand at Qiu Yi, who was kneeling on the floor.


    Qiu Yi gritted his teeth without saying a word, but his hands and feet trembled uncontrobly with fear.


    Gu Moqian¡¯s face subtly changed. "Wait¡ª"


    Just as the words left his mouth, at the very moment Miyata Ichiro pulled the trigger, a gunshot suddenly sounded in the room!


    BANG!


    A bullet came piercing through the thick curtains from outside.


    Though it didn¡¯t hit Miyata Ichiro, and could even be said to have been fired randomly at the ceiling of the room.


    But the shot sessfully drew the attention of Miyata Ichiro and his men, and the gun that had been aimed at Qiu Yi¡¯s head immediately shifted direction, unleashing a barrage of shots toward the window.


    After the gunfire, there was no movement outside¡ªonly an eerily quiet stillness.


    Miyata Ichiro gave a signal to his other men, who began cautiously approaching the window. Their bodies hugged the wall tightly, and one of them raised a hand to lift the corner of the curtain.


    The night outside was deep, with no one in sight.


    Miyata Ichiro furrowed his brow in confusion. Could that bullet have flown in from the sky?


    Just as he was about to pull the curtain wider, another sudden shot whizzed in. Despite his quick reflexes, the bullet grazed his face, cutting a bloody line across his cheek.


    Miyata Ichiro and his men immediately panicked, no longer taking chances, and fired several rounds wildly toward the window.


    When the previous shot came through, Miyata Ichiro had clearly seen a hand reaching out from beside the window¡ªit was obvious someone was hiding against the outer wall!


    Ji Wei, having fired two shots before, was already drained of energy. At this moment, she was clutching a rope tightly with one hand, her other hand trembling as she held her gun.


    If Miyata Ichiro in the room fired another shot, she thought she would truly die!


    However, Ji Wei waited anxiously by the window but heard no further gunfire. Just as she was bewildered, a figure in ck on the rooftop gestured to her, signaling for her to retreat.


    Ji Wei didn¡¯t know if her two shots had helped Gu Moqian, but if she didn¡¯t leave now, she was certain she¡¯d be exposed.


    Biting her lip, she finally nodded toward the figure in ck.


    The rope silently hoisted her upward, delivering her to the rooftop.


    Inside the room, Miyata Ichiro still held his pose for firing, but his movements seemed frozen as if cursed, unable to move.


    Because just moments ago, while Miyata Ichiro was fully focused on the sniper outside, Gu Moqian had swiftly drawn another gun hidden at his waist.


    At this moment, Gu Moqian¡¯s gun was pressed firmly against Miyata Ichiro¡¯s temple, his voice chillingly devoid of emotion: "Drop the gun, and no one moves!"


    Miyata Ichiro stiffly dropped his handgun to the floor.


    Gu Moqian kicked the gun hard toward Qiu Yi, who was kneeling nearby.


    Qiu Yi reached out and firmly gripped the handgun.


    "You all leave here immediately," Gu Moqianmanded Qiu Yi and the others.


    Because they had been kneeling for so long, their legs were numb and weak when they stood, causing them to stumble as they walked.


    "No one leaves!"


    One of Miyata¡¯s men shouted in Japanese, raising his hand to aim at Qiu Yi and the others.


    "If you dare shoot, I¡¯ll kill him instantly!"


    Gu Moqian¡¯s voice rang out with sheer intimidation, pressing his gun heavily against Miyata Ichiro¡¯s head.

 Chapter 246: Those people had long since vanished amidst the waves, leaving no trace.

    <h4>Chapter 246: Chapter 246: Those people had long since vanished amidst the waves, leaving no trace.</h4>


    Miyata Ichiro¡¯s face turned pale as he silently shook his head at his subordinates. That Japanese man reluctantly gave up the thought of firing his gun.


    Qiu Yi and his group managed to escape the room sessfully.


    At this moment, only Gu Moqian was left in the room. Although he had a gun in his hand, facing four opponents alone left him with no chance of winning.


    "Mr. Gu, are those your people outside the window? I didn¡¯t expect you to have another move up your sleeve. I truly underestimated you," Miyata Ichiro spoke again, regaining hisposure with a hint of mockery.


    "Who sent you?" Gu Moqian asked coldly.


    Though he already had the answer in his heart, he still needed to hear them admit it.


    "I would never reveal the name of my employer. Even if there are no other hostages left now, Mr. Gu, you won¡¯t be able to escape," Miyata Ichiro said confidently.


    "Oh, really? Mr. Miyata, don¡¯t you think you¡¯re being overly confident?"


    The voice didn¡¯t belong to Gu Moqian but to Zimei, who suddenly stepped into the room. Behind her was a group of dozens of ck-d enforcers.


    The alreadypact room suddenly became even more crowded with the influx of so many people.


    Gu Moqian¡¯s gaze immediatelynded on Ji Wei, who was standing beside Zimei. His pupils contracted sharply.


    Hadn¡¯t she already left with Xi Nanfeng and the others?


    Why was she suddenly appearing here again?


    Ji Wei finally exhaled in relief upon seeing Gu Moqian standing there unharmed.


    Noticing his stern expression, which seemed to carry a hint of reprimand, she fearlessly met his gaze, standing firm and upright.


    He was her husband, and she would never leave him alone!


    Miyata Ichiro was stunned to discover that there were others on the cruise ship.


    By chance, he had seen Zimei¡¯s photo in the past. This woman, backed by the underworld, had managed to make a name for herself in just a few short years. The businesses under her control were veritable cash cows.


    Her sudden involvement made things much harder.


    The dynamics of the room shifted instantly when Zimei entered. In terms of numbers, they overwhelmed Miyata Ichiro and his grouppletely.


    Miyata¡¯s cunning eyes darted rapidly. His other hand stealthily reached into his pants pocket, attempting to pull out the hidden second gun.


    "Watch out, he¡¯s reaching for a gun!"


    Ji Wei suddenly shouted. Because she was so concerned about Gu Moqian¡¯s safety, she had been closely observing every move Miyata Ichiro made.


    Unfortunately, she was a step toote.


    Before anyone could react, the sly old fox Miyata had already drawn his gun. He didn¡¯t aim at anyone but fired at the bright shlight¡ªthe room¡¯s sole source of illumination!


    A sudden darkness enveloped the room, rendering everyone momentarily blinded.


    Almost simultaneously with the onset of darkness, one of Miyata¡¯s men raised his gun first, aiming it directly at Gu Moqian!


    "Mo Qian!"


    Ji Wei screamed, exerting all her strength and voice. Almost instinctively, she threw herself at Gu Moqian without regard for her own safety.


    She tackled Gu Moqian to the ground as the gunshot exploded directly next to her ear!


    Ji Wei¡¯s heartbeat almost flew out of her chest in terror.


    The sudden turn of events sent everyone into a panic. By the time they regained their senses, Miyata and his team had already agilely leapt out of the window, taking advantage of the chaos and darkness.


    Zimei quickly led her people to the window, firing consecutively downward.


    Beneath was a vast, boundless ocean, and those figures had already disappeared into the waves, leaving no trace behind.


    Realizing the possibility of their sessful escape, Zimei ordered her men to cease fire.


    As she turned around, her gazended on the two figures tightly embracing each other on the floor. A strange emotion flickered in her eyes, but she ultimately said nothing, motioning for everyone to leave the room.

 Chapter 247: A Softness on Her Lips, It was He Who Kissed Her

    <h4>Chapter 247: Chapter 247: A Softness on Her Lips, It was He Who Kissed Her</h4>


    The door was gently closed.


    Ji Wei stilly motionless on top of Gu Moqian. After a long moment, she finally stopped trembling all over and lifted her head slightly.


    In the darkness, the woman¡¯s eyes fixed unblinkingly on the man mere inches away, still somewhat disbelieving. As their gazes locked, his eyes remained deep and unreadable.


    Finally snapping out of her daze, she caught the overpowering scent of blood on him and frantically asked, "Mo Qian, you were shot earlier¡ªwhere exactly is the injury..."


    "It¡¯s nothing."


    That shot had originally been aimed at Gu Moqian¡¯s heart, but because Ji Wei had rushed at him, his body shifted, causing the bullet to miss its mark.


    Ji Wei was still worried, her hands fumbling as she searched for the wound. "How could it be nothing? It was a bullet¡ªit hit your body!"


    The room was pitch-ck; Ji Wei couldn¡¯t see where he was hurt, her anxiety growing more desperate.


    Suddenly, her hand was seized by Gu Moqian and firmly pressed against his chest. "Why didn¡¯t you leave with Xi Nanfeng and the others? Do you even realize how foolish it was toe back alone?"


    "I didn¡¯t think about it at the time¡ªI was afraid you¡¯d get hurt."


    Gu Moqian¡¯s stern face darkened as he countered, "What makes you think you wouldn¡¯t get hurt? That the bullets wouldn¡¯t hit you instead?"


    "..."


    Ji Wei stared at him, biting her lower lip in slight grievance.


    Of course, she understood the logic, but she just couldn¡¯t stop worrying about him.


    His dark, piercing eyes lingered on her pale face for a long while before he suddenly heaved a sigh.


    How could he not understand why she had acted that way? But the mere thought of her being killed by those people without his protection... He could not bear to lose her.


    "Mo Qian, I¡¯m sorry, I..."


    Noticing his sudden silence, Ji Wei instinctively lowered her gaze to apologize. But before she could finish, Gu Moqian pulled her tightly into his arms.


    He buried his face against her neck, inhaling greedily the faint fragrance that lingered on her.


    He didn¡¯t move at all.


    "Mo Qian, you¡¯re bleeding¡ªwe need to tend to your wound immediately..."


    Ji Wei attempted to push him away, causing the man to finally stir slightly.


    But in the next second, Gu Moqian tilted her chin up and pressed his lips against hers.


    His kiss was intense and fiery, mingled with a rare, frenzied desperation. He devoured her lips, delving deep, iming the entirety of her mouth and leaving her lips sore.


    It was as though some overwhelming emotion had engulfed him, driving him to seize and entangle her in this manner.


    For a long time¡ªso long that Ji Wei¡¯s tongue went numb¡ªGu Moqian finally let her go.


    "Don¡¯t act so recklessly in the future. Luckily, the bullets didn¡¯t hit you." He looked at her, his eyes glimmering like the starry sea in the pitch-ck room, dazzling and mesmerizing.


    Ji Wei stared at him, momentarily dazed.


    Then, with a hint of defiance, she pouted and muttered in a small voice, "The gunshots have already been fired¡ªwhat¡¯s there to be afraid of?"


    "Hm?" The man¡¯s voice lifted slightly.


    "N-Nothing..."


    She absolutely couldn¡¯t let Gu Moqian find out that the two shots fired outside the window earlier were hers!


    Suddenly, urgent footsteps echoed down the hallway, followed by the beam of a shlight shining toward the two of them. "Mr. Gu, my apologies for startling you..."


    Judging by the voice, it was Chen Ke, his assistant.


    The sudden illumination caused Ji Wei to instinctively raise her hand to shield her eyes.


    When she lowered her hand again, the shlight had already turned away, and the group of people who had apanied Chen Ke had obediently spun around, heads bowed, hands sped behind them. It was clear they were embodying the phrase: "See no evil."

 Chapter 248 How Could You Possibly Hurt Me? I’m a Man

    <h4>Chapter 248: Chapter 248 How Could You Possibly Hurt Me? I¡¯m a Man</h4>


    Ji Wei saw the situation and immediately her face flushed bright red.


    At this moment, she was still sprawled over Mo Qian¡¯s body. Their intimately suggestive posture was enough to stir endless imaginations.


    Ji Wei stayed flustered for a while, her gaze catching sight of the vivid crimson on the man¡¯s shoulder illuminated by the shlight. She quickly scrambled to get off him in a panic.


    Mo Qian¡¯s wound needed to be tended to immediately!


    Inside the luxurious yacht.


    Chen Ke¡¯s men were guarding outside. Ji Wei pulled out the medical emergency kit, urgently rummaging for bandages and disinfectant supplies.


    Mo Qian sat quietly to the side, watching the woman fumble about hectically.


    She probably wasn¡¯t very skilled when it came to treating wounds or handling such matters¡ªit suited her image as a proud youngdy. Yet seeing the worry and anxiety etched between her brows, Mo Qian felt something surge within his chest.


    The feeling of being cared for and cherished was truly heartwarming.


    Ji Wei didn¡¯t dare look directly at the gruesome injury where the bullet had torn through flesh, simply ncing at it already made her feel pain on his behalf.


    She tried her best to ignore the coppery smell of blood hanging in the air, forcing herself to stay calm as she cleaned and disinfected the area around Mo Qian¡¯s wound. Then she stopped the bleeding and carefully bandaged it.


    After finishing everything, a thinyer of sweat had formed on her forehead.


