Su Qianqian's almond-shaped eyes instantly sparkled with excitement—her allowance was here.
She extended her fair, delicate little hand and took the black card from his slender fingers. Su Qianqian turned it over and over, her fingertips tracing the embossed patterns and gilded lettering on the card, her face alight with delight and curiosity.
"So this is the kind where I can spend as much as I want?" Her voice brimmed with enthusiasm.
Though she was addressing Gu Chengyu, her gaze remained fixed on the card, her attention clearly still glued to it.
Gu Chengyu looked at the girl in his arms—those beautiful, wide eyes now filled with adoration for the card, with not even a sliver of space left for him.
Just moments ago, she had been nuzzling against him sweetly, coaxing him for an allowance. Now that she had the card, he was suddenly invisible?
A sour feeling prickled in Gu Chengyu's chest.
He frowned slightly, staring at the little girl who had so easily dismissed him.
Su Qianqian remained completely oblivious, her thoughts nowhere near him.
Gu Chengyu narrowed his phoenix eyes, his gaze shifting to the black card—the more he looked at it, the more it annoyed him.
Tch.
A mischievous impulse suddenly took hold of him.
"Mhm, it's an unlimited black card," Gu Chengyu replied nonchalantly, leaning back into the sofa. His arm still loosely encircled her waist, his tone laced with deliberate indifference—and just a hint of mischief.
"But..."
He deliberately drew out the word, successfully pulling a fraction of Su Qianqian's attention away from the card.
Gu Chengyu parted his thin lips and uttered a few words: "There's no money in it."
"Huh?" Su Qianqian's small hands, still clutching the card, froze instantly. The smile vanished from her face.
She jerked her head up, her dewy almond eyes blinking twice. Then her lips puckered into a pout as she stared at him with pitiful disbelief, her voice soft and sticky-sweet with accusation:
"Chengyu... there's really no money?"
Her expression was downright pitiful, like a puppy betrayed by its owner—enough to melt anyone's heart.
Gu Chengyu forcefully suppressed the flutter in his chest and the urge to immediately pull her into his arms.
He averted his gaze, refusing to meet those soul-stealing eyes of hers, and even leaned back slightly to put a little distance between them.
Deliberately adopting an aloof demeanor, he closed his eyes and rested against the sofa back, as if truly unmoved.
"Mhm, no money."
His voice was low, carrying an air of take-it-or-leave-it.
Hmph!
Su Qianqian watched him with his eyes shut, his whole demeanor screaming "I'm ignoring you," and felt a little flame of irritation flicker to life inside her.
He wouldn't even look at her—that meant he was guilty.
Did he think closing his eyes would stop her?
Hmph!
Her eyes darted mischievously, a sly glint flashing across her delicate face.
Like a nimble little cat, she wriggled deeper into his embrace.
Her slender, jade-white arms wound tightly around his lean waist again, clinging firmly.
She pressed her cheek against the crook of his neck, her warm, soft breaths ghosting over his skin.
Then, tilting her head slightly, she brought her lips perilously close to his ear and whispered in a voice that was soft, sweet, and laced with a teasing hook:
"Chengyu~ gege..."
Those three syllables carried an electric current, instantly coursing through Gu Chengyu's entire body.
Though his eyes remained closed, his lashes trembled uncontrollably.
The arm around her waist tensed, his muscles tightening.
Su Qianqian felt the subtle shift in his body and inwardly preened—time to double down.
She deliberately let her warm breath linger even longer against the shell of his ear, her voice sweet and honeyed:
"Chengyu~ you're the best~ tell Qianqian, please… Is there really no money inside?"
Her lips brushed faintly against the skin behind his ear, her warm exhales carrying a delicate fragrance, like the softest feathers teasing his nerves with every whisper.
Gu Chengyu kept his eyes shut, but his mind was screaming:
Damn…
How can she be this adorable?
This good at teasing him!
And she called him "brother"???
The corners of his mouth threatened to betray him, fighting a losing battle against the urge to smile.
He clenched his jaw, reminding himself—it hadn’t even been three minutes. Don’t be so pathetic.
Su Qianqian watched him, eyes still closed, yet the faint curve of his tightly pressed lips gave him away.
She knew he was on the verge of breaking.
Her eyes sparkled with mischief, like a cat who’d stolen the cream.
She nuzzled her nose against the side of his neck, drawing out her words even longer, even sweeter:
"Chengyu~ just tell me… pleaaase?"
That last syllable curled with playful pleading, dripping with coquetry.
Gu Chengyu sucked in a sharp breath—finally at his limit.
His eyes flew open, dark and molten with helpless adoration.
In one swift motion, he locked an arm around her slender waist, crushing her against his chest, while his other hand pinched her rosy cheek in mock punishment, his voice rough with restraint:
"You little minx!"
"Fine! There’s money! A hundred billion! All yours! Happy now?"