    From Mo Qian¡¯s perspective, he could see the delicate sheen of sweat on Ji Wei¡¯s upturned nose, her cheeks tinted a soft blush from tension and worry, her petite lips slightly parting and closing as she took shallow, nervous breaths.


    Every movement she madepletely captivated him.


    Ji Wei had just tied a knot on the bandage when she suddenly felt her body tip sideways, pulled forcefully into the man¡¯s strong arms.


    "Don¡¯t move around, you¡¯re injured!"


    Ji Wei jumped in surprise and shot him a reproachful re as she looked up at him.


    Mo Qian¡¯s eyes were filled with amusement. He lifted his sleeve and gently wiped the sweat from her forehead and nose tip, his movements tender yet deliberate.


    Underneath his hand, the woman¡¯sshes fluttered slightly. Her clear ck-and-white eyes fixated on the white cuff of the shirt above her head.


    The man¡¯s hand suddenly paused mid-motion, then abruptly leaned down and captured her lips in a kiss.


    Ji Wei froze, afraid that moving would aggravate his injury, so she remained perfectly still.


    She had been half-kneeling and leaning onto him to begin with. Coupled with the posture of tilting her neck upward to meet his kiss, the position was bing unbearably strenuous.


    Her hands gripped tightly onto the fabric of his shirt at his chest to keep herself from sliding downward.


    Just as Ji Wei felt her neck was about to give out, Mo Qian¡¯srge palm suddenly cupped her hip.


    The warmth of his touch reached her even through the thin fabric, making her entire body shudder involuntarily.


    "Mm..."


    A soft, uncontrolled moan escaped her lips.


    Her slightly widened eyes didn¡¯t escape Mo Qian¡¯s notice. He brushed his lips across her cheek and murmured low and maic beside her ear, "Even wearing clothes, you¡¯re this sensitive. Do you want me?"


    Thisment made Ji Wei¡¯s face turn bright scarlet in an instant.


    She forcefully broke free of the man¡¯s grip, attempting to pull herself away from him.


    As her hand pushed against him, Mo Qian let out a muffled groan.


    "I¡¯m sorry! Mo Qian, did I hurt you?"


    Ji Wei quickly flustered into an apology, her hand hovering in front of him yet not daring to move anymore.


    She lifted her gaze in panic, noticing that there wasn¡¯t a trace of pain on Mo Qian¡¯s face. Instead, those deep, oceanic eyes of his carried an even stronger mischievous smile.


    Ji Wei suddenly had a nagging suspicion¡ªwas she being yed?


    Before she could dwell further, the man¡¯s thin lips had somehow drawn close again. He nibbled lightly on her delicate earlobe, his voice rich and sultry, dripping with suggestiveness: "You think you could hurt me? I¡¯m a man."


    Ji Wei: "..."


    Motherf¡ª! Even while injured, he¡¯s still so shameless. He¡¯s going to be the death of her!

 Chapter 249: No One Dares to Look

    <h4>Chapter 249: Chapter 249: No One Dares to Look</h4>


    The woman¡¯s face had already turned red down to the base of her neck, her hands nervously twisting together. Her pearly teeth bit down on her lip to prevent her rising emotions from beingpletely exposed.


    In the next second, before Ji Wei could react, she was lifted onto Mo Qian¡¯sp with one arm supporting her hips.


    "This isn¡¯t appropriate..."


    Ji Wei protested, pushing against him as her eyes darted in a panic toward the window.


    The expansive yacht was lined with small squared windows, and she could clearly see the bodyguards standing steadfastly outside.


    If any of them turned their heads, wouldn¡¯t it be unbearably awkward?


    "No one would dare to look."


    "..."


    Fine, since he was injured, she decided not to argue with him.


    Mo Qian wrapped his strong arms around Ji Wei¡¯s waist, holding her securely on hisp. He rested his chin against her shoulder and leaned there quietly.


    Outside the window, the moon had already dipped low in the sky.


    The luxurious yacht sped toward Rongcheng Hospital at an incredible pace.


    Upon arrival at the hospital, Mo Qian was immediately taken to an exclusive VIP ward.


    Standing nearby, Ji Wei watched as the doctor removed the gauze from his shoulder. When the bloody, mangled flesh beneath was revealed, her heart couldn¡¯t help but tremble violently.


    She could only imagine how excruciating that gunshot wound on his shoulder must have been. Yet Mo Qian hadn¡¯t made a single sound throughout the journey, holding her tightly the entire way. This man¡¯s ability to endure pain far surpassed her expectations.


    Ji Wei¡¯s eyes reddened involuntarily.


    Aside from hisplexion being slightly paler than usual, Mo Qian showed no other signs of difort. Even when the bloodstained bullet was extracted with a metallic ng onto the tray, he remained utterlyposed.


    What kind of experiences must he have gone through to be this calm andposed in the face of such intense pain?


    She found herself longing to understand his past.


    Mo Qian had once mentioned he had missed out on her youthful years. But wasn¡¯t the same true for her?


    After the bullet was removed, the assistant surgeon worked swiftly to stitch up Mo Qian¡¯s wound, apply medication, and reapply the bandages. The entire procedure waspleted in less than twenty minutes.


    Due to the sudden gunfire incident on the yacht earlier that night, Rongcheng Hospital was now overcrowded. After his wound was treated, Mo Qian decided to return to Shanshui Manor directly. He figured that changing bandages could be handled by the family doctor, and staying in the hospital would only bring inconvenience.


    Chen Ke personally drove them back. Halfway through the journey, they encountered a police barricade blocking the road, likely part of the pursuit for those Japanese assassins.


    Mo Qian nced at his wristwatch¡ªit was already past 3 a.m.


    He then looked over at Ji Wei, who was leaning against the car seat on the verge of falling asleep, and instructed in a deep voice, "Assistant Chen, turn around and find a nearby six-star hotel."


    The car came to a stop, and the drowsy Ji Wei was startled awake.


    She stepped out of the car, staring in surprise at the towering hotel building in front of her. "Mo Qian, are we staying here tonight?" she asked.


    "Yes, the road is under traffic control. We¡¯ll head back tomorrow," Mo Qian replied.


    Inside the Presidential Suite.


    The room was a bit stuffy, so Ji Wei walked over to open the window. On her way back, she asked, "Mo Qian, do you want to take a bath? I can run some hot water for you."


    "No need. It¡¯s alreadyte; let¡¯s just sleep," Mo Qian said as he began to take off his jacket.


    Seeing this, Ji Wei hurriedly stepped forward to help him remove the sleeves. "I¡¯ll sleep on the sofater. You¡¯re injured, and I don¡¯t want to identally touch your wound."


    Mo Qian paused mid-motion, his arm still outstretched as he was taking off his coat. He turned to look at her, his inky-ck eyes darkening momentarily.


    After the night¡¯s chaos, Ji Wei¡¯splexion appeared pale. Although she was forcing herself to stay alert, Mo Qian could tell she was utterly exhausted. The short nap in the car had done little to restore her energy.

 Chapter 250 Am I a Flood Beast? Why Are You Staying So Far Away from Me?

    <h4>Chapter 250: Chapter 250 Am I a Flood Beast? Why Are You Staying So Far Away from Me?</h4>


    Mo Qian would never let Ji Wei sleep on the sofa.


    "The sofa¡¯s not an option." The man¡¯s tone was firm.


    "But..."


    "Sleep on the bed."


    "You¡¯re the patient. How could I possibly squeeze onto the bed with you?" Ji Wei retorted.


    "Then go back with Chen Ke," Mo Qian said, his expression serious.


    Ji Wei fell silent, standing there with her head lowered, staring at her toes.


    Chen Ke, standing at the door: "..."


    This situation didn¡¯t seem very suitable for actually dragging thedy away, right?


    The two of them remained in a standoff like that.


    Eventually, it was Mo Qian who gave in first. He sat down by the bed and patted the spot beside him: "Come sit."


    Ji Wei obediently walked over and sat down.


    The man extended his well-defined fingers, lifted her chin, and stared intently into the defiance in her eyes. "What am I supposed to do with you?"


    There was an unmistakable tenderness in his tone.


    "As long as you don¡¯t make me go back, anything¡¯s fine," Ji Wei replied decisively.


    Mo Qian¡¯s elegant brow arched slightly. "Oh? Even if I keep you here and deal with you right now?"


    Ji Wei¡¯s eyes immediately widened, and as if suddenly recalling something, she quickly turned her head to nce around. She found that Chen Ke, at some point, had already closed the door. Only then did she let out a sigh of relief.


    Thank goodness, thank goodness. These embarrassing words hadn¡¯t been overheard by a third party!


    Ji Wei took a deep breath, doing her best to appearposed, then nodded earnestly. "Sure, as long as you¡¯re still capable."


    With a gunshot wound, she didn¡¯t believe he could actually do anything to her!


    The man suddenly reached out, pulling her into his arms with one swift motion. His gaze locked onto the crumbling of herposed fa?ade as his lips curled into a faint smile. "You really underestimate your husband¡¯s abilities. How about we test them right now¡ª"


    "N-no, let¡¯s not..." The woman chickened out in an instant, blurting out without thinking.


    Having just barely managed to escape Mo Qian¡¯s grip, Ji Wei muttered inwardly in frustration. How could he still be so strong with just one hand? Then, with an awkwardugh, she said, "Your abilities are impressive; I¡¯ve already experienced that firsthand. Um... I¡¯m really sleepy. I should go to bed!"


    After finishing her words, Ji Wei stood up swiftly. In one quick motion, she kicked off her shoes. Just as she was about to undress, she suddenly felt an intensely heated gaze on her. She turned her head abruptly, her hand freezing on the zipper of her clothes.


    "Uh... I think it¡¯s warmer to sleep with my clothes on, so I won¡¯t take them off, okay?"


    There weren¡¯t any pajamas here. Her options were either to sleep fully dressed or... sleep naked.


    Ji Wei bit her lip lightly. In the end, she decided to take off just her shoes and socks before climbing into Mo Qian¡¯s hospital bed.


    She tried her best to sleep on the farthest edge of the bed, making an effort to leave as much space in the middle as possible so she wouldn¡¯t identally touch Mo Qian¡¯s wound while sleeping.


    Pulling the quilt up to her neck and wrapping herself up tightly, Ji Wei immediately shut her eyes.


    "Am I some kind of wild beast? Why are you sleeping so far away from me?" A low voice drifted over from nearby.


    Ji Wei remained perfectly still, pretending not to have heard anything.


    The Presidential Suite suddenly fell into absolute silence.


    Just as Ji Wei thought Mo Qian had finally let her off the hook and was secretly feeling relieved, an arm suddenly snaked around her waist.


    Startled, Ji Wei¡¯s eyes snapped open. Before she could react, Mo Qian had already pulled her over with one hand.


    "Sleeping with so many clothes on, are you serious?" Mo Qian frowned in mild displeasure.


    Ji Wei was about to exin, but before she could, the man spoke again: "We¡¯re an old married couple. Why are you still so shy? Do you think there¡¯s a part of your body I haven¡¯t seen already?"


    "..." She was only trying to avoid overwhelming his senses, to make sure things didn¡¯t spiral out of control!


    She was doing this for his sake, wasn¡¯t she?


    Gunshot wounds were no trivial matter!


    "Take it off."


    His voice left no room for argument. As he spoke, his long, slender fingertips had already reached the zipper of her tight-fitting top.

 Chapter 251: Huh, Where Did the Underwear Go?

    <h4>Chapter 251: Chapter 251: Huh, Where Did the Underwear Go?</h4>


    Ji Wei hurriedly reached out to stop his hand. "I... I¡¯ll do it myself."


    Sitting up from the man¡¯s embrace, Ji Wei turned her back to him and took off her clothes.


    She was only wearing a tight top, and underneath was her underwear. But sleeping with underwear on always felt a bit ufortable.


    Ji Wei hesitated for a moment, then reached back to undo the sp of her bra.


    She swiftly took it off and stuffed it under the pillow, then pulled up the nket and burrowed herselfpletely inside.


    "I... I¡¯m going to sleep now. Goodnight!" A muffled voice came from under the nket.


    Gu Moqian stared at the bulging nket in front of him for a while, and the corners of his lips slowly curved into a soft smile.


    After struggling through the better part of the night, Ji Wei was utterly exhausted and quickly fell into a deep sleep.


    That night, Ji Wei slept soundly.


    Gu Moqian listened to the shallow breathing of the woman in his arms, the smile never leaving his lips. Even though the pain in his shoulder made it difficult for him to sleep.


    The next morning.


    Ji Wei caught the unfamiliar scent in the room and frowned slightly, but she didn¡¯t open her eyes. Her thoughts were still scattered, and she wanted to stay in bed a little longer.


    She turned over, seeking afortable position, and instinctively nestled closer to the warm embrace beside her. "Mmm..."


    Feeling utterly satisfied in her sleep, she couldn¡¯t help but let out a soft hum.


    Then, her hand unconsciously stretched under the nket, and it touched something hot and rigid.


    Ji Wei froze, her entire body stiffening. As seconds slowly ticked by, the woman suddenly sat up from under the nket.


    A chilly breeze swept over her, making Ji Wei shiver all over. She nced down at her own topless self without a bra, then turned her head and met the deep, focused gaze of his eyes.


    Her thoughts cleared instantly as she took in Gu Moqian¡¯s perfectly chiseled, otherworldly face.


    She, she, she... slept on the hotel bedst night with Gu Moqian after taking off her clothes!


    At the beginning, she had kept her distance¡ªwhy did she end up curling entirely into Gu Moqian¡¯s arms while sleeping?


    "Awake?"


    Noticing the petite woman clutching the nket tightly to her chest with one hand, her other hand tugging at her tousled hair in chaotic frustration, Gu Moqian¡¯s refined brows slightly arched. A low, maic voice drifted out indifferently.


    Ji Wei was still in a whirlwind of confusion, staring nkly for a moment before she managed to start responding. Just as she was about to answer, suddenly there was a knock at the door.


    "Mr. Gu, it¡¯s Dr. Liu. Is now a good time toe in?"


    Gu Moqian nced over at Ji Wei.


    Ji Wei¡¯s body reacted quicker than her mind. In an instant, she dove under the covers, wrapping herself tightly from head to toe, leaving no gap. She even tried her best to lie t to avoid being discovered.


    About two secondster, the woman¡¯s hand unexpectedly poked out from under the nket and dragged her clothes by the pillow inside it too.


    Then, she frozepletely still.


    The little movements of the petite woman made Gu Moqian almost chuckle aloud.


    Suppressing his amusement with great effort, he responded calmly, "Come in."


    The family doctor, called in by Chen Ke, arrived to check on Gu Moqian¡¯s shoulder wound to see how it was healing. "Mr. Gu, please try to avoid showering recently to prevent infection at the wound site. Any action that might strain the wound should also be avoided¡ª"


    At this moment, the doctor¡¯s gaze flicked over to the nket beside Gu Moqian.


    The shape of that nket looked... odd, as if someone was lying under it.


    The doctor¡¯s expression reflected mild bewilderment, but he didn¡¯t dare to ask. He simply reced the gauze, reiterated a few health precautions, and took his leave, closing the door behind him.


    As soon as the sound of the door shutting rang out, Ji Wei cautiously poked her head out from under the nket.


    Staying under the nket wasn¡¯t safe¡ªshe should quickly get dressed and get out of bed!


    With that thought, Ji Wei reached out to feel under the pillow.


    Huh? The underwear she had stuffed therest night was gone?


    At that moment, the man¡¯s cool voice sounded beside her, "Looking for this?"


    Gu Moqian dangled a strap of her flesh-tone bra in front of her, gently swaying it for effect.

 Chapter 252: Hmm, She Is Quite Touched

    <h4>Chapter 252: Chapter 252: Hmm, She Is Quite Touched</h4>


    "How... how did this end up with you?" Ji Wei¡¯s eyes widened, her speech faltering. She snatched it from his hand, turned her back to him, and hurriedly began to put it on.


    The morning sunlight streamed into the room, illuminating her porcin-like skin on her back. Under the bright light, it appeared even more alluring. Her smooth, rounded shoulders seemed tempting enough to make someone want to lean in and take a bite.


    Mo Qian stared in a daze at Ji Wei¡¯s beautiful back.


    Perhaps due to her urgency, Ji Wei¡¯s hand fumbled at her back, unable to fasten the sp properly. She tried several times but kept getting it wrong.


    Just as she was inwardly growing irritated, she suddenly felt cool fingertips brushing against her silky skin.


    Ji Wei¡¯s movements froze instantly.


    Her hand remained at the sp, but a pair ofrge hands came up to cover hers, fastening the sp for her.


    "All done," the man¡¯s gentle voice sounded behind her.


    "Oh."


    Flustered, Ji Wei responded, then grabbed the tight-fitting clothes from the bed and went to put them on. But the man suddenly stopped her: "Are you seriously wearing such tight clothes in broad daylight?"


    "This is all I have." Should she go without wearing anything?


    "I¡¯ll call Chen Ke to bring over an outfit."


    Ji Wei was about to say it wasn¡¯t necessary, but Mo Qian had already picked up his phone and dialed Chen Ke¡¯s number.


    While waiting for Chen Ke to arrive, Ji Wei hurriedly pulled the tight-fitting clothes over her chest and stepped off the bed in one swift motion.


    Her fair, smooth legs shed past before quickly disappearing into the bathroom.


    Mo Qian couldn¡¯t help the curve that appeared at the corner of his lips.


    After her shower, Ji Wei cracked open the bathroom door. Seeing Mo Qian leaning against the headboard alone, she finally felt reassured enough to step out.


    Wrapped in a bath towel, her hair was still damp.


    Mo Qian gestured toward the sofa. "The clothes have been delivered."


    Ji Wei nced over and sure enough, the clothes were neatly folded on the sofa, some of which belonged to Mo Qian.


    "Assistant Chen left?" she asked.


    "He¡¯s gone to buy breakfast."


    Ji Wei looked at the thermal jug ced nearby andmented with some surprise, "Isn¡¯t there food here already?"


    "It¡¯s soup Aunt Zhu made. I was worried it might be too nd for your taste."


    Ji Wei turned back and looked at Mo Qian.


    The man raised a handsome eyebrow, his clear voiceced with humor: "Feeling touched?"


    Breakfast for patients usually needed to be quite nd. Mo Qian must have known she preferred bolder, more vorful dishes, so he deliberately sent Chen Ke to buy additional food.


    Well, she was quite touched.


    But to prevent a certain someone from getting too full of himself, she opted not to respond. Just then, Chen Ke returned with breakfast.


    Ji Wei walked over, grabbed a steamed bun from the bag, and muttered, "I wonder if it tastes good..."


    She took a bite and discovered it was her favorite crab roe filling.


    Now she was even more satisfied.


    "Mr. Gu specifically asked me to buy steamed buns from Xiang Ji, the old and famous brand. How does Madam find the taste?" Chen Ke asked from the side.


    "It¡¯s decent," Ji Weimented.


    Watching the woman finish a bun in just a few bites, Mo Qian chuckled and shook his head. "Don¡¯t rush. Be careful¡ªif you choke, no one¡¯s fighting you for it."


    "Mm, it¡¯s just too delicious." Ji Wei replied, cheeks puffed like a chipmunk, her words slightly muffled.


    Seeing her happiness, Mo Qian¡¯s good mood showed with a subtle smile.


    After breakfast, Mo Qian opened theptop Chen Ke had delivered and began working.


    Knowing he was a man who couldn¡¯t sit still, Ji Wei obediently sat on the sofa nearby and refrained from disturbing him.


    Feeling bored, she picked up her phone and mindlessly scrolled through the news.


    This morning, there were two hot topics in Rongcheng.


    One was about a shooting incident on a cruise shipst night, with the police currently in full pursuit of the culprit.


    The other was a scandal involving the mass idol actress Jin Xuan¡¯er and her debauched escapades.

 Chapter 253: The First Time I Gave Flowers to a Man

    <h4>Chapter 253: Chapter 253: The First Time I Gave Flowers to a Man</h4>


    Last night, because the room door was locked, Jin Xuan¡¯er and Huo Yan ended up escaping a major scandal. However, when the police barged in with a group of people, they found Jin Xuan¡¯er and Huo Yan embracing each other without clothes on, caught in the throes of passion.


    The news was apanied by several photos: Jin Xuan¡¯er disheveled and scrambling to flee the yacht, with Huo Yan being escorted out by the police in the background.


    Below was a textual exnation: Jin Xuan¡¯er¡¯s chaotic private life¡ªunable to satisfy her desires, she spent the whole night tangled with Second Young Master Huo after taking drugs!


    The following article meticulously detailed Jin Xuan¡¯er¡¯s debauchery aboard the yacht, apanied by explicit photos disyed onboard, even going as far as uncovering a past scandal where Jin Xuan¡¯er allegedly had an affair with a certain director under the guise of industry "rules."


    All the evidence pointed to the fact that the pure and innocent image Jin Xuan¡¯er had previously cultivated was aplete fabrication. Privately, she¡¯s nothing more than a promiscuous, chaotic celebrity. Her public persona hadpletely copsed.


    Ji Wei finished reading the report and couldn¡¯t help but feel a chill in her heart.


    Now, Jin Xuan¡¯er was likely to be cklisted and shelved by her managementpany. Moreover, even if she wanted to redeem her reputation, this series of evidence was enough to destroy her career entirely.


    The immediate exposure of Jin Xuan¡¯er¡¯s scandal with Huo Yan¡ªJi Wei didn¡¯t need to think twice to know whose handiwork it was.


    Ji Wei moved her gaze away from the phone screen and looked at the man intensely focused on typing on hisptop.


    Mo Qian was reclining against the headboard. His shoulder still bore a gunshot wound, and his face appeared slightly pale due to blood loss. Yet, even dressed in loose pajamas, this man still exuded an irresistible charm.


    Every move Jin Xuan¡¯er made aboard the yachtst night was likely calcted by Mo Qian.


    The reason he didn¡¯t stop Huo Yan from entering the yacht and even allowed Jin Xuan¡¯er to act recklessly in the beginning was to ensure that the self-righteous actress would plunge into the abyss, never to recover.


    The man¡¯s meticulous mind, his decisiveness¡ªJi Wei couldn¡¯t help but tremble inwardly.


    Anyone who became Mo Qian¡¯s adversary was surely doomed to a miserable fate.


    When Mo Qian lifted his gaze from theptop screen, he noticed the woman on the sofa staring at him, lost in thought. He couldn¡¯t help but curl his lips into a sly smile: "Is your husband so good-looking that you can¡¯t take your eyes off me every second of the day?"


    Ji Wei instinctively nodded her head. For some reason, without thinking, she murmured, "Mo Qian, if someday you started hating me, I¡¯d probably die a terrible death, wouldn¡¯t I?"


    "Why ask something like that all of a sudden?" Mo Qian looked momentarily surprised.


    "I just feel like you¡¯re unstoppable. If someone went against you, they¡¯d have no chance of winning at all."


    Mo Qian¡¯s gaze darkened slightly. He suddenly raised his hand to close hisptop, got out of bed, and walked toward her.


    Ji Wei¡¯s eyes followed his movements until he sat down beside her.


    Before she could figure out what he was up to, her body suddenly tilted to the side, and his single arm pulled her into his embrace: "Remember, no matter what you¡¯ve done to me, I will never hate you."


    The man¡¯s low voice resonated in her ears.


    Ji Wei leaned against his uninjured shoulder, her heart racing wildly, unable to utter a word for quite a while.


    ...


    After returning to Shanshui Manor and finishing lunch, it wasn¡¯t long before Ye Cheng and Xi Nanfeng arrived.


    "Old Mo, aren¡¯t I considerate? I came personally to check on you. Look, I even brought you flowers." Xi Nanfeng sauntered casually into the bedroom, carrying a bouquet of fresh flowers in his hands.


    Mo Qian¡¯s lips twitched.


    "Wishing you a speedy recovery."


    Noticing Mo Qian¡¯s clear disdain, Xi Nanfeng deliberately approached him and shoved the flowers into his hands. "This is the first time I¡¯ve given flowers to a man. Do me a favor and ept them!"

 Chapter 254: Always Wanting to Take Over Someone Else’s Bed When Drunk

    <h4>Chapter 254: Chapter 254: Always Wanting to Take Over Someone Else¡¯s Bed When Drunk</h4>


    Ji Wei couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. Before Gu Moqian could toss the bouquet into the trash can, she quickly took it and ced it into the nearby vase.


    Gu Moqian fixed his gaze on Ji Wei as she arranged the flowers, then suddenly turned to Xi Nanfeng and began to demand answers: "Old Xi,st night I asked you to protect the person, but you chose to ditch us instead. Don¡¯t you think we should settle this ount?"


    Upon hearing this, Xi Nanfeng instinctively recoiled, hurriedly pushing Ye Cheng forward as a shield: "Old Ye has something to discuss with you. You two talk first; I¡¯ll take a quick stroll downstairs!"


    Before finishing his sentence, in a blink, Xi Nanfeng had bolted out the door.


    When it came to fleeing, Second Young Master Xi rivaled professional sprinters.


    Ji Wei noticed Ye Cheng hadn¡¯t spoken immediately and suspected what they were about to discuss was something she shouldn¡¯t overhear. So she smiled and said, "I¡¯ll go call Duoduo. I wonder if she¡¯s sobered up yet; she was so drunkst night."


    Ye Cheng¡¯s expression froze for a split second, almost imperceptibly.


    After Ji Wei left, Ye Cheng spoke solemnly, "The assassin from the cruisest night likely fled back to Japan."


    "Yes, Chen Ke already reported it to me." Gu Moqian nodded, his tall andmanding frame standing by the floor-to-ceiling window. His deep ck eyes stared thoughtfully into the distance outside. "Old Master Ji is indeed cunning. He hired a Japanese hitman specifically to ensure we couldn¡¯t catch him easily."


    "I heard that ever since Ji Chuyang¡¯s ident, Old Master Ji has been bedridden. Looks like he¡¯s been feigning it all along to lower our guard." Ye Cheng took a cigarette and lighter out of the pocket of his tailored pants and gestured toward Gu Moqian, "Mind if I smoke?"


    Gu Moqian shook his head.


    Ye Cheng lit the cigarette and brought it to his lips. "Actually, dealing with the Ji Family is rtively straightforward. What¡¯s troublesome is Ji Chuyang, the one who slipped through the cracks. He¡¯s in Japan, out of reach. If we want to act against him, it¡¯s going to take considerable effort."


    "Which is why there can¡¯t be any more dys. Next week, I must go to Tokyo." Gu Moqian¡¯s tone was resolute. The lingering danger posed by Ji Chuyang was uneptable.


    He absolutely couldn¡¯t allow another incident like the one on the cruise.


    ...


    By the hallway window.


    Ji Wei gripped her phone in shock, repeating, "Duoduo, say that again¡ªyou spent the night at Ye Cheng¡¯s cest night? Did something happen between you two...?"


    Before Ji Wei could finish her sentence, Xia Duoduo burst out interrupting, "No, no! You¡¯re overthinking it... I don¡¯t even know how it happened. After I got drunk, I just kept trying to take over someone else¡¯s bed. I think I caused quite a ruckusst night. All I vaguely remember is clutching onto the nket on Ye Cheng¡¯s bed and refusing to let go. After that... I can¡¯t recall much¡ªmy head is still pounding."


    "So where are you now?"


    "At thepany, of course. My strict agent insisted Ie in for artist training, even though he knew I¡¯d been hungover fromst night." Xia Duoduo grumbled on the other end of the call.


    "Make sure to drink plenty of honey lemon water; it¡¯ll help with the hangover." Ji Wei reminded gently.


    "Hmm, got it." Xia Duoduo replied, "Oh, by the way, I saw the news this morning¡ªit said there was a hitman attack on the cruise after we leftst night! Are you and Mr. Gu okay?"


    "We¡¯re fine. We managed to escape beforehand." Ji Wei didn¡¯t want Xia Duoduo to worry, so she didn¡¯t share the harrowing details of the previous night.


    The two continued chatting for a bit, until Xia Duoduo¡¯s voice suddenly hushed. Clearly, she was trying to lower her tone deliberately, "I can¡¯t talk anymore¡ªthe old witch who teaches posture training ising my way. I¡¯m hanging up now."


    After ending the call, Ji Wei started heading back.


    She assumed Ye Cheng and Gu Moqian¡¯s conversation would have finished by now. But just as her hand touched the door handle, faint traces of their dialogue drifted to her ears.


    "The trip to Japan is dangerously risky. The Ji Family seems to be throwing everything they¡¯ve got to fight us head-on. We must ensure there¡¯s no room for error."


    "I¡¯m fully prepared." Gu Moqian¡¯s voice was calm and unwavering.


    Ji Wei¡¯s hand, poised to push the door open, froze instantly.

 Chapter 255: No Need for Others to Judge!

    <h4>Chapter 255: Chapter 255: No Need for Others to Judge!</h4>


    Feeling as though she might have overheard some secrets, Ji Wei¡¯s heart instantly clenched.


    Inside the room, the conversation between the two continued.


    "I¡¯ll find a way to gather more intel on the mafia¡¯s operations over there and lend you a hand," Ye Cheng extinguished the cigarette that was almost burnt out in the ashtray, then lifted his gaze to Gu Moqian.


    "Thank you."


    Gu Moqian rarely expressed gratitude to anyone, and Ye Cheng knew that those two simple words carried significant weight.


    Ye Cheng curled his lips in a low chuckle. "Thank me for what? If it weren¡¯t for you back then, I¡¯d probably no longer be in this world."


    Gu Moqian looked at his longtime friend, whose enchanting eyes revealed traces of loneliness, and suddenly spoke again, "Speaking of which,st night Ji Wei and I managed to escape safely, and it¡¯s partly thanks to you."


    Ye Cheng looked at him with confusion.


    Gu Moqian continued, "Zimei was on the cruise ship at the time. She helped us quite a bit. If it weren¡¯t for your sake, she probably wouldn¡¯t have stepped in."


    He had shut down the Zimei Club, and yet that woman still extended a helping hand. Her intentions couldn¡¯t have been clearer¡ªshe was doing it for Ye Cheng.


    Ye Cheng¡¯s expression froze momentarily before returning to a calm demeanor, his voice betraying no emotion: "I¡¯ll find an opportunity to rify this with her."


    Gu Moqian nodded faintly without saying anything further.


    Regarding Ye Cheng and Zimei, there was nothing he could do. Whether the two could return to how things used to be was beyond his ability to influence.


    At the doorway, Ji Wei¡¯s tightly clenched heart showed no signs of easing.


    From their few exchanged words, she could unmistakably sense a dangerous atmosphere brewing. She finally understood that Gu Moqian¡¯s insistence on going to Tokyo wasn¡¯t just about a business negotiation. There was an exceptionally critical and perilous matter he needed to attend to!


    What exactly was the matter? How could it involve the mafia?


    Ji Wei was both shocked and terrified. She pressed on the door handle so hard that her knuckles turned white.


    Just as sheposed herself and prepared to enter, the sudden sound of hurried footsteps came from the staircase behind her, apanied by Ling Ling¡¯s anxious voice: "Mrs. Nan, Mr. Gu is resting right now. It¡¯s not convenient for you to disturb him..."


    Ji Wei turned her head and saw Nan Huiru appear at the staircase, her face livid.


    Behind her, Ling Ling tried to dissuade her, but her efforts were clearly ineffective.


    Ji Wei¡¯s expression had already returned to calm. She stood resolutely as Nan Huiru stormed toward her, brimming with fury.


    "Why wasn¡¯t I informed immediately about Moqian¡¯s gunshot injury? You clearly have no regard for me! I am, after all, Moqian¡¯s mother!" Nan Huiru spat her words furiously, unleashing a tirade of reprimands.


    "Get out of my way, don¡¯t block my path!"


    Seeing Ji Wei standing in her way, Nan Huiru rudely stretched out her hand to pull her aside, but Ling Ling quickly stepped forward to block her.


    "What do you think you¡¯re doing? A mere servant trying to stop me?"


    Nan Huiru red angrily at Ling Ling.


    Ji Wei signaled Ling Ling to step aside and then said calmly, "I remember Moqian saying he doesn¡¯t want to see Mrs. Nan for the time being. Why must Mrs. Nan seek unnecessary trouble for herself?"


    Nan Huiru trembled with rage and red at Ji Wei. "This is my son¡¯s house! Are you so eager to see our mother-son rtionship deteriorate and turn into enmity? You¡¯ve already estranged me and Moqian. Isn¡¯t that enough? You venomous woman! I¡¯ve seen through your true colors!"


    "Whatever my true colors may be, time will reveal them." Ji Wei¡¯s cold and piercing gaze locked onto Nan Huiru¡¯s increasingly wrathful face.


    Ji Wei had long be ustomed to Nan Huiru¡¯s obstinacy. No matter how many exnations were offered, she would refuse to believe otherwise.


    Nan Huiru thought her words were mere excuses and sneered coldly: "My son being ensnared by a vixen like you is the greatest misfortune of his life!"


    "Whether she¡¯s my misfortune or not is no one else¡¯s ce to judge!"


    A cold and stern voice suddenly rang out.

 Chapter 256: Who Let You In?

    <h4>Chapter 256: Chapter 256: Who Let You In?</h4>


    The group turned their heads abruptly and saw Gu Moqian pushing open the bedroom door, stepping out with Ye Cheng standing behind him.


    The man, with his sharp ck short hair, was dressed in light beige loungewear, the top two buttons of his shirt casually undone, and the faint outline of gauze on his shoulder partially visible.


    Even with such casual attire after an injury, Gu Moqian¡¯s innate aura of refinement remained unmistakable. At this moment, his gaze toward Nan Huiru was turbulent, clearly displeased by her appearance.


    He strode to Ji Wei¡¯s side and wrapped his uninjured arm around her waist, holding her securely by his side.


    "Who told you toe?" Gu Moqian¡¯s piercing eyes swept to Nan Huiru, his voice carrying suppressed anger.


    Nan Huiru¡¯s expression froze for a moment, but she thickened her skin and stepped forward to Gu Moqian. "Mo Qian, I heard you got shot. Are you all right? Let Mom have a look..."


    As she spoke, Nan Huiru reached out, only for Gu Moqian to coldly sidestep her. "There¡¯s no need."


    "Mo Qian, I¡¯m your mom. Do you really refuse to let your mother even touch you?" Nan Huiru¡¯s voice trembled slightly, her eyes reddening as she spoke, casting a sharp, quick nce at Ji Wei standing beside them.


    It¡¯s her fault. It¡¯s all because of this woman¡ªthis wretched woman¡¯s fault!


    She¡¯s the reason their mother-and-son rtionship has been reduced to that of strangers!


    But with Ye Cheng still present, Nan Huiru, mindful of appearances, dared not erupt. After all, family scandals shouldn¡¯t be aired in public.


    She forcibly swallowed her fury and said with restraint, "Fine, fine. I won¡¯t touch you. I just want to make sure you¡¯re okay, that¡¯s all. By the way, I made some nourishing ginseng chicken soup for you. Would you like to try it?"


    Nan Huiru raised the thermos box eagerly, her face full of anticipation as she looked at Gu Moqian.


    "Take it away."


    Those brief two words made Nan Huiru¡¯s raised hand freeze in mid-air. Overwhelmed by humiliation and unwillingness, her hand trembled.


    "Ling Ling, see the guest out."


    With that said, Gu Moqian led Ji Wei back toward the bedroom.


    Nan Huiru¡¯s entire face twisted with unbearable embarrassment. She red venomously at Ji Wei¡¯s retreating back, her nails digging into her palms. Even the sting of pain couldn¡¯t quell the fury in her heart.


    Nevertheless, she didn¡¯t pursue the matter further and left begrudgingly.


    She was adamant about repairing her rtionship with Gu Moqian and knew she couldn¡¯t afford to further strain their bonds, nor could she let that vixen looking for their family¡¯s misfortune seed!


    Not long after Nan Huiru left, Ye Cheng and Xi Nanfeng also said their goodbyes.


    The bedroom fell back into silence.


    Only the asional sound of keys being tapped on a keyboard could be heard.


    Gu Moqian sat on the sofa, seriously going through digital documents, while Ji Wei sat beside him.


    A stack of papersy open on Ji Wei¡¯sp, a progress report on the Shuiyun Lane development project, yet Ji Wei hadn¡¯t managed to read a single word.


    At this moment, though she appeared outwardlyposed, Ji Wei¡¯s mind was restless.


    Ye Cheng and Gu Moqian¡¯s earlier conversation continued to rey in her head.


    Countless questions spiraled through her mind, but she couldn¡¯t bring herself to voice them.


    Since Gu Moqian didn¡¯t want her to know, how could he ever tell her the truth?


    Finding it impossible to focus on work, Ji Wei simply closed the folder, turned her head, and looked at the man working beside her.


    Even with his pale face from the injury, Gu Moqian¡¯s striking handsomeness remained undiminished. The serious and focused look he wore now only added an extrayer of allure, making it impossible to look away.


    Ji Wei gazed at him quietly before her eyesnded on the ss of water beside his hand, almost empty.


    She picked up the ss and stood up.


    The hot water had run out, so Ji Wei went to boil another pot.


    Perhaps because her mind was preupied, Ji Wei became a bit distracted. When pouring water, she identally spilled it onto the back of her hand, the scalding sensation making her reflexively loosen her grip.


    Crash¡ª


    The ss fell to the ground and shattered.

 Chapter 257 I Don’t Want to Spend a Day Apart from You

    <h4>Chapter 257: Chapter 257 I Don¡¯t Want to Spend a Day Apart from You</h4>


    The sound of shattering ss startled the man. He quickly walked over and grabbed Ji Wei¡¯s hand.


    Seeing the red burn on the back of her hand, his expression turned grim. He firmly led her to the bathroom, directing the injured area under the gushing faucet.


    The cool water alleviated much of the burning sensation on Ji Wei¡¯s hand.


    After rinsing for a long time, Gu Moqian still wasn¡¯t reassured. He found the burn ointment in the medical box and applied it to her hand.


    "Mo Qian, you don¡¯t need to make such a fuss. It¡¯s just a slight redness. It¡¯ll fade gradually." With his shoulder still injured yet insisting on tending to her, Ji Wei instinctively tried to pull her hand back.


    "Don¡¯t move." Gu Moqian¡¯s voice was low, his gaze locked firmly on the burned area of her hand.


    Unable to resist him, in the end, she allowed the ointment to be applied.


    The cooling minty sensation spreading across her hand instantly made her feel much better.


    "How do you even manage to burn yourself while pouring a ss of water, huh?" Gu Moqian looked at her, both annoyed and amused.


    "I... I was a bit distracted just now." Ji Wei¡¯s face flushed as she exined.


    Gu Moqian¡¯s expression stiffened. "Was it because my mother showed up earlier and upset you?"


    "No." Ji Wei shook her head and quickly came up with an excuse. "I was worried about your injury. Isn¡¯t there a trip to Japan next week? If you¡¯re hurt now, how about canceling the trip?"


    Gu Moqian¡¯s expression subtly shifted. He paused and stared at her silently for a moment before replying, "It¡¯s fine. There¡¯s still five days before the trip. By then, the wound should mostly heal."


    His exnation was calm, betraying no trace of unusual emotions.


    "But I¡¯m still worried." Ji Wei¡¯s clear and bright eyes reflected unmistakable concern.


    Suddenly, she extended her hand, wrapping it around the uninjured side of his arm and resting her head against him. "Mo Qian, how about I go with you? I want to take care of you."


    Gu Moqian¡¯s dark eyes deepened, but his voice carried no discernible emotion: "I¡¯ll be back in a few days. Be good and wait for me at home."


    "I¡¯m afraid I might miss you a lot." Ji Wei¡¯s soft voice carried a tender vulnerability. She looked up at him, her gaze misted with a faint sheen of tears.


    In truth, I¡¯m afraid of you encountering danger.


    "The inte is so advanced now. If you miss me, you can call or video chat with me anytime."


    Ji Wei bit her lip in silence.


    "Not good?" Gu Moqian nced down at her and softly asked.


    "I don¡¯t want to be apart from you even for a day." Ji Wei tried onest time to plead her case. "Can¡¯t I really go with you?" Her expressive eyes seemed to speak, gazing at him imploringly.


    Gu Moqian: "..."


    He couldn¡¯t handle her acting so adorably.


    Pressing his thin lips together, after a while, he finally relented: "Alright, I¡¯ll take you with me."


    "Really?" Ji Wei was overjoyed. She hadn¡¯t expected Gu Moqian to agree, despite preparing to wear him down with persistent persuasion!


    Gu Moqian nodded. Seeing the excitement on her face, he felt both helpless and indulgent. He reached out and gently ruffled her silky hair.


    "Mo Qian." Ji Wei suddenly quieted, raising her hands to cup his exquisitely handsome face. "I love you."


    She spoke with heartfelt sincerity, then leaned in to kiss his lips of her own ord.


    I love you.


    These three words left Gu Moqian stunned, the emotions swirling within his heart indescribable.


    He wanted to fulfill her every wish, yet at the same time, he didn¡¯t want her to face any danger alongside him...


    Ji Wei¡¯s kissing skills had improved significantlypared to before. She confidently entangled her lips and tongue with his, sucking and lightly biting.


    Especially when her gentle gasps of pleasure spilled out, Gu Moqian felt a surge of searing heat climbing within him, almost unable to resist the impulse to press her down onto the bed.

 Chapter 258: Just Looking Isn’t Enough, Why Not Touch It?

    <h4>Chapter 258: Chapter 258: Just Looking Isn¡¯t Enough, Why Not Touch It?</h4>


    After a while, Ji Wei released her lips. When she saw the man¡¯s deep and shadowy eyes, she felt so shy she didn¡¯t dare to meet his gaze and quickly turned her eyes away.


    She still couldn¡¯t quite believe how bold and forward she had just been.


    "Um... I suddenly feel a little hungry," Ji Wei said quickly. "I¡¯ll go downstairs and ask Aunt Zhu if dinner is ready!"


    Before Gu Moqian could react, Ji Wei had already dashed out of the room.


    Staring at the direction of the bedroom door, Gu Moqian slowly lifted his hand and touched his own lips.


    The faint scent of her elegant lipstick still lingered there.


    In that instant, Gu Moqian silently made a certain decision in his heart...


    ...


    For the next two days, Ji Wei stayed home to take care of Gu Moqian.


    On the third morning, a sudden ringtone startled the silence.


    Ji Wei groggily opened her sleepy eyes and saw Gu Moqian getting out of bed, his long legs striding toward the balcony to take the call.


    A few minutester, Gu Moqian returned. He saw the woman still wrapped in the quilt, looking half-asleep. Climbing back into bed, he pulled her back into his embrace. "If you didn¡¯t get enough sleep, rest a bit longer."


    Ji Wei obedientlyy down, resting her head on the crook of his arm, her voice muffled with grogginess. "Who was that on the phone just now?"


    "My dad," Gu Moqian replied.


    Ji Wei sat up abruptly upon hearing this. "Your dad¡¯s back?"


    Gu Moqian¡¯s father had been in Britain for years and rarely visited. Even Gu Moqian seldom saw him.


    "Yes, he came back for Great-Grandmother¡¯s 90th birthday celebration. He had to."


    "When is it?"


    "Tomorrow."


    Ji Wei was instantly wide awake. She sat up straight in his arms. "You never mentioned your Great-Grandmother¡¯s birthday! Tomorrow... I don¡¯t even have a gift prepared!"


    Gu Moqian¡¯s Great-Grandmother was elderly and had always preferred peace and quiet. She was also a devout Buddhist who lived in Fuan Temple in the eastern part of the city, so Ji Wei hadn¡¯t had the chance to meet her before.


    Now, Ji Wei clutched her messy hair in a panic, lookingpletely flustered.


    "With your husband here, what are you worried about?" Gu Moqian stopped her hand mid-grab and pulled her back into his embrace. "Besides, Great-Grandmother doesn¡¯t care about those things."


    "But as the younger generation, it¡¯s proper etiquette," Ji Wei muttered.


    "We still have half a day to think about a suitable gift," Gu Moqian reassured her. "Dad wants us to head over to the Gu Family ancestral home this afternoon to help with arrangements."


    "Alright." Ji Wei nodded.


    Before they left in the afternoon, Ji Wei took over Gu Moqian¡¯s shirt since he was still recovering from an injury and helped him put it on.


    Ji Wei¡¯s gaze couldn¡¯t stop drifting toward Gu Moqian¡¯s fair, toned chest.


    Even though she had seen it many times before, every time she admired Gu Moqian¡¯s perfectly sculpted, model-like physique, Ji Wei couldn¡¯t help swooning, even unconsciously licking her lips.


    "Is just looking enough? Why not touch it?"


    Gu Moqian noticed her reaction and couldn¡¯t resist teasing her.


    Ji Wei snapped out of her thoughts and shook her head vehemently like a rattle-drum.


    Touching... better not.


    Though it did feel amazing, if things got out of hand while touching, it would be a real problem.


    They still had to head to the Gu Family ancestral home!


    Ji Wei carefully slid the shirt over Gu Moqian¡¯s outstretched arms, being cautious to avoid his injury. Then she slid it onto the other arm, pulled the cor snug, and started buttoning it up.


    Her slender, fair fingers paused as she reached the top button.


    Ji Wei stared at the man¡¯s throat as his Adam¡¯s apple moved, momentarily transfixed.


    It was the first time she had noticed Gu Moqian¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple up close. Somehow, it struck her as incredibly sexy and alluring, making her heart race inexplicably.


    She suddenly looked up, her eyes shimmering with moisture, bright and clear, like fruit kissed by morning dew¡ªutterly captivating.


    Gu Moqian, who hadn¡¯t had any carnal indulgence for days, felt his Adam¡¯s apple bob again.


    This was a dangerous signal!

 Chapter 259: Mo Qian’s Father

    <h4>Chapter 259: Chapter 259: Mo Qian¡¯s Father</h4>


    "Looking at me like that, do you know you¡¯re tempting someone tomit a crime?" Gu Moqian lowered his eyes and looked at her, his voice indescribably husky and captivating.


    "I... I¡¯ll stop looking." Ji Wei¡¯s heart fluttered, and she quickly turned her head aside.


    "Toote."


    As Gu Moqian finished speaking, his slightly cool lips pressed down on hers. Ji Wei didn¡¯t dare to struggle, afraid of touching his wound.


    She obediently tilted her head up, allowing him to kiss her as he pleased.


    Their breaths wove together, gradually bing rapid.


    The strange feeling in her heart grew stronger, and Ji Wei finally couldn¡¯t resist pushing him away, escaping from his lips and tongue. She breathed slightly heavily, her cheeks flushed, "Moqian, we should get going."


    If not for being in a hurry, Gu Moqian really didn¡¯t n on letting her go, needing to hold her down and take his fill.


    ...


    The silver-gray Maybach sped all the way down the road.


    The Gu Family¡¯s old house was situated at the foot of a verdant mountain, with a serene environment far from the hustle and bustle of the big city of Rongcheng.


    Upon getting out of the car, a butler came over to greet them early.


    "Uncle Gu, long time no see." Gu Moqian greeted the elderly man standing with his hands at his sides.


    "Young Master has finally returned. The Master has already arrived; let me take you there."


    Uncle Gu finished speaking and led the way in front.


    Walking all the way inside, the architectural style was a courtyard with an antique vor, exuding a sense of age.


    Finally, Uncle Gu led them to the side of a courtyard, gestured for them to enter, and then quietly retreated.


    The courtyard was clean and tidy, with persimmon trees nted in the yard. It waste autumn now, and the trees were full of enticingly red persimmons.


    Right now, under the persimmon tree stood a middle-aged man, dressed in light casual clothes, looking down at the little koi swimming under the water lilies in the water tank.


    Hearing footsteps approaching, the middle-aged man raised his head.


    A handsome and well-defined face, six parts simr to Gu Moqian¡¯s, with some wrinkles from the traces of time and the depth and wisdom brought by decades of experience ¡ª it could be seen that he too was an attractive and handsome man in his younger days, likely admired by many women.


    "Dad," Gu Moqian called out.


    "Father, it¡¯s a pleasure to meet you; I¡¯m Ji Wei." Ji Wei greeted politely.


    Gu Zhizhou nodded lightly. When his gaze swept over Ji Wei, his pupils suddenly contracted.


    Why does this face bear some resemnce to Wan Fang?


    Gu Zhizhou suppressed the doubts in his heart and said warmly, "I heard you and Moqian are already married. Congrattions to both of you."


    "Thank you, Father." Ji Wei smiled warmly and graciously.


    Gu Moqian¡¯s father and mother hadpletely different attitudes towards Ji Wei; this man exuded the grace of a modest gentleman.


    Ji Wei now understood that most of Gu Moqian¡¯s character was inherited from his father.


    "You¡¯ve met with Huiru, right?" Gu Zhizhou continued, "She is a bit stubborn sometimes, even as her husband, I can¡¯t handle her at times. But Huiru¡¯s intentions are for Moqian¡¯s good. I hope Miss Ji doesn¡¯t take it to heart. Trust that with time, she¡¯ll see you¡¯re the most suitable for Moqian."


    Ji Wei didn¡¯t expect Gu Zhizhou to say that; she felt touched, "She is Moqian¡¯s mother, I won¡¯t me her."


    "That¡¯s good." Gu Zhizhou nodded.


    While the father and son went inside to discuss details of the great-grandmother¡¯s birthday banquet, Ji Wei stayed in the courtyard to explore.


    The Gu Family¡¯s old house was quite new and interesting in her eyes. After touring the front and back yards, Ji Wei finally stood under the bountiful persimmon tree, looking up.


    The golden persimmons made her gulp.

 Chapter 260: This Tree Was Planted When Grandpa Married Grandma

    <h4>Chapter 260: Chapter 260: This Tree Was nted When Grandpa Married Grandma</h4>


    Seeing the woman standing under the persimmon tree licking her lips, with "eat" written all over her eyes and a look of eager craving, Gu Moqian couldn¡¯t help but chuckle as he walked over and asked, "Craving something?"


    Immersed in her fantasy of eating persimmons, Ji Wei was startled by the sudden male voice. She turned her head sharply and, seeing it was Gu Moqian, quickly nodded enthusiastically. "It¡¯s my first time seeing a tree full of so many persimmons¡ªbig and red! They must taste amazing!"


    The woman¡¯s hidden foodie nature was fully exposed.


    "Then give it a try."


    Gu Moqian raised his hand and effortlessly plucked arge persimmon, handing it to Ji Wei.


    Ji Wei took it without hesitation. She used her sleeve to wipe the surface and began peeling. Then, unable to wait any longer, she took a big bite into the luscious flesh.


    The persimmon was soft, sweet, and slightly sticky.


    "Delicious!" Ji Wei said with her mouth full.


    A circle of golden-yellow persimmon pulp had gathered around the corners of her lips¡ªyet she didn¡¯t seem to notice.


    Watching this, Gu Moqian couldn¡¯t help but smile indulgently, his voice warm and doting. "Slow down."


    He pulled out a handkerchief and gently wiped away the mess at the corners of her lips.


    Ji Wei froze, staring at Gu Moqian¡¯s careful gestures. A feeling sweeter than the persimmon swept through her heart.


    "Moqian, people these days don¡¯t carry handkerchiefs anymore. Are you a time traveler from the Republic era?" Ji Wei teased as he neatly folded the handkerchief and put it away.


    "With a little foodie like you around, carrying onees in quite handy."


    Gu Moqian smiled faintly and reached out to gently tweak Ji Wei¡¯s upturned little nose.


    Ji Wei¡¯s eyes glimmered like ripples on water. She looked at the man whose expression was as warm as spring sunshine, utterly enchanted, forgetting even the persimmon she held in her hand.


    Realizing she shouldn¡¯t be staring at Gu Moqian so tantly, Ji Wei quickly grasped for a topic to change the subject. "By the way, why does this persimmon tree seem so healthy? And it¡¯s full of fruit¡ªno one picks it. Look, some are already falling to the ground. Such a waste."


    Gu Moqian seemed to recall something from the past. The smile on his face gradually faded.


    He gazed at the persimmon tree in front of them, his expression tinged with sadness. "This tree was nted the year Grandpa married Grandma."


    "Really? Wow, your grandpa must have been quite the romantic." Ji Wei hesitated for a moment before asking, "Moqian, why have I never met your grandparents...?"


    As soon as the words left her mouth, Ji Wei realized something and her voice suddenly caught in her throat.


    Could it be¡ª


    Gu Moqian¡¯s words confirmed Ji Wei¡¯s suspicions. "They¡¯ve already passed away."


    Ji Wei¡¯s heart skipped a beat.


    "Six years ago, Grandpa and Grandma got into a car ident. They both passed away. I was in Britain at the time and didn¡¯t get the chance to see them onest time."


    Ji Wei suddenly felt a lump in her throat, making it hard to speak.


    Even though Gu Moqian spoke in a calm tone, without any visible emotion, Ji Wei could sense his regret and sorrow.


    "I¡¯m sorry, I shouldn¡¯t have brought this up."


    Ji Wei reached out and tightly grabbed his hand.


    Gu Moqian gazed down at her for a long while, then gently pulled her into a hug. "It¡¯s all in the past. Separation and loss are an inevitable part of life."


    Ji Wei rested her head against Gu Moqian¡¯s chest, her nose stinging with the urge to cry.


    After a long time, she lifted her head, her eyes red, and asked, "So that¡¯s why Great-grandmother left and went to Fuan Temple, right?"


    This event must have been the most devastating blow to her great-grandmother.


    "Yes. Great-grandmother had two daughters and one son. Grandpa was her most beloved youngest child. His passing indeed made her lose all heart, which is why she went to the temple to devote herself to prayers and abstain from worldly affairs, no longer concerning herself with anything rted to the Gu Family."


    "So tomorrow is Great-grandmother¡¯s 90th birthday. We should celebrate it properly. After all, she must still wish to see the liveliness of a full family gathered together," Ji Wei said. "And for the gift I¡¯m preparing for her, I¡¯ve already decided."


    "What is it?"


    Ji Wei stared at the half-eaten persimmon in her hand and smiled faintly. "You¡¯ll find out tomorrow."

 Chapter 261: Young Master Jin... Who is This Man?

    <h4>Chapter 261: Chapter 261: Young Master Jin... Who is This Man?</h4>


    That night, the two of them stayed in the side courtyard of the Gu Family¡¯s old mansion.


    The next morning, when Ji Wei opened her eyes, Gu Moqian was already up.


    Ji Wei nced at the dim light outside the window and drowsily asked, "You¡¯re up so early?"


    "We need to greet many rtives and friends who¡¯ve traveled from far away, and also pick up Great-Grandma from the temple. Dad and I will handle it, you can sleep a little longer," Gu Moqian said, raising his hand to gently touch her head.


    "You don¡¯t need me to help?"


    "No need, just don¡¯t sleep until noon, that¡¯s all I ask."


    Ji Wei pouted, "I¡¯m not pregnant. Why would I sleep that much?"


    "You will be very soon," Gu Moqian replied with a serious expression.


    Ji Wei: "..."


    Now that she thought about it, they never used any protection. Could it really be possible?


    Should she make some time to buy a pregnancy test kit?


    While Ji Wei was still lost in her own thoughts, Gu Moqian had already slipped one arm into his suit jacket.


    Seeing this, Ji Wei quickly got up to help him with his injured arm and adjusted the front of his jacket for him.


    "I¡¯m off. Later in the morning, Uncle Gu will take you to the front hall. If there¡¯s anything you¡¯re unsure about, just ask him," Gu Moqian instructed her onest time.


    "Alright."


    Gu Moqian leaned down and left a light kiss on her soft lips before turning to leave.


    Still preupied with the gift she¡¯d prepared for Great-Grandma, Ji Wei decided to wash up and get dressed, then stepped out of the room.


    Half an hourter.


    "Uncle Gu, are you sure this is fine?"


    Under the persimmon tree, Ji Wei was getting ready to climb the woodendder with a basket in hand, while Uncle Gu was bracing thedder firmly for her with all his strength.


    "No problem, Young Mistress. Go on and climb up," Uncle Gu said confidently.


    Alright then.


    Though Uncle Gu was already over seventy, he looked spirited and robust. It should be fine.


    Ji Wei quickly climbed to the top of thedder. Looking up, she was greeted byrge, ripe, red persimmons hanging above her. She couldn¡¯t help but beam with joy and started plucking them one by one and cing them in the basket.


    Before long, the basket was full.


    "Uncle Gu, I¡¯ming down now," Ji Wei called out, turning to look down.


    "Alright, alright. Come down, I¡¯ve got it steady down here!"


    Ji Wei began moving her feet down thedder.


    Maybe it was because of the morning dew, but thedder was slippery.


    Suddenly, Ji Wei lost her footing and fell backward!


    "Ah¡ª!"


    Ji Wei let out a startled cry as her body plummeted downward.


    She braced herself for a hard fall, but to her surprise, shended in a man¡¯s arms.


    "Are you alright?" The man¡¯s voice was clear and pleasant to the ear.


    Ji Wei raised her head and was met with a pair of unfamiliar eyes. She quickly stepped out of the man¡¯s hold and backed away a few steps.


    "I¡¯m fine, thank you," she said.


    Ji Wei clutched the basket tightly to her chest. Luckily, she¡¯d instinctively protected it while falling, so her efforts weren¡¯t wasted.


    "Young Mistress, are you okay? That was so dangerous just now! If something had happened to you, how could I ever face the Young Master with this old face of mine?" Uncle Gu ran over, his face full of worry and reproach.


    "Uncle Gu, I¡¯m fine, thanks to this gentleman," Ji Wei reassured him.


    Hearing Ji Wei mention someone else, Uncle Gu finally looked over. When he saw the man in a casual knit sweater standing nearby, his face lit up with joy. "Young Master Jin, you¡¯re back! It¡¯s been years since we¡¯ve seen you. How is the Lady?"


    Young Master Jin? The Lady?


    Who is this man?


    Ji Wei was utterly confused as she listened to the conversation.

 Chapter 262: Great Grandmother’s Birthday, What is She Doing Here?

    <h4>Chapter 262: Chapter 262: Great Grandmother¡¯s Birthday, What is She Doing Here?</h4>


    "Uncle Gu." The man¡¯s voice was clear as he called out, "My mom¡¯s health has been quite good, and you¡¯re still so robust. You¡¯ve worked hard taking care of the Gu Family all these years."


    "Oh, nonsense! I¡¯ve watched you and the youngdy grow up, and as long as youe back to visit often, this old bag of bones will be content."


    Jin Qichuan nodded and replied, "Alright, I¡¯ll make an effort to visit the Gu Mansion more frequently."


    Listening to this exchange, it seemed this Young Master Jin was also part of the Gu Family.


    Ji Wei hadn¡¯t quite pieced it together yet, but then Uncle Gu finally remembered the young mistress standing nearby.


    Uncle Gu quickly pulled her forward to introduce her to the man: "Young Master Jin, this is your Brother Moqian¡¯s wife, Miss Ji Wei from the Ji Family." Then, turning to Ji Wei, he added, "This is your elder aunt¡¯s son, Jin Qichuan."


    Oh.


    Ji Wei finally understood.


    So this was Gu Moqian¡¯s cousin!


    "Hello, cousin." Ji Wei greeted him with a smile.


    The sudden term caught Jin Qichuan off guard for a moment, but he quickly recovered, "Hello, Miss Ji."


    Ji Wei didn¡¯t mind that he addressed her as Miss Ji instead of Cousin¡¯s Wife. She nced at her watch and said, "Uncle Gu, I¡¯ll head back first with the persimmons. Moqian and the others should have returned by now."


    "Alright, alright, we¡¯ll head over shortly."


    Jin Qichuan watched as the woman¡¯s graceful figure disappeared through the main gate. Some unspoken emotion flickered across his distinct features.


    ...


    The front hall of the Gu Mansion was bustling with activity.


    When news spread that Old Madam Gu had returned, the guests all stood up and headed outside to greet her.


    Old Madam Gu, dressed in a modest robe adorned with auspicious cloud and crane patterns, was helped out of the car by her grandson and great-grandson on either side.


    It had been so long since such a lively scene unfolded. The wrinkles on Old Madam Gu¡¯s face revealed her deep emotions, and her eyes glistened with tears.


    Everyone guided her to the intricately carved wooden chair at the center of the front hall. A servant hurriedly served her tea.


    Next, the rtives of the Gu Family came forward ording to their generations to offer birthday wishes and gifts to Old Madam Gu.


    By the time Ji Wei arrived, the front hall was already crowded with guests. She craned her neck in the throng, searching for Gu Moqian¡¯s figure. Suddenly, a hand reached over and wrapped around her slender waist.


    "Ran over here?"


    Gu Moqian saw that Ji Wei was slightly out of breath and couldn¡¯t help but remark.


    "I went back to my room to change outfits¡ªalmost lost track of time, but luckily I¡¯m here on time." Ji Wei saw it was Gu Moqian and replied with a smile.


    Gu Moqian nced at the basket in her hands, its contents hidden beneath floral-patterned cloth. He raised an eyebrow and asked, "Is this for Grandmother?"


    "That¡¯s right." Ji Wei nodded.


    "Come, I¡¯ll walk you over."


    Gu Moqian took her hand and led her to the front of the crowd.


    As the two were about to step up to Old Madam Gu, Nan Huiru suddenly emerged from the crowd, pulling Zhu Jianian along by the hand.


    Ji Wei caught sight of the tall gift box in Zhu Jianian¡¯s hands and her gaze froze.


    Grandmother¡¯s birthday¡ªwhat was she doing here?


    Nan Huiru shot Ji Wei a silent re before withdrawing her gaze. Her face broke into a smile as she nudged Zhu Jianian forward, saying warmly to Old Madam Gu, "Grandma, this is Miss Zhu from the Zhu Family¡ªthe one who used to y with Moqian when they were young. You might still remember her? When Miss Jianian heard it was your nieth birthday, she begged me to bring her along to show her respect."


    "Grandmother, back when I was little and spent time with Moqian, I would call you that too. I hope you don¡¯t mind?" Zhu Jianian spoke eagerly. "I heard Grandmother is fond of Buddhist worship, so my father specially sourced a Guanyin statue from abroad for you. Wishing you blessings as vast as the ocean and a long life that rivals the peaks of Nanshan."


    With that, Zhu Jianian hurriedly held her gift box up for Old Madam Gu to see.

 Chapter 263: What Is This Miss of the Ji Family Doing?

    <h4>Chapter 263: Chapter 263: What Is This Miss of the Ji Family Doing?</h4>


    Old Madam Gu¡¯s expression remained indifferent, as if she had no impression of Zhu Jianian. She was merely someone brought by her grandson¡¯s wife, and thus she offered a modicum of courtesy.


    The gift box was left unopened and handed off to the servant standing nearby.


    Seeing this, Zhu Jianian¡¯s face showed a hint of embarrassment.


    This Guanyin statue was something her father had repeatedly emphasized must be presented to Old Madam Gu. Indeed, it was a rare collectible that Zhu Ming¡¯an had spent a fortune acquiring.


    She had hoped to use this opportunity to curry favor with Old Madam Gu, hoping the elderly woman might persuade her great-grandson to show mercy. Unexpectedly, Old Madam Gu¡¯s reaction was so nonchnt.


    Seeing Zhu Jianian still standing awkwardly, a nearby servant gestured courteously and said, "Miss Zhu, please take a seat over there."


    Zhu Jianian reluctantly stepped back two paces.


    As Mo Qian approached with Ji Wei, the unwillingness and anger in Zhu Jianian¡¯s eyes became increasingly overt.


    "Great-grandmother, this is my wife, Ji Wei," Mo Qian said as he walked up to Old Madam Gu to introduce Ji Wei.


    "Hello, Great-grandmother!" Ji Wei had a gentle smile on her face, her manners impably appropriate, and her voice clear and pleasant.


    "Mo Qian, is this your great-grandson¡¯s wife?" The frail voice of the elderly woman sounded, and she quickly motioned for the servant nearby to assist her in stepping forward for a closer look at Ji Wei. "Little Wei is very beautiful. Her eyes are so clear and vibrant, they almost seem to speak; she even has a bit of resemnce to your grandmother!"


    Old Madam Gu held Ji Wei¡¯s hand, her delight evident.


    "You tter me, Great-grandmother," Ji Wei replied, seeming a bit bashful.


    "Great-grandmother, Ji Wei has prepared a gift for you. Would you like to take a look?" Mo Qian asked.


    "Alright, let me see it," Old Madam Gu said.


    Ji Wei hurriedly lifted the basket in her other hand. "Great-grandmother, I picked these early this morning. Please try them and see if they suit your taste."


    Old Madam Gu, filled with curiosity, pulled back the flower cloth covering the basket.


    A basket full of freshly picked persimmons came into view¡ªa golden-yellow hue that was strikingly beautiful.


    The seated guests were stunned.


    It was the first time they had seen someone bring persimmons as a gift for a celebratory asion. What was this Ji Familydy trying to do?


    Nan Huiru, sitting nearby, couldn¡¯t resist mocking, "Shees from a distinguished family, but all she could offer was a basket of persimmons? Did she buy them at the local market? What a joke."


    "Perhaps Miss Ji thinks Great-grandmother¡¯s teeth aren¡¯t good anymore, so soft persimmons might be more suitable," Zhu Jianian chimed in, adding fuel to the fire.


    The other guests also began discussing amongst themselves, offering a mix of praise and criticism for Ji Wei¡¯s actions.


    Old Madam Gu, however, seemed to ignore the murmuring doubts of the crowd. Her weathered eyes were fixed on the basket of persimmons, her voice carrying a faint tremor: "You said... you picked these yourself. Where did you pick them?"


    "There¡¯s a tall persimmon tree in the back courtyard," Ji Wei replied. "I saw it full of ripe, vibrant persimmonsrge and red, lively and festive-looking¡ªso I picked some for you."


    The back courtyard...


    Old Madam Gu¡¯s thoughts were suddenly jolted, her eyes growing moist, and she almost couldn¡¯t form words: "That tree... it was nted personally by Yan Cheng and Qingshuang."


    Yan Cheng and Qingshuang were the names of her grandfather and grandmother.


    All the guests¡¯ expressions shifted drastically hearing these two names.


    Thete Yan Cheng and Qingshuang were Old Madam Gu¡¯s deepest sorrow. Normally, everyone avoided mentioning these names for fear of evoking painful memories in her.


    And this Miss Ji actually had the audacity to pick persimmons from the tree personally nted by Yan Cheng and Qingshuang. Wasn¡¯t this clearly stirring up trouble?


    "Mo Qian, hurry and escort this woman out!"


    Nan Huiru said angrily. What an ill-timed subject to bring up! On such a joyous asion, of all times, she just had to make Old Madam Gu recall her grief!

 Chapter 264: Sweet, Really Sweet!

    <h4>Chapter 264: Chapter 264: Sweet, Really Sweet!</h4>


    Mo Qian cast a cold nce at Nan Huiru but didn¡¯t move.


    He was also surprised as to why Ji Wei had sent persimmons, but he knew she must have her reasons.


    Mo Qian remained motionless, and Nan Huiru, unable to contain her anger, prepared to rush forward and snatch Ji Wei¡¯s gift, only to have her arm suddenly held back by someone.


    "Huiru, let the kids handle their own matters," Gu Zhizhou, who had appeared behind her unnoticed, said in a deep voice.


    "Zhizhou, you¡¯re not going to intervene in something this disgraceful?" Nan Huiru gritted her teeth in indignation but refrained from moving further, mindful of her husband¡¯s authority.


    Gu Zhizhou, however, merely gazed at Ji Wei¡¯s face, so strikingly simr to someone else¡¯s, and pressed his lips in silence.


    Everyone was waiting to see how Ji Wei would salvage the situation; if she couldn¡¯t resolve this gracefully, she¡¯d surely be humiliated in front of them all.


    Ji Wei, however, spoke with aposed expression: "Great-grandmother, I tasted some of the persimmons yesterday, and they¡¯re truly sweet. I heard that the persimmon tree was nted by grandpa and grandma back in the day¡ªthat exins why the fruits are so vorful; they must have tended to it with great care."


    "Even now, the persimmon tree grows so robustly, just like the days when grandpa and grandma were still around. I couldn¡¯t help but wonder¡ªwhy did grandpa and grandma choose to nt persimmon trees back then? Upon hearing about your love for persimmons, I finally understood."


    "Late autumn is the season when persimmons ripen, and it also coincides with your birthday, great-grandmother. Grandpa and grandma were celebrating your birthday in their own way by nting these trees."


    No one had expected such profound meaning to be hidden behind the persimmon trees.


    Ji Wei had only deduced this after learning from Mo Qian that grandpa and grandma were deeply filial toward their elders.


    These words felt like a warm current flowing into Old Madam Gu¡¯s heart, bringingfort to the pain she had endured from losing her son.


    Even though they were no longer present, their thoughtful intentions still lingered in the Gu Mansion.


    "Great-grandmother, would you like to try one?" Ji Wei picked up a persimmon, peeled off the outer skin, and handed it over.


    Old Madam Gu reached out with trembling hands to take it, took a bite, and instantly her eyes brimmed with tears as she eximed repeatedly, "Sweet, so sweet..."


    After just one bite, Old Madam Gu broke into uncontroble sobs, but a smile still graced her lips.


    Mo Qian quickly stepped forward to wipe away the tears from her face.


    The guests all believed the persimmons had stirred memories of grief in Old Madam Gu and feared she wouldn¡¯t recover easily from the wave of emotion.


    A heavy silence fell over the room, with no one daring to speak.


    But unexpectedly, Old Madam Gu suddenly turned toward the crowd, pointed to the persimmons in Ji Wei¡¯s basket, and dered with faint pride in her aged voice, "Everyone,e and taste these. These persimmons were grown by my son and daughter-inw¡ªthey¡¯re so sweet!"


    The nearby servants, quick on their feet, immediately began distributing the persimmons to everyone.


    The guests eagerly reached out to take them, peeling and eating them on the spot. Sweet¡ªthe persimmons were undeniably sweet!


    Everyone ate joyously, their faces lighting up with smiles. Seeing this, Old Madam Gu nodded approvingly again and again, her lips curving upward in satisfaction.


    Having spent so much time in a monastery, she had nearly forgotten that scenes of family reunions, bustling withughter and joy, were the most heartwarming.


    Mo Qian turned to nce at Ji Wei, who wore a slight smile beside him, and felt a wave of warmth rising in his heart.


    He had once believed that the loss of grandpa and grandma had inflicted an indelible scar on great-grandmother¡¯s soul, one she might never be able to heal from, even until the end of her days.


    Yet unexpectedly, on a day like today, great-grandmother no longer avoided mentioning them. This change was already deeply reassuring.


    "My great-granddaughter-inw, the gift you¡¯ve brought is very much to great-grandmother¡¯s liking," Old Madam Gu turned to Ji Wei with a look of gratitude. "Great-grandmother didn¡¯t prepare any gifts, but this jade bracelet¡ªI¡¯ve worn it for almost a lifetime. One piece was given to Mo Qian¡¯s grandmother, and this one¡ªI¡¯ll give it to you!"


    Old Madam Gu removed the jade bracelet from her thin, aged wrist and pressed it firmly into Ji Wei¡¯s hands.

 Chapter 265: Just a Servant, Do I Need a Reason to Step on You?

    <h4>Chapter 265: Chapter 265: Just a Servant, Do I Need a Reason to Step on You?</h4>


    Ji Wei was overwhelmed with surprise, "Oh no, Old Madam, I really can¡¯t ept this..."


    "I like you, child. Just take it. I¡¯m old now, and wearing it doesn¡¯t mean much to me anymore," Old Madam Gu said.


    Ji Wei nced at Gu Moqian for confirmation. Seeing his slight nod, she couldn¡¯t refuse any longer. With a bright voice, she thanked, "Thank you, Old Madam!"


    Standing nearby, Nan Huiru clenched her teeth so hard in anger that they nearly cracked.


    She had been married into the Gu Family for decades, spending all those years as the dutiful granddaughter-inw, and yet Old Madam Gu had never given her any jewelry. And now, this Ji Wei could actually inherit the Old Madam¡¯s personal jade bracelet? How dare she!


    Unable to vent her burning rage, Nan Huiru stomped her foot and turned to leave.


    Zhu Jianian quickly followed her.


    Among the crowd, Jin Qichuan¡¯s gaze lingered on the woman whose hand was being firmly held by their great-grandmother. A peculiar glint flickered in his eyes.


    Ji Wei...


    After the lively birthday banquet, Old Madam Gu, feeling fatigued, was helped upstairs by the maids to rest.


    With Gu Moqian busy entertaining the guests, Ji Wei felt a little bored staying in the main hall, so she ventured out for a stroll.


    She hadn¡¯t walked far when she ran into Zhu Jianianing straight toward her.


    Since that night, Zhu Jianian¡¯s hatred for Ji Wei had only continued to grow. Finally seizing such a rare opportunity to confront her alone, how could she possibly let it slip away?


    Having just had some wine, Zhu Jianian¡¯s cheeks were faintly flushed. Holding a red wine ss in her hand, she slowly approached Ji Wei. "Miss Ji, you really stole the show in front of the Gu Family today. You must be feeling quite pleased with yourself, right?"


    "Are you envious, or just jealous?" Ji Wei retorted coldly, refusing to back down.


    "Ha..."


    Zhu Jianian chuckled as if she had heard a ridiculous joke. After a fewughs, her expression darkened. "Ji Wei, do you think you¡¯ve won? Think again! Even if you and Moqian are legally married, I still have ways to make you two divorce! Moqian and I grew up together as childhood sweethearts. We¡¯re the ones who truly belong together. You? What are you? A shameless interloper who barged in to steal someone else¡¯s love, you wretched woman!"


    Perhaps emboldened by the alcohol, Zhu Jianian¡¯s eyes burned with a manic intensity, her usualposure and restraint utterly gone.


    "Who are you calling wretched?" Ji Wei¡¯s re turned icy.


    "Calling¡ª"


    Before Zhu Jianian could finish, Ji Wei suddenly snatched the wine ss from her hand, and the dark red liquid sshed directly onto her face.


    The wine soaked her entire face. The deep red of the wine looked almost like she¡¯d been doused with paint. Zhu Jianian was left in utter humiliation.


    Ji Wei, now holding the empty wine ss, stared coldly at her, her expression resolute.


    Zhu Jianian¡¯s entire body trembled with rage. She shut her eyes tightly and, after gritting her teeth for a long time, finally regained someposure. Just as she was about tosh out and berate Ji Wei, a maid carrying a stack of gift boxes suddenly passed by and identally bumped into her.


    "I¡¯m so sorry, so sorry..."


    The maid, with her arms full of boxes, hadn¡¯t noticed Zhu Jianian standing there, and so she had walked right into her.


    The stack of gift boxes tumbled to the ground. The maid bent down to pick them up, but just as she reached for one, a high heel stomped down heavily on her hand.


    "Ahh, that hurts!"


    The maid cried out in pain, tilting her head up to see. What greeted her was a face marred by wine stains, twisted in resentment, and ring down at her. Zhu Jianian¡¯s eyes widened, reflecting a venomous glint.


    "Miss... why did you step on me?" the maid asked in pained confusion, tears brimming in her eyes.


    "You¡¯re just a mere servant. Do I even need a reason to step on you?" Zhu Jianian scoffed disdainfully. "If you want me to lift my foot, have your young mistress plead on your behalf."


    Zhu Jianian threw Ji Wei a hateful nce.

 Chapter 266 Hurry up, apologize to me right now!

    <h4>Chapter 266: Chapter 266 Hurry up, apologize to me right now!</h4>


    Ji Wei¡¯s face was cold and solemn as she stood still.


    "Young Madam..." The maid looked to Ji Wei for help.


    Zhu Jianianughed brazenly, "Look at you, you¡¯re being bullied, yet this so-called Young Madam beside you doesn¡¯t dare say a word. Calling her ¡¯Young Madam¡¯ is truly undeserved."


    Ji Wei stared at the foot pressing down on the maid¡¯s hand, her expression betraying nothing.


    Suddenly, she stepped forward, slowly approaching Zhu Jianian.


    Ji Wei¡¯s manner was soposed,posed to a level that made Zhu Jianian feel a pang of insecurity. Still, she forced herself to maintain her bravado and demanded, "What are you trying to do?"


    Ji Wei¡¯s lips curled into the faintest smile. Then, she raised her foot and delivered a fierce kick to the crook of Zhu Jianian¡¯s knee!


    Zhu Jianian let out a scream of pain as her bodypletely lost bnce, pitching forward with her hands and face hitting the floor at once, scraping her skin raw.


    "Thank you, Young Madam."


    The maid quickly took the opportunity to scramble up and pick up the gift box from the ground.


    Zhu Jianian was sprawled on the floor, unable to move due to the pain. After a long moment, she finally propped herself up with a pale face.


    Zhu Jianian had never been so humiliated¡ªnot only was she sshed with red wine, but now she had been kicked to the ground like a dog. She could not swallow this indignity, no matter what!


    Just as she was about tosh out, she suddenly saw Nan Huiru walking towards them. Her expression shifted immediately, and tears welled up in her eyes as she began to cry pitifully, "Miss Ji, I know you mind my childhood connection with Mo Qian, but it¡¯s an unchangeable fact that we grew up together. You didn¡¯t have to vent your frustrations on me like this..."


    Ji Wei froze momentarily, but when she saw Nan Huiru¡¯s darkened face as she approached, understanding dawned¡ªZhu Jianian was ying the sympathy card.


    As expected, when Nan Huiru saw the wine stains on Zhu Jianian¡¯s face and the scrapes on her hands, she turned angrily to Ji Wei and said, "Look at what you¡¯ve done! If you have issues, bring them to me! Why are you targeting Jianian? She¡¯s Mo Qian¡¯s childhood friend; what gives you the right to treat her like this?"


    "Mrs. Nan, you misunderstand Young Madam. Just now, it was clearly this Miss Zhu who caused the trouble, and Young Madam¡ª"


    The maid, noticing Nan Huiru ming Ji Wei without discerning the truth, tried to exin the situation. But she was met with Nan Huiru¡¯s sharp re that silenced her instantly.


    "Ji Wei, you really are skilled at maniption. Even a maid wants to defend you¡ªlooks like I underestimated how good you are at charming people!"


    Nan Huiru lifted Zhu Jianian up while continuing her tirade, "I don¡¯t care what your current status is; you must apologize to Jianian immediately! She is a guest of the Gu Family, and if word of this gets out, it¡¯ll be the Gu Family¡¯s reputation that¡¯s dragged through the mud!"


    "Fine, I can apologize," Ji Wei said coldly.


    Zhu Jianian secretly rejoiced upon hearing this.


    Hah! Ji Wei, in front of Aunt Huiru, you¡¯re nothing but a paper tiger, and I¡¯ve got youpletely under control!


    Hurry up! Apologize to me now!


    But before Zhu Jianian¡¯s triumphant smirk disappeared, Ji Wei continued, "However, Miss Zhu should first apologize to this maid. Just now, she stepped on the maid¡¯s hand, and she did so with considerable force."


    Ji Wei pulled the maid forward and raised her swollen, reddened hand to Nan Huiru¡¯s line of sight.


    Nan Huiru was taken aback and cast a questioning look at Zhu Jianian.


    The maid was one of Old Madam Gu¡¯s trusted staff, and injuring her without good reason would definitely be hard to exin.


    Zhu Jianian hurriedly stammered an exnation, "Aunt Huiru, I didn¡¯t mean to step on her. Earlier, this maid bumped into me while walking, causing the gift box she held to fall on the ground. I wanted to help her pick it up but identally stepped on her reaching hand. I was wearing high heels, so it¡¯s inevitable that her hand is a bit swollen."

 Chapter 267: I Will Make Her Divorce Mo Qian

    <h4>Chapter 267: Chapter 267: I Will Make Her Divorce Mo Qian</h4>


    "Did you hear that? It was just a misunderstanding. Jianian had good intentions and only wanted to help. There¡¯s no need to apologize in a situation like this!"


    Nan Huiru spoke domineeringly, then red at the maid. "What are you standing here for? Did the Gu Family hire you to freeload? Hurry up and leave!"


    The maid, intimidated by Nan Huiru, became flustered and lowered her head, preparing to walk away. Unexpectedly, Ji Wei grabbed her hand: "Why are you leaving? Miss Zhu hasn¡¯t apologized to you yet."


    Zhu Jianian secretly clenched her fists, seething with hatred toward Ji Wei.


    Want her to apologize to a maid? Dream on!


    "Aunt Huiru, you see, Ji Wei is obviously targeting me on purpose, using the maid¡¯s ident to humiliate me. I¡¯m just a guest here, but she always aims to make me suffer. It turns out the rumors about her are true¡ªMiss Ji is arrogant, domineering, and just a spoiled rich girl. How could a woman like her ever be worthy of Mo Qian?"


    Zhu Jianian¡¯s words struck right at Nan Huiru¡¯s heart.


    She couldn¡¯t figure it out either. Ji Wei had no redeeming qualities¡ªwhat exactly did her son see in this woman?


    "She really isn¡¯t worthy of our Mo Qian."


    Nan Huiru spoke with venom, grinding her teeth until her jaw clenched, her eyes nearly bulging out. "Jianian, I¡¯ll make her divorce Mo Qian. This marriage didn¡¯t have my approval. She can forget about stayingfortably in the Gu Family!"


    Zhu Jianian felt slightly better when she heard Nan Huiru say this.


    "Jianian, your clothes have been stained by the wine. Go change them quickly so you don¡¯t be aughingstock in front of the guests," Nan Huiru suddenly said.


    Zhu Jianian looked at her with some surprise. Why was Aunt Huiru no longer nning to demand justice for her?


    "Aunt Huiru, she still hasn¡¯t apologized to me..." Zhu Jianian reminded softly.


    Nan Huiru shot her a subtle nce.


    Zhu Jianian froze momentarily. Then she quickly noticed a tall and imposing figureing from the main hall¡ªit was Gu Moqian!


    In an instant, she understood Nan Huiru¡¯s intentions and forced a few tears from her eyes. She looked at Ji Wei and said in a grievance-filled tone: "Miss Ji, you sshed wine on me earlier and even kicked me to the floor. I can let that go. I won¡¯t demand an apology from you. But I hope Miss Ji doesn¡¯t deliberately target me anymore in the future. There¡¯s nothing wrong with me liking Mo Qian. Even if Miss Ji despises me and bullies me, I will never change my feelings. I will always, always like him!"


    Ji Wei raised her brows, the cold curve of her lips deepening.


    After just a few days, Zhu Jianian¡¯s acting skills had improved dramatically. How pitiful yet lovely she seemed.


    Unfortunately, these tricks only worked on fools.


    Zhu Jianian¡¯s melodramatic speech was overflowing with passion, her love for Gu Moqian deep and unwavering. Nan Huiru couldn¡¯t help but feel sour in her heart.


    Such a wonderful girl like Jianian¡ªhow could she lose to Ji Wei?


    Mo Qian must be blind!


    Seeing Nan Huiru pulling Zhu Jianian away, Ji Wei quickly stepped forward to block their path.


    "Miss Zhu, you can leave only after apologizing to the maid," Ji Wei said coldly.


    Zhu Jianian¡¯s shoulders trembled with anger. She barely managed to suppress her inner fury. "Miss Ji, you¡¯re relentless, aren¡¯t you? Look at the state you¡¯ve left me in, so humiliated¡ªand you still won¡¯t let me off?"


    "Apologize," Ji Wei repeated in a frosty tone.


    The maid standing to the side understood that Ji Wei wanted to get justice for her. But provoking Mrs. Nan and Miss Zhu over this seemed far too risky.


    The maid, anxious and unsure of what to do, suddenly lifted her head to see that tall figure already nearing. She quickly lowered her head and greeted him respectfully: "Hello, Mr. Gu!"

 Chapter 268: What More Do You Want from Her?

    <h4>Chapter 268: Chapter 268: What More Do You Want from Her?</h4>


    The maid¡¯s voice caught Ji Wei¡¯s attention, and as she turned her head, her gaze met Mo Qian¡¯s deep, ink-ck eyes.


    Before Ji Wei could act, Zhu Jianian hurried forward toward Mo Qian, eagerly asking, "Mo Qian, I heard you were injured a few days ago. How¡¯s your health? Earlier in the front hall, there were too many people, and I didn¡¯t get the chance to ask..."


    Before Zhu Jianian could finish her sentence, she was silenced by the sharp, de-like gaze Mo Qian shot her way. Her face went pale, and she dared not take another step closer.


    "Mo Qian, are you still angry with me? I know I was wrong; please don¡¯t push me away like this, as if I¡¯m a thousand miles beneath you." Zhu Jianian pleaded pitifully.


    "Have I not told you to stop showing up in front of me? Did you treat my words like the wind passing your ears?"


    Mo Qian¡¯s voice was devoid of warmth, sending tremors through Zhu Jianian¡¯s body. His next words struck her with even greater terror and dismay: "If you think the Zhu Family¡¯s desperate existence isn¡¯t miserable enough, I¡¯ll have someone acquire the Zhu Family¡¯s shares immediately and announce their removal from the business world!"


    "No, don¡¯t!" Zhu Jianian panicked, shouting hoarsely, "Mo Qian, you can¡¯t do this to the Zhu Family! The Zhu Family is my father¡¯s lifelong work. Please, for the sake of our childhood together, spare the Zhu Family, will you?"


    Mo Qian¡¯s face remained taut with tension, his eyes dark with anger.


    The man¡¯s silence only deepened Zhu Jianian¡¯s unease. "Mo Qian, I¡¯ll leave. I¡¯ll leave right away! Just don¡¯t act against the Zhu Family, I beg of you!"


    Mo Qian remained indifferent.


    Terror filled Zhu Jianian¡¯s eyes. She knew Mo Qian¡¯s words were not idle threats¡ªhe would follow through. "I¡¯ll kneel for you; I¡¯ll kneel! Isn¡¯t that enough? As long as you spare the Zhu Family... will you?"


    Thud¡ª


    Zhu Jianian truly knelt on the ground.


    "Mo Qian, you... how could you frighten Jianian like this? Her condition only recently improved." Nan Huiru hurried over to help Zhu Jianian up. "Jianian, let¡¯s talk after you stand, alright?"


    "Aunt Huiru, please talk to Mo Qian. I truly know I was wrong. Please don¡¯t let the Zhu Family go bankrupt, I beg you..." Zhu Jianian pleaded with Nan Huiru.


    "Alright, alright, I¡¯ll talk to Mo Qian for you. Please get up; the ground is cold." Nan Huiru nodded repeatedly.


    After that night, Zhu Jianian¡¯s mental state oscited between stable and unstable.


    It was only due to Shen Yu¡¯s repeated requests that Nan Huiru brought Zhu Jianian here today. The idea was to let her get out more; staying at home all the time could drive her to despair.


    "Jianian, shall I have the driver take you home first?" Nan Huiru gently suggested once more.


    Zhu Jianian slowly nodded.


    "Miss Zhu wants to leave without apologizing?" Ji Wei¡¯s voice rang out again.


    With Mo Qian present, Zhu Jianian did not dare confront Ji Wei. She stayed silent for a long while, ultimately suppressing the resentment and hatred brewing in her heart to say to the maid, "I¡¯m sorry, I identally stepped on your hand earlier."


    "identally?" Ji Wei¡¯s cold voice questioned, the three sybles drawn out slowly and dangerously.


    "I..." Zhu Jianian¡¯s face turned pale.


    "Ji Wei, that¡¯s enough! Jianian has already apologized; what more do you want from her? Her condition isn¡¯t good right now¡ªdon¡¯t make things difficult for her!" Nan Huiru couldn¡¯t bear to watch any longer, scolding sternly.


    "Mrs. Nan, Miss Zhu deliberately stepped on the maid¡¯s hand. That was meant as provocation toward me. She can target me if she wants, but involving an innocent maid? That I absolutely won¡¯t tolerate!" Ji Wei fearlessly met Nan Huiru¡¯s gaze.


    "For Miss Zhu to resort to such actions, I must say, I underestimated her." Mo Qian walked over to stand beside Ji Wei, his voice icy and piercing.


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